Chapter 9

A week later

Ana pulled up in front of Dr Flynn's office, she was incredibly nervous. Today was her first session and she didn't really want to go but she knew if she didn't then Christian would find out.

Ana took a deep breath and walked in the office before she could talk herself out of it.

"Hi. I'm Anastasia Steele, I'm here to see Dr Flynn" she said to the receptionist.

"Take a seat Ms Steele and Dr Flynn will see you soon".

Ana nodded and took a seat. She felt self conscious after seeing the receptionist, she was a gorgeous, slim, long legged blonde.

Ana was waiting for ten minutes when Dr Flynn called her in.

"Hello Anastasia, its nice to see you. Please take a seat".

"Hi Dr Flynn" Ana said and took a seat.

Dr Flynn's office was quite big and spacious. There was a desk behind them and two chairs that they were sat in.

"Please call me John. How are you today?".

"I'm okay, I guess".

"Well firstly I need you to fill out a new client form, if that is okay" Dr Flynn said and handed Ana a form and pen.

Ana filled in the form with the relevant answers and handed it back to Dr Flynn.

"How do you think you have been managing your eating disorder since we last saw one another?".

"Uhmm...I don't know really, I haven't made myself sick if that's what you mean, it has been really hard though".

"That's understandable but its good that you have been managing to control it a little bit, how have you been managing that?" Dr Flynn asked.

"Honestly I'm not that sure, Kate's been helping I guess, Christian too a little bit".

"How do you mean? How have they been helping?".

"Well Kate especially has been trying to distract me after dinner and not acting weird about it I suppose".

Dr Flynn nodded. "Well that's good that you have a support system. You are going to need that support system in the coming months".

Ana was silent for a moment. Dr Flynn could tell that she had something to say but didn't know how.

"What is it Anastasia?".

"I...I'm just not sure if I can rely on Christian to be part of that support system" Ana said finally.

Ana kind of felt relieved to say it out loud and to someone else but she also felt a little bit guilty considering Christian had been nothing but great lately.

"Christian, despite what people may think, is quite a resilient young man. I know that he felt that he couldn't cope with your eating disorder to start with but he seems to want to help you now, maybe you should let him".

"I guess I worry that he's going to find its too much, I, uh, don't want to be expecting to much of him but I don't know what too much would be".

"Why don't you let Christian decide that?".

"Well I don't know if he wouldn't say anything until he's already had too much and I'm just worried that when that happens he will just up and leave".

"You need to give Christian some credit, he is an adult who knows what he wants and knows what he can and can't handle. Why do you think he will up and leave though?".

Ana spent some time thinking about Dr Flynn's question. "I don't really know. All I know is that he had some control issues before that he is insisting aren't an issue any more but I don't see how that could be possible".

"What are you worried about happening Anastasia?".

"Like I said, just about him feeling like he has had too much and then leaving".

Dr Flynn nodded but he looked unsure of what Ana was saying. "Have you spoken to Christian about your worries?".

Ana shook her head. "No, I don't want him to think that his efforts have gone unappreciated".

"I understand. How are you feeling anyway, since you have left hospital I mean".

"Okay, I think. Its been a little strange I guess, I haven't had a relapse for quite some time now, I had just started college, I don't really know how I got through it last time".

"Well maybe you should figure out other ways to manage this time, I can imagine you are very different now than when you started college so maybe the things that helped you manage before won't work for you now".

"Mmm...maybe, but I don't really know what to do to get through this".

"Okay Anastasia, I think we should leave it there for today but I would like to make another appointment with you if that suits you?".

"Sure".

"Does this time next week suit you?".

"Yeah, that's fine. Thank you" Ana said and left.

Ana had a lot to think about, she knew that but all she felt like doing was hiding under her duvet in bed, it all seemed way too much for her to deal with right now but Ana couldn't go home, Christian was expecting her at his place. They were going up to Aspen for the weekend and Ana was really looking forward to it but she was a little nervous too.

At Christian's place.

"Hey" Ana said as she walked into Christian's. He was sat on the sofa waiting for her, there were two suitcases by the door.

"Hey you. I collected your things from your house so we are set to go whenever your ready. Do you want a drink first?".

"Yes please".

Christian got them both a glass of wine.

"Are you flying us tonight?" Ana asked, a little concerned that he was drinking.

"No, no. We have a pilot and a driver for the night".

Ana was relieved. They both sat on the sofa and cuddled up. Ana realised then how much she had just missed being with Christian. They left 45 minutes after Ana had arrived.

Taylor drove them to the airfield where they met the helicopter. Christian spoke to the pilot briefly and introduced him to Ana and they got in. Christian made sure that Ana was strapped in and then strapped himself in.

It took a little over an hour to get to the airfield on the other end where a driver met them.

"What do you have planned for this weekend?" Ana asked Christian.

"Nothing is set in stone but I thought that we could spend this evening at the house and then tomorrow head to the slopes".

"Sure, that sounds good to me".

Ana and Christian chatted on the way to the house. Ana was glad that she had decided to come along with him, she thought it might be just what she needed – what they needed.

When they arrived at the house Sawyer met them at the door and took their bags into the house.

"I didn't know that you were having Sawyer here too" Ana said, looking a little confused.

"Yes, he's staying here for the weekend too".

"Right". Ana thought she should have known that Christian wouldn't go anywhere without security.

They both followed Sawyer into the house. Ana spent some time putting their clothes away, she remembered the first time he had bought her out here. They hadn't been together long and his whole family was coming out. They had stayed in a near by hotel and his family had the house.

They spent that evening in front of the fire with a glass of wine each and talked about anything and everything. Christian carried Ana to bed when she fell asleep.

Ana woke with a start, she rolled over but saw nothing but creased sheets and an empty space. She could hear the piano playing softly in the other room. She got up and went to him.

"You okay?" Ana asked from the other side of the room.

The playing stopped and he looked behind him. "Come sit" he patted the chair next to him.

Ana sat next to Christian and put her head on his shoulder. "Is everything okay?" she asked him.

"I just couldn't sleep" he told her as he began to play again.

Ana looked at the clock, it was 4am in the morning and she could feel her eyes drifting shut as she listened to the calm, rhythm of the piano.

"I'm going to go back to bed" Ana said sleepily. "Are you coming?" she asked.

"I'll be there in a little while" Christian said and gave her a kiss.

Ana went to bed alone and fell back to sleep almost instantly.

As always please leave a review. I hope you enjoyed this chapter :)