Chapter 24: Revenge
Ana
Things were finally getting back to normal for us. I was excited that Christian was coming home earlier than he use to just to spend time with us. He was always home at a decent time, but now he was home at the right time. It has been almost three weeks since his memory came back, and the anniversary of Ethan's death is coming up next week. Christian had planned on taking us all to Hawaii for it, but Mia decided she just wanted to stay home with the twins.
I understood her reason wanting to spend it at home, but Christian thought should have family close by her. She declined that offer saying she wanted the boys to know how much they meant to her and their dad. So he resigned and offered to send her away afterwards with the boys. She agreed to that.
"Ana are you ready to go," Christian asks as he enters the library where I was currently seeking refuge from the outside world.
"Yeah, did you get Teddy and Grace dressed," I asked as I put the manuscript I had in my hand down on the coffee table.
"Grace was easy, Teddy squirmed and moved around so much," he mutters as he pulls me into a hug placing a soft and gentle kiss to my forehead. I was anxious about going to this dinner at his parents' house because of the last family get together we had resulted in him getting shot. My thoughts were all over the place as we started heading to the living room where the kids were waiting for us.
"Momma," Teddy calls out as he reaches up for me from the couch. God, I loved my kids so darn much that sometimes I wished we had a normal family.
"Hey, baby," I say as I pull him into my arms. He always reminds me of the love and struggle that Christian and I have endured.
"Okay, let's go," Christian says as he has Gracie in his arms. He has been attached to both the kids since he got his memory back, afraid that he might forget something if he looks away from them.
"Yes, we better get going or we will be late," I say as I look over to the clock on the wall. We arrived at the Grey Manor with a few seconds to spare, but no one really noticed. The night was very solemn as we ate dinner and discussed the plans for the next few weeks. Mia seemed very distant throughout the evening, but no one else seemed to notice, but me. I was beginning to worry about her, but was afraid of how to approach her without making things worse. I watched as she played with her two sons and even the other kids in the backyard. She was so at ease with them. I know both Ethan and her wanted a few more children, but never got the chance to have them. When Ethan was murdered she was pregnant, but the heartbreak of losing him caused her a miscarriage. She was devastated about it.
"Mia," I said as I sat down next to her on the porch.
"Ana, how are you doing," she says as she turns toward me barely.
"I'm not sure. It is kind of weird getting back to my old life. I was out of reality for so long I am finding it difficult in getting back. I didn't come out to talk about me. How are you doing?" I questioned reaching my hand over to her and placing it on hers which were resting in her lap.
"I'm hanging in there. It's hard," she whispers as she starts to cry. I pull her into a hug.
"I know," I say slowly. She nods into my shoulder.
"The boys are asking more questions about Ethan, and at times it just can't handle them," she quietly admits.
"I guess we could all help with the questions if you want. I mean we all knew Ethan and if the boys need answers about there daddy we could all tell them something about him. I mean if you want us to," I say as she lifts her head away from me. I could see a small spark in the corner of her eye. Ethan and Mia had a great marriage and they loved each other so much. I know they were up there in the clouds most of the time, but they really loved each other.
"I think that would be very helpful," she said with a small smile.
"I think I have another idea as well maybe you should write down your love story in a book format, and then find pictures to go with it, and make a memory book or even make an actual book for them to have," I say with a smile.
"How?" she questions. I smile to her. I had a perfect idea, and would need the help of the whole family for it.
"I think we should all write about what we know about Ethan and you and make a book about it. It could be whatever we thinl the boys should know to help keep the memory of their father alive in them. Once all the chapters are written then have Grey Publishing publish it into a final hardback book," I say.
"That would be great. I mean I have told the boys several stories about their dad and me, but they seem to forget and ask me to tell them the stories over. I know it isn't fair to them, but sometimes it hurts to retell things about their dad," she says softly.
"Well then we should get it all down once, and then they will have it for themselves," I say pulling her closer to me.
"What are my two favorite ladies talking about?" questions Christian as he comes out onto the porch.
"Well it took you long enough to come out," I mutter.
"Carrick was talking to me about the trial," he mutters back as he sits down beside me.
"Mia and I think we should all write a book for the twins to help them remember Ethan," I say looking out at all the kids running around in the backyard.
"I think that would be a great idea. It would be nice to write down some of the things Ethan did that was stupid and reckless," he says laughing as I elbow him in the stomach.
"Right, like the big CEO Christian Grey never did anything reckless," Mia mutters which causes us all to break out laughing.
"Oh, it's so good to hear laughter out here," Grace says as she joins us.
"Yes, mother laughter is good," Christian says as he gets up and heads out into the yard to chase the little kids. I sit there watching my fifty as he runs after Teddy. I wonder how I go so lucky with him. He has been my life line for so long, that if anything would happen to take him away from me it would be hard. I don't think I could ever go on in life without him. I couldn't move on like Mia. She truly is stronger than me. I needed to do this for her.
********Fifty Shades Shattered********
?POV
I am currently sitting in the back of a courtroom watching as the damn Grey family is filling in taking their seats for what is being called the 'Trial of the Century.' Really like this is big news, big news is kids being murdered or gun control, but what happens to Christian Grey shouldn't be referred to as big news. It makes me sick watching them all being happy and everything. I lost everything because of that 'prick tease' and her man. It's time for my payback and this little trail will be nothing like what I have planned for them. Revenge is so sweet.
*******Fifty Shades Shattered********
Christian
I hated having to wait for something to happen. I have been able to pull strings and control everything in my life for the past couple of weeks, but here I am sitting in a damn courtroom listening to the bullshit that Linc and Elena have put Ana, my family and even me through the last 5 years. Yet, I can't have them sentenced right this moment. No, we have to rehash the crap they have inflicted upon our lives. It's not fair how people do crimes and then get a chance to say why they did it, like them trying to justify the reasoning is going to make it alright somehow.
Ana was holding onto my hand as she watched the events unfolding from the attorney's of our apartment explosion from 5 years ago. This isn't what I wanted to do today, but if it means getting some closer than I am all for it. Yet, somehow I just don't feel like I will be getting closer no it just seems like one chapter is ending as another one is beginning.
"What are you thinking?" Ana asks me as she pulls me from my thoughts.
"Just thinking about the past, and how this will all be over soon hopefully," I mutter softly.
"I feel the same way," Ana says as she pulls my hand back into her lap. I continue to watch as Elena keeps trying to catch glimpses of me from the corner of her eye. I try really hard to keep my eyes focused on the judge. As the judge and the attorney's talk and go over things I just focus on my breathing because I feel like a panic attack might be coming on. I really don't know how things have gotten out of control so bad. Elena was one of my friends; she had showed me so much over the years of our friendship. Yet, her she was as a broken old woman.
I can't believe I put my wife and family in her path. I don't understand why she had to come back and tey to ruin my life. I gave up on her several years ago when I realized just how right Ana had been about what Elena had really done to me. I had mistrusted my life and feelings to her for far too long. This was it after everything was said and done during this trail I am done with her. I guess I was lost in thought for quite a while because I felt Ana pulling on her hand from mine.
"Ana," I question.
"The judge has called it quits for today," she says as she stands up.
"Oh," I say softly. We headed out of the courtroom to be assaulted by the paparazzi. I pull Ana close to me as Taylor and Sawyer lead us through the masses of flashing lights and questions.
"Christian, you were so far away today during the proceedings'. Do you really want to come to them every day," Ana asks as Taylor begins to drive us back home. I think for a moment.
"I think that I shouldn't go back, too many memories that need to be left there and not thought about," I mutter as a tear slips out of the corner of my eye. Ana slips her seatbelt off and slides into my lap. I want to reprimand her for putting her safety in danger, but right my need for her comfort outweighs any still control issue I might have. I love the feel of my wife in my arms as she wraps her arms around my back, and begin to make soothing circles on mine. She does this until we pull into the driveway and Taylor opens my door.
"Sir," Taylor says as Ana reaches her hand out for his help. I unbuckle my seatbelt and follow my wife into out house.
"Momma," Teddy calls out as he runs into Ana.
"Hey, baby boy how are you doing," she asks softly as she pulls him up into her arms.
"Momma, tight," Teddy whines after a couple of moments.
"Sorry honey," she whispers as she lets him go. As she stands back up I notice it is her turn to cry, but she wipes the stray tears away. "Not right now," she whispers as I put my arms around her waist. I nod into her shoulder.
"Let's focus on the kids and our family," I whisper into her ear as we look at Mia, her twins and our two kids playing on the floor in the living room. I smile at the sight before me knowing that our days are going to get longer, while the stress is going to be hard for all of us.
********Fifty Shades Shattered********