AN: A big hello to all my lovely readers and reviewers, I can't believe how popular this story is, I've received the most amazing reviews ever and I am so pleased that so many people are enjoying my little creation... I received a review last night saying that I had wrote Teddy's name as Grey, That was a mistake on my part, He is a Steele, Not a Grey, Christian's name is not on the birth certificate because Ana didn't want to put Teddy through all the crap that went with Christian Grey, Know one apart from close family and friends know that Teddy is Christian's son. I have changed the mistake to now read Theodore Raymond Steele... Thankyou to everyone for your amazing support... Hope you all enjoy this chapter and yes I agree with you all Christian is an ass... Please don't worry Ana is not going to fall for his lovey dovey shit and take him back, Let's face it, He was a total ass to her at the beginning of the pregnancy and then hasn't seen his son for 4 years... He's a douche bag in my book. :)
Ana
Where's my son gone? One minuet he was here and the next he's gone, I decide to go see if I can find the birthday boy, I walk through the house, I see Jack and Abby, Teddy's friends from school, They're cute kids, Very kind and loving, Teddy's blessed with a brilliant group of friends, I hope his friendships are strong and they last the test of time, Like me and Kate.
I walk past the rows of children giggling about how big the cake is, Mia did us proud with her masterpiece, It's a beautiful blue cake in the shape of a plane, It's amazing how Mia's crafted it, She's even wrote 'Teddy' on the side of the plane, It really is spectacular.
I continue to walk through the house towards the kitchen, My cell buzzes in my jeans pocket, I fish it out and see a text from Ray
'Tell Teddy happy birthday from Papa Ray x'
I smile at the text, Teddy sure is a very lucky boy to have so many people around him who love him more than words.
I'm too busy testing Ray back that I don't realise someone's rushing towards me till I'm flat on my ass on the floor
"Ana"
I look up to see the face I've only ever seen when I close my eyes,
"Christian"
I close my eyes and will this to be a dream, I will myself to wake up, To come to my senses and for me to find myself in my bed when I re open them but when I do I'm hit with the painful reality, Christian Grey is standing in front of me.
He extends his hand to help me up but I bat it away, I don't need your help!
"What are you doing here Christian?" I ask in a cold voice, Christian bows his head and his eyes focus on the floor, Wow! This is new since when did Christian Grey act like a submissive?
"I came to see my dad" He mumbles still looking at the floor, I take the time to run my eyes over him, His copper hair is still soft looking and shiny but slightly longer than before, He's dressed in a white t, Black jeans n converse with a black leather jacket on top, He almost looks like a normal person, Well he would do If it wasn't for the expensive Rolex watch attached to his wrist, Or the flashy shades hanging from the v on his t-shirt,
"Mommy!"
Teddy comes running in to me grabbing hold of my legs and cuddling them tight, I run my hand through his unruly copper hair as he turns his head up and smiles
"Mommy can I open my presents now please?" He begs jumping up and down, Even with the tension between Christian and I Teddy always manages to bring a smile to my face
"Sure baby boy, If its ok with Grandma and Grandpa" I smile, Teddy turns to look for Grace and Carrick, He runs to Grace and asks, She smiles and nods her head, Teddy runs back to me jumping on the spot, He's so excited its unreal.
"C'mon then Teddy, Let's go see what you got" I smile and take his hand, We begin to walk away but Teddy stops and let's go of my hand, I turn to see him run back to where Christian is standing.
Christian
"Hey Mr?" A sweet little voice enters my ears and I look down to see Teddy, His hand is pulling at my jeans and his big Gray eyes focus on mine, I can't seem to find my voice so I nod
"Did you bring me a present?" His eyes are full of hope and child like joy and I no I have to disappoint him
"No, Sorry I didn't" My throat feels dry and I find it hard to swallow, His eyes lose there shine and gleam, He looks down for a second but slowly recovers, He shrugs his shoulders
"It's ok Mr, You didn't know it was my birthday so I forgive you" He smiles and I feel like a shit, I haven't been in his life at all, He's grown up without a father and he's forgiving me?
"Hey can I whisper in your ear?" He asks quietly and I nod, I crouch down to his level and tilt my head down, Teddy's little hands wrap around my collar and he tugs me so my ear is near his mouth, I can smell sweets, Chocolate and cake on his breath
"You look like me" He whispers then suddenly he's gone, All I see is a flash of copper hair and a childish giggle, He said we look a like, Does he know? That im his... Father?
"Christian, My office... Now" Dads voice booms from down the hall, I stand up and make my way there, Head down, Eyes on the floor.
Entering my dad's office I see him in his usual place, Behind his desk, Fingers steepled, Eyes blazing, I feel like im 15 again being punished for fighting at school
"Take a seat Christian" I sit in my usual seat across from my dad and wait for the rush or angry words to come out of his mouth
"What are you doing here Christian?" He starts in a soft voice, My head shoots up in surprise at the fact that he's not shouting at me at the top of his lungs
"I came to give you the money" I mumble
"And you couldn't wire it to me like you usually do?" He grits out, Now he's getting angry
"I wanted to come see my family" I sigh, I felt guilty for not seeing my mother in months but I couldn't let her see me at my worst
"And what about your son? Does he feature in your family? Or Ana?" We go through the same conversation whenever our paths cross, He asks me when I'm going to step up to the plate, And I tell him the same thing
"I don't know dad" I sigh, I've spent so long trying to sort my shit out like Ana told me to do that I focused too much time on me and forgot the rest of the world.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Dad yells standing up to pace, I sink further in to the seat wishing I could disappear but I can't, I know I can't everyone's right I need to step and be there for my son I just don't know how.
"You need to grow up Christian, You're a grown man with a 4-year-old son who you don't support"
"I do support him, I pay for him every month, Or have you forgotten the large wads of cash directed into your account each month" I grit out, I do pay for my son, I send my mom and dad money every month for them to spend on Teddy,
"But Ana doesn't know that Christian, She doesn't know the money we spend on Teddy comes from you does she?"
"Because she's to proud to accept anything from me"
"Do you blame her? That girl put up with shit from you when she fell pregnant with Teddy, She went through her entire pregnancy with me and your mother by her side, She gave birth to our grandson, Your son with your mom with her, That little boy has grown up with me and his Uncle Elliott as his role models, Where the hell were you?"
"I was working, So I could provide for him" I yell
"Work? Family is more important than work Christian"
This is what our meetings consist of, Shouting and angry words, I try to defend myself but its useless cause I can't, I have no right to, I fucked up, I wanted to see Teddy when he was born but I was scared about how Ana would react, I treated her like shit when she told me she was pregnant, She deserved the world and I gave her nothing but crap.
"I know it's more important but what can I do about it now?" I sigh, Dad looks completely exhausted with me and I don't blame him, I don't blame anyone but me
"Be there for your son"
"I am there" I grit out
"No Christian you're not, You sign a couple of cheques each month, Yes you look after him financially in a sence but not emotionally he doesn't know who you are" Dad sighs as he sits back down
"Look, I have a party to get back too, Teddy's probably half through his presents by now and I want to be there to see him to open the rest of them, Write me the cheque and il deposit it on monday" He sighs again as I reach for my cheque book, I send my dad $20,000 a month for Teddy's up keep, I send it to my dad cause he can then buy Teddy the things he needs and tell Ana its a gift from his grandparents and not from the dick head father who doesn't give a shit.
I hand over the cheque and my dad places it in his wallet, He stands and that's my signal to go, We leave his study and dad gives me a small sad smile and walks towards the living room, I turn to the door but stop when I hear a happy squeal, Walking back towards the living room I peak my head round the corner and see lots of children all gathered round as Teddy opens his presents, All my family are there, Mom, Dad, Elliott, Mia, Even Kate's there,
"Thankyou Uncle Jason, Aunt Gail, This is brilliant" Teddy yells as he hugs to figures near the back of the room, It's only then I catch sight of Gail and Taylor hugging my son, So they were invited to my son's birthday party but not me? I feel a stab in my chest, Everyone who cares and loves Teddy in this room has the joy of watching him happy, Excited and joyful, While I stand on the side lines, I see Elliott get up and hand Teddy a large box, I stand and watch as Teddy tears at the blue shiny paper and pulls the top from the box, I can't see what's inside but what ever it is has made Teddy's face light up, Elliott laughs and then pulls the items out of the box, It's an electric guitar... He's brought my 4-year-old son and Electric guitar?
"Uncle Elliott you're the best, I love you" Teddy screams as he jumps on Elliott and hugs him tight, Elliott is laughing and rubbing his hair, I feel a lump in my throat, Tears well in my eyes
"I love you to dude" Elliott says as he looks Teddy in the eyes, The tears over flow and I back away, I feel like im intruding on something I shouldn't, Something I am not privileged enough to be part of.
I back away and run for the door, I shouldn't be here, I should never have come, I open the door and make my way to my car, I start the engine and glance back at the house, I see Ana standing in the door way with a face like thunder, She shakes her head at me and then closes the door never taking her eyes off me.
I can't blame her, I blame me, I shouldn't have left it so long, Maybe there is no way back now, It's just too little too late.