AN: I can't believe how close we are to the end now. I'm going to be steaming ahead with the sequel tomorrow, I'm so excited to share it with you! Thanks as always for the reviews, you guys rock!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ana Rose Steele. Ana Rose Steele. Ana Rose Steele.

She read the certificate over and over again with a flutter in her chest. Her fingers stroked the edge of the paper in her hand as she thought about the changes she had made. Fixing the fact she wasn't actually dead had been really simple and Carrick had dealt with it all for her. All they had to do was present the DNA test, which proved she was Annie-Rose Steele, to the court and they issued a certificate declaring that her death certificate had been rescinded. It had all happened in a matter of days. On top of that, she had spoken to Carrick at length about her name. She hadn't wanted to become Annie-Rose. She didn't think it was a name that suited the life she had led, it was innocent, she was not innocent. Instead, she chose to keep Ana and unhyphened the name. This was all done quickly with the court too and again Carrick did it all for her, now she had a new certificate, legally declaring that her name was in fact Ana Rose Steele.

It would take a while to remember the additional E at the end of her surname. She had been wondering how she had managed to choose a name so close to her own when she had been asked about it. There must have been something, in her subconscious, that knew who she was, or at least sort of. Ana Steel. She'd loved her chosen surname as she became older, it had been a name of strength. Strong as Steel. Now she was as Strong as Steele.

Whether or not she wanted to meet with her step-father remained to be seen. While she had taken his name as her mother had given her when she married Raymond, the bottom line was he was a stranger to her. It had angered her that he had shown up at the grave when she had been laying flowers for her mother. Though at least, by him being there, she had been able to find out why her name was on the stone and that she had been declared dead which in turn allowed her to fix that with the court.

"Are you still looking at that?" Christian asked as he sauntered into the great room. Ana grinned at him as he pulled his shirt over his head, he had a delicious chest and she wished he'd remain topless for her enjoyment.

"I guess, there's something healing about knowing where I come from." Ana shrugged finally putting the certificates down on the glass coffee table as Christian jumped over the back of the couch so that he could sit beside her. "I mean, there are still missing pieces, I wish I remembered how I ended up with Mister and Madam, but as with everything I can accept I may never know."

Christian leaned in to kiss her softly, but Ana couldn't help herself and deepened it, Christian moaned as Ana swung her leg over and pulled herself up so she was straddling him.

"Ana… Ana… baby… please…" He muttered between kisses. "Babe… I was coming in here to say we've got plans." He said finally getting her to stop kissing him for a minute.

"Plans?" Her eyebrow popped up and she glared at him.

"Yes, I was going to say, you need to get dressed, we have somewhere to be in about two hours and it's going to take a while to get there."

"What are you up to? I don't like surprises." Ana said before crossing her arms and pouting like a child. Christian gave a husky laugh before kissing her lips and then her nose.

"Don't pout, as cute as it is, all I'll tell you is I think you'll like my surprise, it's a good surprise. But… it's still a surprise."

"But… But… But…" Ana floundered playfully making Christian laughed.

"But nothing. Go and get dressed."

"Okay." Ana whined before swinging her leg over Christian so she could climb off his lap. As she went to walk away, he couldn't resist giving her ass a smack. "Ouch!" Ana jumped and her hand flew to her ass. She'd made a few more jokes about receiving a spanking lately, and Christian had been wondering how she would react if he did it out the blue. "What was that for?" She asked again pouting once again.

"Not listening." He said with a smirk. "Hesitating. Having a smart mouth." He said and she poked her tongue out him. "I'll bite that tongue." He warned her while laughing. She was playful Ana right now and he loved playful Ana.

"Yeah right." She retorted.

"Oh Ana, Ana, Ana, are you that desperate for a spanking?" He teased.

"Maybe." Ana replied shrugging.

"Hmm, well we'll have to talk about that. Not right now though, go change or we'll be late." Christian said and Ana nodded before hurrying off.

Talk about that. Talk about what? That she wanted him to spank her? She only wanted him to spank her because she knew he'd get pleasure from it. He wouldn't let her give him pleasure unless it was through sex and that frustrated her. Every man she'd met before Christian, wanted their pleasure. Especially so-called Dominants at the club. Christian however, gave her pleasure, always made sure she was happy, comfortable, and pleasured but those times she'd attempted to touch him he'd refused.

It was weird, very weird. That's why she'd been winding him up about the spanking. She knew that giving a spanking bought him pleasure, she'd seen how he'd responded when he spanked her at the club. So, what the hell was his issue now? Was it her past? Did she revolt him enough that he didn't want her to touch him or give him pleasure? It was so confusing!

Now was not the time though. He wanted to give her yet another surprise and so she wouldn't disappoint him by making them have this incredibly uncomfortable discussion now. Because it would be extremely uncomfortable, that she was sure of.

Ana washed, dressed and met Christian back in the great room where he was browsing on his phone. He smiled brightly at her, a smile that told her he had a secret and she rolled her eyes making him glare playfully.

"Ready to go?"

"Where are we going?"

"Not going to work." He replied chuckling. "Come on." He led her to the elevator and they headed down to the garage.

"No Taylor?" Ana asked.

"Sports car." Christian replied and Ana giggled excitedly, she did like the sports car. "You need a driver's license."

"Why? I have you, Luke and Taylor." Ana replied. "You drive me wherever I wanna go."

"You need a driver's license. I'll teach you."

"In the sports car?" Ana asked grinning, now that would be a hell of a way to learn to drive!

"Don't be silly." He rolled his eyes and she pouted playfully. "I'll buy you a car."

"Don't be crazy. I don't need a car." Ana scoffed as he opened the door for her.

"I'm getting you a car, and you're learning to drive, now get in."

"Your so bossy." Ana pouted before sliding in. Christian chuckled as he closed the door, she'd learn to drive and he would by her car, whether she liked it or not.

Two hours later, Christian rolled to a stop outside a huge church. Ana knew they were in Longview, she'd kept her eyes on the signs as they travelled, but she had no idea what they were doing here. Christian opened Ana's car door and took her hand but said nothing. He seemed happy enough, there was no anxiety that Ana could read. But as he led her up the church steps, Ana began to get butterflies. She really did hate surprises.

It was a very big church, a modern building, all orange brick with big windows. Ana followed Christian through the heavy wooden door. They went left, down a long corridor where other people hurried by them without even a hint of a friendly greeting. It put Ana on edge. She could feel that she was beginning to sweat and the hair on the back of her neck prickled uncomfortably.

"Please tell me what we're doing here?" Ana asked clinging to Christian's hand.

"You're about to find out. Through there." He said.

"If anyone jumps out at me, I won't be held responsible for the violent actions you will be subjected to." She said making him chuckle before she pushed her way through another door.

It looked like they had entered a cafeteria, and thankfully no one did jump out at them. Ana scanned the tables which had people sat at irregular intervals and realised this must have been some kind of homeless café or soup kitchen. She'd seen plenty of them to know. Everyone looked miserable and in various states of uncleanliness. The smell was familiar to Ana, one of dirt, sweat, and boiled vegetables. Christian headed towards the back where the serving was taking place and Ana had to skip to catch up to him, she didn't want to be left alone.

"Ana Steel?"

Ana's mouth fell open as a tall, rounded black lady with her braids scooped into a messy bun stepped out from behind the serving table.

"Ella!" Ana gasped hand flying to her mouth as her eyes opened as wide as saucers. She couldn't believe it

Ella practically tore her apron off before hurrying around. Ana couldn't believe it. As Ella's arms wrapped around her neck she burst into joyful tears. She hadn't seen Ella in eight years and hadn't believed she would ever see her again.

"Look at you all grown up!" Ella practically sang, her eyes wide and smiling. Ana just shook her head hand still at her mouth, she couldn't believe this, it was really Ella.

"Surprise." Christian whispered in her ear.

"I can't believe it." Ana said finally releasing her hand from her mouth and finding her voice. She glanced from Ella to Christian, this was truly an incredible surprise.

"Why don't you go sit down over there, I'll get us some coffee." Ella signalled an empty table off to the side and Ana nodded, but her legs didn't move until Christian tugged her gently.

She couldn't believe it. She had missed Ella so much, Ella who saved her from life on the streets, Ella who fought to get her into the home for at-risk girls, helped her get into school and even tutored her to help her get her grades up. When Ana had been on the streets at the mere age of twelve, Ella had made sure she was always safe, would make sure she had a warm jacket, and would let her sleep in the church during the day rather than on the street at night. Awake at night, she could be safe and fight back, whereas if she was sleeping, she was vulnerable. Ella had made sure she survived living rough until she could get her to safety.

"I can't believe you're here after all these years." Ella smiled popping three coffees down on the table with some sachets of sugar and sweetener.

"I can't believe I'm here." Ana replied. "I missed you so much when you left."

"I'm sorry it all happened so quick, they needed me here and I always wanted to come to visit but I just never got the chance, then the days turned into weeks." Ella explained as quickly as she could, she didn't want Ana to be upset with her even though she deserved it having disappeared on her.

"It's ok I understand." Ana said taking Ella's hand across the table. "It's just good to see you."

"Now come on, this man gets in touch with me, says you're looking for me. I want to know everything. Spill what's been going on since I last saw you?" Ella grinned; relieved Ana wasn't mad at her.

Ana pursed her lips as she thought what to say next. Sitting just opposite her was her saviour and a part of her wanted to open her mouth and spill her guts about everything that had happened since they last saw each other. But then she knew she couldn't tell Ella about what happened at the transitional home, she couldn't cause the woman before her to feel any form of guilt about what happened and that's what she feared would happen if she told her the truth.

"Well… I just graduated college." Ana said pasting a smile on her face and trying to hide the heaviness she felt in her body.

"College? You go girl!" Ella beamed. "See I knew you could do it!"

"I went to do English lit at Washington U. It's been tough but I got my degree. I'm working as an assistant to an editor now at a publishing house."

"Look at who landed on her feet eh?" Ella grinned squeezing Ana's hand, despite the fact she knew Ana wasn't telling her everything. She was extremely proud of the young girl she remembered coming along when she was just a child for some condoms and a cup of soup.

Christian looked at Ana, she seemed so happy to have reconnected with Ella but he knew she was holding back. He didn't understand it, why would Ana hold back from the one person in the world she trusted with everything?

"And this handsome feller." Ella teased with a wink and Ana turned to him with a bright sparkle in her eye that made his heart jump. "Where dya find him?"

"I think he found me actually." Ana said still looking into the grey eyes that always seemed to relax her.

"Any more news?" Ella asked eyeing Ana and Christian up, she could see they were close but the question was how close?

"Actually yeah…" Ana nodded before taking a long deep breath. "Uh… turns out I've been missing from Montesano for about eighteen years."

"What?" Ella gasped, her eyes almost falling out of her head.

"I was born Annie-Rose Steele, I was in a car crash in Montesano when I was five and I disappeared into thin air." Ana explained as Ella continued to stare her eyes like saucers, mouth wide open.

"You always said you had no memory of that time." She stuttered.

"I don't." Ana shrugged. "But it's true, DNA has proven it. They think I was picked up by child traffickers and that's how I ended up with the first people I lived." Ana explained, Ella already knew the story of Ana's time with Madam and Mister, it had taken a long time for her to drag it out of Ana but eventually, she'd filled her in.

"That's insane." Ella shook her head lightly, how on earth could a person be missing for that length of time. She'd just figured Ana had ended up with some bad foster parents, it happened, people and children fell through cracks and so that was why she'd ended up on the street.

"And what about you? What have you been doing here?" Ana asked deflecting the attention. She'd told Ella all she needed to for now. Ella smirked and glanced at Christian, they both knew what she was doing even if she didn't realise it herself.

"Exactly what I was doing in Seattle just on a smaller scale, always keeping my eyes peeled for terrors like you up to mischief."

"Mischief? Me? Never!" Ana teased making both Ella and Christian laugh.

"This kid ever tell you how she and I ended up meeting?" Ella asked making Ana groan loudly and put her head in her hands.

"No. She didn't." Christian replied sitting up a little straighter, already getting excited to learn more about Ana.

"He doesn't need to know." Ana grimaced. "He knows enough already."

"Knows enough that it doesn't matter what I say?" Ella asked her eyebrows raised suspiciously, she'd never give away Ana's secrets and would be careful what she said to avoid telling Christian something Ana didn't want him to know.

"Pretty much all of it." Ana shrugged and Ella's eyes almost fell out of her head as she went from Christian to Ana, he had to be special, very special. It had taken Ella months of coaxing to even get a name out of Ana let alone find out all she had been through.

"So you know what she was doing when we met." She glanced to Christian who nodded. "That makes telling this easier, so Ana had been picked up after she pickpocketed a john…" Ana rolled her eyes, that technically wasn't what happened, he'd tried to refuse to pay and so when he dropped her off again she made sure she had his wallet. She only wanted what was rightfully hers. "Cops in Seattle were always pretty good, if they weren't known repeat offenders, rather than book them they'd bring them to me for a hot meal, a shower and a good talking too. They knew it was pointless dumping kids like this one back in the system." Ana chuckled lightly, Ella was having way too much fun telling this story. "So anyway, she gets bought to me and I ask her what she wants to eat right and she's like 'I'm not hungry' blah blah she wasn't the first street kid that decided that cooperating with me wasn't in their best interest. This one though, attitude problem right, answers everything back with another question. Honestly, it was like pulling teeth, told her, in the end, she could go back out to the street corner and find herself a john or she could have a hot meal, hot shower, change of clothes and somewhere safe to sleep, was her choice I wouldn't lose sleep over it." Ana and Ella chuckled at the memory, they may not have exactly remembered it the same but it was pretty darn close.

"What did she do?" Christian asked.

"Marched out the door, back to the street corner only to be picked up again less than an hour later and bought back to me. Seattle PD told her either she accepted what I had to offer or she would spend the night in a cell, think she realised a camp bed in the vestry was a better option." Ella laughed and Ana pouted and half laughed, she remembered the officer, carried her by the scruff of her collar into the church and told her she had one chance to make a good decision in her life.

"Where the hell would I have ended up without you eh?" Ana replied. "But if it's ok is there a bathroom I can use?"

"Back through the door you came, then the door on your right." Ella replied. Ana hurried off wanting to be as quick as she could so she could spend all the time she had here with Ella. She'd missed Ella so much when she left and had hoped she'd get a chance to see her again so many times. Christian had made another one of her dreams come true.

"So spill, what's been going on with her? She isn't telling me everything." Ella said as soon as Ana had left the room. Christian sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, this was awkward. "Listen son, if you know as much as she says you know, it means you've earned her trust and I know better than anyone that ain't easy and there's nothing you can tell me I haven't heard a million times before. What happened after she left the girls home?"

"She went to the transition home, was gang-raped there. Back on the streets till she finished high school, then went to work in a BDSM club, that's where I met her, I took a business associate there." He explained quickly, his eyes glancing nervously at the door in case Ana came back.

"That bloody transition home, I told them to stop sending the girls there, especially the ones that couldn't fight back." Ella spat through gritted teeth. "Well… at least she has you. You must really be something if she's told you so much about herself. She's usually so guarded."

"She didn't tell me. She actually told my Mom when I was sitting outside the bedroom door." Christian admitted, he didn't want Ella to think Ana trusted him that much.

"But she hasn't run a mile." Ella smirked. "Street kids run Christian. That's what they do when they're scared, Ana hates being vulnerable, you knowing her past makes her vulnerable to you yet here you both are." Ella sat back in her chair and crossed her arms across her chest satisfied that she had pointed the obvious out to Christian, he just ran his fingers through his hair and hoped that she was right, because Ana meant everything to him.

"So do you have a home for girls here?" Christian asked.

"Yeah, not as big as Seattle's, only has room for six girls but obviously we don't have the same problems here, not on the level we saw them in Seattle." She explained and Christian nodded, he was glad to know Ella was still around doing what she did for Ana.

"She loves you." Christian said to her. "She says you rescued her."

"I did no such thing. I help these kids by giving them the tools to help themselves, not all of them take it. Ana is unique in the sense she never gave up on better for herself, some kids resign themselves that they won't get anywhere, they get into these homes but they don't last because they can't see better for themselves. Others take a lot of work to shift their mindset but Ana thankfully always had a spark in her that said she was going places."

"I think that's one of the things that drew me to her. I am having an issue with helping her though, she needs to talk with someone professional about all she's been through especially with finding out she's a missing child but she won't speak to my friend John and I don't know how to persuade her to see someone else."

"She'll never speak to a man about this Christian, remember most of her abuse was by men even if the first abuse was at the hands of both a man and a woman. I have an idea though, I'll try and grab her as you're leaving." Ella rushed as she heard the door behind her and didn't want to make Ana suspicious that they were talking about her.

Ella filled Ana in on some of the work she had been doing since leaving Seattle, including giving Ana some information on other girls she'd supported. Ana listened as did Christian, and neither one wanted the day to end, but as daylight began to fade outside the windows, they all knew they had to part ways.

"I'll meet you outside I'm just going to use the bathroom." Christian said as the three of them slipped out of the cafeteria. Ana nodded, quite happy to make her way to the front of the church with Ella. She couldn't believe after all these years she'd found her!

"You'll keep in touch right?" Ana asked, because she couldn't imagine losing touch now.

"I'm going to be waiting for an invite to the wedding." Ella teased with a wink, Ana just rolled her eyes, she and Christian weren't even engaged let alone discussing a marriage.

"We have a long way to go." Ana whispered looking to the ground where she shuffled her foot along the gravel.

"Listen Ana, baby girl you've been through so much. Don't be so hard on yourself and expect yourself to just be able to have an ordinary, grownup relationship, especially when you've got so much yet to deal with." Ella said her hand going to Ana's shoulder.

"I'm so scared Ella, I think I'm in love with him." Ana explained glancing up at Ella just momentarily before looking back at her foot.

"You think?" Ella chuckled. "Ana, darling, it couldn't be any more obvious that you're head over heels with him and he with you."

"I'm scared I'll ruin it." Ana shrugged. "He stuck around after he learned everything about me but… I'm still scared I'll ruin it somehow. I mean I still get flashbacks and nightmares even after all this time and when they happen they tend to put me in a shitty mood… he shouldn't have to put up with that."

"Then maybe it's time to deal with it." Ella said going into her purse and removing a business card. "I have a friend in Seattle, her name is Mary Griffith, she works with street kids who have been through similar things to you. Tell her I told you to call. She's heard it all before Ana and she's really good." Ana nodded, Ella was right, maybe it was time to deal with it and someone like Mary who worked with kids like her would be ideal and a lot less judgemental than someone like John Flynn who clearly catered to the more aristocratic person.

Christian joined them and Ana did her best to perk up. She turned to hug Ella who held her so tight and kissed her cheek.

"I'm so proud of you kid, so very proud."

"Thank you." Ana replied blinking back her tears, she hated goodbyes too.

"Thank you for seeing us." Christian said as Ana stepped back and as he went to shake Ella's hand Ana saw a glimpse of a piece of paper. Deciding it wouldn't be appropriate to say anything in front of Ella she waited until they were safely back in the car and on the way home.

"What did you give Ella as we left?"

"What?" Christian asked hoping Ana didn't see how he trembled, realising he'd been caught.

"Don't play pretend, I saw the piece of paper, what did you give her?" Ana pushed, unwilling to play his games.

"A cheque." He replied. "Towards the home she runs here for at-risk girls."

"Why?" Ana frowned.

"Because she helped you, she can help so much more like you with enough money." Christian explained reaching for her hand. "It was my thank you, for saving you." Ana's heart melted.

"Christian Grey… you have such a big heart." Ana said and he burst out laughing, that was something no one had ever said about him before. "I mean it. You invited me into your home to keep me safe when you barely knew me, and then you've done nothing but do things you thought could help me and help others. I'll never be able to thank you enough."

"Just be the best you, you can be. That will be thanks enough." He said before reaching for her hand and giving it a kiss. He was right, she did need to be the best she could be and she would take the first step into doing that when she would contact Mary Griffith, it was time to truly face her past.