Chapter 2
Two weeks later, Elena rang the doorbell. When Cary opened it he looked like a mess. Even through her hysterical tears Elena could tell he wasn't right. He hadn't shaved in days and he looked unkempt. "Elena, what's wrong? Is it Eric?" They both kind of looked at each other in shock. "Elena?"
Elena shook it off, "My brother Eamon and his wife were in a terrible accident. They didn't make it. I have to go to New York. Their baby is alone." Kate was Elliot's age. They had just visited during the summer. Eric joined them. "Where's Grace?"
Cary looked at her almost in confusion from the question. "Daddy." Elliot pulled on his shirt from below. "I want mommy." He rubbed his wet eyes. "Aunt Lena!" He jumped in her arms and Elliot wiped her eyes, "Don't cry. Mommy coming back." Elena held him against her shoulder and looked at Cary. It was almost like she forgot about her problems. Something wasn't right.
Cary invited them in. The house was wrecked. Pillows and blankets on the floor. Cheerios and spilled milk were on the kitchen counter. Elena sat rocking a sleepy Elliot, "What's going on? Where is Grace and Ella?"
Cary sighed and explained they had a big fight, "Grace left and took Ella with her." Elena couldn't believe she didn't call her, it all seemed wrong. "She said she needed time." They listened to his story and excuse, but they both knew it was all wrong.
Elena dialed her number right away. She was so upset about her brother and Grace not telling her anything. She was angry and she took it all out on her voicemail. She yelled at her from outside on the deck and said some pretty unforgivable things. "Thanks for not being a best friend!" Cary was hurt, he knew his wife was keeping a secret, that they both thought was right. The family curse was reborn with this secret.
Elena and Eric left for New York and returned with Kate. They both stayed close with Cary and even helped with Elliot, so he grew close to Kate. Months went by and Grace still didn't return or to Elena's knowledge even call. Cary said she never called him. Elliot slipped up though and said he talked to his mommy every night.
As the months went on, Elena felt bad about what she said in her anger. She had tried calling Grace, but she never answered. She figured she had lost her best friend for life. The summer was almost over. In another two months they would have been gone a year.
Elena and Eric stood in the kitchen of the Grey's home, "Are you sure about this Cary?" He nodded. He was watching Kate and Elliot while they went to New York to wrap up her brother's final affairs. He had a media company that would go to Kate when she was older. He had his things in perfect order, it just took time to settle everything completely. When they returned from their trip they had a big surprise, "Grace?" Grace stood there holding a new baby.
Kate smiled, "Mama, baby." She looked at her best friend with a straight face. The baby had lighter hair than her. It wasn't brown, but not red. He had light gray eyes. He didn't look like Grace and definitely not Cary. He didn't look like there kids at all.
Grace passed the baby to Cary and hugged her best friend tight, "I'm so sorry. So, so sorry." They hugged for what seemed like forever and cried. "This is Christian Trevelyan Grey. I just needed to figure things out." Grace didn't explain it anymore and her best friend didn't ask. She was just happy to have her home.
Ella swallowed hard looking from the steps. She thought it was all her fault. "Aunt Elena, I'm sorry." Elena opened her arms and held Ella while she cried. She promised her goddaughter everything would be completely fine.
They had dinner as a family. Grace and Ella got to know Kate. She was a sweetheart. Cary knew they were coming home and planned a cookout. He answered the door, "Ray, Carla come on in." Grace saw a tall slim man with brown hair and bright blue eyes walk in. The woman appeared younger than him. She had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes and was pregnant. They introduced them to Grace and Ella.
Ray went into the military at 18. He was still pretty young, but he got injured and wasn't able to continue his career. He had experience and Eric hired him as a big part of his company Lincoln Timber. He loved helping veterans that served.
Carla was younger, but she had her nursing degree. That's how she met Ray. She decided to stop working once she got pregnant. Ray and Carla knew about Grace and Ella, but no one knew the story. Dinner was great until the younger Carla didn't know any better, "So Grace where have you and Ella been?" The entire table stopped and Carla felt like she did something wrong, "I just asked because I heard you were a pediatrician. I didn't know if you were still practicing. Our baby girl is coming next month." She held her stomach and everyone took a breath.
Grace smiled and touched her arm, "I am actually. I am rejoining my practice. Ella and I just took some time for ourselves. It was good for us right baby?" Ella smiled until Christian cried waking up from his nap. She looked at him with fear. There was something off and everyone knew it.
Grace stood up and picked up Christian rocking him softly. Elena joined in helping avoid the topic, "Well I hope so, because I wouldn't trust anyone else with our baby." Elena grabbed Eric's hand and for a moment everyone thought they meant Kate until she giggled.
Grace walked over holding Christian in her arms, "Wait! Your…" Elena grabbed her belly and told everyone they were due in March. Grace handed him to Cary and hugged her best friend. She was so happy for her and Eric.
Grace fed Christian while Cary did the dishes. "Ray and Carla are sweet. She asked about a nursing position once she has her baby girl. They have a beautiful name picked out, Anastasia Rose Steele." Christian cooed and Grace talked to him. "You like that name huh?"
Cary turned around, "Did she tell you anything?" They didn't have time to talk about Ella. "She was so angry before you two left." Grace shook her head no. "I guess therapy helped." Grace looked at her husband and nodded. "She's different Grace. We lost our baby. Someone took everything from her. It's my fault."
Elena and Eric were coming to say goodbye and overheard them. Elena had to ask, "You know you're our best friends. You didn't have to run. You can tell us anything. Will you tell us what's going on?"
Grace wanted to cry. She had been so strong, trying to be Ella's rock. "I want to, but I have to ask Ella first. Give me a minute." She handed Christian to Elena. Cary gripped the sink holding it from behind.
Grace returned hand in hand with Ella. Other than her grandparents, she was with the people she trusted the most. They didn't even tell her grandparents what happened. "Mom, you can tell them."
Grace held Ella in her arms, "Christian is Ella's baby." Elena looked down. He was cute as could be, but she did notice Ella in his features. They sat in silence. "We talked about what Ella wanted and she decided Cary and I should raise Christian. We got some therapy right baby?" Ella nodded. Grace knew this was still hard.
She had gotten Ella a therapist. They were already set up and meeting. Her name was Rhian Flynn and she had been working with her the entire year, before and after Christian. "It was easier for us to leave and not have questions." Grace kissed her head, "Baby, why don't you say goodnight." Ella hugged everyone except Christian.
Elena waited until she left, "Who's his father?" Grace said her guess was as good as hers. She explained they went to live 40 minutes away that way Cary and Elliot got to visit her even though they never saw Ella. Elliot was too young to hopefully understand and remember. She met with them when she was in sessions with Rhian. She homeschooled Ella. "Was she ra…"
Cary stopped her, before she could finish, "She won't talk about it. Our arguments were over Christian. I can raise him like my son, but can she live with him as a brother?"
Grace explained when they went away, they both agreed to let the therapist guide her. That way the blame was off of them. Grace shrugged, "She's working on it, but this was her wish. We've racked our brains trying to figure out who, when. Rhian said we can't push her. She's talking some. She won't say who, but he was older and she didn't want to do it."
The story was set into action and no one other than them knew the truth, not even their parents. They told the same lie to everyone to protect Ella. For Ella's 15th birthday everyone gathered in Seattle to celebrate her. "Thank you Grandpa Theo and Grandma Eleanor!" She smiled holding the cash in her hand.
Grandpa Theo held Christian. Christian cried whenever he put him down, they had a bond. She watched her mom and Grandma Mia walk in with the cake. Her Grandpa Carrick almost studied Christian. It worried her some. She didn't want anyone to figure it out. They had cake and ice cream and Ella enjoyed her birthday. She wanted to be a kid again, she deserved it.
