"Ana-"

"No. Christian, stop. If you want this relationship to go any further you will tell me the truth. Is cancer back?"

Christian studied her face before answering quietly.

"Yes."

"God, Christian!" She shouted before standing. Christian spoke quickly.

"Ana, I'm sorry but I didn't want to go through the pain like last time. I had no control, people saw me nothing like a charity case and I was-"

"You were what?!"
"I was left behind! For those two years, I was frozen in time. Everyone had lived, everyone kept living. But I was stuck between life and death. And she-!"

"She what?!"

"Leila left me! The girl who claimed to love me split at the first sign of trouble!"

"Oh, and so I'm her?!"

Christian closed his eyes before running a hand over his face.

"No, I'm not saying that. But Ana-"

"No. Don't but Ana me! I'm not her. I'm a grown woman. And I thought I was with a grown man. A man who would tell me something this important."

"I wanted to keep you around. I wanted to keep you with me. And I thought if you knew, you'd be gone. And I don't think I could survive that," he confessed. Ana's heart broke at the defeated tone in his voice. She understood his logic, but she hated that he hadn't put any trust in her.

"Christian, against my better judgment I came here with you because I trust you. There is something about you that makes me want to believe you. Even the first night I was talking to you I felt this comfort. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt in my life and I was with Jose for years." Ana blinked back her tears before shaking her head.

"I'm falling in love with you. YOU! Not your money, or your cars, or even the beautiful places you can take me. But YOU! I don't need anything else. I want Christian Grey the man. And whether you like it or not, I'm here to stay. But I need you to tell me these things. I need to know. If you cannot do that, we will never have a relationship."

Christian crossed his arms over his chest before looking away.

"So I'm supposed to tell you the bad news? All the time?"

"Yes," Ana said seriously. "You take the bad with the good."

"And you can honestly tell me that you won't leave if you hear all the constant bad news? If the test results come back negative if I have a bad reaction to medicine if I lose my hair!" He shouted the last part.

"I'll shave my head with you!" she roared back. Christian's eyes widened before he stumbled back. Ana soldiered on. "This is fast. Too fast, yes, but I'm in. I'm in this with you. Because I'm in love with you. And Christian so help me God you will listen to your mother, go back home and fight this disease! Because contrary to what you believe, you will fight it, and you will WIN!" Ana breathed harshly and the two stared at one another. One angry, and the other person in disbelief. Christian didn't know what happened next, but he was unable to stop the tears from filling his eyes. He was stubborn enough to not let them fall.

"Ana. What if I'm not strong enough to fight this?"

Ana walked until she was standing directly in front of him. She grabbed his hand tightly in her own and placed it on her chest.

"You are. And you know why you'll fight it and win? Because you have me this time. I'm not a girl. Everyone else was practicing. I'm the real deal, and you and me, we're in this together. So tell me now, Christian. If you want me, you have to tell me everything," she said fiercely. Christian sank to the kitchen floor pulling Ana gently with him. He looked into her eyes before answering her.

"Okay."

Once Christian relayed everything the doctor told her she ran her hand through his hair.

"So he said they were able to catch it early. But you would have to make a decision within the next couple of weeks?"

"Yes," he said before looking away. Ana sighed before grabbing his chin and bringing his face to look in her direction.

"So when we leave here you are going to start the chemo right?"

Christian could see that Ana wanted him to try. And for her, he would.

"Yes. But Ana, I may not be the same. The pain-"

"I know. But Christian, this could be the thing that keeps you alive. For me, I need you to try."

"My company-"
"Can't Ros run it? And didn't you just put me in charge of the legal team at Grey Enterprises?" At that, Christian smiled a bit.

"I thought you needed time to think about it."

Ana laughed quietly.

"Nah. I was just going to make you sweat it out for a bit. I was going to take the job. Besides, the pay will fund my new shoe fetish," she confessed to which he raised a brow.

"What? I'm a woman and I love heels."

He chuckled before running his hands over her lower back and hips.

"I could do most of my work from home. And Ros can handle the meetings."

"How long does this treatment typically take?"

"Anywhere from six months to a year. It all depends on how I respond to the treatment. But-"

Ana shushed him before leaning over and kissing his lips.

"I love you, Christian Grey. You came and stole my heart at a bar and I'll never forgive you for it."

Christian's eyes crinkled as he smiled back at her.

"I love you, Anastasia Steele. And I don't think I'll ever love someone as much as I love you."

"Good. Because I'm possessive and I won't allow anyone else to," she said before smirking at him. He grinned at her.

"Yes ma'am."

"Hmm. Now, how about you and I get off this kitchen floor, get changed, and take me out to get something to eat?"

Christian looked at her in confusion.

"We're not leaving now?"

Ana shook her head, offering a soft smile.

"No. You and I are going to stay and enjoy our vacation. And when we return home, we are going to fight."

"Together?" he asked.

"Together," Ana repeated.

Later that evening, After a day in the village and an extravagant dinner with a glorious love-making session, Ana went to sit outside near the water. It was so cool and peaceful out here at night, and she wanted to remember much of it as she could. She brought her phone out because she also wanted to talk to her best friend Hannah. The two met in college and they had formed a tight bond when they became roommates. Ana was wary of having to live with a person she'd never met, but the moment she talked with Hannah, Ana knew this was the best thing to ever happen to her. Hannah now lived in San Francisco as a political analyst, but they always managed to keep in touch. She had actually been planning to come and see Ana later in the year once she was settled. The woman picked up on the first ring.

"Ana? What's going on?"

"Why do you ask that?"

Hannah snorted.

"Oh, I don't know. It's ten p.m. and I know how you are about getting enough sleep as humanly possible."

Ana laughed.

"You're still holding that over me, huh?"

Hannah rolled her

"Oh, nothing. Just finished having sex with my new boyfriend over in Croatia," she stated off-handedly. Hannah was about to start cooking but set down the knife before walking over to the couch in her living room.

"Um, what?"

Ana plopped down on the outdoor chair before explaining the entire situation to Hannah, including the cancer reveal. It took about thirty minutes. When she was done there was complete silence on the phone.

"Hannah?"

"I'm sorry but, wow. You've only been in Seattle for barely two months and all this has happened? I am glad that you got rid of Jose. He was trash," she said in amusement. Ana rolled her eyes.

"You never liked him."

"And now you see why," she quipped.

"But how are you really? Do you think Christian will actually do it?"

Ana sighed.

"I think he will. I mean, I get it. I would be scared as well. He's been through it before so no one really knows about it as much as him. But if it's the only way to treat and fight this evil and sick disease, he has to try. And I know that he knows this. But I just want him to be okay. If he's okay, then I'll be," she finally answered.

Hannah was silent before she spoke.

"I think he'll be okay. I know it'll be tough, but I know you, Ana. You have never quit in your life. I just want you to know that if you need anything, a support system, someone to just talk to, I'm here. Have you told your father, yet?" She asked softly. Ana laughed loudly before tilting her head to the sky.

"No. I left a voicemail and said that I had a business meeting that I had to attend overseas for a week. I told him when I got back I would explain everything. I've seen the missed calls so I know he wants to know what's going on."

"Yeah. He actually called me."

"He did?"

"Yeah. But, I explained to him that I had no clue as to where you were going. And I didn't until tonight," she said honestly. "You have to tell him. About everything."

"I know. And I will. I just, I'm so glad I called you. I feel as if I have a clearer head on now."

"Well, that's what best friends are for. And I meant what I said before you left. I'm coming to see you in the next couple of months."

"I know. And I already have a room and bathroom waiting," Ana said with a smile in her voice.

"Good. Try and get some rest."

"I will."

Hanging up, Ana locked her phone before focusing her gaze on the calm and dark sea stretched before her. She knew choosing to be with Christian would be a journey. But this was one she was determined to be with him no matter the consequences. She never felt this was about Jose before, and this feeling alone was enough to stand by this wonderful, kind, yet sensitive man. A man that she would cherish. Unlocking her phone, she dialed a number she had just programmed into her phone when she met Christian's family. They were all insistent on giving Ana their numbers and she was happy they forced it. She didn't have to wait long.

"Hello?" A soft voice answered.

"Grace. This is Ana. I'm with Christian. And we need to talk."

Look at Ana and Christian being adults and handling ish. Leave me a review and a happy weekend to you all!