First and foremost, I want to apologize for these months I've let you hanging without an update. Life gets in the middle of my writing process in various forms and shapes: political chaos, medical protocols, advent calendars... as arbitrary as it sounds. Without forgetting, of course, a three-year-old toddler who has me wrapped around his little finger.

Our dear 11-year-old dog Kira also left us at the end of the year, and, even when we were somehow prepared for it (she had been sick for more than a year) it has been hard for us.

So, I want to thank all of you who still stick with this story in spite of its terrible schedule. I really appreciate your support. I'm over the moon with the fact that Singing your Shades has finally reached 1000 reviews, which is an imaginary line I was not sure I would ever cross. So thank you all so much once again!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THANKS TO GATEPARK, MY WONDERFUL BETA. SHE SEWS UP MY SIMPLE WORDS, TURNING THEM INTO A COMPLETE, HIGH FINISH WORK

Music:

Incomparable. Marco Mengoni. (There are two versions of this song, one in Italian and another one in Spanish. I'm using the later, not only because it's more consistent with the story – Ana speaks Spanish – but also because I prefer the Spanish lyrics; there are minimum differences between the two of them, but just enough to make the Spanish version fit in the story so much better. This being said, I encourage you to listen to it; it's simply beautiful and Marco has an amazing velvety voice. I've added an English translation of the lyrics at the end of every verse. I've not tried to maintain the verses and the rhyme, but the real meaning of the words. For me, it speaks about being brave, not being afraid of failing because you've got your heart on your sleeve, and knowing you have someone beside you along the way.)

Drive. Incubus (one of my favorite songs ever, with infinite honesty behind its lyrics and a marvelous melody)

Amar pelos dois. Salvador Sobral (A simple but beautiful jazz tune with bossa nova touches, sung in Portuguese, which won the latest Eurovision contest this last winter. Put in the singer words: "music is not fireworks, but feeling". How true!)

A LITTLE RECAP:

Christian and Ana finally got together after all their ups and downs, but they soon realized they still harbored some hard feelings and resentment in spite of how much they love each other, and how important it was for them to talk things out.

On the other hand, Isaac Campbell, Elena's former submissive, found Leila severely beaten, and he took her to the hospital. Christian and Ana went there when they found out, and, with Isaac's collaboration, decided to give a statement to the police about all what was going on with Elena and Hyde.

CHAPTER 36

Christian was lying on the couch with his arm crossed over his eyes in spite of the dimly lit room; his nails leaving indentations on the palm of his clenched fist. Ana came back from the kitchen with a glass of ice-cold water. She put it on the coffee table and sat beside him. He automatically shifted his position, snaking his arms around her waist, and burrowed his head on her lap.

His mind was a whirlwind of self-deprecation and grief.

"Would you like some water, baby?" She cooed while she combed her fingers through his hair. Her lips lingered on his temple, leaving a sweet kiss just before his ear as she bent over subconsciously trying to protect him from his thoughts.

Making the statement to the police was much harder than he had anticipated. It wasn't the cathartic experience he imagined, but a rather draining and tortuous stint that left him feeling raw and exposed instead of free and lighter. Shame and dread were closing upon him like the lid of a coffin.

Some of the delicate information they shared, led to more questions; more conjectures that needed some more explanations. The police officers were not rude; not even nosy, but they were definitely over conscientious in their mission of finding out what had happened with that unconscious girl named Leila Williams; more so when two big names as Christian Grey and Elena Lincoln were enmeshed into that shit.

"You did so well, Christian. I'm so proud of you." Ana didn't stop raking her fingers over his scalp. She frowned when he didn't acknowledge her, and shook her head with a sad smile.

"You don't have any idea." She whispered, most to herself.

"Of what?" He finally asked, turning around to face her with his head still leaning on her lap. His voice was husky, and his eyes blurred.

She bit her bottom lip and took a breath through her nose, willing her rapid heartbeat to slow down. She caressed his face with her fingertips before answering.

"You don't have any idea of the amazing person you are. You don't have any idea how brave you've been. How proud I am of you. How much I love you." Ana choked on the last words, completely having lost the battle of keeping a calm exterior.

Christian sat up facing her, his fingertips also trailing the soft curve of her cheek, and his eyes, now a vivid clear gray, avidly roaming her face.

"I know how much you love me, Ana. You show me, every day, and I'm the luckiest man alive for it." He licked his lips nervously, his expression turning somber. "But the rest of what you said..." He shook his head, lowering his gaze.

"You've put yourself on the line to expose Elena and Hyde. Those two will be punished and get what they deserve… because of you." Ana argued, trying to make him understand.

"I've done it for you." Christian's eyes lingered on Ana's face, but soon his gaze was lost and unfocused. "What if I had realized the truth about Elena years ago?" He frowned. "What if I had monitored Hyde weeks before I did? Leila wouldn't be hurt..." Ana was about to speak, but Christian began rambling again. "Thank God he didn't put a finger on you... I would kill him with my bare hands..." He cradled Ana against his chest and enveloped her in a tight embrace, which Ana reciprocated with all her strength.

"I'm fine." Ana assured him once he loosened his strong grip. Her hands caressed his face. "I have you with me, what more could I want?" She was desperate to stop the spiral of self-loathing that was going on in his head. Her sweet smile was contagious, and finally, the corners of his mouth curled up in a small smile too, despite the feeling of guilt that settled deep down his chest.

"You sell yourself too short." He said stubbornly.

"And you are too mulish for your own good!" She answered playfully, poking gently at his forehead before standing up from the couch.

"Where are you going?" He asked with apprehension as his eyes followed her retreating form.

"I need to show you." She said distractedly, roaming the contents of her purse until she found her iPod. "The best way I know." She strolled through the list of songs. Her eyes gleamed with mirth. "Would you like to dance?"

She offered her hand to him, and he took it as he stood up, giving her a questioning look. She put the iPod in the dock station without letting go of his hand, and then hooked her hands around his neck. He put his hands on her waist as the sound of a piano lingered in the air; a soft guitar riff accompanying it. Soon, a soulful male voice surrounded them like a velvet blanket.

Lo siento, pero hoy

Hoy sé que ante la duda hay que arriesgarse

Y saco del cajón

Las lágrimas ocultas de algún héroe

He vuelto y aquí estoy

Ya ves, lo que no mata te hace fuerte

En el silencio mío

Escucho la razón de mis errores

Para enfrentarme a aquello que

Nos hace daño tras la piel

I'm sorry but today / Today I know that when in doubt you've got to take the risk / And I get out of the bottom drawer / The hidden tears of an anonymous hero / I'm back and here I am / You see, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger / In my silence / I hear the reason in my mistakes / To confront what / hurts us beneath the skin

"Do you need me to translate?" Ana asked playfully; a lopsided grin disguising her trepidation, only recognizable on her fidgeting fingers, that played nervously with the hair on the back of his neck.

Aunque el mundo cae en pedazos

Yo mantengo un sueño intacto

Vivo y frágil que

Sólo pertenece a ti

Siempre fuiste para mí incomparable

Although the world falls apart / I keep an unbroken / alive and fragile dream that / only belongs to you / you were always incomparable to me

"I... I think I manage..." His eyes, fixed on her blue ones, shone with an unnamed emotion. He could understand great part of the lyrics; he had managed to somehow improve his Spanish in the last months due to his gift for languages and the eagerness to share something more with Ana. But, in spite of his lack of proficiency in the language, the meaning of such words was crystal clear. She was doing it again; the adorable creature in front of him, with her never-ending wisdom and selflessness, was helping him achieve what he was incapable to do by his own: accepting himself, flaws and all, and recognize his own worth. His lips were parted and his chest moved up and down, filling his lungs with ragged breaths. "Ana..."

"You are incomparable. You are unique. And you are my hero." Ana interrupted him, leaning closer and whispering over his mouth.

With a harsh breath, he captured her mouth desperately; his hands running up across her ribcage until cradling her head, tilting it to deepen the kiss.

"You..." He rasped while fumbling with her t-shirt. "You fix me; you heal me." He stopped for a moment, his thumbs caressing the underside of her ocean-blue eyes. "You" he gave her a sweet chaste kiss on the lips and a breathtaking smile "you make me a better person. You make me whole. And you keep my demons away. Thank you, baby."

"I love you so much, Christian." It was Ana's turn to desperately try to get his shirt out of the way.

"I love you so much." He groaned back.

"I need you, Christian." She whispered against his neck; her hands exploring his muscular chest.

They barely made it to the master bedroom, laughing without a care in the world when Christian bumped his head with the doorframe in a completely un-Christian way.

_§ § 0 § §_

Monday morning came too fast for Christian's liking, but he went to GEH with a spring in his step. The heavy weight of Ana's separation being lifted from his shoulders gifted him a new resolution; everything seemed brighter and better after waking up with her; kissing her pouty lips; gazing in her oceanic eyes and reacquainting himself with the warmth of her skin, fragrant with an intoxicating mix of her sweet scent, his own, and their lovemaking. It was slightly more bearable to leave her snuggled in his plush bed knowing that, in just a few hours, they would be once again in the same position.

Ana was going to Fifty's at midday to wrap up the latest details of her impending debut, so he met with Elliot for lunch, which was becoming a usual occurrence between the two siblings.

"So, you and Ana… all good again?" Elliot asked Christian, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Yeah..." Christian answered absentmindedly while a slow smile spread over his face and his eyes wandered to an undetermined point beyond Elliot's shoulder.

"I can only imagine how well you are with that look on your face..." Elliot chuckled.

Christian snapped out of his trance and glared at his older brother. "Don't you dare imagine Ana in any sexual way, you asshole!" Christian half yelled, half wined.

"Such a controlling idiot!" Elliot chuckled again. "No pun intended." He winked. "Little Ana is like a sister to me, so chill... although you have to admit she is hot." Elliot waited with morbid amusement for Christian's response, a smirk curving his lips.

"You don't have idea, Elliot..." Christian's mind filled with images of his Ana, most of them highly inappropriate to be in such close proximity to his brother. "She is... everything." He added, sobering up.

"I'm glad you're happy, little bro." Elliot patted Christian's shoulder, who gave him a sincere smile in return, full of gratitude.

A comfortable silence settled between them, until Christian's uttered words broke the serene moment.

"Something else happened on Saturday night..." Christian brushed a hand over his face and sighed. Elliot arched a brow in silent question and leaned forward; his face losing his nonchalant expression at Christian's change of mood. "Leila Williams appeared severely beaten at Harborview Medical Center." Christian conceded with a mixture of worry and fury.

"Hyde?" Elliot asked with wide eyes.

"Isaac Campbell, Elena's former submissive, brought her there." Christian answered in a clipped tone. Elliot frowned in confusion and disbelief, but Christian resumed talking before he could ask him to further explain. "As you know, I was meeting with Elena on Saturday night." Elliot nodded. "She left abruptly and in a strange mood after receiving a call. Ryan and Reynolds followed her to some apartment building downtown. She left for Bellevue some minutes later. Ryan decided to stay by, instead of following her, because we didn't have that location on our radar, and it seemed a little suspicious. Minutes later, surprisingly, Campbell appeared and then took off shortly afterward with Leila wrapped up in blankets in the backseat of his car to Harborview Medical Center."

"Wow."

"He says Elena called him in hysterics, demanding his help with an issue." Christian air quoted the last word. "He claims she didn't tell him what was going on… And I believe him."

"She wanted to incriminate him?" Elliot asked in disbelief.

"It seems so." Christian agreed. "But, anyway, I think she probably found herself in the middle of the situation as well."

"What a bitch!" Elliot exhaled, flabbergasted.

"You don't have any idea…" Christian joked humorlessly.

"So… it was Hyde then, wasn't it?" Elliot tried to guess. His elbows leaned on his knees as he rubbed his hands together.

"It's our best guess." Christian stated. "But he's nowhere to be seen."

"Holy fuck, Christian. This shit is getting more and more twisted by the minute…" Elliot let out a whistle.

"Ana, Campbell and I gave a statement to the police on Sunday morning. We told them everything that's been going on. Until Leila wakes up and can give her own statement, there is only circumstantial evidence, but they told me they will be paying Elena a visit."

"Oh, I would love to see her face when the police arrive at her door…" Elliot laughed. "Fuck, you have to talk with mom and dad ASAP!" He pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. I can't put it off any longer." Christian said tiredly, brushing a hand over his face.

"It won't be that bad." Elliot said reassuringly, giving Christian's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I…" He hesitated. "I'm proud of you, Christian." Christian looked at his brother with an unreadable expression; an untamed emotion bubbling on the surface under his serene mask. He gulped heavily. "You have balls to put yourself on the line like that." Elliot's mouth drew a smirk, but his eyes were warm and reassuring. "I know it had to be hard as fuck, and… complicated. Did you tell them all about… you know?"

"We had to explain what kind of relationships there are between all of us…" Christian sighed heavily, "and the officers needed some facts, so yeah… I tried not to spell it all out for them, but they connected the dots and then had more questions." He brushed both hands over his face. "Welch did a background check on the people assigned to the case, an Officer Johnson and McCarthy. They have an impeccable record and seem highly professional, but I made them sign a modified NDA anyway. They understood. Their department has agreed that only the basic information will be released to the press if there is an inquiry. However, all of that privacy disappears if there is ever a trial." He shrugged. "It's a risk I had to take, Elliot. It will be worth it if nothing more of this shit never happens again. Hyde is an insane motherfucker, clearly out of control, and Elena is a manipulative bitch, not to mention a pedophile, so…"

"It is worth it, Christian." Elliot smiled. "And it's never too late." He added, knowing how his brother's mind worked.

"Thank you, Elliot." This time, Christian's face was bare of all the masks he usually put in place.

"You're welcome, man." Those two simple words of gratitude lightened Elliot's face like a Christmas tree. "Now, it would be the ideal moment for Jose to make a statement too." He added.

"I wouldn't count on it." Christian stated, raising a brow.

_§ § 0 § §_

Ana looked towards the setting sun; its changing form staining the sky of pink and orange hues. She craned her neck and massaged a sore spot over her shoulder blade, chuckling at her silliness. She had been working non-stop at Fifty's all afternoon. She had stubbornly managed to move a heavy chest of drawers from one side of the main room to the other, even when most of the workers told her to let it go; even when Sawyer tried to prevent her from doing it and help her. Now, she had pulled a muscle in her back, but she was happy with the job she had done and exhilarated to be close to the date of her debut. Everything was set up; the invitations were sent; every piece of furniture was placed to create a comfortable but stylish atmosphere and the outline of the schedule and the songs of that first day chosen.

With a satisfied smile, she opened the door to the balcony and stepped outside to the warm afternoon breeze, a rare gift from the usually cooler late-August Seattle weather. She brushed away some errant hairs that had gotten loose from her ponytail swirling around her face. Gail's footsteps made her look away from the watercolor sky, greeting her with a smile.

"Ana!" Gail's voice echoed from the main room. "Here you are! Good evening, darling." Gail smiled warmly. "How was your day?"

"It was good, Gail. Productive and… exhausting!" Ana laughed. "I sent you and Taylor an invitation. I could have just given it to you by hand, but… it's more official this way." She shrugged and giggled.

"Oh, how thoughtful of you, Ana! I wouldn't miss it for anything, dear." Gail exclaimed animatedly. "Well, darling, I'll leave you to it, but I wanted to tell you dinner is in the oven. I've put the timer on; when it finishes, I programmed the oven to automatically reduce the temperature to just maintain the heat until you're ready for dinner. So, don't worry about it."

"Thank you, Gail. It smells amazing." Ana reassured her. "I will wait for Christian out here."

"Ok, dear. Have a good evening."

"See you tomorrow, Gail."

Smiling, she put on some music and got comfortable on one of the chaise lounges to wait for Christian, mentally going through last minute details about her upcoming debut.

_§ § 0 § §_

Meanwhile, Christian's footsteps echoed down an empty corridor, ricocheting off the brick walls; only muffled by Taylor's measured ones. Although it was the first time they stepped foot on them, they were painfully familiar. Taylor scanned the space with sharp eyes, methodically and professionally, but Christian's were wide and uncertain. That corner on the left was where Rodriguez was talking with his Ana… He remembered every detail of those pictures: the fucker leaning his hip casually on the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his head slightly cocked to the left. Christian swallowed hard, fighting the bile rising to his mouth, and he brushed a hand over his face and hair, trying to erase those images in his brain, exhaling slowly while he looked around him. Taylor stood beside the door which was their destination. His right-hand man nodded in his usual stoic self when their gazes meet. The strum of an acoustic guitar made him fix his attention at the door once again, and he peeked through the small window. A beautiful blonde with hazel eyes and a warm smile waved at him through the glass and opened it.

"Come on in, but keep quiet, please." She whispered, ushering them inside before carefully closing the door with a soft click.

Christian followed the starry-eyed gaze of the woman. At the other side of a wide glass window, sitting on a stool in the middle of a padded-wall room, Bruce Kane strummed his guitar; his eyes closed and his lips drawing a smile. Ana sported such a similar expression when she was playing, that his heart skipped a beat.

Bruce raised his head, his eyes still closed, and his voice filled the room; measured, warm, and slightly breathy at some syllables.

Sometimes I feel the fear of the uncertainty stinging clear

And I can't help but ask myself how much I'll let the fear take the wheel and steer

It's driven me before, and it seems to have a vague

Haunting mass appeal

Lately I'm beginning to find that I should be the one behind the wheel

Christian took a deep breath and let it go slowly. He always thought he was the one in control; always gloated over not being one of the sheep. But in these past months he had realized how wrong he was. Now that he was getting rid of all the baggage that was making weighing him down, he was feeling happier and freer.

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there

With open arms and open eyes, yeah

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there, I'll be there

Free to choose whatever life he wanted to live. Free to love and accept the good. Free to recognize the bad.

"He's good." Christian muttered. Taylor hummed in agreement.

"Yeah… he's amazing." The woman said. "By the way, I'm Maureen Kane." She offered her hand.

"Nice to meet you." Christian answered, shaking her hand. "I'm Christian Grey and this is Jason Taylor."

"Nice to meet you both." She answered back, her attention focusing once again on her husband.

The song finished and Kane went out of the recording booth, acknowledging the two men only after placing a sweet kiss on his wife's lips.

"Mr. Grey." Bruce greeted Christian with a vigorous handshake. "A pleasure to finally meeting you."

"Mr. Kane, likewise." Christian greeted him back. "This is Jason Taylor, my CPO."

Bruce gave Taylor a mock military salute.

"How's Ana?" Bruce asked, snaking an arm around Maureen's waist.

"She's great, tying up loose ends at Fifty's all day." Christian smiled. "She's ecstatic, but terrified, all at once."

"Oh, you're Ana's Christian!" Maureen exclaimed. "Oh my God… you're that Christian Grey… I had no idea…" She muttered looking at Bruce with wide eyes, who chuckled.

"Yes, I'm Ana's Christian, as you've very accurately said… she has me wrapped around her little finger." Christian chuckled, smiling at the thought.

"Sorry for my outburst…" Maureen apologized, blushing from embarrassment.

"Don't think about it." Christian waved her off nonchalantly.

"Must be the hormones." Bruce said grinning like a Cheshire cat. Maureen elbowed him on the ribs, and he grunted. "What was that for?" He wined, rubbing a hand over his side.

"I'm sorry, Christian." Maureen said. "I'm pregnant, and Bruce keeps telling every single person he meets." She squinted towards her husband. "Please, don't tell Ana; I haven't seen her in a while and I would like to tell her in person, and, if it's possible, myself!" She glared at Bruce, who had not stopped smiling.

"My lips are sealed. Congratulations, by the way." Christian said warmly.

"Thanks!" The couple answered in unison.

"Excuse my manners… please, have a seat." Bruce walked to the aged Chesterfield couch at the end of the room, sweeping away all of the sheets of paper haphazardly sprawled all over it. Christian sat on one end of the couch and Bruce at the other one. Maureen moved to a matching armchair. She looked towards Taylor.

"I'm good, Ma'am." He answered to her unspoken question from his spot beside the door.

"Ana only has good things to say about you. Now I can see why; you're very talented. Thank you for helping her." Christian said.

"It's been a mutually beneficial situation; we've worked together on different songs, hers and mine." Bruce explained. "This one I was just recording," Bruce pointed to the padded room. "Ana helped me with it a great deal. She is very talented indeed."

"Yes, she is." Christian whispered. "And wise."

"So, Ana emailed me the schedule for the opening day a few minutes ago." Bruce said after a moment of silence.

"She told me you will be opening the show." Christian answered.

"I talked her out of it; she must be the one to open the show! So I will be playing, but not first." Bruce explained to Christian, who hummed in approval.

"I suggested to her that she could play the song you both wrote, but…" Christian shook his head, not finishing the sentence. Why he was about to confide to strangers with the issue that was eating at him, was beyond his reason.

"She wrote it, I just helped her to polish it and perfect it; she gives me too much credit." Bruce explained. "She's afraid of showing such an intimate part of herself to the world. With a song of yours, you always bare a part of your soul… but in this song she speaks about her feelings for you, which is one of the most precious things to her." Bruce smiled sideways, empathizing with his friend. "It can be scary, but she will find her way."

Christian got up, looking at the artist in contemplation. He turned around and walked to the piano that stood at the other side of the room. He began playing mindlessly some odd notes, until forming the melody of Ana's song, or at least the one-handed, distorted version of it.

"She hasn't played it for me yet." Christian said in a whisper, his grey eyes fixed on the movement of the keys.

Bruce looked at Maureen in question, and she shook her head, meaning she didn't know anything about it.

"I know a lot of things had happened… I suppose we haven't had that much time…" Christian muttered, somehow incoherently. "I'm so sorry… I didn't get it; I didn't understand what was going on in that head of hers… but, the way you've explained to me now, I think I understand." He finally talked to Bruce.

"She will come around." He shrugged.

"She might have not played it for you, but you know the song." Maureen assessed.

"I know it by heart." Christian exhaled, lifting his hand from the keyboard and rubbing it over his face. "She gave me the score for my birthday… but we weren't in talking terms by then." He sighed and gave Maureen a sad smile.

She hummed in response, being aware of the edited version Ana had given her of what had transpired between them. "You can play." She observed, pointing with her chin to the piano. "Can you sing?" She finally asked him; her eyes gleaming with excitation.

Bruce eyed her suspiciously. "What are you up to, baby?"

"I'm not a singer, and I don't usually sing, but Ana told me once that I could sing." Christian shared a look with Bruce.

"Ohhhh, I have a plan, guys!" Maureen chimed gleefully, rubbing her hands in excitement. "Ana will love it!"

"Ana will kill me if we manipulate her perfectly planned schedule..." Bruce argued with his wife. "She is going a little OCD with all of this..." He muttered.

"Oh, don't be like that! I'm telling you she will love it!" Maureen assured them both.

_§ § 0 § §_

"I won't need you for the rest of the night, Taylor. Say hi to Gail for me." Christian dismissed his CPO just before the ding of the elevator announced their arrival. "And don't say a word to Ana." He added, arching a brow.

"Thank you, sir." Taylor answered with a nod." And… your secret is safe with me." He added, his mouth twitching in amusement.

Christian just rolled his eyes and shook his head, undoing his tie as he walked through the foyer. The mouthwatering smell of roasted lamb and the nostalgic notes of Salvador Sobral's "Amar pelos dois" softly playing in the background greeted him.

"Home." He exhaled closing his eyes. He never had considered his penthouse as home, just four walls of his own, but now… Ana made it a safe haven, a place where he could let it go and just… be.

He expected her to be waiting for him at the breakfast bar, nursing a glass of wine, or maybe languidly swaying the luscious flare of her hips to the soft beat of the song, as the alluring creature she was, wearing those minuscule boy-shorts that made him crazy… but she was nowhere to be seen. Christian discarded his tie and jacket on the couch and noticed the balcony's door was open. He stepped outside in two large strides; his heart instantly calming when he saw her sleeping on one of the chaise lounges, still in her t-shirt, stripped socks and jeans. He sat down beside her, his eyes studying her face with such adoration they become glassy, while he ran the tip of his finger along her cheekbone and neck. The conversation with Bruce Kane had been an eye opener; now he understood better how Ana felt about the song, and he loved her even more for that. He just hoped he wasn't making a big mistake by moving forward with Maureen's idea, although his gut was telling him otherwise. His hand traveled down her side, following a path to her hip, and tenderly covering her flat belly. His fingertips brushed against the line of bare skin between the hem of her t-shirt and the waistline of her jeans. He took a deep breath and let it go through his nose, gulping heavily at the end. This was another thing that was throwing him off balance; since the moment he had learned about Maureen's pregnancy, his brain had gone crazy with possibilities that had never crossed his mind before. The idea of becoming a parent had always been abhorrent to him; it wasn't a valid option in his aseptic, non-existent sentimental life, but imagining Ana's belly swollen with his child… was making him feel almost giddy; hopeful and terrified, all at once, and yearning for something he didn't even understand. He shook his head as if to get rid of those mind-bending ideas. Suddenly, he noticed the goose bumps covering her cool skin, and draped his arms around her torso.

"Baby, wake up." He whispered, framing one side of her face with one of his hands, maintaining his other arm around her shoulders. Ana stirred and mumbled something unintelligible and extremely cute, making him chuckle. "Ana, baby, I'm home." He nuzzled his nose over her neck.

"Christian." She acknowledged him in a husky, breathy voice that sent a shiver down his spine. Ana's eyes fluttered open, like a blue oasis in the middle of a desert, and crinkled in adoration at the sight of him. A beaming smile lighted her face before speaking again. "I'm sorry I fell asleep. I was waiting for you, but…"

Christian didn't let her finish; the urge of feeling her velvety soft lips too strong to wait another second before his mouth closed upon hers. His tongue danced with hers unhurriedly , sweeping over her parted lips before biting the bottom one gently. Ana grasped his hair tightly with both hands and prevented him from moving away.

"Hi." He whispered against the corner of her mouth, a bursting feeling of happiness making his lips part in a beaming smile.

"Hi." She whispered back, her tongue brushing against the swollen flesh of her bottom lip. His smile turned wolfish.

"I fell asleep waiting for you. It's been a long and very productive day." She explained to him, just for the sake of watching the way he held onto every single word she said.

In one fluid movement, he stood up, lifted her up, and carried her to the couch, inside the warmth of the main room, putting her on his lap, straddling him. She giggled, loving the way he maneuvered her body as if she weighed nothing, and circled her arms around his neck, wiggling her socked toes against his hips, in a full-body embrace.

"You were freezing." He said trying to sound stern, but not succeeding. "I'm sorry I got home later than usual. Something came up."

"Don't worry about it." She said playing with the little hairs at the nape of his neck. "How about we have dinner and then we share a shower? I'm starving!" She added, her fingers now exploring under the collar of his shirt.

"Yeah, I'm famished too. But I trade you the shower for a bath; it will help to warm you up." Christian pointed out, arching a brow.

"I'm not cold." Ana shook her head at his over-protectiveness, but smiled anyway. "But I pulled a muscle of my back, so a bath will help."

"What muscle? What did you do, Ana?" Christian's hands roamed her back, in searching for that injured muscle, but stilled when Ana gave his Adam's apple a long swept of her tongue. "What are you doing…?" He moaned when she repeated the process at the hollow of his neck, leaving a path of wet kisses and little nips that ended in his ear. His hands searched her hips, pressing her gently towards his growing erection.

"I said I was hungry… and you are irresistibly delicious." She whispered against his ear before biting his earlobe.

_§ § 0 § §_

After a delicious dinner, they shared that said bath. Ana was laying her head on the edge of the bathtub, a contented smile gracing her lips. Her eyes were closed in bliss while Christian, who was leaning over the other side of the tub facing her, massaged her foot. Her back arched in delight when he pressed a certain spot, a shudder running through her body and a soft moan leaving her lips. With that movement, a pert pink nipple rushed out of the water level. Christian's mouth watered at the sight; suds of soapy water running down the valley of her breasts.

"Come here." His voice was husky with lust. He tugged gently on her foot, making her butt slide over the bathtub floor until she was between his legs. A girly giggle erupted from Ana's mouth, her gaze lingering appreciatively on her man. "You need your shoulder massage." He added after giving her a chaste kiss and turning her around.

"Oh, yes; just right there…" She sighed dreamily when his hands worked her tense muscles over. He kissed the spot where her neck met her shoulder, savoring the wet, warm skin, and continued his ministrations. Ana moaned quietly her appreciation. Trying to concentrate on the task at hand and not on the way her maddening moans were making his cock twitch, he met an especially tight knot, and dug his fingers more firmly. "Ow, hurts!" Ana squealed.

"Sorry, baby." Christian whispered against her ear, easing the pressure over that spot.

"But it hurts sooo good!" She moaned. Christian shook his head, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, which he exhaled slowly through his teeth. "Please, don't stop!" She pleaded huskily, clutching her hands around his muscular thighs.

"If you keep this up, baby… I'm gonna show you how good it can hurt." He growled lowly against her ear, gripping her hips tightly and grinding his hard rock erection against her lower back. "You're a tease." He whispered hoarsely, nibbling at her earlobe.

Ana shuddered. Her head fell back on Christian's shoulder and her eyes closed as a sigh left her mouth. Christian continued trailing wet, open-mouthed kisses down her neck; her over-heated skin tasted like soap and something unmistakably Ana.

"I… I wasn't…" Ana stuttered breathlessly, her words lost when a single fingertip circled her nipple and his other hand glided down her abdomen to the spot between her parted legs, already sleek with need in spite of the hot water. He teased her entrance with the tip of a finger, mimicking the motions of his other hand; circling it with the same unhurried tempo. "Christian…" She breathed his name, pleading as she arched her back and widened her stance.

"Ana…" His breath was harsh and unsteady; his muscles bunched with anticipation under tight skin. He began grinding his cock against her, looking for some friction.

"Take me to bed." She barely whispered.

In one swift motion, he helped her out of the tub before getting out himself. He toweled her body quickly but thoroughly, giving himself just a rapid and careless swept before carrying her out of the en suite. He laid her in the middle of their bed and knelt between her legs. Ana looked at him with a small smile playing on her lips. He was a sight: muscular arms stretched out on either side of her body; hands wide open, aching to grab and to caress; toned chest and abdomen heaving with deep breaths, glistening with drops of water that swirled along bunched muscles and happy trails. And his cock... hot and heavy, standing proudly against his lower belly and achingly hard… She licked her lips, and he growled deep and low from his chest. His lips were parted to accommodate his harsh breaths and his eyes gleamed with a feral stare that made her burn. He was ready to pounce. At this realization, her skin covered in goose bumps and her nipples hardened painfully: she wanted him to pounce. Her teeth trapped her bottom lip and one of her hands wandered between the valley of her breasts, down to her belly button, while her knees fell hauntingly to the mattress, leaving her beautifully exposed.

Christian let his weight fall upon her, crashing his mouth to hers. His tongue swept the inside of her mouth and swirled along hers; his teeth nibbled at her lips and chin. It was all consuming and desperate, like a dam that breaks and lets the torrent stream out with force.

He followed with his tongue the path that her fingers had traced a moment ago: ravenous; insatiable; hectic.

"I want to push you to the limit." He growled between licks. Her hips bucked up when he nibbled at her mons Venus. "What do you say?" He looked her in the eye, lush lashes framing his iridescent eyes. "Are you up to it?"

Ana stared at him as if in a trance. That smirk… that sinful stare that stripped her of any inhibitions, searing her skin with fire. She threw her head back, an empowering feeling bubbling out of her mouth in the form of a breathless laugh.

"Yeah, I'm up for it." She answered with hooded eyes. "I'm all yours." She whispered at the end.

His hands pushed her knees down as far as they could go, and glided up along her inner thighs, until both his thumbs were caressing her folds. She sighed in contentment, moving her arms above her head and languidly stretching her back like a kitten. Christian drank her in; her ocean blue eyes danced with mirth and expectation and her rosy lips parted with want. Her pink nipples pointed at him, tempting and inviting and the creamy skin of her abdomen fluttered in anticipation. The sweet, musky scent of the slick, warm heaven in front of him, already swollen with need, permeated the air.

"So perfect." He muttered, moving closer forward until his parted knees were under her thighs, making her open up more for him. She hooked her feet on his lower back and he hummed in approval. He kept massaging her folds, her ass-cheeks, over her pubic bone, but never where she needed him the most. Ana squirmed with need, making those sweet little noises that drove him crazy. He lowered his head to graze her nipple with his teeth; a jolt of electricity running through her body, making her cry out loud. He soothed the tight peak with his tongue and sat up on his knees again. His hands never left her flesh.

"Trust me, baby?" He asked her gently. She nodded slowly, eyes wide with need and a little bit of trepidation. "This will be intense." He said softly.

He gathered the moisture dripping out of her, and massaged more firmly, coating her folds, her clit and her rosette. Her breathing faltered. He began teasing simultaneously both her entrances and lightly tapping her clit with his other hand. Ana moaned softly an incoherent version of his name, her eyes closed and her mouth open silently. He kept that little teasing up for several minutes; her juices coating the sheets under her prone body. He shifted his hands and entered two fingers inside her, curling them to reach that sweet spot of hers. Her hips bucked again when he found it and he shooed her to keep still.

"Feel it, baby. Take it all." He whispered hoarsely. "I love you."

He kept a maddening rhythm tapping on that magic spot over and over again. She trashed her head from side to side, clutching the sheets over her head so tightly her knuckles were white. Her soft moans escalated to cries of pleasure, her hips gyrating and bucking. He added pressure on her clit, flicking it rapidly from side to side with two fingers.

"Oh, God!" Ana heaved, the air struck in her lungs before rushing out in a hoarse cry as an electric feeling jolted her body, a thousand times more intense where Christian was touching her, and a rush of clear liquid spilled from her onto Christian's chest and abs. Wave after wave of pure ecstasy rolled over her, Christian's ministrations not relenting until her body collapsed. Christian watched her in fascination, eyes wild with lust; mouth open to accommodate his harsh breathing. He smeared her cum over his overheated skin, his nipples hardening under his palm and his abs twitching in anticipation. Ana's eyes followed the path of his hand until he grabbed his engorged cock and coated it with her juices too, fisting it slowly, up and down his slick length; his eyes never leaving hers.

"Now you've marked me." He said in a low rumble.

His thumb brushed the head of his cock on his way up, smearing the pre-cum, before gripping tightly at its base. His eyes closed and his head fell back while he was exhaling heavily. Ana licked her lips, completely enthralled with the spectacular sight. When he looked at her, that wild look was there again. He kissed her hard and gently shifted her body onto her stomach placing a pillow under her hips. With his body completely hovering over hers and their faces turned sideways, looking at the other one in the eye, he entered her slowly, savoring her warmth inch by inch until he was fully seethed inside her. Her walls fluttered around him, small spams of residual pleasure, and she bucked her hips backwards when he reached that spot once again, moaning obscenities against his mouth. Shifting his weight so not to crush her, he supported himself with his elbows at either side of her beautiful body. With his forehead on the space between her shoulder blades, he thrust long and hard, inhaling her sweet scent and lapping at the saltiness of her sweaty skin. Much too soon, he was feeling that familiar jolt at the base of his spine, propping him to thrust harder, deeper. He searched for her hands and intertwined their fingers.

"God, baby, you feel so good… I love you so much!" He struggled, his voice thick with desperation. "I'm… I'm fucking there, baby… I need you to come, Ana!" He pleaded.

"Christian!" She half wined, half moaned. She was in a trance; her pleasure so massive it was as if her orgasm never ended. "I… yes, yes, yes." She whispered incoherently.

Christian grunted, his eyes screwed shut as his hips moved frantically in and out of her in a rapid ascension towards his release. At the point of no return, he cried out against her skin, his body rigid, clamping tightly around her when rapture washed over him. Ana exhaled silently; he had grown impossibly bigger, harder and thicker, and another orgasm whirled inside her; a million tiny shiny pieces of ecstasy exploding, only contained by his tight embrace.

After a few minutes, he found the energy to remove himself off of Ana, who was already passed out under him, and lay beside her. With another enormous effort, he covered them both with the duvet, switched off the lamp on the bedside table and passed out too.

_§ § 0 § §_

Ana woke up slowly, bypassing the frontier between sleep and wakefulness with a smile on her lips. She stretched dreamily, feeling her muscles protest. She chuckled to herself and opened her eyes. Her mind was completely alert, but her body was aching in places she didn't know existed and her limbs weighed a ton. Her eyes looked mischievously toward Christian, who was profoundly asleep beside her. There was light coming from the en suite; they didn't switch it off in their rush to run to their bedroom. He was on his stomach, his face sideways toward her, but partially hidden by his dark copper mop of hair. She caressed the silky tresses, and admired his sleeping form; it was a rare opportunity to watch him like this. Even in this state, all unaware of his surroundings and vulnerable, there was that feeling of power oozing out of him. She blushed and squirmed, thinking in all the amazing ways he used that power over her body… and even at his mercy, how secure she felt putting herself in his hands.

She closed the distance between them and kneeled beside him. Peeling back the duvet down his outstretched form, she slowly reveled inch by glorious inch his magnificent body. She kissed the warm skin of his ribcage, his hipbone. She hummed looking at that delectable muscular ass, smooth skin under taut muscle, and couldn't help nibbling at it. He mumbled something unintelligible and shifted on the bed, now on his back. She trailed the V shaped muscles leading to his groin, and his half-hard cock twitched in response. She suppressed a chuckle, feeling like a mischievous child, and continued along his muscular legs. Reaching his feet, she marveled at how sexy they were, and cocked her head to the left, wondering how weird it was that she wanted to worship them. Rubbing a circular pattern on the sole with her thumb, she concluded that it didn't matter if they both enjoyed it. Slowly and watching his reaction, she kissed his toes one by one. She smiled to herself, flicking the tip of her tongue over his big toe before nibbling gently at it.

"Hungry, babe?" Christian's sleepy voice startled her, making her lose balance and almost falling off the bed.

"Jesus, Christian, you startled me!" She half chuckled, laying her right hand flat over her chest.

"Sorry." He rasped unapologetically. He stretched his large frame and folded his arms behind his head, looking at Ana with sleepy eyes and a smug smile. "So… what were you doing Anastasia?" His smile turned smugger by the second when that lovely blush of hers began spreading all over her face and neck.

"Well…" She coughed, feeling the heat on her cheeks. "I was…" She scooted closer, taking one of his feet in her hands. She squinted, which, on the other hand, Christian thought was absolutely adorable, and tried to convince herself that wanting to lick his feet was not that kinky after all the things they had done together. "You have sexy feet." She deadpanned.

"Have I?" Christian asked, arching a brow and wiggling his toes.

"You have." Ana nodded slowly. "Big, strong, impeccable sexy feet." Her hands massaged said foot with determination. "And I was thinking how pleasurable it is when you do this," Ana kissed the tip of his big toe, "and this." She added nibbling at the side.

Christian exhaled roughly and chuckled breathlessly, licking his suddenly dry lips. He was propped up on his elbows, watching with fascination the way Ana's eyelashes casted shadows over her alluring cheeks; the way her skin seemed to glow in the dim light of the room; the way her hands, delicate but firm, glided over his skin. He sighed in contentment.

"Your mouth on my skin?" He finally said with a lopsided grin. "I will never complain about that." Ana bit her lower lip, a flicker of doubt crossing her face before shaking her head as if to get rid of it. "Ana" Christian said warmly, sitting up to be closer to her. "Just a few hours ago, I made you squirt all over me and rubbed your cum over my cock…" He lifted both his eyebrows with a smirk. "Do whatever you want to me."

Ana laughed out loud, relieved. "Right, I was thinking along those same lines." Tentatively, she set her lips closer to his foot, watching him watching her. "I love you, Christian." She whispered against his skin.

"I love you too, baby." He whispered back.

With her eyes fixed on his face, she closed her mouth around his toe and sucked gently. Christian gasped; his eyes wide with surprise.

"Wow!" He whispered, somehow out of breath. Ana, encouraged by his reaction, did it again. "Fuck." He muttered. His eyes were glued to her mouth and what she was doing. "I never imagined…"

"What did you 'never imagine'?" Ana asked him against his wet skin, the smug smile now gracing her lips.

"I never imagined it could feel so good…" Christian rasped, grasping his now fully erect cock.

"Mmmmm…" Ana sucked harder. Christian's eyes rolled at the back of his head, and he chuckled at his own body reactions. "It's good to know, more so knowing you have five toes on each foot." She said winking at him.

Christian rubbed his free hand over his face, shivering and hissing when Ana sucked his toe into her mouth once again.

"Come here, baby, please." He begged shamelessly. "You're making me crazy. I need to be inside you. Now."

Ana released his toe with a pop and crawled her way up to the bed towards Christian. "I think I've found another weak spot of yours, Mr. Grey." She said cheekily.

"Oh, yes. You've definitely have, Ms. Steele." He answered, gathering her in his arms. "Another first."

"One of many." She whispered against his jaw.

"What you do to me, Ana." He exhaled before losing himself in her.

_§ § 0 § §_

After another rendezvous, they got ready for the day. They were having breakfast when Ana's phone rang. She looked at the screen and her face grew serious when she saw the caller ID.

"It's Jose." Ana told Christian, who had immediately picked up her change of mood.

"Don't take the call, Ana. I don't want you interacting with that motherfucker!" Christian growled; his hand stretched out, asking for the phone. "What's he doing calling you, anyway? So much for not wanting to put you in danger!"

"I'm going to put it on speaker." She answered, dismissing completely Christian's request. She looked pleadingly at him, silently asking for his collaboration, and then looked at Taylor, who had dutifully appeared in the kitchen. Christian shook his head in exasperation, cursing under his breath.

Ana gulped heavily before taking the call.

"Jose." She answered shakily.

"Ana…" Jose exhaled, leaning his forehead on his free hand. "How are you?" He didn't expect such relief in hearing her voice, even when her tone was so cold.

"How am I?" She asked rhetorically, an edge of irritation in her voice. "Is this a courtesy phone call, Jose?" Ana's words were harsh. She could feel her anger rising, sour like bile, until Christian wrapped his arms around her, pressing her back against his chest and kissing her hair.

"Ana, please… I'm sorry. You don't have idea how sorry I am." Jose sounded somehow sincere, desperate even, but Ana didn't care.

"Return to Seattle and give your statement to the police." Ana demanded.

"Fuck, Ana, I can't do that. Didn't Grey tell you that Hyde threatened to go after my father?" Jose answered defensively. "Are you with him still, anyway?"

"Yes, we're together, motherfucker." Christian growled, tightening his hold on Ana's waist.

"I forgot to mention you were on speaker." Ana said unapologetically.

"Oh, so we're here in a little family reunion; how nice!" Jose spat with sarcasm.

"Don't you fucking dare, Rodriguez." Christian's voice was low and menacing. "I'm not ending this conversation right now because Ana wanted to give you a chance to do the right thing. She's good and forgiving; I'm not. So, if you disrespect her one more fucking time, this is over, and you better fucking stay on the other side of the fucking border and never cross my way again."

"Thank you, baby." Ana whispered, turning her head to give Christian a brief kiss.

Jose exhaled shakily and brushed his hand over his face. "Ok." He answered curtly.

"Christian has men looking after your father, 24/7. He is safe." Ana explained, squeezing affectionately Christian's forearms.

"I…" Jose was speechless. He wouldn't have imagined, never in a million years, that stuck-up billionaire could do something so selfless. But then, he remembered how he had offered to pay for Ray's medical costs the day of his friend's graduation, even before meeting Ana. It made him feel inappropriate. "Thank you, Grey. I… I really appreciate it." He answered sincerely.

"If you really want to thank him, Jose, come back and expose those evil fuckers." Ana demanded. "Christian and I already made our statements." Ana sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Leila was found severely beaten at an apartment Downtown. We told the police everything that we knew and they are gathering evidence to have a firm case against Elena and Jack." Ana explained. "They drugged you, Jose. It was against your will. It's a crime, one of too many they committed, and they have to pay."

Jose closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He stood up and paced the small room, his free hand gripping his hair. "This is all so fucked up." He muttered. "Ok, I'll do it. This… this shit has gone too far." He finally spoke. "I never wanted any of this to go this way, Ana…"

"That's enough for today." Christian's authoritarian timbre boomed throughout the kitchen. "I will arrange your trip for tomorrow morning. My men will contact you later with the details." Christian looked at Taylor, who nodded in assent. "For once in your life, you're doing the right thing, Rodriguez." He said before reaching for the phone and pressing the end call button.

Ana shifted in Christian's arms, facing him. They looked at the other one in silence; shining eyes carrying a silent conversation that spoke of hope and expectation, but also fear and uncertainty.

"It's going to be ok, baby." Ana whispered, caressing his face. Christian leaned against her hand. "This… this is it."

20