A/N
I am sorry for the delay in posting. I started writing and the next thing I knew I was above 20k words. So, the epilogue has two parts. Just a friendly reminder that this is my story and it's a work of fiction. Whatever name I choose for characters is my decision to make. If you don't like my ideas, write your own story.
WARNING! This chapter contains Ana and Christian's struggle with infertility. If any readers have a sensitivity to the subject, you may want to skip to part 2.
Epilogue Part 1– That's What I Get For Loving You (Diamond Rio)
One Year Later
Ana POV
I stare at the test in my hand and tears fill my eyes. Another negative.
We have been trying to have a baby since we got married and each month, nothing. I throw the test across the bathroom, and it bounces off the wall, then slides along the tile floor. I bury my face in my hands and cry. Why can't I get pregnant? What is wrong with me?
"Ana?" Gail knocks on the bathroom door. "Are you alright? Mr. Grey tried to call your phone. When he couldn't get you, he asked me to check on you. Do you need anything?" I wipe my eyes and shake my head.
"No, thank you. I will be out in a minute." I grab a tissue from the sink and blow my nose.
"Okay, Ana." I can hear the concern in Gail's voice as I dry my eyes.
I sit on the side of the bathtub for a few more minutes, trying to calm myself. It seems everyone around me is either pregnant or already had a baby. Roni and Luke have a three-month-old baby girl named Sonya. She is a product of their closet fuck the night of the fundraiser. They are living together and haven't made any plans to get married yet.
We found out last month that Kate and Elliott are expecting. Elliott freaked out at first because Kate seems dedicated to her career, and he didn't want a baby to mess that up for her. Once she revealed to him her excitement for having his baby, he got over the panic and embraced the idea of being a father.
I take a few deep breaths and exit the bathroom. I pick up my phone from the bed side table and see a few texts and a missed call from Christian. He left early this morning for a breakfast meeting with his senior staff. He is slowly reducing his hours at GEH to spend more time with me. We have traveled a lot this past year, and he is in the process of completely backing away from GEH.
When he told me about his plan, I was shocked. GEH is his baby and I felt guilty about taking him away from it. He told me I am his future, and he wants to spend time with me, and our children. If we ever have any.
I sit on the side of the bed and press his number on my phone. It rings once and he answers.
"Hi," Christian says softly.
I clear my throat before speaking, since my voice is hoarse from crying. "Good morning. How did your meeting go?" I play with the hem on my shirt. Well, it's Christian's t-shirt.
"It was alright, I guess. I would have much rather stayed in bed with you. What do you have planned for the rest of today?" His voice is soothing me, and I wish he could hold me right now.
"I don't have anything planned yet. Do you want to do something?" I ask in a hopeful tone.
"I will be home in an hour or so. We can talk about it then, okay?" He knows about the test, but how?
"Sure, that will be fine. I'll see you when you get home."
"I love you, Ana." I hold my breath to fight the tears that I know will come when I get off the phone.
"I love you more, Christian." My voice cracks as I end the call. I don't want him to hear me break down over the phone.
I toss my phone on the bed and lay back against the duvet. I close my eyes and think about last weekend. We spent our one-year anniversary in Aspen, just the two of us. I didn't think I could love him more, but I fall in love more every day. His love and affection for me from the first day seems to have gotten stronger as well. I don't know what I would do without him.
I wake suddenly when I feel a soft touch to my cheek. I lock eyes with Christian and smile. "Hi," I say, shyly. I glance at the alarm clock and realize I have been asleep for over an hour.
"Hi, beautiful." He leans down, kissing my lips softly. My hand covers his as our kiss breaks apart. The love in his eyes overwhelms me, causing my eyes to water. "Oh, baby." He pulls me up into his arms and I cry harder.
Christian kisses my hair and rubs my back in a soothing manner. I take a few deep breaths and cling to his shirt. "What is wrong with me Christian? Why can't I get pregnant?" I say against his chest.
"Nothing is wrong with you, Ana. The fertility doctor has checked us both. Maybe we should call her office and set up another appointment." I lean back slightly, looking into his eyes.
"Okay." I get off the bed and decide to take a warm bath.
I don't know what the next step is for us. Before Christian and I got married, I went off birth control. My periods were irregular, even with the shot. I didn't think anything of it at the time. When the fertility doctor asked about the regularity of my menstrual cycles, I didn't know what to tell her. She recommended giving my body time to adjust without the hormone of birth control, and to come back if we don't get pregnant.
"Want to join me in the tub?" I ask while pouring some lavender oil in the water stream.
"Of course." Christian removes his jacket and I watch in fascination as he removes the rest of his clothes. I am reminded of my bachelorette party, and it makes me squirm.
"Your turn, Mrs. Grey." Christian saunters to me in all his glory and pulls the shirt over my head. I never got dressed this morning, taking the pregnancy test as soon as I woke up.
"You have a beautiful body, Ana. I love looking at you and touching you." He kisses my shoulder and reaches for my hand. "After you." I smile and step into the warm water. After I sit down, I lean forward and Christian sits behind me.
I moan at the feeling of the bath and being in Christian's arms. He reaches for the bath sponge and starts to wash me. "Tell me about your meeting," I say, breaking the silence.
"We discussed how to handle future mergers and me playing less of a role in day-to-day functions."
"How did they handle the news?"
"Ros is recruiting for additional personnel to handle the workload and confirmed that I would be involved in the interview process. She doesn't want to be overwhelmed with work and I told her I would help if she needed me."
"I still can't believe you are stepping away from GEH. You built her from the ground up and played a huge part in the success of it. Why step away now?"
"I want to be ready to support you in every way when you get pregnant. I don't want to depend on Gail or anyone else to be there when it is my responsibility as a husband and father." My heart constricts when he talks about being a father.
"Besides, it's not like we need the money." I nod in agreement.
Once we finish our bath, I go into the library to call the fertility doctor and Christian goes to his office to for a web meeting. Christian and I did the standard testing to determine if either one of us is infertile and we both came back negative. So, I have no idea why I can't get pregnant.
The nurse at the doctor's office lets me know they have a cancellation tomorrow morning and schedules us then. She said the doctor may call me this afternoon to ask some questions to prepare for the appointment tomorrow.
I sit in the oversized chair in front of the window that looks out over the field and the barn. Maybe I can get Elizabeth to come out and help me today. I need to do something to get my mind of my current situation.
I hear a soft knock on the door, and I see Christian's head peeking inside. "Everything okay?" He asks, then walks into the room.
"Yes, we have an appointment in the morning. The nurse said the doctor may call me this afternoon and ask questions about what has been going on with me. I'm anxious to know what the next step is." Christian kneels in front of me, so we are eye to eye.
"I know you want to have a baby, but there are other options like adoption or fostering." My eyes fill with tears, and I nod my head.
"I know. I think I am going to call Elizabeth's foster parents and see if I can pick up her up for the day. Would you mind?" I ask, hoping he won't be upset.
"Of course not. I have plenty of work things I can take care of. Would you like to go out to dinner tonight or eat at home?" He places soft kisses at the corner of my mouth, and I melt with his touch.
"I would like to stay home and spend a quiet evening with you. Maybe we can watch a movie or something. How does that sound?" He kisses the tip of my nose.
"Sounds wonderful. Let me know if you are able to get Elizabeth."
"Okay." I reach for my phone as Christian walks out of the room. Elizabeth's foster parents were agreeable for me to pick up Elizabeth and bring her out to the barn for the rest of day. Over the past few months, she has learned a lot about taking care of horses and has even started some riding. I can tell she is still skittish about riding alone, but she is doing well.
Luke drives me to pick up Elizabeth from her house. On the ride back, we chat about school and what she loves most about going. She is a smart little girl and makes good grades. She told me she looks forward to coming to see me the most. She loves spending time with me and helping me take care of the horses.
It turns out spending the afternoon with her is just what I need to take my mind of my doctor's appointment tomorrow.
The next morning, Christian and I are escorted from the waiting room to the treatment room for Dr. Shelby. The nurse lets us know the doctor will be in soon.
"What do you think she will want to do? She only asked basic questions yesterday." I ask Christian nervously.
"Relax, baby. Leigh is the best fertility doctor in the state of Washington. Mom speaks very highly of her."
"I'm trying. I can't help but be nervous about what she has to say. It's most every girl's dream to become a wife and eventually a mother. If that can't happen naturally, it will take some time for me to process it."
CPOV
Dr. Leigh Shelby is the best fertility doctor in the state of Washington. If there was one any better, I would have flown them in so we could figure out why Ana isn't getting pregnant. We have sex - a lot of it. And I know both of us are fine when it comes to being fertile. I have been doing my own research on the subject matter and it could just be the process of her eggs and my sperm not meeting together at the right moment.
Science has improved by leaps and bounds over the past ten or more years. There is invitro and inter-uterine fertilization, fertility drugs, and so on. I think Ana is putting undo stress on herself causing more harm than good. I hope with me pulling back from GEH and spending more time with her will help Ana to relax. I have plans to travel different places to take her mind off conceiving. We will see what the good doctor suggests.
"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Grey. It's been a while. How have you both been?" The doctor looks back and forth between us waiting for someone to answer.
"Honestly, Dr. Shelby, I am struggling with trying to get pregnant. Everyone around me it seems is either pregnant or recently given birth. I try to be happy for them, but I want to have a child of my own. I want to have a miniature version of Christian running around." Ana wipes a tear and I bring her hand to my mouth, kissing it.
It's hard listening to my wife talk about her struggles. I've tried to give her everything she could ever want, and I can't give her a baby.
"Mrs. Grey, I have been reviewing your file and I would like to do an ultrasound to check for scar tissue in the uterus and fallopian tubes. You both can conceive but there is something not matching up. You could have a mile case of endometriosis and that is what I want to look for." The doctor looks at Ana then to me.
"Sure. We have to start somewhere." Ana's voice is low and shaky. I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her to my side, kissing her hair.
"Dr. Shelby, money is not a concern. If there is a test that needs to be done or a regimen we need to follow, make it happen." I realize after saying this that I haven't considered what Ana wants. I look down into her fathomless blue eyes that are brimming with tears.
"We will figure it out, baby. Let's see what the doctor finds and go from there. Okay?" She rests her head against my chest, and I nod at Dr. Shelby.
"Okay, Mrs. Grey. I need you to put this gown on and have a seat on the exam table. I will step into the next room and get some supplies, then my nurse will bring in the ultrasound machine and we will get started."
The doctor leaves and I feel Ana shaking in my arms. I wrap my arms around her tightly, holding her while she cries. Before Ana came into my life, I had control over everything – GEH, whatever sub I had under contract and my interaction with others. Sitting here holding the most important person in my life and not being able to control the outcome of today has my heart in a free fall.
I feel Ana relax in my arms and I hand her my handkerchief. She chuckles and I look down at her face. Her eyes are now red rimmed and wet, and her cheeks are flush. "What are you laughing at?" I ask while wiping her tears with my thumb.
"You are always prepared," she says, holding up the hanky.
I smile and shake my head. "That's not my doing. Gail seems to have one in every jacket I wear. Are you okay?" Ana nods her head.
After cleaning up her face and changing into the hospital gown, she sits on the exam room table, and we wait for Dr. Shelby to return.
After a brief pelvic exam, Dr. Shelby turns the machine on, talking while she gets it ready. "Ana, I didn't feel any cysts when I did your exam. I will do a vaginal ultrasound first, checking the fallopian tubes and uterus for anything resembling scar tissue." She pulls out a wand that resembles a weird looking sex toy. She places a condom over it then covers it with lube.
"Take some deep breaths and try to relax. This isn't going to hurt but it will be uncomfortable. Ready?" Dr. Shelby asks and nods her head. I take her hand in mine and kiss her palm.
I watch the screen with fascination as the doctor uses the wand, taking pictures in certain places. She doesn't say anything during the procedure, and I start to panic. She carefully removes the wand and disposes the condom in the trash.
"I will give you a few minutes to get cleaned up and then we can discuss what I found." Dr. Shelby leaves the room and I stare at the closed door. That can't be good.
Ana is quiet the entire time she cleans herself and gets dressed. I'm sure, like me, she is dreading the conversation we are about to have with the doctor. What if she found something life threatening? Would she tell us immediately?
We move to sit on the love seat that is in the corner of the exam room. Dr. Shelby comes in with a small bag in her hands and sits down on the stool in front of us.
"After briefly looking over the results of your blood test and then doing the ultrasound, I want to discuss the next step options to you." She hands over two printed pictures and I have no clue what I am looking at.
"These pictures are of Ana's fallopian tubes. They are completely blocked with scar tissue. I suggest Ana have a D & C, dilation, and curettage, to remove scar tissue from her uterus. She has a mild case of endometriosis, and it has blocked the path of the egg from the ovary to the uterus. Once this procedure is done, we can move forward with the next step, either intrauterine insemination or invitro fertilization.
"I would like to do the D& C as soon as possible. The procedure will take about fifteen to twenty minutes and recovery time is minimal. I have several brochures on it and if you would like to think about it before we schedule, I understand." Dr. Shelby leans over and takes Ana's hand.
"Are you okay, Ana?" My wife looks up and tries to smile.
"Yes, I'm just trying to process everything. So, what you are saying is I need to have this procedure to clean out my reproductive organs so I can get pregnant?" Dr. Shelby nods. "Are there any dangerous side effects to have the D & C?" Ana asks.
"The most common side effects are cramping and bleeding. Rare side effects are adhesions that form inside the uterus that can cause infertility."
"When can it be scheduled?" Ana asks and I stiffen slightly. I would like to review the information packets before she has this done.
"Is this the only thing that can be done to remove the scar tissue?" I ask before the doctor can answer Ana.
"Mr. Grey, a D & C is a common procedure that can be done in my office or in a hospital as an outpatient procedure. Some women prefer to have light anesthesia but it's not necessary. Why don't you take this information home, talk things over and let me know how you wish to proceed? I will have my nurse check the schedule and let you know the next available appointment to have it done." Ana nods and looks to me. She knows how I am with finding out everything I can about something before deciding.
"What happens after the procedure?" I'm not sure my brain can handle any more information right now, but Ana must want to hear about all of it.
"A month after the procedure is done will be enough time for your body to go through a menstrual cycle. I would like to start Ana on fertility drugs at that time to help boost egg production. We will see how your body adjusts to the hormones in the drugs and go from there." The doctor takes a deep breath and looks at us both.
"This is a process. It may be six months to a year before you get pregnant, maybe longer. Have you considered what you will do if this doesn't work?" Ana squeezes my hand and I put my arm around her shoulders.
"Yes, we have discussed adoption and we are open to it," I murmur before kissing Ana's hair. It isn't even lunch time yet and I'm already exhausted.
"Okay. This bag is full of pamphlets containing information on fertility drugs, D & C, and invitro. Please call me if you have any questions. I put my business card in there with my personal cell number written on it." I take the bag from her, and we stand to leave.
"Thank you. Give us a few days to think this over and we will be in touch," I say, shaking the doctor's hand. Ana does the same and we walk out of the room arm in arm.
Ana doesn't say anything during the car ride home. I can see the wheels turning in her mind and I leave her be, for now.
After a quiet lunch, I step outside to the back deck and rest my arms against the railing. It's a sunny day in Seattle and I take a deep breath. I will support Ana in whatever decision she makes regarding the fertility treatment. I only want her long-term health and safety to be the most important factor in this. The pamphlets say there are some side effects but only in cases where drugs are used for long periods of time.
The French doors to the deck open and I look over my shoulder at Ana walking toward me. I turn to face her and open my arms to her. She walks into my embrace, and we hold each other tightly for a few moments.
I feel her soft kisses against my neck and my body starts to react. Before I met Ana, I avoided touch at all costs. Now I crave her touch, in any form.
Her hands move from my waist to my chest, then to my hair. She pulls my head down and kisses my lips passionately. I respond in kind while sliding my hands down her back to her ass, squeezing each cheek. I pull her firmly against my erection and she moans in response.
We break apart and get our breaths. Her forehead rests against my chest and I continue to rub her back.
"Thank you," Ana says, barely above a whisper. She lifts her head and looks up at me. Her lips are swollen from our kiss and her eyes are full of need.
"For what?" I ask, my voice husky.
"For loving me. For always being here when I need you. I don't know what I would do without you in my life, Christian." I take her face in my hands and kiss her lips softly. I place butterfly kisses on her cheeks, nose, and forehead before kissing her lips again.
"I will always be here for you, Ana. I will support you no matter what." I take her hand and lead her to a lounger. "Let's have a seat. It's a beautiful afternoon." I sit down and pull her into my lap.
"I've read over most of the pamphlets the doctor gave us. I want to have the D & C done and try a round of the fertility drugs. If it doesn't work, we can check on adopting. Are you okay with that?" Ana asks while playing with the hair at the back of my collar.
"Yes, I am good with that. I don't think the doctor would recommend doing something that could be harmful to your overall health. Science has come a long way and let's see if we can use it to our advantage."
"I read that my hormones are going to be raging and I will have some major mood swings. I apologize in advance if I say something hurtful. I love you with everything in me Christian. Nothing is going to change that." I hold her tighter and kiss her head.
"I know. Let's lay here and enjoy the peace and quiet." And that's what we did for the rest of the afternoon.
The following morning, Ana calls Dr. Shelby's office and makes an appointment to have the D & C done. I hope I can keep her mind off the stress during this process.
APOV
It's been a month since I had the D & C procedure. I have an appointment this morning to go over the process of the fertility drugs. The doctor asked me about having a period and I told her I was due to start today or tomorrow, based on the calendar.
"Good morning," Christian whispers in my ear as he pulls me closer. He kisses my shoulder and I lean into his touch.
"Mm. Good morning." I love this time of the day. Laying in bed with Christian and starting the day with his mouth somewhere on my body. We aren't in a hurry to go anywhere or do anything.
"What do you have planned after the doctor's appointment?" Christian asks while kissing down my back. He rolls me over and continues to kiss across my hips down to where I want him the most. "Ana?"
"Huh?" I ask, my brain focusing on where Christian's mouth is.
"What are we doing after your doctor's appointment?" Christian asks again and I huff in annoyance.
I raise my hips to his mouth, and he chuckles. "I don't care," I whine. I feel his tongue touch me lightly and I grab his hair to guide him where I want him.
"Please," I beg, moving my hips in search of his mouth.
"Please what? Tell me what you want, Mrs. Grey." I sigh and cover my eyes with my arm. I keep quiet for a few minutes until I feel Christian's body on top of mine. I move my arm and see a beautiful set of grey eyes boring into mine.
"Talk to me, baby." Christian rests his arms on both sides of my head and massages my scalp with his fingers.
"It's nothing." I try to look away and he holds my head still.
"And I know better. Did you want me to eat your pussy? You want me to get you off with my tongue and finger fuck you until you come on my fingers?" I feel myself getting wet with his dirty talk. My cheeks flush with embarrassment as I nod my head.
"Why didn't you say it? I know what you need but I want you to tell me what you want. I know your body Ana but want you to vocalize it to me. I love hearing your moans and sighs when I make you feel good." I lean up and kiss his lips softly.
Christian breaks away from the kiss and moves down my body to the apex of my thighs. When he latches onto my clitoris, I gasp. In a matter of minutes, I am gripping the bed sheets as my orgasm takes over.
The next thing I know, Christian turns me over to my knees and slams into me from behind. He grabs my hair and uses his free hand to grip my hips as he savagely fucks me. He holds me still has he chases his orgasm. I feel by body climbing higher as he pounds in and out of me.
"Yessss. I feel you clinching my dick." Christian grunts as I fall over the edge. "Ah, Ana. God, you feel exquisite." He pistons his hips a few more times before he stills inside me. I feel his breath hard on my back as he releases my hair.
He pulls out of me and lays us on the bed, my back to his front. I am completely spent, and he did all the work. I laugh to myself.
"And I thought I wanted slow and gentle this morning." He doesn't answer so I turn to the side and look at his face.
"What?" I ask.
"Did I hurt you?" He whispers, then releases his hold on me, allowing me to completely turn and face him.
"No, you didn't hurt me. It felt incredible. You have a way of knowing my body better than I do. Thank you for loving me, Christian." Our lips meet in a soft kiss.
Before we can take any further, Christian's phone buzzes across the bedside table. He reaches across me to silence the noise. "It's just the alarm. I told Andrea I was not available today for anything."
I nod. "Okay." Christian rubs my cheek softly with the backs of his fingers.
"Everything will work out Ana. Let's take a shower and get ready for your doctor's appointment." We untangle ourselves and get ready for what the day will bring.
Three Months Later
I stare at another negative pregnancy test and toss it in the trash. The doctor said it could take months for me to get pregnant, but I was hoping she wasn't serious. I hear a soft knock on the bathroom door and Christian opens it slowly. He can tell by the look on my face it wasn't the outcome we wanted.
He pulls me into his arms, and I rest my cheek against his bare chest. I take a deep breath smelling his scent, hoping it will help calm my raging emotions. My periods are still not regulated, and my hormones are raging.
"I think we should try the invitro. We are doing everything the doctor said and nothing is happening," I mumble against his chest.
"Give her a call and see what she says we should do." Christian kisses my hair and I turn my face up to look at him.
"I think I will go for a ride today. Do you have any plans?" He nods his head.
"I need to go into the office today for a department head meeting. Ros wants to keep me abreast with the details, even though I have stepped away from the day-to-day activities. Why don't you see if Elizabeth can go with you?" I smile thinking of the sweet little girl that has helped me cope over the past few months.
"Okay. I will call her foster mom after we shower." Christian pecks my lips before he turns the water on.
A few hours later, Elizabeth and I are in the back of SUV as Luke drives us to the barn.
"Do you want to ride with me today?" I ask in a hopeful tone.
"Yes! I would love to. Do you think I'm ready to ride by myself?" Elizabeth's brown eyes shine with glee when I nod my head.
"Yes, you are ready. You have been helping me every chance you get, and you know what needs to be done. We can go on a short ride today and gradually work up to something longer. Okay?" I feel the SUV slow down as Luke turns into the driveway.
"Miss Ana, can I ask you something?" Elizabeth asks and I nod my head.
"Of course, you can. What's on your mind?"
"If something happens to my foster mom, can I come and live with you?" I am momentarily speechless from her question then I remember I haven't given her answer yet.
"Sure, you can. Is everything okay?" Luke exits the car and gives Elizabeth and I a few minutes of privacy to finish our conversation.
"She is sick a lot lately and going to the doctor. Her and my foster dad don't talk about it in front of me, but I can tell that something isn't right." I reach across the seat and take Elizabeth's hand.
"You are welcome to stay with me anytime. Now, let's go have some fun, alright?" I give her my best smile and we get out of the SUV.
I try not to think about what Elizabeth said regarding her foster mom. What if something does happen and Elizabeth must move away? I shake my head of the negative thoughts and focus on having a good time with her this afternoon. I will bring the topic up later with Christian and see what he thinks about it.
Elizabeth and I have a great time riding and taking care of the horses. She is curious about them and willing to learn how to take care of them. She hugs my neck tightly when I drop her off at her house. I pay attention to how her foster mom looks and acts. She doesn't say much when Elizabeth opens the door. I smile and wave before going back to the SUV.
As I'm riding back to the house, my phone rings with a number I don't recognize. "Ana Grey," I answer.
"Mrs. Grey, this is Dr. Shelby. Do you have a few minutes to talk?" I sigh and lean my head back on the seat.
"Sure, Dr. Shelby. What do you want to discuss?"
"I want to check in and see how you are doing. Have you had any problems with the fertility drugs?" She asks and I think to myself yes, I'm having problems. They aren't working.
"I am feeling okay. My period doesn't seem to be regulating and I don't know when I'm ovulating. I took a pregnancy test this morning and it was negative. What do we do now?"
"Take the pills for the next three months. We can add more milligrams to help increase egg production if need be. If nothing happens after three months, we can discuss doing invitro." My eyes tear up. Another three months of nothing.
"Okay, Dr. Shelby. I will keep you posted." I end the call and toss my phone into the seat. The ride back home is quiet, with only the passing cars making noise.
When we get back home, Christian is waiting for me. He opens the door and offers his hand to help me out.
"Hey, baby. How was your day?" He kisses my lips and holds me close.
"It was good. How was yours?"
"I thought about you the entire time, wondering what you were doing. Did Elizabeth have a good time today?" He takes my hand, and we walk into the house.
"She did great riding the horses and helping me take care of them. She was excited to finally ride by herself. She asked me something that caught me off guard though." I take a seat at the breakfast bar while Christian gets two bottles of water from the refrigerator.
"What did she say?" Christian drinks half the bottle of water and I watch his Adam's apple move up and down as he swallows. I'm distracted by the action until he leans down to look me in the eyes. I smile and he shakes his head.
"Sorry, I got distracted by your good looks, Mr. Grey. Anyway, she asked if something happened to her foster mom if she could come and live with us. I told her yes and it got me thinking. What happens if she must leave and live with someone else. She's an important part of my life." Christian's eyes soften and he leans across the counter to kiss me.
"Maybe we should get approved to become foster parents. We don't know how the fertility treatment is going to go and it could help us in the adoption process." I smile and walk around the breakfast bar. I put my arms around Christian's neck and pull him closer to me.
"I was hoping you would say that. Can you talk to your mom about where we should start?"
"Of course. I will call her after we eat. Gail left dinner in the warmer. Are you hungry?" I grin, then kiss his lips.
"Yes, but not for food." Christian picks me up and I wrap my legs around his hips. He walks us to the bedroom where we spend the rest of the evening showing our love for each other.
A few months have gone by and I'm still not pregnant. I am starting to doubt what the doctor says about my ability to get pregnant naturally. Most of the articles I have read online mention pregnancy occurring a few months after starting fertility drugs, unless there are other medical conditions that have not yet been discovered.
On the plus side, we have our final inspection tonight with the social worker. Our application to become foster parents is approved pending the inspection of our home. We had to fill out piles of paperwork then take a six-week training class. Even Christian's money and status couldn't get around the class. But it was informative in so many ways. The social worker asked if we were interested in helping with emergency temporary placement and we agreed wholeheartedly, considering what Christian went through as a child.
I pace the floor in Christian's office as I wait for him to come home. He had another meeting this afternoon with the GEH department heads from all his office locations, including New York. He says most departments are on track and he's comfortable with completely stepping away from his role as CEO. He wanted Ros to take the position, but she insisted he needs to keep the title in case she needs his help with an acquisition.
I have a hard time believing he will be able to let completely. He started the company himself and has always been a part of making it grow and succeed. Time will tell, I guess.
The doorbell rings and I freeze. This is it. I hope the social worker approves of our home. I race to the door and open before she had to ring the bell again.
I am not sure what I expected but this is not it. I open the door to find a blonde woman dressed in high heels, a mini skirt above mid-thigh level, and a blouse unbuttoned one too many times allowing the tops of her breasts to spill out.
"Hi, I'm Angela with Kent County Social Services and I'm here to do the final home inspection. Is Mr. Grey here?" My shoulders slump and I open the door wider for her to come inside.
"Mr. Grey is held up with a work meeting. He should be home soon." I smile tightly, trying to hide my annoyance with how she's dressed.
"Are you the housekeeper?" She looks around the house and I have no clue who or what she is looking for. Before I can answer, the door that leads to the garage flies open and Christian rushes inside.
Angela rushes over to introduce herself, letting her tits lead the way. "Hello, Mr. Grey. My name is Angela and I'm here to do the final home inspection. Would you like to show me around? I already met your housekeeper. I'm disappointed she didn't offer me anything to drink." I gasp, and Christian's eyes blaze with anger.
Without saying a word to Angela, Christian steps by her and engulfs me in a hug. "Hi, baby. Sorry I'm late." I smile at him, and he leans in for a kiss. An indecent, tongue down my throat kind of kiss.
When we finally come up for air, I'm a little lightheaded. He holds onto me while turning to address our guest.
"Angela, is it?" Christian says and I know what comes out of his mouth next is not going to be good for Miss Googly Eyes. She smiles sweetly and sticks her hand out. Christian looks at her hand then back to her face.
"I would appreciate it if you could button your blouse up properly. You are making me and my wife uncomfortable. Does your boss know you are dressed this way?" Angela's eyes bug out of her head, and she shakes her head.
"N-n-no Sir." She looks like she's ready to cry. I roll my eyes and look at Christian.
"Well, fix your clothes so we can get on with it," Christian's stern voice echoes through the room and she turns her back to us to fix herself the best she can.
He takes my hand, and we lead Angela through the house, answering questions as she checks items off her list. We make it back around to the living room and she stares at Christian. A few moments of silence go by then he pulls me in front of him.
"Do you have any other questions?" I ask and she finally stops staring at my husband. I can understand this happening in public, but this woman is in my home trying to get the attention of my man.
"Um, no. From everything I've seen, you have passed the inspection with flying colors." She laughs and looks at Christian, batting her eyelashes.
"Great! I think you need to leave now." Christian keeps a tight grip on my hand as he walks to the front door. He opens it and looks at our guest expectantly. She walks through the door and as she turns around, he slams it in her face.
"That was awful. I plan on calling the social services office tomorrow and let them know how she was dressed tonight. It was completely uncalled for." He shakes his head and leads me to the couch. He sits down and pulls me down on his lap.
"How was your day, baby?" He asks after giving me a kiss. I laugh and take his face in my hands.
"It was okay. I have been nervous all day about this inspection. I was expecting someone dressed professionally carrying a briefcase and touching everything with a white glove. How was your day?" I run my fingers through his hair, and he moans in appreciation.
"Boring. Everything is running like a well-oiled machine. Would you like to leave town for a getaway? Maybe visit your parents for a bit?" I kiss his lips tenderly.
"That sounds wonderful, Mr. Grey. Make it happen."
The next day, I find myself on the GEH jet heading to my parent's place in Montana for a long weekend. Grace and Carrick are staying at their cabin so we will be able to have a family dinner while there. I am also in desperate need of a hug from my mom. Christian has helped me through the past few months, but I really need my mom right now.
When the plane lands, mom and dad are waiting for us on the tarmac. "Ana!" Mom engulfs me in a hug, and I take a deep breath to fight off tears.
"Sweetheart, it's so good to see you. I have missed you. How have you been?" Mom asks while taking my face in her hands.
"We are good mom." I say, trying to convince her but I think she knows better.
"We can talk later when your father and husband aren't around. Okay?" She whispers and I nod in agreement.
"Come here, Annie. Give your old man a hug." Dad wraps his arms around me, and I melt in his warmth. I have missed my parents so much.
"Let's go you two. I've got something I want to show you." Dad says in an excited tone. I'm sure he has a new toy to show us. We haven't been out here since we got back from our honeymoon.
We pull into their driveway, and I don't see anything different. "What do you have to show us? I don't see anything." Christian squeezes my hand and I look over at him. He winks and I think I am the only one that doesn't know what is going on.
We pull around to the back of the house and I keep looking around. I still don't see anything, so I sit back and wait for my dad to make his big reveal.
"You can't see it from here. We need to get into the UTV." Dad jumps out of the car and walks briskly to the barn. I hold Christian's hand tighter to keep him in the car with me.
"What is going on? Do you know why he is acting this way? It's weird." Christian smiles and shakes his head.
"I can't tell you. It's your father's surprise. He's been working hard on it. Come on, baby. He's in a hurry." Christian laughs as I glance out of the windshield of the car and see dad behind the wheel of the UTV, tapping his hands on the steering wheel.
"Come on, let's go!" Dad yells. I roll my eyes and get out of the car.
CPOV
I have known about Ray's surprise for Ana since we got married. He pulled me aside at the reception and talked about his plan. I kind of wish he would have included her in the planning. It would have help take her mind off trying to get pregnant.
We climb in the UTV and thankfully the weather is warm in Montana right now. Otherwise, I would be freezing my balls off.
I wrap my arm around Ana and pull her close to me, kissing her hair. She looks up and me and I kiss the tip of her nose. "I love you, baby."
"I love you too Christian."
Ray stops the UTV and reaches into his pocket. He turns and hands me a blind fold. "Annie, I need you to put this on. Once we round this turn, you will see my surprise and I don't want you to see it until we get to it."
Ana's mouth drops open and she looks to her mother. Carla shrugs her shoulders and tells Ana to put the blind fold on to make her father happy. Ana rolls her eyes as I put the blindfold on her.
"Not much longer baby. Just humor your father. He's worked really hard to get this ready for you," I whisper in her ear.
She nods her head and reaches for my hand. I take her hand in mine and bring it to my lips, kissing her fingertips.
We make the turn and I see the house come into view. Well, house isn't really the right word – more like rustic mansion in the woods. It appears Ray hasn't spared any expense for this place. It is immaculate. I can't wait for Ana to see it. She is going to love it.
"Okay. We are here. Let Christian help you out of this thing before you take the blindfold off, okay Annie?" Ana nods her head and I walk around to help her out.
Once she is steady on her feet and facing the house, I tell her to take the blindfold off. Her hands fly to her mouth as she takes it in.
"Daddy? You built this for us?" She turns to face Ray and wraps her arms around his neck.
She lets go of Ray and turns to face the house. "You needed a house here. I know you don't want to stay with us or the Greys when you come into town. You need privacy and a place for my grandchildren to grow up," Ray says, and I see Ana's shoulders stiffen.
I don't know if she's talked to her parents about her struggles with getting pregnant. Ana wears her heart on her sleeve sometimes and I'm sure her mom can sense something isn't right with her.
"Daddy, it's really beautiful. Can we go inside?" Ana turns to face Ray and she has tears in her eyes.
Ray reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of house keys. He dangles them at Ana, and she grabs them from his hand. She rushes to the door and turns to me.
"Come on! Let see inside!" I smile at her excitement and follow her. When she unlocks the door and walks inside, she gasps in surprise.
"Oh, my word, this is beautiful! You did all of this yourself?" Ana asks Ray as she turns in circles admiring the open concept entry way.
"Elliott provided me with one his teams and we have spent the last year building it. All the wood we used was purchased locally. The kitchen is completely furnished with top-of-the-line appliances. The rest of the decorating is up to you, Annie."
"Oh, Daddy. This is perfect. Thank you so much," Ana chokes up and goes to hug Ray again. I glance around the space and admire the view. The living room has a floor to ceiling stone fireplace with wood shelving on both sides. I follow Ray and Ana through the rest of the house as he tells her everything about it.
There are four master suites upstairs and two extra rooms that we can turn into offices or additional bedrooms, whatever we need. The downstairs has a large party room that leads into game room. The party room has French doors that open to a huge back yard with a never-ending view of the Montana skyline.
"Wow. This view is spectacular." I mumble to myself as I feel Ana's hands wrap around my waist. I pull her around to face me and look into her eyes.
"Are you alright? This is quite the surprise, huh?" She smiles and nods her head.
"I am great. I can't believe you knew about this and didn't tell me. Is this why we didn't come here to visit in the past year? You didn't want me to see what he was doing?" She asks and I shrug.
"He mentioned his plan and I told him I would do what I could to keep his secret safe."
"Alright, kids. Let's head back to the house. Dinner is in the crockpot." Carla chimes in.
After dinner, Ray and I sit in the living room discussing me leaving GEH.
"What does Ana think about you leaving your role as CEO?" I take a drink of whiskey and shrug.
"She asks how I can leave something that I built from the ground up. I told her she is more important to me than the company is. She is my future. I have enough money to live my life five times over." Ray nods his head.
"I noticed she tensed up when I mentioned grandchildren. Do you not want to have kids?"
"I want kids, as many as Ana wants to have. We have been trying to conceive since we got married, and she can't get pregnant. We both have been tested and we are both fertile. The doctor found a mild case of endometriosis in Ana and had to do a medical procedure to see if it would help her get pregnant. She has been taking fertility drugs for the past three months and nothing has happened." I feel bad telling Ray our troubles, but he is Ana's dad, not some stranger.
"It will happen when the good Lord is ready for it to. Just be there to support her and lift her up. Some women don't care about having children but ever since Ana was a little girl, she has talked about having little ones of her own." I finish my whiskey and stand up from the couch.
"Thank you isn't enough for what you did by building the house for us. It's beautiful and I know Ana loves it. I'm going to find my wife. See you in the morning, Ray. Have a good night." Ray nods his head and take the stairs two at a time to our room.
The door is cracked, and I can hear Ana and her mom talking. I stop short of going in the room when Carla askes Ana what is bothering her.
"I can't get pregnant, mom. We've been trying for a year and a half with nothing. I am taking fertility drugs and it's not helping. I want to have a little baby that is the best of me, and Christian wrapped up in a small bundle of joy. Why can't I get pregnant?" I hear Ana sob and I want so badly to barge through the door and take her in my arms, but she needs this talk with her mother.
I know I should leave and not hear this part of their conversation, but I can't help it. I know Ana has told me everything on her mind, but I'm interested to see what Carla has to say.
"Oh, sweetheart. It will be okay. Did I tell you that Ray and I had trouble conceiving you?" I don't hear Ana's response and Carla continues to talk.
"We tried for years after we got married. I prayed and prayed for a miracle and each month nothing happened. The fertility testing available now wasn't around back then. They were able to do basic blood testing but nothing advanced. So, your father and I went on with our lives. Don't get me wrong – it was hard. I had been buying baby things here and there and when I didn't get pregnant, they were stored in a closet in a room we never used so I wouldn't have to see them.
"Ray had been recently promoted and we were getting ready to move to another base. I had considered selling all the baby things I had so we wouldn't have to move them. Ray told me to keep them. In the following weeks we were so focused on coordinating our move and Ray starting his new position that I had no idea my period was late. Right before we moved, I got sick. I thought it was due to the stomach flu going around. Imagine my surprise when the emergency room doctor told me I was pregnant." I hear Carla chuckle.
"My point here Ana is you are so focused on trying to get pregnant, you aren't living your life. You are a newly married to a sexy man the loves you very much. You should be traveling the world, enjoying yourself and life. Babies will come, sweetheart. Don't get down on yourself."
"I feel like I am letting Christian down. He could have married another woman that would have given him a baby. I can't give him what he wants. Plus, everyone around me is pregnant or has already had a baby." I place my hand on the door and get ready to push it open when Carla shuts down Ana's self-deprecation.
"Ana, listen to me. That man loves you more than life itself. He would move heaven and earth to make you happy and give you anything you want. Has he told you he isn't happy? He's disappointed because you are, honey. He wants what you want. He hurts when you hurt. It doesn't matter when it happens. Please don't put this unnecessary stress on yourself."
"I love you mom. I needed this trip home. Christian has been so good to me. Did you know he is stepping away from GEH?"
"I'm glad. He needs to enjoy being married to you, not his company. He's great man, Ana. I'm so happy you have each other. Maybe you should go find him and talk to him. I'm sure he's worried about you."
I choose this moment to walk in the room. I see Ana's tear-stained face and my heart breaks. I walk to her and get on my knees in front of her.
"Baby, what's the matter. Are you okay?" She nods her head and wipes her eyes.
"I've been talking to mom about some stuff." She tries to smile but I know she is forcing it.
"Well, I am going downstairs to find Ray. Have a good night you two and we'll see you in the morning for breakfast. Oh, and I think we are having Grace and Carrick over for dinner tomorrow night."
"Good night, mom." Ana hugs her mom's neck tightly and then looks at me. Carla leaves and closes the door behind her. I move in between Ana's knees with my hands resting on her thighs.
"Talk to me, baby. What can I do?" I rub my hands back and forth on her legs and she sighs, closing her eyes.
"I want to stop taking fertility drugs. I should be pregnant by now. Maybe I will try them again later, but I don't want to take them anymore." I lean forward and place my hand on her cheek. Her face is pink and splotchy from crying, but she's never looked more beautiful.
"I agree. Maybe we are pushing too hard in trying to have a baby right now. We have plenty of time. Besides, we have a house to decorate now." She grins, and I kiss her lips.
"I can't believe he built us a house. It's immaculate. Did he design it himself?" I shrug.
"I have no idea. He and Elliott worked together on it. Maybe we can ask tomorrow." I lean my body into Ana's, and she runs her hands through my hair as I rest my head on her chest. I am not going to tell her I overheard the conversation between her and Carla. If she wants to confide to me, I will listen. I don't want to force her to talk. I lay against her and relax as she plays with my hair.
After a long weekend in Montana, we are back in Seattle. I must go into Grey House this morning for a face-to-face meeting with Ros and her staff to go over new hires. Ana and I are going to be spending a few months back in Montana decorating the new house and I won't be available to fly back to Seattle for anything.
We got word that our application to be foster parents was approved. I called their office the day after the little trick came to our house half-dressed, trying to make a move on me. I told them she made their department look bad and I hope they would reconsider allowing her to represent them. I have no idea if she got fired or not. I felt they needed to know what she tried to do in front of my wife.
"Elizabeth? What's wrong?" My wife's concerned voice brings my thoughts back to the present.
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Ana tosses her phone in her purse and reaches for her jacket.
"What's going on?" I ask, reaching for Ana's arm as she walks by me.
"Elizabeth's foster mom is being transported to Seattle Grace, and Elizabeth is riding in with the ambulance crew because her foster dad is at work, and she didn't have a way to school and couldn't stay home alone. I told her I would meet at the hospital and wait with her," Ana says in a rush. I sigh, wishing I could go with her.
"Keep Sawyer close. I will come to the hospital when I'm done at GEH, okay?" I hug Ana tightly, hesitant to let her go.
"I will see you later, Christian. I love you." Ana kisses my lips and walks out the door. I see Sawyer open the back door of the SUV for her, and then he gets behind the wheel.
I walk to my home office and grab my briefcase, then put on my suit jacket. Taylor meets me at the front door so we can go to Grey House.
I am sitting at my desk reviewing some forms when Taylor comes into my office with an envelope in his hands. He hands it over and I see the return address on it: Washington Women's Correction Center.
I roll my eyes and look at Taylor. "Really? She has resorted to sending me mail now?" He shrugs his shoulders and tells me it has already gone through the mail scanner and is safe to open. I toss it aside and get back to what I was doing before Taylor came in.
I've tried for the past few minutes, but I can't focus on the documents in front of me. Instead, my memories take me back to Elena's hearing and subsequent trial.
"All rise," the bailiff's voice carries throughout the crowded courtroom. The judge enters the court room and takes his seat on the bench.
Elena grins widely when she sees which judge will be hearing her case. She always bragged to me and everyone around her about how she had every politician in Seattle and the state of Washington in her back pocket and wasn't afraid to call in favors when she ever needed them.
The next words out of the judge's mouth permanently wipes the grin off Elena's face.
"It is under my discretion as to if we have a jury trial or not. I have decided to let a jury of Elena Lincoln's peers decide her fate. Jury selection will begin two weeks from today's date." Before he can bang the gavel and dismiss the courtroom, Elena abruptly stands and calls the judge every curse word ever invented.
"Counsel, I would suggest you get your client under control, or she will have additional charges added to her record." The judge says sternly to Elena's attorneys.
"My apologies, your honor." Elena's attorney says. He then grabs her arm and jerks her down into her seat and leans over to whisper in her ear. Elena shakes her head and glares daggers at the judge.
A week later, a jury of seven women and five men were selected and the judge sets the trial date. I honestly think the judge took one look at the evidence and knew it was an open and shut case against Elena. He took himself out of the equation by making it a jury trial and not allowing Elena to corrupt it.
Before the bailiff takes Elena out of the courtroom, she turns to me and tries to speak. Her attorney forces her to turn away before she could say anything.
I smile at the memory of the final days of her trial. Once it started, it took the state of Washington a week to present all their evidence. They called many employees of Esclava, along with forensic accountants to corroborate the evidence against Elena.
When the defense presented its case, they tried to say I gifted all the money to her. It took the jury less than thirty minutes to find Elena guilty. Since she didn't take the plea deal, she got the maximum sentence imposed by the judge. Sixty-five years in prison.
The sound of my intercom brings my thoughts back to the present. "Mr. Grey," Andrea's voice comes through.
"Yes, Andrea," I gather the files on my desk.
"They are ready for you in the conference room."
"Thank you, Andrea." After I grab my coffee and papers, I make my way to the conference room for hopefully one of my last meetings here for a while.
Once the meeting is adjourned, Ros asks me to stay back from the rest. I lean back in my chair and wait for the inquisition.
"What's new, Christian?" Ros asks, and I roll my eyes.
"You can't be serious," I say in a sarcastic tone.
"Why are you backing away?" Ros has been with me since I bought my first company. She and I have poured every ounce of energy we could muster into making GEH what it is today.
"We have struggled to conceive a child. I don't want to leave Ana alone all the time to sit around and get depressed about not having a baby. So, I want to take her places, spend time with her and just enjoy being married." Ros crosses her arms and studies my face.
"You may be a great looking man but honestly I would get tired of seeing you constantly. Does Ana feel smothered when you are around all the time?"
I haven't thought about that. She tells me she supports whatever decision I make regarding GEH. "I don't know. She cries a lot and I'm concerned for her mental health right now. I'm not walking away forever, Ros. I just need to take care of Ana."
"I never thought I'd see the day that Christian Grey would step back from running his company. I have to say, you seem happier for it. Take care of your wife, Christian. I can handle it from here. You are welcome to come back whenever you want." She laughs and stands up.
"I sure the fuck hope so. My signature will still be on everyone's pay stubs." I check my watch and realize I need to get to the hospital. "I got to go. I'll see you later, Ros." She nods her head as I leave the conference room.
Taylor gets me to the hospital quickly and I race through the emergency room doors looking for my wife.
"Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?" I turn to face the receptionist and she has a stern look on her face.
I give her Elizabeth's foster mother's name and she checks the screen. "Are you family?" I roll my eyes and take a breath.
"My wife is here with the little girl so she wouldn't have to be alone in the emergency room. I am looking for my wife. Can you direct me to the waiting area please?" I am surprised at my polite attitude. Normally, I would have bulldozed my way through here until I got what I wanted.
The receptionist nods her head and points toward a set of double doors. "Go through those doors and turn right. It will open to the waiting area. Your wife should be in there. If not, come back here and I will see if I can help locate her."
"Thank you." I leave the desk and walk toward the waiting area anxious to lay eyes on Ana.
I get to the large room and look around, searching for Ana and Elizabeth. I hear my name and turn to see Ana sitting in a chair with Elizabeth asleep in her lap. I walk to her and sit down beside her.
"Do you know anything about Elizabeth's mom?" I kiss Ana's lips, then her hair. I saw her a few hours ago and I feel like I haven't seen her in forever.
"No. They have been running a bunch of tests but won't tell me anything since I'm not family. Mr. Dawson should be here soon. Hopefully he will be able to tell me something." Ana plays with Elizabeth's hair as continues to sleep.
"Do you need anything to eat or drink? I can have Taylor get us something."
Ana shakes her head and looks up into my eyes. "What if Betsy is really sick and can't take care of Elizabeth anymore? Will they move her to another family? Maybe we should ask to be her foster parents." Ana's eyes are now wide with fear, so I put my arm around her shoulder and kiss her hair.
"Baby let's take it one thing at a time. I'm sure everything will be okay with Betsy.
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and see mom's name on the caller ID. "Hey, mom."
"Christian, how are you and Ana doing?"
"We are okay, but right now we are in the emergency room at Seattle Grace waiting to hear what is going on with Elizabeth's foster mom."
"Oh my. What happened?" Now is the time I miss mom working at the hospital. She would be able to get an update for us.
"I am not sure. I got here a few minutes ago and haven't heard what happened. Once we get the full story, I will call you back."
"Okay, dear. Take care of Ana and that precious little girl." I smile and look at the sleeping girl in my wife's lap.
"Okay, mom. I will." I end the call and slide my phone back into my jacket.
"Everything alright with your mom?"
"She was checking in to see how we are doing. I told her I would call her back when we knew something. How long have you been here?"
"Maybe two hours. I don't know. We got a bite to eat when we arrived, and I read her some stories. She's been asleep for about a half hour."
I see a middle-aged man rush into the waiting room and look around with panic in his eyes. When he sets his sights on my wife and the little girl she's holding, his body relaxes.
"Mrs. Grey, thank you for sitting with Elizabeth until I could get here. Would you mind if I went back to see what is going on with my wife?" His hands are fidgeting, and he looks almost scared.
"Of course, Mr. Gordon. Take all the time you need. We will wait here for you," Ana says softly.
"Call me Tom, ma'am. My father is Mr. Gordon." He smiles and dips his chin at me before leaving the room.
I have the feeling he was expecting something to happen to his wife. "Didn't you say Betsy didn't look very well the last time you saw her?" I remember Ana saying something about it a while back.
"Yes, she looked unwell. I thought she had a bug or something." Ana shifts her legs and pulls Elizabeth up in her lap. The tiny little girl rests her head on Ana's shoulder and falls back to sleep. Elizabeth could easily pass as Ana's daughter. Their hair is almost the same color and she's small for her age.
We sit in the waiting room a little while longer when Tom comes out with a grim look on his face. He looks as if he's ready to cry as he sits down beside Ana.
"Mrs. Grey, can I ask a favor?" He says his voice almost at a whisper.
"Of course, Tom. What do you need?" He watches Elizabeth sleep as he explains to Ana what is happening to his wife.
"Betsy has been sick for a while. We thought she was battling some sort of stomach bug, but she kept getting sicker. We tried to hide it from Elizabeth but she's a smart little girl." He takes a deep breath to compose himself.
"The doctors say Betsy has an aggressive form of colon cancer. They are wanting to completely remove her colon but are going to do a CT scan to check other organs in case it has spread." He buries his face in his hands and starts to sob.
Ana softly places her hand on his shoulder and keeps it there while he cries. Tom gets himself under control and turns in his chair to face Ana.
"Mr. and Mrs. Grey, would you please watch Elizabeth until we can get Betsy's condition figured out? I am not sure how long she will be in the hospital, and I have to work to pay the medical expenses." I decide right then that will cover all their expenses. Even with health insurance, I am sure they will have a mountain of medical bills.
"Tom, we would love to have her stay with us. Do you need help with anything else? Will you be able to take some time off work to help Betsy recover?" Ana asks Tom.
"My boss told me to take whatever time off I needed but it would be unpaid. I can't afford to take any time off." I stiffen at his words. That is unacceptable.
"Tom, let us help you. You need to spend time with your wife during her surgery and recovery without having to worry about money to cover expenses. Ana and I can keep Elizabeth with us until you and Betsy are able to foster again. I will make sure your medical expenses are covered and you have whatever money you need for other expenses. My PA Andrea will get in touch with you to figure out the particulars." I can see the shock all over Tom's face.
"Mr. Grey, I can't accept that. There is no way that I will be able to pay you back."
"I will not take no for answer. It's the least I can do. What's the point of having money if I can't help those in need? The way I see it, your wife needs you to be there for her." Tom looks down to his lap then back to me.
"Mr. Grey, I appreciate your generosity. I don't have a lot of money, but if there is anything you need, I will do what I can to help you." I nod my head at the humble man and look at my wife.
She has tears streaming down her cheeks and has her arms wrapped around Elizabeth. When she removes her hands, Elizabeth sits up and turns to Tom.
"Mr. Tom, is Mrs. Betsy going to be, okay?" Tom tries to smile for Elizabeth's sake.
"I don't know sweetheart. She's sick. The doctors are running a whole bunch of tests right now trying to figure out what's wrong." Elizabeth leaves Ana's lap and crawls into Tom's.
She puts her arms around his neck as she speaks to him. "She will be alright, Mr. Tom. God needs her to stay here to help other children like me." My stomach knots up with emotion and I see Ana cover her mouth.
"You are right, Elizabeth. While the doctors try to figure out what is wrong with Mrs. Betsy, you will be staying with Mrs. Ana and Mr. Christian. Does that sound okay with you?" Elizabeth's eyes light up and she nods her head. Tom pats her leg and kisses her head.
"Alright then. It's getting late and it's a school night. Let me go and say goodnight to Mrs. Betsy and I will take you home to pack some of your things to take to Mrs. Ana's." Elizabeth moves to the chair beside Ana and Tom stands. He turns to me and Ana. "Can you all wait here for a few minutes while I go in and speak to Betsy?"
"Of course, Tom. Take your time. We will be waiting right here," Ana says, and I nod my head.
Tom leaves the room and Ana and Elizabeth talk about slumber parties and playing dress up. I send my mother a text message asking about who the best oncologist is and she said she would get back to me with some names. I also send a message to Gail letting her know we will have a guest staying with us for a little while.
Before long, Tom comes back to the waiting room to get Elizabeth. We agree to meet at the Dawson house in an hour to pick up Elizabeth.
Ana grips my hand tightly as we ride to the Dawson's. I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles, to relax her.
"What's on your mind, baby?" I hear her sigh as she turns her head to face me.
"I am excited that Elizabeth is coming to stay with us but I'm sad and worried about Betsy. What's going to happen to her, Christian? She is a great woman and does so much in the way of fostering children." I pull her as close to me as the seatbelt will allow.
"My mother is looking into finding the best oncologist in Washington. I will make sure Betsy gets the best care money can buy. We just need to wait and see what her test results are and hope that it's something surgery can take care of. If not, we will help them deal with it the best way we can."
"Are you sure you're okay with Elizabeth staying with us? I didn't give us a chance to discuss it."
"Ana, I love that little girl just as much as you do. She's a big part of our lives, even though we don't see her every day. I am perfectly fine with it. Let's take things a day at a time." She nods her head against my shoulder, and I turn to look out the window of the SUV. The skies are gray in Seattle, which is nothing new, but it seems to fit the news from today. I can only hope the doctors have good news in the upcoming weeks.