A/N: I'm testing out a new story to see if it's really worth continuing. I kept going back and forth about posting it, but my friend, Amy McGrath has convinced me to run with it. So, I'm going to try it out and post the first chapter. This is different from the Ana I have written myself in the past. She isn't going to be submissive to Christian. They're equals and friends. I wanted to post a story that shows what couples with infertility issues have to go through. I really hope to bring light to the idea of IVF to those of you who don't know much about it, as well as educate others on really how much time, energy, money, and emotion go into trying to conceive through medical means.

There is no BDSM or abuse from Elena in this story, although she'll always remain creepy in my book.

"That's it! I give up!" Anastasia comes storming into Christian's office at Grey House and throws herself onto his couch.

Amused, Christian closes his laptop and watches her throw her small fit from his seat at his desk.

"Another bad date?"

She huffs. "You don't even know the half of it! I swear every new man I date just gets worse than the last one."

He buzzes Andrea.

"Yes, Mr. Grey?"

"Bring Ms. Steele some hot water and one of her tea bags."

"Yes, Mr. Grey. Anything else?"

Eyeing Anastasia, who is sulking on the couch, he adds, "Better bring a muffin, too. Make it a chocolate one."

Christian makes his way over to Anastasia and has a seat on one of the chairs across from the couch. "What happened this time?"

Feeling pitiful, Anastasia throws her arm over her eyes dramatically. "You don't even want to know."

Christian rolls his eyes. "Ana...is this really necessary?" He sits on the edge of the couch next to her and pulls her arm off of her face. "You are twenty-six years old. Isn't this fit throwing a little immature for you?"

She sticks her lip out. "Can't you just be an enabler for one day? Let me whine and drown my sorrows for once?"

He shakes his head. "Nope. I'm too busy. I have a company to run."

She sighs. "You know...I really need some girl friends."

He cocks his head to the side. "A girl friend... now that's something to think about...I'd love to witness that." He wiggles his eyebrows and she smacks his arm.

"You pervert! You're disgusting." She tries to keep a straight face, but she can't help, but crack a smile.

"Maybe...but I got you to smile, didn't I?"

There's a knock on the door and Andrea enters with a tray, containing Ana's tea and chocolate muffin.

"Thank you Andrea." Anastasia gives her a smile and she pushes herself up into a sitting position.

"You're welcome, Ms. Steele."

Anastasia bends over the coffee table to dunk her teabag into her hot water and pulls it out quickly.

"I don't even know why you bother." Christian states, shaking his head. "Waste of money, if you ask me."

"Luckily, no one asked you." Anastasia smarts back, picking up her tea. If he wasn't wearing such an expensive suit, she would have chucked the tea bag at him. She still had a mind to if he kept smarting her.

"Andrea brought you a muffin." He pushes the small saucer closer to her, hoping to get her to eat. One of his biggest pet peeves were people that didn't eat as much as they should and, unfortunately, his best friend, Ana, just happened to make it a habit.

Anastasia eyes it, but her stomach feels too upset to eat at the moment. She knows that most girls drown their sorrows in junk food and ice cream after a terrible date, but Anastasia has never been one to eat her feelings. Her ability to live on eating very little and being so slim throughout high school is what made many of the other girls hate her. That, and being best friends with the mysterious Christian Grey. Every girl dreamed of getting to know the handsome, quiet Christian, but none were able to catch his eye. He kept to himself, a few select mates, and Anastasia. Anastasia went throughout high school with little or no girl friends, deciding to stick close to Christian and focus on her studies.

"Why don't you eat it?" She pushes the saucer back towards him and he growls out in frustration.

"I swear, one of these days, I'm just going to take you over my knee when you refuse food."

"Kinky." She teases, giving him a wink.

"I'm serious, Ana. It drives me crazy. You need to eat more."

"I eat fine, Christian. You can't expect me to eat like a grown man who works out six days a week. You definitely won't be seeing me exercise any time soon." She wrinkles her nose. Physical activities are definitely not her thing. She is probably the most uncoordinated person on the planet and she has managed to hurt herself no matter the activity choice.

Sighing, he gives up for now. "Ana...I know you wouldn't come all the way up to my office after a bad date unless you wanted to talk about it, but until now, you've managed to avoid the subject. Tell me what happened." He unbuttons his cuffs and rolls his dress shirt up to his forearms, getting comfortable. He relaxes back against the couch, his arms splayed out on the back of the couch, his left ankle resting on his left thigh. "I'm all ears."

Anastasia slips her flats off her feet and pull them up to her chest, hugging them. She rests her chin on her knees and bites her lip.

"Where do I even start?"

Christian's eyebrows knit together. "Well, how about the beginning?"

She reaches over and grabs her tea cup, resting it on her knees while she warms her hands with it. "Why does your office have to be so cold all the time? You know, I should really keep a jumper in your closet."

"Stop avoiding the subject, Ana."

"I'm just...I don't know. I'm starting to wonder what is wrong with me. I'm twenty-six years old, have a great job as an editor, own my own apartment...all that's missing is love. I want to fall in love and have someone fall in love with me. I want someone to be crazy about me and I want to get married and have children. I'm not getting any younger, after all. My clock is ticking. I've dated guy after guy, but it never goes anywhere. It's like...they get worse with each guy I date. They're either rude, have terrible hygiene, don't call back, or are spineless. Maybe my expectations are too high. Maybe I'm not meant to have anyone. I'll just adopt a dozen cats and live in my apartment all by myself until I die."

Again, he rolls his eyes. "Must you be so dramatic? Your expectations aren't too high. They're assholes who don't deserve you if they don't call you back. You aren't going to be alone. You have me. I'll always be here. And about the cat thing...please don't."

She laughs. "Why is my dating life such a mess then?"

He shrugs. "Maybe it's my fault."

Her eyebrow raises. "Your fault?"

He nods. "When your best friend is perfection, how can any other man meet your expectations when you're comparing them to Christian Trevelyan Grey?" He reaches for the muffin and pulls off a small piece for himself, popping it into his mouth.

"You are one cocky little bastard, aren't you?" Anastasia states, laughing.

He grins at her and hands her a small piece of muffin, which she takes and pops into mouth.

"Maybe your dating problem is your dirty mouth." He pops another piece of muffin in his mouth and hands her one. He watches her place it in her mouth and a sense of satisfaction runs through his body. He might have to distract her to get her to eat, but he's willing to do whatever works.

She sighs. "Maybe. Why else would I attract nothing, but losers."

"What did the guy do today? Wait...isn't he one of Elliot's friends? Isn't his name Connor?"

Anastasia cocks her eyebrow at him and nods. "You know, I am really starting to think Elliot hates me."

Christian laughs. "No, he's just terrible at playing matchmaker."

This time, she leans forward and pinches of her own piece of muffin to eat. Christian is surprised that she hasn't caught on to his little food trick, yet. He's used this distraction technique for ten years, but she's never once called him out on it.

"Well, he needs to learn to pick better friends."

Christian couldn't deny that. Elliot is quite the partier, and unfortunately, that life style comes with friends who aren't the most eloquent.

"What did this friend do?" Christian asks again, annoyed that she is avoiding the subject.

It is obvious that Christian isn't going to give up until he has some details, so she gives in. "His so called friend tried to feel me up our whole brunch date. Let me tell you something...I will never wear a dress again on a blind date."

The hair on the back of Christian's neck stands on end. His anger starts inside his chest and crackles out to each of his limbs. "He what?"

"He spent the whole time trying to slide his hand up under my dress. Don't get all huffy, Christian. I put him in his place."

"I'll kill the fucker..." Christian's anger is something that Anastasia is used to, and this anger is the exact reason why she really didn't want to tell him why the date had been so terrible. "I'll kill Elliot for even suggesting you two would be good together..."

Seeing that Christian is visibly upset, Anastasia slides closer to him and places her hand over his hand, trying to get him to relax his balled fist.

"Everything is fine, Christian. It's over. Just stow your anger for now. I came up here so you'd make me feel better. Now, do your job, best friend."

He cocks an eyebrow at her and she smiles. "Come on, now. Chop chop!"

He gives her a scowl, but can't help, but crack a smile. "Fine. Get your infuriating little ass over here." He opens his arms for her and she bounces her way over to him and snuggles into his hug, squeezing him tight around the waist. His arms close around her and he hugs her close, enjoying the warmth of her small body in his.

"Are you better, yet?" He asks, resting his cheek against the top of her head.

He always pretends to hate their embraces, but in reality, he savors them. Christian has touch issues that have been deeply ingrained in him since as long as he can remember. The only exception to this is Anastasia. They met on the first day of high school, when she had set behind him in History. She hadn't been aware of his touch issues, then. The tag on his uniform sweater had been sticking out and she took it upon herself to stick it back into his shirt, the tips of her fingers grazing the skin on his upper back. He immediately felt goosebumps at the feel of another person's skin on his, and he was pleasantly surprised that there had been no trace of panic during the following few seconds, giving him the confidence to turn around to start speaking to her.

"Almost." She squeezes him impossibly tighter and then releases him with a sigh. "Alright, I better go back to work. My hour lunch ended about forty-five minutes ago."

He chuckles. "It's a good thing you get paid salary."

"Oh, yea. It's a good thing. That way, when I work at home on Saturdays, I know I won't be making anymore money!" She gives him a cheeky grin and stands, grabbing her handbag.

"Dinner, tonight?" He asks, walking her to his door.

"Finally...a date I can look forward to." She leans up and kisses his cheek. "Six o'clock?"

He nods. "I'll pick you up."

Christian opens his office door for Anastasia and leans against it while she makes her way toward the elevator doors. His best friend sure had a way with sarcasm, but somehow, her smart mouth complimented his serious personality quite nicely. She had a way of bringing Christian out of his shell. Making his day and his mood brighter...even when she came to pout.

Turning back towards his office, he makes his way to his phone, calling his brother. Elliot is going to get an earful.