A/N.: Hi ladies! I'm back! Thank you all for your kind words I received through PM and the reviews. My mom is doing a bit better and after being in the hospital for almost two weeks she is back home.
Oh! Go and check out the story "Accidentally Fifty" by WordRunner. She has written several stories and they are all amazing!
Now on with the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of FSOG. They all belong to E.L. James.
Chapter 38 – Old wife's tales
CPOV February 12
Today we are officially twenty two weeks pregnant and we still don't know if we are having a boy or a girl and frankly it is driving me absolutely out of my fucking mind.
I can certainly say that the last few weeks all together have been a special experience and entertaining. But mostly it was special.
Flashback Ana and Christian 16 weeks pregnant
Today we are finally going to find out the gender of the baby. I am fucking excited and can't wait to find out what we are having. Ana however is cool as a cucumber. Amazing.
Dr. Torrey's waiting room is crowded with toddlers, crying infants and mothers in all colors and sizes.
"Ana, why do all those kids have boogers coming out of their noses?" I whisper into my wife's ear, who has been playing some kind of crazy game on her phone for the last fifteen minutes.
"I don't know…and I don't want to see it either…" She mutters and crinkles her nose. The V is on her forehead. And I have to say that these days I don't know if she is thinking, annoyed or that she just doesn't want to be bothered.
"Ana…" I say after a few minutes of silence.
"Yes…Christian. What is it?"
"Why are all those kids crying?"
"I don't know Christian. Why don't you ask them?" She sighs, turns off her phone and shoves it in her bag. Mission accomplished. She glances up and looks in the direction of the crying infant who is strapped in a buggy.
"I think he wants to play with the other kids…" She looks sympathetically to the little boy strapped in the buggy and smiles at him. That is when I see it. His mother who is boringly shaking that damn buggy to keep that little boy quiet, reaches down to her leg and starts scratching. Fuck, what's that on her leg?
"Ana…" I softly squeeze her leg and motion with my head towards the scratching woman. "What is that on her leg?"
"I don't know what is it?"
"It looks like a fucking tarantula…"
"What?" I feel a shudder running through her body and she moves her chair closer to mine.
"Oh fuck no!" That isn't a tarantula crawling up her leg that is hair!
"What?" Ana says again.
"That is not a tarantula baby…" I say as reassuringly as possible. I shake my head in disgust and wrap my arm around Ana's shoulders. "That is hair…that woman desperately needs to shave those legs! Damn…" Ana giggles and relaxes a little bit. No baby, no tarantula. "I shit you not Ana…when that woman finally shaves those legs, she will probably be able to donate it to Locks of Love…"
"Christian…her belly is enormous…she probably can't reach her legs…"
"Where the fuck is her husband then?"
She smiles and nudges my shoulder with hers. "Not everyone is as kinky as you are Christian…"
Anyway, we didn't find out what we were having that day. Because our baby is or very, very shy or very, very stubborn. I suspect the latter. He or she definitely gets that from Ana of course.
Even though this baby is stubborn, we did really see him or her for the first time. We could see the baby's face, the eyes, nose and mouth. His or her hands and feet are tiny and we could see her kicking against Ana's stomach. It was an amazing experience.
The same applies for when I felt the baby kick for the first time. It was like she was saying; 'hi daddy…" Fuck I was so pumped up and happy that I watched Ana sleep the entire night. My hand of course, firmly planted on her perfect belly.
Ana and Christian 20 weeks pregnant.
"Hey baby." I say to my sexy as fuck wife who is standing by the sink. "What are you doing?" Standing behind her I wrap my arms around her belly and kiss that sweet and somewhat ticklish spot in her neck.
"I am doing the dishes." She says as if it is the most normal thing in the world. Now, if there's one thing I've learned, the hard way, of course, is that I really have to be really careful to start a discussion with my pregnant wife. The fact that she is washing the dishes is absolutely ridiculous. Firstly, because we have a well-functioning dishwasher and secondly because we have a very efficient and reliable housekeeper. But like I said…I wisely choose my battles lately. I just nod my head, mutter something unintelligible and keep kissing her neck.
"Christian…" She giggles and squirms as I let my hands wander along her perfect body. "You are tickling me…" With a huge smile on her face she turns around, stands on her toes and kisses my lips.
"You look pretty today…" I lean down to give her another kiss but before my lips meet hers she pushes me away.
"I look pretty?" She asks me incredulous. Her eyes are slightly narrowed and her hands on her hips. Very quickly I let my eyes roam her body. Why do I have this feeling that there is a catch behind her question?
"Yeah, baby…you look pretty. I love your dress…"
I stop talking the moment I see her face crumbling and her bottom lip trembling. Oh fuck. Oh fuck…
"You think I am pretty?" She says again through her tears. What do say? What the fuck do I say know?
"You always tell me that I look gorgeous, beautiful or sexy and now I just look pretty?" She yells. Oh so there is where I went wrong. Poor choice of words. Fuck Grey! Then I make another horrific mistake. I sigh. This sigh was not aimed at her, but at my own stupidity.
Her eyes widen when she hears me sigh and then her crying intensifies. These pregnancy hormones are like a fucking mine field. You never know when they are going to blow.
"Baby…"
"No…" She shakes her head and let's herself slide down the kitchen cabinet to the floor. She buries her head in her hands and cries. "Ana…baby I am sorry…"
"See you are mad at me…I am constantly bugging you…you must probably hate me…" She is sobbing and crying and fuck I can't see her like this. And why does she even think I am mad at her?
"Ana, please stand up…" She looks at me with the tears streaming down her cheeks and scowls.
"I can't….I can't stand up…" She starts crying even more and I do the thing I think is right. I sit beside her and pull her on my lap. "You are the most sexy, beautiful girl and pretty…" I add quickly and chuckle.
"Do you still think that?"
"I do…nothing will ever change that Ana…"
"Not even when I get as big as a whale and I can't put on my own shoes anymore? Or when I am just being intolerable? Or…or when I get mad at you for the tiniest little thing? Or when I wake you up at three in the morning because I am craving a peanut-butter-jelly and banana sandwich?" Go figure…the only edible thing I can make, my wife craves.
She looks up at me through her tears and I just have to smile. Fuck she is a hot mess.
"Not even then Ana…"
"Okay…" She says in a really tiny voice. "Then I would really like some McDonalds now…"
End flashback.
So, here I am sitting in our bedroom watching Ana sleep. She sleeps a lot. Sure she wakes up about ten times every night to pee or to eat, so that would make me tired too. I glance at the clock. Ten o'clock. In a few hours' time Meghan, Elliot, Mia and Ethan are joining us for lunch. Meaning that this will give me enough time to put my plan into motion. Finding out the sex of the baby.
Ana is laying on her side with a bunch of pillows gathered around her and I have never seen her more beautiful then she looks now.
Rising from my chair I pull off my shirt and discard my boxer shorts. I quickly take the few steps to our bed and crawl in next to my beautiful pregnant wife. Ana is wearing a white tank top that has moved a bit over her belly and the cutest cotton panties I have ever seen. Very gently I pull the sheet off of her body. She stirs for a moment but doesn't open her eyes. After a little sigh escapes her pouty lips she remains sleeping.
I let my eyes wander over her body. Her long eyelashes, those sexy as fuck freckles, her full pink lips. Looking down I see her nipples pressed against the white cotton of her tank top. They are just begging to be touched. I let my fingers slide from her neck to the swelling of her breast and brush my fingers against her nipple. It hardens immediately. I repeat my movement a few more times until Ana's breathing changes. She moans softly and moves to lie on her back. In one swift movement I pull down the material exposing her breasts. They are fucking perfect.
"Christian…?" Ana's eyes open and a sleepy smile forms on her lips as she looks at me. "Close your eyes baby. This is all about you."
Cuddling after sex has become one of my favorite things. The moment Ana lays her head on my chest and starts playing with my chest hair, well that feeling is indescribable. Something I never gave a second thought. That until Ana stepped into my world.
"Oh…" She whispers. The hand that was just on my chest quickly moves to her belly. "The baby has the hiccups." Smiling she looks up at me and guides my hand to her stomach. "Do you feel it?" She says excited.
"No…no I don't…" I kiss her perfect stomach and let my hand on her stomach. "How does it feel like?"
She bites her lips and thinks about it for a moment. Her hand is laying on top of mine. "It feels like weird, pulsing sensations…it feels like a slow heartbeat, rhythmic and evenly paced."
"Fuck I would drink excessively too if I had just witnessed my mom and dad having sex…" I chuckle earning me a soft nudge from Ana against my shoulder.
Ana giggles and lays her head on my chest. "Do you remember when we overheard your mom and dad having sex?"
"Really Ana? You really needed to mention that?"
"God, you should have seen your face…it was priceless. You didn't know how fast to get out of the house…"
"It was your fault though…"
"Why was it my fault?" She replies incredulously.
"Because you refused to pee in my parent's yard Ana…saying that it was for savages…"
"Oh yeah…now I remember." She says smiling.
"And then you peed on me while I was carrying you to the house…"
"Oh my God, that was when we sneaked up to Elliot's bedroom for the condoms and they turned out to be glow in the dark condoms…"
I snort remembering our disastrous rendezvous in the boathouse. "Yeah, you said my dick looked like Darth Vader's sword…"
"Yeah, that was a fun day. We went cake tasting that day remember?"
I feel her smiling against my chest and then she looks up at me. "Do you think our kids will sneak out to our boathouse when they have a friend?"
"Absolutely out of the fucking question Ana…" I say exasperated. Just the idea of my little girl sneaking out to the boathouse with a horny teenager, makes my blood boil.
"This young lady isn't dating until her thirstiest birthday…" I say softly tapping her belly.
"And what if it a boy?" She says rising her eyebrow.
"Well, if this is a boy…then the day he turns sixteen I will give him a box of condoms, preferably not glow in the dark and tell him to have an amazing time…"
"You are such a hypocrite Christian Grey…" Ana shifts so that she can look at me. "If this is a boy, there won't be any sneaky moments in the boathouse either…" She says determined. "I will make sure to…cock-block him every chance I get."
"Will you watch your mouth woman…" I growl at her.
"You are dying to know what it is aren't you." Her fingertips are brushing against my lips, those blue eyes burning into mine.
"I am…" I try to act cool, but I know my wife can see right through me.
She smiles knowingly and shakes her head. "Just a few more days Christian…and if this little baby cooperates then we will finally know."
"You know…I found this amazing website where they write about these little facts that can help you determine whether we are having a boy or a girl…without the technological advancements" I give her my best pout and await her answer. Her face is unreadable at this moment.
"You are basically saying that you think you can determine the gender of our baby based on some old wife's tales?"
"Baby…these 'tales' as you call them, have been passed down through generations. Just humor me okay?"
"Okay" She sighs. "But no funny things Christian…"
"Promise…" I say jumping to my feet to get my phone. "No funny things…"
APOV
"Okay first we have the Linea Negra." Christian is looking from his phone to my belly. "This is the key to working out whether we are having a boy or a girl. Rumor says that if the line continues above your belly button, we are having a boy. If it finishes below your belly button, then we are having a girl…"
"I think it finishes below my belly button, but isn't it too early to tell?" I reply a little unsure.
"Nope this means we are having a girl…" Christian says very sure of himself. Well okay then…
"Next is the bump. If you are carrying high we are pregnant with a girl. If you are carrying low then we are having a boy…" His eyes scan my belly meticulously. "You are definitely carrying high Ana…" His eyes meet mine and I am almost afraid to argue.
"I don't know Christian. I don't think my belly is big enough to determine if I am carrying high or low…it is just a little bump…" I say carefully. Christian sighs and mutters. "Fine, prediction outcome is inconclusive."
"Your skin." Christian holds his finger in the air and leans closer until his nose is almost touching mine. "What about my skin…" Shit, I don't know if I like this silly game.
"Well I think that your skin is silky and smooth, so that means we are having a girl…" I touch my cheek with the tip of my fingers. I don't think it feels different.
Christian focuses back on his phone and I see that he is struggling not to smile. "Okay, I think this one is totally stupid…but here goes. Apparently it is all in the hair. If your hair becomes thick and glossy you are carrying a boy…if your hair is dull and limp it is a girl…" Christian shakes his head and brushes his hands through his already messed up hair. I wonder what he is going to say about my hair.
"Your hair is beautiful…" He states.
"So that means we are having a boy…" I smile at him.
"Not so fast Mrs. Grey…because it seems that your body hair can give us a clue too. If your body hair is growing thick and fast, you are having a boy. If your hair growth has remained normal we are having a girl…" Christian grins and winks at me. "Prediction outcome: girl." He states cocky.
He wants a girl so bad that this is just getting ridiculous.
"Remember me to check Meghan later…" He says and a wicked grin forms on his face.
"Why?" I don't think I even want to know.
"Well they are having a boy, according to this website her body hair must be growing thick and fast…" He shrugs. "She probably has grown a mustache…" Christian throws his head back and starts laughing really hard at his own joke.
"Don't you dare Christian…"
When he sees that I am not even cracking a smile he stops laughing and puts his hands up in mock surrender. "I promise…I won't do anything stupid…"
"Can we take a little break, because I really need to pee…"
"That is good actually. I will join you…" Christian is already following me to the bathroom.
"Do I even want to know?" Geez, he is taking this way too seriously.
"This says that if the color of your pee is bright yellow, we are having a little boy. If your urine is dull yellow it is a girl…" I finish my business under the watchful eye off Christian and when I am washing my hands and turn around I find him bowed over the toilet examining the color of my urine.
"Christian?"
"It is dull Ana…" With a smug smile, Christian flushes the toilet. "Prediction outcome: girl." He mutters and makes his way back to our bedroom.
"Are we almost finished?"
"Almost baby…just relax…" When we were both back in bed and Christian has made sure that I'm comfortable, he continues his idiotic research.
"Now the baby's heart rate is also very important to predict the gender. If the baby's heartbeat is above 140 ppm it is a girl. Lower means it is a boy." Christian smiles. "I remember from the last ultrasound that the heartbeat was above the 140 ppm. This means that there is a little girl growing in your belly…"
"And what if it is exactly 140 ppm? Does it mean we are having an alien…or maybe a little puppy?" I say laughing.
"Not funny Ana…next…" He says clearly not appreciating my little fun fact.
"DO they say something about cravings?" I ask and try to take a peek at Christian's phone.
"Yeah, they do, but I don't think that little fact can predict the gender of our baby…" He says absentmindedly.
"And why is that?"
"Because it is all about the taste baby. Sweet cravings mean that you are carrying a girl. Salty or sour foods means a boy…but baby you crave everything. Sweet, spicy, salty and sour…" He shrugs.
"Let us continue…" Christian kisses my temple and scrolls through his phone. He scowls while reading.
"What does it say?"
"This is ridiculous…it says that if you had severe morning sickness we are having a girl…otherwise means a boy…" And I didn't have a lot of morning sickness.
"Prediction outcome: boy…" I say grinning.
Christian huffs annoyed and throws his phone on the nightstand. "Don't you like this anymore…"
"Nah, I think that those old wife's tales are a bunch of shit…" He is annoyed.
"Why?" I probe.
"Because they the next thing they mentioned was about cold and warm feet. Seems that if you are having cold feet we are expecting a boy and warm feet means girl…" And it happens that I always have cold feet.
"So, we are done with this little game?"
"Yes, we are done playing this little game." He says smiling. "You know that I don't care if we are having a boy or a girl right?" He continues. "I mean I want it to be healthy Ana…"
"I know you do, now let us get moving Mr. Grey. We have lunch to get ready…" His eyes widen and he looks a little shocked.
"I can't cook Ana…"
"But you can follow orders…"
We are sitting in what we like to call the "Sun room" with Meghan, Elliot, Mia and Ethan.
I think that this room is by far my favorite room of our new home. The official name of this room is orangery and it is an extension of our massive living room. It has a glass roof and folding glass doors. It overlooks the garden and the meadow. The view is astonishing.
"So, when is your next appointment with the OB/GYN?" Mia asks while she sips at her glass of wine.
"Tuesday"
"Let's hope that the little monster cooperates this time…" Christian says looking at my belly.
"You know what I think?" Elliot says. "I think you are having a little girl…" Christian's head immediately snaps to his brother.
"Why would you say that?" Mia asks and entwines her hand with Ethan's.
"I have read that girls act very shy during ultrasounds…boys on the other hand not."
"That is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard Ell…" Mia says rolling her eyes.
"Do you really think that the baby knows that he or she is being scanned and thinks, hey let me cross my legs…that is utterly ridiculous."
Elliot furrows his brow and his shoulders sag in defeat.
Mia is right though…that would be utterly ridiculous.
"Our little boy wasn't shy at all was he Meghan?" Elliot says proudly. "He was showing of his junk like a little pro…"
"Just like daddy…" Mia mutters.
"So the wedding?" Christian asks, probably trying to change the subject.
"We want to get married next year." Mia replies dreamily. "With all this babies popping out and the bakery…we don't want to rush it."
"Are you having a big wedding?" I ask. Because that would be typically Mia. However, seeing Ethan's shocked expression, I don't think that is what he prefers.
"No…" She laughs. "Just family and close friends…"
"Thank fuck." Christian mutters.
Every now and then I look over at Meghan who hasn't said much over the entire lunch. She doesn't react though at anything. She looks as if she is uncomfortable.
"Are you all right Meg?" Elliot asks concerned. He brushes a few strands of hair from her face and peppers her face with little kisses.
"Braxton hicks…" She breathes. Her hands are holding her enormous belly.
"Are you sure? We can call my mom…" Elliot replies and places his hand over Meghan's.
"No, I'm sure it will pass…" She says giving him a faint smile.
"Are you used in living here?" Ethan asks and motions with his chin to the living room.
"Yeah, it has been great. Christian can use the gym every morning before going to work and since Taylor and Gail are living in a separate house we have all the privacy we want."
"What about the other security guys?"
"We have had four apartments built above the garage. So that is where they live."
"Well I love your kitchen." Mia states. "It is a cook's wet dream." I nod because it is true. The kitchen is amazing, but then so is the rest of the house. It turned out just the way we wanted.
"The movie room is amazing." Ethan says. "We should have a guy's night one time and watch badass movies…"
"We had Sam over the other day." Christian says. "He didn't say one word during the entire movie."
"Why didn't Melissa come along with you?" I ask because I really miss her. It has been a week since I last saw her.
"She was hanging out with Andrew…" Mia says giggling. "They are so cute together." She is right.
"He is a good kid. Smart too." Ethan says. "Sometimes he starts talking about these technology facts and shit if that doesn't make me feel stupid." He laughs.
"He is incredibly smart." Christian adds proudly. "He comes to GEH regularly and hangs out with Barney…"
"Where are you going babe?" Elliot says looking at Meghan who is now pacing the room holding her belly.
"I need to walk for a bit…" She looks annoyed and I can't blame her. Elliot has been breathing down her neck since the moment they came a few hours ago.
"Oh shit…" Our heads all turn to Meghan whose face is now covered with a little layer of sweat. She is looking down at her feet.
"Come one babe…let me take you home…"
Meghan shakes her head and she looks so pale. "I…I think my water just broke Ell…I need to go to the hospital…"
"But you can't…you can't…" Elliot rambles looking at the puddle of water on the floor. "The baby isn't due yet for another six weeks Meghan…"
"I'm calling mom…" Christian says frantically.
"He can't be born yet Elliot…" Meghan cries. "It is too soon…it is just too soon…"
"It is going to be okay babe…Christian is calling my mom and my mom always knows what to do…"He says reassuringly. It is a good thing that Meghan can't see his face, because he doesn't look as relaxed as he sounds. "Do you want to sit down baby…tell me what you want…"
Meghan is just clinging to his shirt and crying. God, please let the baby be okay. Let this little boy be okay…please.
Suddenly Mia stands up and grabs Ethan's hand. "We are going over to Elliot and Meghan's house. We will get some clothes for her and the baby…"
"Do you have a key?" I ask dumbly.
"Yes, we all have keys or the codes to each other's homes." She says smiling. Of course they do…I knew that too.
Mia walks over to Meghan and whispers something in her ear. Next she hugs Elliot.
"Mom…mom this is Christian. Look Meghan's water just broke…no…no mom they are here at my house…" There is a little silence and I can see Christian's patience diminishing by the second.
"Mom, it doesn't matter why they are here, thing is that Meghan's water broke and the baby is too little mom, what do we do?" There is another silence and when he looks at me I see the panic setting in his eyes.
"Okay…yeah…see you. Love you too mom…" Christian disconnects the call and looks at his brother.
"Mom is calling an ambulance. She will meet us at the hospital…Ana and I will be driving behind the ambulance."
Elliot nods and I have never ever seen him looking so serious. "Did she say anything else…you know about the baby?" Christian's eyes go to Meghan who has her head buried in Elliot shoulder and then he quickly shakes his head. "No…she didn't." He then looks at me and I know he is keeping something from Elliot.
"Ana…my parents…you need to call my parents…" That is the last thing Meghan says before the ambulance drives away.
Meghan and Elliot where already gone when Christian and I entered the ER. Carrick and Melissa were waiting for us at the reception desk.
"We need to wait." Carrick says. He has trouble keeping his emotions in check.
"Then we will wait." Christian says and gives him a small smile. "It will be okay dad. Meghan is strong and …" Christian's voice breaks.
"She is in good hands Carrick." I finish for Christian.
"Meghan's parents are on their way. Taylor arranged for Charlie Tango." Christian looks at his watch. "If the weather keeps like this we can expect them within the next hour."
I nod and entwine my hand with Christian's. His eyes meet mine for a minute and I only see hopelessness.
"What was it that you didn't tell Elliot?" I whisper.
"Ana…" He sighs and closes his eyes. "The baby is too early…there could be complications. Ana my brother will be devastated if anything happens to his son."
"We have to keep faith okay?"
"He is my little nephew Ana…what if…" Christian can't finish his sentence because a door opens and a very tired looking Grace comes stepping out.
"Gracie?"
"The doctor did several tests and it seems that Meghan is 4 cm dilated. They…they need to get the baby since he is in distress."
"Is she having a C-section?" I ask. Grace nods and we all look towards the door. Meghan is being rushed away with a distressed Elliot following.
"Will they be all right mom?"
"They are in the best hands. Dr. Torrey is an excellent doctor." She says.
"How long will we have to wait?"
"Not very long Christian." Grace smiles tiredly and then her face gets a serious look. "But today we are not going to hit anybody understand?"
"Yes ma'am…"
CPOV
"How much longer?" I whisper to Ana for the umpteenth time. With her head leaning against my arm she shrugs.
"I hope they are both okay…" She says.
I look around me in the waiting room where we are asked to wait and sigh. You would think with the money that both Ana and I have donated to this hospital and especially to this wing, that they could have had done something to redecorate this room. Christ, the table look like a piece of furniture from the middle Ages.
When the door opens, I expect to see Mia who said she was getting us some refreshments. But instead of my sister it is a stunned looking Elliot. He is wearing a blue hospital shirt and his hair is a mess. His mouth opens and closes several times but nothing comes out.
"Son?" My mother is holding on to my dad.
"Mom…dad…" Elliot swallows. "I…Meghan just gave birth to a beautiful boy…he is tiny, but according to the doctor he is strong…" Elliot turns to look at me and fuck he looks like he aged ten years in just one hour.
"Oh thank God." My mother replies and starts crying.
"How is Meghan?" Ana asks and slowly stands up from her chair.
"Meghan is recovering at the moment. I just came real quickly to say that they are both doing fine." He looks at me again and then I see that his eyes a red rimmed.
"His name by the way is Zackery Christian Grey."