APOV

I wake up to the sound of music, a piano. I see Mia is sleeping soundly and I decide to get up and see who it is. I'm hoping it's Christian. I need to make sure he's ok.

I follow the sounds of the melody. It's a dark and haunting piece. I quietly approach the room and see Christian playing, he's deep in thought, his eyes are closed but I can still see the pained look on his face.

He looks so beautiful. He's bare-chested, the moonlight hits him perfectly and illuminates the room which gives it a haunting glow.

"Hey Anastasia." I hear a soft voice say to me.

I gasp, scared out of my mind when I feel hands cover my mouth.

I see that it's Elliot. He puts a finger to his mouth as a sign for me to keep my voice down. I nod and he removes his hand.

"I'm sorry about that. I didn't want you to disturb my little brother. This is what he does after...a rough night." He says with a whisper of sadness.

I realize that Elliot doesn't have a shirt on, he's wearing some PJ bottoms with happy faces on them and I can't help but smile, even during this very sad moment.

"Elliot, please call me Ana and why don't you want to disturb him?" I ask as I try to understand more of who Christian is a person.

"He needs to this, to play his music. This is his therapy if you will."

"Did you hear him Elliot? He was screaming earlier, it was horrible. I wanted to help him, you know, wake him up but Mia stopped me."

"She had to stop you Ana, it was for your own safety."

"My own safety? What's going on here? I'm really trying to hard to understand but Christian has not told me about this."

So much for honesty.

"He hurt Mia."

My heart stops.

"He hurt Mia? How?"

"Listen Ana, it was a long time ago and he feels awful about what he did to her. For our own safety we leave him be and the nightmare..."

"You mean night terror? That's what Mia called it."

"Yes, the night terror eventually subsides and he comes to on his own. Shit! He stopped playing, let's get out of..."

"Elliot freeze!" Christian shouts.

"Oh shit, don't move Ana. We're busted. Just be cool and stay behind me ok?"

"Why Elliot?"

"Just do it! Shhh, he's coming."

"What the fuck are you doing Elliot? The door was shut, you know I don't like to be disturbed."

"Sorry little brother, I was thirsty and I came to get a drink of water and..."

"What the fuck? Ana, is that you?" Christian growls.

What's wrong with him, why is he being so mean?

I step out from behind Elliot, "Yes, it's me. Christian, are you alright? I heard screams and loud crashing noises and..."

Elliot nudges me and I think he wants me to stop talking but it's too late. I've waved the red cape at the bull, his nostrils are flaring as he charges full force.

Oh. My. God.

CPOV

Look at them, the both of them. Elliot without his shirt on and my girl is indecent. She's wearing a tank top and some very revealing shorts! What the fuck! Are they carrying on behind my back?

"I'm fine Ana! Will you please excuse us. I would like to speak to Elliot alone please."

"Christian, I'm sorry I didn't mean to..."

"Leave Ana, now!" I shout as I see red.

I look at Ana, she turns and leaves. I wait for the door to shut and I return my attention to Elliot.

"What the fuck where you up to big brother?"

"Nothing bro, I told you. I was getting a glass of water and..."

"That's not what I mean and you fucking know it! What the fuck where you doing with my girl?"

Elliot's eyes widen in surprise and shock.

"Dude, you need to chill. We weren't doing anything!" He shouts at me.

I push him against the wall without warning and push my arm under his chin.

"Christian! What the fuck do you..." Elliot shouts but I don't let him finish.

I lean forward and whisper in a very menacing and dark voice, "You want her don't you? She's mine Elliot, you can't have her. No one can take her away from me, not even you with your sunshine and rainbows. She's mine! Got it!"

Elliot pushes me off of him and gets in a fighting stance, ready to mano a mano.

His eyes go dark and he speaks to me in an equally menacing tone, "Look dude, you wanna go there? Bring it! I'm not all sunshine and rainbows and I'd be more than happy to show you, but you're my brother and despite the fact that you're fifty shades of fucked up, I love you. Now I suggest you find that girl of yours and apologize for your behavior."

The red that I saw a moment ago dissipates and I come back to my senses. Holy fuck! What have I done?

"Elliot, shit man...I'm so sorry. I don't know why..."

"Save it shit head and go find your girl."

I sprint to the door fearing that Ana has seen me at my worst and will want to run, before I leave I turn to my big brother and say, "Thanks Elliot."

Elliot nods and says, "Christian, you won't lose Ana to me or to anyone. That girl loves you, my fear is that you will lose her by your actions little brother. You better get your shit straightened out bro before it's too late."

Elliot's words ring true. I feel like shit. How could I have spoken to her like that? What the fuck is wrong with me?

I fly up the stairs and I try to catch my Firecracker before she approaches the door. She's walking with her shoulders slumped and her head down.

Fuck!

I may have broken her spirit! I am such an ass.

You're worse than an ass Grey! Look at her! You're shit, you're worse than shit. Leave her be! She deserves better than you!

"Firecracker, wait! Please!" I shout as I approach her.

She turns I can see that she trying to fight the tears that are welling up in her eyes. She's here, alone. No family on Thanksgiving and I have reduced her to tears!

Shit.

"Oh, you're talking to me now?" She sniffles.

I grab my Firecracker and take her in my arms, I hug and squeeze her tight. Her arms are limp as they remain by her side.

"Baby, please hold me. I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. Please don't leave me Ana, please forgive me."

Ana tries to break away from me but I refuse and only tighten my grip. Oh God, she wants to leave me. Elliot's right, I'm going to lose her and it's my own fucking fault!

I feel her arms raise and for a moment I feel relief as I think she's going to hug me in return. I then get a feeling in the pit of stomach as I realize that she's trying to break free from my embrace.

"Christian, let me go!" Ana shouts.

Oh God, this is it! I just got her and now I'm losing her.

"No Ana, I won't! I'll never let you go! Never!"

"Christian, please. I need to see you." She pleads.

She wants to see me? Why?

"You want to see me? So then you're not...you're not leaving me?"

"Of course not you idiot! Now let me go!"

I release her and she's huffing and puffing. Oh shit, she's mad, mad at me. I don't like this, I don't like this at all.

"What the fuck is the matter with you Christian? Why did you behave that way with Elliot?"

"Ana I'm sorry!" I shout.

"Ssssshhhh, keep it down. You wanna wake up your parents and Mia? It's bad enough you got in a fight with Elliot and I don't want to discuss it right now. It's not the proper time or place. We'll talk when we get back to school."

"So then, you're really not running?" I ask again, I need to be sure.

She takes a deep breath and rolls her eyes at me as if to say, 'Oh brother!'

"No, I already said I'm not leaving you." She approaches and hugs me hard while she nuzzles my chest.

Oh God, I tense up and then relax. I like this, I like her nuzzling me. It feels good, safe, reassuring, loving.

Ana looks up at me, gets on her tip toes and kisses my cheek.

"I'm going to bed Christian, I think you should too, but first you should apologize to your brother."

And with those words she enters Mia's bedroom but before she closes the door she comes back out, hugs me once more and says, "I'm not going anywhere Christian Grey."

I breathe a momentary sigh of relief, look to the heavens above and say, "Thank you."

She is still mine and for now...for this moment, I take solace in that thought.