A/N:
Something weird is happening with FF. For some reason this story and a few others are showing up as having fewer chapters. I've been checking since I first noticed and it keeps happening randomly on different days/ times. It keeps showing up as having 24 chapters, 708 reviews, and updated on Dec 12. Currently, this is chapter 29 , 889 reviews. Sometimes the site fixes itself to the right number of chapters but then it goes back to showing 24. So, if you're a guest and you notice that it's showing only 24, you may need to click on the story to check and see if there is a new update. If you're following the story already the notification link should take you directly to the update. Also, I' ve been trying to upload this chapter for the last couple of days and kept getting an error no matter what I tried. If you had similar issues and better luck at getting FF to respond to technical issues, let me know. I never get a response.
Thanks everyone for your support for this story, it means more than I can say. DoloresDeeHowe: Thanks for reviewing almost every single chapter. I loved hearing your thoughts as you read.
About the lyrics of A Thousand Years: I did not include full lyrics, only the parts that are more relevant to the story.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
KATE POV
Somewhere I read that it's not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters. Ha. Well, I happen to think that doesn't apply in my situation. I'm pregnant and I'm scared of having to raise this baby alone, without a father.
"What do you mean alone?" Carla asked me. Oh, shoot did I say that out loud? "What about the father?"
"He doesn't know...and even if I did, I don't want him to know."
Well, okay, maybe this wasn't exactly true. The reason he doesn't know about the pregnancy is just too embarrassing to share. Perhaps, I could find a poetic way to explain it. Maybe I could say he was a midnight phantom who seduced my senses and then disappeared like a kissing bandit on new year's eve. But the end result would be the same. Wouldn't it? Time and time again, I tried to contact him. I dialed his number a thousand times and got the same annoying robotic response: a recording saying the number had been disconnected or no longer in service. Google searches were even more frustrating. It turns out that aside from the late Michael Landon the actor, there are about another 10,000 men in the entire country who go by the same name. Just in the state of Michigan alone there are thirty-eight hits. Twenty of those are just too old to be her Michael. And the other eighteen I hadn't gotten around to calling just yet...and probably never will.
"Why the hell not? Oh, gawd, Kate., don't tell me you've been screwing a married man." Carla has been my surrogate mother ever since my folks died in a car crash when I was fifteen, I value her opinion and I love her to pieces.
"No...he's not married."
"Is he someone you work with?"
I shake my head no I think I'm going to be sick again, so I hug the nearest pillow and lean back on the couch hoping the wave of nausea goes away.
"I don't know what to say, Kate." She sits beside me on the couch and takes my hand in hers as though she's offering comfort. But what she says next is far from comforting. "For God' s sake, who is he? " She waits for a response and I look away. " A one night stand? I thought I taught you better than that."
I don't like the judgment in her voice but I decide to ignore it. "I'm not dropping out of the residency program if that's what your thinking." I've been wanting to become a doctor since I was a little girl and I promised myself I wouldn't let anything stand in my way. Still, I'm not going to hide my head in the sand and pretend this pregnancy isn't a major hurdle to completing my residency requirements. I still need two more years of working 36 hour shifts in order to practice internal medicine as a fully licensed practitioner.
"Oh, Kate." She sighs hopelessly. "I don't see how this is going to work. I can't stay up all night with a baby while you work nights. I can't do it, not at my age."
"I know, it's not fair for me to expect that from you."
"What are you gonna do then?"
It' s hard not to feel sorry for myself. Just my luck to wind up pregnant after practically leading the life of a nun.
"I'm having this baby but I'm not keeping it," I tell her. "I'm thinking of giving him up for adoption... that's why I didn't tell you sooner." As soon as I speak the last sentence, I realize how foolish it sounded. I should have told Carla the minute I found out instead of hiding it for nearly six weeks. How could I keep something like this from the woman that welcomed me into her home when I was all alone in the world, the woman who has treated me like her own daughter, the one person who encouraged me to take the plunge and follow my dreams?
There is no question about it, I'm an idiot for putting myself in this position. And the timing couldn't have been worse; this baby could very be the death sentence to my medical career if I let it. I couldn't just drop out of medical school. It would take me two thousand years to pay my hefty student loans working 9 to 5. And once you drop out, I've been told, most people never go back.
"Christian where are you?"
"Right here, baby."
"Did the electricity go out?" Ana asked from the top of the stairs, gazing down below. Besides the dozen candles that were lit in the great room (aka, family room, living room combo).
"No," Christian said, stifling a chuckle. She could be so adorably confused when she was still half-asleep.
"Where's Teddy?"
"Mia took him out to the park." Christian said, referring to this little gated-indoor park for members only of their gated community. It was like Chuck-e-cheese, except it was relatively quiet, had plenty of supervision by the staff and no spooky looking life-sized creatures.
"Oh... it's so dark."
"It's part of my surprise."
"Surprise? How long did I sleep for? I thought you were waking me up after thirty minutes."
She climbed down the bottom of the stairs, stopping dead in her tracks for a second or two. There were candles everywhere and delicate rose petals on the ground scattered in rows of white and red going in opposite directions. It didn't take her long to decide. Half-way down the white road, she spotted Christian's shadow standing out there on the balcony staring right at her. Oh, my. It took her seconds for understanding to flash across her face.
Luckily, she'd chosen the road that lead to Christian, she thought. He looked like prince charming in a designer tux. And here she was dressed like poor Cinderella BEFORE the fairy godmother did her tricks.
"Not long. Maybe two or three hours." He chuckled.
"Oh, no! I napped for two, three hours?" She exclaimed in dismay.
"You just looked so peaceful, I couldn't bear to wake you. Plus, I needed some time to prepare my surprise."
"So...what's this surprise anyway?" She wondered, stepping out into the balcony. He regarded her with a quiet smile, that same smile that reminded her of the very first time they kissed.
But instead of kissing her, he held her shoulders and turned her around so she could look into the room and see everything from a different perspective. "I had some help," he said vaguely, standing beside her. He gazed into her eyes in time to see them light up in delight as she took in the transformation of the great room. There were dozens of silver and white balloons scattered everywhere and there were at least two dozen 5x7 photographs on strings hanging from the ceiling. The pictures were just the two of them and a few included Teddy; there were no pictures of the three of them together, but the ones he'd included were candid and lovely.
"This is just amazing...I have no words," she beamed, looking at every snapshot with tears welling in her eyes.
"C'mon," Christian said after she'd looked at all the photos in great detail, leading her to the dining room table and pulling out a chair for her. "Sit down, let's eat before it gets cold."
Ana hesitated, straightening her halter top and capri pants.
"I'll wait here though if you want to change."
Ana dashed upstairs. He was glad to see her come back a few minutes later (thankfully Ana was not one of those women who took forever to choose what to wear), clad in the best thing she owned: a bright blue lace dress, slightly above the knee, and a pink pearl necklace. Her smile widened, her favorite song started playing just as she reached the bottom landing.
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
What's standing in front of me
Every breath, every hour has come to this
One step closer
"Whoa you look gorgeous," he said with hooded eyes.
I have died everyday, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
"Thank you," Ana smiled swaying a little to the song. Her stomach rumbled loudly and she nearly bit her lip.
"That's one helluva belly rumble," he teased, walking her over to the table.
"I haven't eaten since breakfast," she said blushing a little.
He clicked his tongue. "Should have said something sooner." He made a mental note to start paying more attention to her eating habits.
The dinning table was dressed in an ivory tablecloth and the centerpiece had a dozen floating- golden- mini candles . The entire table was beautifully decorated even though they were only using one side of it. Their lobster and salmon meal looked delicious and the red wine a delight.
He gallantly pulled out a chair for her and then sat down across from her. Halfway through their meal, there was a comfortable lapse in their conversation until Ana spoke again.
"I love this, Christian. This was so sweet of you. I love this surprise so much, thank you."
"Oh, this isn't the surprise, baby," he said flashing a playful smile.
"Is not?"
"Well, it's part of it...but it's not the real surprise."
Ana put down her fork and smiled the most delightful of smiles. "The real surprise? You're getting a kick out of this, aren't you?"
Christian laughed. "Maybe."
"So...if this isn't the surprise, what is it then?"
Christian cocked his head. "Aw, well. You'll have to wait for that. There's still desert and we're on our own tonight so if you'll excuse me," he said before he went into the kitchen and brought back two crème brulees. He cleared a few dishes and pushed them to the unused side of the table to make room for their dessert.
"Where's Gail and everybody?"
Christian shrugged one shoulder in response. "Let's finish eating and then I'll show you your surprise."
Ana ate her dessert in joyful expectation. She didn't know what she'd done to deserve such happiness, but it must have been something really good.
When at last they had their fill, Christian asked her if she was ready for the big surprise.
"Is this like a trick question?" She cocked her head. "Of course I do, silly goose."
He then took her hand and together they followed the road of red rose petals. It passed through the kitchen and it went around the hallway that lead to the lower level bedrooms. There, at the very end of the hallway was a giant red box tied with an extravagant golden bow. Ana covered her mouth with her hands. Wow. She' d never been given something this big.
"Well, are you gonna open it or just look at it?"
She smiled, her eyes filled with love. She then went ahead and carefully untied the bow, and removed the lid, and laughed as there was another box inside. She laughed again and removed the next bow and lid only to reveal yet another smaller box inside.
"I needed boxes, especially this time of year with the holidays come right up...how thoughtful of you."
Christian laughed and grabbed her by the waist and said playfully, "keep going."
As she opened the fifth and final box, there was a small black velvet box. Ana froze and looked at Christian. At this point, they were both on their knees and facing each other. He took the box from her hand and then spoke in a soft voice.
"Here, let me help you." He looked into her eyes as he held the box closed. "Anastasia, I love you so much. You make me happier than I've ever been and I want nothing more than to grow old with you." He added and she stared at him with abetted breath. "That means, I have no doubt that you will still feed me when I'm sixty-four," he joked but she still regarded him in wonder. Then, he opened the lid and said, "Anastasia Rose Steele will you marry me?"
Ana smiled, her eyes brimming with tears, thinking back to his impromptu-yet playful- proposal a couple of months ago. She'd been dreaming of this day ever since; part of her happy that he was giving their relationship the time it needed to fully develop, and part of her wondering when he was gonna finally pop the question.
"Yes, yes, I will marry you," she answered after a long while, long enough for him to wonder if he was going to need to repeat the question. Relieved, he reached for her hand and slid on the most incredible two carat diamond ring and her hand shook. She rubbed her finger on the finely etched wings on either side of the diamond.
"The etchings on the band represent eagle wings. The jeweler said the wings represents love soaring to new heights. New heights. That's how I see our love growing over the years." He went on cupping her face with his hands. "Anastasia Steele, you make me the happiest man alive. You are my lover, my best friend. You are the most amazing, beautiful, caring woman I've ever met. You're an inspiration to me. When I'm with you, there's no place I'd rather be. You make me feel alive, you are the love of my life."
Ana fought the tears in vain for they came down her cheeks unashamedly, and she silently thanked God for putting such a wonderful man in her life for her to spend the rest of her life with. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
He pulled away a little to tenderly dry her tears with his thumbs. And then they kissed for a long time and their passions were stirred to the point of wanting to seek the refuge of their bedroom. As they started up the stairs, they heard the ding from the elevator and the animated voices of Mia and Teddy.
"Hi!"
"Hi"
Even before Ana flashed her ring, Mia knew from looking at their radiant their faces that her brother and Ana were at last engaged. "Congratulations, I'm so happy for the both of you." In her excitement, she'd nearly said out loud, I'd be so happy to be your maid of honor! But she knew better. That honor belonged to Kate.
Christian squinted hard and scanned the room, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Ana?" What are you doing up?"
From across the darkened room he could see the silhouette of her petite frame standing by the window. The sheer drapes had caught a breeze from the couple of inches of open window and were billowing in frenzy air around her. She looked like an angel from heaven paying him an ethereal visit.
He glanced at his watch. It was three forty-three.
"I didn't mean to wake you, honey," she whispered in a soft voice. "Go back to sleep."
Christian would have none of that. He couldn't go to sleep without his Ana beside him, and they weren't even married yet. So he had no choice but to toss the covers aside and make his way across the room, coming up behind her and engulfing her in a warm embrace.
"You're cold, baby, come back to bed. How long have you been standing there?"
"I don't know. Not long," she said. "I couldn't sleep."
She turned around and burrowed herself into his arms, pressing her cheek against his silky chest. His skin felt so warm against her own. Hmm. She sighed. She hadn't realized until that moment how cool the room had become just from the few minutes the window had been open.
"You feeling okay?" His hand went up to feel her forehead. It was just as bone-cold as the rest of her. He reached around and pushed the window firmly shut.
"C'mon," he mumbled, guiding her by the shoulders back to bed. He held the sheet and blanket until she was settled beneath them, then crossed over to his side and buried himself back under the covers. The spot he'd been sleeping in for hours was still blissfully warm. He shifted his body back to create some room and drew her in.
She sighed contentedly. Christian's body radiated the perfect level of heat, she thought. In his arms she felt so loved and cherished. Their future together as husband and wife carried so many promises; there was no reason to look back at her past with regret when she had so much to look forward to.
With Ana's back now snug against his chest and her thighs following the curve of his own, Christian did a final tug-and-tuck of the comforter around their shoulders and laid his head back down to rest.
"Tell me what's keeping you up this late at night," he said with a deep relaxed sigh and tucking a strand behind her ear.
"Let's try to get some sleep. We'll talk about it tomorrow." She assured him in her best convincing tone, not wanting to keep him up any longer. Tomorrow was a workday and he needed his rest.
He propped himself up on one elbow and peered at her. "Let's hear it, sweetheart. This is the third night this week I had to go looking for you."
She laid in silence for a few seconds, enjoying the sensation of his fingertips stroking her hair, smoothing it back with a care she'd never known before.
"The third night?"
"Yep."
He was looking at her with so much love, she could get lost in his gaze (especially this late at night) and had to force herself to focus on what she needed to tell him. "It's just that...I'm worried about Kate." She confided with a wince. Kate would kill her if she knew she'd told him. So far, she was the only one that knew her secret and she wanted it to stay that way. "She's pregnant and the jerk that knocked her up pulled a Houdini."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Christian said. Even though he'd never met Kate, he'd heard so much about her and he knew how much Ana cared for her. He supposed that what had Ana upset was that she couldn't be there for her friend in person. Hey, maybe if Kate and and her mother came for a visit...
"She's thinking of giving up her baby for adoption." Ana sighed with a heavy heart. "And I think it's a big mistake, a mistake she's going to regret sooner or later."
A/N: Thanks to those of you who reviewed to tell me this story has the right amount of drama. That's exactly what I'm aiming for :) so raise your hand if you want more ASAP!
