A/N : First of all i'd just like to say thanks to everyone who has reviewed and followed ;-) Secondly, i wanted to address the review left by the guest, as i cannot reply personally i'll try to answer your concerns without giving too much away for everyone else.

I will say that No Caleb is not Christian's, nor will she try to claim he is but he is important. Jessica is a large part of the story, but no she is not an ex sub or jealous for that matter. As for Elena, she will be making an appearance, but not in the way you think ;). i also just wanted to mention that i know Ana is a little more of a madam than usual - I need her to be. Just like everyone else I fell in love with the Christian/Ana romance, so i won't be doing anything to compromise that. I also agree with you about just wanting to see them kick some ass - in saying that, if there were no drama it would be a very dull story - but asses will be kicked!.

Without further ado - chapter 9. Hope you enjoy. Please excuse any and all mistakes, once again it has been a long day and i just wanted to get this out.


I look out the glass wall of our bathroom to see the sun setting over the water, it is picturesque. Postcard material. The jasmine infused steam wafting up from the hot bubble filled tub invades all my senses, it's heavenly.

We had spent the rest of the afternoon running around the extensive grounds, chasing Teddy, fussing over Phoebe and playing Frisbee with the newest Grey - Bear. No clothes were destroyed today, it brings a smile to my face. I am warming to him faster than I thought. After enjoying a BBQ with all the staff and tucking in the children for the night, I've taken this rare peaceful space in time to enjoy a long soak while Christian and Taylor take Bear for a run. My happy façade is fading fast, I'm hoping the water will soak the stress of the Leila news away.

I lean back into the cushioned headrest and close my eyes. Peace.

I am walking through a gallery. It is a long rectangle room, brick walls with no windows. It is odd, I notice the wall color changes - from crisp white, getting darker and darker grey and right at the end of the room is pitch black. There are photographs hanging every 10 or so steps. They are beautiful landscapes, rivers, meadows, golden sand. The further I walk down the room the darker the photos become - like the wall. The beach scenes turn from calm bright blue horizons to choppy black relentless seas. Meadows are dark and baron with no flowers in sight. I reach the dark end of the room. In front of me is a wall sized painting. Life size. It is of dark haunted forest. The closer I look, the more sure I am I can see things moving. Shadows dart between the damp mossy trees. I jump as I hear a dog bark. I look up into the tree beside me and see a brown and black speckled owl perching on a branch. Its eyes are closed. Next to the owl is a muddied, ripped piece of pink fabric. Phoebe's blankie? My chest tightens as I hear Teddy's infectious giggle in the distance. "Teddy! Phoebe!" my screams echo through the tress, bouncing back to me are not their names though - but an evil cackle. I have disturbed the owl. It flies down to my face and hovers for a moment before opening its eyes. I am staring into emerald green orbs. I cannot move, my body is trembling, tears are streaming down my face. I manage to turn my head to the right, I can hear leaves crunching beneath the weight of something, or someone. Leila emerges from the shadows. She is aiming a pistol at my head and laughing hysterically.

"AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa" my ear piercing scream rips through the darkness. Everything goes black.


"Ana, baby, wake up." Someone is shaking me. "Baby it's just a dream, I'm here." Christians voice stirs me from the darkness. "You're okay baby, I've got you." My body jolts up. I am cold and shaking, my hands are white and wrinkled. I glance up at Christian who is rubbing my back.

"Shit." I whisper rubbing my hands over my sweat covered face. I look up to Christian again to make sure he's really there.

"Jesus baby, I could hear you screaming from the drive way." I realize now that Christian is panting as if he's just run the 200m in the Olympics.

"I'm sorry." I shake my head trying to rid the images of owls and Leila pulsing through my brain.

"I think she had Teddy and Phoebe, her blankie….. but I couldn't see them. There was an owl, and she had a gun." I run through the images, not sure if I'm trying to explain my nightmare to Christian, or sort through them vocally for my own sanity.

"Who had a gun baby?"

"Leila." I whisper vacantly. Christian pinches the bridge of his nose and screws his eyes. He's angry, I know it's not towards me, but Leila.

"Come on baby, lets get you dressed and warm." He grabs a towel from the heated rail and wraps it around my shivering body as I step out of the bath. Scooping me into his arms he carries me into the bedroom. I feel safe again. Placing me onto the bed he disappears into the closet. When he returns he is carrying my gray sweatpants, a gray camisole, a pale purple hoodie and my fluffy purple slippers.

"Comfort clothes." he smiles sheepishly.

"Thank you." I return his smile and climb off the bed to take the clothes from him.

Christian lays on the bed and watches as I dress, his expression is that of worry and helplessness. I remember the expression well - he wore it often after the many nightmares that consumed my nights following the Hyde incident. It is the one thing Christian will never have control over - my dreams. He jumps to his feet once I have slid into my purple slippers and places his warm hands on either side of my pale face.

"Are you okay." both love and concern travel out with his words.

"I'm okay, just a little stressed I guess." I push the side of my face deeper into his hand and take a deep soothing breath.

"I won't let them come near us Ana." he pushes me back gently and takes hold of my shoulders so he can look deep into my eyes. "Please promise me something?" he murmurs. I know what he's going to ask already, and I know it's almost a definite no. There is no way I'm going to let little Miss Lulu and whoever else she's plotting with destroy my family. If that means I need to do a bit of investigating and/or more for myself, then that's what I'll do. Christian keeping me sheltered from this is a given. He underestimates me - but for now I need to keep the peace.

"What?" I ask as vacantly as I can muster. Anger now pulsing through my veins - that bitch will pay.

I must be getting good at hiding my emotions because Christian seems none the wiser.

"Promise me you won't fight the security, no more ditching, no silly antics, no superwoman tricks… just trust me."

Oh fifty, I do trust you, it's myself I don't trust. Shit! I will do anything to protect my family.

" I promise."

"Good girl." he whispers as his lips brush softly against mine, "now come, let's get you a cup a tea and see what trash is on the big screen."

Gail is in the kitchen wiping down the oven as we enter. She looks up and smiles. She wants to say something, I can see it in her eyes - but she doesn't.

"Gail, would you make Ana some tea please." Christian asks

"Sure, anything for you Mr Grey?"

"No thanks, I'm fine." he leans down and gently bites my earlobe. "I'll be right back baby." I turn and watch as he disappears into his office with his work satchel. I can see Taylor is already in there, phone to his ear, both still in their running gear. Christian shuts the door.

"Rough day?" Gail asks, forcing my attention away from Christian's door.

"Something like that." I sigh, slumping myself over the marble in front of me.

"Everything will be okay Ana, Leila and co…..well, they'll slip up and when they do, Taylor will be there waiting."

"You know?" I ask puzzled.

"Yes, Taylor ran through all the new security details and procedures with me this afternoon, seems I'll have some extra company during the day now."

"What else did he tell you?"

Christian strolls in before Gail has a chance to respond. "Your phone Mrs Grey." he slides my blackberry across the marble until it is resting in front of me. I glance up at him, what's he doing with my phone?

"It was in my work bag Ana." he's read my thoughts. "Taylor has taken your Mac Book and manuscripts up to your office."

"Oh, thanks babe." I forgot I had even given them to him. He looks at me oddly then kisses my cheek before heading to the fridge for a beer.

Gail places a cup of tea in front of me. "Thank you Gail." She nods politely back and turns to leave the room. Lowering myself to the cup, I take a long sip. When I look back up Christian is standing directly in front of me on the other side of the marble, he's taking a swig of his Stella Artois - his eyes are glued to me.

"What?" I snap unintentionally. He continues to look at me, his eyes never moving. Shit!

"I know that look Christian."

"And what look would that be Anastasia?" He used my first name, oh he's pissed - probably a reaction to my tone of voice. I drop my head and sigh. God Ana, pull yourself together.

"The 'I'm about to tell you something you're not going to like but you have no say in the matter' look." I raise my face to meet his.

He throws his head back and chuckles. "You know me well baby."

"Well then, lets get this over with."

"Ana, please don't be like this, everything I do, I do out of concern for you - but you are correct, you won't like it and you have no say in the matter."

"We'll see about that." I mumble, too quietly for him to hear.

"What was that?" he hisses.

"Nothing, You were saying?" Gosh, I am in a bad mood, I need to sleep… or something!

He continues to search my face for some indication of which way my mood will swing. He'll either tell the truth, or make up something to disguise his real intentions. I don't think I have the energy for the truth today, perhaps I'll give him some help. Stroppy = sugar coated cover up. I'll make it up to him later, my inner goddess smiles.

"Waiting." I snap - intentionally this time. I roll my eyes and start tapping my hand, that will definitely secure the sugar option.

"You're tired baby, you're stressed, god your moods are all over the show today. Leila and Jose, the photos…" he pauses to close his eyes for a few long seconds. "I've cleared your work schedule for the rest of this week and next, you are taking some time off."

"You cleared my work schedule." I almost laugh at the thought, but I can tell he's serious which stop my urge to laugh dead in its tracks.

"Christian, I can't…" he hold his hand up to stop me.

"I know how precious you are about your work, but quite frankly, right now I don't give a dam. You need a break and your taking it." I pick my mouth up from it's gaping position. I can't take a week and a half off, I could barely afford the time to take tomorrow off. Now I'm wishing I had gone for option one - the truth. What's he up to?

"You are being ridiculous Christian, We had a less than perfect morning… it happens. I don't need all that time to recover. I need Leila to piss off."

"Regardless, your taking it off, end off story."

"What are you up to Christian?" I cock my head to the side and squint my eyes a little.

"I'm looking after my wife." he states. He is calm but firm. My iron man.

"No, no, no." I shake my hand at him. "Your up to something, you don't just order your wife off work because she's been a little snappy and had a less than relaxing bath. Spill Grey!" Dam it, should have smiled and gotten the truth.

"Nothing to spill baby." I eye him suspiciously, his eyes shoot down to the bottle in his hand before he lifts it to his mouth and takes a guilty gulp.

"Okay Grey, I'll play your game, you get until Sunday to complete whatever it is your planning, because I WILL be returning to work on Monday. End of discussion." I slide off the stool and walk around the bar to stand in front of him. My eyes remain directly on his - oh he's hiding something alright.

"Christian, if I find out your motives are anything more than my need to relax…." I scan my brain quickly for some thought of ammunition, "….there will be no sex for a MONTH!"

What the fuck Ana, all the things you could have come up with and you chose something that you need just as much as him.. shit!. What did I go and do that for?

He chokes on the beer that was half way down his throat. He coughs and splutters. "A month!." he yells obviously appalled at the unimaginable idea. But, he smirks - he senses weakness in my armor.

"2 days." he negotiates. I knew it, he is up to something.

"3 weeks." I straighten my shoulders.

"3 days." he cocks his head.

"2 weeks." I keep my business stance, although I really want to laugh.

"4 days."

"1 week." hold it in Ana, hold it in.

"5 days."

"Deal." I sigh, I think I can live with that.

We continue glaring at each other. Two stubborn people standing eye to eye, neither wanting to be the first to back down. I'm not sure how long my lungs can keep hold of the overwhelming desire to laugh. I'm about to surrender, but Christian beats me to it. Our silent showdown is over and the sound of Christians boyish laughter fills the room.

"Oh Ana, Ana, Ana, what am I going to do with you?"…he lifts his hand to my face and strokes my cheek with his thumb. "When did you get so…feisty and demanding?"

"When I married my sometimes overbearing, infuriating but caring, passionate and incredibly sexy husband." I giggle. I'm rewarded with a seductive smile.

"Sexy huh?"

"Oh you have no idea." he smiles again, but it drops from his face too soon.

"Ana, I …" he's lost for words.

"I know babe, but I'm okay. I promise." I poke his chest playfully, "and when or if I'm ever feeling less than okay, you'll be the first to know." I need to reassure him that despite all the dark thoughts in my head about Leila that I'm strong enough to take whatever's coming our way. His eyes don't believe me. I need to break the heavy mood.

"Enough of the mollycoddling, my incredibly sexy husband mentioned trashy TV , and that's just what I need, besides, I want to take advantage of you 'baseball style' while I still can." he grins, but he's puzzled. i roll my eyes again. "Babe, I think we both know it won't be too long before we are both suffering 5 days of abstinence.

With that comment, he scoops me into his arms rushes to the TV room and lies me on the sofa where his lips find mine.