Chapter 9

The week went on and everyone showed up for family dinner except Christian. Ana missed him at dinner and she cried in her bed that night. He knew where she was, but he didn't bother her and kept his distance. Ana worked from the Grey's home the rest of the week and was only in contact with Ros.

When the weekend came Grace and Mia kept her occupied, but on Sunday she was ready to go home. "Grace, thank you for letting me stay." Grace hugged her, "Sweetheart you're always welcome. Do you want me to drive you home?" Ana shrugged, "I'm going to call Christian, hopefully he comes to get me." Grace just laughed, "I don't think you have anything to worry about."

Ana called him, "Ana! Are you ok?" Ana heard the anxiety in his voice, "I am. Christian will you come and pick me up? I'm ready to come home." Christian smiled even though he knew they had a lot to work out. He was ready to take responsibility for his wrongdoing. "I'm on the way."

When he got there he was greeted by his mother, who he hadn't seen or talked to. "Hey mom." Grace frowned, "So this is what we do?" Christian had avoided his mother on purpose, "Mom, I…" Grace stopped him, "You didn't have to hide from me. I love you even when you mess up. And this was big, don't ever do that again. You weren't raised like that."

He turned and saw Ana holding her bag, "Hey. Let me help you." Ana gave him a small smile and hugged Grace tight. "Take care of that cold." The night Ana walked in the cool night, she had been fighting a nasty cold since. "Grace, thank you for loving me."

Christian opened her door, "You've been sick?" Ana sighed, "Just a bad cold from that night." Christian frowned, "I'm sorry." Ana simply said, "It wasn't your fault I walked without putting on my jacket, save your apology for the real deal."

When they got home Ana went to her bedroom and put her stuff down. She sat on the bed and was ready to talk, "What were you thinking?" Christian swallowed hard, "That I love you so much and I couldn't imagine why she didn't. I thought I could make her change her mind. And honestly I wanted to see for myself. I'm ashamed of what I did. She's a hateful woman."

Christian hung his head. Ana tilted his head up, "I know she is, I was trying to protect you from it. You know Christian any other time I would have forgiven her and gone back. I always did, every single time." Christian listened, "What changed?" Ana smiled, "You. You hit me and changed my life. You made me live in your fairytale world, where I was protected and deserved so much better."

Ana saw tears fall down his face, "And I took it away." Ana shrugged, "No you didn't. When I got over my anger, I realized even more why I love you. But Christian, let me be clear you can never do this again. If you want to know something, you need to ask me." Christian smiled, "Am I forgiven." Ana rolled her eyes, "Yeah, this time."

Christian leaned in for a kiss and Ana pushed him back, "My cold. I don't want you to get sick." Christian smirked, "Well I owe you a formal apology, how about I kiss you somewhere else." Ana laughed so hard she started coughing. "Ana you sound bad. Get some rest." Ana grabbed his shirt, "Hell no! I want my apology tonight."

Christian flipped up Ana's dress and disappeared between her thighs. She saw her panties being thrown behind him and the kissing began. First on each inner thigh and then on her front. Christian rested his chin on her front, "Ana, I think you have fever, you're hot."

She pushed him back down and he started sucking on her clit which made Ana's back and hips come up. Christian pushed her hips down, making her wiggle. "Mmmm! Christian…" Christian inserted a finger, "I know, it's ok. Cum for me Ana." He used his thumb to circle her clit which was way too sensitive with all the sucking and that was it. Ana came and everything went black.

When she woke up she had a cool damp washcloth on her forehead and a worried Christian looking at her. "Your fever is 101.8 and you passed out." Ana smiled remembering how her body felt, "I doubt it was my fever. I'm sure it was other things that caused it." They both smiled. "Plus I read that sex can break a fever."

Christian wasn't convinced. "Ana, I'm sor…" Ana sat up, "Don't Christian. It's over, don't keep apologizing for the same thing." Christian agreed, "Ok. I get it." Ana shook her head, "No you don't. My mom has always thrown back everything I've done wrong. She never let an apology be an apology. I even started apologizing when I didn't do anything wrong. I don't want that for us and the same thing for me. If I mess up and you forgive me, don't ever throw it back." Christian listened, "I promise."

Ana really didn't feel good. She was glad to be with Christian, but Grace took care of her. At the same time Christian wanted to call his mom, but he didn't want to overstep. "Christian, hand me my phone. "Grace?" Grace scoffed, "After spending a week with me, you can't call me mom?" Ana smiled, "Mom, I'm still running a fever. I really feel bad."

Grace asked to speak to Christian. Ana put it on speaker so he didn't touch her infected phone. Grace sent him to the store for Tylenol and Gatorade. "Ana, who's your doctor, sweetheart?" Ana bit her lip, "I don't have one. I don't get sick a lot and I don't really like doctors. Grace was silent and she could imagine Grace's face. "Mom, are you mad at me?" Grace sighed, "No, but you need to take care of yourself. Well, you will have one from now on. I will make an appointment in the morning and pick you up."

Christian got back with the Tylenol and Gatorade, but Ana was asleep. Her fever was a little higher, so he woke her up and made her take it and drink. "No work for me tomorrow, your mom was upset I don't have a doctor. She's making an appointment and picking me up." Christian knew he was still on the hot seat. "Ana, you have to take care of yourself." Christian woke up every hour and checked her temperature.

It was down most of the night, but the next morning when Grace came, it shot back up. "Christian, go to work. I am a certified nurse and I can handle a fever." Grace had to help Ana shower and dress, because she was so weak. Ana saw the name on the door, "Dr. Rhian Flynn". She was very hesitant, but Grace assured her, "She's very nice."

Grace did everything for Ana, filled out paperwork, handed over her insurance card, and waited. "My mom isn't like you." Grace just rubbed her head. "Aren't you scared I will get you sick. My mom would never come near me." Grace shook her head, "I'm not worried about that, just you." When she put her head back, Grace knew she really was sick. She was called back for her weight, blood pressure, and they even took blood work. The nurse put a small thing on her finger. Ana frowned, "They're checking your oxygen."

Ana started coughing while waiting and Dr. Flynn came in. "Hey Grace, I see you brought me a new client." She smiled, "I'm Ana." Her voice was raspy, "Nice to meet you. It's a little hard to breathe huh? When did that start?" Grace answered, "She's had a fever and cough all week, but this is from the last 24 hours."

Dr. Flynn listened to her chest, checked her ears, nose, and throat, "Ok, we took blood, I don't like your oxygen, and I definitely don't like the wheezing. Let's get an X-ray." Grace asked, "You think it's pneumonia don't you." Dr. Flynn smiled, "You know Mia is in middle school and I have a position open 3 days a week tops, no weekends. You should come back to work." Grace smiled and really considered it. She missed it.

After the X-ray. Ana was scared, "Grace, am I really sick?" Grace rubbed her back, "Let's see what she says and try not to worry until we know." The nurse came in and started Ana on a breathing treatment. Dr. Flynn came back and Grace knew it wasn't good. "Ana, I'm putting you in the hospital." Grace took her and they checked her in immediately.

Grace waited until Ana was all settled, because she knew Christian would panic. The nurse started an IV and they put Ana on a light diet. Grace pulled out her phone. "Are you ready?" Even Ana knew Christian would lose his mind. "Yeah." Grace frowned at her raspy voice and dialed his number, "Hi Christian." Christian wasn't worried because he knew his mom would take care of her. "Honey, we're at the hospital and Ana is staying." She heard the panic in his voice as he said he was on the way. "Drive safe, she's fine. Dr. Flynn wanted to keep an eye on her breathing."

While they waited for Christian, Grace called Kate, Elliot, and Carrick. Pretty soon Ana had a full room. Elliot and Carrick even picked up Mia. Dr. Flynn broke up the party quickly, "Ok guys! I want her to rest. You have to go." Ana grabbed Christian's hand. "Dr. Flynn, can I stay with her?" She knew the whole family, because The guys saw her husband who was a doctor. "Just you and you have to make sure she gets rest. The pneumonia is draining her body."

Ana was in the hospital for a week. Christian wouldn't even let her work. She went home and slowly worked her way back into her regular routine. They went to their family dinner, the first since Ana was in the hospital. "How are you feeling?" Ana smiled at Grace's loving kiss. "I'm better. Gosh I've never been that sick. I hardly ever get sick." Kate gave her a plate, "Well, I'm glad you're better, because Grace and I planned a Valentine's family trip. It should be fun." Christian frowned, "Only if she's cleared." Ana looked up, "Are y'all sneaking behind my back again?"