It has been almost a year since i have seen Christian. I left after the belt incident and took up the oppertunity to go to SIP's office in London that i never told Christian about. What would have been the point? He wouldn't have let me go. After neary a year in London my job was done and i was coming home. During my time there i only text Kate and my dad. My dad knew why i didn't want to come back, Kate didn't. I didn't tell my father everything just that we had a huge fight and i realised we both wanted different things from the future. Things i wouldnt compremise on. Kate being kate tried to get information out of me but i just told her we broke up and it was too painful to talk about. Eventually she stopped asking and we mostly talked about her life with Elliot. They have just got engaged and i am so happy for her. She's getting married the next day and although the press are all speculating why they are rushing the truth is most couples wait to get married because of money but for them that isn't a problem. They are getting married at the small church at the end of Grace and Carricks street. Its stunning and the reception is being held at Bellvue. I told kate i would arrive the morning of the wedding that way i would get a day of peace without having to see anyone. I booked into a hotel near the edge of the city as Ethan is staying at Kates appartmnet.
I walk out of the terminal carrying my secret. The real reason i wouldnt come back to seattle for christmas and the engagment party like kate asked. I suspected the week after i left that there was something wrong. At first i thought the symptoms i was having were because of jet lag but after a week i spoke to a doctor and that was the moment that changed my life.
I was pregnant.
After checking into the hotel and going to my room i ordered room service then called my dad.
"Annie, is everything ok? i thought you were going to call me as soon as you landed. You should have landed nearly three hours ago."
"Sorry dad the plane was delayed and i couldnt get a signal. We are alright i've just got to the hotel and ordered dinner, then we are having an early night before preparing myself for the wedding. Dad i dont think i can do this. Christian is going to be there and everyone is going to know he is the father. Before you say anything i know i should have told him when i found out i was pregnant but i was so shocked then i kept putting it off and i did call twice when i was in labour so i kind of did try..."
"Annie, take a breath sweetheart. I love you and you are a fantastic mother. Go in there with your head held high. You did what you thought was right. Now get your dinner, have an early night and i will see you at the wedding. Kiss my favorate princess for me. Night darling." I could hear him laughing as he hung up.
I turned to look at my darling daughter. She was 4 months old and my whole world. I only had one appointment the next day and that was to view a house at the end of the road to Grace and Carricks house. Tiny compaired to theirs but it was beautiful and full of character. A large 4 bedroom house with a huge back garden with trees at the bottom of it. I hoped if i bought the house and told the Greys the truth that Elliot would turn 2 of the trees into a huge tree house.
I'd spent months going back and forth about names but i'd finally settled on Darcy Grace Steele. Once Christian knew about her i was hoping that she could become a Grey. I began to regret my dission about not telling Christian before. All the ways that he could take the news began going around in my head. Tomorrow was the calm before the storm.
The morning of the wedding..
I had spent a few hours the day before looking around the house in Belvue before i decided to buy it. No turning back now i was back in Seattle full time. It had a beautiful main bedroom with a en-suit one side and a walk in closet the other side. The room next to that was a large guest room which i was going to use for my dad when he came to visit. The one oppisite that was another large guest bedroom and the one oppisite the main was the second biggest. I was going to make that Darcy's bedroom. It had fantastic light in there last thing at night so i was hoping it would help calm her down when she got a little older. We could lie in bed and watch the sunset. Downstairs had a huge kitchen diner that led onto a beautiful living room with a large open fire. That would have to have a guard round it when she started getting around. It had two little rooms next to each other on the ground floor one of which i planned to turn into a study and the other a playroom. A large garage and a little veg patch. I couldn't wait till i started growing my own fruits and vegatables. Thats something i always loved to do at Rays when i was little.
Darcy was washed and put in an adorable pink dress with white butterflys around the bottom. While thick tights and little pink shoes. I had to admit i made beautiful children. I smiled to myself when she finally began to drop of just as the taxi pulled up to the bottom of Grace and Carricks road It was only a few minutes walk to the church. My dad was already there. "Hey Annie, hows my girls? She looks cute and you look beautiful honey." I was dressed in a dark blue wrap dress. My hair was half way down my back in soft waves.
"We are good but boy she is getting big." I lifted her car seat out of the taxi and paid while my dad got the pram frame from the boot. Once all clicked together i hugged my dad tight. Although we spoke nearly every day on the phone and skyped every weekend it was finally nice to hug my dad. A sence of calm came over me almost make me forget my worries about the Greys. "Come on dad we are running a little late thanks to this little madam deciding to spit up on the last outfit because she didn't like it. I'm telling you dad she is going to be into fashion when shes older." Once we got into the church we sat at the back furthest away from the Isle i didn't want Kate to see Darcy and draw attention away from her. I parked the pram next to the pew. Grace and Carrick made their way in and sat at the front of the church. They hadn't changed, they still had the warm smiles that was so inviting. They still hadn't noticed me which i was so glad for. As more people began to arrive my eyes were darting around for Christian. I couldn't let him see me untill the i do's were over. Taylor arrived first and sat next to the Greys then a few seconds later Elliot and Christian walked in laughing with each other. It was nice to see they were still so close. I jumped a little when my dad squeezed my hand.
Soft music filled the church as Kate made her way down the isle. She looked stunning and i had never been so proud of her as i was in that moment. She had met the man she loved and was about to spend the rest of her life with him. As they exchanged vows tears rolled down my checks. Christian was stood as best man for his brother and even he had a look of pure happiness on his face. My mind began to wonder imagining what would our wedding be like.
The next thing i know people began clapping as Elliot lowered kate into a kiss. She was laughing when he brought her up but she still, in true kate style hit him on the arm. I looked over at Darcy who was just waking up due to the comotion. She was never one to miss anything. When i first brought her home from the hospital she would hardly sleep too affraid of missing something. I leaned over to my dad told him i needed to take her outside and stood up glad that everyone was watching the newly weds. I push the pram out the church doors and to one side. She was wriggling and getting anoyed. She always wanted cuddles when she first woke up and today was no different. I reach down and pull her to my chest gently rocking her. Somebody cleared their throat behind me. I froze.
I slowly turned around and Jason Taylor was stood there shock written all over his face watching Darcy squirm in my arms. Darcy may have been only 4 months old but her eyes were a very pale blue. A perfect mix between Christians grey and my blue but her hair was all Christians. Little copper curls were already covering her head and she definatly had Christians temper. She was a very easy going baby but if she didn't like something she had no problem telling me.
"Taylor this is my daughter Darcy. Baby this is the man who keeps your daddy safe. Do you want to hold her?" He cleared his throat and took her from me. He held her like a natural then I remembered his daughter Sophie.
"Ana explain quickly. Mr Grey will be out soon for photos with Elliot and Kate." Darcy reached for his tie and began sucking on it. "No sweet pea." He tucked it into his shirt then looked at me for an explanation.
"The night you took me home you know what happened Taylor. It was too much for me to handle. I love him but I can't be his play thing. I have my own mind and my dad brought me up to speak up for myself and I can't let someone have control over my whole life from what I wear to what I eat. I found out I was pregnant and panicked. I thought he might either force me to ..you know or to give her away. From the moment those two lines appeared I was her mother. She was my everything. I got offered a job in London but I never said anything because I know Christian would never have let me go. So I went. She was born and then my job there ended so I came home. I tried to call a few times but I couldn't do it. I actually rang twice while I was in labour but he didn't' answer. I'm telling him today Taylor I promise."
"Ana he still misses you. It's been hard on him not having you with him. He spent weeks inside the apartment working from home. It got so bad Elliot dragged him out the door and to his parents house. He's now going out every Saturday night and a young lady leaves every sunday morning. Different women and I do not see them again. Mrs Lincoln has been cut out of his life and he has a new therapist. The only reason I am telling you this information is because you are what he needs and since you have a child together you need to know. I know if Sophie was our part of the apartment and Mrs Lincoln came in I would not be happy."
"You know about Elena? About what she did?"
"Yes. Mr Grey informed me when you left and he couldn't find you. He broke down and got very drunk." Darcy started to fuss so I took her back laid her head on my shoulder and bounced a little. "She is beautiful Ana."
"Thank you." The doors to the church open and Kate and Elliot walk out followed by their families. Kate spotted me right away and screamed. She let go of Elliot and hugged me tight being careful to not hurt Darcy.
"Anna, oh my god I can't believe you came. Who's the kid?" She looked closely then alarm filled her eyes and hugged me again whispering in my ear. "You had Christians baby without saying anything. God Steele you make good looking babies but boy he's going to me mad."
"I'm sorry Kate I didn't want to ruin your day I just wanted to be here for you on your big day. I also wanted to ask you if you wanted to be Darcy's godmother as well as Auntie?" She burst out crying and hugged me again. Elliot walked up behind her smiling, he hugged her from behind.
"Woo hoo its a Kate sandwich." She sniffled and turned to hug her new husband. He looked over head towards me but soon lost his smile. "Ana? What is happening? Is she yours? Is she Christians?"
"Elliot dear whats happening?" Grace walked over wondering why Kate was in tears. She saw Darcy and her eyes went wide. Before I knew it I was nearly surrounded by the Greys. My dad stood behind me, his hand on my back reassuring me that he was with me. Darcy chose that moment to go into full melt down. She must have been hungry. She is her fathers daughter in that respect always wanting food. I was nervous about breast feeding but it was a lot easier than I thought. My dad wouldn't even stay in the same room when I fed her. I thought he might look away or turn around but he ran out of the room when we were skyping. "Ana dear it's lovely to see you again and this little cutie but I think we should all go back to the house for the reception. Ana can look after the baby and we can continue to celebrate Elliot and Kates future together." One thing I forgot about Grace was how she could issue orders but it still sounded like a surgestion, one that nobody would dare go against.
As the people around me disappeared following Grace it wasn't long before I locked eyes with Christian. He looked mad as hell but I couldn't deal with him right there because of Darcy. She was my priority and she was hungry. He began to storm forward but Taylor and my dad stood between us .
"Mr Grey she has a child and the child is hungry. She needs to be fed. Ana needs calm and quiet to settle her down and doing this now is not good for anyone. I think we should go back to your parents house let her calm the baby down and then you should have this conversation in private when Mr Steele has the baby." My dad nods.
"I agree Taylor and please call me Ray. Christian yes you and Annie need to talk but I will not have my daughter upset or bullied by you or my granddaughter denied her needs. You look angry and unless you calm down I will take them home and you will have to wait. Your choice."
"Fine. Taylor stay with her do not let her out of your sight." He stormed off after his family and only then did I realise I was holding my breath. That did not go like I thought it would, I was actually afraid of him.
"Thank you Taylor. Dad can you put her in the pram while I make a quick phone call." I handed over Darcy and dialled the number. No answer great just what I needed. Once she was settled in the pram we took our time going to Grace and Carricks. I needed a little time to think about how I was going to do this.
Once i got settled in one of Grace's guest bedrooms with Darcy and i had fed her she was back to her happy little self again unawear that everything in our lives was about to change. Taylor and my dad were outside the room and i could hear them talking. I laid her on the bed and took my phone out, dialed the number and waited.
"Hello?" His voice always made me smile no matter what was happening.
"Hey it's me. We got to the wedding and Chrisitan saw her. He was not happy. my dad and his secruity had to get between us. I was scared of him."
"Look babe. I will be there in two days and secruity or not i will kick his ass for scaring you. Nobody hurts my baby or my little princess." There was a loud noisein the back ground and he sighed. "Sweetie i need to go but ill call you later. It seems Elvis is wanting his evening walk. I love you."
"Love you to bye." I hung up then picked Darcy up. "Ready sweetheart. It's time for mummy to talk to daddy. It's ok for you. You get to go play with grandpa. Want to trade?" She smiled slightly and reached for my hair. "Take that as a no then."
I made way through the house untill i got to the kitchen all the Greys except Elliot and Kate were there whispering. Darcy made herself known by squeeling reaching for my dad over my shoulder. "Christian can we talk now?" A stiff nod from him was my only hint that he had heard me. "Dad can you take her? i've just changed her so she should be alright for a little bit but if she gets fussy just bring her to me please. I havn't brought her rabbit so she might get a little moody." I passed her to my dad kissed her forehead and followed Christian out of the kitchen and into the study. Carricks study was smaller than Christians but had more books lining the walls. Christian sat behind the desk so i sat on the large chair infront of it. "Is she mine?"
"Yes Christian she is your daughter." He slammed his hands on the desk making me jump. "She's 4 months old and her full name is Darcy Grace Steele although if you want she can be a Grey. She was born at 12.01am in London general Hospital. She weighed just under 6lbs."
"Did you plan this Ana? Why the hell didn't you tell me?!" He held the bridge of his nose between his fingers.
"No i didn't plan this. My doctor explained although we were adviced to use condoms the first week i was on the pill its more adviced that you use them the first 3 or 4 weeks. So it was an honest mistake. One i would never take back, she is perfect. I tried to ring a few times but i was so scared then before i knew it i was in labour. I rang you twice but you never answered. Then i tried to ring one last time after she was born and your number was no longer active apparently. I thought you wanted nothing to do with me. I then decided after my job was over to come back home and explain in person."
"I was getting harrassed as the press had gotten hold of my number and were making use of it so i stopped answering phone calls from it. I can't be a father Ana im sorry. I'm working on my issues but i can't be near your child right now. If you would allow my family to be involved that would be great but right now i can't be there for either of you. " I knew it would come as a shock but i was not expecting this.
"Wait, you want nothing to do with your own child? Christian she is a mini girl version of you if it wasn't for the bit of blue in her eyes i would say shes all you. She has your temper, your hair hell even your appitite. She needs her dad."
"I'm finally free of people i thought i could trust controling my life. I can do what i want Ana." I knew i'd sound like the jelous ex but it was my last card to play.
"So you being free meaning sleeping with different women every weekend right? So being free means you get drunk every weekend. Christian im sorry i didn't tell you earlier but i was frightened you would make me get rid of her or give her up. I became a mother when i knew i was pregnant. Please be her father. Your family will always be welcome in her life and so will you but make no mistake Christian." I got up and smoothed out my dress. "If you decide next month you still don't want to be her father then that will be it. I won't have you coming in and out all the time. Once you're out thats it." I span around took a deep breath and left in search of my daughter and Kate. I soon found her talking with my dad and holding Darcy's hand. "Ana she is beautiful your dad was just telling me what's happened. I am so happy you came."
"I'm sorry if I stole your thunder or ruined your day."
"No. You didn't. Everyone you would have trusted her with is here and I wouldn't have it any other way besides the only people who could put it all together are the Greys. Nobody else knew you were dating. Elliot is over the moon about her. He says he now gets to play with kids toys again and get away with it. He's already talking about play houses and play grounds when she's older. This is the best present I have gotten today. I love you Ana." She grabbed me and hugged hard.
