"I'm sorry about Blake." Kate tells Ana over a mug of chamomile tea.

"Me too. I suppose we were doomed from the beginning." Ana holds the mug, attempting to warm her icy hands.

"What do you mean?" Kate looks at her roommate, the corners of her mouth are turned down in worry.

"I should have realized this would end poorly. He was nice, and I cared for him."

"Oh, Ana," Kate reaches across the breakfast bar and clutches her best friend's hand. "You'll find the one. And when you do, it won't end poorly. It won't end at all."

Ana gives her a small smile but is not reassured by Kate's words.

"Hey, come with us this weekend to Aspen." Kate's voice is immediately more optimistic.

"Who's us?" Ana slightly perks up.

"Me, Elliot, Mia, and Ryan."

Ana scrunches up her face, "No, thanks. I don't want to be a fifth wheel. You guys go and have fun."

"You won't be a fifth wheel, Christian will be there." Kate tells Ana plainly.

"Why would Christian be there?" Ana is confused like she is missing a piece of the puzzle.

"Why wouldn't he?" Kate realizes that Ana doesn't know Christian owns the Aspen house. "Ana, it's his house we're going to."

"Then, I shouldn't go. You go and have fun. I'll stick around here and see what Nolan is up to." Ana concedes.

"I thought you and Christian were getting along. What happened?" Kate is concerned the delicate relationship between Ana and Elliot's brother has deteriorated.

"We are, it's just," Ana pauses to find the proper word, "strange I suppose. I can't describe it. It's like we're friends but not."

"Well, if you come with us this weekend, you'll be able to figure it out. And, worst-case scenario, you don't have to spend time with him." Ana can tell Kate really wants her to come along. She's not sure why, it's not like she's distraught or anything. But Ana decides to just mollify her friend and agrees to go with them to Aspen.

After the three and a half hour flight, the group and their luggage are piled into the waiting Cadillac Escalade with Taylor at the wheel. It's a brief twenty minute drive to Christian's place and everybody but Ana is chatting about what they want to do, the weather, restaurants to go to - practically anything and everything.

Christian turns to Ana, who is even more reticent than normal. "Are you OK?" His voice is low so no one else can overhear.

"Oh, yeah. Must just be the travel." Ana replies still seeming like she's in another world.

"You sure?" he urges her again, unsatisfied with her answer. This time she says nothing and just nods.

When they arrive to the house, it's well after midnight. They planned on leaving earlier so they would land around dinner time but there was an issue at one of the sites Elliot was working at so they got off to a late start.

Kate and Mia quickly find some beer in the fridge and bring it out for everyone to share. Kate hands out the beer while Mia searches the kitchen for snacks. Kate goes to hand Ana a beer, but she declines. "Thanks, Kate. But I think I am going to head up to bed if that's OK. I'm beat."

Kate gives Ana a disingenuous smile, "Sure. That's cool."

"Ana, I'll show you to your room." Mia offers to her happily and takes Ana up the stairs holding her hand. A few minutes later, Mia comes back down stairs and joins the rest of the group. She sits down at the table next to Kate. "Is she OK?" Mia whispers to Kate.

Kate shrugs, "She won't say but I assume she's upset. Blake received a job offer and is moving to Los Angeles."

"Oh, no. So they broke up?"

"I guess not in so many words."

The following morning, the group sets out on a hike of the Crater Lake Trail. It's an impressive view of massive, snow-capped, rugged mountains jutting up from the earth next to a tranquil lake with scattered pine trees adding bursts of vivid green to the vista.

"My gosh, it's beautiful." Ana is astonished by the view. She is feeling better and is in greater spirits after a proper night's sleep.

"Christian! Are you positive this isn't going to be too tough?" Mia asks. She's never been one for spending time outdoors unless it's next to a pool with a drink but she didn't want to stay back at the house alone.

"Mia, it's a moderate trail. You'll be fine." Christian's tone is impassive as he admonishes his little sister.

"Yeah, Mia, just pretend there is a gigantic Gucci store at the top." Elliot teases his little sister.

"Oh, ha ha, Elliot." Mia then sticks her tongue out at Elliot only causing him to laugh more.

The trail is gorgeous and isn't as overcrowded as it can be. It's an incredibly popular trail, especially in the summer. Elliot, Kate, and Ryan are ahead of the group and Ana and Mia are in the back.

Suddenly, a high-pitched yelp causes everybody to halt. Ana is on the ground and obviously injured. "Ana, what happened?" Mia rushes over to her friend.

"I don't know. I lost my footing and tripped on this rock." Ana takes a few deep breaths to try to relieve the pain, but it's not working. Her ankle is already throbbing, and she knows it isn't good. By now, the rest of the group has made their way back and are hovering over her.

"Here. Let me help. Can you walk?" Christian reaches down and takes Ana's hand. She struggles to stand and put pressure on her foot but she instantly feels an intense stabbing pain.

Standing on one foot, she tells Christian, "I don't think so. It really hurts."

"Come here." Without any preamble, Christian quickly sweeps Ana into his arms. "I'm taking you to urgent care." He doesn't wait for her to respond and just turns around and begins taking her down the trail towards the car. He picks up his phone and calls Taylor, who is waiting at the Escalade. "Taylor, have the car ready. Ana fell and I'm taking her to urgent care."

"Christian, that's not necessary. I'm fine!" Ana urges him.

"No you're not." He isn't even out of breath as he carries her down the mountain. It doesn't take him long to get to the trailhead. Sitting there with the car waiting is Taylor. He opens the back door and Christian gently places Ana on the seat. Then he reaches across her and fastens the seatbelt.

Christian walks around the rear of the car and gets into the backseat on the other side. "Sir, I have the closest urgent care on GPS." Taylor informs Christian.

"Good. Thank you, Taylor." Christian automatically replies.

"Christian, no. I don't think my insurance will cover it." Ana pleads in a last ditch effort.

"Ana, I don't care if I have to buy the damn place. You're having that ankle looked at and that's the end of it." Christian's tone lets Ana know there is no quibbling with him.

About an hour later, Ana comes hobbling out of the exam room with her ankle bandaged and using crutches.

"What is it?" Christian asks as he instantly gets up and approaches her.

"A sprained ankle. I have to keep off it."

He helps her into the car and after he gets in, he tells Taylor to drop them off at the house and then head back to pick up the rest of the group. Christian helps Ana into the house and to the spare bedroom on the first floor where she lies down to rest. With the combination of the travel, altitude, and pain medication, Ana sleeps into the evening.

When she wakes, it's dark out. Feeling foggy and somewhat disoriented, Ana attempts to stand up out of bed. Suddenly, a sharp and stabbing pain in her ankle reminds her of what happened earlier today. She limps to the dresser about six inches from her to grab the pair of crutches leaning against it.

Slowly and awkwardly she makes her way out to the kitchen surprised to find it empty. She makes her way to the cabinet by the sink in search of a glass. Ana realized how thirsty she is when she got to the kitchen.

"You're finally awake." She hears Christian's voice behind her and turns around.

"What time is it?" she left her phone somewhere and doesn't know the time.

"A little after eight." He tells her as he sits down at the high top table.

Ana didn't realize for how long she slept and is surprised that it's already so late. "Oh, where is everyone?" she asks him.

"They went to dinner and some drinks afterward. They probably won't be home until late." Christian tells Ana matter-of-factly.

Ana pours some water into the glass from a pitcher in the fridge. "Why didn't you go?"

"I have work to do. Plus, I didn't want you to wake up and be alone." She looks at him and his gray eyes sparkle making her heart beat just a bit faster. It surprises her that all these months later he can still have some effect on her. She breaks eye contact with him determined they should just remain friends. After all, he would have said something if he had feelings for her.

In her awkward nervousness, she bumps her glass off the counter and sends it crashing to the floor. "Shit, Ana!" Christian shouts and is quickly out of his seat and to her before she can even register what happened. "Here, sit down before you get hurt more. I'll take care of this." He immediately begins to clean up the shards of glass and water.

"You must think I am the biggest idiot because you have to take care of me." Ana tells him feeling embarrassed about everything that happened that day.

Suddenly, he stops and looks up at her. "You think that's why I do this? Really?" he asks her incredulous.

"Well, I mean…" Ana starts to respond before Christian cuts her off.

"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't want to, Anastasia. Can't you see that?"

"What?" Ana is confused about what is going on and words are failing to come to her mind.

Christian stops, takes a deep breath, and runs his hand through his hair. He might as well tell her. He's got nothing to lose at this point. "Ana, I like to be with you. I like spending time with you." he starts to explain his feelings to her.

"I like being friends with you too," she replies.

"Jesus Christ, Ana! I don't mean friends." Christian pauses trying to gather his courage to say what he needs to. For the longest time he didn't want to admit what he is about to say right now but he can't hold back any longer. "I'm in love with you."

"You what?" Ana stammers in shock.

"I think I've been in love with you since the day I helped you put that TV into your jeep." It was actually his therapist, Dr. Flynn who helped him realize his feelings for her and why he couldn't forget her even when she seemed to have no interest in him.

The look on Ana's face changes from bewilderment to indignation. "How dare you do this? Things are so complicated for me right now and you just think it's OK to dump this on me? That's fucked up. We're friends, Christian. Like you said. You're the one who didn't return my calls or texts, remember? You can't just expect me to jump into your arms the second you say go!" Ana stands wobbling to make her point.

"You know what's fucked up? Feeling like I do about you and knowing that there is some asshole out there who's touching you and fucking you when you should be with me. I think about it and I can barely hold my temper."

"Asshole?" Ana asks him confused.

"Don't play coy, Ana. You've been with Blake for how long. How long did it take for him to try to get into your panties, the second date or the third?"

Ana's blue eyes widen, and she looks at Christian as if she is in a state of shock. Christian immediately knows something isn't right.

"What is it?"

She shakes her head, "nothing."

"It's not nothing. Anastasia, I know you well enough by now to know when something is wrong. What is it?" he asks her.

Ana just looks down and shakes her head. And then the realization hits Christian. "You haven't slept with him have you?"

"Well, it's just that he travels a lot and…" she tries and fails to explain.

"What's the real reason why you haven't had sex with him, Ana?" Christian asks her as he walks closely up to her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." she tells him taking an unstable step back.

"Fine, if that's the way you want to play it." He says and then turns around to walk away.

"Christian, wait!" Ana yells. She can't let him walk away again. He's all she can think about and she knows what he says is true. He turns around, and she quickly jumps into his arms grabbing his face with her hands and kisses him.

They break the kiss and he looks into her sparkling cerulean eyes giving her the biggest smile. "Yeah?" he asks her.

"Yes." she replies breathlessly.

"I want to hear you say it." Christian demands.

"I love you. I love you, Christian Grey." Christian picks her up into his strong arms, holding her closely to him and kisses her passionately as he carries her to his bedroom.

It's just after 2 am and Kate, Elliot, Mia, and Ryan are just getting in from a night out. Worried about her friend, Kate goes upstairs to check on her. When she sees Ana's bed empty, she remembers she was in the bedroom downstairs. Quickly but quietly she makes her way to the room where Ana was resting earlier in the day. However, that room, too, is empty.

She walks out to the kitchen where the others are winding down. "Elliot, I can't find Ana." Kate sounds worried.

"She can't have gone far, maybe she's just in a different room. This place is huge." Elliot is logical and calm. They search the entire house and there is still no sign of Ana. When Kate sees broken glass in the trash can, she becomes worried about her friend.

"Elliot, what if she got hurt?"

"If she got hurt, I'm sure Christian would have called us to let us know." Knowing that Kate won't be able to rest until she knows Ana is OK, Elliot makes his way to ask Christian about Ana. He approaches the door of the master bedroom where it is dark and quiet. Slowly he opens the door but stops at the sight in front of him.

There, lying in Christian's bed is Ana curled into Christian's arms with the both of them sleeping soundly. "I found her." He whispers to Kate, holding the door open for her to see in.

"I guess she's OK then." Kate whispers back to Elliot quietly laughing.

Elliot smiles and shakes his head. "It's about time they realized what we have known for months now." Elliot closes the door, places his arm around Kate's shoulders and kisses her on her head. "Let's get to sleep."

THE END