Chapter 3

A/N: Everyone who writes fanfiction is continuing, tweaking, and expanding characters they did not originate. On the FSOG Trilogy site we all suckle from the teet of E.L. James' canon work. Righteous indignation has no place here. Have you asked for Ms. James' permission to put her characters in situations of your making? Your expectation of a different consideration than you afford the the copyrighted (PAID) author smacks of entitlement and self importance. All over this fandom writers take excerpts from the original books, word for word, as the back drop they use to initiate their vision of the characters, ie:

Ana losing her virginity scene…

The belt scene and when she leaves…

The Jack Hyde attack…

This is some kind of crazy ass double standard.

To: Happy Cup, you and I have both admitted to conversations of your work. What you are not conveying is that I told you our works are not going in the same direction. You messaged me and said that you wanted me to make sure readers knew our work was separate…and wished me luck, for Christ sake. You went further after more discussion, when I told you I planned to write a spicier Ana then yours, to say be careful because there was a fine line between spicy and trashy, and that that was not your view of Ana. Newsflash, I am not writing your view of Ana. You and your clucking clutch of Facebook chickens need to dismount that high horse…climb the fuck off the soap box.

I am no shrinking violet. When pushed I push back. There is room for all of our views of Ana & Christian in the world of fan fiction. This is obviously a complicated and thorny issue, and there seems to be two schools of thought. One is 'How dare you' the other is 'Pot, kettle, black'. I obviously rock a 'Pot, kettle, black' t-shirt. And furthermore, I'm not writing this to become the popular girl at school, I seriously have to get these people out of my head.

To those who enjoy reading this work, I regretfully apologize that I don't yet have Chapter 3 complete and ready for your enjoyment. As, I hope you can imagine, I've been a bit distracted, and had a family event, where there was even more drama. It's coming.

It's here.

~oo0oo~

Backstory

After an excruciating day of mergers and acquisitions Christian was about to have an equally excruciating night. He gets home looking forward to little more than a cool glass of wine, a delicious dinner, and a relaxing evening at home. He'll get none.

Day of the Fall

Christian

I walk through the front door of my beautiful home, the smell of some beef dish and Mrs. Taylor's amazing yeast rolls wafting in the air. I drop my briefcase in the foyer and loosen my tie as I head in the direction of the kitchen for a glass of wine. Ana is there chatting with Gail, she sees me and smiles. Sliding up to me she stands on tippy toes and wraps her arms around my neck. This is the first true welcome home I've felt from her in a long time. She pulls my head down and places a sweet kiss on my lips.

"Hey." She whispers into my lips.

"Hey." I whisper back against her lips, I'm smiling, bewildered as to what brought this on.

Grabbing my hand she pulls me in the direction of the family room, talking as we go, "I don't know if I should thank you as….." her voice drifts to the background. I stand stock still, locked, in frozen horror at the sight before me. Laid out on the couches and hanging from a Nieman's delivery rack is the designer wardrobe I purchased for Paige.

"Christian? Are you over indulging Mia again?

I don't know how much time has lapsed until my attention is drawn back into the room. How the fuck did this happen? Oh my god, what has happened?

"Are you listening to me, I said..."

"I heard what you said," Irritation, anger, and fear course through my blood making my tone edgy.

I lead her to the overstuffed, tufted ottoman.

She thinks they're for Mia. Do I keep up the lie, sweep this shit out of here and let her think it was for Mia. No, when she spoke with Mia it would all backfire in my face and be a thousand times worse, if that's possible, than it is now.

I hesitate, "No they are not for Mia." I have her full attention."

She is sitting on the ottoman, one leg crossed at the knee, foot swing gently. Her arms are behind her bracing her weight, eyeing me. Her eyebrows raised like 'go on' giving me permission to continue. She looks totally open, so unaware of the freight train coming.

Today is the day of reckoning. I must come clean. How do I do this? How can I do this? Why did I do this? I don't have answers. I inhale a deep breath and say the words that will destroy my wife and marriage, changing our lives forever.

"Ana, I've met someone…someone who has become very…special to me." Her face is awash in confusion, like she doesn't understand the words I'm speaking. She bolts to her feet, retreating to the opposite side of the room from me. She's standing in front of the fireplace, arms wrapped around her waist, hugging herself, holding herself together. "I'm so sorr…."

"A sub?" Her face crinkles, the soft 'v' forming between her eyes, as her head cocks slightly. Her eyes searching mine intently.

She blows a puff of air, her face falling further. "You're not very original are you, this is your regular MO…the car too?" her eyes glisten with unshed tears. "the Christian Grey 'your mine special.'

I stare mutely.

"Is she your SUB-MISSIVE Christian?" She bites through gritted teeth, a gasp, as realization dawns. "Or is she… more…..?"

Her voice is not much above a whisper, but filled with so much emotion.

"Are you in-love with her?" The tears finally fall.

Dear God I didn't imagine it would be this hard. She hasn't been this demonstrative, passionate, or interested in me in many, many months.

"Yes." It's barely a breath but it resounds around the room.

She heads for the entrance to the family room. "Ana, where are you going?"

"Anywhere you're not." She doesn't stop moving. I catch her hand the bottom of the staircase. She jerks from my grasp, spins and slaps me, hard, across the face.

"Don't ever put your hands on me again." She hisses, glaring at me, her eyes dance with fury. With her on the second step we are standing eye-to-eye. I see a flash of fear then total and utter devastation.

"I'm going to pack a bag for Teddy; we're going to the Fairmont until I make other arrangements." She resumes her climb up the stairs.

I buzz Taylor and instruct him and Sawyer to get the clothes packed up and loaded in the SUV, and be ready to leave in 30 minutes, while rubbing my still stinging cheek.

I enter our bedroom, stop and look around. Shit, what have I done? Going in the en suite I gather my shaving kit and assorted toiletries; back in the bedroom I gather other objects for several days away. Get a couple of suits from the closet, I pack everything up and head out. I have to let Ana know she doesn't have to leave, I will go. I will stay at Escala. I make my way to Ted's room. My limbs feel heavy and slow. As I open Teddy's bedroom door I see her, she is sitting on the side of Teddy's bed holding him in her lap.

"Go to daddy." She utters softly in his ear.

He runs to me on fat little legs. I bend to one knee to scoop him into my embrace. "Hi Buddy."

"Dada." He is smacking both sides of my cheeks.

I'm trying to smile for him but my facial muscles are stiff, wooden. "Daddy has to go away for a while but I will see you real soon." My voice is steadier than I thought possible. "Take care of mommy, ok?" I am kissing his face and pull him to me in a close tight hug. I look over his shoulder at Ana. She is not looking at me at first, then her eyes raise and she pins me with a watery blue gaze.

"Bye little man." I set him on his feet and he runs back to Ana.

"Ana, you don't have to leave, I've packed some things and I'll stay at the penthouse."

"Okay, but I'm not staying here."

"Ana, please, this is your house…."

"No Christian, this was our home," Her eyes awash with tears, but her voice is clear and strong, "I don't think I can live with the ghosts."

I close the door softly as I leave and hear the lone sob escape her. My steps falter as I head for the stairs.

~o0o~

Ana

"Gail what smells so good." I yell from the foyer. First thing to come off are these ridiculously high peep toe pumps. A man must have invented high heels. I pad into the kitchen in my stocking feet. "I smell yeast roll, and, and beef stew." Mmmm I can't wait for dinner.

"Teddy isn't still napping is he?"

"No, Sophie has taken him to the apartment, to get art supplies, so they can draw." Gail smiles, "She's really good with him."

"Oh, Sophie's here, did school let out for the summer already? What grade is she in now? How old is she?

Gail turns to me with the quizzical, slightly amused expression on her face. "Yes, she's here for the evening, no, school doesn't end until the end of the week, she's in the 5th grade, and she's 10 going on 11. Would you like a glass of wine, Mia.

Mia?…then it dawns, "Oh, my rapid fire inquisition." I smile and shake my head. "I'm going to get out of my work clothes, I'll be back down in 10, I'll help you with the finishing touches."

"By the way, there's a very big delivery from Neiman Marcus in the family room."

I detour to the family room on my way upstairs. Holy Hell, he must have bought out half the store. That man has more money than sense. I'll check it out once I get changed; hope it wasn't supposed to be a surprise.

I check on Sophie and Teddy, pose for a crayon portrait then head down stairs. Once back in the family room I start looking through the racks. Wow, he's gone all out. The designers, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney, Herve Leger, Marc Jacobs, on and on and on; I start to pull the items from their hangers and notice that they are for a taller build then mine. Is he spoiling Mia, again? They can't be for Grace as they are much too young and edgy. I stop unpacking the clothes.

While chatting with Gail in the kitchen we hear the chimes that let us know the gate has been opened. I plan on having a little fun teasing Christian about being so over indulgent with his sister.

When he finally enters the kitchen I pull him into a sexy kiss, speaking into his mouth, I pull him in the direction of the family room, feeling freer with him than I have in a long time. As we enter the family room I feel a tug, he has stopped, stark still and is looking at the items decorating the family room in abject horror.

"Christian? Are you over indulging Mia again?

He stands there staring, mutely. What in the world is his problem?

"Are you listening to me, I said….."

Before I know it he is ushering me to the ottoman, and sitting me down.

"I heard what you said." He's gruff. There's a beat and he seems to be weighing his thoughts. "No, they are not for Mia." The next words out of his mouth turn my world upside down, change me irrevocably, despair is eating me inside out, damaging my soul. I realize I am on the other side of the room, hugging myself trying not to fly apart. My heart is trying to beat out of my chest, thundering in my throat. The sound of rushing water fills my ears. I feel sick to my stomach.

"I'm so sorry….

"A sub?" I cut him off. He just stares.

"You're not very original are you, this is your regular MO…the car too, the Christian Grey 'your. mine. special.'

"Is she your SUB-MISSIVE Christian?" The truth hits me like a ton of bricks. I don't know how I speak the words. "Or is she… more…? Are you in-love with her?"

"Yes." The whispered word filters through the haze of pain and confusion.

I have to get out of here. I can't stand here listening to this another moment.

"Ana, where are you going? He shouts to halt me. I hadn't realized I'd started moving; I'm headed for the stairs.

"Anywhere you're not." I don't make it to the second step before he catches me, grabbing my hand. As I spin to toward him I let my hand raise and slap him, hard, across the face. It has a resounding sound. The shock of what I'd just done is fleeting, giving way to the myriad of other emotions flooding my system. Anger finds an outlet.

"Don't ever put your hands on me again." Shit, that was satisfying. "I'm going to pack a bag for Teddy; we're going to the Fairmont until I make other arrangements."

I wonder is Sophie still in Teddy's room? She is. "Sophie sweetie, I think Gail is looking for you." I have to get her out of here I don't want her asking questions about me packing clothes for my son.

"Come here baby boy." I kneel on the floor and take him into my arms hugging him tightly to me, a life line, and I take it. I set Teddy back to playing with his cars and trucks while I get his bag packed.

Anger, hurt, humiliation, and even fear battle for dominance of my emotions.

I finish and sit on the side of his bed sitting him on my lap. I wonder what affect all of this will have on him, a broken home, shuttling back and forth; the thought is depressing and more than I can handle at the moment.

I hear the door open. I know it's Christian. I release Teddy from my lap and urge him toward his dad.

"Go to daddy."

He and Teddy have a father/son moment. I hear him softly talking to Teddy, but I don't know if it's for him or me.

"Daddy has to go away for a while but I will see you real soon. Take care of mommy, ok…?"

I humph to myself, your job dickhead, I guess I'll be taking care of myself from now on.

"Bye little man."

Christian catches my gaze over Teddy's tiny shoulder. Setting Teddy on his feet, my son toddles back to me.

"Ana, you don't have to leave, I've packed some things and I'll stay at the penthouse."

"Okay, but I'm not staying here."

"Ana, please, this is your house…."

"No Christian, this was our home," My tone sad. "I don't think I can live with the ghosts."

He simply lowers his eyes to the floor turns and heads out, closing the door softly behind him.

The sob threatening me for the last several minutes finally rips from my throat.

I enter our bedroom. It smells of him. Don't dwell Ana, get packed and get out. I say to myself. I quickly pack the things I'll need, not stopping to reminisce. Once done with packing I walk over to our bed; removing my wedding band, engagement ring, and charm bracelet, I leave them sitting on his pillow, take my sons hand and walk out.

Gail is standing with Teddy's little suitcase in hand. I am surprised to see her but say nothing. I hold Teddy's hand as we descend the stairs. Sawyer takes the bags at the bottom of the steps.

"Please put them in my Saab Sawyer." He looks perplexed. "Sawyer."

"Mr. Grey instructed me to see you and Teddy to the Fairmont." He states uncomfortably.

"Hmmm, I'm sure he did, but I'll be driving myself, from now on. Thank you Sawyer." He turns without anymore fight and puts our bags in my car.

I don't look back as I pull away, that would be disastrous. Instead I think, isn't it ironic that he is one of the richest men in the world, but so morally and emotionally bankrupt.

~oo0oo~

A big thank you, to FiftyShadesofJess, and Fungirlygirl, your help has been invaluable.

Thank you, to all the warrior women who have expressed their support in either reviews or pm's, your words have buoyed me.

I don't own these characters they belong to E. L. James.