A/N: I am so very sorry everyone for the amount of time it has been since I last updated. Life most certainly happened, but I'm back at it again! I'll be posting another chapter very quickly!


Three Weeks Later . . .

Anastasia Steele sat alone in her office, her fingertips fidgeting with the red pen. Two glass walls gave her corner office a wonderful view of the city, and artwork hung on the other two. It felt like a second home to her, and she found herself proud to be in such a beautiful office.

The manuscript she was currently editing sat alone and forgotten on her desk, while she stared at the text in front of her.

Christian: I couldn't stop thinking about you.

It was the last text she had received from him, and since their last conversation three weeks had passed with not so much as a call.

She felt let down again, but found that this time she bounced back much quicker. She had even allowed herself to go on a date with Jose (at his begging), but thankfully neither found there to be much of a spark.

Breaking her out of her thoughts, her phone pinged, Kate's name showing on the screen.

Kate: Want to do dinner at the apartment? I'm buying pizza.

Ana smiled, pizza sounding delicious. Her fingers typed quickly to respond.

Ana: Sounds good. Cheese please.


Stepping into the apartment, Ana immediately kicked off her pumps losing three inches of her height. Although she loved her career choice, dressing in a blouse and pencil skirt with heels was the least glamorous part of it all. Moving to place her purse in her room, she almost didn't notice the two men sitting on her couch and jumped back when she had.

"Elliot... I didn't see you there." She mentioned, leaning towards him to kiss his cheek and pointedly ignoring his brother who sat next to him.

Kate walked out moments later, beers uncapped in her hand. As always, the smile on her face was brilliant.

"Kate, I didn't know we were having guests...?" Ana murmured as she walked past Kate, the tone of the room now making her smile falter.

She quickly followed behind, leaving the boys to watch television. "Ana, listen.. i'm sorry, okay? But I had to intervene here! I'm tired of seeing you mope around." Ana opened her mouth in protest to which Kate raised a finger. "Stop. He's been moping around too! We just wanted you guys to talk! Plus, Elliot is my boyfriend now, and I have to say, you hating his brother is really making things awkward."

"I hated his brother before he was your boyfriend Kate." Ana let out a frustrated groan and went into her bedroom shutting the door with a slam.

I can do this... it's just hanging out... and maybe she's right. She thought, as she pulled her blouse out of her skirt and over her head.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely heard the door open.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Anastasia, I was looking for the restroom." Ana turned her head to see Christian turn quickly, and walk out the door.

As she looked down at her lace covered breasts she let out a laugh. What a night it would be.


The pizza and beer went over with no issues. They had watched a football game which Ana noticed Christian paid no attention to. In fact, she occasionally caught him staring at her. After Kate and Elliot 'sneaked' off into her bedroom however is when things became awkward.

"I'm very sorry Anastasia, again. I left in such a hurry, and I spent two weeks after that in Japan. I apologize for flaking on you." Christian said after taking a sip of his beer.

"You could have texted me... or called me. I'm sorry for Kate, I don't know why she's all of a sudden trying to push this." Ana folded her leg under her, staring at the coffee table where his face still stared back at her.

"I had requested this actually."

Ana raised an eyebrow, confusion setting into her features.

"Now that we are together again - 'hanging' out." Christian chuckled at his term, "Ask a question..."

"I have two."

He chuckled again, her fiery spirit shining for just a moment. "Fine," He replied. "Two." Holding up his fingers to signify the number.

"Was I not... cool and attractive enough for you to be friends with anymore?" Ana asked, looking him square in the eye. She noticed a glimmer of confusion.

"What? Are you... are you really being serious right now?" No answer. Christian stood, moving himself onto the same couch as her and turning to face her. "Anastasia Steele, aside from the goofy glasses that you wore..." She narrowed her eyes, "You were the coolest, and most attractive person at our school. You've always been beautiful Ana."

She watched as he looked her over, suddenly regretting her decision to change from work attire to yoga pants and a t-shirt.

"And now, Ana you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

Her chest rose quickly with an intake of air. When he made comments like this, she felt torn. Torn between hating him for ever leaving her, and between wanting to start fresh with him. The latter always seemed overshadowed by the first.

"Christian, you can't say things like-" Ana began, but found Christian cutting her off.

"Yes, I can. Listen Anastasia, I don't give many compliments. And I don't find myself noticing very many women. I spend my days working, because that's what I do best... being in control of my company. But I remembered you the second I saw you in my club. In fact, I never forgot you. I don't think I ever could."

Her heartbeat began to race, as she watched this man that had grown up in so many ways. From the small boy that was angry, and hurt, and shy... to the man that exuded confidence and calmness in everything.

"I have one more question..."


How different of a night this was than his usual. Most nights he sat in his office, and was handed food by Mrs. Jones to then eat alone. Work, a glass of brandy, and then off to a sleepless night with the occasional weekend to distract him. Never had he imagined sitting in Ana's apartment, eating pizza and drinking beer and then on top of it all, feeling like a sixteen year old all over again.

"Before you ask that question, I want to ask you a question." Christian said as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He noticed her shiver and grinned. "Can I kiss you again?"

Her mouth opened, her eyes raising. "Excuse me? After everything... after then walking out on me again... you want to kiss me?! You cannot be serious." She stood, and he watched her stomp into the kitchen.

With a small chuckle he followed suit and saw her ready to uncap another beer. Before she was able, he grabbed it from her (resulting in a "hey!"), and pinned her against the counter top.

"Anastasia..." He said, his voice low. "I apologize for being so blunt with you. But this is becoming increasingly harder and harder, each time I see you, to not kiss you. Plus when I was fifteen you let me kiss you, and to be frank I was probably awful at it then. Just a peck."

Ana narrowed her eyes at him again, opening her mouth to speak but was cut off when he pressed his lips lightly against hers. She melted against him, just as she had the first time he had kissed her. This time, however, he quickly deepened the kiss, noting that she was doing little to stop him. His lips parted, his tongue darting out to seek entrance into hers to rub against her own. Her head tilted, fingers gripping his biceps and pulling him closer to which he responded by pressing against her.

After a moment he stopped, and placed another gentle kiss on her lips. "That was so much more than a peck..." She whispered, her breath escaping her.

"I could keep going if you wanted me to.." He murmured, pressing his forehead against hers. She replied with a breathy, "Okay."


Ana lay on the couch, unsure of how and when she had made it there, but only knew that Christian lay atop of her kissing her feverishly. Her leg was hiked up over his hip, his finger tips resting on the skin of her stomach beneath her shirt, moving slowly up.

"What... is going on... here...?" Christian jumped quickly off of her to see Kate and Elliot standing before them, both looking slightly disheveled. Kate's smirk was enough to make Ana blush, her arms crossed over her chest and that 'I told you so' look on her face.

"N-Nothing... I don't...uhm..." Stammered Ana as she stood, pulling down her shirt to only make Elliot's grin bigger.

"Look's like we interrupted something Katie girl.."

"No - you didn't. I'm just.. going to go to bed." Ana moved quickly into her room, the door shutting behind her.

Why did I let that happen...?!

She waited in the room as she heard both Christian and Elliot leave, Elliot teasing Christian with responding 'fuck you's'. She waited until she heard Kate yell out 'good night'. She waited until almost two in the morning, when she knew he'd still be up.

Ana: I said I had another question.

She made to wait, but the pinging meant the response was immediate.

Christian: Yes?

Ana: Will I see you again?

Christian: Yes, I very much hope you'd like to see me too.

Ana: Yes. Will you kiss me again?

She waited, staring at the phone, her cheeks flush.

Christian: Oh yes..