Our Amicable Ground May Rumble.

Phoebe's POV:

"So the only thing left is coming up with a name for your company. Do you have one in mind?" He asks. I had thought about what I would call my company as I couldn't call it Grey Enterprise.

"Yes. Fifi Enterprises." I inform my lawyer. He raises his eyebrows at me, knowing the significance of the name 'Fifi'. I sit back and sigh. Ted will think it is a stab against him. "No, change it. Change it to Phoebe Grace Enterprises, or otherwise PGE."

After all the paper work is completed, I walk straight out of the building, get into my car and drive straight to my temporary home before I even think about what I have done.

A week after Josh left, Ava and Marcus offered to have me stay with them. They both had been coming over to visit me every day after work and decided that I needed to stop getting deeper into despair. It has actually been mutually beneficial as Marcus was scheduled to back to the Middle East for work, and this way I could watch over my increasingly pregnant cousin. Marcus has informed his company that he wants to cease dong fly in and fly out work once the baby arrives.

It was Ava, who after watching me go nowhere or not able to make a decision on what to do with my life now, made me take the chance. However; even she didn't realize that it would result in my setting up my own company.

"Your back, that didn't take long" Ava looks radiant as her baby bump is poking out of her blue dress. I beam as I notice that she is looking through several catalogues on nursery décor.

"I know." I glance over the cut outs and point to the nursery that is done in an animal wildlife motif. "I like that one. It will go work if the baby is a boy or girl"

"Me too. Though I kind of like having a gender specific room, but then I will need to find out if the baby is a boy or girl" Ava has been conflicted over whether to find out if the baby is a boy or girl.

"Not necessarily. I can organize the room after you give birth and are at the hospital. My father did it when I was born" I propose.

"Oh no. I am giving birth in four months, and you will be too busy working on your company." Ava sounds like my strict parent.

"I can't believe that I started my own business! My lawyer stated that I would be in direct competition with my father, but I just want a chance. Dad wasn't willing to let me try at Grey Enterprise, though I accept that it was my fault also there." I reason.

"Nah, you just fell in love" Ava comments. I frown and feel lifeless again, when I recall what I have lost. "Have you heard from Josh?" I love Ava. She is one of the few people who are willing to ask the questions everyone wants to ask, but no one is willing to.

"No. I rang his apartment, but I have just gotten his answering machine. I tried to look him up online, but all that comes up is his past cases and the tabloid articles about us getting together and our breakup." I know that Josh has gone back to work in New York, but that is all I honestly know, and I only know that because his sister told me.

"I know things are hard to accept right now, but it will get better. You will heal" Ava encourages me. I give her a half smile. I just miss Josh so much. Maybe time will help.

Five months later.

Christian's POV:

I am grateful when my afternoon meeting with Ros and Ted is over, leaving me alone in my office. Ana's portraits keep me company and my heart beating as she is away on an annual publishing conference in New York that she attends every year. Usually I attend with her, but I decided to say in Seattle this time. Mainly so I don't go after Josh and finally ask him what the hell happened. He won't answer my calls or Ted's, but I don't blame him there also.

I check my emails, and there is one from Welch, but all it tells me is that they haven't been able to determine whom Josh spoke to that night. I knew we wouldn't be able to do so without hacking his phone, and that is one route I didn't want to go down. The government has tightened the law and increased the punishment for that crime.

Phoebe has been living with Ava and has spent quite a lot of time with her Aunt Kate, Uncle Elliot and Ana. I have tried to make restitution with Phoebe, and slowly we are getting there. But too slowly for me. At least we have been able to sit in the same room lately for a family dinner.

Though what worries me is how sad my daughter looks. She is so withdrawn. Everyone in our family has mentioned this. I thought that over time things would get better, that she would heal, but it doesn't look like that will happen.

"Grey" Taylor calls out from the door of my office.

"Yes Taylor?" I ask, happy for the interruption. I know instantly that he doesn't want to tell me what he has to say.

"I have just learnt that Phoebe Grey, registered a new business over five months ago, and over three months ago purchased her first company. Of course, the news is embargoed, but the company has been divided up and sold." Taylor passes me a report on my daughter's venture. I enter CEO mode as I consider this news, but a multitude of emotions hit me. Taylor has proven that he is my right hand man again. The report is detailed down to how she financed the deal, names, date, who she sold the divided company up to and so on. I know she was going to meetings at different locations around Seattle, but I thought maybe she was seeking a new job. I check my watch, and it is after six. I wonder if she will be home.

"Thanks Taylor. Why don't you head off back to the sound and be with Gail? Ana of course is away, and I am going out. I will take Ryan with me." Taylor offers me a rare smile and walks out.

"Christian" I raise my eyebrows at Taylor. He rarely uses my first name. "Say hello to Phoebe for me" Damn Taylor, he can read me too well these days.

# # # #

I knock on the door as I run my hand through my hair. I am over this lack of communication, and tension. It is sending me stir crazy. I have only felt like this twice, one when Ana left me after the belt incident, and then when Ana and I broke up when she was pregnant with Ted. I need to end this and now. It has been more than five months since Josh left, and he was here for another three months before he left. Too many months of tension between my daughter and me. I never even got to see my daughter on her birthday, a terribly gloomy first, as she went away.

Phoebe answers the door, and I take a step back. She has always resembled Ana, but she looks exactly like her mother right now when I met her. She is wearing a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, and her long brown hair is framing her shoulders.

"Dad. Hi"

"Hi Phoebe. You seem surprised to see me" I smile sadly.

"Well yeah… do you want to come in?" She offers.

"Please"

"Ava and Marcus have gone to Aunt Kate and Uncle Elliot's house, with baby Emma. I don't know what time they will be home." Phoebe is actually letting me know that we are alone. I can't even remember the last time we have been together alone.

"Did Mom arrive in New York safely?"

"Yes. I received an email from her, earlier today. She was tired but doing well. You mom was going to get some sleep, then attend the conference tomorrow and catch up with some of her girlfriends that live over there still. Oh by the way, Taylor says hi." I nod when Phoebe points to a bottle of white wine.

"I miss seeing Taylor and Gail" Phoebe replies as she passes me a glass of wine.

"They miss you too. I miss you more. You could move back home and return to Grey Enterprise. Two places you belong" I state a little scornfully and sigh. Phoebe looks tense and starts to look around.

"Dad, I am sorry to ask this, but are you here to argue or scold me? I don't have the strength to fight you anymore," Phoebe says looking fragile.

"No. I just want to spend some time with my daughter." I quickly soften my approach.

"Have you had any dinner? I can cook something. Since I have been living with Ava and Marcus, they actually have food here." Phoebe and I both laugh. It has been well known amongst the whole family that Ava inherited Kate's unfortunate cooking skills, and sadly Marcus isn't much better.

"Better be careful, or they will never let you move out. Your apartment might be empty forever" I examine Phoebe's reaction to my comment carefully. I wonder if she has told anyone yet.

"Maybe" She shrugs and then starts to look through the fridge and pantry nervously. I look around and notice a pile of papers on the table and my daughter's personal laptop. Perfect.

"Are you working on something?" I inquire. Phoebe freezes and turns to face me.

"You know, don't you?" Phoebe says up front.

"Yes I do." I confirm.

"How much do you know?" She probes, and then I speculate on what I don't know.

"Enough" I reply raising my eyebrows at her.

"Tell me exactly how much." Phoebe asks in the same manner I just spoke to her, but then get mellows. "Please"

"Only, if you promise to answer a few of my questions and tell me what I don't know" I attempt to negotiate.

"Okay, but you have to answer a few questions for me also" Phoebe counter offers.

"Deal, but first. Have you lost weight?" I ask discontentedly.

"I did lose weight when Josh left, but I haven't lost any more weight since. I have maintained my weight. I am eating." Phoebe tries to reassure me, but my issues with food are too zealous. I pull out my phone, and before I press call, I look at my daughter,

"You still like pasta, don't you?"

"Yes. I love pasta" Phoebe replies. I smirk as I press call on my phone.

"Ryan, there is a decent Italian restaurant about a block away, western direction…. Yes, that is what it is called, I need you to get two chicken Marsala's with pasta, a serve of garlic bread and a side serving of Italian sausage and olives." I hang up and a large smile forms on my face. Finally, I can take some control where my daughter is concerned.

"Thanks Dad, but I don't mind cooking." Phoebe offers.

"I know, but if you cook it will be harder for us to talk, and I told you that I would tell you what I know, then ask some questions, and you have some questions for me." I motion to the couch which we both take after Phoebe refills our wine glasses.

"Okay, Dad what do you know? I won't ask how you know because I figure that you just know everything." Phoebe remarks.

"I only know everything when it involves people I love very much" I add. Phoebe looks uncomfortable. "I know that you have set up your own business, one which is going to become public knowledge soon, as soon as you're recent acquisition is made public. I also know that you financed it with the contents of your personal account and the sale of your apartment. I know that you have already broken up the company and sold it off. Clever move, by the way."

"Thanks. I didn't purchase this company until I analyzed its components and then sent out feeder to companies and buyers that were looking for those specific aspects. I have tried to be exceedingly careful, especially since I was taking a rather large financial risk." Phoebe definitely did take a risk. If this had failed she could have lost her entire wealth since I am yet to unfreeze her trust fund.

"So that is fundamentally what I know. Do you have anything else to add?" I ask.

"Well that is the gist of it. I intend on hopefully opening up an office, but I don't want to use what capital I have right now. I have been using a lawyer from Josh's firm, here in their Seattle branch, and a few other friends have been helping with accounting and so on. It has taken a lot of work, but it has been a real rush actually" I recognize the look in my daughters eye, it is the same one I use to get when I started in this industry, but it quickly fades and she looks withdrawn again. It has become her casual look.

"Phoebe did you start your own business as a means of retribution. A way to compete and to hurt me?" I enter CEO mode, and repeat in my head 'its only business, it only business', so I won't be hurt by my daughters possible answer.

"Yes," Phoebe says looking away. "I was so mad and felt worthless when you told me you did trust my judgement. I wanted to resign there and then. I seriously wanted to. Almost did, but I couldn't." Phoebe looks dismayed but at least not crying.

"Why?" I don't truly understand her actions. Phoebe has always been so headstrong but at the same time she has been protected also, by my orders. She is my daughter and therefore, I refused to allow anyone to hurt her.

"Because I thought Grey Enterprise was my future. I had always thought it was. Walking out of Grey House hurt me more than you could ever imagine. I didn't want to leave, but when Josh left, everything in my life shattered. I blamed you and Ted, and when I reached the house on the sound, and I snapped. Sure it might have been somewhat immature, but I didn't care if I never saw or spoke to you again. I returned to my apartment, and I cried. Gosh I cried for days. I didn't eat, and hardly drank any water. I didn't even get out of bed, unless I really needed to. I was depressed" A mammon of mixed emotions hit me. I should have known.

"What caused you to get out of bed? Are you still depressed? Do you need a doctor? I will get you one immediately" I throw questions so I can regain control. Mentally I am seeking solutions to all my daughters' problems.

"I have a doctor, and I am not depressed. I am just wounded." She replies.

"You are withdrawn. Everyone knows it also. I know you don't really go out much these days. I am sure your friends miss you" I point out.

"You want me to go out, with my girlfriends, drink and get picked up by random guys? That is surely another way to increase the amount of my sexual partners." Phoebe's tongue in cheek comment angers me. The last thing I want is men having their hands all over us.

"Don't! I didn't come here for an argument, and I guess you just answered a question that has been on my mind. You and Josh had sex." There is a terrible taste in my mouth after saying those words.

"Dad we lived together for three months, and were together for a few months before that. We are educated adults and took precautions. Josh even got checked out for me beforehand, to make sure I would be protected. He only ever cared for me." My daughter informs me.

"Still you had sex" I sigh and tell her sternly. I know I sound like a hypocrite, but when it is your daughter it is different.

"Well, actually it was a lot of sex. Then again, even if Josh was still here, and we were having sex, as often as we once did, it still wouldn't come close to how much sex you and Mom have had! Seriously it's astonishing that you both, only have two children. You would have had a dozen children if you hadn't been separated for a period of time." Phoebe observes.

"Maybe it's a good thing then that your mother and I weren't together for eighteen years. Having to face another child like you lately would literally kill me! One of you has been enough, trust me!" I say a little too harshly without thinking. Fuck! I honestly don't mean that. The last eight months of course have been hard, but the rest has been incredible. Phoebe was daddy's little girl. Phoebe facial expression tell me exactly how she feels. I have only ever seen this reaction from my daughter, when I told her that I didn't trust her judgement. I hate that I have done this to her again.

"I am sorry Phoebe, I didn't mean that. I shouldn't have said it" I try to apologize.

"You once told me, that it was what people say quickly and spontaneously that is really what they honestly mean and think," Phoebe says dejectedly.

"When did I say that?" I inquire.

"Once when I was in grade school and at your office after school one day. You were with an employee, and he blurted something out. After he exited your office that is when you said that to me" Phoebe recalls.

"You remember too much, at times. Has anyone ever told you that?" I query.

"Yes. I use to watch you and Mom very intently. I also listened to everything you both said." Before I am able to say anything, to mollify my unpleasant words, the doorbell rings, and I know it is Ryan with our dinner.

"I will get it" Phoebe says getting up quickly. I help by serving up the meal on the plates whilst Phoebe sets out the table mats and cutlery on the side of the table that is clear. I ensure that there is a sufficient amount of food on Phoebe's plate so I can keep checks on how much she is eating. I place the food on the table and commence eating. Phoebe notices that I am watching what she eats and shakes her head at me.

"I just don't want you to get sick," I say in my defense.

"So what else do you want to ask? Or do you know everything else about from the security you still have on me, even though I told you to take them off me" Phoebe questions. I think my lips and try to read my daughter's body language.

"Dad, I know that you have someone watching out for me. You are way too much of a control freak not to." I can't help but smirk at my daughter.

"Maybe one or two. They are only there to make sure you are safe, and the media, plus the paparazzi stays away from you."

"I understand. Can I ask my questions now?" Phoebe requests.

"I guess we did make that deal didn't we. Go ahead." I invite.

"Do you know why Josh left? Do you know who spoke to him?" Phoebe now becomes a little apprehensive.

"No. I have had Welch, Barney and Taylor look into it, but nothing has come up. We didn't have a tracker of Josh's car, and we can't hack into his cell phone." I narrow my eyes annoyed at our lack of ability to find out what happened. "Have you spoken to Josh?" I inquire.

"No. I have tired, but all I get is either his voice message or answering machine. I have spoken to his personal assistant and his sister, but they won't say much. Except he is at work or doing well. Deep down, I know there is something more." I don't say it, but I do agree with my daughter. I know that Josh loved her, as much as I despised their relationship. He must left due to something more than a few unsupportive family members

"Do you regret not having supported Josh and me together now?" Phoebe asks. I lean back in my chair and consider her question.

"I don't want you to be as withdrawn and close to depression as you have been. I want my daughter back, who is full of life, social, humorous and loving. Give her back to me!" I request.

"She never would have left, if you and Ted hadn't been negative and you haven't answered my question. Would you support us now?"

"I don't know." I respond.

"Did Mom tell you to come and see me?" Phoebe asks.

"No," I state honestly.

"Dad I have one more question, and please answer it honestly. I promise I won't get mad or upset whatever your answer is"

"Okay, ask me" A few possible questions come to my mind.

"I know you didn't read my reports on the companies I was investigating, but I did present a couple. Were they of a poor quality? Could any of them worked." I knew one day, I would have to answer this question, and it means acknowledging that, for the first time, I was not professional.

"They were acceptable. We would have had to look at them in depth, but they had potential. A few could have been implemented immediately." I admit.

"Thank you." Phoebe says vindicated. We finish dinner and clear up. I am more than excited that Phoebe has eaten most of her dinner.

"What are you working on?" I ask, pointing to her laptop and documents on the table.

"I am looking over a few other companies that are going to be up for sale and can easily be divided and sold off rather easily. I am not ready to own a number of companies for too long, rather I much prefer to buy them, and make them profitable for sale." Phoebe informs me.

"Can I look over the companies documents with you, right now? Provide you with some help or advice?" I offer. Phoebe looks at me astounded and cautiously.

"Dad I don't work for you anymore. Why would you offer to help me?" She rightfully queries.

"I helped Ted with the first few deals he took over, and I imagined doing the same with you. Now we are not necessarily doing it under the circumstance which I would like, but still let me offer you some help. You can take it or leave it." I offer.

"Okay, these are the two companies I am …." Phoebe briefs me on what she has done, and as we go, I examine all the fine print, providing information and advice as we go. It is almost one in the morning before we finally stop. Marcus, Ava and their baby came home hours ago.

"Thanks Dad. I think I have a better idea of where I am going now" Phoebe says to complement me. The honest truth though is she probably would have worked it all out for herself.

"Come back to Grey Enterprise" I request.

"What?" Phoebe splutters into her wine that she was unfortunately having a drink from at the time.

"I want you to come back. It will take you years to raise the capital to go after the companies you want to dig in hands into. If you come back to Grey Enterprise, you will fulfil your potential" I am partially lying. It could be possible that I hold her back.

"I need to go to bed. I am exhausted, and I have a meeting in the morning." Phoebe informs me without giving me an answer to my offer. I have considered giving her back her trust fund, but part of me doesn't want to, not yet.

"Good Night Phoebe"

"Night Dad, and thanks for your advice. It certainly helped"

"It was my pleasure." I tell her, and I grab my blazer and text Ryan that I am ready to leave. Phoebe hugs me, for the first time since everything happened. I have so missed her.

"Love you Dad"

"Love you too."

# # # #

I turn off my cell phone as the GEH jet is taxied in. Finally! Ana is home. I am so anxious to be with her that I don't wait for her to walk down the stairs. Rather I run up the stairs and enter the aircraft. Three days without Ana is way too long.

"Christian, what are you doing?" Ana giggles. Fuck I am getting hard just looking at her and listening to that glorious sound.

"Just coming to get what is mine." I hold my hand out for her and then hold her tight. I wrap her hair around my hand and tilt her head back to kiss her. Passionately I commence to kiss her.

"What is it?" I query worried as I look into her eyes. Something is really troubling her.

"When I was in New York, I visited some friends. One of them was Joshua Harris's mother. She wouldn't tell me anything about Josh, but she admitted to me who made him leave, but I don't understand why this person did it," Ana says shocked.

"Tell me everything you know" I demand.

# # # #

Our plans of heading home to our bed are dashed. Ana and I head straight to the home of the person responsible for making Josh go home. We have more questions than answers. We knock on the door and the person we are looking for stands in front of us.

"I didn't expect you both"

"We know, and we need answers." I demand.

"Answers to what?"

"That you where the one that managed to get Josh to leave. Why? How?" Ana says urgently.

"If you want those answers then we are going to need more company. The Whole Grey family is going to need to be here" I run my hands through my hair, frustrated and annoyed. What on earth happened?

Authors Note: So in the next chapter I will reveal who told Josh to leave and why. Interesting tale there... you will never guess what it is. try and guess..

I also need to tell you, I am sorry, but I am off on a family holiday to one of the Australian island. I won't be back until Tuesday. I am not taking my laptop. Will write when I return!