Synopsis: Ana cannot forgive Christian for fleeing to Elena the moment she needed him most. She needs some time away, time to think and clear her head. Will she miss the signs that Christian isn't coping as well as she'd hoped?

Setting: This story is set in the time period of Ana breaking the news to Christian about blip, but for my purposes it happened on a Friday & Jack is still in jail at this point in my story.

Disclaimer: The Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy and all associated content belong to E.L James- I'm simply borrowing them, no profit is being made from my story.

A/N: *Hides* I'm so damn sorry guys! If any of you are even still waiting or had all given up on me ever publishing again. I hit such hard roadblocks with this and finally decided that no matter how this chapter comes out- it needed to happen today! All mistakes are my own- no beta. I've also skipped to four days ahead from where we left off. -Lia Walker

Ana POV

Friday 7:16AM

I've given Gail the morning off, after all she has done for us this week it was the least I could do.

We finally chased Carrick and Grace out last night, of course they'll be back later today to check on their son. I'm so happy to see Christian is recovering so well, the IV is gone and his breathing is finally stable.

He's still fairly weak, so after pestering me for the last three days I finally brought him his laptop and he's been working from bed with Taylor & Sawyer's assistance.

I'm in the process of cooking breakfast- Belgian waffles with fresh fruit with whipped cream, when I feel two arms snake gently around my sides and pull me backwards.

"Christian!" I shout in alarm, "You should be in bed!"

He ignores me, before turning me around and pulling me in closer for a deep, passionate kiss.

"I couldn't sleep." He claims "Something smells divine and I had to come see for myself what it was."

I smirk, as always, unable to stay mad at him. "I can bring breakfast to the bedroom now come on, let's go back to bed."

"As tempting as that sounds, I have a meeting to attend soon." He informs me with a somewhat apologetic look.

Before I can object he pulls the plate from the counter and moves to sit at the table.

I roll my eyes and join him with my own plate.

"Who is the meeting with?" I ask him, knowing that he's probably already arranged to have it held here at Escala.

He picks up a spoonful of whipped cream and stares at it for a moment before looking at me "I can think of a much more enticing use for this." He smiles, eyes darkening.

"Oh no you don't." I will not be deterred. "Who is the meeting with?" I ask again.

He bites his lip, the hypocrite!

"Elena." He says after several moments of contemplation.

I am speechless. I don't even know what to say right now. I quickly pick up my own plate and turn sharply from him, shaking off his arm a little too harshly, not realizing I've accidentally elbowed him in the ribs until he too is standing over the table with one arm guarding his now throbbing chest.

"God Christian I'm sorry!" I say, ashamed at my actions but is he serious? A meeting with Elena?

Christian POV

I had hoped we would be able to enjoy a nice breakfast before I had to bring the meeting up but Ana is too smart for that.

After trying to side track her she again asks "Who is the meeting with?"

I think about the best way to answer but being direct is one of my flaws and she knows that so I answer honestly "Elena."

Her face immediately goes blank and I reach out for her arm to try to calm her down and explain myself, but she is having none of it.

As she yanks her arm from my grasp, which wasn't even very firm to begin with, her elbow connects sharply with my still-healing ribs.

I stand quickly and wrap my arms around my middle, taking deep & slow breaths to try to control my pain.

She's talking to me but I can't quite make out what she's saying over the sound of blood rushing in my ears.

I can very faintly make out "Taylor! Please Taylor I need help!"

Jason comes to my other side and carefully takes my arm under the elbow and leads me to the chaise in the living room.

Ana is standing just off to the side, with tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen."

I want to assure her but I just can't get the breath. I close my eyes for just a moment and she quickly asks Taylor if there is anything she can get.

"Mrs. Grey left the oxygen tank in the study in case there would be a need for it, I would say this qualifies as a need for it." he tells her.

Ana turns to go but is intercepted by Gail who has already obtained it.

After pulling my arms away from my middle, Taylor helps Gail attach the oxygen mask to my face and I take calm, controlled breaths, finally regaining my equilibrium.

I've leaned back into the chaise and I motion for Ana to come sit beside me.

"S'okay." I tell her raggedly "I just didn't see football mentioned anywhere in your background check." Trying to lighten the mood.

She laughs through her tears and sits forward. "Should I call your mom?" She asks, cellphone already in hand.

"NO!" I tell her, the last thing I want is my mom back here. Don't get me wrong, I do love my parents very much but my mother can be a little...stifling to say the least.

Now that I'm feeling almost 100% better than I was, I thank Gail and Taylor and send them off with the offending mask.

I can tell Taylor wants to say something when he hesitates in the hall but it must not have been important because he continues on.

"Can we try that again?" I ask Ana very seriously.

"Why are you meeting with Elena Christian?" She asks me.

Well straight to the point I suppose. I move to stand and she carefully pushes me back down. "Whatever you need, I can get it." She says.

I nod "In my office there is a manila folder on the corner of the desk containing several documents. Could you bring that back here?"

She looks slightly confused but nods and retrieves the requested items.

Before she can hand me the folder I tell her to open it and I watch her face with vaguely shielded anticipation.

Her expression gives nothing away as she's reading through the paperwork. Finally she closes it and looks deflated. "Oh." she says.

Oh? That's it? That's the reaction I get?

"Are you okay now?" I ask her.

"I'm sorry I assumed the worst." She says carefully "I'll have to be careful with my assumptions and hormones for the next few months."

"I don't have the best track record when it comes to Elena so I completely understand your apprehension baby." I assure her "Though I could have done without the elbow in the side."

"It was an accident!" she rushes to assure me and I laugh carefully as I reply "I know, I just love getting you all riled up."

She brings my plate to me and we eat together in the living room in amicable silence.

The meeting is at 9 and I'll be damned that I don't keep it absolutely business and nothing more.

After breakfast I went into our room and changed into one of my signature suits & I'd invited Ana to the meeting so I wore our special tie.

Elena arrived to the meeting at exactly 9:05- her usual style.

Ana sat beside me at the conference table in my office and her presence clearly threw Elena off.

"Christian." Elena smiled before turning to Ana "Good morning."

"Why all the formality Christian?" She asks as the turns to me, all but ignoring Ana.

"We could have met at my house or the salon like we usually do?" She continues, clearly trying to get Ana riled up.

I won't have it, not anymore.

"Elena..." I begin. "I'm sure as you know Anastasia is my wife and she is pregnant with our child."

She looked bored now, as though she clearly didn't understand where this was going.

"Yes of course I know that." She tells me "But are you going to allow your wife to dictate who you can and can't speak with?" She asks, sounding amazed.

"You know just as well as I do that we don't have the typical friendship Elena and we never have. But, back to what I was saying." I pulled the folder forward and presented the documents to her.

"I am terminating our business deal and giving sole ownership of the salons to you and I have written a check inside for the initial investment. Right now my wife is the most important person in my life and I will do anything I can to keep her calm and happy. I appreciate your friendship Elena and I admit that without your support I don't know where I would be right now but I need to focus on my future and much less on my past."

"You can't be serious Christian." She smirks before realizing that I am, in fact serious.

"You're choosing this little tramp over me?" She continues.

It is all I can to to remain calm but Ana reacts for the both of us. She moves faster than I've ever seen her move and leaves a red hand-print on Elena's left cheek.

"Get the fuck out of our home." Ana says with barely concealed anger.

"You're going to regret this Christian." Elena says

"The only thing I regret, is letting this go on as long as it has." I finish quietly before adding "Now please, get out."

Reviews = LOVE! DO I end it here or continue on? What would you like to see happen next?