Mia studied the beautiful lady standing in front of her. She could see a tiny resemblance in the eyes. Gideon had his mother's blue eyes. She appeared cold and calculating. The look on her face had the look of disgust. She looked incapable of loving and Mia understood the way Gideon talked about her. Mia always saw the good in people but the person standing in front of her gave off a bad vibe and she didn't like it. She also noticed that he didn't stand up when she approached and that spoke volumes. Gideon was nothing if not polite. She could feel the tension rolling off him and by the grip he had on her hand.

"It's been what two months since I've seen you."

"Too bad it couldn't stay that way."

Anger flashed in her eyes and Mia could see it. "Are you going to introduce me too your new conquest?"

"She is not a conquest and I would prefer you leave. We were having a nice dinner until you showed up."

"Is that anyway to talk to your mother?"

"Yes. It is."

"Since you are being so rude, I'll introduce myself." She said. "I'm Gideon's mother and you are Mia Grey, is that right."

Before Mia could answer Gideon did. "If you already know then why ask."

"Your brother is Christian Grey right?"

Mia stiffened. "He is."

"Aiming high aren't you Gideon?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Just that this time you went for the sister of one of the richest men in America instead of some slut."

Mia gasped and Gideon stood. "You need to leave before I have you thrown out. I know you wouldn't want the papers to read that you were thrown out of the restaurant by your own son. I know you don't like to draw unwanted attention. It wouldn't suit you for the public to look at you differently."

"I was just leaving. It was nice meeting you Ms. Grey." Elizabeth said as she turned to Gideon. "Let's see how long this will last."

Gideon sat back down and took a sip of his drink. He looked at Mia and sighed.

"Do you want to go home baby?" Mia asked.

"No I'm not going to let her ruin our dinner. Let's just eat and then we can go shopping."

There was little talk as they ate. Mia's bubbly personality was gone and she sat there like robot, just eating her food. Gideon felt bad and as soon as she stopped eating, they left. He drove then to the Rockefeller Center for some shopping. The parked and walked along the sidewalk. Hand in hand they looked into the windows until Mia found one that she wanted to enter. She giggled with delight when she found the store was filled with all kinds of decorations. She let go of Gideon's hand looked at everything. He signaled to a saleslady and whispered, she gets everything she wants. Mia answered, I heard you Gideon. He just laughed.

An hour later Mia had the decorations for the trees she wanted and the ones for the penthouse. Many bags later, they climbed into the car and went home. He notice her limp when they entered the building. He knew she wouldn't take a pain pill but he would talk her into it. The elevator opened to their penthouse and went straight to the sofa. Gideon went straight for medicine and a bottle of juice. He came back and handed them to her.

"I know your leg hurts, take a pill."

"It does hurt so I won't whine about it."

"Good."

"The trees are being delivered tomorrow, right?"

"Yes and then we'll decorate them when I get home."

Mia's phone rang and she looked at who it was. "Hello Ana."

"HI Mia, how are you doing?"

"I'm good. How are you and the baby?"

"We're both doing well. I'm eating a lot more." She giggled. "How's Gideon?"

"He's good."

"Listen I was calling to ask you a question."

"I'm listening."

"Grace has asked me to organize the Pediatric Holiday Party and I was wondering if you would help me?"

"I could but I'm here in New York."

"I know but you have helped your mother in the past so you know how to contact people and some of the vendors she used."

"I can tell you who to contact and what to ask them. I'm free tomorrow but I'm busy Wednesday with doctor appointments."

"Can we skype at around noon?"

"That will be fine."

"Thanks so much Mia."

"No problem. How is everyone?"

"We're all good except with Elliott."

"What wrong with him?"

"Kate is still bugging him. Christian told me that he was at a club with some friends and Kate was there watching him the whole time. She seems to show up everywhere he is."

"So basically she's stalking him."

"Basically. He's getting pretty annoyed."

"I thought she was in London."

"Not anymore."

"What about Ethan?"

Gideon sat up straighter and looked at Mia. She moved closer to him and leaned against his shoulder.

"I don't know about him. Kate is the only one that has been seen. I can have Taylor find out where he's at?"

"No that is not necessary. I can have Gideon look into it if needed."

"Good. I will talk to you tomorrow. Tell Gideon hello from me."

"I will bye."

Mia hung up and threw the phone on the coffee table. She laid down with her head in Gideon's lap. He ran his fingers through her hair.

"Don't be worried, little one. I won't let that bastard come near you."

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Ana says that Kate is stalking Elliott and he is getting annoyed."

"She's like a dog with a bone. She can't seem to get the picture."

"Apparently not but then again she's always been that way. He should know how she is too. He should have known he hadn't seen the last of her."

"Do you want me to find out if Ethan is still in London?"

"Yes. Please. I just don't want to be caught off guard if he decides to approach me."

"That will never happen. Remember, you have your security even though they are kept at a distance."

"I know. I not afraid of Ethan it's just I'm at a good place right now and I don't want him to ruin anything."

"He won't ruin anything."

"Gideon can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask me anything."

"Would you still want to be with me if I was still expecting his baby?"

"Of course." He said. "That baby would be a part of you therefore I would have loved it even though I wasn't the father."

Mia's eyes watered and her heart fluttered at his words. A single tear rolled out of the corner of her eye. He felt it through his pants.

"Why are you crying, little one?"

"The baby didn't even get a chance at a life."

"I know and for that I am sorry but maybe one day we will be able to have one of our own. I know it won't take the place of the one you lost."

"Did the doctors really say I could still have a baby?"

"Yes but you can ask them again at your appointment. We may have to wait a while but they said you would be able to have children but if you couldn't it wouldn't change anything for me. I would still love you no matter what. Why don't we call it a night and go to bed early?"

"Sounds good to me."

She sat up and as soon as Gideon stood up he swung her up in his arms and she giggled. This was her favorite thing he did for her. She loved the way she felt cherished and loved. She snuggled into his chest while he went up the stairs.

"Thank you for taking me to the tree farm, dinner, and shopping. I loved it and I love you."

"I would do anything to make you happy just like you make me happy."

He set her in the bathroom so she could change. He helped her as much as she would let him and watched her get into bed. She curled on her side and watched him as he set out his clothes for the next day. She loved the way his muscles moved. She started yawning and by the time he came out of the bathroom she was asleep. He smiled as he turned out the lights and slid into bed. He made a mental note to get his men looking for Ethan. He'd be damned if that asshole came near Mia. He wouldn't put it past him to try.

Tuesday arrived with a business meeting for Gideon and Mia sleeping in. she had woken up when Gideon did and she felt cold. Gideon told her to stay in bed. He checked her for a fever and she didn't have one. He told her to call him when she got up. When she woke up again she didn't feel like moving so she stayed in bed. She got up thirty minutes before Ana was expected to call. Her body ached and she swayed in the shower. She wanted to call Gideon but she knew he had meetings and didn't want to disturb him. She went to the kitchen to drink some orange juice. Ana called exactly at noon.

"Hello Ana."

"Oh Mia are you sick? You don't look so good."

"I woke up with a cold. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." She said. "Gideon took me to a tree farm and we picked one. I must have caught a cold from that outing."

"Ah that is so sweet. I bet it's going to be covered in pink."

"No. I think I'm past my oink faze. We bought a lot of colorful decorations. It's our first Christmas together and I want it to be special."

"I'm sure whatever you plan will be. Are you ready to get started?"

For the next three hours she helped Ana with the party planning. They discussed food, decorations, and volunteers. Mia promised Ana she would be there Friday night to help set up. Ana told her she could stay with them but Mia politely declined and said they would stay at a hotel. Mia had barely settled on the sofa when her mother called.

"Hello."

"Mia darling, how are you feeling?

"Not too well."

"Ana called me and told me you were sick. What are your symptoms?"

"My body aches and I'm cold. I have no energy."

"Sounds like the flu. Have you take n anything?"

"I took some aspirin and I'm drinking plenty of fluids."

"Where's Gideon?"

"At the office."

"Does he know you're sick?"

"I woke up like this so he knows I wasn't feeling well. I haven't talked to him all day. He's been in meetings."

"Are you running a fever?"

"No."

"When Gideon gets home, ask him to get you flu medicine from the pharmacy and some soup."

"I will."

"Call if you feel worse."

"I will bye mom."

"Bye darling."

Gideon was in the conference room going over papers with the phone on the table rang. Scott knew he didn't like to be disturbed when he was in the middle of something. Mia. He picked up.

"Hello."

"Gideon."

"Mia, what's wrong?"

"I feel worse than this morning. Can you pick me up some flu medicine when you come home?"

"Anything. What else do you need?"

"You."

"On my way."

He stood up as he hung up the phone. "Sorry gentleman I need to go. Well finish the meeting on Thursday."

He walked out and went straight to his office. He packed his briefcase grabbed his coat and left. He told Scott to take care of the conference room and he would be back on Thursday. He knew the drill. Angus was waiting for him when he reached the lobby. He stopped at the pharmacy, the deli and then went home. He exited the elevator and saw Mia asleep on the sofa. He kneeled in front of him. He brushed her hair with his hand.

"Mia, wake up. I'm here."

She moaned and sank deeper in the sofa.

"Little one wake up, please. I have some medicine for you."

"Gideon."

"It's me." he said. "I've got the medicine for you."

He helped her sit up and he gave her the pills with the bottle of ginger ale he had bought. She took them and went to lie back down.

"No, no sweetheart. Let's get you to bed."

He scooped her up and went up the stairs. He smiled when he saw the bed made and laid her on it. He took her shoes off and took the blanket from the end of the bed. He covered her with it and then took his own shoes off. He settled in the bed with her and pulled her into his arms. She moved closer to him seeking his warmth. He pulled out his phone and called Angus to have the trees put in the living room when they arrived. A couple of hours later Gideon was in the kitchen warming up the soup when his phone rang. He looked to see what it was and muttered this ought to be good.

"Cross."

"Cross, it's Grey here."

"How are you Christian?"

"I'm doing great. I called because Ana told me that Mia is sick."

"She is."

"Is that all you're going to tell me."

"Well she doesn't feel good. Called me to tell me to bring some flu medicine home. I did and she's been sleeping ever since I got home. I'm just about to wake her up for some soup."

"Chicken noodle is her favorite when she's sick."

"I know." he said. "She's not running a fever but she is cold even though it is hot in here. If she doesn't feel better by the morning, I'll let the doctor know when she goes for her check up tomorrow."

"She has a checkup tomorrow?"

"Actually two. She had one with the orthopedic and the gynecologist."

"I didn't know."

"Well now you do."

"How's her arm?"

"It doesn't really give her any pain. She still has the cast on it."

"What about her leg?"

"Why aren't you asking Mia all these questions?"

"She isn't talking to me."

"Mmmm, well her leg still gives her trouble, she's worried that she will have a permanent limp."

"What do the doctors say?"

"We won't know until tomorrow but I suspect she will."

"Why do think that?"

"She doesn't notice until her leg hurts but she walks with a slight limp all the time. It shows more when she hurts."

"What is she going to the gynecologist for?"

"To make sure her uterus is healed."

"Remember Cross she can't get pregnant so soon."

"I don't need you to tell me anything. I know what she can and can't do. I shouldn't even be talking to you about her. I will tell her you called and what we talked about. It is up to her if she wants to call you back. If not we will see you next weekend at the party."

Gideon hung up and cursed under his breath things about family. He wished he could whisk Mia off and just be alone with her without any family bothering them. He knew that was a dream that was never going to happen. Mia was very close to her family and that was a concept he was going to have to get used to. He never was close to his family and he like it that way.