"Over… over… up a little bit… to the left…. there!" Who knew that directing the hanging of a birthday banner would be so difficult.

"This is exactly where it was when I first started hanging it." Christian is exasperated, but I need this perfect.

"I'm sorry, dear. It looks perfect. Thank you." He climbs off the chair and I kiss his cheek. We both admire his handiwork. Of course, Christian special ordered the huge birthday banner that simply says "Happy Birthday Theodore!" across it in shiny, blue letters. Now, for the balloons. The doorbell rings and Christian jumps to retrieve it.

"Is it already time for guests? It's only one-thirty?"

"No, Ana. This is your surprise."

Christian opens the door and a clown carrying a red and yellow polka dot bag appears in our doorway.

"Uhm… Christian?" I'm puzzled and I hope this isn't part of a kinky fuckery plan later on.

"He makes balloon animals, tells jokes, and can ever juggle! The kids will love it!" I'm momentarily caught in Christian's excitement and boyish grin. It's breathtaking. The clown interrupts my thoughts by squeezing his nose and making a funny honking noise. I immediately erupt into a fit of giggles… Ted will love this.

Christian begins to direct the clown and go over his schedule as I place the blue and white balloons around the room. I hang some streamers from the window and adjust the food table that we've set up in a buffet style in the living room. It all looks so perfect to me. Suddenly, I hear footsteps running into the living room. I glance over and see my little Ted running to me, showing me his latest coloring page that him and Gail must've done while we were decorating. It is a picture of a dog playing in a meadow with a butterfly on his nose, but it has an array of yellow, red, brown, and green scribbles all over it. It's still absolutely perfect and I love it.

"Oh Teddy! This is artwork! I will put it on our refrigerator. Do you know where the refrigerator is?" It's such a silly question to ask, but I want to make sure he is learning everything possible. He nods frantically and takes the picture from me to what I hope is the kitchen. I hear the doorbell ring again and it's still not time for any guests. I'm the one who answers the door this time to yet another surprise.

"Delivery for Anastasia Grey." A young male says as he hands me two large white boxes. I'm confused, but take the delivery and sign my name.

"Thank you, sir." I say to him and bid him a goodbye before opening the packages in the kitchen. Inside, I find a huge two-tier baby blue cake with "Happy Birthday Teddy" wrote on the top in white icing and some fondant racecars racing around the cake. It's absolutely beautiful and now I'm curious to open the second box. I peel the top of the box off and peek inside. There are two dozens of blue cupcakes with racecars on them. I can't believe Christian has ordered these, but they're gorgeous and they'll look great on our buffet style tables. I put the cupcakes and cake in the fridge, pleased to see that Teddy has found the fridge because the picture is hanging on the left door, and head off to find the mastermind behind the surprises.

I see the french doors are open and the wind is slightly blowing our white curtains around. I walk onto the patio and find Christian sipping some wine, sitting in a wooden chair, looking out over the sound.

"Enjoying the view?" I startle him from his reverie as I walk over to his side.

"Always. I could stare at it forever." I sit in the chair next to him and he places his hand on my knee. I put my head on his shoulder and sigh. Christian turns his head to look at me.

"You are beautiful, you know." He kisses the top of my head and I crane my head to see him, beaming at me. Oh, the look in his eyes.

"And what makes you say that, Christian?"

"Well… the way the light burnishes your hair, your beautiful baby blue eyes that are here to enjoy the view with me, your growing bump that holds my daughter, and your giggles of course. You're just so beautiful, Ana."

I smile at him and lean up to kiss him. Immediately, the kiss turns into something more and our tongues begin to explore. His hands are in my hair and we're kissing so passionately. I begin to pant and get up to move over to him when I hear the doorbell ring again. I sigh and Christian chuckles.

"That would be our party guests." Let the festivities begin.

"Uccle Lelliot!" Teddy squeaks when Elliot and Kate enter our living room, Kate carrying Ava in her arms.

"Hey buddy! Happy Birthday big dude! We brought you a pretty cool gift." Ted's eyes light up like Christmas and he begins to summarize his morning activities with Gail to Elliot.

"Kate!" I half-squeal when I see my best friend carrying her little bundle of joy in her arms. Ava is such a beautiful little girl, so bubbly and vibrant, just like her mother. I gaze lovingly at Ava, and mindlessly place my hand over my bump.

"Oh Ana, our baby girls will be such great friends."

"I believe so, too."

I hold out my arms and Kate gently places Ava in my arms. She's so incredibly tiny and I realize that my Teddy used to be this small. It's bittersweet watching him grow. I look down at the angelic bundle in my arms. She's softly wrapped in a cotton pale pink blanket and has the cutest headband with a bow on it around her head. She stares up at me with the prettiest green eyes I have ever seen, and tears fill my own.

"I think she loves you, Steele." Kate giggles.

"She's absolutely beautiful. Such a little angel. I can't wait to meet my own!" I admit, holding Ava is making me wish Blip two would hurry.

"There you are." I hear Christian call to me.

"Hello, Kate." Christian greets. He's getting much better towards Kate. She is my sister in law after all.

"Hi, Christian. I think Ava is smitten with Ana!" We both laugh and I gently place Ava back into Kate's arms. Christian places his hand on the small of my back and guides us to the patio. Teddy is out in the meadow playing cars with Elliot. Teddy adores playing with cars and I love to play with him, but it's getting difficult to play when my belly is growing, so Christian takes my place, even if it does pain him a little.

It's such a beautiful day in Seattle and the sun is spilling all over our patio. The gift table is starting to pile high and I mindlessly look around for the clown that Christian has planned for the kids.

"Looking for something?" Christian's ability to read my mind is quite startling.

"Where is the clown?" He laughs at me.

"He's in the spare bedroom upstairs. Apparently clowns need time to prepare for their big acts." We both start to chuckle and I rest my head on Christian's shoulder. Kate appears behind us and sighs.

"You know Steele, I never thought I'd see this moment." I turn around and grin at her. She's right. Shy little Anastasia would agree. Christian laughs a little and kisses my forehead.

"That's something that you and Elliot thought you'd never see." Now, I kiss him, knowing that we both came from two opposites of two very different worlds, but somehow met right in the middle.

"Grace! I'm so glad you two could make it!" I beam.

"We would not miss this party for the world!" Grace and Carrick grin at each other and walk hand in hand into our living room. I scan over the room that is alive with laughter and happiness. Ray and Jose are sitting on our love seat, talking about the fishing in Pine Lake. My mom, Kate, Mia and Elliot are on the floor, having tummy time with Ava. Christian and Teddy are playing with the train set. It's so lovely to see two families as one… right here in my living room.

"Ana?" Gail breaks me of my thoughts and I turn to her. "Are the guests all here?"

"I believe so! Let's eat!" I demand and everyone gets up from their spots and forms a small line at the buffet.

"I'll be right back." Christian whispers in my ear, kissing it afterwards.

"Where are you going?" I quiz him.

"Up to check on our clown. I think I should bring him down."

"That sounds wonderful." He turns on his heel and heads up our staircase to find our funny friend. I immediately notice Teddy in line waiting to get food and I rush to stand beside him. As the line moves, I fill mine and Ted's plates with fruits, cheeses, chips and dips, and some barbeque that Gail has done an amazing job on. Is there anything the woman can't cook? As we are eating, I turn and see a pale faced Christian making his way down the stairs, and I know that something is wrong. I ask Grace to watch over Teddy, and I meet Christian at the landing of the steps.

"What is it Christian? What's wrong? Where is the clown?" He sighs and his steel gray gaze meets mine.

"Ana… he's gone."