*Christian's POV*
Today we had our doctor's appointment and we learned the gender. It was really hard for us to go back to work with the excitement of knowing what we're having, but reality calls and I had an afternoon full of meetings. It's almost eight o'clock and I'm just getting home. Knowing my angel is at the penthouse waiting for me helps, but I feel terrible I couldn't celebrate with her at dinner.
Entering, it's mostly dark, telling me that my girl is probably in our bed watching television or reading a book. I warm up the food Gail kept for me and eat it quickly so I can relax with my Ana. I know I'll get so wrapped up in her that I won't make time to eat, so I force myself to do it now.
I head toward the bedroom and find Ana curled up in bed, reading one of her transcripts. Her eyebrows are knit together in deep concentration as she randomly makes marks along the way. Her head cocks to the side as she looks it over and I watch her put a long red slash over a line in the page, making a note along the margin.
"Working hard, Ms. Steele?"
She gasps. "Christian!" She gives me a beautiful grin. "Not as hard as you've been! I was starting to wonder if you were ever coming home." Teasing me lightly, she places her transcript on the bedside table and pats my spot next to her.
"How's my girl and our son doing?" I crawl onto the bed and pull up her shirt, pressing a kiss to her swollen stomach. A boy.
She smiles down at me and her fingers slip into my hair. "We're wonderful, Ace. Our little teddy bear is safe and snug and happy."
Teddy bear.
"Have you thought about names yet?" I ask her.
She shakes her head. "Not really. Do you have anything?"
I sit up. "Actually, I do."
"Really? Tell me."
"When you mentioned teddy bear it reminded me. What about Theodore? After my grandfather. We can call him Teddy or Theo."
"The grandfather that had the orchard you told me about?" I can see her mind turning.
I nod. "Yes, but if you-"
"No, I like it. It's perfect. Your grandfather was such a large part of your life and we've always called him baby bear...so, it fits perfectly. Theodore. Our little teddy bear."
I give her a long, sweet kiss. I love this. I love her. I love our baby. Everything is coming together perfectly.
"Can his middle name be Raymond?"
"Yes, of course. I think that's best. He'll be named after two of the strongest men we know." The back of my fingers caress the skin on her face. I'll never get over how soft she is.
"And raised by another." She adds, making my heart swell. To be put in the same category of these men is such an honor. I have to blink back tears just thinking about it.
"Ana, baby..." Fuck. "Do you know how extraordinary you are?" I hold her face in my hands, kissing her with everything I can. I can't express everything I want to. I don't even know how.
"You are the extraordinary one, Christian. I wish you could see that. You are going to be such a wonderful father. Please see that. Please don't doubt yourself. Your son is going to be head over heels for you." She wipes at my cheeks and I realize I'm crying.
"I need you, Ana." Loving her with my body is one of the only ways I'm confident in expressing my love for her. She's so responsive to me, showing me that I'm doing it right. I give her everything I have when we're intimate and her giving me her body, letting me have her and trusting me to take care of her, makes me feel loved. I feel the love and affection coming off of her body each time we become one and I need that. But she understands. She knows it's so much more than just sex for me. And I know it's the same for her. Even when we said it was just a release in the beginning, we were lying. We were in complete denial about how deep we felt for each other. Why do we have to be so stubborn?
*Ana's POV*
We spent a long time celebrating in bed last night and I can feel it in my thighs and shoulders this morning. I feel like I've done a three hour long workout. You won't find me complaining, though. Christian and his sexpertise can work me out anytime. I take a long hot shower to loosen up my muscles and throw on my workwear so I can meet Christian in the kitchen for breakfast. I need to feed little Theodore Raymond his breakfast.
I grin down at my stomach and hold my bump in my hands as I make my way through the penthouse to the kitchen. I love that our baby bear has a name. Our little Teddy Bear.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" The voice makes me instantly sick to my stomach.
"Anastasia, run." Christian's voice is calm, but his voice direct.
Jack Hyde and Christian are standing in the kitchen. Christian has his hands out in front of him and I realize that Jack is holding a gun.
"Do. Not. Move." It's a threat. The gun is still pointed at Christian but his head keeps sweeping back and forth between us. "Now everything is starting to make sense."
Not to me. I don't understand what is happening.
"The little cocktease is the reason you're sucking me dry. I thought it was because you didn't have the marketing or drive to get your own damn clients, but now I see it's personal. You're fucking with my livelyhood Grey. I don't take kindly to people who threaten me."
Where is Taylor? What did Christian do? My breath is coming out in pants and I have no idea what to do. I'm suddenly hyperaware that I am pregnant. How the fuck am I going to get Christian and I out of this?
"This is between you and me, Hyde. Leave Ana alone. She doesn't have anything to do with this."
"LIAR!" I wince as it echos. "She has everything to do with this. I'm not fucking stupid. You did this because of her."
"What did he do, Jack?" I find my voice, hoping if he concentrates on me Christian can move enough to hit the Emergency button under the counter.
"Like you don't fucking know!" He swivels toward me and I pray that Christian realizes what I'm doing.
"I don't. I have no idea what the fuck is going on." I really don't.
"Oh, he didn't tell you? He didn't tell you he went after every single one of my best-selling authors and stole them right out from under me?"
"Wh-what?" When did he do this? How?
"Because of you, I'm going to be broke. You stole millions from me!" The gun raises to me and I instantly raise my hands.
"Jack, we can talk this out. Christian has money. We can come up with something-" I try to talk over Christian moving, but the keys in his pocket gives his movement away, making Hyde turn on his toes and he sees Christian reaching under the counter.
He shoots.
It's loud.
I scream.
I turn, making a break for Taylor's apartment but he's running for us, his firearm raised.
"DOWN, ANA!"
He almost rips my arm out of the socket as the grabs me and thrusts me behind one of the large armchairs causing me to catch myself on my hands and knees. There's another shot and I look back to see Taylor move quickly out of view, his weapon drawn.
I hear him calling for Christian and I pop out of my hiding place. I need to get to Christian. Jack is lying in the middle of the floor in a pool of blood, a gunshot to his head. He's dead.
"Christian!" I sob out, my mind catching up. Please please please. I run across the apartment and find Taylor hovering over Christian's body as he talks on his phone. Christian is bloody, laying in his own pool of blood.
"No, no. No, no, no. Christian! Christian!" He's got a bullet hole to the left side of his chest and I try to cover it with my hands to slow the bleeding. His blood is everywhere. "This can't be happening. It can't." I chant it over and over.
"Ana." His voice is rough.
"Christian."
His eyelids are heavy, but he manages to lift his bloody hand enough to rest on my stomach.
"You're going to be okay. You have to be okay. Don't close your eyes Christian! Look at me! No, no! Don't close your eyes!" No matter how many times I say it, he can't keep his eyes open. His copper eyelashes rest against his strong cheekbones and my body begins to wrack with sobs. His hand slips from my stomach and falls to the floor. Pressure. Keep putting pressure. My arms feel so weak and are shaking but I use my weight to push down on his chest where the bleeding is. Anything has got to help.
XxXxXx
He was too critical for the ambulance to allow me to ride with them. Instead, Taylor drives us to the hospital, ignoring the traffic signals. I can't bare to watch the ambulance in front of me so my eyes rest on my bloody hands. I didn't bother to clean up. There was no time. My shirt is also splattered and stained, Christian's bloody handprint against my bump.
He's got to be okay. He has to. His family needs him.
His family.
I reach into my back pocket and with shaky arms and hands I find Dr. Trevelyan's number.
"Hello?"
Her voice makes the pain worse. I have to tell her that her beautiful son is in trouble.
"Anastasia? Are you there."
"Ch-Ch-Christian..." God, I can't talk.
"CARRY! Oh my God what happened to Christian?"
"He-he's been sh-shot." I'm panting.
"SHOT?"
"Seattle West."
"We're coming. I'll tell the others."
I end the call.
XxXxXx
We're stuck in the surgery waiting room. They took him straight to surgery. I can't get the sight of him laying there out of my head. I don't want to. If it's the last time I see him with his eyes open, I can't forget it. Please please please be okay. We need you.
"Ana?" I spin, hearing Elliot's voice. Taking one look at me sends his mother straight to her knees. I washed my hands and arms the best I could, but they're stained around my fingernails and in some of the creases of my hands. My shirt is still a mess and I've put my hair up but the ends are encrusted with blood.
"No, no, no..." She's sobbing into her husband's chest while he kneels beside her.
Elliot pulls me into him and I can feel his body shaking. The strong, easy-going man seems to be losing control and it breaks my heart. Christian's family is falling apart in front of my eyes and I am so thankful that they mended their rift before this. All I can do is squeeze Elliot as he trembles, but I wish I could envelope his big body in mine like Kate is doing with Mia.
"He's got to be okay, Ana."
I nod against his chest. "You're right, Elliot. He's too important to us." He hasn't had enough life yet.
It is hours before we know anything regarding Christian and his condition. It's a bittersweet feeling as we sit because the long wait means he's still with us, but it also means that he has some serious issues for them to try to fix. Finally, the doctor comes out looking exhausted.
"Family of Mr. Grey, I take it?"
We huddle around him as he explains that Christian's gunshot wound nicked the left subclavian artery and the top of his left lung, shattering part his shoulder blade. They had to fix the artery, do a resection of the top of his lung, and had to do a shoulder replacement.
"I do warn you that he doesn't look good. He's been through a lot and it shows. He's still on a breathing tube and has multiple lines and a chest tube. We are keeping sedated for the time being until we can get some blood transferred and his vitals back up."
As we're walked back to his recovery room, I can feel myself getting sicker and sicker. He was almost taken from us... and he could still be. So many things could happen to his lung or with his artery. I can't bear to think of him bleeding out internally with no signs until it's too late.
The room is quiet except for the machines. I hear his mother begin to cry as she makes her way deeper into the room, but I can't tear my eyes from the floor. I don't know if I'm ready and I know his family deserves to see him first. They gather around the bed crying and talking quietly to him, letting him know they're here. Kate stands beside me, holding my hand and giving them their moment. I hear the breathing machine and find my own breathing matching it. Concentrating on the machine keeping Christian breathing and breathing with it is keeping me from hyperventilating and my mind from wandering.
"Anastasia, sweet girl, come and see him." When I look over, Dr. Trevelyan is turned toward me, her hand out to welcome me. I slowly make my way over and don't have the guts to look at him until I see the blue blanket laying across him.
Too much. One look at Christian causes my stomach to lurch and I just turn quick enough for me to bend and vomit yellow bile on the floor behind us. It's putrid burning taste burns all the way up my throat and into my mouth. I take three steps to the sink to try to rinse the awful taste from my mouth.
"No, no, no." Whispering to myself, I grip the edge of the sink, trying to find my bearings. A large comforting hand rubs my back and I know it's Elliot.
I apologize to the others while I grip the sink, trying to get myself together.
"You didn't do anything wrong." Dr. Trevelyan hugs me from the side and looking over, I see that the mess has already been covered with a couple towels. "Do you need to step out and get some fresh air or do you want to try again?"
I want to see my Christian. "I want-" I shake my head. "I need to see him."
Sandwiched between his mother and his brother, they walk me back to Christian's side. This time, I force myself to take in what is in front of me. He's paler than I've ever seen him...translucent even. A part of me feels like there's no way he could be alive, but the rise and fall of his chest with the breathing machine tells me different. Multiple IV's are hung beside him and a tube is sticking out of the top of his chest, right below his clavicle bone. He has no hospital gown on, but he arm is already in a sling, holding his arm close to his body. his shoulder is covered in a large dressing and I imagine there is probably another like it on the backside. I find myself slipping my hand in his right one, making sure not to move anything. I bend and press a kiss to the top of his hand, resting my forehead against it. "I love you so much, Ace." I whisper to him quietly, my eyes closed as I rest against his hand.
"Ana, sit." Elliot has brought me a chair so I can relax while I lean against his hand. It's a hand I've held so many times, but this is the first time it hasn't held mine back. It's lifeless, but warm, reminding me that he's still here.
The nurse enters and kindly lets us know that there are only to be two visitors at a time, immediate family only. My heart drops and I force myself to sit up so I can make my exit. I feel a firm hand on my shoulder and see that Mr. Grey is keeping me firmly planted in my seat.
"Come on, kids. Let's let Mom and his wife spend some time with him. We'll forage for some food and caffeine." Elliot, Mia, and Kate follow him out and I give him a grateful smile. My heart swells for his father. His parents really are so lovely. The fact that he gave up his spot next to his son so I could stay by his side is so selfless. I find myself crying into Christian's hand while Dr. Trevelyan leans against my shoulder, letting out some of her own tears for her son.
*Christian's POV*
"You need to eat, Ms. Steele."
"I'll eat later, Taylor."
"You'll eat now. If Mr. Grey wakes up and finds out we didn't take care of you while he was out-"
"I ate this morning, Taylor. I'll eat later."
For fuck's sake. "Eat."
I hear a collective gasp and crying, forcing me to try to open my eyes. I feel like I've been run over twice.
I blink. Damn that light is bright.
"Oh, Christian! You're awake! Finally, you're awake." My eyes land on my mother who is by my side.
"Fuck." My throat hurts, my chest is killing me, and I feel like my shoulder has been beat with a baseball bat.
"Oh, are you in a lot of pain? The doctor weaned you off of your meds to try and rouse you awake." Her hand comes up to brush my hair back.
"What happened?"
"You were shot." I remember. My mother explains to me what they did while I was in surgery. "You've been out for three days. This morning they took your chest tube and breathing tube out and moved you from ICU to a regular room."
My Ana. "Where's my Ana? Is she okay?" My eyes finally gaze around the room that is full of my loved ones and I find her standing at the foot of my bed trembling while Elliot tries to console her. "Oh, angel, come here." My mother steps away so Ana can take her spot.
"Christian..." She's a blubbering mess and I hate it. It's my fault. I've caused her this pain. I reach for her face and cup the side, wiping her tears with my thumb. She nuzzles into my hand. "I was so worried, Christian. This has been the worst few days of my life. Seeing you laying on the floor-" She can't finish. A sob escapes her mouth and I pull her head down so it's resting on the front of my shoulder.
"I am so sorry, Ana. I'm okay, now. Everything will be okay." I thank God that Hyde didn't get to her. I still don't know what happened after, but it can wait. Ana is safe, I'm alive, and the baby continues to grow in her tummy.
I rub her back up and down while she rests her head against my shoulder, her body in the chair beside me. She lifts her head to look at me and her hand finds its usual place over my heart.
"See, I'm right here." I tell her, giving her a smile.
She gives me a sad smile in return. "God, I've missed those gray eyes, Christian. I was so worried I'd never see them again."
"Oh, angel, did you really think I'd let you get rid of me that easy? I've still got so many ornery things to teach Teddy." I give her a wink.
She laughs at my teasing.
"Teddy?" My father asks and I make eye contact with Ana, who gives me a small nod.
"Our son. Theodore. Teddy for short." I explain.
"A boy! Oh that's so wonderful, you two!" My mother sounds ecstatic to be having a grandson. "Oh, Anastasia, may I?" She holds her hand up.
"Of course." Sitting up, but keeping my hand tight in hers, she lets my mother rub her stomach. She looks like she's grown since the last time I laid eyes on her and I find myself a little sad that I missed those days with her.
XxXxXx
Everyone has left but my Ana, my mother, and Taylor. I want to talk to Taylor without stressing my girl out, but when I tried asking Ana to go home and rest, she refused. I can't blame her; if the roles were reversed I wouldn't leave her side either. She did eat for me when Taylor pressed her about food again and by the deep circles under her eyes I can see she's exhausted. I don't imagine that the makeshift couch turned cot that she's been staying on is very comfortable.
"Ana, come lay with me." I shift the best I can and open my good arm so she can slide in. She looks unsure.
"I don't want to hurt you, Christian."
"You won't. just be careful."
Her eyes fall on my mother and she encourages her as well. "Go on, Anastasia. Christian needs you."
I smile at my mother's words. I do.
Slowly she climbs into the bed, worrying her lip. Laying sideways, her sweet stomach rests against the front of my right hip and her head nestles in the crook between my arm and shoulder. She tucks her free arm against her, but I frown.
"That's not usually where your hand goes. You aren't going to hurt me."
Her hand comes out to rest against my heart and I nuzzle my nose into her hairline. I can feel my body relax as I breathe her in. "This is what I need, angel, thank you."
"You're comfortable? I'm not pulling on your IV's or catheter?"
I chuckle. "I'm very comfortable. Relax and enjoy being close."
"Okay, fine." She giggles. God, I love that sound.
My eyes wander over to Taylor. "You saved us, Taylor. I don't know how to thank you. You killed for us... I'm sorry you had to do that." I can't imagine how fucked up that could make a person... military or not.
"It's my job, Christian."
I give a slight nod. "One that I hate that you have to do, but glad that I have you. You're more than just an employee, you know that right?"
He clears his throat and he looks like he's holding back tears. "You're family, Christian."
I smile. "Yes."
"You do what you can to keep family safe. If it comes to doing what I had to do a few days ago, then so be it." I understand completely.
Laughing, I reach up and wipe my own tears off my face. "Enough with this sappy shit." Looking down, I see Ana already comatose on my shoulder. "Let's get down to business. How did he get in?"
Taylor gives me a look like I don't want to know.
"Taylor."
"A faulty lock on the bottom floor of the fire escape."
I just blink up at him. All these damn security measures at Escala only to be almost killed by someone using a damn faulty door. "Wait. How did he know there was a faulty door?"
"It looks like he watched the place for a few days. He was seen at the back entrance talking to one of the maintenance men that were working on the door."
I already knew how he got in from there. The bottom door is a steel door that requires a keyfob to go up. The doors to the floors though, are wood. I'm guessing to make them more asthetically pleasing. Hyde kicked the door in. I happened to be in the kitchen when I heard the first kick and didn't even get to the door before he had it open and had the gun pointed right at me. I didn't have time to warn anyone. Thank God he didn't get Ana.
"Go home, Taylor, and take a few days off. You deserve it." The poor man needs to enjoy a few days in bed wrapped around Gail.
XxXxXx
Over the next few days, people come and go, checking to make sure I'm still alive and kicking. Ros even brought Andrea to see me and I felt good enough to tease her about coming to see me off the clock. She assured me that it was only to make sure she still had a boss that was alive and breathing enough to continue to sign her paychecks.
Ethan shows up with Kate and hands me a stuffed bear with a small get well balloon in its grip. I cock my eyebrow.
"It was between that and an I love you bear." Ethan shrugs. "They didn't have any 'sorry you got shot' cards."
Anastasia giggles from her seat next to me and hugs them both. "Thank you for coming to see Christian." I don't think that he came to see me, but I let it go. If he feels the need to check up on Ana, then at least I know he has her best interest at heart.
My parents who are sitting along the couch are still looking a little uncertain about him, so I know I have to play friends today to squash their worry about he and Ana.
Ethan holds out his knuckle and I give him a fist bump, managing not to roll my eyes. "So how are you holding up?"
"Better each day. They say I can go home tomorrow if I can handle being off my IV pain meds, which I'm sure I'll handle just fine. At least I have my own little nurse to take me home and nurse me back to health." I wiggle my eyebrows. "She's getting pretty good at the sponge bath thing."
"Christian!" Ana admonishes me as Ethan laughs. "There will be no hanky-panky for you. You've got to get better first."
"I'm better." Kind of.
"You're not."
XxXxXx
This morning I was able to take my first real shower since arriving at the hospital. Since I'm kind of one handed at the moment, I had Anastasia help...not that I'm complaining. I was surprised at how exhausting it was to stand that long, even though it was only a few minutes. Unfortunately, I think Ana is right. I'm not all better. At least not yet. Even though I don't want to, I'll have to take things slow. I don't want anything happening that'll bring me back to the hospital. Neither of us could handle that.
I sit in the wheelchair in the room while we wait for Taylor to come pick us up. Ana is sitting across from me, but she feels too far. I pout. I'm needy.
"Oh, no! What's that for?"
"You're too far."
She giggles. "I'm right here."
Using my right hand, I lean forward and grab her hand, pulling her up. When she stands, I grab her hip and pull her to me so she sits in my lap.
"You are a needy thing, aren't you?" She teases me lightly, pressing a kiss to my lips.
"I'm broken. You make it better." Fuck, I'm pitiful.
"Aw, I'll always kiss your boo-boos and make it better." I like the sound of that.
"Move in with me." She needs to stay.
"What? Christian I just moved! I hate moving."
"But I need your help. I'm a one-armed man."
She giggles. "Staying with you until your better is not a problem. You know I've enjoyed taking care of you over the last few days." I'm happy she'll stay for now but I'll be able to start using my arm soon and I need her to stay longer than that.
"You need to move in with me so we can get married." I'm never letting this go.
She gives me a tut. "You always say that."
"Well you haven't said yes, yet." Say yes.
"Let's concentrate on making you better first." Leaning in, she kisses me. "I love you so much, Christian. I love that you can come home now."
I frown. Home doesn't feel like home anymore. It doesn't feel safe. The memory of what happened there will never leave my mind. "Ana, would you mind if we stayed at your apartment?"
Her eyebrows knit together. "Well, no of course not." I think she realizes why because tears come to her eyes. "My home is your home Christian. For however long you need."
I smile. "So we will be living together." I got my way... in a round-about way.
"Okay, Grey. I guess you get your way... this time." She gives me a playful scowl and bites at my lip.