Christian - 3 months later -
The last three months have been quite eventful. I had Welch dig into Gwen's past to see what her story was all about and how that Morgan bitch managed to find out. She didn't try to hide her past very well. All she did was changing using her middle name and maiden name instead of her first name and the name of her husband.
Speaking of her husband. The world is a better place without him. He was married three times before Gwen and all of his wives just disappeared at one point. The police tried to fin evidence against him, but they were out of luck. Gwen was lucky, still in the end she couldn't live with herself and the fact that Ros was not making a deal because of her.
Before Ana and I had the chance to talk to her again, she went to the police and confessed. His body was found were she said it would be, but my Dad talked to D.A. and in the end she wasn't charged. Her story and the fact that he has most likely murdered three women before, in addition to the fact that the guy was known as aggressive and had even spent some time in jail for beating his high school sweetheart half to death were enough to say that even after all those years she has acted in self defense.
Her confession was what made Ros make a deal with the district attorney. She will have to go to jail for five years, but has the change to get out after two years in exchange for her acting as key witness against Elizabeth Morgan. I can't say I can forgive Ros, she had so many changes to do the right thing, but I sent her a letter, letting her know that as long as she doesn't try to contact me ever again, I won't go after her and make things more difficult for her once she has been released from prison.
Gwen has told Ana, that she will wait for Ros and that they have plans to leave the country and start over somewhere else as soon as Ros has been released and is cleared to leave the country. In some ways I admire Gwen, she forgave Ros that she has cheated on her and just wants to move on. So, I made sure Gwen is well taken care of for as long as Ros is in jail. She doesn't need to worry about more shit than she has already on her plate and had to live through in her life.
"Sir, here is the contract that needs to be revised." Andrea announces and places it in front of me on my desk.
"You can also find the file on your computer. Can I get you anything, Sir?"
"No, thank you, Andrea." I dismiss her and take a look at the contract.
Fuck, this fucking contract is going to keep me in the office all evening and it's not even afternoon now. I should have taken Ana up on her offer to help me with it, but if I don't want her to think that it is too much for me, if she stays home with Chrissie for a day, I can't take her up on her offer. Oh who the fuck am I kidding?
It's not too much for me, I'm just not as driven to succeed as I once was. What I really want to do is to go home, spend the day with Ana and Chrissie and after that fuck Ana until neither of us can move... now that sounds like a perfect day to me.
Sadly though, I know that it won't be happening today. Damn it, I need to find a new COO, one I can trust to take care of things here, so I'm able to work from home most of the time.
After my lunch break and a quick phone call with Ana I resume my work, hoping that I might be able to sort this shit out early, so I won't miss dinner with my girls. I know Ana told me it would be fine, but I don't want to be the kind of Dad who leaves the house before the kids get up and returns long after they are in bed.
It would be different if we still needed the money, but Ana and I have more than we or even our grandchildren and their children will ever be able to spend. Fuck, enough of the musing Grey! Get this shit done!
Two hours later I'm rather pleased with myself, because I'm making good progress and so I scowl when my phone rings, but the scowl turns into a smile when I see Ana's pictures on the screen.
"Hey baby." The smile on my face dies the second I hear my daughter crying... I have never heard her cry like that and I am on my feet in a second.
"Chrissie, what is happening, talk to me sweetheart." I plead all the while I am out of office and on my way to the elevator so fast that Taylor who has stepped out of his office to see what the sudden fuss is about can barely keep up.
"Da-daddy... mommy... mommy won't wake up." Chrissie sobs and my heart nearly stops. No! No, no, no!
"Chrissie where is mommy, what happened?"
"Mommy fell and she is on the floor and there is blood coming from her head and I can't wake her up." Chrissie cries hysterically and I feel like I'm about to pass out.
"Chrissie where are Gail and Luke?"
"They left for shopping." She sobs. Fuck no, Ryan is out of town to visit his family and Reynolds has called in sick this morning. Okay Grey, take control, now!
"Okay, sweetheart you have to listen to me carefully. I want you to put your cheek near to mommy's mouth and nose and then tell me if you can feel her breath against your skin."
"I feel it, Daddy." She sniffles after a second and I sigh in relief.
"That is good sweetheart. Now tell me is there a lot of blood and if so can you see where it is coming from."
"I see it, Daddy."
"Perfect, now I want you to get a clean towel and press it against where the blood comes from, can you do that for me, sweetheart?"
I don't hear an reply, but her little footsteps running around. Taylor who has already figured out what is happening is on the phone calling an ambulance and I realize that they won't get in as there is no one to open the gate.
"Daddy?"
"I'm here, sweetheart, do you have the towel."
"Uh-huh... Daddy is mommy going to heaven now, because I want to keep my mommy." She sobs.
"No, mommy is not going anywhere, I promise and I'm on my way, but there is one more thing I need you to do, Chrissie. Uncle Jason has called someone to help mommy. When you hear the doorbell, I want you to go into Uncle Jason's office and look at the screen where you can see the front gate. If you see an ambulance, you know the big cars with the lights on top of them. If you see one of these, I want you to push the big blue button which opens the gate and then you have to open the front door and go back to mommy."
"Okay... Daddy I'm scared." She sniffs and I'm sure I have never felt this helpless in my life.
"Don't be scared, Chrissie, you are doing great. You've done everything right and I'll stay on the phone with you until I arrive home. You're my brave little girl, please don't be scared."
While I am talking to Chrissie I have to fight back the memories of my four year old self all alone in an dirty apartment with my dead mother lying on the floor... Oh god, please let Ana be okay.
The next thirty minutes are the most agonizing of all my life. Taylor is driving like a man possessed. I know that the ambulance has finally arrived, but these strangers attending to her mother have scared Chrissie even more, because she is crying again and when we finally reach the house I jump out of the car before it has even fully stopped and run into the house where Ana is just being put on a stretcher while another paramedic is holding my almost hysterical daughter.
I take her in my arms immediately and rush after Ana and the paramedics.
"Hush, darling, it's alright, Daddy is here now." I whisper against her little ear and rub her back which seems to calm her down just a little.
"Where are you taking my wife, what is wrong with her?"
"We don't know yet, Sir. Your wife was unresponsive when we arrived and her blood pressure is too low, we are taking her to MidWest Hospital."
"Can we ride with her?"
"No, Sir, the doctor has to go in the back with her." The paramedic explains before he rushes after his colleagues.
I rush after them and get into the car with, Chrissie. Usually I would insist for Taylor to swap vehicles so we have a car seat for her, but Chrissie is still so upset that I don't want to risk letting go of her and instead Taylor starts to drive behind the ambulance while I fish my phone out of my pocket.
After what feels like ages I manage to dial my mother and put her on speaker.
"Hello darling." She greets me.
"Mom, are you at work?"
"I'm just about leave, why?"
"I need you to go to the ER and wait there for me. They paramedics are bringing Ana in. Chrissie and I are following behind."
"What? I don't understand what happened to Ana?"
"I don't know, Mom. She was alone at home with Chrissie, she must have fallen and landed on her head. The paramedics said her blood pressure is very low and she is still unconscious, can you please meet us there, Mom." I say and voice nearly breaks. Please god, don't take my wife away from me.
At the hospital I can only watch as Ana is taken into a room, while Chrissie and I have to wait outside. My only comfort at the moment is that my mother is with her.
"I want my mommy." Chrissie sniffles as I sit down with her in my lap.
"I know sweetheart, but the doctors have to make sure that mommy is fine, first." I try to console her, but her lower lip starts to tremble and before I have time to react my daughter starts to throw a temper tantrum unlike anything I have ever seen before. She is screaming like banshee, kicking her legs and pounding her little fists against my chest. She is making such a spectacle that people stop in their tracks to stare at us and after second of being shocked about my daughter's outburst I had enough.
"Christian Grace, stop it now or I'll have Taylor drive you home immediately." I snap at her and raise my voice so she can hear me over her screaming.
Her little mouth snaps shut in the middle of all the screaming and she stares at me stunned. Taking a handkerchief from my pocket, I wipe her snotty nose and tearstained checks, trying to keep my own temper in check. Shit, I have never yelled at my daughter before and looking at her sad little face I'm already regretting it, but I'll be damned if I allow her to behave like that.
"Taylor, I'm taking Chrissie to the cafeteria, please inform me as soon as there are any news on, Ana." I mutter and start to walk away with Chrissie, who is still sniffling and all the while she is sucking on her thumb, which I have never seen before. I would like to tell her to stop, but it seems to be comforting her, so I decide to let it go for now.
Sitting down with her at a table, she doesn't even look at me and seems to be pouting.
"Chrissie, look at me." I say gently, but she shakes her head stubbornly.
"Look Chrissie, I didn't mean to yell at you, but you can't behave the way you did, especially in a hospital. Some people here are very sick and need rest." I try to explain.
"Is mommy very sick?" She asks quietly.
"I don't know, but your Grammy is with her and makes sure she will be fine."
"It's my fault." She whispers barely audible and I lift her little chin with one finger, so I can look at her face.
"Why would you say that?"
"Mommy was napping and I was hungry and asked her to get up. Mommy was sick all morning and then she fell, because I didn't let her nap." Chrissie tells me sadly and I hug her and kiss the top of her head.
"It's not your fault, sweetheart. Mommy wasn't well, that's why she fell. Don't think like that. Are you still hungry?" I ask and she nods again.
"Okay, come we go look what they have, I don't want you to be hungry."
After buying some cut fruit and crackers for Chrissie, we sit back down and wait. I continue to check my watch every five minutes and get more and more anxious. Fuck, that's not good, it wouldn't take this long if it was just a stomach bug or the flu.
I'm just about ready to storm back into the ER and demand answer when my mother comes into the cafeteria and to my surprise she is smiling brightly.
"Mom, where is Ana? Is she awake? Can I see her? How bad is it, please don't lie to me."
"Christian, darling, please relax. Ana is awake, she just had a MRI, which is why it took some time before I could come and get you. She has a cut on the back of her head, which has already been stitched and she has a mild concussion from the fall, which is why we want to keep her over night. Everything else... well why don't you go see her, I've asked her doctor to wait until you are there. Go darling, I'll stay with Chrissie and we will join you in a bit."
"Okay, be a good girl for Grammy." I tell Chrissie and hurry back to the ER where Taylor directs me to one of the rooms. Inside Ana is lying propped up on a cot and a young female Doctor is with her.
"Ana! Oh my God, you scared me, baby. How are you?" I ask and kiss her.
"I'm fine, my head hurts a little and I'm still nauseous. How is Chrissie, I must have scared her so much, is she here?"
"Yes, she is fine. You can see her in a bit. Why are you nauseous?" I ask and she bites her lip.
"Well, I haven't been told yet, but I think I know." She says and a little smile plays around her lips. First my mother and now Ana... why is everyone smiling, come to think of it, the doctor is smiling too. What the fuck is going on here.
"Dr..."
"Amber Lloyd, you are Mrs. Grey's husband?"
"Yes, what is wrong with my wife? Why is she nauseous?"
"Well, Mr. Grey, Mrs. Grey, we have found a little something while examining you." She says. Little something? Shit is she talking about tumor, like cancer? Suddenly I feel faint and sit on the chair next to Ana's cot.
"Are you alright, Mr. Grey. Do you want me to get you a water?" The doctor asks, but I shake my head.
"Just tell us what did you find?" I demand... we can deal with this, I can hire the best doctors, Ana is young and strong... we'll get through this.
"I guess then it's my pleasure to congratulate you, you are pregnant, from what I could see on the scan I'd say very newly pregnant just four to five weeks." She says and I stare at her. She is still talking but all I here is my own rapid heartbeat. Fuck me, we did it, Ana is pregnant... we are having another baby!
"Christian... Christian are you alright?" Ana's worried voice comes through to me and I look at her.
"Sorry... I ... wow, we are having a baby... you need to rest. Right doctor?"
"Well, as I was just saying, your wife had a high risk pregnancy before and while this doesn't mean that this pregnancy has to be a high risk pregnancy as well, I would highly recommend for your wife to take things slow, see her doctor regularly and try to rest as much as possible. We can give her medication to help her with the nausea, but regular check ups are mandatory for your wife. For now, she cannot return to work or do any heavy lifting or exhausting chores around the house. Still, what we don't want for your wife is to lie down all day, being active is very important for pregnant women. There are even studies which prove that women who are active and exercises or take long walks throughout their pregnancy deliver more easily than woman who had to be on bed rest or treat themselves as if they are sick and not pregnant." She says and I make a mental note to find a personal trainer for Ana who can help her to come up with a workout that is not too much and healthy for pregnant women.
"What if there are any complications?" I ask.
"Mr. Grey, I do understand that you are worried, but as of now we have no indication for any complications. If they occur, your wife's doctor will know what to do, but I recommend not to worry too much, it will stress both of you which is not good for your wife."
Not worry too much... it's clear the good doctor doesn't know me, I fear I will become my wife's worst nightmare during the this pregnancy.
"What about food, should I make sure that she eats like... I don't know a snack each our of the day?" I ask and to say I am not amused when both Ana and Dr. Lloyd start to giggle would be an understatement.
"I'm sorry. Mr. Grey your wife has to stay away from certain foods, but she doesn't have to eat enormous amounts of food. Has someone explained to you what pregnancy cravings are or more so why women experience these things?" She asks and I shake my head.
"During a pregnancy the body needs the right amount of nutrition, if the body lacks iron or protein for example, the body sends a signal to the brain which results in certain cravings. That is why I advise my patients not to deny themselves those cravings and to write them down for me, so I know if my patients need a higher those of iron or vitamins for example. However, I don't advise to eat more than the three main meals and maybe one or two light snacks throughout the day. Women are supposed to gain weight during the pregnancy, but it can lead to complications like diabetes or high birth weight of the child, which often results in a c-section. I will get you some brochures about healthy eating during pregnancy once your wife is in her suite."
I nod and think of what else I could ask her, but there is a soft knock at the door and my mother comes in with Chrissie.
"MOMMY!" Chrissie squeals and wants to jump on the cot, but I quickly pick her up and place her gently in Ana's outstretched arms.
"Hey, don't cry, babygirl, mommy is fine, it's just an upset stomach, nothing bad." Ana says and frown, why isn't she telling Chrissie the truth, it's great news.
Two hours later I am alone with Ana in a hospital suite and watch her eat rice cracker.
"We need to stock up on them, with Chrissie they were all I could keep down while I had morning sickness." She says and I gape at her.
"What? Nothing else, these fucking cracker are as nutritious as a paper towel."
"Relax, it won't last long... are you happy?" She asks then.
"Happy, ecstatic and scared shitless." I reply honestly and Ana giggles.
"You will be a wonderful father to our baby, Christian, just like you are to our daughter."
"I yelled at her today. She was throwing a fit and I lost it and yelled at her to stop." I confess.
"So, you finally experienced a Chrissie Grey full blown temper tantrum."
"She was like a wild animal, Ana!"
"I'm sure she was and I'm sure this little one in here will have temper tantrums from time to time too. But that's all part of being a child." She says and I sit down on the edge of her bed.
"How is your head?"
"Better... so do you want this little one to be a girl or a boy?" She asks and I try to keep my facial expression as neutral as possible.
"I want our baby to be healthy... everything else doesn't matter." I say and Ana laughs.
"So you want a boy." She says then.
"You know, I was once known for having a great poker face." I laugh. "But yes, I would love for us to have a son. It's not that I can't go fishing or play soccer with Chrissie, but one day she will get into all of that girl shit I know nothing about and a bit later I will have to fight off all the little fuckers who want to date her or worse get into her panties." I mutter darkly and now Ana is laughing at me.
"You do realize that if we have a son, he will eventually grow up to date and have sex too?"
"Ana... I'm fully aware that I am going to sound like a caveman now, but my son can have as much sex as he wants, my daughter however not."
"You know right now, I hope we have at least six kids... all girls." Ana teases and the thought makes me swallow audibly.
"Six girls, eh? I hope you are not fond of gripping my hair during sex, because if we have six girls I will be bald by the time the all have graduated." I reply and it earns me Ana's beautiful giggle.
"Maybe we should have a boy then... one who looks just like his Daddy." She says and the thought makes me smile. No matter if we are having a boy or a girl, one thing is fore sure, this time I won't miss a second of Ana's pregnancy, the birth or the life of my child...
So, we have Blip #2 on the way and since Christian didn't get to experience being with a pregnant woman before, I thought it's going to be fun to add a couple of chapters with him adjusting to all the ups and downs that come with being pregnant/being with someone who is pregnant. After that we have the birth of Baby Grey and the epilog. I will try to update more often as I have a little more time next week and I want to finish this story and The Mile High Club within the next three weeks, because keeping up with four stories and real life is just too much...