CPOV
"What do you think" I asked Geoffrey, as I held him aloft, so he could see the entire property.
"I love it, and we get to have a maze here too" he asked excitedly.
"Yes, we will have to find out what we can plant, something fast growing otherwise we will both be old men before we get to explore it."
"Something that I can see underneath of, to find my way out."
"Is that not cheating" I asked, laughing.
"No, Ana would say that I was using my brain."
"She would that" I smiled. "Come, we have a ship to meet and then we can get back to Ana and you can tell her what you think."
We made our way back to the cars where Taylor was waiting for us. Looking back at the property, I am sure there is room to build cottages for the staff here, although I suspect Taylor and Gail, as well as Holly and Lucas are happy where they are.
We drove out of the property, before stopping for a moment as Taylor got out of the car, making sure the gates were shut behind us. We were soon on our way to the docks then.
"Will they be here yet" Geoffrey asked.
"Can you see the ship" I asked as we got closer to the docks.
"Not at the dock but I can see it approaching" he clapped happily.
"We are right on time then" I said, laughing at his excitement.
We drove down onto the dock front, watching as people got out of the way. This did bring back memories of the start of our own journey, but we would not be going anywhere today or anytime in the future because we were home.
"Are we getting out" he asked me.
"I am, but I have a special job for you. When the ship docks and the gangways are in place and you start to see people leave, I want you to honk that horn."
"Really, will I not be too loud" he laughed.
"In all this noise, we need to be loud, so my parents will find us" I told him as the ship came alongside the quay and everyone was told to move back as the ropes were thrown and the ship was tethered.
I got out of the car with Taylor as Geoffrey moved into the front seat. He did as I asked, scaring a few people in the process but it was not long before my parents found us.
"I would know that honk anywhere" my mother laughed as she hugged me before pulling Geoffrey from his seat and gave him a hug too. "You all look well, very well."
"We are, I love it here" Geoffrey told her, as we climbed back into the car.
I got into the front with Taylor as Geoffrey sat in between my parents, regaling them with all he had done since we had arrived here many months ago.
"How is Ana doing" my father asked.
"She is well, tired a lot of the time so there might be a chance she will be sleeping when we arrive home."
"Let her sleep. She is so close to the end now, she will need it" mother said.
"I do. I encourage it as my wife can be stubborn at times and tries to fight it."
When we arrived home, I was surprised to see Paulina stood on the doorstep waiting for us. Upon seeing the car, she was immediately rushing to my side.
"What is it "I asked, alarmed as I got out.
"The baby is coming."
I rushed past her, into the house and up to the room where I know my wife would be.
"Ana" I said, upon opening the door as she cried out for me, obviously in a lot of pain. "I am sorry I was not here."
"You are here now and that is all that matters. Our baby is coming Christian" she stated before pain hit her and her cries started again.
Clara was speaking to Ana about how far the labour had progressed but despite how much I had read about pregnancy, I did not know about the words she spoke now.
"Too hot" Ana mumbled as I picked up one of the towels that had been laid out and wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Christian, please give me that" Charlotte said, as I handed her the towel. She left the room, coming back with it damp and more importantly cool. This was what Ana needed now as she sagged into me at the relief that it did bring.
"How long ago" I asked when Ana was resting for a moment.
"About thirty minutes ago. The water around the baby broke free and the pain immediately started" Charlotte told me as I leant down to kiss my wife's head.
"You are doing so well Ana" I told her, as her eyes looked into mine.
"It hurts Christian, so much."
"I know. Think of our child. Think of when all this pain is gone, you will be holding them in your arms."
A smile came to her lips before the pain took it away and a contraction, I am told they were called, started up again.
The pain came and went for hours and I would do anything at this point to take it away from Ana. Each contraction that came was bringing our baby closer to being born, Clara told us, but it did not feel like that to us, as nothing looked any different.
"Pressure, so much pressure" Ana cried out, squeezing my hand.
"Ana, your baby's head is trying to be born so when I tell you to, I want you to stop pushing and pant."
I am unsure of how many of Clara's words Ana took in as she was in so much pain, but a slight nod of the head was all she could give before she cried out again.
"Ana pant" Clara told her.
I had no idea what Clara was doing down there to my wife but whatever she did, was done quickly.
"Your baby's head has been born. On the next push or two you will have them in your arms."
"What were you doing, I felt something" Ana asked still panting away.
"The cord that connects the baby and you had tangled itself around the baby's head. I have freed it and now your baby is ready to be born."
I did not want to think too much at the moment about my child not being able to breathe, so all my focus was back on my wife.
I knew the moment the next contracting hit, I could see it in my wife's features, I could feel it in the squeeze of her hand. I realise now more than ever, why it is women who carried the child. Men are not equipped to handle such a degree of pain, or maybe that is just me.
"Push Ana push" Clara encouraged.
Ana pushed and within seconds the cries of our child filled the air. Our baby was placed onto Ana's stomach, all covered in blood and I do not know what else. I had never see such a beautiful sight though.
"You have a son" Clara told us, trying to clean him up where he was, because neither Ana nor I would let him go.
"I am so happy for you both" Charlotte wept as she looked down at my son.
"Thank you for holding my hand mother, I am so glad you were here."
"I would not have been anywhere else" Charlotte said, brushing her tears away.
"Christian I am going to ask you to hold your son in a moment while Ana and I work together to remove the placenta" Clara told me.
"The what" I asked.
"It is what has been feeding our little boy for the past nine months" Ana said, tears flowing down her cheeks.
I kissed them away, kissing her lips too as I let Ana know how much I loved her, how proud I was of her for delivering our son safely into the world.
I did hold him, tightly in my arms as I watched this thing be removed from my wife. That is all I can think to say of it as I could not in my wildest imagination describe what I was looking at.
"What do you do with that" Ana asked.
"I will dispose of it, unless you would like to keep it" Clara asked chuckling at the look of shock on my face.
"No, I think disposing of it is for the best, if my husband is to remain upright" Ana said, as Charlotte helped her to the edge of the bed to be cleaned up, while myself I needed a chair.
"He needs a name" I said to Ana, as I kissed my sons head.
"He does, and I think we are both in agreement on what that name will be" Ana told me before she disappeared into the bathroom to have a warm bath.
Clara took my son from me for a moment, to check him over. He had everything in the right place and was perfectly healthy I was told. At just over seven pounds he was a good weight too.
Holding my son again, I looked into his little grey eyes, or were they blue. They seemed to be a mixture of them both at the moment, but I have read that they can change as he grows.
"Hello Edward" I spoke, a smile lighting my face as I was finally able to call him his name.
Edward Christian Grey to be precise and from the little squeak that I received upon saying his name, I do believe he likes it too.
"How is he" Ana asked upon coming back into the room. She was holding onto Charlotte's arm at the moment who was insistent that she not walk on her own.
"Edward is perfect" I told her, seeing the smile upon hearing his name.
"Edward" Charlotte asked.
"Yes."
"That was my father's name, although he preferred to be called Ted."
"Ted, Teddy Grey" Ana said, laughing. "I think Teddy might be a bit modern although he might like it as he grows up. For now, he is our little Edward."
"I agree, come let us get you settled into our room because I do believe this little one is hungry and there are a few people downstairs who are waiting to meet him."
I helped Ana up the stairs and into our bed as Charlotte carried Edward. She was tired after the labour and birth, but I do not think she will want to sleep anytime soon.
While Clara helped Ana with feeding Edward, I made my way to the drawing room where everyone was waiting, even Elliot.
"Has Ana had the baby" Geoffrey asked, rushing to me once he had gotten down off Elliot's knee.
"She has, you have a little nephew."
"A little nephew, I thought Ana had a baby" he asked, confused.
"She has" I laughed. "Ana gave birth to a little boy and because you are her brother, that makes him your nephew."
"Can he be my friend as well."
"Of course he can, your best friend."
I put him down, turning to my parents. My mother was crying, there was no stopping her tears and my dad looked choked up too.
"A grandson" my dad said, a large smile appearing on his face.
"Yes, a very healthy grandson."
My mother pulled me into her arms, my dad joining us too. I do not think I have seen my father so emotional before, maybe he was at my own birth.
"What is he called" Paulina asked.
"Edward, Edward Christian Grey. Ana wanted for our child, if he was a boy to have my name and I was not going to disagree."
"It is a beautiful name, very English too" my mother said.
"I know. We wanted a traditional name and although we no longer live in England, Edward was a name we both liked. Ana and I want him to know where his parents come from and also where he was born too."
"Like he belongs to two different places."
"In a way Geoffrey. You have lived in two different places and although you live here now, you were born a long way away."
"I did not like it there before we met Ana though. I like it here much better."
"And here is where we are staying. We have a house and a maze to build after all."
"A maze" my mother asked as Geoffrey started to go into detail about the maze he had designed and where it will be.
I left them behind for a moment to go back up to my bedroom.
Walking inside, I could hear Ana talking quietly to our son. He was feeding from her breast while she stroked his cheek. They were alone now, Clara I noticed cleaning the room up downstairs which I passed on my way up here. I do not know where Charlotte had gone, maybe to her room.
"He is hungry" Ana said, smiling as I joined them on the bed.
"He has had a long journey to get here" I spoke, kissing her forehead. "I love you Ana, so much. Thank you for everything you have given me, especially him."
"I did not create him on my own."
"I know, but you are the reason Edward is here and healthy now."
"He was worth all the tiredness and the pain" she told me, taking our sleeping son from her breast before placing him into my arms.
"Put him to your shoulder, here place this down first" Ana said, placing a cloth over my shoulder as I raised my son up until he was comfortable against my shoulder, where I started to gently pat his back.
Ana redressed, covering her breast as I was able to get a few small burps from our son. I did hear a noise at the other end, but he did not stir as sleep had finally took him.
Charlotte came back in a few moments later so we asked her if she could ask everyone to come in.
They came en-mass but as quiet as a mouse, all creeping into our room. I stood from the bed, asking my mother to take a seat in the chair before I placed Edward into her arms.
"He is so tiny, so delicate. I thought you were so small, but Edward is smaller than you were" mother told me, kissing his tiny hand.
My father was next to hold him, proud that he had a grandson, the next generation of Grey.
It was when Geoffrey held him, sitting in the chair with a pillow on his lap, did we all laugh. He was letting Edward know about all the fun they were going to have together, all the mischief they could get up to. Edward did not wake but from the little grunts we heard, that was all the acknowledgement that Geoffrey needed that mischief would be on its way.
Charlotte and Paulina had held him too, but now it was just Ana and I with our son.
"I wonder who he will look like" Ana said, trying to hide a yawn.
"Himself, although from the few photographs I have seen of Geoffrey when he was a baby, I do believe I can see him in there too."
"We are in for a lot of fun then" she smiled before finally closing her eyes.
"Sleep my love" I whispered kissing her forehead, before picking my son up. "And you my son, you sleep too because there is a world out there for you to explore and I have no doubt that as you grow up, with Geoffrey by your side, that world for you will be fun.
Thank you for reading.
Edward was my grandfather's name and he was always called Ted, so I went with the English version of the name instead of Theodore.
Until next time, take care
Caroline