FIVE YEARS LATER

Anastasia's knee bounced as she sat waiting for her Aunt's arrival. She was dressed and ready to go and all she needed now was for Isaac and Aunt El to pick her up. Breathe, Anastasia, breathe. Looking around her beautifully furnished apartment, she still could not believe that this was actually her life. The minute she took Elena Lincoln's hand everything changed for her. The older woman had done so much her, Elena had truly saved her. For a time she had lived in Elena's home with Elena and Isaac but after an incident with Isaac, Elena felt it was best for Anastasia to move into an apartment. The young girl had been upset at first but quickly got over it when Elena had explained that it was for her safety and nothing more. She had hired personal tutors in order for Anastasia to graduate on time and somehow Elena had made sure she was accepted to Washington State University. And now that she was graduating, her Aunt had arranged for her to move to Seattle and already had an apartment set up waiting for her. Elena and Isaac already traveled back and forth since she had Salons not only in Portland but Seattle as well so her moving to Seattle would not cause any problems where her family was concerned. Her life was perfect in every single way and it was all thanks to Elena Lincoln. Anastasia knew that she would never be able to pay the older woman back for her kindness but that would not stop her from trying.

"Anastasia, darling we're here!" Of course, she never knocks before coming in. Anastasia jumped up from her chair and stood very still waiting for Elena's entrance. "There you are my child." Elena stretched out her hands and Anastasia immediately took them. "Let me look at you." The young woman sucked in her bottom lip and began chewing on it but released it immediately when her Aunt gave her hand a tight squeeze. Sorry, old habits never die. "What have I told you about that disgusting habit, Anastasia?"

"I'm sorry."

Elena only nodded as she released Anastasia's hands. Taking a small step back, the older woman's eyes took in Anastasia once more. "My god, what have you done to your hair?"

Anastasia's hand automatically went to her hair. What's wrong with my hair? "Do you not like it? Kate said that my hair looks better when it's curled. I've been working on it for hours." Kate, Katherine Kavanagh was one of Anastasia's only friends and she wasn't even sure if you could call what they have friendship, seeing as the only time they spend any time together was when she was at the college. There were several occasions when Kate would invite the young brunette to attend a party or some other social events, she even invited her to go with her family on vacation to the Bahamas but Elena would always advise against it and Anastasia trusted her Aunt completely so she would always decline Kate's invitations.

It was obvious that her Aunt did not agree with her tenacious blonde friend about her hair. Well, Kate doesn't agree with me being called Anastasia, she prefers calling me Ana so you two can agree to disagree. "Anastasia, do you trust Katherine's opinion over mine?"

Anastasia swallowed, she had upset Elena and that was not something she ever wanted to do. "No. Of course not, I just. I'm not very good at dressing up and I just wanted to surprise you, that's all. I'm so sorry." Tears began to fill Anastasia's eyes but she did her best to blink them away. She had been up since before dawn trying to make herself presentable in order to impress her Aunt. If there was one thing that she wanted more than anything in the world it was to make Elena proud of her.

Elena placed her hand on Anastasia's cheek, patting it gently. "Come, come now, darling. We shall have none of that today. Besides, this is easy to fix. Shall we braid your hair?"

You want to braid my hair now, seriously? "But, Aunt El, I have to wear a cap." Elena loved braiding the young woman's hair. Her Aunt would tell her on more than one occasion that she did not know how lucky she was to have such healthy, long brown hair. Anastasia would always agree with the older woman but secretly she never understood the fascination that Elena had with her hair.

"My dear child, that's why we have bobby pins. Now come, let's fix that atrociousness that you call hair."

Once Anastasia's hair was braided and her cap was carefully pinned down, Elena insisted that she change her shoes. "Flats are not something a young lady wears, Anastasia."

Oh, how Anastasia wanted to roll her eyes at the other woman. You have got to be kidding me! Have you lost your mind? "I can't wear heels. You know how clumsy I am, there is no way I will make it across the stage without falling!"

Amusement lit up the blonde woman's face as she walked into the closet only to reappear with a pair of black Louboutin heels. "You are a young lady now, Anastasia. It's time you start dressing like one. Besides, you will do fine. Now put these on, I have no doubt that they will look lovely with this, this. What brand did you say this dress was again?"

The young woman giggled, sometimes Elena could be quite amusing. "I ordered it online, remember? And it was one that you marked for approval." Anastasia never made a purchase without her Aunt's approval. She always made sure to email the older woman with anything that she was interested in purchasing and then she would patiently await for Elena's decision, if the item came back to her with a mark of disapproval then Anastasia would not give it another thought.

"I am sure I did. However, it does not change the fact that I specifically asked you where you ordered the dress from and that the dress does in fact look rather dull in person, do you disagree?" Elena's brow was raised, challenging the other woman to disagree with her.

No, I do not agree. I love this dress for its simplicity. "I ordered it from White House Black Market. I thought it was a nice, simple black dress when I saw it online."

"Well then, if you are going for nice and simple, the dress is that but in the future you should always dress in something that makes you stand out. Remember child, no matter where you are, you always want to be the center of attention."

But I don't want to stand out at least not for what I am wearing and besides, you marked approved on this dress! Anastasia loved the woman standing in front of her, she owed her everything but there was no denying that they were as different as oil and water. And there were times that the she wanted to tell her Aunt exactly what she thought but Anastasia would never disrespect her like that. "Yes, ma'am, I promise. I'll do better next time."

The older woman waved her hand back and forth in the air. "I have no doubt that you will. Now, finish up. Isaac is waiting to take us to your graduation ceremony."

OoOoO

The ride to WSU was as uncomfortable as ever with Isaac driving and Elena and Anastasia sitting in the back of the car. There was always an uncomfortable silence when the three of them were together. It had not always been like that, in fact there was a short period of time that the three of them would enjoy being in each other's company but not now.

Anastasia had lived with Elena and Isaac for six months before she was moved into her apartment. During those six months she felt as if the three of them were becoming a family. Isaac had become her confidant, mainly because besides Elena and her tutors, Isaac was the only other person that Anastasia had contact with. The two of them were often left alone for hours at a time when her Aunt was needed at one of the many Salons she owned. The young girl had learned that Isaac was only a year older than she was, making him seventeen at the time. And even though Anastasia did not know a lot about the young boy's past, she did know that the older woman had rescued him off the streets just as she had rescued Anastasia. The two teenagers spent most of their time alone watching TV, playing video games and listening to music. And the more time they spent together the closer they became. Isaac was attractive with his blonde curls and deep brown eyes, he was funny too. The teenage boy always had her in stitches over some new joke or mimicking a character on the TV show that they were watching. And maybe that was why she developed a crush on him and maybe that was why when Isaac told her she was beautiful that she took it the wrong way.

The two teens had been watching some stupid show that Isaac seemed to love. Anastasia was sitting at one end of the couch while Isaac was laying on the other end. Toward the end of the show they both stood to leave and somehow they literally walked into each other. Anastasia being Anastasia would have fallen if it had not been for the boy steadying her. They both laughed at her clumsiness at first but then something in the atmosphere changed. Anastasia could feel her heart beating a mile a minute when Isaac raised his hand and grazed her cheek. He was staring down at her with such an intensity, she was sure he was going to kiss her but he never did instead Isaac told her that she was beautiful and just ran off. The young girl had followed him to his room, begged him to open the door so that they could talk but he would never answer her. Anastasia had been so worried that she had done or said something wrong that she waited up for Elena to get home so that she could tell her everything. The older woman assured her that she had done nothing wrong and that she would talk to Isaac for her. Anastasia had gone to bed thinking that everything would be fine the next morning but it wasn't. The next morning, Elena informed the young girl that Isaac refused to speak to her. He said that she was making things into something that they weren't and he threatened to leave if the older woman continued to allow her to live there with them. Anastasia had been devastated. She pleaded with the older woman to let her try to speak with him but was told that Isaac could be very violent and that it would not be wise. That was the very day that Anastasia moved into her apartment. She now only sees Isaac when he is with Elena and he has only speaks to her every now and then.

"Park there, by that black Audi SUV." Anastasia blinked. Were they there already? "Anastasia, darling how on earth did you fall asleep?"

Did she fall asleep? She shouldn't be surprised if she did with the unnerving silence. "Um, I'm not sure."

"Well, no matter." Elena reached over the seat to reposition the top of her cap. "Do you see where we're parked, dear?"

Why does it matter where we're parked? "Yes."

Elena pointed toward the black Audi SUV parked right beside them. "Remember that we are parked right next to this black SUV. Do you understand, Anastasia?"

Here comes another eye rolling moment. Anastasia resisted the urge to roll her eyes for the second time that day. She even leaned forward to get a good look at the sleek black Audi that they were parked next to. "I know where we're parked. I promise, I won't forget." Her Aunt was always testing her on one thing or another, she had learned over the years that the older woman did not like to be questioned about her tactics so Anastasia had decided long ago to just play along with the test.

"Good." Elena leaned over and embraced the young woman for a moment before releasing her. "Now, out you go."

What? "Aren't you coming?"

"Of course we are darling, but first I need to make a call to Esclava to check in." The older woman was already pulling out her phone. By the time Anastasia opened the door, Elena was already speaking to someone on the other line.

"Okay, but try and hurry the ceremony will be starting soon." Elena nodded and gave Anastasia a small wave to dismiss her before turning her attention back to her call.

Elena won't come in late. She knows how important today is and not only because of the graduation but because this will be the very first time anyone will ever see that Elena Lincoln is Aunt El. Anastasia never understood why but Elena always insisted that she never tell anyone her real name, she more like demanded that no one know. When she was younger she would question the older woman's motives but with time Anastasia realized that her Aunt always had a reason behind everything she did. When anyone ever asked about her family, she would always tell them that she was living with her Aunt El because her real parents had died. Most people quit asking questions the minute they heard the phrase, dead parents. And it wasn't a total lie seeing as the only real parent that Anastasia had was in fact dead. Right after Anastasia moved in with Elena she had told her everything about her past and that was when the older woman offered her assistance in locating Anastasia's stepfather, Ray Steele. Elena contacted her connections in the military and was informed that Raymond Steele had died in combat while serving his country.

OoOoO

Everywhere that Anastasia looked there was no sign of Isaac or Elena. Where are they? Maybe they are here and you just can't see them. Maybe…

Anastasia is sidetracked when her friend Kate takes the stage to start her speech. Oh, how Katherine Kavanagh commanded a room, it was truly an amazing thing to witness. The young blonde was graceful and confident. This was where she was meant to be, in front of a crowded room being the center of attention. God, she's amazing, what I wouldn't give to be like her. Katherine's speech was everything Anastasia expected it to be and so much more. When Kate concluded her speech everyone stood, applauding and cheering. WOW, her first of many standing ovations! Kate is beaming as she takes her seat along with everyone else.

The chancellor rises and begins to speak once the audience had taken their seats. Anastasia's blue eyes scan the auditorium once more in hopes of locating Elena. No, this cannot be happening. She promised that she would be here, she promised. Her Aunt had promised that today there would be no distractions, that today it would be all about Anastasia. Unfortunately, the young girl knew her Aunt and knew that the older woman meant well when she made promises but more often than not the promises were almost always broken. Tears began to blur Anastasia's vision and before she could stop it, one lone tear began rolling down her cheek. Stop this, nonsense! What would Elena say if she could see you now? The older woman despised weakness and she made sure that Anastasia knew that weakness was not something she allowed in her life and in the lives of the people she cared about. Get a grip, Anastasia! Tears are for the weak and you are not weak. The young girl took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, turning her attention back to the stage.

The chancellor had already begun the ceremony by introducing a guest speaker. However, Anastasia had missed most of the speech because she had been preoccupied. "…he is also a major benefactor to our university. Please welcome Mr. Christian Grey."

OoOoO

And so they meet….

OoOoO

This is where the story really begins. I wanted to give you that first chapter so you would all know what happened to lead up to where the story begins. Please review after reading – I always enjoy seeing what everyone has to say about my chapter. And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Happy reading