A/N: Here is the epilogue. Crystal and I have been busy so there may be a few errors. Sorry but I wanted to get this out to you all!
Epilogue: The Ultimate Reunion
Christian's POV
I plant soft kisses on the naked outline of my wife. She squirms as my kisses wake her, and then turns to face me.
"Good morning Mr Grey. You seem remarkably happy this morning." Anastasia remarks.
"I have been happy every morning for the last four years and ten months" I correct her. This is how long I have been able to wake up to Ana next to me, in our bed, with the exception of the times I have had to go away for work. Though these days, I try to keep those to the minimum unless Ana is able to travel also. The times where Ana hasn't been able to come, I have still taken one of the children were possible. Ted's company has been dependent on school; still he has been able to travel with me rather extensively during his breaks and is learning a lot about the corporation. Phoebe who now is four years old, going on twenty-one, loves to travel and often comes with me, even when Ana isn't able.
"What time is it?' Ana asks.
"6am" I tell her continuing to kiss her.
"It's so early, even Phoebe will still be asleep for another hour". Ana comments as she stretches, which causes her to arch her back and her breasts to move forward. Fuck even her reflex moves make her look enticing.
"Precisely." I raise my eyebrows.
"Christian!" Ana playfully reproaches.
"YOU. ARE. SO. BEAUTIFUL" I tell Ana in between my kisses. I don't stop until I am at the apex of her thighs.
Ana instinctively bends her knees, spreading herself open for me. I run my fingers from her most sensitive spot to her openings. She squirms as I run my hand through her folds and insert a finger inside her, then two, and let my thumb tease her. "Oh Christian" She calls out.
"Feel it baby." I tell her softly. I can feel her getting wetter around my fingers and tighter. "Come for me baby" I tell her, and she obeys, overjoyed at finding her early morning release. That's my Ana, always so responsive.
I spread Ana's leg apart, desperate to bury myself inside of her. I pull back and thrust into her before she even realizes what I am doing. I don't move at first, rather relishing the sensation of being buried in Ana.
"Christian please, move." Ana begs me. I can feel her tension once more.
"Whatever makes you happy" I tell me, and start to move quickly, and we both find our release. It is always better than the one before.
Afterwards, I am lying on top of Ana, wanting to have her close to me. I never want her far from me. "I will never get my fill of you Anastasia Grey" I remind her
"Good, because I doubt that I will ever get my fill of You Christian Grey"
"Come and shower with me" I help a post-climatic Ana out of our bed as she is a little weak at her knees during this morning's activities.
# # # #
I quickly get dressed so I can sit back and watch Ana get dressed. I love to watch her pull up her stocking and put on her bra and panties, followed by her work attire. It is one hell of a floor show.
"Has Phoebe gotten up yet? Is she downstairs?" Ana asks. Even though our daughter has been out of a cot for two years now, we have continued to keep her in the bedroom next door to ours. Though this room is much smaller than the other rooms in the house and doesn't have a bathroom. It has made it easier for me to check on her during the night, to make sure she is safe. Though we are both realizing that it would be better to put her in a bigger room, this way she has her toys in one area and a bathroom. Even her toys are in another bedroom, which I assume will eventually become hers. However even having her a little further away makes me feel less in control. I understand that is does make sense to move her, but I rather like the idea of my daughter sleeping close by. Besides the thickness of the walls means it is practically sound proof, so Ana and I haven't had to slow down our curricular bedroom activity.
"No, but I just heard run out of her bedroom to go the bathroom and run back in. She must be waiting for one of us." Ana nods to let me know she understands. "Last time she played this game she wanted you, and knowing our little girls preference for taking turns, she is waiting for me."
I stand outside the door of Phoebe room and notice that she is looking through one of her books in bed. She looks so grown up and already is extremely beautiful. I make a noise, so she knows that I am up. Quickly she puts away her book, buries herself up to her chin with her covers and then pretends to be asleep. This is a little game that she has started to play. She pretends to be asleep, and then Ana or I walk into her room to wake her up, in which she would get cuddles and tickled, or whatever she feel like. I walk into my daughter room and look at her. She has a large smile on her face, through it keeping her eyes closed tightly.
"Phoebe, it is time to wake up." I tell her softly. She tightens her eyes in response to my voice but giggles lightly. Her giggles are just as magical as her mothers.
"Was that a giggle I heard? Surely not, because my little girl is still asleep." I say animated. Phoebe scrunches up her face and giggles a little louder now, but she still continues to pretend to be asleep.
"Still asleep hey? Well I will just have to tickle you then" I warn playfully. I pull her covers down and tickle her belly over her princess nightgown. Phoebe desperately tries to maintain her facade of being asleep but fails. She opens her eyes and laughs out loud. She reaches for me and commences to tickle me softly. Where once I couldn't even consider the prospect of being tickled, now it feels glorious.
"Okay Daddy I am up" Phoebe jumps up on her knees.
"Wow you seem very awake for a little girl who just three seconds ago was asleep" I tell her. Phoebe shrugs her shoulder and smiles.
"I like mornings," She says and throws her arms around me. I pick her up and cuddle her tightly, savoring all of these moments.
"I like mornings when I get hugs like this." I tell her, kissing her forehead.
"I like giving them also," Phoebe says. "So is today the day?"
"Yes sweetie today is the day, but you have to wait till this evening. I will get out an outfit for you to wear." I tell Phoebe but her pout.
"No, daddy I want to choose what I wear. I want to wear a dress" Phoebe says determined.
"Okay, but it has to be an everyday dress. Not one of your special night time dresses..."
"BUT…" Phoebe desperately wants to argue. I give my daughter 'my daddy' look telling her 'no'. She immediately back downs. Though she now has her sad frown face on. It took me years to develop a resistance to that look, but I am not entirely immune.
"You can wear one of your special dresses tonight at dinner, but not now" I compromise. "And you will need to wear a cardigan as it still is a little cool and I do now want you getting sick" Phoebe nods seriously. I move back and sit on the one seater couch that Ana once used to feed Phoebe in the evening and night. I make myself comfortable as this may take a while, though I am mainly at fault here. I rather love taking Phoebe shopping for dresses and other girly items, as does Ana, and has resulted in a wardrobe full of dresses. Ten minutes have past, and Phoebe is yet to decide what to wear.
"Okay Princess, you have had more than enough time to choose something to wear."
"But I can't decide" She shrugs.
"Phoebe you have one minute. If you haven't chosen by then, then you will have to stay home today with Mrs Jones and cannot come with me to the office" The tone in my voice has changed a little, so she knows I am serious. Ana and I had been taking her to our offices in between being cared by Ms Jones and my mother, who partially retired when Ana recommenced work. I have set up a little Mickey Mouse table and chairs for her in the corner of my office with some of her toys. Sure it confounds many important CEO's as I have meetings, but they soon realize that it will not change how I do business. The juxtaposition of me in CEO mode, with a little four year old painting in the corner, is ironic, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Phoebe finally picks out a white dress with a small cardigan. The dress has a delicate broad headband with little pink flowers in a row.
"Yes, this is what I want to want to wear. I haven't worn it yet" She smiles excited. "Do you know that my Aunt Mia sent it to me?"
"Yes I do. But do you know where it came from?" I ask her. Phoebe puts her index finger on her chin and looks like she is thinking.
"Yes, it came from Paris. Is it far away?" She asks.
"Yes, very far away, but you have been there before when you were very small." I tell her. Phoebe pulls her night grown off, and I help her into her dress.
"I am big now, I am not little" she tells me running off to get her hairbrush. I can't help but laugh at her comments. I brush her hair and put the band in. Wow she looks gorgeous. Her eyes are mesmerizing. Fuck upping her CPO allocation when he starts middle school or becomes a teenager. I am going to triple the people watching her when she starts Kindergarten in the fall. Fuck Kindergarten who would believe it, already?
"Okay Missy, you are dressed, and we need to go and have breakfast before your mom comes looking for us." I tickle her one more time, making her giggle and smile. This is one of my goals now, to make my little girl happy.
Ted's POV:
"We should make the bed before we land" Lily suggests. We are deliciously wrapped around each other naked in bed on the GEH jet. It is the only way to fly. I recommence to kiss to and run my fingers around her chest. We are on route to Seattle after a two week trip to Europe. It was a gift from mine and Lily's parents for graduating from College.
"Why?" I ask furrowing my brow.
"Because when we land in Seattle and are picked up by your family, they may come on board and see that we have been in the bed, and will know what we have done" Lily says blushing a little.
"So what? We have been living with each other for years now. I am pretty sure they don't think we have been sleeping in separate rooms" I tell her.
"Still this is different" She shrugs. "You know it seems to be a little unusual to be going home after four years at college."
"I know, though it is kind of exciting also. A new chapter but back in familiar surroundings."
"I still can't believe that we are both able to go back to Seattle for work. I mean it was easy for you since you are going to work with your father, but for me to have been able to get a job in the environmental science field in Seattle was terribly lucky." Lily says amazed still
"Maybe it was just fate" I start to kiss her passionately, so she doesn't keep thinking about it. Truth be told, it wasn't luck or fate that saw Lily be able to return to Seattle. Rather I engaged in my first acquisition for Grey enterprise and purchased a company that I knew she was applying to and with help from my father, Lily became gainfully employed in the same city I would be living in. Even Ros was overjoyed at this development. However, Lily was yet to learn that her new employer is one of the newest subsidiaries of Grey enterprise now.
We shower on board and get dressed. Within an hour, we have landed and are greeted by Sawyer.
"Welcome home Ted and Lily." He tells us.
"It is great to be home. Anything new?" I inquire. I help Lily in the car and walk to the other side of the car to get in and to talk to Sawyer. I know that Lily won't be able to hear us.
"Nothing major in the last two weeks since both your family members went to your graduation. The penthouse is ready for you both. Ryan and Smith are your CPO's now, though I requested the right to pick you both up. Smith is going to meet me in the garage to take you luggage up. Also, I know a particular four year old who has been counting down the days till you both arrived back home" Sawyer informs me.
"Understood and thank you. What time is dinner?"
"6:30pm with dinner being served at 7pm, at your parents' house" he reminds me.
"Excellent. Has everything been organized?" I ask. My legs turn to jelly just thinking about it, but my heart pounds faster out of excitement.
"Yes, and no one is the wiser." He tells me smirking
"Thank you. Please take us home" I ask him.
Home is no longer the house on the sound, rather it is now ESCALA. My parents have allowed me to move in there with Lily. Though I know that they would have rather I moved back home, but I don't want to live away from Lily, and there is no way we would move in together with my parents?
Ryan's open the door for us and welcomes us home, whilst about a minute later our luggage is bought up and taken into the main bedroom.
"Thank you Ryan, it is good to be home finally"
"I will be in the office if either of you need me. I will leave you both to get settled." Ryan and Smith make a hasty exit, leaving as alone. Lily and I laugh at each other a little as we hold each other.
"So we have about four hours before we have to meet our parents for dinner. What do you want to do?" I ask her.
"Well we probably should unpack, or get settled, or we could go and check out our new bedroom." Lily says a little shyly.
"New bedroom it is"
# # # #
Everyone has congregated at my parents' house by the time we arrive. Ros and Gwen are already here and come up and greet us first once we are inside. I have become close to them both while Lily and I have been dating and in college. In fact, I even joined them on holiday last summer to Hawaii. Though regardless of our personal relationship, I've been strictly advised, by Ros and my father that when I start work, personal relationships will be put aside, and it is professional standards will prevail. Personally I prefer it that way.
We are swiftly greeted by the rest of my family, and poor Lily has been hugged out. She comes from such a small family that mine can be a little too affectionate. My grandfather shakes my hand and hugs me. He has finally accepted that I won't be going into Law, though I know he still wished I would go to Law school and join him at his firm. A few months back, Ava spoke to him and grandpa said he didn't mind so much now since it would mean me living back in Seattle three years earlier.
"Finally you are both here" Ava calls out. She comes over and practically pulls Lily away from my side. A sensation I fear I may have to get use to now we are home, and one that rarely happened at college.
"Hello Ava, looks like college has been treating you well" I comment looking at her new boyfriend, who is standing behind her. Ava has been at college for two years now at the University of California (Berkeley) studying Mass media and communication.
"Ted and Lily, this is James Lewis. He is studying science at Berkeley." Ava introduces. I shake his hand, but dislike it when he kisses Lily's cheek. He is awfully familiar especially since he just met us. "Come and have a drink with us outside" Ava requests.
"I need to see my parents about a few things first, can I join you three in a couple of minutes?" They all nod and I take my leave, though look over my shoulder a few times to make sure James is keeping his hands to himself.
I enter the dining room believing this is where my parents are and whilst they are not in the room, I do find someone extremely special.
"Teddy" Phoebe calls out when she sees me. My little sister is the only one who is allowed to call me Teddy, except Lily. She has the largest smile on her face and is now running towards me. I sweep her up in my arms and pick her up.
"Hey there FiFi, you are looking beautiful" I tell her. She is wearing a gorgeous red silk dress, and her hair is up. Looks like Aunt Kate got to her before my parents did. Phoebe is Aunt Kate little dress up doll. I have to be honest that Phoebe already has a lot of signs of being drop dead gorgeous as she gets older. I find it humorous that my sister is a clone of my mother while I am a clone of my father.
"My name is Phoebe, no FiFi!" She points out trying to pretend to be annoyed.
"I know, but if you get to call me Teddy, then it is only fair that I get to call you FiFi. So little sister what are you doing?" I look at the pieces of paper in her hands, and she immediately tries to hide them behind her back.
"Nothing" My sister is a terrible liar.
"Phoebe show me" She shakes her head again. My sister is as stubborn as every other member of my family. Time to bring out the big guns. "Phoebe if you don't show me I will carry you to Dad and have him ask you." Dad is without doubt the disciplinarian out of both our parents when it comes to Phoebe. In fact had my parents been together when I was a child, I am pretty sure the same would have occurred.
"No, don't Teddy! It's because of Daddy and Mommy that I am doing this" I cock my head to the side not following. "I told them that I wanted to sit next to you and Lily during dinner, but Dad said that I couldn't. That it would depend on where everyone sat and that you would want to sit lily and her parents next to her. Daddy said I would have to sit next to him, or Mom, like I usually do"
"Phoebe, the main reason that you always have to sit next to one of our parents, is that you don't eat your dinner. You need to eat everything on your plate" I try to explain.
"I just want to sit with you and Lily" Poor Phoebe is exasperated. Rather funny coming from a four year old girl. Maybe she can grow up to be an actress at this rate.
"Alright, I get that, but what were you doing that would change that?" I ask her. Phoebe then shows me the little pieces of paper with names written on it in crayon. I can't help but laugh at how the names are spelt. Also, instead of using their first names, she has used their relationship to her. Such as instead of Carrick, she has tried to spell grandpa. Instead of Ana she has used Mommy.
"I was going to put them around the table, like at all those parties mommy and daddy goes to" Of course, she is referring to the charity events that my parents often attend. "I was going to put you there, then me and then Lily. I was going to sit in the middle!" Phoebe says pointing to three chairs and looking terribly endearing.
"Okay Phoebe, I will talk to our parents for you. How about you sit next to me during dinner tonight and then next time we have dinner you can sit….."
"In the middle of you and Lily" She interrupts me. I was going to say that she could sit next to Lily, but the look of joy on Phoebes face stops me.
"Yes. Fine" I relent
"YES!" She says excitedly.
"So have you asked her yet?" She whispers even though we are the only ones in the room. Even though she is only four, she understands the importance of what she is talking about. I genuinely hadn't wanted to her to find out before everyone else, but my little sister has become a rather nifty little spy.
"No, but I will soon. Have you told anyone what I plan on doing?" I inquire.
"No," she says defensively.
"What about daddy or Mommy"
"No" She says again in a more defensively
"Not even our grandparents, or Uncle Elliot or Aunt Mia or Aunt Kate?" I question her.
"I told you Ted, No one. It is the first secret I have kept!"
"Sound like you has been hard at work then?" I tell her playfully.
"It's been really hard work, not to tell anyone... But" Phoebe then puts her fingers over her mouth. "Pops I did tell one person. I told Mary" She admits. I go into instant damage control mode. I can't let this get out, or I will need to change my plans.
"Okay, who is Mary" I ask.
"She is my new American girl doll. I bought it with mommy when we were California". I start to laugh and let go of a sigh of relief.
"I am sorry." Phoebe looks like she is going to cry.
"FiFi, that's fine. You know that dolls are very special. You are allowed to tell you them anything you like and they keep it hidden. It's a superpower that they have" I tell Phoebe, which makes her eyes glow once more.
"Superpowers," She says animated. I nod seriously. "No one ever told me about that. But who do boys tell their secret to as they don't have dolls? Who did you tell your secrets to?" She asks
"I don't know. I don't think I told anyone my secrets when I was little" I inform her. Phoebe shakes her head at me.
"Boys also silly" she says
"Yes FiFi, we are. So you should stay away from boys until you are thirty." Okay I admit it; I am as protective of my little sister as my father.
# # # #
Dinner is served promptly at seven, and my parents have gone all out to celebrate mine and Lily's return. Conversation is varied across the table. Most of the questions aimed at Lily and I are focused on our commencement of full time work and moving into Escala. After we finish our entree and main course, we decide to wait a while before we have cake which is our desert. Regardless of the break in festivities I can't seem to get access to Lily privately; everyone seems to be in every part of the main areas or in areas where you can view the property... I need help. I find someone who would be able to help me, which in this case are my parents.
"Mom and Dad, I need some help. I honestly need to be with Lily right now. Can you help keep everyone away so we can have some privacy outside?"
My parent looks at each other suddenly; they seemed shocked as if they have seen a ghost. Or maybe they know. Maybe my parents know. Even if my sister hadn't told them, maybe my CPO mentioned something, even though he promised not to.
"Ted, I don't think that this is the most appropriate time, to relieve any stress you may be feeling. Dinner will be over soon and then you can please yourself with Lily as you wish" I get more horrified with each word my father says.
"Dad what on earth are you talking about?"
"Ted, don't play stupid. Your mother and I know you are far from being a virgin" Oh my. No way... seriously? He thinks I want to take Lily outside to be intimate... Now and here? My horror soon turns to humor.
"Look son, your mother and I were also young once and we too were a little adventurous" I can barely even look at my parents, and I notice that my mother is blushing a deep crimson color.
"No wonder Mom got pregnant with me so quickly," I say appalled at the information I have just received. My parents both give me a look letting me know that they are displeased.
"Mom and Dad thank you for your openness, and I figure I should do the same. The reason I want to be with alone with Lily is because of this" I take out the little box from my pocket and show them. At first they are both stunned into silence. Wow this must be a first, and then they both relax and though shocked seem happy.
"Have you asked Gwen and Ros?" My father asks.
"Dad it isn't the early 1900's, but nonetheless I did. They said they would support Lily's decision as it was up to her. Ros also said that if she said yes, then not to expect any special conditions, even though I will be the boss's son, her daughters fiance and her future son in law." Dad and Mom nod at each other.
"Okay ted, you have thirty minutes, we will keep everyone busy, scatter them around the house a little more, so they don't notice. Just give us a little bit of time." My mother tells me.
"Thanks I need the use of the meadow, so keep everyone away from the outside!"
My ever so competent parents soon put their plans into action. Thankfully my uncle Elliot has switched the large TV on to watch the game, which has captured the attention of most of my family members and Gwen. Dad is talking to Ros about some business project, whilst my mother and grandmother are taking my sister upstairs to have a bath. Ava and her new beau are so preoccupied that they are not a concern. I take Lily's hand and lead her outside.
"Where are we going?" She asks.
"Outside, come I have a surprise for you." Before she can object, I have taken her hand and walking with her into the meadow. In the middle is a picnic blanket, a bottle of champagne and strawberries.
"You planned this?" She says smiling. I help her down and sit next to her. "It's very you Ted. Surprising and magnificent" Before I know it, she is kissing me hard. I give myself to her, and then wonder that maybe we should let ourselves go as my parents suspected. No one is looking or around, but I am worried that I will lose my nerve. I pour two glasses of champagne and pass one to Lily.
"What should we toast to?" I inquire.
"To new beginnings, to our lives together and our future" She toasts. Brilliant.
"That sounds brilliant and in the essence of that toast" I take a quick deep breath and pull out the box that has weighed down my jacket, though never break eye contact with Lily.
"Lily Hughes-Bailey, will you marry me?" I ask taking her hand. Lily's looks at me surprised. She obviously was not expecting this.
Ana's POV
Having Grace up here has meant that Phoebe's bath was extended as she played with her in the bath. With Ava away at college, and the fact that they missed out on Ted's formative years, Grace and Carrick shower Phoebe with attention. They are the ultimate babysitters, even offering to take her for a week while Christian and I go overseas to celebrate our anniversary.
I watch Phoebe lap up all the attention. She is rather different to Ted at this age. She is much more emotional and acts on instinct and impulse, whereas Ted use to think things out and extraordinarily much in control. I dry off Phoebe and aim to get her quickly dress in her pajamas. Since we are at our house and it is just family, along with Gwen and Ros, whom we are rather close to, there are no issues of having her re-join the party dresses in her pajamas, robe and slippers. It is already 9:30pm and she usually goes to bed around 7-7:30pm. Christian is rather strict about bedtimes, even when we are hosting events such as this one, and I have to agree with him. Regardless of what time Phoebe goes to bed she still get up at the same time and is then terribly grumpy.
"Can I come in?" Both Phoebe and I look to the door find Christian. Oh my, he may have turned Fifty, but still looks as killer as he did the first time I met him.
"Sure Daddy, we are just about ready" I tell him. Phoebe always gets a giggle when I call Christian daddy Christian enters but almost trips over the crowded room. Stumbling now, he comes over and wraps his arms around our clean little girl.
"Maybe it is time we move Phoebe into the bigger room next door." I giggle, thankful that he finally agrees with me.
"Are you ready to come downstairs and say good night to everyone?" Christian tells Phoebe. Instantly her little smile drops and she is the picture of despair. One would think that she was just told something absolutely horrendous, and her going to bed while family and friends are still here is nothing new to her.
"No Daddy, please. Ted is here" she explains.
"I know princess, but he is back forever now. You can see him all the time now, it is extremely late, and way past time for little four year old girls to be in bed" Christian informs her. Both are eying each other off until Phoebe moves over to her father and puts her hands on his cheeks. She is pouting a little and looking up at him through her big blue eyes. This is her trademark look and one that even Christian struggles to say no to her when she is like this.
"Daddy, please. I don't want to go to bed yet. We haven't had cake yet, and I helped Mrs Jones to decorate it." She explains.
"I can save you a big piece, and you can have it for morning tea, tomorrow." Christian offers but is just met with a shake of Phoebes head.
"No. Please Daddy, let me stay up." Christian, who seems to be wavering, looks at his watch, and his lips form a hard line.
"Phoebe, I am sorry, but it is two and a half hours past your bedtime. You are going to be extremely tired tomorrow as it"
"But I won't be able to sleep if I go to bed now. I am too excited" Phoebe starts to jump around now on her bed, much to the concern of her safety driven father. Though she is right, she is excited. No, she is more hyped up, than anything.
"Phoebe, your bed is not a trampoline" I tell her. "Princess we are all excited that Ted is home now…"
"That isn't the only reason I am excited."
"What else are you excited about then?" Christina inquires. Phoebe smiles and shakes her head.
"I can't tell you. It is a super big secret"
"Phoebe we are your parents, and you know that one of the rules in this house is that you don't keep secrets from us" Christian lightly scolds.
"I know, but Ted made me promise, I can't tell you his secret. I am not even supposed to know" She comments. Christian and I both look at each other. She wouldn't know already, would she?
"Does this secret have something to do with ted and Lily?" I ask
"Yes and a big ring that I found in ted room" She admits.
"When did you find that in Ted's room?" Christian questions.
"Last time he came home for the weekend. I went into his room when you and he were in the Gym. So can I please, please stay up now?" Christian drops his shoulders and look to me to get a consensus. I nod in agreement.
"Okay this time you can. But I do not want you to be grumpy tomorrow, and we will be talking tomorrow about not going into anyone's room and respecting their privacy"
"Excellency" Phoebe remarks and before we know it she has bolted out of her room and downstairs.
Christian spell bounded by our little girl turns to face me and wraps his arms around me. "Our little girl sure knows how to keep us on our toes. We are going to have to be more careful. Who knows what she will find in our room"
"Good things we keep all of those things locked up" Christian kisses my forehead and then my lips softly. I am vaguely aware that he is holding me close at the same time.
"You do realize Christian that Phoebe has you wrapped around her little finger." I inform him.
"Yes I know, at least she can be tamed at times, unlike her mother." Christian commences to kiss me more passionately than before. "Come, we don't have much time before everyone will be looking for us, and I really need you now."Christian sweeps me up and carries me into our bedroom.
# # # #
Christians POV:
When we both walk downstairs, Elliot and Ted are the first people we see. Elliot smirks at us, making me blush.
"Finally where have you two been? You told me I only had thirty minutes, but that time ended another thirty minutes ago, and Phoebe has been down stairs for almost 40 minutes." Ted says annoyed at our absence.
"Ted, best not to ask what your parents have been doing. I suspect it was the same thing you and Lily were doing when you both skipped out. Seriously and everyone use to think I was the one that needed taming." Elliot scoffs and joins the rest of the family. I give my brother a scolding look, whilst he just leaves Ana and Ted rather embarrassed.
"So Ted, everyone pan out okay?" I ask him.
"In terms of what? Everyone I planned was there, and I asked Lily" He informs us.
"And?" I ask irate at my son's lack of information.
"Teddy, it's time for cake." Phoebe runs in and takes Ted's hand. He smiles at as he is dragged into the main room. With no other chance to find out what Lily's answer was we follow our two children. In the main room, Ted is sitting next to Lily whilst Christians has Phoebe on his lap.
"Lily and I want to say thank you to all for coming to dinner and thank you to Gail for making this cake for us."
"I helped decorate it" Phoebe pipes up, making us all laugh.
"Yes, and to you too Phoebe" lily says. As Ted and Lily look at each other, Christian wraps his one free arm around me tightly. I know that Ted and Lily are hopelessly in love. The look that Ted and Lily shares, is the same look Christian, and I share.
"So with all that said, I guess we should inform you that tonight I ask Lily to marry me and she said yes" ted informs everyone. At first there is a silent hush around the room then it practically explodes with congratulations.
"Though please keep in mind that we intend on a slightly longer engagement. We have so much to adjust to at home that we you all may be waiting a couple of years, but we are going to be married" Lily informs us. I am rather happy to hear this. I know they are made for each other, but I do think they need time to be together in the real world.
An hour later everyone has left, leaving Ana and myself on the couch, with an excited Phoebe jumping around the main room. She is beyond excited as she has been asked to be the flower girl. She spent the last thirty minutes with Lily asking a thousand questions. What her dress would look like, what flowers she will get to hold if she would get to have a tiara and every other possible question. The biggest problem will be the fact that they were serious about waiting a couple of years, and that is an awful long time to a four year old.
"We should put Phoebe to bed." Ana points out.
"I agree, but we may have to strap her into bed." I know that Phoebe is beyond sleepy, but she is so hyped up.
"Okay Miss Phoebe, time for bed" I tell her. She looks over at me and run and jumps up. Thank god my reflexes are as sturdy as they are. Ana and I carry her up the stairs and snuggle her into her bed. The second her head hits the pillow she begins to yawn and her eyes become heavy. Part of me is rather sorrowful that she is so tried. Usually Ana and I read to her, and talk about the day, but there is no way that Phoebe will stay awake long enough for that tonight.
I softly kiss her forehead. "Good night princess, I will see you in the morning" I tell her.
"Good night daddy. Thank you for letting me stay up" She says yawning. I step back and watch as Ana and Phoebe kiss and hug each other goodnight.
Ana and I walk hand in hand out of our daughter's room. Tomorrow I will instruct security to move her out and into the larger room next door. This way she will have her own bathroom and toys. She is old enough.
"I love you mommy and daddy" we hear our little girl call out before she falls into a deep sleep.
"We love you too" I reply.
We exit Phoebe's room and walk into our room. Ana begins to remove her clothes and looks over to me.
"Christian?"
"Yes"
"Make love to me" I run my knuckles over her jaw and smile.
"Nothing would please me more."