Saved By You

Chapter 1 – New beginnings

Christian Grey

September 2023

A girl with wide hazel eyes, long brown shaggy hair almost touching her bottom stops me from my brisk walk. Taylor didn't approve but I couldn't resist her cute face.

"Excuse me Sir, would you like to buy my Mother's ring?" She asked, her small fingers clasping a ring, not worth much but it had a green stone in the silver band.

Taylor pushes me on. "Mr. Grey, her Mother is probably around the corner…"

As I walk away, I couldn't help but look over my shoulder again. The tiny child stands still for a moment, before walking towards the wall and slumping back against it, hugging her Mother's ring to her chest. Small tears spill from her eyes and that cut me deeply. I shake off Taylor and return my steps. My shoes clap against the payment and she never looked up, but she knew I had come back. She remained still and emotional. Poor kid doesn't look like she's eaten for days. Her clothes are like potato sacks with holes in, her feet are filthy and bare. Who would do this to a child? I kneel down to her level, clicking my knees on the way.

She still didn't meet my gaze.

"I'm Christian, what's your name?" I asked in a soft voice, not wanting to scare her. Usually, I would call myself Mr. Grey, but this innocent child seems scared. By using that name she might run away.

She snivelled and her glassy hazel eyes looked back at me. "My name is Lydia Walters."

"Nice to meet you, Lydia Walters," I repeat, looking at Taylor and nodding, he knows exactly what I want. Returning my attention onto the young girl, I curiously ask, "How old are you, Lydia Walters?"

"I'm six year old," She mumbled back.

Glancing around the area, I ask her, "Where are your parents?"

"There not here, I ran away," She confesses a tear dropping from the corner of her eye.

Reaching out to her, I try to capture the tear before it drops from her jaw but she flinches away. Okay, she doesn't want to be touch. I get that. "Sorry Lydia. I didn't mean to scare you," I hope that would ease her worries. "Why did you run away Lydia?" She seems open, willing to talk. But not this time, she remained silent. "Did something happen?" Again silence. I assumed the worse, "Did they hurt you?"

With her spare hand, she wiped her wet eyes before nodding. Quickly, she adds, "My Mother dead. It's not her fault."

"And the ring is the last thing you have of hers? Why are you trying to sell it?"

Lydia mutters, "To survive…"

Taylor stepped to my side again, after making a call for my checks. I stand up and he whispers in my ear, "Welch says she hasn't been reported missing. She 6 years old. Her Mother is Mary Walters, a housewife. Her Father Bill Walters, an ex- fire-fighter due to an accident."

"What does he do now?" I whisper back, not wanting the young child to hear.

Taylor shrugs his shoulders.

I knelt back down to Lydia level.

"Am I in trouble?" She wonders, refusing to meet my gaze.

I assure her, "No, you're not in any trouble Lydia."

"Do I have to go back?"

I shake my head. "How about we get some ice cream, do you like Ice cream?"

"What's ice cream?"

She doesn't know what Ice cream is? I've stumbled on a poor helpless child here, who certainly needed my help. "It's a sweet dessert, how about we try all the flavours in the world?"

Her eyes widen.

Reassuringly I smiled before holding my hand out to her, wanting to gain her trust. Her cold hand gently presses against mine and I help her up onto her feet. "Do your feet hurt?" I asked, seeing the red raw blister on her mucky feet.

She looked ashamed, almost embarrassed.

"How about I give you a piggy back ride?"

"What's that?" Her voice perked up into interest.

Slightly kneeling on the floor, letting my suit capture some dirt from the pavement, I tell her to climb on my back and hold on tight around my neck, not to tight so I couldn't breathe. I stood up and she giggled. Achieving her laugh made me really happy.

At the ice cream parlour, her face beamed with brightness instantly as she gazes over all the different selections through the protective window at the counter. The guy behind the counter glanced at me then at the girl, looking at her clothes, her ruined awful clothes, then looked back at me. I flashed the cash to distract him and ask that we both have a bit of everything before I guide Lydia over to a pod, her hand swinging mine.

We sit down and I take the opportunity to sit the other side to be able to observe her. She jiggles around taking in every angle of the building, her hazel eye are no longer glassy as her tears had finally stopped. Her pale cheeks had glowed slightly peachy, bringing some brightness to her cute features. Lydia is a truly beautiful, who could do this to such a wonder precious child?

"Here we go," The judgemental guy behind the counter, placed down a few pots with all different flavours of ice cream. "Once you finished with these, give me a call and I'll get you the next load…"

Lydia's eyes adjusted and broaden over the selection, she couldn't believe her luck. "There is more?" She choked a little.

Nodding my head, I push the pink small spoon across the table to her, I urge her, "Dig in…" Taking the other blue spoon, I grab a pot and take a taste, knowing her eyes are watching me like a hawk. "Raspberry flavour. Mmm…" I state. Handing over the pot, I encourage again, "Your turn."

Her soft pink lips press together before she decides to dip her spoon in and try the flavour. She lets her mouth taste the flavours before gulping it down. "It's really nice…"

"Eat it up before it melts…" I smile.

She nods her head before finishing the rest of the raspberry ice cream up. Lydia selects another pot

She points at another one before grabbing it and tasting the flavour. "Mmm… I like this one better." She offers the pot and I taste it. "Chocolate chip," I declared, "A girls favourite."

In the car, Taylor drives us home. Lydia has never been in a car before; she sits in the middle seat next to me, glancing at the window as the scenery rushes by. I don't understand why she didn't want to sit by the window herself but I got the vibe she was nervous. "You don't need to worry, Lydia."

She removed her eyes from the world and looked at me, a smile creeps across her features.

I promise, "I will look after you from now on and my family also."

She blinked her dark long eyelashes a couple of times. "You don't need to that, Christian." She held her finger up with her Mother's ring positioned on. "This will."

I couldn't help smile at her adorability. "I do…" I clasp my hand around the ring and her finger. "Keep this close to your heart…"
"I will," She said just as Taylor drove through the gates and up to the house.

Stepping out on the gravel, I knew the stones will cut her feet. "Let me carry you," I say. Willingly, she let me pick her up carrying her on my side. As I thought, she felt like a feather and not a six year old girl. Zakary is the same age as Lydia and he's certainly a lot heavier, I remember when Teddy and Phoebe was six they weighted more. This child has defiantly been neglected.

Ana is at the door, with a wide smile which turns to confusion as she sees the little girl in my arms. The kids' faces brighten of a new arrival and Phoebe is jumping up and down already wanting to play dress up on Lydia, instead of me for a change.

"Ana I would like you to meet Lydia, Lydia this is Ana, my wife," I introduce.

Teddy complained as he came down the stairs to see what the commotion is all about, "Don't forget us, Dad!"

"How could I ever forget you guys," I smile down to my children. "Lydia this is Teddy, Phoebe and Zakary, our children."

"Can we play dress up Dad?" Phoebe asks as I step into our beautiful cherished family home, still with Lydia in my hold. How did I guess she was going to ask that?

Lydia seems quite as she lays her head against my shoulder. "Not yet Phoebe. Why don't you go and find Gail and ask her to fix you something for dinner, whatever you want."

Phoebe and Zakary go thundering off to find our help but Ted doesn't bother, he goes back upstairs to his room, more than likely to play on his consoles.

"What's going on Christian?" Ana asked confusion flowed through her tone and with hands firmly on her sexy hips.

I hold my finger up to her before I turn my attention on Lydia. "Lydia will you go and sit on the sofa for me? I'll be over in a second." I set her on her feet, kneeling down with her before she walked slowly towards where I pointed to.

Out of ear shot, I sprung up to Ana's level. "This girl came up into me in a street, offering to sell me her Mother's ring." Ana didn't say anything so I continued, "Background checks are done but I'm digging further. She told me she ran away and her Dad is hurting her…"
"Poor child," Ana gasped, stroking gently down my face. "You want to give her a home."

I nod my head once. "Her Mother is dead."

Taylor stepped towards us. "About that Mr. Grey, her Mother's death hasn't been registered."

"I want more back ground checks on her Father," I ordered.

"Certainly, Mr. Grey," Taylor nodded at my request before disappearing with his phone to his ear. I turn my attention back onto Ana. "Baby, do you mind her staying?"

Lydia Walters

Everything is much bigger than I am. I feel small and tiny in Christian's home. My home is not like this. It's small and messy and dark and cold. The way Daddy likes it. He makes the mess. But here is clean and nice and Christian does not make a mess here like Daddy. The sofa reminds me of a big monster ready to eat my bottom. I remember the advert on the television I caught after I got in at home from school. The sofa reminds me of that advert. Daddy does not like to share the sofa. I sit on the cold floor instead. But Christian said I could sit. I do not though just in case.

In the room I see a piano. Mummy mentioned one of these before. Mummy likes music. I like music. Daddy does not like music. He hit me because I was too loud. I do not like Daddy when he hits me. It hurts and leaves a purple colour behind. I walk towards the musical instrument and touch the keys. There soft. With a finger I press down on one of the keys. It makes a high sound noise. I am scared. Will Christian hit me for making a racket as Daddy calls it?

"Do you like to play?" Christian said behind me.

I jump and knot my fingers together. I do this when I am frightened.

Christian looks at me funny. Not like the way Daddy looks at me when he is angry at me. This is different. Christian takes a seat on the small chair in front of the piano and he lifts me onto his lap, making me face the keys. Unlike Daddy he puts his hands over the keys and presses them to make them play. The sound is nice and pleasant. Daddy wouldn't like it. Christian asks, "Would you like to have a go Lydia?"

I nod my head and reach out for the keys. Christian puts his big hands on top of my hands and helps me play the same sound he did. Christian is not hurting me. I am surprised. Daddy would.

Ana came over just as we finished playing and she clapped her hands at me. This is nice. Daddy or Mummy has never clapped at me before. I never did anything right it there eyes.

"Impressive," Ana said as she leans against the instrument.

"Did you enjoy that Lydia?" Christian asked me but never let me respond. "Because we can do it again sometime if you would like."

I nodded my head with a grin on my face. I have never smiled this much before.

Christian set me down onto my feet and he stood up. He reached down for my hand and we walked over to the big sofa. I took a seat when he patted the space besides him. It is much more comfortable then floor. He pushed his hair back as Ana sat next to him, putting her arms around hum tummy. Mummy never did that to Daddy. They were always apart.

Christian asked, "Lydia is it alright if we talk to you about your parents?"

"Sure Christian."

He makes a noise from his chest before he speaks again, "You told me that your Mother had died, how did she die, Lydia?"

Christian Grey

"You told me that your Mother had died, how did she die, Lydia?" I wondered, seeing something different change in her hazel brown eyes.

She glanced down at her knotted hands just like before at the piano. She looked terrified then and now she looks nervous. I don't want to push her, she's only small.

"Mummy fell down the stairs," She started in a small tone. Her voice becomes even lower as she whispers, "But Daddy isn't telling the whole truth." She finally glances up at me then at Ana before she continued to look at her hands. Shame hit her small helpless little face. "I saw Daddy hurt her then he pushed her down the stairs."

Ana gasped in horror before her own voice remained low in my ear, "Poor child."

"Can you remember what happened after Lydia?" I press for more information.

Lydia admits, "I stayed up late and went to Mummy and Daddy's room. I shouldn't have been in there. Daddy doesn't like it when I go in there. But I watched."

"What did you see?"

"In the yard next to my doggy Alvin he put Mummy into the ground."

Lydia Walters

I didn't mind answering Christian's questions. I trust him and Ana too with my secret. Christian said he had to make an urgent phone call and Ana showed me to the dining area. Their children were there. Phoebe is nice. She grabbed my hand and pulled me along to the table where she wanted me to sit. "You can sit here Lydia, I will sit next to you and Daddy can sit on the other side of you. Will you play dress up with me later?"

"What is dress up?" I ask I have never done that before.

She giggled. "You don't know what dress up is?"

I shake my head.

"Phoebe can you settle down please," Ana said sitting opposite me.

"Sorry Mummy…" She said sitting down properly in her seat.

I have never sat at a dining table before. When Daddy gives me food I sit on the floor with it, eating it by my hands. But on this table there are silver things on the table. Teddy, Ana and Christian's son came in he rubbed his hand on top of Phoebe's head then sat by her. He seems nice. Zakary seems nice too. I hope I can be friends with them. Daddy always says I do not need friends to play with. But secretly I always wanted a friend. When Daddy hurt Alvin I lost my friend and always wanted another one. Daddy said no.

An older lady come around and placed a meal down in front of all of us as Christian joined us. It was big. It smelt nice. It looked nice. I looked around the table and saw everyone pick up the silver things before eating away at their dinner. I picked them up. They are heavy in my hands. I looked at Phoebe and watched her as she ate with them before trying to use them myself. I glanced up at Christian and he caught my eyes.

He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Do you need help?"

"I've never used these before," I whisper back, holding up the silver things in my hands.

Christian smiled. He got out of his seat and everyone watched him. I did not like everyone staring. He came up behind me and placed the silver things in my hands. It felt odd. My hands could not get comfortable. "Does that feel comfortable?" He asked. I shake my hand and he switched the different shaped silver in my hands. "How about that?"

"Much better."

Christian held onto my hands like he did at the piano. He showed me how to do it. It is very tricky. He let me have a go by myself but I managed to splash some thick liquid on the table.

"Don't worry," Christian said in my ear. "It happens. Try again…"

Christian Grey

Lydia has had a hard life by the seems of it. She even struggles with the everyday tasks. Every second I spend with this girl the more I want to help her. Now knowing what her Father did I can file a case against him. He should not be allowed to breath the same air as her. How could he do this to his Daughter and his Wife? I would never dream to do that to my Ana. The poor girl has witnessed a horrid scene but she's not aware of how serious it is. I'm going to help Lydia. I'm going to help her become a part of our family and become a Grey. I will show her what it is like to be loved. In a way, I see myself in her and now it's my turn to help.

Once Grace arrived at our family home, she too was shocked at the size of the little girl. It got her completely worried and I know she just wanted to immediately help her, just like I do. She got down to Lydia level and explained who she was and that she needs to check to see if Lydia was okay.

Lydia looked up to me and I gave her a reassuring nod.

When I saw her small body I was appalled to see how thin she actually is. Ana had to excuse herself from the room instantly as she had also become traumatized by the tiny figure. It wasn't just how tiny she was, it's the marks all over her body, the scars her Father had given her. Some must be fresh as when Grace touched them Lydia instantly winced. Along her ribs she had a deep wound that had turned into a thick scar; Grace asked her how she got it.

Lydia responded, "I refused to go to bed so Daddy got some sharp glass from the broken window the boys broke and punished me."

That killed me inside.

Lydia Walters

I liked Grace too. This family is lovely. I wished my family could be like this one. They care and love one another.

Grace helped me with having a bath. It's the largest bath I have ever seen in my life. The water is nice and warm. At home I only had cold showers once a week. So this is nice. Grace helped me wash my long hair with shampoo that smells like strawberries. My toes stung a little bit in the water but when they were dry Grace put some cream on them. Grace helped me get dressed into some clothes. There too big on me but they are comfortable. Much better than my other clothes.

Grace showed me to one of Christian and Ana's bedrooms. It's a big room with a big window. The room is painted light and it is nothing like mine at home. Grace helped me onto the big bed. I sat on the edge and swung my legs as she dried my hair. Christian came in then. He smiled.

"I will see you soon Lydia," Grace said. She kissed the top of my head and that reminded me of my Mummy. I missed Mummy. I did not miss Daddy.

Grace disappeared out of the door and Christian came forward. He walked to the top of the bed and pulled the blanket back. "Come up here Lydia," He said where he sat on the side of the bed. I do as I'm told and crawl up the large bed. My bed doesn't look like this. I sleep with my dog's blanket on the floor. This is more cosy. I cuddle up to Christian as he place the thick blanket over me. This is nice and warm.

"Lydia," Christian says, placing an arm around me.

I look up and meet his grey eyes.

"No one can hurt you anymore. You will always be protected here…"

Everywhere I went I held on tightly to my Mummy's ring. I held it out to him. "Could you look after this for me please, Christian? I am scared of losing it."

"Of course Lydia." His fingers fastened around my only treasure and he promised, "I will keep it safe for you." Christian placed it inside his jacket pocket and it is close to his heart. "Lydia if I told you I want you to be a part of our family what would you say?" He paused for my answer before adding on, "Would you like that?"
I felt completely shy. I could not look at him. I nodded my head as a reply.

"I'll make that happen…" Christian said. He gently squeezed my shoulders. "Come on lie down, you need to rest."

I shifted about and put my head on the soft bouncy pillow and closed my eyes. Christian kissed the side of my head. "Christian, please can you stay with me till I fall asleep?"

"Of course," he promised as I heard a click.

A/N - Please could you review and let me know what you think so far? Thank you