Christian's Pov

As I stormed out of Ana's room I felt a wave of emotions. I was pissed, and hurt. Why didn't she want me around? What had I done? She was hurt and I wanted to be there for her and she pushed me away. As I entered the waiting the waiting room, I saw Ray and Taylor. O, great! I was not in the mood to talk to either of them. I need to drink or punch something or both. They both must have known, but when I went to walk past them Ray grabbed my arm.

"Hey Grey, you need to check yourself. Do I need to remind you of a promise you made? She has been thru a lot and she needs space to figure shit out. Her basic security need was violated. She probably feels awful and you being all pissy and broody is doing nothing to help her. I gave you my blessing and I can sure as shit take it away. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?" Ray said so intense that for the first time in a long time I felt genuinely intimidated. Shaking my arm back, I made eye contact with Ray, I'm not sure how long we stood like that. Macho against macho, ego vs ego. He was trying to assert his dominance over me, and I wasn't going to let this is what he had wanted since the moment I had asked him to marry Ana. Smilingly inwardly I extend the challenge to him. I felt Taylor glaring us down, no doubt the tension was radiating. After minute's, Ray didn't waver. I had to applaud his efforts, he was holding up better then most of my business partners who I've had similar ego contests before. Sensing the tension Taylor chimed in.

"Mr Grey, Mr Steele. Visting hours have officially ended why don't we just return in the morning?" for a brief second I contemplated firing Taylor. I knew it was nonsense and I'd be lost with him, but in that one moment so much hung in the balance. Ray needed to know that I was the alpha male here and that in that moment he was trying to portray the exact same message. Then Ray broke away, sweet sweet victory !

"Well I ain't going anywhere. My house is a hour and a half away and I don't want to be that far in case something happens." Ray told Taylor, not looking at me. Knowing that I had the unspoken title of being in charge, I knew Ana didn't want her father sleeping in some waiting room or in a cheap motel.

"I have a spare guest room at my place. You can stay there. Its a 25 minute drive from the hospital in case anything happens." I say. Ray still not returning my gaze, hesitated. Then he glances at Taylor, I see Taylor nod.

"Ok" Ray replies solemnly. Maybe I was wrong, maybe Taylor was the alpha. I was dumb founded at what I was just witness too. What kind of hold did Taylor have over Ray? What the fuck had just gone on? As we exited the hospital, I felt the tug to stay. I was gonna have to be without Anastasia, but that's how she wanted it. There was truth in what Ray had said, and I knew that deep down. I would never admit that to Ray though. Thinking about it all now, I realized she was scared and need space to process everything. I was still stinging from her harsh rejection. I knew its what she needed but I needed more then words could physically describe. But I knew my wants and needs didn't matter in this moment.

As we entered the pent house, I saw Ray become physically uncomfortable. My mass amount of wealth made Anastasia uncomfortable at first too.

"Brandy?" I called to Ray. I think we both deserved a drink.

"Please." Ray called towards me. When I returned, he was starting at the art on the walls. When he say me I nodded at the bar stool and he walked over and sat. As I pour the brandy into glass tumblers, the tension was clear between us. I knew I had to be the man in this moment, I couldn't give her much but I could settle things between Ray and I.

"Ray," I addressed him after we both took a swing of the brandy "I know my timing to ask you to marry Ana was all wrong. I know you didn't want to give her up right away. You wouldn't be, knowing Ana she will won't want anything moving too fast." that got him to chuckle "But I've thought about marriage for awhile. And your right Anastasia getting shot it did scary me. I thought the love of my life was going to die. I was made to confront all the feelings I had about Ana. So yeah I was scared, I was terrified something was going to happened and I wasn't going to be able to tell her and show her how much I really really love her. But ever since I asked you for Ana's hand, their has been tension and I don't think Ana will want or need that. So right here and right not lets put everything on the table." when I finished I chugged the rest of the brandy.

"Ok, I'll be straight up with you Christian. I think your a rich entitled kid, whose never been told no. Who gets everything handed to you and now I have to hand you my daughter, and that doesn't sit well with me." Ray proceed to finish his brandy "Annie is special damn it, and I see how you intimidate her and I'm not gonna stand for that shit!" silence fell over us. I wanted to tell him about my past, to shove his nose in how painfully wrong he was. That I was nothing like he said I was. My blood was boiling and it took everything within me to not explode. I had asked for honest and that's what I had gotten. Is that what people though of me? Shaking it off, I confronted Ray.

"Growing up I was adopted. I don't talk about my birth mother, but I assure you, she was horrible and awful. I would go days without eating. When I finally was adopted, I was so emotionally unavailable. I continued the rest of my life being emotionally unavailable. She is the only person in the entire world who I have been able to be 110% open with." silence fell once more, and when I was about to say something Ray broke it.

"I'm sorry I didn't know"

"Don't be no way you could have known."

"You really love my Annie?"

"More then the world." I said and I was never more sure.

"Ok, I'll let you marry her. I know I said it before but I mean it this time. No more awkwardness, or tension or unspoken words. You have my honest blessing."