Chapter 18:
"This is where you live?" He looks at me and takes my hand.

"Nope. I used to but not anymore." I look at him confused.

"Well then who does live here?"

"My parents."

What?! Did he just say parents? I thought I would at least get time to dress appropriately. I look down at my white blouse and blue jeans and wish I had put more thought into it. Heck I didn't know I was coming today. It's his fault. "Come on then." He opens the car door and gets out. I sit there stunned and he pokes my arm when he opens my door and I don't get out. "Yoohoo, Ana? I'm sorry I should have told you but I really wanted you to meet them. They'll love you, come on." He tugs my hand gently and I slowly get out the car. We walk up to the door hand in hand and he knocks. Not even five seconds later the door swings open and a sandy haired lady with a friendly face beams at us. Christian walks forward and hugs her, she seems taken aback by this and it takes her a while to hug him back, although she does so very carefully. Hm, I wonder what that's about? She looks like she's nearly in tears when he pulls away. "Mom, this is my girlfriend, Anastasia Steele." I hold out my hand but she ignores it and pulls me into a hug. I hug her back and she holds my shoulders when she pulls away.

"Hello Anastasia. I'm Grace, Christian's mother. My oh my aren't you gorgeous! I haven't seen a face like that since I was younger." She laughs and I join in, she's so welcoming. "I'm just kidding. Do come in, Elliot is dying to meet you in person, he's only just arrived." She goes to the bottom of some stairs. "Elliot! Christian is here!" I hear footsteps and suddenly a muscly blonde man comes running down the stairs. He's more attractive in the flesh but not my type, he's definitely Kate's type though. He walks towards me smiling and pulls me into a huge bear hug. It takes me by surprise but when he lifts me up I giggle. When he puts me down Christian is glaring at him. He looks at him and laughs.

"Hey Chris! Hello again Ana. Wow, you're more gorgeous in person! Got any sisters?" He nudges me and winks and I giggle again. Christian looks at me warmly and I smile back, gazing into his eyes. Elliot widens his eyes and his grin gets bigger. "Holy shit you two are in love." Grace swats his arm and he jumps then rubs it pouting.

"Elliot Trevelyn Grey do not use that language under my roof." He holds his hands up and mutters sorry then winks at me. Christian walks forward and grabs Elliot, pulling him into a hug. Elliot, like Grace is very surprised. What is happening? His eyes dart to Grace then to me before his arms carefully wrap around Christian like Grace's did. He whispers something in his ear and I'm not quite sure what he said but it sounded like "Dude, you gotta keep this one." I blush and Christian nods, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my hair. I wrap my arm round Christian's waist as well. Grace and Elliot look at us as though we just sprouted two more heads. Have they never seen him with a girl before?

"Carrick!" Grace shouts, making us all jump. A tall man comes walking through and stops when he sees Christian and I so close to each other. He walks forward looking stunned. "Cary, this is Anastasia, Christian's girlfriend." His eyes widen further and Christian let's go of me, pulling his dad into a hug. Again the same reaction as Elliot and Grace and I make a mental note to get him to explain to me what this weird hugging thing is. Carrick then hugs me and whispers in my ear.

"Thank you." I look at him confused and he wraps his arm around Grace. Christian does the same to me. "Shall we all go into the living room?" Carrick says, smiling and we all follow.

"So Anastasia, how did you two meet?" I look up at Christian and he nods, telling me it's ok that I tell the real story.

"Well Christian is teaching a speech class in my college, WSU. I took it as an extra credit class and when we initially met we weren't the best of friends but he helped me out of a sticky situation and here we are." They all smile throughout the short story, so they're ok with the student teacher thing. Good.

"What was the sticky situation?" Elliot pipes up and Christian looks disapprovingly at him.

"No it's alright. One of my best friends tried to rape me." I say in a small voice they all gasp.

"Jesus, I'm so sorry Ana." Elliot hangs his head.

"No no. Don't worry about it, he didn't and everything is sorted out now so it's fine."

"Only because you broke his nose." I gasp and look at Christian shocked, though he looks proud and smug as fuck. I don't want his parents thinking I'm some thug that beats up guys. I slap his chest playfully and they all gasp. Christian smiles knowingly and I look around at their shocked faces.

"Ok what's going on?" I say, bored of this secrecy.

"All my life I've had a fear of being touched on my chest and back because of my early childhood. I didn't even hug my parents so those hugs you witnessed were the first time I've ever properly hugged them all. You're the first person to ever touch my chest and I'm fine with it. In fact, I love it. You've changed me for the better Ana and I'm so thankful. In fact." He sits up and takes my hands. "Anastasia Steele, I have fallen in love with you. I love you." I hear Carrick and Elliot gasp and Grace sobs.

A/N - Hi guys! No Five Years a Slave for a few days, I have so much revision to do for my final exams and my art coursework needs doing I have to do three A2 pieces ahhhh it's all so hectic. I've already written up to chapter 23 of this story so a very very short hiatus on Five Years a Slave. Thank you!

Sophie x