This is a shorter chapter than normal but I felt it is a good place to stop. Thank you to everyone who is reading my story - it makes me smile that you like it! ~jujukeck

Chapter 26

APOV

The sun does help the gargantuan hangover I have and the orange juice helps to quench my thirst. I lay in the lounge with my eyes shut soaking up the sun. "Anastasia?" Is that my name? I must be dreaming it sounded like Christian. "Anastasia." Nope, that's my name. I open my eyes and there he is. I hadn't laid eyes on him for over two weeks. He is so gorgeous. "Ana, can we talk?"

I sit up and look at Kate with confusion. She shrugs at me but then says, "Ana, I'm going up to the room. Call me if you need me." So, now I'm alone with Christian. The last time I saw him he was kicking me out.

I don't know what I feel more, relief, sadness, or anger. I decide anger is the best for me to get through this. "It's a free country. No one is stopping you from talking." He winces at my words.

"I guess I deserve that." His voice is quiet sounding chastised.

My heart aches for him, I hate seeing him hurt. But I need to be strong, for myself. "Do you have something to say, Christian? I'm busy." I hear him gasp at my harshness.

"Ana, I'm sorry."

Now I really sit up and am in disbelief. "Sorry? That's all you can say? You're sorry? I have had the worst two weeks of my life. Sorry doesn't cover it."

"Looks like you aren't hurting here in Miami." He says petulantly.

"Christian, not that it's any of your business now, but Kate asked me to come here with her for work - to help keep my mind off of you and the misery I've been in. Would you prefer me to be sitting in the apartment sobbing into my pillow? You're the one who left me!" And now I can't hold back and the sob I've been trying to hold in.

"I was wrong, Anastasia. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions so quickly. I should have listened to you, believed you."

"Christian, what hurt me the worst was that you were so quick to believe I would do that to you. After all, we've been through. When I needed you the most you abandoned me. You left me when you said you wouldn't." I can't do this. I get up. "Christian, I can't do this here."

"Where do you want to go? Please, I need to talk to you." I shake my head.

I can barely speak above a whisper, my sobs constricting my throat. "I don't know."

"I'll get us a room." I look at him in shock. "Just to talk." I nod my head in agreement.

CPOV

We get into the suite - being Christian Grey has its advantages in times like this. Ana sits in the single chair on the other side of the room. I know she does this so I can't sit next to her. I can see the pain I've caused her on her face. Her usually radiant, blue eyes are now dull and sunken in. Even with the little bit of sun she's gotten, she looks gray and sallow. "Baby, I'm so sorry. I don't know if I could ever say enough to make you know how much I regret my actions."

"I tried. I tried to tell you the truth. I kept trying." And now she is sobbing into her hands. Seeing her like this is crushing me.

I go up to her and try to hug her and console her but she pushes me away. "No, Christian. Don't touch me."

"Ana, what can I do to make this right?"

She looks down at her hands, unable to look me in the eye. "I don't know, Christian."

"Ana, I love you. Do you still love me?" I have tears brimming in my eyes. I hold my breath bracing myself for her answer.

Her voice quivers, "Yes. I always will."

"Then please, come home with me. We can work on everything there."

"OK", she gives me a concise answer. I'm not sure if she really wants to or she's just caving in so we'll stop this conversation.

APOV

The flight home is long and awkward. I don't talk and Christian just stares at me. The ride to Escala is also quiet. We get in front and Taylor opens my door. Quietly he says to me, "Welcome home, Mrs. Grey." I don't know what to say so I just nod.

We get into the foyer and Christian says, "Taylor will bring your bags into our bedroom."

"Spare bedroom, Christian. I may have come back with you but everything's not OK, we're not OK." I start to walk upstairs to the spare room.

"Ana, please." I turn around to look at him, my tears falling down my cheeks.

"Christian, please, I'm exhausted. I can't talk anymore. I can't cry anymore. I have nothing left." He doesn't respond, he just nods his head and turns around walking to the great room. This used to be my happy place. This used to be my home. But it's not. It feels foreign like I don't belong here. I cry myself to sleep unsure of my place in this world.

I'm up early, it's 5 am. I put my robe on and walk out to the kitchen to make some tea. I can feel him come up behind me. "Anastasia, you're up early."

"I didn't sleep well." My tea in my hand, I turn to look at him.

"Neither did I. It's not the same without you. I've asked Dr. Flynn to come over this morning. Is that OK?"

"That's fine. I'm going to get a shower and get ready." I stop, realizing that most of my clothes are at Kate's.

"I had Taylor collect your things from Kate's. They're in the closet in our bedroom." I want to say 'your' bedroom since that's how I feel but I don't. I don't think I have any more left in me. I just nod and go back up to shower in the spare room bathroom.

By the time I'm finished Dr. Flynn is here. I go to the great room to meet with him and Christian.