A/N: This is a story that I had previously written. It had been up to Chapter 7, but I chose to delete it because I wasn't quite happy with my writing style as well as certain parts of the story. It had grown stagnant sadly, but after working on it, I'm choosing to repost it! Chapters are longer, and I've added more character development.

If you had previously read this, I ask you to reread as character stories have changed slightly an let me know what you think!

Same as before, the characters have different backgrounds (not completely) that will be explained as the story goes on!

Lessons Learned: Introduction

Part One of Chapter One: A Day in the Life of Christian Grey

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

7:00 am.

Christian Grey slapped the alarm to the right of his bed, effectively killing the bothersome noise beside him. He sat up, rubbing his fists against his eyes and removing the sleep from them. With a groan, he inhaled, the smell of coffee filling his nostrils and his townhouse.

He took a moment before leaving his bed, staring at the room before him and mentally comparing it to the one he occupied so many years ago. At least two times smaller, and quainter, his current bedroom showed more personality than any room he had inhabited before. The dark wooded dresser sat across from his bed, directly below a mounted forty-inch television. The room itself was warm, pictures of his family surrounding him, and model airplanes and gliders laying upon the dresser.

Christian stood, slipping on his house shoes before beginning his trek downstairs. The house was empty of noise, other than the sound of his coffee pot percolating for the last few minutes before the coffee would reach six cups, just as he liked it.

His phone sat on the brown granite countertop in his kitchen, a sharp contrast to the old white marble that adorned the kitchen in Seattle.

"Two missed calls..." He murmured, reaching for a coffee cup and filling it, topping it with a splash of cream.

His fingers moved over the iPhone, brow furrowing as he starred at the screen.

Mom - 2 missed calls

Christian let out an audible groan, rubbing his face with his hand. Following his groan, he took a deep breath, pressing CALL.

"Hello?" The sweet voice of Grace Gray said, and immediately Christian was filled with a warmth that only his mother could provide.

"Hi mom," He said lightly, sipping from his mug. "Is everything okay? You've called twice, before..." He glanced at the microwave clock, "7am.."

She let out a chuckle on the other end, "Of course dear. I just wanted to see how the semester is going, how the students are in class... so on and so forth."

"It's fine mom. Students are good, trouble with a few of them, but nothing I can't handle." Christian cleared his throat, leaning back against the counter. "You're telling me you called me twice... before 7am, to ask about school?"

"Okay, okay... you caught me. Too smart for your own good. Listen dear, Mia's coming into the states for Christmas."

A bubble of excitement filled him, "Wonderful! So, she'll be coming with you all then?"

A moment of silence filled the phone, before his mother began speaking again, her voice filled with hesitation. "Well, she said she'd love to spend the holiday at Bellevue and invite some of her friends. But we wanted to run it by you."

His answer was quick and immediate. "No."

"But dear-"

"No mother. I still need more time, but until then, I will not be returning to Washington. I can't."

"Christian, she's been imprisoned. It's been nine years-"

"I said no!" He replied sharply, before taking a deep breath. "Even thinking about it mom, it just... sets me back. Listen, I have class, I need to get ready."

"Dear, you've made so many strides. Just... think about it, please."

8:15 am

The Massachusetts air was crisp, typical for the third week of October. Christian walked through the fallen leaves, the colors of fall surrounding him. The leaves crunched beneath his Steve Madden's, and he reveled in the sound. Since moving to Massachusetts so many years ago, fall had become his favorite season yet again.

The scene before him was the opposite of the scene he used to view in the morning. Instead of the concrete and glass buildings of Seattle, he was now surrounded by the lush scenery of Harvard Yard, it's buildings a reminder of the history they held. It was calming to him, and after the brief conversation with his mother, he took solace in it.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

Christian glanced at his beeping watch, noting the time and quickening his pace. He quickly strode past the students rushing to class, most likely each regretting a weekend spent at the Cambridge Queen's Head.

Christian stepped into his office, quickly discarding his bag and stepping to cherry wood desk that sat before a window. The view from the window was quaint, smaller, but with an uninterrupted view of the yard and the students that wandered it.

"Christmas in Seattle..." He murmured, before scoffing and shaking his head, raising a hand to run through his dark copper colored hair.

After the incident, Christian Grey knew he would never return to Seattle. There were too many memories that he, and his therapist, had found too damaging. While he knew his parents would love to spend a Christmas in their home, his family spent each year making the trek to Massachusetts, and even going so far as to purchase a vacation home in Cambridge for visiting.

The New England style home sat about a twenty-minute drive outside of the campus, and while they offered him room and board during the semester when he worked, he refused. His own townhouse was a ten-minute walk from campus, and in having his own place, he felt normal. He acknowledged that it was certainly a different type of normal than he was used to, but it was comforting, and it was his.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

His phone alarm rang, and he glanced at the time, inwardly noting that his days were run by alarms of different kinds.

8:45 am.

Fifteen minutes to class, he thought and reached for his olive-green satchel, slinging it over his shoulder and starting down the hall to begin his day.

Christian stepped into the familiar setting that had become his home away from home for the past month. The auditorium sat 110, but his 55 business ethics students all made it a point to sit close to the front. Whether his voice didn't carry enough, or they were legitimately interested in what he had to say, he didn't know.

The room was simple, and it took him a total of five minutes to get ready for each class. The HDMI cable quickly attached to his laptop, and after opening his Fall folder that held his PowerPoint Presentation, he was ready.

He sat in the uncomfortable brown leather office chair, and he leaned back, folding his hands over his chest as he did so. His gray eyes trailed over the students as they filed in. So many of them reminded him of when he was a student, rushing around to make classes, hoping to never slip below a B.

Christian glanced at his watch, the time reading 9:01 am. He cleared his throat, and the shuffling of laptops leaving backpacks came to quick halt.

"Good morning every-" He began, interrupted by the heavy door of the lecture hall opening and shutting. A quick glance told him who the student was, and glancing downward at his attendance sheet, he noticed this was the third time in a month. "Miss Steele, class begins at 9:00 am.. not 9:03."

"I'm so sorry Professor Grey," The brunette stated quickly, amid the sounds of whispers around her. She slid into her chair, sitting quickly and pulling out a similar laptop to her classmates.

"No worries Miss Steele, see me after class if you will."

A nod and worried glance were replaced with a downcast gaze, and after his breath caught in his throat, he turned to put at the presentation now playing across the board with the words, POP QUIZ appearing animatedly across it.

He grinned in response to the groans.

"Professor Grey... you wanted to see me? I'm so sorry about being late.. again." Anastasia Steele began to say quickly, following the class dismissal. He glanced up from his laptop, after pulling up a folder labeled Fall_morning_grades.

"Miss Steele. How are your other classes going?" Christian clicked open the folder, quickly scanning through to find the name of the brunette that stood before him.

Once her name appeared, he glanced upward at her. She stood with an air of uncertainty, her posture showing no sense of ease around him. Her brown hair was tied back, bangs hanging close to her eyes. Although it was chilly out, she wore a turtleneck dress with leggings, more suitable for the month of November.

"F-Fine... I suppose." She replied, and he watched as she gripped her bag tighter.

Christian watched as the remaining lingering group of girls left, and he stood walking to the door and closing it. After straightening his burgundy sweater, he turned to her. "Miss Steele, you're failing my class. Thankfully we're not yet to the middle of the semester, so the chance of you at least making a C isn't too bad, but it's going to take work."

He watched for any shock to flit across her face, but in return for his news, he received only sorrow.

"I know. I'm doing my best Sir."

"Do you need help? We offer tutoring almost every afternoon, shortly after class."

"I'm not available for those. My other classes run into them." The response was quick, and curt.

Excuses, Christian thought. Students always have them. "Miss Steele, what are you here for?" He sat on the edge of the desk, a foot away from her and she shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm studying to receive my Bachelors in Criminal Justice to eventually go into Law."

"This class is a prerequisite for many other classes that will be required. If you fail this, you might as well say goodbye to that degree." He took a deep breath, "Listen, I'm not trying to scare you. It's my job as your professor to make you knowledgeable about these things, and to help you succeed in the future. If you're unable to make the afternoon tutoring sessions, perhaps I can help to personally tutor you in the evening during my office hours?"

Anastasia gripped her bag tighter, shifting her body weight to the other leg. "I would need to check, to make sure I'd be able to."

"Let me know. Preferably before the next test, which is two days after Halloween. You can go now."

"Thank you, sir," And with another quick mumbled thank you, she left.

"The usual, Christian?"

Christian glanced up from his laptop, the familiar face of Angela Johnson staring at him. With her usual pot of coffee in hand, she stood with her other hand atop of her hip, sassy as ever. Her IHOP name tag was worn, from the ten years of service she had put into the diner that sat on the Harvard campus.

"You know it." He replied, giving her the pantie dropping smile that he had come to perfect, but only used on her.

The sixty-year-old woman gave him a shove to the shoulder, rolling her eyes. "That doesn't work on me sweetie, but don't worry, you'll get your pancakes none the less. I'll be right back hun."

With a chuckle, he watched as she sashayed away, stopping to refill patron's coffee on her way to place his order.

It was six years prior when Christian first stepped foot into an IHOP. Before that, if someone had mentioned eating in a diner to him, he would have refused, citing multiple health concerns. He could acknowledge now that he felt it was below him, and he spent every Monday evening regretting those days.

He also now spent every Monday evening in the same booth, with the same waitress, eating the same food. Although was the evening, he would settle for nothing less than a stack of chocolate chip pancakes, smothered in whip cream. How he had lived his life without them before was a mystery to him.

The evening air felt calming as Christian approached his townhouse, the sight of it welcoming after a long day. After a quick fumble with his keys, he entered, kicking of his shoes and letting them rest by the door. He quickly removed his bag, hanging it on the hook beside his living room entrance where a sofa and entertainment center sat. Photographs of family littered his wall, a suggestion by his therapist.

He quickly made his way to his room, where he began discarding his clothes. Adidas sweatpants replaced BKE jeans, and his chest stay bare, former cigarette burn marks glinting in the light.

9:28 pm

Christian glanced at the clock, and found himself where he ended most days, on his sofa with his remote in hand. He clicked through the stations but found that his mind was nowhere on the television in front of him, but on a past he thought he left behind.

Over nine years ago, his Monday evenings wouldn't end until at least two in the morning and even then, he'd need a stiff drink to help himself sleep. Thoughts of business dealings, of meetings and world travels filled his mind, but he found himself longing for none of it. He thought of his old condo, sitting on the top floor of Escala, something that people wished they could one day own, and he had gladly given it up. He thought of Grey Enterprises, and he quickly thought of Elena Lincoln.

"No." He said aloud, willing himself to let them go. I'm never going back.

Part Two of Chapter One: An Insight to Anastasia Steele

Trigger Warning:Start

Anastasia Steele stared at the mirror before her, carefully appraising her reflection. Her brown hair was simple, hanging lamely over her shoulders after being removed from a hair tie. Her bangs sat just above her eyes, casting a shadow on her powder blue irises. There was nothing exactly spectacular about her, especially when she compared herself to the company she kept. Her friend Kate could easily outshine her with her curves and blonde flowing hair.

And yet for some reason, he had chosen her.

She let out a shuddering breath, her shoulders shaking as she lifted a hand to touch the red mark now adorning her cheek.

"Ana," She heard from outside the bathroom and she felt herself heave at the sound of his voice. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

I do, she thought.

"Please let me in." His voice was calm, and momentarily she debated on unlocking the door. The handle jiggled, "Ana, open this door." His voice became firmer, the familiar tone echoing through the bathroom.

"Jack, I'm going to take a bath... please, just give me some time. I have to pick up Teddy soon.."

The jiggling stopped. "Of course, take your time. I'm sorry."

You always are.

As she began to fill the tub, questions raced through her mind.

How did I let this happen?

Why don't I walk away?

Will this ever stop?

She knew the answer to each, but none was less complicated than the next.

Teddy. Her mind immediately turned towards her almost four-year-old son, Theodore; whose father had passed shortly after his birth. It was because of him that she stayed, but also because of him that she needed to get out.

Her toe dipped into the water, and a calming warmth washed over her, intensifying as she dipped further into the water. Her naked body submerged, the water soothing against her broken skin.

Another shuddering breath left her body, this time accompanied by tears.

For over six months, Anastasia Steele's world had been crashing around her, and it all pivoted on three moment that she remembered quite clearly, but it was the first moment that happened a year prior.

Anastasia had attended a party, her first in college and her first outing after four years. The party was loud, she remembered that quite well, and the drinks were strong. She had been dragged out by her best friend Kate, who always had her best interest at heart.

It was at that party that she ran into a man named Jack Hyde, and immediately he had begun to work his charm on her. He was smooth, agreeing that the party was loud, and that the drinks were too strong. He convinced her quickly that he didn't like to party, and as she soon found out, he wasn't even a student, but a friend of the host. And, although hesitant, she left that evening with Jack Hyde.

It was that first moment that haunted her, though the moments following it were great.

Jack's interests mirrored her own, and not for one second did she think it was too perfect that he loved the same music, the same food, and had the same hobbies. He was sympathetic to her past and accepted her son into his life as well.

For the first eight months, things had been perfect with Jack Hyde and so it was no surprise to her friends that she took up his offer to let her and Teddy move into his home with him to be closer to the college campus. It was no surprise to anyone that she let him keep an eye on her son when she was in classes when he wasn't in school, because he treated Teddy as if he was his own.

And in the moment where she thought she'd lose out on her education forever, when her financial aid no longer covered her schooling, Jack stepped in and helped to pay; this was the second moment that haunted her.

Then, one night, everything changed. After a long day of classes, she had picked up her son from the sitter, only to return to the house and find Jack with another woman. The woman had quickly grabbed her clothes and ran, the sounds of Anastasia's accusations surrounding her.

At first, Jack seemed apologetic; and at first, Anastasia forgave him, and that was the third moment that haunted her.

A week into the semester, Anastasia discovered more of his infidelity, when she ran into one of his current lovers on campus. The woman had been rude, whispering things into her ear that were not only hurtful, but also humiliating. Following this encounter, Anastasia decided that she would leave, no longer to be humiliated by Jack Hyde.

"Where are you going?" He had asked, Teddy in his arms.

Anastasia had quickly grabbed her son. "I'm leaving. I met Rebecca today Jack. I forgave you before, and you did it again... I'm not going to keep letting you do this to me."

Jack had watched her, his eyes emotionless as she placed Teddy into his stroller. He had waited, before drawing his hand back and letting it contact the side of Anastasia's face. She had gasped, her hand immediately lifting to the mark. Never had Jack laid a hand on her before, never had it been a concern of hers.

"Don't you EVER lay a hand on me again!" She had spat, and when she turned to grab her bag and leave, his arm snaked around her neck, pulling her back.

"I'm going to make this very clear, Ana. You're not leaving, and you're not taking Teddy. You owe me, close to twenty grand if I remember correctly." He had released her, and she faced him, shock painted on her face. "You want to leave? Give me my fucking money back. If you try to leave again without giving me what you owe me, I swear I'll fucking kill you Ana, and your poor bastard son will grow up without a mother."

Jack had walked over to the stroller, picking up Teddy, who was now crying, with a smile on his face. "I'm hungry," he had begun, "Pizza tonight?"

And he had turned, walking to sit on the couch with her son.

She soon realized that Jack's interests didn't mirror her own. He didn't enjoy the same music, or the same food, and he didn't have the same interest in hobbies. She felt trapped, and she was determined to find a way out.

Trigger Warning: End

"Thanks for watching Teddy, Kate. The sitter had some Halloween party to go to," Anastasia leaned down to hug her son, kissing him on the cheek. "Did you have fun with Miss Kate?"

The boy nodded, grabbing onto his mothers' hand. "We colored!" He held up a piece of crumpled paper with a drawing that resembled something of a dinosaur.

Kate smiled at her, though the smile was sad, and knowing.

"Of course, Ana," she replied.

The friendship of Ana and Kate had gone back to when Ana was pregnant, introduced to Kate from Teddy's father, Johnathan. They had immediately clicked, Ana's demure personality toning down Kate's exuberant one. Although they were opposites, Kate had become the largest help once Teddy was born and Johnathan was no longer around.

"How's school going?" Kate asked, leaning against the doorway into her living room. As usual, she looked beautiful, even though she wore sweats and her blonde hair was tied up in a messy bun.

"Great. I'm failing Business Ethics." Ana replied sarcastically, lifting the heavy boy into her arms and resting him on her hip.

"With Grey? He's not the easiest. Do you need help?"

"He actually offered to privately tutor me." Ana grimaced as Teddy's hand pressed into her cheek, still sore from hours earlier.

Her friend stepped forward in response. "Ana, did he lay a hand on you?"

"N-No. I just..."

"Tripped? Ana, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

Anastasia let out an exasperated sigh, "Listen... I just need to get through this semester. My financial aid will be reinstated in the next, and I almost quality for a loan so I can just pay him back and be done with this."

Kate tugged a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her brow furrowing in response to her friends' excuses, knowing she wasn't getting the full story. "Are you safe? Is Teddy safe? Just answer me that."

"Of course, Kate." She whispered, knowing Teddy was at an age where he could repeat and understand. "He might be an asshole, but he'd never do anything to hurt my son."

Anastasia fought to keep the yawn from escaping her mouth as she rushed down the hallway to her lecture hall. As usual, her morning had been full of Teddy, bathing him, feeding him, and getting him to the sitter. She loved her mornings, because they were the one time of day that Jack wasn't home. He worked, though he had no need to, after finding himself with an inheritance from his grandfather so many years ago.

As she quickly walked down the hallway, Kate's words rang in her ears.

"Are you safe? Is Teddy safe?"

The first question Anastasia couldn't answer, but she knew the answer to the second question without any doubt in her mind.

"Miss Steele." A sharp voice rang out as she entered the lecture hall, "You made it on time today, early even."

A few students laughed in response, but when she looked at Professor Grey, she could see a faint smile make its way across her lips.

Sitting down in her usual seat, she pulled open her black tote, removing the laptop from it. Once it was removed, she took a moment to relax in her chair, proud that she had made it early to the class she was doing so poorly in. In her moment of relaxation, her eyes glanced over and found that she was meeting the gray eyes of her Professor. With a blush, she gazed down, powering up the laptop.

Private tutoring sessions. She knew she needed them. Without this class, she'd be unable to get her financial aid reinstated, and unable to continue to the next level of courses. She'd have to retake the course, which would have made the money Jack spent, as well as the last semester, a waste.

Other than Teddy, her education was the most important thing in her life. Though the current times were trying, she knew that with this degree, she could take care of herself and her son for the remainder of their days. She'd never have to worry about another 'Jack Hyde' again and would ensure that her son had the best life she could give him.

A clearing of the throat brought her back to reality, her gaze rising to stare at Professor Grey. Momentarily, she allowed herself the same appraising gaze that all the other female, and some male, students gave him. He was breathtaking, there was no doubt about that. His copper hair and gray eyes were complimented by his sense of style. Out of most teachers, his personality was that of a younger man, though she knew his age was somewhere in his thirties. He hadn't been tenured at the University for long, this she knew, but his reputation proceeded him.

"Professor Grey," Anastasia began, stepping through the doorway and into an office full of warm cherry furniture and photographs of smiling faces.

"Miss Steele," Professor Grey looked upward from his laptop, using his hand to motion the seat in front of him. "Early to class today, that's a start. Did you think about my offer?" His voice was smooth, and it made a shiver run down her spine, her hair standing on edge.

She sat in the leather chair, sinking into the comfortable cushion. "I did, and I'd like to take you up on that if you're still willing. This class is... everything to me Professor Grey. I need to do it for myself, and for... for my son."

"Your son?" His eyebrow raised, a shocked look flitting across his handsome face. "I'll admit Miss Steele, if I knew you had a child, I wouldn't be so hard on you with your tardiness. How old is he?"

"He's almost three Sir. He's my world, but I need to be able to pass this course, and eventually all of my courses so I can give him a good future."

"Will the evenings work with your son and..." She noticed his quick glance to her ring finger, "and his father?"

"His father's no longer in the picture, but yes. He'll be with his sitter."

Her professor stood, walking to his door which he slowly closed before turning to face her. "I think it's admirable that you're willing to do this for your child. This is going to take time out of my day as well, so I just need you to commit to at least two days a week. I'm going to give you my personal cell phone number, so I need you to let me know if you're unable to make it. When would you like to begin?"

"Of course, sir. I don't want to waste your time; I know you're busy." Anastasia fidgeted her fingers, taking a deep breath. "Can we do Mondays and Thursdays? Those are my best days for the sitter," They're also the days Jack has his 'game' nights with his friends.

He appraised her for a moment, and her gaze faltered beneath his own. "Do you like pancakes Miss Steele?"

"...yes?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Great." His large hands clapped together, "We'll begin this upcoming Monday, at IHOP, at 6pm."

A/N: Please keep in mind that this is a very brief overview into our main characters lives. Chapters in the future will dig deeper into both of their stories!

Hope you all enjoy so far!