"And then the bee and the butterfly became friends!", Mila concludes her story just as I finish my breakfast. I smile distractedly at her in response.

"Daddy, talk to me!", she shakes me and gets my attention.

"Mila, how many times should I tell you to eat first and then talk", Ana looks at Mila pointedly and puts a spoonful of her cereal in her mouth. Mila pouts at her in response.

"Why is nobody talking to me?!", she complains and eats her breakfast, dropping bread crumbs successfully on the carpet. Not that I mind but it'll be hell of a work for Maria, the temporary homemaker today.

I look at Ana and as if on cue, she looks at me. Her eyes are warm but I know her mind's not. I'd give a million bucks to know what is going on inside the head of her's, its still a big mystery after all these years.

"Finish your breakfast, we have to go look for a new school too.", Ana tells Mila and I look at her, dumbfounded.

"And when was this plan made?", I shoot her an annoyed look.

"It was the plan all along, Christian."

"It's Mr. Grey for you. And since we 'hide' stuff, even the important ones that can be 'life threatening'" I make quotation marks with my fingers "I wouldn't be surprised at this."

"Very well, Mr. Grey.", She says as she emphasizes the last part. "Since you are the father it'll only be fair if you come along."

"Oh, I don't need your invitation Miss Steele, I get what I want.", I smirk and get up. I don't want to ruin my morning having a banter with Anastasia of all people.

As I turn to leave the room, I hear her say, "It's still Ana for you, Mr. Grey and I still haven't said yes."

That woman.

As I enter my office, I start up the laptop and start searching more about ovarian cancer. As I read the article, I can't help but recall yesterday. My head still hurts from all the shouting and accusations. Halfway through the fight I realized the argument wasn't only restricted to her not telling me about her disease but all our pent up emotions that we shoved at the back of our minds for 6 years..

"Why were you going through my stuff?", Ana shouted.

"Lower your voice woman, a child is sleeping."

"Oh so now you advice me how to raise a child!"

"Apologies since I don't have an expertise in this department as you hid my child from me for 5 years."

"Blame it all on me when it was you who said no on having a child!"

I can't believe it. How can Ana have a disease as deadly as cancer? My brain still can't fathom that I couldn't see it, couldn't see that she is sick. Have I turned that blind for not reading her face?

I look at her, he face puffed up and eyes bloodshot red. It was the same as this morning, infact more miserable right now. I realize we are going off track but right now I want to know more about her sickness so I changed the subject. This can be debated afterwards.

"Anastasia, when were you going to tell me?", I say each word slowly, as if i'm talking to a child about it.

She looks in my eyes with pursed lips and then looks away, tears freely flowing. "Never."

I close my eyes to keep my temper in control but it seems impossible to do that with someone like Anastasia with me.

"And what were you exactly plotting with that fantastic mind of yours about this?", I say, sarcasm dripping in my voice.

She bite her lower lips and that action reverberated straight in my groin. I look away, surprised of the fact that she still has that effect on me.

"Nothing", she mumbles timidly.

I stare at her with an open mouth, wide eyed and nearly losing my mind right now. Nothing. Great. She has cancer and she is going to do nothing about it. Why did I already predict this?

"So you have cancer and you are going to do nothing about it?!", I say, my voice going higher with each word I say.

She winces at my tone and looks away, still gnawing on her lower lip. "Please stop biting your lip you're going to bleed it to death" I say and she gasps and stops immediately.

We stare at each other, saying nothing. Well, i'm expecting an answer but she makes absolutely no move to reply.

After what seems like eons, she finally says, "What's the point?"

"Excuse me?"

"I said what's the point of all of this? To live? I've been nothing but be miserable to you, to everyone here.. to even my own child, my own blood!", she chokes on her words and looks away, trying really hard to not cry.

I stand there immobile, trying to fathom her words. So that's it? Is she saying she is giving up without even trying?

I don't say anything and she takes it as a cue to continue. "Christian, all my life, all I ever wanted was a perfect family. And I find you and I thought this is my bliss, my solitude I was looking for. And then I hear you telling your mother you don't want a child. I did everything I could to fulfill that stupid wish of yours. I hated every part of being on shots but I did it, for you, because you didn't want a child. But then when I did become pregnant, I was scared to death that even after all that I did, you are going to tell me to abort my little bleep. So I ran, I ran and ran till I lost the Ana Steele that you used to love!"

I still say nothing. Every word that she is saying feels heavier by the second. I had absolutely no clue she was going through a tough time too. I want to hold her, comfort her as nostalgia washes over me.

And I do that. I don't know what emotion overpowers me, maybe it is still out of the courtesy to comfort a person who is crying, but i do it. I hug her like my life depends on it.

"You should do something of the current situation Anastasia", I whisper.

"I don't have money for the treatment Christian. I just came here to drop Mila off. I'm going to leave Escala as soon as Mila settles here", she replies and I freeze.

She wants to leave?

I pull back, immediately putting distance between us as the present scenario dawns on me. She frowns a little but hides it immediately.

"What?!"

"I don't want to be a burden on you. I've been a disgrace to you and the whole family. I don't want to be that anymore. I'll be staying with Ray till the time being."

"You are running again." I state before I had the power to stop the words.

Her eyes widen in surprise as she gasps. "Christian.."

"Call me Mr. Grey. Because if you don't have one bit of courtesy left for our daughter atleast, then I don't know this Anastasia. The Anastasia I knew was a fighter, the person who had the power to change me. And only that Anastasia has the right to call me by my first name."

She looks shocked, impressed even if I am good at reading faces but then she composes herself. When she doesn't say anything next, I continue.

"Let me help you Ana. For the sake of Mila atleast." I say.

"Chris-", she starts but doesn't complete it. "Please.. don't force me."

Suddenly, an idea strikes me. This woman right here would never accept my help, despite me saying whatsoever. So I turn around and go to my study. I'm acting on impulse so I hope I don't regret this in future. A little voice inside me says I won't and I trust the voice.

I rummage through the endless files until I find the one want to locate. It's a little dusty as it's been a while since I last opened this file.

I walk back to the living room where Ana is seated on the couch, fiddling with her fingers. When she sees me approaching with the file, she seems confused.

I toss the file at her and her eyes widen when she reads the title. It's a file with with our marriage certificate and all the documents related to it. It also has divorce papers at the very end which I tried to sign a numerous times in the past but couldn't bring myself to do it.

"What is this.. ?", she says, confusion still lanced in her voice.

"It's our marriage certificate.", I smirk. "By the powers invested in me by the law, i'm legally obliged to help you."

"You're crazy!", she exclaims but I can spot the ghost of a smile on her face. It's funny how we find humor in this topic. "Legally, i'm also allowed to deny it." she smirks back.

And then I do something that I never thought i'd do.

"In sickness and in health.. 'til death do us part.", I quote our wedding vows. I see her eyes somber and she bites her lower lips and offers me a small smile, remembering our wedding.

She knows i've out done her this time too. She knows she cannot deny my help. And I don't know why but i'm happy by this.

A knock on the door distracts me from the previous nights thoughts. I pinch the bridge of my nose to get the drowsiness from me, simultaneously shouting, "Come in."

Anastasia comes inside with a cup in her hand.

"Here, made you some coffee." she offers me the cup.

My brows scrunch together and I look at her. "For what?"

"For obviously staying up all night", she rolls her eyes. Ah, what wonders would I do at her rolling her eyes at me.

"No I didn't", I get back to my laptop but she tuts in disapproval.

"Don't lie straight to my face atleast. If I still remember Mr. Christian Grey from six years back, he would've turned heaven and hell upside down just to make everything work according to him." she grins at me and I try my best to avoid her gaze but I cannot hell the smile that spreads on my face.

"Why are you really here, Anastasia?"

She purses her lips and looks away. It seems like she was expecting something else. Well, one night cannot magically make me love Anastasia again. Those are some old feelings, key word being 'old'.

"Just.. why do you want to do this? I thought you hated me?"

I sigh as I respond. "I don't hate you. Hate is a really strong word and it's best if I stay away from it. I'm doing this for the sake of Mila. She just reunited with me. I don't think she is ready to lose another parent. The girl deserves both of us."

She offers me a small smile and looks away. Something is off about her but she isn't tell me what the problem is. I don't want to probe either, if she wants to say, she'll tell me.

"Christian..", she starts.

As soon as I go ahead to correct her to not call me by my first name, she raises her hand to stop me.

"Christian, I thought about this through.. of you wanting to help me. Though I really don't want the help-"

"Christ, woman, don't you-"

"Let me complete!" she looks at me angrily and I keep my mouth shut.

"I don't want the help since you'd probably be wasting your money behind me."

"Anastasia", I cut her off. "Your reports say it's still the early stages. There is still a solid chance to be cured."

"But it's spreading fast!", she says defensively and I want smack her right across her fine ass for being so negative.

"But it hasn't yet."

She glares at me. "I thought about it through.. and you are right.. there is Mila in the picture now too. So.."

She falters but I know what is coming next and i'm this close to not grin like an idiot.

"Yes, Christian. I.. accept your help. But i'm only doing it because you are so adamant for it. You can discontinue this thing whenever you want. I won't mind one bit.", she says hurriedly.

I smirk at her and get back to my laptop. "I get what I want, always."

~*~*~*~

Been so busy lately.. plus this writer's block is killing me.

Hope you liked this chapter!

Until we meet again xoxo, Ava❤