A/N: I want to remind everyone that if you are a guest reviewer, I cannot send you a teaser for the following chapter.
This chapter is a little more serious, but it shows just how devoted Christian is to his Ana.
Christian is just finishing up with his first meeting of the day, but before he prepares for his next, he decides to call Elliot to see how his night went. He really can't wait to poke fun at his brother's misfortune with Ms. Katherine Kavanagh.
"Hello?" Elliot answers on the second ring, sounding groggy.
"Are you still sleeping?" Christian asks, confused. It's half past ten already.
Elliot grunts. "I had a late night."
Christian rolls his eyes at his brother's unconcerned attitude about missing work. Being the head of the company comes with certain responsibilities and for all Elliot knows, his employees could be running amok on his dime.
"And why is that?"
"Kate and I sat at IHOP until 3:00 am talking."
Christian falls backward in his office chair, blown away by his brother's words. "Really?"
"Don't sound so shocked, asswipe."
Christian lets out a snort. "I have every reason to believe that you are incapable of speaking to the same girl for more than an hour, shitwad!"
Elliot laughs at his brother's words. "That's a creative one." Elliot and Christian have forever been coming up with creative, colorful names for each other. Neither one of them know how it started, but both of them enjoy their little game.
"Seriously, bro. I really like her. I never thought I could have so much in common with a female. She's got this way about her that keeps my attention. I can't explain it. She is just so genuinely interested in everything I say. And she likes sports. Although her choice in hockey team is questionable, I think think that could change relatively easy with a few trips to see the Thunderbirds."
Christian about chokes on the coffee he's drinking. "You mean you're actually considering taking her to a game? The man who once proclaimed that women didn't belong anywhere near a live game?"
"Kate's a cool chick. She's not the normal."
Christian laughs. "If she's considering dating you, you're right about that."
"Damn it, Christian! I mean, she's not like a normal girl. She like sports and four wheeling and fishing and hunting. And have I mentioned she's so fucking hot? The girl could melt iron for shit's sake!"
Christian sits in his chair, a Cheshire grin on his face while he shakes his head. "Man, you are so over your head right now."
"Oh, fuck, dude. I just thought of something. She's a daddy's girl."
Christian's eyebrows knit together. "Yea? So?"
"He can't say no to her. I've got that job in the bag!" Elliot is pretty damn happy with himself, but Christian knows he can't let him bask in his happiness for too long. Christian is his brother after all. It's his job. One that he takes great joy in.
"You're forgetting one thing, Elliot."
"What's that?"
"He's going to hate you for taking away his little girl." Christian can't keep the grin out of his voice when he tells his brother. Elliot has gotten himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Damn it!"
"You're fucked." Christian laughs, enjoying his brother's misery. He knows Elliot has to either tell Kate not to mention their newfound relationship to Eamon until after the groundbreaking ceremony for his new skyscraper or try to convince Kate to persuade her father to hire him. Christian was not any better when it came to situations with women in them, but he was much more persuasive in the business world than his brother could ever be.
XxXxXx
Anastasia is awoken by a slight pain in the lower left quadrant of her abdomen. Looking at the clock, she sees that it's 5:30 am.
She groans. "Mother Nature hates me."
Hoping if she hurries, she can fall back to sleep for another hour or so, she climbs out of bed to use the restroom and change her tampon. When she does, she notices that she has bled through while sleeping. Her beautiful white sheets are stained red with blood. She knows she won't be getting another hour of sleep now. She heads into her bathroom and plugs the sink, filling it with cold water. She sheds her soiled panties and pajama shorts and places them in the cold water to soak, hoping that she'll be able to get the stain out of her favorite pair of panties. She should have never worn them on her period.
Heading toward the shower, Anastasia slips her top off and turns the water on as hot as she can stand it before slipping in. The hot water tinges her pale skin deep pink, but it feels incredible to her sore body. She wets her hair and begins to lather up, but the hot water doesn't ease the nagging pain in her lower abdomen. She washes her hair carefully, trying to keep from pulling on her abdominal muscles. The pulling sensation only makes the pain intensify.
She spends a half an hour in the shower, before climbing out to get ready for the day. She reaches for the tampons, but decides against them and grabs a pad instead, hoping it'll make her more comfortable. She manages to get dressed relatively easily, and leaves her hair in a towel while she changes her bed linens.
As Anastasia reaches for the corner of her bed to pull off the sheet, the nagging pain turns into a stabbing pain, making her cry out and clutch her stomach.
"What is wrong with me?" She's never had period pain this intense before. She wonders if she has some type of cyst on her ovary. Her mother has complained about them before and said that they're painful. This is for the birds.
She holds onto her side, being careful to move only the bare minimum while she pulls her sheets off. She carries them to her washing machine and sets it to cold presoak. Shoving them in, she adds some Tide laundry detergent and bleach before shutting the lid. She searches through her linen closet and decides to replace her bed linens with navy blue ones for the time being. If she bleeds through again, at least it'll help hide the offending stains.
Anastasia sees that her mattress protector is also stained, but she decides against changing it at the moment. She only owns one and she won't dare take the chance of staining her mattress. Can't wash that.
After some painful effort on her part, she finally gets her sheets changed and her duvet back on her bed. She feels exhausted already from the effort she put in this morning and decides to plop down on the bed for a moment.
"Ouch." She grabs her side, regretting the movement. She isn't sure she can handle being at work all day like this.
Grabbing her phone, Anastasia sends an email to Mr. Roach, her boss, explaining that she is sick and will be working from home today. She has plenty of emails and a manuscript in her bag that will last her the eight hour day.
Carefully, she grabs her work bag from the kitchen and while she's in there, she makes a pot of coffee. Nothing is worth missing her morning coffee.
She places her coffee on the nightstand beside her and gets comfortable in bed with a red pen, a highlighter, and the manuscript. She tries to concentrate on what she is reading, but she's too drowsy and she finds herself drifting off.
XxXxXx
While listening to Elliot fret about what he should do about the Kavanagh situation, Christian's cell phone buzzes on his desk. A picture of him and Ana pop up with her name across the screen.
He grins. He always looks forward to Ana's morning texts. He can always tell how her mood for the day is just by one sentence and if she's had her first cup of coffee, yet.
*Christian, I'm in a lot pain. I'm kind of scared. This isn't normal. Will you come?*
His heart drops into his stomach. He hangs up the phone without so much of a word to his brother and grabs his jacket.
*I'm on my way, Ana. Where are you?*
He hits the intercom button. "Taylor. Pull the car around now. It's an emergency."
Slipping on his jacket, he heads out to the lobby to speak with Andrea. He can feel his hands shaking from the surge of adrenaline that has coursed through his body from worry. She has never once asked him to leave work for something like this.
His phone pings and he fumbles with his phone to try to unlock it.
"Fuck." Christian hisses under his breath. He forces himself to take a deep, calming breath, settling himself down just enough to unlock his phone. He knows he needs to remain cool and calm in this situation. If Anastasia really is in trouble, she needs him to be her rock.
*Home.*
He thanks God that she's at home, safe.
"Andrea, cancel all my meetings for the day. A family emergency has arose and I won't be in for the rest of the day. Reschedule them for later this week." He heads straight for the elevator and down to the garage, where Taylor has already pulled up with the SUV.
"Ana's apartment. Now."
Anastasia's apartment is only five minutes from Grey House, but that five minutes feels like an eternity. He thinks about calling her on the way, but decides against it, thinking that if she wanted to speak, she would have called him. An unwelcome thought runs through his mind. What if she's in too much pain to speak?
"Taylor! For Christ's sake! Hurry the fuck up!"
When Taylor pulls up to the front of her apartment, Christian jumps out of the vehicle before it's even stopped. He yanks his keys out of his jacket pocket and scans his keyfob on the sensor for the front door, unlocking it. He hurries into the lobby and towards the elevator, but gets intercepted by the concierge.
"Hello, Mr. Grey! Lovely to see you today. Are you visiting with Ms. Steele? Would you like any refreshments brought up?" Usually, he enjoys that Erica is so personable with everyone she comes in contact with, but today, he doesn't have the patience. Christian actually owns the apartment building, Grey Towers, and right now he's wishing everyone didn't know him.
"No, Erica. Just stay at your desk." He hits the elevator button and his weight keeps moving from one foot to the other while he waits for the what seems like the slowest elevator on fucking Earth. While he waits, three other people greet him and try to chat, but he cuts them off when the elevator opens.
Once he's at her door, which is on the eleventh floor, he slips his key in the handle and allows himself him.
"ANA? ANA WHERE ARE YOU?" He sees that a pot of coffee is made, but it's been sitting awhile because the heating light is off.
"I'm in here, Christian! The bedroom!"
He sprints into the bedroom and finds her curled up in a ball under the covers. Sitting beside her, he brushes her hair out of her face.
"Ana...what's wrong?" Feeling her forehead, it feels a little warm. "Are you sick?"
Anastasia whimpers and rolls to her back. "I don't know. I've got stabbing pain on the lower left side of my stomach."
His eyebrows furrow in confusion. "When did this start?"
"This morning." Her arm presses tightly against her side. "I thought it was just period cramps, but then it just kept getting worse. Then I thought that maybe it was an ovarian cyst...my mom gets those sometimes...but it's so painful. I just didn't want to be by myself anymore."
"Ana, can you show me where it hurts?" Christian remembers when Elliot ended up with a hernia and had pain like this. The hernia of Elliot's protruded out of his side.
He lowers her duvet and sheet and she points to where it hurts. He takes it upon himself to pull her shirt up and her pajama bottoms down enough to see the spot. The pad of his thumb ghosts over her skin.
"Right here?"
Anastasia nods. "Yes, right there."
Seeing that the spot is flat, he rules out a hernia. At least, one he can see. He rights her clothing and she whimpers, rolling onto her side.
"Love, if you're in that much pain, maybe we should call an ambulance."
She doesn't like that idea. "No, it's not like I'm bleeding to death, Christian. I can walk. There's no need for that drama."
Christian sighs. "Fine. Then, I'll drive you to the Emergency Department myself. Come on." He reaches to pick her up, but she swats him away.
"I can't go like this! I need to change my clothes." She sits up slowly, trying to ease her way to a standing position.
"You aren't serious!? It's just the Emergency-"
"No, Christian! I have to get dressed first. What if someone I know sees me? What if there's a cute doctor?"
His head falls back in a laugh. "You're really thinking about that now?"
Anastasia gives him a scowl. "Well, now, I'm thinking I just want to pummel you to death."
Christian rolls his eyes. "And how are you going to do that? You can barely stand to get dressed without crying. Plus, you're like...what? A hundred pounds?"
She huffs. "Just help me out of bed, you nitwit!"
Even though he knows that this is serious, he can't help but grin at their banter. He's glad to see that she's still her spunky self even in this much pain.
He helps ease her out of bed and onto her feet. "Doing okay? Need help getting dressed?"
She shakes her head and makes her way toward her closet. "No, I'll be fine. I'll meet you in the other room when I'm finished."
Christian is frustrated that she won't let him help, but he doesn't want to push her. He knows that if she needs help, she'll ask.
It takes her thirty minutes to get dressed and get her hair halfway presentable. She should have never went back to bed with it wet.
In that thirty minute time span, Christian has managed to knock on the door three times to check on her, once to ask her if she needs water, and once more to use her restroom, which she knows is just a way of checking on her once more. He could have easily used the guest bath. As she slips her sandals on, Christian calls down to the valet to pull the car around.
Christian asks to carry her down to the car, but she refuses. She doesn't want any rumors flying around the apartment complex. When they get to the doors, the valet has her vehicle pulled up to the curb; a GMC Yukon Denali. He scrunches his nose at it and helps her in the passengers seat.
"I'll never understand why you'd ever need a vehicle this large."
She rolls her eyes. "I just like big cars. I like being up high and it makes me feel safe."
He knows there's no reason to argue about this. They'll never see eye-to-eye on the subject. When she got promoted to Senior Editor, he told her he'd buy her any car of her choosing as a gift. He didn't expect her to ask for something like this. He had hoped that she would ask for an Audi, since she always raved about his, but he hadn't gotten that lucky. The only thing that he did like about the large vehicle is that it is large enough for everyone to see her coming, plus, it is heavy. Sturdy. The safety ratings on this SUV aren't as high as his Audi, but most aren't. She is his best friend and he never wants anything to happen to her, but she isn't his property and he can't force her to drive a certain vehicle just because of his preference.
He hands the valet a tip and slides into the driver's side.
"Snapped in?" He asks, reaching over to check that the seat belt is secure.
She gives him a knowing grin. "Does it matter what I say? You'll still check."
Christian laughs as he secures his own belt. "You know me so well."
XxXxXx
Anastasia is triaged, brought back into a room and asked to put on a gown. Once she's settled into her bed, Christian has a seat next to her in a chair.
"Anastasia?"
"Yes?"
A tall man with gray hair and glasses comes in, wearing turquoise scrubs and a black stethoscope around his neck.
"I'm Dr. Hanko. I hear you're having some abdominal pain today?" He steps over to the sink and washes his hands quickly.
"Yes, it started this morning. I thought it was just period cramping, but it got worse. It's like a stabbing pain every time I move."
The doctor nods. "I'm going to lift your gown and press on your abdomen a bit. Tell me where it hurts."
"Okay." Anastasia is a bit nervous about being poked and prodded.
Leaning her bed back so that she's flat, Dr. Hanko lowers her sheet and raises her gown, looking over her stomach.
"Can you point to where the pain is coming from?"
She points to her left side and thankfully, the doctor starts on the opposite side, pressing and palpating the area. He slowly makes his way to her left side and Anastasia begins to wince and when he hits the spot, she cries out and her body automatically tries to sit up to protect itself.
"I'm sorry Anastasia, are you alright?" Dr. Hanko squeezes her shoulder and urges her to lay back and relax. "I'm not going to touch it anymore." He steps away to write a few things down in her chart. "Have you had any history of pain in that side? Maybe some that only lasted a little while and left?"
Anastasia shakes her head. "No, not really. My mother has always had ovarian cysts, though. That was my first thought this morning."
"Ah." Dr. Hanko nods, noting it in the chart. "I'd really like to do a pelvic exam on you and then we'll do an ultrasound and maybe a CT if neither of those show anything."
"A pelvic exam? But, I'm on my period." Anastasia's cheeks light up a little at the thought.
He gives her an encouraging smile. "Anastasia, there's no reason to be embarrassed. This is a common procedure. I just want to make sure there isn't anything there. Maybe you forgot to take a tampon out before putting another one? Or there might be a mass or polyp that I'll be able to see or feel. I promise I'll make it quick. Let me grab the nurse and we'll be right back."
Christian and Anastasia watch him leave and Christian stands. "Well, that's my cue to step out."
Anastasia grabs his shirt. "Don't you dare! You aren't leaving me alone! I don't care if you do have to see everything I've got! Close your eyes if you have to. Just don't leave me here alone."
His eyes widen and he slowly sits back in his seat. "Okay...okay, I'm not going anywhere. Relax." He places his hand over the one that is clenching his shirt and her hand relaxes. He takes her hand in his and using his free hand, he brushes out the wrinkle in his shirt.
The nurse in dark blue scrubs comes in carrying a handful of items.
"Hello, Anastasia. My name is Karen and I'll be your nurse. Dr. Hanko wants me to start a line on you and give you some pain medication before he starts the exam. Is there a side you prefer the IV to go in?"
"This side, please." Anastasia holds up her right arm, knowing from experience that they have an easier time finding her vein. She hates needles, but she knows that needles are part of the whole ED experience...and the experience is hardly ever pleasant, no matter how personable the staff is or how great the service. No wonder people are always so grouchy.
Christian continues to sit by Anastasia's side and holds her hand while the nurse finds her vein. Thankfully, the line goes in relatively easy and before they know it, she's hooked up to an IV saline drip.
"Alright, I'm going to give you your pain medication now. I can push it through your IV. You should feel the effects pretty quickly. Now, I need to ask you to slip your bottoms off. Since you're on your period, I'll put a disposable pad under you. Dr. Hanko and I will be back in about twenty minutes to do your exam."
Nodding, Anastasia climbs out of bed so that Karen can place the pad on the bed.
"Christian...would you mind…?" She points toward the opposite wall and he grins.
"Don't want me to see that nice little backside of yours, love?"
She gives him a scowl. "Christian!"
"Okay, okay. Don't have a coronary." He turns his body away from her and she hurries to slip her panties off, folding them together and placing them on the chair under her shirt and jeans.
"Okay." Anastasia settles back into bed to wait for the painkiller to kick in.
Christian has a seat in his chair and his phone vibrates. Looking at it, he sees that it's Ros. He hits ignore and quickly types out a message.
*Can't talk. Family emergency. I'll call you later.*
He slips his phone in his pocket and throws his feet out in front of him, crossing his feet at his ankles. Might as well get comfortable.
He catches Anastasia frowning at him.
"What is it?"
She shakes her head. "Christian, was that work? I'm sorry. If you need to go-"
"Don't be silly." he cuts her off. "You're more important. Ros will be fine without me for a few hours."
She searches his face, trying to decide if she should continue to try to convince to go. She had been in too much pain to think about it earlier, but now that her anxiety is gone and she's being taken care of, she feels guilty about pulling her best friend from work. He's always been such a workaholic and she's worried that being away from work will eat at his anxiety.
"Are you sure? Really, I'm okay." Anastasia tries to convince him, but he knows better. Often, she lets her guilt eat her alive and she's willing to put everyone else's needs or wants before her own. He'll be fine away from work for awhile. Really, it's probably good for him.
"Ana, I'm sure. I want to stay with you. I want to be here for you." They've always been there for one another and she needs him. He doesn't want to be anywhere, but with her during this worrisome time.
She gives him a genuine smile. "Thank you, Christian. You're the best."
He gives her a wink. "I know."
XxXxXx
After finding nothing wrong via pelvic exam, Dr. Hanko orders Anastasia an transvaginal ultrasound. It takes almost thirty minutes before the results are back and Dr. Hanko knocks on the door.
"Anastasia?" This time, the doctor isn't smiling.
"Yes?" Anastasia is worried.
"Well... we've got your transvaginal ultrasound results back and it looks like you've got something called endometriosis." Dr. Hanko explains. "I was hopeful that it was just a cyst, but unfortunately, it's something a little more serious."
Anastasia frowns. "Endometriosis? What is that?"
The doctor has a seat on his chair. "It's when the tissue from your uterus grows around it. Tissue that usually sloughs off during your period hasn't been able to and it's built up. It looks as though you've had this for awhile. I think it's best if you see your OBGYN about this. She can tell you more about it. Until then, I'm writing you a slip to be off work and an order for some pain medication. I've alerted your OBGYN's office and they'll be giving you a call later today to make an appointment later this week."
Anastasia's heart is racing. She has no idea what any of this means. She has many questions, but she's too dumbfounded at the moment to be able to ask.
"Is it cancerous?" Christian asks.
"Well...it can cause ovarian cancer, but it's pretty rare. You're still young, Anastasia, and although it will never go away, there are different things you can do to help cope with it. Dr. Greene will look over your results from today and help you make a sort of road map for dealing with this. It isn't the greatest prognosis...but it could be much worse."
Christian stands to shake Dr. Hanko's hand. "Thank you for taking such great care of Ana."
"Of course." The doctor turns to Anastasia. "You just go home and get some rest, alright? Everything will be fine. I'll write up your discharge paperwork and then you two will be out of here in a few."
Anastasia tries to give Dr. Hanko a smile, but it comes out like a grimace. She expected it to be a small ovarian cyst or something of the sort. She wasn't expecting something like this. She wished that her parents didn't live in Savannah, Georgia. She could really use her mother right now.
As Christian stands toward the wall while Anastasia gets redressed, he can't help, but feel a little panicked for his best friend. He hates that she got this news from the doctor; he's sure that she wasn't expecting it. It's not something that will ever go away. His best friend is twenty-six years old and she's stuck with this for the rest of her life. At least she won't be going through it alone. He's determined to be here for her through everything.
Christian takes her home and the car ride is quiet. He keeps glancing over at his favorite girl, and he can see that the cogs in her brain are working in overdrive. He wants to say something, but he doesn't know what to say. He can tell her that he'll be here through everything, but he knows she's already aware of that. He can say that he's sure that everything will be fine, but it'd be an empty statement. He doesn't know if everything will be fine.
This disorder could cause her pain for the rest of her life. She would have the option of pain medication, but then she'd have to worry about becoming addicted to the medication. It could become so bad that she does end up having cancer and she'd have to go through surgery, chemo, or radiation. The thought of having to watch her suffer through something so traumatic really messes with his emotions. Part of him feels like crying, but he knows that there isn't anything to be upset about, yet...maybe not even at all. Besides, he needs to be her strength. Her parents live across the country and she needs a rock to ground her, to protect her, and to be a permanent fixture in her life while she goes through this.
Anastasia wonders if she should call her mother when she gets home, or if she should wait until after she sees Dr. Greene. She knows her parents aren't made of money and she doesn't want her mother to fret over something that might be nothing. She worries that her mother would waste the money on a plane ticket to come see her before she finds anything out. She knows that her mother would want to know as soon as it happens, but she also knows it might be the best to wait until there's something to worry about. Her parents already worry about her. If it wasn't for Christian, they might have ended up worrying themselves silly over her. They trust Christian and they know that he would take care of Anastasia is something were to happen. Her father calls Christian once a week to chat and to check up on Anastasia, knowing that she'd tell them she is fine, even if she isn't.
Anastasia isn't sure if she can wait until after Dr. Greene's appointment to call her parents. Hearing their voices always calms her and a part of her wants to sob to her mother about this. She wants her mother to make it all better.
Deciding that she'll see how she feels after she gets home, Anastasia forces herself to push the situation out of her mind for now. She's got Christian with her and that's more than enough. He's the greatest best friend she could ever imagine. He is such a loving, kind, selfless man; why couldn't she find a man like that to marry?
Oh, no, Steele. Don't start that now.
After running through Wal-Green's drive-thru to get her medication, Christian drives them back to her apartment and helps tuck her in.
"Are you hungry?" He asks, knowing the answer.
She shakes her head. "No, I'm just going to try to sleep for awhile. Thank you for coming today, Christian. It means everything to me."
"You're very welcome, love. I'm glad you told me you were in pain, Ana. I would never want you going through this alone."
She gives him a genuine smile and reaches for her cell phone to turn the ringer up. She wants to be able to hear it go off when Dr. Greene's office calls.
"Do you want me to go to your appointment with you?"
Anastasia shakes her head. "No, I'm good now. I can go by myself."
"Really, Ana, it's no problem." Christian would actually prefer to go with her, to be with her and support her if she does get bad news.
She picks at her fingernails. "Well, honestly, I'd rather go by myself. I just feel like I should."
His stomach drops a little at her admission, but he understands. This is her body and her decision.
"Promise me you'll come to Grey House right after? I want to know everything."
She chews her lip and nods. "Okay, I promise." She pauses just a second too long for him to completely believe her.
"Anastasia…"
"I promise, Christian." She says it more confidently and he smiles.
"Kiss on it." He leans down and presses his lips firmly to hers, something they've always done when promising each other something. Instead of pinky-promising, they seal it with a kiss. It's something unique and special that the two of them share that they'll never share with anyone else. "Now, you can't break it."
She giggles lightly. "I'm well aware, Christian."
He fusses over her blankets a little more and she swats at his hands, telling him to go home.
"You don't want me to to stay?"
Anastasia shakes her head. "I'm just going to sleep. There's no reason for you to stay. Just go home and rest, or, knowing you, go work."
Christian chuckles. "Go to sleep, Anastasia. Text me when you wake. I'll let myself out." There is no way he is going to leave her. He slips out of her room and shuts her door behind him before heading into the kitchen. He knows she'll need to eat when she wakes, but if he even tries to cook, he might burn the whole damn building down.
Suddenly, an idea occurs to him and he pulls out his phone.
"Gail? I need your help."
XxXxXx
"Thanks, Gail. I don't know what I'd do without you." Christian states, watching Gail move around Anastasia's kitchen.
"That's what I'm here for, Christian. You know how much I love Ana. If she needs my help, then I'm more than happy to do what I can."
He hears the door to Anastasia's room open and Anastasia comes padding out of the room barefoot and yawning. Her feet stop dead and her yawn is cut short when she realizes she isn't alone.
"Christian? Gail? What are you doing here? I thought you went home." Anastasia makes her way to Gail to give her a hug before having a seat at the island next to Christian.
Looking her over, Christian sees that she's been crying.
"What is it, Ana?"
Anastasia shrugs. "Curiosity got the best of me, I guess. I looked up endometriosis and it says that it can cause infertility, cancer, and severe scarring." She shakes her head and looks down at her hands. "Infertility, Christian. What if I can't have children?"
He frowns. Unfortunately, curiosity got the best of him, too, and he researched a little while she was sleeping. Infertility seems to be one of the more common complications with endometriosis. If it is severe enough, even if Anastasia can get pregnant, there is a chance of her miscarrying or even having a ectopic pregnancy.
For Anastasia, possible infertility is almost a worse punishment than ending up with cancer. She's always pictured that she'd get married, have a child, and enjoy the white picket fence lifestyle. This prognosis could change everything for her. After this news, her desire to have a child has doubled.
"Ana...everything will work out how it should. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry until you see Dr. Greene." Christian isn't sure what to say. Is there anything to say in this situation? Probably nothing that will make it better.
Anastasia leans on the counter, resting her head on her arm. "This sucks."
Christian rubs her back as she sits, pouting. "I know, Ana. I'm sorry, love. Let's eat."
"I don't want to."
"Tough." If he has to force feed her, then by damned, that's what he's going to do. Watching her waste away in front of him is not something he's going to allow to happen. His best friend needs him now more than ever and he's going to be here every step of the way...no matter how much she kicks and screams.
Want a teaser for Chapter 4? Let me know.