Ana
"You know this reminds me of my high school days." Mia giggles and I glare at her. For the past forty-five minutes I have been trying on different clothes and she has not been helpful at all.
"Mia, for the love of god! Can't you just help, Christian will be here in fifteen minutes, and as of now, it looks like I'm wearing panties, an old t-shirt with baby spit all over it and my hear styled into a lovely birds nest." I mutter and she gets up.
"I told you the red bandage dress."
"It's the middle of the day, Mia and we are having coffee, I might as well write fuck me on my forehead to go with the dress." I hiss and she starts to laugh.
"I'm pretty sure my brother would be happy to take the invitation." She giggles.
"Wow... you are really helpful today... it's just... this feels weird. I mean he was my husband god damn it and now I feel like I'm going on a first date and I never even dated before."
"Of course, you dated Christian."
"Mia, I met your brother on May 9th, he proposed on June 14th and we got married on July 30th. I'm pretty sure we skipped over the dating phase."
"My gosh... I almost forgot how quick everything happened." Mia says and I look through the pile of clothes on my bed again, grab some black leggings, a white shirt and put it on, hurry into my closet and put some brown boots on.
"How about this outfit?"
"It's cute, leave your hair open... where is your curling iron."
"I don't have time, Mia." I whine and she rolls her eyes, gets it and brushes my hair before she styles it into some big waves.
"There perfect... just use some blush, mascara and nude lip gloss." She says and when I look into the mirror I'm happy with what I'm seeing. It doesn't look like I have tried and I still look nice.
"I have to leave... Ethan's mom is going to drop the kids off in fifty minutes... let's have a playdate for them next week."
"Sure, I call you." I say hug her and walk downstairs where Gail is watching Arielle for me and just as Mia leaves Christian arrives and I let him in.
"Wait... don't pick her up without this." I say and hand him one of the spit clothes.
"That bad?"
"She has three teeth at once coming in... I swear this morning I thought she was frothing at the mouth." I let him know and he picks her up and wipes the tiny bit of spit from her chin.
"Three teeth... well princess.. looks like we are going to have our first date at a steakhouse soon." He says making Arielle look at him and before either of us can react she spits up her milk and it lands all over the spit cloth and Christian's shirt.
"Whoa... you want to share with Daddy." He laughs and wipes her chin again before putting her down and taking his shirt off.
"One moment." He says with a smirk and just walks out of the front door. I follow him and see him open the trunk of his car where he pulls out a duffle bag and produces a new shirt.
"You always drive around with a change of clothes?" I ask amused as he walks into the house again.
"Be prepared." He smirks and I giggle.
"I would ask for what you are prepared with a change of clothes... but I think I just let it be."
It's not that I think Christian is staying over at another woman's house, but I also don't have the right to be mad about it anymore, which honestly is not a feeling I enjoy.
"I started to work out again since my parents don't have a home gym I use a gym close by and I hate to leave the gym and drive home all sweaty and gross, hence I always have a change of clothes with me." He says as I put a scarf on and grab my purse.
"Gail, I will be back before dinner."
"Very well, Ana." She says and I kiss Arielle and watch Christian do the same before we leave and get into his car.
"Your car will be delivered on Monday, Ana."
"Ok, I won't be home, but Gail will be there... which reminds me, are you free Monday between two and five?"
"Yes, why?"
"I have to go to Grey Publishing for a meeting, I thought you might like to spend the afternoon with Arielle."
"Yes, I can pick her up right after my appointment with Dr. Harper. Is everything alright at GP?"
"Yes, it's just the start of the month meeting which I want to attend. What about you, have you made plans to return to work yet?" I ask because so far he hasn't mentioned it.
"No, Ros has everything under control... everything is running smoothly and right now I'm not ready to jump back into it. I still have so much to work through and with the trial coming up soon, I just need some more time. Plus, not going back to work allows me to spend quality time with my family, which is nice and something I should have done more in the past."
"They are all very happy about that, now know that right?"
"Yes... which is why I had an idea... I would like to spend a couple of days with my family in Aspen... I would like to take you and Arielle with me too... I don't have anything planned yet, it's just an idea. You know just three or four days of peace and quiet, fishing with the guys, hiking and relaxing."
"Sounds great... just let me know when and where and I'll make time for the trip."
"I want to ask Ray to join us as well... but I hope you don't mind that I won't invite your mother." He says and I snort.
"Unless you tell her it's a free for all shopping trip she wouldn't come anyway." I mutter.
"Have you talked to her?"
"My therapist said it would be good for me to confront her, let her know how I feel. So, I called her two days ago, she tried to pull the I raised you and took care of you all by myself when you father died card... tried to get me to invite her to yet another shopping spree in Seattle and when I told her no, she said I'm ungrateful. I tried to explain to her how she makes me feel and she wasn't having it, so we agreed it would be best not to talk at all. I'm just over it, Christian. She is not going to change and I'm done having my own mother use me for her own benefit. I mean, if she wants us to go shopping while she is here as mother-daughter bonding time, that's one thing, but she just wants me to carry her bags and pay for everything. She didn't even ask how Arielle is doing or if you are doing better... I don't need her in my life as long as she is just being selfish."
"I know this is upsetting to you, but I think you are doing the right thing. You have enough people in your life who genuinely want to spend their time with you because they love you... you don't need to buy your mother's love." He says and I nod. I know he is right, still, it's hard for me to admit that my mother only loves herself and my bank account.
When we arrive at a café I sit down at a table while Christian gets a tea for me and a coffee for him.
"So, have you thought about the christening?" He asks.
"Yes, and I agree, Taylor and Gail are a great choice. We can talk to Reverend Walsh about the specifics, but I would like to have it take place in Spring."
"Ok, I will ask him to meet with us... but I guess we should ask them first."
"I guess... how about we have dinner with them, I could cook."
"Would that dinner include your Mac and Cheese... because I have missed them." He says making me giggle.
"I wasn't going for Mac and Cheese as dinner option, but if that's what you want I'm sure I come up with something to go with it." I smile and he looks at me a little unsure before he speaks.
"This is good, right? I mean us talking again, acting normal... it doesn't feel weird to you or like something you have to do?" He asks.
"It doesn't feel weird or like something I have to do. Though I will admit that it felt strange to think of this being a date this morning... not because I didn't want to go, but because it made me realize we never went on a date."
"I took you for coffee after the photoshoot at the Heathman." He says and I roll my eyes.
"You did... but it wasn't a date... it was you trying to figure out if I could be submissive or not."
"I took you gliding." He counters and I laugh.
"You stalked me in Georgia while I was visiting my mother."
"True... but I just didn't want you to slip through my fingers... I still don't want that." He says and reached for my hand which is resting on the table, but I pull it back.
"I need to know something, Christian... it's something that has kept me up at night too many times... why did you stay in touch with Leila?" I ask and he sighs.
"She was a threat to you, Ana. She held you at gunpoint once and I never wanted that to happen again. Staying in touch with her was necessary for me to make sure she was not going off the rails again. Buying her the gallery wasn't a sentiment or a display of affection on my part. It was to ensure she had to stay in New York... her having a gallery there was giving her a purpose... something she could focus on, so she wouldn't focus on her one-sided feelings for me. I understand now that I should have shared this with you... asked for your opinion on it, but I didn't do it to hurt you... I was just trying all I could to keep you safe." He says and I believe him, so I reach over and place my hand on his, feeling the familiar spark between us.
"Ok, I believe you and I understand. But please, for the future I want you to talk to me. Us not talking is part of why our marriage fell apart. If we can't talk and be open about everything that is going on, we only end up tearing each other apart again."
"I know... Ana, have you ever been happy with me?" He asks and it breaks my heart to realize he even has to ask.
"Of course... there are so many happy memories I have that include you, Christian. Remember when we lived in the big house for maybe two months and decided to sleep in the meadow?" I ask and he smiles.
"Yes, that was a great night... well, except for when the rainstorm woke us up." He grimaces.
"Actually, that was my favorite part... us running through the pouring rain laughing like small children..."
"Yes, that was fun... though I also remember how Gail gave both of us the stink eye the entire day because we dragged muddy footsteps through the entire house." He chuckles.
"It was worth it." I muse.
"I'm selling Escala... and I was thinking about selling the house too." He says and I just look at him.
"It's too big for me to live there alone... too many memories... good and bad... but I want your opinion."
"I don't know... I love the house, but I understand you not wanting to live there... have you been looking for something else?"
"No, I guess I will find something close to Grey House for now. Elliot owns some apartments in the city that he has renovated, I know two are unoccupied right now, maybe I rent one of them once I decide to start to work again. For now, I feel like staying at Bellevue is where I need to be. Except, of course, your neighbor decides to hit on you, in that case, I kill him and move into his house." He says.
"He is harmless, Christian, I'm not his type and I promise to move before Arielle is old enough to be his type because if that old pervert would ever hit on her, I'm the one who kills him."
"Well, at least he is not a registered sex offender."
"Did you look into him?"
"Yes." He replies without missing a beat.
"Christian, you don't have to..."
"Ana, I can promise to be open with you... I can be more of a family guy... I can work on myself, but I will never stop worrying about the safety of my family. This guy lives next to you, so I want to know he isn't going to cause any issues. Besides, I didn't even need to run a background check, Taylor had already done that when you moved in." He says and I want to roll my eyes, but I know there is nothing to argue, I am... well was the wife of a well-known billionaire, which makes me a target for possible kidnappings, so security has to look into the past of anyone who comes in contact with me.
"I get it... you know what... I want to do something date-ish." I let him know and get up.
"Where are we going?" He asks as I grab my purse.
"Wait for it." I smirk and take his car keys, once in the car I drive us to a nearby lake and get two tickets.
"Really?" Christian asks amused when we walked towards the paddle boat that looks like a swan.
"Yes, really... come on, this is fun... have you ever done this?"
"No, here let me help you in." He says and basically picks me up and sits me inside the boat.
"I'm not that clumsy." I giggle as he sits next to me.
"Oh, really Mrs. Grey... let's see, the first time we met you fell head first into my office. You trip over your own two feet at least once a week and let's not forget my parents anniversary ball."
"NO! Don't you dare bring that up!" I laugh embarrassed and can see him bite the insides of his cheeks so he doesn't laugh at me. Four years ago his parents celebrated their wedding anniversary with a big ball. There were exactly five steps into the huge tent, I tripped over my own feet and caused a domino effect through the entire tent which ended with Elliot who was trying to pick at the icing on the cake falling into it and ruining the entire cake. In that moment I wanted to ground to swallow me up whole, but I wasn't that lucky and especially Mia still teases me about it at least once a month.
"OK, I will remain silent... so, is this what you like in a date?" He asks.
"Trying to take notes, Mr. Grey?" I giggle.
"Maybe... because I want to ask you out Saturday night... I was thinking about what to do after dinner, my Dad suggested a stroll by Lake Union, my mother said something about taking a couples pottery class and Mia said going to the movies is great."
"No to the pottery thing... I tried that in high school and failed miserably... I do like going to the movies, but I think your Dad is the winner because it gives us more time to talk... plus there is a fair near Lake Union this weekend."
"You want to go to the fair?"
"Why not, I'm not into crazy rides, but I do like cotton candy and going on the Ferris Wheel."
"Have you seen how many accidents have happened on those?" He says alarmed and I laugh.
"Christian Grey, are you afraid of going on a Ferris Wheel?"
"Not afraid, it's just not safe... how about I win a stuffed animal for you instead?" He bargains.
"You have to win two... one for me and one for Arielle."
"Deal." He says and we paddle around the lake and just enjoy spending some time together with no one bothering us.
When we arrive back at my place he walks me to the door and smiles down at me.
"Thank you for this afternoon, Ana. I had fun."
"Me too, do you want to come inside?"
"I can't I have an appointment with Dr. Harper in thirty minutes."
"Ok, I see you Saturday." I say and he brushes a loose curl behind my ear.
"Can't wait." He says leans in and plants a soft kiss on my lips that sends shivers down my spine because it has been so long since I felt his lips on mine.
"Bye Baby... Saturday." He whispers against my lips and I watch as he gets into his car and drives away.
"Urgh... did he weasel his way back into your life already?" I hear an annoyed voice behind me and see Kate who is standing just inside my house. And for some reason I just had enough, it is time for her and me to have a talk...