I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy characters – those belong to E.L. James. Additional
characters are fictional.

I wake up suddenly and I'm not sure where I am until I can focus on the large wall of windows in front of me overlooking Seattle. I'm in Christian's bed, naked, and alone. I feel like I got run over by a truck and my eyelids feel so heavy from the sobbing that put me to sleep. Did Christian ever come to bed? Probably not from the way he left me in his room last night.

I hear a soft, sad melody coming through the doorway. Christian is at his piano, which means that he can't sleep and has something on his mind. When I can finally focus, it's two thirty-five am. I have to up in a few short hours for work, but I need to see him. I grab the duvet off the bed and make my way to the great room.

I watch him from the entry of the room and take in the perfect picture in front of me. He is so engrossed in the complex melody of the music that it looks like he is another place. The lamp next to him gives off the illusion that he is in a bubble, his own bubble of sadness. Just listening to the music makes my heart ache for him. Wow, he is really good at the piano.

I quietly pad over to him so that I don't disturb him but he opens his eyes and follows me until I am standing next to him. He nods his head slightly to indicated the space next to him and moves on the bench to make room for me. I pull the duvet tighter around my body and I sit next to him.

When he finishes the piece, he moves he hands to his lap and continues to stare at the keys on the piano. I don't think he ever came to bed, but he changed into his pajama pants and his chest is bare. The silence is killing me and I need to break it.

"I'm sorry", I whisper. I'm not sure what I'm sorry for, but I felt like I had to say it to him after the way he left me the in the bedroom.

He moves his hand from his lap and grabs one of mine. He tenderly starts stroking his thumb along my knuckles. "What for? I'm the one that should be apologizing, Anastasia", he sounds so melancholy.

"I'm sorry that you feel wounded, but I wasn't going to lie to you. You wanted to know, so I told you. I can't take back my relationship with Jay and what we did, but I don't want you to feel hurt by it either. If you want us together and for me to earn your trust, you need to let go of my past with him".

He swallows but he never takes his eyes off the piano. "I know I do, but it's hard. My feelings for your are so deep that I don't know how to deal with any one of them. I see red when I think about him touching you the way I do. You're only supposed to be mine, but I know you weren't mine when you were with him. You never cheated and so I should be sorry for the way I acted tonight. I shouldn't have asked you about him unless I could handle the truth".

"You should know that I still need to talk to him. How we left things yesterday, wasn't right for the both of us and at least I need closure from him".

He finally looks at me and he has a scowl on his face. "No, Anastasia, I don't want you near him".

I pull my hand out of his hold and put my head in my hands, just shaking my head. "Christian, this isn't your decision to make. I need this. Listen, it's almost three in the morning and I don't want to argue about Jay any further tonight". I finally look up at him and he looks confused and lost. "Let's just go to bed".

He gets up with me from the piano and we walk back to his bedroom and he keeps his hand on the small of my back while I hold the duvet up to my body. When we get to the bed, I unwrap the duvet and throw it on both of us when we climb in together. Christian pulls me in from behind, he favorite position of my back to his front. I know he likes this way, especially when his chest is bare so I won't touch him. I won't push that topic with him tonight, but I want to be able to show him that I love him and I'll be gentle because I really want to touch him all over.

"Sleep baby", he whispers when I finally let the sleep take me away again.

When I wake again, the light of dawn is coming through the wall of windows and again, I find myself naked, and alone. This is starting to become a pattern and I'm not liking it. When I sit up in bed, Christian walks out of his closet and he is wearing navy dress pants, white linen shirt, and he is putting on a navy stripped tie. He hair is still wet from his shower.

"Good morning Miss Steele. Sleep well?"

"Um, not the best night sleep especially with impromptu piano concert at two thirty", as I smirk at him. "You're up early. Did you get any sleep?"

"I got a little sleep. I have an early breakfast meeting so I need to be at Grey House in an hour. But take your time. Mrs. Jones will make you breakfast and I'll have Taylor come back and drive you to work", he says as he walks back into the closet.

I get out of the bed and quickly make my way to the bathroom as I don't have a stitch on me, but Christian grabs me before I make it to the door. "Hey, don't I get a morning kiss?"

"I haven't brushed my teeth", and he cuts me short with a long, passionate kiss.

When he pulls away, he keeps me tight to his body in his embrace and just stares into my eyes. "Will I see you tonight?", he asks softly.

"Do you want to?" Please say yes!

"Of course. I'll pick you up from work. I'll email you later", and he bends down and gives me a chaste kiss on the lips. "Laters, baby". He lets me go and walks out of his bedroom.

After I get off the phone with one of my more high maintenance authors, my cell phone rings. It's Jay. I take a deep breathe because I'm nervous about talking to him. I almost called him three times this morning, but chickened out, so I'm slightly relieved that he has made the initial contact.

"Hello".

"Hi Ana. It's Jay".

"Hi Jay".

"I, um, I wanted to, um, I think we need to talk about what happened this weekend". Oh, he sounds so nervous. I know I would be if I had called him.

"I agree. What did you have in mind?" And please don't say lunch. I don't think I could handle seeing him without being so emotional and then coming back to work.

"Can you meed after work at Fifties?"

"Yes, that works for me. I can be there at six".

"Okay, I'll see then Ana", and he hangs up. Not even a good-bye, which makes my heart sink. Why do I feel so hurt by that?

Shit! I need to tell Christian about meeting Jay as he is to pick me up after work. I just don't want Christian involved with whatever Jay and I have to say to each other. He has to understand this is closure for Jay and I as I certainly wouldn't get involved he had to do the same with an ex.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Change of Plans

Date: September 20, 2011 11:45 PST

To: Christian Grey

Christian,

Would it be alright if I met you at Escala tonight around 7pm? I have an appointment after work.

Anastasia Steele

Editor (Acting)

Seattle Independent Publishing

I'm not sure what kind of response I'll get from Christian but I know he will figure out what my evening appointment is even with being so vague. As I grab my purse and head out for lunch, my phone rings again and it's Christian.

"Hi".

"Why didn't you tell me you had plans after work when we spoke this morning?" Really? I just roll my eyes and bite my tongue. "You're meeting that Wagner fucker, aren't you?"

"Yes Christian, he just called. I told you that he and I were going to have to talk and he wants to meet tonight. The sooner the better".

"Anastasia, I don't want you meeting him. Why can't you talk over the phone".

"Because Christian, he wants to meet in person. I"ll be fine".

"Then I'm going with you. Where are you meeting?"

"No Christian, you can't come, it will just make the situation..worse. I can handle this my own. I have to handle this on my own. I'll be at your place right afterwards".

"You didn't answer my question, where are you meeting?"

"Fifties, across the street from SIP. In a public place".

"You're meeting him at a bar?", he lets out a loud breathe over the phone. "Fine, but you're taking Sawyer with you", he tells me through gritted teeth.

"Fine, Sawyer can watch but he is to stay outside the bar", he mutters and I can tell that he is running his hand through his hair.

"I'll see you tonight", and then he hangs up. He can be so exasperating sometimes. He can't fight all my battles for me. I know that Jay was mean and angry on Saturday, but I think this is for closure for him too. And what's with the phone calls without a proper good-bye today?

After lunch, the afternoon goes by slowly and I'm having a hard time reading manuscripts. I'm so nervous about meeting Jay. Will he want to still date me? Or tell me that he never wants to hear from me again? I'm not sure how he is going to take the news of Christian and I getting back together, but I will be honest with him. I feel like that I kept so much from him but he has to understand that I didn't lead him on and that I truly did like being with him. I just never fell in love with him and I never stopped loving Christian. I'm also hoping that he will take back the slut comment.

Right at six, I make my way to Fifties and search the bar for him. I finally spot him sitting a small table in the back. He stands when he sees me and I make my way over to him. Sawyer, whom I just met leaving SIP tonight, comes in right me and takes a spot at the bar. I notice that he takes a seat at the corner so he can angle himself to keep an eye on me.

When I approach Jay, I keep a small smile on my face letting him know that I come in peace and he looks good. He is wearing a blue dress shirt and dress pants. Just looking at him now, he really does look like Christian, to the point where they could be twins. The have the same height, build, hair, but the eyes just separate the difference. I'm still mesmerized by him.

I'm not sure if I should hug him, shake his hand, or do nothing. "Hi Jay", and I still have my smile but I don't attempt to touch him.

"Ana", he says softly and leans in and gives me a small kiss on the cheek. "You look lovely".

"Thank you", and I blush with his complement.

We both sit at the table and I notice he has a beer in front of him. "What would you like to drink?", he asks and waves the waitress over to take my drink order. When she gets to our table, I just ask for a glass of white wine. I know I need to keep a clear head, but one glass will help me relax a bit.

We both just look at anywhere except each other and it's so silent between us that I don't even notice the chatter in the bar. It's that feeling when the teacher asks a question to the classroom that no one wants to answer and everyone just looks at each other to see who is going to raise their hand first. Could this be an more awkward, my sub conscience hints at me.

"Ana, I'm really sorry about what I said and how I acted Friday night. I was out of line to yell at you at the hotel. I just had too much to drink and I let the fact that Christian Grey is your ex". I hear the sincerity in his voice but he only glances at me when he apologizes, so I'm not sure if he really means it.

"About that", I say softly. I know this isn't going to be easy to say and I get a delay as the waitress put my glass of wine down on the table. I take a big gulp to help push the words that are sitting on my tongue. "Christian and I decided to give our relationship another try". As soon as I tell him, I take another gulp of wine and look anywhere but his eyes.

He lets out a small chuckle and not because my revelation is funny, but maybe this news maybe a bit disturbing. He lets out a loud sigh and before he can say anything, I speak. "Jay, I didn't sleep with Christian Friday night and we didn't decide this until yesterday after you told me that we were done. I'm sorry, but I'm still madly, deeply in love with him".

"Well, I was hoping that you would forgive me and we could start over again, but I guess Christian Grey beat me to it. Ana, I'm sorry how everything turned out between us and I'm sorry that I was an ass. I really like you and I you are one of the sweetest girls I've met in a long time."

"That's very kind of you Jay".

"Well, I'm just being honest, but you should be with him if you really love him. Maybe we can be friends?" Friends. I would like to be friends with him but I don't think Christian will like that. Well, he'll just have to get over that. Good luck with that sister!

I smile at him. "Friends", and I extend my hand out to him and we shake.

"Do you want another drink?", he asks me.

"No, I should be going soon. I'm meeting Christian for dinner".

"Okay. May be we can meet for coffee or something soon. Looks like the Mariners are going to the playoffs, so we could catch a game". I think back to when he brought me to my first Mariners' game and the thought of watching a game with him would be fun, but I don't think Christian would like the idea of me hanging out with my now ex-boyfriend.

He stands up and pulls out a twenty-dollar bill from his pocket, so I stand up with him. He takes my hand and pulls me towards him, into a hug. "Good-bye baby girl", he whispers in my ear. That endearment gives me goose bumps.

"Good-bye, Jay", I whisper and he steps away from me. He turns on his heels and leaves the bar.

That went better than I expected and I got closure with Jay. I like that we decided to stay friends and that there aren't bad feelings between us. At least he apologized for his behavior towards me Friday night, but not for the slut comment. I feel tears pricking in the back of my eyes and I'm not sure why. Is it because he told me that he still wanted to be with me? Maybe he did love me and I broke his heart? Or the fact that he wants to be friends?

I look up and Sawyer is coming towards me. "Are you ready to go Miss Steele?"

I wipe my tears away and take a deep breath so I can stop crying. "Yes, I'm ready to go".

When I step outside, I close my eyes and take in the fall, evening air. There is a chill in the air and the days are getting shorter. When I open my eyes, the most amazing vision is in front of me. He is leaning against the black SUV and he is wearing tight dark wash jeans, a white button down shirt, and his navy pin striped blazer. With his just fucked hair and dark gray eyes, he looks just delicious. I see the look of concern come over his face. "Ana, are you okay?", he asks and steps closer to me. "What did that fucker do?"

"He didn't do anything, Christian. I told him that we were back together, but we decided to remain friends".

"Then why are you crying? Why are going to be friends with him?"

"I guess I'm just a little sad about how it ended between us, but do like him as a friend and I think we can just remain friends".

"Do you have feelings for him?", Christian asks and he sounds angry.

"No, not like the feelings I have for you! We just broke up and I think I hurt his feelings, so I'm just a little emotional about it. I could never love anyone else the way I love you, Christian", and I put my palm on his cheek, which he leans into.

"He'll get over it. Come home with me. Mrs. Jones has made dinner for us".

"Okay, sounds wonderful", and lean up and kiss him softly on the lips. "I love you Christian Grey", I whisper against his lips. His eyes go wide for a moment, but then he gives me his shy smile.

"Come, baby", and he opens the door to the SUV for us.

A/N: This was suppose to be the last chapter, but I'm not ready to let Jay go just yet! Do you think he can just "be friends" with Ana? So, I'm going to continue this one for a bit longer, but my schedule is about to get crazy here in real life, so I'll do my best to get the next chapter up by next week.

Once again, thank you for the all followers and reviews! All positive and negative reviews are appreciated, except for the "guest" reviewer that "fucking hates" this story and has told me that they will stop reading. Please, just stop reading it! You don't have to warn me of your intentions!