Christian and Anastasia are able to settle into the new house a few weeks later, her friend finishing what Gia started. The baby's room is decorated for a princess, but remains locked, keeping prying eyes of their families out of it.
Anastasia enjoys waking to the water outside of their window, even though the freezing temps and lack of greenery make it less lively. Looking out, she sees the moon is still out. What woke her up?
"Ow!" She lets out a cry, her groin cramping painfully.
Christian shoots straight up in bed, hearing her cry. "ANA? WHAT IS IT?"
"I think...I think I'm in labor!" She feels something warm between her legs and turns the bedside lamp on to see if her water broke. Pulling the covers off of her, all she sees is red.
"911, Christian!"
XxXxXxXx
She's rushed into the OB unit and straight into the OR. The nurse throws scrubs at Christian and tells him to hurry in case they need to do an emergency C-section.
As he changes, his whole body shakes. It's all happened so fast. It's barely been 45 minutes since he'd been awoken by her cry and by the sounds of it, their baby would be here within the next thirty. Anastasia had lost so much blood. Please let her be okay.
By the time he puts on his shoe coverings and hair cap and enters the OR to support her, they have her prepped and laying on the table, her arms pinned out to the sides.
"Christian!" She calls out to him and he hurries, sliding to her, grabbing her hand.
"I'm here, baby, I'm here."
"I'm scared." Tears are flowing down her eyes and he does his best to wipe them.
"Me, too." He admits. "But we'll get through this." He hates seeing Anastasia so broken and bloody. How many times does his girl have to go through such trauma? Her endometriosis, the failed IVFs, Hyde, the placenta previa... God. Please just get her through this one last time.
"Anastasia! We're cutting into you now! You shouldn't feel anything but pressure." The on-call doctor calls over the sheet that separates them from the surgery crew. Christian tries not to imagine what it looks like from their side of the drapes. The last thing she needs is a boyfriend lying comatose on the floor.
"Okay..." She chokes out. She wants this to be over, but she's scared. She's tried her best to do what is right for the baby, but the baby is still coming a few weeks early. Keeping her eyes on Christian she frowns. "She's only 37 weeks."
He shakes his head. "She'll be okay. Remember? The doctor told us 37 or more." With her issues, he was honestly worried she wouldn't even make it this far. Her dedication to bedrest and being cared for really helped.
"Yea. I guess you're right."
Trying to distract her, he talks about the baby. "Our baby will be in our arms in just a few moments, Ana. She's going to be perfect. What do you think she's going to look like?" Please let her look like Ana.
She gives him a smile and blinks slowly. "I hope she has your gray eyes and your straight nose."
"And you're plump little lips..." He taps them lightly, pulling another smile from her. "She'll love you so much, Ana...Ana? Ana!" He watches her eyes roll back in her head and the monitors in the room start to go off, making the surgical team start hollering commands at each other.
Christian gets pulled away from Anastasia by an RN, trying to get him to leave the room.
"She's losing too much blood!" He hears someone in the background. Looking past three nurse he sees the blood pooling beneath her against the white floor.
"Ana! I need to be with her." He tries to fight the nurse but another comes to help. This cannot be happening. He can't be this close to losing her again. After everything she's been through.
"Sir, the best way you can help is stepping out and letting us do our job!"
With that, he's shoved out of the room and the door shuts behind him with a click of the lock. He tries pushing the metal handle, but it really is locked. He can't get to her. She's bleeding out on the table feet from him and he can't even touch her.
He finds himself sliding down the side of the wall, sobbing into his arms. There is nothing he can do for her now. He feels so out of control. Not again. She can't go.
He reaches into his pocket and rings the only person who can help. Please pick up, please. He needs her.
"Christian?" Her voice is groggy with sleep.
"Mom." He sobs into the phone.
"CHRISTIAN WHAT IS IT? WHERE ARE YOU?"
"It's Ana." He chokes out. It's enough.
"I'm coming."
"Sir?" Looking up, he sees another nurse looking him over. "I'm sorry, sir, but we're going to have to move you into a room."
He shakes his head. "My girls are in there!"
The RN sighs and squats down in front of him, patting his hand. "I know its hard, but we need you out of the hallway. I'll bring your daughter to you as soon as she's ready."
The promise of his daughter is enough for Christian to push himself off the ground and follow the nurse. He tries wiping his tears along the way, sobs still wracking his chest. He knows he must look like a mess. He should be able to hold himself together better... for the good of his Ana and his baby... but he has crumbled and he feels hollow.
The RN shows him into their room and shuts the door behind him. The room is large with a jetted tub and in-suite bathroom. The hospital bed is made and empty. The room is sterile and impersonal. Ana should be in here laboring. He should be coaching her. Her clothes, her body pillow...their baby's carseat... it should all be here. Instead it's empty. It's just him. He's never felt so alone.
A knock on the door startles him out of his thoughts and when it opens, a cart with a pink bundle inside is pushed in by the nurse. She kept her word.
"Congratulations, Mr. Grey. Here's your daughter." She only gets a few feet in before he's to the rolling bassinet and picks the bundle up carefully. The explosion of joy in his chest forces another sob from him. The sweet thing is asleep but she's perfect. A perfect mix of him and Anastasia.
"I'll need to put this armband on you. It says she belongs to you. For security purposes."
He holds his arm out willingly, letting her place the band on him. She is his.
The nurse explains that there are diapers, wipes, pacifiers and pre-made bottles of milk in the bassinet and if he needs anything else to please let her know. When she finally leaves he relaxes back on the couch by the window and unwraps her so he can get a better look at her. Two skinny pink legs with two little feet and ten tiny toes. Her white onesie is long sleeved but he counts ten little fingers and when he reaches to touch her with his finger, her hand grabs on to it, holding it in her little fist.
"Oh, lovebug. Daddy loves you so much. you couldn't be more perfect." His voice is soft and calm and he sees her long, dark eyelashes begin to flutter, her eyes opening for him. "Well, hello my girl. You know Daddy's voice don't you? I'm so happy to meet you. Mommy is going to be so smitten with you when she sees you." His lips tug into a frown. Please let her be okay. The moment is so bitter sweet for him. Being able to see and bond with his baby makes him feel like he should be on top of the world, but the worry of her never meeting her mother... of him never seeing her again... is devastating. They should be sharing this moment together!
He slips off her hat and gives her a sad smile. Her hair is so dark and lush, long and soft already. Just like her mother's. Bringing her closer to him, he breathes her in.
"Christian?"
Looking up, he sees his mother coming in, closing the door behind her. "Oh, Christian! Is that... Oh my word. She's beautiful!" She takes a seat next to him. "May I?" Handing his daughter over, he gives his mother a sad smile.
"Oh, sweet girl. Meemaw is so happy to meet you. You are so perfect." Looking up, she realizes. "Where is Ana?"
His lip trembles and he finds himself bursting into tears.
"Oh, lovebug, no. Tell me. What is going on!" She holds her son in one arm as he sobs into her neck while the other holds her grandbaby safe and sound against her. Slowly, through sobs, he tells her what happened. Her poor baby boy. She knows he needs her and she'll be there with him as long as he needs her to.
XxXxXxXx
Anastasia wakes, feeling exhausted and groggy. Blinking, she tries to remember what happened.
"Hey, sleepyhead." Christian smiles down at her, a pink blanket in his arms. Welcome back, Ana.
Realizing, she tries to sit up, but winces at the pain in her abdomen. "Easy, baby. Let me help you." Pressing the buttons on the side of the bed, her head slowly raises.
"Is that her?"
He grins. "Well I didn't steal anyone elses, that's for sure." Sitting on the edge of the bed, he hands their baby to her, being careful not to hook any of the many IV's she's connected to. She's on her second bag of blood, IV fluids, pain medication, and antibiotics.
Looking down at her baby girl causes her to let out a sob. A mess of thick dark hair sticks out from under her cap, her eyes are round like her daddy's... dark gray even though she's new, her lips dark pink and full. "She's perfect." She is worth every second of pain and time Anastasia spent trying to make and keep her.
The baby's eyes wander around, catching bits of light and shadows. She brings the baby close to her face hoping the baby can see her better. "Hello, my baby. It's Mommy. You are so perfect. Mommy loves you so much." Hearing her mother coo over her and hold her close causes her to turn her head and try to root.
Christian grins. "Our baby is hungry." Helping her unsnap her gown, she allows the baby to latch, but it takes a few minutes before she manages. Once she begins to feed, Christian rests next to her and they watch their baby breast feed for the first time. Anastasia feels completely exhausted, but she doesn't want to sleep. She feels like she's missed so much somehow.
"What happened, Christian?" Anastasia still doesn't understand why she lost so much time.
He runs a hand through his hair, unwelcome thoughts invading his brain. "You hemorrhaged in the OR, Ana. You fainted on the table and flatlined. They threw me out. I couldn't get to you, Ana. They wouldn't let me. Fuck," he sighs, tears starting to fall for what feels like the 100th time that day. "I didn't know if you'd make it... if she'd make it. I was a blubbering mess on the hall floor. If anything would have happened to you.. to either one of you... My heart. I just can't take anymore." He shakes his head, unable to finish. He's almost lost them so many times already. His brain can't comprehend it anymore.
"Oh, Christian. I am so sorry. You were alone. If the roles were reversed and I had to live through what you have... God, I just can't imagine. Are you okay?"
"I am now." He presses a kiss to her temple. Seeing Anastasia being wheeled into their room was a Godsend. The relief he felt...the tension that suddenly slipped away... it had him snoring against his mother's shoulder while she held her grandbaby. "You're not okay, yet. But you will be. Once it's safe, I'll take you both home and I'll be there for you. No work, no stress. Just us. I promise. You and her are my first priority. When you are one-hundred percent better, then I'll go back."
"Oh, beau..." She's so touched by his words. "You can't stop working. Too many people count on you! That's so much pressure for Ros and the team-"
"Tough." He cuts her off. He'll just have to give out some bonuses. Money talks. "So, have you decided on lovebug's name, yet?"
Anastasia frowns. She wants the baby to have her name so badly, but she knows Christian deserves his baby girl Grey. After everything that he had gone through, he deserves it. "You win Christian. She's a Grey."
"Let's compromise." This is going to be easier than he thought.
She's confused. "How?"
His free hand comes around and slips something onto a couple fingers of the baby's hand that's resting on her breast. "Our baby wants you to be a Grey, too."
Realizing it's a ring, Anastasia is floored. "Christian! Are.. are you sure you're not just emotional right now?"
He chuckles. "Of course I'm sure. You're my world, Ana. Between you and her, there is nothing else I could ever need or want. I want us to he a family. Face it. You're stuck with me, Steele."
"As they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Might as well join the Grey crew." She kisses him, accepting his sweet proposal. "I love you, beau. I can't wait."
XxXxXx
Two Years Later
"Eloise Grace... what are are you doing?" Christian finds his two year old in the pantry, the sounds of metal bowls clashing together.
"Pudding, Daddy!" She emerges from the pantry, a metal bowl in one hand, a box of instant chocolate pudding in the other.
He chuckles. "Pudding, huh?"
She nods, smiling up at him with her tongue between her lips. "Nummy pudding."
Reaching down, he picks her up and takes the bowl before she drops it. She holds the box in both of her hands and shakes it."Peez Daddy. I luh you."
Kick right to the heart. She knows she has him wrapped around her finger.
"Okay, we'll make some pudding, but you have to eat it with dinner." Looking at the timer on the stove he sees that the roast has fifteen minutes left.
Squealing, she dances in his arms. "I help you."
He nods. "Yes, you can help me."
He places baby Ellie on the counter next to him after grabbing his supplies and she helps pour the milk and empty the package into the bowl. "Mix it, Daddy!" She twirls her hand in a circle, showing him.
"I'm mixing, I'm mixing!" He laughs as he whips.
She giggles. "Faster, Daddy, faster!"
He mixes will all of his might, dramatically moving his whole body to make his baby girl giggle.
"Okay, Daddy! Stop!"
Suddenly, he stops, panting dramatically. "You wear your old man out, lovebug."
"Spoon peez!" She holds out her hand. Every utensil is a spoon to her. They need to work on that.
"Okay... but don't tell your mother!" He sits at the island with her on the countertop, letting her lick the whisk clean.
"Christian..." Anastasia pops into the kitchen.
"She made me do it!" He points to Eloise, throwing his daughter under the bus for the pudding.
She rolls her eyes playfully at him. "Yea, sure. Blame it on the two year old." She makes her way to him and hands him something. He notices her hand is shaking.
Looking down, his mind doesn't compute. "No. Just... No. How? But the doctor said you couldn't!"
She shrugs. "I have no idea." They told Anastasia there was no way she'd be able to carry another baby. Because of this, they never bothered with birth control. When she found out, she panicked at first, but thinking about Eloise and the perfection that is their daughter, the idea grew on her. To her, it was worth the risk. They would take extra precautions this time around.
"Fuck, Ana! You almost died last time!" His voice startles his daughter and he pulls her close to him, kissing her on her cheek. "Sorry bug. Daddy didn't mean to yell." She's too busy finishing off the pudding on the whisk to care. How could they be so stupid to let this happen?!?
"I didn't do it on purpose! We'll have a plan this time! We know what to expect. After this one, though, I'm getting fixed." It isn't worth risking herself when she has a family here who needs her. "Are you unhappy?"
"Christ, Ana. Of course not." Standing, he pulls her to him. "How can I be angry when you're carrying another one of these around?" They both look at their daughter, whose face is covered in chocolate pudding, making them laugh.
"It might be hard, Mrs. Grey, but we can do this. We can do anything." He nuzzles into her hair, realizing just how precious this really is. Another miracle. "Guess I'll have to rub your feet tonight. You are carrying my baby afterall."
She hums, remembering their last positive test. "Afterward, will you show your wife just how appreciative you are?"
Groaning, he pulls her to him. "Absofuckinglutely."
Fin.