Fifty Shades Shattered
Ana
Going on vacation was one of Christian's better ideas. I must admit that, we have really enjoyed just spending time with Grace and Teddy. I just wish we weren't leaving later tonight, but Christian needs to get back to work.
"What are you thinking about?" he questions softly as he nuzzles into my neck.
"How things are going to change when we get home?" I say honestly. He pulls away from me.
"My dad called earlier to let me know what was decided, but I asked him to wait till we got back. Ana I didn't want this tarnished by that. We are here not there," he says as I know that's the end of the discussion.
We spent the next several hours preoccupied on family things like fishing outside which was really funny since Christian was horrible at it. He wanted to just be like any other normal family, but the reality of the matter was we were never going to be normal. He fell into the river from the dock after Teddy tried to grab Grace's pole from her. Teddy knocked into Christian who slipped as he was trying to reach for Teddy's pole and fell in. It was hilarious to watch.
"Ana, would you like to help me out," Christian says as he is struggling with Teddy to get dressed. I laugh because for some reason Teddy hates to put clothes on in front of his dad.
"Teddy, let's put some clothes on so that we can ride daddy's plane," I say as I hand him a shirt.
"Mommy, I don't want to go home. We don't have fun at home," he half mumbles as he slowly pulls his shirt over his head. I noticed Christian had moved toward the door.
"Yes, we do. We play outside, swim, walk on the beach," I say listing a few of the things we do together.
"Daddy works all the time," he says. I turn to look at Christian knowing that he does work long hours, but he spends time with us. He has a look a panic in his eyes.
"Yes, Teddy daddy works a lot, but he also spends time with you. He took you and Grace out on the boat a couple of months ago. He spends every night reading to you before bed. He loves you with all his heart," I say as I feel Christian kneeling beside us.
"Teddy, son I love you. I didn't realize I was taking so much time away from you," he says softly as Teddy looks up to his dad.
"I just want you daddy," Teddy says as he lunges for Christian. I couldn't help but think that all of this drama has taken a toll on us as a family, but we will get stronger.
*****Fifty Shades Shattered*****
Christian
It was hard to hear my son say I didn't spend time with him. I wasn't even aware of the amount of time I worked. I mean sure I worked long hours some days, but not all of them. I even spent time at home in my office making calls or going over paperwork. It was a rude awaking to know that my son wanted more from me. I loved Grace and Teddy so much, but had a hard time showing it at times. I needed to do better for them.
"Hey," Ana says as she comes into my office. We had been home a week, but haven't talked with my dad or anyone during that time. I had turned off all electronic devises to spend more quality time with my family.
"The kids down for a nap," I say as she comes over to me.
"I wanted to thank you for this last week. Christian I know it has been tough, being in the dark, but you have so much love. I am so glad you are my husband," she says kissing me.
"I know, I came in here to go over some specs but there is no juice to my computer," I mumble. She laughs as she sits down in my lap.
"I can go tell Jason to return the power," she says as I snuggle into her hair.
"No, I can wait until the morning. This was something I needed to do. When I heard Teddy say I always worked made me realize I needed to spend more time with you guys, especially when the new baby gets here. I want our family to be a family. I need to just give up a little control to be here more," I say as I feel her stiffen up in my lap.
"Are you serious?" she questions as she turns a little to look at me.
"I have drafted up a proposal to give more control of the company to Ros. She spends almost the same amount of time in the office as I do. I think she would be great to handle more of the work load, if she wanted it," I say as I see tears in Ana's eyes.
"Oh, Christian she will do it. I know Grey House has been your baby, but it's good to hear you say you need us more," she says kissing me again. I give a throaty laugh because she is right that is exactly what I am saying by handing over some control. I have needed to be in control of everything that I hadn't seen the issues within my own family. I would gladly give up everything to know my children knew how much I cared and loved them.
We both head to the kitchen area where I see Taylor and my father standing talking in hush voices. My mother was off to the side talking with Gail who was preparing dinner.
"Mr. Grey, your parents just dropped by. I was explaining to your father you had asked.." Taylor was still talking when I just put my hand up.
"You don't have to explain Taylor. I didn't want to be bothered and you were doing your job. It's alright," I say as I move toward my parents. My mother gives me a small hug as Ana gives her one as well.
"Christian, it's been a media frenzy. I wish you would tell people when you decide to go off the grid," my dad says a little harder than he probably meant to.
"It was a family decision. I needed to make a point that work wasn't the only thing that mattered," I snap. Ana places her hand on my arm showing me to soften up.
"We had a little issue over our vacation, and we decided that family needed to be first for this last week," Ana says softly as she takes my hand making me follow her as my parents moved behind us.
"I think that was a wonderful idea dear," my mother says as she sits down on the sofa opposite from where we were sitting.
"So, what's the big frenzy," I say looking toward my dad.
"It has been a mess. Christian I am surprised you haven't been tempted," he half laughs.
"Don't think I wasn't, but Ana made sure our days have been filled with family things. I am glad I took this little break. I have a renowned focus on what I want to do moving forward," I say smiling.
"That's good to hear," my mother says smiling at me.
"Ugh, not to be pushy but what was so important that you both had to come here," I say finally seeing worry creep into my mother's eyes.
"The trial is over, there isn't going to be a retrial or anything else along those lines," my dad starts but stops.
"Carrick," Ana says looking worried. "It's not like someone died or anything," she whispers.
"Actually, it is that. The jury found Lincoln guilty on all accounts. He was sent back to the jail to be sentenced the next day. When the guards went to give him dinner he was found hanging in his cell by the bed sheets," my dad was still talking when I looked out of the corner of my eye and caught a scared looking Grace.
"Grace, sweetheart come here," I say as she runs for me. She is holding on to me so tightly that her small finger nails were digging into the skin on my back.
"Daddy, there was someone in my room," she cries as I feel a warm wet spot as I bring her closer to me. I knew what it was, but didn't want to embarrass her.
"Taylor, I want you to check the house out," I say as I push the intercom.
"Yes, sir," he says back. I don't care right now what my father was going to say I take the stairs two at a time with my daughter to her room. Her bedroom window was wide open, on the wall behind her bed was a message and it was directed right to me, "I'm coming for you Baby bird."
"It's alright Grace, I've got you," I say as she holds tighter to me. I walk into Teddy's room to find Ana already there holding him. She could see how shaken up I was by all of this. I hated that someone was once again targeting my family.
"Sir, the video feed was cut. There was water on the dock suggesting that the person came by boat and left the same way. There was a ladder impression by Grace's window, but no ladder," Taylor says as I am sitting beside Ana holding our children close to ourselves.
"Have Gail pack some clothes. I think we would be safer at Escala," I say looking toward Ana who just shakes her head at my words.
"Okay, your parents are still downstairs waiting for you. I have alerted the police. I will have them check the grounds for anything that might be odd, and have them dust Grace's room," Taylor says as his phone rings. "Sawyer says they have a team over at Escala checking the apartment out," he says as he leaves us alone.
"I wasn't thinking. Ana we could stay somewhere else. I should have asked you about the penthouse," I say quickly. I knew after it was blown up with her in it, it would need to be rebuilt. She helped design the new apartment, but refused to stay in it. She was in it once after Grace was born, but had an anxiety attack and hadn't gone back. The family uses it when their in town or use it when I need to stay in Seattle for business.
"It is alright. The apartment will be fine. I know it is ours, and I should be able to enjoy it as well," she says softly as my dad comes into the room.
"We need to finish talking," he says as I go to hand Grace off to Ana when my mom comes into the room.
"I'll get them ready, this concerns both of you," she says giving my shoulder a small squeeze. I gesture for him to follow me. I needed to change my pants.
"Grace darling, let's get you some dry clothes," I hear my mother softly say to my daughter. My dad follows me into my bedroom as Ana sits on the bed and I head to the closet.
"Linc's lawyer wanted to press charges against you for murder thinking you had something to do with his death," my dad said as I exited the closet with my fresh pants on.
"I wasn't even in town," I state as I sit down beside Ana.
"Yes, once he realized that he dropped them. Linc left a note saying that he wouldn't live behind bars because he had wronged a lot of men who were now in prison," he says looking toward us.
"So his case is over. What happened with Elena?" I ask feeling Ana go rigid at the mention of Elena.
"She tried to kill herself, but didn't succeed. They were transferring her to a mental hospital when she escaped. She has been on the run since Tuesday," he says as I reach for Ana's hand.
"Oh, my God, she's out there waiting for us," Ana says as I pull her to me.
"I will not let her get to us," I say making a mental note to kill her if she tries to hurt my family. I will not let her or anyone else destroy what I have built. I wasn't the weak Christian Grey whose mother overdosed to get out of this life; no I was Christian Grey husband, father and CEO of Grey House. I wasn't going to let anyone destroy my family.