Author's Note: Hey, I'm back! Check my note at the end for some story insight. Thanks for reading and reviewing. See you soon

Ch. 14

I just finished making dinner. Well, actually I finished putting it in the crockpot. I did some research on what ten month olds can eat, so I decided to make crockpot macaroni and cheese and baked chicken breasts. I set the crockpot, and will put the chicken in closer to dinner. I hope Harper will like it.

Speaking of Harper. she should be waking up from her nap soon. I bought some play dough to try with her. I know she can't really do anything with it, but I can't wait to see her reaction to how squishy it is. I plan to take some photos of that.

I've been thinking about how life is going to have to change. I know I will have to go into GP tomorrow and discuss taking a little time off of work to help get Harper adjusted. After that, I'm not sure what to do. Technically, I never have to work since Christian could support us multiple times over. I can't imagine leaving work forever. I love being an editor and that has been my dream for so long. There is a part of me that wants to keep working, but there is another part of me that wants to be here for everything Harper needs. I guess I will have to talk to Rachel and figure out what is best for me.

I hear a noise in the kitchen, so I turn to see Gail in there.

"Hi Gail."

"Hello, Ana. You didn't have to make dinner. I would have made anything you wanted." She tells me.

"That's okay. I did research on what to feed babies, so I threw something together. I do like cooking." I tell her.

"Just let me know when you do want me to cook." she offers kindly. "I'm sure that running after that angel will tire you out, so I'm here for whatever you need."

"Thank you. Truth be told, I don't know what I'm going to do about work and Harper. I have to go into my job to explain my situation and tell them that I need some time off. After that time is up, I don't know what to do." I confess.

"Ana, I hope this isn't too forward of me, but if you need someone to watch Harper, I can help. I'm sure that Mr Grey wouldn't mind adding watching her to my list of duties. I, for one, would love to have my hands on that little one."

I wrap my hands around Gail, and give her a firm hug. It feels so good that someone is offering to help me.

"Thank you. I don't know what I plan to do, but thank you. You have no idea what your offer means to me."

We are interrupted by the sounds of little miss waking up. I wipe my tears and walk to Harper's room.

"Hey, big girl. I have a special treat set up for you."

I change her diaper, and then bring her to her high chair. I see that Gail is still in the kitchen, so I ask her to take some photos with my phone. I open up the tub of play dough.

"Here, Harper. I got you a new toy. It's called play dough." I say as I offer it to her.

Harper touches the dough, but quickly pulls away.

"It's okay. It's supposed to be squishy. Here look."

I show Harper how I squeeze the dough. I then open my palm to show her the material once again. She still seems hesitant, so I grab her tiny hand in my own. I kiss her little palm and then bring her hand to the play dough in my other hand. I kiss her hand again as it touches the new substance, then I smile at her.

Harper starts to smile at me, and I see her look questioningly at the dough. I put it in front of her, and then press my fingers into it so she can see how it moves.

"Do you want to try?"

After a few moments I see Harper touch her finger to the dough. She snatches her hand back and looks at me like she is unsure. I smile at her to reassure her. She touches it again, and starts to explore this new substance. I see Harper get more comfortable with the dough and I can tell that she likes the feeling in her hands as she maneuvers it. I see her try to bring it to her mouth.

"Ah-ah, no mouth." I say quietly but firmly.

I see her look unsure but move it down from her mouth. She continues to play, and I show her all different ways to move the dough around.

I feel so happy as I play with her. I can't believe that just a week ago I didn't know about her, yet I love her so much. I haven't had Harper for very long, but I guess that this is what it feels like to be a mom. I know that she depends on me for everything, and that is so amazing, but it is also terrifying. I don't know what I am going to do with her. Grace is going to set up a pediatrician for me, and I have been googling everything that I can think of about babies. I just wish one of the people willing to help would be my husband.

After Harper gets fussy of sitting with the play dough I place her in the play pen I set up in the living room, but near the kitchen. I set the table for dinner while I can still keep my eye on the baby. I place settings for Christian and myself on a corner of the table, and I place Harper's high chair in between us. I grab some flowers, and a candle. I think the table looks romantic, and soothing.

I hope that dinner as a family will help Christian and I reconnect. I have not slept with my husband since I got the call from Mr Jones, and I mean sleep. We haven't had sex either, but I miss sleeping in my husband's arms more than anything. I've spent my whole life being single, but I have come to love having a partner. My favorite thing about Christian is how we curl up together to go to sleep: me on him, but I wake up with him on me. Christian grabs onto me like a vine while we sleep, and it makes me feel whole. I haven't woken up that way in days, but it feels like longer. I miss how I catch him looking at me, how he texts me nonstop, how he brushes my hair behind my ear as he kisses me. I feel my stomach clench as I think about how long it has been since I felt all of that.

I shake my head to snap me out of my thoughts. I open a bottle of Christian's favorite wine so it can breathe. I check dinner, and it is minutes away from being ready. I expect Christian home at any minute, so I'm excited to have everything ready for him.

Ding

I hear the elevator, and turn the corner to see Christian make his way towards me.

"Hey baby." he kisses my forehead. "I have a conference call with Tokyo." he starts to walk past me. "Tell Gail to put my plate in the oven to warm later."

"But I made us-" I start to say, but am cut off by the slamming of Christian's office door.

I turn to Harper, and she is looking at me curiously from the sound of the door. I try not to let myself tear up. I know that there isn't really a reason for me to cry, but I still feel rejected.

"It's just you and me for dinner tonight, baby." I tell her.

I try to focus on feeding Harper, and ignore my husband in the other room.

Just take care of the baby, Christian will come around.

I just wish that I could believe myself.

A/N: Hi all. I just wanted to do a quick check in about our not so favorite guy right now. Because I am writing in Ana's POV right now, I wanted to let you know what I believe to be going through Christian's head. We all know that he never thought he could love, or be a father. I think that not only is it a choice for him to start to change, but that he has no clue that he has to make that choice. Christian is selfish in many ways, and by that I mean that thinking outside of his routine has never happened before Ana. I believe that he allowed himself to make room for her in his life, but it doesn't occur to him how closed off he still is. Christian has a long journey to go on in this story, but first he needs to realize the journey exists. I hope you all can give him a few more chapters to make you see who he really is. Also I hope you take into consideration that he is mercurial, so there will be some quick changes with his mindsets. I hope you enjoyed this update :)