Missed - Chapter 11
When I wake up the next day I wake to an empty bed, I get up and look for Ana but I can't find her. I walk into the children's bedrooms looking for her but all I find are two children fast asleep.
Quietly I walk down the stairs hoping to see her in the kitchen, maybe making herself a cup of tea. But the kitchens empty and even early bird Gail had not arrived yet.
Growing concerned I dash around the house looking in every room, finally seconds away from calling my security I see her slowly descending the staircase.
"Christian there you are, I was looking for you when I found the bed empty."
"I was looking for you. You scared the hell out of me, where were you?"
"In the guest bathroom, I wasn't feeling well and didn't want to wake you if I got sick."
Immediately I walk up to Ana and sweep my had across her forehead, she's not warm but she is a little paler then usual.
"Were you sick sweetheart," I ask.
"No, I just felt really nauseas, too much party food I guess."
I'm about to tell her she should go back to bed when she suddenly dashes towards the downstairs toilet and spectacularly heaves into the toilet. I run to her side and hold back her long flowing hair as I softly rub her back.
Ana looks white as a sheet when she's finished, I help her to a chair and she sinks down then lays her head against the wall.
"Baby, lets get you back to bed."
"No, what if I need to throw up again. It's safer if I stay here near the toilet."
I stroke her hair and offer her a glass of water but she won't take it because she says she's still feeling pretty sick. I sit with her for a while and eventually manage to carry her back to our bedroom.
"Here, I've laid a bucket by the bed in case you get sick again."
She nods her head but her eyes are closed and soon she's fast asleep. I feel her forehead again but I feel no fever so I sit and watch her for a while.
Before long I start to hear the children waking so reluctantly I leave Ana and go to check on them.
I'm holding Olivia's little hand as we walk down the stairs, Teddy is ahead and busy telling me all about his dream last night.
"Morning," says Gail as we enter her kitchen.
"Morning," I reply with a small smile as the children sit down and await their breakfast.
"Where's Ana?"
"Still sleeping, I'm afraid she isn't feeling too well today."
"Oh poor thing, do you want me to bring her anything."
"No, well not yet anyway, probably best to just let her sleep."
Gail nods understandably them starts to make the children some pancakes. I watch them eat and as much as I enjoy seeing the kids tuck into their food I can't help but worry about Ana.
After breakfast I settle the kids in the family room and allow them to watch the TV so I can go back upstairs to check on Ana.
When I enter our bedroom I hear the toilet flushing and on further investigation I find Ana curled up on the bathroom floor.
"Are you okay,"
She opens her eyes and looks in my direction, then slowly shakes her head.
"I think we should call a doctor baby, you really don't look good."
"Thanks," she replies crossly.
"I mean it Ana, I'm really worried."
"I'll be fine Christian I just need you to help me get back to bed."
Reluctantly I help Ana back to bed then kiss her on her forehead. "Do you want anything," I ask.
"No, I just want to sleep."
"Okay baby you sleep but if you're no better in a few hours I'm calling a doctor."
"Fine," says Ana weakly and before long she's once again asleep.
For the rest of the day Ana stays in bed and though I tried I could only manage to get her to take some water and nothing else. Worried about her not eating especially when Ana can barely afford not too I call my Mom.
"Mom Ana's been really sick today and she wont eat," I explain.
"Does she have a fever?"
"No, but she looks terrible and I'm scared that she's not eating."
"Is she drinking?"
"Water."
"That's good Christian just keep an eye on her and make sure she's hydrated. If she's no better tomorrow I'll stop by, I promise."
"Okay, Thanks Mom."
Comforted somewhat by my mothers promise I go back to the kids and together we have a very subdued day, a vast contrast from yesterdays excitement.
All day I feel as though something is missing until I slip beneath our sheets and Ana rests up against me. Hopefully she'll be better tomorrow, I've missed my wife today.
When I wake the next morning I hear Ana heaving in the bathroom, I dash out of bed and reach for the door handle. I'm shocked when I realise it's locked so I call out to Ana in the hope she will let me in.
"Why is this door locked Ana?"
At first there no response and then a muffled reply leaves me banging on the door.
"Go away Christian, you don't need to see me like this again. I'm just a little sick that's all."
"That's all," I shout back sarcastically.
"Ana if you don't open this door immediately I'm going to break it down."
I wait for her response but it doesn't come, then I hear the door click so I push it hard and it swings open. What I find inside scares the shit out of me, Ana is hunched up on the floor and silently crying.
"Ana, please you have to see a doctor, you're so pale baby."
Reluctantly Ana nods her head so I run for the phone and make the call to Ana's physician. A little later I'm sitting with Ana at the doctors waiting to be called. My leg is bouncing nervously as we wait while I hold tight to Ana's tiny hand.
"Mrs Ana Grey," a woman inquires and I jump up from my seat.
Together we walk to the room she directs us towards and slowly enter. Ana's doctor is a family friend of my mothers and I've known her for years but even familiarity doesn't prevent my fear as I sit down with Ana. I listen as Ana explains the nausea and sickness to the doctor and a few other symptoms she's kept hidden from me.
Dr. Peters asks Ana some questions then performs a routine examination.
"I have my suspicions Ana but first I'd like a urine sample," she requests as she hold up a plastic cup. "The toilets are across the hall, no hurry."
Ana takes the cup after making me promise to stay where I am and disappears out the door. She returns shortly and I watch as Dr. Peters dips a small paper strip into the cup. She waits a few seconds then smiles, "Well Ana I appears that you're pregnant."
I look at Ana and she looks back at me, both of us a little stunned by this sudden development.
"Are you sure," Ana asks softly.
"Positive, or course a blood test would be more accurate but based on your symptoms I'd say it's pretty certain."
"But we're using contraception," I say with some confidence.
"Mr Grey, Christian, I'm sure even you know that contraception is never completely full proof and sometimes it can fail."
"But Ana's not well enough to have a baby, she was only released from the hospital a few months ago."
"Yes I can see from my records that Ana has been suffering from malnutrition but just the fact that she is pregnant shows that her body has recovered sufficiently. Certainly Ana will need some extra support during her pregnancy but I'm certain the outcome will be a positive one."
"You're certain well that's reassuring," I snap.
"Christian please calm down," says Ana stroking my hand.
"I'm sorry Ana I'm just worried, I don't think this is the right time for you to be pregnant."
"Well I am, right time or not and I need you to help me not make this harder for me."
"You're right, I'm sorry I'm just scared," I tell Ana softly. "Me too."
I pull my chair closer to Ana's and pull her hand to my lips, I kiss her knuckles then lay her hand in my own.
Together we listen to Dr. Peters advice and arrange to set up an appointment with Ana's gynaecologist Dr. Greene as soon as possible.
Finally when we leave it all hits me and in spite of my fear for Ana I can't stop smiling.
"A baby," I say softy to Ana.
"A baby," she repeats back and we both smile happily.
A few days later we have visited Dr. Greene and she confirmed that Ana is indeed pregnant. From her assessment Ana's about four or five weeks along and she also suggested a few things Ana can do to prevent the severe sickness she has been having.
Since then Ana has made some progress but her sickness is still present and I'm concerned because Ana has started to loose weight again.
I try not to be too demanding but I panic when Ana fails to eat her meals and day by day I see her small frame diminish.
Today when I come home from work I find Gail playing with the children, she explains that Ana's not been well again and is upstairs sleeping.
When I open our bedroom door I find my wife fast asleep and immediately I notice her strange pallor. She looks like she's dying not pregnant with our third child, I immediately call her doctor. Equally concerned Dr. Greene suggests I bring her to the hospital so she can assess her and make sure everything is okay.
I hang up and walk to the side of the bed and gently shake Ana's shoulders. "Ana I need you to wake up baby."
She stirs but doesn't wake so I shake her again a little harder. "Go away," she mutters.
"Ana you need to wake up, I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No, I'm fine," she slurs which fails to reassure me.
Without further explanation I pull back the bed covers and scoop Ana up into my arms. She struggles at first but then sinks against me as I carry her towards the door.
"Goodness what's wrong," asks Gail as she sees me descend the staircase.
"I'm taking Ana to the hospital, can you please stay with the children and make sure they don't see us leave."
"Of course Mr Grey I just hope everything is alright," says Gail as she strokes Ana's hair off her face. "Me too."
Careful to avoid the kids I carry Ana outside and into a waiting car as Taylor jumps into the drivers seat. I hold Ana on my lap all the way to the hospital and she never truly wakes up. She's really floppy and her completion looks almost grey. Something is really wrong with her and I'm starting to panic.
When we arrive Taylor helps me inside with Ana and then manages to get Dr. Greene to meet us at reception. I notice Dr. Greene's serious expression when she sees us and in seconds she has Ana admitted to the emergency ward.
"What's that," asks Ana when she finally wakes and notices the needle inserted in her hand.
"It's there to help, it's giving you back the fluid you've lost. Ana you were really dehydrated, I couldn't wake you."
Ana pulls her arm closer and makes to pull the tubing from her hand. In a flash I grab her arm and pull it away from her other hand.
"Ana don't, leave it," I order as she continues to struggle. She stares at me defiantly then glances around at her surroundings.
"I want to go home, I don't want to stay here," she stubbornly states. Then I watch as she pulls herself upright and tries to get out of the bed.
"Ana stop, you're going to hurt yourself."
I push her back onto the bed but she's not herself and keeps batting my arms away as I try to hold her.
Finally a nurse pulls back the curtain and finds me struggling with Ana, she calls for another nurse to help then with speed injects something into Ana's IV.
I watch as Ana's slumps forward and both me and the two nurses help to lie her back down on the bed.
"What did you give her," I ask.
"A mild sedative, I assure you it's quite safe for the foetus. We just needed Mrs Grey to calm down."
"What's wrong with her, she's never acted like this before."
"The dehydration is causing some confusion but as soon as she's a little more hydrated she'll be back to normal, I promise."
"I hope so. I didn't like having to restrain her," I say then frown a little at the irony of my words.
"Give her a few hours and I'm sure she'll feel a million times better. Now if you'll excuse me."
I watch as both nurses leave then pull the curtain back to provide Ana with at a little privacy.
I look back at Ana, she looks completely washed out and exhausted. God I hope she isn't going to be like this for the length of the pregnancy. I knew this was all going to be too much for her poor body and I hate to see her back to looking so ill.
A little later Dr. Greene returns to check on Ana and explains that they have a private room ready for her in another part of the hospital.
As we wait for the orderlies to arrive I ask the doctor if anything new has developed from Ana's test results.
"Everything looks good Mr Grey and it's clear now that the sickness is what caused Ana's dehydration. I'm going to prescribe some medication to help with the nausea and with luck Ana can be discharged sometime tomorrow."
"Good, that's good," I say nodding my head.
I notice Dr. Greene staring at me so I look up and she smiles. "Mr Grey, Ana is going to be just fine. I understand it's upsetting but severe nausea in pregnancy is not that uncommon and it passes, believe me."
I nod again then look over at my wife, I hope it will pass soon. Ana can't afford to lose anymore weight and I can't watch it happen again.
Thankfully after two nights in the hospital Ana is discharged and I can start feeding her up again. The medication is working and happily the nausea and sickness are gone. I only wish Dr. Greene had prescribed the pills sooner and maybe prevented Ana from being hospitalised in the first place.
We told the children that Ana was visiting a friend to explain her absence as neither of us wanted the children to see Ana in the hospital again. For now we're keeping the pregnancy just between us and the few family members who visited Ana at the hospital. We aren't going to tell the children until Ana's starts to show, as they're still adjusting to everything else and we don't want to add something new just yet.
As we pull up to the house I see my two little loves jumping up and down excitedly and Ray trying to keep them from dashing at the car.
Ana jumps out and runs towards them, she catches them in her arms and together they all fall into a happy heap on the ground.
I race to join them and with Rays help we manage to pull everyone back on their feet and steer them to the house.
"Have they been good," I ask as we walk inside the main entrance.
"Perfect," says Ray indulgently and I smile as I catch Teddy looking quite triumphant.
I'm so glad Ray decided to live with us even after we found Ana and Olivia. At first I was afraid he would want to leave once he saw Teddy and I had our family back. Both Ana and Teddy were adamant he stay put and after all those lost years without his daughter Ray was very happy to stay too.
He loves the kids and they keep him active and when it all gets too much for him he takes off for a fishing trip, where I'm sure he enjoys the silence.
"Poppy look," says Olivia pointing happily at her mother.
"I see sweetheart isn't it great to have mommy home," Ray answers with a smile.
I watch him wink at Ana and she smiles back, poor Ray has missed her almost as much as the children. Once we reach the family room the children want to know if Ana has brought them anything from her trip. I guess I'm to blame for their expectations because I always bring home presents whenever I go on business trips.
Ana surprises me by pulling out two parcels from her handbag and passing them to each child. I look at the presents suspiciously then smile when Ana whispers to me and tells me she got them at the hospital gift shop.
That's my Ana always thinking of the children and doing her best to give them something special, especially after they have been without her. I wonder briefly where she found the opportunity to visit the gift shop, she certainly wasn't up to it when she first arrived. Maybe she asked Sawyer to get them, I hope so anyway because she really wasn't up to go herself.
We watch the kids open their gifts and then we all go outside to play in the garden. When Gail calls us in for dinner we all troop back inside and I make sure the kids wash their hands before we eat. Gail's made Ana favourite in honour of her homecoming and we all tuck in heartily. I'm glad to see my wife enjoying her food again and I can't wait to see her back to a normal weight.
Later when the children are finally tucked up in their beds and dreaming I walk into our bedroom and see Ana pulling back the covers on the bed.
"I know it's a bit early but I'm exhausted, don't feel like you have to join me."
"But I want to join you, I can't wait," I tell her coyly.
"Don't be getting any ideas Mr Grey, I intend to be asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow."
"And I intend to be there with you when you do."
Coming back from the bathroom I slip beneath the sheets and reach my hand towards Ana.
"Asleep yet?" I ask.
"Almost but something keeps poking me."
"I could poke you with something else if you'd like."
"Tempting but for tonight would you take a rain check."
"I guess, but I need you to do something for me first."
"Christian," says Ana somewhat annoyed.
"Just one kiss and I'll let you sleep, one kiss I promise."
"Fine one kiss," says Ana then moves around to face me.
We move in and kiss one another softy, I stroke Ana's hair then pull her into my arms. Resting her head across my chest I rub my hand across her back soothingly.
"I'm so glad you're home sweetheart, I missed you."
I wait for a response but all I receive is one word from Ana before she falls fast asleep in my arms.