APOV
He's painfully close to pulling out his copper locks, and while I normally would find this distressing today it is rather hilarious. We have four kids, the three oldest now officially can drive themselves anywhere they want, and today we're picking out a car for Spencer, for when she moves to LA in the fall.
"Why can't she want something less fast," Christian bites out.
I laugh and cup his cheek so we can look at each other, he's taking this much harder than he did when we got Blake his, and Blake got a Spyder. Sure Rey wants a Porsche, but that is her choice and Christian said anything.
"Christian, if you're upset over this you need to make better word choices. You told her that she could have anything she wanted," I giggle.
"You're going to regret that comment, Mrs. Grey," He smirks.
Spencer walks over with Taylor and the dealer, a huge smile spread across her face and I hope to God that Christian does not take that spirit away from her. I drop my hand from Christian and track down my other two children who are here. I don't need to go over any of the specifications that they will be making before she physically has the car.
Noah is examining the new Cayman S that they have here, he will get the car of his choice next year when he graduates. Two baby's down and two more to go, time really has flown the last twenty years. Our anniversary is in six months, twenty years with Christian.
I sneak up behind Luke, guarding the main entrance after we closed the place down for the afternoon. Christian and his security, it will never change.
"Where's Clarke?" I ask.
"Pouting in the break room, and just so you know, paparazzi are piling up across the street," He answers.
I walk towards the break room, waving as I pass by the wall of windows. I don't encourage the paparazzi but I do my best not to give them something bad to use. Smile and wave, and keep on waling so I don't have to answer their stupid questions.
My youngest is sitting on the couch, clutching her Zoe Sugg book, with tears running down her cheeks. Her big blue eyes peek up to meet mine and she reaches out. I sit down by her and tug her into my lap, the only baby I can hold and cradle in my arms still.
"What's wrong, honey," I coo.
"Spencer's getting a car!" She whines.
"I know, and when you're her age you'll get one too."
"But that means she can leave. She's my best friend!"
"Clarke, baby, she is here till September and it's December, and even when she does move away that does not stop you from visiting her or her coming home."
"But I don't want her to go!"
Neither does your father, and I don't either, but we had to face this two years ago with Blake and now we are facing this again. I know my daughters are close, and it's heart wrenching to see her have this big of reaction to Spence leaving for college in nine months.
"UCLA is a quick three hour flight, it's not like flying out to see Blake. I promise that you will not lose your best friend, and that Spencer will always be there for you and love you. She will be living in our house there so you already have a room. Spencer loves you, Clarke."
"But it still changes everything," She pouts.
"I know."
"And then next year Noah leaves too."
"Yes he does."
"Then I'm alone."
"No, you still have Daddy, and Luke, and Jason, and Gail, and I think I'm missing someone," I smile.
"You. I got you," She giggles.
"Exactly, so how about we go join everyone and then have dinner because you and I have a trip in the middle of the night to make."
"We do?"
"Yeah, because someone has to pick up Blake from the airport."
"He's coming home today!"
She bolts out of my arms and the room, I collect her fallen book and fallow her out. Luke and Jason are gathering the kids by the front door, Christian is wrapping up with the dealership, and now we can go. Thankfully with only three kids we can all sit in the Cadillac Sudan, no need for multiple cars. We pull out, passing that paparazzi who try their best at getting shots of us.
Once home everyone disperses, I follow Christian to his office seeing as he has been unnaturally quiet. I think getting his oldest daughter a car is effecting him more than I thought it would. It gets to me every time because they are all my babies but it's his little girl, and she could have died years ago.
"Christian?" I hesitate closing the door, but don't want the kids to hear us.
"I just bought our daughter a two-hundred-thousand dollar car," He says.
"Yes you did."
"She's happy."
"She is."
"I keep looking at her today and keep seeing that little girl who got shot because of me."
"Not because of you."
"It was my office, Anastasia!"
I flinch at his voice, he's going for his gin and I have no means of stopping him. Whenever these events get brought up for him he has to start seeing Flynn again because I know that I can't help him. Not with this.
"I'm going to call Flynn, have him drop by," I sigh.
"I don't need fucking Flynn, Spencer just needs to stay here and go to state," He growls.
"Christian, be reasonable."
"Reasonable? I just got her a car!"
"And if you didn't I would have, but that is not what your fit is about. Ten years ago you and your company was victim to a mass shooting. Your daughter got shot. You got shot. You are both alive and healthy and there is nothing you can change. We love our kids Christian, but we need to support them as much as we protect them."
"Are you done?"
"No." I take a breath. "Clarke and I are picking Blake up from the airport tonight. I will drive my car and security can follow. You will stay here with Spencer and Noah."
"Like hell I will. You're not going out on your own with MY daughter."
"I am going to pretend you did not just say that."
I turn to leave, but he stops me, pins me agains the wall.
"You don't walk away from me."
"I do when you're getting drunk, and sinking down into your dark place. I might take the kids for dinner, seeing as you're drinking yours."
He lets go and I stomp off to collect our offspring. Foregoing searching the property I call them over the intercom and wait for their arrival in the living room. There is no argument when I offer up a drive to our favourite pizza place. When we get there and lead to a table I text Flynn to get to Christian ASAP. He has meltdowns when I walk out with the kids after a fight, even if it is only for a couple of hours and to get the kids away from the hostility.
"Do you know what your second semester schedules look like yet?" I ask.
"I have Calculus II, Biology, Art History and Economics which are all AP, and am trying to balance out my teams and clubs," Spencer answers. "Academic decathlon, dance, music, theatre, and the job I got at the bakery by Gran and Gramps house."
"What about us time?" Clarke frowns.
"I've made sure that we still have Sister Sunday, and we can study together Blue. Get you into a good habit early," Spencer smiles, using her nickname for her baby sister.
"I have Trig I, Chemistry, Gym, English and European History," Noah groans. "I am going to try for track and field, and have hockey until march."
"I still have everything," Clarke shrugs.
I smile at them as we all order, I also ask the server to send a meat lovers to the security out in the car. God, if only Christian and Blake were here it would be like old times.