-CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE-


TAKING A BREATH


Tuesday 24th November 2009, continued.

CHRISTIAN

"THIS IS REAL, ISN'T IT?" Mr Steele's voice was barely audible.

He was studying the ultrasound in close proximity as if he was long sighted. His glare at the grainy image gave an instant chill down my backbone. The chill ended with a sharp bite, as sweat drip down my shoulders. If I wasn't nervous already, I was now terrified.

"Ah yees, Sir ahem." my voice broke as if I were 14 again.

Why am I nervous? Anxious? Shitting my pants?

"Sir, I thought she would have told you last night. Ana hasn't withheld this from you. We were only informed in the last few days."

The memory was brought forward in my mind. Fuck, I was such an asshole when she told me.

Mr Steele's face curled and his forehead creased. "Boy, what's your name again?" his voice coarsely mumbled directly to my face inches from my own.

"Christian Grey?" how did I make my name sound like a question.

"Are you sure? You don't sound confident about your… own name." he retorted.

"Yes… it's Christian Grey. I'm certain." I began to fumble in my pocket for my wallet. "If I show you my drivers license."

Mr Steele cocked his brow. The sigh he released blew over my face.

"Christian. Ray Steele."

Ray had the look of any father. I've seen it in my very own. The internal battle to be nice or a nightmare. Dear God, please the latter. I want to keep my balls intact.

Watching him like a hawk he hesitantly pulled out his right hand and in an instant, pulling back once again. Trying to not stare at his clenched fist, it was relieving to see it relax.

Shit, he was having a battle. Good please win out. Please win, good.

Ray's hands slid down the seams of his jeans, cupping into the front pockets. Slowly, he started to rock on his heels once he realized I was watching.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"She's determined to complete college…Sir… and continue further studies in medicine. Ana even refused me to be her boyfriend." I stated while trying to keep a poker face.

"Too juvenile." I let out a small laugh at Ray's answer.

"We're Sig—"

"Significant Others." he curled his lip, almost chuckling at the term.

Did Ana tell him? I'm so confused.

"In all matters of speaking, Sir. I do prefer boyfriend." I tried my best to keep my nerves under control.

"Stop with the Sir bullshit. Annie's extremely persistent just like her mother. She was the same when we started dating." with a loud sniff, he coughed to cover the tear which began to fall.

"Ray." I held out my hand.

"Christian."

Ray removed his hand from his pocket and we finally shook. The only thing mine was lacking the bone crushing grip.

Trying to cover my wince, I needed to introduce myself over.

"I want to start again. I'm Christian Trevelyan-Grey, I am the same age as your daughter. I'm currently CEO of Grey Enterprises and Holdings based in Seattle. I'm financially stable and recently purchased a four bedroom apartment. Purchasing a home is high on my list of priorities." I needed to take a breath, I was beginning to ramble. "Your daughter is breath taking, Sir." I cleared my throat. "Ray, we met a few months ago while at college."

"Why are you telling me this?" Ray said still clinging to the ultrasound image.

"Because I need to inform you I am having twins in a few months. We are going to be a family. I've suggested for Ana to move to Seattle but she's determined to finish college. I'm not stopping her and would never. I'm encouraging her to complete her medical school dreams too. My mother is a senior doctor, so she has ample support."

"You want Annie to move in with you?" I wasn't sure if he was angry or plain concerned for his daughter.

"I've said this all wrong, Sir— sorry Ray. Your daughter means the world to me. She takes my breath away when she walks into a room. She's sweet, witty, intelligent and the mother to my children. I'm committed to her. One day I hope to marry her."

"Good luck, Christian." Ray let out a small laugh.

"You don't approve?"

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Yes… and no. Annie is so much like her mother she doesn't even realize it. I had to ask her…" Ray slipped the ultrasound of his grandchildren into his jeans pocket. He held up his right hand, turned his palm to his face. He gave a nod as he counted off each digit and quickly popped up his thumb on his left hand. "And that was the first 6 months."

"I'll wait." the words stumbled out of my mouth.

"You'll be waiting awhile, Son." he chuckled again.

"I have a whole life time." I couldn't help but smile at Ana's father.

Ray was smiling too. Was he agreeing with my statement or just planning my sudden death?

"You better go find your girl." his hands started shoeing me to the front door.

Looking around the living room, my eyes panned to the front door. "I wouldn't know where to look?" I shrugged my shoulders.

Ray chuckled and rubbed his eyes. "The place where she always goes to think. Out the front, hang a left down to the end of the street. Take a right and then another right, you will see the small playground with the swing set and the large oak."

"Thank you, Ray."

As I was beginning to make my exit, he held a finger up and I stopped instantly in my tracks.

"Don't you move." rushing up and back down the staircase, he held a long cream cable knitted jacket.

"Annie will get cold. She never thinks ahead when it comes to weather. It doesn't matter if it's rain, hail or shine. She's oblivious to the temperature when she's upset." Ray handed me the knitwear. "It was her mother's. She will appreciate it."

"What happened to her mother?"

"That's Annie's story to tell. Now…" he patted me on the back, causing it to sting. "No funny business, Son." Ray was quite firm with his final statement.

I refused to make eye contact and ran out the door calling "already have" to Ana's father. My laughter was causing me to struggle as I ran searching for my girl.

…..

ANASTASIA

UNABLE TO CATCH MY BREATH, I continue to push through the ache in my chest. A chill of cool air gripped my body, pushing me, forcing me. Rushing, my feet continued to crunch over the dried leaves in shades of browns, reds and ambers at a pace I know I won't be able to sustain. The path continued to change, sandy soil, bark chips and finally slippery dew dripped grass. I didn't think, my memory took over. I should be thinking that was obvious but my feet continued to run.

The morning birds sang in the trees as if they were mocking me, laughing at the girl who can't keep it together. Deception of a golden glow beams poking through the large oak confused my senses. It was then I realized fall was upon us and pretty darn cold. Knowing my luck I was only in a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans. Why don't I think things through, ever!

There she was, the lonely swing set.

A breeze blew through the branches of the large oak causing her chains to twist and rattle. More rust was on the chains since I last sat here. Again, time was consuming everything around me. I parked my denim covered backside on the faded plastic seat. My feet flicked forward and tucked under swinging higher and higher.

Maybe if I got a little bit higher, I may get closer to Mom.

The cool breeze returned as the wind skimmed over my ears. A soothing melodic whistle within my head harmonizing with the waves of the old oak branches.

Of all days, today was the day I needed her. This very moment I wished my mother was here wrapping her arms around me, giving me advise and importantly, I could tell her one more time that I love her.

…..

"BABY GIRL, LET ME push you high and high." my face ached smiling so much, watching my mother's golden curls curve and spin in the morning breeze.

"Momma, tell me about the swing." I laughed as she pushed me so high into the sky, I swear I was within reach of the fluffy clouds.

Momma pushed me up so high.

"Oh AnnieAre you ready?" I giggled since I was flying in the sky.

"How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Til I can see so wide, river and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside —

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the road so brown—

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!"*

Momma continued to push me high.

"I love you, Momma!" I squealed each time she pushed me higher and higher.

…..

THE WIND HOOKED MY FACE AGAIN, it felt as if someone was cupping my cheek.

"Oh so cold." I began to shake as I couldn't continue to fly on the swing. "Why did I leave the two most important men in my life? Can I ever stand up to my actions and fears and grow a pair?" my head fell into my hands. The wind blew my long hair into a tangled mess. "No, I'm an idiot and what do I do? My only coping mechanism, fucking run."

I was cold. I was crying. I was alone.

A snap of a twig and I knew he didn't listen.

"I thought I told you not to follow me. Christian, everything has changed. Oh God, my Daddy… D.. D.. Dad probably thinks I'm a slut or along the lines of some pro.. prom… promiscuous scarlet woman." I stuttered through my words being extremely cold.

"What the hell are you talking about? Your dad is great. Ok, there were a few hairy moments, I was basically shitting my pants but once we got over a few differences, we got talking. I was relieved that no guns were brought into the equation." Christian comically wiped his brow.

"He does have a gun collection." I winked and all color drained from his face. "But really, why did you come? You don't have to keep chasing me, I'm not a damsel in distressed. Rather, I'm making all the distressing mess myself."

Christian stood behind me and draped the large knitted jacket over my icy arms and torso. The warmth and smell was familiar. It was home… it was Mom's.

"I thought you may need this." he wrapped his arms around me. "It's ok, everything is ok." he kissed my hair.

"Are you sure? My Dad was totally losing it back there because I'm pregnant. I could hear it in his voice. I'm going to be a mom of twins. I need to get my head together. I need to grow up for fuck sakes. I need to work out my life. I don't want to be a mom who stays home and does craft. I want to make a difference in my life. I'm going to be a mom of twins."

"Ahhh you're repeating yourself." he chuckled and continued to kiss my curls on my head.

"You think this is funny. It's not Christian. I'm literally losing my mind because of my Dad's reaction. Maybe to make things easier we should just be friends… co-parent or something but nothing else. I cause too much trouble. Just… everything is happening too fast." the tears began to track down my cheeks, eroding creeks and rivers into my skin.

"Whoa, pretty lady." he twisted the chain around so we were facing each other. "Now Ana, just take a breath. A few deep ones I think. Are you listening to yourself?" he tried to brush my tendrils out of my tears but the cool breeze won this battle.

Maybe I have lost my mind?

"Ana, my Pixie." his thumbs rubbed the top ridge of my ears. "My God Ana, you're freezing. Get up!"

I did as I was told by following his instruction.

His arms engulfed me, his warmth was refreshing. The heat of his breath filled me as he rested his head into the crook of my neck.

"Ana, I am never going to stop trying. You know exactly how I feel about you." his lips kissed the exposed flesh of my neck.

The smile he was carrying on my skin was infectious.

"I'm going to marry you one day. You have given me the world and our children will be the icing on the cake." Christian continued to peck my skin moving up the curve of my neck to my earlobe.

"Christian, your head is in the clouds, you can't possibly be serious. We don't know each other. Maybe we should keep our distance."

"It's simple, let me in. You make me feel things I've never experienced before." he sighed. "If that's what you want, I'll wait. A month, six months, a year… five years. I love you, Anastasia Rose Steele." Christian yelled out to the sky above, possibly to the majority of the population of Montesano.

Closing my eyes, I was having an internal battle. My subconscious was seriously kicking my ass. Am I completely insane? Have I lost my mind at the grand age of 19? I don't want to push him away. My head was messed up. Mom's letter got me emotional, the hiccup with Daddy, oh these baby hormones and then Christian arriving unannounced to an extent.

"No…." choking on the word. "Christian I love—" opening my eyes, it was too late, he was gone.

…..

MAKING MY LONELY RETURN HOME, Daddy was sitting comfortably on the porch sniffing the bunch of lilies Christian had left earlier this morning. To my surprise there was another bouquet, only these flowers were grander and they were roses. Various shades of pinks.

"That boy really likes you, Annie. Should I say, love?" he smiled at me and continued to put his head into the bunch of flowers.

I, on the other hand refused to speak.

"Nice flowers too. From a florist, the one on the corner of Wynooche and Pioneer, not the supermarket kind. I like him. A lot." his smile continued as he sniffed the roses this time.

I shrugged.

"Well, you keep them if you like him so much." I sulked.

"Annie." Daddy grumbled. "Now, I'm heading out tonight with Bug. So you'll be home alone, do you think you'll be ok?"

I nodded.

"Don't over use your words ,young lady." he chuckled, rubbing his forehead and again his head dipped back into the roses.

I couldn't help but giggle, running up the stairs into the arms of my father on the white day lounge.

…..

Monday 30th November 2009

MY TIME WITH DADDY has drawn to a close. The past few days have been filled with family catch up time and finding copious things of my mother's.

Thanksgiving was an event with Rebekah's family. It was nice to be surrounded by a large family, something I can look forward to and it got me thinking of Christian, especially our lack of communication. Oh God I was missing him.

It was still early days but I finally got a sense that the air had cleared and Daddy was happy about the babies. I was happy, he was happy. Now without a doubt he was over protective and quite concerned that I was going to work too hard while back at college. Planning my way back to Seattle, he wouldn't even allow me to call a cab. Apparently he didn't want to stress out the babies. Deep down we appreciate his thoughtful offer.

"Daddy, I can carry my bags." I tried to grab the handle from his tight grip.

"No way missy, not in your condition."

"Condition?" I put my hands on my hips in a huff.

"Hey, hey don't shoot the chauffeur." he put his hands up in defeat, dropping my bag by his side. "I'm just a concerned grandfather, ok." we both laughed in unison.

"You still trying to be independent, Significant Other?" the familiar voice made me grin.

There, ten feet away leaning against the Greyhound bus was my Significant Other. Christian Grey. Holding a bunch of pink alstroemerias and a red lollipop in his mouth.

"Miss me, Pixie?" he pulled out the sucker smiling at me. Only me.


A/N:

*The Swing - written by Robert Louis Stevenson

Currently I'm having a month off from an online presence, everything will be kept to a minimum. Teasers will only be posted on my fb wall (friend me if you like) and Pinterest. I am hoping to keep up with the updates once a week. Unfortunately replying to reviews and PMs will be moving at a snail pace, so please bear with me during the month of May.

Thank you for reading the new reworked/beta-ed "Misplaced & Found." If you haven't already done so, please favourite, follow and review. See you soon for chapter 26.

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