Once upon a time… "Hi! I'm Christian." A boy met a girl. "Ana; Anastasia Steele." And their fate was sealed.

"Are you alright, Ana?" "Yes," I couldn't take my eyes off Christian. He scanned me over for injury twice, only sighing when nothing appeared out of order. "What are you doing here?" "I….. I was going to the university," my voice stuttered; I wasn't quite sure what to say just yet. This seemed puzzling to him. "It's the weekend; everything's closed, even with your extra library access." "I know…." My eyes finally dropped down. Then a thought came to mind. "Why are you here?" I countered.

Christian didn't look as startled as I expected, though his eyes did lower a touch. "I was on my way to the university too." This did surprise me. "Why? Graduation ceremonies are over; no one's there today," I heard myself exclaim. He failed to reply for a minute, instead electing to lock his eyes onto me again. He stared briefly, his lips parting a sliver before words came out. "I wasn't going for business…. I just wanted to go; to be in the area." Be in the area, my eyes began to widen. But why? The university was my place- it was practically a part of me now. That was reason enough for me to go, but Christian….

"I don't…. I don't understand," once again, my mouth uttered without my brain's permission. "Neither do I. You're going to the university and you don't even have your books." I think my jaw literally dropped, I was so stunned by this. What's more alarming, he was right! How could I forget my research? I had my backpack with me, but it was clearly empty. Now, to be fair, I wasn't sure if I was actually going to work today, but I always carried something with me just in case. Christian observed my dumbfounded reaction, taking the opportunity to soften his stance a little. It wasn't drastic, but I noticed.

"I was…. I was….. uh, you're right; I didn't come with anything. I… I don't know why… I guess, I mean I suppose I just wanted to be here." "Why?" He gently pushed. "I'm not sure. I haven't been here since I last saw…" The words turned to cotton in my throat as my eyes started to grow in realization. Since I last saw you… that was what I was about to say. And I think he knew; he knew…. Slowly our gazes met again; his much sturdier than mine. But still soft- his eyes had this softness to them.

"That's right; the university was the last place we saw each other," he said in the sincerest of tones. "C-Christian?" "It's ok, Ana; I understand. That's why I'm here too….. It's the place I last was with you," his heart-stopping smile just now…. He smiled and I felt like I was going to die. I wanted….. I wanted….. "I wanted to be close to you." "I wanted to be close to you….." I repeated his line in a whisper. He spoke first- he said it first. Yes; oh yes. I wanted to be close to him. I remember that feeling of wanting to be a near to him as possible. My hands began to quiver uncontrollably. Oh god, how I remember….

"Ana." "Christian…." "I'm so relieved." "Huh?" I blinked up to him in surprise and confusion. "You and Lucas stayed so close all these years. I read it in Jack's mind. Lucas's still so protective, so loving…" Tears were a definite possibility when his smile relaxed deeply, profoundly- like he was so immeasurably content. "I'm so happy," he whispered more to himself than me. "T-that makes you happy, Christian?" "Oh, so much; I was so afraid that you might have felt alone at some point these past twenty years." Christian…. My heart raced so fast that I could no longer feel it. After all this time… All this time…. he worried about me being alone; more than anything, he never wanted me to be lonely. My lips parted slightly in disbelief and adoration. It didn't matter if it was him or Lucas, so long as I wasn't lonely- so long as someone deeply loved me.

It was then that I understood how unselfish and truly in love with me Christian Grey was. And all doubt suddenly vanished.

My breathing was heavy; the world around me started to shake. All colors, everything became mute- everything that wasn't Christian. I didn't want him to feel lonely either… I wanted him to know that he was safe and valued. Just like on the playground so long ago, it was paramount to me now that he knew how safe and valued he was. "I'm not mad at you anymore, Christian. Neither is, Lucas. For the record, he understands; he knows that you're straight and did nothing wrong. But he still loves you, in a friend sense- and thinks of you often. We both… we both…"

"Ana!" That beloved voice startled Christian and me. We turned to see a heavily-breathing Lucas emerge from the corner. It looked like he had been running, probably to check in on me; he knew something would be up since Jack mentioned drinking. He first saw me and then his eyes shifted over onto Christian. I didn't think human eyes could get so wide. He gawked while his mouth fell in sheer disbelief. "C-Christian?!" Christian simply smiled at him warmly. "Hello, Lucas."

I observed from the side as Lucas walked towards Christian; both men opening their arms. They embraced, hugging each other tightly. So strange; Lucas recognized it was "our Christian" right away, while it took me a long time. Then again, maybe I didn't want to recognize Christian at the start. Lucas was the only one who never truly forgot Christian; he got over him in a healthy way and cherished their friendship memories. He was the only one Christian never told to forget him…. Eventually they pulled back, smiling at one another.

"What are you doing here?! It's been like what? Twenty years?" Lucas was so excited, he could barely contain himself. I'll admit, I did enjoy seeing him like that. "I came to find Ana," Christian responded. "Ana?" Lucas blinked back to me confused. It took him about ten seconds to figure it out. "Wait… You're weren't…. You're not "Christian Grey", are you? The Christian Grey?" "The very same," he grinned. "Ana! Why didn't tell me?!" He sounded super eager now. But my smile began to fade as I felt the familiar surge of hesitance swell up inside of me. I merely stared back at my best friend. "Lucas, I can't….." I couldn't bring myself to finish my sentence.

Lucas peered back to Christian, who gave him an informative look. This made him understand everything, shown by the comprehensive way Lucas's head nodded. Then Christian motioned my way, smiling as Lucas came over to stand in front of me. My best friend's smile was so tender and kind down upon me; so adoring like it always was. "Ana- you kind, kind woman." "You've always been there for me, Lucas….." "And I always will. Like I told you before; you never have to worry about that. It's ok now- I'm ok…." Lucas paused for a second, taking in a deep, sound breath.

"But now it's time to think about what you want, Ana." "Lucas!" My eyes grew large. His smile softened. "I'm not an idiot- I see the way you look at him; the way you've looked at him since grade two. It's ok, Ana; I'll be ok. But this is about you. More than anything, I want you- and Christian- to be ok too. And how can you be ok if you're afraid to tell the man that you love that you love him?" "Oh Lucas…" Yep, I was most definitely crying by now. Lucas put his hands securely on my shoulders. "I love you. That's enough, isn't it?" Yes, a smile started blooming across my moist lips. Yes- yes, of course it is.

Satisfied with this, Lucas stepped aside, making way for Christian- literally and metaphorically. Christian simply looked at me with his wonderful, brilliant, breath-taking, perfect smile. I took one step towards him, then another…. then another. Though my eyes were full of tears, I could see him crystal-clear. My arms instinctively lifted up for him, desperate to wrap him; to hold him so close. "I love you… I love you so much." A teardrop fell onto the ground. In complete unison, our arms coiled around each other. Though calm on the outside, Christian's heartbeat could be felt through his shirt. Being back in his arm, feeling safe and valued…. Oh god, how did I ever let him this long? I never found an answer to that question. "I love you too; I always have."

Lucas watched us and kept on smiling happily. "Thank you for looking after our girl all these years, Lucas." "No thanks required. I'm not going anywhere, so you never have to worry." "I'm so glad…" Christian's grip tightened, if that were possible. I could have spent the rest of my life in those lovely, protective arms. "My Anastasia- my rose, my color…. my sunshine," he kept smelling my hair over and over. "I'm so sorry, Christian." "No, don't apologize; there's nothing to be sorry about. Just let me hold you…." His eyes shut as he melted into the whole experience that was us embracing.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for this; to hear you sigh, safe here in my arms." To feel my pink angel's warm hands touching me again. And now that she was here, finally in my arms, there was no way I'd ever be able to let her go; so I didn't. I simply didn't; I held her, and never let go.

And they all lived happily ever after.