Author's Note:
Sorry that it has taken me so long to update. I have finished writing the story so chapters should go up relatively quickly. Thank you to everyone who has watched Ana and Christian grow with me in this story. I am so sad it's ending, but excited to share that after this story I have another one ready to go.
I hope you enjoy!
Ana POV
I wake up the next morning before Christian does. I can see his forehead twisting into a pout and I can see the amount of stress that he is under. I hate that we've had to be so worried about our safety recently. I miss the times when we were so carefree, and we were just living our best lives sharing great experiences together. Now as I watch him lay here in bed, stress and frustration written clearly across his face, I feel even more angry with Jack for causing so much chaos in our lives. I grab my phone off of the nightstand and see that I have a few missed text messages. Flipping through my inbox I start with a message from Kate first:
How are you feeling today? I heard from Elliot you're trying to go back to work Monday are you crazy?!
I type out a quick response to her:
I'm feeling much better honestly. I have agreed to go back a few days a week to help ease back into it. If I don't feel well I can always simply just come home. Don't worry
Kate. I'll see you next weekend.
I scroll further in my inbox and find a message from Hannah:
I can't wait to see you in the morning! I'll order you in your favorite breakfast so we can catch up! See you at 8 A.M.
I replace my phone on the bedside table and begin thinking over the plan for tomorrow. I'm nervous that something will go wrong and somehow Jack will get to me. It's not that I don't trust Sawyer or Ryan to keep me safe but thinking about being in the same room with Jack makes me sick. I just need to keep my focus. If all goes according to plan Jack will be off the street by end of day tomorrow and we can go back to living our lives the way that we want to and we will finally be able to tell our friends and family about Blip. I don't know how long I lay in bed thinking about the plans with Jack, but I decide to get up and go cook breakfast. I'm surprised when I reach the kitchen to find Mrs. Jones there.
"Good Morning Mrs. Jones! How are you this morning?" I ask her pleasantly.
"Good Morning Mrs. Grey. I'm doing well. I've started preparing breakfast for you and Mr. Grey. It should be ready in about half an hour. May I get you a cup of tea?" she asks me sweetly.
"That's so kind of you Gail! Thank you! I'm going to take a shower and then I would love one. Are you sure you don't want me to finish breakfast today is one of your days off after all?" I ask her.
"Absolutely. I told Jason I wanted to work today to be here to help you get ready emotionally for tomorrow. I'll handle all the duties today so you can stay stress free. Take some time with Mr. Grey today and let me handle everything else," she replies. I walk around the kitchen counter and give her a hug before heading off to the shower. Mrs. Jones has a special place in my heart and can always find a way to keep me calm and emotionally strong.
I turn the shower water on and step below the steady stream. I sometimes can't believe how much things have changed over the last few months for Christian and I. I run my hands across my belly thankful for the life I'm carrying inside me when the dam of tears breaks loose and I find myself crying. Oh Blip. What did I get us into tomorrow? I don't even know how I'm going to face that man again. I feel two arms come around behind me and realize that Christian has woken up and found me crying in the shower. He pulls me into his chest and holds me while I let the rest of the tears I have been holding in fall. "Talk to me Ana. Why are you so upset? How can I help?" He asks me eager to make me feel better.
"I'm nervous for tomorrow. I'm glad that this will all be over I just need to get myself into the right frame of mind," I reply brushing off my earlier breakdown. I don't want Christian canceling our plans at the last minute because he's afraid I'm not strong enough to handle my emotions.
"I plan on meeting with Sawyer and Ryan later this afternoon to go over plans would you like to join us?" he asks me. I'm surprised that he's included me in a conversation that he would normally leave me out of and for once I feel that he finally understands the importance of me fighting this along side him.
"Yes please," I murmur. He gives me his 1000-megawatt smile and my heart turns to a puddle then and there. I don't know how I got lucky enough to marry this man, but I'm glad that he is mine. I pull him under the shower stream and give myself overly completely to him.
Christian's POV
I've just finished dinner with Anastasia and I can feel the nerves radiating off of her. I want to just call the whole plan off, but I know that this may be the last chance to catch him before he goes into hiding. I was hoping after our meeting with Sawyer and Ryan that she would be more confident, but it doesn't appear that way. "Ana," I begin, "we can call Sawyer and call this whole thing off if you don't feel like it's safe enough. No one is going to be disappointed if you decide you can't do this. Do you understand that Anastasia?" I ask her turning my full attention to her.
"No Christian. We need to do this. I'm going to be okay," she murmurs still not making eye contact.
"Can you tell me what you are thinking about?" I prompt her hoping to get her to tell me what has her so scared. Maybe if I know I can revisit that part of the plan again with Sawyer for her reassurance.
"I'm afraid to be in the same room as him again," she murmurs. She picks up her cranberry spritzer and unsteadily takes a drink before commenting further. "I've spent so many days thinking about what he's done to me. I don't know how I'll react when I see him face to face or when I can smell his cologne. God forbid if he touches me again," she says.
Before she can finish her sentence, I yell at her, "No Anastasia! He will not lay a single finger on you! Sawyer won't let it happen! As soon as they have this bastard caught, I will be right there with you," I say. I reach over to her and pull her into my arms. I hate that she is so afraid and that there is nothing I can do to help fix it. "Come Anastasia," I command, "Let's go to bed. I just want to hold you." She places her hand in mine and like always she follows me. Sleep may be the only way I can forget about how we are both feeling going into tomorrow.
Ana POV
The day is finally here that I've been dreading. It's time to face Jack face to face again. I know today is going to be a challenge. I haven't said anything to Christian, but I'm still having some lightheadedness and today it seems worse than usual. Of course, the one day I need to be clearly focused this happens. It's going to be challenging returning to work plastering a smile on my face until this is over. I also need to think of Hannah. I need to ensure that she doesn't get hurt in this either. Maybe I can request a meeting with her this morning in my office so that she is safe in my office with me and Sawyer.
"Good Morning Anastasia," Christian says running his fingers lightly over my small baby bump.
"Good Morning Christian," I say giggling slightly. His fingertips tickle gently across my belly and it's becoming harder not to giggle louder. I place a gentle kiss on his lips and then climb out of bed to head for the shower. At this point I just want to get this all over with and get Jack back into the hands of the police. I stand in my closet for what seems like forever debating on what to wear to work. I need to look presentable but need to be able to cover my scars and my baby bump. Top priority has to be hiding this pregnancy for as long as possible.
I'm just about to give up when I hear Christian walk in behind me, "Everything okay in here?" he chuckles at me.
I turn to face him wearing only my bra and panties, "I don't know what to wear today. I need to find something that will cover the scars for people at work and my bump for the entire world," I murmur rubbing my hand on my belly softly.
"I had Carolyn Acton send over some maternity dresses this weekend for you. Try one of those and see if they work for you," he replies pointing over to a couple of bagged dresses hanging. "I asked her to go modest to try to cover some of the scars, but to be truthful I haven't looked at them yet. I didn't expect to need them for another few weeks, but as always Anastasia you like to throw off my plans," he laughs.
"Oh! Thank you Christian! You always think of everything!" I gush hugging him firmly. I pull a black polka dot dress out of the bag and immediately know that it will be perfect. I slide it on and turn to my side in the mirror to check to make sure that it hides my pregnancy good enough. Sure enough its completely hidden and I feel confident that it's professional enough for the office. "This is perfect! I need to send Carolyn a thank you note! This dress is gorgeous!" I shout excitedly. "I'm going to go show Gail and eat breakfast. I'll see you in a few moments," I say running out of the closet towards the kitchen.
I'm sitting on my breakfast bar stool eating granola and talking to Mrs. Jones when Christian walks in twenty minutes later. He's showered and dressed in his pinstripe suit and my favorite tie. He looks incredible and I can't help but immediately become aroused by the sight of him. I'm pulled out of my thoughts when I hear Mrs. Jones say my name. "Ana, I packed you a light lunch so you wouldn't need to leave the office today, but I understand that you may be back before lunch time depending on today's events. If you end up coming home it's no bother for me to freeze it for a later date," she smiles kindly at me patting my hand before grabbing my empty bowl to wash.
"Thank you Mrs. Jones. I appreciate you thinking of me today," I reply. I wait for Christian to finish his food while I check through my work emails on my Blackberry. Taylor comes into the foyer signaling that it is time for us to head out for work. I grasp Christian's hand and give it a firm squeeze trying to give him reassurance that today is going to be okay.
"Good Morning Mr. and Mrs. Grey. I'll escort you both down to the garage. Mrs. Grey, Granger and Alvez are already in the Audi waiting on you," Taylor says educating us both on the next step of our plan.
"Thank you, Taylor and thank you for keeping a good eye on Christian today. It will be easier to face this knowing he is safe with you," I thank him and warn him at the same time. He gives me a brief smile and nods signaling he understands what I'm saying to him. My eyes glance to Christian and he gives me a cheesy smile probably laughing at my pointedness with Taylor. I don't think Christian is used to my protective side yet and I can only imagine what he will think when the baby comes and I turn into a super protective mom. We walk to the elevator hand in hand and descend down to the garage together. I can't help but feel sick knowing that in a few moments the safety of our home and Christian's arms will be gone.
Christian walks me over to the Audi with Taylor and helps me climb into the front passenger seat. "I love you Mrs. Grey. Be careful today. No heroics either. Remember you have Baby Grey onboard," he says kissing me firmly.
"Understood Sir. I do expect to be rewarded when I get home however," I whisper giving him a sultry look. His eyes frost over and I can see the anticipation cross over his face. I shut the door without giving him the chance to respond. I like to leave him in the middle of his own thoughts. I know he's used to having the last word and watching it surprise him does things to me. We pull out of the underground garage at Escala and head towards Grey Publishing.
