She Don't Like The Lights

"Ana?" Gail called her as she sat sipping her tea, clearly miles away but Gail didn't mind at all she knew she was under a bit of stress. "Ana dear?"

"Gail I'm sorry, I keep doing that lately" she said blushing a bit

"It's no problem dear just look after yourself, I don't want you to worry yourself to death" she smiled "I am going to run through the grocery shopping list before the photographers get here for the the press photo shoot. Would you like me to add anything on or take something off it in particular?" Ana shook her head "No thanks Gail but I better go and get Teddy and Phoebe dressed. I wanted to wait until it was near time to dress them, I really just want this to be over over" she smiled softly and Gail nodded understandably.

"It will be over soon. Why don't you go ahead? I'll sort this out here"

"What would I do without you?" she said as she left her half drunk cup of tea on the counter. Phoebe and Teddy were sitting on Christian's lap in the tv room all eyes glued to the screen. Ana giggled, even little Phoebe who was nearly hitting two months old was sitting quietly watching the screen. Christian had to move the photo shoot back another month so Phoebe was just two months old and of course it had to do with the fact Ana found out she had a brother, though she still begged Christian to wait a bit before contacting him. She looked at her son who giggled at the characters on-screen, Ana had bought them Toy Story 1,2 & 3 to watch and even Christian was enjoying it. "That would be the perfect picture" Ana said as she came around to sit with them

"Did you see these movies?"Christian smiled at his wife who nodded

"When I was a kid" she smiled "I still love them" she admitted glancing at the screen and then her two babies who sat content on their father's lap.

"Mommy are you watching with us?" Teddy was trying to free himself from Christian's grasp.

"No sweetie we have to get you two ready for when the men and women come to take your pictures today remember?" Teddy frowned but then asked "Can I take pictures on daddy's camera?" he asked Ana but looked at his father who sighed and just gave in "I guess you can buddy"

"I take pictures of the people and they get angry and then they see how they like it" Teddy grinned

"Evil mastermind" Christian joked and Teddy giggled

"Alright come on my baby genius let's get you and your sister ready" she said as she took Phoebe from Christian and Teddy clutched her free hand as he toddled alongside her. Christian then switched the movie off and tidied up the tv room, something he hasn't done before because usually if he made a mess Gail was left to clean but Ana had one too many arguments with him about cleaning up after himself for him to go against her wishes.

"Mommy can I go on my slide ?"

"Later sweetie, you might be able to go on it when the photographer comes" Teddy nodded and waited while his mother dressed his sister. "Sissy's pretty" Teddy said as he sat in the rocking chair in Phoebe's nursery.

"She is and you are very handsome" she said as she kissed her son's cheeks, he flashed her that famous grey men grin as he spoke


"Ana if we could get a few shots of you and your two children just right here that would be perfect, then we can do some of you and Christian and then a few family ones altogether?" Ana had asked Jose to come and take the photographs, she felt more comfortable around him. Teddy was delighted to see him and it was the first time Jose had seen Phoebe since she was born so he was more than happy to come and take the photographs.

"That's great, Teddy buddy how about you sit just right there on the slide. Ana you stand next to him with Phoebe on his lap, hold on right there" he said fixing them before snapping some more pictures. Jose was delighted because Phoebe was wide awake "Perfect" Ana took Phoebe and let Teddy run off for a little while

"We can get some more photographs done in maybe fifteen minutes? Teddy seems more than happy to run off and play" he smiled at the child who was busy playing on the swing.

"So this is little Phoebe?" he said as he held his finger out which she grasped in her little hand "Hi little one" he smiled

"Do you want to hold her?" Jose nodded grinning "Of course I do" he said as he placed his camera down on the fold out table. Christian smiled at his enthusiasm to hold the newest grey baby. "She's a cute little thing isn't she?" he grinned at Ana before looking back at Phoebe. After a few moments of hold the two month old Teddy began to tug at his pants leg "Jose can I take pictures?" Teddy had managed to get Christian's camera when they were busy in the garden

"Okay let me give Phoebe back to mommy and I'll show you how to take some good shots" Teddy smiled at Jose "Here you go Ana" he said as he gently and carefully handed Phoebe back before taking Teddy by the hand over to sit in the grass "Teddy really takes to Jose doesn't he?" Christian was sitting in the chairs sipping a glass of wine when Ana joined him

"Yeah he has a fascination with camera's too. He always wants to play with your one" Ana smiled

"A hobby for him so?"

"I'd say he would make a career out of it but it's too soon to tell he's so young" Ana and Christian watched Jose show Teddy how to shoot the right picture and get the perfect light, for a three-year old Teddy was intrigued and listened carefully to Jose as he explained and showed him with Christian's camera. "So I need to tell you something" Christian said as he set his wine glass down.

"Christian no? You didn't?"

"Ana he's your family, you have to talk to him sooner or later. He has agreed to come to visit us with his mother for the weekend"

"Christian" she was angry he went behind her back and did this.

"Have you even thought about what I am supposed to say to the kid whose father didn't give him a look in and yet he raised me?" Christian rolled his eyes at Ana "Don't you dare roll your eyes at me Christian, this is serious. What am I supposed to say to him?"

"Ana"

"No Christian, we already talked about this, we were supposed to discuss this together and you go behind my back and arrange all of this, what about Ray? Did you ever think the kid might not want to talk to him?"

"Ana I haven't contacted your father, you said you wanted to get to know him first and explain your side of the story. Maybe if you tell him how kind and good he was to you and explain he didn't find out until a few days ago he might be more than willing to speak to Ray" he explained as Ana sighed . She didn't even get time to respond when a bouncing Teddy and grinning Jose came to them "Okay if we ge the family shots now?" Jose watched Ana as she tried her to best to hide her anger. "Yeah we should, we have guests arriving this evening" Christian said as he stood up and taking Teddy into his arms "Ana are you okay?"

"I'm fine Jose" she said smiling, the anger never leaving her eyes but she wore a smile

"If you need to talk you know you can tell me" he said as she shook her head "I'm fine Jose. Just a little argument nothing I can't handle" he smiled sympathetically as he picked up the camera "Turn that frown upside down and give me that gorgeous smile you wear" he joked and Ana gave him a real smile "There it is"

"Thanks Jose" she said as she went to Christian's side as they stood ready for the next few photo's. The session was a good hour and a half before Jose was packed up and ready to hit the road. "I'll do the photo's up on the computer and send them to you and you pick your best ones and we can get them published" Jose told Ana as he got into his car


"Thanks again Jose, you're a star" Jose flashed her a smile when Teddy ran out after Ana "Teddy say bye-bye to Jose"

"Bye" he waved before getting out of Ana's grasp and running to hug Jose's leg before he was able to put a foot inside the car

"Bye little guy" he said hugging him and getting down to his height and whispering in his ear "Look after your mommy okay"

"Okay" he whispered

"Our secret okay buddy" Teddy placed his finger to his lips as Jose winked at him

"Secret" Teddy smiled as he ran back into the house and pass his father as he came to the door way to stand with Ana. Christian nodded at Jose who returned with a nod as he drove off. Ana couldn't even relax. She had enough on her mind with the press snapping pictures and videos left, right and centre of her and the kids and then Christian gets in contact with her step brother who had no idea he was related to her. She had plenty of arguments lately and she knew this wouldn't be the last one she would have this week with him. It's friday and she can't even enjoy a peaceful weekend. She walked back inside and sat with her head in her hands at the kitchen table lost in thought. Could this weekend get any worse ?