A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!

"Just hear me out. That's all I'm asking.", Christian pleads. "If you want me to leave when I'm finished, I'll go and never bother you again." He just dropped a huge bombshell on me, but what harm could come from listening to what he has to say? Give him a chance.

"All right. I'll listen.", I state with my arms crossed. "Talk."

"Tell me, when you were doing research for your article, did you learn that I'm adopted?"

"No. I wasn't aware of that."

"Miss Steele, I'm shocked.", he says with a smirk. "My parents adopted not only me but Elliot and Mia. We came from different families so I don't know what their situation was before. Mine, however, was not so pleasant. My birth mother was more focused on getting her next fix than on taking care of her son. Her priorities were her pimp and then drugs. I was no where in the mix. " My jaw almost hits the floor at this revelation. Even though hearing this may help explain him better, I'm not sure if I should be privy to such personal information.

"Perhaps we should put this conversation on hold and get back to our pizza which is probably getting cold."

"I'm actually fond of cold pizza. Besides, I've already told you that I don't do things half ass so why should I start now?"

"Fine.", I murmur. "Continue."

"When I was around four, she killed herself, leaving alone with her body for four days. I suppose since she never took care of me in the first place that it wasn't much of a difference. The police finally came and took her body away while I was taken to the hospital. It was there that Grace found me. Here I was this malnourished child who didn't even talk, and she wanted me. For the first time in my life, I was wanted. She and Carrick adopted me and then Elliot. Mia's arrival a few years later was the catalyst in getting me to talk.", he recalls. The dark tone of his voice eases somewhat as he talks of Mia.

"I'm sorry that you had such a horrific beginning to life. No one especially an innocent child should be subjected to that.", I say as I sit back down across from him. The thought of the strong man before me having to endure hell as a child is nauseating.

"Don't get me wrong, having the Grey family adopt me was the best thing that could ever happen to me, but I was far from the perfect child growing up. I can't even tell you how many times my parents would get a call from the school telling them about me getting into a fight. My grades were just as bad as my attitude. Of course, my parents were concerned and sent me to a therapist, but I tuned him out during our sessions. I needed something to help me get back on track and take control."

"And you found that in your um...way of life?" He takes a small bite of his pizza and nods before wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

"When I was fifteen, a family friend introduced me to the world of BDSM."

"She must have been a knowledgable fifteen year old."

"Actually, she wasn't fifteen. She was around my mother's age." The wave of nausea from before returns at the unsettling news. Deep breath Ana. I take hold of my water glass go for the world's longest sip. "I know this is a lot to process, and maybe you were right to suggest that we table the discussion."

"We've come this far so we might as well take it all the way."

"You want to take it all the way?", he teases. A dab of wetness develops in my panties at his double-sided comment.

"Our talk Christian. We should take our talk all the way. Get your mind out of the gutter." And yours as well Ana. "How did this pedophile bring you into BDSM?"

"She wasn't a pedophile. I was more than willing. I was doing some yard work for her one day when I decided to get smart with her so she slapped me. It was a shock, but the bigger shock came afterwards when she kissed me. Ana, I was a fifteen year old boy whose hormones were raging so I left more than turned on. The next day, she kissed me again, minus the slap. She told me about her secret lifestyle and offered to show me. I agreed, and that was the beginning of our relationship."

"She was the one who dominated?", I ask.

"She was. Every single infliction of punishment helped me get one step closer to the right path. My grades started getting better, and the fighting ceased."

"How long did it go on?"

"Seven years, but even after it ended I was left with a yearning for the same very same control she exhibited over me. It was like needing air to survive so I decided to take on submissives."

"Women who allow you to punish them for your pleasure.", I snap.

"And theirs. Punishment takes place when they misbehave, but when they follow the rules, they're rewarded. Now you know more about me." I'll say!

"I have one more question for you, and I need you to be honest with me." This is it. How he answers my question will no doubt either make or break whatever this thing with us is. "Since having women submit to you is all you know, is that your plan for me?" It's his turn to stand up, staring at me with his scorching grays.

"The truth? Initially, yes, but it was very brief thought. It was during our little non-date that it became clear to me that you don't have a submissive bone in your body. When I realized that, I thought about walking away, but I couldn't. You see, in a small amount of time, you've gotten under my skin. After I got home from the club, it took forever for me to fall asleep, and when I finally did, you were in my dreams. It was like I was looking through a window of what could be, and it was fucking amazing. Never have I had any desire to be more with a woman, but you, you Anastasia Steele have changed that." He could be bullshitting me, but something in his voice is telling me that he's being truthful which makes things even more terrifying.

"How can you be so sure that you can turn your dominant side off with the snap of a finger?"

"I'll admit that it's not going to be an easy transition, but it's one that I'm willing to try. I've already scheduled more workout time with my trainer to help with my stress so that's a step. My question for you is this, will you take that step with me or should I walk away?" He moves over to where I'm sitting and bends down with his hand extended to me. Taking a chance with him is scary and against everything I had planned, but not seeing again is something that I am sure I can do.

"I don't..", I stammer. His hand falls along with his eyes.

"I understand. It was worth a try, right?" He's back on his feet and picking up the NDA before I have a chance to finish processing things. "I've got an early meeting so I should get going. Thank you for the pizza and hearing me out." With him heading to the door, I jump to my feet and stand in from him as a barricade.

"Christian, I'm not saying no."

"You're not?", he asks with hope displayed in the smile on his face.

"I need some time to think. I promise it won't be long, but I just need to evaluate all of what's been thrown at me."

"I've never been a patient man, but I can give you time." I stand on my toes and press a small kiss on his cheek as he closes his eyes. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

"Now that we can stop and catch our breath, what did you do last night?", Kate asks the next morning as we take a break at work. By the time she arrived home last night, I was asleep, and she overslept this morning so we haven't had much time to talk.

"Nothing exciting. I cooked a pizza and watched a dvd.", I shrug, hoping she believes my lie.

"Cool. What movie did you watch?" Any other time I'd be able to think of a movie, but my mind is completely blank in this moment.

"Uh, I watched The Notebook, and I actually cried for the first time in forever."

"The Notebook, huh? Didn't I accidentally step on that and break it?" A knowing smile is on her face, but I refuse to give in. "How did you watch it?"

"Did I say a dvd? What I meant to say was that it was on tv."

"Your voice gets a little higher when you're not telling the truth.", she grins.

"No it doesn't.", I scoff, wondering if she's right. "Since you're so interested in my night, why don't we shift gears and discuss yours."

"Ok. Elliot and I had dinner and then went bowling which was fun. I took great pride in getting not one but two strikes. My prize was a steamy make out session and dinner for next week."

"Good for you. He seems like a nice guy." I admit that I'm a little jealous of Kate and her take charge attitude. She gets out there and does her thing while I end up running to my corner to hide. I keep telling myself that I'm going to start taking chances, but fear of getting hurt is what's holding me back. The office door opens and a guy carrying a large bouquet of daffodils begins walking towards us. "Looks like Elliot sent you some flowers."

"Excuse me, but I'm looking for Anastasia Steele.", he says.

"Uh, that's me.", I answer while he hands me the flowers. "Thank you."

"Have a good day."

"Who sent them?", Kate asks.

"I don't know." Taking the attached card in my hand, I read the handwritten message.

Anastasia,

I'm trying hard to be patient, but I'm failing miserably. Whatever you decide, I'll accept, but I wanted to send you these daffodeils. They are a representation of new beginnings, and what I hope will come for you, whether it be with me or on your own journey. I only want the best for you because you deserve it and so much more.

Christian

"Kate, that fax still hasn't gone through.", Audrey says from her desk. Kate smiles at me and then the flowers as she gets up to get the fax.

"I'm going to see what's going on with that.", she says. Once she's out of hearing distance, I grab my phone to call Christian so I can thank him for the flowers. After several rings, I begin to wonder if he's going to answer, but I hear him finally pick up.

"Did you get the daffodils?", he asks.

"Yes and thank you. They're lovely. I was calling to thank you and tell you that I've already made my decision."

"Oh so soon? Um, ok."

"I like the idea of a new beginning, but I kind of need some company along the way."

"I see."

"Do you think you might want to be tag along?", I ask with a smile. This is it. I'm stepping out of that corner.

"Miss Steele, it would be my pleasure."