Disclaimer: I own nothing but, my creative license to bend Fifty Shades into whatever I want! ;)
A/N: Even though my new job is kicking my butt and loads upon loads of family/best friend emergencies have occurred I have managed to get lost in a chapter and here is your MONDAY UPDATE!
Thank you for the reviews and I hope you like what is to come =) Excuse my mistakes =) For now, enjoy!
See you Thursday ;)
A Heart Worth Fifty Shades – Chapter Ten
She had no idea how long she had been awake, but Ana knew she could sit here for a lifetime and never get bored.
She didn't speak, she just remained still, one knee drawn up to her chest, sheet draped around her body, looking at the darkened Seattle skyline that lay just before her out of the large windows of the apartment. It was still as breathtaking as ever and so was the sight beside her. Stealing a quick glimpse at Christian, Ana found her fingers running around the rim of the ring that hung around her neck.
One day was more imaginable than ever before. She could see herself wearing this ring properly one day now that she was back with him. Now that fates grand scheme of destiny had intrinsically pulled them back to one another.
Yet she had reservations. She needed to take this slow, allow her body to find a rhythm with Christian once again, get him to fully forgive her for the fact that she did allow another man to take control of her and destroy who she was for a moment of her life.
Christian could see she was deep in thought even though her back was to him. He hadn't been awake long, but he had awoken fearful that he was alone all over and that Ana had never came back to him. Yet there she was. He could see the perfection of her skin as it contrasted the white sheets and he had to touch her. Sitting up slowly, Christian brought his lips to her shoulder and kissed it regardless of her vest strap. He didn't need hot sex or intimacy to wake up in the best mood ever. Apparently Ana was just a good enough reason alone.
Feeling his kisses roaming up her neck, Ana turned to face him and found her lips captured by his as he kissed her a hello. God how she had miss this, missed him and God, how she never wanted to let it go ever again.
This was perfection.
Ana let out a heavenly sigh as she came back down to earth from her day dream.
Here she was, not even two weeks in to being back in Seattle and Ana was back madly in love and now ready to take back the reigns of her life she had before. The previous weekend she had spent locked away with Christian in Escala and forgot about the world. The rest of the week had been spent at work with her evenings being wined and dined by Christian in lavish restaurants. She was already working her way to being a successful editor and if she had it her way she would even start her own business and to top it all, she had already made it back to her heart and true self in finding Christian.
Tonight she would be heading to an event with Christian where most of his family and Kate would be. She was nervous, but she didn't want any of them to know she was back until she was ready.
She was ready now.
All she needed to do was build herself up completely and feel as good outwardly as she now did inwardly. Flicking through the magazines she saw perfect woman gloss the pages and for once she didn't judge herself based on their looks, but on whether they had a man in their lives like hers. Did their man spend five months waiting for her to heal after a terrible trauma? Did they have a man that kept his every promise and never let her down? Did they even have a man that gave up everything for them?
She didn't think so.
"What can I do for you today then?" Came the voice from behind her, and Ana stopped pretending to read her magazine. "Just a trim, spot of colour? How about something more adventurous?"
Looking up at the mirror, Ana smirked, "How about a hello first?" She asked as she looked to Elena. Watching the woman's mouth drop, Ana laughed a little at her shock and tilted her head to the side. "Hey," She suddenly spoke coyly. This was the first time she was with Elena without death or horrific events around them. This was like old times when Ana had Christian and Elena had her business. Grief didn't bind them now, but Ana was hoping that their friendship and bond still withstood.
"Oh my god," Elena managed as her hand went to her mouth. "You're back?" She asked and as Ana nodded she suddenly began to beam at her. "Does Christian know?"
Ana tilted her head to the side and gave a bashful grin, "Yes."
"Oh good!" Elena said and quickly grabbed Ana's hand and pulled her up to her full height to hug her tightly. "I'm so glad you came back, Ana. He's needed you for so long now and you're finally here." She pulled away with a tearful look and smiled, "I can't believe you're back."
"I think Christian feels the same," Ana replied modestly as she looked to Elena. "You don't know how sorry I am for everything that happened, Elena. For getting you dragged into it and I don't know why I even came here, but all I knew was that I needed to see you."
Elena's eyes watered so much that a tear dropped down, "Come out the back with me a moment. Then we'll get you a haircut." She lifted up a piece of Ana's hair, "You've got split ends, Sweetheart."
"Oh God, don't," Ana tried to withhold a blush but had to give in and just laughed. "I've got a fundraiser with Christian and his family is going to be there and I don't feel anywhere near ready," Ana spoke and Elena just took her hand, dragged her out to the back room and sat her down and grabbed two glasses and a bottle of champagne from the fridge.
"Right, I want you to know that because we don't have bad things bringing us together doesn't mean I can't talk to you. Ana, I've been waiting just as long as Christian for you to come back so I can make a friendship with you. The woman I saw after Christian's death is totally different to the girl I met ages ago." Elena poured them a glass each and as she passed Ana's too her, she continued her statement, "I realised I could never love Christian as much as you."
Ana looked to Elena and smiled weakly, "You'll never know how much I love him."
"I think I can guess," Elena replied sweetly and took a sip of her dress, looking to the time her eyes bulged. "Shit, I have a date in than an hour."
"A date hey?" Ana teased knowing she would have to drill the details later especially when Elena blushed! "I can get my haircut somewhere else if you don't have time."
"Don't be silly, he can wait. He loves me enough," Elena joked and Ana could only see how she had changed as a person. This was not the Elena Lincoln that Christian had introduced way back when. "So come on, what are we looking at doing?" Elena asked picking up the champagne and her champagne flute ready to head back out.
Ana now went bashful again, draining her glass to give her courage for what was to come of tonight. "I need to look perfect for Christian, Elena. I need to wow him," Ana suddenly fretted, wondering if she looked good then she would seal her place with her man.
"I can do exactly that," Elena grinned knowing exactly how to make Ana look perfect.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A Heart Worth Fifty Shades -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"They love you," Christian said as Ana tore a tissue up in her lap as they drew closer to their destination for the night. "You know that."
"I knew that before I ran off," Ana said and looked to him, her eyes wide with fear. "I'm now the girl that ran away from their son and hurt him."
"They understood that you had to hurt me to make me appreciate you more, Ana and that you needed to go to survive it all. They understand that and they forgave you before they even knew they were angry. There was never any disappointment, they knew."
"So you think," Ana dropped her gaze away from his. "I disappeared for months; that means they will hate me now."
"Hey now," Christian twisted in his seat and lifted her head to look at him. "Everything that you did, you did in order for us to get back what we have now. They knew I would wait and they knew I would wait forever. Now I don't have to wait and they will see how happy you make me, Ana. They will know that this is it now. We can heal the rest of the way with each other." He saw her slowly begin to agree with him, "If you ever start to worry think about our weekend. It might have been five days ago, but it's a new weekend and we can do a repeat."
He saw her blush and settled down, his hand still clasped around hers. He knew he had her remembering just how intimate they were.
He had spent the entire weekend with Ana in his apartment. They did nothing but kiss and cuddle and reacquaint with one another. He didn't need sex to feel at peace or to feel gratified, he just needed Ana. And when it came to sleeping he was amazed at how peacefully she had slept seeing as the last time he had shared a bed with her she either barely slept or was tortured by dreams.
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't realise that had arrived and were now ready to go inside. She remained quiet as they headed inside, hand in hand, eyes on them. Oh, Mr. Grey has made a go in the dating world again! Christian never let her get too far with her nerves; he kept her walking until they made it into the grand ballroom.
Ana froze mid stride. She saw them all, standing, enjoying the events of the night and she had to smile at the sight. God, how she had missed them all. However, the fear that struck up in her was eclipsing and it hurt to wonder if there was any animosity for them to throw at her.
"C'mon, Baby," Christian murmured to her, threading his arm under hers and around her waist. "Do not lose that smile. It's the best thing about your outfit." Of course he was partly lying to her. Everything about her tonight was the best part. From her newly styled hair, to the figure hugging midnight plum dress to her simple makeup she was looking perfect in his arms. Her smile just magnified the perfection.
Listening, she allowed him to take her towards the small gathering and immediately she saw Elliot lock eyes with her as he stood facing them most out of the group.
"Christian?" Elliot gasped as he saw his brother approaching.
"I found a date like you wanted me to," Christian joked at his brother and looked at Ana as she blushed. "I didn't think you'd mind."
Everyone turned completely to look and they gasped. They expected some stand in for Ana, but they were actually given Ana.
"Oh my," Grace murmured and placed a hand to her heart with the shock.
Kate turned on her heels, looking away from her man and his parents and stared at the sight before her. There she was, her best friend, looking fit and happy and like life had been injected back into her entire being. She didn't say anything but as the tears pricked her eyes she launched at Ana for a hug. She didn't want to cry and so a hug was a good way to cover up.
"I knew you'd come back," She whispered at Ana clung on for almost dear life. "I knew if he didn't push you, you would be back sooner rather than later." She then pulled back with a quick sniff to shoo the tears away and looked at Ana. "Steele, you have my evening unbeatable."
Ana just couldn't withhold the overwhelming need to just burst into a smile even as she looked to Elliot – a man that had helped bring her closer to home with just coming to her and telling her that Christian was alive – she saw that he was more than pleased she was back. His hug added to the proof.
"Oh Ana," Grace murmured emotionally as she took her turn for the hug and just held onto Ana for a few seconds before pulling back and placing her hands to the young woman's face as though to check her over. "It is so good to see you, Sweetie. I think I stand for everyone when I say we have missed you. Life isn't right without you," She watched Ana try to swallow her tears and gave her a wink before giving her son a supporting hug as Carrick welcomed Ana back into the Grey family fold.
"I say we sit and wait for the meal to begin. I believe we have some catching up to do now," Carrick spoke as he relinquished Ana to Christian's side. He saw everyone agree and turned to go and find their table.
As they all left Ana reached for Christian's hand. She might have been welcomed back warmly, but it had been a long since she had been to a fundraiser or actually out in public like this and properly under scrutiny by other women. She had a lot to overcome, but with Christian beside her, it was even anywhere near as big as the feat it used to be.
"I told you they would be over the moon," Christian whispered and led her to their table that they were placed at.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A Heart Worth Fifty Shades -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Later that evening, with Grace dancing with Carrick and Elliot with Kate, Ana placed her hand on Christian's and threaded her fingers with his. She smiled as his thumb reacted and ran down the side of her palm and she looked up to him just as he gave her a small smile.
"The thing that made me decide to come back sooner rather than later was the fact that I wrote an email to you, literally pouring my heart out and all I could do was delete it. We'd had no contact and I wanted to hear from you and yet I was scared. So I didn't send it and I knew the only way I was going to get over this was to come back."
"And walk into me?" Christian teased her without a care.
"Hey, you walked into me," She joked with him and giggled.
Christian turned serious and consequently so did Ana, "God, I have missed that sound." He watched her drop her eyes and he leaned in and she looked up at him as a result, "Thank you for bringing it back." He watched her remain silent on him and so decided he needed to try a new tactic. "Dance with me?" Christian asked her as the newest song came to life in the air. He saw her look at him, her eyes wide as though she were a deer caught in the headlights of a car. He gave her a smirk, stood and put his hand back out for her to take, "I won't let you fall."
Blushing a little, Ana put her hand in his and allowed him to sweep her away. She found herself taken from her seat and drawn into the music of the new song. Immediately, Christian's hands planted themselves around her, ready to keep her close as they began to sway.
She looked up at him before resting her head to his shoulder.
Heart beats fast
Colours and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Ana listened to the lyrics of the music and felt her eyes water. She didn't know if it were atmosphere of the evening, of being reacquainted with a life she really did love or whether or not it was Christian's intoxicating scent that wrapped around her every sense regardless of their proximity. Whatever it was, it made her feel human and at peace. With Christian wrapped around her, mindless of the people around, she felt loved as much as she loved.
After all, Ana had loved him for what felt like a thousand years and she had felt like a million had passed since she had left that fateful day, but now she was back and she had Christian back.
Just how she had spent every night dreaming.
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
As the song continued, Christian remained swaying to the rhythm, keeping Ana in step, his hands keeping her close. "I would wait a thousand and one years for you," Christian whispered and continued to dance with Ana in amongst all of the crowd on the dance floor. "And never regret a day of it."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A Heart Worth Fifty Shades -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Song: Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
A/N: Don't think I've forgotten about Mia and Ethan ;)