"When Ana logs on to her computer she stops, and admire her wallpaper slide show of her family. The pictures range from when she was pregnant with teddy to more recent pictures of Cary and Chloe's party last month. Wanting more Ana decides to go and look at all the photos they have. After setting up the projector and finding the photo albums she beings to walk down memory lane. On the projector plays videos of birthday parties, first holidays, and other sentimental moments over the years. Ana is looking at pictures from their first family vacation when she hears Christians voice, she looks up and sees his on the screen. "Hello, my gorgeous wife and amazing mother to my beautiful children, right now you are in hair and make-up getting ready for the interview." Christian points the camera over to where Ana was getting ready then turns it back to himself. "I know you're upset that you have to work on Mother's Day, so I thought I would make you a special video for you".
The next part begins to play is a slide show made by Christian accompanied by the song Little Wonders by Rob Thomas. There are pictures of Ana playing with a toddler Teddy and Phoebe in the meadow, Ana taking a nap with children in a hammock while on vacation in Hawaii. Next, a heavily pregnant Ana and Christina at their baby shower for Liam and Lindsay followed by many others. As she continues to watch the almost four-minute video she becomes misty eyed looking at how happy she is in the pictures. The video comes to an end with a video clip of Teddy, Phoebe, Liam and Lindsay waving goodbye to the camera as they head off to their first day of school, it slowly fades to black then a message appears; no matter what you are an amazing mother and wife, love Teddy, Phoebe, Liam, Lindsay and Christian.
The video ends and Ana wipes away a stray tear, in her hand she holds a picture of her holding Teddy in the hospital. The picture is clearly an off guard as she's not looking at the camera but her entire focus is the tiny bundle in her arms, her mind flashes back to Hannah in the hospital and how sad she was when she confessed to her about not being able to have children. She would never get to feel her baby move inside her or have that bond you develop over the nine months you carry them. Ana is so wrapped up in her own bubble of remembrance that she doesn't hear Christian enter.
"Earth to Ana!" Christian says with a raised voice to garner her attention.
"Oh, your home ear…" Ana looks at the clock on the wall and is shocked to realize how much time has passed while she was walking down memory lane. Suddenly she smells something familiar and her stomach grumbles loudly.
"Do I smell dumplings?" Ana asks Christian as she sniffs the air to confirm the aroma. From behind his back Christian produces a brown bag, "Yes you do, I thought you'd like some so on my way home I stopped and got you them." Christian hands Ana the bag and sits down beside her, Ana puts the photos aside and opens the bag. The aroma wafts out of the bag, Ana inhales deeply and hums.
"I haven't had dumplings since the last time I was pregnant" she says off cuff as she continues to take the food out of its bag. "I know" Christian replies. She finally gets her chopstick out and pops the first bite into her mouth.
"So how far are we?" Christian asks. At Ana's confused look Christian continues, "You don't have to keep it from me, I know your pregnant." Ana almost chokes on her dumpling, after she recovers she speaks. "What makes you think I'm pregnant?"
"Well when we were texting you said you wanted to talk over drinks since it would be the last one you have for a while, at first I was confused. Why wouldn't you be able to drink unless you were pregnant, and you just said you hadn't had dumpling since the last time you were pregnant."
"Oh Christian, I'm not pregnant; not yet at least" Ana puts the rest of her food aside and turns to Christian.
"So, you want to try for another baby?" Christian asks somewhat perplexed.
"I want to ask you a question, on the day when Teddy was born how did you feel?" Christian picks up the photo of Ana holding a just born Teddy and he smiles. "I was petrified, anxious, apprehensive and I felt so unprepared but when he finally came, and he was in my arms all of those feelings washed away. From that moment on I felt this enormous sense of pride and amazement that you and I created something so prefect."
Christian looks up from the photo, towards Ana. Her eyes brimming yet again as listens to Christian relive the day, he became a father, "What made you ask that question?" Christian asks still confused about this trip down memory lane.
Ana dabs at the corners of her eyes and takes a deep breath before she talks again. "Because I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing by becoming Hannah's surrogate" Christian is taken aback, stunned. Ana continues, "Today at work Hannah said she wasn't feeling well and that she needed to go to the hospital, so Luke took her. When I hadn't heard from either of them, I called Taylor to track where they went, when I got there I saw Luke and he told me that they were expecting but that Hannah was deemed high risk and that they wanted to keep here for observation. When I went up to see her, she didn't look like the Hannah I know and love, she looked hollow and heartbreakingly sad. When I asked if there's anything, I could do to help she asked for a new body and I found that weird. I asked what she meant by that and she told me that she could never have kids and that broke my heart Christian. So, I told her that I would be her surrogate."
Ana takes a break from retelling the conversation from earlier to read Christian's face, she finds that it's soft with compassion. "I get it Ana, Hannah is like a little sister you never had and you'd do anything humanly possible to see her happy. Luke and Hannah are practically family, I support your decision one-hundred percent."
Ana lunges herself towards Christian, he catches her and hugs her. "Thank you for understanding Christian" Ana embraces him tightly; she takes a minute to really appreciate the comfort he gives to her. After a minute Ana loosen and pulls back to meet Christian's gaze. "Would you mind talking to Luke?"
"You don't want to tell him yourself?"
"Well, I technically already told them but Luke's worried about a couple things and I think some male bonding will put them to ease."
"Okay then, I'll talk to him. Do you think we should tell the kids?" Christian asks, Ana hadn't thought about that.
Christian and Ana had decided before any of the kids were born to be transparent with their children to an extent. The world was filled with known and unknown dangers and they wanted them to be as prepared as possible. "This is going to affect all of us including the children, so yes we'll tell them when I'm actually pregnant"
"Okay then it's settled" Christian says then pulls Ana back to him. They continue to go through the pictures, while flicking through one particular stack Christian comes across the only picture he has of his biological mother. He stares at the old and tattered picture, seeing her in a new light.
The cynicism and ranker he held for her seem to dwindle with his new revelation. "I'm sorry" Christian whispers to the picture then places it with all the other pictures. Ana sees this off-guard moment of Christian's but decides not to peruse it, just then Phoebe come up in the room.
"Oh, here you are, oh hi Dad. So, this weekend Ava wants to have a girl's day with me, Melissa, Candace, Justice and Ezra…"
"Um, who is this Ezra?" Christian probes. "Ezra is… how would grandma put it, sweeter than a Georgia peach in the summer" Christian relaxes, "Oh."
"Um… anyways, I wanted to know after that could I go to sleep over at Josie's house? Her mom says it's ok"
"I don't see why not, Christian?"
"I'm fine with it, how are you getting there?"
"Josie is gonna pick me up since she got her license last week and her dad is…"
"We're not having this conversation again Phoebe" Christian states as he gets up from the floor, offering his hand to Ana to help her up as well.
Ana sighs knowing this conversation is about to take a turn and not for the better. When Phoebe turned 15 all she could think or talk about was getting her permit, but Christian did not want that for his daughter. Christian's reasoning being he had people who could drive her anywhere she wanted, what would be the point in learning how to drive.
"Phoebe honey, now is not the time for this conversation." Ana gives Phoebe the universal not now mom look, Phoebe sighs in resignation "Okay fine, to be continued." Phoebe turns on her heels and heads out texting at the speed of light.
"Why wont she let the driving thing go?"
"Because she's my daughter and its not in our nature besides, don't you think your being a little unfair?" Ana asks as they walk downstairs.
"We have security that can escort her anywhere she wants to go, what is the point of having a driver's license if you don't use it?" Christian retorts, Ana sighs.
"That's not the point Christian, she wants that freedom that comes with being a licensed driver. Plus, there are thousands of other reasons to have a license, what if Phoebe and I went out for some mother-daughter time and something happens to me that makes me incapable of driving Phoebe could drive us back or god forbid she's out with friends and the same situation happens. Phoebe is a smart and responsible girl Christian you don't have to worry." Christian contemplates these new revelations; he'd never thought about it that way before.
"Okay then, I'll have Taylor help her with lessons and safety classes." Ana kisses Christian's cheek "Thank you for being an amazing father and dad."
"Thank you for making me into the man I am today" he kisses her cheek and then her lips, the kiss is soft, sweet and tender.
The week flies by and Friday is finally here, Christian is in his office reading over a potential acquisition of a failing company when Andrea buzzes in through the intercom, "Mr. Grey?"
"Yes?"
"I'm about to go on my lunch hour, is there anything I can get you?"
"No, thank you. Enjoy your lunch" Christian says then releases the talk button. After looking at his watch he too decides to take a break, once he has packed up his desk he also decides its the perfect time to tell Phoebe the news she's been dying to hear and as a treat Christian decides to take Phoebe out for lunch.
Christian: hey peanut
Phoebe: hey dad, is everything okay
Christian: Everything is fine, I wanted to know if you would like to grab lunch and talk
Phoebe: Sure, I'd love sushi
Christian: You got it kiddo; I'll pick you up soon.
A little while later Christian arrives at the children's' high school to pick up Phoebe. Christian sends her a quick text letting her know that he's there, a few minutes later Phoebe emerges out of school and to where her father is parked. Christian gets out and opens the door before she gets to the car, "Princess Peanut" Christian says with a flourish as he opens the door.
"Dad" Phoebe sighs, rolling her eyes, "I'm not a little girl anymore, you don't have to get the door for me"
"You'll always be my little girl" Christian says before closing the passenger door.
The ride to the restaurant is a quick one, when they begin to pull into the valet parking Phoebe asks, "Is Mom already here?".
Christian puts the car in park and turns to Phoebe, "What would make you think your mother would be here?"
"Well, I thought you two always had lunch together" Phoebe shrugs and Christian chuckles, "We don't always have lunch together, she's currently in Portland for the weekend" "Oh" is Phoebe's only response.
She thinks to herself that this is the perfect time to talk to her father about the whole license thing.
The valet approaches the car and opens Phoebe's door, she gets out of the car her mind racing about how she will work this topic into conversation. They go inside Christian leading and Phoebe following, they approach the hostess podium after a brief exchange the hostess leads them to their table.
"Your waiter will be with you shortly" The hostess says before going back to her post, once seated Phoebe and Christian begin to flip through the menu. Phoebe peeks over her menu a few times to gage her father's mood. This also brings up the question of why he asked her to lunch, she's about to ask when their waiter appears.
"Good afternoon, my name is Jared and I will be serving you today. May I start you off with some drinks?"
"Yes, we'll have two water, a diet coke and Phoebe" Christian prompts, Phoebe pops her head over the menu and looks at the waiter and to her surprise he's gorgeous. She stammers a little before she gets her words out "I..I'll have an iced tea"
"Are you ready to order as well or would you like some more time?" Phoebe speaks up before Christian can, "A little more time please" Phoebe says in a breathy rush "Not a problem, I'll be back with your drinks" he says and winks at Phoebe.
A blush creeps its way onto her face, Christian notices the exchange and her reaction. How she now wears a sneaky smirk, her cheeks are all rosy and she keeps looking in the direction that the waiter disappeared in. It's in this moment when reality hits Christian like a train going 110 miles an hour, his little girl is no longer a little girl anymore. He looks at his daughter in a new light, not the little girl running around the house playing in her mothers' make up and shoes, she's now a responsible young adult starting life who just wants to get her license.
Christian lets out a sigh and places his menu down, "You know what you're getting already?! That was fast" Phoebe chuckles, "I want to talk to you about something Phoebe" Phoebe's eyes fly to her father's trying to gauge what he could possibly want to talk about. She knew she wasn't in trouble because they were at a nice restaurant, had she been in real trouble this conversation would be happening in his office. She thought a little longer and came up with nothing, so she decides to take this opportunity to talk to him about her issue.
"And I want to talk to you about something as well Father, but you go first."
"I want to discuss the topic of you getting your permit and sub-sequentially you license."
Phoebe's jaw almost hits the table in shock. Not in a million years did she think this is what he wanted to talk about, Phoebe recovers and tries to play it cool. "What about it?"
"Well, your mother and I were talking, and she shed some light on the benefits of you having your license and with that being said you can get your drivers license." Phoebe is in shock, mouth slightly agape but once her father's words finally sinks in she beings to beam from ear to ear like the Cheshire cat.
"Well, I already have my permit so that's one step closer"
You do?" Christian says a little surprised but with a touch of hurt that he is just finding out about this.
Phoebe realizes she let the cat out of the bag and cringes a little, "Yea when Aunt Kate took Ava to get hers, Mom and I went with them. I had already read the manual about a hundred times, so I pleaded with mom to take the test, then Ava started begging and then Aunt Kate joined in and soon after she gave in and let me take it. I asked mom not to tell you because I wanted to do it at the right time, I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
Christian smiles a little, "Better late than never I suppose" Just then the waiter arrives with their drinks. Once they place their food order the rest of lunch was filled with talk of arranging a schedule for lessons and all the other bells and whistles.
When they get back to Grey Manor Phoebe bolts upstairs to start getting ready for her sleepover at her friends house, she send a text to Ava.
Phoebe: Omfg! You will never believe what happened to me today! *Shrieks*
Ava: You finally got laid! Congrats bby girl!
Phoebe: MY DAD IS LETTING ME GET MY LICENSE!
Ava: NO FRREAKIN WAY!
Phoebe: YES FREAKING WAY!
Ava: It must be a pretty cold day in hell for this to happen, wht changed his mind
Phoebe: Mom apparently, idk what she said to him but idc bcuz I'M GETTING MY LICENSE! I'll fill you in later.
Ava: Cool, hey I got invited to this party tonight you wanna come?
Phoebe: Ava, you know that's not my scene. Besides I'm going to sleep over at Josie's
Ava: LAME! Well if you decide not to be a stick in the mud and wanna come hmu
Phoebe: Hell just froze over and now your asking for pigs to fly!
Ava: Lmao fine see you tmr