Mom and dad have both gone to work. I am left alone in Christian's penthouse. I go into the TV room as this is where I'm most comfortable, and stretch out on my front the length of the sofa. I can hear my blackberry vibrating, but it's on the dining table. The phone in Christian's study rings but I can't be bothered to move. I've got question upon question whirling around in my head. All I know is that I can't tell anyone about it until I feel comfortable with it myself.

'Matthew are you OK?' I hear Mrs Jones ask. 'Mr Grey has phoned and asked me to come and check up on you. He's worried something was wrong.'

'I'm fine thank you Mrs Jones; I suppose I'd better call him.' I say as I look at my watch. 'I'll call him from the car, I've got to be somewhere in forty minutes'

I jump up and go to find my wallet, keys and phone then say goodbye to Mrs Jones before heading to the elevator.

Driving to Bellevue I'm lost in thought, I really need to speak to dad again, I call him, luckily he's just finished in court and is on his way back to his office.

'Hi dad, I've got lots of questions to ask you.' I say.

'I thought you might, you were so quiet earlier I knew that you'd be thinking things through.'

'Dad you know how I am with change and that I don't like it. When are you finished work today?'

'I should be finished about 6pm but then I'm out with your mom to help finalise some details for Saturday. I'm working in my office tomorrow morning and you're welcome to meet me there if you want, I'm not due in court until midday.'

'Thanks dad, I'll drop by your office in the morning, but I just need to confirm now does anyone apart from you and mom know about all of this?' I ask.

'No, it was only ever the two of us, Christian thinks he has a few ideas especially about the music business but he doesn't know the extent of everything else.'

'OK, thanks dad. I'll see you in the morning.'

Next I call Christian, he answers after the first ring.

'Matt, are you OK? I've been worried about you'

'Yes I'm fine; sorry I didn't call earlier I had a lot to think about. I'm just on my way to collect Hannah.'

'How was your chat with dad?'

'Good, I learnt a lot, he told me lots of things about my daddy so I understand more now. Christian can I come back and work for you?' I ask.

'Of course, when do you want to start?'

'Friday, though I might come tomorrow afternoon if I have time but I just have to sort some things out.'

'That's good with me; I'm delighted that you're coming back.'

'Thank you, did you arrange to meet with Ana?'

'Yes, I'm taking her to her friend's exhibition tomorrow evening. Where are you staying tonight, Escala or Bellevue?'

'I'm not sure yet. I'm just at Hannah's work now so I'll call you later to let you know.'

'Ok, bye.'

I enter the florists; Hannah must be out the back somewhere as her mom is serving a customer. I look at some of the beautiful arrangements whilst I wait for her to finish wrapping the customer's bouquet and then she turns her attention to me.

'Can I help you?' she asks.

'Hello Mrs Sullivan.' I say, as she stands and stares, mouth gaping. I'm getting used to this now, people staring but I'm not entirely comfortable with it.

She finds her voice again. 'Matthew, how lovely to see you. You've changed so much, I hardly recognised you.'

'Mrs Sullivan, it's lovely to see you as well. I've come to collect Hannah for a date. I understand you're not overly happy with her seeing me but please give me a chance, I love your daughter and would anything for her but I don't want to cause any friction between the two of you and would rather have your blessing to see her.'

'Thank you Matthew, I appreciate that you have come and spoken to me, I'm just a worried mom. Every time Hannah has been in trouble at school it was because you were involved. I'd quite like the last year at school to be trouble free where I'm not being called into the office every few weeks to hear what mischief the pair of you have been up to. It's an important year for both of you, especially if you're thinking of university.'

'I know, we haven't been up to much mischief these last few years, I think I drove my parents mad when they were getting phone calls every week for something I'd done. I have changed though and my parents would come down on me like a tonne of bricks now, if they didn't then my brother would, I can't get away with anything.'

'I'm glad to hear that. OK you have my blessing, you can date my daughter. I'm very happy that you have come to speak to me about it. Have fun this afternoon.

'Thank you Mrs Sullivan.' I reply, very pleased and proud of myself for having won Hannah's mom round. I've seen Christian often enough charm people to do what he wants so thought I would copy him.

Hannah appears from the back room, she must have heard the end of our conversation. She smiles shyly at me. 'Have fun Hannah, I will see you later tonight' Mrs Sullivan says.

I take her hand and after saying our goodbyes we head to the car. I open the passenger door and as she gets in I kiss her whispering in her ear 'You look beautiful.'

'Matthew Grey, you are so charming, first mom and now me. How do you get away with it?'

I shrug shyly, then go to the driver's side. As we drive back into the city, Hannah asks where we're going. I tell her it's a surprise; I know she will kick up a fuss when we get there. The beauty of being friends for so long is that we know pretty much everything about each other. As I hand my car over to the valet Hannah has gone quiet.

'Hey baby, what's up?'

'You seriously brought me here on a date, we came here on a school trip in 4th grade and you know how I freaked out.' She says.

'I know, that day the teachers wouldn't let us be partners because of something we'd done the day before so I couldn't look after you, but now I can. Ever since then you say you have a fear of heights but I want to help you conquer that fear. Please come with me, if it's that bad once we're up there I promise we can come straight back down.' I kiss her and plead 'Please, for me.'

'Oh Matt, you really are charming me today. OK, I'll give it a go but only because it's you.'

'Come on let's go before you change your mind.'

I pay and we wait for the elevator, luckily it's not too busy today. As we enter I pull Hannah towards me and hug her 'Stay close to me and look at my chest then you won't know how high we are' I tell her. She hugs me back but I can feel she is tense. Forty three seconds later, we are here on the observation deck at the Space Needle. Hannah tentatively steps out, and I am by her side. We don't go too close to the window, just hanging back towards the wall.

'Breathe Hannah, you're doing well.' I say and kiss her gently on the cheek. After gently coaxing her to walk around a bit we eventually end up a bit nearer to the window.

'Wow Matt, this is amazing. The view is incredible, thank you so much for bringing me here.' We stay for a few hours, holding the rail Hannah is so brave now and wants to see everything like a small excited child, even looking through the telescopes and telling me all the places she can see.

'Let's go eat' I say 'Do you want to stay here in the rotating restaurant or would you prefer to go somewhere else nearer ground level?'

'Here' she smiles 'it's just perfect here'

We go and eat and once again we are totally relaxed which each other.

'Matt, why did you decide to bring me here on a date when you know I've always had a fear of heights.'

'Because I wanted you to trust me, if you can trust me with this then you will be able to with other things.' I say, looking at her my eyes must be smouldering.

Hannah blushes and says 'So the other day you were ready to make love but you made out it was too soon.'

'Yes, but Hannah if you're not ready to then neither am I really. We both have to want this and be ready together. I can wait until you are ready because I certainly don't want to put any pressure on you.'

'I want to but something stops me going the whole way. I don't want to lose you though.'

'See you're putting the pressure on yourself now, you will not lose me. I will wait a lifetime for you if that's what it will take. I love you Hannah, and I won't rush you.'

'Thank you, I love you too.'

As I drive Hannah back to her parents' home she turns up the volume for the music, I automatically turn it back down.

'Since when did you have quiet music in the car?' she asks.

'Since Christian went thermonuclear on me and threatened to rip out the speakers.' I reply, grinning at her.

'Do you always do what Christian wants?'

'It's easier that way.' I reply.

'But Matt, you're your own person; you have to live how you want not how your brother wants you to. He has so much control over you.'

'I don't see it like that, he cares about me. He offers me guidance so that I don't make mistakes that I might regret.'

'How do you know they will be mistakes that'll you'll regret if you never get chance to make them.'

'Fair point, well made' I quip

'You even sound like him.'

'What's wrong with that?'

'Nothing' Hannah replies sullenly.

'Are we having our first disagreement after only four days?' I ask.

She smiles and then giggles. 'No, not really. Oh good we're here, you can kiss me properly now.' And with that I lose myself in her kisses. I am desperate for more but am aware about not pressurising her and also that her parents will be behind the closed front door.

After saying a final goodbye, I arrange to see her tomorrow evening and then get in the car. I quickly call Christian as I drive away.

'Hi Matt' he says cheerfully.

'Hi Christian. I've just finished my date with Hannah. Is it too late to crash at yours tonight, I've got to meet dad at his office tomorrow so it means I won't be rushing in the morning.'

'Yes that's good; I'll see you in twenty minutes.'

Christian hands me a beer as I enter the great room.

'Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?' I ask.

'I have got meetings booked all afternoon and then I'm flying Ana down to Portland in Charlie Tango. Why?'

'As I said earlier I'm meeting dad in the morning and then I was going to come and see you in the afternoon if you had any time in your schedule.'

'Matt I've always got time for you, I'll get Andrea to cancel some of my appointments, is it not something we can talk about now?'

'No, I've got to look at something first and then I'll meet you at your office, I have some things that I want to discuss with you.'

'You're not being very forthcoming with any details here, you know how I like to know things and not be kept in the dark' he mutters.

'Don't sulk, I haven't got the full picture myself yet so can't tell you something I don't know.'

'Ok, let's go and shoot some pool before we go to bed. I'll email you tomorrow to confirm the time but it will probably be about 3pm if that's ok with you.'

'That sound good, are we playing pool for money tonight, I feel you're on for a thrashing.'

'Does that mean your date with Hannah went well?'

'Well she trusts me now so things are moving forwards.' I grin

'Well if you need any advice let me know, by the way, Space Needle, how romantic. Maybe I will copy you and take Ana on a date there.' He says teasingly

'Will I ever get any privacy' I moan

'Hmmm, let me see, no!' he replies and sets up the balls.