Chapter 26: Two Week Getaway (Part 2)

Phoebe POV

Mum and dad have been away a whole week now and I'm starting to feel over anxious, even though we talk to them every night and again in the mornings. But I can't tell dad that I just want them to come home so I can sleep in my own bed. I don't why I'm feeling like this, it's not like I've been away from them before. Why am I so messed up?

Kenny has been round nearly every day this week and it's like he's already part of the family. Grandma loves him as if he were her own grandson and grandpa is glad to see he makes me happy. I'm supposed to be going round Kenny's on Wednesday since I've never been inside his house and he wants me to properly meet his dad, even though I've met him a few times already. I must admit though, the thought of sitting at the dinner table and having a full conversation with him about me makes me feel a little nervous.

I check my watch and realise that mum and dad should be on their way to Paris by now, if they haven't arrived there yet. Dad did promise last night that he would call when they arrived so we know they're safe. I check my phone to make sure I haven't missed them.

I make my way downstairs and find my grandparents in the kitchen with Aunt Kate and Uncle Elliot. I greet them and wonder why they are here so early until I realise I slept in much later than realised and it's nearly ten o'clock. Ava enters the kitchen, after being in the bathroom when I entered, and alerts me that I am going shopping with her and Aunt Kate while Uncle Elliot spends some time with his nephews to do 'boy stuff'. I laugh and she joins me upstairs to pick an outfit to wear.

"So…" she starts and I know she's dying to ask about Kenny. That's how she always starts conversations about him. I decide to play stupid anyway.

"So… What?"

"So… How's Kenny?" I knew it!

"He's fine. He's always fine."

"No more news on his mum?" I had told her about that when I had no one else to talk to. I mean, dad knows but Ava understands I need someone to listen and not always put her two pennies worth in.

"No, not at the moment. Well, his dad got a call from his lawyer the other day saying that the case has been reopened and they will definitely have to review their statements and possibly give their account in court again but there are no dates and they don't need to rush back. The police will want their statements soon though but since they're planning on going back to England at some point in the New Year it can wait. Kenny's relieved that it's not a 'high priority' case meaning she'll stay behind bars until it's all been resolved."

"That's brilliant news! So have you and him… you know, yet?" My mouth drops open as I drop down on the bed next to her.

"Ava Grey, I am shocked you would ask such a thing!"

"Are you really? Come on, Bee you know what I'm like!" she giggles. I laugh too.

"Well, for your information, no we haven't."

"I suppose I should have figured that one out. I mean, Kenny is still breathing." We laugh and Aunt Kate comes up telling us to hurry up. We invite grandma but she has to go into work soon so she passes.

Just before we leave dad rings to let me know they have arrived safely in Paris and that they would ring us all later. Apparently Kate told mum about this trip and didn't want dad spending too much on the phone to me. Anyway it gives mum and dad a chance to settle into their hotel and relax for a bit.

We get back to the house by dinner time and Ava and I agree to show grandma our new purchases. Uncle Elliot insists on seeing our new clothes too to make sure he approves of what his daughter and niece are wearing while we're out and about and the boys want to make sure I'm not going to give dad a coronary when he gets back so we decide to do a mini fashion show for everyone.

Everyone approves of my dresses but Uncle Elliot had a couple of things to say about some of Ava's choice. They left shortly after.

As I'm climbing into bed I check my phone and realise it was quite late for me. I decide to text Kenny.

*HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD DAY WITH YOUR DAD TODAY. I MISSED YOU! XX*- P

He replies quite quickly.

*HEY IT WAS GOOD THANKS. IT'S NICE WHEN HE HAS A DAY OFF. I MISSED YOU TOO BABY BUT I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW WON'T I? WHY YOU STILL UP? IT'S NEARLY MIDNIGHT XX*- K

*ONLY JUST GOT INTO BED BUT I FEEL WIDE AWAKE. THINK I'M GOING TO BE UP A WHILE XX*- P

*STILL GOT BAD DREAMS? XX*- K

*YEAH. I'M SURPIRSED I'VE SURVIVED A WEEK WITHOUT MUM AND DAD BUT NOW I WANT THEM HOME. I MISS THEM XX*- P

*YOUR DAD DID SAY TO RING HIM ANYTIME YOU FEEL LIKE THIS. HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO HIM TODAY? XX*- K

*HE RANG EARLIER WHEN HE AND MUM ARRIVED IN PARIS BUT I WENT SHOPPING WITH AVA AND AUNT KATE SO IT WAS A BRIEF CONVERSATION. I MISSED HIS CALL THIS EVENING AS WE WERE BUSY SO HE SPOKE WITH SECURITY TI MAKE SURE WE WERE ALL STILL ALIVE XX*- P

*WELL IF YOU GET REALY ANXIOUS GIVE HIM A CALL. DAY OR NIGHT REMEMBER? AND IF YOU WANT YOU CAN CALL ME, I DON'T MIND XX*- K

His response makes me smile.

*I KNOW AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU! ANYWAY I THINK I'L TRY TO GET SOME SLEEP BUT I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW? XX*- P

*OK BABY, SLEEP WELL AND OF COURSE YOU WILL. I'LL BE ROUND AFTER LUNCH SOMETIME. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ASHLEY AS WELL. I MISSED THAT DUDE THE OTHER DAY XX*- K

*OH REALLY? YOU LOVE MY BROTHER MORE THAN ME? I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS XD*- P

*HEHE I THOUGH YOU WERE GOING TO SLEEP NOW? AND I DON'T LOVE ANYONE MORE THAN I LOVE YOU… NOT EVEN YOUR BROTHER (BUT DON'T TELL HIM THAT XD) XX*- K

*LOL ALRIGHT I'M GOING NOW. SEE YOU TOMORROW XX*- P

*SWEET DREAMS XX*- K

… … …

Grace POV

This last week with my grandchildren has been wonderful and I am so proud that they thought to arrange this trip for their parents. Even more so since we found out about Ana's pregnancy. They do need a break.

However, it doesn't stop me from worrying about my granddaughter. I know Phoebe has been struggling without them here. She still has nightmares and she thinks we don't notice but both Carrick and I have heard them. One of us often sits with her while she sleeps just to make sure she is ok. She never knows though. And Kenny has been round every day to help her but I think that nothing beats having her parent's support. However, since she hasn't come to anyone with her anxieties we are giving her the benefit of the doubt.

The kids were very upset to have missed their fathers call last night but since we decided to let the girls do their fashion show we lost track of time. However they spoke to him and Ana this morning which put everyone's minds at ease. Although Phoebe still hasn't told Christian about her plans to go round Kenny's this week. I'm sure he wouldn't mind it as long as Marx knew all the details but if she leaves it much longer, he won't be happy…

… … …

Ana POV

I love Paris! Not as much as I love London but it is so nice to travel without the kids and I love getting lost in my husband. Or him getting lost in me, depends on your views on the matter.

Christian was getting himself a bit stressed last night when the kids weren't answering their phones he was seriously considering us going home. Until he managed to get hold of Taylor who reassured him that everything was absolutely fine and the reason for the lack of answering phone calls was because Ava and Phoebe were doing a mini fashion show to show off all the clothes Kate had bought them on a spontaneous shopping trip. Christian spoke to all the kids this morning though to make sure they were okay and to see if they were behaving themselves.

Naturally I rolled my eyes at his overprotectiveness and need for control which ended up with me straight across his knee. I must say I do love his punishment fucks and make a mental note to roll my eyes more often because I realised we haven't fucked like that in a while. I know it's because of his concern for the baby but when will he learn I am not made of glass?

We ventured out of our hotel today after spending two days inside due to bad rainy weather. I didn't mind, I quite enjoyed curling up on the couch watching crap movies and eating junk food with my husband, making love in between and during movies. However since it was nice today we thought we'd climb the Eiffel Tower after Christian checked a thousand times to make sure there was a lift so I don't have to climb any stairs. Honestly, we've been on the tower before, he didn't need to keep checking.

We ate a light lunch and just wandered around enjoying the sights of Paris and debated whether or not we wanted to go for a drive out of the city and see some other sights. Christian suggested we do that another day as I was getting tired and my feet were killing me! Right now I want to go back to the hotel, have a nice hot bath and curl up in bed. Maybe even have my husband before sleeping. Christian agreed and led me back to the hotel, promising me that we can have room service for dinner and I can eat in bed! Yay!

As soon as we enter the hotel room, I collapse onto one of the large comfy couches while Christian goes to fill the bathtub for our bath. I hadn't even realised I'd fallen asleep until I felt him lift me up. Even though I'm pregnant he doesn't seem to notice my extra weight, either that or he does a bloody good job of hiding it.

"Come, Mrs Grey. Bath time and then you can go to bed. I've ordered room service for an hours' time so we need to be quick," he says as he carries me into the bathroom. He sets me on my feet and helps me undress as I feel too tired to do it myself. He holds my hand as I step into the bath and climbs in after me to help me sit down between his legs. He starts to massage my shoulders and I groan as it feels so good. I sense his smile and he leans down and kisses me just below my ear. "You seem tense today, baby. You feeling ok?" he asks concerned.

"I'm fine, Christian. Just feel a bit achy from all the walking today, that's all. This is helping though."

"Are you sure? There's nothing else that's bothering you?"

"I guess I just miss the kids as well. Don't get me wrong, it's nice just being with you but we've already been away for a week."

"I know baby. I miss them too. But we'll see them this weekend when we get home. And we'll talk to them later before they go to bed." Well he'll talk to them before they go to bed. Because we're nine hours ahead of the kids, Christian will stay up late to talk to them before they go to bed but I'm fast asleep by that time. I try to talk to them when they wake up in the morning but they are getting ready to start their day and Christian and I are already in the middle of our day doing one of our planned activities. I've hardly spoken to any of them since we left for our holiday.

"Christian by the time they go to bed it's like five in the morning here. I can't stay up that late, this baby makes me feel tired all the time."

"Ana they don't go to bed at eight in the evening," he chuckles at me.

"That's not the point, Christian. The point is we are nine hours ahead of the kids and by the time we are able to contact them it is obscenely late for one of us." He stops massaging my shoulders and wraps his arms around me, hugging me tightly against his chest. "I'm sorry, I'm just being stupid. We wouldn't still be here if the kids weren't all right."

"Ana, it's natural that you miss the kids. I miss them too and I speak to them every day. You haven't had the chance because of the time difference. Tell you what, why don't I wake you up when I call them and you can talk to them as well?" he suggests.

"Really?" I sit and turn to smile at him. He smiles back and nods, kissing my nose.

"Of course, Ana. If it makes you happy then yes we will do that. Now come on. I think you're clean enough now and room service will be here soon."

I giggle as he stands and helps me out of the bath.

… … …

Christian POV

Ana seems much happier after our bath and I feel glad that I was the one who made her feel like this.

She's curled up in bed after enjoying a variety of foods from room service and her eyes are closed. I think she's fallen asleep. Good, she's had a long day of walking and I can't help but worry about her. She is trying so hard to keep up like she used to but seems to keep forgetting that we are not young as we used to be and she is pregnant. But no matter how often I talk to her about it she always shuts me down over the matter of her slowing down. Maybe I should slow down too and be there to help her support the new baby. Yes, that should prove how serious I am about her slowing down.

I climb into bed next to her and wrap my arms around her and snuggle against her. She moans slightly and rests her hand over mine where I've placed it on her bump. This reminds me of the times I did this when she was pregnant with Teddy and how we used to cuddle up with our little Blip. Of course we did this with the other pregnancies but Teddy was our first and that makes it more memorable.

I close my eyes and when I open them, I see I'm still wrapped around Ana. Although it's not my Ana. It's the Ana that met twenty years ago. She hasn't aged a day. My hand is still resting on her baby bump and I automatically know it's not our baby Mia. But it's our first baby, Theodore. Ana slept well with him as well and I can't help but smile. She looks up to me and I kiss her oh so gently.

"This baby is going to make us so much stronger," she whispers to me. I smile and agree with her before leaning down and kissing her bump, our baby.

I wake and realise it's nearly three in the morning and Ana is still curled up fast asleep. I debate whether or not to wake her as I know she hasn't been sleeping well lately but at the same time, I know I promised her she could talk to the kids. I decide to let her sleep a little longer as they should be eating dinner and my parents are just as strict about them having phones at dinner as we are so we wouldn't get through anyway.

Since I'm awake I decide to text Taylor just to get a quick update and make sure the kids are behaving themselves. He replies quickly to reassure me that the kids are fine and that my business is still going strong. I smile. He knows me so well.

Finally it's four thirty and I'm surprised to find a text from Phoebe.

*HEY DAD. YOU AWAKE? X*- P

This is surprising considering she hasn't sent this kind of text our whole holiday. I hope she's ok.

*HEY CUPCAKE. YES I'M AWAKE. YOU OK? XX* - C

*YEAH I'M GOOD. JUST WONDERING IF YOU'RE ABLE TO TALK. IS MUM AWAKE? XX*- P

*NOT YET BUT SHE WILL BE IN A MINUTE. I PROMISED I'D WAKE HER SO SHE CAN SPEAK TO YOU ALL. SHE MISSES YOU XX*- C

*GOOD I MISS HER TOO XX*- P

*YOU SURE YOU'RE OK? XX*- C

I need to be sure. She replies reassuring me just saying that she misses us. I gently wake Ana and decide to call them now. At least it means they can relax this evening.

"Hmm," she moans.

"Come on baby. We're going to ring the kids. Phoebe just text me. She misses you."

"Hmm. I miss them too. Is she ok?" Ana asks sitting up, suddenly alert. I quickly reassure her that Phoebe is fine and that she just misses her. But I'll know for sure when I talk to her.

Ana takes my phone from my hand and dials my parent's number. She smiles when they answer.

"Grace?... Hey it's great thanks. How're the kids? Are they behaving themselves?… Oh that's good. How's Mia?... Aww lovely… Yes please, if you don't mind…" she smiles at me as she waits for mum to give the phone to one of the kids.

"Teddy!... Paris is great thanks. How're you?... Good. I'm glad to hear you are all behaving yourselves… Ok hang on," she pushes a button on my phone and puts it on speaker and I realise that Ted's put their end on speaker so we can all talk together. I smile. "Ok kids, say hi," she says.

"HI DAD!" they shout and laugh. I laugh too and greet them. I did, however notice Phoebe's voice was absent.

"Where's your sister?" I ask.

"She's not feeling well so she's chilling in her room," Nick says.

"Do you want me to go and get her?" my dad asks.

"No, leave her be. I'll ring her cell in a minute. So how are you all?"

They all reassure me that they're fine and are behaving themselves. My parents are quite easy going when it comes to letting them do what they want anyway but they respect my rules of security. The only rule they have about them however is that they are not staying on their property. Only Taylor is allowed which I can accept as long as they accompany them when they leave the premises. Once we hang up I call Phoebe.

"Hello?" she answers. I'm assuming she didn't check the caller ID again as she sounds distracted. I've told her to make sure she does that as I don't want her answering strange phone calls to people.

"Hey Cupcake," I answer.

"Hi dad. You ok? How's Paris?"

"Paris is great, thanks. How're you?"

"I'm good. Just missing you and mum a lot. Can't wait till you're home."

"Aww, we miss you too," Ana says since we're on speaker again.

"Oh hi mum! Didn't realise you were awake. And actually it's more I miss my own bed than you two, sorry," she teases. Ana giggles and I smile.

"Are you sure you're ok? Your text had me a bit worried."

"I'm fine dad. I've spoken to Kenny and now I've spoken to you I feel better. I've just been feeling a bit anxious since I missed your call yesterday." And now I feel bad for not insisting on talking to her.

"Oh Phoebe you should have called us, sweetie. We wouldn't have minded," Ana reassures her.

"It's fine mum. I spoke to Kenny and called Taylor. He reassured me that he wasn't too far away and I felt much more at ease."

"Glad I left Taylor behind now?" I tease. I can tell she's rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah dad. I get it. Thanks for that by the way. Actually there was something I need to ask you… well actually tell you as there's nothing you can do about it." Uh oh!

"What is it? And we shall see about that!" I say a little angry.

"I'm going round Kenny's this week for dinner and to meet his dad properly. Grandma and grandpa are ok with it and have made me promise to take Marx with me so she knows where I am." Is that it?

"Phoebe I would never have stopped you from visiting Kenny's house as long as his father is there. He spends enough time round ours I think it's only fair if you get to go round his once in a while." Ana stares at me shocked and the silence over the phone tells me Phoebes shocked too.

"Really?"

"Yes, Phoebe. As long as Marx knows where you are. And your grandparents of course, I don't mind."

"Thanks dad." I smile.

"Right, I think you should start getting ready for bed now, but we will talk to you tomorrow,"

"Ok, dad. Love you. Love you mum!"

"Love you too, Cupcake," Ana says and we hang up. I can tell Ana is feeling better now that she's spoken to them and I slowly start to seduce her before we fall asleep again for a couple more hours.

… … …

Ok, so this is all for the holiday of Ana and Christian. However, the next chapter is going to be about Phoebe's dinner round Kenny's house and things go a little too well for them if you get my meaning…

Please review nicely.