Barney had agreed to send over the documents on Ivy's mother after meeting with Welch and seeing if he had anything to add. Christian knew the background couldn't be too good if Barney wouldn't say it over the phone, and the fact he had been quite cold about her, even though he knew about Christian's own crack addict prostitute mother.

Christian had glanced in on Ivy and she had been speedily reading still, now lying on the floor in her room. He chose not to attempt more conversation with her. She hadn't exactly been in the friendliest mood and Ana was awkwardly alone in the apartment.

Ivy had heard Christian come in the room and had chosen to ignore him, seeing if he would bother trying to initiate conversation with her. He hadn't. Whilst she wasn't surprised, she wasn't exactly happy about it. All she wanted, frankly, was a normal, stable family. Both of which were things she had never experienced, the last 17 years were more tumultuous than most peoples entire lives. Admittedly some of it was her own mistaken attempts at coping but it was all caused by a terrible mother and a father who never wanted her.

Ivy came out at dinner, ate a decent amount of the food Christian served onto her plate. She sat in stoic silence, looking vacantly at the table, avoiding conversation. She was listening to Ana and Christian's idle conversation and tapped the table slightly, bored.

'So...Ivy, I've told my mother you can do tomorrow for a visit, is that okay for you?' She frowned 'it's not like I have anything else to do is it?'. Christian sighed slightly 'If you'd let me replace your phone-' 'I have money, it's fine. Tell Grace tomorrow is fine'. Her voice was hollow and Ana glanced quickly at Christian who sighed, resigned to the fact that nothing he did would change Ivy's view.

Christian took Ivy early the next day. It was 11.15 when he called on her and was surprised to see her sitting ready. She was wearing black skinny jeans, a denim style shirt and grey converse with a grey jumper. Her hair was in a side plait and she was wearing her glasses, looking nervous.

Christian asked Taylor to drive the two of them and Grace greeted Ivy warmly, making her visibly relax

Christian sat outside the room as his mother began doing a full check up in his sister.

Grace smiled, checking her blood pressure, nearly at the end of the thankfully not very invasive check up. 'so, how are things at Escala?' Ivy shrugged, looking away slightly. Grace wrote down some notes, looking closely at Ivy 'Christian mentioned you weren't getting on well with Ana?'. She didn't miss the teenager quickly roll her eyes 'I don't see why I have to be best friends with her or something. I'm only staying there for a month or two' 'and then what? You're planning on never seeing your brother again?'.

Ivy shrugged, looking sad 'what's the point? We're from different worlds, we just happen to have the same dad, that's not exactly a reason to hang around Seattle for the next twenty years is it?'.

Grace looked over the teenager sadly, seeing the distant look in her eyes as she looked pointedly at a point on the floor. 'He cares about you, if he didn't you wouldn't be living with him'. She shook her head 'he's making up for lost time. Seems to think that the last seventeen years of living with the worlds worst parents is going to vanish when I live with him for a few weeks. Life doesn't work out like that. I've made some bad decisions but it's not like I didn't have my reasons, Christian has lived pretty fucking well the last twenty four years'.

Grace didn't bother denying that fact and glanced at her notes. 'I need to take a blood sample' Ivy exhaled deeply and at that moment Christian knocked on the door, opening it slightly 'are you guys nearly done? Taylor has to go see his daughter and if you are I'll drive us back'. Grace shook her head 'we're practically done dear, let Taylor go though'. Christian turned his head and nodded, evidently to Taylor who was stood a little way back.

Christian turned back 'do you want me to go?' Ivy shrugged 'not unless you're squeamish'. He closed the door behind him and watched as Ivy took off the bracelets on her left wrist again and clenched his jaw as she held her arm out for Grace, who picked up a needle.

'This will just feel like a quick scratch' she said it to all her patients but Ivy raised an eyebrow 'I'm sure I've felt worse'. Grace pursed her lips and slid the needle under the skin, 'when was the last time you used?'. She blinked in surprise 'not for quite some time. Why?'. Grace swiftly removed the needle 'because you seem otherwise fit for surgery, as long as the blood work comes back clean'.

Grace had been called away to see other patients after taking the blood sample and Christian had taken Ivy back out to the car park, neither saying anything until the car was moving off.

Christian glanced down at Ivy, who was staring out the window 'do you want to go for lunch?' she looked up 'depends where you were thinking of?' he shrugged, changing lanes to head back into the City 'wherever you want? Any suggestions?'. She thought for a few seconds 'there's a South African restaurant I read about, you need to actually eat some of the food- seeing as you're half South African'. Christian smiled 'you know the way?' she nodded and smirked slightly 'if you can afford it of course'. Christian couldn't help but laugh at that.

Ivy recognised all the food just by name and had chosen within a few seconds. Christian however spent a lot longer looking over the descriptions of food he had never even heard of 'did you eat a lot of this food growing up?' she nodded 'it's pretty much all we ate, I spent most of my summers in South Africa so I can cook it pretty well too'. Christian was intrigued 'does Lewis have a big family out there?' she nodded 'we're one of the biggest I think. When my mum left it was basically an easy summer for my dad as I had so many cousins, Aunts and Uncles available to look after me whilst he did his own thing'.

There was a silence and Ivy fiddled with her hair 'can we not speak about my parents? Right now, anything else is better'. Christian realised there was no point asking any further on the subject 'okay. Can I ask what your problem is with Ana?'. Ivy bit her lip 'I'm so used to being judged. When she first saw me it was the same look SHE always gives me' Christian frowned 'who?'. Ivy glanced away 'my mother. I know Ana isn't a bad person...I just have to try I guess'. Christian visibly perked up 'you'll try?' she shrugged 'I'll give it a go'.

Christian was surprised 'thanks. It means a lot. So...do you have a boyfriend or anything in Ruston?'. Ivy shook her head 'I did. But when I graduated early it meant that I was suddenly at home whilst Zack and all my friends were still at school. It wasn't going to work really'. Christian and Ivy spent two hours at the restaurant and both of them actually found themselves opening up, talking more than they had the rest of the week.

Christian was just about managing constrained shouting at someone on his phone and Ivy could hear from her bedroom- it was about the discrepancy in the China figures 'yes well- if my seventeen year old sister can figure it out in a couple of minutes, tell me what the fuck I am paying you for?'. From her room Ivy couldn't help but smirk a little bit, though she knew that whoever he was talking to was probably getting fired.

A few minutes later Christian came into her room, looking a little sheepish 'look...Ivy, I have to go into the office. Are you gonna be okay here for a little while?'. She looked up 'of course. Try not to have too much fun'. Christian rolled his eyes 'don't worry I won't. Uh Ivy?' 'yeah?'. Christian looked awkward and ran his hand through his hair 'there's stuff for you on the table in the great room, just accept it okay?'. She nodded, looking confused 'oh...thanks. Christian? I'll try, alright?' he looked relieved and swiftly kissed her hair quickly. Christian wasn't sure where the swell of emotion had come from towards this girl in front of him but he noticed the way her body relaxed a little and a subtle smile creeped over her lips. She was just a little lost kid, just like he'd been once.

Ivy looked over the two boxes on the table. It was a brand new iPhone and a Mac laptop, though when she started them both up she realised that they had both been set up already. Both set up with Apps and a new email address for her, which made her smile widely.

From: Ivy Van Rensberg To: Christian Grey Subject: Thank You Silly display of wealth or silly display of affection? Either way, I'm very grateful, thank you. Remember- current exchange rate: 1 Chinese yuan = 0.1577 US dollars Ivy

Christian was in an elevator in Grey Enterprises, heading up to the finance department when his Blackberry beeped with the email. He read it quickly and laughed, typing a response quickly.

From:Christian Grey To: Ivy Van Rensberg Subject: Silly display of affection You're welcome. And yes, duly noted, I shall remind my finance department immediately. Christian Grey CEO Grey Enterprise

Ivy was about to respond but Ana wandered into the main room 'oh, Ivy- I see you found Christian's presents'. She was surprised by the smile from the teenager 'yeah, I've just sent him an email to say thanks'. Ana smiled and leant against the sofa 'he'll appreciate that'.

Ivy swallowed before looking up at her 'I'm sorry about, you know...how I've been. I just...I'm so used to being judged by people I don't...' she trailed off and Ana beamed at her 'it's fine, I'm sorry too. Truce?'. Ivy nodded in agreement 'truce'.

Thanks for all your reviews- it really helps x