Authors Note:
Apologies for the six day wait. Things have been busy with a bit of poor health on my part. Nonetheless, here is the next chapter. I have to say that you are all a little too smart as to what Christian has given Ana, but please read it to the end to see what is truly happening. I have almost finished next chapter. Again, thanks to Crystal9034 for editing!
Also Note: it is currently February in this story and I am basing the wedding anniversary is the 30th of July.
Ultimatums and Opportunities
Ana's POV
"Ana wait I have a couple of things for you. One that belongs to you and one that I think I owe you, but I have a new proposition for you." Christian says passing the two items to me. Both make me want to cry, but both for different reasons.
I don't need to read the document. I know what they are. "Why?" I ask Christian, holding up the signed divorce papers.
"They're signed" I point out the obvious. Confusion fills me. Christian has fought tooth and nail to stop us getting a divorce and now that he has given me one, I don't know how I feel.
"I know. I did sign them!" Christian reconfirms. I look up at him, but his expressions are unreadable. "I have a proposition for you Anastasia. One that I want you to consider thoroughly." He states coming over and taking the offending document from my hands and places it on the table.
"Ana I need you to listen carefully. Are you with me, you seem unusually phased?" He asks. I feel suspended in time. Christian Grey just did THE one thing he said he would never do. I shake off this confusion.
"Yes. I'm listening. I am a ball of nerves but still." I admit softly. Christian kisses my forehead to comfort me.
"I want you to keep an open mind. I want you to give me until the night after our wedding anniversary, to win you back, to the point where you can fully believe that you love me, and I love you, unconditionally. I am going to move heaven and hell for you to want to move back to Seattle, live at our home on the sound with me, and spend the rest of our lives together. Just like we were supposed to." He pants as if he has run a marathon, stopping I presume to gauge my reaction.
I am struggling to find which words to say. "Christian, why? Why now?"
"Because I do not want you to live your life in limbo."
"You also don't deserve a life in limbo" I tell him. "But there is something else behind this proposition. Tell me. Our first step in this agreement should be that we will always be honest with each other" I need to understand the full background to this in order to understand Christian's position.
"I agree to be honest." Christian states, with a strong tone of anger.
"Then be honest now" I challenge.
"Ryan Hunter," Christian says him name with utter disgust. He probably wants to beat him to a pulp.
"How do you know about him?" No one except Kate knew I went on that one date, and she wouldn't have told him.
"I overheard you and Kate talking"
"What…." I say loudly, horrified that he was ears dropping. Christian puts his hand up forcefully and even I know that I should let him finish.
"I called Barney, and your recently terminated security in New York. I know that you only went on one date and that you found the date hard, a fact that makes me ecstatic!" Christian says relieved. "I also have found it difficult to move on and adopt the previous life that should have come easily to me. I have come to the educated conclusion that it is the stalemate of our relationship. Regardless of love. I am always going to love you Ana, and I don't want to cheat on you. Being with another woman while we are still married will be like cheating to me, regardless of the amount of time we have been apart." Christian surmises.
"So we are going to spend the next five months, working out if we want to be together?" I ask to seek clarification.
"I already know my answer to that question." Christian quickly points out. I look down, wishing that I knew exactly what the right thing to do is. How do we just ignore the past seventeen years of pain?
"I want you to give me the opportunity to win you back. To have the right to possess your love" Christian pours me another glass of pink champagne. I take the filled glass and drink it all quickly, as a means. Christian stifles a laugh at my way to adapt to this proposition. "Relax Ana, it isn't as if I'm asking you to sign a BDSM agreement." Christian laughs slightly.
"Either way you choose, I plan on being around a lot from now on. I need and want to be more of a father to Ted. I know he is seventeen and about to go to college, but I don't want to waste the next seventeen years and beyond." Christian reflects.
"Please. I want that too. Ted may act all grown up and all, but he still fairly young, and he needs you" I advise Christian much to his pleasure.
I pick up the divorce documents and read them. I notice that there is a duplicate copy without any signatures. I pick up the pen from the little table next to me and sign the spare divorce documents that Christian hasn't signed and pass them to him.
"What is this?" Christian asks. His lips are thinned, and I know he is displeased.
"I am just giving you the same offer that you have given me. You need an out too, you may think you have your answer in regards to our relationship, but that can change. If you feel that you don't want to be with me after our anniversary, then I want you to be able to sign those divorce documents and be free." I offer. I think this is only fair. We are both to blame for this marital status.
"Accepted Anastasia. But oh how I wish you had agreed to work for the Grey enterprises years ago. You have exceptional negotiation powers."
"I think we should tell Ted about this arrangement as I don't want us to have any more secrets from Ted. We are just so lucky that he is as stable and brilliant as he is!" I suggest to Christian. I don't think Ted could handle anymore secrets, especially now.
"No, need. I already spoke to Ted about this on the phone, after Barney called me to let me know that this Hunter guy was not significant. Ted has agreed and given us his permission and well wishes." Christian grins. I look at him unsure. "You can go and ask our son if your wish."
"I trust you Christian."
"Thank you" He tells me softly. Christian leans over to grab a copy of the divorce papers and hands it remorsefully back to me. "If you read the appendix it outlines a proposed divorce settlement. We can amend it as per your wishes." Christian adds. I analyse the appendix careful and shake my head.
"Christian this is too much! I don't want all of this!" I tell him.
"It is what you deserve and to be honest I hope we never have to discuss the contents of that appendix. However I want to know that you are cared for always. No matter what happens over the next five months."
I re-read the details. If we divorce then I am to be given Grey Publishing, the house on the sound and three billion dollars. I notice something peculiar.
"Why is there an asterisk next to Grey Publishing?" I ask perplexed.
"Because it is yours, whenever you want. Divorce or no divorce. Roach has notified me that he intends to retire at the end of June. If you want you can take over, as a subsidiary of Grey Enterprise or as a sole company, it is your call. You are the best person for the job. You have done phenomenal things in New York, and you are the perfect person for the job." Christian offers.
"I will need to think about it" I tell him flattered but also stunned by his offer. I wonder though if this is part of his plan. By the end of June, Ted would have finished his senior year. In addition, if I took this offer I would be in Seattle for a month before our anniversary. It also means that I would get a month at Grey Publishing before Roach retires. But this all seems too perfect.
"So how is this all going to work then?" I ask curiously. We still live on opposite sides of the country, and even Christian Grey in all his power and glory, can't be away from Seattle for months. There is only so far that a laptop and blackberry can get him.
"I am going to go between Seattle and New York. I can handle most things from New York, and I have an office at our subsidiary there. Though I will need to go back to Seattle to keep things going." Christian briefs me.
"You think of everything don't you Mr Grey."
"I like to think so," He says proudly.
"I am still angry at you, for cancelling our flight reservations" I tell him
"Will you be angry forever?" Christian cocks his head to one side questioning me.
"No..But…" I start to argue back.
"Then we should just put it behind us." I roll my eyes at Christian, annoyed at his tactics.
"Excuse me Mrs Grey, but I do believe you are making my palms rather twitchy right now." Christian narrows his eyes and they go terribly dark.
"Stow it" I match the look he gives people whenever he is 'displeased'. "You know you haven't told me what happened with Mia yet. I know that she had something to do with you requesting the divorce all those years ago." Christian twitches.
"I was at a lunch meeting with an author at a restaurant in New York, coincidently this was where Mia happened to be at the time. I think she thought I was there on a date or something. After the author left and I was on my way out, she came and spoke to me." I state, somehow hoping that this would be enough.
"Anastasia, continue I want to know the full story. No more of secrets, remember?" Christian scoffs.
"Funny, it used to be you who always kept secrets" I reflect.
Eleven years ago
"Ana" I hear a voice call my name. There is a cold tone to this voice, and yet it is so familiar. I look up and there she is, Mia. I honestly want to get up and hug her. It's been so long since I have seen her. I need to constantly remind myself that she knows nothing about the circumstances around the separation. She doesn't even know that she has a nephew. Remembering this fact pains me, it was one of the reason I was so eager to leave Seattle. To get away from the constant reminders.
"Mia. It's been so long. How are you?" I ask politely, not sure what else to say.
"I am better than Christian. Ana, what were you thinking? Do you know what you have done to Christian?" She scolds. I can feel myself cringe. There is nothing I can say, without giving away the facts.
"Mia, it is a long story. We are both at fault." I tell her the minimalistic amount.
"But you have managed to move on but not my brother. He barely come's to dinners with the family anymore, and he constantly works. Taylor has told us that he spends every day and weekends in the office or on business trips." I have never heard so much anger in her voice.
"Christian, always was focused on work. I always thought he over did it." I say out loud though I don't mean to.
"Worst of all, he won't let anyone touch him anymore, not even our mother. Mom is so upset by it, and it is all your fault Ana." She accuses. I swallow, feeling the pain that everyone in the Grey family must have experienced due to Christian and me.
"I loved your brother" I admit.
"Not enough though." She scoffs. If I could only tell her how much, I still love him. How I gave him the legal separation so he could continue his life. The life that gave him so much control, so much power.
"Mia, I am sorry, but I don't think there is anything I can say to you. The…" I try to finish this.
"Ana, My family use to think you were the best thing to happen to my brother, but in the end it was the opposite, you were the worst thing to happen to my brother. I wish you had never entered his life." Mia states honestly walking out. I feel like my soul has died.
"Christian, even though Mia didn't know the history of what had happened. She was right that I had been a terrible thing for you" I tell him.
Christian runs both his hands through his hair. "Oh Ana. You should have known better."
"I couldn't think straight, things were tough. Ted and I finally were settled in New York, with school, new friends and work, but I…. We both were missing you terribly. But I thought that since you couldn't handle being touched anymore that I had broken you! A legal separation wasn't enough to set you free, so I thought a divorce was what you needed." I shrugged my shoulders. I know I wasn't thinking straight, but Mia's words terribly hurt me, and I felt totally responsible for everything.
"Fuck it," Christian says.
"Huh?"
"Fuck the past. No more of these flashbacks ad stories. Just focus on our future, and us getting back together" Christian states.
"You make it sound so easy," I say a little frightened.
"I wish. I know that it is going to take time, I just hope that… "Christian looks at his watch. "…. It doesn't take longer than five months, three weeks, 6 days and 18 hours".
I can help but giggle at Christian's accuracy.
Christian's POV:
I soak in the joy of Ana's giggle. No matter what, at least I am able to make her giggle. I am annoyed at Mia for being so horrible to Ana, but part of me feels the blame for it. I decide that I will deal with this issue later when I contact Mia and tell her about Ted. Actually this gives me an idea. I can kill two birds with one stone.
"What are you thinking about? You have that look on your face that you get when you cooking something up." Ana looks at me curiously. Oh Ana, wouldn't you like to know!
"Cooking? You of all people should know that I cannot cook." I playfully tell her. "You haven't opened or paid much attention to the other parcel I gave to you." I tell her. Ana looks at the box and runs her finger along the logo.
"You didn't have to go and buy me jewellery," She tells me seriously.
"I didn't, well not really" I tell her in the same serious tone she just gave me. Ana looks at me a little disappointed I think but unsettled. "You seem disappointed, Anastasia" I point out.
"I am not" She defends herself
I open the box for her as I can't wait for her to see it. I watch her facial expression as she examines her long missed piece of jewellery. Even her eyes watered as I placed it on her wrist.
"My charm bracelet," She says softly. "I have missed it"
"And I have missed it being on your wrist." I reply. I sit back and watch Ana look thought each charm. She looks at me once she reaches the new charms. "The platinum and blue bear represents our son."
"Our little teddy bear" Ana smiles. She looks curiously at the next charm. "What flower is this and what does it represent?"
"It is a lotus flower." I inform Ana. She cocks her head to the side unsure of what it means. "This flower is one of the most beautiful things in the world, next to you of course. The flower sprouts in mud and pretty rough conditions. But despite these conditions this same dirty water washes it clean as it surfaces and as the lotus opens each petal to the air, not a stain or spot of mud remains externally. The inner lotus too has never seen a drop of mud or dirty water. It is pure, and bright, and beautiful. I couldn't think of a more appropriate metaphor for our relationship currently and where it will be." The flower is more than a symbol, it is more like a prayer for our marriage.
"What if we fail?" Ana is fearful.
"Fail?" I repeat the word distastefully. "I should spank you just for thinking that we could fail!" I fake horror, but every muscle in my body reacts with the possibility of having Ana again in such a way.
Stephen, our pilot, tells us that we are about to descend, and we return to our seats. Ted, who is on cloud nine has re-joined us. I think this is the first time I have made him smile in over a decade.
Ted's POV:
I go back down next to my parents after spending hours watching and listening in the cockpit. The pilot was extremely accommodating and answered all of my questions. Every birthday, my father has asked me what I want, and I think I know what I would like now.
My parents looked quite relaxed considering. Dad told me of his idea in Seattle, and I gave him my blessing, as long as it was with my mother's wishes. I don't know how I would feel if they got back together, but I will cross that bridge when I get there. But I have my own bombshell for my parents.
"So mom, did dad tell you of his proposal?" I ask as a lead in to mine.
"Yes." She says monosyllabically.
"And did you accept?"
"I think so," She says.
"Good. Now mom and dad I have my own proposal for you both." I pull out copies of the form I made up with my grandfather and one my Uncle Elliot made, and pass them each a copy. They both read the document. I take a deep breath in hoping this doesn't blow up in my face.
"NO!" Both my parents yell in unison. I know then I have made a mistake. Damn it Elliot!
THANK YOU FOR READING. We are now at the stage of how OR if Ana and Christian going to heal their relationship, and Ted and Christian's relationship. PLEASE REVIEW…