Disclaimer: I own nothing...

A/N: Second update of the day... but now I'm going to bed so you'll have to wait ;) I hope you enjoy and thank you, thank you, thaaank you =)

All details – CG being a dom or not, their meeting, everything like – will get answers =)

Beauty and the Beast – Chapter Seven


"She lied," Kate suddenly piped up, shocked still. There had been an overwhelming wash of silence in the room. Everyone, except Sawyer and Taylor who stood protectively as if on guard, sat down in the waiting room and waited for more news and yet no one said a word.

Having taken himself to the corner, Christian just sent prayer after prayer to whatever higher deity he could think of. He sat defeated in one of the hospital's plastic chairs flexing his hand. He could stop himself hissing in pain but, he couldn't stop wincing a little as he realised he had done damage.

"She lied for you," Kate then sneered directly at Elliot. Her emotions were so messed up she didn't know what she was doing but, lashing out felt so good. "I can't believe she would lie for you!"

"I lied for her as well remember," Christian retorted back at her. "It was a two way thing. Ana and I did this together. I didn't force her."

"A lot of fucking good it did you," Kate's reply was nasty and she couldn't stop herself. "Now, are you telling me that you, Mr Egotistical, are going to accept Ana as she is?"

"As she is?" Christian gasped and even though he could see this was upsetting Ana's parents, he wouldn't condone Kate acting up. "She's still going to be Ana. She's still the Ana fell in love with!"

"How do we know you're truthful?" Kate asked, she had Ana's best interest at heart but, it didn't stop her from sounding like a total bitch.

"I fucking fell in love with her the moment I saw her that's why!" Christian exclaimed sharply and put his head into his hands again as he remembered that poignant moment of his life. "I fell in love for her not her looks!"


"Christian, bro, lighten up," Elliot joked as he spun around on his stool. He put his elbows back onto the bar and just looked around the room as the night just begun for a lot of people. He then leaned into his brother, hitting him slightly to make him look, "I wouldn't hook you have with a heifer."

Christian laughed at the irony. Elliot would set him up with a heifer if he was given the opportunity. "Sorry, Elliot, I don't believe that for one second."

"It's Kate's best friend. They live together. Ana's amazing, believe me," Elliot gloated over his girlfriend's roommate. "She's an absolute piece of dynamite."

"Why aren't you with her then, Elliot?" Christian asked back in a snarky manner and rose his eyebrow at his brother questioningly.

"Too stubborn and defiant for my liking," Elliot quipped with a smirk, she was perfect for Christian. "She back chats too much, too sarcastic and from time to time her independence would wane the attraction for me."

"Have you not met you girlfriend?" Christian asked sarcastically, remembering that Kate was argumentative and stubborn as hell when she wanted to be. "So hang on, if she's all those why are you palming her off onto me?"

"I'm not palming her off onto you. She's perfect for you, bro!" Elliot exclaimed excitedly. "You know full well I would never do something this serious if I didn't think you were ready."

"I'm not ready for this," Christian sniped back at him and looked back at his drink.

"Well you better be," Elliot commented and twisted back on his stool. "Drink up, baby brother! Your potential future is right behind you."

Great! Christian downed his drink and then listened and turned around to meet this woman that Elliot had gotten reasonably acquainted with.

"Hi," Ana said putting her hand out to shake his. She laughed nervously and tucked some hair behind her eyes, smiling brightly as her blue eyes met Christian's. "I'm Anastasia but, call me Ana. You must be Christian."

"I told you she wasn't a heifer," Elliot joked with his brother to try and crack some of the ice.

Ana laughed again in the same manner as before, "Excuse me?"

"Elliot tried to tell me it was okay because he wouldn't hook me up with a heifer," Christian gave an awkward sideways smirk. He then grabbed her hand in his and shook it, "Christian Grey. It's a pleasure to meet you, Anastasia."

Elliot had forgotten to mention how perfect she was. With her pale skin and curly brunette locks, her eyes stood out remarkably with their blueness and beauty and her lips – the ones she was currently biting onto sexily – looked like they could speak utter bullshit and yet mesmerise anyone.

Maybe Christian was ready for this after all.

Clearing her throat Ana tried to take her hand back but, it seemed the man before her was reluctant to let her go. As she looked to his hand in hers, she suddenly felt a rush of electricity run from palm to palm and she quickly pulled her hand back. She was shocked. No man had ever given her such a rush before but, this grey eyed man had certainly done that for her.

Maybe she was more ready for this than she had thought.

Christian barely took his eyes off Ana the entire evening but, he felt like his brother and Kate were the ones running this show and he just didn't have control. It didn't feel natural and it seemed Ana felt the same.

"Ana's just started her own fashion company," Kate gloated with a bright smile. "One of the best designers Seattle will ever see."

"Seattle? If you're a fashion designer why not conquer New York or Paris? London or Milan, Anastasia?" Christian asked intrigued. He was talking from the business side of his mind.

"Why not Seattle?" Ana asked and gave him a smirk, "I mean, if I'm good enough won't I make it wherever I am in the world?" She spoke with such ease and confidence that Christian's admiration for the woman sky rocketed. "I have my own online company anyway but, there's no reason I can establish myself in any state. If I'm good enough my designs will pay for my flights and I'll go from there."

"Good point well made, Anastasia," Christian remarked impressed. "You seem very confident in your goals."

"More so in my talent, Christian," she gave him a coy smile. She came across confident but, a part of her still remained shy and hidden. Especially when it came to meeting men like Christian whenever that happened she always ruined it. However, she wanted more of Christian Grey. "I've actually applied for a company here in Seattle. I'm just waiting to see if I'm good enough to get the job. If I am then there's my foot officially in the door."

"I'm sure you will be," Christian supported her claim. He knew a success when he saw one – he wouldn't be filthy rich if he didn't.

"See what I mean about you two?" Elliot asked putting his hand around his brother's shoulder. "Mom and dad would be so happy to see you settle down with Ana."

Ana near enough choked on the last gulp of her wine as Elliot admitted that.

"I am not looking for anything serious," Christian growled at his brother. "Not right now."

"Oh come on, Christian, Ana's perfect for you," Elliot jumped in and immediately saw Ana blush.

"Erm," Ana gave a humourless giggle, "I'm going to go. It was great meeting you, Christian but, it's clear that we were brought here under false pretences." She shot Kate a dangerous look as she stood up and grabbed her coat from the back of her chair, "I won't wait up for you, Kavanagh."

"Ana!" Kate and Elliot called out together.

"See you later!" Ana called out over her shoulder feeling so humiliated and besotted she was confused.

"Well, now you two don't quit your day jobs to become match makers," Christian spoke with chagrin and took his own stand. "I think Ana's got the best idea of leaving. Have fun you two and never meddle with my love life again."

He left a sullen faced Kate and pissed off brother that this night hadn't gone better

Walking out of the bar, Christian shrugged on his jacket and looked to see where Taylor was parked. When he saw the familiar Audi he made a beeline for it. As he walked, all he was calculating the ways to kill his brother and copious ways to apologise for his behaviour.

"Leaving so soon, Mr Grey," Ana's voice travelled over his shoulder and made him turn around. "I thought maybe you'd like to get to know me without Kate and Elliot interfering."

As he looked at her, she gave him a smile – sweet, beguiling, delectable.

He never knew that smile would be greet him every day after.

"I fell in love with her," he whispered between his sobs. "I never expected it to happen that easy but, all I've done is fall in love with her day after day after day."

"Then why did you lie to us all?" Kate asked, her tone cutting and accusatory. "If you loved her so fucking much why did you hide her away?"


"We had our reasons!" Christian bellowed back, feeling like he needed air, "We both decided on keeping it a secret until we were ready. She got that job with the fashion company; she didn't want people knowing I was her boyfriend to affect that. I know how money complicates things so I understood that. After my ex I was scared and there were problems there." Christian took a cleansing breath. "We got too deep. I didn't realise that I would actually be ready when she was."

"She should dump your dumb ass for this," Kate sneered as she crossed her arms over chest, unable to look at Christian any longer.

"Kate!" Elliot scolded, unhappy with that comment.

Christian stood up, "Maybe it'd be a hell of a lot easier if she did just get rid of me." As he went to leave he stopped in front of Kate, leaned in towards her pointing his index finger at her, "But I won't leave her right now and I won't believe a word she says until she is fully recovered. Believe it or not, I love her. Scars or no scars. I won't even let you ruin that so don't even dare."

Leaving the waiting room, Christian could feel Sawyer behind him but, he continued to walk until he was outside the hospital. Standing outside in the new day, he quickly made a phone call to Andrea to say he wasn't going to be in for an indefinite space of time and then to Welch. He listened intently before terminating the call and feeling the temptation to connect his fist with something hard.

"Don't punch the wall again," Sawyer commented and Christian stalled. "What did Welch have to say?"

"Not a fucking lot," Christian grumbled back. "Kaitlyn has apparently been in London for almost a year. Apparently she clocked into work this morning. So that dries up that lead. Welch has recovered some video footage of Ana's attack but, apparently it's mostly in the alleyway and too dark to see anyone. The figure is so well covered it's too hard to establish an identity. I don't know what else to do right now?"

"Nothing," Sawyer stated simply. "Your girlfriend is currently in the ICU, there isn't much you should be doing, Christian." He gave a reassuring smirk, "So let's get your hand seen to and we'll go back upstairs," Sawyer motioned to Christian to go back inside. "It seems to not be too busy in the ED right now so you might be lucky. Ana won't appreciate you hurting yourself anyway so we might as well look at the damage before you go into her."

"If she lets me back in there with her," Christian spoke unhappily, imagining being kept at arm's length. It would be like someone casting the air from his lungs, putting it in a jar and dangling it in front of him.

"You will," Sawyer noted back confidently in that idea. "Ana loves you. You both carry the same weakness. She'll need you by her soon."

Christian knew he was right. He would get back to Ana and Kate would eat her words in one day.