Chapter 52: Praying for a Doppelganger
Elliot's POV
Oh this can't be happening. Thank fuck my brother will take the kid until I can sit Kate down and explain this to her. I look over at the little blond mini me in his car seat. Fuck the seat is wiggling. I must not have done something right. In my hurry to get him out of the house, I put the car seat in my truck and I don't even know what I did to secure it. I better pull over and fix this.
God the kid is fucking gorgeous if I do say so myself. I know he isn't my kid because the DNA said otherwise, but he looks so much like me it is spooky. That is why I had to get him the hell out of the house. If Kate had seen him without an explanation she would never believe me. He is about two years old I guess. He looks at me and smiles. Oh fucking please let me have one of those doppelgangers and have him be the one that fucked this kid's mom too. Please god, I won't ask for anything else ever again. Just one fucking doppelganger.
"Hey, you doing okay buddy? You hungry or anything?" Fucking Kara or is it Krista? She literally rang the doorbell and said, 'you take him I can't do this anymore.' I looked down and he was in his car seat with a diaper bag and she ran off and jumped in a car driven by some guy. She was out of there before I could even react.
"Chee-o's." I just smile. No fucking clue. "Chee-o's." He says this louder. What the fuck is a chee-o? I play around with the seat. Christ how hard can this be? I am a fucking construction engineer. I build things. God damn it who made these things? I finally get it more secure and head over to Christian's. Hopefully he has had time to explain this whole thing to Ana but I better make sure.
"Hey we are just pulling down your street…Ana in the loop yet?" The kid is banging on his seat and yelling Chee-o's so loud I can't hear Christian. I guess I can't tell him to shut the fuck up. "Shh little dude I am on the phone.
"Yes."
"Did you say yes? Is Ana right there?"
"Yes."
"Are we in trouble?"
"Yes."
"Did you tell her he isn't mine?"
"Yep."
"For fucks sake, Christian. Just tell me what she said."
"Fuck." Oh god I forgot mini-me was sitting back there.
"Don't say that word kid."
"Chee-o's." What the fuck are Chee-o's? God damn it.
"Tell Ana not to be mad at me, I am dying here. I don't know what fucking chee-o's means kid." I hear Christian laugh. "Don't even fucking laugh bro I am a wreck."
"Fuck"
"NO. Don't say that little man." I am sweating. This is a disaster.
"Elliot, quit swearing. Seriously you have a kid with you."
"Fuck off Father Goose. I'm dying here."
"Fuck."
"Oh my god Christian I think I am having a heart attack."
We pull up and I run around to get the kid out. I know I am on borrowed time and I need to get back and explain this to Kate. This is a cluster fuck of mammoth proportions. I pull the kid out of the car, car seat and all and carry him and the diaper bag to the front door where Sawyer is waiting for me. I know the fucker is trying not to laugh.
"Fuck you Sawyer. You probably have one of these running around out there too." He stops smiling.
Christian comes to the door and acts like he is grabbing the diaper bag and whispers, "She is so fucking pissed that I never told her about this and that we did our own covert operation. She just pointed out….what if the baby bottle that we took that day was another kid's bottle."
Oh fuck me. I feel like I am going to faint. "No she said it was his right?" My voice is getting higher as I speak. Christian just shrugs. I look up and my very pregnant sister-in-law is glaring at me with her hands on her hip. The kid is behind me on the floor still strapped to his car seat. I might as well get this over with. I move out of the way and let Ana get her first peak. She steps closer and her hand comes up to her mouth.
"Oh my god. That DNA test was wrong. Elliot….that has to be your son."
I sit down on the steps because I am about to pass out. Ana steps closer and turns back around to look at me. "What's his name?"
"Shit I can't remember?"
"Shit."
I lean back on the steps. The kid is a fucking parrot not a human.
"What do you mean? You don't even know his name? Christian un-strap him and get him out of his seat." He gets him out and as I haven't seen him stand before I notice he is a stocky little guy. God he has curly white-blond hair, blue as hell eyes, a fucking butt on his chin and I am freaking out. The kid gets up and goes right for Benson and hits him on the back.
"Hey, little guy, gentle. Don't hit the dog. He's doesn't like that." Christian is trying to be nice. I am surprised he didn't go nuclear on him. Ana lifts up the diaper bag and looks through it. She pulls out a baggie of cheerio's. Oh fuck. Chee-o's. I stand up and give him the bag.
"Chee-o's." Yep. I am a genius. He opens the baggie and all the fucking chee-o's go all over the floor. "Oh oh." Yea oh-oh is right once Kate gets a hold of my nuts kid.
"Did you read this note?" Ana is holding up a folded note.
"No, no I didn't see it. What does it say? I can't read it." I sit back down.
"Elliot:
The last time I saw you I was very angry at you for just barging in my life and trying to take Tristin from me. At least I thought that is what you were trying to do. But then I didn't hear from you again. I know you were just trying to find out if you were the father, and I respect you for caring enough to track us down to find out. However, you didn't get back in touch so I assume you found out but decided not to contact me for whatever reason. See I don't know if you are the father or not. I am not proud of this but it could be your baby or several other men. I have long thought he was yours as he looks so much like you. Anyway, since you seemed so interested I took that as a sign you would want to be involved in his life. I am exhausted and need a break from him. I am at my wits end. I am going away with a friend and will be back for him tomorrow night and then we can discuss how, if Tristin is your son, we can co-parent. If he isn't your son, maybe we can find a way for you to be part of his life as he doesn't have a male role model. I have everything he needs in this diaper bag. He might ask for Cheerio's a lot. He is addicted. He calls them Chee-o's. Thanks for taking him and I promise I will be back tomorrow night or at the latest …Monday.
Love Kara
Ana looks up. "His name is Tristin Elliot. Maybe you should have read the note. She sounds like a doozy. Love Kara? And she pretty much is asking for money either way." I can't blame Ana for being pissed at me. Christian is deep in thought.
"Oh my god. Not until Monday night? What am I going to do with him? And no fucking way am I going to be part of his life if he isn't mine. She must be bat shit crazy. Right?" I look at Ana and Christian who are just staring at me. Christian puts his arm around Ana's shoulder and then shakes his head after thinking for a few seconds.
"What do you want to do here Elliot? She abandoned her kid and just left him with a complete stranger. She should be turned in for that. She probably doesn't take good care of him and I mean….hey you little shit put that back." While we were busy talking Tristin must have wondered off and is walking down the hall with a wine bottle he pulled from a rack.
"I am going home and going to have to tell Kate and then if she hasn't killed me we will come back and get him. I appreciate your helping me out on this."
"Just go Elliot. We need to focus on him right now before he destroys our house which is clearly not very toddler proof. But I am with Christian. We should report her. What kind of mother does this?" I don't care what they do with him at this point I just need to get home and sort this out. I know they will take care of him while I handle this. I walk over to Ana and gently grab her arms. She has never been mad at me and I hate it.
"Itty Bitty don't be mad at me please and don't be mad at Christian. He was just trying to help me out. You know I was a bad boy before Kate and I regret that…well not all of it …but had I been more careful I wouldn't be even wondering about this. But…don't be mad at him. He was just being a good little bro and helping me out. Please." She shakes her head at me.
"First you insult me by calling me Itty Bitty right now because I am anything but Itty Bitty. Secondly, you don't need to worry about me right now. I'm not mad. I just don't like surprises and that little boy over there is quite the surprise. Kate knows you were a man-whore before so I don't know that she will be totally surprised Elliot but you two should have told us. It makes me wonder what else you and Christian haven't shared."
Oh not much. Lets' see we both fucked the same woman and she wants to fuck your husband while your recovering from having your baby and lets' see, there was that fucker we beat the snot out of and sent to Mexico and shit Itty Bitty don't even go there. You really don't want to know.
"There isn't anything else. Really. And even thought you are really pregnant your still Itty Bitty and it is how I see you. But thanks for not being too mad at me." She reaches over and kisses my cheek. "Thank you Ana. Hopefully I will be back for him in an hour or so." Now isn't the time to tell her the other one hundred things Christian and I have sworn to secrecy.
"You better be back in an hour." Christian is following Tristin around as he takes shit off tables and throws it down. "Tristin stop picking up shit and throwing it. It's quite rude." Ana laughs and I head towards the door.
"Shit."
"You two need to stop the cuss words he is repeating every bad word you say. Come on Tristin lets go and find a book to read." Ana takes his hand and leads him down the hallway to her office. Christian joins me at the door.
"You are so fucked Elliot. I never saw him when we were at Kara's. That DNA test had to be wrong. He looks more like you than you do."
"Christ I know it. I told you. Did you call Welch?"
"Yes he is on his way over. I am calling Mom and Dad."
"NO! Why the fuck you doing that?"
"I want Mom to check him out and make sure this kid has been taken care of. Even if he isn't yours, I have a huge problem with the way she dumped him off Elliot. I don't think she deserves to get him back. I want to check to make sure that he has been fed and well taken care of."
"He clearly eats man. He is a little tank. I don't even care. Do what you want to do. Do you believe in doppelgangers?" Christian laughs.
"No not really, but for your fucking sake, I hope you have one. Just saying. Otherwise that kid has to be yours. Kind of undisciplined isn't he?"
"I guess. I mean he's like two or two and a half years old. What did you expect him to do, take off his shoes when he came in the front door, shake your hand and take out his brief case? Okay I will call you after I talk to Kate…if you don't hear from me…..assume she fucking cut my nuts off and I can't move."
I jump in the truck and head home….slowly.
Christian's POV
Holy fuck this kid looks my brother. I have never seen anything like it. He has been here fifty minutes and destroyed the place. Ana took him into her office to read but he wouldn't sit still and started pulling books off the shelf. So we are outside in the back yard with him and about now I am wishing that Brady had the playground for Teddy finished. But I am playing ball with him and Ana is sitting watching us. He is standing about two feet from me and can't catch a ball for shit. I wonder if anyone has ever played ball with the kid. I know he is little and all that but, this kid has no hand eye coordination. He walks over to me.
"I poop."
"What?"
"I poop." He laughs. I don't.
"Did he say he pooped?" Ana gets up and leans down. "Tristin did you go potty?" He nods. "Okay Christian will take you and change your diaper." What the fuck?
"No, Christian won't go with him and change his diaper. I can't change his diaper Ana. I have never changed a diaper in my life and I rather the first one be my own kids' shitty little ass not this kid."
"He might be your nephew."
"I don't give a fuck who he is I don't even know how to do it Ana. I'll come with you. I will lift him up, but don't make me do it. I promise I will change Ted. But I swear I might gag on this kid. He probably has real turds right?" Ana burst out laughing.
"Come on Tristin, let's go change your diaper."
"No diaper. Pu ups." He shakes his head vehemently.
"What's he saying?" I have no idea. I am suddenly in panic mode. Am I supposed to know this shit? Maybe we should get a nanny from the get go. If Ana is counting on me I am starting to realize I am not going to be any help.
"He isn't wearing diapers anymore he uses pull ups." I nod. Okay I'll bite.
"What's a pull up?" Again Ana giggles.
"They are like big boy pants but you can throw them away if there is an accident.
"Well that is stupid. How does that send a message that it isn't okay to shit in your pants? So basically if he shits his pants it is no big deal he just gets to throw them away and get a new pull up or whatever they are called? What a scam."
"Christian, follow me I don't know if I can lift him up to change him. Don't worry about this okay. He is just two-years old. Teddy won't come out like this. By the time our son is his age you will be an old pro." She smiles at me but I am completely out of my element here. How does she know all this stuff? I follow her and we take him upstairs to Ted's room and she tells me to lift him up and put him on the changing table.
Ana removes his shorts and asks me to hand her another pull up. I look at them and still don't get it. They are fucking diapers without the tape on the side. She has his pants down.
"Goggy?" He is saying something.
"Yes he is waiting for you. When we get you changed, you can pet him if you do it gently." Glad she understands him. She is cleaning him up, ugh fuck that is nasty. He zeros' in on his little dick and is pulling on it making me laugh. Man we start loving that thing young don't we? Ana keeps moving his hand to clean him up and he keeps putting his hand back on it. "Here Tristin for Pete's sake hold this." She hands him a book. Smart thinking, but it wouldn't work on me.
She finishes cleaning him and pulling his pants back up and puts the diaper – excuse me the pull up in a small bag. I pick him up and put him on the carpet. He looks around and notices all the stuffed animals and toys. He goes crazy running around grabbing shit and throwing it. He is like a tornado. I feel a little protective of Teddy's possessions and decide to guide him out of the room.
"Want a ride?" I pick him up and put him on my shoulders and take him downstairs. He seems happy with that.
"I want Dora." I look at Ana and put Tristin down at the bottom of the stairs. He runs over to his diaper bag and pulls out a doll.
"You don't want that. That's a doll." What the fuck? The little dude is playing with a doll.
"Christian stop it. He can play with a doll if he wants to. He clearly likes it." Ana is giving me shit about this.
"Fine, he can play with it if he wants to but I can tell you who isn't playing with dolls someday." I look at her point to her belly and pull her chin up so she gets my full meaning.
"Christian be serious, he is a little boy."
"Yea, okay well just remember this conversation. Tristin, lets' go back out side and throw the ball to Benson. Come on. Leave Dorothy or whatever the fuck her name is here."
"Fuck"
Shit I have to quit saying that. "Baby sit down for a little bit I will take him outside and we can throw the ball to Benson. Maybe I can teach this kid to throw the ball or something."
Twenty minutes later I bring him in. I could tell he was getting tired and then he asked me to carry him. When I picked him up he put his head on my shoulder and he hasn't moved. Now what the hell do I do with him? I walk in and Ana is asleep on the couch. I wonder if he can sleep in a bed by himself. I don't want to put him in Ted's crib but we have one of those pac and plays or play and pac or whatever it is called. I walk into Sawyers office and motion for him to help me out. Christ, what am I a fucking nanny? I whisper, "Is he asleep?"
Sawyer nods. I point to the playroom that is on the lower level. I didn't even take the kid in there as we have thousands of dollars of toys and shit in there that I have been buying for Ted but most of it is in boxes still. Ana said he won't really be going in there for the first six months or so anyway. Sawyer comes out with the Pac and Play and fucks around with it for about fifteen minutes swearing like a sailor but managing this in just a whisper.
"Sir this is the hardest fucking cock sucking piece of shit I have ever tried to put together and open in my life. How the mother fuck do I open this thing?" I am holding the kid so I can't exactly help him. After telling him to pull the sides up and the middle piece we still have nothing that looks like a crib. Maybe this kid is too big for that thing. I know my arm is getting tired so we should figure it out soon and he is sweating on my shoulder.
"Fuck, call Taylor. I know it's his day off but he has a kid, he'll know." Sawyer looks relieved and picks up the house phone telling Taylor we need him over immediately. Two minutes later he runs in probably assuming we have an emergency and sees Sawyer and I completely helpless. He looks at the kid I am holding.
"Have I been asleep for a couple of years and missed everything?" This makes us both laugh. We are all whispering. "Whose kid is this?" I turn around so he can see Tristin's face. He looks at him for a few seconds turning his head several times to get a better glimpse and then his eyes get big. "Fuck me that kid looks just like your brother." I nod.
"Bingo." Sawyer comments.
"What the fuck is going on?" I am trying not to laugh at Elliot's expense but this is actually funny. Taylor looks completely confused. He prides himself in being the first to know everything. We hear the buzz at the gate. Sawyer looks at the cameras.
"It's Welch sir." He pressed the intercom. "Letting you through Welch. Watch the pap's they like to jump in front of the gate when it opens. If they do jump out, run the fuckers over." Sawyer actually means this when he says it.
"Why is Welch coming over? Okay, hold up. What the fuck is going on around here. Jesus Christ I have one day off and I feel like I have been away for two years. What's with the Pac and Play?"
"That is why we called you. We can't figure out how to open the fucking thing. Jesus T, you have to be a fucking engineer to figure this thing out." Sawyer is still pulling at it. "I need to get the door so Welch doesn't wake up Mrs. Grey. Can you open this thing?"
Taylor lifts the folded Pac and Play up. "Well first of all, you don't want him sleeping right here in the hallway do you? Let's move this to the living room or up in a bedroom. Is he a climber?"
"How the hell do I know Taylor? I know he gets into everything." God damn my arm is about to fall asleep. The kid is dead weight and hasn't moved.
"Okay let's put this some place he won't get in trouble. Taylor carries the Pac and Play up into one of the guest rooms. He pops it open in one snap. How the hell did he do that?
"You are going to have to show me how you did that." He just nods.
"Sir do you have a blanket or something we can throw in there?" I have no idea. I look around and point to the duvet cover on the king size bed. Taylor laughs. "That's a bit big. I don't think he will have any problem climbing out of this but I could be wrong." Taylor walks out of the bedroom and down where we keep linens and comes back with a sheet folded and lays it in the bottom of the Pac and Play. He takes Tristin from me and lays him down and I stretch my arms.
We quietly walk out of the room and just as we are about to shut the fucking door I hear, "I hungy." Oh fuck me.
Grace's POV
"Carrick, are we done in here? Christian has called several times, maybe Ana's in labor I am going to go outside and call him." We are at the pet store and I just noticed that I have three missed calls from Christian. Oh my gosh! I am so excited. I step outside so I can hear him.
"Hi honey, is Ana in labor?" I know I have a huge smile on my face.
"No Mom no change but where are you guys? I've been calling both your cell phones and the house phone and you guys aren't picking up. What's the point of having a cell phone if you don't use it?"
My sons get so impatient with me over the damn cell phone. "I had it in the bottom of my purse and didn't hear it. We are at the Pet Store and there are barking dogs everywhere. Dad left his phone at home charging. What is so important if it isn't Ana? Shoot I was hoping you were calling to tell me she was in labor."
"Well good thing I wasn't you would have missed it. So, can you and Dad stop by? It is sort of important. I need you to check someone out for me?"
"What do you mean check someone out?"
"Umm… a friend has their young son here and I just want to make sure he is okay."
"A friend? Whose friend?"
"You don't know her. Actually it's a friend of Elliot's and Ana and I are babysitting."
"You and Ana are babysitting? Whose child is it Christian? I don't recall that any of Elliot's close college buddies have children yet other than Connor Dunloggin and he lives in Kansas now." I hear Christian sigh.
"Mom, I will explain it when you get here. Can you come over or not?" I hear a small child yelling in the background. What in the world is going on? "Where is Elliot?"
"He is at home he will be back soon. Fuck I hope he will be."
"Well you have me curious now. I don't have my medical bag honey we have Dad's new car. Do I need it?"
"Umm probably not. If you think you do we can send someone to go and get it. You can stay for dinner if you want. Will you be here in say thirty minutes?"
"Let me find dad and Arthur. It might be a bit longer but as soon as we are done here we can head on over. This has me curious Christian. See you in a bit."
Well that was a strange call. He wasn't giving me anything. The last person in the world I would have babysit my child is Christian. Of course he has Ana but she is so pregnant she doesn't need to be chasing some child around. He didn't say how old this child is and whose it is. Strange.
I find Carrick and he is neither happy nor too willing to go to Christian's. He wanted to go clean the grill when we got home and watch the baseball game. I swear he is getting grumpier the older he gets. Well too bad, now I am curious and we are going.
We pull down the street and there are at least fifteen of those reporters hanging outside the gate. They are so annoying. Some of them recognize us and we just ignore them. Before Carrick can press the call button we here Sawyer's voice.
"I will be right down Mr. Grey. We have had some problems today with the Pap's trying to break through when the gate opens. I will come down and open it and keep them out. Give me two minutes." We wait at the gate and the reporters are shouting.
"Dr. Grey are you here to deliver your grandbaby?" Oh for Pete's sake what a dumb question. I just roll my eyes at them.
"Mr. Grey do you have any comments about the upcoming trial of Jack Hyde. You are representing Mrs. Grey correct?" Carrick mumbles its public record and ignores them. A second later we see Sawyer pulling up in a golf cart.
"When did Christian buy a golf cart?" I didn't know he had golf carts. It makes sense the driveway is so long this way they can just jump in it and come down for the mail and to drive around the property. .
"I have no idea. I heard they were going to build a guard gate. That's what they need to keep these sons of bitches away."
Sawyer opens the gate and waves us through keeping the press out. Boy he is something else. I watch him shove one guy away and stare him down. He isn't afraid of anyone. I guess that is why Christian has him on staff.
We park right in front in the turnaround. Christian is waiting at the door and shakes Carrick's hand and gives me a kiss.
"Okay Mom and Dad don't freak out okay. Nothing is always as it appears."
"Oh brother. The last time you told me that ….well let's not go there. What have you got yourself into now young man?" Carrick is in a no nonsense mood. He thinks Elliot and Christian haven't embraced adult hood so I hope this isn't something that is going to shock us, but with those two you never know. On the way over when I filled my husband in he pointed out that whenever there is trouble, they are always tied into it together.
We follow Christian into the family room and I hear a little child crying. He has white blond curly hair and is buried in Ana's lap. He is sobbing that he wants his mama. Poor thing.
"Who do we have here?" Ana looks at Christian.
"Um, Mom and Dad this is Tristin. Can you say hi Tristin? This is my mommy and daddy." Christian is being very sweet to this little boy whoever he is. The child slowly turns around and looks at me with piercing blue eyes. They are the same color as Elliot's. Gosh Elliot's hair was white like that when he was that age. I laugh.
"Isn't he cute? He reminds me of Elliot at that age doesn't he Carrick?" Christian groans and rubs his face and I turn around and look at Carrick and his face is beet red and his temples on the side are protruding. Whatever is wrong with him? He isn't speaking he just has his finger pointed towards Christian's office.
"Now Christian. Don't pass go, don't say another word." Oh my goodness Carrick is furious. What has him so upset? I look down at the child again. He even has the little cleft in his chin just like Elliot….oh my god. I look at Ana; she looks down not looking in my eyes. I notice Taylor is dressed in blue jeans, not his normal work attire, leaning against the wall looking up and is that Mr. Welch as well? I look back down at the child and kneel down to his level. I hold his little face in my hands. Oh dear god, Elliot. How could you?
Carrick's POV
I am going to kill Elliot. He may have his Mom believing he is the fun loving easy going kid. I know better. I always knew that damn dick of his would get him in trouble.
"Who the fuck does that kid belong to? Don't bull shit me Christian and do not cover for your brother. If that isn't Elliot's offspring, he has a twin in this town. That child looks exactly like your brother did at that age. Start talking right now but pour me a double while you talk." I am spitting mad. How could he keep this from us? God damn it. Can we go just one week around here without some drama? I turn around and find my son rubbing his hair at the same time I am rubbing mine.
"Dad, this isn't my issue. Elliot knows I was calling you guys but shouldn't you have this conversation with him. I am just the nanny service today."
"Don't even play that game with me young man. You two tell each other when you wipe your asses. I know you know the story here and I would bet you have known for some time. So let's start with saving your ass first – start talking." He looks up at me. I know he doesn't want o squeal on his brother but we're here now so he better start talking. "By the way where is the happy father?"
"Elliot?"
"Well he isn't your child is he?" I slam my scotch.
"No, fuck no! I was always careful until I got married." He looks sheepish. Sell that bullshit somewhere else kid.
"So that little boy in the other room is my grandson?" Christian cringes.
"Well not exactly. No, for now I would say no."
"Oh for fucks sake Christian. You are talking to an attorney. Don't play that fucking game with me." I slam my hand on his desk. "Yes or no."
We here the chimes and Sawyer comes to the door. "Sir, your brother is coming down the drive with Ms. Kavanagh."
"About fucking time." Christian is sweating.
"Sawyer, please tell my son to march his ass right in this room when he gets in the door." I am so god damn mad at that kid. "Pour me another Christian."
We wait a few seconds and I hear Elliot tell Kate she can either wait for him to go see the child or go ahead. She tells him that she will go ahead. Oh Christ, she must have his balls in her hand right now. She is a tough cookie. He must have dreaded telling her about this major oops.
"Thanks a lot fuck head for calling mom and dad."
"I told you I wanted Tristin checked out and I was going to call Mom. Besides Elliot, don't you think you need an attorney? This has gone a bit too far."
"You know she isn't the only doctor in town and dad isn't the only attorney either."
"Fuck you Elliot. We need to get this squared away once and for all. We have a little kid who was dumped off at your house with little to no information and you want to hide him out here. I don't have any legal rights to keep him including his mother's permission. This isn't just about you now that you have dragged me into it. Fuck for all I know she could try to extort money from me or threaten to report Ana and I for kidnapping. You should have called the cops from the get go. By the way you said you would be gone an hour asshole – it's been almost four. Don't give me any shit, I helped you out and you come in here pissed at me. Dad needs to help us sort this mess you have us in."
"Christian, you know he's not mine better than anyone. God damn it. Don't add fuel to the fire." Elliot's face is beet red and Christian looks like he might start swinging. That isn't what I wanted.
"Alright both of you knock it off. Someone tell me what the hell is going on."
Thirty minutes later I have the whole story.
"So you two decided to do this not even thinking about the legal ramifications? I don't care what that DNA test showed….I can't believe that little boy isn't your son Elliot. Why is Welch here?"
"We don't believe it either. One look at him says the DNA test was wrong. So we thought we would have Welch swab them both and get the results done again. This time we will use something besides a nipple from a baby bottle." Christian tells us while Elliot sits down and rubs his head.
"Okay call Welch in here and bring the kid in. We can send then send Welch on his way, no sense in airing our dirty laundry outside of the family." I sit down next to Elliot who looks like he has been through the ringer.
"So, what's your relationship with the mother?"
"There is no relationship with her. I fucked her a few times. I haven't even seen Krista in several years before I ran into her. It was right before or around the time Mia got sick. I didn't want to load you down with this shit too."
"Fuck Elliot her name is Kara. It's god-damn Kara not Krista. Jesus Christ how hard can that be?" Christian sounds frustrated with Elliot. I don't know why he is so self righteous, he isn't exactly an angel either.
"Okay Christian, calm down. But Elliot you should know the name of the lady you potentially impregnated."
"Lady. She's' not a lady. Let's not overstate this dad. She was a piece of ass and I didn't really know her."
"Well I would say you knew her well enough. And don't talk that way in front of your mother about her. Regardless." He nods.
Christian returns with Welch and he is carrying the child. He is a beautiful little boy and I just find it very unlikely that he isn't Elliot's son. The resemblance is uncanny.
"He's not going to like this. Welch have you swabbed a child before. Maybe my mom should do this." Christian seems to have taken to him.
"No sir. That would be highly recommended. In fact I have never done this, I just have the kits around for…well we use to have them around for…well anyway sir." I get it. They probably kept these kits around GEH just in case my second son, other gigolo in the room needed them at any point. God damn I thought I was clear with these boys about un- protected sex. Grace comes in a few minutes later. I notice the child is clinging to Christian until he sees Grace. She has been with him for the last thirty minutes. I further notice Elliot has kept his distance and barely acknowledges the boy. I guess that is smart. No sense getting a relationship going if it turns out he isn't the father.
First Grace swabs Elliot. She hasn't said a word to him other than "open your damn mouth." I catch Christian's eye and we both almost laugh. Their mother is furious.
"Christian, bring Tristin over here." Grace pulls her pediatrician voice out and gently holds the child's face with the swab behind her back. "Can I see inside your mouth Tristin? Will you stick your tongue out at me and then open real wide. She smiles and mimics what she wants him to do then quickly swabs him. "That's it. What a good boy." He starts to cry and puts his head back onto Christian's shoulder. "All done. Now Elliot you should go find Kate. She is up with Ana crying her eyes out. You foolish, foolish young man." He looks down and doesn't say a thing. Welch tells us he can have the results back in two days with a rush. Meanwhile we need to strategize about what we will do if he is a Grey and if he isn't we need to figure out what this Kara wants from us. We also need to call the police and child services. I am an attorney; I can't be involved in this. That mother needs to be held accountable for her abandonment.
Kate's POV
"Ana this is unbelievable. I came home from shopping with my mom and Elliot was waiting for me on the steps. He looked like it was the end of the world. He sat me down and I thought he was going to break up with me." I start crying again. "But then he told me about that child and I am so angry with him. Not that he might have a child, even thought he says he's not his son, but I am furious that he never told me when this all came up months ago. What did he think was going to happen? How dare he keep this from me? How many other kids are out there?"
"Kate, I don't know what to say to you right now. I would be pissed too, but it is what it is. How will you feel if the child is his?"
"Ana did you see him? He looks exactly like Elliot. It's like he was the one that gave him birth. I can only hope we have a child that looks so much like him. Come on, that test had to be wrong."
"Kate…."
"I don't know how I will feel. I mean how would you feel?"
"Well you know me. I would never take it out on the child, but I would be furious. But yes I understand how you feel."
"I don't have much of the nurture gene in me Ana, but certainly not for some other woman's kid. I will love Ted because he will be my nephew, but this child came from a floozy who was fucking my man. I don't want that kid home tonight or at least until we know for sure. If he is Elliot's son, I will adapt. I mean I love Elliot, he made a mistake. I can't be mad at what he did with her…it was before me. Hell I am lucky I didn't get pregnant when I met him. So…you know I don't judge him but….again hiding this from us. Your husband was in on this."
"I know. Trust me he is in the dog house too. I feel the same way. It's like what we don't know won't hurt us."
"I know you are super pregnant and I have no right to ask you this, but will you and Christian just keep him until the bitch comes back for him."
"Well I guess we could, but what if I go into labor?"
"Yea, I know. But, I just can't." I start crying. "God I am such a bitch."
I look up when I hear the knock on the door and I see Elliot.
"Baby can I come in?" Ana and I are lying on her bed. She has been stroking my hair.
"I will go down. You guys can talk in here. Oh my god, someone pull me up." Elliot runs around to the other side of the bed and takes Ana's hand and pulls her up gently. Oh my god my little petite friend is huge. That baby is going to be bigger than her. Poor Ana. I am never going to get pregnant. Just looking at her has sealed the deal for me. Maybe it would be good if this kid is Elliot's. She looks miserable. I watch her walk away. She is absolutely waddling.
Elliot sits on the bed and looks at me. "I am so sorry baby. I should have told you but when we got the results and they came back that he wasn't mine…. and then I know this is a terrible excuse…. everything going on with Mia….well I just thought it was the last thing my parents needed."
"El, I am going to be your wife. Don't you think I have a right to know if I am a step mother?"
"Yes of course. I am sorry Kate. I thought we talked about this for two hours at home. I don't know what else I can say."
"Elliot I thought I was okay because you said the test indicated he isn't your son. But my god, didn't you look at him? He looks exactly like you. I mean absofuckinglutely like you." Shit I am crying again. "What do you want me to say? This is great fucking news Congratulations! I mean come on."
"Well I think we should head out. Ana is tired and Christian is pissed at me. We should go."
"Wait what about Tristin?" Elliot looks down.
"My dad called CPS and they are on their way over. Christian is furious with him because he doesn't want to see the little guy go into foster care or children's home tonight. He remembers what that is like, but my dad said it's not option."
"Now I feel terrible. Well she gave him to you; can't we just take him home?" He looks kind of sad too.
"No, my dad said if Tristin is mine it will make a better case if we legally report this for me to get shared custody or whatever. But don't worry about that now Kate. We aren't going to bring him home to live with us as he probably isn't even my kid. Come on I need to go downstairs and give the cops a statement."
Christian's POV
My parents didn't stay for dinner. My mom was too pissed and I am beyond upset. I would have never called them if I thought they would have called CPS to take the little guy away. He was hysterical clinging to me and crying. The police explained that both my parents as a physician and an attorney would have been in huge trouble when I tried to bribe my way into keeping him for the night. They said we were all exposed. But ironically, once that bitch shows up again, she will be given her kid back like it was no big deal with a slap on the hands and probably told she has to take a parenting class. But the cops made a valid point, just because we are the Grey's, people can't abandon their children with us. Still, the little guy was freaking out. Ana was bawling her eyes out and for a guy without a heart, mine was breaking.
I am sitting in my office with Elliot. He is staring. We are both quiet.
"Bro, sorry I got pissed at you when I came back. I am sorry I dragged you into this. Kate was screaming at me all the way over and when I saw Dad's car, I knew my ass was grass. Fuck. How could the test have been wrong? He looks exactly like me. I even see it."
"I don't know. Maybe the baby bottle was just so nasty or something it didn't give a clean DNA. I don't know anything about that shit."
Tuesday Afternoon
Sunday night Kara returned and was hysterical when Elliot told her that Tristin was in Child Protective Services. She called him every name in the book and started hitting him and throwing stuff. Kate was home and really let her have it and the scene was pretty ugly. She took off and my dad told me that she didn't get Tristin back until last night as this isn't the first time she has done something like this. Why would they even let her have him back if she has done this before? I have Ryan watching her house as I think she might take off with the kid now that her tit is in the ringer. I hate to think about him having a shitty life and a mom that finds him an inconvenience.
My mom has not returned either of our calls. Elliot is so down. He isn't used to having my parents pissed at him. I on the other hand, am an old pro at having them mad at me. I told him she will call him, she usually needs three days. She sent Ana a text this morning. I think she said;
Any contraptions yet? Ana burst out laughing but was polite and told her nothing other than the standard Braxton Hicks.
Taylor comes rushing in my office to tell me that Ryan has just reported that my suspicions are correct and that Kara is trying to leave town. She is loading up her car which is a junker and again I hate thinking about the little guy in a car that isn't safe. I call Elliot and tell him I am going over to stop her and it is up to him if he wants to come too. But at least she should hang around until the DNA results are back. He informs me that my dad has counseled him to stay away from her until the results are in.
"Do you even feel bad Elliot or relieved that she might take off with him?" I know I sound like a dick but this is way too close to home for me.
"Christian, fuck if he's my son, I will go after her with everything I have and fight her for custody. But if he isn't my son, no, I can't do anything but feel sorry for him can I because the law doesn't let us help this poor defenseless kid out. This isn't some fiction novel where people get to just come in on their white horse and take over custody on someone else's kid. This is real man. I can't do anything about it and neither can you. Focus on your son that is about to be born and I will take it from here."
I know he is right. But I know what Tristin's life will be like. As much as Elliot doesn't want him to be his son, I am secretly hoping he is now. I can't just let this go so I tell Taylor to get the car and we head over to Kara's house. Maybe I can stall her. When we arrive she is loading the car up.
"What are you doing here? You don't have anything to do with this." She is staring at me with cold distant eyes. I see Tristin playing by the door and he sees me and smiles. He crawls backwards down the brick stairs and comes running towards me. I pick him up.
"Hey buddy. How you doing?" He actually hugs me and I feel like my heart is going to break. You know that heart I just found out I had this past year.
"Put him down. You don't have any right to hold him. What are you doing here?"
"Look Kara, think about your son for one second of your selfish life. I know you are taking off and you are angry that we turned you in to CPS. But you shouldn't abandon your son or leave him with strangers. Look we have a DNA report coming back any minute and if he is Elliot's son, Tristin will never need anything again."
"And if he isn't. Will you still be part of his life?" I don't say anything. "I didn't think so. So go away Grey. He's not Elliot's son."
"I don't believe you. In fact I will pay you to stay another day until the results come back. How much do you need to hang out until the results are back? Because that is what this is about right. The money, right?"
"Why do you care so much? He isn't your kid although I wouldn't mind fucking you and making one with you." God she is a bitch.
"I care because my biological mother was like you and my first four years were fucked up. He doesn't deserve to be a pawn in your life and handed off to whoever might take him while you are doing god knows what. He deserves a mom that doesn't see him as an inconvenience."
She stares at me for a few minutes. "I will stay for ten thousand dollars, but I can tell you Elliot is not his father."
"I told you I don't believe you."
"I don't care what you believe. His father is in jail. His name is Trent Bierkstrom. You can look him up and see how much he looks like your brother. That's the truth."
"Ball. Play ball?" I smile at Tristin.
I nod towards Taylor. "Give her the money." I know she will take off and I know now that the first DNA test was probably right. I hope somewhere in the back of my mind that she will spend at least a few dollars on Tristin.
"Was it always about the money?" She doesn't say anything. I put Tristin down. And look in his eyes.
"So little guy, you won't remember me, but I hope you know you can overcome anything that comes your way. It won't be easy, but you can do it."
My phone buzzes. It's Welch. The bitch wasn't lying. This is not Elliot's son.
I take one of my cards out. I write Tristin's name on it and today's date that way I know someday it is legit. "Kara, if you do nothing else for this kid, give him my card and when he is eighteen and free of you, tell him to look me up." I hand her the card. I would never trust that she would spend the money on Tristin if I gave her more than the ten grand, but someday if this kid looks me up I will help him out. That is if he makes it out of whatever path she is about to lead him down. "Give me a hug buddy." I realize for the first time he is holding that damn Dora doll. He holds it up for me to hug. "You want me to hug Dora. Okay little man, for you I will hug your Dora." I hug the damn doll and give it back to him and he has a big smile on his face. I put him down, get in the car and watch him wave to me as we pull away.
I have Welsh send me a police photo of this Bierkstrom guy. Christ Elliot does have a doppelganger. It is fucking creepy how much they look like. I send him the photo.
Fuck me there are two people this ugly in the world. He calls right away.
I have given Elliot his good news and he was relieved but he knew I was feeling pretty bad. "You okay bro. I know this hit too close to home for you. I'm sorry again for dragging you into this." I don't say anything.
I hang up from finishing the details on a gift for Ana. As it is May 1, I can officially have Ana's gift from Cartier finished. I wanted to see if the baby would be an April or May baby before placing the stones in the two inch wide gold bracelet designed with a heart in the middle. The heart will be engraved to say, To Mommy, Love Ted and the birth date. Since it is now May it will be set with emeralds all the way around instead of diamonds. The gold bracelet is from Italy and cost me a hundred grand but I wanted this to be special. My mind goes to Tristin again.
"Taylor take me to that toy store over by the mall." I am in the store less than ten minutes finding exactly what I want. I sit in the back of the car as we head home and I loosen my tie. I open the bag and pull out the Dora doll to add to Teddy's toy collection realizing I still have a lot to learn.
Thanks everyone for getting me well over 1000 followers. I can't tell you how flattered I am and how much it meant to me that you guys care enough to grant my wish. So…I guess that means I will have to do a few more chapters when the baby comes home, and maybe a few bonus chapters. But this still isn't going on indefinitely. But good stuff coming up. Let the labor begin!
Thank you everyone – you're so good to me! Lilly
