Chapter 28

Christian – three months later

"Hey, beautiful." I wrap my arms around her tiny waist and lean my chin against her shoulder.

Turning around with a smile she kisses my nose. "Hey, handsome"

"Are you ready to leave?" She asks and nuzzles my cheek while one of her hands plays with the hair on the back of my neck. Fuck! I love it when she does that.

"I'd rather stay with you" My hands slide under her sweater to her breasts. No bra, excellent. My thumbs start tracing small circles around her nipples.

"Don't start what you can't finish, Grey" She breathes.

"Who says I wasn't going to finish?" I scoop her up in my arms and I laugh when she squeals. "Christian!" She playfully pats my chest.

"God, I love you" She pants when I throw her on the bed. "Do you have any idea how hot you look in a white shirt with the top button undone?"

"Do you know how sexy you look in my bed?"

"No" She whispers earnestly. "Well, you do…"

I stand back looking at the beauty that is Anastasia Steele and slowly start removing my clothes. Carelessly I kick them off to the side and slowly crawl on the bed with her.

I start undressing her and I don't take my eyes off her until she is completely naked. She is fucking perfect. Spreading my body over hers, I lower my mouth and brush my lips against her, softly until her tongue slowly brushes against my lips.

Without breaking contact I reach down and position myself at her opening. I enter her slowly and that little rush of air that leaves her lips makes me impossibly harder. I moan in pleasure as her blue eyes lock with mine and her legs lock tightly around my waist. She feels so fucking good that I could die a very happy man.

"I am going to marry you one day, Anastasia" I moan as I slowly rock into her.

She moans back and digs her nails into my bare shoulders.

"Because you belong to me…from the moment I saw you, you belonged to me"

"Where have you been all my life, Christian Grey?"

"Waiting for you…" We move in perfect sync, her hips following my slow movements.

After a few minutes, her movements get more frenzied and I know that she is close to her orgasm.

"Promise me something, Christian" Her tongue sweeps out licking her bottom lip and her eyes flicker to mine.

"Anything"

"Never leave me…"

"Never" I kiss her slightly parted lips and hold her tightly against my body when I feel her coming apart under me. With my face buried in her neck, I keep pumping my hip slowly, back and forth, draining every ounce of pleasure from her. I feel my body tensing as I spill everything inside her.

It takes me a minute to come back to my senses and then I swivel around onto my back taking her with me so that she's sprawled across my chest. She shifts slightly and starts tracing her nail on my stomach.

"Bath?"

She looks up at me with questioning eyes. "You were supposed to pick up Phoebe"

"Phoebe is having a great time with Elliot and Kate. I'll send him a text telling him I'll meet him there…"

Confused she looks up at me. "Meet him…where exactly?"

"That's a secret" I tap my nose and jump out of bed. Scooping her up in my arms, I walk us to the adjoining bathroom.

"Christian…if this has anything to do with my birthday tomorrow…" I place her back on her feet once we've reached the bathroom and take her chin between my fingers forcing her to look up at me.

"Do you trust me, Ana?"

"You know I do"

"Then you have nothing to worry about"

"Christian…"

"Time for a bath" I say cutting her off.

"I don't like to celebrate my birthday. I already told you this" She says forcefully.

Anger floods my body when I hear the emotion behind her words. She isn't angry, she is sad. Until recently I didn't even know Ana abhorred celebrating her birthday, not until Kate told me that Ana hasn't celebrated her birthday since she turned 18. Ten fucking years without celebrating her birthday and only because Carla made her feel inconsequential and worthless. Carla. Fucking Carla, I hope she is somewhere in the seventh circle of hell, rotting away.

"It's just another day…just like every other day" She adds.

"No, it's not just another day. It's your birthday and we are going to celebrate it, Ana. As of tomorrow, we are going to celebrate your birthday every fucking year. We are going to make new memories. We are going to celebrate your birthday with our closest family and friends, and do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because you matter to them, to us. You are important and you are very much loved. I know that Carla fucked with your head, baby, but she is gone. This time she won't be able to ruin your day."

Her eyes harden and immediately she gets that stubborn set in her jaw.

"You don't understand…"

"Look, Ana. I have given you space and I told you from the start that I would take you any way that I could and I meant that…" I take a deep breath and press her naked body against mine. "Just give me this, okay? Fee is so excited…she can't wait to give you your presents…"

"You bought me presents?" I hear surprise and even a little excitement in her voice.

"Yes, lots and lots of presents" When I look down at her, I see a hint of a smile on her face and it couldn't make me happier.

I've never been much of a bath person, but with Ana, I think this is my favorite pastime. Well, that's not entirely true, making love to her is absolutely at the top of my list.

"Carla always ruined my birthday because she knew it was supposed to be my day." She starts softly. Her fingers are tracing little patterns on my legs, her head pressed against my chest.

"Nothing was about me; it was all about what she wanted. And if she ever acknowledged it at all, it was only because she wanted me to know and recognize that she was doing just that. That it was what she wanted to do and I was expected to be grateful for it. The only reason she threw me a big party on my 18th birthday was because she wanted to bring the attention to her. She simply couldn't stand not being the center of attention."

Looking over her shoulder she gives me a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Do you want me to stop?"

"No. I want to know everything about you." It is rare that Ana opens up about her mother so if it helps her, I will listen to her.

"I remember that we were still living in Montesano with Ray. I think I just turned eight years old…" She shakes her head sadly. "Chocolate cake was always my favorite…and she knew it. But that year she ordered some kind of sticky ginger cake with lemon icing. I was disappointed but I knew better than to show it, so I ate a huge slice of cake. They had to take me to the ER that day because it seemed I was seriously allergic to ginger."

"While they were treating me in the hospital, I heard my parents arguing outside of my room. My dad was so angry with her…but she somehow knew how to formulate it so it seemed as if it was entirely my fault."

"They had to treat you?"

"Yes. I still can't eat ginger. I have difficulty breathing, my throat closes, my lips swell…" She shrugs.

"Not a pretty sight" She giggles trying to make light of the conversation. I don't find it remotely funny and make a mental note to ask Gail to remove everything with the slightest trace of ginger from the house.

"You know. Maybe we should test Phoebe…"

"I'll ask my mother," I say.

Leaning down I brush my lips over her shoulder. "Well, there will be cake tomorrow, your favorite cake and presents. And no one will ruin your birthday, because I will make sure of it."

"I don't like being the center of attention"

"I know. So just see it as any other party, but there will be cake and presents."

With a soft sigh, she turns around and straddles me. "I trust you". And I wonder if she is just saying it to make me happy or to convince herself.

All of my thoughts about Carla and her nastiness vanish when she softly whispers in my ear if I am ready for round two.

Anastasia

I can hear them entering the house. Phoebe's giggles are by far the most beautiful sound in the world, and then there is, of course, Elliot's boisterous voice. Christian is admonishing them to be quiet as they enter the kitchen. Elliot has Phoebe in her arms and they immediately run upstairs.

"Hey, babe" Christian is by my side with a few steps and lovingly kisses my cheek. "I love seeing you in my kitchen" He whispers in my ear. "I'd prefer barefoot and pregnant" He blanches the moment I look up at him.

"Shit, sorry, Ana…I…"

"Barefoot and pregnant, huh?" He swallows and if I didn't know how awful he is feeling right now, I would laugh at the expression on his face.

"Well, you'd better make an honest woman out of me first, Grey"

"What are you saying?"

"Well, you keep talking about wanting to marry me…" I don't get to finish my sentence, though.

"Hey, gorgeous. What's for dinner?" Elliot winks as he pushes Christian away and also kisses my cheek, knowing it pisses Christian off.

"Can't you see we were having a conversation?"

"Just pretend I'm not here," Elliot says completely ignoring his brother's icy stare. Casually he pulls two beers from the refrigerator and hands one to Christian.

"Don't you have your own home you can go to once in a while?" Christian yells.

"I could, but what fun would that be?" He smirks. "And I know I am fun to be with, just face it, I am doing you a favor, bro" He shrugs and brings the bottle to his mouth.

"A favor?" Christian hisses.

"Yeah. Admit it, little brother; I bring a lot of joy into your life. I am your little ball of sunshine." He winks and turns to look at me. "Now what's for dinner, beautiful Ana?"

"Where's Kate?" I ask as I jump off the barstool.

"Girl things" He waves it off and focuses back on Christian.

"You are not staying here for dinner, dickhead"

I leave them to their little discussion and walk towards Phoebe. "Hey, Phoebe. Did you have fun with Daddy and Uncle Elliot?"

"Yes, but I can't say what we did because it's a secret" She whispers the last word and her eyes dart over to Christian who is still in a heated discussion with his brother.

"A secret?" I hunch down, cup her cheeks and kiss the tip of her nose. Immediately her little arms wrap around my neck and hug me tightly. I don't think I will ever get enough of feeling her arms wrapped around me. These little gestures of affection are what I live for and what makes me incredibly happy. The first few weeks after returning from LA, she was still at times a little standoffish. Constantly telling me that Christian was hers, asking me when I was planning on going back home. It hurt being pushed away so harshly, but I knew I had to give her time. This wasn't about my happiness, but about hers. In a short amount of time her little, safe, world had been turned upside down, and I needed to be patient. Give her time to get to know me and realize that I wasn't going anywhere. Her behavior changed gradually. Also, Christian has been nothing but supportive…and patient. Very patient.

True to his word, he really did give me space. Sure, he can still be controlling, but not as much as he was at the beginning of our relationship.

"Yes…for your birthday…tomorrow" She whispers excitedly in my ear. I wish I could be as excited as she is. I hate celebrating my birthday. Carla made sure to ruin each and every one of them. I can't even remember when the last time I celebrated it was. I always made sure to never be home during my birthdays…hiding somewhere until a few days had passed, much to my dad's and Kate's annoyance. They have gotten used to it, though. Even after having talked to Christian about it this morning, I still have the urge to go away, somewhere where people can't find me, but I guess that wouldn't be fair to Phoebe or Christian for that matter. I do trust him.

"Are you excited about your presents?" She asks.

"Yeah"

She yawns and lays her head on my shoulder. "Are you tired, Phoebe? Do you want to take a little nap?"

"No. I want you to read me a story" Gosh, that soft small voice, that little sigh and then the little kiss she plants on my neck. How can I say no to her?

"Sure. Do you want to pick out a book or do you want me to do it?"

"I want the book of that little bird that can't find his mother" I knew it. She has been obsessed with this book for the last few weeks. She has been carrying it around everywhere she goes as if it is her little security blanket.

"Are you sure you want me to read you this book? It always makes you so sad"

She nods her head vigorously making her curls bounce up and down. I know better than to argue with her at this point. She hands me the book and crawls on the couch. Just looking at her makes me smile and happy, so deliriously happy.

When we are finally comfortable, me sitting on the couch and Phoebe lying in between my legs, I open the book and start reading.

"A mother bird sat on her egg. The egg jumped."

"Oh no!" Said the mother bird. "My baby will be here! He will want to eat"

"I must get something for my baby bird to eat," she said. "I will be back" So away she went.

I feel Phoebe sigh and shake her head a little. "The mother bird shouldn't have left the baby bird." She says sadly. "He is all alone now"

"Do you want me to continue?" I kiss the top of her head and inhale her sweet scent.

"Yes," She sniffs.

"The egg jumped. It jumped, and jumped, and jumped"

"Where is my mother," He said.

"He looked for her He looked down. He did not see her. He looked up he did not see her. I will go and look for her, he said. So away he went"

"Silly little bird" She shakes her head in frustration. "He should have stayed there, to wait for his mommy!" Phoebe huffs, but I hear the little crack in her voice nonetheless.

Occasionally she comments on the adventures of the little bird as I continue reading.

She sighs heavily when I close the book, staying still for a long time.

"The baby bird just didn't know what his mommy looked like," She says so softly that I almost miss it.

I don't answer her; I simply put the book away and wrap her tightly in my arms. I want to tell her so badly that I am her mother and that I didn't leave her. I blink away the tears and relish on the scent of shampoo.

Frustration, anger and sadness bubble up in me as I recall the several sessions we've had with Evelyn and Flynn about telling Phoebe the truth. We can't; it would cause her too much damage. She wouldn't be able to understand how someone could be so evil to take her away from her mother.

Elliot's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "You girls, okay?"

"Yeah, just chilling" I smile and hug Phoebe closer to me.

"Well, your boyfriend kicked me out" He pouts. "See you when I see you" Leaning down he kisses my cheek and ruffles Phoebe's hair.

"You are not staying for dinner then?"

"Nah. I am having dinner with Katie tonight. I was pulling his leg." He winks.

"Uncle Lelliot" Phoebe sits up straight and catches her uncle's hand in hers. "Where do babies come from?" I don't know which face is more hilarious, Phoebe's or Elliot's.

"Um. I really need to go, Princess Fee"

"You don't know?" She quirks one eyebrow up, challenging Elliot.

"Yeah, Uncle Lelliot…you don't know?" I lean my head to the side and smile at him.

He huffs and even puffs out his chest. "Of course I know where babies come from" His eyes flicker to mine, asking for my help. Yeah, not doing that.

Somehow, Phoebe manages to get her Uncle to sit down on the couch. She straddles him and patiently looks up at him. Elliot is brushing his hands through his hair muttering under his breath.

"What do you think?" He asks her. Great thinking.

"Um. Daddy told me that babies grow in a mommy's belly…"

"Yep. Correct." He stands, holding Phoebe tightly against him and kisses her temple. "See, you already know, you don't need me," He says clearly relieved.

"But how does the baby get out of her belly then?"

"Guess we are not finished then?" He sits back down and just stares at her for the longest time. I almost feel sorry for him.

"What was the question again?"

Phoebe sighs and places her little hands on his cheeks. "How does the baby get out of the mommy's belly?"

"The baby…comes out when he's ready," Elliot says slowly with a little wince.

"But how?"

"Well…when the baby is ready to come out he knocks on the mommy's belly. The baby goes, knock, knock, knock." Oh, my God. How does he come up with this?

"Really?"

"Yep."

"And then? What happens then?"

"Then it's like magic because the stork hears the baby's knocks and he makes sure to deliver the baby to his mommy"

"What's a stork?" Phoebe looks up at Elliot with that little, adorable V on her forehead.

"A stork is a beautiful bird. It has long legs and is very elegant." She seems to think about this and then slowly her lips turn into a smile. "And they deliver all the babies" He adds.

"All the babies?" She asks.

"Yep. All the babies in the world. The storks have a very important task."

"Thank you!" She jumps from his lap, grabs the book and hurries away.

" Phoebe! Where are you going?"

"I need to talk to daddy!"

Christian

I can't stop thinking about what Ana said. "Well, you'd better make me an honest woman out of me first, Grey" It is going in loops in my head and I still can't wrap my head around it.

She wants to marry me? Ana wants to marry me and she hasn't said anything? I mean, we aren't even living together. Jesus, I really don't understand women. How could I have missed this?

I have spent the last half hour searching for elopement destinations because if Ana does want to marry me, I sure as fuck won't wait longer than necessary.

Vegas is the first eloping destination that pops up, but no fucking way we are getting married by an Elvis impersonator in a tacky chapel in Vegas. No, I want to take Ana to someplace chic and preferably romantic.

There is a soft knock on the door and then I see Fee's little head peeking around the corner. With a smile, I wave her in. I love having her with me in my office.

"Hi Princess"

"Hi Daddy, we need to talk" She puts a book on my desk and crawls on my lap kneeing me in the nuts as she always does.

"If this is about that puppy…" I start, but she cuts me off with an eye roll. I simply raise my eyebrow at her. She knows I hate it when she does that.

"Sorry, Daddy, but my eyes just did that on their own" I hold back my smile and cup her cheeks.

"Tell your eyes it's rude" She gives me a cheeky grin and leans over to kiss my nose.

"Okay. So what do you want to talk to me about?" She starts fidgeting with her little, pudgy hands. Her eyes dart away and when she starts chewing on her bottom lip, I know she is nervous. Like really nervous. What did she do?

"Fee?"

"Do you know this book?" She turns around and practically slams the book in my face. "Are you my Mother"… Unfortunately, I know the book and I hate that my mother gave it to her. This book brings out so many bad memories that I've been on the verge, several times, of throwing that damn thing away. Fee, on the other hand, loves the book. She can't seem to get enough of it.

"Yes, I do"

"Okay. So this little birdie…he loses his mommy." She opens the book and taps with her little finger on the bird.

"Hmm, hmmm"

"Well, the mommy leaves to get some food for her baby, but then…then the little bird falls and falls and falls." She sighs and my heart almost breaks when I see her sad eyes.

"Go on."

"The little bird lost his mommy" She looks up at me while the tears are brimming in her eyes. "That little bird is just like me, Daddy. I lost my mommy too…"

"Fee…"

"Daddy, I think the stork made a mistake…because he delivers lots and lots of babies…" She nods looking up at me her eyes teary and wide. "And he delivered me to the wrong house…and now I lost my mommy…" When I see more tears building in her eyes, I pull her against my body and kiss her hair. Over and over again. I want so badly to tell her that her mother is in the next room.

"Who told you about the stork?"

"Uncle Lelliot," She says very matter of fact. "He said that the baby says, knock, knock, knock, on the mommy's belly, and that the stork knows when he needs to come" Knock, knock, knock. What the ever living fuck?

"Uncle Elliot said that?"

"Uh huh. He said it's like magic"

"Right. Okay" I swallow and wipe a tear from her cheek.

"Why are you crying?"

She shrugs and wipes the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

"The little bird looked exactly like the mommy bird. And I look just like Ana…" She holds her breath and I just nod for her to continue. My heart is almost racing out of my chest.

"You do…" I admit.

"We both have crazy hair" She leans her head to one side and fingers her curls. "And we both have blue eyes…and dimples…"

"Yes, you do…" You are a replica of your mother, I think. But then what she says next has my heart missing a beat.

"Daddy?

"Yes, Princess?" I rasp.

"Do you think…do you think Ana would like to be my mommy?" She says it very quickly and the hopefulness in her eyes is simply heartbreaking.

I swallow past the lump building in my throat and I have to blink my eyes a few times to push the tears away.

"I think that Ana would love to be your mommy, Fee"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah"

"Can I ask her?" She clasps her hands in front of her chest in a pleading motion.

"Sure" I can't stop smiling and laughing as I look at my daughters face. Ana is going to be so happy.

Just when I am about to rise from my chair the door opens again. "I'm sorry it took a bit longer, but I couldn't decide what to wear. Are you guys ready to leave now?"

"Um, yeah…I think there has been a change in plans. Would you mind having dinner here?"

"Of course not" Closing the door behind her she steps into my office until she has reached my desk.

"Did I interrupt something?"

I can only stare at her unable to speak. This is going to be a life-changing moment for her, the moment she has been waiting for since she knew she was pregnant.

"Christian?"

"Yeah, I am sorry, I zoned out." Lamely I wave at the sofa in my office asking her to sit down.

"Will you please sit down for a minute, baby?"

"You are scaring me." She takes a few steps towards the sofa but stops to look at Fee.

"Phoebe, have you been crying?"

"Just a little bit, but I am not sad anymore"

"Then what's wrong? Do you want to talk to me about it?"

Fee nods shyly and extends her arms. Ana doesn't hesitate and immediately takes her in her arms and sits down on the sofa. Not knowing what to do, I slide next to her as close as possible.

"Fee wants to ask you something," I say.

"Okay. What is it that you want to ask me, Phoebe?" Tenderly she tucks Fee's hair behind her little ear and smiles.

"I look like you," Fee says. Her little finger traces Ana's face and her hair.

"Yes, yes you do…" Ana whispers.

"Is that a bad thing?" She adds slowly when Fee just keeps looking at her.

Fee simply shakes her head. "Phoebe, what is it that you want to ask me, because you know you can talk to me about anything, right? We are…"

"Do you want to be my mommy?" Fee blurts out. Her little shoulders are tense as she asks the question, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

"W-what?"

"You see, the stork…the stork made a mistake." Fee sniffs. "And I think you are my mommy…do you want to be my mommy?"

"Phoebe…I…Oh my God…" She crushes Fee against her chest and buries her head in the tiny crook of her neck.

"A-Are you really asking me if I want to be your mommy?" Ana asks with a trembling voice.

"Yeah."

"Phoebe, I'd love to be your mommy…because I love you so, so much" The tears are streaming down Ana's face as she kisses Fee's face again and again.

"I love you too, mommy" Fee rasps. "To the moon and back"

Looking at the two most important people in my life I am transported back to when that nurse placed Fee in my arms after I found her. I remember feeling elated, humbled and overcome with awe. This right here is such a special moment that could never be surpassed.


Author's note: I think this is the moment you've been waiting for! I hope you liked it.

Anyway, we are nearing the end of this story. Next week the final chapter and then the epilogue.

Thank you all so much for your support. You guys are pretty amazing!

XOX

Alner