First off... I do apologize for not updating sooner. I'm approaching the end of my semester and so far, this block scheduling thing is killing me. I do, however, have Christmas break coming soon and I plan to get a bunch of chapters posted.

I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. This chapter includes Ana and Kate and we will definitely see some relationship growth between Ana and Charlotte in the next.

Friday comes quicker than Charlotte could have anticipated.

Monday turned into Tuesday and so on, bringing the weekend. Charlotte could hardly wait- she had several calls from both women who asked subtle questions about what she enjoyed and Ana asked what they'd cook for dinner on Friday and Saturday. According to Kate, she has a whole itinerary planned out and is eager to have her for the weekend.

Charlotte thinks getting away from Bellevue will do her some good. Most days she has Grace and Carrick as company and others, she's kept sane by Elliot who keeps them in more trouble than she knows what to do with.

She wants one weekend of normalcy. Just one weekend to be a normal teenager and do things she hasn't done in a long time.

"Do you have your meds?" Christian asks, his eyes scanning over Charlotte's overnight bag.

Charlotte glares at Christian. So far, he's been more nervous than Charlotte has. He's pestered her over her clothes, phone charger, and a hundred different things that she could possibly need.

"Yes, I have all of my meds- enough to be my own walking pharmacy," Charlotte says with a sigh. She scans through her bag again to appease her overprotective father, knowing that he'll be calmer if she goes along with his antics.

Christian gives her an inquisitive look. "And what about an extra change of clothes? You never know if something could happen."

"I have those. Am I forgetting a sippy cup and a pull-up?" Charlotte asks narrowly, arms crossed.

"Okay, smartass," Christian mumbles. He sighs heavily and rakes his fingers through his hair. "Sorry...I'm nervous because you're leaving with all of this shit happening."

Charlotte can see his point. She has been nervous, but she realizes Christian is just a nervous wreck. Besides, she can count how many nights she has spent away from Christian on one hand.

"I'm spending two days with a woman who you apparently trust with my life," Charlotte says. "Ana won't let anything happen to me- and we both know that Kate is freaking psychotic and will kill someone."

Christian laughs slightly at that. "Since I've had you, you've only had three nights away from me. It's unnerving not to have you down the hallway."

"I'm a big girl, Christian," Charlotte says gently. "I'm not going to need my dad forever."

"We'll worry about that when the time comes," Christian says, smoothing Charlotte's blonde hair that he himself worked into a long French braid. Then, his eyes cut to the digital clock on the nightstand and he gives a nervous sigh. "It's almost five and Ana and Kate are expecting you at seven."

Charlotte grins widely and grabs her bag. "Well, let's go then." Before she goes, she peers out the window to see an entire team of Christian's security detail. "What'd you bring- the entire S.W.A.T. team?"

Christian pecks her cheek before bustling out the door. "Just precautionary measure. Besides, most of them will be scattered around the area tonight."

Charlotte just shrugs as she heads out the door. Once she gets downstairs, she's smothered in plenty of affection by her anxious grandparents and Elliot who seems as apprehensive as Christian.

"Be careful," Elliot says. He kisses her forehead and hugs her tight. "Give Kate a hard time for me and do something embarrass Christian in front of Ana."

Charlotte smiles softly. "I'll try my best. Don't do anything too fun without me."

"Never," Elliot says with a wide smile. "Be good."

Then, she's outside and some sort of strange fear takes her over. Her grey eyes scan the outside world she hasn't seen in nearly two weeks. It's as if she's expecting Peter just to come find her and attack her.

Charlotte scatters next to Christian who wraps a comforting arm around Charlotte. He hugs her close and leads her to the waiting car where Taylor is holding the door open.

"Nice to see you again, Miss Grey," Taylor says, smiling softly.

Charlotte gives him a shy smile. "Hi, Taylor."

Once she's safely tucked inside the car with Christian, they're on the move. Their car is in the midst of several BMWs that will keep them safe during their ride to Portland to Ana and Kate's dorm.

"You don't look excited," Christian says, squeezing Charlotte's fingers.

"I-I am… I'm just nervous." Charlotte releases a shuddering breath and looks up at Christian.

He smiles down at her and touches her cheek before nudging her. "You're going to be just fine, Char. Tonight, you're going to be brave. Okay?"

Charlotte nods gently. "Okay."

…

"You knock!" Charlotte exclaims, giving Christian a threatening look.

Christian gives the sheepish fifteen year old a look. "You're just knocking on a door. Stop being such a baby."

"Then you can knock on it if it doesn't seem like a big deal!" Charlotte chalks everything up to being nervous and she's confused as to why she's panicking about a door. "Not unless you're nervous…"

They must stand there arguing for a good five minutes before the door opens to reveal a grinning Kate. Oh, damn, Charlotte thinks as she's drawn into a hug by the bubbly blonde. She hugs Kate awkwardly, patting her back.

"Kateee!" Charlotte exclaims, drawing out the "E" at the end of her name. "You're strangling me! Let me breathe." From behind, Christian is laughing loudly and Charlotte huffs- she'll definitely get him back.

So, Kate does. Charlotte is settled on her feet and she looks up at Kate with a lopsided smile. "I'm happy to see you, Kate."

"I'm happy to see you, too! I swear you get prettier every time I see you," Kate gushes, giving a wide smile. Charlotte knows then why Elliot is head over heels for the woman- Kate is the female version of him.

Charlotte gives a sheepish smile. "I'm not that pretty."

"Stop being so modest," Kate says. "You're just like Ana."

Then, as if on cue, Ana comes bustling to the door and promptly knocks Kate out of the way. "Stop being an attention hog, Kate!" Ana smiles softly and draws Charlotte in for a hug. Charlotte reciprocates the hug, lifting her arms to surround Ana's waist.

"How are you doing, beautiful? I haven't heard from you in awhile," Ana says, giving Charlotte a final squeeze before releasing her.

Charlotte smiles. "I'm fine, Ana. How are you?"

"Good. I'll be even better if you and Christian come inside instead of standing in the doorway," Ana says and Charlotte follows her inside the dorm, Christian trailing closely behind.

Charlotte looks around at the place. Kate and Ana have decorated it rather uniquely and she smiles a little. "This place is really nice, guys."

"We won't be here for long," Ana announces. "As soon as we graduate, we're moving to Seattle."

"Really now?" Christian asks curiously. Charlotte looks over her shoulder and gives Christian a knowing smile. If anyone knows how Christian's mind works, it's Charlotte.

Pervert, Charlotte thinks amusingly.

Ana offers Christian a shy smile. "Yeah. Kate and I will be sharing an apartment after we graduate."

Christian grins widely before coughing a little, looking out the door. "Well, ladies, I should be getting back home. I'll leave my Charlotte in your capable hands."

"Sure you don't want to stay longer?" Ana asks, lifting an eyebrow.

Christian smiles and it's a smile Charlotte has never seen. He's in love. Christian Grey, who has never loved a woman, has found his entire life inside of Anastasia Steele. Charlotte realizes that she's okay with it, too. She's happy for Christian to have found someone to love him like he needs to be loved.

She's happy Christian found someone who will love her, too.

"No- this weekend is about you girls," Christian says. He walks forwards and hugs Charlotte tight, kissing her head. "I don't want to intrude on you three. So, just enjoy yourselves and be safe."

"I will," Charlotte says, hugging Christian close. "Be careful driving home."

"Always, Char," Christian says. "Be good and call me before bed, okay?"

Charlotte nods and breaks away from Christian. She watches, amused as Christian sweeps Ana into his arms and kisses her.

Charlotte rolls her eyes. "Okay, horndog. Leave before I suddenly have a little brother or sister."

When they break apart Christian's eyes are narrowed and Ana's face is red. Charlotte can't help but laugh and she laughs even harder when Kate begins to laugh, too.

"I'm going to go before I hurt her," Christian says teasingly. He smiles at Charlotte and she can tell he's trying not to worry lest she worry, too. "Have fun and check in with me and tell me everything."

"I will. Bye, Christian."

"Bye, Char," Christian says with a small wave and he's out the door with a final glance.

Once Christian is gone, Charlotte feels an uncomfortable feeling settle in her chest. She knows she's safe here with Ana and Kate, but something doesn't feel right without Christian.

I'll chalk it up to separation anxiety, Charlotte decides as she looks to Ana and Kate who are looking at her.

Kate grins. "So...how about getting down to business?"

…

"That's a horrendous shade of purple."

Charlotte sits with her arms crossed, watching as Kate sorts through every shade of purple she bought. She's not sure why Kate went and raided the store for every kind of nail polish there was, but Kate has it all.

"It's such a pretty color! Do something pretty for once," Kate says. She holds up a purple-pink nail polish with flecks of glitter throughout and it makes Charlotte want to set the contents on fire.

Charlotte shakes her head and Kate huffs, going through her collection to pull out another color. "What about this?"

Charlotte frowns once again. The color is a dark purple and she doesn't appreciate it. "It looks like they collected Barney the Dinosaur puke. No."

Kate gives her a look. "You're tough to please, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not. You just choose ugly nail polish colors," Charlotte says as combs through the several colors and emerges victorious with a lavender color. "This, however, is gorgeous. The color is subtle and soft."

"You're just too plain...but whatever you want. But next time I get to choose. Got it?"

"Got it," Charlotte says as she extends her hand to Kate who sets to painting her nails.

Then, Charlotte hears Ana scream from the kitchen. "Kate, stop heckling Charlotte! You're going to scare her with your pushy-ness."

"It's not my fault your boyfriend's daughter has the fashion style of an old woman," Kate says, carefully painting Charlotte's index finger's nail. She smiles all the while and Charlotte rolls her eyes, but she starts to laugh, too.

Ana steps into the room and comes carrying three drinks. "Don't worry, Charlotte. She's always this mean to everyone."

Charlotte chuckles and accepts the drink from Ana- iced tea with lemon. "Thank you. And Elliot is easily as bad as Kate. This isn't new."

After some laughter from Kate and Ana, they fall silent. Charlotte sips at her tea and allows Kate to paint her nails. Then, while her nails dry, Charlotte watches Kate paints Ana's nails a navy blue.

"Thank you for keeping me for the weekend," Charlotte manages finally. She smiles weakly at Ana and Kate who smile back at her. "It's boring being on house arrest."

"Don't thank us," Ana says. She gives Charlotte a knowing look and Charlotte wonders how much Christian has told Ana about her. "Given what's happening, you definitely need a weekend away."

Charlotte takes another drink of her tea and releases a breath. "So...how much news coverage have you seen? I know you must have some questions."

There's no used in avoiding the elephant in the room. Charlotte doesn't want to talk about it, but she knows that Ana and Kate have a right to know about some of this.

"Is he, like, your real dad or something?" Kate asks, giving her a sad look.

Charlotte nearly strangles on an ice cube. "Jesus Christ, no. He's just someone I have the misfortune of knowing."

"And he's still out there?" Ana questions worriedly. It isn't concern for herself, but for Charlotte. "He just waltzed into your apartment...like someone meant to let him in."

"Yes, he is. It's a scary thought because that man made my life so horrible when I was little." Charlotte releases a shuddering breath, determined to keep herself together because she knows that she can be strong. "And Christian and I wonder the same thing a lot… He got in without any problem. Something just isn't adding up."

There's a long, tense pause and the tension is so tight that it could be sliced by a knife. It takes a few moments, but Kate finally lightens the mood with her happy attitude.

"In any case, I won't let that pervert step anywhere near you," Kate announces, playfully tossing a bottle of red nail polish to her. "I know fifty ways to cut his jugular with a paperclip. Now, make yourself useful and paint my nails."

Charlotte snorts inelegantly and sets to work, carefully running the brush across Kate's nails. "Yes, Queen."

…

Charlotte listens to the sound of Christian rambling over the phone.

"Yes-yeah… Christian, I'm fine- promise." Charlotte tries to say something to appease the man. The moment she called, she didn't receive a, "Hello." Instead, Christian began a ten minute questioning spree and Charlotte couldn't get in a word edgewise. She just listened to him ramble until he finally had to stop to breathe.

"I'm sorry, Charlotte. I'm just nervous about everything and you being so far away. Right now I'm struggling to keep myself from driving to get you," Christian says and he sounds anxious. Charlotte knows that he may nearing an anxiety attack that comes far and few between.

"I'm doing fine, Christian," Charlotte says, trying to convince him of her safety. "Do you want to know what we did tonight?"

Over the phone, Charlotte hears Christian expel a deep breath to recollect himself. She's glad to have now redirected the entire conversation back to their activities. "That would be nice. Have you behaved yourself?"

Charlotte chuckles. "No, Christian, I've been an animal. The neighbors just called campus police on us."

"Haha, aren't you just funny?"

"Seriously, though- we done our nails and called in take out. We just watched a movie a little while ago," Charlotte says. "Then, we just chatted. Typical girl conversation."

Christian sighs and Charlotte can tell he's happy. "I'm glad you're having fun, Char. You definitely needed this."

"Thank you," Charlotte says, her eyes flickering towards the clock. On the clock, Charlotte can see the hands inching towards midnight. "I'll be going. It's getting late and I doubt the girls will stay up any longer."

"Yes- and you need to sleep, too. Don't stay up too late, but if something happens and you can't sleep, I'm a phone call away."

"Okay. I'll let you go, Christian."

"Bye, Char. I love you."

"Love you too, Dad. Bye."

Charlotte ends the call and places her phone on the couch next to her. She then looks over her shoulder to watch as Ana walks towards her holding blankets and sheets and pillows.

"Because I doubt you want to share a bed with me or Kate, I figured you'd sleep better in here," Ana says. She places the stack of linens next to Charlotte and offers a small smile. "I'm a cover hog and Kate will try to kill you in her sleep."

Charlotte chuckles. "That will be just fine. Thank you." She rises to her feet and places her phone on the table, helping Ana with the sheets and pillows.

Once her makeshift bed has been made, Charlotte sits down and Ana joins her. "Thank you again, Ana, for letting me stay. I've enjoyed myself so far."

"No problem," Ana says. "I figured you needed the weekend away and we definitely need to know one another better. I don't want you to think badly of me, Charlotte."

Charlotte offers a crooked smile. "I've never thought illy of you. I've just had a hard time with women...anyone who would try to be a mother to me. Christian is all I have, and it's scary to think about him leaving. It's easier to push someone away and keep myself from getting hurt."

Ana just hugs her and Charlotte hugs the woman back. "I wouldn't dream about taking Christian from you or making you hurt, Charlotte."

Charlotte releases Ana and smiles. "I know, Ana."

She doesn't say much after because Kate breezes into the living room. The blonde is dressed in her pajamas and her hair is pulled haphazardly into a bun.

"I'm going to bed, so I'll see you in the morning, Charlotte," Kate says.

"'Night, Kate," Charlotte chimes back and Kate bids goodnight to Ana before disappearing into her room.

Ana gives Charlotte a worried look. "Are you sure you're okay in here by yourself? I have extra room in my bed if you don't want to stay."

"I'm fine," Charlotte says. "Go on to bed and I'll be fine in here."

"Whatever you say," Ana says. "But I'll be around to check on you, later."

Charlotte mock salutes Ana as she gets beneath the blankets. "Yes, Captain."

Ana rolls her eyes and smiles all the while. "Goodnight, Charlotte."

"Goodnight, Ana."