A/N: Thank you for all the reviews and welcome to all the new readers!

I hope all the followers are still reading my story. I assure you, I did not abandon it. I'm not entirely finished, but then again, if I don't post now, I don't know when it will be done.

Important: I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters. They belong to the very talented E.L. James.

Ana POV:

We arrive at Bellevue and the evening starts pleasant even though Christian is tense again. He said that we will discuss the reason for his tension later and that it is really nothing for me to be concerned about. Even though I believe him, I don't seeing him like this. I know something is bothering me and I get the sense that he is either trying to protect me, or he does not know how to tell me. I don't know which is worse...

With Mia out with Jose and Christian with his dad in his study, Grace and I go to the kitchen to finish what smells like a very delicious dinner. Deep in discussion, or rather gossip, over the flamboyant Tony and Christian's reaction to him, we hear the door close and footsteps approaching.

"Hello, Grace, Ana. I hope I'm not interrupting." Elena says as she walks into the kitchen wearing white pants with a light pink top and matching shoes. I guess she really is trying to change her life around.

"Elena, don't you look stunning." Grace says as she greets Elena with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It's clear that they are great friends and I although I still have Maya here, I'm starting to really miss Kate.

"Thank you, all part of the new me." Elena says with a shy smile before greeting me. "Hello, Ana. It's so good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too and Grace is right, you really do look stunning."

"What brings you by, Elena? I wasn't expecting you until Saturday." Grace says as Elena sits down on the barstool and we continue making dinner.

"I drove by and saw the R8 and took a chance on Christian and Ana being here, it saves me a trip to the Coping Together offices later this week. I have something I want to discuss with both of you." Oh yes, she mentioned something about that last night.

"Sure, but before I forget. Ana, did Christian tell you about the plans for this weekend?"

"Yes, he mentioned that we will be coming over for drinks and dinner." When they both look at me with a frown, I start to get the idea it might be something more and meet their frowns with one of my own.

"He didn't tell you anything else?" Elena ask and yes, definitely something more, but I shake my head and take my wine in an effort to hide my confusion.

"Ana, the cocktail is for his birthday," Grace's surprise that I did not know is met with my wine being spat back into my glass in a very unladylike fashion. I cannot believe that he didn't tell me. Why tell me about the plans for Saturday and mention the reason for it?

"Christian's birthday is on Saturday?" I ask, not that I needed clarification, but I really don't know what else to say at this very moment.

"No," phew, but then she continuous, "it's on Sunday."

"I see. No, he didn't tell me anything. I'll make sure to ask him about that tonight." I say distracted over how this man's brilliant mind works and Grace turns to Elena.

"Okay Elena, we're listening." Grace says and I go to sit next to Elena with fresh wine for both of us.

"I've been thinking of ways to do more for others, as part of my therapy." Grace's head snaps up and I'm guessing she does not know as much about Elena as she should. She obviously did not know about the therapy. "It's part of me trying to be a better person and dealing with my past. Nothing to worry about." She waves her hand dismissively and continues, "Anyway, I was thinking about women who go through a crisis or recovering from trauma. Treatments can be expensive and nothing makes a woman feel better than a haircut and some beauty treatments. So, I was thinking that should any of the women coming to Coping Together needs a bit of pampering to feel better about herself, I will be willing to let them come to Esclava for anything they need or wants." Knowing Esclava's prices, that is very generous indeed.

"That is very nice of you, Elena, thank you. But are you sure? It can be very expensive." I ask, wondering if she discussed this very generous gesture with her business partner.

"I understand that and yes, I'm sure. I still have to run it past Christian, but since he also supports Coping Together, I'm positive he won't mind. We obviously have to fit them in between our regular clients, but it will not affect the business and is all part of giving back to the community. Let's face it, woman that comes out of an abusive relationship does not always have the means to spoil themselves and women deserve to feel good about themselves."

"Elena, I have to say that you've really changed during the last couple of weeks. Not that there was anything wrong with you before, but I like this new, lighter side of you." Grace says, finally finished with dinner and pulling up a chair to sit across from us.

"Have the two of you known each other long?" I ask out of curiosity, even though deep down, something is telling me not too.

"Oh yes, several years in fact. Elena and her husband moved in just down the street about seventeen years ago. We became instant friends. She helped me through some pretty tough times." Grace says and Elena looks like she's about to be sick. That voice which told me not to ask, is telling me to leave the kitchen, but as usual, I ignore it.

"I hope that when I'm your age, I can say the same about my friends. I can't even imagine having a friend for seventeen years."

"Ana, I'm sure that any friend you make wants to be your friend for life. Your friends are lucky to have you as their friend and I'm sure they know it." Elena says and starts to look around, "Where is Carrick and Christian? I didn't see them when I came in."

"Christian needed to talk to Carrick. They're in his study. You know Christian, always serious and always something to resolve. That boy just can't relax while something is on his mind." Then Grace turns to me, "He's always been like that. He used to be always angry. Like he was fighting something he knew he couldn't win, until he turned sixteen, I think? That boy got in more fights than we could count and was expelled from more schools than we care to remember. One day, it all changed. Remember Elena? It was about the time he came to help you in your yard." Elena looks like she's seen a ghost and it takes me all but thirty seconds to figure out why. "It seems that some manual labour made him more focussed…less angry. Don't you agree, Elena?" Fuck, this is not happening. One look at Elena just confirmed my initial thoughts. Manual labour my ass…more like corporal punishment and sexual gratification. I think I'm going to be sick and then another thought finds an unwelcome spot in my head.

Holy. Fucking. Shit!

She is still friends with his mother after what she did?

I'm struggling to breathe and it feels as if all the blood has been drained from my body. Why did I not let Christian finish what he wanted to tell me over the weekend? He kept saying there's more and I kept telling him to give me time to digest everything he already told me. I'm trying to pull myself together for Grace, so I keep my head down and my eyes fixed on the counter top. Breathe in…breathe out…breathe in… I keep repeating in my mind as I fear I'm going to pass out.

"Elena, are you okay? You don't look too good." I hear Grace, but she sounds like she is talking under water with the blood running through my ears. Focus Anastasia. Do not lose your cool now. This is not the time nor the place…as if there will ever be a right time to hear news like this.

"I'm fine, Grace, but please can I have some water?" Elena asks and the minute Grace turns her back, she puts her hand on mine. "Ana, it's not…"

"Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. Tell Grace I went to the bathroom." I spit out through clenched teeth and run out of the kitchen as fast as my legs can carry me.

I run straight out the front door and right into Elliot. What the hell is he doing here?

"Whoa, hold on there, little lady. Where's the fire?" He ask as he steadies me on my feet.

"Elliot, what are you doing here and where is Kate?"

"Uhm… I came back early, so did Kate. She's at her apartment. We…broke up." Drama, right now I need someone else's drama to forget my own. "Where are you off to in such a rush?"

"I felt lightheaded and needed some fresh air. I'm feeling better now, thank you." Think Ana, think. "Elliot, I need to go see if she's okay. Can I borrow your car?"

"Sure, but don't dent it." He says and before he can change his mind, or I change mine, I grab his keys and start towards his car.

"Please tell Christian and tell him I will call him later?"

"Okay, the remote for the gate is on the keys…the blue remote." He shouts to my back as I reach his car. I simply wave over my shoulder, unable to hide the tears now spilling from my eyes.

Christian POV:

After discussing my trouble with Tokyo and Europe with my dad, we walk out of the study to find my mom, Elliot and Elena in the great room, but no Ana.

"Christian, Elliot was just on his way to come and find you." Mom says as we reach them. "Dinner is ready. We'll just wait for Ana."

"Hey Elliot." I shake his hand and turn to mom. "Where is Ana?"

"Elena says she needed to go to the bathroom." Mom says and just when I turn around to go find her, Elliot speaks up.

"No she's not. She left when I arrived." Excuse me? Did he just say she fucking left?

"How did she leave?" From me to my brother.

"Why did she leave?" From mom to my brother.

"I gave her my car." From my fucking idiot brother, as if the answer was fucking obvious.

"What did you say to her?" I ask my mother when something else occurs to me. "You gave her your R8? To a woman? That's a dangerous car, Elliot." And if she is upset, it is even more dangerous.

"Can everyone please calm down? Screaming at each other is not giving us any information. Now, Grace, did anything happen in the kitchen?" My dad asks as I try to phone Ana's phone, which starts ringing in her purse on the table behind me. Now I'm worried, she will not go anywhere without her purse.

"No, we made dinner. Then Elena stopped by and we spoke about Coping Together for a while. Then we sat down and I told Ana how difficult Christian was until about the time he started working in Elena's yard. I'm sure that's not what upset her." OH. FUCK! How could I let her find out like this? This is not happening right now.

Do we not have enough shit to deal with already?

"She's on her way to see Kate." Apparently we don't. After all the measures Taylor put in place to keep Kate away from us and Ana goes running to her.

"Why would she just leave without saying goodbye to see Kate?" Mom asks and I know that seeing Kate is just an excuse, which is why I'm already on my way to the door, trying to phone Taylor.

"We broke up." And that's the last I hear of that conversation until I close the front door behind me.

"Christian?" I turn around and glare at Elena.

"What the fuck are you doing here in the first place?" She did this. Okay, I did this, but it wouldn't have happened if she did not show up here tonight.

"I came to speak to Grace. Christian, I did not know this was going to happen. I swear to you this was not my intention." She says, but I really, really want to hurt her right now.

"What did you say to her?"

"Nothing…I didn't need to say anything. She…she figured it out on her own and when your mom left us to get me some water… She's furious. I've never seen anyone as furious as she is. Maybe let her cool down a bit, Christian."

"Are you fucking kidding me? She's not furious, she's fucking hurt…a-fucking-gain. She feels betrayed, Elena, by two of the people she cares about. I should have told her. I fucking knew I should have told her." Finally, I find the right button with my shaky fingers and Taylor luckily answers on the first ring.

"Taylor, something happened. Get over to Kate's apartment, I'm on my way."

"Would I need back up, Sir?" He asks, already on the move.

"Yes, to keep me out of jail and Ana from killing me. She's already on her way. See if you can get there first." I tell him, on my way down the street.

"Anything I should know, Sir?"

"Yes, Ana's going to kill me and this is just what Kate wanted." I hit my hand hard against the steering wheel, "Fuck Jason, I might just lose her tonight. That can't happen." I close my eyes briefly, "She found out about my history with Elena." I don't need to say more, he knows everything about my life, past and present.

"I'm a block away, Sir." And then he disconnects and I start to drive dangerously fast.

Why the fuck did I not listen to myself and tell her everything in one go? If I lose her over this… NO! That can't happen. She has to listen to me. I will not let this or Kate Kavanagh come between us.

In less than twenty minutes, I get to the front door of Kate's apartment and Taylor is standing at the door. The look on his face is not giving me much hope.

"I would not go in there, Sir." He says, pointing with his thumb to the door.

"I need to see…" I start, but stop when I hear one hell of a fight from the other side of the door.

"Are you even listening to yourself, Kate? Who the fuck do you think you are?" I hear Ana scream and yes, she is furious too. Kate could not have picked a worse night to have a fight with Ana. I want to go in, but Taylor grabs my arm to pull me back and hands me a folder.

"I'm your best friend. I'm trying to tell you that Christian Grey is a fucking sadist Ana." What the hell does she know? I open the folder to see Kate's background check.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I hear Ana in the background as my brain tries to rationalize what I'm reading. Fuck me, seems Kate is not as innocent as she wants everyone to think she is. Best friend my ass.

"He beats women Ana. He beats women and he gets a kick out of it. I will not stand by and…" I turn back to the front page and almost pass out. How the fuck did I miss this on the previous one? This surely answers a lot of questions about recent events.

"Stop, just stop. I will not stand here and listen to you talk about something you know absolutely nothing about." I look up and when Taylor nods, I know that I'm right. This woman is going to have the fight of her life, I hope she's prepared for it.

"You are the one who knows nothing, Ana. You moved in with a man you don't even know. This is not like you. He is manipulating you. And the naked woman, Ana? How could you forgive him that easily?" The cheek of this woman astounds me.

"Then you don't know me as well as you think you do." Ana's soft words sounds defeated and like most days lately, she had a lot to process and don't need this.

"Ana, I'm telling you now that if you don't listen to me and leave that fucking asshole, I will go to Ray with what I know. Either way, you are moving out of there right now. I'm only trying to protect you."

"You know Kate, this attitude already cost you your boyfriend, do you really want to go this route?" When Kate snorts, I fist my hands at my sides.

"Elliot will come to his senses when I tell him about his loving brother. He thinks I'm a bitch for wanting you to leave Christian, but that's only because he is blind when it comes to Captain Asshole."

"I love him, Kate, and I will not stand here and listen to you bad mouthing him. Whatever you think you know, is not nearly the truth."

"He does not love you. That man is heartless."

"You were not here! How the fuck can you stand there and tell me that he does not love me?"

"Fuck Taylor, stay close. I'm going to kill this woman tonight." As I walk casually into the apartment, silence descends as the two friends glare at each other in the kitchen.

"Ladies," I nod as I lean against the door after I closed it, "by all means Kate, please continue." I gesture for her to continue with my hand and she is literally fuming.

"You brainwashed her. She is too fucking good for you and would never in a million years allow you to do to her what you do to women." She screams and I count to ten before I answer her as calmly as possible. If I want to leave here with Ana, I can't lose my temper.

"I agree with you, Ana is too good for me. Furthermore, I don't know what you think you know, but I can assure you that you know absolutely nothing about me. Apart from Ana, no one knows anything worth knowing about me."

"Really? I know you beat women. I know you treat them like they are disposal until you had your fill of them and then throw them to the sidewalk." Seems someone forgot they signed an NDA, but I know more than enough now about Ms. Kavanagh to walk away from this as the winner.

"Tell me, Kate, if actions define a person, what would your actions say about you?" I ask, glad for her thorough back ground check that came through just in time.

"Fuck you! You don't know anything about me." And I feel my lips twitch. For someone who thinks they know me so well, she doesn't know shit.

"You really want to go into that right now? I assure you, Ana knows everything there is to know about me, but the same can't be said for you, can it?" I can point to the exact second the fight left her. When her eyes shoot to Ana, Ana looks to me, and I try very hard not to smile. Check. Mate.

"What is going on here? Christian, what are you talking about?" Ana asks and I go over to stand next to her with my arm around her waist.

"Nothing, baby. Let's go home." I tell her with the smile I know she can't resist.

"I think it will be best." She luckily agrees before she turns to Kate. "I will talk to you when you've calmed down a bit Kate. But know this, I'm not leaving Christian and if you care for me at all, you will leave him alone. You can't hurt Christian without hurting me." She's not leaving me?

"Just go, Ana."

I'm smiling like an idiot as I follow Ana out of the apartment. Round one to Christian Grey. If Kate is as smart as she think she is, she will give up the fight now. Even if she does though, we will still have a heart to heart before Ana finds out what she did. I honestly don't want to tell Ana, but it will be way worse if Ana finds out on her own and my gut tells me she will. Just like with Elena. I won't make the same mistake twice.

Uncomfortable, tense silence. That was the drive home. The only thing that made it bearable, is knowing that after everything, Ana chose me. She chose to come home with me and before I go to bed tonight, I will make this better again. I take a bit of comfort in the knowledge that she is still here.

When we finally get to the apartment, she immediately goes to the bathroom while I use the time to call my mother.

"Christian, is everything okay?" She asks before I can even say hello. Might as well skip the formalities.

"Honestly mom, not yet, but I'm hoping it will be." I tell her and sit down on the nearest barstool.

"Elliot told me why he broke up with Kate and I'm so sorry this have to happen to both of you. I thought both my sons finally found the right women and now this have to happen. I don't have the details Christian and neither do I need it. What I do need however is for you to protect Ana and make sure you hold on to her. Elliot will be fine. He will find someone perfect for him, but I'm not so sure that you will be able to find someone who is more suited for you than Anastasia. I've never seen you smile as much as you have since you met her." Wow, a heart to heart with my mother. I haven't had one of those since I was a teenager.

"I love her mom. I don't want to lose her, but I don't want to make this difficult for her or for Elliot." As if that is the biggest problem we are facing at the moment…

"I know honey. This won't be easy for Ana. Kate's her best friend and as much as we all could wish that there was a way she didn't have to choose between you and Kate, it doesn't seem like that is possible right now. Just be there for her and make sure she knows how much you love her."

"Listen mom, I don't think we are going to make it back to dinner." I say just in case that was not obvious to her yet.

"I figured as much. We will see you on Saturday then. Now, go talk to your girl."

After I end the call, I walk into the bedroom to see Ana tying her hair…still completely ignoring me. I'm not used to be ignored, but I also don't know what to say. I should have called John instead of my mother.

"Are we going to talk about this?" I ask, anything to get some form of conversation going.

"No." Comes her short reply, but when I see her look at me taking off my clothes, I decide that a bit of distraction is just what we both need right now.

"So you are just going to continue to stew about this and ignore me in the process?" I ask, removing my pants and walking to the cupboard. My back may be turned to her, but I can still feel her eyes on me.

"Yes." She answers again, but I heard the slight hesitation.

"Distracted, Ms. Steele?" I ask with a grin on my face, grateful that she can't see it.

"No. I'm going to get a drink." She says and as I turn around, she quickly adds, "Alone." Message clearly received. She doesn't want to be near me right now.

When she leaves, I take my phone and head to the study. Time for some advice as I'm in uncharted waters right now and before I let this get worse, I need to know how to handle this.

"Christian, not to be rude, but this better be important." John says as he answers the phone. Twice in one night, what happened to common courtesy?

"Ana knows about Elena and she's not talking to me." I say quickly and sit down behind my desk.

"You finally told her?" He is not even trying to hide his disbelieve.

"No, which I suspect is part of the reason she is mad right now."

"Did Elena tell her?"

"No. I wish she did though. Right now it would give me something to focus my anger on and stop being angry with myself for not telling her earlier."

"So she left?"

"No, she's having a drink somewhere in the apartment."

"Christian, I think we should forget the way we used to have these conversations. In the past, less information was more since…well, nothing ever changed much and every conversation we had in the past was over the same issues over and over again. From now, I think we should start every conversation at the very beginning and then take it from there. Let's face it, nothing in your life at the moment is something we've discussed in the past. So, let's start with who told Ana about you and Elena."

"My mother. Sort of." I say and nothing on the other end. Seems the good doctor is not immune to speechlessness. "I told Ana certain things and as you know, Elena told Ana her damn life story. I have no idea what that is, but I do know that Elena told her about what happened between us. She did not say it was me, but she gave enough information for Ana to put two and two together and being a smart, educated woman, she got four and she is pissed. Knowing her like I do now, it is because I did not tell her more than it is over what happened."

"I'm trying very hard not to tell you I told you so. Christian, I know you don't normally follow my advice, but I think it is time that you do. So go out there…" John is still busy speaking, but the music coming from the great room is loud enough to get my attention and I end the call without another word. I will gladly apologize tomorrow if this is what I think it is.

A/N: Yes, please review. I love to hear your comments, suggestions and ideas.