Chapter 3
"I never get used to coming to this house," Ana mumbled to her husband as we pulled up in front of Grey's mansion in Aspen.
"Our house," he corrected her and placed his arm around her waist. We all loaded into Grey's mammoth of a house. Everyone quickly and with ease or familiarity except for Alex, who was taking everything in. She gaped at the exterior of the house and her jaw literally dropped. Jealously pinged within me again, I knew that now once she was introduced to the things I had she'd find them less impressive. Once inside she walked around the coffee table a few times before finally sitting on the couch. I had paused staring at her making sure she was comfortable.
"Dude you still helping me or what?" Elliot said bringing me back to the task at hand, which was unloading all of our luggage.
"Yeah man I'm coming." Went over to Alex and stood in front of her and she looked up at me with a frown on her face and her arms crossed.
"What?" She raised her eye brow and her hazel eyes took me in cautiously.
"I would've stayed back with you, you know that don't you?" I asked for lack of anything better to say. "Are you okay with being here?"
"Josie, your line of questioning is a little odd at this point. We're here and this place is amazing, a little overwhelming, but amazing none the less. I've just got a lot of stuff on my mind." She ran her fingers through her hair and then leaned back on the couch. "My mind is tired of being on overdrive." She chuckled dryly.
"I know how that is, when I lost my mom." I started to talk and she put her hand up.
"I can't deal with talking like this, not right now. Didn't that guy need your help?" She said looking past me to the open door. I saw Elliot grab a couple more bags.
"Yeah, you're right. I'll be right back." She nodded and I went to help Elliot. He immediately handed me one of the bags he was carrying.
"We're not going to kill her you know," he mumbled as we walked back to the house.
"Huh?"
"You're staring at the poor girl like she about to bite the big one any second. She's here and safe, you need to tone down the parental vibe you've got going." He said as we placed the luggage in the foyer, we both immediately went back to the truck to grab more stuff.
"I'm not her parent!" Elliot twisted his neck to look at me.
"Yeah, I know so stop acting like it." He handed me another bag. "Mia packs way too much for these trips!" We both laughed at all of the leopard suitcases that were still left in the back.
"I just, I remember Alex when she was little she was so different." I paused trying to find the right words without overstepping and sharing too much of Alex's personal business. "She had problems sleeping when she was a child among other things. I just want to make sure she's comfortable so that she doesn't have any problems."
"Problems?" Elliot was concerned and out of all of the Grey's he was probably the one to tell. I related better to Elliot than the others in the Grey family. He just seemed to be more caring and down the earth.
"She sleep walks and has nose bleeds, she used to have really bad depression." I knew she still had it because a week before she came, her medications had been mailed to my apartment. It was good to know she was on top of that sort of thing.
"Oh man, wow, look I'll help you look out for her. You should really tell my mom too." I nodded he was right. I'd also googled some ways to comfort a sleep walker.
After we finished carrying the last of the bags in Elliot and I went into the living to find Ally sleeping. She seemed peaceful enough; she'd pulled the burgundy throw from the couch over herself and was out for the count. The rest of the group were all standing around the island in the kitchen talking and drinking champagne.
"Josie," Ana teased, "would you like a glass?" I nodded and left her to sleep.
"When she awakens I will show her to her room." Ms. Taylor informed me, I don't know why she directed it to me. I wasn't her guardian my dad was. My dad just didn't seem as concerned as I was I guess. I really didn't need to be but so concerned I was kind of hovering over the poor girl.
"So how old is Alexandria?" Mia asked as she refilled her glass. She wasn't looking at me but I could hear the mischief in voice.
"Uh, she's 17 years old I think." I took a huge sip of champagne, man this stuff was good. I'm not normal champagne drinker I usually a beer drinker.
"She's really pretty; she's like a little doll. I want to dress her!" Mia exclaimed with a little too much enthusiasm.
"You want to dress everyone, Mia." Ethan added and she nudged him and shrugged.
"But that's because I have amazing taste, sweetie. I'm just trying to share my gift with the world." We all laughed at her statement but I think she was serious.
"We should go shopping tonight and pick her out some things!" Mia exclaimed to Ana who smiled at her but didn't say anything.
"Shouldn't you wait until Miss Alexandria is willing to go with you?" Grace asked as she came into the kitchen little Phoebe in tow. She immediately started reaching for Christian. Phoebe was most definitely a daddy's girl her little grey eyes would light up whenever he would coo at her.
"Come on little girl," Christian said as he stole his daughter away from his mother. "I bet you want a little bedtime story!" She giggled and placed her head on his shoulder. "I'll be right back." Christian excused himself upstairs.
"Well, we should still go shopping tonight anyway!" Mia was directing her statement to Kate and Ana. "We can shop for ourselves tonight and then shop for little miss model tomorrow while to boys fish. Can we please go?" Mia bouncing up and down wiggling Ana's arm.
"But what about the kids Mia?" I could tell by the look on Ana's face that she was less than thrilled about going.
"That's what your husbands are for!" Mia declared and Ethan's eyes got big.
"That's most definitely not what husbands are for. If that's your belief you may never get married miss Mia!" Ethan chuckled and then finished his drink and mild horror was evident in Mia's eyes.
"I agree with you man!" I refilled his glass and mine too.
"You're right my Elliot is my partner in crime. He's most definitely not the babysitter!" Kate wrapped her arm around her husband and kissed him. He laughed and gripped her tighter.
"You can go if you want Kate, Ava and I will be fine."
"That's not what I was worried about husband!" She murmured as she kissed his cheek.
"You can do that anytime! The time to shop is now!" Mia huffed.
"How about I go with Alice and treat you to a little shopping spree on me?" Ethan conceded taking one for the team. Mia's smile stretched across her face.
"Okay let me go change and I'll be ready!" She kissed Ethan on the cheek and then ran upstairs.
"Quick let's disappear before she gets back!" Kate grabbed Elliot's hand and ran out the backdoor. I decided to take this time alone to talk to Grace about Alex's past conditions.
"Does she take medications for it?" Grace said as she looked back at Alex who was still sound asleep on the couch.
"She's still taking medications for her anxiety. I don't know if she's taking anything for the sleep walking. I just remember her father following her into the street some nights and picking her up gently and taking her back into their house. She used to have really bad nose bleeds too, that's all I really remember. I'm just worried because she has to be under stress."
"I'll help you keep an eye on her. We should wake her up and get her to her room." Grace and I both went over to Alex. She was frowning in her sleep. It made it easier for me to nudge her I hoped that I was waking her from a nightmare.
"Alex, you ready to go to bed?" She stared at me with groggy eyes.
"Josie?" She looked around and then at Dr. Trevelyan Grey.
"This is by far the most comfortable couch I've ever slept on," she chuckled as she stretched.
"Don't you want to get situated in your room?" Grace asked.
"I've already put most of your things away," Ms. Taylor had entered the room behind us.
"Oh, I just thought that I was sleeping on the couch. I know that you all weren't expecting me." Alex took the hair tie off her left wrist and put her hair in a messy bun.
"Oh honey there's plenty of room for you here." Grace placed her arm around Alex's shoulder.
"Thanks, so I guess I can get comfortable." She stood up and we all walked with her to her room. Her room was right beside mine. Her room was dressed in a neutral beige color with gold fixtures and bed frame. Alex looked around and was slightly in awe.
"This room is half the size of my old house!" She looked around and seemed kind of nervous about something.
"We'll leave you alone to get situated." Grace and Ms. Taylor left the room.
"Don't freak out little girl, I'm right next door if you need me." I reached out and hugged her.
"I'll get lost in here alone," she giggled nervously and she held me a little tighter.
"That's not possible because I'll always find you. Now get some sleep I think Mia wants to take you shopping tomorrow."
"Shopping? But I hate shopping?" She grumbled and she moved out of my arms.
"Well, all the more reason to get some rest so you can fake it." I kissed her forehead. "Buenos noches Bonita." She gasped at my words.
"Mi mama used to say that to me!" A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I know she used to say it to you when you were a baby." I wiped her tears away.
"I miss her so much." She hugged me again. "Will you stay in here until I go to sleep?" She asked as she led me to the bed. She got under the covers and I didn't. "Thank you Josie," she sighed and closed her eyes.
"You're very welcome." I moved her hair out of her face so I could witness her perfection. I'd wished that I had a camera. I would have to take her photo tomorrow. Her look was so angelic, so perfect. Anyone would be honored to see her in this light.
Author's Note: This chapter has been revised a little. I hope you can tell the difference!