A/N: One more lighter chapter before the proverbial shit hits the fan for Christian Grey. Special thank you to the reviewer who suggested outdoorsy type dates for the inspiration for the bulk of this chapter :) Sorry for the delay in writing i was on vacation last week and have spent much of this week at work trying to catch up. As always reviews thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated :) Thank you all for sticking with me!

"Anastasia…Wake up Anastasia…"

A sing-song voice was invading Ana's dreamless sleep, bringing her back to the world of the living. There was no way she wanted to wake up yet. She was far too relaxed and comfortable. She reached next to her and found a second pillow to cover her head.

"Two more minutes…" She mumbled, burrowing under the blankets.

"No no Ms Steele. Now." The sing-song voice was harder now, the tone less playful and more direct. She grumbled and pulled the covers tighter over her body.

In the next instant, the covers were being torn from her body and the cool morning air of the room hit her. She grumbled again, removing the pillow from her head and forcing herself to sit up.

"Two more minutes…" She whined sleepily. A low chuckle was her reward.

"Ms Steele. You have had a total of six additional minutes, already." The baritone voice reminded her. Ana perked at that sound and managed to open her eyes.

"Hello there, Ms. Steele. I am to assume then that you are not a morning person?" Christian Grey was staring at her, freshly showered, and clearly amused. She blushed.

"Erm….not really…." She admitted.

"I guessed as much when you threw a pillow at me the first time you requested two additional minutes of sleep." He replied. Ana's eyes widened, betraying her surprise.

"I…what?" Christian was grinning at her, and he nodded his head to the side. She followed his movement and, there, across the floor, was a silver-grey throw pillow. "Oh jeeze…" She buried her face in her hands, completely embarrassed. But Christian didn't seem angry or annoyed; far from it, actually. He appeared relaxed, his copper hair was wet and tousled, and he wore fresh pajama bottoms and a clean v-neck t-shirt. He looked positively delicious.

He crawled onto the bed and on top of her and suddenly Ana found herself beneath him, caught in his hungry gaze. Suddenly, she was no longer tired. She bit her lip. He growled in her ear.

"You know what biting your lip like that does to me, Anastasia." He practically purred and Ana found herself wide awake.

"Erm…sorry?" She squeaked, wide-eyed and incredibly turned on. He grinned at her again

"You can make it up to me by having breakfast with me. Shower is just through there if you'd like to get cleaned up first. I'll be in the kitchen when you're done." He nipped her ear and in the next instant he was off of her and sauntering out the bedroom door, leaving her to go about her morning routine in peace. If she was lucky, she would have enough time to calm her sexual libido long enough to not completely embarrass herself any further. She didnt get that chance.

WHile she had been contemplating her reflection in the mirror, Christian had knocked on the bathroom door. He stood behind her in the mirror, each of them taking in her freshly-showered form. She felt him harden behind her. He still wanted her. She still wanted him. She turned into him then and kissed him tenderly.

"Thank you." She whispered, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this beautiful man in front of her. He looked confused.

"For what?" He asked. She smiled at him and shook her head.

"Just.. thank you."

He swooped her into his arms then and kissed her deeply. She felt her insides clench in response to him. She didnt want breakfast.. She wanted him.

"Make love to me Christian.." She begged, and he carried her out of the bathroom back to his bed.

Ana tucked into her pancakes and bacon. She hadnt realized how hungry she was until she started eating. It turned out that sex before bed and first thing in the morning could really work up a girl's appetite. She was busy stuffing another piece of pancake into her mouth When Christian cleared his throat to get her attention. He'd been watching her. She flushed.

"I thought, unless you have other set plans of course, that we could enjoy the day hiking out along Coal Creek Park this morning and afternoon." Christian mused over his omelet. Ana gaped at him.

"Today? But…don't you have work?" She asked. He cocked his head to the side giving her a look that told her she'd said something stupid.

"Anastasia…it's Saturday." He deadpanned. She blushed deeper. She didn't know why but she had half expected him to send her on her way after breakfast. Like, maybe he would not want her anymore, or he would be bored with her. But this, he'd already made plans for the day…plans involving her. It made her smile, which made him grin.

"I assume then, that you have no set plans today either Ms. Steele?"

She shook her head.

"Good. Then it's decided. We will go hiking, and have a picnic out at Coal Creek, the weather is supposed to be quite nice today so we needn't worry about rain. " He nodded authoritatively and she grinned at him.

"That is….if you want to, of course…?" He added, almost as an afterthought, his eyes suddenly betraying his own insecurities as he looked across the breakfast bar at her.

"Christian, I would love to." She beamed at him and his shoulders relaxed, that shy smile of his she found so endearing finding its way to his lips.

Whelp. It looked like they were going hiking. Ana braced herself. Physical activity. Hiking. Outdoors. She could do this.

By the time they made it up the trail to the first designated picnic area, Anastasia was lagging pretty heavily behind him. He was surprised, actually. Given her lithe body and general physique, he'd anticipated that she would be more fit for a 3-mile hike than she was. Then again, watching her trip over her own two feet into his office the first time they'd met should have given him a better clue that she wasn't really a hiking kind of girl.

Christian had wanted to hike them to the second picnic area along this particular trail, as it was much more secluded and sat next to a natural stream he was sure Anastasia would have enjoyed. As it was, he wasn't sure she would make it the additional mile and a half needed to get there.

"Have we made it?" Anastasia asked. She was breathless and trying to hide it. She sounded so hopeful. Poor girl.

"Yes." He affirmed, making an executive decision that this would be good enough for today. Once Anastasia was properly his, he would insist on regular physical activity and a personal trainer to help condition her body properly. Until then, he would make the concessions needed for her well-being and happiness.

"Come." He commanded, "I'll set up the picnic for us." He handed her a bottle of water and told her to drink. She gulped it gratefully and he hid a smile as he went about setting up lunch.

This main picnic area was a little more crowded than he would have liked, but Christian set them up with a spot that was secluded by a small outcropping of tall pines. It offered them a bit of privacy and a fantastic view of the forest. He loved the smell of fresh, open air like this. It was nice to get out of the city on occasion, and he was happy to be sharing this with Anaastasia. This was all so completely new to him – taking a sub – no…not a sub - Taking a girl out on a picnic. It was a novel concept, one he never expected to see himself doing, but then he thought of Anastasia, and all those books she loved so dearly, and the simplicity of it seemed like the perfect second date. Him. Dating. It felt…new and exciting.

Ana watched with interest as Christian set up the picnic area. He was meticulous about making sure the blanket was flat and stretched out. And he lay the basket and plates out with the skill of someone who must have had to endure hours of etiquette lessons in his youth. It made her heart swell, because she knew he was doing this just for her, because she'd asked him to.

Sure they had made a deal; a deal that was supposedly to end with her signing away her freedom to him (metaphorically anyway). That thought threatened to dampen her mood so she pushed it away and instead focused on the present.

From the basket, Christian procured a charcuterie board and lay out several different varieties of meets and cheeses. He also had a pre-cut loaf of crusty bread, and a large bunch of green grapes. A bottle of expensive-looking white wine was pulled out next as well as two glasses. It was literally the perfect picnic lunch, like something out of a magazine. If it had been left to Anastasia she probably would have made a few sub sandwiches and packed a bag of chips and some fruit a long with it. But this, what Christina had set up, was positively elegant.

"Christian! This all looks too beautiful to eat!" She exclaimed, and his proud look was enough to make her knees go weak. She knew Mrs. Jones or some other member of his extensive staff most likely had the picnic basket put together for him, but he was the one setting it up for her and he was the one who'd come up with this idea that, from anyone else, would have been ridiculously romantic. She knew Christian was not the type to do romance though. She just had to keep reminding herself of that fact.

"Why Ms. Steele." He used his formal way of greeting her, amusement in his tone "You would let all this food go to waste?" He was teasing, and she knew it. She wanted to tease him back. But that deliciously dark look he was giving her drew her to him instead and she found herself moving forward to kneel doen next to him on the blanket. He shifted to give her room and she cuddled up next to him. She felt him stiffen at first and then relax and she was able to relax as well.

Christian poured each of them a glass of wine and Ana looked around as he handed her one.

"Christian are we allowed to drink here?" She asked, looking through the trees at some of the other designated picnic tables and clearings.

"Of course we are." Christian affirmed, though Ana was not so sure. Still, he seemed undeterred as he took a sip from his glass and loaded a piece of cheese and some kind of salami onto a piece of crusty bread. He lifted the treat to her lips and she took a bite. It was delicious.

The noise Anastasia made when she bit into the meat and cheese Christian prepped for her went straight to his groin. It was somewhere between a mewl and a moan and it had been completely innocent, and he was a dirty, dirty man. All he could think about doing was laying Anastasia out on the picnic blanket and taking her right ther in the woods. Damn, if only they were on a more secluded part of the trail. As it was, he did not fancy getting either of them arrested for indecent exposure. So he ignored his dick's desires and focused on feeding Anastasia instead.

He picked up a bunch of grapes and fed himself a couple before holding them out to Anastasia for her to bite. She did, giggling prettily when she dropped one. She caught it and plopped it back in her mouth grinning at him and taking another sip of wine. She fixed another piece of bread with meat and cheese and turned to feed him. He accepter her proffered morsel with a wicked gleam in his eye, making sure to lick his lips slowly and methodically when he caught sight of her staring at them. Her cute little mouth popped open at that and her eyes widened. He made a very low, very deliberate sound of hi sown pleasure and enjoyed watching Anastasia's nostrils flare in response. Oh my but she wanted him nearly as badly as he wanted her. This was more fun than he expected it to be. Suddenly, an idea struck him.

Christian leaned back and refilled his wine glass. Looking deliberatelt at Anastasia as he did so, he took a long, slow sip of his wine. He leaned in close to her, pulling her head to his and crushing hi slips to hers. He parted her lips with his tongue and then allowed the wine to flow from his mouth into hers. She moaned in response and his pants felt very, very tight. He licked the corner of her lip when they broke the kiss and she wiped her chin with her arm.

"Mmmmm..." She murmured appreciatively, her eyes glazed over. Christian was not sure how much longer he could resist not taking her, and making her his again.

"Perhaps, after the picnic, we should retire back to Escala and-"

"Yes!" Anastasia was agreeing before he even had the chance to finish his sentence.

He grinned at her.

"Well then, Ms. Steele. Eat up." He continued to feed her with increased ferver. Between bites they would kiss and make out. He felt like a horny teenager, or at least, like what horny teenagers probably felt like, making out in public for all the world to see. He didnt care. He was completely smitten.

When they'd finished, Anastasia helped him pack up the basket. His dick was so hard it was becoming increasingly hard to focus. If he wasnt very vareful. He would take her right there on the grass, spectators be damned. He could tell she wanted him too, wanted to get back to Escala. Why had he chosen a hiking trail so far out from the city. He wanted Anastasia in his bed. Now.

"Let's go," He commanded. And Anastasia followed him back out from the clearing and onto the trail to make the hike down.

Christian hiked quickly down the hill. His long, lean legs allowed him to move gracefully and with ease at a pace that had Ana struggling to keep up. She had felt him earlier so she knew how turned on he was and she knew that was fueling his movements. The damn trail was just too public and she wanted to jump his bones just as badly as he seemed to want to jump hers. She was insatiable, and her favortie flavor in the world was Christian Grey.

He was moving down the cross-hatch of the trail with ease and she was following suit to the best of her ability. Going down was easier than going up the hill, but she had tripped over a couple of loose rocks already and she was trying to keep her footing.

Christian looked so perfect in this natural setting, so at ease, the sun shining on his coppery brown hair. He was wearing well-fitted jeans and solid brown hiking boots complimented by that white v-neck t-shirt she adored. He looked so natural, a true adonis. She was so busy staring at him that she forgot to look at her feet and suddenly the toe of her own brand-new (Christian-purchased) hiking boot got wedged between the ground and a particularly heavy bowling-ball sized rock. In the next instant Ana found herself being catapulted forward while her ankle remained lodged between the rock and the hard dirt beneath it.

"Ahhh!" She cried out as she fell, alerting Christian ahead of her.

Christian turned around in an instant. Seconds later, the picnic basket clattered to the ground

"Anastasia!" He shouted. Ana was half on her butt, half on her side, flat on the ground of the trail. The rock had slipped and was crushing her ankle. Christian lifted the rock with ease and tossed it to the side, his large gentle hands checking her leg and ankle over. She winced when he touched the spot the rock had been crushing. It hurt. A lot.

"Im sorry!" Ana groaned, turning red with embarassment. "I'm such a klutz."

"You're hurt." Heis voice as low, and it sounded angry.

"I-I'm sorry"

Christian shook his head at her apology. He was angry but it didnt seem to be at her.

"Can you stand?" He asked, giving her his hand to help her up. She took it and stood shakily, placing most of her weight on her good ankle. Christian watched her carefully.

"Try to put a little pressure on it." He coaxed. And she did. And it hurt. She winced again and bit back a cry of pain. "Stop." Christian commanded, moving to support her against him so she wasnt left on one leg. Christian looked first up the trail and then down the trail. It was not a particularly steep trail but they were still at least a mile away from the car park and the Audi. How was she going to get down when she could barely stand? She bit her bottom lip, fretting. Christian seemed to have come to the same conclusion.

Without saying a word, the knelt down on the ground in front of her and turned his back to her. She looked down at him, balancing precariously on her uninjured foot in utter confusion.

"What are you doing?"

"Hop on." He replied. "I'll carry you down."

"What?! Christian, no. You cant. Its too-"

"Hop on." He insisted, his voice taking on that edge that told her he meant business.

Tentatively, Ana put her hands on Christian's shoulders and straddled his back. He stifferned. She knew he didnt really like to be touched. But he didnt stop her. Instead he stood, hoisting her up on his back, holding her legs around his torso and allowing her to hold onto his shoulders and neck for support.

"You okay?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yes. Are you okay?" She asked, more concerned.

"Im fine. Let's get you off this hill."

And with that, Christian started the journey down the hill, slower this time, carefully navigating the cross hatches. Ana felt ridiculous. He was giving her a piggy back ride like a child and she was sure some people had been staring. But Christian seemed unaffected by it all, and she had to admit, this was probably the most efficient way of getting back to the car. She just wished she hadnt been such a klutz in the first place.

What had he been thinking? Taking an inexperienced hiker on a trail and then rushing her down the path, all because his dick wanted a little attention? He was such an idiot. He was such a selfish, horrible, damaged person. And now Anastasia had had to pay the price.

He carried her back to the car, ignoring her when she tried to insist that she walk at least part of the way. There was no way in hell he was going to let her damage her injured ankle any further, and she was not going to be walking on it until they knew how bad the damage was. That was final.

Once back at the Audi, Christian helped Anastasia into the passenger's seat. He was half way through putting her seatbelt on her when her annoyed voice penetrated his brain.

"Christian, I'm fine! I'm not an invalid. I can put my own seatbelt on." He heard her. But he was already half way through, so he finished buckling her in before racing around to the driver's side of the vehicle. Of all the days to give Taylor the day off. He cursed himself again and set the course for his mother's hospital.

"I'm taking you to the hospital to get your ankle x-rayed." He announced. Anastasia was silent a second, but he braced himself for what he knew was coming.

"Christian, I'm fine - I dont need to go to the hospital, I just twisted my ankle a little bit. I am sure it will be fine." Chrisitan shook his head.

"Hospital first." He insisted. He would not argue this with her.

Anstasia huffed in the seat next to him and he saw her roll her eyes. Even now, even with her injury, he wanted to take her over his knee and give her a sound spanking. He was a sick man. He cursed himself again and drove as fast as he safely could manage to Seattle Children's Hospital.

"Christian..." Ana began, peering out the window of the Audi at the emergency room door signs. "This is a pediatrics hospital." Christian was already parked and out of the vehicle, moving around to the passenger's side door with a wheel chair. He was insisting that she not walk on her injured ankle.

"I know." He told her as he opened her door and presented the wheel chair for her to scoot out of the car and into. She did so and he shut the door, wheeling her towards the entrance. "My mother works here. I trust her opinion on medical issues more than anyone's." THey were already through the doors when his words penetrated Ana's mind. She was..He was taking her to his...while she was...like this?!

"Your mother?!"