Chapter five
Ana had just unpacked her bags in the room her mother prepared for her and was walking down the stairs when someone knocked on the door. Frowning, unsure of whom it could be, she pulled it open and stood shocked as gray eyes stared back at her.
"Christian, what are—Ellie," she said with a sigh.
He gave her a contrite half-smile. "I would have called, but I didn't get your number," he said in way of explanation.
Ana shook her head and stepped back. "It's fine. Come in, I'm sure she'll be excited to see you."
"Really?" he asked and then remembered he had flowers in his hand. "These are for you. Still your favorite?" he asked.
Ana smiled at him and took the pink tulips and smelled them. "Yes." She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "I'm surprised you remembered after all this time."
He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. "It's kind of hard to forget things when it comes to you."
She gazed at him, her eyes locked on his, neither one of them saying anything. He took a step forward.
"Ana, I—"
"You're here!"
Christian and Ana looked up at Elsa as she stood on the middle step and looked down at them with a huge grin on her face. Ana took a few steps away from Christian as Elsa rushed down the stairs and stood next to Christian.
"How shocked was her face when she saw you on the other side of the door?" Ellie asked as she stared up at him with glowing eyes.
Christian chuckled and took a quick glance at Ana. "Pretty shocked."
Ellie laughed. "You should have seen her face when my boyfriend picked me up for my first date."
Christian's smile faded. "You have a boyfriend?" The thought of some pre-pubescent boy dating his daughter didn't sit right with him. It didn't matter to him that he had just met her a few hours earlier, he knew from that day on he'd be there to protect her at all costs.
Ellie rolled her eyes, but they were shinning more brightly. "Not you, too. Grandpa already scared him shitless with his shotgun."
"Language, young lady," Ana scolded.
Ellie sighed but then changed gears and looked back up at Christian. "Grandma and Grandpa are going to be so happy to see you."
"They are?" Christian asked apprehensively as she motioned him toward the kitchen.
"Yeah, they always spoke fondly of the Grey's—well us." She looked at him over her shoulder with a small smile. He returned it.
"Grandma, Grandpa, we have a visitor," Ellie announced.
Carla was in front of the oven, the door opened as she checked the food, while Ray was in the living room sitting in a recliner as he watched baseball. Carla was the first to notice Christian, and she about dropped the dish she'd just pulled out of the oven.
"Oh my goodness," she breathed, her hand over her chest.
Ray came up from behind them, standing behind Elsa as he rested his hands on her shoulders. "Do I need to pull out my shotgun again?" he joked.
When Christian turned around and looked him in the eye, it took Ray a moment to recognize him and when he did, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Well I'll be damned. Must say I never expected to see you standing here in my kitchen, son. How've you been?" Ray asked, stepping forward to shake his hand.
Christian had to recover from his shock at the warm greeting before he spoke. "I'm doing pretty well, you know considering the circumstances." He glanced down at Elsa.
Ray ruffled Elsa's hair as he gave Christian a knowing look that Christian had a hard time reading. "Well it's about time you two met. I told my Annie that something wasn't right about you not wanting to be in Ellie's life, but she was adamant on believing what she wanted. But as it is, what happened is in the past and none of my business."
Carla stepped forward, smiling at Christian as she pulled him into a hug. Christian noted that she smelled like honey. "It's so nice to see you again, Christian. Will you be joining us for dinner?" she asked.
"If that's alright with you?"
"Of course! We'd love the extra company, and I'm sure Ana would just love to—"
"Mother," Ana chided from behind him. He looked back in time to see her shake her head and purse her lips at her mother.
Carla rolled her eyes but pulled Christian into the dining room. "Dinner will be ready in ten minutes; I just need to add some finishing touches. Do you like baked ravioli?"
"I don't think I've ever had it, but by the smell of it I can tell I'll love it."
Carla smiled at him and then turned around, but not before pulling Ana into the kitchen with her. He knew it was rude but he strained to hear what they were whispering about.
"You wanna help me set the table?" Ellie asked, distracting him away from eavesdropping.
"Sure." He took the napkins from her hand and laid them next to each plate.
"You don't do this often, do you?" Ellie asked him.
He looked over at her. "Do what?"
"Setting tables, cooking, cleaning—you know just domestic stuff," she said with a shrug as she placed glass cups by each plate.
"Um, I can't say I do. Is that a bad thing?"
"Not necessarily. Mom just always told me it keeps people grounded when they do things themselves instead of paying people to do it for them."
Christian considered her comment and didn't know what to really say to it. He paid someone to do most of his household chores but he wouldn't see himself as someone who wasn't grounded.
"So do you, like, live in a big mansion with a basketball court and five cars?" Ellie asked.
Christian chuckled. "No. I live in a penthouse and only have three cars."
Ellie looked up at him with a sulky expression. "You have three and I don't even have one."
The corners of his mouth lifted. "But you're not even sixteen."
"I will be in a year and two days."
Christian chuckled and shook his head at her. "Have you asked your mother for one?"
She rolled her eyes. "Only like a gazillion times, but she always says I have to earn it."
Christian glanced over his shoulder at Ana, feeling even more admiration for her than he had before. She raised their daughter in a way many parents with money wouldn't. She made Elsa work for things instead of handing them to her and creating the spoiled little brats of upper-classed society. Despite the fact that he didn't have a say in Elsa's upbringing, he wasn't upset with the values Ana was teaching her.
He was still staring at her when she happened to catch his gaze. Neither of them looked away and he felt that same pull to her as he did fifteen years ago. He gave her a small smile, to which she returned and then immediately looked away. Christian frowned and turned back to the task at hand.
"You still love her, don't you?" he heard Ellie ask.
He looked up at her and hesitated, but then finally nodded as he took another glance at her. "I never really stopped."
Ellie grinned at him and practically bounced up and down. "I could tell. You look at her like she's your favorite candy in the vending machine." She smirked at him, and Christian couldn't get over how similar it was to his own.
"She loves you, too, you know," Ellie added, her voice a little quieter. "She won't admit it, but I know she does. She's never gotten flustered around other men the way she does with you."
"Really?"
Ellie nodded her grin still on her face but then it slowly disappeared. Christian looked at her but she wouldn't meet his eyes again.
"What is it?" he asked.
She kept her gaze down as she fiddled with the edge of a napkin. "That woman in your office today. Was she your girlfriend?"
Christian hesitated. He didn't know what to tell her because technically there were two answers to that question. He could say no and tell her that she was just a friend, but she wouldn't believe that. And he could say yes, but then he would feel like he was lying to her because he didn't really see Elena as his girlfriend even though she did.
When Christian didn't answer her, she looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "Is she?" she asked again, her voice sharp.
"I don't think that's—" he stopped, not wanting to snap at his daughter when he still had yet to get to know her. "Ah, I mean, it's . . . complicated."
Ellie looked at him, her gray-blue eyes turning a shade darker. "I'm not gonna sit here and lie and say I don't want to see you and my mom together, because I think you could make each other happy. But I don't want to see her get hurt, either. I love her to death, and even though I want to get to know you, I'd still choose my mom over you. So whatever your complicated relationship is with your girlfriend or whatever she is, don't bring my mom into it if you're just going to hurt her."
Christian watched her speechlessly as she turned walked away. He was a little surprised she had the gull to say everything she did to his face, but he respected her that much more for it, and for being protective of Ana. He thought her words were unnecessary because he would never hurt Ana intentionally, but he was proud of Elsa for giving him the rundown of things.
Ray came up from behind him, his hand gripping Christian's shoulder.
"So what have you been up to, Christian?"
Christian turned around to face Ray, and gave him a one shoulder shrug. "Aside from keeping my company afloat, there's not very many exciting things going on in my life."
"Your own company?" Ray repeated and then realization spread across his face. "Grey Enterprises Holdings—that's your company?"
Christian nodded his head.
"I've heard many good things about it. You're working on making things more ecologically productive, right?"
Christian nodded. "Yeah, it's kind of a family thing, being conscious of eco-conservative manufacturers and things of the sort."
Ray smiled at him. "Well congratulations on the success, son. I'm proud to see you've grown up to be a nice, respectable young man, unlike some of the other boys Annie's introduced to us."
Christian was about to ask about these other men, but Carla called for dinner.
"Dinner's ready," she chimed and looked around. "Where's Ellie?"
Christian shrugged his shoulders.
"Ellie?" Ana called out.
"I'm comin,' I'm comin,'" Ellie said as she came from the hallway.
Carla set a medium sized pan of pasta in the center of the table as well as a basket of garlic bread. She poured iced tea in everyone's glasses and then came back to sit down.
"Sit." She gestured for everyone to take their seats.
Christian smiled when Ellie sat next to him and looked over at Ana as she took the seat adjacent from him and across from Ellie. Carla sat by Ana while Ray sat at the opposite end, facing Christian.
Everyone started serving themselves, and as they began to eat it was quiet as they enjoyed their food. Christian complimented Carla on the meal, and they made idle chitchat until everyone was finished.
"Who wants desert?" Carla asked, getting up and clearing away the plates before moving toward the fridge. She pulled out an Oreo cheesecake and grabbed desert plates as well as extra silverware.
"Do you like Oreo cheesecake, Christian?" Carla asked.
"Anything with chocolate in it I usually like," he responded with a smile.
Carla began cutting slices and serving them. "I was going to make my famous turtle pie, but then I remembered Elsa's nut allergy and decided to make her favorite instead." Carla winked at her granddaughter.
Ellie turned to Christian. "Grandma makes the best cheesecakes known to man. I wish I could have her turtle pie because everyone always makes a big deal about it." She sighed dramatically. "C'est la vie."
"Do you like Chocolate?" he asked Ellie, and took the small plate Carla handed to him.
"Yes," Ellie said.
"Because my mother makes the best chocolate I've ever tasted. It practically melts in your mouth. You might be able to taste some tomorrow."
Ellie frowned. "What happens tomorrow?"
Christian looked at Ana, who'd been very quiet over dinner. She blinked at him and then turned to Ellie.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Christian has invited us to his parents, um, what was it again?"
"It's a summer party, well more like a spring party. They usually have it to welcome spring and people usually have a good time. I'd like for you to come," he told Ellie.
She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yeah, that sounds fun!"
Christian grinned at her excitement. "Great. People usually start showing up around five, but feel free to come earlier. And you don't have to wear anything dressy, jeans and a t-shirt will do."
Ellie clapped her hands together. "I can't wait. I'll be meeting the rest of our—your family?" she asked, her eyes shifting to Ana's in uncertainty.
Christian nodded and gave her a soft smile. "Yes, you'll meet the rest of our family."
Ellie stared at him for a beat, a warm smile spreading across her face and then she whipped her head in Ana's direction. "Can I be excused now so I can pick out an outfit for tomorrow?"
Ana smiled. "Sure, sweetheart."
Carla stood the same time Ellie did. "I'll clear the table and put these into the dishwasher. How about you two catch up some more? Ray, dear, do you mind helping me?"
Ray stood up and helped Carla rinse off the dishes and place the leftovers into the fridge. When everything was cleared up, they both made a hasty retreat. Ana and Christian were left alone, the silence falling upon them. Christian was the first to break it.
"So your parents?" he inquired.
Ana nodded and played with the edge of the tablecloth. Sighing, she said, "Yeah, a few months after Elsa was born they rekindled their relationship and have been together ever since. I've never seen either of them happier then when they're together." She looked up at Christian from under her lashes.
He caught her look but didn't comment on it. "When did they move back to Seattle?"
Ana looked upward as she thought about her answer, biting her lip in contemplation. "Um, I think almost five years ago."
Christian stared at her, his eyes darting back and forth between her eyes and mouth. "And you?"
She licked her lips. "A week ago."
"Why didn't you come back when your parents came back?"
She shrugged. "I had a good paying job and I had enough to support Ellie and myself without my parents help."
He stared into her eyes, finding it hard to look away as he continued to question her. "So what brought you back?"
Her eyes met his, and they shared a moment of silence as they gazed at each other. Ana looked down and slightly shook her head. "I was offered a better paying job . . . and I wanted to be closer to family."
Christian tilted his head to the side. "Yours or mine?"
She pursed her lips and shook her head.
He leaned back in his seat with a sigh and gazed at her for a moment. He was quiet until he said, "Ana . . . I—I want to make this work between us."
She nodded. "Of course. Now that you've met Ellie and you want to get to know her better, I'd never keep you from each other. We can co-parent, we can even do the alternate weekend vi—"
"That's not what I meant," Christian interrupted her as he leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. "I meant I want us to be a family."
Ana frowned and leaned back in her seat. "I don't understand, we are a family?"
Christian ran a hand through his hair. "Damnit, Ana, is it that difficult to understand that I want us to be together? You grew up with your parents together, for a short time at least. I grew up with my parents together. I want Elsa to have the same."
Ana looked at him with her mouth slightly open and a lost expression. "Christian, I—" she stopped and shook her head. "I don't think that'll be a good idea."
He frowned. "Why not?"
She gave him a look. "Well for starter's you have a girlfriend. And I'm just moving back here and trying to get my footing. I don't think us dating will make it any easier for me to adjust. And Ellie's just met you. I don't want her to be bombarded with your presence so suddenly, I think it'll be best to slowly get you two used to each other."
"Elena isn't my girlfriend," he told her outright.
Her brows rose and she gave him a skeptical look. "Really? Because I don't think she knows that."
"I . . . Elena and I—it's complicated between us. We've been . . . together for a couple years but we never established our status. I just let her assume we were dating because I didn't have a reason to tell her otherwise."
Ana shook her head. "Christian, your relationship with her is none of my business. I don't want you to leave her to be with me when she could be the better one for you."
Christian stared hard at her. "I don't want to be with her, Anastasia. I want to be with you."
Ana opened her mouth to contradict him, but he cut her off.
"Are you going to sit there and act like you don't feel what I'm feeling?" He leaned closer to her across the table. "I know you still feel the same for me as I do you, so why shouldn't we be together? We had something a lot of people don't find and I want it back. I want you back, Ana, and I want Elsa to be in my life. I want to see her every day before I go to work and I want to be able to say goodnight before I go to bed. I want both of you in my life forever."
Ana bit her lip and looked down, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She looked back up at him with a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.
"I do still feel the same. I never stopped loving you, Christian, and hearing you say you want both me and Elsa in your life . . ." She shook her head, looking down and then looking back up, giving him a small smile. "That's all I ever really wanted, and I don't want to bring up the past anymore because neither of us can do anything about it, but I do want to apologize that you missed out on her early childhood. It would've made me incredibly happy to have you with us . . . I'm just sorry. I realize now that no matter what my fears were or believing what I thought was the truth—whatever it really is—I wish I hadn't have kept her away. I can see how much she adores you already."
Christian smiled and gave Ana an indulgent look. "I adore her too. From what I've seen she's pretty incredible. You raised her well."
Christian watched all of Ana's movements as she lifted her hand to scratch above her eyebrow. "Oh, I can't take all the credit, my parents helped mold her into the amazing person she is too."
Christian wished he had the chance to influence her, but he felt a little better that he had the chance to do it now.
He looked down at his watch. "I think I better get going. I need to finish some work."
"Of course." Ana stood up, as did Christian, and she walked him to the front door.
"Tell your parents I said thank you and good bye. And tell Ellie I said I'll see her tomorrow."
Ana nodded. "I will." She opened the door, and waited for him to leave but he stood in front of her and gazed down at her. "What?" she asked.
"Nothing. It's just . . . you're just as beautiful now as you were when you were fifteen."
For the first time in a very long time Ana felt herself blush. "Oh, thank you. You look even more handsome now than when you were sixteen."
Christian grinned. "Yeah, all that adolescent acne."
Ana smirked at him. "You never had acne, remember? One of the few of us who didn't."
He returned her smirk. "You didn't have any either."
"No, but I did get those huge tomatoes on my face."
Christian laughed. It was the first time in a while he really laughed. "Do you remember that time I came over your house in the middle of the night and you had spots of toothpaste on your face to get rid if your pimples?"
Ana covered her face with her hands and groaned. "Oh my God, why did you have to remind me of that? That was so embarrassing!"
Christian laughed and gently pulled her hands away from her face. "Even with your toothpaste and pimple covered face, I remember thinking you were the most beautiful person I'd ever seen."
He held on to her wrists and leaned closer. His heart sped up and his body grew warmer as she looked up at him with her Mediterranean blue eyes. His lips were mere millimeters away from her mouth when she suddenly turned her head and his lips pressed against her cheek.
He pulled back and looked down at her.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking down to avoid eye contact with him. She looked at him with contrite eyes. "I just don't want to start anything when you still have a girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," he told her again, letting go of her wrists.
"Well she thinks she is, and I'm not going to put myself or our daughter in any unnecessary drama. So if you want us to be a family then do want you have to do to make that happen."
Christian took a step closer to her. "So you're agreeing to being with me?" His tone was hopeful.
She smiled at him. "Yes, once you—"
"I know, I know, once I tie off loose ends." He grinned down at her. "I'll do it tonight, and when I see you tomorrow I'm going to kiss you like you've never been kissed before."
Ana let out an amused snort. "I'll be looking forward to it, Mr. Grey."
He winked at her. "See you soon, Anastasia."
She waved at him as he walked to his car. When he got home, he checked in with Taylor then went to his office. Despite his earlier thought of not calling Elena, he took out his phone and dialed her number.
After a few rings she picked up. "Hey, babe. Are you home?"
"Yes. How about you come over? We need to talk."
This is a longer chapter for you guys so I hope you all enjoyed it! Thank you all so much for the encouraging and funny reviews, they literally make my day and keep me posting, so keep sharing the love ;)
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