Epilogue Part 2 - That's What I Get For Loving You (Diamond Rio)
Ana POV
Elizabeth is settled in her room, and we are sitting on her bed going over her schedule for the next few weeks. She tells me everything she does, from planning her outfit the night before to packing her own lunch.
"Will you be taking me to school tomorrow, Mrs. Ana?"
"Luke will be driving, and I will be riding in the car with you, and I will be in the car when he picks you up from school. Does that sound good?"
"Yes! Can we work in the barn when I get home from school tomorrow? Please?" I smile at her enthusiasm.
"Once you have finished your homework, we can go to the barn. Schoolwork comes first, okay?" she frowns slightly, and I take her hand in mine.
"Elizabeth, there will be plenty of opportunities to have fun at the barn. Your schooling is more important right now, okay? I will help you with your homework if you need it."
"I like English and Science. I don't like Math and History." I laugh at her facial expression.
"Christian is great at Math. He can help you when you need it, okay? Don't be afraid to ask him. Between the two of us, we can cover the other subjects." I check my watch and see it's dinner time. "Come on, I think Gail has dinner ready. Are you hungry?" I reach my hand out to Elizabeth and she takes it.
"Yes, I am starving. What is Mrs. Gail fixing?" Elizabeth jumps off her bed and takes my hand. I told her about Gail being our housekeeper.
"She fixed spaghetti. We can talk about the foods you like during dinner, okay?" We walk hand in hand from her room.
Christian is waiting for us as we walk into the kitchen. "There are my two favorite ladies. Dinner is ready. I hope you are hungry." I walk into his embrace, and he kisses my forehead. I hear Elizabeth giggle.
"What's so funny?" I ask her as we sit at the table.
"Mr. Tom kisses Mrs. Betsy the same way Mr. Christian kisses you. I think it's cute," Elizabeth explains.
Christian and I look at each other and he winks at me. "Elizabeth, I love Ana more than anything. I love to kiss and hold her hand. It's how I show affection when we aren't in private. Does that make sense?" Christian says while setting a plate full of spaghetti in front of Elizabeth.
"Yes, sir. It does. Mr. Tom says he loves Mrs. Betsy very much. Is she going to be alright?" Elizabeth asks, and I swallow hard.
"The doctors are doing everything they can to see what is wrong and how to make her better. Mr. Tom will call me when he knows what is going on." I reach for my water to wash down the emotion that is sticking in my throat. Christian sits down and takes my hand, softly squeezing it.
Having Elizabeth with us is different. Our conversation is more about school and girl things instead of the ins and outs of mine and Christian's busy days. We discuss what foods we like and discover we like mostly the same things.
The next morning, after dropping Elizabeth off at school, I decide to go to the park for a while. I like watching the little kids on the playground. I see mothers pushing strollers and it makes me smile. I hear my phone ringing, so I dig it out of my purse.
I don't recognize the phone number but decide to answer it. "Hello?"
"Mrs. Grey?" A male voice comes through the phone.
"Yes, who is this?"
"Mrs. Grey, it's Tom Dawson. Did I catch you at a bad time?" I sit up and look around, making sure no one is nearby.
"Now is good, Tom. How is Betsy?" He sighs as he tells me what the doctors found during her tests.
"Thankfully the cancer hasn't spread beyond her colon. They want to do surgery today to remove her colon and place a colostomy bag. She will be in the hospital for a few weeks to recover then they will do another CT scan. If that is clear she will go to rehab for physical therapy." He gets choked up but takes a deep breath to gather himself.
"We won't be able to foster anymore, Mrs. Grey. I will do my best to have you and Mr. Grey become Elizabeth's foster parents but I don't know what social services will do. Please take care of her." I place my hand over my mouth to hold back a sob.
"Tom, we will take care of Elizabeth, as well as you and Betsy. Whatever you need - help with treatment, taking care of Betsy, or just someone to talk to, please call me."
"I will, Ana. Can you explain to Elizabeth what is happening? You don't have to tell her about Betsy's cancer unless you want to. She's a smart girl and will understand a lot of what's happening."
"Christian and I will sit down with her tonight and tell her. Thank you for calling me. Tell Betsy I am thinking about her. Please call if you need anything. The medical bills are already taken care of, and we will help make sure she gets the best possible care."
"Thank you, Ana." Tom's voice is cracking, and I know he's on the verge of breaking down over the phone. I can't imagine how I would be if Christian and I were going through this. Tom ends the call and I grip the phone in my hand for a few seconds before placing it back in my purse.
Life can be so unfair. Betsy is a nice woman and does so many great things in the community she lives in. She volunteers at the school and helps other foster families when they need it. Cancer sucks.
"Mrs. Grey, I think we need to leave. There are paparazzi nearby." Luke says, startling me. I look around and see a man with a camera lens aimed at me. These people never give up. I am a normal person trying to live a normal life. I can't help my husband is rich, good looking, and successful.
"Fine, let's go." I stand up from the bench and Luke escorts me to the SUV. I spend the ride home thinking about how I am going to explain to a little girl someone she has grown attached to is very sick and may die.
I spend the rest of day looking up local places that provide activities for young girls. I've made a list of some of the places that piqued my interest. I will have to give the list to Luke so he can have them checked for security purposes.
I am at Elizabeth's school waiting in car rider line with Luke. "Mr. Grey is going to want Elizabeth to go to a private school. He will flip his lid if he sees the lack of security at this place." I roll my eyes but know it's true.
"You are right but right now this is how it will be until we become her foster parents and eventually adopt Elizabeth. We must go through the process and I'm sure Christian will try to use his position in society to work in his favor. I want this to go right so it won't come back later and be changed," I say staring out the window.
"How long will you have to wait?" I catch Luke's eye in the rearview mirror.
"I don't know. Things haven't been put into motion yet. Tom just found out today about Betsy's prognosis. We may not even be allowed to be her foster parents." I frown and hope that's not the case.
After a great dinner of homemade chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese, Christian and me lead Elizabeth to the couch to tell her about Betsy and how things may change in the upcoming weeks. We agreed to wait until after dinner and to tell her together.
"Elizabeth, there are a few things that we need to tell you," I say as Elizabeth frowns and her hands fidget in her lap.
"Am I going to live somewhere else? I don't want to. I really like you and Mr. Christian. Please let me stay here with you." She starts to cry, and I pull her into my arms.
"Sweetheart, we will do everything we can to keep you here with us. If it were up to me, you would stay with us forever." I kiss her head and hold her little body to me for a few moments.
"Mrs. Betsy is really sick. She must have surgery and will be in the hospital for a while. Mr. Tom will need to take care of her and help her get better. They are no longer going to be able to be foster parents. Christian and I are approved to be fosters but the agency must allow you to live with us. It's a process we must go through. Hopefully, things will turn out in our favor. We wanted you to know what is going on. Do you have any questions?" Elizabeth wipes her eyes with her shirt sleeve.
Christian magically pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and hands it to Elizabeth. She stares at it in her hands, paying attention to the monogram letters in the corner.
"What does CTG stand for?" she looks up at Christian and he smiles at her.
"Christian Trevelyan Grey. That's my full name," he tells her. Elizabeth studies it a little longer then uses it wipe her eyes and cheeks.
"Thank you." She tells him and looks at me. "When will we know if I can stay here?"
"We should know something in a few days." I run my fingers through her long hair, hoping she understands what is going on. Elizabeth is smart for her age and catches onto things quickly but it's still a lot to process.
"Does Mrs. Betsy have cancer?" Elizabeth asks softly and I look at Christian. He nods his head and I decide to tell her the truth.
"Yes, she has cancer. They are going to do surgery to remove it and recheck her after a few weeks. She will have the best doctors and receive the best medical care available to help her get better."
"Can I go see her?" Elizabeth leans her head on my shoulder.
"I can call tomorrow and maybe we can go after you get out of school. How does that sound?" Elizabeth nods her head and takes my hand in hers.
"Okay." Elizabeth answers quietly.
The next morning after dropping Elizabeth off at school, I call the hospital and ask if Betsy can have visitors. The nurse tells me that Betsy had surgery this morning and is currently in ICU where no children are allowed. The nurse nicely tells me that Betsy is doing good and will be in that room for a few days as a precaution. I will call Tom later to check in on Betsy.
I decide to take Elizabeth to get her nails done after school. She likes being outdoors, but she also likes to be a girly girl. I hope she gets to stay with us permanently. I'm leaning across the breakfast bar when I feel Christian press his body against mine.
"Mr. Grey, what are you up to?" He moves my hair and kisses my neck. He presses his erection into my back, and I grin.
"Can't you feel what I'm up to? Just the site of you bent over the countertop with your luscious ass on display makes my dick come to life." I stand up and feel his arms wrap around me.
"Where did you run off to this morning?" I turn in his arms and he's wearing jeans and an untucked white button-down shirt. I lick my lips at seeing skin showing at his open collar.
"Elliott asked me to meet him at his office to go over a few things. He wants me to help him with some larger jobs in Seattle when he travels for other jobs. After talking for a little while we went to lunch." He slides his hands up my arms and runs his fingers through my hair.
"Are you leaving the world of mergers and acquisitions to go into construction?" I look up at him and chuckle.
"Not really. Elliott asked me to oversee a few jobs and I told him I would help him. I don't know construction, but I do know how to run a business, Mrs. Grey." He massages my scalp with his fingertips, and I hum in appreciation.
"That feels really good," I sigh. My eyes are closed, but I feel his lips ghost mine. He keeps my head still as he takes my mouth in an all-consuming kiss. He holds my head still as he continues to kiss me. Our bodies are pressed together, and I feel his want for me pressing hard against my belly.
Christian breaks away from my lips and places soft kisses along my jaw to my ear. I slide my hands underneath his shirt and run my fingertips up his spine to his shoulder blades. His skin is warm and soft, and I want to feel him against me.
"How was your morning?" He whispers against my neck.
"It was okay," I answer. He reaches for the hem of my shirt and pulls it over my head.
"Let's see if we can make it better," he whispers against my lips. He unzips my jeans and slides them down my legs, removing my panties as well. He lifts me up and sets me on the countertop and spreads my legs wide.
After kissing my inner thighs, Christian slowly kisses his way to my center. I raise my hips to his mouth to guide him to where I want him the most. He chuckles and continues to lick everywhere but there.
Christian always makes sure I come at least once, sometimes twice, before we make love. He says he gets off more watching me come than he does during the act of sex. I lean back on my elbows and let my head fall back as he continues to pleasure me.
His tongue finds my clit and I moan, "oh, yes. Right there Christian." He continues to lick and suck my sex while inserting a finger inside me. He works my body into a frenzy, and I feel myself climbing higher. Just before I fall over the edge, he inserts a second finger and latches onto my clit.
My body shakes as Christian continues to draw my orgasm out. I open my eyes and he is standing naked before me, ready to go. He grabs my hips and pulls me onto him, burying himself to the hilt.
"Oh, baby. You feel so good wrapped around me." As he leans over me, I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. Every part of our bodies is touching as he moves in and out of me at a fast pace.
He moves one of his hands to my neck and wraps it in my hair, gripping it tightly. It's borderline painful but not to the point that I want him to let go. His other hand grips my hip to keep me still as he moves back and forth frantically. He hits that spot inside me over and over and I cry out his name as I reach the pinnacle of another orgasm.
"I love you, Ana," he pants as he grips my hair even tighter. I feel him swell inside me, then still as he comes. We both are breathing hard but continue to hold onto each other like our life depended on it.
"I love you, too, Christian." I feel my eyes fill with tears and try to keep them at bay. One finds its way down the side of my head and Christian leans over to kiss it.
"I will do whatever you want Ana. You are my life, and I will spend the rest of mine making sure you are happy." He rests his forehead against mine and the rest of my tears start to fall. This past year has been an emotional rollercoaster and I think it's time we move on. Elizabeth is in our life now and I hope she can stay for good.
Christian lifts me from the spot and carries me to our bathroom. "We have enough time to get cleaned up before we need to get Elizabeth from school." I nod my head against his shoulder as we cross the threshold of our bedroom.
"Sounds wonderful to me, Mr. Grey."
The next few months pass by rather quickly. With the help of Tom's recommendation to Social Services, Christian and I became Elizabeth's permanent foster parents. She has seamlessly fit into our family, with Grace and Carrick doting on her whenever they can. We had a small celebration once we got the final paperwork, and my parents came to town to help celebrate. They think Elizabeth is adorable and could pass as our biological daughter.
Christian and I have petitioned the court to legally adopt Elizabeth and give her our last name. When we asked her if she would like to become a Grey, she started crying and said she never thought she would be a part of a real family again. She has been calling me mommy and Christian daddy. My heart melts every time I hear her call me that.
Once the adoption process was complete, and school was over for the summer, we decided to take Elizabeth on an extended vacation. We spent a week at our place in Aspen then flew to Montana to spend some time with my parents. We got back into town a few days ago. Christian left early this morning to meet with Elliott which leaves Elizabeth and I alone to enjoy the morning.
I walk into the kitchen to meet Elizabeth for breakfast, and I am overcome with a nauseous feeling. I have been feeling overly tired for the past few weeks and I attributed it to traveling. I fight back the urge to throw up and take a seat on a stool at the breakfast bar.
"Good morning, Ana. What would you like for breakfast?" Gail asks while stirring something on the stove. I don't feel like eating anything now, but I decide on something bland to see if it will help my stomach settle.
"I will just have some oatmeal and fresh fruit." She looks at me for a few moments then nods her head.
"Alright, would you like some coffee?" When she mentions coffee, I jump from the stool and run toward our bathroom. I barely make it to the toilet before I start getting sick. I haven't had anything to eat or drink yet, so I am just gagging.
I feel a cold washcloth on the back of my neck, and I turn to see Elizabeth standing beside me with the rag in her hand.
"I used to do this for Mrs. Betsy when she would get sick," Elizabeth whispers and I know what is going through her mind. Her eyes are filled with tears, and she looks so sad.
"I'm okay, Elizabeth. I just have an upset stomach. I will be okay. Can you ask Mrs. Gail to get me some crackers and ginger ale please?" I lean back on my legs and wipe my mouth with the rag. I stand up and walk to the sink to wash my hands.
"Ana, are you alright? Elizabeth is sitting at the breakfast bar crying, saying you are sick just like Mrs. Betsy." She hands over a few saltine crackers and a small glass of ginger ale.
"I'm fine. I think I'm still tired from the traveling. I will go to the doctor tomorrow if I don't feel any better. Please don't say anything about this to Christian. He will be attached to my hip if he finds out I'm not feeling well." I chuckle and Gail smiles.
"You have a deal, as long as you go to the doctor tomorrow if you don't feel better."
"Deal." We leave the bathroom and I go to the kitchen in search of my daughter. I find her resting her head on her arms looking out the window.
I sit down beside her and rub her back. When she looks at me, I see dried tear stains on her cheeks. I slide closer to her and put my arm around her.
"What's wrong sweetheart?" Elizabeth stays quiet for a few moments then speaks.
"I don't want you to be sick like Mrs. Betsy. If you do, what will happen to me? Will I have to go and live with another family?" She starts to cry again, and I kiss her head.
"I am okay, Elizabeth. If I don't feel better by tomorrow, I will go to the doctor to see why I'm sick. I think I'm just tired from all the traveling. You aren't going to move anywhere. You are forever a Grey, and nothing will change that. Would you like to watch movies all day? It's raining outside so we won't be able to go riding today."
"Can we watch Disney movies?" Elizabeth sits up and puts her hands together in a begging gesture.
"Of course, we can. Let's change into comfortable clothes and meet in the media room." She jumps off the stool and runs to her room to change. I turn on my stool and rest my face in my hands.
"Ana, are you sure you are, okay?" Gail asks, leaning against the countertop.
"I am feeling better, thank you. The crackers and ginger ale helped to settle my stomach. Elizabeth and I will be in the media room watching movies for a little while." She nods her head and I get up and go to my bedroom to change into sweats and a pullover.
Elizabeth and I spend the morning and early afternoon watching her favorite Disney movies. We sing along with the characters, and I have enjoyed spending this time with her.
We decide to play cards for a little while and I learn she is great at rummy. She said they would have game night at the Dawson's and asked if it's something we can start doing. I think it's a great idea and it will have us spending more time together as a family.
"Deal me in this hand. I think I can beat you both," Christian says from the foyer.
"Daddy! You're home!" Elizabeth jumps up and runs to Christian, reaching to him for a hug. He picks her up and gives her a hug then kissing her cheek.
"I sure am. How was your day? What did you two get up to today?" He looks between the two of us and I listen as Elizabeth tells him about our day.
"Mommy got sick this morning," Elizabeth says calmly as she deals the cards. Christian eyes me and waits for Elizabeth to explain further. "Mrs. Gail gave her some ginger ale with crackers, and it helped her feel better."
I sink into my chair waiting for the third degree from Christian as to why I didn't let him know I was bad. "Are you still feeling sick?" He reaches for my hand and kisses the palm.
I shake my head. "No, I ate a small lunch and haven't felt bad since this morning. I think I have some little bug and I'm still tired from the traveling. I did promise Elizabeth I would go to the doctor tomorrow if I got sick again." I squeeze Christian's hand, then let go to check my cards.
"I may have to go out of town with Elliott later this week," Christian says while drawing a card.
"Really? To where?" I ask, while studying my hand.
"He is having problems with a supplier in Portland. Elliott likes to use locally owned businesses when obtaining materials. A new national retailer has opened in Portland and it's threatening to close the smaller businesses in the area. He wants me to go and see if we can help them financially, maybe help with their supply chain or give them an influx of cash."
"So, that is why you have been involved in his business? You are helping the smaller companies keep their business open when the larger, national corporations come to town?" Christian's cheeks turn pink.
"In a way, yes. I reach out to the suppliers and see if there are ways to keep costs even across the board. Grey Construction is growing by leaps and bounds, and most companies are eager to do business with them." He shrugs as he discards.
"I think it's great that you are helping the smaller companies. You and Elliott make a great team." I get up and move to his chair. He offers me his lap and I sit on it, placing my arms around his neck.
"I love your kind heart, Christian." I kiss his lips and I hear a soft giggle.
"What is so funny, missy?" I ask Elizabeth as I return to my chair.
"I think you two are like Belle and The Beast." She says, and I laugh.
"Who are they?" Christian asks.
"Have you ever seen Beauty and the Beast, daddy?" Elizabeth asks, and Christian shakes his head no.
"Well, you and I will watch it together tomorrow." Elizabeth states and Christian salutes her.
"Yes ma'am!" He says jokingly and we all laugh.
After playing a few rounds of cards, Elizabeth leaves the table to go the library to read. She loves to read as much as I do, and we've had fun starting her own book collection.
"How long have you been feeling sick and not saying anything?" Christian asks once Elizabeth has left the room.
"Just this morning. I have been a little tired since we got back from Montana, and I just thought it was from the flying. Elizabeth cried today, saying she was scared I was going to get sick like Betsy and she will have to leave us. I told her she wasn't going anywhere because she is our daughter forever."
"Promise me you will see a doctor if you aren't feeling better." I look into his eyes and see a bit of panic.
"I promise."
The next morning, the nausea returns. I try to fight it off with crackers, but it doesn't get any better. Christian can tell I am not feeling well but he doesn't push about me going to the doctor. I eat a light breakfast, but it doesn't stay down. I call the doctor's office and request the next available appointment. They don't have anything until tomorrow afternoon, so I go ahead and schedule. The nurse tells me if I feel worse to go to the emergency room. I don't think it will get that bad.
"Can you stay with Elizabeth tomorrow afternoon while I go to the doctor?" I ask Christian while he drinks his coffee.
"I would like to go with you. I'm sure Gail will stay here for a few hours with Elizabeth." He answers, then reaches for the newspaper. Most of the world has gone digital but Christian prefers to read the actual paper.
"Okay." I reach for my glass of ginger ale and take a sip. I think about how Elizabeth is worried about me. "What if something is wrong with me?" I say to myself and Christian reaches for my hand.
"If, and that's the important word, something is wrong with you, we will talk with the doctor about what to do. Don't get worried about it until we see what the doctor says. Okay?" I nod my head and decide I need to do something to keep my mind of things.
"I am going to see if Elizabeth wants to go the barn with me for a little while. I need to get out of the house for a bit. Want to join us later for a ride?" Christian smiles and nods his head.
"Sure. I will come to the barn in an hour or so. Is that enough time for you to get the horses ready?"
"Are we going riding mom?" Elizabeth comes into the room bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Yes, we are. Daddy is going to join us as well. How does that sound?"
"Yay! I'm going to get changed," Elizabeth races out of the room and I stand up to do the same. Christian reaches for my hand and pulls me into his lap.
"I'm here if you need to talk, okay?" He kisses the tip of my nose.
"I know you are, and I love you for being a shoulder for me to lean on. I'm just nervous about the doctor's appointment. It may be nothing to worry about, but I can't help it." Christian pulls me close and wraps his arms around me, engulfing me in his love.
We sit in silence for a few moments before he taps my on the butt and tells me I need to get changed before Elizabeth becomes impatient. I sit up and look around seeing Elizabeth standing at the foyer waiting. I giggle and stand up from Christian's lap.
"Give me a few minutes, okay? Then we can go the barn to get the horses ready," I tell Elizabeth as I leave the room.
As I'm getting changed, my mind drifts to what could be wrong with me. I have never had jet lag when flying back from Montana. I'm usually a little tired for a day or so but this has been lingering for a while. I am baffled at the nausea. We haven't eaten anything new that would cause me to be sick.
Morning sickness…feeling tired…I walk to the floor length mirror and look at my reflection. I scan my body and stop at my stomach. Oh my god. Could I be pregnant? I softly touch my lower belly and try not to get too excited. I start to think about the past month, and everything seems to make sense.
"Ana? Are you alright?" Christian's voice startles me, and I turn to face him.
"Do I look any different to you?" I look back at myself. I am wearing a bra and panties and my hair is cascading down my back.
"What do you mean?" Christian moves closer and wraps his arms around my waist. He moves my hair and kisses my shoulder.
"I've been thinking about what could be wrong with me and listing the symptoms. Everything I'm feeling is related to pregnancy. Do you think I could be pregnant?" He stops kissing my shoulder and our eyes meet in the reflection.
"I haven't thought about it, but it could be a possibility. Should we get a pregnancy test, and see?" His hands move to cover where our baby would rest, and I cover them with mine.
"I don't know. I'm kind of scared to check. What if I am and something happens? Or what if I'm not and then I'm sad all over again. I know we haven't been trying to get pregnant and taking things as they come. That doesn't mean that it's not been in the back of my mind."
"I will support whatever you want to do. We can wait to see what the doctor says tomorrow, or I can send Taylor out to get a few tests to take later. We are in this together, baby." I rest my head against his chest and consider what he said.
"Let's go for the ride and see how we feel afterward. I have to admit I'm excited but nervous just the same." He kisses my head and lets me go.
"I have to make a few calls that should take me about an hour. I will change and meet you and Elizabeth at the barn. Sound good?" I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck.
"Sounds perfect. See you later." I run my fingers through his hair then kiss his lips tenderly. He leaves the room to go make his calls and I find something to wear for the afternoon ride.
As I fasten the pants, I rub my stomach again. I decide that I won't be able to wait until tomorrow to see if am pregnant. I go into the bathroom and look in the cabinet to see if there are any pregnancy tests. I check every shelf and basket but don't see any.
I leave the bedroom and walk to Christian's office. He has his Bluetooth in and is pacing his office. I reach for a pen and paper and jot down a quick note. I flash it at him and lay it on the desk. He nods and blows me a kiss. I leave and find Elizabeth waiting for me with her backpack on.
"What's in the bag?" I ask while slipping on my boots.
"Mrs. Gail gave me some snacks and water. She wants to make sure you have something to eat in case you feel sick again." I smile. Gail is such a thoughtful woman and she and I have gotten close over the past year. I am glad she and Taylor decided to build a small house at the back of the property.
"That's nice of Gail. You ready?" I ask, while walking to the door.
"Yes ma'am!" She bounds out the door past me and skips through the grass to the barn. I watch her pigtail braids bounce as he moves. She gets to the door of the barn and waits for me to catch up. Once we go inside, I take a deep breath and start to relax a little more. I love being here. I had hoped the horses would help others with rehabilitation, but I think they have helped me more.
"Grab the lead and get Alice out of her stall. You can ride her today." Elizabeth reaches into the jar of peppermints for a few, then walks to Alice's stall door. She is greeted with a nose kiss on top her head as the lead clicks into place. After giving Alice a few peppermints, Elizabeth leads her out of the stall.
I watch Elizabeth as she brushes off Alice, talking to her as she works. Once she finishes, I grab a blanket from the tack room and help Elizabeth place it on Alice's back. I let her do as much as she's able so when she's a little older, she will be comfortable doing it on her own.
We work together to get the saddle on. I realize if I am pregnant, I will have to make a few changes when it comes to working out here. I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
Christian arrives just as we are getting ready to put the saddle on his horse. He takes over and finishes for us. I salivate watching him work. He is wearing a long sleeve navy Henley shirt with a pair of well-worn Wrangler jeans and cowboy boots. Damn, my girly parts are tingling thinking about the body that he's hiding underneath the clothes.
"Are we ready to ride now?" Elizabeth asks, while putting on her helmet.
"Yep, let's go." We lead our horses out into the barnyard and Christian helps Elizabeth mount her horse. She has a few more inches to grow before she can reach the stirrup on her own.
"Thank you, daddy." Elizabeth takes the reigns and leads Alice out to the field. She is a quick learner at most everything and truly loves working with the horses. She fell in love with the new house and the horses in Montana and has asked to go back again soon.
Christian helps me up on my horse, not that I needed any. His hand lingers on my backside, and I grin at him. He squeezes and winks at me. "Off you go, Mrs. Grey."
"Thank you, sir." I dip my head in thanks and follow along behind my daughter.
We ride the trail along the water and circle back around behind the house. It's a beautiful day with a blue, cloudless sky. I can't help but feel excited thinking I may be pregnant. I haven't thought about it for the past few months since starting and completing the adoption process for Elizabeth. Elizabeth Avery Grey.
I smile thinking about how Elizabeth was so shy and closed off when I first met her. Now she has made new friends at school and is trying to be a normal eight-year-old girl, despite what she's been through.
We finish our ride and put the horses up for the night. On the walk back to the house, I know in my mind I want to take the pregnancy test. If it's negative, then I will take it in stride and see what the doctor finds out tomorrow. If it's positive, I will still want Dr. Shelby to confirm everything.
"Taylor went to the pharmacy and picked up a few tests. We can take one later this evening, if you wish," Christian takes my hand and kisses the side of my head. I love this man so much.
Early on in our relationship, he talked about how he never had a girlfriend and didn't know how do to romance. He may have had a few hiccups at first, but he has made up for it since.
"Okay, maybe we can try one after dinner and see what happens?" He smiles and we continue our walk home.
All through dinner, Elizabeth talked about how much she enjoys riding and taking care of the horses. Maybe I should consider getting her riding lessons for competitions? I will discuss it with Christian later.
"May I go watch a movie?" Elizabeth asks after she finishes her dinner.
"Sure. Help me clean up the dinner dishes and I will get a movie started for you."
After Elizabeth is settled in the theatre room with Disney's The Little Mermaid playing, Christian meets me in the living room with a paper bag. I know what's in it and suddenly, I feel nervous.
"We don't have to do this tonight. We can wait and see what the doctor does tomorrow." He takes me in his arms, and I shake my head.
"I won't be able to sleep unless I take at least one test. Come with me?" I look up into the enchanting gray eyes of my husband and he smiles.
We walk arm in arm to our room and he sits on the bed. I did this every month for six months and never felt like this. I walk into the bathroom and my hands start to shake as lean against the vanity. I dump the contents of the bag and stare at the box that contains the test. It's the kind that says pregnant or not pregnant. I remove the test from the box and get it ready to use.
I take a deep breath and sit down the toilet to do my business. I hold the stick in the urine stream for as long as I pee. Once I'm done, I set the test on the sink top and clean myself up. I keep my eyes away from the test as I wash my hands.
I walk into the bedroom and sit next to Christian on the bed. "Can you set the time on your phone for three minutes?"
He sets the timer and places his phone on the bed. He reaches for me and pulls me into his lap. "No matter what that test says, we will work through everything. Okay? I know you have struggled with not getting pregnant and I want you to know that I love you and I will support you in everything. Do you understand?"
I look into his eyes and can barely hold in my tears. I nod my head and he takes my cheeks in his hands. "I haven't thought about trying to get pregnant since we adopted Elizabeth. But right now, all of the feelings of disappointment from before are at the surface and I'm scared." I rest my head against his chest and take a deep breath. His scent is my soothing balm and I cling to it like my life depended on it.
"I know baby. Every disappointment you felt, I felt with you. You cried, I cried. We are in this together and we will make it through." His phone goes off and I hold my breath. Neither one of us make a move to get up for a few minutes.
"Come on, let's see what it says." He stands up with me in his arms and gently helps me stand on my feet. We walk to the bathroom hand in hand, and I lean against the vanity with my back to the mirror.
Christian takes my face in his hand, and I shake my head. "Can you look?" I ask. He nods his head and looks over my shoulder. I see the look on his face, and I start crying. Another negative. He hugs me, and I bury my face in his chest.
I start crying and hug him hard in return. "Oh, Ana." Christian chokes out. We are both an emotional mess and I take a few breaths trying to calm myself down.
"It's o-o-okay. We will see what the d-d-doctor says tomorrow as to why I am s-s-sick. There has to be an answer," I say in between sobs.
"Ana, baby. The test says you are pregnant," Christian whispers into my ear and I stop breathing.
"What?" My voice is barely above a whisper as I turn around. I stare at the test that reads PREGNANT in black letters. My hands cover my mouth and I turn back to face Christian.
He has a huge smile on his face and tears streaming down his cheeks. "Oh, Christian!" I cry as he takes me in his arms and holds me close.
I have been waiting so long for those words to appear and now it's real. I am pregnant. I am going to have a baby! I pull away from his arms and move my hands to my lower belly. I can't wait to feel this precious baby grow inside of me.
Christian gets down on his knees and rests his forehead against my hands. I move my hands to his head and stand quietly while playing with his hair. I feel him pull up my shirt and softly kiss where our baby is safely tucked away.
When he stands up, his face is wet with tears, and he takes my face in his hands. I wrap my arms around his waist, and we stand together as the reality of the little life we created comes down on us.
"I love you," Christian chokes out.
"I love you too. So much. I don't want to tell anyone about this yet. I think we need confirmation from the doctor first. Should we cancel tomorrow's appointment and go see Dr. Shelby instead?" My mind is spinning with things we should do.
"Let's keep tomorrow's appointment but give Dr. Shelby's office a call and see what she recommends. We may need to see an obstetrician that specializes in high-risk pregnancies."
I lean back slightly to look at Christian. "Do you think something will happen?"
"I only want to be prepared. Getting you and my little one the best care possible is the most important thing right now. Okay? Let's go call the doctor and see what advice she gives."
I stand up on my toes and give Christian a soft kiss. I love this man with all my heart, and I know he is worried about me.
"Let's go." He leads me out of the bathroom to the living room where we sit together on the couch to call Dr. Shelby.
I explain the positive pregnancy test and what our thoughts are for keeping the doctor's appointment tomorrow. She confirms that a blood test is best to determine a pregnancy. She also suggests I take another home test in the morning when my urine is the most concentrated. We agree to talk again tomorrow after my doctor's appointment to determine the next step.
I lean my head back on the couch and close my eyes. My stomach is in knots, and I can't tell if it's nerves or fear. Maybe it's a combination of both. Nervous about my dream of getting pregnant coming true or the fear of not being pregnant and something else being wrong.
"I can hear your mind working, Ana. It's pointless for me to tell you not to worry because I know you will, at least until we get to see the doctor tomorrow."
I open my eyes and turn my head toward Christian. "Okay. Um, should we tell Elizabeth?"
"Tell me what?" Elizabeth asks, as she hops next to me on the couch.
I look at Christian and he shrugs. Thanks a lot! I chew on my bottom lip contemplating if I should tell her.
I feel her small hand cover mine and I decide to be honest with her. "Well, something has come up and we are not sure how the doctor's appointment is going to go tomorrow." I see her face fall and I quickly continue. "I started thinking about how I was feeling and going through some things in my mind. Daddy and I talked it over and I took a pregnancy test." Elizabeth's eyes widen and she sits on the edge of the couch cushion so she can see Christian and I both.
"And?" she asks, her eyes flicking between us looking for an answer.
"It read that I am pregnant." I whisper, and she smiles widely.
"So, I am going to be a big sister?" Elizabeth's voice is high pitched with excitement as she jumps up from the couch.
"We hope so. We will know for sure tomorrow," Christian says, while putting his arm around my shoulder as we watch Elizabeth dance around the room singing about being an older sister and teaching them fun things.
We spend the rest of the evening playing Yahtzee while trying to keep our minds off the possibility of what tomorrow brings.
I am a nervous wreck while we wait for the nurse to call us back. I tossed and turned all night thinking about this appointment and what it will mean. I took another home pregnancy test this morning and it was positive. When I checked in, the nurse asked me if there was a possibility, I could be pregnant. I told her I didn't know for sure but had taken two tests at home and both were positive. She handed me a cup and asked me to provide a urine sample for them to test.
Christian squeezes my hand just before the nurse calls us back. "Mrs. Grey, will you come with me to the lab? The doctor would like to draw some blood for testing." I nod my head and we follow her down the hall.
After a few needle pricks in the arm, we are led to a room to wait for the doctor. I haven't been to see this doctor since I had a follow up appointment from Jose's assault. Christian wanted to make sure I had a clean bill of health then, at least physically.
The nurse took my vital signs and asked me why I was there today. I explained everything leading up to today and she typed everything into my chart.
"Okay, the doctor will be in soon." She leaves the room, and my nerves shoot through the roof.
"I feel like I'm going to be sick," I say looking around the room for a trash can. I swallow the feeling down and close my eyes. After a few deep, calming breaths, the nauseous feeling subsides.
"Do you want some crackers or something to drink?" Christian asks and I shake my head no.
"I just want this appointment to be over with. The anxiety is driving me crazy." I bury my face in my hands and Christian rubs my back.
The door opens and Dr. Baker comes into the room carrying her iPad. She sits on the stool across from us and smiles. "Based on the results of the urine test and blood test, I can confidently say you are indeed pregnant." I let out the breath I was holding and smile.
"I suggest you make an appointment with your OB-GYN to get an ultrasound to see how far along you are. The blood test showed high amounts of hCG, and it will get higher as the pregnancy progresses. Congratulations, Mr., and Mrs. Grey. I read your file and I know you have been trying to get pregnant for a while now. Good luck and if you have any questions, please give me a call. Is there anything else I can do for you today?" She looks between me and Christian and we both shake our heads.
The doctor leaves the room and I look at Christian. He is smiling from ear to ear, and I join him.
"We're pregnant," I whisper. He pulls me into his lap, and I put my arms around his neck.
"Yes, we are," Christian whispers back, placing his hand on my stomach.
We call Dr. Shelby's office on the drive home, and she can fit us in tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait to see our little baby and hear its heartbeat.
When we arrive home, Elizabeth is waiting for us at the door bouncing on the balls of her feet. She runs to the car once it's parked.
"Well? Am I going to have a little brother or sister?" She asks with her hands clasped in front of her. I nod my head and she let out a squeal and jumps into Christian's arms.
"When can we tell everybody? I want to have a big party to celebrate!" She says excitedly. I shake my head as we walk into the house.
"We are going to wait for the doctor to tell us how far along mommy is. Then we can plan a party and tell everyone the great news." Christian tickles Elizabeth's side and lets her down. She runs through the house yelling for Gail.
"What is wrong, Elizabeth? Why are you screaming for me?" Gail comes out of the kitchen wiping her hands with a towel.
"She wants to tell you the good news, Gail," I say smiling.
"Are you…" Gail doesn't finish asking before Elizabeth blurts out that I am pregnant. Gail hugs both me and Christian and wipes tears from her eyes.
"Congratulations, you two. I know you are excited."
"Yes, we are. After the doctor's appointment with Ana's OB, we will get with you on a new menu plan." Christian kisses my head and tells me he needs to make a few business phone calls but won't be long. I nod my head and he goes to his office.
"Ana, I'm so happy for you. I know this past year has been stressful to say the least. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know."
"Thank you, Gail. Do you need any help with dinner?" I toss my purse into a chair and follow Gail into the kitchen.
"No, dear. Why don't you rest. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes." I nod my head and walk to the bedroom.
I strip down as soon as I'm in the room. I stand in front of the mirror again and look down at my tummy. I see the slightest bump and I run my hand across it. It feels firm and I smile.
"I love you, baby Grey. I can't wait to see you tomorrow." I spend a few more minutes staring at my reflection before I change into sweatpants and one of Christian's t-shirts.
Dinner is a lively affair, with Elizabeth making plans for when we tell everyone else about my pregnancy. We remind her she can't tell anyone about until then. She promises to keep it a secret.
That night in bed, Christian pulls me close with his front to my back. His hands are spread on my stomach, and he kisses my shoulder. We lay there with only our even breaths filling the room.
"I want to move to Montana permanently," he whispers. His comment catches me off guard, considering GEH is based in Seattle. "Both our parents live there, and I don't want to travel back and forth so they can spend time with their grandchildren." I take his hand in mine and softly squeeze.
"I'm totally on board with that. Are you sure about leaving Seattle, since GEH is based here?" I turn over and face him.
"As long as I have an internet connection, it will be fine. I am leaving GEH in good hands. Besides, Elliott has asked me to take on a larger role with Grey Construction outside of Washington." He tucks some hair behind my ear.
"Really? That sounds exciting. What are you going to be doing?" I rest my head against his chest and close my eyes. He tells me what Elliott has in mind for him and I feel myself starting to drift off to sleep. The last thing I remember is something about Clayton's Hardware back in Montana.
I wake up the next morning and make a mad dash to the bathroom. I make it time to deposit my stomach contents in the toilet. I hope the doctor can give me some pointers on keeping it at bay.
"Ana?" I hear Christian's voice from our bedroom. I feel him pull my hair into a ponytail and rub my back as I start to dry heave. After a few minutes, the sick feeling finally goes away, and I flush the toilet. Christian hands me a cool washcloth and I wipe my mouth and face. He helps me stand up and walk to the sink.
"Thank you," I tell him before I rinse my mouth out and reach for my toothbrush.
After brushing my teeth, I walk out to our bedroom and Christian is sitting on the edge of the bed. He is still wearing his pajama pants but has put on a shirt. Shame.
He pulls me onto his lap, and I tuck my head under his chin. "I hope I don't have morning sickness my entire pregnancy."
"That makes two of us. I wish I could help you feel better." He kisses my head and lays us back on the bed.
"You fell asleep last night before I could tell you about Grey Construction. Apparently, a national supplier has built a store in Billings and is taking some business away from Claytons and other small businesses in the area. Elliott asked me to investigate ways to help them. I have been on conference calls with the owners trying work out a plan to keep their businesses going without losing profit."
"Did you come up with anything yet?" I ask while snuggling closer to his chest.
"I realize I need to talk with them face to face. Before you get too far into the pregnancy, I want to get settled in Montana. We will have to find you another doctor. I hope you don't mind."
"If everything checks out okay today, I have no problem moving closer to my parents. I think Elizabeth will be okay moving there as well. We can talk to her about it later." I feel a wave of nausea and I pull away from Christian's arms and sit up. After a few deep breaths, the feeling goes away.
"I'm sorry, I can't lay down right now. Do you mind if we go into the kitchen so I can get some toast or something to help with the nausea?" Christian stands from the bed and takes my hand and leads me down the hallway to the kitchen.
Gail is in front of the stove fixing breakfast when we come into the room. I eye a plate of toast and grab a piece before sitting at the breakfast bar.
"Feeling okay, Ana? Would you like some tea?" Gail asks and I nod my head, taking a bite of toast. She pours some into a cup and sets it in front of me.
"Thank you," I say before taking a sip. I taste honey and lemon and it helps to somewhat alleviate the nausea feeling.
"Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. What would you like for breakfast?" Gail asks as my daughter hops up onto a stool. I kiss her head as she tells Gail she wants pancakes.
"Good morning, sweetheart. How'd you sleep?" Elizabeth smiles at me and takes a drink of milk.
"I slept good. What are we doing today?" Christian and I briefly discussed bringing Elizabeth along today for my doctor's appointment. So, I ask her if she wants to go with us.
"I can go with you to the doctor. Will they allow me to come in with you?" I nod my head and explain the details.
"They can get me ready and bring you in once everything is set up. How does that sound?"
"Yes! I'd love to come. What will it look like? What are they going to do?" Elizabeth asks as Gail sets a plate of pancakes in front of her and Christian and puts a bowl of fruit in front of me.
"Small meals will help subside the nausea." I smile at Gail and stuff a grape in my mouth.
"Thank you, Gail." She winks at me and turns to start cleaning up the breakfast dishes.
"The doctor is going to place something on my belly to try and see the baby. Hopefully, we will be able to hear the heartbeat, too."
"That's exciting! Will we know if I will have a brother or sister?" I shake my head.
"No, I think it's a little early for that. But when it's time for that appointment, you can come along," Christian tells Elizabeth, then kisses my cheek.
Elizabeth and I pass the time before my doctor's appointment by working a puzzle. It's a 500-piece picture of the Eiffel Tower. We talk about places we'd like to visit, and we both agree Paris is on our bucket list.
"It's a good thing your dad is rich and can make that happen," Christian says while opening a bottle of water while leaning against the breakfast bar.
"Maybe we can go before I go back to school?" Elizabeth asks while putting a puzzle piece in its place.
"We will see how things go. It's time to get ready to go see the doctor. Maybe we can eat dinner out afterwards?" Christian asks and Elizabeth and I both agree with his plan.
Later at the doctor's office, we are checked in and taken back to the ultrasound room. Christian waits outside with Elizabeth while the nurse gets me prepped. "She will to the external ultrasound first. If she is unable to see anything, she will do the vaginal one." I nod my head as the nurse places a sheet on the edge of the exam table.
"Okay, you two can come in now. Dr. Shelby will be along soon," the nurse tells Christian as he brings Elizabeth into the room with me.
"Are you nervous, mommy?" Elizabeth asks.
"A little bit, I guess." She reaches for my hand and wraps her little fingers around mine.
"I'm nervous, too," she whispers. "I've never seen anything like this before. It's kind of scary."
"There's nothing to be afraid of," Dr. Shelby says as she comes into the room. "We will hopefully get to see your little brother or sister and hear their heartbeat. How does that sound?" Elizabeth claps her hands in excitement as Dr. Shelby exposes my lower belly and squeezes gel onto it.
"Ready?" Dr. Shelby asks. I nod my head and she turns the machine on. The screen comes to life, and she places the wand on my lower tummy. She moves it around and then stops. "There is Baby Grey."
Christian takes my hand as tears stream down our cheeks. When Dr. Shelby asks if we would like a few pictures, I can only nod my head. She prints off a few pictures and sets them aside.
"Based on what I am seeing, you are about eight weeks along. Once the baby grows more, we can do measurements and get a better idea of your due date." She removes the wand from my skin and turns the machine off.
"Will we be able to hear a heartbeat?" Elizabeth asks. She seems like the only one that can speak words right now.
"Yes, dear. I will use this doppler machine to hear the heartbeat. It's more precise when the baby is this small. Are you ready?" Elizabeth nods her head and watches in fascination as Dr. Shelby places the handheld device where the ultrasound wand used to be.
A few seconds go by, and I hear nothing. Dr. Shelby looks down at the device and shakes her head. "I forgot to turn it on," she laughs, and I sigh in relief.
She turns it on and places it back on my lower belly. I cover my mouth and tears stream down my cheeks as I hear the heartbeat of my little miracle. Christian has mine and Elizabeth's hands clutched in his as we listen to the sweet sound echo in the room.
"Congratulations, Grey family." She turns the doppler off and uses a towel to wipe the gel off me. "The nurse mentioned you are experiencing some morning sickness. I would suggest putting some saltine crackers at your bedside to eat when you first wake up. Small meals during the day can also help with keeping the nausea to a minimum. If your sickness gets to the point where you are dehydrated and unable to keep anything down, please call me so I can prescribe something for you."
Christian helps Elizabeth down from the stool she was perched on during the ultrasound, then takes my hand to help me sit up.
"Come back to see me in four weeks. Hopefully, the baby will be developed enough to determine your due date." Dr. Shelby reaches for her iPad and makes a few notes.
"Do we consider this pregnancy high risk?" Christian asks before Dr. Shelby leaves the room.
"If you develop any vaginal bleeding or cramping, call me immediately. I don't think this pregnancy will be high risk. You are healthy overall, and it just took time for you get pregnant. We can evaluate you when you return in four weeks." Christian nods his head and looks at me.
"Any other questions?" Dr. Shelby looks between the two of us, then looks at Elizabeth. She hands me the ultrasound pictures she printed off.
"Congratulations on being a big sister. Help your daddy take care of your mommy, okay?" Dr. Shelby tells Elizabeth before leaving the room.
Elizabeth climbs into my lap and puts her arms around my neck. "I love you, mommy. Thank you for giving me a little brother or sister. I will help you take care of them. I promise." Be still my heart.
"Oh, sweetheart. I love you, too." I hug her little body tightly and look at Christian. His eyes are wet but he's smiling. We are all so overcome with emotion right now.
"Come on, let's go celebrate. What do you want to go to eat?" I slide a wayward hair behind Elizabeth's ear.
"Daddy? What do you want?" Elizabeth turns her attention to Christian and he grabs my purse from the chair.
"I know the perfect place. Just remember, Elizabeth. You can't tell anyone about mommy being pregnant yet. We can plan a party to reveal it to everyone."
Elizabeth promises to keep quiet as she gets off my lap. Christian takes her hand and walks to the door. They both look back at me and I smile. I place my hand on my lower belly and realize I have everything right here with me. I smile back, then follow my family out of the room.
Six months later
I have fallen in love again. I stare into a tiny face with eyes like his father and it takes my breath away. After two years of struggling to get pregnant I hold in my arms a little miracle, Theodore Raymond Grey. He was born late last night while Christian held my hand, encouraging me and helping me make it through the delivery.
When we had a party to announce I was pregnant, we had shirts made for Elizabeth, Christian and me to wear. Christian's shirt said Baby Daddy and mine said Baby Mama. Elizabeth's shirt said Big Sister. We kept the color of the shirts neutral since we didn't know what the sex of the baby was yet. We all wore button up shirts to hide them.
Once dinner was over, us three went into the kitchen to take off our over shirts. Nobody noticed anything at first when we returned to the room. We continued talking like normal until my mother asked Elizabeth what her shirt meant. The room went quiet for a few moments and Elizabeth looked at me. I nodded my head and she announced to everyone that I was pregnant, and she was going to be a big sister.
The room erupted in cheers and my mom was the first one to hug me. Her whispered words of love maid me cry harder. I eventually gathered myself to find my daddy waiting for a hug.
Daddy was all smiles when he hugged me, and he mentioned using Christian's jet to fly to Seattle frequently to see his grandchildren. We hadn't told everyone yet our plan on moving to Montana permanently. One surprise at a time!
Elliott engulfed Christian in a hug, and I believe a few tears were shed. Christian confided in him on our struggles to get pregnant and their bond got stronger because of it.
When we found out we were having a boy, Elizabeth couldn't contain her excitement because she got to accompany us to the ultrasound appointment. She smiled for weeks afterward.
The sound of the door to my room opening brings me back to the present, and my husband and daughter creep inside. Elizabeth's eyes light up when she sees Teddy. She hands me a stuffed animal and balloons then peeks into my arms.
"Hi, baby. How are you feeling?" Christian asks me, as he places a kiss on my lips, then takes the bear and balloons from me and sets them on the side table.
"We are doing alright. Good morning, Elizabeth. Are you ready to meet your little brother Teddy?" Elizabeth's eyes light up and she nods her head.
"Yes, mommy. Can I hold him, please?" I smile and look at Christian. He places a bag on the floor and reaches for his son. Once he has him in his arms, he kisses his little forehead and holds him close.
"Have a seat in that chair and daddy will help you get situated." She goes to the chair, and I take a minute to get my thoughts together.
"I'm ready." Elizabeth sits down and looks at Christian. He walks over and gently places Teddy in her arms. Once she is settled, he steps back and pulls his phone from his back pocket.
"Smile, Elizabeth." She looks at Christian with the biggest smile on her face. My heart is so full right now.
I pat the side of my bed and Christian sits down. We watch Elizabeth for a few minutes, and I take the opportunity to say what's been on my mind for the past few months.
"Christian, I have a few things I want to say but I need you to listen and not say anything until I'm finished. Okay?" He nods his head and takes my hand, kissing my palm. I look over at Elizabeth and see her whispering to Teddy.
"When I first met you, I had no idea how our relationship would turn out. When you told me about your past, I knew I needed to help you get over the pain. I thought I would use my experience and training to your benefit." I take a deep breath and he squeezes my hand. I look into his eyes, and he smiles at me, giving me the courage to finish what I need to say.
"Anyway, over the past nine months, I have realized you didn't need my help. You had it in you the whole time. Meeting me gave you the push you needed to let go of the pain. In doing so, you helped me. I have struggled so much over the past two years with my mental health. I felt so depressed not being able to have a baby. Our baby." Tears threaten to spill over, and Christian takes my face in his hands.
"Ana," Christian tries to talk but I shake my head.
"You saved me, Christian. Your love and support through everything brought me out of the dark depths of depression. You touched my soul and healed me. I'm grateful to you for being my support system. I love you." Tears are flowing down my face as he kisses me.
Christian wraps his arms around me, and I cry into his shoulder. The past two years have been so stressful and it's all releasing now.
A giggle causes me to pull back from the hug. I look over at Elizabeth and she is smiling at Teddy. "I think he is passing gas. He is making grunting noises and his face is red," she says. Christian hands me his handkerchief, then kisses my forehead.
"I love you too Mrs. Grey. Forever. And I will always be here for you, no matter what. You, Elizabeth, and Teddy are my life." I smile as he gets off the bed to take Teddy from Elizabeth. She joins me on the bed as Christian changes Teddy's diaper.
"What do you think of your little brother?" I play with Elizabeth's hair as she tells me all about her conversation with Teddy.
"I'm excited. I told him I would love him and protect him forever. He smells so good."
"Not now he doesn't. Teddy, where did this nastiness come from?" Christian gags as he tries to change the dirty diaper. Elizabeth and I both giggle as we watch.
The afternoon passes on, and the doctor comes by to check on me and Teddy. She says we are both doing well enough to go home tomorrow morning. Christian left not too long ago to take Elizabeth to my parent's place. He said he will be back a little later.
"Knock knock," Grace says as she peeks her head inside the door. "Can we come in?"
"Of course. Teddy is napping in the bassinet, and Christian took Elizabeth for something to eat then to my parent's house."
Grace and Carrick come in the room carrying a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. She sets them on the side table as Carrick gives me a hug. "How are you doing? Ready to go home yet?" Grace asks.
"The doctor was just in and told me we should be able to go home tomorrow morning. How are you two doing?" Grace smiles and pats me on the cheek.
"We are doing great. Retirement agrees with us both. We are settled here for good and looking forward to spending time with our grandchildren." Her eyes sparkle as she talks.
Mia and Gideon are no longer seeing each other. After Christian and I got married, Mia told Gideon she wanted a serious relationship with him, and he told her he didn't want the same thing. Christian wanted to go after Gideon, but Mia talked him out of it. She said Gideon was always busy and didn't think a long-term relationship would have worked out anyway. She is dating Kate's brother Ethan now. We are still waiting to see how that one is going to turn out.
Grace and Carrick spend some time holding Teddy before they head home. Grace promises to come by the house once we get settled in. I kiss them both and tell them I love them before they leave.
Teddy starts to fuss, and I think the little guy is hungry. I bring him to my breast, and he latches on perfectly. I rub his cheek and forehead as he nurses. I look down at my little miracle baby and smile. "Teddy, you have completed this family."
"I couldn't agree more, Mrs. Grey." Christian comes through the door without Elizabeth.
"We saw mom and dad downstairs and they offered to take Elizabeth home with them. She jumped at the chance to go home with Gram and Pops." I chuckle at the name Elizabeth calls Carrick and Grace.
"That's nice of them. I can't wait to go home tomorrow and be close to everyone." Christian sits down next to me as I release Teddy from nursing and place him on my shoulder. After a few pats he lets go of a healthy burp.
I place him on my other breast to see if he's still hungry. He latches on and sucks hungrily. "That's my boy – a breast man," Christian says and rubs Teddy's head as he nurses.
I chuckle and shake my head. "You are so funny, Mr. Grey." He kisses me and rests his head against mine.
"I love you so much Ana. Always and forever."
"Always and forever, Mr. Grey."
A/N
While editing I realized this is completely in Ana's POV. I will do an outtake soon of Christian's POV of their pregnancy struggles and the birth of Teddy. I hope you have enjoyed reading this story! I have a few more that I'm working on – Ted and Phoebe from A Change of Scenery want to tell their story and I have a few short shots in mind as well. Take care and be kind. Cheers!