AUTHOR NOTE: This story was originally uploaded between August 2014 and January 2015 and it was nominated for the Fan Fiction Best Crossover Story in May 2015.

Since then this story has been given a complete overhaul, including a new title which (hopefully) adequately replaces the original quite lame one and also hopefully removes all typo's and errors I missed the first time around. The main story remains intact, and has not been vastly altered other than edited to (hopefully) improve the flow and some parts have been re-written, some parts have been removed completely and I've reworked some parts which I wasn't totally happy with and removed plot holes, errors and omissions.

**Please note that the timeline in this story is slightly different to the official books and this story starts earlier in the year than in the official story where Ana met/left Christian in May.

I do not own Fifty Shades of Grey/Crossfire Series or its original characters.

FIFTY SHADES OF CROSSFIRE FAMILY CONNECTIONS

CHAPTER 1

(ANA)

It is now day three. It is 7:30am on day three post Christian Grey… and I am feeling pretty good actually! I allowed myself to have a pity party after I left him and I made sure I did it properly. I cried all the way home and then I sat and cried all day and I even cried myself to sleep that night. However, when I woke up on Sunday morning I was all cried out and I had decided enough was enough. Not only because my eyes were so swollen from the deluge that had come from them or the fact my nose was so bunged up I could barely breathe and as a result I had woke up with a throbbing headache. No, the fact was I was done with crying and there and then I vowed that I would never, ever let myself be in that position again.

What the hell was I thinking? I have never let any man treat me like that. After my experiences with my mom's husband number three I had vowed that no man was going to treat me like an object, but then that is exactly what I did with Christian and for the life of me I cannot understand why. Why on earth did I let him get under my skin so quickly and so easily? He raised every possible red flag there was. He had too many deep seated issues for me to conquer. God knows what had happened to him at some point in his life but he was clearly very damaged by something dreadful in his past.

Even though I know I have dodged a bullet and I know I should forget about him and get on with my life, my heart still lurches a little when I think about Christian Grey. He really is so vulnerable underneath that harsh, aloof almost arrogant exterior he projects to the world and as a result of that he is also so easy to love, but if only he would accept it. I really hope he manages to find happiness and some kind of inner peace one day; but sadly, it won't be with me. I can't and won't be what he needs.

I leave my apartment and lock the door and as I step outside I look upward towards the grey and gloomy sky, it looks like it's going to rain… just for a change! I put that depressing thought out of my mind. I pause as I look at the three envelopes in my hand before I quickly push one of them into my purse. The first one is the cheque Christian gave me for Wanda. I will pay that into my bank account at lunchtime and then I can go car shopping after work.

I saw a nice little used compact for sale at a garage nearby and for a fraction of the amount Christian gave me. Then I look at the other two envelopes. I had looked up the value of Wanda and inevitably discovered that Christian had obviously lied about what Taylor managed to get for her, by over $10,000. Yes, Wanda was undoubtedly a classic but she wasn't worth $24,000 and so I made a decision there and then; I am keeping what she was worth and sending the rest back to Christian, but even doing that I will have savings for the first time in my life.

Therefore, the second envelope is the cheque for Christian and then the third… I smile as I look at it. That one is Taylor's handkerchief, which I have washed and I am returning to him. I glance across the road at the mail box and I look at the envelopes once more before I mail them. This is the right thing to do and I feel better now. I have done the right thing and cut all ties to Christian, so now I have no obligation to him and I can move on.

As I push the envelopes into the mailbox, I think about what I wrote in the small note I had enclosed with the cheque. It was short and to the point; but also I believe, polite and considerate. I visualise the note in my mind as the envelope disappears.

Dear Christian,

Please find enclosed a cheque for $12,500 which is the overpayment for my car which Taylor sold. I looked online and found the real value for a car of Wanda's make, age and condition.

I understand your motives for doing this were genuine and I thank you, but I don't feel right about keeping the money.

Regards,

Ana

I look at the second envelope containing Taylor's handkerchief and I smile, I have also enclosed a small note with this, with just the words 'thank you' written on it as I don't think anything more needs to be said. That done, I head to the apartment private car park. I am more than thankful that Kate left me her car to use while she was on holiday so I can get to work at my new job as intern at SIP, as I wasn't overly keen on the idea of using public transport.

As I drive to work with music playing through the car stereo speakers, I start to feel a little bit nervous for my forthcoming first day at work. I try and push it aside and focus and I also start thinking through my plans for the immediate future. I tick off my accomplishments and goals in my mind, I have a job, I will have a car of my own again, hopefully soon and best of all I am going Portland on Thursday to see Jose and see his exhibition. After that who knows?

That penultimate thought fills me with a happy thrill; it will be good to see Jose again. By the time I reach the office I am eager to get stuck in and face the new challenges ahead of me and put Christian Grey firmly behind me. A sudden thought occurs to me and when I get inside and quickly rummage in my bag and sigh with relief as I find what I am looking for. I take my own original and slightly battered but adequate cell phone from my purse and cancel the call divert which I had set up to the Blackberry which Christian had given me and which I had returned to him when I left. I let out a loud satisfied sigh as I do this, there all done and now to get on with my life.

After an interesting and fulfilling first day, I make my way home after stopping off for some groceries at the local supermarket. I am feeling totally drained after my busy first day I can barely keep my eyes open and so I decide to leave car shopping until the weekend. I reason that there is no real rush because I know that I have the unlimited use of Kate's car while she is away and I have paid the money into my bank account. I am making myself some tea when the intercom buzzes.

I quickly walk over and answer, "Hello" I say.

"Delivery for Anastasia Steele" a bored voice answers.

A delivery… what delivery? I wasn't expecting anything and I try and wrack my brains wondering what it could possibly be but come up blank, so I press the button and wait. Moments later there is a knock at the door, I quickly answer and take delivery of a very large and yet very light box.

When I open it I see a beautiful bouquet of white roses and a small card congratulating me on my new job. I roll my eyes when I see who it is from. It's from Christian of course and I sigh and shake my head, it was a nice gesture but he really shouldn't have done this. I toss the box and the card into the bin, but as I gather up the roses to throw them in as well I pause, and look at them and I realise that I don't have the heart to dump them because they really are just too beautiful. So against my better judgement I hunt for a vase for them before settling down with my dinner and watching some television.

After I have finished eating, I decide to call Jose.

"Hello" he says when he answers and as I hear his familiar voice it makes me smile.

"Hi Jose, how are you?" I ask brightly.

"Ana! It's good to hear from you, how are you? I'm good, you are still coming on Thursday aren't you?" He asks excitedly.

"I sure am" I reply, "What time does it start? I have to drive from Seattle and I am working now so won't be leaving until 5pm and it's about a 3 hour drive" I add with an apologetic tone.

"That's ok and it's no problem at all, as it is supposed to start at 7:30 so if you leave at 5pm you'll be here just after 8pm which will be absolutely fine and it will be good to see you again".

I smile at his laid back reaction and we chat for a few more minutes. He tells me of how he has been organising which photographs in his portfolio to display, and I tell him about Kate holidaying in Barbados and my new job. When he asks me if I like it I mention I'm not too keen on my new boss, Jack Hyde and that he makes me feel uncomfortable and that he sets off all my internal alarms, which I think alarms him slightly but I also make sure that I also emphasise that I love my job.

When I have finished talking to Jose I decide to call my dad, just to check in with him.

"Hello Annie, how are you?" he says to me and that familiar, kind, reassuring voice makes me smile.

"Hi I'm good. I just thought I'd call and see how you are; I have news, I have a job and I love it" I say brightly.

My call is pretty one sided as it always is with Ray as he doesn't talk much and I get the distinct impression at this moment he is watching the football or something.

"How's Christian?" my dad asks suddenly and out of the blue.

That throws me and I feel my heart lurch violently as Christian's name is mentioned. I stop and think for a moment and then I take a deep breath.

"I believe he's ok; I don't know for certain as we broke up as it just wasn't working out between us, so I called it quits" I say firmly, but also making it sound like it is no big deal.

There is a silence before Ray finally responds to that, "Oh I see, you broke it off? He didn't hurt you did he?" he asks eventually.

I close my eyes and feel them start to fill with tears once more which I furiously blink away. It seems I am not as over him as I thought. I think about that question. Did he hurt me? Yes he did hurt me, but I am not going to tell my dad that.

"No, it just became obvious that it wasn't going to work between us, we are just too different and we wanted different things from life" I say simply.

There is another brief silence and then my dad speaks again.

"Well ok, if that's the case then that was the sensible thing to do as long as you are alright though Annie?" he says.

"I am" I state firmly as I wipe away the stray tears which have escaped from my eyes.

We talk a while longer and then after trying to watch some more television and failing miserably as my eyes keep shutting I decide to go for a shower, before heading off to bed.

oooOOOooo

By Wednesday I am into the routine of the office. I arrive, get my instructions from Jack and give him his coffee. Then as I fire up my computer and I look through the pile of manuscripts which Jack has dropped into my in tray for me to read and make notes on.

I am lost in my work when my email pings drawing my attention to a new message in my inbox. I glance at my watch and I realise with more than a little surprise that it's way past lunch time and my stomach grumbles as if to emphasise that fact. I look at the email and at first I think I am seeing things but when it becomes clear that I'm not my heart sinks as I see it is from Christian.

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Tomorrow

Date: June 8 2011 14:05

To: Anastasia Steele

Dear Anastasia

Forgive this intrusion at work. I hope that it's going well. Did you get my flowers?

I note that tomorrow is the gallery opening for your friend's show and I'm sure you've not had time to purchase a car, and it's a long drive. I would be more than happy to take you – should you wish.

Let me know.

Christian Grey

CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc

I shake my head and sigh. Why is he doing this? I know it's only polite to reply, so I think carefully about what I want to say. I have the response worked out in my head when I hit reply I pause, and then start to type.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Tomorrow

Date: June 8 2011 14:25

To: Christian Grey

Dear Christian

Thank you for the flowers, I did receive them and they were lovely.

With regard to Jose's show, thank you for your kind offer. However, I have the use of Kate's car while she is in Barbados so I am able to drive myself to Portland tomorrow when I finish work.

Thank you once again.

Regards,

Anastasia Steele

Assistant to Jack Hyde, Editor, SIP

I read through it before I hit send and then I delete Christian's email to me from my inbox. I quickly grab myself a bite to eat and then return my attention back to work.

The next day I am so excited about my trip to Portland. I haven't heard from Christian again and I am very relieved about that. The day flies by and soon it is time for me to leave and I am out of the office at 5pm sharp. I jump into Kate's car and take the interstate to Portland. I am so excited to see Jose again as I have really missed him.

Traffic is kind and I make good time arriving shortly after 8pm. When I arrive I am met by a tall woman with short blond hair and bright red lipstick. She smiles at me and talks to me as though she knows me which throws me a little but I quickly dismiss it. I walk into the first room and as I look around I am pleased to see it is quite full and busy, I scan the faces around the room searching for my friend and then I see him and I wave. Jose spots me and smiles widely and he immediately excuses himself and leaves the people he is talking to and comes over to me and pulls me into a warm embrace.

"Ana, you're here! How are you? Thank you so much for coming," he says brightly and then he takes a step back from me and takes me in. As his eyes rake over me I get an odd sensation run through me and his close scrutiny unnerves me a little but I don't say anything.

"You look good" he says after a moment and I just smile politely.

He pulls me back into a warm embrace and I him hug back as despite my strange feelings of discomfort I really am pleased to see him and I quickly answer all his questions.

"Hi I'm fine and I am so proud of you," I say as I gesture around the room.

"Thank you that means a lot" he replies, "You made good time" he adds after he glances at his watch.

"I came in Kate's car tonight" I reply, but I don't mention that I don't have Wanda any more.

Jose lets out a small snort at that.

"Aah I see, yes Kate's car does go a bit faster than Wanda!" he says with a grin.

As I open my mouth to reply, Jose is called away to talk to the press and so I wander into another room where I immediately stop dead and my jaw just drops. I freeze as am confronted by huge photographs, of me. I gasp at them as I am not sure what to think of them. I am totally speechless and actually quite horrified and as I stand staring at them, I hear a familiar voice behind me.

"It seems that I'm not the only one who finds you intriguing Miss Steele," I spin around and am confronted by a pair of icy grey eyes. What the hell? I just stand there my mouth still hanging open and if anything it has dropped even further now and I just stand staring stupidly at him. When my brain finally catches up, I frown.

"What are you doing here?" I ask rudely as I glare at him.

Christian just stares impassively back at me, "you invited me Anastasia" he replies simply.

I let out a rude snort and shake my head, "That was before we broke up" I snap. I turn to walk away and he grabs my elbow.

"Anastasia please" he says, and I hear the distinct note of near desperation in his voice but I know that I need to stay strong.

I yank my arm out of his grasp. "No Christian, we broke up" I say sharply and I walk away.

My heart is beating furiously now and I feel like I am going to have a panic attack. First of all seeing those massively intrusive close up photographs of me and then that encounter with Christian has set me on edge, not to mention made me realise I am not as over him as I thought.

I don't look back but I am certain I left him standing there watching me. I have to admit that I am also a little unnerved by his behaviour, as what he has done tonight could be considered stalking. I move into another room and look at more of the pictures Jose has taken and I start to calm down. I am very impressed, he has bags of talent and I am so proud that he has realised his dream.

"What do you think?" a voice whispers in my ear.

I turn and I am facing Jose grinning widely at me. He hands me a glass of fruit juice and I take it from him with a smile and a word of thanks.

"It's amazing, I am so proud of you" I say.

I pause and bite my lip as I remember the photographs of me and my expression makes his smile slip a little.

"What's wrong Ana?" he asks with obvious concern.

"A little warning of the photos of me would have been nice not to mention the common courtesy of asking me if you could use them" I add.

Jose's smile slips even further and he looks at me sheepishly.

"Oh shit I forgot about those. I'm sorry Ana please believe me when I say that I meant to call and ask you but I forgot and then it got to the point where I had to submit my paintings so I was going to tell you then, but hey guess what? Someone likes them as they have all been sold, you're a poster girl!"

My irritation of not being consulted about him displaying the photos of me flies from my mind when I hear this news and I gape at him. Why would anyone want to buy photographs of me? I shake my head in disbelief.

"Obviously someone with more money than sense" I say and as I say it Christian immediately pops into my head but I quickly dismiss the idea, after all we broke up. What would he want with pictures of me?

The evening is looking to be a huge success for Jose but after an hour or so I regretfully say my goodbyes, explaining I have to get back as I have work tomorrow. I look at my watch, if I leave now I should be back shortly after midnight.

Jose hugs me tightly and tells me to stay in touch and I promise him I will. As I go to climb into Kate's car I perceive someone behind me. I turn and I see Christian just standing a few feet away watching me. I thought he'd left hours ago but obviously not, but before he can say anything I quickly turn away and get into Kate's car without a word and drive away and as I do so the word 'stalker' pops into my mind once more.

The next day I am feeling the effects of my late night and I am dragging, I feel really tired and it was an effort to drag myself out of bed this morning. I try and put it to one side and I follow the same routine at work. I am really loving this job, but I am still on my guard with regard to Jack as he makes all my internal alarms go off and I know I don't want to get into a situation where I am alone with him. He reminds me so much of husband number three and I shiver at the memory of that awful man. I am drawn from my thoughts by Jack who pokes his head out of his office and calls out to me.

"Ana, go get me some lunch will you?" he says with a grin "My usual" he adds and then disappears again. I roll my eyes, lazy git! But I head out to the deli and grab his lunch and take it back to him.

A short while later I am feeling hungry so I decide to go for my own break and I run a few errands while I am out. After my break and I have completed my errands, I head back to work and finish up with the days work. As I am shutting down my computer and getting ready to go, I feel a hand on the back of my chair. I turn and see Jack standing there; I stiffen and instinctively move away from him.

"Ana, you have has a stellar first week, would you like to join us for a drink?" he asks and I feel my skin crawl again as his eyes rake over me.

"Us?" I ask warily. I was going to go straight home as I am tired but I would like to socialise with some of the other members of staff as I believe that I could cultivate some good friendships. But the idea of going out for a drink with Jack puts me off.

"Yes a few of are going to a bar round the corner, we often go there on a Friday evening" he says.

"Yeah, sure why not" I say. I figure that if there are a few more people there I'll feel safer than if I was alone with him and besides I don't have to stay long.

I am glad I went as the evening is good and I enjoy myself. When we get there the bar isn't too busy and I get to talk to more of the staff of SIP. They are all friendly and also very forthcoming, especially about Jack and a number of them make a point to take me to one side and warn me never to put myself in a position where I am alone with him. These warnings validate all the uncomfortable vibes I get from him and make me more confident in trusting my instincts about him.

I feel I could be friends with Clare, the receptionist. She too pulls me to one side and warns me about Jack and she also tells me some pretty disturbing stuff about him. She is quick to point out that it's all hearsay and rumour, but as she also said why do his assistants only ever last about a month at the most and none are ever retained by the company?

This just confirms everything everyone else has said and my own views. I knew there was something about him I didn't trust and now that I have been warned which has confirmed all my own instincts about him, I know to keep my distance and to keep myself safe by not allow myself to be alone with him. As I am talking to Clare, Jack himself appears and he comes to stand with us. He stands way too close to me and this makes me feel even more uncomfortable so I take a step back and push him away. He doesn't take the hint and drapes his arm around me and I remove it immediately.

"Please don't do that Jack," I say firmly.

"Oh come on Ana" he replies and he reaches for me again, so I step away from him.

I notice immediately that he is slurring his words slightly and is clearly well on the way to being totally drunk and he unnerves me, the next thing I realise is when he lunges towards me to kiss me but my self defence lessons with Ray immediately kick in and I block him and push him away.

"I said NO" I say firmly as he staggers backwards.

He looks shocked and a little bit pissed at my reaction "But Ana," he persists.

"The lady said no". I recognise that voice, look up and see Christian standing just a few feet away. Oh for god's sake, he really is stalking me.

His hands are balled into fists and anger is emanating from every pore. Jack turns and looks at him and he smirks, he is swaying slightly and he points his beer bottle at Christian.

"And who would you be asshole and why is it any of your business?" he slurs.

I immediately reach out and put my hand on Christian's arm as he balls his hands into fists and takes a menacing step forward.

"Jack, stop it!" I exclaim angrily.

I am really pissed off now not only at Christian for stalking me yet again but mainly for Jack who is behaving like a confrontational drunken asshole. I introduce the two men to each other hoping to defuse the potentially volatile situation.

"Jack, this is a friend of mine and his name is Christian" I say emphasising the word friend for Christian's benefit.

Then I turn towards Christian, "Christian, this is my boss, Jack" I stare meaningfully at Christian, pleading with my eyes for him not to do anything stupid or cause a scene which could cost me my job.

Christian stares back at me with that damned impassive look on his face and he seems to be working something out in his mind but eventually he simply holds out his hand to Jack. His eyes are as hard as flint and when he smiles it doesn't reach them. I can tell he is still burning with rage, but he is hiding it well. Jack assesses him and looks hard at him almost as if he knows him and is trying to figure out where from, then he reluctantly accepts the handshake. I watch carefully as the two men circle each other and it's like a pissing contest. I shake my head at the testosterone that is being exhibited and I take the opportunity as they face off to move away from both of them.

Clare is watching the unfolding situation with her mouth hanging open.

"You know the Christian Grey?" she hisses in my ear. I can tell that she is clearly impressed by that fact.

I inwardly cringe and then nod, "yes we… dated for a short while, and after we broke up we remained friends". I know that isn't entirely true but sounds reasonable and a lot better than he has been following me around since we broke up.

"Wow" she says, "I didn't know he did date? You never see him in the press with dates, there are rumours he is gay" she whispers as she keeps her eyes firmly fixed on Christian.

I shake my head, "No he's not gay, but he is a very private person" I say.

Before I can say anything else my phone buzzes and see that I've received a text from Kate, my heart leaps and I open it and read it.

Hi hope you had a good first week at work, I'm coming home next week but Ethan is returning Tuesday. K x

I quickly send a reply,

Hi all good here, see you next week! A x

As I push my phone away I hear my name called.

"Ana".

I turn to look and see Christian approaching me. I shake my head holding up my hand to stop him coming any closer and I turn on my heel and leave the bar.