Final Reunions
Christian POV:
"What is wrong Ana?" I ask anxiously.
"It's the baby. I am in labor" She tells me. Excitement, fear, and panic hit me all at once.
"Are you sure? It is a week early." I point out.
"Yes, but our child doesn't understand time yet and has their own agenda. I am having contractions." Ana informs me. A mixture of emotions hit me as I attempt reassure Ana that everything is going to be fine and begin Operation Grey Baby as devised by Taylor. I grab my cell phone to send him a text, but I drop my phone a couple of times. Shit I am a ball of nerves. Taylor's role is set the particulars into motion, whilst I ring the doctor and get Ana organized. I place Ana's clothes next to her and begin to help her get ready.
"Bet you are glad that I made you get organized months ago now, right?" I ask Ana. She had rolled her eyes when at the end of her second trimester, I had her hospital bag packed, and clothes ready, for this very moment. I help Ana put on her clothes and help her up.
"Let's go. Now! Taylor will be waiting for us at the front door" I instruct.
"We can't Christian," Ana tells me laughing.
"Why not?" I argue. I am in no mood for riddles, when we are dealing with the birth of my child and the health of my wife.
"Well we can, but I am sure the paparazzi would love to get a picture of you in your pajama bottoms and topless" Ana points out. I look at myself and realize that I have forgotten to get dressed myself. Focus. I need to focus. I run into our large walk in closet and grab a pair of jeans, shirt, sock and shoes. I don't think I have ever gotten dressed so quickly ever in my life.
"Ooowww!" Ana calls out grabbing her stomach.
"Was that another contraction?" I enquire, worried.
"Yeah, I think so. You need to call Dr. Greene" Ana tells me. I call the doctor as I lead Ana down the stairs. Thankfully she already is at the hospital and will be waiting for us.
"Will do" I get my phone and call the Doctor. Thankfully she is already at the hospital and will wait for us. Everything is going to plan, except, I didn't look at the time when she had her last contraction. Damn, I forgot that I needed to calculate the time in between contractions. I go to my bedside table and pull out the stop watch that I have kept hidden there for months.
"Why do you have that?" Ana asks.
"I bought it months ago, so when you finally fell into labor, I would be able to accurately record the time in between each contraction." I advise Ana.
"Oh Christian, can't you just use your watch? You know that women have had babies since the beginning of time" I narrow my eyes at Ana.
"Anastasia, this is no time for your smart mouth" I reprimand her, then pull her against me, to I hold her tightly. Softly I kiss her forehead. "I can't wait to meet our child. Thank you Anastasia. Thank you for this. I know that I don't deserve you, Ted, or our child, but I thank God every day I have you three"
# # # #
"Okay Ana, you are seven centimeters, but your water hasn't broken yet. We will break it if need be, but it is safe to wait. Your contractions are closer together, so it won't be too much longer. If the pain gets too severe, then you can self-medicate. I will be back soon, but call me if anything happens. The nurse will be in soon" Dr. Greene informs us. Ana is taking everything in stride, but I am a ball of nerves.
"Doctor Greene what if there is an emergency? How long would it take to do a C-section?" I ask grilling the Doctor.
"We can have the baby out in a matter of minutes if worse comes to worse. However, Mr Grey, everything looks good, and the baby isn't that large. I think we should stick with our plan of a vaginal birth." Dr Greene says irritated. I can literally feel the tension between her and me, growing a little.
"Thank you Doctor. I am sorry. My husband is a little a little frazzled, he doesn't cope too well when he isn't in control." I would be annoyed at Ana's statement if she wasn't being entirely honest. Dr Greene laughs a little at my expense and exits the room. My lips form a hard line as I look at Ana.
"Christian, please relax, women give birth to babies' everyday" Ana says trying hard to placate me.
"Yes, but you are not just any woman." I refute. I move towards Ana and start to gently massage her back.
"That feels good. Can you go a little lower?" Ana moans appreciatively. Oh boy even her little moans make me eager for her.
"The next six weeks are going to be hard" I inform Ana.
"And for me! It isn't just you who isn't going to be able to have sex. At least I will be able to relieve your tension, the same doesn't go for me" Ana seems upset at the thought. "Actually scrap that, new born babies don't sleep for long, we are going to be too tired."
"Maybe I should hire a nanny," I say out loud and suddenly feel a sharp pain in my side where Ana has elbowed me.
Deciding that it is in my best interests to change the topic, I begin to read the manuscript that Ana has been focused on during the last few days. I had been reading an hour when Ana calls out. I notice that her water has finally broken, and she is in a significant amount of more pain. I call for the doctor to return, in which she does with a nurse. I help clean Ana up and ensure she is as comfortable as possible.
# # # #
"Just one more push Ana and your baby will be here. On your next contraction, I need you to push really hard." The doctor informs Ana. I am in complete awe of my wife. I have been standing here next to her, massaging, comforting and encouraging her, when deep inside, I have been struggling to cope. Ana was right, I am finding this too hard to cope. I can't control anything in this situation.
"This is harder than it was when I had Ted" Ana tells me struggling.
"You are doing brilliantly. Just a little more" I try to encourage her.
"I don't think I can" Tears start to run down Ana's face. I wipe them away immediately, but I wish I could kiss them all away.
"Yes you can. You are my strong Ana, you can do anything!" I encourage and then kiss her forehead.
Another contraction hits, and Ana pushes. In a matter of seconds, we hear a little cry. It is the sweetest sound ever. I am suddenly reminded of when I heard Ted's first cry from the doorway of the birthing room. Oh how stupid we were then. My heart beats faster as I make a memory of this, my second child's first moments of life.
"It's a girl" The doctor calls out. I struggle to keep my tears at bay as I kiss Ana and thank her.
"Mr. Grey, would you like to cut the cord."
"Umm...Yeah...Yes, of course I would" I tell them trying to compose myself. I get the first glimpse of my baby girl, and I can tell immediately that she is the most perfect thing in the world. They take the baby to the side, so the pediatrician can have a look at her and do the baby's Apgar score.
"She is perfect," I tell Ana, who is exhausted. I kiss her forehead, nose and lips softly before we are handed our daughter.
"Do you have a name for her?" The nurse asks
Ana and I look at each other and nod. We had only finally agreed on a name yesterday. In fact, we had chosen a boy's name rather easily, but a girl's name had been problematic.
"Phoebe Grace Grey," Ana tells the smiling nurse.
"Welcome to world Phoebe. We are your parents" Ana tells our little girl.
# # # #
I feel complete peace as I watch, Ana finish feeding our daughter and burps her. Phoebe, only a day old now, falls into what seems like a milk induced coma. I wrap our little girl up and put her in her hospital bed. I look at Ana and notice just how tired she is.
"I can't believe how sleepy I am still, even though all I have done is slept or fed Phoebe since she was born yesterday" Ana admits to me. The birth undoubtedly took a lot out of my extraordinary wife.
"Next time you can have caesarean. It will be easier than natural birth" I tell her comically, though she certainly doesn't see the humor in my comment.
"Christian Trevelyan Grey, I will cut you off completely from sex for a year if you think I am ever going to have any more children" Ana spits back. I try hard to stifle my laugh but fail.
"Oh Anastasia, as if you would ever be able to abstain a year while we lie in the same bed each night" I shake my head. "Here I have your charm bracelet," I tell her which makes her smile. Ana usually wears it, but she took it off during labor. "I have added a couple more charms." Ana inspects it and quickly locates the new charm.
"The platinum blue bear was for Ted as he was our teddy bear. This platinum angel with a pink dress is for Phoebe as she is our little angel"
"It's perfect" Ana smiles.
"I am glad you like it, but it is time you get some sleep. Phoebe is a little dominating and will be up in three hours wanting to be fed again" I remind Ana, hoping it is enough encouragement to convince her to go straight to sleep.
"I wonder where she gets the dominating trait from" Ana giggles and then falls asleep. I sit next to Ana and in front of Phoebe as they both sleep. I feel as if I am floating. Now I get to watch them both sleep. It's simply magical.
An hour later, Phoebe starts to stir. I pick her up, and she settles immediately. "Are you hungry princess? Do you have a dirty diaper?" I check, and it seems that she is neither. Rather she seems content to be cuddled in my arms. I ensure that I am supporting her head properly and hold her close to my chest.
"So my little princess, all you wanted was to be cuddled, hey? Well I will let you into a little secret I am going to be more than happy to cuddle and hold you as much as you want and more." I would swear that Phoebe just smiled at me, except I know it was probably just wind.
I gently stroke her little fingers and knuckles and by reflex she grabs my finger. It is one of the most beautiful sensations I've ever experienced. Phoebe opens her eyes and it as if she is looking right into my soul. HER eyes are deep blue color right now, and I suspect that they will remain blue, just like Ana's. At least I hope. I run my hands through her soft hair. Phoebe has been born with real mop of hair, and I love it. It is an extraordinarily rich brown color that also resembles Ana's. In all honestly, she appears to be more like Ana, than myself. Shit, she is likely to be just as gorgeous as Ana is and I will have a heart attack keeping every fucker away from her.
"So I see you are not interested in sleeping, and since you are twenty-four hours old, I figure it is time we have a daddy to daughter conversation. What do you think?" I look down at her as if she is going to respond. "I will take your silence as a yes." I laugh softly. I figure I am not going to have a lot of time where I can talk to my daughter without her interjecting me.
"I am your daddy, and I love you so much. You are the most magnificent thing I have ever seen next to your mother and brother. I am going to give you the world, though ironically I want to protect you from it. I do promise to do whatever I can, to make all your dreams and hopes come true. Your mother and I will make sure you have every opportunity available to you. We are going to love you so much." I take a few deep breaths and start to rock Phoebe in my arms, thinking she will fall asleep, but she seems to be as stubborn as her mother and I. She shows no sign of falling asleep.
"I guess this is going to be an opportune time to tell you that I am going to drive you crazy, with security and my attempts to keep you safe at all times. I am going to say 'no' more than you are going to want to hear it, and for every two steps you take, your CPO is going to do the same, but you are never going to feel unloved, and you will always be safe, and I do intend to make sure you have everything, though certainly not spoiled." I shake my head at myself, I can't believe what I am telling my new baby girl. It is a marvelous thing that she doesn't know what I am saying or else she would be crying by now.
"You also have a big brother Ted, and he will be here this week as he is coming home for Thanksgiving…."
"Actually your older brother is here early, and not a minute too early. Dad what on earth are you telling her?" I look up, and there is Ted.
"Ted? You are here. You weren't due in Seattle for a couple of days" I put Phoebe down in her hospital bed and go over and hug my son.
"I know, but I wanted to get back as soon as possible. I am only missing a couple of classes" I honestly couldn't care less how many classes Ted is missing. Having him here and now means my family is complete.
"Since you are here Theodore, I would like you to meet your little sister, Phoebe Grace Grey" I pick up Phoebe and pass her to her big brother, though don't let go until I am sure he is holding her correctly.
"Hey there little Sis, I am going to be the one you are going to call late at night, when mom and dad are being unreasonable." I narrow my eyes at Ted, but the scene is too perfect to be annoyed.
"Most likely" I comment. Ted and I laugh, but not too loudly, Ana is still sleeping.
"Is mom doing okay? She sounded exhausted when I spoke to her yesterday" Ted asks worried.
"She is still tired but doing well considering. Your mother wants to go home tomorrow, so we can all be home for Thanksgiving, and physically she is well enough." I am of two minds on this one. Personally I would love to have my whole family at home together especially as it will be for a short period of time as Ted will leave this weekend. But then again, I would feel a little better if Ana and Phoebe stayed in hospital for a little while longer just to make sure they are both well.
"What does Dr. Greene say?" Ted asks.
"She thinks your mother and Phoebe can go home tomorrow. Both are doing exceptionally well." I admit.
Ana starts then wakes up and has a large smile on her face, when she sees our son cradling our newborn daughter. "Ted. When did you get here?" Ana's voice is soft, and she is truly happy.
"About twenty minutes ago, I took an early flight" Ted passes me Phoebe and goes over and hugs his mother.
"This is perfect. How long can you stay?" Ana asks.
"I leave on Sunday and talking about leaving, dad was telling me that you may go home tomorrow. Are you sure you are up to it?"
"Yes Ted and not you too. I intend to have Thanksgiving at home with my entire family, thank you very much!" I know now that I have no chance of keeping Ana in hospital and now that Ted is here I actually want them all home.
Soon after we are greeted by the whole Grey family. Even Mia has come home early. Ana's hospital room has suddenly become too small. Ted and I decide to leave, though I intend on coming back for the night to help Ana.
# # # #
Ted's POV
"Wow dad the baby room is perfect. How much of this has mom seen?" I ask my father.
"We chose the furniture together, but planned to wait to see if the baby was a boy or girl, to decorate it. However I wanted to surprise her. Your mother thinks we were going to do that after she gets home as the baby will sleep in a newborn crib in our room for the first couple of weeks. I instructed a designer on what I think your mom would like and set them to it. They have done an incredible job in such a short time" I nod, but I am not surprised that Dad was able to organize it so quickly. Money means you get what you want, when you want.
"Mom is going to love it. I love it." I tell dad.
"Good, now let's go downstairs. I am hungry, and I have been told you haven't eaten all day."
"Best offer I have had all day!" Down stairs, Gail has organized a late lunch, and even has put some aside for my father to take to my mother back in at the hospital.
"So how is college treating you?" Dad asks.
"It's rather good really. I have made a lot of new friends, and classes are rather interesting. There has been nothing that I haven't been able to handle, actually I forgot to tell you that I have a couple of your old professors. They seem to remember you, rather well" Dad raises his eyebrows.
"You don't say" Dad raises his eyebrows.
"So yeah, everything is great"
"But?" Dad probes. Once more, he reads me so well.
"Lily. I have been writing to her once a week, and she won't respond. I don't know what to do. I want to see her and talk to her at least one more time, even if it means that I never see her again. At least then I can move on." I reason. The truth though is that it is going to take me a long time to get over Lily, if ever.
"Well then do it! Go and talk to her!" Dad says.
"You make it seem so simple," I tell dad.
"It is." Dad looks at the clock and jumps up. "I am sorry to leave Ted, but I promised your mother I would go back to the hospital. I want to take her a decent dinner and help with the baby, this way I can make sure your mother gets some sleep. Are you going to be alright? I hate to leave you when you just got home to Seattle. I can ring your grandparents or Uncle Elliot and Aunt Kate. You don't need to be alone" Dad offers and looks rather conflicted at leaving me.
"No Dad it isn't a problem, you didn't know I was coming in early and I would rather just watch a movie, then go to bed. I will catch you and mom when you get home tomorrow" I reassure my father.
"Good" Dad grabs the containers of food that Gail has set out and starts to walk out. He stops and turns to face me. "You know Ted, I am pretty sure that I heard Ros say that Lily was home this week." Dad grins and then walks out. I stand there, frozen in time. Lily is here in Seattle. Do I go and see her or not? Hell, of course I do.
I go upstairs and fix myself up. I need to look as presentable as possible. I change into a fresh pair of dark jeans, and a top. I try unsuccessfully to organize my hair into some order, but it is useless. When I get downstairs, there is Taylor.
"Need a lift?" He offers
"Thanks," I follow Taylor and get into the car. "Taylor, how do you know everything that happens in my family and know when you are needed?" I ask the questions that have had me baffled ever since my parents got back together.
"It is my job. Also, I have worked with your dad for a long time. I have been able to predict what he wants and luckily for me you are so similar to him that you too are easy to predict."
Taylor drops me off at the front of Lily's apartment building. I look at my watch, and it is 4pm. This means both her mother's would be at work. I take the elevator up, not even sure if Lily would be home. I ring the doorbell and wait a few minutes. I suspect their housekeeper is going to answer it and want to slam the door in my face considering the last time, I blasted me way in. I ring the bell again and then the door finally opens, and it is her.
"Ted. What are you doing here? You are supposed to be at college?" She questions. I look at her, taking her in. She is wearing a long dark dress and looks stunning.
"I came home early for Thanksgiving; also my mother had her baby. It was a girl" I tell her
"Yes, my mother told me. Congratulations. I know you were hoping for a sister." She says.
"Thanks. Umm...can we talk?" I ask. Lily looks down slightly and nods.
"Yes, please come in" She offers. "Can I get you anything?"
Yes, you. "No. I am fine, thank you" We both sit on the couch, a little uncomfortable. Neither of us know where to start.
"How is college?" I ask her, not knowing how to start this conversation.
"Excellent, I am thoroughly enjoying the environmental engineering component, though not the civil component as much. How about you?" She asks.
"It's good, though I ended up changing my major actually. I dropped law and am just doing economics and business. I actually didn't like my pre-law classes."
"Wow, have you told your dad? He must be excited" Lily comments.
"I haven't yet but I will." I run my fingers through my hair. "Lily this isn't what I wanted to talk to you about though. I want to talk to you about when you left."
"Ted... look …" Lily tries to explain, but I stop her.
"Lily stop, look I know about your birth parents and how they didn't want to communicate with you. I think it is awful, and I know that it must have hurt. I also understand that you are struggling with accepting that other people, besides your mother's love you. I too struggled to accept that my father loved me, when he was out of my life for so long, but deep down I knew he did. I always knew he did. Lily, I love you, I probably will forever! I know I must have come on too strong, too quickly. The first time we have sex together, I tell you I love you and that I want you to live with me at college. I can't believe how hard that would have been to comprehend considering." I finally end my spiel and take me first breath. Lily looks down at her hands. She is fidgeting.
"Ted, I am scared. I do not think I can accept heart ache" Lily tells me.
"Who says you are going to experience heartache? You can't live your life hiding. You have to take risks." I tell her.
"You make it so sound so easy!" Lily comments in disbelief
"Easy? Love isn't always easy, but if it is what you want, then you go for it."
"I need time," Lily says.
"Okay" I stand up and Lily does the same. I head for the door, and she opens it for me.
"Lily have you gotten my letters?" I enquire. I know that she received them, yet I want to hear it from her.
"Yes," She says softly. I start to walk out the door when Lily grabs my arm, causing me to turn around to face her. "I have read all the letters. Thank you." Lily looks at me. I run my knuckles down her jaw, then lean down and slowly kiss her, hoping it isn't for the last time.
"Happy Thanksgiving Lily" I tell her
"Happy Thanksgiving Ted" I then walk away, wondering how much time she will need and if I can wait. Deep down I know I would wait forever, but I don't know if I can wait forever.
# # # #
Ted's POV
I finish packing my bag and look at my watch. It is 12pm, and I need to leave soon. I drop my bags at the door and seek out my family. I find them in the main room where Mom is burping Phoebe while she and dad are talking. I sit down with them and join them in their conversation. I wish I didn't have to leave and get back to college. I find myself enjoying these moments as a family too much. I so hope the next four weeks go quickly so I can get back for Christmas. We all become too aware for the clock clicking, waning down the time, I have left at home. Taylor soon appears at the entrance of the main room, letting us know that I need to leave.
"So I guess I will see you three at Christmas" I tell them getting up. My parents get up, all three of us are trying to stop getting emotional.
"Are you sure you don't want us to drive you to the airport?" My mother offers.
"No, you both should stay home. It is cold outside, and I don't think Phoebe should go out in this weather. Besides, it is easier for Taylor to drive me. I don't want to be one of those guys that gets overly emotional at airports." Truth be told, this scene was emotional enough for me.
"Bye Ted, I love you. We will talk soon" My father tells me pulling me in for a hug.
"Bye Dad, love you also. Look after Mom and Phoebe"
"I will."
Mom passes Phoebe to dad and then hugs me tightly. "Bye my teddy bear. Love you"
"Love you too, Mom." I then take my six day old baby sister into my arms. She is so tiny and precious. I never realized that I would or could love her so much. Where once I was jealous at the thought that she would get what I never got, I am so thankful that she will have both my parents, every day of her life.
"Bye Phoebe. I promise to see you soon. Now I know I am going to go far away, but I will be thinking about you so much, and I love you. Just because family members aren't close by doesn't mean that there isn't lots and lots of love remember that okay?" I look at my dad, and I know that he understood my message. No matter the fact that he was away for so long in my life, I always knew that he has loved me. Deep down I had always known. I pass Phoebe back to my mother, sad that I won't see her grow up every day. The room has become silent and rather emotional.
"Ted, before you leave, this is for you. Open it when you get back to college. Okay?" Dad says as I take the rectangular parcel from him.
"What is it?" I enquire curiously.
"Something you wanted and deserved to have a long time ago" Dad says cryptically.
# # # #
Hours later I arrive back in my college apartment building, with my CPO. I am tired, emotional and just want to have dinner, shower and sleep until the welcome distraction of my classes commences tomorrow morning. I travel up the elevator and once the doors open I get the surprise of my life. There at the door, is Lily. I feel frozen in time, and if this is my imagination, then I do not want to re-enter the real world.
"Hi. How long have you been out here?" I ask her worried.
"A little while, can I come in?" She asks.
"Sure." I open the door and motion for her to enter. She follows me into the apartment where we both sit in the kitchen.
"Ted, I am sorry for hurting you. I didn't realize what I was doing until I saw you" She starts to fidget until she seems to shake it off.
"You were right," she says softly.
"Right about what?" I ask her to clarify.
"I can't spend my life hiding. If I do, then I will more than likely experience more heartache, than if I go for what I want. And, I know what I want" Lily says. I see the glow in her eye, that sassiness that I loved the first time I met her.
"What is it you want?" I ask her. Holding my breath.
"You. I love you, Ted. But the thing is, do you still love me?" Lily asks worried. I look at her soaking her in once more. After I close the gap between us, I run my knuckles along her jaw and pull her into a tight embrace. I start to kiss her softly and then progressively get more and more passionately.
"Of course I love you." I tell Lily. I pick her up and spin her. Joy and hope entwine us. We order in for dinner and sit on the floor. We fill each other in with details everything that has happened in our lives while we have been apart. We are so relaxed, and it is astonishing how we just connect. We also can't ignore this intense passion that we feel when we are together. This feels so right, and I know now why after years apart my parents were able to reunite so easily. They were made for each other. Lily and I were made for each other, as well.
We get up and start to clean up. We had been in fits of laughter discussing our families back at home, when Lily notices the parcel that my father had passed me when I left.
"What is in here?" She queries.
"I am not sure. My father gave it to me just before I left and told me to open it when I get back here to college. I tell her.
"Well open it. You are back at college." Lily persuades me.
I take the parcel and open it. I look down and realize dad was right. It was something I wanted a long time ago.
"It's beautiful," Lily tells me looking at it. Inside the parcel were two framed photos. The first is an old photo of my mother, father and I, at the one and only picnic we went to. The picnic that my mother told my father we were moving to New York. I have no idea when and how this photo was taken, but do not care. It is perfect. The next photo is one of my mother, father, Phoebe and I, sitting in our home on the Sound. We look perfect. It is the one thing I have always wanted. Family. I carefully put the photos on the shelf and smile. Really smile.
"Stay the night with me?" I ask Lily
"Yes" I take Lily's hand and take her to my bedroom.
It may have taken years, but we all got what we wanted in the end. Love and family. Dad and mom got their REUNION. Dad and I got our REUNION. Lily and I got our REUNION. Now we only had to wait till we were back home in Seattle to get the ultimate REUNION with our families.
The End
Authors note:
Thank you to everyone who has been reading this story, following, favoring and reviewing. Big thanks to Crystal9034 and to Susan, who helped make the story come to life. I can't believe it finally came to an end. I may do an epilogue if you want to know what happened to these characters
So please review.
Thank you Maria Amore.