Chapter 10:Reunion and Farewell

I felt my heart beating in my chest faster and faster as Taylor pulled up to the familiar house I thought I'd never get to see again. It looked a little different of course, given the past four years I'd spent away, but I expected it to look much more different than it actually did. I mean, I thought Ray would at least change the color of the house, but no, it was still the same bright yellow color I insisted on when I was 15. He used to say he'd change it as soon as I moved out, but apparently that didn't actually happen. The difference that stood out to me the most was the flowers outside that weren't there anymore; Ray really loved gardening, and we used to have colorful flowers in front of the house. I used to complain all the time because I was supposed to water them when Ray was on duty, which was often, and I always hating doing it. What I wouldn't give now, though, for the rainbow of flora to be there.

I tried to take a deep breath through a tightened throat, and Christian's fingers caressed mine softly.

"I don't know what to say to him," I admitted in a nearly inaudible voice, but I knew he'd hear me. He always did. Before I know it, his lips were pressing a tender kiss to the back of my hand to give me strength and encouragement.

"You'll know when you see him, Blue," he promises.

"Are you sure he's not abroad somewhere?" He exchanged a look with Taylor in the mirror before answering me.

"He's here, Anastasia. No more stalling. Now, let's go. Didn't he wait long enough?" I nodded reluctantly but made no attempt to get out until he opened my door and held his hand out for me to take. I took it while trying to get my heart rate back to normal. Ray wouldn't kick me out like my mother once did, but I also knew he wouldn't accept me with open arms; I'd made a lot of mistakes then disappeared for years. I'm sure that's not something someone can just forget. He was going to be angry with me. Probably furious, I didn't know for sure. Knowing for sure he was going to be upset with me didn't scare me as much as not knowing the extent of said anger did.

Slowly, we walked hand in hand towards the front door while the image of me leaving this house four years ago plays over and over again in my mind, like it's on a tape. Pause, rewind, play. Pause, rewind, play. Not only could I remember walking out that day, I could distinctly recall the emotions that were running through me: anxiety but also happiness. At that time, though, I thought I'd return after three months, hand in hand with him and happily married. Ray was going to be mad, of course, but would forgive us after he saw how happy I was with him. I was going to graduate and after we were going to open a publishing house together.

Only now do I know how wrong I actually was.

Bringing me back to the now, Christian caressed my back in circles as we approached the house.

"It's going to be okay, Blue. Take a step forward." I nodded, trying to find strength in his voice. He's here, I reminded myself. He'll take you home even if Ray kicks you out as soon as he sees you. I raised my trembling hand to door and knocked. It opened after only a few seconds, and I found myself staring, frozen, and the sight before me.

What happened to my father? Where was that big, strong soldier I had grown to love so dearly? The man standing before me was everything but. He had lost weight, a significant amount of weight. His shoulders slumped, deep, dark bags under his eyes. He gasped out loud when he saw me. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. His eyes widened, full of surprise and… what, fear?

"Annie?" Tears filled my eyes at the mention of my name he'd always called me by. His voice was so vulnerable, so weak. I felt physical pain and the sound of his fragile vocals. He raised his hand but stopped before touching me, like he was trying to make sure I was real. I couldn't stand anymore, and I threw myself at him, my small arms wrapping around his neck. He immediately hugged me back, and his shoulders started to shake. I could hear his sobs even though I was shaking with my own.

"Daddy," I managed to say between my tears. His appearance might've changed, but his smell was the same. He still smelled like my father, like my home. He hugged me tighter. I don't know how much time passed while we held each other and cried, but Ray let me go first before holding my head between his hands, his eyes searching mine.

"Annie," he uttered again, and his eyes fixed on the nearly faded scar on my head. He lightly touched it. "What happened?" I shook my head; I didn't want to tell him, but I knew I would have to. His attention turned to something behind me as his gaze locked on something. His arms held me protectively.

Christian. I suddenly remembered his presence and turned to him. He was watching us with a soft, almost fond smile on his face.

"Who are you?" Ray asked him while pulling me behind him, towards the house. Christian extended his hand to him.

"Christian Grey, sir." Ray looked at his hand and raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

"Calm down, dad," I said. "Christian is just helping me. He's not a bad guy."

"Helping you with what, Ana?"

"I'll tell you, I promise, but how about we go inside." He nodded but still didn't take Christian's hand. I smiled apologetically, and he returned my smile while we made our way inside. Ray went straight to the kitchen, taking a tissue to wipe his eyes. My father hated to look weak in front of other people, and given the fact he didn't like Christian's presence, he probably felt even more uncomfortable with the situation. I wiped my own face with the hem of my t-shirt. Christian brushed a section of hair from my face and smiled.

"I told you." I would have slapped his handsome yet smug face if he wasn't so good to me. I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile. Ray missed me and somehow still loved me. The rest would get better from there, I knew it.

"Ana?" My father's sharp voice broke us apart. He was pointing at the couch, so I sat down beside Christian and Ray sat in front of us, but he sat on the edge so his knees were touching mine.

"I think you have some explaining to do," he said softly. "Where have you been, Anastasia? It's been four years! I looked everywhere, I searched for you. All I had was a note saying that you are running away with that bastard!" I cringed away, I didn't want to remember him. I took a deep breath.

"You were right about him, dad. I shouldn't have trusted him."

"So you really went with him then left him like he told the police?" Disappointment evident in his voice. Left him? I would have laughed at his lies if I weren't an emotional wreck. He told the police I left, and they just believed him like that?

"I went with him, dad. But I thought I was going to marry with him and have a happily ever after. He… he made me sign a contract. It held me with him for four years." I didn't want him to know the things he's done to me. It was so wrong, so dirty… I was ashamed to tell my father how stupid I was. I waited for him to say "I told you so." But it never came. He just closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. I closed my eyes, too, my fingers clutching the hem of my t-shirt tightly. He was going to ask for details. I knew he was. I felt my breath quicken but there was nothing I could do. How could I tell Ray the things he had done to me? Suddenly, I was leaning into a newly familiar chest and listening to a heartbeat I now knew so well.

"Calm down, Blue." His soft voice washed away all the fear consuming my head, I concentrated on his heart beat, as usual, and I started to calm down. "I'm here," he assured me, "and your father is here now, too." I nodded and lifted myself off his chest to see the surprised look in my father's eyes. The sharp look he was giving Christian was softer. He took a deep breath. I could see the war in his head; he was fighting with himself to find the right thing to say.

"And where do you fit in this story?" He looked at Christian expectantly. He looked as surprised as I was to see my father addressing him. He cleared his throat.

"I found Anastasia on a street." Sweet Christian, I thought with a smile. He didn't tell my father he found his daughter in a brothel. Streets were the lesser of two evils.

"He took me to his home, dad," I took over. Christian had faced enough of my demons. He wasn't going to be the one to tell my father what we were doing. "He feeds me and takes care of me. I live with him now."

"It's unnecessary now that you're home." I looked at Christian, panicked. Shit. I didn't think of that before. Of course my dad was going to want me to come back. But how could I? I couldn't sleep without Christian beside me, and I had a lot to work out. Christian didn't look much different than me. I remembered our talk about me moving out. He wanted me there.

"Dad," I said softly. "I don't think that is a good idea." He looked surprised.

"Why not? Why would you want to stay with a stranger? You don't even know what he's going to want from you!" I could see him getting angry.

"I don't expect anything from Anastasia," Christian amended, unimpressed. His face morphed into his "work face," as I call it. He often took on this mask when he was in his office or talking to his colleagues. He was still Christian, but more serious, more indifferent and confident. I'd fall for it if I didn't saw the longing in his eyes when he talks about his family.

"I only want her to be happy and healthy. That's all. Is it too different from what do you want?"

"No but-"

"Then you should let her stay with me a little more. Can't you see how scared she is now? She didn't come here because she needs somewhere to stay, she's here because she needs her father."

"I think my daughter is able to talk for herself!"

"She did, sir. But you're too caught up in your opinions about me that you missed it." I could see they were both heating up, but Christian was right. I didn't want to stay here. However, I understood my father, too. He lost me to a man for four years, and it was natural for him to want to keep me with him. Besides, the voice in my head was pushing me further by saying that Christian did enough for me. I should let him go. I needed to let him go. I sighed and stood up.

"Christian, can I talk to you for a second?" He looked surprised but nodded anyway and followed me to the porch.

"Christian." I took a deep breath. "I think I should stay here." His face looked so betrayed, and I felt bad right away. He composed himself quickly and nodded, his work face back again. I felt something crumple in my stomach. It felt wrong to let him go like that. I didn't want to let him go.

"Are you sure?" he asked. I nodded and he sighed. He pulled at his hair and looked around for a few moments before quickly retrieving his phone from his pocket and typing something.

"But you're going to keep up on your sessions with Flynn. Understood?" I nodded, and tears sprang to my eyes once more. He talked like he wasn't going to see me again. Like it was a good bye.

"Can't you come by?" I asked between my tears. "Or can't I visit you sometimes?" He looked surprised but recovered quickly and nodded.

"Of course, Anastasia. I just thought-" He shook his head to himself and wiped the tears off my cheeks. I leaned into his hand.

"I don't want to lose you," I murmured. I didn't. I never felt as at ease than when I was around him. Nobody ever saw my ugly side and made me feel better about myself like he did. I wasn't ready to let this beautiful, broken man go. I hugged his waist and breathed him in, and he returned my hug and held me tight for a few moments.

He got a business card out of his pocket and wrote his number on the back of them.

"Call me, Blue. Whenever you want, whatever you need. Okay?" I nodded. He leaned and kissed my cheek softly. Like I was a delicate little thing.

"Good bye, Anastasia."

"Good bye, Christian. Thank you." He nodded and walked over to Taylor. That man still scared me, so I turned away and went inside quickly.

My dad was looking at me like he was trying to solve a math problem when I sat beside him on the couch.

"What?" I said. "I told him I'll stay with you."

"You were hugging him, I watched you from the window." He admitted. "It didn't look like he is just a stranger."

"He isn't, Dad." I smiled to myself. "Not anymore. He is so generous and considerate… he did everything he could so that I could get better. He is making me see his shrink so that I could fix my mind up. He is not a bad man."

"Like you knew before." I hang my head, ashamed. He was right. What did I know? I thought he was a good man when my father didn't like him. Maybe Christian was like him? A part of me was scolding myself for thinking that. I heard him sigh and pull me to his side.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't throw it in your face like that. And I'm being a father right now." He chuckled. "I didn't get bad vibes from him at all." I looked at him, surprised.

"It didn't look like that when you refused to take the poor man's hand." He threw his head back and laughed.

"I missed you a lot, Anastasia. A lot."

"I missed you, too, Dad. A lot." He sat there, holding each other until Dad's hunger became unbearable. It felt nice to be somewhere familiar again. I knew this couch. I knew this old TV and this small but warm kitchen. However, I couldn't help feeling something was missing.

Who was I kidding? Someone was missing.

Sooo, here's the reunion you were all waiting for!

I know the ending wasn't what you expected but I assure you, it's not going to be a long separation. *winks*

I don't like writing from Anastasia's POV usually but I need to use her and Christian both in the few upcoming chapters so I'm sorry for those who don't enjoy Ana's POV.

The biggest thanks are going to my sweet beta, my dearest FannieForever15.

Thank you all for your reviews, I didn't have the chance to reply them all but the definetely brighten my day so please review!

-Alina