CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:

"I guess the rumors were true about the famous Clayton Motel!" I called after Christian as he gathered his belongings. The room seemed dirty and old. There was a simple queen size bed, covered by a yellowish duvet; which told me at one point it was a white color. My eyes caught a small table tucked beside the bed; a black old phone and a photograph were neatly placed on it.

Curiosity took over me and before I knew what I was doing I picked up the picture. I beamed the moment I saw a younger Christian. He was standing in the middle beside an older woman to the right. She was beautiful. Her long hair was a light shade of brown and there was a warmth her hair brought to her features, a simple frame for that smile and eyes that held more love than the pictured showed. Her eyes were as unique as Christians and I could see the resembles. Was this his mother?

My eyes moved to the tall man on the left. He was different, his eyes were a dark brown color which were full of joy and happiness. Where had they taken the picture? Who was this man to Christian? His hair was buzzed short and a dog tag hanging from his neck told me he was in the army. They all looked content and happy.

"I think I have everything," Christian called from the bathroom and I quickly put down the picture and stepped away from it. I couldn't push him to open up about his past. I was willing to wait for him to open up to me whenever that was. "Ready to get out of this dirt-hole?" he asked.

"Yes, this place stays true to its reputation." I laughed, "No wonder only outsiders stay here."

Christian dropped his bags down and came to me, "Outsiders?"

"You know… people who didn't grow up in Athens."

"Well this outsider is about to become a resident of Athens," he said bringing his lips down to mine.

"Athens is excited, you will fit here," I told him as I returned the sweet kiss.

"I think I will too," he said, but I heard the fear in his voice. Was he afraid to fit in? I didn't dull on it for now. "come on, let's get out of here."

"Yes, here I'll help you bring your bags," I told him looking back at the table where I'd seen the picture, but it was no longer there.

I wonder who the guy was in the picture? Christian had told me he didn't have siblings. The curiosity was killing me and I was desperately wanting answers.

Christian closed the door behind us and we walked to his car. He opened the trunk and we placed the bags in. When he closed the trunk he took my hand and pulled me close to his body.

"I'm so glad you came looking for me." He touched my cheek and kissed my lips.

"I'm glad I did too," I admitted, I wanted to be with him even if it meant not knowing his past.

"I know we still have a lot to talk about," he added and I agreed. "Perhaps we can grab some ice cream before I take you home?" He asked.

Pushing the thoughts of the picture to the back of my head I focused on the now, "I would love that so much."

"Great, it's a date." Christian held the door open for me and I gladly walked inside the car, loving every minute I got to spend with him.

"Vanilla or strawberry?" Christian asked as we stood just outside of Rosie's ice cream shop. He held two ice cream cones one on each hand.

"Strawberry," I told him and he took a nibble of it before he handed it to me. I laughed at how silly he was acting.

"Delicious, but your lips taste better." He reached in for a quick kiss making my heart melt.

"Thank you for the ice cream."

"You're very welcome. Would you like to sit down?" He asked me, but I shook my head.

"Can we walk a bit?"

"Of course."

Christian began to walk and I was thankful for the fresh air. I needed to figure out what was going on through his mind and if he was in fact going to stay this time.

"Can I ask you something?" I said needed to come out of my comfort zone and get some real answers.

Christian ate some of his ice cream as he agreed.

"When I went to the Clayton Motel to find you, I asked the man for your room. However, I realized I don't know your last name."

"Oh? Did I not tell you?" He looked confused.

I shook my head.

He let out a little smirk, "I'm sorry, I'm Christian Grey."

"Grey?" The last name was interesting. "I like it."

"Thanks, it was my mother's last name." His voice always went low when he spoke about his mother.

"Oh?"

"I never knew my father so my mother gave me her last name. I guess back in the day I would of had been a bastard baby." He laughed.

"Did you ever wish you had met your father?"

"Yes, when I was young. I wanted to know where I came from, but every time I brought it up my mother would cry, so I stopped asking eventually."

"You didn't think about looking for him after your mother died?" I asked needing to know more.

"Even if I wanted to my mother never told me anything about him, so there was nothing for me to lead a search with."

"It must of had been hard to grow up with a single mom."

"It was, but we had help. My godparents helped my mother a lot over the years."

"Did you see them a lot?"

"When I was really young, yes, but then they moved and they had a kid so it was hard for them to be around." He finished his ice cream as he told me. "I think it's my turn to ask you something."

"I think it's only fair with all that you shared," I told him as I licked my ice cream around the edges where it was dripping.

He looked pleased with my answer."Why didn't you want to come into the ice cream shop with me?"

I looked down at my feet as I was not prepared for this specific question. "When my parents died I was left broken. It was hard for me to be around people, but I still did it. I went to school and kept to myself as much as I could. However, with time I stopped communicating and my aunt decided that home school was a better option for me. But that wasn't the best decision, I feel like she just wanted to have more control over me. So with time it just got worse and worst until I feared even going to the store. My aunt put me through therapy and that's when I learned that I suffered from Agoraphobia." My eyes felt sore and I knew the tears were coming. "You must think I'm a nut job. But I can assure you I'm not. I have been working through it."

"Of course I don't think that Ana." he grabbed my arm and stopped me from walking, "I think you're the strongest woman I have ever met. You have come out of your shell so much and I can see the badass woman waiting to be let out completely."

I wrapped my free arm around his waist and buried my face on his neck, "It's all because of you." I whispered more to myself.

"Ana," he untangled me from his hold and his eyes met mine, "You have changed a lot for me too."

"I have?" I sounded surprised.

"Yes, I never wanted to settle down with anyone. But you have changed that."

My heart skipped a beat at his words and speechless I got on my tiptoes and planted a sweet kiss on his lips.

"Can I make you dinner tonight?" I asked Christian smiling from ear to ear. I wanted to get to know more about him and what better way than to have dinner together.

Christian grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him. His lips brushed against mine in a very loving way, "I would love that."

"We will need ingredients," I whispered as I retreated from his hold.

"What's wrong?" He looked me in the eye and knew something was up with me.

"I don't do grocery stores," I mumbled scared he would judge me. "I can't be around that much people," I continued.

Christian placed his hand out for me to take, and with one move I was back in his arms. "You could make a list for me and I could go alone."

My eyes met his as he said that. I felt grateful to have met such an understanding man. "You would do that for me?"

He nodded his head, " I would do anything for you." He kissed me once more and I deepened it. I didn't care we were in the middle of the street. I needed his love and craved it with such hunger I was afraid I would undress him here.

"We better stop." He pulled away breathless, "I'll have to take a cold shower if we don't." He casually laughed.

"I'm sorry." I looked down at the ground embarrassed.

"Hey don't be sorry." He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it.

"I'm thankful for your patience," I whispered.

"I would wait one hundred years to be with you." He smiled, "but I hope it's not that long."

"I think we will know when the right time is." I murmured and shyly didn't meet his eyes.

Christian beamed at my shyness and kissed my cheek once more. "So what do we need from the grocery store?"

"It's warm today, so maybe steaks, veggies, and potatoes?" I asked him knowing I would have to go home for things to cook with, as he didn't have any pots or pans.

"That sounds delightful."

"Great, I'll need to stop at my house to grab a few things too." I made a mental note of the things I would need. Then I remember I couldn't go there with Christian, after all my aunt didn't know about him. "Or perhaps you can just drop me off and then I'll meet you back at your apartment."

"Nonsense, I'll wait for you," he exclaimed.

I wanted to say no, but I didn't want to be rude. I prayed that my aunt wouldn't be there when I arrived.

"Alright, then we should go." I took Christian's hand and we walked back to the car.