Here it is the final instalment for these to at least for now, hope you enjoy.
I almost didn't want to post this because it means I have to start on my next project.
A few months later
Ana's POV-
I'm not sure I've ever really believed it when people say a lot can happen in a few months but they're right. It's kind of insane to think how much has happened since I met Christian, I've gained lifelong friends, I'm well on my way to becoming an aunt and I've moved in with my boyfriend. Well, pretty much any way, Christian and both have some clothes at the brownstone, just in case we stay the night. Last month I finally bit the bullet and pointed out that we spent every night together no matter what we had going on the next day, so it made sense to move in together. We debated over who should move where but in the end privacy we have at the penthouse won out and we definitely put it to good use. That wasn't the only deciding factor, but it did play a big part in the decision making.
Though the main factor was Elliot and Kate, they've moved downstairs in Kate's room and Gail's taken over his old room so that her old room can be converted into a nursery for Baby Ava, and yes Gail was right it is a baby girl but please don't tell her she's right it's already gone to her head. I told Kate about the painting when she told us the plan for the nursey and the safari-scape is taking pride of place in the room, Kate asked if I would design the room for her which I happily agreed. I'd never really thought about making art my career until I finished the nursery but after Christian showed me the website he put together and the messages from people with queries I took the plunge and talked to Ray and 'Mone. I was so worried that night even with Christian's assurances that they wouldn't be on board, but Ray and 'Mone took it so much better than I think even he could have imagined. They even made my first official purchase buying my rainy window of New York painting despite me repeatedly telling them they could have it for free after everything they've done for me.
So, I've been focusing on my art, instead of going back to work at the club after my cast came off, and although I'm not making quite as much as was before I'm doing pretty well considering the site only went live two months ago. Christian wasn't lying when he said he had connections in the art world, I've been featured in galleries all around the city and people have even started commissioning me for murals and room décor like I did for Ava's nursery. Which has become my favorite way to paint, something about having such a large canvas is so freeing with all the endless possibilities.
Although that's not even the biggest leap I've taken, that was undoubtedly when I filled the paperwork last month to become Bonnie and Jamie's foster mother. Christian was right, with the right connections anything is possible, Ray and Vin helped me sort out my financials so that when it comes to background checks everything should check out especially now that I'm self-employed. Though the biggest help has been knowing the Chair of the Bureau of Permanency Service, Daniel, he's walked me through every step making sure I have the best possible shot at being accepted. Christian and I did discuss applying together but Daniel said that the chances of being accepted together given that we're unmarried weren't the best and that it would be better for me to apply alone and just have me as sole carer at least for now. We did consider getting engaged but we both decided we want to do it for the right reasons and not rush.
Ray and 'Mone help a lot with the decision because I was wrong the day Christian ran into me in the park when I told him I didn't have a family, so wrong. Because I had Ray and 'Mone and the rest of the Covelo's and they have shown me what it means to be the parental figures in someone's life, they've shown me that it doesn't matter what time you come into a person's life you can still make a really big difference. I just don't think I was ready at the point in my life to admit that I did have a family, because at the end of the day family is who will support you no matter what, simply because you matter to them. I want to be that for Jamie and Bonnie because even though I may not have been around for the very start of their lives I know that I can be the person they need, Christian and I both can, we can be the people that will always support them, the ones who are always there for them. The girl I was when I first started hanging out with Christian wasn't ready to admit she had a family because she was terrified of losing them. The girl I was then would not have been able to stand up to the Wilkes and claim them as her family because that girl was hidden under layers of neglect and abuse and it took all three of them to bring her to the surface and for that, I will always be grateful.
Almost two years later-
Christian's POV-
Placing my hand on Ana's knee I stop her bouncing it, not because it's irritating me but because I need to calm her down, her hand covers mine squeezing her engagement ring glinting even in the dim courthouse lighting.
"It's all going to be fine." I say pressing a soft kiss in her hair.
"I know but I just want everything to be perfect."
"It will be," I reassure her even though I feel the same, this is a day we'll look back on forever and she's right it does need to be perfect. We've waited so long for this day.
You know when most people meet the person, they're going to spend the rest of their lives with it's a little fluffier and more romantic than ours, but I wouldn't change ours for the world. We both needed the time between that first night and our run-in in the park to be the people we needed to be so we could get here. It might have taken us more time than most for our first kiss, our first… everything but if we hadn't waited, we may never have met Bonnie and Jamie. And I wouldn't change them for the world.
As a kid when I imagined my life, I pictured Mia, Elliot and I all together, it feels wrong that she's not here that she doesn't get to see how things turned out. That she'll never meet my kids, that she won't to be the aunt they beg to spend time with and that she wasn't by my side at my wedding, but I have to believe that if there is a heaven, she's looking down on us right now with a smile on her face. I never expected to be married at twenty-three but here I am married to the love of my life as our children run down the hall chased by their grandparents.
"Momma," Bonnie says climbing into Ana's lap as Jamie jumps up to sit next to me. "Look what Poppop and Papa got Bunny." She shows Ana her Bunny's new necklace. Listening to my little girl talk is something I'll never get over because for so long I worried I'd never be able to hear her voice. I'm not sure if it's just something she grew out of or if she just learned to trust us enough to know that we would never abuse the gift of her words, but one day it was like a switch flipped and she hasn't stopped talking since.
"Wow that's so beautiful did you say thank you?"
"Uh-huh." She nods her head before being distracted by whatever bunny is whispering in her ear.
"Thanks, you didn't have to do that." Ana says to Ray.
"Doll of course I did, Bunny just had to have it." Ray chuckles. You'd think a man as big and butch as him would have better self-control when it comes to a five-year-old, but she has him wrapped around her little finger. She has everyone wrapped around her finger, what can I say the girl's definitely figured out the art to puppy eyes.
"I mean the kid's not wrong Bunny really did need it; it matches her dress." 'Mone says giggling at his husband like he's any better when it comes to spoiling the kids.
"Dad, I got a new race car." Jamie says showing me that way too expensive replica of a Lamborghini he's no doubt conned his grandfathers' into getting him.
"Wow that awesome, we can race it tonight with the Ferrari to see who wins." Jamie definitely takes after Ana when it comes to a love of beautiful sports cars not that I can blame him they really are incredible.
"Christian." A familiar voice rings out echoing around the marble entryway.
"Grandma, Grandpa." Jamie and Bonnie run into my parents' waiting arms.
"How are you?" My father asks pulling me into his arms after putting Jamie down. It took us a while after the gala but eventually me and my father found our footing which I am forever grateful for as he's our biggest supporter now.
"I'm good just nervous and want this all to be over."
"Yeah, I can imagine." We've waiting almost eighteen months to get here.
It didn't take long after Ana applied to be a foster mother for her to be approved, so within a few weeks of the home study and the last parenting class signed off Bonnie and Jamie we placed in our care and they haven't left since. I knew from the moment I first saw her with them that she was meant to be their Mom even if it took me a while to convince her. And as much as wanted to be their Dad from the very beginning I knew that we had to take our time because the last thing either of them needed was for their world to be torn apart once again. The longer they spent in the foster care system the greater the chance that someone else would see how truly incredible they are, and we'd lose them forever and I don't think neither I nor Ana could have survived that.
In truth, I probably should have waited longer to propose than I did but I didn't see the point in waiting any longer because I knew they were my forever, and we were already a family this was just putting an official label and opening the door so we could adopt. So that there was no longer that voice in the back of my head making me wonder if today would be the last day and someone would swoop in and take them from us. I think that's what most people don't realize about the system is that even though you're the one who puts them to bed each night, that you're the one they want when they get hurt and you're the person they see as Mom or Dad is that they're not yours. They're still wards of the state and it's hard when you have to check with your caseworker about something as simple as a haircut. So that's why today is so special maybe even more so than our wedding day because this is the day, we officially become our family and they're ours for keeps.
"Can you and Mom watch the kids for a minute we just have something to talk to Ray and Angelo about?" I ask forcing myself to not say 'Mone because to everyone else bar Ana and I, he's Angelo.
"Sure, take as much time as you need." Dad says picking Jamie up nodding at Ray and 'Mone before taking the kids outside to play on the little area of grass outside the courthouse. It's in moments like these I realize just how far we've come, the man my father was when he met Ana is a far cry from the man who openly welcomes my wife's surrogate family.
"So, Ana I have something we'd like to talk to you about." I ask gesturing to them to sit as we take the seat across from them in the courthouse hall.
"That sounds ominous." Ray says on a half-hearted chuckle. Although he might be worried about what's to come next, I'm not, not only because I know they are going to be so excited but because nothing will scare me quite as much as the day, I told them I was planning on marrying Ana.
I knew that I needed to tell them before I popped the question, but I knew they wouldn't appreciate me asking their permission so instead, I went asking for their blessing. However, it was never going to be as simple as asking just Ray and 'Mone not given how strongly the rest of their family feels for Ana. Instead, I gathered the whole family including Vin, Mama, and the rest of the immediate family, nothing will ever compare to asking mobsters and Mama for their blessing to marry a girl they all love like a daughter.
"Erm, it's not. So, I've been thinking quite a bit over the last few months about the adoption and what it means." Ana takes a deep breath before continuing, stroking over Ben's head where he's resting on her thigh. "The kids view you as their grandparents the same way they view Christian's parents, and you both have been there through so much for never once making me feel like I was a burden or that you were only doing it because you felt obligated to. I don't know if it's becoming a mother that's changed how I view things or that I'm finally in a place where I can accept it. You two have shown me what it means to be a parent, what it means to love someone unconditionally and I'd love it if today we could make it official if you want to legally become my parents."
"What are you saying?" 'Mone asks tears glistening in his eyes as he clutches his husbands' hand so tight, I'm worried he may actually hurt him.
"Will you adopt me?"
"Doll we'd be honored." Ray says pulling Ana into his and 'Mone's arms as a tear slides down his face. Never thought I'd see a man like Ray cry.
I watch quietly as they share their moment before my brother appears with his wife and daughter in tow, followed closely by Taylor and Gail with their wedding bands glinting in the afternoon sunlight still perfectly shiny since their wedding was only a few months ago.
It's not until we're home after the papers are officially signed and framed that it hits me, I'm officially a father in every sense of the word. I know some people might not understand how you can love a child so much even if they don't share your genetics, but blood doesn't make a parent. I think Ana's childhood is proof of that, I've seen how Ray and 'Mone care for Ana to know that it doesn't matter that they don't share blood it doesn't even matter that they only met her when she was a teenager she's still their child. I think there no greater privilege than having a child chose you to be their parent.
"Mmm, how does it feel to officially be a mom, Mrs. Grey?" I say coming up behind Ana encircling her waist and pulling her to me as she stands on the porch watching our parents play with Jamie and Bonnie
"Pretty damn incredible, Mr. Grey." Her hands trace my arms before her finger link with mine, her bare skin resting against mine. The short-sleeve shirt she wears leaving her arms bare in the cool evening breeze, her scars glinting silver in the last of the sun. She's come such a long way since we met, she's not hidden her scars around me since the night she showed me them. But it's been since Jamie and Bonnie came to live with us that she stopped hiding her scars around everyone else, showing them off like the bravery badges they are at least that's what Jamie calls them. She still covers them if we're out in public but around family and friends, she doesn't feel the need to not only because most everyone knows where they're from but because she trusts us enough to be herself.
Listening to my parents call 'Mone Angelo reminds me yet again that my darling wife still hasn't told me why she calls him that.
"Will you finally tell me why you call 'Mone, 'Mone instead of Angelo?"
"There are little ears around, later." She says trying to skirt the question once again but this time I'm not letting her get away with it that easily. Again.
"Those little ears are down the other end of the garden and aren't around to hear anything. So, spill it."
"Fine. When I first moved in with Ray and 'Mone I still called him Angelo because that's what he was known as in the hospital and obvious reasons Ray was taken so he told people to call him Angelo after he and Ray got together. I think they kind of forgot I was there at least in the first few weeks, or they at least thought I was high enough on pain meds that I'd be knocked out. Like Ray forgot to put on a towel after the shower and end up flashing me or he'd forget to get dressed in the morning and get coffee in just his boxers. Anyway, one evening shortly after I moved in, I was drawing in my room trying to improve my fine motor skills when I heard a strange noise. I turned off my music wondering what it was, I was scared someone had broken in the house or something. Then I heard it again and again, it took me a second then I realize what I was, someone moaning and definitely not in a bad way. I wasn't deep enough to be Ray. The next morning when 'Mone came into the kitchen with an extra pep in step I knew exactly what it was, I asked if he'd had a good night. He froze and blushed before squeaking out a yes. I told him I thought 'Mone suited him better than Angelo which turned into a euphemism off war, I think that was the day I finally started opening up to them. Ray found the name so funny and it's kind of just stuck, to be honest, it would feel weird calling him anything else now." By the time she finishes I'm half dying of laughter making everyone in the garden wondering what's going on I wave them off in no way ready to share any of this with them.
"So 'Mone is moaner like someone else I know." I say once I regain my composure pulling Ana back into my arms, I lean in sucking the spot behind her ear that makes her go crazy, and sure enough, she lets out a long deep moan making my cock thicken so fast. Making me wonder if we have enough time to squeeze in a quickie before anyone notices we're gone?
Hope it was everything you wanted and I did these two justice if anyone deserved their happily ever after they do.
Thank you all for reading and for your unendingly kind reviews they have really kept me going.
Now onto the 'surprise', I'm not sure if I've set your expectation a little too high but anyhow. I've decided that writing is something I want to pursue so I'm going to write my first completely original story. I would really like to have some of you as beta's so I can get some feedback on my work as no one in my real-life reads what I write and I'd like to have something polished before I show it to them. Here is the first chapter of my new story. If any of you are interested in giving me constructive feedback it would be greatly appreciated. This is pretty much all I have written so far but I am hoping to finish this one within the first six months of the year. Like I mentioned I will be focusing on my own work now so I think will most likely the last fanfic I write.
So if this is the last time some of you read my work, thank you truly for sticking with me till the end, I will probably put a note on here if I ever pluck up the courage to publish so you can check it out if you want.
Here goes nothing!
Drowning on Dry Land-
Prologue
Daniella
The shrill ringing of my phone pulls me from my sleep, I carefully peel the thankfully still sleeping toddler off me, gently pushing her onto her back. Fumbling around my bedside table in the darkened room desperately searching for my phone before it rings off, knocking it off as it lands on the hardwood floor with a resounding thud. My gaze swings to the little girl on the bed for any signs she's awoken, thankfully she just snuggles deeper into her pillow instead of waking. I throw a silent prayer to the universe. Grabbing the phone trying to be as quiet as I can even with the ringing, I answer it just before it rings out.
"Hello." I croak out.
"Daniella Marie where are you?" An angry voice drifts through the speaker, slipping on my slippers I creep out into the hall not wanting to risk my voice waking my little girl up.
"Mom, what are you talking about? I'm at home." I say pulling the phone back enough to check the time, realizing it's two am. Did I really only go to sleep an hour ago?
"It's a school night you promised me you'd be home by eleven."
"The fuck are you talking about Mom?"
"Don't use that kind of language with me, young lady you're in enough trouble as it is." I frown at the scolding. It's been years since anyone reminded me to check my language.
"Mom, what an earth are you talking about?" I rub at my forehead like it will somehow clear the sleep fog from my brain and I can figure out what the hell my mother is going on about.
"Don't play dumb, I've been waiting up for hours for you to come home, I'm tired I have work in the morning you need to come home now."
"Mom I haven't lived at home in four years."
"I… I… What?" She stammers sounding just as confused as I feel.
"Mom are you okay? What happened?"
"I don't know... Where are you?" She asks this time her voice laced with fear.
"I'm at my apartment. Are you at home?"
"I think so." Fuck.
"Stay right where you are, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
I don't waste any time, running to the coat closet slipping on my biggest, warmest coat knowing it would be freezing at this time of night even if it weren't the middle of winter. I grab Josie and Connor's coats as well. Carefully opening my bedroom door pushing it only so far that I can squeeze through the gap and not so far that it squeaks, I slip back into the room. Managing to get Josie in her coat without her waking is a minor miracle, I leave her on the bed before going to wake my four-year-old up.
"Connor, sweetie. I need you to wake up for Mommy." I stroke his hair trying my best to not startle him but still trying to get him awake fast. He's always been a light sleeper and within a minute or two he starts to stir. "I know, I know you're tired but we have to go see your Grandma. You can sleep as soon as we're in the car but I need you to put your coat on for me."
He only nods before letting me sit him up and get him into the coat, grabbing a fresh pair of socks and a pair of sneakers. He's getting too big for me to be able to carry him at the best of times let alone with Josie, so I put them on and get him to follow me to the car. I debate getting Josie in shoes but I don't want to wake her and she's already in a footed onesie and she won't need to walk anyway. Picking her up I carry her through our tiny two-bedroom apartment, opening the door as a still confused and sleepy Connor follows, it's only as the door begins to shut that I realize I'm still in my slippers. I kick them off, sliding on a pair of pumps before I bundle us into the car, I buckle them both into their seats with Josie still blissfully asleep. Thankfully there's only a thin layer of frost on the windshield. I blast the heat and use the wipers and the screen clears within a minute and we're off on the short journey across town to my mother's house.
Given it's the middle of the night, I manage to complete the normally twenty-minute journey in under ten, somehow making every green light on the way. Pulling up behind my mother's minivan I park the car, I debate getting the kids out with me but they're both asleep in their car seats, so I leave the car running to keep the heat on before jumping out the car and knocking on the door.
"Daniella." My mother says opening the door and throwing her arms around me.
"Mom, what's going on?" I say pulling back to look at her. I scan her from head to toe looking for anything out of the ordinary, a head injury or something to explain her confusion but there's nothing out of place except the tears maring her cheeks.
"I don't know." She sounds more like a frightened child than my usually calm and collected mother.
"Mom, can you do some things for me?" She nods, I get her to smile, raise her arms, and walk across the room looking for signs of a stroke because I know they can cause problems like confusion. But everything is normal, she's not slurring her words, and apart from the fact she seems to have lost almost five years of time.
"Okay, I think we should go to the hospital." Something clearly isn't right, and I don't know what else to do. I ignore my racing heart and the stinging behind my eyes focusing on what needs to be done. "You watch the car, Connor and Josie are in there. I'm going to wake up Annabella and Oscar alright?" I'm not convinced she knows who they are but she nods all the same staring out the door at my car, so I take that as a good sign and run up the stairs.
Walking into my mother's room I expect my stepfather to be in the bed but it's empty and only one side seems to have been used. I look in both bathrooms and the laundry room before I give up assuming he's not here, but if he isn't here then where the fuck is he? Wouldn't my mom have told me if he were going out of town?
"Oscar." I say opening the door to his room and sitting beside him on the bed, he startles awake frightened before he realizes it's me.
"Dani. What are you doing here?"
"Mom's… uh not feeling well I need to take her to the hospital but I can't find your Dad. I need you to put on some shoes so I can take you and Bella with us."
"Is she okay?"
"I don't know but we're going to find out." I say honestly because even though he's only eight he understands way more than most kids his age do and as soon as he sees Mom he'll know somethings wrong. "Can you put on some shoes for me? You don't have to get dressed if you don't want but it's way too cold out for you to go barefoot."
"Yeah, I can do that." He says rubbing at his eyes.
"Thank you." I kiss his forehead and hug him tight before forcing myself to let go because I know that if I hold on too long everything I'm trying to hold in is going to work its way out. "I'm going to wake Bella up and get her ready. Can you meet us downstairs?"
"Yeah." He says still a little groggy as he gets out of bed.
Walking into Annabella's room I find her wrapped up in her sheets with one leg hanging off the bed. How can anyone sleep like that? At any other time, I'd take a minute to marvel at my sister's odd sleeping habits but right now I don't have the time.
"Bella. I need you to wake up for me." I lift her leg back onto the bed, as I start to untangle her from her princess comforter. "Bella." I sing trying to rouse her, I swear this kid could sleep through a fire alarm.
Pulling the comforter off, she curls into a ball as the cool night air hits her skin. I open her closet pulling out the first pair of shoes I see and a pair of leggings because there is no way I can take her out in this weather in her nightgown even if it is long-sleeved. I get her changed, not bothering to be quiet like I did with Josie because I need her awake. Even after putting her shoes on she still shows no signs of waking, I heave her up off the bed and into my arms, even though she's two years older than Connor somehow she weighs less. Maybe boys are just heavier?
"I put on my coat and got one for Mom." Oscar says as my foot hits the last step.
"Thank you. Can you grab me Bella's? And do you know where Mom's keys are?" I ask knowing we won't all fit in my little car and we'll need my Mom's minivan.
"I think they're in her purse." He hands me Bella's coat before disappearing into the kitchen, to find her bag.
I manage to get both Connor and Josie transferred into the other car without waking them much, Bella still doesn't wake beyond a disgruntled groan when I buckle her up. Oscar doesn't fall asleep like everyone else, he sits there chewing on his lip as I get Mom situated in the passenger seat. I can feel the nerves radiating off him as I glance back at him in the rearview on the way to the hospital and as much I want to comfort him I have no idea what to say. I have to take her to the next town over because even though our town has a clinic it's only open during the day and I figure she probably needs more tests than they would be able to provide anyway.
By the time I park at the park the nerves that have been bubbling in my gut since I answered the phone are a fully-fledged knot, despite wanting to give into them and let myself feel scared I know I can't my family need me right now. Thankfully the car stopping seems to have roused Bella and she's awake enough to walk herself into the hospital, so I carry Connor and I get Oscar to carry Josie. It's only a short walk into the hospital and I get the kids sat down before making my way to the front desk.
Even though it's the early hours of Monday morning and the Urgent Care is busier than I thought it would be, the lady at the front desk tells me it's only about a two-hour wait. I get to work filling out the needed forms, while my mom sits quietly beside me still slightly dazed; I don't think she's fully aware of what's going on.
The lady was right it doesn't take long before we're seen by a nurse to get Mom's observations, the nurse gets her to tell him what year she thinks it is, who's the president and all those kinds of things. But my heart almost stops when she tells him it's 2016 and the way his eyes widen at her response, he gives me a sympathetic smile but it does little to reassure me. He leaves us alone with the kids, Josie's still sound asleep in my lap and the others slumped on the other chairs fighting to stay awake.
I know it's probably something minor like UTI causing all this but there's something in my gut telling me it's not that simple and no amount of kind words from the doctor reassures me. And definitely not the battery list of tests she orders.
Something's seriously wrong, I can feel it in my bones.
When the results are back it's worse than I could ever have imagined.
So much worse.
Thank you so much if you checked this chapter out, if any of you are seriously interested and you're happy to wait until I get further into this story, please privately message me so we can work out any details.
Bye for now at least, FearfullyBrave.
