2 Years Later
Gideon was sitting in the backyard of his New York home and watched Mia run around with her niece and nephew. Truth be told, Nicholas and Ava Grey were more like siblings and would pout and throw fits if they didn't see each other for more than two days. Which was why they were now both staying with Mia and him for a week while their parents each had gone on a little couple's vacation.
He couldn't wait to run around with his own children and it made him excited and happy to know that in less than seven months they would have their first child. They had gotten married just a little over a year ago and it still made him choke up when he thought about the night they had started to talk about their wedding. Knowing Mia he had expected their wedding to become the event of the century with hundreds of guest and all the trimmings but she had surprised him when she asked for them to get married at the beach where he had proposed to her that belong to one of the private mansion resorts he owned. When he had pointed out that her choice wouldn't allow for many guests she had smiled and told him that all she wanted was to invite their families and closest friends.
Surprised he had asked her why and she had told him that they shared was so special and intimate for her that she didn't want to share it with the world but keep it safe by only sharing it with the ones they both loved. Hearing her say that, that she felt the same he felt had made him choke up and love her even more if that was even possible.
They had both decided not to have a baby right away and just enjoy it being just the two of them for a while but a year after their wedding they both had felt ready and Mia had gotten pregnant the moment she had stopped taking the pill. They hadn't shared their good news yet but instead had decided to wait until everyone would come to New York next week to celebrate her birthday.
He could honestly say that he was the happiest he had ever been in his entire life and he would make sure it would stay this way because a life without Mia was not worth living for him.
„How about we stay here and never go back home... we just have someone bring Nicholas and stay." Ana said with a sigh while sipping on her cocktail.
„Sounds like a great plan... though right now I'm glad our son is not here, so I'm treated to this very fine sight." Christian smirked and looked at his naked wife on a towel in the white sand at the private beach of their beach villa.
He had learned that his wife preferred to sunbath naked so he had made sure to find a place to do just that and enjoyed it immensely.
„I wish I could say the same ... prude." She said and tugged on his swim shorts.
„I'm being considerate here, if my dick gets sunburn then this trip is useless." He joked and she laughed.
„And here I thought we were here to spend some time as a couple."
„And how better to do that then while we're fucking."
„You are impossible." She laughed and leaned over to him to kiss him, but he scowled when his phone rang.
„Damn it, Taylor wants to talk to me. I'll be back in a little while... do not get dressed." Christian said and got up.
Inside he found Taylor in the study of the villa and sat down facing him.
„What is it; Taylor?"
„Sawyer has just informed me that there has been an incident at the prison where Mrs. Grey's mother is incarcerated."
„If you tell me the bitch escaped I will lose my shit."
„No, she didn't escape... as you know she didn't have the easiest time there, but she managed to make friends with another inmate... one we know."
„Elena." Christian growled.
„Yes, the two of them have tried to escape, the watch saw them and they opened fire after both women didn't get on the ground as ordered. Elena Lincoln used Mrs. Grey's mother as a shield... not to much use... both women are dead." Taylor said.
„They are both dead?" Christian asked for confirmation.
„Yes, Sir."
„Good... well, you know what I mean. How much time before it is all over the news?"
„A statement will be released by the prison in the morning." Taylor replied and Christian nodded. He knew he had to tell Ana, they had promised each other not to keep secrets but he didn't want to ruin their vacation either. With a sigh, he went outside again and sat down next to Ana.
„You are still dressed... we should really do something about that." Ana murmured as she crawled into his lap and started to nibble on his earlobe.
„Baby... Ana... stop, there is something I have to tell you." He said and she looked at him when she heard the unease in his voice.
„What is it?"
„Taylor just informed me about an incident at the prison your mother was at."
„Was... oh my god... did she escape? Have you called Gideon... we have to go home and get Nicholas..."
„Calm down, baby... she did not escape. Your mother made friends with Elena who was also there... they tried to escape the watch caught them and told them to get on the ground which they didn't. Shots were fired and both of them died." Christian said and watched Ana's reaction but her expression remained blank.
Ana tried to analyze how the death of her mother made her feel but there was nothing at first. No Sadness, no grief, no shock, none of the feelings one would expect when it came to the death of a parent and after a few moments she did feel something... relief.
In the trial against Carla, she had been charged with twenty-five years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder. Her first chance of parole would have come up after fifteen years and that just hadn't been enough for Ana. She didn't want her mother to ever leave prison again. Not when fifteen years later her son was just a teenager and her future children were even younger and unaware of the threat their own grandmother was to their life.
Ana had tried to push the fear away until it actually became reality but it had always lingered in her mind. Now, that fear was gone and Elena's death was merely an added bonus for her. She was truly free now... all of the villains were dead and she had survived all of their ill intentions. If there was something like heaven and hell, they all would be burning in hell by now and that gave her a sense of peace she never thought possible.
„Are you alright, baby?"
Ana looked up at Christian and smiled at him. „Yes... I know she was my mother and I probably should feel bad but I don't. I'm happy... I want another baby, Christian." She said taking him by surprise because it had been her who had pushed the topic aside whenever he had brought it up.
„You do?"
„My mother will never be able to harm any of our children... she's dead."
„So that's why you didn't want to talk about having more children?"
„I guess... so, can I just forget about taking the pill?"
„Yes, let's work on some siblings for our son." He said and stopped her when she started to push him back onto the blanket.
„Inside, baby... not here."
„Prude." She giggled and got up to go inside with him.
„I'm so proud of you, darling." Isobel said and hugged Hunter again.
„Mom, please..." He groaned this was the third stop on his book tour and his mother just couldn't stop crying each time she saw him getting ready to meet his fans.
„I'm just so proud of you. Two bestsellers in two years... that's amazing, darling."
„I know... and guess who got another signed copy?" He smirked... because just like last year, he had sent another signed copy of his newest novel to the college professor who had once told him he had no talent at all. Petty maybe... but it felt so damn good.
After reading all the reviews his aunt had gotten for him he had felt inspired to write again, so much so, that within three months he had a written a complete novel. He had no intention of publishing it but after his parents, his uncle Christian and aunt Ana had read it they all convinced him to chase his dream of becoming an author until he believed in himself enough to go for it. Even though his aunt was still on maternity leave she had done all the editing for his first novel and worked with him to polish it up until everything was ready and the promotion for the book began.
When he saw his name in the top spot of the bestsellers lists he felt about ready to pass out. His dream had become reality and now with his second bestseller in a row it was slowly sinking in that this was his reality, he was an author and never had to think about doing something that he didn't love just to make a living.
„Hey Hunter, this just arrived for you." His agent Keira told him and he took the envelope and opened it to find a card from his aunt and uncle.
Dear Hunter,
congratulations on your second bestseller, we knew you would go far and are happy to see you live your dream. Enjoy your book tour and continue to live your dreams.
Ana and Christian xxx
He sent a quick text to thank them and enjoy their little getaway before he went to the table where he would sign the books and was thrilled to see all the people who came just to see him. When he returned he saw the worried look on his mother's face.
„What's wrong mom?"
„News just broke that Ana's mother died last night while trying to escape prison." Isobel said and Hunter absentmindedly touched his chest where the scar was now the middle piece of a new tattoo he had gotten a little over a year ago. Everyone thought for a while he would have to go to therapy to deal with what had happened to him. But he was proud of the scar, to him, it represented that he had saved a life, two really, and he would do it again in a heartbeat.
„Are you alright, Hunter?" Isobel asked.
„Yes..."
„Do you want to talk about it?"
„Mom, I'm fine, yeah, the bitch stabbed me but I made the choice to jump in front of aunt Ana knowing that would happen if I did. I'm proud of that because I was protecting her and Nicholas... so, if you want to know how I feel there really is just one appropriate thing that comes to mind... ding dong, the witch is dead." He said with a smirk, wrapped one arm around his mother's shoulders and led her out of the bookstore to treat her to a nice dinner.
Three months later everyone was gathered at Christian's and Ana's home for a huge cookout. The kids where playing by the pool with Hunter who was watching his siblings, Nicholas and Ava. Gideon, Carrick, Christian, Isobel's husband Darren, and Elliot were by the grill and Mia, Grace, Ana, Isobel, and Kate where all lounging by the pool.
„Did you finally find out what you are having, Mia?" Kate asked.
„Maybe." She grinned and patted her belly that was rather large for the five months she was pregnant now.
„What do you mean, honey, do you know?" Grace asked.
„We found out last week."
„Why haven't you told us?" Ana asked.
„You'll find out, in fact we are having a little gender reveal planned for later... just wait and see." Mia said with a wink. They had known that they were having twins for almost four months now but had kept that little secret to themselves until now because they wanted to reveal that little fact not before they knew the gender of their babies and now they did.
„Ok, we'll wait, in the meantime, I'm going to get myself another cocktail, anyone else want one?" She asked and noticed that Kate again didn't ask for a drink.
„What about you, Kate?" She asked grinning.
„No, thanks, I'm good."
„Really, I'm sure you would love mine... here take the last sip of this one." Ana said barely able to stop herself from laughing.
„No really, I'm good."
„I think you really, really want to try this one." Ana said and reluctantly Kate took the glass and took the tiniest sip.
„Hold on that's just juice, Ana."
„I know..." Ana smirked.
„Wait a second... again?" Kate said and both women burst into a fit of laughter while the other women looked at them in confusion.
„What is going on here, Ana? Kate?" Grace asked.
„It looks like around this time next year you'll be a proud grandma of five, Grace." Kate said and Grace jumped up.
„Carrick! Carrick, come here, the girls are all having babies!" She exclaimed making everyone laugh.
„Well, that makes it official... let me guess the couples trip?" Ana asked and Kate nodded just before everyone came to congratulate them.
A little later Ana decided to tackle another topic that had she had thought about a lot lately. So, she asked Gideon for a private conversation.
„What can I do for you, Ana?"
„I... look, Gideon. I'm having another baby and I... well... I don't want to go back to work after I had the baby." She got out in a rush.
„Why?" Gideon asked not surprised at all.
„When I went back six months after Nicky was born... it just felt wrong, I didn't want him in daycare but I also felt like I couldn't put my career on hold... it was a constant struggle between wanting to keep my career and be a good mother. And now I'm having another baby that will need a lot of my time and attention and I just don't want Nicholas to ever feel like I don't have any time for him and I don't want to feel the same about leaving this baby in daycare while I'm at work. I always thought my career is the most important thing in my life but it isn't Christian is, Nicholas is and my baby is... I just want to put all my time and effort into making my husband happy and raising my children."
„Ana, you don't have to justify yourself... I was surprised you came back after you had Nicholas and if you want to stay home with your kids I fully support you. And you can come back whenever you want there will always be a job waiting for you at Cross Publishing, so don't worry about it."
„Thank you, Gideon."
„You are very welcome... now come, time to reveal the gender of my child." He smirked and they all gathered in the backyard where Mia and Gideon soon popped one giant balloon each and popped so that both pink and blue confetti was raining down on them, revealing that they would have a son and a daughter.
„So... ready to deal with two women in labor again?" Ana chuckled later that night when she was in the tub with Christian.
„No fucking way... if it wouldn't mean I was to miss the birth of our baby I would set Elliot up to go through that." Christian said and Ana giggled.
„Now, how would your brother be to any help if he was passed out on the floor, which is where I imagine Elliot if he would have to deal with that, besides, this time it's very unlikely for us to go into labor together, Kate is twelve weeks along and I'm six... so unless she is early there is no way for us to repeat the last time we had our babies."
„Good... because I will not go through this again."
„You won't... oh and I've talked to Gideon today."
„About what?"
„Work... I have decided that I won't return to work after the baby is born." She said and he looked at her in surprise.
„Really?"
„Yes, I'm officially going to be a stay at home mom. You know I struggled when I went back to work after I had Nicholas and now with two children it just seems wrong... especially since we don't need the second income. Plus, I'm not getting younger and I want to have two more children so, we have to work on them too... I want to be done with the baby making before I turn thirty-five."
„Baby you are twenty-eight there is no rush."
„I know, still, if I want to have a year or two of a break between pregnancies..."
„I get it and I'm very happy that you have decided to stay home after our baby is born. Now, how about we go to Montesano tomorrow and visit Ray to tell him."
„Ray isn't home. He decided to finally use some of the money I have given him and bought himself a nice fishing boat, he is going on a two week trip with it. We can tell him after that."
„Alone?"
„No, with his new lady friend... her name is Karen... she is a very nice woman, five years older than him... retired middle school teacher... I think he really likes her." Ana grinned.
„Good, he deserves to have someone in his life." Christian said and for a moment her mind drifted to Bob, her mom's last husband.
He had stood by his wife, not believing that she had done anything wrong even though the proof had been there. He just truly loved his wife, he had insisted on having Carla buried in Georgia and the last that Ana had heard of him was that he was still visiting her grave daily. He had called Ana a few times but it had always been awkward for both of them so he had eventually stopped. Ana felt bad for him because he had truly loved Carla, but he also had his children from his first marriage to support him so at least he wasn't alone.
Before Ana fell asleep that night she cuddled in closer to Christian and smiled. They had overcome so much, even four years of separation couldn't end their love. If anything it made them stronger and appreciate way more what they had now.
„I love you, Christian Grey... so, so much." She whispered.
„And I love you, Mrs. Grey... always and forever."
The End
Thank you all so much for your continued support of my stories. I'm going to finish the other story I'm currently posting and then, sometime next week, I'm going to post a new story, so look out for „It Happened that Night" ...
Sunny xxx
