AN: Thank you for the reviews for the last chapter. As always, they are appreciated. I am sorry that it has been awhile since this story was updated. I wanted to finish one of my other stories, My Secret Valentine, and update Little Treasures, also. This story is much different than my other ones, first, being in a third person point of view, two, dealing with two different timelines, and three, one timeline being a different period of time that I have never written about before. I recently did a poll on two facebook groups asking if you, as a reader, would prefer to read the rest of the story in the 21st century, or for the story to go back and forth. I thought about the answers, read through the comments, and thought about what I wanted to do as the author of this story. So, I have come to conclusion of continuing to write the story in the two different time periods. As Christian and Ana are researching Cristoff and Annabelle, I will tell it in the 16th century. I hope this doesn't backfire on me, and is written smoothly. Please give it and me a chance. You guys are all wonderful to me, and I like to believe that you still will be. One last note, the first chapter is more than 11,000 words, due to that one being part of a challenge, however, the following chapters will not be that long. That took me a month of so to write, and I definitely don't want you to wait that long between chapters. As always, Happy Reading! ~Melissa

Chapter 2: Cristoff and Annabelle?

21st Century

It's the next day and Ana is waiting for Christian to arrive at the cafeteria so they can eat lunch together, again. After their kiss good night after the first date, Christian left with a spring in his step. Ana closed the door behind her, leaned against it, and sighed. She spent the next two hours telling Kate all about the date and their kiss. Christian texted Ana the following morning, asking her for a lunch date and also reminding her that they never looked at what couple they need to research for their Romantic Literature class. She agreed not to look before meeting with him, which was more than difficult to her. She was always on top of things, her outline for the project would have already been written and then typed out, her follow up questions would have been ready to ask for Wednesday's class, and she certainly would have already had set up days and times to meet with her professor. One date with Christian Grey already had her mind in a spiral. She enjoyed it, wanted more of it. She, and everyone else, knows she would never let a guy come in between her and school work, her future, but, she didn't mind giving herself a break, just for a moment.

While she is waiting for Christian to arrive, she senses someone looking at her. Always trust your gut, Ana. Always. Her dad's voice reminded her. She looked around, noticing Jack Hyde starting to walk towards her. She sat up straighter, glancing down to her cell phone, wishing Christian would show up soon. Very soon. She tried to plaster a smile on her face, she was always friendly towards people, but Jack rubbed her the wrong way. His eyes skimmed her body, and she thanked God she was sitting down, with the table blocking most of her. Today, she was wearing tight jeans, ankle booties, and a grey cable knit sweater. It was early October, and the crisp, fall day was filled with a coolness. Her hair was up in a high ponytail, allowing her neck to be exposed, mostly for Christian, but now she regretted that decision as she noticed Jack's dark brown eyes zero in on her pulse point. Unconsciously, her hands came up and spread across her neck, covering herself up anyway she could.

"Hello, Anastasia." Jack greeted her as he slid the chair sitting across from her against the hardwood floor, causing a loud scraping sound echo throughout the room.

"Jack." She nodded, her eyes not meeting his. Instead, they were glancing around the cafeteria, first at the double doors then at the different food lines, searching for Christian through a sea of other students. He was easy to pinpoint, he was taller than the majority of the other students, his unique hairstyle and color standing out amongst the crowds, and yet, she didn't see either of those features she so desperately needed to see right now.

She heard a clear of a throat, and reluctantly looked back at the uninvited guest that is still sat across from her. His eyes, a blazing brown, doesn't leave Ana's. He is seething that she isn't paying attention to him, and he knows exactly who she is looking for, who she wants. Her heart is beating fast, not in the way it beats when Christian is around her, her hair on the back of her neck comes to a standing halt, and she knows she should excuse herself.

"Excuse me, Jack, I must be going. I'll be late for my next class." As she starts to stand up, he does as well, walking around the table to get closer to her. Her scent, floral, entices him, makes him fall deeper into the lust he has for her. Ana takes a tentative step back, her eyes darting between Jack and the rest of the crowded space.

She notices that he inches forward as she inches back, and her father's thoughts come back to her, again. Stay calm. Don't let them see your fear. Create a safe distance, if you can.

"I really must be going, Jack. Sorry, you caught me at a bad time." She states as she tries to walk around him. Jack was quick, his arm shoots out in front of her, his palm gripping on to the chair that is seated at the table next to them.

"What's the rush?"

"I told you, I have class."

"No you don't. I am in your next class, British Literature, am I correct?" He cocks his head to the side, waiting for her to answer him.

"Yes, however, I have a meeting with Professor Fox before class starts. So, really, I must be going." Calm, stay calm, she repeats to herself. Where the hell is Christian?

"You have time."

"What do you want?"

"Just to talk, what is with you and Grey?" His voice taking on a more hostile tone.

She rolls her eyes at him, causing his nostrils to flare and the grip he has on the chair even tighter.

"None of your concern," Ana answers, trying to ignore how she made him angry for some reason.

"Well, then, if nothing is happening, go on a date with me."

"No."

"No?"

"That's what I said."

"Why?" He commands, not even bothering to hide his anger. Some students stop and look in the direction where the high pitch voice came from. Ana looked around nervously, hoping someone wouldn't stop watching, or at least, do something. She did notice a guy, Sawyer, she thinks his name is, take his cell phone out and start typing rather quickly. She thinks Sawyer is Christian's roommate, and she likes to believe that he is texting him right now.

She starts to walk around to the other side of the table, Jack quickly steps in front of her.

"Leave me alone." She cries out, and within a second, Sawyer and another one of his friends are standing in front of her, blocking her from Jack's view. They are tall, muscular, like Christian, and she finally lets out a breath of air that she just realized she was holding.

"Get the fuck away from her!" Sawyer spits out, pushing Jack back a little. The entire cafeteria is silent. You can only hear the deep breathes of the three men standing in front of her.

"Ana?" She quickly turns around and sees Kate running towards her. "Ana, are you okay?"

"Yeah, everything is fine. Now." Kate's arms wraps around Ana's shoulder, pulling her in closer, offering another layer of protection to he friend. Kate knows that Sawyer and Taylor can take on Jack, at least keep him there until Christian arrives.

"I can talk to her, if I want to." Jack sneers, pushing Sawyer back. Taylor then steps forward, pushing back.

"No. You can't."

"Yeah, asshole, I can. Anyone can." Jack replies, but this time, stays where he is. He realized that right now it is two against one, and pretty soon, it will be three against one.

He looks around the two brick walls that are still standing in front of Ana, "See you in class, pretty girl." He then goes to turn to walk away, causing Ana's heart drop to her stomach, and a shiver run down her spine.

Just as Jack turned around, his face was met with a stone fist of one Christian Grey. "Don't you ever talk to her again, Hyde. Don't you ever look at her again. Don't you ever fucking breathe in her direction again."

Ana's eyes met Christian as the wall of Sawyer and Taylor moved away from her.

"Christian. Where were you?" She asks as his arm wraps around her waist, making her pull away from Kate. His lips descend to her forehead, breathing her in.

"I'm sorry. I was meeting with one of my business professors. I didn't realize the time and that I was running late to meet you until my phone started buzzing with Sawyer's messages."

"Messages?" She asks, she only noticed that he was texting someone once.

"Yes, I sent him messages throughout the entire encounter. Once I saw him block you, I sent the last message stating that Taylor and I would take care of it."

"Thank you." Christian and Ana said together, causing her to giggle.

"That sound, that makes me feel a little bit better." He smiles down at her, wanting to kiss her, but knows she is too shy for that in a cafeteria filled with on lookers.

"Grey!" They hear from below them. Jack is still on the ground, holding his nose, blood starting to leak from in between his fingers.

Christian turned around quickly, his hard glare on Jack.

"What?!"

"Better watch your back." Jack sneers as he stands up and walks away, making sure he collides into Christian's shoulder along the way. Christian starts to go after him, but feels a soft, small hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"Please, don't go. I need you."

She needs me.

"Let him go, for now, Christian. Gail has British Literature with Ana, she'll keep an eye on her." Taylor informs the group. Gail, Taylor's girlfriend, was also into Literature, wanting to be an editor. Ana had polite conversations with Gail before, she was nice, and it was nice to know that someone in the class will be with her, not leaving her alone for Jack to come back and bother her.

Within five minutes, the audience that was watching the small group was now focused back on their own lunch or studies, and the group dispersed themselves, going to classes or back to other tables, leaving Ana and Christian to themselves.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Kate asks, concerned to leave her best friend, even though she knows Christian will definitely take care of her.

"I am. Go to class. I'll see you later on for dinner." The girls hug bye, Kate looking at Christian with worried eyes. He simply nods his head, letting her know that he has Ana.

"Want to tell me what else happened?" He asks Ana as he pulls out her chair. She tells him how Jack just came over and asked him the two of them.

"I didn't say anything. One, because it isn't his business, and two, I wasn't really sure what to tell him."

"You're right, it certainly doesn't concern him. What did you think when he did ask you? What were your first thoughts?" Christian was curious to find out what was in that mind of hers. He knew for a fact that she doesn't think like other girls their age, she was light years ahead of her time. Her mind worked differently than most everyone he has known. Growing up in Bellevue, attending Seattle Prep, being with some of the smartest people, he knew Ana's mind would stand out. Her thinking was different, the way things clicked and came together, were different. He couldn't wait to indulge in more of her beautiful mind. It made her even more gorgeous.

"Oh, um, well, we only went on one date. We started talking yesterday, you know."

"I know. Would you like to go another date?"

"I would love to."

"Good. Let's plan for Friday night. Ana, I need to let you know how sorry I am for not being here for what just happened."

"You have nothing to apologize for. You were meeting with a professor, time got away from you. Sure, Jack was an asshole, and honestly, I think he would have done that the first opportunity he had when he saw me alone."

"I don't like him. I hate that he is around you and in the same classes. What is doing in Literature classes anyway?"

"I'm not too sure, I am sure he wants to do something with reading and writing. Why else would someone go through these type of classes if they aren't interested in them?"

"To talk to a girl." Christian states, causing Ana to giggle again.

"No, I think that is only you." She says through her giggling.

"What a beautiful sound. I need to record that." He pulls out his cell phone and is able to record her giggles.

"You're insane." She shakes her head.

"I am going to set it as your ringtone. Oh, can I have your number? Now that we are going on a second date and we are partners in our class, we should have each other's numbers."

"And, I can call or text you when a certain someone may bother me again."

"Exactly." Christian states with anger in his voice; of course not intended towards Ana.

After exchanging phone numbers, the couple walked together to the library, Christian protectively wrapping an arm around Ana's shoulders, keeping her close to his body.

When sitting at one of the back tables, with their iPads out, they finally were ready to start their project.

"Okay, who do we have? Did you look?" Christian asks Ana as she digs in her bag to get the slip of paper out and the syllabus of the project.

"No. I really wanted to, I couldn't though. I didn't think it was fair to you. You have to know how hard it was for me not to look and start this project."

Christian chuckles at her, "You are adorable."

Ana's face reddens with the compliment from him and she uses her hair as a shield to hide it. She feels strong, yet soft, fingers grasp her chin and turn her head. Her hair is still a draped over her face, but she can see the intense, stormy, grey eyes staring into her sapphire ones.

"Don't hide from me baby, I want to see all of you."

She gasped at his words, "You do? Why?"

"Simply, because you are beautiful. See, that right there, your blush," he states as he lets a finger trail down her cheek, "stunning."

"Christian, no one else have said those type of things to me."

"Well, then that just means you haven't found the right man for you. Thank fuck for that."

"I guess I was waiting."

"For?"

"You."

He slowly leans over the table, making his intentions known to her, she gives a subtle nod, allowing him to close the distance. The kiss is sweet, both of them remembering that they are in their university library, where other students are busy researching, typing thesis', and studying.

Ana slowly pulls away, giving Christian her best shy and sweet smile. He returns it, and then places his hand on her thigh, his thumb rubbing up and down.

"Why don't we finally see who we have to live up to?" He asks, giving a wink.

"Okay. This is so exciting. Here, you do it." Ana is bouncing up and down, trying to remember to contain her excitement. Christian takes the paper from her dainty fingers and begins to unfold it.

"Wait!" Ana whisper shouts to him, causing him to stop just when he was about to look down at the names.

"Yes?"

"Do you think the couple is historical or fictional, and what couple do you think it is?"

"Ana, we are about to find out."

"I know. I know, but let's just take a guess. Come on, it will be fun."

Christian can't help but give in to her. "See, adorable," he says as he bops the tip of her nose.

"You go first." She squeals in delight. Her eyes are shining so brightly, brighter than he has ever seen. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and in this moment, looking at her with bright, wide eyes, her cheeks covered with the perfect tint of blush, her lips, opened slightly, and her mind, her amazingly intellectual mind, she's the one for him. The memory of kissing her before, he was still baffled, it felt so real, like they have been together before. It was all he was thinking about since last night, he never believed in fate or destiny, but, what does he know. He is going to school to become a big CEO and build his own company.

"Christian…" Ana's angelic voice brings him back to what he is supposed to be doing.

"Sorry, I was thinking of couples. I'm thinking they are a fictional couple, but not Romeo and Juliet. I don't think Mrs. Spence would pick them. It's too obvious. Cliche. You learn about them in high school."

"True. So, who do you think then? Why fictional?"

"Well, I chose fictional because I know more of those characters than historical couples." He stated honestly, making Ana giggle.

"That's a good, honest answer. Stick with me. In that case, I hope its a historical couple so you can say you at least know one."

"Here's hoping. Okay, so I think the couple that we have received is, um, maybe," it's now that Christian realizes how out of his element he truly is.

"Gatsby and Daisy." They were the first couple that came to mind, one of his favorite authors is F. Scott Fitzgerald, and he has read 'The Great Gatsby' time and time again.

"That's a good guess. Why them?"

"You didn't say I need a reasoning."

"I know, but enlighten me." Again, she gives him her shy smile and he can't deny her.

"Well, for starters, Fitzgerald wrote about how the American dream was about discovery, pursuit of happiness, and individualism, however, that was hard to accomplish, with corruption of that dream due to easy money and the relaxation of social values. Gatsby wanted the pomp and circumstance to win back his one love, Daisy, however in doing that, he was corrupting his own life. He was in the illegal alcohol business, throwing extravagant parties to gain her attention again, even though she was married. He wanted to be with her so bad that he didn't think of consequences and what other outcomes could possibly happen."

"What about Daisy?" Ana asks, her eyes never leaving his as he explains why he chose these two people with her.

"Daisy won the affection of every man that walked by, much like someone else I know," right on cue, her cheeks flamed up to the tint he has come to admire. "However, unlike you, she was into materialistic things that wealth can only bring. Gatsby lied to her about his background to impress her, and she was impressed, enough so she promised him she would wait for him to return from war."

"But, she didn't." Ana added to the conversation.

"No, she didn't. She married Tom two years later, someone who her parents approved of, someone who could drape her the finest jewels and offer her the world at her feet. I see why he would, she was beautiful, encompassed all those womanly features, and knew exactly how to work with them."

"You know a lot about this book and the characters that Fitzgerald developed."

"I do. We had to read it my sophomore year in high school, I enjoyed it. I believe it was the first book I was made to read that I reread after the course was over. So, now that I told you my guess on the couple that we can have, what's yours? Are you still sticking with the historical couple over the fictional couple?"

"Yes, I am still going with a historical couple. Let me think, there are so many good ones that it could be."

He watches as her nose scrunches up and a small 'v' appears in between her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. Within seconds, her eyes express so many emotions, first confusion, then indecisiveness, like she narrowed it down to two couples. He takes note on how her head moves left and right, every so slightly. If he wasn't eyeing her every move in these passing seconds, he would have missed it. Christian was studying her expressions, committing them to memory, so he can do everything again to see them again.

"Okay, I got it. It was a hard decision. I was thinking of two." She admits.

Christian lets out a laugh, "I could tell."

She rolls her eyes at him, and he let out a low growl from the back of his throat. It was the sexist sound she has ever heard. The way her giggle triggered him, is the same as his growl did to her. She now fully understands how he felt the first time he heard her.

"Are you going to enlighten me now?"

Clearing her mind and throat, she nodded and proceeded to tell him her thoughts on the couple.

"Queen Victoria and Prince Albert."

"Why?" Christian asks, even before she can further explain.

"When they met, it was love at first sight, something not common at all for arranged marriages." Ana had this dreamy look in her eyes as she started to state her reasons why this particular pair could be their couple. "They were so in-tune with one another, even though she was Queen, she looked to him for guidance and reassurance, never making a single decision without him, and he, he did some of her duties for her, including the financial part of being Queen. They raised nine children together. They were one, always and forever, even after death. They were married for almost twenty-five years when Prince Albert passed away. He died in the same room where they first met. After his death, Queen Victoria went into mourning. She wore black every day of the rest of her life, which was forty years. Do you know what her only wish was when she would pass?"

"No, what?"

"To be buried with one of Prince Albert's dressing gowns and a lock of his hair."

Ana had a sad smile on her face, her eyes tearing up at the story she just told. It was like she was Queen Victoria losing her one true love. She felt the pain herself, and didn't understand it since she hasn't been in love, yet. She felt her heart breaking into tiny pieces, her world crashing around her, her mind taking her to a place where she watched a man with grey eyes and copper hair fall in front of her, protecting her, and telling her he loved her one last time. She shook her thoughts away, looked back up to Christian and gasped, just a little. The man she just had a vision of was him, but how? Why would she picture him there with her, protecting her from someone or something, in a much different time period.

"That is a beautifully tragic love story." Christian whispers as he brushing away a lone tear trailing down her cheek.

"It was. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was nice to see you so passionate about something. Shall we see who is correct? Is it a historical or fictional couple we are researching?"

"Sure. You still do it though."

"Okay. One. Two. Three!" Christian unfolds the paper quickly so that Ana doesn't have time to stop him again. He glances down, then his eyes meet Ana's, and looks back down to the slip of paper again.

"Well?" Ana asks, her hands clasped together under her chin.

"Honestly, I am not sure." Christian states, running a hand behind his head and scratching his neck.

"Okay. I will know. Let me see." She takes the paper out of his hand, and stares down.

"Um, well. Wow."

"I know. The names are, um, very similar."

"Yes, they are. They are definitely not from fictional literature, that I know. So, it looks like I won with with historical part of it. Yes!"

He chuckles at her, and then asks, "So, who are Cristoff Greyson and Annabelle Von Steele, then?"

"Well, there is only one way to find out…" Ana states as she wakes her iPad awake and types in the names.