All the usual disclaimers are in place, I don't own the rights, to the fifty shades trilogy or the music and films in this short fan fiction story, not that it is true to the story. As I am dyslexic, please do not read if you are a grammar aficionado, I am not great at sentence structuring...
So this is the last chapter, my thoughts of doing the follow up, is all dependent on the reviews and the thoughts of my readers...
It is a crazy long last chapter, with more twists than a fairground attraction, so buckle up and get your head in the page lol; it will need to be...
Putting Down Roots:
Chapter Thirty Five:
Weird doesn't quite cover it, Mom!
C POV:
"Ana, did you like the party?"
"I did, it was very loud and everyone seemed to like it. To think in three weeks we get to do it all again, but I now I want to tent the entire the meadow, the barn has the damned hayloft. I swear at one point the band had to play louder than necessary because of the romping going on up there. I wonder too, why we didn't take a trip up there?"
"It would have been rude, besides I have bad memories of a hay rash..."
"Good memories Christian. So, the car, what do you think?"
"It is fucking amazing, thank you Baby. It is the best thing I have."
"The best, ouch I am very hurt..."
"After you, this is the second best ride..."
"Urghk, that so uncouth, I may be going off you Mr Grey."
"I thought there was something wrong, would you care to tell me what is worrying you?" She shuffles in the seat. I was right; there is a problem... "Ana, tell me what's worrying you, please?"
"No, no I can't, I really can't, and if I do you will leave me."
"Are you mad, I will never leave you, ever..."
"Oh you will, you really will."
"I won't, I promise you I will never leave you..." I grab her hand and I get call too. I answer it, the talk we need is not being interrupted after this, but it is Taylor. "Taylor, what do you want? We are on speaker and hands free."
"Sir, slow down, you hit the high nineties back there. Plus, we think you have a car following you, slow down and let us catch up with you, I have a tail too."
"Okay, I am slowing down; but it is a dream to drive. Who is following us?"
"We don't know the plates are false... Keep to the speed limits... Sir, keep the line open..."
"Will do, who is it can you see Jason..."
"Christian, who is it, do you think perhaps it's the bad men who killed Ben and were in business with Paul?"
"Don't worry about it Baby, Taylor has it in hand. Now, what were you worried about?"
"Christian, I went to the doctors to get the next jab, and well I couldn't have the it, I mean I was so sure I was able to have another, I mean I am so sorry Christian, but I can't have it I peed in a cup and well..."
"...It's fine, I can cover those things, what else is worrying you, besides our having to use condoms?" I laugh.
"Oh let me finish please Christian, you don't need a fluffing condom, not for the next eight months at least..." I know I heard that fucking right... I hoped I hadn't, but fuck me, she is having my baby, I turn to look at her and I see the tears, I reach for her hand and as I do I see a bright, bright light.
I hear a scream I hear a crunch, I hear madness, I see bright lights and I feel in a dazed state as my car rolls down an embankment. I hear Ana, I see Ana being thrown around like a rag doll, fuck she is pregnant and I've rolled the fucking car down a fucking hill. We seem to roll for an age, when at last, we come to a stop, there is a strange and eerie silence, the airbags have deployed and the horn is blaring, I cannot see Ana, were once she sat, is an empty seat. I am stuck in the car. I freak out as I see a pair of legs, Ana is out of the car thank fuck, she is walking and okay... However, when I look up and I see Leila I freak out, I hear Elena laughing, I see Susannah, why is she here, have the got Ana? I scream for Ana... Nobody comes and the legs walk away... Ana where is Ana and my baby?
Thank god, I survived the roll down that damned hill, if I did Ana has to have, she has to have been thrown clear. Then I hear the strange noises again, but these are different, the horn has stopped and there are no lights. Someone has turned off the lights, I hear a sort of bleep, bleep, bleeping, and I can smell a strange aroma, where did Ana's Tangy Citrus smell go, why is something hurting my chest, why does my head feels really thick and cloudy? Where the fuck is Ana? I cannot open my eyes and feel like I am being gagged, that is not a happy memory. I hear the chatter of a chirpy Mia, she is speaking to someone in the room, is it Ana? The other voice is actually shouting at her. What has she done this time?
"Mia, you had no right to take my story, and you Kate shouldn't have let her, where is my book and why did I have to come here to get it? I have to be going home, Dad is expecting me remember? I am already pushing it to get there before dark. Wanda is not the best car in the world."
Ana had a car called Wanda, but that isn't my Ana's voice, god I am so fucking confused, someone turn on the fucking light, please throw some light on this bloody pantomime it seems I am playing a part in, ouch I ache all over, I fidget and I seem to be getting stressed, then umm, I get a head rush and suddenly something is relaxing me, I feel drunk, that's it, I am drunk, urghk when did I drink?
"Oh cool your jets Nahna and take my car. Mia has good news for you, she has been reading your book to her brother here whilst he is on these damned machines and everyone likes it. Nahna, I can't believe you haven't been in to see him already. Mia has been here three weeks now?"
I have been what, where am I, and I have been here for how long, and where is Ana? Is this Nahna another friend of Mia's, what am I her show and tell? Kate and Mia seem to be picking on Nahna, this Nahna sounds annoyed, her name, it sounds Asian, perhaps she is...
"Hey some of us have to work for a living, and I am there for Mia, she virtually lives with us at the moment, I cook her meals and give her a shoulder to cry on, and please stop playing the Lady Bountiful card Kate, you are only here because you fancy the pants off their brother Elliot, and you know how much I hate hospitals Kate..."
Poor Kate, she a brain in that head of hers, because she knows Elliot is a player, who are these girls, are they Mia's new friends, perhaps this Nahna is one of the new people in town? This is a nightmare, I pinch myself, how come I cannot feel the pinch, am I paralysed, fuck did the crash paralyse me, FUCK I AM IN HOSPITAL... Shit, I remember the fucking crash, and looking for Ana, Ana is pregnant, where is my Ana. I scream her name and nobody hears me scream, why are they ignoring me?
"Kate, why are you and Mia laughing? What the hell have you done with the names? For god's sake give me that, oh hell no, Mia, you have doodled in the margins and why is my lead character now called Christian Grey and why in all that's holy have you used my name? Mia, you have ruined this why, why did you do this and why did you not say anything Katherine, oh I see why, you get a mention too?"
Kate is here thank god, so Ana must be here too, I move again and still they chatter...
"Mia here, she needed to borrow my course work, seeing as she sits in here with her brain dead brother all of the time..."
WHAT, I AM WHAT? My brain is fine and there is nothing wrong with my damned ears, though all this girl chatter is killing me right now...
"Katherine, if he can hear, that is a horrid thing for him to hear, Mia you are forgiven. Look, you two I have to go and yes, Kate I will take your car. Mia's driver brought me here, so I will grab the keys thank you. He is very dishy by the way Mia."
Who is dishy, why the fuck can I not open my eyes, and where is my Ana?
"What, who is dishy Christian? Kate, please be nice, Christian is not brain dead, he's in a coma, Elliot is the only brain dead brother I have, and his is not dead, but in his pants, and yes I know you know what's in his pants Kate, because I notice he has been taking you to dinner a lot of late and his dinners come with a price tag and usually before a roll in the sheets?"
Mia is right of course, but who is in the room and can they not see me shaking my hands, moving my fingers, where is Ana?
"I am sorry Nahna, but when I picked up her paperwork, the story was at the bottom of the pile, and Nahna, as much as Christian here likes a good old classic read to him, I hate them they are dull and boring, so I read this as I waited for him to wake up.
I am sorry too for calling your classics boring, because I know you love them. My brother here, he is gay, so he, he likes a classic or two, at least we think he's gay anyhow, so I thought I'd make you his love interest and get him into some 'in-sleep-girl-action'. I guess I was just messing around, but once I started, it snowballed. I mean, your Grigori, he became Christian, Han's, the fit personal body guard, he became Taylor, his security and well Grigori changed from a Russian oil billionaire, into an American billionaire entrepreneur and the names of the others I changed into names that were handy, Elena got a mention as a madam, and her friends became his ex girlfriends, I'm sorry Nahna, I'm so sorry, I really did change it around, a lot!"
I am not fucking gay and they were not my girlfriends. Come in here and save me Ana, please?
"Mia, I will see how your version compares to mine, and it is funnier, I can see that already. I must admit that's not how I write, with the added in humour, but I do use people whom I have met and add them into my stories like you did. My historical romance, you have changed into some sort of Lady Porn saga. Urghk Mia, you have even set it in my home town too, my dad will kill me, if it ever goes to print. Kate and you, you need to write your own dirty version and leave my historical romance alone. Now, I am changing the subject to the dishy guy who drove me in... Mia, the driver is nice, is he available, because that would be good? As to your brother, here let me see him."
I feel a dip at my side, just who the fuck is watching me? I flap my hand to get her away from me and still they talk around me.
"He looks nice enough, or he would be, if I could see below all the bruising, I guess his face took a battering when the car rolled into the ditch, did it?" She whispers in my ear and I feel her warm breath. "Wow, you are stunning, you really are Mr Grey, even beneath those bruises. Please get well soon, I will say a prayer for you Mr Grey, and I am so sorry they used you in my story."
She seems to sigh... I am what, with my what, I did what, fuck is Ana alive, is she in here too? I cry because I don't need Nahna, I need my Ana. Where are you Ana, please come and help me...
"Yes, but he didn't crash and roll, no a woman ran him off the road, the police are still looking for her. I am sure they will get her or them eventually. His security are looking for them and are leaving no stone unturned, and then they will hit them hard they nearly killed him, they left him to die."
Elena ran me off the fucking road, with the help of Leila and Susannah. Help me up and talk to me, Mia look at me can you not see me moving? I punch my hand out and move my head; surely, they can see me?
"I bet they are, how is his security guy, the man Taylor you whinge about all of the time?"
Yes, get Taylor and get him now, please?
"He is immobilised with two broken legs and he had to have a new hip, he is angry as hell Christian drove off like that. I mean one minute we are enjoying Mom's birthday and the next thing Mom's old friend Elena is nursing a blooded face and having things thrown at her, Mom really went to town on her, then Christian went quiet for about ten minutes, he got a call and headed out of there like a bat out of hell... I did wonder if the old witch had made a pass at Daddy, especially after Christian took off like he did. Elliot says it's worse than that, but he won't tell me what it is, I am a kid, apparently! I'm not supposed to know the truth, but what they don't know is, that I already know my brother here had a thing with the old trout, and had a secret life with call girls; I did some sneaking around too..."
She maybe a kid: but she's a smart kid, a nosey kid and my kid sister, who I love, but I will kill because not only is she spewing my life before Ana to Kate, they have not noticed I am trying to get them out of this space I am in, she is an annoying sister, who needs to stop using this place as a frat house and she needs to get me my mother...
"Do you think this Elena woman; she could have run him off the road?"
I shout yes damn it, get the fuck out and get me someone who notices I am moving my whole fucking body here.
"Nahna, they have looked into it and no, she was here already and apparently getting her head wound stitched, she had two women with her though, now that was a spooky meeting, because at first I thought one of them was you Nahna! But no, she was here with two girls, a Leila and a Susannah, they were waiting around for Elena, it did seem like that they were waiting for my brother to be brought in, and were relieved to see him when they did arrive. Elena was asking for her plastic surgeon to come see her and was avoiding my mother.
I think Mom had the nurses purposely threat her slowly and without much local anaesthetic, well judging from the screams we heard, she felt the pain of the needles. She was making her presence felt alright, by making a lot of noise and using bad language. Apparently, Mom managed to clip her head with a really nice glass vase and made a mess of her hair line and broke her nose too, so no, it couldn't have been her, but thanks for giving it some thought, the girls looked shifty though, so I had Luke check them out, after one of them tried to get in to see Christian, on Elena's behalf, it was Leila your freaky twin Nahna, freakily mad for my brother."
They were here, wherever here is, and they waited for me? They did do this to me, fuck me I will kill Elena, she has pushed me too far and so too have Leila and Susannah, did they not know the rules, and why wasn't Susannah in Australia and when did Leila get out of hospital? I am so confused, my head hurts and I feel like I'm passing out...
"Don't be angry with me Nahna?"
"You're okay Mia, we are okay and I am not angry, especially if someone does like it and wants to publish it? I hope Christian does recover, because you are lucky to have such a great family and he seems to be a big part of it. Mia, I understand your illogical reasoning in change my story, I guess once you started changing it, it did snowball and once you started you couldn't stop, but why did you not just read it to him as it was, and pass it me back with your expert critique?"
"Nahna, it's a good story, I read it first and then thought I'd read it to Chris, but I took all your stuffy Russian names out, then just for fun, Kate and I added in a few of ours and sexed it up a lot, to the point its very risqué in parts, I mean yours was very Russian Bronte like, but very you Nahna. I blame Kate, she thought it was funny when we based it around your hometown, in place of Bratsk, really you went all Russian on the damned thing, so we made it American, it will sell better, you best read it, we like it and so do half the staff who look out for sleeping beauty here..."
"I will, when I get back, who else has read it because your brother will kill you, so just beware, if he has heard anything you have read to him he will bust a gut, and I'd pop you on that pretty nose if I were him, I would Mia and hard, this is downright, well rude..."
I am going to pop someone if they continue to annoy the fuck out of me, get me my Ana... And what fucking story are they talking about? I need sleep, they are wearing me down and I hate their gossiping. Ana help me, where are you Ana?
"The medical staff say they don't know if he can hear me, but well it was a great read, some of them even stopped to listen for a chapter or two, too. It was even better when we personalised it. He seems to like it and he reacts to it, so Mom asked me to keep reading it, Nahna, you need to finish it... He only responds to your story, please finish it, please Nahna finish it, I only have the last chapter left?"
I need Mia to shut the fuck up and stop whining and for them all to leave me alone...
"No I can't finish it, because it is finished and yes, I finished it with a cliff hanger for a reason, they do something called sequels you know? I am not happy you stole and ruined my story Mia, because I had hoped to sell it to pay off my tuition... It is never going to be a best seller, but Ms Brooks, who is my classics teacher, is not a lover of my attempt at a modern classic, so don't worry Mia I was joking, it was horrid before you messed with it, it had already been trashed by my tutor, so let's not argue over it. Out of interest, why did you change the name to that of poor Christian here, and why have me fall in love with your own brother? That was very perverted Mia, one, that you read those sexy scenes to your brother, those very fictitious sex scenes and two you even imagined me and him doing all those raunchy acts?"
What are these two talking about, have they given me a lobotomy, have Elliot and Adam pranked me. Is this my drunken bachelor party? My head feels like it is and I have over indulged on spirits.
"It was a little bit of fun Nahna. Please don't be angry, he likes it?"
"I bet he does, they do a lot of the sex thing, especially good looking men like him, trust me they like sex, but I can assure you, he would be mad as hell that you changed the names to his and mine, 'cos I am, I mean me and your hunky brother, no way? I have to be going for real this time. Mia don't worry, I will print another copy off, but please don't let that one out of your sight, he would not be happy seeing his name in my book. I hope he gets better soon; I will see you both when I get back. It's a pity he is gay, he is kind of cute..."
Who is he, 'cos it sure as hell is not me? I am in a hospital room perhaps with others, because I recognise the smell and Mia is here. I can hear you Mia. So this Nahna, she thinks I am hunky, gay and cute does she, wrong much Nahna, ask Ana? Then the heavy mugginess, a very light headedness and then a relaxing and a sudden darkness takes over me again...
Mia's POV:
Kate and Nahna leave me to it. My brother's machines bleep strongly, I've finished reading the last chapter to Chris, he liked it and Nahna was wrong, he would see the funny side, I hope so anyhow. She did leave it on a cliff hanger too, she is a witch, and she has to do a follow up, because she has too. I am putting the book forward to Christian's head of publishing; it's great, even without our helpful 'changes'! I pick up the lad mag, one that Elliot dropped off and I flick through it for the stimulating articles in it, but sadly, there is none to be had. I am about to take a sip my coffee, when the machines go mad, he is fighting with the breathing tube...
"Mommmmm, Mommmmm, Mom get in here, Mom Chris is in trouble, Mommy..."
"Shush Mia, we are coming, stand outside and get your brother and father here now, now Mia." She ushers me out of the room, as he seems to be having a fit of some kind, I keep the door open I need to be here and to hear what's going on. I pray to him up there for him to spare my brother and even promise to donate all my clothes shoes and bags to good will if he saves him, a rash promise but one I would gladly keep, if the dumb idiot makes it.
"Mom is he dying, please save him, please Mommy save my brother?"
"I will, now get your brother and father here now Mia." I do as I am asked, as a plethora of nurses and white coats push me out of the way. I make the dreaded calls...
Grace's Pov:
"Christian, calm down now, calm down. You are intubated, and if you pull that out you will do yourself harm, stay still and I will remove it." He calms down just a little.
"Dr Trevelyan, is that wise?" The nurse asks, I smile, because I know my son better than anyone does.
"Trust me he will only pull it out if we don't. His sat's have improved over the last three days and it seems he is out of his coma. Now, assist me with the tubes please. Christian when I pull this out, cough and it will help ease the tube out of your airway, okay?" He nods and it is then when I see the tears in his eyes. As the nursing staff check the readings, I smile and gently nod my head and my son coughs. He splutters and the tube is out, and I have to pray for none of his usual foul language.
"Mom, where am I, where is Ana, is she okay, crap I hurt all over?" Crap, I can handle his use of crap, just...
"Shush try not to talk, here sip this water, slowly your throat will be dry." I help him drink the water and he thanks me, the nurses remove the breathing apparatus and the monitors for his heart, leaving in a central line for the painkillers and the dextrose mix, he has to feed and hydrate him, they leave on his blood pressure cuff, as he will get a few panic attacks, knowing him and his temper it could get sky high. As they finish, Christian grabs me and hugs me tightly. I am stunned and shocked, I have waited so long for this moment, so, so long, that I am in tears as I hug him back, I am touching the no touch areas as he sobs uncontrollably. I am in heaven, the sheer joy I feel right now is like all my Christmases have come at once, he is against my chest as his head nestles there I stroke his hair, I am being allowed to comfort my boy, my poor, poor boy. He pulls me even closer I am now against his chest, as I sob. He kisses my head and I right myself, as he starts the expected questions...
"Mom, how is Ana, is she here?" I wasn't expecting these questions though!
"No, no she has just left with Kate. How do you know Ana?"
"How do I know her? She is my fiancé and is having my baby! Mom, was she not hurt in the crash?"
"You were in the car alone Chris, all alone. Ana has only just recently come into our lives, she is Kate's friend and Ana, or Nahna as they call her, she is Kate's roommate, Kate and Mia are doing the same course at university, she is a friend of Mia's who you have never met, and Christian, she only met you today."
"No, no, no. Ana is my girlfriend, she is a vet with Kate; she and I are getting married in three weeks. She and I were going to Sea-Tac to go to Europe on business, when Elena ran me off the fucking road. Mom, my Ana, she flew out of the car, the new car, a car Ana bought me."
"Christian calm down, Ana is a student as is Kate, poor Ana, she struggles to make her tuition payments, so I hardly think she bought you your now wrecked Audi?"
"What, I was in an Aston Martin."
"I assure you; your car is an Audi, it was totalled and is in the scrap yard. As is Taylors. He was hit from behind as he raced to save you."
"He was in the rear car, yes, yes Mom he was following with our luggage, is he okay?"
"He will be. Christian, where do you think you are Little Man?"
"I don't know, did you fly me in here from Montesano, because your clinic isn't open there yet?"
"I do not have a clinic in Montesano, and why would we fly you in from there? Christian, you went off the Governor's Bridge here in Seattle; you were chasing Elena from our home towards Seattle, late on the night of my birthday party, when your car and you went over the edge of it. It turns out the police say you were forced off the road. Taylor pulled up and he too was shunted over the edge. Luckily it was not into the damned water or you would both be dead now..."
"I am confused Mom, I was coming from my new home in Montesano, after my engagement party, you and dad were there, everyone was there, you all love both Ana and the new town where we live. Are you saying I didn't crash on the Olympic Highway? You are saying I was forced off the bridge here in Seattle, are you sure?"
"I am sure Christian, I watched as they pulled you out of the wreckage, you were almost dead Christian Trevelyan Grey, you nearly died. Never are you driving again and forget flying and I have even stopped those damned piloting lessons, for you flying damned planes, and let's not talk of your paper plane hobby, cotton wool, I am wrapping you in cotton wool, and I have it on bulk order Christian, bulk order..."
I step aside as his doctor gives him something to knock him out again, when he suddenly begins flaying around. He gets frantic and very disorientated; his blood pressure is sky high, as predicted.
"I love Ana, she is my world, I need Ana I really need her Mom. Mom, find me my Ana, my Ana needs me Mom, the baby, the ba..." And he sleeps, who the hell is his Ana? Mia enters the room again, as Christian is now sleeping. She is as puzzled by all that as I am.
"What do you think is wrong with him Thomas, is it brain damage, this is your area after all?" I ask. Now I have asked I am not sure I want to know.
"He was very delusional, very confused and indeed needs more help. This can be the case when a patient has been asleep for as long as Christian has, though I am a tad confused, he wasn't aware of this reality at all, it is not unusual for some memory problems to come on awakening, usually they don't remember themselves, the people around them or how they got here or the accident or happening that led them to my theatre. I am very perplexed as to the reasons for it, he was adamant this woman Ana was in danger, was there another body not discovered at the scene?"
"No, there was only Christian and his driver, Taylor. I am very confused too. I can't imagine why he is acting this way Thomas?"
"What happened to him was a very traumatic occurrence, he died several times on the operating table, you know as well as I do, this could be his brains way of coping, there are several types of amnesia's that he could have, we need to study him and his reactions when he awakens. So, we will keep him sedated for a while and run more scans and tests, which are much easier done when he is sleeping.
Meanwhile, go home and sleep, he will be out of it all night now and he is fine, though I would have preferred you waited for me to take him off the machines Grace. I wouldn't come down to paediatrics and do your job and more over, you would not allow it and you know you are not meant to treat your own family."
"I know, but he is so special..." Mia flies to her brother's bedside.
"Will my brother be okay Doc Delayne?" Mia is grabbing poor Thomas's arm. She is crying and I know she loves her brother, but man handling his specialist is not going to find her the answers she needs. She has been here virtually the whole time Christian has been in his coma and has worried more each and every day.
"Mia, it is Doctor, or rather Mr Delayne, to you."
"I am fine Grace, she and I have an understanding, she brings me in wonderful muffins from her friend Nahna and she gets to be sassy with me. Isn't that so Mia?"
"Yes, mother, we have a laugh and a joke, you are way too serious." I shake my head at my daughter.
He has worked hard for his title, he is the best neuro surgeon money can buy; I only wanted the best for my son, including in the huge team that saved his life, there is Thomas, the neuro guy, an orthopaedic surgeon, a plastic surgeon and a thoracic surgeon and a team of trauma nurses, he is lucky he is alive, they have all worked wonders on both my son and poor Taylor. We have had the best care my hospital could provide.
The nurses have all been male, as Mia pointed out the nurses were all over my son, apparently, like a rash and I have to admit they were, so I had the older nurses and the male nurses bathe him and see to his needs Franco has been an angel and has shaved him four or five times already, I will have to get him in to give him again as he has quiet the beard growing. Though I must say, I like that look on him too. I am wandering away from the problem in hand.
"Well, is he going to be okay Mr Delayne? I mean; is he mad, has he got brain damage, because doc, he was frantic about a character in the book I have been reading him?" I am not taking this in Mia can't be right, he was in a coma and not listening to her Russian story.
I have to wonder, if he has a secret girlfriend, because he was very adamant he was in love and engaged, and that the girl is having my grandchild. I need to ask Taylor where this woman is, because she hasn't paid him a visit. Does he in fact have a secret girlfriend? After the episode with Elena, I know he is not gay, and I do not believe it, but I found out today that, that vile woman is trying to sue me for actually harming her. If I see her again, that bitch is going down. I have ruined her cliental list, stolen her prized stylist, and set him up with his own salon, which I have raved to my friends and colleagues about, and so her, her business and her entourage of so called friends, are going down like a Jenga Tower or a falling house of cards, if you will. Thomas is speaking to my daughter again; as he does, Mia is keeping her brother's messy hair from his eyes. I am away with the fairies...
"He has been sleeping a long time, he will be fine. I will have him monitored, Grace and you Mia, you both need to go home, rest up and come back tomorrow. You may want to bring his therapist with you Grace, he may have an insight, as to what type of amnesia he has, there are a few possibilities, but we will know more when he wakes a little calmer, at least we know he knows his name, which isn't always the case. Be thankful for small mercies Grace."
"I am very grateful, and I will, as Dr Flynn to call on him tomorrow, and thank you Thomas, you have been amazing. I think a home cooked meal, a relaxing night and a full night's sleep will do us all the world of good. If what I have just witnessed is anything to go by, my son is in a very dark place."
"Mom, he frigging hugged you, I mean really hugged you and tightly, that is an amazing place for him to be in, he has lost his touching issues, he has hasn't he? He is convince he is engaged and that may be my fault Mom, he only began having a fit and coming around when I read the last chapter of the book to him, in it, Anushka, who we called Ana, well she had just told Grigori, who we called Christian, that she was pregnant and that was where it ended, after a madwoman ran him off the road. Can he really have thought the story I have been reading him was real, he thinks it has happened, and he has been living as a country bumpkin for the past three weeks? Is that at all feasible Doctor?"
I have to wonder if that is the case. If it is then I will be shocked. I have heard of people being put into a coma to overcome withdrawals from drugs and drink, but to cure a phobia and night terrors, perhaps this is a first?
"Bring his therapist in, that is not my area Grace, there are studies to show that coma patients can and have woken up speaking different languages, in fact I had a lady not too long ago, who sang like Maria Callas, her family had had her wearing a head set and her favourite songs played on it all the time."
"Is that a bad thing?" Mia asks.
"No, not bad at all, because she was tone deaf before her operation and sang perfectly in tune after it."
"Oh so my reading that story to him, he could possibly think he is cured of his phobias and he is not as uptight about things, the only trouble is with that story is, he is now in love with Nahna, I mean poor Ana, who he has never met?"
"Apparently so, but just to check, go and see Taylor, perhaps he can shed some light on this Ana girl, if not, then Mia, you could have proved people in a coma do hear things and have some semblance of the things going on around them and that they are able to do wondrous things and learn new things.
All the scans are clear, he has no lesions, me and my team are very pleased that he came out of his surgery unscathed, he will be able to walk again, both his leg and arm have set nicely, his lungs are clear now and all healed, the facial lacerations are but a mere faint line and the bruising from re-setting his nose and the black eyes will soon dissipate.
I am happy with all the readings, so go home Grace Grey, your husband and son are here. Carrick take them home, she and Mia have had some good news, your son has awoken, alas I have had to sedated him, he was very confused and was doing himself harm..."
"He is awake, thank god, thank you and thank god again, but are you sure he needs more sleep after three weeks of doing just that?"
"Yes sleep and calm, and all of you come back tomorrow, he will need you. Carrick, he is and was very confused."
"Thanks Thomas, we will have to play a few rounds at the weekend, now he is out of it. How was he Grace?"
"Cary, he was away with the fairies, and I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that aloud!"
"That will be the drugs, you lot have him on some good shit, I said that to Kate the other night, what ya giving him Doc D, LSD?"
"Elliot, watch your tone. I don't care much for it and it is Doctor Elliot."
"Mother, I wasn't aware I was a doctor, opps I see the look, sorry Mother, what has he done or said for you to think my brother is mad, and made you grumpy and stressed?" Thomas leaves and I smile and thank him. Before I can answer Elliot, Mia does...
"He is convinced he lives in Montesano, apparently we all do, he is engaged to a girl called Ana and get this she is having his baby and he hugged Mom so hard that he squeezed a tear or two out."
"He did what Grace? He allowed you to touch him, as in actually touch him, whilst he was awake?"
"Yes Cary, and in the no go areas too, all over his back, he placed his head on my chest and I cradled our son for the first time."
"Wow, way to go Bro, so who does he think he is getting it on with, who is this girl Ana, our Ana? Mia tell your big brother who is having my nephew or niece?"
"Ana, he thinks he is in love with Ana, yes our girl Nahna."
"Mousey Ana: Kate's best friend Ana, your new roommate Ana? I don't think so. Of all the girls in the world for him to choose, he chose the one girl who is shy and retiring and in a world of her own, or with her books for ninety-nine percent of the damned time. So, he thinks they have got it together does he? Just how in the hell can he think that, has he even met Ana?"
"Well, Kate and I, well me really, well, I have been reading this to him." She flaps the book manuscript in front of Elliot. I have read it and it is good, it is a romance novel in the genre of the late Barbra Cartland, very old fashioned and sweet. I take the book from Mia and read the last chapter.
"Okay, this is not the book I read, this is almost the same as the scenario Christian relived before he lost the plot. He thinks he is in love, he thinks this is real, oh Mia, what have you done? He is going to be devastated. His perfect life was just a story in a book."
"Mom, he will still want the hugs when he does wake up again, don't worry he liked getting them. I hope so anyway." Mia looks sad again...
"Right lets go home. He is going to be out of it all night!"Cary is the voice of reason.
"I need to read this and see just what you have convinced your brother he has changed into. I also need to see Taylor and just confirm what we already know, and that the only life he remembers is this fictitious story. I hope he still likes to be touched, especially when he does realise he and Ana are not an item."
"Come on home Grace, we will see what tomorrow brings and give Taylor the news his boss has woken up tomorrow, for tonight we are having a family night."
"Kate is meeting me dear parents." Elliot adds into the conversation as he stares at Christian.
"She is serious then?" I ask of my eldest son, the hapless, fun loving, and a love 'em and leave em type of a guy, my eldest sex mad son.
"I think she is. I think she is the one to tame me. She is also Ana's best friend. Perhaps we can ask her to make nice with Christian?"
"Elliot..." I scream, may god forgive me, but perhaps he is right? No, no, I shake my head at Elliot and he grins.
"What Mother, it's a good idea and she is a great girl."
"You said she was shy and into books."
"Yeah, but really nice, you have met her Mother."
"In passing and when I picked Mia up from Kate's. She seems a nice girl, but no, we need to ask John to call, he knows Christian as well as any of us." We head home happy, happy that our son is nearly okay. I wonder if Ana and Christian could make a go of things? No, no he will be okay, I will keep my fingers crossed that he still likes the hugs and embracing his old mom.
C Pov:
I wake and I am able to move my hands, I can see and I am seeing a hospital room. Okay, I did not dream that bit. Now, Ana, I need to find Ana and prove my family wrong, she does exist. As the nurse comes in, she smiles and asks me if I am alright.
"Yes thank you, do you know if I have a phone?"
"I don't know Mr Grey, I will just check your bedside locker, are you allowed to make a call?"
"I presume so; I am able to speak after all."
She, smiles and then rummages around in the bedside furniture; then smiles as she hands me two phones, and I recognise both. One is my personal phone and the other my work phone. I wonder if Ros and Newton, no Norton, Norton Granger, are getting on together and are managing to run the company. "Are they charged, if not I am sure we have a few chargers hanging around the nurses' station." I press the on button and they are fully charged!
"It seems, we are good to go thank you, I will be fine, do I have any food here I am starving, please Nurse Harmony, what a nice name that is." I read her name badge, so I can still read which bodes well for me remembering more of this crappy mess I find myself in.
"Thank you, I hated it, but my mother was very musical. Now, I do believe your security have food, or can get food, shall I send one of them in?"
"Yes please and thank you, I do like a nice hospital corner to my sheets." She grins and heads out...
I then look for a contact called Ana on my phone and there is nothing, there is no Anastasia, no Annie and no Ann, she doesn't exist, did she ever exist? I think I am crying, because my face is wet. I look on both phones and she is not on either, I type in vets in Montesano, and there's three and none of them are called the Ark, there is no home in Montesano either, so what was have the past three weeks been about? I hear the knock on the door... Sawyer enters the room. "Sawyer hello how is Taylor?"
"He is recovering in the next floor up Sir. How are you feeling, do you need me to call your mother?"
"No, no they need their rest; can I ask you have you been to Montesano recently?"
"No, no I don't think I have. Can I ask why?"
"No reason I am thinking of buying property there, that's all. Has a girl called Ana or Anastasia been around?"
"Yes, I drove her here from her apartment earlier; she is Miss Kavagnah's roommate and a recent friend of Miss Grey's. I have done the checks on both of them and they have been passed by Taylor and Welch. Nahna as they call her has a thing for me apparently. Sorry if I am being too forward with you."
"No, Luke I asked you a question, does this Ana have ties to Montesano?"
"I believe her step father lives there."
"What about her siblings?"
"She is an only child if memory serves me right. She is twenty one and has recently finished her literary degree at Washington State University. Sir, she is good for Miss Mia, she keeps her grounded and has been feeding her whilst she sits here with you. Sorry again I am over stepping the mark Sir."
"You seem very nervous of me Luke, before the crash was I an ogre?"
"No Sir, but you had boundaries and certain expectations from your employees."
"I sound like I had a stick up my butt. Can I ask you a question, am I dating anyone?" He shuffles uneasily from foot to foot. Okay, I guess I have over stepped my boundaries.
"Can I speak freely Sir?"
"Yes, I would hope so; I must have that stick wedge firm up there, you look like I am about to fire you?" He smiles.
"You are a very private man, with certain needs..."
"...Whoa, I didn't mean the submissives, I remember those, and if you are worried, I remember Mrs Lincoln too."
"Good, she is threatening your mother, with legal action, after you know the vase incident?" I will deal with that bitch tomorrow, and she is going to pay dearly.
"I remember bits about the birthday party, but after it I cannot remember much after it at all, and what I do remember it seems is a made up fantasy, it has just been a story read to me by my sister, that much I have worked out myself, I must seem like an idiot, feel free to answer me truthfully..."
"I believe they call it dissociative amnesia, we saw all sorts of memory problems, you know during my tours of Afghanistan and Iraq. What do you remember Sir about the past three weeks?"
"That I was with and loved a girl called Ana, so much so we were getting married and were having a baby."
"Hell Sir, that is one heck of a turn around, I am sorry, but you and this Ana, is she the same one from the Miss Mia story and not the actual Ana?"
"Apparently so, so Luke I am still a sad bastard then?"
"No, no Sir, I would say that you have kept some of the same traits from the book. You are speaking to me and not at me for one. Two, you have called me Luke several times, and then lest we forget number three, the hug you shared with your mother. She has waited for ever for that moment. I pray it is something she can do again, forgive me Sir that did overstep my boundary."
"I will be hugging her more, I need it, more than I realised and thanks to the Ana in my fantasy world, I with the help of my dream Ana, I cured something dark inside me, the new me was told by that Ana that I was a bossy boss and needed to change. Thank you Luke, can you get me some light food, can you ask Gail to work her magic with a sub sandwich, if that's not too much trouble, please?"
"Sir, I can ask her to have Ryan bring you some food in, she went home about an hour ago. Taylor is being freed tomorrow."
"Lucky Taylor; I am sure I can't wait to get home, and know I need to get back to work, so have you got my lap top?"He nods to the bedside table thing. He gets it me out and sets it up.
"Are you researching Montesano by any chance?"
"No, no I am emailing Ros and having all my damned markers with Esclava called in."
"Your father has already done it Sir. You gave him power of attorney to act as CEO of GEH, should you become incapacitated and as such, he revoked all her privileges and has served her with restraining orders and winding up orders on every business you have money invested in, and he is having her audited. What do you remember about the crash Sir?"
"Leila, Susannah and Elena ran us off the road that much I do remember. Leila, she looked into the car and said she was sorry."
"She has disappeared, Susannah has moved back to Austin and Ms Lincoln is going broke and has virtually nobody to turn to."
"Good, good. Now, how is Prescott working out?"
"Sir, who is Prescott, is he from GEH, or the new publishing house maybe?"
"She is Ana's CPO, and of course another fantasy character, I need the damned book. Was it that good?"
"Had your sister stuck to the names Nahna wrote, then yes it would have been great, but imagining you and Nahna doing that, then no, no it was not a good thing to listen to."
"Nahna, just how did she get that name?"
"Her dad's neighbour's kid can't say Anastasia, and called her Nahna apparently, so after Kate visited Ana at her fathers the child called it Ana and now, both Miss Kavagnah and Mia call it her as a term of endearment, that and Ana, she hates Anastasia."
"Do you like her this Ana?"
"No, she is not my type, she is however yours, and fits your usual model and type Sir!"
"Hahaha, I don't think I need that life anymore. I need to see Taylor, can you, you know wheel Taylor down? If you can, because I need to see him, please?"
"Number four, you are thanking me and asking me to do things with a please. Keep them coming Sir."
"Call me Christian please; I am going to try to be less of a stick up the butt boss and more approachable."
"Can we leave it as Mr Grey, I am sure Taylor will want us to have some sort of boundaries?"
"Sure and Luke, thank you, I can't wait to see my mother again and hug her, now that I know I can."
"Mr Grey, I will see if Taylor can come out to play and get your food here." He left and called my mother. She answered the phone quickly.
"Christian, Christian are you alright Little Man?"
"Mom, I am fine, really fine. Luke and I have had a long, long chat. It seems during my sleep I became a better person. I am so sorry for freaking out on you, really I am, and if I don't tell you enough, I love you to the moon and back Mom."
"Oh Christian, I love you too and will give you a hug and a squeeze as we pass each and every star, all the way there and all the way back, and then we can eat moon pies and watch moon beams until you sleep. You remembered Christian?"
"From somewhere yes, I also remember you stroking my hair as I slept and telling me you loved me. I am going to make up for the hugs and the kisses you missed. I promise. Can you bring in the book; I would like to know what is truth and what is fiction?"
"Christian, why are you up? It is five in the morning?"
"Fuck is it and crap I have sent for food and Taylor too, double crap..."
"Watch your mouth Son, coma or not you are still not too big for a slap, ask Elliot."
"How is the lug?"
"In love with Katherine Kavagnah of all people, I am sure you will like her. Though given she is press, and not a vet Christian, she wants to interview you, apparently she has been pestering you for ages for one, she says she has an in with your brother now."
"I will grant her ten minutes of my time, I guess me and the press, or is that the press and I? We are not firm friends in this reality either?"
"No dear, they are not, Now, how are you feeling?"
"Battered, bruised and I feel very silly falling for a book character and in love a fictional place. It really was so real in my head, everything, even Ana's point of view, her father and everything, I even milked a goat. Granny had a menagerie of weird animals, as she ran a very profitable scarf business and Pops; he ran a brewery with me."
"Wow Pops, he will be thrilled with the new name, what did I do, I opened a clinic, I think you said, and your grandmother will be thrilled you have removed the formality with the grandmother thing?"
"You retired to Montesano yes, and opened a free clinic for women and children. I had the stick from my butt removed by a straight talking Anastasia Steele, thank her, or Mia for re writing the book."
"Thanks, I had hoped for sunshine and sand in my twilight years!"
"Get this Nahna to re write her book and make it happen. Can you ask her to come and see me when I get back to work?"
"Work already? Christian, you have to take it easy I do not want you to slip back into working and those girls, that would be horrid, really too much."
"We will see, it seems Ros has been running the place, who is helping her is it Newton Grange? I am sorry Norton Granger?"
"Yes, a Norton Granger called with her to see your father; he is a nice man, very formal. How did you remember him? He and Mia were seeing each other for a week or so."
"She made him a gay man in my book. Perhaps after he dumped her, he made it into the damned book?"
"Perhaps, she did. She has after all, re written poor young Nahna's book, I liked the original version, but I have to admit, this one is rather racy. You and she had a lot of sex..."
"Mother..."
"Fictitious sex Christian, which is okay to talk to your Mama about, besides it wasn't me who dreamt those bits up, I must ask Mia how she knows about that lifestyle, did you, you know see her in your clubs Christian?"
"Mother no, I did not see my sister in my clubs, I have a feeling her and Kate did their research on line, besides Mia isn't aware of my whole lifestyle, I heard her telling Kate and Nahna, that I used call girls!"
"Really, I will ask them later, Kate and Mia are here, Kate stayed over. They have been Skyping poor Nahna all night, to come back. She said no and that she arrives back home on Monday she has plans with her father. Ana and Kate have just moved to the Pike district, and now Mia spends a lot of time there."
"When did they move, is it secure enough, I mean for Mia?"
"Yes dear very, Sawyer looked the place over and Mia's protection keep a close eye on them. They have been there since shortly after they graduated. Oh Christian, you missed out on Mia's graduation, it was a proud moment for your father and I, she shed a bucket full of tears because you were not there."
"Okay, I am sorry for that too. Did Ana, sorry Nahna and Kate graduate too?"
"Yes, they looked very sweet the three of them."
"So, what are Mia's plans this time? Is she going to be working with Kate at her father's newspaper group?"
"No, Kate is working for her father, and Mia is interning with your father and yes, nepotism played a major role in her getting that position. Ana is still looking for a position, she has an interview with Grey Publishing, Mia asked can we swing some nepotism her way Christian?"
"Perhaps I will do just that, you seem very taken with her, and if she comes to Lake House, where I presume I am to recuperate Mom, at home with you and Dad? If so, I can thank her personally then, for doing something nobody with a doctorate has been able to do in many, many years, and yes, I do relish telling Flynn this too. Has the expensive charlatan even been in to see me?"
"He pops in daily for the story, he and Mia love the new you, he will be very surprised it cured you Little Man."
"Mom, stop with the little man, I'm taller than Elliot..."
"Hahahaha, you will always be my Little Man. Six foot four or not. Now, I have to be going, we will be in to see you at ten. I am bringing your grandparents; they are thrilled you are okay." The door swung open and Jason Taylor looked odd in pyjamas, really odd!
"I look forward to it. Jason is here so I need to go. Mom, I love you very much." She cries as I end the call. "How are you, Chief Ironside?"
"Very witty Sir, I had heard rumours your body had been taken over by aliens, it seems to be true, Sir..."
"Ouch, as I told Luke, I am relaxing the Sir thing."
"I believe so, but I would prefer Mr Grey, Mr Grey?"
"Okay, I guess you need to take baby steps, how is Sophie?"
"That was a very random question. She is with her mother, as usual."
"Okay, well when we move..."
"...Fuck, are we moving to Montesano, for real?" Ouch, I got a fuck there, very un-Taylor-like.
"No. I have my eye on a place by Puget Sound, with separate accommodation for Gail and you with plenty of room and space room for Sophie." He rolls out of the door and I swear he is laughing?
"Okay, nurse can you please come in here?" He shouts... Nurse Harmony rushes in...
"What is the matter? Mr Grey are you in pain, do you need my help?"
"No, please ignore my former security chief; he must have had a sense of humour bypass? Nurse Harmony, is that my food?" She has a picnic basket with her. Good 'ole Gail...
"It is Mr Grey. Now, could you please drink plenty of fluids, but not this coffee, perhaps the juice and the water? I will be back later, play nice Jason Taylor, or I will have Mrs Jones take home your breakfast and make you eat a hospital one. He eats breakfast with you, and everyday too, don't you Jason? Gail packs more than enough for you both in hopes you'd wake and eat her food, don't worry none is ever wasted, your brother sees to that."Elliot is as greedy and as hungry as Lucifer.
"I have to see he is being looked after and that Miss Mia goes home for food and sleep. She has of late been staying with..."
"...I know Nahna and Kate."
"Mr Grey, how are you really, be open and honest with me, tell me no lies and no fudging the truth either?"
"Okay, what has Luke told you? Judging from the grin everything, would be my guess, is that a yes?"
"Yes..."
"So, you will be pleased to know, I fell in love for the first time ever and she doesn't even exist, what are your thoughts on the matter?"
"I have seen case studies, where people in comas are given a blank slate id you will, and they re work their past and they either add to their life a better understanding of their mortality, they see the sleep, and injury or illness as a sort of wakeup call, to live life differently? It can go the other way, and you could lose time, memories and a lot of yourself too. However, I feel you have added to your life. I think your brain has done a reboot whilst you slept, because good god it needed to.
I guess you and your brain have been hyper active for most of your life and you have not known you had this problem. I can admit now, that I did often wonder had your mother got you tested for ADHD, or a similar problem, because you never seem to switch off or you know, just power down? You needed it; you needed to be in that bitching coma, your fucking brain needed it. The total rest you got helped you, because Christian Grey, your body and your mind needed the down time to heal itself and hopefully, the virus that was your past has gone for good. Whether it was the fictional girl or the sleep helping you or not, you needed to learn to trust and the rest, these three weeks were what you needed for that to happen, time and sleep. No stress and a simple girl to show you the way that normal people fall in love."
"Wow Jason, when did you get a PHD?"
"Working for you, I learned quickly. I had too."
"I wish I had learned this sooner, because then I wouldn't have needed her... What news on her and the others Jason?"
"Elena Lincoln will be pulled in by SPD tomorrow, and they are issuing a search warrant for her premises, at both home and work, including all her cars and those of Leila and Susannah too. There were red paint flecks from an Audi and silver paint flecks from an Audi, were embedded in our dings. Hopefully they will match. I cannot remember a thing. How did you?"
"I heard Elena, I saw Leila and Suzie, and it was by the water, not on a grassy verge as it was in my fictional place; that much I do remember, in case you think I am confused? I remember Leila saying sorry too."
"Okay, so what now Mr Grey?"
"Call me Christian, we are friends after all. Oh and arrange for dad to revisit your custody arrangement with Patricia. I am sure Sophie would like to spend more time with you?"
"She would, I needed a permanent base and for her to have her own room. I also need to work far fewer hours and trips abroad too."
"All of those are easy fixes when we get the Sound House up and running; we can hire more staff and promote Luke to give you more free time."
"Okay now you really have got me confused to fuck?
"It's an exclusive club, welcome to it. I need food, have you got yours?"
"I have, it's in there with yours, you are not hogging mine..."
"Okay then care to join me Jason and tell me everything that happened whilst I slept." We chatted and ate our food, and before long, it was time for Taylor to go home and for me to face my entire family...
Three weeks later, and Ana is going to Grey House...
Ana's POV:
I will kill Kate Kavagnah and her new besty, the pair are a couple of drunken lushes and both are equally spoilt and couldn't give a damn about me at all, and neither of them know nothing about working for an actual living, god forbid they lose their trusts and have to manage on tips like I have too? Yes, I am very cranky, and with good reason too. Kate's new best friend Mia Grey, and our permanent new third flatmate, were both at home last night when I got back in, at a little after two this morning. I'd heard the comical happening in their rooms, so knew they both had a guest staying over, they and their boyfriends, who it turns out, were Elliot and Ethan, all four had had many words last night or rather this morning.
That fact alone had me in a fit of giggles, seeing two sets of siblings finding out they were in fact dating their other siblings. Their naked or nearly naked fridge raiding, had caught both Ethan and Elliot unawares of the others existence, both standing there wondering whom the other person was, and when their equally nearly naked girl friends popped their heads out of the door asking for their wine and ice cream, I roared with laughter as the realisation set in and told them to ignore me and to carry on, so they did, and then they made up and they then drank plenty of beer and wine, and well into the wee hours too. So, when I got up for my job hunting session, they were passed out cold.
As a consequence of their hangovers, I am now doing Kate's interview, and interview that was planned weeks ago, and well before Mr Greys accident too, in fact it should have been for our graduation edition of the student rag, however he has agreed to do it now, but this time for Kate's lifestyle column! I have to laugh, because she is not getting the choice assignments until she has put in some serious journalistic effort in, she is currently working in one of the minor local rags, which her father owns.
She has to prove to him she is good, and try as she might, she is making the flower shows, the student concerts, the bake sales and hero dog stories she has covered sound like they belong in a national, she hates it and her dad, poor Eamon, is not giving her an inch of leeway. So this is her, or was her big way into the bigger news paper in the group, alas Christian cannot rearrange her appointment, as he is going to Paris for several weeks to see to his offices there.
Christian has been very quiet and much changed, according to Mia, she says he is a very nice different, and has been since he woke up after his accident, an accident I know very little about, I didn't need to know his personal details, anyhow. I am rarely home to listen to the new besties go at it, putting their comical world to rights. Instead, I have been cramming hours in at the new bar across from here, Fifties, I like it there and it will do for the time being, it pays the bills, until I get the chance to interview for an internship, in at least one of the three other major publishing houses here in Seattle. I had refused Grace and Mia's offer of an easy get in at Grey Publishing, unlike those two, Kate and Mia, I do not want to use my connections, flimsy as they were, to get a great job, or what has been the point in going to college and university aiming to be the best, only to have it handed to me a plate and have fingers pointing at me and crying nepotism?
I am here at Grey House, looking up at the massive building and poor little me, I look like a church mouse surrounded by lions and tigers, all waiting to eat me as a snack. I pull together my wet coat and head in, I have her damned notes and her recorder and I head up to see the man I think I have seen twice, once in hospital and once when he was going in the apartment, just as I was leaving, it was a very quick hello goodbye thing. I think he is a nice man, at least he seems to be, from what I hear said at the dinner table. I know Elliot and Mia love their brother, old and new, but other than that, I am not interested. I share and apartment with his loud and messy sister and his brothers naked butt is always at home eating my food, so adding in another Grey is not necessary, plus, my sanity couldn't stand another loud Grey sibling.
I am escorted to a security office and I am given my day pass and I sign all sorts of paperwork, but because I have to change everything from Kate's name to mine, it takes time, which annoys both the security guy and me, and now I am running late, another guy in a nice suit takes me up in the elevator, where he hands me off to another smartly dressed man, who takes me up the rest of the way. He looks familiar, but then again they all look the same, with their neat buzz cuts and nice tailored suits and it's not just the men, the women are all drones too, with their blonde tied back hair, worn so tight incidentally, that it pulls their faces into a uniformed shape too. Which goes nicely with their gray work attire and stupidly high heels. Who, but a hooker and my roommates can walk around in four inch; strike that, five inches in some cases, shoes that would cost me three months worth of tips at Fifties?
"Mr Grey will see you now Miss Kavagnah."
"I'm here for Miss Kavagnah, my name is Anastasia Steele. I have explained all this to buzz cut one, two and him there, number three." She takes my coat and stashes it away, like it is infected with Ebola, shit woman its wet, and not a damned bomb. I think but do not say aloud. Another Stepford wife comes out of an office and shows me to a massive set of wooden doors.
"Mr Grey will see you now Miss Kavagnah..." I smile and think what the funk, can none of the over dressed Babies get my name right? Perhaps they simply need to take down their hair and release their brains from all that facial tension; they look like a smile would crack their faces? I smile and push open the door, and oh no, oh my god no, please not now, I trip over, as my sodden and wet through Uggs stick to the marbled floor, oh fuck and I pray to god for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
"Miss Steele, we finally get to meet. How are you, here let me help you up. Are you okay?"
"Hu, what, I am sorry I am Anastasia Steele, not Kate Kavagnah?"
"I called you Miss Steele, or would you prefer Nahna?" I look up and yes, he has the same beautiful steel gray eyes. He is clean shaven and not bruised at all, he has achieved quite the improvement in just a few weeks.
"I would prefer Ana, just Ana. I am sorry about the confusion, but your staff had me wondering did you employ deaf mutes, because none of them knew took note of my damned name, and I am sorry that all slipped out. I am tired, sorry I didn't get much sleep. Your siblings were playing truth or dare into the wee hours, hence me being here now and not Ms Kavagnah she is a little 'tired'."
"Really did you not join them?"
"No, no I did not, I was apparently a kill joy, but as I'd been on my feet all night, you see I'd pulled a double shift over at Fifties. I got home, intending to eat my very early breakfast and go to bed, but alas world war three kicked off when your brother found out your sister is seeing Kate's brother Ethan, then imagine if you can, or really need to, seeing it in the flesh and believe me, it is far worse in real time, four near naked people pushing and shoving by the light of the refrigerator was not a pretty sight, afterwards they made up, they drank and played board games and played music."
"I don't wish to think of them at all thank you. Ana, you are shivering, are you wet to the skin?"
"It is raining Mr Grey. Sir, rain does that."
"Have you no car?"
"No, I don't Sir, my piece of shit car Wanda, she died a million deaths. She now rests in a scrap yard for the useless and not needed cars of Seattle."
"I read that somewhere..."
"Oh hell, you have read that damned book, haven't you?"
"I have, and we had quite the romance Miss Steele."
"It's Ana, just Ana, and yes those two, they had fun at our expense."
"They did, it was all good fun. Now, I have had all Kate's questions emailed to me and have sent them to her. Now, please let me get you some dry clothes?"
"I think I will be fine thank you. I am only wet, not dying."
"Okay, let me show you to my bathroom, in there is a shower, some clothes that are unfortunately mine, help yourself. Pass me the wet clothes and I will have them dry cleaned and you can then have your interview with me for the junior editor's position at Grey Publishing, and discuss the rights to your story Putting Down Roots, I like both editions, I think if you reedit it using both versions and of course different names it will make the best seller list. Now, go through get changed and do it now before you do get a cold."
"Yes Sir... Bossy much Mr Grey?"
"I have been known to be Anastasia, in the past... For now though I need to talk about our future."
"Oh, okay as in a job and a book deal?"
"Yes, as in a job and a book deal and to discuss what you whispered in my ear as I slept..."
"Oh..." Fudge, he heard me. I am going to regret saying that, I know I am, his eyes are looking at mine like a starved wolf, and I am the deer he wants for dinner. I head into his bathroom and I am not a little wet, the rain has managed to soak me straight through to my skin. Mu underwear is soaking wet too. I look through his 'wardrobe' and take a pair of his Hugo Boss man panties, a pair of gray jogging bottoms and one of the many white shirts he has hung up, they feel like an angel has breathed on them, they are so soft and nice, and his white shirts they really pop, and have their own spot lights, shit his closet is bigger than my bedroom at Kate's. I wrap myself in a towel and hand him my sodden clothes. My Uggs have seen better days, but they will last until I get a full time job.
"Here, my clothes, they are wet through."
"Thank you, take your time, I have ordered breakfast, tea or coffee? I would guess English Breakfast tea?"
"I like tea yes, I drink coffee too. I will be as quick as I can thank you." I need this; I only had a cat lick wash this morning...
C POV:
I take her clothes and Luke, he smiles as he takes them. I am sure they have seen better days. She is very different from anyone I have ever met, and just what the doctor ordered, and my mother is never wrong... I will have to see where this meeting takes us, I hope she accepts the job I really do, and the book deal too. It changed my whole world and I have a lot to thank her for, I only hope she lets me help... Both Kate and Mia say it will be a hard sell; she is very proud and strong willed... But then again so was my Ana... I wait for our meeting to start; we have a lot to discuss... She is coming out of my bathroom... Here goes nothing...
So... Was it good for you? Do you think there is the 'more' for Ana and Christian part deux?
Read review and let me know how you liked the crazy end?