Ana's POV

The day both Christian and I dreaded finally arrived. Sera had been excited for the last week. She was finally starting her last hurdle to her dream job. We were happy for her, but with the long hours she has to spend at University, and going to and fro, we were to see quite little of her. At least Christian won this round, and she wasn't going to stay at the dorms.

I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed that I have to let go of her. She was growing up. It was like sending her to pre-school all over again. I remember how much I cried that very morning. Christian was giving her breakfast, and telling her how strong she has to be, and how she has to let go of us… and that now she has to make new friends… Yeah… I bet she did. Natalie and her remained friends ever since.

'Ana…' Christian hugged me from behind. 'You're quiet…' He commented as he kissed my neck.

'Yeah… I'm just thinking…' I replied as he guided me to the couch. 'Where's Sera?'

'Sent her to bed… she needs to sleep… it's her first day tomorrow…'

'Yeah…' I chuckled. 'Remember her first day at pre-school?'

'How can I forget?'

'I know… you were so strong for the both of us…'

'Well… I wouldn't say that…' He replied as he pulled me to him. 'I kind of chocked when I dropped her off…'

'You never told me what exactly happened! All you told me was that she hated pre-school, only to find out later that she loved pre-school.'

'Well… I hated it… There were other kids, and during the drive we were playing Barney music, and she was smiling and laughing. I even tickled her that morning…and then before I dropped her off, she was still holding to my leg. She didn't want to let go, but as she entered the class room, she went straight to where Natalie was seating. She didn't give me a kiss goodbye… nothing…' He explained. 'I felt left out… I tried staying in class just in case. Her teacher explained that maybe parents find it hard to let go of their children, so I brought her home again. I mean she was too young to face the world alone…'

'Christian… I think we were too young to let her face the world alone…' I rubbed his back. 'Is that why you really don't want to let her stay at the dorms?'

'Part of it! I mean… Look at her Ana… She's our baby… I want her to be in an environment where she knows she is loved… I don't want her to be alone… I want her to be with me… with us… Carter is already in the way. He's already taking days' worth of time with her.'

'Christian… don't you think we should give her some independence? She's 18… and she will feel pressured by her friends… and don't you think that this would be the only round…' I reasoned. 'How many more do you think you can win?'

'All of them…' He simply answered.

'Yeah… keep dreaming Grey!' I chuckled. 'She's 18 Christian. She will defy you and that's a definite.'

'Well… she knows she won't ever win…'

'Christian what are you going to do when she'll tell you she'll go overseas for her internship? What are you going to do when she tells you she wants to visit Europe… alone… or that she's going on spring break with her friends… or she's taking a vacation with her colleagues? You cannot just say no and expect her to obey…'

'Ana if the need be I'll buy the hospital… and she'll do the internship somewhere close to us…'

'Christian that is absolutely not the point! You are missing the main goal here. She's growing up and we need to give her space to do so… I know you don't want to let go… hell… I don't want her to grow up… I'd rather have her still clinging to my neck… but it's the cycle… you fled from your mother's nest… I from mine… and it's time she does hers…' I explained as he stood up and ran his hands through his hair.

'No Ana… I'm not allowing my daughter away from me again. Do you know how much time I've lost with her? I don't even know her as yet. Parents are supposed to know everything their kids think, love, hate… hell even what bothers them, or what makes them queasy… I don't know any of that from our daughter Ana… We've pushed her away and we cannot get all those years back… I'm trying to make up for that lost time…'

'She forgave us Christian…' I reasoned with him.

'That doesn't mean a damned thing! I still don't know her… She forgave us true, but it makes me feel guiltier on what I did to her. I look at her, and I… she's another person… she's not the 5 year old that used to hold on to me not wanting to let go… she's… different…'

'She grew up Christian…'

'Exactly Ana… and I think we blew it…' He admitted. Deep down I knew he was right. We were trying to do everything we could to get back all that time, but in reality, time is uncountable, and it literally passed by not knowing how, making us miss more things… we were still trying to get back her childhood, and teenage years and adulthood at the same time… only it was becoming harder.

'We did haven't we?' I rhetorically asked.

'…and the worst part… I don't know what to do… she seems to be all sorted out… just like you Ana…'

'She has your character Christian…'

'Isn't that worse? I'm fifty shades of fucked up…'

'…but you aren't anymore Christian…' I cut him off as I moved forward. 'Stop torturing yourself. She doesn't want to see you like this… I don't want to see you like this… we both love you Christian… more than you could ever imagine…' I smiled. 'Christian, she's like you, because at whatever the life has thrown at her, she fought it and came out stronger.'

'At what cost Ana? She almost…'

'…almost Christian… but she fought… and she made it…' I encouraged. 'Christian if we give her some independence she won't feel the need to fight us on certain things…'

'Yeah right… she's your daughter Ana… she is going to argue on everything like you do…'

'Hey she's your daughter too…'

'She didn't get this from me for sure!'

'Hey! She has your stubbornness and a head hard as a rock…'

'Isn't that nice… she has something from both then…' He replied back as he paced away. 'Any way… what do you suggest?'

'Well… you can give her a car! Or let her buy one…' I suggested.

'What? No!' He quickly replied. 'I'm not doing that! Do you know how many accidents happen every day? And most of them are teens!'

'Christian… we both drive… we too can have an accident…' I reasoned. 'Look, if you give her the car, or at least loan it to her, she will feel a sense of independence and she won't fight you on the dorms, because she will realise that you are giving her something at which she may use at her own convenience.'

'...but Ana she won't need me anymore to drive her around!'

'Christian… I know it's hard for us to let go… but like this… we'll be playing the right cards…'

'Isn't that cheating?'

'Well… yeah… kind of…' I reasoned. '…but for the right reasons. Till she figures this out, which I doubt she will, she will come into senses that this was the right move.' I explained.

'Seeing it like that it does make sense.' He agreed. '…but I still haven't evaluated her driving skills, her temper in traffic… if someone crosses the road left right and centre… highways… freeways…'

'That's even better Christian. If you did prepare for all of those she would have sensed something. She's not stupid you know?' I reasoned. 'Look… tomorrow morning give her your Porsche or your Audi, and tell her that you're giving it to her, until you see that she deserves a new one for herself. She loves those two Christian, and she will definitely not fight any more on dorms.'

'I feel like I'm bribing her…'

'Decide now Grey… either you want her to stay here or you want her to go to the dorms… either way… you are going to have to face it…'

'…and you with me…'

'Christian unlike you, I'm trying to put myself into her shoes…' I explained.

'You're right…' He finally admitted. '…but only on one condition. For the first few days, I have to oversee her driving… and I'll be giving her the Audi… It's safer…'

'…and how are you going to come back oh Illuminatus…' I teased.

'Mhmm… Taylor will be following us… He'll drive me back to Aspen. We have to move the last few things…'

'Wow… hold your horses… you're assigning her a security guard with her?'

'Well… yeah… she is a Grey isn't she?'

'Christian you're missing the whole point! Dammit… we were moving two steps forward and you took us 5 back. Having her on 24 hour security will only make her feel worse!'

'What do you expect me to do? Allow some lunatic hurt her?'

'You do realise that she's not porcelain right? She can take you down with a single blow! And Ryan can vow for that! And she did it by mistake… she did go to school without security didn't she? We can keep business as usual Christian…'

'Ok… fine…' He finally gave up. '…but I'm still keeping tabs…'

'Keep tabs as much as you want baby…' I teased. 'In fact, why don't you start now?' I asked him again as I moved forward and we started kissing hungrily.

'You know...' He said as I broke the kiss. '…this is probably our last time making love here…'

'We'll make many memories in Aspen…' I teased again as we moved to our bedroom.

Christian's POV

The day we all dreaded finally came. Not knowing how, the night flew by leaving me with the taste of Ana's and mine love making. I woke up wrapped up around Ana… but then it clicked in my mind. Ana stirred as she felt me tense up. Guess her psychic abilities where already on.

There was no use in stalling. We had to face this. Especially me, having to hand in the car keys. We moved to the kitchen, and realised that Sera was already there preparing everything and helping Gail out.

'Honey… what are you doing up this early?' Ana started.

'Good morning to you too mum… dad…' She smiled as she placed our beverages on the table.

'You're chippy this morning…' I commented as I kissed her forehead.

'First day of school dad…' She replied as she moved back still making sure she had everything.

'Aren't you having any breakfast?'

'Already did…' She replied.

'She had some fruit with me.' Gail replied smiling as I was going to say something else.

'Dad…' She cut me off before I even started. 'I'll eat later… I've had enough for this morning…' She smiled. 'You've already won the dorms round… let me have one round…'

'In fact…' I started.

'Wait you're letting me rent the dorms?' She jumped on me.

'Geez, give your father a chance to speak!' Ana tried. 'You'll like this one…' She smiled.

'Sorry…'

'So… your mother and I were thinking…' I started. 'I think it's time you have your own car…' I smiled as she remained staring at me.

'It's not April's fool dad…' She replied as she went back to her things.

'No no… this is not a joke… I'm serious…' I continued as I moved forward and handed out the keys. 'I'm giving you my Audi… it's safe, practical, nice style… you love it…' I explained as she took the keys.

'Mum… is this for real? I don't believe him…'

'After a long time trying to persuade him… yes… it's true…' She smiled.

'What's the catch dad?' She replied. 'Damn… I knew she wasn't going to buy this… she's too smart for her own good.' I thought to myself.

'There is no catch Sera…'

'Yeah right… as if I'm going to fall for that! Till yesterday you didn't want to lend me a car and now you're giving me your Audi? Isn't that just… I don't know… strange if I may say?'

'Well… no… because I'm giving it to you…' I replied sternly.

'Dad… I'm not falling for that… but…' She smiled. 'THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!' She said in one breath as she hugged me tight. 'Oh right! I have my own car now!' She replied. 'Well… I'm off…'

'Wait, wait…' I caught her from her wrist. 'There are some ground rules that I want to set before you set on the road. First and foremost, I will be coming with you for these first couple of days to see how your driving skills are. Secondly, there is absolutely no speeding, no talking on phone or texting while driving, absolutely no drinking and driving, you're not even legally of age to drink, so don't you dare let me catch you with any alcohol in your system. There is to be absolutely no being cool… and I will know if I do so… and lastly, don't you dare ever remove your GPS. I want to be able to track you just in case. Just because you have a car, doesn't mean you can do whatever you want… Am I clear young lady?'

'Yes sir…' She replied. 'Just to be sure… should I drive on the left side?'

'Sera?' I warned.

'Ok… ok… I'm joking…' She replied. '…but really, we should get going. I don't want to be late on my first day…' She continued. '…and dad?'

'Yeah…'

'Don't forget your seatbelt…' She teased.

'I should better remind you that… your mother taught you how to drive…'

'Christian…' She warned.

'Come on Sera… I don't want you to speed on your first day of school.' I started as I made my way out as I realized she was still in the kitchen. 'Sera?'

'I'll be right down…' She smiled. 'I need to get some stuff…'

'Ok… don't take long peanut…'

Sera's POV

The plan worked. I never knew my mother was such a good actress. She managed to talk dad into this. We thought it wouldn't work… but it did…

'Mum! Thank you! I wouldn't have done it without you…' I hugged her tight.

'I was afraid of that myself… but we managed… now remember our deal.'

'I won't forget mummy. I will keep within the limits and bounds you've set.' I smiled. 'I love you mummy…'

'I love you too munchkin…' she smiled as she let go of our embrace. 'You look lovely this morning… you'll make a good impression.'

'That's what I'm going for. Natalie went to the student's advisory services and they told her that our appearance tends to make a judgement to our lecturers.'

'Tell me about that…' She chuckled. 'Are you meeting her?'

'Yes… we'll meeting at the flat Mark and her rented'

'Did Taylor approve of this?'

'Prescott is with them…'

'Makes sense…' She replied. 'Now go… your father is not a patient man… and good luck honey…'

'I love you mummy.'

'I love you too munchkin.'

Christian's POV

'Ok, now make a left, then right, continue straight ahead…' I guided. '…and this is our new home…' I said again as we made a stop. I smiled at our new home. We were going to have a fresh start. Ana and I love it here. I was only hoping Sera would get acclimatised to here now. I looked at her, and her face gave me another shade. 'Hey… what's wrong?'

'It's nothing dad…' She smiled as she looked at the view. 'It's nice here…'

'That's all you've got to say?'

'…and big… huge is the proper word…'

'Sera… spill…'

'Dad… we've already had this talk. It's no use…' She smiled. 'Don't worry about me… I'll get used to here…' She smiled. 'Now come on… I'm going to be late and you have to go to work…' She continued as she pulled out.

'Sera… there is no need in putting up a brave face…'

'Dad… it's fine… I'll get use to our new home…' She smiled. 'Hey, that's already an improvement… I'm calling it a home instead of house…' She said again as she took her eyes off the road for a second.

'EYES ON THE ROAD, EYES ON THE ROAD!' I shouted as she stopped the car to halt.

'Geez dad! I had it under control. Stop panicking me!'

'I'm sorry… it's just… Sera I'm not sure about this…'

'Dad, stop worrying… I'll be fine… you just have to relax a bit!' She took off on the road again. 'Look, I'm in control of the car and not the other way round, I'm not speeding, look I'm even keeping to your speed limit…'

'You're right peanut…' I smiled. 'You haven't given me a reason to doubt you.' I smiled. 'I'm proud of you…'

'You better not forget that…'

'Hey what does that supposed to mean?'

'Nothing dad… just in case I screw up, I don't want you to stop talking to me again…' She replied.

'You're not going to screw up… you should have a little faith in you…'

'Yeah…' She said again. 'Ok… we're here…' she smiled. 'What's the verdict? Can I start driving? Alone? Without your supervision?' She eyed me.

'You have a deal…' I smiled.

'After school I'll come by to GEH. I promised you I'd still work on everything.'

'I just don't want you to stress yourself.'

'I won't…' She smiled. 'I'll see you at around 6pm…'

'My office…'

'Yes sir…' She smiled, as Natalie came by.

'Finally… you're here…' She started as Taylor exited his car greeting his daughter. 'Glad you took my advice. That grey suit suits you Grey… you see what I did there…' She teased.

'Ladybug…'

'Hey daddy…'

'Good luck on your first day… did you get sorted out with Mark?'

'Yepps, and Prescott is at our apartment… at around 2pm, I will be back taking care of Jace and then Mark will take over.'

'That's good.'

'Sera, we've got to get moving…'

'Coming…' She replied as she took her laptop and bag and locked the car.

'Wow… is that yours?'

'Dad just gave it to me…' She smiled.

'So it worked…'

'Natalie!'

'What worked?'

'Nothing…' both replied in unison while Taylor tried suppressing his laugh. I could sense that something was underneath all this. I only had to find out.

'Anyways… got to go dad… see you later…' Sera said again as she kissed my cheek. 'Love you daddy.'

'Love you too peanut… and keep your phone on you at all time.'

'Will do… bye…'

'Good luck.'

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