Author's Note: This story may be familiar, and that's because it is! I had lost access to my account (as well as my recovery email) for months, and in that time I ended up make some minor, and major changes to this story. So I'm posting again so chapters in the future aren't as confusing for readers who are in the middle of what I previously posted! Thank you all for joining me on this journey (again.)

I do not own any FSOG characters.
Characters ages, personalities and backgrounds have been changed some. Please note, there will also be mature content and uncomfortable conversations. It will jump between the past and the present.
For the purpose of this story, Anastasia is 26 and Christian is 27.

This is a story that explores heartbreak, friendships, broken promises, unrequited love and more.

Prequel

Their fingers were intertwined, and as they stood at the exit of the hospital, she leaned her head into his chest, breathing in his scent. For years it had calmed her, and in this moment she wondered what could she do to calm him?

"I'm sorry I can't bring you to the airport, but I can't-", he began, his voice catching in his throat.

"You don't have to explain. I can change my flight." She pulled back from him, looking up into his eyes. They seemed… different, cold and detached.

"No. You heard the doctor. He's stable. There's no need for all of us to be here. You have to work."

"Christian, are you okay? I mean…. I know, you're not. But what I mean to say is, are we okay? I know that's selfish to ask, considering everything that's going on right now. But things just feel-"

"We're okay."

"You promise?"

Anastasia could see that he hesitated, and the hesitation made her stomach drop. She knew he thought he was comforting her when he kissed her forehead, and then her lips, but even then she could feel something was off.

"I promise," he said.

Chapter One: Reunited

The cool Seattle air hit Anastasia Steele in the face as she stepped out of SeaTac International Airport. Just as she remembered from years ago, the air felt wet; not wet, like it was humid, but wet like it had just freshly rained. It was a welcoming reprieve to her skin, which had spent the past four years feeling salt and sun kissed. The sun was barely peaking outside of the clouds, as it did in March, but it was nice. Familiar.

With her eyes fluttering closed, Ana breathed in deeply, hoping to exhale whatever anxiety had followed her from Miami back to Seattle. Though she knew the time would come where she had to return, it was easier to pretend that it was a finish line that would never quite come.

It wasn't until someone cursed at her to move out of the way that she realized she was impeding the foot traffic.

"Oops." She mumbled under her breath and with a quick apology to the people around her, she walked toward the passenger pick up area, rolling her luggage alongside her and scanning the area around her for... well, she wasn't sure who.

She pulled her iPhone from her pocket, double checking the most recent text.

Kate: I'm so sorry! With everything going on, I can't pick you up. Christian is going to send someone. Love you, see you soon!

The unicorn emoji that followed made her snort aloud.

Kate; her soon to be married best friend. The engagement had lasted a while, but when the date was finally set, Ana had felt a flood of emotion. Overall, she was overjoyed that she would get to stand beside her as her maid of honor. She could do without having to wear the dress Kate had picked out, but it was her day and she'd do whatever was needed. Her love for Kate was one of the many reasons why she was standing at SeaTac, looking around for a person she had never met, in a place she'd vowed to never come back to.

"Miss Steele?"

She jumped at the voice that came from behind her and quickly turned to see a gentleman holding a sign with her name on it. How she had missed him, she was unsure. He was brawny, muscular though he was a little older. And he looked exactly like someone that Christian Grey would send to pick her up.

"That's me. You're not here to kidnap me, are you?" Ana said, hoping to add some levity to the conversation.

"No ma'am." The man said bluntly, grabbing her bags and putting them neatly into the back of a large Audi SUV. Shortly after, he opened the back door to allow her into the back seat.

"Hm. Before I get into the back seat of your mysterious black SUV, are you going to tell me your name at least?" She eyeballed the back seat, apprehensive.

"Taylor."

"Okay, well, I'm Ana. Nice to formally meet you. Where are you taking me exactly?"

"To Miss Kavanaugh and Mr. Grey."

"Oh. Lovely."

The backseat of the Audi A7 was an upgrade to her old VW, but she would never admit that publicly. The tan leather was cool and comfortable and as she sat in the back of the moving vehicle, she did everything to try and convince herself why her car was superior. Eventually, the only con she could find about the SUV was that leather seats in Miami weren't always the most practical.

Absorbed by her own thoughts, she hadn't even realized that they were slowing down and turning into the parking garage of what looked like a massive skyrise. She realized immediately that it was likely Grey Enterprises and knowing that no one was in the back seat with her, and that Taylor wasn't paying attention, she rolled her eyes as dramatically as she could.

"Ma'am, Mr. Grey has informed me that Miss. Kavanaugh is with him in his office and would like you to join them to discuss some final wedding plans."

"It doesn't seem like you're asking me."

The silence she was met with was deafening.

"Okay, okay." She finally said, "But let me open my own damn door."

This is so overkill, Anastasia thought. The glass elevator continued rising and when it seemed like it couldn't go any higher, it finally stopped and opened. She stepped out and suddenly didn't feel as comfortable in her t-shirt, jeans, and converse.

A large white desk sat before her, and two immaculately dressed women with earpieces in sat behind it, just in front of a wall that read GEH in large plain lettering. They both nodded to Taylor as he walked in front of her, leading her to two large, frosted doors where she assumed that Christian Grey would be sitting behind.

Christian Grey. His name was all it took for an array of feelings and memories to come flooding back to her. And his name was one of the reasons she vowed to never return to Seattle, but also one of the reasons this very wedding was even happening. Her heart raced at the prospect of him being on the other side of the doors.

"In here?" Anastasia asked, pointing at the large doors, and her new 'friend' Taylor stood in front of them, giving a curt nod.

Well, here we go, she thought as she began to push open the doors.

Nine or so Years Prior

Anastasia Steele pushed open the heavy doors that led to the auditorium. It was empty and quiet, which was a stark contrast to the rest of the high school. The lack of excitement was exactly what she needed to finish studying for her algebra exam.

At sixteen years old, Anastasia realized that high school wasn't everything she thought it would be. The school year was ending soon, and the school counselor had already reminded her at least a million times that her grades weren't good enough to get her into any good school. She reminded them multiple times that she was a junior, and that she didn't even know if she wanted to go to college. In fact, she had no idea what she even wanted to do with her life.

After hoisting her backpack up, she climbed onto the stage and glanced out at the seats before her. The room was where the school held their graduations and it was large enough that the light from the stage didn't meet the seats in the back, casting them in a dark shadow.

"God, math is stupid," she said and after realizing no one could hear her, she grinned and let out a loud, "I HATE MATH!"

"That may be so, but some of us are trying to get some shut eye."

The voice came from those dark shadows in the back seats of the auditorium, and after she got over her initial shock, she squinted trying to find the person who spoke to her.

"Who's there?!" she shouted into the abyss.

The creak of a seat sounded from a distance away and slowly she began making out the shape of a boy; a very handsome boy, to be exact.

"I should have expected that someday, someone else would come and use this room. Bummer. I really enjoyed my quiet time."

He was tall, taller than her, with messy copper hair. He was plainly dressed, a black hoodie and dark pants barely accented by a pair of white sneakers.

"Well, this is my free hour... so... you don't own this place." She quipped back, indignation flooding her features.

He laughed, and climbed up on the stage next to her, peaking over at her textbook. "Algebra 1? You don't look like a freshman."

Anastasia snapped the book shut and pulled it close to her chest. "I... hate math." she said, embarrassed. "And I'm not a freshman. I'm a junior."

"I heard. Well, junior, what are you having an issue with? I'm really good at math." He jumped onto the stage with ease and sat next to her, dangling his legs.

"You don't even know me, there's no reason for you to help me."

He scoffed before laughing a bit. "Do I have to know you to help you?"

"Of course you do! It's high school. Cliques, all that."

He leaned back on his elbows, staring out into the darkness of the auditorium. Quietly he said, "I don't do all of that." Looking at her he repeated, "What are you having an issue with?"

She opened the book once again, turning to the chapter in question and held it toward him. "I'm having an issue with all of it. This is the second time I'm taking this class," She snapped her head at him, "Don't laugh at me."

"I'm not laughing. But this is pretty standard, basic stuff."

"Why are there numbers and letters, TOGETHER?! It doesn't make sense."

"Alright, let's work out this problem." He paused and turned to face her, reaching a hand out. "I'm Christian, by the way."

She pursed her lips and paused before grabbing his outstretched hand. "Anastasia."

"Anastasia. Pretty name, but long. Mind if I call you Ana?"

Present Day

The door was heavier than it looked, and the force behind the push was much more than needed. The door swung forward quickly and with a yelp, she fell onto the floor of the large office.

"Oh my god," Anastasia huffed as she quickly jumped up and brushed the knees of the jeans she wore. She mumbled, "That was embarrassing."

The office was huge, and she couldn't imagine any type of reason that would require an office of that size. It was stark white, with hints of grey here and there. It was devoid of any personal touches, other than the three large modern black and white paintings that sat behind a glass desk. Rather than windows, the walls on the outside of the building were glass from ceiling to floor, and she could see buildings peeking through the clouds that shrouded her view.

But it wasn't really the view that caught her attention; no, it was the person that had stood from his desk and rushed toward her before she quickly stood up. It was Christian Grey.

He hadn't changed much since she last saw him, save for what seemed like a recent shave. Otherwise, his copper hair was still messy and still wore a grey suit. His chivalry to help her was short lived as he saw she was fine, but he still walked toward her with purpose.

"Hello Anastasia."

As he spoke, his dulcet tones radiated through her, sending a flood of memories into her brain that she had tried to forget. She was sure he had too, judging by the look on his face.

She took a deep breath before letting out a breathy, "Hello, Christian."