APOV:
It's been a few weeks since I told Christian I was quitting my job. I've been continuing therapy and I'm surprised to say that I think it's actually helping me.
Especially when it comes to Ethan.
Christian has finalized our vacation plans, so I need to talk to Ethan about taking Will on vacation so far away from home. We've been on every vacation together even after we divorced.
I know he's going to be upset, but I feel Dr. Flynn has prepared me for this small bump in the road. Plus, it might finally help clear up the relationship between Ethan and myself up. That's what Dr. Flynn says anyways.
Ethan will be here in a few hours to pick Will up for the weekend and I plan on telling him then. He won't lose his temper in front of Will.
"Ana, did you see the dresses Gail brought over for you?" Christian shouts from the bedroom. I'm currently looking at them right now. I roll my eyes at the fact he knows my every move even when he can't see me.
"Yes!" I answer back as I touch the soft fabric of one of the dresses. I take a step back and look at all six dresses hanging on the silver rack they were delivered on. Gail, Christian's housekeeper, brought these over for me today since they were accidently delivered to Christian's apartment this morning.
Christian has asked me to be his date to a charity gala tomorrow night. Actually, the event is at the Grey's house not far from here. Christian promised there would be wonderful food, fancy drinks, dancing with him and a possible chance to escape to his childhood bedroom. Obviously, I couldn't say no to that.
"I think you would look beautiful in this one." Christian says as he wraps his arms around me. I run my hand over the soft satin material of the dress he suggested. It's gorgeous, they are all gorgeous, but I don't think this one is for me. It's fitted, mermaid style and the cleavage area is low, very low.
"I was thinking this one…" I trail off and return to the first dress I looked at. It's fitted at the top but the bottom material is loose. I can eat and dance in this without it busting.
"They would all look beautiful on you, but this one reminded me of you when I first saw it." He goes back to the fitted dress.
"Reminded you of me?" I murmur through a smile.
"Mmhm" he hums against my neck as he breathes me in. "The color reminds me of the peonies you love from the market. It was the first and only dress I picked out." He says huskily against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Isn't it a little too…sexy?" I squeak as I look back to the dress.
"Baby, you are the sexiest woman I know. But to answer your question, no it's not too sexy." He say confidently behind me and I can't help but snort. He says this now, but it will be a different story once I have it on.
"Okay, I'll trust you Grey, but only if you promise to take me somewhere else that would require me to wear this one." I say while point to the much more comfortable choice. His responding laugh makes me turn around in his arms.
"I promise I will take you wherever your heart desires, baby." He says before claiming my lips in a passionate kiss. He walks me towards the dresser and pushes me up against it as his mouth continues to claim mine. His hands are moving slowly down my body, leaving fire in their wake.
"Mama" Will's sleepy voice makes us freeze immediately. Christian looks at me wide eyed.
"I thought he was napping." Christian whispers while looking towards the closet door with a frown. I can't help but giggle.
"Will, we are in here!" I shout as I push Christian away from me. "You might want to hide that." I say pointedly to his visible boner in his designer jeans. He shuffles to hide it just as Will comes through the doorway.
"Hey love, you okay?" I question as I scoop Him into my arms. He snuggles into me and yawns lazily.
"I gots hawt." He says sleepily and my body immediately begins swaying with him in my arms. Will is just like me when it comes to sleeping. It has to be cold or we wake up easily.
"Wanna lay in Mama's bed?" I ask already knowing he will say yes. He nods against me, almost back to sleep before we even make it to the bed. I put him in the middle and climb in next to him. Christian watches us from the closet doorway.
Will rolls over, facing Christian, and holds his hand out for him. Christian hold up a finger before turning around and going back inside the closet. He emerges a few seconds later with just a tshirt and workout shorts on. He crawls in bed on the other side of Will, staring at Will as he does.
"He's already asleep." He whispers without looking away from Will. I smile at him and look down to Will. He is asleep and softly snoring.
We lay in comfortable silence as Will continues to sleep. I actually don't know how much time has passed since we've laid down when my phone starts vibrating on the bedside table.
"Ethan will be here in an hour-ish. I'm going to get his bag packed." I say quietly before kissing both of their foreheads. "I'll be back to wake him up in just a few." Christian only nods as he closes his eyes and snuggles closer to Will. Will places his hand on Christian's arm in his sleep.
I take a quick picture with my phone, unable to resist the perfect moment between the two.
After packing the few things he might need at Ethan's house, I set his bag by the front door and go to wake up the sleepyhead. When I enter my bedroom, I find he is already awake and sitting up with Christian.
I look down at my watch then back up to both of them.
"I haven't been gone more than ten minutes. How did you wake up before I got back?" I ask Will while tickling his feet then dragging him to the end of the bed so I can tickle his sides.
"Mama! Nooo!" He says through his fit of giggles. His giggle is my favorite sound in the whole world. It's so carefree and full of sweetness.
The thought of him being so carefree reminds me of what I'm about to talk to Ethan about and it ultimately stops me from tickling Will. He leans up and wraps his little arms around my neck sweetly, always knowing when I need comfort.
"It's going to be okay baby." Christian says while running his hands through my hair and down my back. Both of them know me too well. I nod my head, but don't comment further on it in front of Will.
"Your daddy will be here soon. Why don't we go have a small snack before he gets here?" I ask Will, trying to change the subject, and watch as his eyes light up at the mention of a snack.
"Cake?" He questions seriously and now I can't help but giggle.
"No, no cake. How about some strawberries and yogurt?" He crinkles his nose, but nods his head in agreement. I hide my smile as I walk us to the kitchen to prepare his snack.
I sit Will down in his chair and then begin to move quietly around the kitchen. I keep repeating Dr. Flynns words in my head, that everything will be fine, but a horrible sinking feeling has appeared in my stomach.
Before I know it, someone is knocking on the front door then it opens soon after. I quickly make my way into the hallway, knowing it's most likely Ethan. Christian and Will stay in the kitchen.
"Ana, what have I told you countless times?" Ethan questions me before I have a chance to say hello.
"Lock the door. I knew you were about to be here." I tell him in hopes to calm him down quickly. He gets upset when it comes to our safety, much like Christian does. Funny, they are more alike than they know.
He squints his eyes before he finally relaxes. He walks closer to me and before he moves to hug me, I turn around and lead him into the kitchen. Will immediately jumps up and runs into Ethan's arms.
"Daddy!" He squeals loudly before giggling when Ethan tickles his sides. I look away from the scene in front of me and my eyes immediately find Christian. He's watching Ethan and Will impassively, but I see a hint of a frown between his eyebrows. I make my way to him on the other side of the counter. I rub my hand up and down his back slowly, hoping it help calms his emotions under the surface.
Ethan stands up with Will still molded to him and turns to find me. His eyes find Christian first and I can see the shift in him through his eyes.
It's awkwardly quiet for a moment as I stare between Ethan and Christian, Christian stares at Ethan, and Ethan stares at me. I clear my throats and begin my approach of the vacation.
"How's it going at the hospital?" I ask moving out of the kitchen and into the living room.
Rule #1 from Dr. Flynn is to make the surroundings comfortable. The living room is much more relaxed than standing around a kitchen island staring at each other.
Ethan follows right behind me, I guess not wanting to be left with Christian alone. As I sit down on the couch, Ethan stands opposite me in front of the other couch. He's eyeing me warily.
"It's fine. Busy but that's not new." He sits down slowly, with Will still in his arms.
"Daddy, come pway with me." Will wiggles out of his arms and onto the floor.
"Actually, would you want to draw a picture for me?" I ask Will hoping to create a space to talk without him directly present. The trip is still a surprise for him, but also just in case Ethan gets upset.
"And daddy?" He questions while looking to Ethan.
"And daddy." I nod my head.
"And Chwistian?" He looks to Christian who is standing in the doorway watching all of us.
"And Christian." I nod my head again and hold my hand out to Will. He takes it and I take him back to his room where he can color. I set him up at his table then flip the baby monitor on.
When I get back to the living room, I see Christian has decided to sit down on the couch I was on. They are glaring at each other, but neither of them speak. Ethan sees me walk in the room and sits up a little straighter.
"He's drawing the horses." I say with a giggle trying to clear the tension out of the air. I place the baby monitor screen down on the coffee table then take a calm breath. It's now or never.
"Ethan, Christian and I wanted to talk to you about something." I feel Christian sit up a little straighter next to me. Ethan stays quiet, but doesn't take his eyes off me. He rubs the back of his neck, a tell that he's nervous. Since he doesn't respond, I decide to continue on.
"Christian and I have a vacation planned for the end of August. I just wanted to let you know we plan on taking Will with us." I tell him.
"Where?" He asks quietly while his eyes dull in color.
"The Bahamas-" i respond but he cuts me off before I have a chance to explain.
"No." He says so quietly I almost didn't hear him.
"Ethan-" I try again.
"No." He grits out this time while scooting to the edge of the couch, making him sit up straighter and broader.
"Look, it's a completely secure house on a private stretch of beach. My security team will be there-" Christian tries to explain, but Ethan isn't interested. Ethan holds his hand up to cut him off.
"Listen Grey, this is between myself and Ana. You know, Will's parents? You shouldn't even be here and you definitely shouldn't even try talking to me about my child." He says while standing up and clenching his fists at his side.
"Hey! That's uncalled for Ethan!" I say while standing up myself, ready to battle him head on.
"Uncalled for? Do you know what's uncalled for? This shit you are trying to pull right now. How dare you try to take my son on a vacation with your plaything. We" he says while motioning between myself and him "are a family with that little boy in there." He then points towards Will's room. He's fuming to the point I think I see steam coming out of his ears.
"Plaything? Plaything! How dare you Ethan Kavanagh. Christian is much more to me than a plaything, he's everything to myself and Will. You need to get that through your thick skull!" I don't even realize I'm yelling until Christian wraps his arm around my shoulders. I'm shaking, breathing heavily like a mad person.
"Everything to you?" Ethan snorts sarcastically. "Remember when I was everything to you? Remember when we made love under the stars, over the blue water in Fiji? Then nine months later we welcomed our baby that was everything to both of us? Remember that, because that's the one thing that separates me from him. I'm Will's father and if I say I don't want him going across the country with you and him then that's what goes." He says before walking past us towards Will's room. I can feel the tears threatening to make an appearance, but I do my best to told hold them at bay until Will leaves.
"Baby, it's okay." Christian coos into my hair as he runs circles on my back. That's the thing though. It's not okay. We hear Ethan and Will come back into the room and separate to see them walking towards the front door. Ethan stops though and let's Will down.
"Go say bye to mama buddy." Ethan says sweetly to Will and I can't help it anymore, tears trickle down my face.
"Bye baby. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your daddy." I tell him as I pull him to my body. I breathe him in, letting his toddler smell comfort me.
"Mama, wat wrong?" Will asks as he runs his little chubby fingers down my face, tracing my tears. I wipe them away the best I can with one hand as he looks at me with a sad, worried expression.
"Nothing baby, I promise. Now, you promise to be a good boy for daddy?" I ask and he nods slowly.
"Good because I think good boys get cake if they are really, really good." I say in a whisper even though I know Christian and Ethan can hear me. His eyes light up with delight at the prospect of cake. He looks back at Ethan.
"I think mama is right. Good boys do get cake if they are extra good." Ethan says with emotions thick in his voice, but he hides them well for the sake of Will. I put Will on the ground so he can go back to Ethan. However, he turns to Christian and holds his arms up. Christian picks him up and whispers something in his ear, which causes Will to giggle. They say a small goodbye before Christian is putting Will back on the floor and he takes off to Ethan. Christian wraps his arms around me in an attempt to comfort me and my thoughts.
We watch as Will and Ethan walk of the front door and I can't help but feel upset at what just happened. I was confident that my approach would help ease Ethan into the idea of us taking Will.
Then something Dr. Flynn said hits me, making me jolt towards the front door in an attempt to catch Ethan before he leaves. I catch him just in time as he closes Will's door and is making his way around the truck to his side.
"Ethan." I say to catch his attention. He stops and turns to look at me, confusion crossing his face.
"Yeah?" His voice cracks when he responds, clear that what just happened ha him just as emotional as me. I almost decide not to say what I planned on saying solely on the fact I know Ethan is just as upset as I am. I never want to make someone hurt, but I realize I need to say it.
"I'll take you to court." I tell him confidently or what I think is confident anyways.
"What?" He says quietly, the confusion now gone from his face and replaced with shock. I've never brought this up before, but I don't have a choice. I won't let him control my future anymore.
"I will take you to court Ethan. I'm not asking for much. I only want to take Will on a fun beach vacation with Christian, our families, and myself. He will be safe and surrounded by family for a full week. If you don't approve of it, I will take you to court. I'm not afraid anymore." I tell him.
And it's the truth. I'm not afraid of living my life anymore and Ethan Kavanagh won't hold me back from my future.
xoEW