A/N - Thank you for the reviews, and "hello" to all my new followers!

***WARNING*** This chapter contains sensitive and potentially disturbing subject matter. Just to be safe, the rating of this story has been changed to M to reflect this. I have tried to keep this chapter as minimally graphic as possible while still conveying the evil nature of Jack's character, but some may still be offended by the it. Reader's discretion is advised.

Chapter 6 – Mia

I lifted the umbrella yet again. We materialized in the same family room, but this Jack and an older Mia sat on the couch watching TV.

"Aw, Mia, are you still mad at me?"

Jack, plainly in his mid-teens, is strong and wiry. Mia, already diminutive, appeared practically miniscule next to her brother.

"You said you'd be there at my birthday party, but you never made it." Mia pouted.

"I had something to do, Mia. Mrs. Lincoln needed my help at her house again."

"But it was my birthday!"

"Hey, I said I was sorry! I did get you a cool gift, though. You seem to like it."

Mia looked down at the toy pony on her lap. She was unable to keep her lips from twitching into a smile as she stroked its mane and tail. "Thanks Jack," she admitted shyly. "She's beautiful."

"So what did you name her, then?"

"Buttercup."

Jack laughed. "Cute."

A few moments later Jack said nonchalantly, "They had the special sparkly rainbow one too. I think that's the one everyone's after." Mia's eyebrows shot up. Jack smiled. "I just might have picked that one up for you too."

Mia's eyes widened and she fought to remain aloof. She could not keep a burgeoning smile from betraying her weakness for collectible toy ponies, however. "Really?"

"Are you still mad at me?"

The smile bloomed across Mia's face as she shook her head no.

"That's my girl!" Jack chuckled.

"Where is it?"

"Well, here's the thing. I've got it right here in my bag, but I figured we'd play another game first."

Mia's smile faltered. "Like the last time?"

"Yeah, but better. Here." From Jack's book bag, he produced a rumpled magazine and opened it onto Mia's lap.

Mia furrowed her eyebrows as Jack turned the pages. "What are they doing?"

"Well, it's kind of like the kissing game, only better."

"It looks... weird."

"It's not once you get used to it. I promise you. It's what grown-ups who love each other do." His voice dropped to a low murmur as he moved in closer. "I love you. I'd never hurt you." His hand dropped to her lap beneath the magazine. The forgotten cartoon played on in the background, its bubbly music incongruent to the happenings unfolding in the room.

"What is that fucker doing?" Christian growled, his hands curling into fists at his side.

"Jack, I don't want to play this game."

Jack lowered his head to place a kiss on Mia's neck. He whispered softly into her ear, "It feels good, right? See, they're smiling in the pictures. It's because they're having a good time."

"I don't want to," Mia whimpered, cringing away from his touch. He pressed her against the arm of the couch, trapping her.

"You do want that other pony, don't you Mia?" He asked. "I got it just for you because you're my special girl. I didn't have to get that rainbow one. It was hard to track down, I had to go to four different stores until I found it; they were sold out everywhere. It cost a whole lot more than the other one too." Mia swallowed. "And I'd hate for anything to happen to Buttercup. I mean you just got her." Jack reached out to grip the toy pony's head.

Tears formed in Mia's eyes. "Jack – "she began tremulously. The phone began to ring. Jack removed his hand from her lap. Mia looked relieved as Jack answered the phone.

"Hello? Oh, hi mom... Sure, I'll take it out to thaw. No problem... Okay, see you in ten." He hung up the phone and turned back to the girl.

"Mom's on her way. We can continue this another time." He casually collected the magazine and returned it to his bag. "Now remember what I've said before, this is our secret game, okay? I'd hate for you to get hurt if someone found out about it." He smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear and gripped her by the chin. "Not like they'd believe you anyway. Why would they listen to a little kid?" he laughed. "They'd probably just send you back to the orphanage if you told them about something like this." His eyes darkened. "Are we clear?"

Frozen, Mia's eyes filled with tears as she struggled to keep her fear from surfacing.

"You do want the sparkle pony, don't you?" He pulled the coveted item from his bag and turned it over in his hands, just out of her reach. "You know what you need to do to get the sparkle pony, right?"

Mia nodded, her lower lip trembling.

"Say it."

"We play our game, and I don't tell mom or anyone," she whispered.

"Absolutely no one, Mia." Jack reiterated, marking emphasis by gesturing with the toy. His hands wrapped menacingly around the pony's neck. "I don't need to remind you what will happen if you do."

Mia shook her head. Jack stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, his face shifting into a beatific smile. "Great!" He tucked the toy back into his bag, Mia eyed it covetously as it disappeared from view. "I guess we'll be seeing her later then."

He kissed her forehead, then left the room. Mia remained on the couch, her face anxious and drawn. She curled into a ball, her knees tucked to her chest, and sat motionless.

Christian's face had since gone scarlet with rage. "What the fuck? What the fuck?" He glared frantically at me. "How could he do that? How can you let him do that?" he yelled, grabbing me by the lapels of my overcoat. Distraught, he shook me. "Do something! Fucking do something!" I lowered the umbrella, obscuring the scene.

"It's already happened, Christian. You were never born, never adopted into the Greys, and so Jack was there instead." I replied simply. "There's nothing I can do."

"That is fucked up." Christian spat with disgust. "That wasn't the only time, was it?"

I shook my head. "It started very sporadically around that time, when Mia turned seven. Jack was fifteen and had just started an after school job with a friend of your mother's."

"Oh Jesus. Elena."

"Yes. Elena. The same circumstance as when you were fifteen. Troubled boy set straight by Elena's unconventional tutelage. As with you, Grace and Carrick had no idea the true nature of their relationship."

"But I never did 'that' to Mia. I'd never dream of doing that, no matter what fucked up shit I did with Elena."

"Jack is cut from a different cloth. He had always been cruel. Elena's training merely opened the door to a new language of cruelty for him. A new way to assert power over others."

"So how long did it go on for?"

"Three years, consistently." I reported sadly. "Then occasionally for another three years whenever he was home from college. After that, he went on to other pursuits."

"I think I'm going to be sick." Christian tugs at his hair. "What happened to Mia, then?"

"You'll find that out later. We need to move on. That's not all I want to show you, Christian."

It's time for the biggest gun I've got.

"What else could you possibly show me? How can it get any worse?"

"Christian, there is one more person your absence affects."

Realization dawns on Christian. "No."

I lifted my umbrella again.

Christian shut his eyes, willing it away. "No, no, no. Please no."

We found ourselves in the lobby of a smartly appointed office. Wood-grain and brushed steel, the receptionist's desk stood, a study of hard lines and a monument to modernist elegance. A large sign above the receptionist's head read "Grey Enterprises" in large black letters.

Footsteps.

We heard the click-clack of a sensible heel on polished granite stride to the desk and halt just beside us. Christian's demeanor changed immediately. Her mere proximity triggered his senses. Before she uttered a single word, Christian felt her standing there by his elbow and knew. Attuned to her presence, he needed no confirmation before he even turned his head and laid his eyes on her face.

"I'm here to see Mister Grey. Anastasia Steele for Katherine Kavanagh."

Christian gazed at her, mesmerized. He basked in her presence, eyeing her with adoration and furious longing as a thirsty man would a glass of water. Her mere presence before him: the balm to his tortured soul.

"My Ana."


A/N 2 - Many thanks to the brilliant Wearejorus for your guidance. I owe you a bundt cake.

Credit where credit is due: Ana's line is taken directly from Fifty Shades of Grey. As always, EL James owns this series and its' characters.