A/N: This chapter is just a tad bit shorter than normal, but it seemed like a good place to stop. Next chapter should be Kate's baby shower.

I'm really missing Anastasia today. Anastasia has started working ten hour shifts Monday-Thursday so she can have Fridays off to work on Stronger Together with Kate. I'm proud of her, but that doesn't keep me from missing my girl on Fridays.

To make things worse, she's staying late at Elliot's to speak to Kate about the baby shower/gender reveal that she is throwing for Kate at our house on Sunday.

All of this combined has put me in a really shitty mood. Anastasia was quick to offer our house for the baby shit and the thought of a bunch of people I don't know traipsing through our normally secured house fuels a fire of rage in my chest. I'll have security everywhere, one at each staircase, one at each wing, one in the backyard and one in the front, to keep anyone from wandering outside the party perimeter. I even have Sawyer standing at the gate in the guard's shed so he can mark people off the list, count the vehicles, and the people. This way, we'll be sure that the same amount leave that come in.

I probably sound like a fucking lunatic, but with Hyde still wandering around and Elena so pissed that she's run her salons into the ground, I want to take every safety measure I can.

While I sit at work, pissed off at the world over this shitty weekend coming up and the feeling of loneliness that is creeping over me the longer I sit, my phone rings. Looking down, I see that it's my wife and my heart gives a bittersweet lurch. I'm happy to hear from her, but it reminds me how alone I really am tonight. Fuck. What the fuck has happened to me? I used to crave the peace and quiet of being left alone. Now I'm like a toddler who dreads the silence and the fear of being alone.

"Hey, baby." My voice sounds high...hopeful. Needy. I wince. I don't want her to feel guilty or think I'm not strong enough to spend an evening alone.

"Christian..." She's whiny. Needy. Good. "I miss you. will you come to Elliot's for dinner? I want to see you."

The twist of my chest releases and I let out a relieved sigh. "Yes...I suppose I can. Work can wait a few hours." I try to sound nonchalant, but I have a feeling she's grinning on the other line, knowing I'm putting on a front.

"Oh, good!" She's happy. She doesn't bother to hide her enthusiasm. I love making my wife happy. "Now get your fanny over here so I can feed you."

My beautiful wife and food. Two out of my three favorite things. If I'm lucky, I'll get the third before we fall asleep. It all depends on how long Kate keeps Ana imprisoned.

"Yes, ma'am." I state, saluting, and I grin when I hear her giggle. "Love you, baby. See you soon."

"Can't wait. Love you, too, husband."

And just like that, my mood has done a complete 180 and I feel like a newlywed on his honeymoon again. I shut my laptop, not bothering to organize or put away any of the papers on my desk, and grab my peacoat before heading out to fetch Taylor.

When I make my way to his office, he gives me an odd look and then cocks an eyebrow.

"What the fuck is that look for?"

He smirks. "Were you...whistling?"

My eyebrows knit together. Was I?

He laughs and shakes his head. "Marriage really agrees with you, Christian."

I just shrug, not bothered by the fact that he probably thinks I'm pussy whipped and nothing but a big sap. "I need you to drop me off at Elliot's. Sawyer will take us home."

XxXxXx

I enter Elliot's house, not bothering to knock since they know I'm coming. I find my girl in the kitchen, slicing a loaf of Italian bread while Kate drains the noodles. Italian. I could do with some Italian tonight.

I say hello to Kate and Ana looks over her shoulder as I wrap my arms around her. My face nuzzles the hair falling around her neck and I hear the knife being dropped on the cutting board before she turns in my arms.

"I've missed you." She states, wrapping her arms around my waist and lifting up on her toes to brush her lips against mine. "How was your day?"

I look down at her, seeing her blue eyes sparkle, and I know she's genuinely interested in my day. Just one more reason why I love her. She doesn't just ask to be polite, she's interested in all aspects of my life.

"Oh, pretty boring. Same old meetings, same old men, complaining about the same old things." I roll my eyes dramatically, making her giggle. "Lunch was the high point of my day, even though it would have been better with you. I got to watch Ros spill her latte on her new silk shirt and watch her throw a fit about it. That was entertaining."

"Always entertained by your colleagues misfortunes." She teases, grinning.

"There isn't a damn thing I can do to make it better, so I might as well enjoy their misfortune...some one ought to."

She shakes her head, still smiling, admonishing me lightly. Raising again, her lips find mine.

"I need to finish this bread so that I can feed my handsome husband. Have a seat at the island and relax and I'll get you a drink."

She doesn't have to tell me twice. I like having my wife fuss over me. I slip my suit jacket off and drape it over the back of the chair and plant my ass in the seat. I watch my girl search the fridge while I roll the sleeves of my shirt up.

She brings me back Adnam's, which is my favorite beer, and sets it in front of me. I immediately reach for it and give her a wink as I bring it up to my lips. It causes my shy girl to blush and her eyes smile at me through her eyelashes before she returns to the counter to fix the bread.

"Where's that asshole brother of mine?" I ask, watching the girls.

"He's in the living room watching Velocity with Sawyer." Kate looks over her shoulder and rolls her eyes. "Sports and cars. That's all he cares to watch."

I chuckle at her response.

Kate carries the big bowl of pasta over to the breakfast nook in the kitchen and just as she's placing it in the center, she bends over quickly like she's been hit in the gut and grabs her stomach. A rush of panic runs through me and I make to stand, but she straightens and laughs, patting her stomach.

"This one's a strong kicker. Sometimes the little one catches me off guard."

My panic quickly subsides and I see Ana race over to her. "I want to feel!"

Anastasia's hands spread along Kate's bump and she waits patiently. I grin at the two of them while they stand there, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, Ana startles and makes a squeaking sound, reminding me of Mia.

"Oh, Kate! That's incredible! Christian, you should feel this!"

I shake my head. "No, no. I don't want to intrude. I'm sure Kate feels like a petting zoo already." No need to touch the blonde bimbo turned sister-in-law.

"Oh, Christian. You aren't intruding. Don't you want to feel your future niece/nephew?" Kate asks, making her way to me.

"Give me your hand." She reaches for it and places it on her stomach. I wait a second, but feel nothing. I begin to pull my hand away, but she holds onto my wrist. "Just wait."

Suddenly, I feel it. "Woah."

Kate smiles at me. "You're telling me."

This time, I leave my hand on her stomach, waiting for the baby to kick again. It's so surreal to think that there's a human being in Kate's stomach. One that is half my brother's. The newest Grey. This is suddenly becoming realer by the second. My brother is really going to be a father...and soon. Fuck.

"My turn!" Anastasia places her hand on Kate's stomach again and I pull back, allowing her free reign. She smiles when she feels a kick again and pats Kate's stomach affectionately.

"You are a strong kicker. I think we got ourselves a soccer player in the making here. Auntie Ana will have to buy you some soccer things, won't she?"

I chuckle at seeing Anastasia talk to Kate's bump. She's already in love with her future niece/nephew and Kate is practically glowing at her words.

Suddenly, I feel guilty for calling Kate a bimbo, even if it was only in my head. She's about to be a mother...the mother of my niece or nephew. She's been great with Elliot and has been nothing, but supportive about Ana and my relationship. Maybe I've been too hard on her.

XxXxXx

"Have a seat, husband, and I'll feed you." Anastasia states as we head towards the dining room, giving me an affectionate smile.

"You take yours first, and then you can plate." A gentleman never sits before a lady at the dinner table. I slide her seat out and slide it back in when she sits. I sit next to her and she leans over to peck my lips with hers, her hand cupping my jaw.

"Thank you, baby." She states, rubbing her thumb against the scruff I purposely leave just because she likes it.

"You're welcome." I smile back at her.

"You two are ridiculous." Elliot states, rolling his eyes. "You give me a stomach ache."

I grin at him. "More food for me, then."

"Oh, Elliot." Kate bats at him with a kitchen towel. "Leave them alone, they're newly weds. I know it's hard to believe, but some people actually like their spouse." She gives him a playful smirk and he reaches out quickly and hooks his arm around her, pulling her into his lap.

"Yea, well, if you didn't have these ridiculous mood swings all the time, maybe I'd learn to like you, too!" He tickles her sides for a second, making her laugh and then rubs her swollen stomach.

"Oh, come on. They can't be that bad!" Anastasia states, reaching for her glass of ice water to sip.

Elliot snorts. "She's either crying or yelling, laughing, or moping...at least when she yells or laughs, I can tell what mood she's in. When she cries, it could be that she's angry, she's sad, she's happy, or that she just watched a commercial about pet adoption on television. I can never be sure which."

Kate giggles at his admission while Anastasia stares wide-eyed at her. I guess Ana has never dealt with these mood swings herself.

"Really, Ana, I think he's over-exaggerating a bit, but growing a child is exhausting, emotional work. You just wait until you have one. You'll find out soon enough."

Watching my wife, I see her smile fall for just a split second before she pastes on another smile to cover it. She nods in response, but stays quiet.

Fuck.

She and I have never had that baby talk. I had meant to speak to her about the whole child issue while we were on honeymoon, but I got so wrapped up in her, I completely forgot. Then, when we came home, the honeymoon feeling continued for both of us and I didn't want to sadden her or break the newlywed bubble we'd created. Now, there is no way out of it. I'll have to speak to her about it. Soon...tonight. Fuck.

My brother quickly changes the subject, knowing it's sensitive. "Well, are you ladies going to feed us or are you going to let us starve?" He asks, helping Kate up by her elbows.

"Alright, alright. Suddenly, you've become incapable of plating your own food." Kate admonishes lightly.

He shrugs, pointing to Ana, who is already beginning to plate mine. "If Christian doesn't have to, why should I?"

The comment even makes me roll my eyes. Kate is heavily pregnant with his child. He should be plating her food and making sure she stays off her feet.

If Ana was pregnant with my child, her feet would never touch the floor.

What the fuck am I thinking? Stop it, Grey. Those are dangerous waters.

XxXxXx

I'm anxious...a little panicked even. I've given Anastasia everything she's always thought she'd never have, but this...this having a child thing...I just can't do. I would be a terrible father. I'm not meant to reproduce. My gene pool...although good looking, is dark and dangerous. My mother was fucking nuts, my father (who I was told was in prison when I asked the crack whore who he was) was obviously unstable, and I have my own fucking issues to worry about.

Anastasia, though...

I find myself pacing and I stop and turn, looking at her laying in bed while she watches me pace and pull at my hair. I know she's trying to give me some time before she asks what is wrong.

Anastasia would be an incredible mother. She is so giving and sweet, patient and polite. She would bare beautiful babies who would have her light complexion and incredible blue eyes. She'd sing to them while she brushed their hair, chased them while they played in the meadow, read to them before they went to bed. She'd listen to all their silly stories, laughing at all the right parts...encourage their creativity and their mind, pushing them to become broad-minded, beautiful human beings who would have patience of saints and sweet tempers like hers.

My heart actually aches realizing she'll never have that...never experience that. And it's all my fault.

Suddenly, she cocks her head to the side, regarding me. I know I'm acting strangely.

"Baby, why don't you come to bed." She pulls the covers down and pats the sheet on my side of the bed. "I'll cuddle you and you can tell me what's bothering you so."

I can't help the small grin that forms on my face. She has a way with me that no one else has ever.

I wander over to the bed and slide in, leaning against the headboard. She sits up and fluffs her pillows before settling by my side, resting her chin on my shoulder, her arm tucked snuggly over my abdomen.

"What's on your mind?" She asks, looking up at me through her eyelashes.

I sigh and slowly raise my arm, wrapping it around her so she can snuggle in deeper to my side. "There's something we need to talk about, that I've been putting off since the wedding. Something that we should have probably discussed before getting married."

Her eyebrows knit together, worried. "What is it?"

"Children." There, I said it.

"Children?" She asks, confused. "What about children?"

Here's goes nothing. "I don't want any...I won't have any." My heart clenches for her as I say it. What if she leaves me?

She searches my face for a moment and then nods. "Alright."

A puff of air pops out of my mouth and I hadn't even realized I had been holding my breath. "Alright?" Now, I'm confused. "Do you not want any, either?"

She shrugs. "I want children, yes. I always thought of myself becoming a mother, tending to children...but, if children are a hard limit for you, then there won't be any."

My gut twists. She's always pictured a family of her own. "I'm sorry, Anastasia. I'm sorry I didn't say anything before we got married. I should have given you the chance to run before. You could easily find another man who is willing to have children..." Even as I say it, I can feel the bile rising up in my throat. I honestly don't know if I could ever cope with her bedding another man, let alone carrying someone else's child.

Quickly, she shakes her head. "I don't want to hear any talk of the sort. I always pictured having children with my soul-mate. The only man I would ever even consider having children with would be you." She lifts her hand and cups my cheek. "If I can't carry yours, then I don't want any. I would want a family with you. Only you. No one else."

"I'm sorry I can't-"

"Hush now, Christian." The way she says it isn't demanding, but comforting. "No more apologies, no more worries. We'll be each others family. A family of two. Maybe, even one day, we'll get a little four-legged furbaby of our own that we'll adopt from a rescue."

I grin at her. "A furbaby? Like a cat or a dog?"

She giggles. "Yes, preferably a dog. I'm allergic to cats."

I laugh. "Then, yes. A dog. A furbaby, as you call it. What would you name him?"

I am so relieved that this talk went so well. I wasn't sure how it would go. Dogs...I can deal with dogs. Hell, if she wants a dozen of them, then that's what we'll do...and I'll let her name every single one.

"Hmm..." A 'V' forms on her forehead and she actually takes a few minutes to think on it. "I think...Milo."

I chuckle. "And if it's a girl?"

She giggles. "Mila, I guess."

I nod, amused. "Then it's settled. We'll head down to the rescue first thing Monday morning and pick us out a hairy baby."

She begins to giggle, it turning into a full belly laugh as she holds her stomach. Evidently, I'm funny. I look on, amused.

"Furbaby." She corrects me.

"Oh, right..right. Furbaby then."