Ana's POV

Two days later

I don't remember much of the next two days. All that's going around in my mind is that I'm sick and I'm pregnant. I feel as if the world is playing a cruel joke on me. Finally, I find the love of my life but, he is so messed up from a horrible childhood and a horrible abusive past with that woman, that he thinks he can't and doesn't deserve love. He thinks the only way for anyone to love him is thru domination and submission.

But I can't think about anything but the possibilities of what my blood results may reveal. How am I going to battle something and raise an infant? Then I realized I am getting ahead of myself. First, I need to know if and what I have. I am driving around aimlessly on a Tuesday afternoon because I left SIP early. I couldn't concentrate on anything else but my possible sickness. I stop at a stoplight and dig out the business card for Dr. Meredith Grey that Dr. Greene gave me. I take a deep breath as I begin to dial the number.

"Dr. Meredith Grey speaking."

"Dr. Grey, my name is Anastasia Steel. I was given your name by Dr. Greene."

"Yes, I was expecting your call."

"I would like to setup an appointment as soon as possible. Has Dr. Greene explained my situation?"

"Yes, she has and I'm sorry you have go through this but, let's get you in here, find out what's going on and, get a plan in place.

"Thank you, Dr. Grey

"You're welcome. Anastasia, I will personally oversee your case, along with Dr. Rebecca Swender. I know she has an open appointment today at 3 pm. Will that work for you?"

" Yes, that will work. I'm not that far from the hospital. I'll turn around and be there soon."

"Good. I'll see you then."

I turn my car around and head back to the hospital. Just as I turn into the hospital parking lot my cell rings. I look down and the screen says, "Christian". My heart starts hammering in my chest. I can't handle the drama with him right now. I need to have a plan in place before he tries to take over my life again. I have avoided his calls for days. He even e-mails, texts, and sends flowers, but I just need space to figure everything out. Now, on top of Christian's issues, I have my own.

I get out of my car and, for the second time today, head inside to get life changing news.

As I get to front desk to check in, I see Christian's mother down the hall. All I can think is "the last thing I need right now is to run into Grace." I'm sure she doesn't know Christian and I broke up and, how would I explain to her why I left him? I really hope I can get answers before I must deal with anyone with the last name of Grey.

I go sit down in a chair and wait to be called back. I sit in the waiting room for what feels like an eternity but, then I see Dr. Meredith Grey come toward me.

"Anastasia, please follow me, right this way."

"Dr. Grey, please call me Ana."

Meredith smiles. "Sure, Ana."

Grace's POV

Unbeknownst to Ana, Grace had seen the whole exchange between her and Dr. Grey. All Grace could think about was what was going on with Ana and, if she's here alone, where is her son. She couldn't believe Christian wouldn't be with Ana here at the hospital. There is no way Christian wouldn't be here if there was something wrong with Ana.

She knew something had happened between them recently because Christian was back to shutting everyone out again. But she knew not to pry into her children's personal lives. If they truly needed her, they would come to her, she hoped, and if she got a chance to speak to Ana, she hoped she could help her as well.

Ana's POV

I am sitting in Dr. Grey's office looking around and waiting for Dr. Swender. I am so scared what this all means for me and my unborn child. Finally, Dr. Swender arrives. She gives me a small smile and the look on her face is one of sympathy.

"Hello, Miss Steel, I'm sorry I'm late. A consolation ran over."

"It's fine. Please call me Ana."

"Okay, Ana, I have been looking over your test results your gynecologist, Dr. Greene, sent over. Ana, from your breast exam she did and an earlier mammogram, it looks like you may have breast cancer. We will need to run more tests to confirm and see what stage of breast cancer we're dealing with. I would like to run those tests today and I will put a rush on the lab so that we can get a treatment plan started."

I try and listen to everything Dr. Swender is telling me, but it feels as if I'm have an out of body experience and this is happening to someone else. I nod at what she's telling me but, I'm so scared right now, I wish Christian was here to give me strength but, he's not here and never will be. I'm on my own. Finally, I notice Dr. Swender has stopped talking.

"Yes, please, let's get started so I can go home."

Dr. Swender gives me another look to convey her sympathy.

"Okay, first we'll do a mammogram and draw some blood for more extensive testing, and a sonogram to check on the baby, to see how far along you are, and give you a due date."

I nod my acceptance. I just want to get the longest day of my life over already.

Four hours later, I'm done being poked and prodded and am exhausted. I head back to the exam room to get my test results from Dr. Swender. It took another fifteen minutes for her to arrive with Dr. Grey. The look on her face gives me no indication how bad the test results are and that scares me to my core.

"Ana, there is some good news and some bad news."

"Okay, please just tell me."

"Well the good news is that the cancer is still localized in your left breast but, it's a fairly large mass of two centimeters, it is still in stage one, and has not spread to any other part of your body."

Ana lets the news sink in. "But what's the bad news, Dr. Swender?"

"The sonogram we did to look at the baby and double check the one with your OB, Dr. Greene, told us you are six weeks pregnant. We don't recommend treatment for expectant mothers until the second trimester because chemotherapy and radiation is harmful to the unborn child until the second trimester."

"So, you're telling me I have breast cancer but can't start treatment yet."

"Yes, Miss. Steel."

"What are my chances of survival if I wait?"

"Miss. Steel, I hate to say this but your health is of the utmost importance here. I would recommend termination of this pregnancy."

What deeply shocks me Dr. Swender is suggesting there is no way I am getting rid of Christian's and my innocent unborn child.

"No, Dr. Swender, there is no way I am ending this pregnancy. I am looking out my child's health and safety here. If I must wait, I will wait until I deliver for treatment. All that matters to me is a healthy child.

"Ana, please reconsider."

"I will not do anything to harm my child or their well-being."

Dr. Grey decides to step in the conversation to defuse the situation.

"Please, Ana, what Dr. Swender is suggesting is that you take your health and well-being into consideration.

"Dr. Grey, I am considering my health bu, like Dr. Swender just stated, I have to wait until the second trimester to start treatment so that my child is out of danger. So, does it really matter if I wait until I give birth to begin treatment?"

"Ana, if you wait any longer than the second trimester or wait to start treatment until you give birth, the cancer could advance in stage and location and would be harder to treat."

"But, I can't risk my baby. I won't."

Both doctors look at Ana, perplexed how to proceed from here. Ana, frustrated with this conversation, gets off the exam table and leaves without saying another word.

Ana's head is spinning with all this new information. She isn't paying attention where she is going and she bumps right into someone. She stumbles back and looks up to apologize and the person staring back at her is none other than Dr. Grace Trevelayan-Grey.

Ana is shocked. Yes, she knew Grace was working today because she had seen her before her appointment but, she was hoping not to run in to her and have to explain everything in detail.

"Grace, I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you okay?"

"Ana, honey, I'm fine but you look shaken. Are you okay, sweetie?"

"Oh, yes, Grace, I'm fine. I really must go."

Grace's POV

I can tell Ana is sad and scared about something and all I want to do is help her. I need to get her to trust me. I can tell that whatever the problem is, it is about to break this poor sweet girl. So, I do what comes naturally to me, I take Ana in my arms and convey my love to her, like any mother would if their daughter was in any sort of pain. I can feel Ana's walls are starting to crumble while she's in my embrace. She starts to cry on my shoulder and my heart breaks for her.

"Shhh, sweetie, whatever is wrong, we can fix it. I promise you."

I feel Ana shake her head, "No", on my shoulder and she starts crying even harder, if that is possible. I rock her back and forth in my arms, as you would a small child, trying to calm her down.

"Ana, sweetie, let's go to my office, away from the prying eyes of everyone".

She doesn't respond, but she moves with me willingly down the hallway. As we enter my office, I sit Ana on my sofa and hand her a tissue to dry her eyes. I sit beside her silently and wait for her to tell me what's wrong.

"Ana, sweetie, whatever is wrong we can fix it. I promise I'll do everything in my power to help you and, so will Christian. I'm sure of it."

At the mention of Christian, Ana breaks down again and beings to sob, so much so she starts to hyperventilate. I am so shocked by this reaction that it takes me a moment to get my bearings.

"Ana, honey, you need to breathe for me."

I take her face in my hands so she can only focus on me.

"Breathe, Ana, please for me just in and out, nice and slow, just follow my lead."

I demonstrate the breathing pattern I want her to follow and she does slowly.

"Good girl, nice and slow."

Once I see that Ana is calming down, I release my hold on her and smile reassuringly.

"There we go. Now, Ana, can you tell me what's wrong?"

Ana's POV

Where do I begin to tell Grace what's wrong? I look at into Grace's kind eyes and I want to blurt everything that is weighting me down but, how do I without it getting back to Christian? I look at Grace and decide to tell her everything. I just hope she can keep everything confidential until I figure out how to deal with the situation, and with Christian.

"Grace, what I'm about to tell you cannot get back to Christian until I figure how to deal with the situation and how to tell him. Promise me".

"Ana, whatever it is I will respect your wishes."

"Thank You."

I take a deep breath before diving into the drama that is my life currently.

"Grace, I have breast cancer, stage one, in my left breast."

"Oh, Ana, honey, I am so sorry. What's your doctor's suggested treatment plan?"

"Right now, there isn't one because I refused until it is safe for me to be given treatment."

"Ana, honey, I don't understand. If your oncologist has a treatment plan set up for you, why are you holding off starting treatment?"

"This is what you can't tell Christian. I'm six weeks pregnant and treatment right now could harm the baby. I refuse to put mine and Christian's child in any harm."

Grace's POV

I sit here trying to process what she just finished telling me but, I can't understand, believe this. This beautiful young woman in front of me is very sick and scared and I will do whatever I need to do to help her through this.

"Ana, I hate not involving Christian but, please, promise me you'll reach out to him because it is his child as well."

"Grace, I promise you, once I figure out a plan and have it in place, he will be involved. I just need to figure it out first and what to do next.

"Oh, honey, I promise we will. Carrick and I will be with you every step of the way."

"Thank you, Grace, that means a lot to me."