A/N: IMPORTANT: I have said this a few times in part two of this trilogy, but it's been awhile, so I'll mention it once more since everyone seems to be confused. Christian and Ana WILL have a baby. It will not be by accident. This last part is Christian coming to terms with what he truly wants and to see his thoughts and dreams change.
I forgot to update Pinterest last chapter, but I have updated it now, so chapter two is up for Pinterest and three will be up soon, too.
It's Sunday. The morning of the gender reveal shower. Elliot and I have been running for almost two hours, picking up last minute things for the party. So far, Anastasia has called me twice, asking me to pick up things they forgot, and Kate has called Elliot once. After picking up balloons, a cake, more napkins, ice, silver disposable cutlery (because, according to my wife, the white disposable cutlery they had just wouldn't suffice), and the table linens from the dry cleaners, we are finally on our way back.
We are about a mile away when Elliot's phone rings and we look at each other when we see the name 'Wife' come across the screen in his truck. He guns it and drives the mile quickly, ignoring her phone call. I laugh at his reaction.
"I told the girls once we made it home, we would not be going out again. By damned if we weren't home by the time she called. Such a damn shame." He said, waving to Sawyer who stood in the guard shed, while he waited for the gate to open. "I don't know why the hell they couldn't have hired a party planning service to do this shit."
I chuckle at his groaning.
"I think some of those mood swings Kate's been having are starting to rub off on you." I tease, but honestly, I agree with him. I tried to get Ana to outsource it to a company, but she refused, saying she and Mia wanted to do it on their own. On their own, my ass. Then why are Elliot and I doing the running? I don't remember signing up for this shit...but, I can't deny that a part of me likes the normalcy of it all. This is what normal couples do. The wife decorates while the husband runs the errands for the party. Most couples can't afford hiring someone else to do the dirty work and it makes me feel normal for a change, instead of privileged.
He parks in front of the house, along the circular driveway, and Taylor and Ethan immediately show up to help us carry everything from the car.
"How's it going in there?" Elliot asks, a little weary.
Ethan laughs. "It's going." He grabs the linens that are hanging on a hook by clothes hangers and a bundle of balloons. "But really, it looks great in there. They did a great job. Ana really took control of it."
I find myself grinning at his words and wish I could have watched my girl giving the others commands. I grab the large box with the cake in it and allow the others to get the rest. The girls would have my head if I accidentally dropped it because I tried carrying too much. I make my way into the entry way and down the hall into the kitchen. I can see the back of my Anastasia standing at the sink, rinsing dishes and I see she's changed into a black and white dress with a black cardigan, scrunched up at the elbows.
When she hears me coming, she turns and smiles at me. "Oh, great! The cake!"
She takes a step forward and my heart, my body, and my dick give a lurch. As I take her in, I realize she suddenly has a large stomach. She looks pregnant. What...what the fuck? I blink a few times and look at her again.
She laughs and takes the cake. "Don't worry. I hadn't grown a baby overnight. It's a belly party."
My eyebrows knit together. "A what?"
"A belly party. Kate is feeling self-conscious about her size, so we're all wearing fake bellies to make her feel better."
I grunt back in response as she takes the cake box and carries it towards the great room. I follow closely behind, like a lost pup, halfway confused and still shocked at seeing her with a belly.
Once in the great room, I see that they've decorated in yellows, grays, and whites. There's an elephant theme and Ethan was right; they've done a good job. She takes the cake to the dessert table and opens the box, reaching in. As she pulls it out, I see that it's a tiered cake with an elephant on top, holding an umbrella. Shower. I get it.
She places it on the white cake stand and cocks her head to the side, staring at it for a second before stepping back and wiping her hands on a napkin.
She turns towards me again and my eyes rake up and down her body, trying to process what is happening. My heart is pounding out of my chest, a kind of panic, but my dick is also pressing hard against my dark wash jeans, begging to get a piece of her.
It's not real, it's not real, it's not real. I chant this in my head, hoping to calm my heart rate and my raging hard-on. Why the hell do I even have a hard-on?
My eyes move from her stomach to her face and her mouth is moving.
"Christian?"
"Huh?" The word pops out of my mouth with a puff of air.
"Are you listening to me?" Her eyebrows knit together, a look of worry on her face.
"I'm sorry, what'd you say before?"
"How do you like the decorations?"
"Oh." To be honest, I was too preoccupied with your stomach to pay much attention to the decorations. I decide that isn't the route to go with her.
I pretend to look around again and nod. "They look great, baby."
She smiles and steps forward, leaning up to kiss me. The fake stomach presses against mine, causing my muscles to jolt again.
Feeling the jolt herself, she pulls away from me. "Christian? Are you okay?"
My brows furrow and I look down at the bump. I lift my hand and poke it with my index finger. "This is just so odd."
She looks up at me, a sadness in her face. I see her eyes beginning to become wet, but she blinks a few times and it's gone. My dick quickly deflates at the sorrow in her face. "I'm sorry that it bothers you, Christian. I can take it off." She turns to walk away and I grab her arm, spinning her back around.
"I didn't say it bothered me. It...it's just odd. Just trying to get my sea legs about it."
Her eyes search my face, regarding me. "You're sure?"
I nod. "Yes, I'm sure. I hadn't meant to upset you, Ana." I look over her again and realize she looks damn cute with a belly. It makes me crack a smile and my pants become tight again. I pull her to me and press my lips firmly to hers, showing that I'm not upset. She squeezes herself against me and I can feel my hard-on pressing against the bottom of the fake stomach.
I like the way she fits in my arms with this stomach.
Dangerous waters, Grey. Again, I have to force myself not to think that way. I release her, giving her one last peck on her lips and let her go so she can finish the decorating with Mia.
XxXxXx
As polite as ever, my girl welcomes each of the guests, introducing herself to the ones she doesn't know, and taking the presents from them to place on the table. Since no one knows of the gender, yet, many people just bring cards or diapers and baby toiletries, but some are brave enough to buy some gender neutral outfits. It won't take long for Elliot and Kate to get sick of greens and yellows.
Every once in awhile I see my wife motioning over to me while she talks. I assume she's introducing me as her husband since I don't know most of these people. My heart warms at the thought. I notice a few of the women staring unabashedly at me and she nonchalantly makes her way over to them, introducing herself first, before I see her mouth forming the words, 'that's my husband'. I smile at her.
I make my way to her, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her temple. "Hey, baby. Are you enjoying yourself?"
She smiles up at me while the other women look on, flecks of annoyance and jealousy in their eyes.
"Yes, it's going off without a hitch. It seems as if everyone has come to celebrate with the parents to be and they've got enough diapers and wipes to last them awhile."
I grin down at her and then look over at them like I've just now noticed them. "Ladies, if you'd excuse me...I'm going to see if Mia has opened the liquor, yet."
I watch Anastasia throughout the first half of the gender reveal shower and I find myself craving her more and more. When I see that she excuses herself and begins to make her way out of the room, I stand and follow quickly after her, trying to avoid all the women with the fake pregnancy bellies. I continue to follow her as she heads down the hall and makes a turn, continuing.
When I hit the turn, I see that she's heading into the bathroom, and I slow, allowing her to shut and lock the door behind her so that she doesn't notice me. I wait for her to finish and wash her hands, and when she opens the door and sees me standing there, she gasps and covers her mouth.
"Christian! You scared me!" She whispers.
"I need you." I whisper back, stepping toward her, my mouth finding hers while my body pushes her back into the bathroom. I hold her against me and lock the door behind us before pushing her back towards the vanity. When I pull my mouth off of hers, she's panting, her eyes are wild, and I know she's becoming wet.
"Christian...we've company!"
I shake my head. "You are mine, remember? I don't give a fuck who's out there." I need her. "Turn around, face the mirror. Put your hands on the counter top."
She doesn't hesitate to do as I say and I quickly unbuckle my belt and unzip my pants. Once my erection springs free, I pull her dress up, holding it in one hand, while pulling her sexy little lace underwear down her legs.
"Lace, baby?" I whisper in her ear. "You wanted me to find these. You need me, too. How long has my good girl been wet?"
She whimpers and her head falls forward.
I spank her lightly. "Answer me."
"All morning, sir."
I chuckle in her ear and nuzzle it with my nose. "That's my good girl. Hold on tight. Keep quiet." I guide myself to her opening and slide in slowly. Wet, warm, velvety. We both groan at the feeling.
"Fuck." I breathe out when I feel her grip me tighter. I quicken my pace and my arm goes around her, my palm pressing into her fake belly and all of a sudden a shoot of pleasure shoots from my stomach to my dick. Why the fuck do I find this so fucking sexy? I pick up my pace without realizing and Anastasia whimpers out.
"Shh...quiet, babydoll." I remind her. Although the party is halfway across the house, I don't want to risk anyone hearing my girl like this. It's for my ears only.
As I drive into her, I look at her in the mirror to see her eyes clamped shut and her bottom lip between her teeth. In the reflection, I notice that my hand is rubbing circles on the fake stomach. I quickly pull it back down to her hip, gripping the side. I'm annoyed with myself and I take out a little aggression by driving into her even harder, making her pant and whimper.
"I need you to come." I grind out between my teeth, feeling my stomach tightening.
"Christian..." She whimpers. She isn't there, yet.
I grab the back of her hair, bending her, and forcing her to press up against the counter. I hold her head to the counter and spank her hard. Just once does it. My baby likes it rough. I hold her between me and the counter while she shakes and tries to wiggle away with the force of her orgasm.
As I burst inside of her, I growl for her to stay still. It'll be too fucking messy if she wiggles free now.
When we finally relax, the top part of her body slumps on the vanity.
I slip out of her, keeping my dick in my hand, so it doesn't get messy. "Stay. I'll clean you."
She doesn't even bother to open her eyes while I wet a wash cloth and wipe myself clean. I right my clothes before turning to tend to her. I squat down behind her and kiss her beautiful backside.
"Can you open just a little more for me?"
Her feet shuffle apart a little more and I run my hand up and down her thigh. "You're such a good girl."
"Only yours." She mentions, still resting her cheek against the cold counter.
I clean her up and pull her panties back up before tossing the cloth in the hamper. When I turn back around, I see her standing, trying to fix herself.
"Here, let me help." I smile at her frazzled state.
I reach down and pull on her dress, righting her cardigan and fixing the pretty diamond pendant on her neck. I smooth her cardigan over the fake belly, letting my hand run over the roundness.
"You know, you actually look quite adorable with this." I mention.
She laughs and shakes her head. "It's a rental, Christian. I'm afraid it's a one time thing. It gets shipped off tomorrow."
My head falls back with a laugh. "I didn't know there was a demand for belly rental. Is it too late to invest?" I tease.
"I think you've got enough poles in the water. Grey Belly Rental doesn't sound like a business people would get behind." She smirks at me while she runs a comb through her hair that she found in the top drawer.
I cock an eyebrow at her. "I hadn't realized there was a color preference."
She takes my hand and opens the door. "Well, I know I'd prefer not to wear something the hue of a dead body." She looks over her shoulder at me, giving me a cheeky grin and a wink as she pulls me down the hall. My free hand collides with her backside, and I smirk when I hear her squeak.
"So cheeky."
*Ana's POV*
The shower went off without a hitch. Almost all that had been invited, had showed up and the parents-to-be announced they were having a girl. A niece. Only child, Anastasia Steele-now Grey-is going to be an aunt! I'm beyond excited for my best friend. I know it wasn't planned, but I know she'll be a great mom.
Christian and I are on our way to the pet rescue, and I can't deny that I'm excited to look. Although the house is big and beautiful, sometimes, it feels a little too big. Especially when Christian isn't home. Having a dog...or two...will help fill it and give it some life.
I look over at my husband, who's driving. My heart aches with the thought of not having children with him. He's a natural caretaker; he'd be an incredible father. I've always thought of myself becoming a mother someday. The thought of children had been pushed to the back of my mind when I started the BDSM lifestyle, but when I fell in love with Christian, I had thought...well, it doesn't really matter what I thought. My heart aches a bit, but I can live without children. I can't live without Christian. He's mine and I'm his.
Having children is a hard limit for him and I won't push or nag him about something that's a hard limit. He's never pushed me about my hard limits and I refuse to do the same. Are children a hard limit for me? Not really.Well...a soft limit, maybe. But not a hard limit. If the only sound of pitter-patter we hear on our floors is going to be by something four-legged and furry, then I think I'd like more than one.
At the rescue, the volunteer takes us through to the back room, where the dog kennels are kept. When the dogs hear us coming, they all start barking and howling.
Christian gives me a wide-eyed, What the hell did we get ourselves into, look, but I just giggle.
"This first row is full of the smaller dogs." The volunteer, Dylan, explains.
Looking around, I see that half of the kennels are empty.
"It's emptier up here, because people tend to like the smaller dogs. We've got a van coming today that is bringing twenty Chihuahuas from a bad breeding situation. Are you interested in something small?"
I can feel both men's eyes on me while I look around at the small dogs. They're more easily adopted...like babies, instead of older children. My eyes wander to the opposite side of the room.
"We've such a big house...so much land...I think that a larger dog would fair better and be happier there." I explain, looking at Christian.
He gives me a nod. "You're right. Let's go look at the bigger dogs."
He offers his hand to me and I gladly take it, keeping myself close to him as we follow Dylan around to the larger dogs.
As we come around, I notice that there are so many barking, wagging their tails, running circles with excitement. My eyes fill with tears as my heart breaks for them. I refuse to let myself be so emotional and force myself to blink them away. I know I can't have them all, but I want them all. I know that they've been saved from some terrible situations, some of them from lethal injection, and all they want is a family of their own.
I stop in front of a cage with a husky-shepherd mix and it smiles up at me while it pants, wiggling it's fluffy butt uncontrollably.
"This is Duchess. She's about three years old and loves adults and other animals. She isn't too keen on small children, though. I'll have to warn you." Dylan explains.
Squatting down to her height I press my palm against the chain length front, allowing her to smell me first. After her wet nose comes in contact with my palm, she turns her head sideways and tries to rub against it. Taking it as consent, I slip my fingers in and scratch her neck that she has glued to the side of the cage.
"Hello, sweet girl. You're beautiful, aren't you?"
Wag, wag, wag of her tail and she takes a step back and barks at me.
"You know it, too, don't you? That's how you got your name. Your Duchess of the dogs, are you?"
She barks in response and wiggles a little more, making me smile at her. I stand back up, wiping my hands on my jeans.
"She is so lovely, but I'm worried about her skittishness with children. We've a niece coming soon." I explain to Dylan, before looking up at Christian to ask his opinion.
I catch him regarding me, his head tilted to one side while his thumb runs across the length of his bottom lip; something he does when he's deep in thought.
"Christian? What do you think?"
His hand relaxes at his side and he nods. "You're right. Let's continue."
I walk along, introducing myself to some of the dogs that catch my interest. It looks like they have a mix of just about everything. To pure blooded breeds to mixes that include Lab, collies, hounds, hunting dogs, newfoundlands, mastiffs, wolfhounds, and they're all singing the song of their people...barking, howling and whining for affection and attention. At the end of the line, there are a few kennels with pitbulls in them.
"Why are they hidden all the way back here?" I ask, squatting down to say hello to a beautiful red nosed pit.
"People are skittish around pits...don't trust them. It's hard to get them to understand that it's the way you raise them that makes them deadly...not the breed."
"That's awful. They aren't called the nanny dog for nothing. They're known to be good with children." These poor things are so misunderstood.
Something catches my eye when the pit in the next cage moves. The end kennel houses two pitbull puppies, who are cowering and shaking in the corner.
"Christian..." I get his attention and he looks over at them.
Nodding, he waves me over. "Let's go look at them, baby." He looks me over, a worry line between his eyes and I know he's worried that I've upset myself.
When Dylan sees us at their kennel, he explains. "We rescued those two from the pound, right after their mother had been put down for overcrowding. They're scared to death and have been here for three weeks. People want puppies, but they've created a sort of co-dependent relationship, and no one has wanted to take both of them. They need to be adopted out together."
My eyes wander up to Christian's and I he cocks an eyebrow at me.
"Can we look at them?" I ask Christian, but Dylan answers, thinking my question was directed at him.
"Yes, of course you can." He rummages in his pocket for his keys and I reach up and give Christian's hand a little squeeze.
I rest my chin on his arm and look up at him. "We'll just look, okay?" He doesn't look too happy about the thought of two puppies at once.
He cracks a grin and leans down, brushing his lips against mine. "My sweet girl." he murmurs to me while Dylan opens the kennel and I can feel my cheeks warming up at his sweet comment. I hide my face in his arm, hoping the redness goes away quickly so that Dylan won't notice.
I hear him chuckle and he takes a step forward, making me pull out of his arm. We enter the kennel together and the puppies look scared still, so I have a seat on the concrete and sit crosslegged. I look up at Christian, hoping he'll do the same and he gives me the look that says, No fucking way. I knit my eyebrows together and my bottom lip comes out in a small pout, just enough to catch his attention.
"Please?"
He sighs and throws his hands up before plopping down across from me.
I give him a sweet smile. "Thank you, husband." I love calling him that. It's my way of claiming him.
"The girl's name is Ember and the boy's name is Asher...you know, since they're both gray." Dylan explains and I feel my smile growing.
I beam at my husband and his eyes widen. "It's fate, Christian. They're already gray, have gray names, and now they'll be Greys!"
His chin falls to his chest and he shakes it. He knows he's losing the battle. If I could just get the two little twins to come to me and to like Christian, he can't say no!
I begin to call the male, who seems to be guarding his sister. She's behind him while he leans against her, but he's sniffing the air, trying to figure out what we're about.
"Asher...Asher...come here, baby..." I keep my voice soft and sweet, patting the ground lightly.
He begins to stir, but then thinks twice about it and leans back against his sister.
"Asher...come here, buddy. You're such a handsome boy...you are!" His tail begins to wag a little and I pat the concrete next to me again.
Still he doesn't move. Frightened and stubborn.
Fine.
I move and lay down on my tummy, calling him again, patting the concrete in front of me. I can feel Christian's eyes on me, and I know if I look at him he's probably giving me a look like I've lost my mind, but I force myself to keep my eyes on the dog.
"Come here, Asher, you can do it. Come here, handsome boy..."
He finally gets up and begins to wander over to me, his body low to the floor and his ears back. I lay still, letting him come to me, and scrunch my nose when his wet nose collides with mine, tickling it.
"That's a good boy, Asher. Such a good boy." I slowly reach up to pet him and he leans into my hand, allowing me to scratch behind his ears. Deciding I'm good people, he flops down on his side and rolls to his back, showing me his belly.
"Look at that belly! You want a belly rub, Ash?" I rub his belly and his back leg kicks, his mouth hanging open with his tongue lolling to the side. "You like that don't you?" I sit up slowly, returning to my crosslegged position and he quickly gets up and clambers onto my lap. I look up to see if Christian is watching and I see that Ember is slowly making her way towards him. He holds out his hand for her to sniff and she stretches her neck out to get a good whiff before backing up a couple steps, watching him.
"Ember..." Christian calls her name, making her tail wag. "I promise I don't bite."
I giggle at this remark and he gives me a playful scowl. "Okay, I promise I won't bite dogs."
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dylan rub the back of my neck and I peek to see him reddening. We've embarrassed the poor volunteer.
I hear Christian chuckle and turn my head to see him holding the dog close to his chest, the dog lapping at his ears.
"Hey, now, little miss! We've got some ground rules if you're going to come home with us. That one there..." I point to Christian, "He's mine."
She gives me a tiny bark, making us laugh.
"She's claimed me for herself, Ana."
I giggle, nodding. "So, I've noticed. Already trading me in for a newer model..."
He shakes his head. "Never."
I smile at him, showing him I only mean it in jest.
"So, can we keep them?" I ask, hopeful.
"Aaarooooo" Ember seems to answer for Christian.
"I think they've decided to keep us." Christian answers.
I nod and pick Asher up, kissing his head. "You're mine. I'll claim you since your sister has claimed him." Asher doesn't seem to mind and licks my cheek, as if sealing the deal.
We stand, taking the dogs with us and Dylan looks relieved and happy that they've found homes.
"I'm so glad they found a home together...and they've seemed to take to both of you quickly. I have no doubt you two will be great puppy parents."
"Wait..." Christian states, and my heart lurches. Oh, please don't change your mind! "They aren't going to try to mate or anything, are they?"
Dylan shakes his head. "Oh, no. No. All of our rescues are neutered and spayed. We want to be part of the solution, not the problem. Thousands of dogs are being euthanized daily while breeders over breed their dogs just for monetary gain."
"Blood money..." Christian murmurs, and I can feel my stomach wrench.
"That's one way of looking at it, yes. Now, if you'll follow me, we'll go over the contract and then once you sign and pay, you'll be free to take them home."
XxXxXx
Dylan went over the contract with us, point by point, just as Christian wanted him to. If we ever feel that we can't take care of the dogs anymore, we must surrender them back to the rescue, never to anyone else; we must have a fenced in place for them to run and play, no tie outs allowed. We have to give them their monthly Sentinel and make sure they get their yearly check-ups. We have to register the microchip they both have under our names and phone numbers within two weeks of adoption, and we have to update it as soon as our information changes. Should we move, we have to alert the rescue so that they can document it, and, although it rarely happens, they have the right to check in on the dogs to make sure that they are being tended to and fed regularly.
All of that was more than fine with me and I was eager to sign. The adoption fee was $350 per dog, which included their spay/neuter, their shots, and their monthly heartworm for this month. He gave us a six month supply of Sentinel for them and Christian was so pleased with the place and how much they cared for the animals that he ended up writing a $10,000 check for donation. The volunteer was thrilled at Christian's generosity and welcomed us back any time.
We head to the car, each still holding our dog, and once they hit the crisp, winter air their nose start sniffing and their tails start wagging.
"Free at last!" I mention to Asher, giggling. "You'll love living at our house, buddy. So much room to play and have fun. I can't wait to play with-Oh, no! Christian! We don't have any toys or blankets or anything for the dogs!" I panic a little as he opens the door to the car, but he just smiles at me as he lets me in and then places Ember on my lap next to Asher.
Ember watches Christian walk around the car to get to the drivers seat and climbs over to his seat, sitting herself there before he can get it.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" Christian asks, picking her up as he slides in. "You're too young, yet, to drive."
I giggle at his joke and take her from him so we can go.
"I guess we'll have to stop by PetSmart on our way home." He mentions, pulling out into traffic.
"Yes, that's probably best. They need food-and-beds-and-bowls-and-toys-and-treats-and-"
"Woah, baby. One step at a time. We'll make sure they have everything they need. Don't you worry."
*Christian's POV*
By the time we're done at PetSmart, these dogs have cost a small fortune. We ended up with two carts overflowing with stuff, plus ordering some things that they didn't have in stock. Having two dogs meant we had to buy at least two of everything...and I mean of everything. My girl seemed to buy two of everything in the store. The only thing we bought one of was a big kennel, and that's only because we intend to crate train them only until their potty trained and have manners. Anastasia didn't want to separate them when they seem to like to cuddle another. We got dozens of toys, blankets, dog beds, shampoo, conditioner, brushes, new collars and leashes, nail clippers, pet stain remover, treats, food, and potty training stuff. I have never seen Anastasia go full out on a shopping spree before, and to be honest, it was quite amusing.
I let her have free reign, but I did decide on some furniture covers and a hand-held vacuum to make Gail's job a little easier. I feel guilty that she's going to have to deal with dog hair now, but I'm hoping that a nice pay raise will keep her from feeling overwhelmed.
Adopting these two has made my girl glow from the inside out and I even have to admit, they're pretty damn cute. Ember has taken a liking to me and Asher to Anastasia. I've never had a dog before. Elliot had one for a short time that I didn't really care to pay attention to when I was twelve, so I'm interested to see how this goes.
The PetSmart employees pack everything into the trunk and backseat and I hand them a generous tip before sliding into the car with the dogs. After Anastasia puts on her seatbelt, she holds her hand out for Ember.
"Come see your new mommy, Ember." Mommy? She holds both of them to her and kisses each one of their heads. "We're on our way to our new home. We hope you like it. It's pretty new to us, too."
I sit behind the wheel, staring at her. Realizing we aren't moving, she looks over at me.
"What is it?"
"Mommy?" I question.
She smiles and shrugs. "They're our furbabies, so we're their parents. Their Mommy and Daddy."
I chuckle at her and shake my head as I turn the car on.
"Congratulations, Daddy! It's twins!" She teases holding them up. "Ah, he peed on me!"
My head falls back with a laugh. "And so it begins..."