A/N: I wouldn't leave you hanging for too long… would I?
Nathan's POV:
I felt lucky today when I ran into Ana at the deli. I've been planning to stay in Seattle for just a little bit longer in hopes that Christian might talk to me. I was getting coffee when I noticed Ana go into the deli. I figured this could be my chance to see if I have any chance with my son.
We started talking and then I noticed Ana starting to get disoriented and get really pale. I grab on to her as she passes out in my arms. Her security guy comes rushing over to my side.
"I don't know what happened, but we should get her to the hospital. Where's your car?" I ask. She's cold and clammy.
"It's across the street." He tells me. I lift her into my arms. She's still quite light considering how pregnant she is.
"Mine is right outside. We will take that." I carry her outside to my rented Dodge Charger. I dig in my pocket and hand my keys to the guy. "You drive." I place Ana in the back seat and sit with her. He runs to the driver side and speeds out of the lot.
I check Ana's pulse and her heart is racing. The security guy pulls out his phone and puts it on speaker.
"What is it Sawyer?" The concerned voice of my son comes over the phone speaker.
"Sir, Mrs. Grey fainted while she was the deli. I'm with Mr. Riley, in his car. We are headed to the hospital."
"How does she seem?" I hear the panic in his voice.
"She's still out Mr. Grey. Our ETA is 5 minutes."
"Nathan is there?" He asks confused but still in panic mode. I hear him yell for Taylor to get the car.
"Yes, Christian I'm here. I caught her when she passed out. Her heart is racing. She got really pale and disoriented before she dropped."
"I told her not to walk over there." I hear him mumble. There's lots of shuffling and then I hear a car start. "Ok we should be right behind you. I have Taylor calling Dr. Green to alert Labor and Delivery."
Next to me Ana moans. Then I see a puddle form on her dress. "I think her water broke." I yell out. Now I'm in a panic.
"I'm pulling in now."
"They said they have someone coming to get her." Christian tells us.
"I see them sir." Sawyer tells him.
"She'll be ok Christian." I try to reassure him.
We pull in and there's a couple of nurses waiting with a gurney. I lift Ana out of the car and lay her down. "Can you tell us what happened?" One of the nurses ask, as the other's push her down the hallway. We follow behind them.
"She got pale and disoriented before she passed out, also I think her water might have broken."
"Are you the father?" He asks me.
"No, but he should be here very shortly." I tell them.
"She's being taken to Labor and Delivery. You need to check in with them. When her husband does get here, he should be able to check in and come straight back. Dr. Greene is waiting for her." The nurse tells me. I nod my understanding.
They rush to the back of the labor floor and I check in giving the front desk my ID. Sawyer was able to go back with her after he explained who he was and gave them ID. I decide to wait for Christian.
I can't imagine what he is going through right now. I understand that he might not want to get to know me. It breaks my heart, but at least I tried. Even if he might not want me here I will stay till I know Ana and the baby are alright. Technically, this is my grandchild.
I remember when I met Ella. She was a beautiful girl with long brown hair and soft blue eyes. When I moved to Detroit, she was one of the only person that was nice to me. We started dating soon after. We had so much fun together. Her smile could light up a room. I was head over heels about her. Her dad wasn't crazy about me. He asked me to stay away from her. Sure enough after that my dad got stationed back to Texas. I can still see the sadness in her eyes when I told her I had to leave.
Then months later I remember the letter she wrote to me telling me she was pregnant. I wrote back, but never got a reply back. I tried looking for her before I headed off to college. But I had a lack of funds and no luck. She just disappeared.
Then I saw Christian in New York I just knew he had to be son. It wasn't only because he looked just like me, but I felt this connection. I searched all the information I could on him when I found out his name. It took me months to get an appointment at his office. Popular man. But I guess he would be since he runs a billion dollar company.
I'm guessing he gets his business sense from my grandfather. He ran the cattle farm for 50 years till he died. My father wanted nothing to do with it, he loved being in the Army. He was also too proud to take any help from my grandfather. We weren't poor, I guess middle class would be a good way to class us. But, money was tight and the reasons why I could never outsource more help to find out what happened to Ella.
Something happened to Christian when he was with her. From the look on his face and what Ana was telling me, I could tell it wasn't good.
The doors fly open and in runs my son with his hair standing in all directions. His bodyguard comes behind him. He's sees me and runs over to me.
"Where is she? How is she?" He blurts out at a mile a minute.
"I'm not sure. But they said check in and they will tell you where she is." I tell him. Such worry on his young face. I wish I could do more for him.
"Thank you. I'm glad you were there for her." He pats my arm and walks to the reception desk. The nurse tells him where to go and he's gone in a flash. Taylor I believe that was his name stays with me. He's on his phone. I guess calling his family for him. He looks over at me and smiles.
Maybe this will be a start to something. If all I get out of this is his friendship, then it would be more than enough for me.
Christian:
I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my chest. When I got that phone call, I knew something was wrong. He never calls me unless there is an issue. Telling me Ana fainted and Nathan was there when it happened. All I could think for a moment what was he doing there, and did he have something to do with it. I quickly rid that out of my mind when he told me her water had broke.
She's way too early. With Teddy she was 3 weeks, and now with Phoebe she's 5. Her blood pressure had been high, and that she might be at risk for preeclampsia. She just needed to take it easy, but she could still do most of her normal activities, but just needed to relax more. I should have been more forceful about her staying home. But, once she puts her mind to it, there's not stopping her.
I rush into Labor and Delivery with Taylor on the phone with my mother. I see Nathan, and I'm grateful he was able to catch her before she fell. I know she makes Sawyer give her, her space. So I can only picture what could've happened if either one of them wasn't close by.
I tell him my thanks and rush in to find Ana. Dr. Green is with her along with 4 other nurses. They seem to be checking her vitals and looking her over.
"How is she?" I ask looking at my wife, who seems to still be knocked out.
"Mr. Grey." Dr. Greene greets me. "Mrs. Grey's blood pressure was through the roof. This could have been caused by on the on start of labor. Did she mention anything about contractions or any tightness?" She asks me.
"She mentioned her back hurt, but she seemed ok. A little antsy, but I figured it was from sitting all day."
"So there's a chance she was in labor. She was dilated to 3. Back pain could be the sign of labor, a lot women write it off because they don't think they're actually in labor. Now I would like to take Ana for a C-section. Once this baby is out, her blood pressure should return to normal."
"What about the baby? She's early."
"From my experience a lot of babies born at 35 weeks tend to be ok and normal. Now there is a chance she might have trouble with breathing, feeding, and other complications. But we have a top NICU, I believe she will be good hands if need to be. Now let's deliver your baby so hopefully mom will come back, and start feeling better. Nurse Hughes will give you your scrubs and lead you to the OR. We are going to take her now."
My kids sure know how to make an entrance to this world. I take the scrubs and get changed as they wheel Ana out of the room. I just hope that she is ok.
Here I am waiting outside the OR, just like I did with Teddy. I'm nervous. What if something happens to Ana or the baby? I'm pacing when finally a nurse comes out and tells me it's ok to enter.
There's Ana laid out on the table. She has an oxygen mask on and blood pressure cuff on her arm. I go and sit by her head and kiss her forehead. I take her and squeeze as Dr. Greene starts the C-section. This time I'm not going to look over the curtain.
It's not long before I hear the screams of my baby girl. They hold her over the curtain to show me. I think I have tears in my eyes. She's all scrunched up and covered in goo but she's the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen.
"Baby," I whisper to Ana. "She's here and she's beautiful. Just like you." They wrap her up and let me hold her for a minute.
"Her Apgar is 8. She looks to be breathing on her own. But we are going to take her to the NICU to really check her over." The nurse taking Phoebe back from me tells me.
"You're welcome to join us or stay with your wife." I look down at Ana. She's going to be so upset she missed this.
"I'm going to stay with my wife. If Dr. Trevelyan Grey is out there would it be ok for her to be with the baby?"
"Of course, Mr. Grey." They take my daughter out of the room, as they finish stitching Ana back up.
It's not too much longer before we are back in recovery. Ana's pressure is a lot better, and they believe she will be awake soon. Come on baby, wake up. Another nurse comes by to look at her and throws another blanket on Ana, because she's freezing cold.
I notice Ana's eyes start to flutter and she looks over at me. "What happened?" She says quietly.
"You passed out because your pressure was really high, and then went into labor. They had to do a C-section."
"But…" I can see the worry start forming in her eyes.
"Phoebe is ok. They took her to the NICU to look her over. My mom is with her."
She nods and I can see the tears forming in her eyes. "I want to see her."
And sure enough my mom and a nurse come in rolling our baby in a bassinet. "Mrs. Grey. We were hoping you would be awake. Would you like to meet your daughter?"
Ana nods and the nurse hands her Phoebe. She lays her tight to her bare chest. "Is she going to be ok?"
"Yes, she's fine. She's a little jaundice and we will have to put her under a bilirubin light. But other than that she's perfect. 5lb 6oz. 19 and half inches long. Which is a great size for 35 weeks. I would like to see if we can get her to feed. I understand your breastfeeding?"
"Yes."
"Well, I would like you to try, so we can see what she does."
Ana puts Phoebe to her breast and she takes to it like a champ. "I guess she was hungry." I smile.
"I'm sure she was. It's a good thing she took well, now we know we don't have any feeding problems." The nurse tells us.
An hour later we are out of recovery and in Ana's room. They are able to bring the bilirubin light to put over Phoebe's bassinet.
"Is Nathan here? I don't remember much of what happened, but I know I was talking to him. I felt someone grab me before everything went black." Ana asks me. I totally forgot about him.
"I don't know. I'm grateful for him and Sawyer getting you here. Did you not know you were in labor? I should put you over my knee for going out when I told you not too." She rolls her eyes at me. That's my girl.
"No, I didn't know. I just needed the fresh air. It would have happened anyways. If I was at the desk there's a chance nobody would have been around. So stow your palm. You should see if Nathan is still around. I would like to say thank you."
I sigh. He probably did leave. "I'll ask. My mom went to gather everyone else. Are you feeling ok for everyone to visit?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just have a sight headache and sleepy. I really want to see Teddy." She tells me.
"I wonder what Teddy will make of her." I smile. I pick up my phone and dial Taylor's number.
"Yes, sir?"
"Is Mr. Riley still with you?"
"Yes, sir. He didn't want to leave till he knew Mrs. Grey and the baby were ok. How are they?" He asks concerned. I guess my mom hasn't made it to the waiting room yet.
"They're both fine. We are settled in her room now. I'm going to be right out. I would like to talk to him."
"OK, Mr. Grey." We both hang up.
"Will you be ok if I go to talk to him?" I ask her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Plus I'm sure I will be kept entertained soon."
I bend down and kiss her, really kiss her. "I love you. Thank you for my daughter. And I'm so glad that you both are ok." I tell her resting my forehead on hers. I don't know what I would've done if anything happened to either one of them.
"Your welcome, Mr. Grey." Even after everything she just went through, she's still a little flirt.
"I'll be right back." I tell her as I go to leave the room. On my way to the waiting room, I pass everyone.
"Daddy!" Teddy comes running over to me.
"Hey buddy." I hold him to me and hug him tight.
"I'm a big brother now. I got Fefe something." He holds up a little pink elephant.
"She's going to love it. Mommy wants to see you. But be careful with her belly. Daddy needs to do something really quickly and I will be back ok?" I tell him.
"Ok daddy." I kiss his cheek and hand him over to Elliot.
Everyone starts walking to Ana's room, but my dad stops me. "I have a question. The man in the waiting room…." He trails off.
"There's a possibility he could be my biological father. I just found out about him 2 days ago. He says he didn't know about me until he saw me back in New York. By just looking at him. I believe he might be."
"That I will have to agree with son. We all thought he was you for a minute. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I feel like if I get to know him, I'm betraying you. Also, it brought up all kinds of memories that I hoped I had forgotten. But then today, he was there when Ana fainted. So I feel like I owe him something."
"You wouldn't be betraying us son. Does he want anything from you?" My dad asks.
"No. He said he would be willing just to be friends." I sigh.
"What's the real harm in trying? We will support you with whatever decision you make." He places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. "Now I'm going to go see that granddaughter of mine." He smiles and walks away.
I walk into the waiting room, and see Nathan sitting in a chair talking to Taylor. They both stand when they see me.
"She's ok?" Nathan asks.
I nod. "Ana if fine. And so is baby Phoebe." I tell him. "Taylor she's in Room 2323."
He looks between us both and nods before leaving us alone.
"I hope she has a big room for all the guests." He laughs. "I'm glad to see you're surrounded by such good family and friends." He tells me honestly.
"Do you want to see her?" I ask. I pull out my phone and show him a picture of Phoebe.
"She's beautiful. Congratulations."
"Thank you. I wanted to thank you again for helping Ana out. I don't know what would've happened if you weren't there."
"I'm sure Sawyer would have taken care of it."
"We don't know that for sure. I don't know how much I will be able to give, but I would like to try and get to know you." I know it's going to be hard but what if I miss out on something. Plus he lives in Texas, I wouldn't see him all the time.
"You mean that? I really don't want to make you do something you don't really want to do." He tells me sincerely.
"I'm not. I don't want to get into now. But I had a lot happen before I was adopted with the Grey's. Thinking how different if it could have been if you had just known. I still would like to do a DNA test. But I know I really don't need one."
"I would be more than willing." He agrees.
"I really should be getting back in there." Just bite the bullet Grey. You can read people, you can tell he means no harm. "Would you like to come meet everyone? I think Ana would like to thank you as well."
"I would be happy to."
I walk him to Ana's room. Ok it might be a little crowded in here. I'll give them just a little bit longer then I'm kicking them out and making them come back in intervals tomorrow. Since Phoebe is under the lights, nobody can hold her. We only take her out when it's time for feeding. She's wearing a mask over her eyes.
Teddy is cuddled into Ana's side as she reads him a book. My mom, Maddie and Mia are peering into her bassinet. While Elliot and Kate sit on the seat in the window. Gail and Jason were outside with Sawyer talking. My dad is flipping through the TV channels.
Teddy notices me "It's two daddies." He giggles. I think he thinks it's the funniest thing in the world. It's still crazy scary how much we look alike. I guess I don't have to worry about aging so much in 20 years.
Everyone looks over at us after Teddy's announcement. "Everyone this is Nathan Riley. He was the one that was with Ana today." How do I tell everyone he might be my biological dad. Well, maybe they figured that out, by the way everyone's jaw dropped.
My mom is the first to introduce herself. "Well, I can tell by looking at you, who you might be. It's nice to meet you. I'm Grace Grey."
"It's nice to meet you ma'am." They shake hands.
Nathan and I decide to tell everyone the story of how he found out about me. After a short while they welcome him to the group. I didn't think it was going to be that easy.
After an hour I figure it's time for everyone to leave, expect Teddy. Ana needs to feed again, and well I rather not have everyone looking at her.
MY mom and Dad said they would be would be back in a little while to take Teddy to their house for the night. I told Nathan he is welcome back, maybe I can leave for just a little bit to have lunch. Knowing Ana she would be ok with that.
I hand Phoebe to Ana so she can feed her. She's such a dainty little thing. I sit next to the bed and pull Teddy into my lap, so he can watch his cartoons.
"How are you feeling?" Ana asks me.
"Truly I should be asking you that. I'm fine. It's going to be interesting. He agreed to a DNA test." Ana just rolls her eyes.
"I understand why, but really?" She smiles. "You don't have to give everything at once. Just take your time."
"I will. So how are you feeling?"
"Exhausted. I love them all, but thank you for getting them to all go home. When she's done feeding I'm going to try and rest."
"Can't blame you there. It has been a long day. Teddy you excited about spending time with Grandma and Grandpa?"
"Yeah. Papa bought a train set and we're going to build it." He tells me excitedly.
"Oh, he did huh?" He didn't tell me about it. "Lucky you."
"Yep. I'm lucky. You stay with Fefe. I play." He smiles at me and I laugh.
"Well, aren't you all heart."
A/N: Thursday I will be posting the last two chapters….
Thank you to everyone that has read this story. Who have left nothing but kind reviews. Who have followed and favorited this story. When I first posted it, I didn't think anyone would read it. I was so surprised. So thank you to you all. And you have only encouraged me to keep writing… You're all awesome!
Also thanks to MreCTGrey for all her help with being my Beta!
And Stargazer93 for being awesome ... having a lot of fun writing with her.
Till Thrusday
