A/N: There is a lot in this one, so bear with me.

*Christian's POV*

Picking up the phone, I call Raymond Steele. I have a surprise for my Ana and I want to make sure it goes off without a hitch.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr. Steele. It's Christian. I was calling to verify that we are still on schedule for today?" I look out at the Seattle skyline. It's a dark and dreary day, rain falling in big wet globs against my large windows.

"Yes. I'm all packed."

"Great. I'll have a car pick you up at three for the airport and Ana's CPO, Sawyer, will pick you up in Seattle. He'll let you in the apartment so you'll be there when we arrive home."

"Sounds like a plan."

"I want to make sure you're comfortable. Gail, our housekeeper, is stocking the guest bed and bath with everything you should need, but please feel free to look through and ask for anything we might have missed. We have a fully stocked bar, so don't be afraid to ask Gail for something. She'll be cooking for us tonight."

I hear his gruff voice chuckling on the other end. "I'm sure I'll have everything I need. You've thought of everything. Are you sure you don't want me to stay at a hotel? I don't mind."

"We have a guest bedroom for a reason, Mr. Steele. You're family and you'll stay with Ana, right where you belong. She's going to be ecstatic to have you stay the weekend."

"She's not the only one, Christian. I miss her. Seeing her through a screen is not enough. And what you two went through... well, I need to see that you are okay myself. Both of you."

"I understand, sir." My cell phone beeps with an incoming call. "I have another call. I have to get that. I'll see you tonight."

Switching lines, I answer. "This is Grey."

"Christian... I need to speak with you. Face-to-face. It's really important."

"Emma, I blocked your number for a reason. This is getting ridiculous. Stop calling me." I hang up the phone and block the number. This is the fourth time the girl has called me today, all from different numbers. The girl just won't give up.

A reminder pings on my computer, telling me about my upcoming meeting with Ros about the airline we'd been discussing before I got blown off my feet, causing me the hospital stay. The thought of Emma gets pushed to the back of my mind.

XxXxXx

"Christian, there is a woman out here asking to speak with you. She says her name is Emma, but I see no appointment slot for her. Should I tell her your unavailable?"

I'm staring down at my intercom where Andrea's voice just came from. Anger for this woman sears through my chest. I want to tell Andrea to send her away, but if this keeps escalating, she might show up at our apartment next. She will not ruin our weekend with Ray. Ana does not need to see her.

"Send her in, Andrea. Move my meeting with legal to after lunch." She's going to piss me off and I need a level head for that meeting.

Emma makes her way in, but I don't bother to stand. She doesn't deserve that respect. I wave a hand toward the seat across from my desk and wait for her to get situated.

"What part of leave me the hell alone do you not understand?"

Her eyebrows shoot up. "I just... I need to speak to you. It's important. It involves you."

I swallow. "You have ten minutes." I check my watch. 10:47.

"Dhvani said you and Anastasia are engaged."

I check my watch again. "Nine more minutes."

I watch her chew the inside of her cheek... a nervous habit she has that I used to try to correct with a forceful tap of her chin.

"I wanted to tell you... back when you and I were together-"

"When we had a contract." I correct. We were never together.

She nods. "Yes. That last night before you threw me out... I was going to tell you over dinner... but we didn't make it to dinner... so I never-"

"Tell me what?" She's talking in circles.

"That... that I was pregnant."

The blood drains from my face. She catches me off guard. "What happened?"

"That weekend after... I was so devastated. I almost couldn't bear the thought of even living, but the baby gave me hope. Until Monday. I started to bleed. Really heavy." She stops for a moment, trying to catch her breath as she cries. I offer her a handkerchief.

"Thank you." She takes another deep breath and blots her eyes. "That Monday I started to bleed and so I went to the ER and I called you." Shit. I remember. "Obviously, you didn't answer. I had to sit there for hours by myself, cramping and bleeding all over the place. You treated me so rough and didn't even bother with the aftercare... like I was a damn dog. Then ignored my calls..."

"Are you blaming me for your miscarriage?" My stomach churns painfully.

"I did. But I then I thought I realized that it was best that it happened. That you would demand I get rid of it and throw me out anyway. But then you got her pregnant. And seeing how beautiful you are with the baby... how attentive you are with her because she's carrying it. And then I hear that you're marrying her... making an honest woman out of her. It isn't fair. I should have that. We should have a baby in our arms and I should have a ring on my finger. I deserve that. With everything you put me through, I deserve that."

"I'm not marrying Ana because of our son. I would have married her either way."

"But she isn't giving you what you need. I can give you the pain and pleasure. I can take both. I was pregnant first! I want a redo. I deserve to be with you."

"Are you listening to yourself, Emma? You and I were never anything more than a contract. I know it's hard to hear, but you're just one of many pretty cunts I buried myself in and asses I bruised. Anastasia doesn't even fit in your category. She covers them all! She's one of a kind. She's the only one for me. You cannot satisfy me."

She's staring down at the handkerchief in her hands. "I bet a ketamine cocktail would fix that." She murmurs the words so quietly I barely hear it, but I do. And it's like being submerged in an ice bath. My whole body breaks out in goosebumps and I have to swallow back the bile.

"What did you say?"

She shakes her head, not bothering to look up at me. This woman in front of me is a threat.

Slowly, I stand and bend over my desk. "You listen to me-"

"Christian, you won't believe what just happened to me, today!" My angel's voice causes both of us to look toward the door. "Emma came by to apologize..." She stops, realizing we're both in the room. She's already seen Ana. I'm sick to my stomach.

"Emma, what are you doing here? You said you were leaving." She sets down a paper bag and a drink holder holding two drinks from Starbucks. "We agreed it would be best if you didn't see him. Why the fuck even take the energy to make amends for the chapter you said you wanted to close if you were just coming up to reopen a new one?"

She's angry. But she has every right to be. "Anastasia, have a seat. You shouldn't be on your feet." The thought of stressing her out too much only to have her in the same position that Emma ended up in is killing me. She needs to stay calm... but she needs to know how much of a threat Emma truly is.

She slips into my seat, but continues on ream Emma. "What was the point of coming to me first, Emma? So you can throw fake apologies and drinks toward me hoping that it'd bring enough false security that you could come up here to try to have an affair with Christian?"

My body jolts. Emma brought the food.

"Ana, did you drink this? Eat any of this?" I'm panicked.

"No, I haven't had time. I was going to share it with you." She looks utterly confused. I stand closer, letting my hand slide over the button under my desk to turn on the security camera in my office.

"Emma bought these for you?"

She nods, still confused. "For us."

I round on Emma. "Tell Ana what you told me." I want it on tape, through her own mouth.

"Tell her yourself." She's not happy that Ana interrupted.

I lean over the desk toward Emma. "Speak."

She huffs out a breath in defiance, but when my jaw clenches, she changes her tune. The training has made her weak.

"Christian got me pregnant and beat it out of me."

I try to round the desk so I can wrap my hand around her throat, but Ana grabs my arm, keeping me in place.

"I highly doubt he did that." Ana answers her.

"What? Your perfect boyfriend incapable of knocking someone else up? Someone that looks eerily similar to you?" Emma makes the jab, but Ana blocks the insult, looking unaffected.

"No, I highly doubt he beat it out of you."

I am amazed at how calm Ana is in this situation. I, on the other hand, just want to strangle her. I want to hurt her enough for her to tell Ana the truth and to leave us alone.

"Did you tell Christian you were pregnant?"

Emma shakes her head. "I was going to tell him that night, but his asshole brother stopped us and he made me leave. I was so devastated that weekend, I wanted to take my own life. Then on Monday, I ended up in the hospital bleeding. I called but he didn't come. Didn't even answer. I was losing his baby and he didn't care."

"He didn't know." Anastasia adds. "Why would you allow him to strike you with a belt if you knew you were pregnant?"

Emma is surprised. "You know-"

"Of course I do. I can't imagine a few strikes on your backside with a belt could cause a miscarriage."

"He broke me. The pain of losing him was almost intolerable. Our baby couldn't handle the pain from it."

"Don't. Don't you dare blame him. He hadn't even known. For someone who claims to love him, you sure have a shitty way of showing it. Why did you wait? Why now? You could have told him when he handed you the check that I'm sure bought you those expensive handbag and shoes your wearing."

"I deserve to be with Christian." Emma's retort is nothing but weak.

"Oh, so the engagement. That's what has your panties in a twist." Ana realizes.

"Tell her what else you said." I urge Emma.

"Christian..."

"Okay, I'll tell her." I'm getting impatient. "She wants me to leave you and be with her. Give her a baby and a ring. Thinks she deserves it because she lost the last one. What else did you say, Emma? What was it that you whispered under your breath?"

"Sir, don't. It won't do any good."

"Oh, you're worried about her well being now?" I place the green tea in front of her, knowing that the other coffee was meant for me. "Drink it, Emma."

She eyes the drink. "I'm not thirsty. I bought it for Anastasia."

"There doesnt happen to be a ketamine cocktail in it, is there?"

"What?" Anastasia goes pale. "You- you would poison me? You would poison my child? After going through your own miscarriage? Jesus Christ, Emma. What the fuck is wrong with you? I let you into my home, I make you a drink, we feed your..you see through your own eyes how in love Christian is with our son! And you still..." She pants. "You're more fucked up than we could have ever imagined!"

"What's fucked up is that you actually think I would do that!"

I eye Emma for a second, before taking the cup myself, wondering what kind of cocktail she used. Ketamine and benzos? Opiates? ecstasy or speed? It might knock me on my ass, but a sip won't hurt me. Not like it would Ana. I give the cup a swirl and begin to tip it back so I can taste it. Before the liquid can hit my lips though, the cup is being knocked out of my hand. Thankfully my fast reflexes have me catching it between my hand and chest, spilling a little of the tea on my button down.

Emma is standing in front of me, looking like a deer in the headlights. "Why! Why would you...when you think I... Why would you do that?!?" Her response gives me everything I need and I shove her back down in her seat.

Setting the cup back down on my desk, I grab the phone and dial Taylor's extension. "You and Sawyer. My office. Now."

They arrive quickly, the security department just down the hall.

"Mr. Grey?" Taylor looks alarmed by my shortness.

"Sawyer, I need you to escort this woman out of the building, making sure she is long gone and put her on the banned list. Afterward, get the car. We're going home."

Emma stands and reaches for the drink to take with her, but I grab it out of her hand.

"I'll take that." I set it back in the drink carrier and watch them disappear.

"Taylor, I need you to make a copy of the security video for the police." I point to the camera in the corner of my office. "I also need forensic testing done on both drinks and the food inside the bag. We have reason to believe that Emma tried to poison Ana. I need this done properly." She will not get away with this.

His eyes fall on Anastasia but she doesn't notice. Her eyes are on her stomach, one hand cupping the bottom while the other rubs it.

"We'll take care of this Christian. We won't let her get away with this."

I nod. "I know."

Kneeling beside Ana, I rest my hand on her bump beside her own. Her eyes find mine but I can't read her.

"Let's go down and get your bag. Then we'll go home." There is no way either of us are going to be able to work the rest of the day.

*Ana's POV*

As soon as we slip into the SUV, Christian rolls up the partition, giving us privacy. His chin keeps clenching and I know he has a lot on his mind.

I find myself throwing a leg over him so I can straddle him. I'm hoping the closeness will center and calm him. As always, my hand goes to his chest while the other rests against the side of his neck. "Tell me how you're feeling."

The sorrow in his eyes is enough to bring me to my knees. "She tried to poison you and kill our baby and you worry about me."

It isn't a question, but I still answer. "But she didn't. I'm okay. The baby is perfect. She put so much on you today. You need to talk to me about it." When he doesn't respond, but his eyes stay glued to mine, I switch tactics. "Tell me how you're feeling about the miscarriage of your baby."

He shrugs, his eyes falling to my bump. His hand rests on top. "I have mixed feelings."

"Yea? Tell me. I know it's painful to think about." Losing a baby, even one that you didn't know you had at one time, can be traumatic. I hate that she threw that at him and even blamed him for it.

"I wasn't the same person then. I've changed. You changed me."

I shake my head. "People don't change unless they want to. You put in the effort. And if anyone helped, it would be your perfect son."

A sad smile forms on his face, but his eyes remain on my stomach.

"After bonding with our own, my heart aches for the loss that she experienced... and she did it alone. But, she was right. If I would have known, I would have made her get rid of it. I decided long ago that if a mistake like that would happen with my contracts, I would pay them however much I needed to to make them get rid of it. I wouldn't let any of them to take advantage of me. I didn't want the responsibility and I didn't want the baby to be born with my fucked up genes."

My heart aches at his words. "Was that your plan with me? If I hadn't been so verbal about the baby and pushed you away, would you have tried that with me?" I'm sick at the thought, but I have a sick need to know.

"No. You are too strong for that. The money wouldn't mean anything to you, even if I did want that. Abortion never occurred to me with ours. Like I said, you changed me. You made me realize that being in a normal relationship and having a normal life was something I could do."

"You are an incredible man, Christian. I hope you don't think your genes are somehow belowpar. The things you hate most about yourself are learned behaviors and coping mechanisms from your past. Once you realized you deserved more than that lonely lifestyle...and that you wanted it, you chose to change. You deserve to be loved and cherished and to laugh and be silly. You don't have to train any of us to fall at your feet to show you you're important to us or that you are in control of your life. No one around you is being forced to love you, but we all do." He's crying now and my heart is breaking. I hold his face in my hands so he looks at me. "You are kind." I press my lips to his. "You are brilliant." Another kiss. "Witty." Another. "Selfless." Kiss. "Loving." He whimpers. "ambitious." Kiss. "Courageous." He whispers my name but I ignore him. He needs to know. "Generous."

He shakes his head. "My heart." he gasps. "The words. Too much."

"Oh, Christian." I hold him tight, letting him bury his head in my neck. "You deserve to hear them. You deserve all the good in the world. Don't you know that?"

He lets out a sob. "I just need time."

"Okay, baby. Okay. I'll give that to you." I'm never going to let him forget how incredible he is.

"Do you blame me?" It's been quiet for a few minutes and his question surprises me.

"I don't blame you for anything, but what are you referring to?"

"For her miscarriage... Did my belt really..." He lets in a shuddering breath and it kills me that he questions it.

"No. There is no way that could have happened. I don't know what made her miscarry, but I know that the belt couldn't have. It just wasn't meant to be, Christian. It wasn't the time or the people. God had other plans."

"But our baby is meant to be." His voice is steady, absolutely sure.

"Yes. Our baby is meant to be."

"I need that playroom destroyed."

My body startles at his words. "Wha-what? Playroom? You still have..." Why have I not realized this before?

Pulling out of my neck, he nods. I can't help, but to reach up and wipe his tears.

"I haven't been in it since that night, but it's still there."

"In Escala?" I've been there that whole time while he had what he calls a playroom in it. I don't know how I feel about that.

"Yes. I'll have Taylor find someone to destroy it."

"I want to see it." Did I just say that?

"Ana, no. It's something from my past. It's something you shouldn't see."

"I want to know everything, Christian. I want to know what it looks like. I want to see and be where you've spent so much time." It's a sick curiosity. "I need to see."

"You'll run. I can't survive that."

I shake my head. "I won't. It's your past. I have your present. I just want to see."

He searches my eyes and I plead with him through my own. "Fine, but you can't run. You have to promise. I'll handcuff us together if I have to."

I give him a small smile. "I do like my handcuffs." I do my best to make light of the heavy situation. When he growls and nips at my neck playfully, I know I've done my job.

"No more love bites!" Mine are just now starting to fade enough to cover them in makeup.

"Yes, I suppose you are right. I have to keep you looking fresh until later. I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise? What is it?" I give him a wide smile.

"You'll have to wait. I planned it for later because I didn't expect us to be going home so soon."

Oh, fine.

*Christian's POV*

We eat lunch with Gail and spend the afternoon curled up on the couch watching television, doing our best to let the sourness from earlier drain off. I'm so emotionally exhausted. The emotions that Ana pulls from me are massive, but draining. It physically hurt to hear the things coming from her mouth, but at the same time I crave them. Her eyes showed me nothing but the raw love she has for me and it's hard to have someone love me so unconditionally. She knows my past. She knows my weaknesses. But she didn't batt an eye today. Another woman told her that she carried my child...although briefly... and she was angry with her for the things she said. Angry with her for putting me through this. Nothing good came from her telling me this so long after it happened. She only did it to hurt us. She couldn't see past her own hurt and her own desires to see how it devastated us. I am thankful that it happened. Seeing the type of person Emma is... how egocentric she is... that isn't good for any baby... adding the old me to it... it would have created a devastatingly toxic childhood for them. They are better off.

I hold Ana as close as I can, but I hate I can't use my other arm. Today marks four weeks with the brace. A month since the incident. It's hard to believe, but in the last four weeks, Anastasia and I have become closer than all the months we had before that. It's been emotional for everyone involved, but a small piece of me is relieved that it happened and that I ended up okay, because it made us realize how precious each other are and how precious life is. These last four weeks have been the best of my life. And next week I'll finally get to live without the brace. I won't be able to pick up anything more than five pounds, but I can use it. I can hold her, make love to her how I want, dress myself, cradle her stomach, take a long drive... just the two of us. I am ready for some freedom.

I feel our little one kick and it brings a smile to my face. "Look who's up." I rub her stomach and press my fingers into her stomach so he kicks at me again. He keeps at it and it makes us laugh.

"Already rough-housing with Daddy." Ana teases, ruffling my hair.

There doorbell rings and I grin. "Surprise time." I stand and pull her up with me. "Get the door, angel."

She gives me a full fledged smile, her dimples wide. "Why am I so nervous?" She giggles and her thumb comes up to her lips to chew her thumbnail. She pulls it open slowly, peeking in the crack.

"Daddy!" The door swings open the rest of the way, hitting hard against the door stopper, but Ray catches it as it starts to come back after the bounce.

"There's my baby girl."

Throwing her arms around him, she hugs him with all her might and he chuckles. He has to lift her a few inches to shuffle them inside the door enough for him to close it. When she finally releases him, he holds her hands in his and looks her over. "You've gotten so big!"

Her lip quivers and I wince. I know she's sensitive about her size. "I know I'm fat."

"Fat? Babygirl." He laughs and pulls her to him again. "You're stunning. You look beautiful, pregnant. There is nothing fat about you."

She pouts. "My ass and thighs jiggle."

"Welcome to being an adult." He rolls his eyes and wipes her tears. "I don't think you'll find anyone complaining about a healthy backside and legs on a woman. Christian?"

I nod. "Your body is incredible, angel. Even pregnant I have go batt the other men away."

She laughs. "Now, your being ridiculous." Sniffling, she takes her dad's hand and brings him to the couch. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm just hormonal."

"S'ok." He hugs her to him on the couch and kisses her head. "So, do you have any news for me?"

Her pout turns into a full blown smile. "Yeeesss, we do! Well, you know the baby is a boy, but what you don't know is his name!"

"You've already picked it? Tell me! Tell me now!" He pokes at her side, making her giggle.

"We decided that family is most important so his name is going to be Theordore Raymond Grey."

His body stills. "Raymond? As in...me?" He points to himself and it makes both of us laugh.

"Yes, you! What other Raymond's do we know?" She pokes him in the side.

"And who is Theodore?"

"Christian's grandfather. He passed when he was young. We had been calling the baby, baby bear and when we found out it was a boy, Theodore Raymond was perfect. Little Teddy."

Ray is beaming with pride. "Teddy, huh? I like it!"

"Also..." She bites her bottom lip. "Teddy isn't the only one becoming a Grey..."

His eyes find mine and I smile. "Oh yea? You getting a dog?"

"Daddy!" She smacks his arm. "No! We're engaged." She shows him the ring. "It was his grandmother's."

"Congratulations, baby. It's beautiful."

She eyes him. "You don't seem surprised." He just gives her a smirk. "...because you already knew." Her eyebrows knit together.

"You don't think I'd put my grandmother's diamond on your hand without asking for it first, did you?"

She turns to look at me. "You asked my dad before? You really did?" Here come the waterworks.

"Oh, Ana, of course." I hold her to me.

"I'm so touched that you wanted my dad to be comfortable with it before it happened. I love that he gave you his blessing." I rock her as she cries, holding her close. "You two are the most important men in my life... and to know that you are on the same page and like each other... it means everything."