Once Upon a Christmas-Chapter 3/epilogue
8 years later
It's midnight, Christmas eve, and the voices of angels echo off of the church's stain glass walls. Christian smiles at Ana who lightly reaches out and squeezes his hand. It has become their tradition to come and listen to the midnight concert every Christmas eve.
Ana's rocking a sound-a-sleep, 9-month-old Teddy in her arm as she leans on her husband's shoulder. Christian bends down and softly kisses her forehead before pressing a light kiss to Teddy as well, his eyes shining with pure adoration. In the background, Silent Night is quietly playing.
"Daddy?" Phoebe begins to stir in his arms. She just turned 5.
"Yes, sweet pea?"
"When are we going to go home? I'm tired." She complains, rubbing her groggy eyes.
Christian gives her an apologetic smile as he lifts her onto his lap. "I'm sorry monkey, the concert isn't over for another 30 minutes."
Christian internally berates himself for not having Phoebe take a longer nap. He originally tried to have her sleep for 3 hours before the concert, but she somehow managed to persuade him into reading her 10 stories books instead with her big, puppy dog eyes. Christian falls for them every time.
Phoebe cuddles against him. She's usually a Daddy's girl and prefers his lap, plus Ana has Teddy. Christian holds her against him.
"Daddy, why do we always come here?" she asks, only five minutes after being in Christian's lap. She's not one that likes to sit still.
Christian bounces her up and down on his knee, keeping a firm yet gentle hold on her. "Well monkey, this is a really important place for Mommy and Daddy. We got married here." Christian explains, leaving out the part about how he first discovered he loved Ana in this very chapel as well. She was too young to understand that.
Phoebe nods, seemingly serious. "Will I get married here one day also?" she asks, mirroring Christian shushed voice as to not disturb anyone else.
Christian takes in a deep breath. Was he really having this conversation already? He never wanted to think about Phoebe marrying, ever.
He sighs, smoothing his hand over Phoebe's long, copper hair. "Well, sweet pea, I don't know the answer to that. But you must promise me one thing, ok?"
"Ok." Phoebe nods, turning around in his lap and staring at him with wide, blue eyes.
Christian cups his hand to his mouth and whispers in her ear. "If you do marry one day, I want you to promise me that you will make sure you love the person very, very much, and that they love you very, very much, ok?"
Phoebe beams at him. "Like you and mommy?" she asks.
Christian smiles, nuzzling his nose against hers. "Yes, like me and mommy."
As he continues to listen to the concert with Phoebe finally falling asleep on him, Christian thinks about that night with Ana, and how happy the last 8 years have been.
They got married 7 years ago, right on this altar. Christian stills remember trying to hold back tears as he watched Ana walk down the aisle, her right arm wrapped around her father's. Christian remembers promising Ray that he will take care of Ana forever. Christian remembers lifting Ana up and spinning her around as people clapped and cheered. Christian remembers the priest needing to cough and interrupt them because he kissed Ana so hard…
A year after that, Ana got pregnant with Phoebe, Christian's pride and joy. The little girl had the whole family wrapped tightly around her finger without even knowing it, including Taylor. At first, Christian was afraid that he wasn't cut to be a father, but now looking at Phoebe who was fast asleep on his chest, Christian knew he did ok, just like Ana said he would.
And now, they had Teddy, their newest member. Christian could hardly wait for Teddy to grow up. He'll get to teach him how to ride a bike, drive a car, fly a plane…
Ana's starting to doze off on his shoulder, and she lazily smiles up at him. "Pennies for your thought, Mr. Grey?" she whispers.
Christian smiles down at her, the well-worn creases of his grey eyes showing. "I was just thinking about how I am the luckiest bastard alive."
Ana snuggles closer to him, and Christian sees the ghost of a smirk playing by her lips.
Half an hour later, the concert slowly rolls to an end, and Ana helps Christian dress the kids. Teddy's wrapped up in a blue blanket that Ana knitted, and Phoebe has a pink scarf. Ana carries Teddy as Christian gently scoops Phoebe's sleeping form in his arms.
The walk back home wasn't long. Christian's rocking and patting Phoebe although she's getting a little too old for that.
Ana giggles. "Do you remember carrying me home?" She asks, blue eyes dancing with mischief.
Christian's lips twitch up as he raises an eyebrow at her "Yes, and I also remember that you were quite heavy."
"Bastard." Was all Ana said as she swats his butt, making Christian laugh.
Of course, Christian wasn't serious when he said that Ana was heavy. He often fussed with her and Phoebe about food. To him, both of them were too skinny even though Ana had explained countless times that some people just have skinner body types. Christian, however, believed that it was his fault for not feeding them enough.
They shake off the snow from their coats as they finally step into the warm confines of their home.
Christian carefully takes Teddy from Ana's arms after tucking Phoebe in. "Here, I'll change him, you go start the fire." He says, and Ana happily agrees, knowing that it was gas.
She just finished turning on the fire and steaming two mugs of hot chocolate when Christian walks back out, making a face.
Ana laughs. Her son must have out did himself (with the diaper).
(The next morning)
"Daddy! Daddy! Santa came!" Christian groans in pain as Phoebe jumps on him.
How do little knees always find that spot?
He blinks open a sleepy eye. "What time is it?" he grumbles.
Phoebe holds up 5fingers, still bouncing up and down on him, trying to wake Ana as well.
"Mommy! Mommy! Wake up! Santa came!" Phoebe shouts.
Ana groans also. "Phoebe, sweet heart, it's only 5 in the morning, how about you go back to sleep?" Ana asks, hoping that her daughter would agree even though she knew it wasn't going to happen.
Phoebe's now openly jumping on Ana. "But mommy! I want to open my presents now." She whines.
"Phoebe, stop jumping on your mom. Now." Christian scolds, snapping his fingers, his voice harsher than he intended.
Phoebe immediately stops, her bottom lip starting to quiver at Christian's stern voice. "I'm sorry…" she whimpers, her bottom lip still trembling.
Christian doesn't wait for her eyes to start to water as he pulls her against him. "Shhh, sweet pea, don't cry. Daddy's sorry for yelling. How about this? You can stay with me until it's time to open presents, yeah?"
Phoebe nods, still trying not to snivel as Christian lifts the blanket and invites her in. Ana turns around and kisses Phoebe's head as well.
"Shhh, sweet heart, I promise we'll open presents as soon as morning comes." Ana says, but Phoebe's already half-way in la la land, snuggled up against Christian.
Ana shakes her head to herself. She used to always be jealous of Christian and Phoebe's relationship, Phoebe took to Christian more than anyone else. It wasn't until later that Ana realized how beautiful their special bond was.
Laying there, Ana wondered what it was going to be like when Phoebe started dating. Surely, Christian will rip out all of his hair and put Ray's threat to shame.
Ana smirks to herself when she thinks about Christian and Ray. The two guys had grown to accept and love each other, despite some reluctance on Ray's side.
Soon, the sun is peeping through the curtains, and Christian stretches out his cramp body, careful not to wake Phoebe who's still asleep, last night's exhaustion finally catching up with her.
Christian reaches out and gives Ana a quick kiss. She moans a protest.
"Eww, Christian, my morning breath." She complains, although she kisses him back.
Christian chuckles. "Aww, baby, I don't care."
Christian gently shakes Phoebe awake. "Phoebe, baby, it's Christmas." He coaxes as Phoebe's grey eyes fly open.
"It's morning already!" she exclaims, leaping out of bed and almost tumbling down the stairs as she rushes towards the tree.
Christian follows her with a slight shake of the head, and Ana goes to get Teddy. Christian sits there, a satisfied smile on his face as he watches Phoebe tear through the biggest present.
"Oh my gosh, Santa got me a doll house." She squeals. In front of her is a purple and pink, life sized doll house. It comes with its own kitchen, living room, and bedroom.
Ana comes back in with Teddy, and they finish opening the rest of their presents. Phoebe got a doll house, princess pajamas, Barbie doll Elsa, and coloring books.
Phoebe's still playing doll with Christian and Ana when the doorbell rings.
"Grandma, Grandpa." Phoebe cheers, running to get the door.
As soon as the door swings open, she's in Carrick's arms who's tickling her. She laughs and laughs until there are tears in her eyes, but Carrick doesn't let up. Well, until Grace smacks him,
Phoebe's then passed around to all the family members, everybody hugging her and squeezing her as they enter Escala. Christian pretends to ignore the bag of chocolate he saw Elliot slip into her coat pocket, both of them making shush signs with their fingers to keep it a secret from Christian, aka, the candy police.
Phoebe's eyes light up when she sees the last person. "Ray!" she screams, and the strong man tosses her in the air, making Christian's heart catch.
But just like every time Ray tosses her up, every time Ray catches her.
"Dad, that's quite enough." Ana smiles, walking up towards Ray and kissing him on the cheek. She swears, if Ray threw Phoebe in the air one more time, Christian was going to have a heart attack.
Ray chuckles, setting Phoebe down, and embraces Ana before slapping Chris (his nickname for Christian) on the back.
Christian greets everyone, already getting the coco and chocolate out, as he shoots Grace a disapproving glance.
"Mother, what did I say about spoiling Phoebe?" he asks her as she helps him make hot chocolate.
But the only answer to his question was a smack in the arm. "Oh don't be ridiculous, what are grandmas for?"
After all the hot cholate was served, everyone gathers around the fire place. Phoebe is sandwiched between Christian and Ana, and Christian is bouncing a now wide-a-wake Teddy on his lap, refusing to let Elliot hold him.
The night was spent, just like the past 8 Christmases, with lots of laughter and love.
The End.
