Chapter 28: Chapter 28

ANASTASIA

Time is going to fast. Christian talked about me going back to the apartment, he thinks I should wait till we know for certain that Jacqueline won't do anything. He's had his lawyers do the paper work for the salons, he decided to sell his portion of them which is going to piss her off. I don't really staying mind staying longer, things have been great between Christian and I. I do miss having my own place and spending time with Kate. We had planned a girls weekend but we were unable to do that because something always came up. I look at the time and I call Christian to let him know I'll be home late tonight. I can't help but smile as I think about how close Christian and I have become.

Sawyer and I are finally on our way back to Escala. I think more about how Christian and I act like we've been together forever even though we are just friends. I know the lines are being crossed but I'm not complaining it all feels so right. I'm still scared but I know I have to get over it. We tell each other when we are running late which is pretty funny because we tend to wait for one another to get home before we eat dinner. The feelings I've always had for Christian are still there and are getting stronger. I tried to stay guarded but it's been hard especially since we've been spending so much time together. Even when we've had arguments, I feel the connection between us growing. I can't help but wonder if we would have gotten married, or maybe planning our wedding. It's not till Sawyer asks if I'm alright do I feel the tears on my cheeks.

I nod a yes and give him my best smile. I do my best to wipe away the tears so hopefully Christian doesn't notice I was crying over something so silly. We walk into the penthouse and Sawyer goes straight to the security room. I look around and see that the lights are dim. Christian comes towards me with two wine glasses and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi."

"Hi. I thought we'd have dinner in the terrace since it's a nice night." I can't help to smile at Christian's suggestion.

"That's a great idea Christian." He grabs my hand and we walk out to the terrace and see that it's a candlelit dinner.

"Happy birthday Anastasia." Christian whispers in my ear.

I try to hold back the tears and I don't know why I'm so emotional today, I've celebrated my birthday before and haven't felt like this.

"Baby what's wrong?" Christian asks wiping away my tears.

"It's nothing...this is so sweet of you. Thank you." I say giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

"I'm just being silly Christian." He eyes me suspiciously.

"You eyes were watery earlier, when you walked in Ana."

"It's nothing really, I'm just emotional." Christian looks at me and I know he wants to say something but nods instead.

We start to eat and talk about random things and we've been laughing. Christian has looked at his watch a few times and I wonder if he has something important to do.

"Christian is there somewhere you have to be?" He looks up at me confused like he doesn't know what I'm talking about. "You keep looking at your watch." Before he can say anything his phone buzzes.

"Ana I'll be right back."

"I'm just going to head to bed, I'm a little tired." I say trying hard to keep the tears in. Why am I so sensitive today? It's getting on my nerves.

"NO! Don't go anywhere. I mean stay please, it will only take a second." Christian goes inside without letting me say anything. I'm about to go inside but the door is locked. I can't believe he locked me out. I decide to sit back down and enjoy the view since I don't have much of a choice right now. Christian rushes back out to me but I don't bother to look at him, he calls out my name but I still don't bother to turn to look at him.

"I'm sorry, I just….will you come inside with me? I really need to talk to you about something." I turn to look at him and I wonder what he could possibly tell me at this point. Does it have to do with whoever contacted him on the phone earlier. I get up and I'm about to open the door but he grabs my hand and lifts my head so I can look at him.

"Whatever is bothering you we will talk about it later." Christian says in a firm voice, letting me know he isn't going to drop it.

I'm about to protest when he pulls me inside. Kate, Mia, Elliot, Ethan, Grace, Carrick, and my parents are inside and they start singing happy birthday. Kate is holding the cake and walks towards me.

"Make a wish babe." Kate tells me. I close my eyes and blow out the candles.

Gail cuts the cake while my mom helps her pass it out. I tell Gail to take the rest for her the security team. I open my gifts and thank everyone. Christian gave me a small white gold bracelet with a small lotus flower on it. Everyone leaves since it's getting late and I thank them again for the surprise. I walk to the kitchen to clean it up but it seems Gail has already beaten me to it. I try to think of something else that I can do so that I don't have to talk to Christian about what's bothering because it's really stupid.

"Ana." I turn to look at Christian who pulls me towards him and hugs me tight and kisses the top of my head.

"Thank you for tonight Christian, it means a lot to me and I really loved the bracelet. Especially the flower on it." Christian gives me a smile as we sit on the couch.

"You are my lotus flower." Christian tells me as he wipes the tears away. "Ana what's wrong? Talk to me."

"Can you just hold me while we watch a movie." Christian just looks at me and I know he's not going to budge.

"I'll hold you while you tell me what's going on then we'll watch a movie. Ana you can tell me anything."

"I'm the birthday girl which means you have to do as I say." I start laughing because Christian wants to argue with me but he has nothing to say.

"You don't play fair." Christian pouts making me laugh more.

"First we need to change into something more comfortable." We both go change, I walk back to the kitchen and start making popcorn since Christian isn't out yet. I wonder what's taking him so long. I put the popcorn in front of the TV while I go back for the drinks. I see Taylor, Sawyer and Christian all walk out of the study and they don't look to happy.

"Happy birthday Miss Steele." Taylor tells me and I thank him. Sawyer had wished me a happy birthday this morning as well. Which caught me off guard but he told me that when he was told he was going to be my CPO he had to get all the information he could about me.

"Is everything alright?" I ask Christian who tells me it's nothing to worry about.

"Christian." He turns to give me a kiss on the cheek and smirks at me.

"I have a date tonight that I will not turn down. I get to hold a beautiful lady while I watch a movie." Christian tells me as he walks away.

"That's different." I say trying to argue with him.

"Maybe." Christian says laughing.

"Fine." I say grabbing the popcorn from the floor and I play the movie. I can hear Christian laughing and he finally sits next to me. He nudges me and then pulls me towards him. The movie finishes and I take the bowl and cups to the kitchen.

"I'm in the mood for some ice cream." Christian tells me.

"That actually sounds good." I tell him. Christian says he'll get the bowls while I get the ice cream. I open the freezer and can't believe what I'm seeing. Once again I have tears running down my cheek as I read the little note on top of the ice cream that says please be my girlfriend. I feel Christian wrap his arms around me and hold me tight.

"Ana I know this might be too soon and if your not ready I completely understand. Your answer will not change anything between us well unless you say yes then I'll shout it to the world and be an awesome boyfriend. I don't want you to feel pressured. I will wait for as long as it take." Christian turns me to face him and wipes away my tears. He picks me up and sits me on the counter.

"You are going to tell me what's going on in that head of yours Ana. You have been crying since you got home baby. I'm not moving till you open up to me."

"You want me to be your girlfriend?" Is all I can say.

"Ana I want you to be my wife but I know that it is definitely too soon for that." I can't help but giggle.

"You have a funny way of asking Mr. Grey." Christian shrugs his shoulders and smiles at me.

"Don't distract me Miss Steele. You need to tell me what's bothering you." Christian hands me a napkin and I take a deep breath and look into his eyes.

"I don't know why I'm so emotional today. I was at the office thinking about how we've gotten even closer than before. I started realizing that somehow along the way I've let my guard down when it comes to you because my feelings for you have gotten stronger." Christian wipes away the tears.

"On the way over here I started thinking about how what if things would have happened differently, it's not that I'm dwelling in the past but I couldn't help but think that maybe we would have been married by now. Or maybe planning our wedding. I know we can't go back and in a way I wouldn't want to but it just hit me and I hadn't realized the tears till Sawyer asked if I was alright." Christian hugs me tight and kisses my forehead.

"I'm so sorry Ana. I was so stupid..." I put my hand on his cheek and shake my head.

"It's okay Christian. I was just being silly, I don't know why I'm being like this today. When I saw the way you set up dinner tonight I remember my birthday party and how we shared that special night. All those feelings came back to me but then you kept looking at your watch and your phone went off and you were so quick to come inside."

"I'm such an ass Ana, I didn't even think of how that would make you feel. You thought I would push you away again." Christian tells me and I nod.

"You have to know that I was looking at my watch because Kate was suppose to show up at a certain time. Once everyone was here they wanted to make sure they had gotten the right cake before I brought you back inside." I can see that Christian is hurt that I thought the worse.

"I know that now but I realized that maybe I'm more scared of you hurting me again than I realized. You have been so wonderful but I'm scared Christian. I believe that you won't hurt me again but I guess today just proved that I still have my doubts and that I am so scared of how vulnerable I am when I'm with you." Christian is holding my hands and I wipe away his tears. I know he wants to say something but I beat him to it.

"Then you surprise me with the dinner, having everyone over with the cake and then tricking me with the ice cream. Christian Grey doesn't do girlfriends but yet you want me to be yours. I can see how serious you are about this and it makes me so happy." I take a deep breath and Christian kisses me and it's such a soft and sensual kiss, it's like he's apologizing and pouring all his feelings into it.

"I love you Anastasia Rose Steele with all my heart, I always have and always will not matter where we go from here. I'm so sorry Ana for breaking your trust and hope in me and I don't blame you for not trusting me with your heart again. I mean it when I say I will wait an eternity for you. You are the only person my heart belongs to Ana. I know I don't deserve another chance but I want one with you." Christian says leaning in to kiss me as I am sobbing now.

"Please say something." Christian whispers as he leans his forehead on mine. I put my arms around him and kiss his lips softly.

"I'm trusting you with my heart so don't hurt me again Christian Trevelyan Grey." Christian looks shocked then he lifts me off the counter and spins me around.

"You won't regret it Ana. You have made me the happiest man in the world." Christian hugs me and carries me to the living room where he lays me down. He turns on the TV and plays Gone with the Wind one of my all time favorites as we get comfortable. Christian hugs me tightly towards him and I can feel myself drift of to sleep.