Hello and welcome to my new story.
As always E.L. James owns everything Fifty, I'm just having fun yet again playing with their lives.
I hope you enjoy reading it.
APOV
"Stop" I laughed, feeling his hands tickling my sides. "Everyone is starting to look and you still have grease on your fingers."
"Let them look" Christian smiled, placing a kiss on my lips before we took a seat in our usual booth at the diner.
"Christian."
"Ana" he smiled.
"I love you."
"Baby, I love you too."
I didn't care who could see us now as we kissed, that was until Dora came over, no doubt rolling her eyes as she coughed before asking us what we wanted to eat.
"The usual Dora" I smiled as she wrote my burger order down. "Oh, and onion rings too."
"Onion rings, now you are pushing the boat out. What's the occasion" she laughed, knowing I usually just ate the smallest burger and stole some of my boyfriend's fries.
"Three years," Christian told her, placing a kiss to the top of my hand.
"Three years since you moved to town Christian or is it three years that you've been together."
"Been together," I told her. "It was three years last week when Christian moved here."
"Oh my, boy, you do move fast" she laughed.
"It was Ana who first approached me, in here, this booth actually."
"Time has gone too fast, I feel so old especially as your prom is this coming weekend. I take it you're going together" she asked.
"Na, I'm ditching him."
"And me, her" Christian smiled before laughing at the look on Dora's face.
"Don't say that. If two people belong together, it's you two" she smiled before leaving us to place our order with Joe in the kitchen.
I smiled when Christian kissed the side of my head, closing my eyes for just a moment, feeling nothing but pure bliss. When I opened them, I looked around the diner feeling for a few moments as if I'd gone back in time, memories flooding my mind of the day we'd first met.
I had been having lunch with my best friend Hannah on a Saturday afternoon after our shopping trip when I had first caught sight of Christian. It was like that moment in Twilight when the Cullen's entered the cafeteria, everyone whispering and looking their way. This was not a town where many tourists passed through and even fewer stopped, so many questioned why he and the boy who looked a few years older than him were here.
The rumours soon turned to truth that his mother was our new doctor, working at the local practice to take over from one of the doctors who planned to retire. His father, a man who I instantly disliked with the way he spoke to his children, a lawyer who worked in the next town over. His older brother, just like his father didn't want to be in a small town but as he only had one year to go in high school, he would be out of here soon enough.
The day after Christian's arrival, I was back at the diner for my shift. I helped out in here sometimes, Dora being my mother's cousin. So when she told me one of the waitresses had called in sick, I was only too happy to step in, my first table of the day, Christians.
He was very shy at first and he can laugh at it now, as then looking me in the eyes caused him to stumble over his words.
"I'm sorry we don't serve that here, pannykak" I smiled, hoping he would know that I was just teasing him.
"Sorry, pancakes" he laughed, giving me the reaction that I wanted.
As Christian ate his pancakes, we spoke, in fact, it was after lunch when he finally left me. In the months and years that have gone since then, I've learned that he left the house that morning and many other days after to escape his father's abuse.
Carrick Grey didn't ever touch his sons, his words, his threats and anger could inflict more harm than that. With them gone now, both moving to Seattle for work last month only Elliot, Christian's brother remained although he was away most of the time at college or in trouble just like he had been in throughout his last year of high school.
Elliot, despite Christian and I being together for three years, I could probably count on two hands how many days I'd spent getting to know him and still have fingers to spare. Christian and he spoke often, the relationship strong between the two. Maybe Elliot felt he needed to escape, him acting out a way to deal with their parents.
The house where Christian and Elliot live had been transferred into both of their names when the elder Greys left so maybe now they are no longer here, when the holidays come around, Elliot will come back. Until then, I'm all Christian has.
"How did it go," I asked, the question I had been putting off since Christian had emerged, from the garage where he had a Saturday job, learning to be a mechanic. Emerged, deep in conversation on his phone.
"Ana, I don't want to talk about it. Please, not today."
"Ok" I replied, forcing myself not to ask Christian what his brother had done now to cause those worry lines on his face that I hated.
"What were you thinking about, just then" he whispered before kissing my ear, going for seduction instead of telling me the truth of what was bothering him.
"Pannykak" I replied, making him laugh, not telling him I had really been thinking about his horrible parents.
Christian was right, not today and speaking about our first meeting, about our anniversary was a better subject to discuss.
"The pannykak here is delicious, especially when delivered by an equally delicious waitress."
"I'll tell Dora you said that, she will be delighted" I laughed, especially when those tickling hands started again.
When Dora delivered our food, with my lips seemingly attached to Christian's, they were too busy to tell her anything other than thanks. When we did finally eat, it was as delicious as always.
"So, what's your dress like," he asked, walking me back home late that afternoon.
"You will have to wait and see. I had to go in what felt like every store in Olympia with Hannah and my mother today to find that dress so as I had to suffer, my feet doing so any way you can wait a little longer to see what it's like and don't bother looking in my closet, because it's not there."
"I'll wait because I know you will look beautiful in whatever you wear but after when we get back to mine, I want to spend as long as possible taking it off."
"Mr Grey, take it off. What kind of girl do you think I am" I teased.
"My girl, always mine, forever."
"Yours" I smiled, kissing my boyfriend fiercely before we made our way up my drive and into the house.
"Ana is that you" My mother called out as Christian closed the door behind us.
"No, it's Taylor Swift" I shouted back, rolling my eyes as Christian laughed.
"Sing us a song then" my mother laughed as we entered the kitchen, finding her sitting at the table, reading the paper. "Hello, son."
"Carla" Christian smiled as I started to sing Taylor Swift's Love Story, earning applause when I'd finished from them both.
I didn't have a bad voice but I certainly wouldn't sing outside of this house.
"What have you two been up to since you left so quickly Ana when we got back," my mother asked, as we took a seat at the table.
"Just some dinner at the diner."
"A celebration dinner," she asked, knowing with how excited I had been all day what this day meant.
"Yes, a burger and Pepsi, what more can a girl want."
"Onion rings" Christian replied, making me snort out a laugh especially when my mother declared it a feast.
A feast would be our family meal after graduation but on the subject of graduation, my stomach dropped.
"Will your family be coming back" my mother had asked Christian, her question the reason why I suddenly felt sick.
"Elliot won't be able to come, he's still in college and has something going on there that day. My mother said she would try and come though" he replied. That would be a no then.
My family, just like they had done so since the day Christian came to town, would become his family and cheer both of us on but until then, we had to survive prom
…..
The music was so loud as Christian and I entered the school gym, the place lit up like a Christmas tree. This was our prom, our small town prom with enough crepe paper decorations around those lights that should one decide to blow, the whole place would be on fire.
"They went all out this year," Hannah said. Josh her boyfriend, his face as disgusted as Christian's at the lack of effort that had been put into place. "I'm surprised they just didn't use toilet paper."
"With Lacy on the decorations and the other geeks, I'm surprised we weren't all given a paper flower on the door so we could blend in," Josh stated.
"Don't be mean" I laughed. "At least Lacy and her team did something. It's Coach Perville I blame for the lack of funds for the prom this year after he persuaded the school board or more like Lincoln that his team needed new uniforms this year. Plus the money had to come from somewhere for the strip of material that he's classed as the new cheerleader uniforms, old guys a perv."
"Let's enjoy the night, we'll be out of this joint soon enough" Christian declared and he was right. Only one more time would I step willingly into this building and that was when we graduated.
We made our way over to what was supposed to be a bar, taking the cup of cheap soda from the teacher who was handing them out. There would be no alcohol at this bar but watching some of the other's actions here, I think some had been snuck in somewhere. Everywhere in fact and a little something extra too which when offered to Christian and Josh by members of the football team as our group took a break from the noise and sat on the benches outside, they were promptly told where to shove it.
Christian didn't touch the alcohol either, stating he needed a clear head this evening and so did I. Although thinking about it now, a little drink might stop those butterflies that were swirling around my stomach ready to burst out. Christian and I had made love before but I had never spent the whole night at his, just the two of us alone.
"Christian, would you like to dance, with someone other than Ana," Leila asked when we had all taken a seat inside with our drinks, having been on the dance floor for the past hour.
"Of course, I would, Hannah?" Christian replied, holding his hand out for my best friend which she took.
"I meant" Leila spluttered, her frustration amusing to me.
"He knows what you meant, my boyfriend has standards though" I replied before taking a sip of my drink.
"Boyfriend, let's see how long that lasts when you're stuck here and he's off at college" she snapped.
"Stuck here" I spat, "Funny then, how Christian and I were both offered places at Harvard, where are you going to school then?"
"Harvard" she choked, "No."
"Yes, I hear you didn't get in, not smart enough," Josh asked her, amusement filling his voice. "I suppose with the amount of money you keep telling everyone your parents have, you can buy yourself a place, good grades too. That would be the only way you would get into a better college than Regent."
Watching her walk away in a strop, I smacked Josh's outstretched hand. As Christian and Hannah made their way back to the table, it was Josh and my turn to circle the dance floor in the hope of taking as many of the annoying students out on the way.
….
"Your feet" Christian laughed as I threw my shoes into a bush halfway down his street.
"Can finally breathe. Never again. I'm sorry Mr Grey you will have to find a new fetish, something other than seeing me in heels."
"I prefer you naked, feet and all any day" he smiled, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder before carrying me the rest of the way to his house.
Only on the porch did he put me down and then proceeded to kiss me until I was breathless and ready for our night.
Entering the house into the small hallway, it was eerily quiet and it broke my heart to know that this is what Christian came home to every night.
"ARE YOU READY" I shouted as we walked through the living room and into the kitchen before taking two bottles of water from the fridge.
"Baby, why are you shouting," he asked, leaning against the door frame, watching me move around the kitchen barefoot before I stopped in front of him.
"It's silly" I admitted, shyly.
"I highly doubt that. You don't have a silly bone in your body, Ana."
"Are you saying I can't be fun?" I teased earning a laugh from him.
"No never, I just meant that your words are never silly unless there's a joke involved."
"I just… I don't like the idea of you being here alone, it's too quiet" I sighed.
"I'm not alone, you're here Ana. Is it weird that your parents know you're here and will probably know what we will be doing too?"
"No, and stop changing the subject," I told him.
"Ana, baby. This, coming into a quiet house is what's that word you like to say, bliss. I miss Elliot being here, I mean I don't miss the cops knocking on the door but I understand, he just needs time to sort his shit out. He's…. he's been banned from driving, he got stopped, he was over the limit."
"Christian" I spoke, shaking my head.
"I know what you're going to say, Ana, I need to stop forgiving all his mistakes, stop making excuses for him but… he's all I have."
"What" I whispered, taking a step back from him as his face dropped having realised what he'd said.
"Ana, no… shit." he panicked, stepping forward, wrapping his arms around my waist as he pulled me to him. "You're everything to me, Ana, I love you more than anything in this world, I just can't turn my back on him."
"I'm not asking you to Christian, I would never ask you to do that. I know how much you and Elliot have had to put up with over the years and I only saw a small part of it…. You went from living with a physically abusive birth mother to having an emotionally abusive adopted father and Grace, she did nothing. I don't understand how a mother, biological or not can stand by and just let it all happen. I will always be here for you Christian, just like Elliot is. Me, my parents, we're you're family too."
"I know Ana," he breathed, burying his face into my hair. "I thank god for that every day because without you I would've gone insane."
"You're free of them now and in a couple of weeks, we'll be out of here. During the holidays, we'll both have a home to come back to, if not here, then mine. Who knows maybe one day we'll have ours but until then, how about we take a tour of your bedroom, I'm sure there's an inch of it I've not seen before."
"A tour," he asked, a beautiful smile on his face now the focus was back on us.
"Please."
"I'll take a tour with you Miss Steele but it won't be of my room."
With that, Christian picked me up bridal style and carried me to his room, taking a tour of my body with his hands and then his lips before making love to me all night long.
No matter what was going on with others in our lives, Christian would always have me and I him.
…..
"Hannah, will you calm the fuck down" I whispered as she messed around with her dress, complaining that it didn't fit anymore after apparently putting twenty pounds on in the past week.
"It doesn't fit" she moaned as I got up from my bed, trying to put the fire out before the waterworks started.
"Yes, it does. You just have it twisted" I groaned, righting her dress so I was easily able to zip her up. "See, now stop panicking otherwise you will set me off."
"You're a lifesaver" she smiled, twirling around in front of my mirror.
"Apparently, now is the crisis over so I can sort my face out."
"Your face is perfect as it is" she declared, telling me I didn't need the make-up I was putting on.
In truth, apart from a little colour above my eyes and the strawberry gloss my boyfriend loved licking off my lips, I didn't wear any other make-up, especially when no matter what I wore it would clash with my hideous cap and gown.
When Hannah and I finally went downstairs, I was happy to see that Christian was already here. He was riding with us today, my parents having none of it when he suggested meeting us there.
"Are you ready to leave high school behind?" he asked when it was just the two of us alone in the hallway.
"I'm ready for anything Christian, as long as you're by my side."
"I'm not going anywhere you're not Ana. You lead and I will follow" he smiled, placing a kiss on my lips.
"Promise" I smiled knowing I didn't need to ask as he would always be there.
"I promise baby. Now let's go and watch Hannah do her speech and then we will soon be out of these stupid gowns."
"You look gorgeous" I laughed at the look of shock on his face, his cap hanging to one side. No matter what Christian wears or how he wears it there is no more handsome man than the one by my side.
Leaving the house, we drove over to the high school, meeting up with Jake and Liv, Hannah's parents. I didn't miss the look around Christian did, hoping that at least one of his family would be here but alas the only family that was here today to support and cheer him on was mine. Before any cheering could take place though, I would have to part, not just from my family but from Christian too as we were told to line up in alphabetical order. Unfortunately, no matter how much Christian told Mr McNally that G was next to S, the amused teacher sent us on our way to our right places in the line.
I was next to Luke Sawyer, a boy in my class. He was one of the nice ones, spent a lot of time in the library, his head in one book or another just like me. By wringing his hands together, I could tell he was as nervous as I was so we just chatted, talking about the future we both wanted before the graduation ceremony began.
…
As graduations go, not that I'd been to any before, it passed by very fast. From cheering Hannah on as she gave her valedictorian speech to walking out onto the stage, being cheered on by my family and boyfriend just as I had done when it had been Christian's turn.
Sitting in the diner that night, our choice of where we wanted to eat, we were astonished by the amount of food that filled the tables, Dora outdoing herself this time. It wasn't just for us, thank god as there was no way that we could eat it all, it was also for most of our year group and their families who had opted too to eat where their children had spent so much time over the years and not the expensive restaurant down the street. No, that restaurant was for the likes of Leila, for Susannah and their families, for those in town who think they are better than everyone else. No matter what the plan was for them now, I couldn't wait to see the back of them.
"Not hungry" I teased Christian seeing his empty plate.
"Not hungry, I think I'm going to burst" he groaned.
"Not on my carpet young man otherwise you can clean it up" My mother laughed before stealing one of the few fries that had been left on his plate.
Christian hadn't mentioned the absence of his family throughout the day and with my parents making up for the lack of his by including him in all conversation, the subject of any other Grey's didn't come up until his phone rang when it was just the two of us sitting on my porch swing, blankets wrapped around us both.
"Elliot, calm down, what's going on…. No don't you dare, I'll come and pick you up."
I could hear the urgency in Christian's voice, the panic which set me on edge. As he untangled himself from me, I knew Christian was going to leave.
"Christian?"
"I'm sorry Ana, I need to pick Elliot up. He's at some bar in Olympia…. He's drunk, if he gets behind the wheel they will throw the book at him for sure."
"Christian, you've had a drink too, with my dad remember and you're underage. Elliot's not even old enough to buy alcohol yet either so who the hell served him in a bar…. Never mind that, I'll drive you" I sighed.
"No, you stay here Ana. If Elliot kicks off, I don't want you there to see it. I only had one drink and my head is clear. Elliot probably used a fake id, I don't know, some bars don't even check" he stated, wanting to go, alone.
I didn't want to argue with him, he was already flustered enough. When I saw Elliot next though, no matter what Christian said, I was going to knock some sense into him. So I let Christian go and it was the worst mistake I've ever made.
"Where's Christian, I thought he was staying over," my dad asked as I walked into the kitchen, taking a drink from the fridge.
"He had to go" I whispered, before looking into my father's eyes. "Elliot called."
"Damn" he sighed, and I could detect a hint of anger in his voice. "He'll be back sweetheart. Tomorrow you go over to his house and give that boy a piece of your mind."
"Christian?"
"No, Elliot. I can tell from your voice that whatever he called for, isn't good. He certainly didn't call to congratulate Christian on his graduation, did he."
"No" I sighed. "I'm going to get ready for bed, wait for Christian to come back or his call."
"You do that sweetheart… I was so proud today, watching you walk across that stage to receive your diploma. You have a bright future ahead of you Ana, you both do."
"Thank you" kissing my dad's cheek, I headed up to my room, feeling for the first time what Christian must have felt every time he walked into that house when his parents were there, a sense of dread.
….
"Ana."
"Mmmmm."
"Ana sweetheart wake up, Christians on the phone," my mother said, shaking me gently to wake me up.
It only took a few seconds for her words to make my body move, to make me reach for my phone. Feeling my mother pull on my hand, away from the phone that had neither rung nor a message left she led me down the stairs and to the hallway and the old house phone that my dad had in his hand.
"He said he only has a few minutes sweetheart, wherever he is, it sounds busy."
"Maybe Elliot is refusing to leave the bar," I said before taking the phone from him.
"Christian," I said his name, missing him terribly when I heard a sigh on the other end of the line.
"Ana."
"Where are you," I asked a question I got no answer to.
"Ana" he sighed. "Oh Ana, Baby I love you."
"I love you too. Christian, where are you, we'll come and get you both. If Elliot's playing up."
"Elliot" he gasped but I'm sure it sounded more like a sob. "Ana, I'm sorry. I love you more than I could ever express over the phone. I wanted to spend my life showing you just how much but now…"
"Christian, you're scaring me now. Please come home."
"I can't."
"What, what do you mean you…"
"Ana please, I don't have a lot of time. Just promise me you'll be happy."
"I can't do that if you're not going to be here" I sobbed. "I won't promise you anything until you come back."
"I'm sorry, I..."
That was the last thing he said before the phone went dead.
I don't know how long I cried that night, or how many days I spent after waiting by the phone. Time no longer seemed to matter and I didn't realise in those dark dark days that it would be years before I spoke to Christian again, before I could confront him in my kitchen on that day of all days, our son's birthday.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.
I will be posting the next chapter on Sunday and then it will be weekends from then on. As this story is complete though and each chapter just needs editing, if I can find the time to edit during the week then I will post a chapter midweek as well.
Where Christian has been, you will find out next time.
Until then, take care.
Caroline.