A/N: Sorry it took a bit. I've been working so much overtime at work the last couple of weeks; it's been insane. Pinterest is updated: NineN3Quarters

I'm awoken by the sound of the toilet flushing and I blink a few times, trying to get use to the daylight from all the windows. Rolling over, I see that Anastasia is not in the bed and that the in-suite bathroom light is on. I can tell by the sliver of light coming through the bottom of the door.

I frown.

Why didn't she wake me?

I hear the sink run for a couple seconds before it ceases and the light goes out. The door opens and I see Anastasia come hobbling out with her crutches. I sit up quickly, ready to help her, but she shakes her head.

"I've got it, babe."

Once she got to the bed, she places her crutches against the wall and slides back into bed beside me.

"Baby, I want you to tell me when you need to go to the bathroom or get out of bed. You're pregnant and hurt. I can't have you falling. Let me help you."

Rolling towards me, she snuggles into me and kisses my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Christian. You just looked so peaceful and I had my crutches. I didn't want to wake you."

"Just wake me next time, Ana. That's an order."

She cranes her neck up to look at me and grins. "Yes, sir!" My sassy wife salutes me, giggling, so I decide a tickle torture is in order.

Flipping us over, I tickle her until she says she's sorry and begs me to stop.

"Are you going to be my good girl, then?"

She nods, smiling. "Yes, Mr. Grey. I'm your good girl."

I smirk. "Good." I peck her lips and roll over onto my back, stretching. "I guess I should get up and get some work done." It's been days since I've done any work.

"No, please. Not yet." She rolls towards me and throws an arm and leg over me, trying to pin me down. "Please, can we sleep just a little longer? I'm still sleepy."

I chuckle while I rub her back. "No one said you had to get up." In fact, I'd rather her relax in bed.

"But, it's so much better when you're here. You're so warm and smell so good." She nuzzles into my neck. "Please, Christian? I need my husband."

My resolve crumbles quickly. "Fine, just a little longer, but then I have to get some work done in my office."

"Yay!" She snuggles closer to me and I feel her body relax. I stroke her head, keeping away from the staples, and listen to her breathing. It doesn't take long for it to deepen and even out, telling me she's sleeping. Once I'm sure she's sleeping soundly, I allow myself to drift off again.

I wake about an hour later with my stomach growling. It's past nine and it's angry at me for denying it breakfast. Looking down at Ana, I see that she's still sound asleep. She really needs to eat. I roll both of us so that she rolls onto her back and I slide my arm out from under her so I can make a break for the bathroom. She mumbles something in her sleep, but then curls up in a ball, hugging the pillow. I wait another couple of seconds before making my way to the bathroom quietly. When I finish, I sit next to her and rub her back.

"Ana? Ana, baby, it's time for breakfast."

She gives me a grunt and hides her face in the pillow.

"Baby, you need to eat."

"I'm tired." She mumbles, pulling the blanket up to her chin.

I sigh. "I'll let you sleep for a little longer. You need to eat soon."

"Kay." She yawns and rolls towards my side of the bed, snuggling into my pillow. "Night."

I chuckle and bend down to kiss her forehead. "Night, sweet girl." Everything she's been through this weekend on top of her pregnancy must be making her tired. I know she wasn't getting the greatest rest the last two days at the hospital, because the bed was so uncomfortable to her. Sleep is good for her. I'm glad she's getting rest, but I also worry about her nutrition. If she doesn't wake by eleven, I'll bring lunch to her. Right now, I need to find myself something to eat. I hate feeling hungry.

XxXxXx

"Baby?"

"Hmm?"

"It's time to eat." I pat her butt a few times to wake her. "Come on, angel. Our baby needs nourishment. I brought you lunch in bed."

She rolls onto her back and stretches. "Mmm, I'm up."

She scoots herself up in the bed and I help by fluffing the pillows behind her. While she settles back, I grab the bed tray and place it in front of her.

Taking in her plate with sleepy eyes, she pushes her tangled bedhead away from her face. "Oh, Christian! You are so sweet. Thank you!"

I smile at her and have a seat on the bed so I can watch her eat. I had Taylor run to her favorite cafe to get her favorite chicken philly sandwich. She's been craving it at least once a week since she found out she was pregnant and I wanted to have something that I knew she'd eat all of. She didn't eat breakfast, so it's important she eat as much as she can for lunch.

"Mmm, so good." She says with a mouthful.

I chuckle and steal one of her many fries. "After you eat, we'll get you in a bath so we can wash your hair, okay?"

She nods while chewing and I relax back against the pillows to wait for her to finish. When she's finished and sucks down her bottle of water, I take the tray from her and then pull the covers down enough to uncover her. As delicately as I can, I take her knee brace off and then her panties.

"Sit up." I tell her, taking her hand to help her. I pull off my tshirt she wore to bed last night and then cover her back up so I can run the water. When it fills, I go back for Anastasia, only to find her snuggled back under the covers, sleeping.

"Ana, baby. It's time for your bath."

She stretches. "Mmkay. I need to use the toilet first."

I press my lips to her temple while I push her covers off and see her shiver a little as I lift her. I place her on the toilet and have a seat on the edge of the tub while she goes.

"Ready?"

She nods.

I pick her up and carry her to the bathtub, leaning down to place her slowly into the bath. She hums as the warm water hits her and she relaxes back quickly.

"This feels so lovely. I'll finally feel clean."

I smile at her and grab the plastic cup and the baby shampoo the doctor requested that she use from the side of the tub. "Would you like to wet it or do you want me to?"

"I'll do it." She leans back and submerges her head, hissing slightly when her laceration dips under the water.

"Oh, baby...is it tender?" I tilt my head to the side to try to get a good look at it.

"Mmhmm. Just a little."

I press my lips to her temple. "I'll be gentle, I promise."

She smiles at me and then turns her body away from me, tilting her head back, so that I can wash her hair. I kneel on the rug next to the bathtub and slowly work the gentle shampoo through her hair.

"How am I doing, babydoll?"

"Perfect."

I grin. "Yea?"

"Mmhmm. You're so good to me, Christian."

"You deserve it, angel. You've been through so much this past year. All I want to do is take care of you and spoil you. Now that you're carrying my child, Ana, I won't be able to keep you out of my sight. Please be patient with me." I know there are times I might try her patience, but I can't help it. I need her and our baby to stay safe. It's my responsibility.

"You spoil me rotten, Christian, and I love that you take care of me. I'm going to eat up all the extra attention I can before the baby comes. I know once we have a newborn, our attention is going to be on the baby."

I pick up the cup and begin to rinse her hair.

"I'll always make time for you, Ana. We've made vows. I'm going to take care of you. I take care of what's mine." I squeeze the excess water out of her hair and press my lips to the back of her head. "Alright, done. Now turn."

She turns back and stretches her legs out, wiggling her toes, letting the warm water heat her cold body and relax her. She sinks down, submerging herself to her shoulders.

"Ah, this feels so nice." Through the water, I can see her absentmindedly caressing her small bump and the action makes me smile.

"What do you think it is?" I ask, wetting the washrag and soaping it up.

"Huh?" She looks at me confused.

"The baby, I mean. Boy or girl?"

She rubs her hand over her bump again. "I'd be perfectly happy with either, but I have this feeling...it's a boy."

I smile. "Yea? A boy?" Again, the picture of Anastasia in the kitchen with a tiny copper-haired toddler standing next to her on a chair fills my mind, but this time it's welcomed. I reach under the water and rub her stomach. It's still so surreal that we'll have a baby coming later this year. We'll be responsible for a tiny human being; he or she will depend on us for everything. I hope I'm a good father.

I reach for the soapy rag and begin to wash Ana from the neck down, using slow, circular motions.

"What would you prefer, Christian? You're so good with Ava...would you be disappointed if it was a boy?"

I shake my head. "Not at all. I just want our baby happy and healthy. I'll be ecstatic with a boy or a girl."

She smiles up at me. "Good."

I chuckle. "Are you wanting to wait until we find out the sex or do you want to start thinking about names while you're stuck in bed?"

She chews her lip, thinking. "If it's a boy, I know I want him to have the same initials as you. C-T-G. He won't be a Trevelyan, so I was thinking his middle name could start with a T. Like Tyler or Thomas or-"

"Theodore." I state, interrupting her.

She smiles. "After your grandfather?"

I shrug. "I wouldn't mind...I mean, if you don't mind...then I might-"

She reaches up to cup my face and to stop me from talking. "Theodore is great, Christian. Absolutely perfect."

I give her a lopsided grin and can feel my heart warm at the thought. One of my children will be named after my grandfather.

"What about the first name?" I ask, scrubbing her back, taking extra time with it, knowing how much she likes having her back scrubbed.

"Um...there's so many to choose from! Christian Junior!"

I nose scrunches. "No."

She giggles.

"Hmm...how about Cade?"

"That's cute." She states, nodding. "What about Connor?"

"That's alright. Cameron?"

"Eh...no. Cassius?"

"I veto that." Cassius is vain.

She sighs. "There are so many C names, Christian. What if it's not even a boy?" She rubs her face. "Oh, goodness."

I press my lips to her temple as I begin to wash her legs. "Don't you worry, Ana. We'll find a name."

"I like Teagan for a girl." She murmurs, watching the rag run up and down her left leg.

I smile. "I like it."

I move to her other leg and when I run the washrag over her knee, she hisses and scrunches her face.

"Oh, baby, I'm sorry. I won't touch it again, okay? Are you alright?" I instantly want to pull her to me and kiss away her pain.

She gives me a small smile. "I'm fine. Was just surprised with the jolt is all. This is the first time I've had the brace off."

I frown, worried that this means she'll have to have surgery on her knee after the baby is born. I don't know how I'd handle a serious surgery after I've already almost lost her so many times before.

"Please, Christian...don't worry. I'm fine." She must see the worry in my face, so I try to concentrate on the present instead of what could happen.

When I'm finished washing her down, I pull the plug to the bathtub and let it start to empty while I grab her towel. She squeezes the excess water out of her hair and sits patiently, watching me. I place a small towel on the bathroom counter, the larger towel next to it, so I can dry her while she sits. I pull her out of the bathtub and place her on the counter so I can fuss over her.

She smiles at me as I try to dry her as delicately as I can, being extra careful around her stomach and her knee. When she's dry, I towel dry the ends of her hair, making sure not to pull on it.

"How does your head feel, babydoll?"

She shrugs. "Sore. It's a dull ache, but I've become used to it."

I sigh, annoyed that I can't make it better, and lean down to kiss her tiny bump. "Your mother is a mess." I tell the baby, speaking to the bump.

My Ana giggles and runs her fingers through my hair. I press my lips to her bump once more before standing.

"Stay." I tell her, stepping away. "I forgot your nightgown."

I hurry into the guest closet where Gail has moved a few of our things and grab her short silver silk nightgown and a pair of comfortable panties. I return to her and when she sees the nightgown, she smiles and puts her arms up so I can slide it onto her body.

"I like the silk. It doesn't irritate like the cotton." Her breasts have been sore the last few weeks and she has even complained that her nipples burn sometimes through the soreness. The doctor has assured us that it is normal and that because her breasts are changing, that it'll come and go throughout her pregnancy. I have noticed the change in her breasts and even looking at her now, her nipples are protruding, the hard peaks refusing to go down. It seems like they're here to say and the thought makes me wince a little. I think of myself having a hard on for all those months straight...I'm sure it's different, but in a sense, the same. I don't doubt that they're sore and burn.

"We'll keep you in silk, then." I'll call Caroline tomorrow and have her bring over some silk lined bras. I'm afraid she's stuck with the molded cups for the remainder of her pregnancy; the thin, shapeless bras don't hide her enough for my liking. The last thing I want is other fuckers getting to enjoy her pregnant body.

I hold out her underwear, but she bites her lip.

"Christian?"

"What is it, baby?"

"Do you think I can go without those? It's easier to go bathroom without them..." A deep blush floods her face, from her neck to her forehead.

I give her a gentle smile. "Oh course, angel." I press my lips to hers. "My bashful girl." When I pull away, I brush her damp hair away from her face with my fingers. "Let's get you back into bed. You've circles under your eyes, still."

As I pick her up, she nods. "Yes, I'm still sleepy. I feel like I could sleep for a week."

I chuckle. "As long as you wake to eat, I'm okay with that. You take all the time you need to rest and recuperate."

I lay her in bed and she snuggles into it, sighing.

"I've got to put your brace back on. It'll make your knee better." As gently as I can, I slide the brace onto her knee and secure the velcro straps.

"There. All set. I'll rub your back until you fall asleep, but then I need to get some work done. Please, tell me when you need to use the restroom, okay?"

She rolls to her side and nods into the pillow. "Okay."

Ana's POV

I'm awoken by a sound and when I finally pry my eyes open, I find Ember laying next to me in bed, snoring like a grown man. I giggle as I watch her cheek puff out when she breathes and her foot kick every once in awhile. She must be dreaming.

I roll to my back and stretch, listening to my back crack. I still have pangs of pain when I move a certain way, but my back is feeling better. My head, however, is a different story. The throb is still there, and the longer I'm awake the stronger the throb gets. Every once in awhile it even clouds my vision a bit, but once I sleep it off, I wake up better.

I relax my body and realize my urge to pee. I grab my phone off the nightstand and text Christian, hoping that he isn't too busy in his office. I wait a couple of minutes, but no answer. I call him, but his phone goes straight to voicemail.

I know he said not to get up by myself, but if I don't, I'll end up wetting myself. I sit up and call for Christian.

"Christian?!" I yell out the door.

Nothing.

"Forget it." I turn my legs delicately towards the side of the bed and let them dangle, giving myself a second. My knee is sore from just moving it. This is for the birds.

I grab my crutches from against the wall and push myself up, balancing on my left foot. Once I've got myself steady and the crutches are under my arms, I slowly make my way to the bathroom. I finally make it to the toilet and I carefully turn myself so I can have a seat.

I decide to rest a minute after relieving my bladder. It's been too long since I've worked out and I'm tired just moving my body thirty feet. I need to get out of bed and move.

I know Christian wants me to stay in bed today, but tomorrow I am determined to at least get into the wheelchair he rented and get moving around the house. I might not be able to walk, but I can at least get some muscle movement in my arms.

When I decide I've sat long enough, I hoist myself back up on my left leg and flush the toilet. I maneuver myself so that I'm turned towards the door and slowly make my way to the sink to wash my hands. I'm almost there when I feel something cold and wet under my foot. Before I can stop it, my left foot slips out from under me and I go down. I scream more out of surprise than hurt, my crutches go two different ways and my butt hits the floor hard. My knee bumps the counter and I cry out again, this time from the reverberating pain that is coursing down my knee to my ankle. Both my hands grab onto me knee as tears blur my vision.

"Ana? ANA?" I hear him calling my name. "Jesus, Anastasia! What the fuck happened?" He's beside me, his hands running over my body, checking me. "I told you not to go by yourself!"

My tears begin to pour down my face. He's angry with me. "I'm sorry! I tried to call you, but your phone went to voicemail. I couldn't wait." I swallow back a sob, my heart hurting more than my knee at the moment.

"What did you hurt? I need to take you to the emergency room."

I shake my head. "No, please! I just got out of the hospital. Don't make me go back. I'm okay! I just bumped my knee and scared myself a little."

His chin is jutting out and I can see the muscles working in his jaw as he clenches it. He's fighting for control of his emotions. My heart plummets into my stomach. I've never seen him like this with me. I remember making him angry the night of Kate's party, but I left. Even with having a few hours to calm down, his anger was still pretty evident.

He stands and begins to pace, pulling at his hair. "I told you...I told you not to go without help! Why must you disobey me? God damn it, Anastasia!" He hits the counter with his fist and I wince. "How can I keep you safe if you deliberately disregard my orders?! HOW FUCKING HARD IS IT TO DO AS I SAY?"

I can feel myself shaking as he continues to blow up. He keeps clenching his fists as he paces and I'm scared. I remember what he did Liam. I remember how he couldn't stop once his anger got the best of him. What if no one is here to stop him this time?

I pull my good leg up against me and hug it while I hide my face in my arms, trying to drag air into my lungs. I can't stop my sobbing and it's making it hard to breathe.

"Ana! Anastasia! Are you even listening to me?" He grabs my arms and it startles me.

"No! Please! Don't hurt me! Please..."

"What?" His hands are suddenly gone and I look up to see him backing out of the bathroom. He shakes his head. "I would never..."

I take in a shuddering breath and wipe at my face. "Christian..."

I watch him back out of the bathroom.

"Christian?!" I call louder, but he's gone.

I take a few deep breaths to calm my shuttering breathing and then I gather my crutches and reach for the counter to try and pull myself up, but I don't have the strength. I'll have to scoot myself into the other room and pull myself up on the bed.

When I begin to scoot, there's a knock on the door and I look up to see Taylor standing there.

"Need help?"

My shoulders sag and I swallow back tears.

"Please." My voice his strangled, but it's all I can croak out without balling. I don't want to fall apart in front of Taylor.

He kneels down on one knee beside me and scoops me up quickly. I hold onto his shoulders while he carries me to the bed.

"Thank you." I blush and look down at my fingers while I sit in bed. I'm embarrassed that Christian sent him in here to deal with me.

"You're welcome, Ana. Is there anything I can do for you?"

I shake my head, refusing to look at him. It's taking all of my energy not to burst into tears in front of him.

I hear his footsteps towards the door and watch him as he disappears down the hall. I relax back against my pillows and am greeted by Asher, who I hug to me as I cry into my pillow.

*Christian's POV*

Why? Why? Why the hell couldn't she listen to me? The one fucking time! She's going to end up hurting herself...hurting our child! We've already been through enough. She should have fucking waited!

I throw myself into my office chair.

She actually thought I was going to hurt her. She thought that I could hurt her. I could never-would never-lay a hand on her. I thought she trusted me. Why would she marry a man if she thought he was capable of something so terrible?

Remembering her saying that she tried to call me, I pull my cell out of my pocket. Fuck.

It's dead.

"Damn it." I murmur under my breath.

I connect my phone to its charger and turn it on. It buzzes, signaling that I have alerts. A text and a phone call.

"Shit." I've failed her.

I rub my hands over my face. I'm still angry with her for putting herself at risk, but what were her options? How degrading would it have been for her to have to piss the bed because I failed her? No, that's not really a choice.

I know I have to fix this, but I'm dreading it. I can feel the anger still burning in my chest...for her, for me... I feel guilty, confused by all of this. Everything happened so fast and I blew up. I lost my control...the first time with her. The only time. Hell! I haven't lost control like this since...

Oh, fuck.

Sorrento.

I'll never forget the look on her face that night; how scared she was. But it wasn't Sorrento that had scared her that night...it was me.

I fucked up.

She is carrying my child for fuck's sake...and I screamed at her...terrified her. I'm supposed to be her safe place.

I pull myself out of my seat and drag my feet back to the guest bedroom, hoping that she'll talk to me.

The door is open and I see her sobbing into her pillow, Asher by her side.

"Ash...go on." My voice makes Anastasia startle and she peeks up at me with red, swollen eyes before hiding back in her pillow.

Asher stands and stretches his front legs out, groaning as he does it; his way of sassing me.

"Go on, now, Asher." His eyes turn to slits, but he does as I say, going as slowly as possible. This dog.

Finally, when he's in the hall, I shut the door quietly and climb in the bed, laying in front of her.

"Ana..." My voice is quiet and gentle, trying to ease her somehow. "Baby, can you look at me?"

I hear her sniffle and she turns her head just enough for one eye to peek at me.

"Come on out, sweet girl. It's alright."

When the rest of her emerges from the pillow, I reach behind me and grab a couple tissues.

"Here, baby. Let me clean you up." I wipe the tears off her face before holding the tissue to her nose. "Blow."

After I clean her up, I place the tissues on the nightstand behind me and snuggle in close to her, putting an arm around her.

She watches me and I search her face for a moment while I try to decide what to say.

"Ana...I'm sorry I scared you. I didn't mean to. I lost control of my emotions and they got the best of me. I promise you, though, that there is absolutely nothing that you could ever do that would make me lay a hand on you. I vowed to protect you and I want to be your safe place. No matter how loud I might get, just know that I would never hit you."

She sniffles and nods a little. "You don't hate me?"

My eyebrows knit together. "Oh, baby, no. I could never. I love you more than anything. It's my fault that my phone was dead. I left you with no way to reach me."

"I didn't mean to disobey you." Her face is so full of sorrow, like she's just miserable, and my heart aches.

"I know, baby. I know." I pull her closer to me. "I was so worried you were hurt. I should have stopped to think before I blew off the handle. I promise I will do my best about managing my emotions, alright? I can't say I'll never yell, but I can say that I'll never hit you. Can you forgive me?"

A small smile forms on her face and she nods. "I'm sorry, too."

I shake me head. "Don't be." I reach up and smooth her hair around her face. "Do you trust me?"

She nods.

"Promise?"

Her smile widens. "Of course I do, silly."

I let out an airy laugh. "Good. Let's kiss on it."

When we break apart, she slides closer, snuggling into my chest.

"Just in case, I'm going to have my mother come and look you over. She's got a fetal heart doppler and it'll give us an excuse to listen to the baby's heartbeat."

She nuzzles into my neck. "Kay."

When my mother comes, Anastasia checks out alright, but her knee is swollen, so we have to ice it down. Hearing the baby's heartbeat was incredible; even my mother cried when she heard it. She ordered Anastasia to stay in bed another day, just to give her knee a little more rest before she starts moving around. Ana didn't look very happy about it, but she kept quiet. She knows there's no use fighting it.

I'm honestly glad that my mother made that suggestion. It calms me to know she'll be resting again tomorrow. I'll make sure my phone is charged, but I'll be bringing my laptop into the guest bedroom tomorrow, so I can be with her.

I've decided I'm not taking anymore chances.