Eyes shooting open as he heard Ana screaming beside him, Christian frowned as he turned on his side lamp before he moved onto his knees, trying to catch Ana's hands. They were flying everything. "Ana…" He called trying to be careful not to hurt her. She had settled so easily when they climbed into bed and she had no hint of having a nightmare early when she was napping.
"No…please…leave us alone…" She whimpered in her sleep. "Don't touch him!" She screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Ana, baby wake up…" Christian called; catching her left hand gently in his he moved his other hand gently onto her shoulder, being careful not to touch the burn mark on her collarbone. "Ana…" He called more loudly giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Eyes shooting open, Ana sat up quickly, though she soon regretted it as she winced and moved her arm around her ribs. Confusion over coming her as another tear escaped her eyes and slid down her cheek, her breathing still rapid as she clung onto Christian's hand tightly.
"You're okay…" He whispered reassuringly to her as he moved and sit down back on the bed, holding onto her hand tightly he gently wiped her tear from her cheek, pressing a soft kiss to her hand. "I'm here. It was just a bad dream…"
Ana looked to him before she just burst into tears, scrambling onto Christian's lap as quick as she could, straddling him, ignoring the throbbing pain of her ribs she clung to him as if her life depended as she sobbed into his neck, her body trembling.
Remembering she had a burn in the centre of her back, Christian carefully moved his arms around her, one hand resting on the small of her back while one hand moved to the back of her head as he held her close to him, gently rocking her. "You're safe." He whispered to her.
"Please don't let him take us." She begged through her tears clinging onto him tighter.
Christian frowned as he heard her; gently pulling away from her he cupped her face, wiping away her tears gently with his thumbs as he looked to her. "I won't let anyone ever take you…" He promised to her. "You're safe."
Ana looked to him, the tears just running down her cheeks before she nodded a little before she looked to her husband and sighed pressing her forehead to his. "I'm sorry for waking you up…"
Pressing his lips to her forehead he gently began to lay back down with her, keeping her body close to his, moving his hand to her thighs, tucking his hands where her knees bent, soft stroking her skin with his thumb, hoping this was an area she would be okay with him touching. "Don't be. Go back to sleep." He whispered to her. "I'm right here." He promised to her, still softly stroking her leg.
Letting Christian bring her down, Ana stiffened slightly feeling his hands move to her thighs before she relaxed as he tucked them behind her knees. Relaxing her body she nodded a little hearing him, hiding her face in his neck as she let her eyes fall to a close as she drifted back off to sleep. She was never one to normally suffer from nightmares but after everything that had happened with Jack it was happening a lot, normally she would end up waking herself up by jumping or flinching in her sleep so no one would really notice she would be having a nightmare but tonight it was so vivid. So real to her. Jack Hyde was invading her dreams and she was absolutely terrified right now. She could still feel her heart thumping rapidly against her chest.
As Ana relaxed against him, Christian let his own eyes fall to a close as he still kept softly stroking Ana's skin. He could feel her heart thumping against his chest. He had noticed she was having nightmares but she seemed to just carry on as normal afterwards and he didn't want to confront her about it in case it upset her more but tonight was something else. He had never seen her like that before. It worried him. He didn't know what to do to make everything okay for her again. He knew what it was like to have nightmares, he just hoped he would be able to comfort her and help her like she did for him. It was heart breaking to see her like this. It wasn't his Ana.
xoxoxoxox
Eyes fluttering open as the sun shone through the glass windows the next morning, Ana let her eyes adjust to the light before she then looked down seeing she was still lying on top of Christian. She had slept on him all night. Well, since waking up from her nightmare. Carefully climbing off him, not wanting to wake him up she grabbed her robe and slipped it on before she then double checked Christian was still sleeping before heading out of the bedroom and through the main room and into the kitchen where Mrs Jones was doing this dishes. "Morning Mrs Jones."
Hearing Ana's voice, Gail turned and grinned to her. "Good morning Mrs Grey!" She beamed to her with a smile. "How are you feeling?"
Ana couldn't help but smile at Gail. Gail was like a second mom to her, some days she was just happy to sit and chat with Gail if Christian was too busy. She loved her company. At her question she gave a little shrug. "I'm okay, just sore. Just want to get back to normal I guess."
Gail gave her an understanding nod. "Well what can I get you for breakfast? Usual?"
"Please." Smiled Ana. "If it's okay with you I'm going to have it outside on the balcony? I feel like I need a bit of fresh air."
Gail smiled. "Of course. I'll bring it out to you."
"Thank you." Smiled Ana as she then headed over to the balcony. Sliding the door open she slipped out, closing it behind her so the apartment wouldn't get cold and sat herself down on one of the chairs, bringing her feet up onto the chair as she let a sigh pass her lips as she let the fresh air hit her skin, happily looking to the beautiful view in front of her. She did love the view from up here but she was looking forward to the view in their new home when that was ready. She did feel a bit on edge here but knew Jack wouldn't be getting anywhere near her. Nor Elizabeth. When Detective Clarke came by to tell them she had been arrested, Ana was surprised she was involved but Christian soon explained everything to her.
"Here you go Mrs Grey. Granola with some Greek yoghurt and your tea." Came Gail's voice as she popped the tray onto the table next to Ana. "And a throw." She smiled passing it to Ana. "There's still a nip in the air and you don't want to be catching a cold."
"Thank you Mrs Jones." Smiled Ana as she took the throw and moved it over her legs and grabbed her tea and took a sip, her body instantly relaxing as the warm liquid hit her mouth. Gail always knew how to make her tea right.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?"
Ana shook her head. "No thank you."
Gail smiled. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." She told her softly before heading inside.
Watching her go, Ana then popped her tea down on the table before she grabbed her bowl and a spoon and tuck into her breakfast. She didn't feel particularly hungry but knew she had to try and eat something. It wasn't just her anymore.
Eyes fluttering open Christian frowned not seeing Ana on top of him or next to him. Getting up he checked the bathroom before he then headed out to the main room and into the kitchen.
"Good morning Mr Grey." Gail mused as she spotted him come into the kitchen.
"Good morning…" He replied distracted as he glanced around before looking to Gail. "Have you seen Ana this morning?"
Gail smiled. "She's out on the balcony eating her breakfast. Said she needed some fresh air." She informed with a smile. "Pancakes and bacon? I can bring it out to you?"
Christian smiled and nodded to her. "That would be lovely thank you." He looked to the balcony before looking to Gail. "How does she seem?" He asked curiously to her.
Gail looked to him, looking to the balcony then back to Christian. "I think she has a lot running through her mind sir. But she said she just wants to get back to normal."
Christian nodded a little. "Thanks Gail." He mumbled as he then headed out to his wife. Opening the door he smiled to himself seeing she had eaten her breakfast and was still sipping on her tea. "Hey…" He whispered softly to her, moving to sit next to her.
Snapping out of her own little world hearing Christian, Ana looked to him and smiled a little. "Hey."
"You okay?" He asked looking to her.
"I'm fine." Ana told him looking to him.
"Are you?" He asked looking to her. "You were so frightened last night from your nightmare…"
Ana looked to him before sighing a little and rubbing her forehead a little.
"Talk to me…" He whispered to looking to her.
"It was just a silly nightmare…" She whispered looking to him.
"A silly nightmare that had you in tears Ana…" He paused and looked to him. "Was it about what happened to you?" He asked softly to her. He needed to understand.
Ana sighed. "No…well sort of…" She looked to him. "I didn't escape…the torture went on and on…you couldn't find me. He wanted our baby…" She mumbled looking down to her tea in her hands fearing if she looked to him any longer that she would burst into tears again. "He kept trying to take the baby and there was nothing I could do because every time I tried to keep him safe he would burn me…"
Christian sighed as he listened to her before he got up from his seat and moved in front of her, bending down in front of her he rested his hand on her knee trying to make eye contact with her. "But you have escaped." He began looking to her. "You're home and you and the baby are safe. I'm not going to let anything ever happen to either of you." He gave her knee a gentle squeeze.
Ana looked to him before she sighed and nodded a little. "I just want to get back to normal."
"And you will…but it's going to take time." He told her before he then looked gestured for Mrs Jones to come out seeing her hovering by the door. Getting to his feet he took the tray off her before he then moved and sat back down. "If you're up for it…how about we go shopping?"
Staying silent Ana then raised an eyebrow hearing Christian and looked to him. "You know I hate shopping…"
"I know." Christian commented as he tucked into his pancakes before looking to her. "But I was thinking maybe we could go and buy stuff…for the baby."
Ana raised an eyebrow again as she looked to her husband. "You wanna go baby shopping?"
Christian smiled. "We've got to do it sooner or later…might as well start now. Nothing too extreme, but can have a little nose. See what we like. I'm hoping Elliott will have the new house ready before the baby is born so we can get the nursery ready."
Ana looked to him before she nodded a little and offered him a soft smile. "That would be nice…" Finishing off her tea she popped her mug down before she then looked to him. "So who knows I'm pregnant?" She asked looking to him. "Obviously your mom knows…"
"Pretty much everyone…"
Ana's mouth dropped a little. "Everyone?"
"Everyone who came to the hospital…my mom and dad…your mom and dad…Kate and Elliott, Taylor, Mia and Jose…"
"A lot of people…" Ana mumbled as she looked ahead of herself once more.
"Kinda my fault…the doctor wanted to talk to me in private but I was just so worried about you I just wanted to know what was going on…"
Ana smiled a little to him. "I don't blame you…" She told him before she got to her feet, running her fingers through her hair a little as she tossed the throw onto her chair. "I'm going to have a shower." She told him softly, moving her hand to his shoulder she gave it a gentle squeeze. "Enjoy your breakfast." She told him as she then headed back inside.
Watching her go back inside, Christian then finished off his breakfast a soft smile tugging his lips. He was quite looking forward to baby shopping. The idea of becoming a father was growing on him more and more. Yes it was sooner than both of them would have liked but it was happening. They were going to be a family and he was going to do everything he could to keep his wife and baby safe. He wasn't going to let anyone go near him again. Especially Jack Hyde.