Christian is impatient. He's in line to get coffee at the cafe where he and Ana had their reunion some months ago now. What they have just done, he wouldn't even dare dream of back then. He smiles inwardly – he's happier than he remembers ever being.
But he's also bloody impatient to get the coffee. They've come here to talk about the house they've just been to see and Christian has no clue how Ana felt about the property. She didn't give anything away while they were there and he always hates it when he can't figure out what she's thinking.
Finally it's his turn to order and he asks for two cappuccinos and two blueberry muffins. Ana didn't ask for one but she didn't eat much for breakfast – she should be peckish at least.
Zigzagging past the small tables to get to theirs in the corner he senses heads turning as he walks by, but the attention doesn't give him any pleasure. It never has, although it has been a means to an end occasionally. He looks in Ana's direction to check if she notices and what her reaction might be. She does take notice but appears not be jealous – instead she looks amused. Good.
"It seems I'm not the only one who can appreciate the apparition that is Christian Grey," Ana teases as he sets down their coffees and takes a seat.
"The only one that matters." Christian mutters. "I brought you a blueberry muffin. Thought you might be a bit hungry." The look he gives her is almost daring her to defy him, but she just smiles sweetly.
"Of course you did, baby. And you're right, I will eat it with pleasure." Ana starts peeling the paper off the muffin. She's still making fun of him, but she's in a good mood and hopefully that means they can have a talk where he keeps his good mood as well.
"So. We just saw a house together. How did that feel?" Christian takes Ana's hand, more to reassure himself than her. It's important that he remembers that she loves him, even if she hates the house he so carefully picked out because he thought it would suit her.
Ana face turns serious and she takes a few large gulps of her coffee and then looks at him thoughtfully before answering.
"Christian, you know me well enough to know that I love the house." There's loud giggling coming from a table not far from them and Ana turns, irritated by the interruption. The gigglers are a group of young women who are unashamedly staring at Christian. Ana frowns at them and looks like she going to tell them off. Christian squeezes her hand and sighs.
"Hey, look at me. Please continue." His smile is reassuring and she returns it.
"Ok. Like I said, I love the house. It's bigger than anything I've ever lived in, apart from when I lived with you at Escala of course. The garden is immense and beautiful and I can certainly see me and Sara there, but ..." She gives him a quick glance and looks down at their clasping hands.
"What?" he says gently.
"Well, it's difficult to picture you there."
Christian blanches – he doesn't understand. But Ana gets a panicky look, quickly shakes her head and giggles nervously.
"Baby, what I mean is that the house seems to be just for us, I don't see anything of you in it. It's so much smaller than what you are used to, or at least what you would choose for yourself. I don't want you to find yourself in a situation where you feel deprived just to please us."
It's Christian's turn to shake his head.
"Honestly Ana, the thought that I would feel deprived if I get to be with you is … preposterous."
Ana giggles again. She must be nervous, but he loves the sound.
"And I haven't told you everything about the property – there was no need to unless we would actually decide to buy it. But there are certain things I find necessary in my life, so I have looked at those possibilities beforehand. No point considering it otherwise."
He shrugs but doesn't take his eyes of Ana. He loves the fact that she's just been offered to live in a, for her, huge house that she apparently loves, but what she does is think of his needs.
"Besides," Christian continues, kissing her hand gently while giving her a shy look,"we can always up-size when you've gotten used to having more room. And who knows, maybe we'd even need more room eventually."
Ana's eyes open wide and she blinks a couple of times. "Like, for pets?" she whispers.
Christian snorts and slowly shakes his head. "Not a big fan of pets."
Ana is dumbfounded and he can't blame her. He had planned for that particular piece of information being outed at another point in time. Preferably after they'd move in together. But it's out there now.
"What are the things you find necessary in life, property-wise?" Ana asks quietly.
"Is that what you want to talk about right now?" Christian says, surprised. He kind of just dropped a bomb on her, but she doesn't want to talk about it?
"Just for now, please."
"Ok." The apprehension is back. Why won't she talk about what he said? But he'll play along for now.
"Well. As you know I'm security-conscious and I doubt I'd be less so living with you and Sara. So the property has been appraised by my security-team. It's no problem fixing it up to an acceptable standard."
Ana nods. She doesn't seem to have a problem with that.
"Then there has to be accommodation for security personnel, since I have around-the-clock security. And of course living quarters for Gail and Jason. That would all have to be built and we would add garage space too."
Ana nods again, slower this time.
"So, actually it would mean an addition that is at least half the size of the main house," Christian adds carefully. "But I have been assured it would look equally good and not destroy the overall feeling of the property – the addition will be located some distance from the main house."
He has nothing else to add. There's so much to discuss, all of which is pointless without a decision. Which will not be made today most likely, but should be soon or the property will be off the market. Then again, if that were to happen and they still want it, his wealth can be pretty persuasive.
They just look at one another for a while, not knowing what to say, but at least Ana looks like she's thinking. Christian is just about to ask if she wants another coffee – although she hasn't finished the one in front of her yet – just to say something, when Ana breaks the silence.
"So how do you feel about it really? Please be honest with me. And I don't mean about moving in together – I mean about the house."
They are still talking about the house, that's good. It's not a no yet.
"Ana, I want to move out of Escala. I don't like living there anymore. I want to live in proper home for the first time in my life and I know that living with you in this house would make a home."
Ana squeezes his hand hard and she looks like she might tear up. Hopefully in a good way.
"And with the additions that we would have to make, this property won't be smaller than the pent-house. I´m not really down-sizing." He smirks. "And, if ever we do feel crowded, I own about ten other properties around the world. Even one in Scotland."
Ana gasps, and Christian thinks she's going to fall off her chair. He anticipated this reaction and he grins widely at her – the ultimate joy of surprising her. He acquired it a few months ago but choose to keep it a secret.
"Oh." Ana squeaks, "can we go sometime? I've never been, but I love, I love, Scotland."
"I know you do, baby. Of course we'll go, that's the point." He keeps on grinning, but his smile fades as he's sees Ana's face turning serious again.
She let's out a long breath and drinks some more of her coffee – seems to give her courage today. Putting the cup down she grabs both his hand and gazes at him, her big blue eyes sincere.
"Í'm scared, Christian." She hesitates. "But if I tell you why I don't want you to get upset, because part of the reason has to do with money."
Christian sighs, but smiles reassuringly. He knows what's coming and even if he thinks it's ridiculous it's part of who Ana is and he loves all of her.
"We're having an honest discussion, which is imperative if this is going to be good. So no, I won't be mad at you or even slightly irritated." He grins and nods for her to continue.
Ana grins back and he knows she's already more relaxed.
"Ok. For me, the idea of you buying a house for us for which I can't even afford to pay the electric bill is daunting and takes some getting used to. And the additions – they make sense of course, but I hadn't considered the Taylors and your security … it's such a big project and so … final. Not only will we move but our decision will affect their lives too."
Ana gives Christian a small smile.
"I wish I could explain it better, I know you don't get it. Why is it life gets more complicated with more money involved?"
It's a rhetorical question but Christian shrugs. He doesn't feel the least bit upset, he was anticipating her need to get this off her chest.
"It's probably stupid, but I also worry about Sarah and the complete change in lifestyle for her. She's not used to getting everything she wants and I don't think she should. Then again, the way you are with her ..." Her face softens when she looks at him. "Like me, she doesn't need your money either, but I do believe she would want you, too."
Christian feels shy all of a sudden. That's quite a compliment coming from a protective mother, and he has a feeling that it might be sealing the deal.
"On top of it all I'm scared shitless that we're jumping into this too quickly and that it will end in heartache all around. I'm sure you are too?" Ana looks at him curiously and Christian gives a quick nod. He's usually not comfortable admitting to being scared, but they are being honest.
"I have … worries, although they're not the same as yours. I actually feel completely confident that we will be fine, more than fine. But I will elaborate on that on a different occasion."
Ana lifts an eyebrow at him, but he smiles and shakes his head. "Nothing, baby. Anyway, what worries me is that Sarah won't like having me as step dad. Or that it might be fine now, but what happens when she hits puberty? Maybe she'll start hating me then?"
Ana laughs. "Oh come on, she'll hate us both by then. We'll have to help each other."
That lovely laugh. They're getting somewhere. He gets serious.
"Also, being the way I am, I worry that I might fail to keep the two of you safe. Although I can assure you nothing serious has happened in my vicinity since Leila. But that taught me a lesson for life."
Ana sighs and scowls at him.
"Christian! You keep spending your life worrying about everything that might happen, you'll have a heart attack soon enough. And since I'm planning to move in with you in that extravagant house I'd like you to be around."
Seeing the joy that's spreading over Christian's face she can't keep her face straight and joins his grinning.
"Oh, Anastasia, don't worry. I'll live much longer knowing that I have you under my roof and under control."
"Control, huh?"
"A man can dream, Anastasia."
"Yeah, dream on, that's all I'm saying."
They're both smiling sillily at each other and if Christian could he would have her now – his chest is starting to get that bursting feeling again. He wonders when Sara's returning from Ray's and if there's still time …
It's like Ana's reading his mind.
"Do you mind if we get out of here? It just feels a bit public and maybe we should celebrate?" She's whispering seductively and that's all the invitation he needs.
Christian jumps up from his chair and reaches for Ana's hand. She takes it with a smile and he almost drags her out from the coffee shop. Her handbag slams in to several chairs on their way out making so much noise that nobody in the room ignores their exit.
"Whoa, you're in a hurry. We're five minutes from my house you know, we have time," Ana laughs.
"That's five minutes too long", Christian says quietly. "I'll bet you we'll make it in three, though."
…. …. ….
They've made love and now he's planting small kisses all over her face and neck; he just can't stop. How can he ever get enough of this woman?
"You're mine, Ana," he states matter-of-factly.
"And you're mine, don't you ever forget it," she replies softly.
Christian looks appalled. "As if. I've lost you once because I was stupid – not letting that happen again."
Ana pushes him away so he can't continue the kissing and looks at him sternly.
"You were not stupid. You felt as strongly about the issue as I did, only we were on opposite sides. That's just the way it was and there's no point in wishing it was different."
"Good point well made, Miss Steele," Christian murmurs, pushing himself back towards her, close enough to nuzzle her neck and collarbone. She lets him have his way.
"Hm-m. So what did you mean by us needing more room eventually? We've established you weren't talking about pets." She's keeping her voice light.
Christian stops kissing and just breathes against her neck. So now she wants to know.
"What do you think I meant?" he teases, still talking to her neck.
"Just tell me, Christian." Her voice is impatient.
He gives up his neck-fondling and lies back, organizing a pillow to support his head.
"Ok, ok. What I meant was that if you would … ever be ready to have a second child, then I would be too. But you probably figured that that's what I meant."
Her turns on his side and rests his head on his elbow so he can look at her. He'd thought he might be nervous talking about this, but he actually feels comfortable.
"I'm not saying it to put any pressure on you, just that it's something that we could consider eventually, should you want."
Ana's blue eyes are even bigger than usual and he finds it hard to read her look. It's finally slightly unnerving that she's not saying anything.
"You've changed your mind? Really?" she whispers eventually. "I assumed … that there would be just Sara."
"And baby, that's far more than enough. That's closer to being a father than I ever thought I would be." He tucks her hair behind her ear – he really needs nothing more than what she is already offering him.
"No I mean, when we got back together I took into account that Sara would be my only child knowing, or thinking I knew, how you felt about it. And that was ok, because I got you back. I want to, believe me." But then she frowns.
"But I will not even consider it if it's just your way of trying to make me happy. I am happy."
"No, Ana. I'm telling you, I have a different perspective now. Back then it was impossible to for me to see myself as a father – any child would hate me, that's how I felt. Because I did."
Christian smiles lovingly at Ana. "But thanks to you I slowly learned to start liking myself again, which in turn gave Dr. Flynn something to work with. Not to mention that my little niece and nephew showed me kids could be quite awesome."
Ana looks at him, wide-eyed.
"You're awesome," she murmurs. "And I love you. I can't believe we might have a child together one day. Just the possibility is mind-blowing."
He kisses her gently and then deeper, wanting more of her constantly. She reciprocates at first, but then withdraws, gasping.
"Shit, Sara's here soon. And we have to tell her."