Hello everyone

Sorry it's been so long since the last update but once more University stuff has overwhelmed me , but I've got a week of free time now so fingers crossed I can get a few more chapters out before it all kicks off for me hehe

Thursday was a very eventful day for me as I got to go down to Piccadilly Circus in London and had the pleasure of meeting the incredible E.L James and got all three of my fifty books signed! She is amazing honestly!

Right now onto the chapter! Once again I just want to stress that this is not a cheating storyline , but that doesn't mean Ana is going to run back to Christian straight away. Hope you enjoy and once again please review and PM as I love hearing what you all have to say.

Alexandra xxxx

Its dark when I wake up, my eyes take a while to adjust to the darkness. And then I see him, his tall frame filling the plush armchair next to my bed as he snores softly in his sleep, how long has he been here? I never ever would have expected him to stay the night, not after all that's happened. Slowly I sit up and examine his profile, dark olive skin and thick curly hair, those deep brown eyes unseen as he sleeps soundly. What is Jose Rodriquez doing at my bedside?

Not that I'm not happy to see him, he is after all one of my closest friends, but since I married Christian our relationship has been ... different to say the least. However he was there for me when I nearly lost Ray, not to mention the fact he nearly lost his dad as well. I had thought we had become closer because of our shared circumstance but he'd seemed even more distant after Ray was confirmed fully healed. Our relationship use to be so close, he was someone I could always run to if I needed a friend. I clear my throat and he wakes immediately, sitting bolt upright in his chair, his dark brown eyes locking on my blue ones.

"Ana! You're awake? Its late you should be resting" he shifts forward and takes my hand , his eyes still burning into mine , his fingers intertwining with mine.

"Jose what are you doing here? How did you know I was even
admitted?" he smiles softly once more and squeezes my hand gently.

"Your mom rang, said you could use a friend. And what with Kate jetting off to Miami with Elliott, I'm afraid I'm all you've got. I hope you don't mind me being here Ana" of course, I'd completely forgotten Kate had decided to do pre wedding holiday while I was pregnant, I really don't want to be a bridesmaid at this size. Jose's eyes are filled with anxiety, it's obvious he's unsure as to whether I'm glad to see him or not. Instantly I feel terrible for the way I've neglected our friendship.

"Of course I don't mind Jose. If I'm completely honest I'm getting sick of being here now, it's been three days and they just keep saying I'll be able to go home soon, but it's not soon enough" I squeeze his hand back and his smile is so warm that I can feel my stress releasing, I'm still cared for my best friend, a friend I have treated atrociously because of my controlling and overbearing husband.

"You'll be out soon Ana, your mom said you've been getting stronger every day." Mom hadn't said that to me, although in all honesty I haven't been awake enough to actually have a full blown conversation with someone, apart from Blip who I talk to everyday. "Ana, do you have anywhere to stay once you're discharged? Now that you've left Christian that is?" I look up from my bump, which I realise I've been stroking since I woke up, and meet Jose eyes once more. Such kindness and concern for me, it's all there in his eyes, all his emotions shine at me from those deep brown iris's. But wait, I never told him about me walking away from Christian, I never told anyone. Not my mom, not Grace. So how does Jose know?

"How do you know that?" I move my hand away from his and I see his eyes widen in worry.

"I just assumed you'd leave after you found out about his child with that ex of his. I have to tell you Ana I want to ring his neck for what he's done too you , you deserve so much better than that..." I cut him off with my hand and he clamps his mouth shut dramatically. How can he know so much! I've kept quiet, dead quiet! No one knows about Esmee and Tori! Not even Grace who is Tori's new Grandmother for God sake! And yet somehow Jose has found out mine and Christians secret before anyone else! It makes no sense, but I'm about to find out.

"How do you know about Victoria?" I move as far away from him as I can without straining myself. Jose tries to hold my hand again but I snatch it away. I don't know how he could have found out such deep personal secrets, it makes no sense to me, and that scares me.

"You talk Ana; you talk in your sleep and well I listened" Shit! Double shit! How much did I say, what else does he know? However much I'm angry at Christian right now I would never ever tell his secrets , our secrets , but I can't control myself when I'm sleeping!

"Jose you can't tell a soul" Panic racks through me as I think of my mom finding out about Christian and I's personal stuff , she's a romantic heart , it'd kill her to imagine her daughter in such a dark relationship. Not that I've ever been an official submissive to Christian but we aren't exactly the vanilla express all the time.

"I won't Ana I promise you" once again he takes my hand and I just know I can trust him. He's always protected me , always been there for me. I know he won't abandon me now.

"Oh no , I forgot I did tell Ray. It was just after I'd found out and I was so upset. God what's he going to think now?" once again I'm panicking , what if Ray tells my mom!

"Ana stop panicking! The doctors have told you to keep your stress levels down so stop thinking things through so much. Ray will look out for you no matter what , and that means if you've told him to keep it quiet about this kid then he will , ok?" I nod and he squeezes my hand affectionately "So do you have a place to stay?"

"Why do you ask?" he seems fixated on fining out and I can't work out why he's so obsessed.

"Well I've recently moved to Seattle"

"What? When? You never said" he stops and processes what I've said.

"I didn't think it right to call. We both know me and Mr Grey don't see eye to eye. In all honesty Ana I hate that man , and I'm this close to going round to that extravagant house of yours and smashing his face in for hurting you like this" I shake my head at his anger and he calms down , I smile weakly as I feel his hand tighten around mine. I knew Jose didn't approve of me and Christian but the passion of his anger is so aggressive that I'm taken aback by it.

"When did you move? Wait what about WSU?" he glances out the window as the heavens open and the Seattle streets are drenched in this sudden storm.

"I dropped out" I gasp and he meets my eyes once more.

"What! Why would you do something so stupid!" Jose is an intelligent young man with a bright future in front of him! What the hell does he think he's doing dropping out of college when he has one year left! It's stupid , it's immature , and it's not something the Jose I know would do.

"Because I don't want to be an engineer Ana , you of all people know how much I want to pursue my photography. I can't keep pretending to myself that I actually enjoy my degree! And anyway you were the only reason I stayed at that god forsaken University for so long. I had to come to Seattle , if not for my job, but to ensure I didn't lose you" my mouth goes dry instantly and I move my hand away , causing his eyes to widen in confusion.

"Jose we spoke about this. I'm married remember" his eyes cloud over with anger and he stands abruptly , startling me slightly.

"Yea, to a complete bastard who has broken your heart!" I sit up and grab his hand , hoping this will calm him enough to sit back down. A petite nurse rushes in at the sound of Jose's shouting but I shoot her a warning look , which she notices and backs away without Jose noticing.

"Jose please this isn't the time or place" he nods and sits back down , holding his head with one hand and squeezing mine with the other.

"I'm sorry Ana. I just can't stand watching this happen to you and know that I am completely useless to help you. It kills me to see you hurt" his words are so genuine that I feel tears fill my eyes , all he wants is to help. How can I say no?

"You could help by giving me a place to stay? Mom's going back to Georgia with Bob and Ray's got his routine at his , he doesn't need me coming in burdening him" his head snaps up and his smile is so bright and infectious that I find myself smiling right back.

"That's what I was trying to say . It'd be my pleasure to look after you Ana. You know your more than welcome" I lean forward and gently kiss his cheek , who cares if I'm sending the wrong message , he deserves my thanks. I don't deserve such kindness from him and yet here he is , I mean he's given up his degree in order to stay close to me! How can I refuse his kindness when all I've done since I met Christian is push him further and further away.

"Thank you Jose. It means a lot to still have your friendship" once again he squeezes my hand and smiles gently at me.

"I'll always be here for you Ana . Always"

I'm packing up the last of my things when Grace enters , her light brown suit highlighting her sandy brown hair perfectly , she smiles as she sees me.

"How are you feeling Ana dear?" I take my bag off the hospital bed and walk over to her , once again her sheer presence makes me relax and I can't help but return her warm motherly smile.

"A thousand times better thank you. I'm just glad to be able to leave this hospital really" I giggle and Grace smiles once more , placing her hand on my small shoulder.

"Take care of yourself Ana. I know you and Christian are going through something at the moment, god knows what considering he refuses to talk to me about it , but whatever the issue you two need each other. You just have to believe in the fact you can overcome anything as long as you stay true to your love" I nod softly and she leans in to kiss my cheek before turning around on her heel and exiting the small hospital room , leaving me with my thoughts.

So Christian hasn't told his family about Victoria? Still? Surely he needs to talk to Grace sooner or later about it , she is after all Victoria's Grandmother. Maybe he's struggling to build a strong enough relationship with the girl , she did seem rather stubborn at the house.

Silencing my thoughts I take one last look at my surroundings , checking I've not left anything, and make my way out to the parking lot where Jose is waiting to take me back to his apartment. I know how it looks , me walking out on Christian only to go and stay with a man everyone knows has a thing for me , but I truly believe Jose wants to help me. He's my best friend , a friend I need right now. I need someone to talk to , someone who knew me before I was Mrs Grey. Someone I can trust to talk to me honestly. Jose wants nothing from me but my friendship , ok he does but he knows now that it will never happen , and I believe him when he says he's accepted that. It's all innocent.

"Ana!" my heart stops as I hear that voice. No! Not now. He promised he'd stay away , he said he'd give me time! I take a deep steadying breath and turn to face him , his grey eyes meet mine from across the parking lot and he starts to sprint towards me . Part of me wonders if I should run away , perhaps head back into the safety of the hospital , but I stay put and within seconds he's stood in front of me. The beautiful Christian Grey is inches away from me and for the first time I feel absolutely no pull to him.

"You look so much better , you've got your colour back. Your beautiful" I look down and he reaches to hold my chin , I stop him and step back , letting his hand fall to his side.

"What are you doing here Christian. You said you'd let me have my time" he shakes his head and closes his eyes suddenly , as if he physically can't take in my words.

"You've had three days. I've come to take you home where you belong Ana" his eyes open and I swear I see tears forming. Tears won't work this time, too much has occurred for tears to fix my broken heart.

"I need more than three days. Have you sorted stuff out with Esmee and Tori?" he shakes his head and my voice catches slightly as anger ripples through me , what the hell has he been doing then?

"Talk to me when you've sorted out your domestic issues Christian , then and only then will we talk" I start to walk towards Jose's car , thankful that he's looking at his phone intently and hasn't noticed Christian talking to me , but Christian's voice stops me.

"Who are you staying with Anastasia?" it's not a question it's an accusation. I know he can see Jose in the car. His tone is dripping with anger and I know it's killing him to think another man will be in the same car as me. I turn back and challenge him , placing my hands on my hips.

"A friend Mr Grey" his eyes flare with pure infuriation and he steps forward , but stops when I put my hand up "one more step and I tell Grace about Esmee and Victoria" he stops and gasps , his eyes darting to the hospital door , where he knows Grace will be found.

"Who are you? My Ana would never say something so vile" he shakes his head in disgust and looks at the floor before pinning his eyes on me.

"Right now I'm not yours. And you should have thought of that before you had a dream about a woman who you once had as a sex slave! How do you think that makes me feel Christian? To know that my husband is aroused by a women who has the ability to give you what I can't! You have no idea how much you hurt me and until you do I want you to stay the hell away from me!"

My words snap him out of his anger and he gasps audibly. I hear Jose get out the driver's seat and look over my shoulder at him , putting my hand up to stop him running over. I turn back to Christian and take in his hunched shoulders and broken expression.

"Goodbye Christian"

Turning back to the car I throw my bag in the boot and slip into the passenger side of Jose's pickup truck. Jose says nothing as he puts the truck into gear and we pull out of the parking lot towards his apartment. I glance in the side mirror just in time to see Christian fall to his knees and Grace rushing out to help him.