Christian
"Andrea I'm heading out for lunch now, I'll be back around 2 pm." I let her know on my way to the elevator and Taylor steps inside with me.
"Sawyer just sent me a text. Miss Steele didn't feel well, so he is driving her to Dr. Greene's." He says and I immediately grab my phone and call Ana.
"Hi Christian."
"Ana what is wrong, Taylor told me you don't feel well?"
"It's nothing to worry about. I just didn't sleep well last night and have been off all morning, so I thought driving myself wasn't the best idea, because I can't concentrate on anything today."
"Take the rest of the day off, I can talk to your boss if you want to."
"You don't need to. Courtney already told me to go home and rest after my appointment, she has three kids... so she knows what it's like."
"Good, so... are you nervous too?"
"Yes, I guess that's what kept me up all night. I really want to know what we are having so I can start to buy clothes for our baby and we can start to think about a name... umm... there is something we need to talk about."
"Sure, what is it?" I ask and get a bad feeling because she sounds nervous.
"Well, I know you said you wanted to buy the furniture for our baby and I agreed, but yesterday my Dad called and let it slip that he is building a crib and other furniture for the baby in his free time. He is a carpenter and... "
"Ana, if your Dad is building the furniture it's fine. Actually, it's great because it's something to keep for the generations to come." Fuck me, did I really just say that? A few months ago having a child would have been the end of the world for me, but now I even smile at the thought of being a grandpa one day... which also reminds me that I should visit my own grandparents more often...
"That sounds great... hey Christian, look to your right." Ana says suddenly. Taylor has just pulled into traffic and as I do I see Ana's smiling face, grinning at me from the open window of the SUV next to us.
"I love seeing you smile, baby." I blurt out and mentally kick myself, I'm nowhere near to calling her any kind of endearment, but it just slipped off my tongue.
"Well, I wish I could see you at all, baby." Ana replies after a moment, but just as I am about to roll the window down Sawyer pulls in front of us.
"Well, I guess you have to wait, see you soon."
"Bye."
At Dr. Greene's office I am completely out of my element and have to restrain myself from playing with the plastic uterus on her desk. Instead I grab a brochure and flick through it without even noticing what I am reading until I hear Ana giggle and look up.
"Interesting read?" She smirks and I look at what I am holding in my hands. 'How to deal with vaginal dryness during and after menopause'
"I ... umm... Christ, this place makes my skin crawl and what the fuck is that?" I mutter and point to some metallic object on a table.
"That would be a speculum, Mr. Grey... open wide, ya know?" Ana says deadpan and my mouth drops open. Of course, in BDSM many gynecological instruments are used, but I was never into that kind shit, so I had no idea.
"Looks like some kind of torture device and what's that, looks like a weird vibrator."
"It's a wand for internal ultrasounds." Ana explains and scrunches her nose, indicating that she doesn't like that thing at all... well she can handle a lot more.
"So... have you thought about names?" She asks.
"No, well I don't want something stupid, I like traditional names, something that isn't going to get our kid teased in school."
"Me too, I would like to use Ray's name as a middle name for a boy and maybe your mom's as middle name for a girl." She says surprising me.
"Yes, I like that a lot. My mom would be over the moon... and what about the last name?" I ask approaching a topic that is really important to me, because I want the baby to have my last name.
"What about it... I thought... never mind." She murmurs staring at her knotted fingers.
"Ana look at me what is wrong?"
"Well, up until now I just assumed the baby would have your last name, but if you don't want..."
"No! That is exactly what I want, but we are not married or officially dating, so I wasn't sure what you want."
"Christian, you have seen the sonogram picture haven't you looked at what is written on it?" She asks and I get it out of my wallet... of course baby Grey.
"I'm sorry, Ana..."
"No, it's fine, I guess Autumn was right when she said we need to talk more and assume less." She says still not looking at me and I try to come up with something to lighten the mood.
"See, this appointment has already been very productive, our baby now has a middle name and last name... and I have learned a lot of stuff that will help me get through menopause without feeling dry and itchy." I wink at her and she giggles just as Doctor Greene walks in.
"Ana, it's good to see you, how have you been since we last saw each other?" She asks totally ignoring me.
"Good, I've gained another pound, but seeing that I lost a lot of weight in the beginning that's a good thing, right?"
"It is, has the morning sickness seized?"
"Yes, but I still have some dizzy spells from time to time and I need a lot more sleep than usual." She says and I make a mental note to contact Roach at SIP and ask him to offer Ana to come in part time until she goes into maternity leave.
"Well, you have to listen to what your body is telling you, Ana. You had a major accident and nearly died, with the baby in addition to healing, your body is also going through a lot and being pregnant takes a lot of energy. So make sure that you take breaks when you need it, get enough sleep and eat healthy. I also want you to measure your blood pressure for the next two weeks twice a day and write it down for me. Often dizzy spells stem from exhaustion, but we don't want to take any risks. Any other symptoms you have been experiencing lately?" Dr. Greene asks and Ana blushes.
"I'm craving a lot of different foods at unusual times of the day, but other than that there is nothing that you haven't told me to expect now that I am in my second trimester." She replies and bites her lip, telling me that there is something she either doesn't want Dr. Greene or me to know.
"Good, now let's have a look at the little one, shall we?"
"Mr. Grey, you might want to stand at Ana's head so you can see the monitor too." Dr. Greene says when Ana hops onto the exam table and pulls her shirt up exposing her belly. I watch Dr. Greene apply some sort of clear gel to Ana's belly and then she switches the ultrasound machine on, takes the wand and puts it to Ana's belly.
"And there we have it, see Ana your baby is now almost 5 inches long." She says and presses some buttons on the machine. The next second the room is filled with weird noises and Dr. Greene moves the wand until I hear it ba boom ba boom ...
"That's our baby's heartbeat." Ana tells me with a huge smile and for the first time in a long while I am speechless. This is the most amazing thing I have ever heard.
"Can you see if we are having a boy or a girl?" Ana asks and Dr. Greene smiles at her.
"Well, let me see if I can get a good view, you are 15+4, so we might be able to determine the gender of your baby now." She says and moves the wand around some more until she freezes the picture.
"Looks like your baby is being very cooperative today. See here, these are the baby's legs and they are open wide and here... do you see those two tiny dots?" She asks and to be honest I have no idea what she is pointing at.
"Yes." Ana murmurs trying to make something out of the picture in front of us as well.
"Those tiny little dots are the testicles and that makes it official, congratulations, you are having a little boy." Dr. Greene says and I feel tears burn in my eyes. A boy, I'm going to have a son.
"Happy?" Ana whispers to me and gives me her gorgeous smile.
"Very happy." I reply and scowl when we are interrupted by a nurse who barges in without even knocking first.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but your security guard is asking to talk to you immediately, Mr. Grey." She murmurs apologetic.
"I'll be right back, I'm sorry Ana." I mutter and step outside where I find Taylor.
"This better be something important!" I snap, annoyed that he couldn't wait until Ana and I came out.
"I apologize, Sir. Someone must have contacted the media. There are at least fifty paps outside the hospital." He says and I groan. Fuck, I was hoping to keep a lid on Ana's pregnancy at least for a few more weeks.
"If they even breathe too close to Ana heads will be rolling!" I snap.
"I have already called for backup, however I would recommend to leave in one car so we can put Sawyer behind us as a buffer between us and the paps who will be following us. In addition, I have someone check Miss Steele's place before we return her home, she has already been linked to you since the accident, now things will become more extreme." He says and I run my hands through my hair, this is just what I need. I can't tell her to stay with me until this blows over and it will drive me insane fearing that the freaking paparazzi are going to be all over her to get a good picture of her baby bump.
"Christian is everything alright?" I hear Ana's voice behind me and turn around.
"Someone spilt the beans about us being here. The media is outside." I let her know and she frowns.
"Well, it was bound to happen, right? Let's just give them what they want." She says and takes her shirt off under which she is wearing a tight fitting tank top.
"What are you doing, Ana?"
"Look, if they believe that there is a chance I'm carrying your child they won't go away until they get a picture of my belly. Let's just give them what they want so they can run off to find another story. Maybe Taylor can tell them they can snap their pictures if they leave afterwards and give us some privacy." She says and I want to say no, but Taylor clears his throat.
"Sir, before you dismiss Miss Steele's idea, I would like to say that she is right. Once they have what they want they will ease up on her. We can arrange for Sam to come over from GEH and address them before you step out. I know this is not your style, but sometimes you have to feed the vultures to make them cooperate."
I stare at Taylor and then back to Ana. I hate this, really fucking hate it, but very begrudgingly I have to admit that this plan could work.
"Fine, call Sam." I snap. Samantha Banks has been my head of PR for almost 6 years now, she has been with us almost from the beginning and if she thinks this is the right thing to do, I'll go through with it.
Fifteen Minutes later Ana, Taylor, Sawyer, Ryan, Reynolds, Sam and I are in a private waiting area going over the plans... or to be more exact everyone except for Ana. She has found a vending machine and is now devouring her third Butterfinger chocolate bar.
"Oh my gosh, this is ridiculous, I don't even like them." She mutters and Sam laughs.
"Just be thankful it's only a chocolate bar you don't usually go for, when I had my son last year I was craving sandwiches with raspberry jam and mustard." Sam says making everyone gape at her.
"Anyway, the hospital management and security has been very forthcoming. They are securing one of the side entrances as we speak. I will go out first and let the paps know that they have three minutes to snap their pictures, no questions. I will confirm that Miss Steele is indeed carrying your child, but won't address the due date or anything else. Your legal department is already getting an written agreement ready, stating that in return for the pictures they will not harass Miss Steele, camp outside her apartment or come within a 10 feet radar of her for the remainder of her pregnancy."
"Is this legally binding?" I ask.
"Well, it's an agreement. So if one of the paps who signed it breaks the rules there will be a penalty. I would still recommend increased security for her, but that is Taylor's business not mine." She says and turns to Ana. "Is there anything you need Miss Steele?" She asks her.
"Not really, I just wish I would have worn something nicer today, I look stupid." She says and I want to roll my eyes, but stop knowing that Ana has always suffered from a low self-esteem and now her pictures will be splattered all over the media.
"How long before we have to go out, Sam?"
"Half an hour, Mr. Grey. We have to wait for your legal team get everything printed and signed first."
"I need to make a phone call." I step outside and call Mia.
"Hey Christian, shouldn't you be at work?" She asks.
"I accompanied Ana to her doctor's appointment, where are you Mia?"
"Shopping downtown." She says, which fits my plans perfectly.
"Great, listen, Ana and I are about to let the media get some shots of her belly, they found out we are here. Ana needs a change of clothes, something that will show off her belly and make her feel comfortable at the same time... maybe a nice dress."
"On it, how long do I have?"
"We need to step outside in about thirty minutes."
"Okay, I have to hurry then, Dr. Greene has her office at mom's hospital right?"
"Yes, we are in a private waiting area on the third floor, give me a call when you are here."
"Will do, bye." She hangs up and I return to the waiting area where I sit down next to Ana.
"You are sure you want to this?"
"I don't want to do this, Christian, but I have to. I don't want them to circle around me wherever I go or be scared what is going to happen next with them. If they have what they want, they have no reason to be after me and I can go on with my life." She says and I hate that I have put her into this position.
"I'm sorry, can I make it up to you in anyway?"
"Yes, can you take the rest of the day off?" She asks.
"I already called Andrea to let her know I wouldn't return to the office today, why?"
"Then you can accompany me to your grandparents." She says and I frown.
"You are visiting my grandparents?"
"Yes, your grandmother is great, I was sick as a dog on some days and when Grace told her about it, she started to bake these very light crackers for me and had them sent to my place, they were all I could keep down for a while, I want to stop by and thank her." She explains and it makes me feel like shit, because I haven't seen or called my grandparents since all this shit went down.
"I'll join you, I haven't seen them in a while." I finally reply and from that moment on we wait until we get the okay to go outside...fuck, I hope this doesn't turn out to be a huge mistake...