Sorry if this isn't very good grammatically etc, I've got a ton of essays in over the next week- I really shouldn't be doing fan fiction :P
Enjoy. It's a bit grim though x
Jade only vaguely noticed Ana and Christian on the sidewalk, talking quickly and having some type of argument.
Christian motioned to her 'Jade- what the fuck happened in there?'. She looked over at Christian with a lost expression and said nothing, walking away down the road and disappearing into the crowd.
Christian called Jade several times on the way home but there was no answer on her mobile. After a while he rang the apartments number and after a few seconds Luke picked up 'this is Luke' 'It's Christian, has Jade come back to yours?'.
He could hear the slight worry in Luke's response 'no...why? What's happened now?'.
Faith was gurgling slightly and Christian could tell Luke was probably holding her 'Jack Hyde tried to make a move on Ana- Jade roughed him up and threatened him. When she came out she just had this glazed look on her face. I think there's something wrong'.
Luke's response was slow 'well...I'm sure if you ask Jose or Daniel you'll find out. Of course she'll tell her friends, why should I know? I'm just her husband. I've got to go'. With that Luke hung up on Christian.
After another hour with no sign or word of Jade, Christian took the decision to track her down. It only took a call to Welch to get an address on Jade's cell phone location, though Christian was surprised where she was.
It was a diner near the Pike Place Market, a retro place that looked like something out of Grease. Christian had never been there himself but he knew the area, and drove to see what the hell his daughter was getting up to.
Christian sat in his car outside, surprised at what he could see. Jade was sitting in a window seat booth, sitting opposite her was Jose. They both had milk shakes and Jade was eating some fries as they talked.
Even from across the road, Christian could see something that surprised him a little.
Jade was smiling, for the first time in a long while, Jade actually looked happy.
Twenty minutes later Jade and Jose both got up, hugging tightly and heading different ways on the street.
Christian knew that Jade had spotted him as she walked directly across the street and got swiftly into the passenger side of his car.
'what the fuck are you doing here? Have you been following me?'. Christian blinked in surprise 'no- I wanted to make sure you were okay. Recently you've been...distant, and I don't want to see you unhappy'. Jade nodded
'fine. So instead you stalked me here? Brilliant. Well as you could see I was having a catch up with a friend'.
Christian turned towards her in his seat 'yes. But you looked happy, that's something I haven't seen for a while Jade, only when you're with Faith'. She shrugged and said nothing, Christian sighed 'Luke was worried about you too, he said you'd probably be talking to Jose-'.
She cut her father off sharply 'and what is that supposed to mean?'. He was taken aback 'it's not supposed to mean anything, he's just annoyed you two aren't communicating I think'.
Jade sighed, looking defeated 'you don't get it do you? I feel like I let my daughter down by going to Israel, and now after what happened I can't paint- I haven't been able to since I got back, it's like writers block but with painting...It's stifling. I don't know what to do with myself. My own husband barely speaks to me...'.
Christian didn't know what to say to his daughters glum mutterings, staring at her hands idly. 'Jade...' she shook her head 'Please. Don't say anything. Just take me home?'.
Christian nodded, driving slowly in silence back to her apartment, wondering how the hell she became so broken.
Jade let herself in the apartment and saw Faith was awake in a small swinging seat they had for her in the living room area. It warmed her heart to see the tiny smile on her daughter's face as she was picked up, and immediately cuddled into her mother.
Jade was talking and singing to her daughter for a few minutes before Luke came out, leaning against the doorframe. 'I didn't hear you come in?'. Jade shrugged 'I've literally just come back'
'where were you? Your father was worried?'.
'He tracked my cell phone and in classic Christian Grey style, he stalked me down. He's the one that drive me home'. Luke shifted his position slightly, looking at Faith rather than Jade 'who were you with?'
Jade didn't falter in her response 'Jose. I haven't seen him for a while. He doesn't know that many people up in Seattle, and Ana's pretty busy fucking my Dad and Kate's been away half the time'.
Luke nodded slowly 'so...where did you go?' Jade looked up with shock on her face 'do you think something happened with me an Jose?' her eyes had angry tears forming in them 'do you think I'd cheat on you? Really Luke? Is that what you think of me?'.
In fairness to him Luke looked genuinely aghast at the accusation. 'oh fuck, Jade that's not what I meant- no'.
He looked apologetic and zgently took Faith out of her arms, placing her back in the swinging seat and sitting next to her, gently touching her hands.
'Babe, I'm not accusing you of anything- I don't think you've got anything going with Jose, okay? I promise. I trust you, I really do, it just hurts that you didn't tell me where you went for a whole evening'.
Jade noticed that he had made it clear he trusted her, not that he loved her. It had been what felt like a lifetime since either of them had said that to each other.
Luke muttered apologetically 'I'm sorry, J, if that's what you thought I meant- I trust you okay?'
Jade nodded slightly and he kissed her but they broke apart quickly, neither feeling the burning passion that had been there once.
Jade needed to say nothing, not even looking at her husband as she stood up and walked from the living room, heading for the bathroom.
Jade wordlessly closed the bathroom door behind her and got into the warm shower.
Luke knocked on the door but got no response from his wife, so he walked away, unaware that Jade was sitting on the floor of the huge shower, tears streaming down her face.
When Jade finally emerged from the bathroom she'd gotten back into her clothes from before, a sad look on her face, looking at Luke who was sat awkwardly in an armchair, resting his chin in his steepled hands.
'I put Faith in her crib...do you want to talk?'. Jade nodded but didn't move from the doorway, 'Luke...do you still love me?'. He was taken aback by the question 'what the hell are you asking me that for?'
Jade shrugged, looking around the apartment, anywhere but at him.
'right now, if we weren't married, but things were as they are right now...would you still want to marry me?'.
His pause for thought was enough for Jade, who's eyes filled with hot, angry tears 'oh my god...I didn't...you really don't do you?'. Luke stood up defensively
'Jade I'll always love you no matter what happens between us, but this distance between us is making things hard, okay? I want to spend the rest of my life with my beautiful wife who I've loved since the day I saw her walking through her fathers apartment and she barely even noticed me. I want to spend the rest of my life with my WIFE, not this bitter, sad woman you've become recently'.
Jade blinked in surprise and Luke's voice softened 'I love you Jade, but yet again you're pushing everyone away, it's like a personal record for you isn't it? I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want more children with you, I want to grow old with you, and frankly I just want to make you happy again- just tell me how'.
Jade coughed 'I need some fresh air'. Luke knew not to try and stop her, seeing the tears at her eyes, his voice quiet 'call me if you need me...'.
It was a useless comment because she was already halfway out of the apartment anyway.
Jade was fumbling for her car keys through a haze of tears in the budding lot when she heard a familiar voice behind her. 'Jade? Are you okay?'. She felt relief rush trough her, turning and seeing concern etched on Grace's face 'wh- what are you doing here?'.
'Ana told me what happened at her office building today- I texted you earlier to say I'd come and check your stitches'.
Jade waved a hand vaguely, trying to keep the years back 'oh, I forgot, sorry, it's been...'. Jade couldn't keep the pretence up much longer and tightly hugged her Grandmother, who looked surprised at the sudden display of both weakness and affection, both of which were very uncharacteristic of Jade.
Grace pulled her back a little and looked at her tear stained face 'Honey, do you want to come to our house for a little while? Tell me what's happened?'. Jade nodded and got into her grandmothers car, Grace getting seamlessly into the drivers side.
On the short drive Jade told her as much as she could, about her failing marriage, about what had really happened in Israel, about how she was feeling, about the pain she was still in, and about the argument she'd had with Luke not long before.
Grace listened quietly, barely asking questions, just letting Jade vent all her emotions to her.
When they pulled up at the Grey house, Grace ushered Jade into the living room where she stated to cry slight.
Grace tucked a stray hand of hair behind Jade's ear, face twisted with worry, her voice soft. 'Jade, sweetie, why do you always do it?' she looked up, frowning slightly 'do what?'.
Grace looked tenderly at her Granddaughter, eyes full of worry for her 'you push away anyone that tries to care for you. Even when you were little, me and Carrick...Elliot, Mia, your father...you would always try and keep us at arms length, or just push us right away. You didn't want our affection...why do you do it Jade?'.
There was a pause and Jade was staring at the floor 'I never thought I deserved it'. Grace paled 'didn't deserve what?'
'didn't deserve you all to love me. Dad didn't want me, my Mum certainly didn't want me either. I always thought I was a burden to everyone, I still do. I've managed to push away my own husband...'
Jade's lip trembled and Grace pulled her into a tight hug, kissing her hair 'oh honey, you were never a burden, you were one of the best things that ever happened to this family'.
Grace simply held Jade to her, felling her Granddaughter silently crying against her.
Jade stretched rigidly and groaned, Grace looking up sharply 'are you alright?' Jade nodded 'uh uh, I just ache...it'll pass. I'm fine'. Grace didn't look convinced and they both heard a car roll up outside 'that'll be your grandfather back, I'm gonna go and get my kit together, I'll check you over alright?'. Jade nodded sleepily and leant back on the sofa as Grace left.
Carrick was wearing a sharp black suit and looked genuinely happy to see his granddaughter in the living room, putting down his briefcase.
'Hello Princess' Jade laughed, her muscles tight and a little painful; Carrick had always reserved that name just for Jade. 'Why the evening visit?'. She sighed 'I, well, I had an argument with Luke'. Carrick nodded 'ah, I see, well I'll tell Rebecca we've got three for dinner'.
Jade smiled warmly 'thank you'. Carrick waved a hand 'forget about it. We've all got our problems, hug?'. Carrick held out his arms as Jade stood up sharply, looking incredibly pale suddenly.
She looked pained and touched her side where the pain was. Carrick moved quickly, seeing her hand covered in blood and her eyes glazing over.
Jade collapsed suddenly, caught effortlessly by Carrick, who shouted to Grace loudly.
She didn't falter once 'what happened?' Carrick was laying her down on the sofa quickly 'she was in pain and touched her side, there was blood, then she just passed out'.
Grace paled and pulled up Jade's black t-shirt, feeling the warm dampness of the blood before she saw it. There was a long set of stitches down her side, the top few having opened again.
Grace looked up sharply 'she's losing blood, drive her to the Hospital, I'll call ahead and meet you there'.
Carrick nodded, saying nothing as he picked up Jade carefully in his surprisingly strong arms and whisked her out of the house and into the Mercedes in the drive.
Jade was muttering sleepily in the backseat, and as Carrick glanced back he saw the bloodied smears on the seats, putting his foot down heavily, speeding through the other cars.
Oooooooh. Had to be done
Please Review and stuff, it's very helpful. Next Chapter- Christian asks Jade how she feels about Ana being her mother in law...