Ana
A knock at the door drags me from my last memory of Christian, Be it an unhappy one but a memory of him still, Getting up the impatient knock gets louder, I can't help but giggle, So much like his father,
"Who is it?" I call even though I know who is on the other side of the door
"Mommy"
I open the door to see my little angle, My bundle of joy run for me, I scoop him up and hold him tightly next to me, I've missed him so much and he's only been away for half the day
"I missed you baby boy" I whisper
"I missed you too mommy" He whispers back, He lifts his little head and rubs his nose along mine, Just like his father used to do to me, It brings a tear to my eye, I stare in to his beautiful big Grey eyes and i see his father, Theodore Raymond Steele is a carbon copy of Christian, no matter how much I would rather he resemble me he doesn't he is his father's son, Same gray eyes, Same copper hair, Same face, same mannerisms... Same everything
"Do you have a good day?" I ask trying to get rid of the mentle image of the man who walked away from us
"Yeah, Uncle Jason and Aunt Gail took me to the zoo" He smiles, Gail and Taylor have been in Teddy's life since before he was born, I saw them when I was shopping for baby items with Kate when I was about 6 months gone, I was huge, You couldn't miss me, I remember like it was yesterday...
Ana 6 months pregnant
"Kate are we finished yet? My feet are killing me and so is my back" I whine, We've been baby shopping for hours, Kate's treat as she calls it, Treat? What part of walking around with sore feet and a bad back is a treat?
"Well you shouldn't have let Grey knock you up" She jokes
"Not funny Kate" I glare, I don't find her funny even if she thinks she's fucking hilarious
"Sorry Steele that was wrong, My bad..." She apologizes and I let it go, I don't want to talk about him, I've heard nothing from him since that night and I've given up expecting him to come around with a big bunch of flowers and a huge apology begging me to take him back and begging to be part of our son's life.
"It's ok, I just don't want to talk about him" I mumble as we search through the rails of clothes, They're all so cute, I've chosen some that say 'Mommy's Little Man' and 'I Love My Mommy', Kate has managed to find ones saying 'My Aunty Loves me" And 'Uncle's Little Dude' Obviously they're for Kate and Elliott, We even found ones for Grace and Carrick 'My Nana and Grampa Love me'... I try to bypass the 'My Daddy Loves Me' And 'Daddy's Little Man' ones but I can't get rid of them, I saw one t-shirt that I would have loved to buy it said 'Handsome Just Like My Daddy' but I felt myself tearing up so Kate snatched it and put it back, Oh how I wish Christian was here to share this with me but he's not, He didn't want the baby so il do this on my own.
"Steele? Did you hear me?" Kate yells, She's walked off and I'm still glued looking at the 'My daddy' T-shirts
"Huh?" I mumble as she walks back, She grabs my arm and pulls me away,
"Isn't that Taylor? You know Grey's security?" She asks as I follow her line of sight, Low and behold Taylor is standing by the ladies changing rooms, He's dressed in Jeans and a shirt, Wow! I don't think I've ever seen Taylor without a suit on, I feel panick set in I don't want him to see me, I don't want him to report back to Grey that I'm the size of a house, I don't want to have the image of Christian's smug face in my head
"Kate let's go... Kate!" I sneer but it's too late she's walking over to him, I hold back, Taylor greets Kate with a small smile and a nod, They talk quietly, Just then the dressing room opens and Gail steps out, She walks over to them and talk for a few minuets before Kate walks back to me,
"Hey" She smiles and I glare at her
"Hey, What the hell was that?"
"Don't get excited, Think of the baby"
"Baby?" Shit!
I turn to see both Taylor and Gail standing behind me, From the back you can't tell but from my very prominent bump there's no mistaking it
"Ana, Oh my God your pregnant?" Gail whispers has her hand goes over her mouth, I look at Taylor and he looks angry, Didn't they no?
"Yeah, 6 months gone actually, Didn't you know?" I frown looking between them, Gail shakes her head with tears in her eyes and Taylor... Taylor still looks to mad for words
"We didn't know anything Ana, Mr. Grey never said a word" Gail sniffs as she hugs me softly, Being careful of my baby bump, Just then he gives me a very hard kick, So hard that Gail gasps and backs up
"I think he likes you" I smile
"He?" She looks at my bump with wide eyes
"Yeah he's a boy" I giggle, I've missed both Gail and Taylor a lot, They were like family to me but even they were cut out of my life when I fell pregnant
"When are you due?" Taylor finally speaks up
"November 8th" I smile hoping to lighten his mood, He looks like he's doing some serious thinking, Suddenly its like a light bulb goes off behind his eyes and they darken
"I'm gonna kill him" Taylor sneers as he balls his fists, I've never seen Taylor properly angry but I don't like it
"Taylor no" I shake my head as he stares at me in disbelief
"Yes Ana, We didn't no a thing about the baby, All we knew is that he wanted to get you back and then he came back to Escala pissed, He never spoke about you again, And when he did it was to tell us that know one was to mention you again, Does he know about the baby?" He asks softening his voice
"Yes, When he came to see me he wanted to get back together, I told him I was pregnant he didn't want the baby, He left" I whisper, That's the edited version, That's the one I've told everyone, Kate, Elliott, Grace, Carrick, Mia, Ray, My mom, Bob everyone, Now Gail and Taylor, I don't know why I won't tell them the truth, I could easily say that he gave me and ultimatum, Him or the baby, I chose the baby.. I could easily say that If I wanted him I had to kill my child and If I wanted the baby I would lose him... But I don't.
"Oh Ana I'm so sorry dear" Gail says hugging me again, I don't want to cry but I find it so hard to stop once they've started, Damn hormones
"Ana, We're so sorry things didn't work out between you and but we want you to know that we are here for you, Right Jason?" Gail pulls away to find Taylor nodding
"Of course Ana, Just because that bastard doesn't want to be part of his life doesn't mean we don't either" He smiles, I feel thankful for all these lovely supportive people in my life who are all willing to step in for Christian,
"I would love that, How about Aunt Gail and Uncle Jason?" I smile as they laugh,
After that day I had regular texts and phone calls from both Gail and Taylor, They were my rocks aswell as everyone else, I asked them not to utter a word to Christian about seeing me and the both promised they wouldn't, I was thankful for that.
"Hey Ana" Gail smiles as she enters my home with Jason trailing behind her holding what looks like bags of toys from the Zoo shop, I roll my eyes, Every time Jason and Gail have time off together they always take Teddy out for the day, And they always end up spoiling him with something or another
"Hi Gail, Jason what have you been buying him now?" I glare acting annoyed, Jason and Gail both know me well enough to know this is the routine we go through whenever they take Teddy out
"Ana... We're allowed to spoil our nephew, When he's with us we can buy him what we like... Quit whining and help me with these bags" Jason smiles as my glare breaks, It doesn't help that Gail is standing there laughing her ass off at our bickering, I sigh and help him bring the bags in
"Oh my god, Did you buy him the entire shop?" I ask as we bring bags and bags in from the car, I shake my head in disbelief, Jason Taylor is a force to be reckoned with when he and Teddy are together
"Oh my God woman, Stop yacking and help me, My little man won't be happy if he doesn't get these if the house before his bed time" He smirks as I roll my eyes, Everyone underestimates Taylor, They think he's quiet and sullen but he's not off duty he's funny and kind, I can see why Gail loves him so much.
"Yes, Yes alright keep your shirt on" I mumble
"I heard that" He glares
"You were ment to" I smirk as he sticks his tongue out at me
"Ok children, When you've quite finished, Me and Jason need to go wrap a certain little mans birthday present for tomorrow" Gail smiles
"Gail you buy him enough"
"Nonsence dear, Now let's go say goodbye to Teddy bear and then we will see you tomorrow" She smiles as her and Jason head off to Teddy's room, I leave them to their little goodbye and go and start on Teddy's tea, Gail and Jason come back and each give me a hug, Gail's always been a hugger, Taylor not so much, He got used to them while I was pregnant, Ever time he saw me I would hug him and not let him go till he hugged me back so now he just gives in.
"We'll see you and the birthday boy tomorrow Ana, I can't believe he will be 4 time sure does fly" Gail says as she gives me a kiss on the cheek, and then they're gone,
I thought my regular routine of eating dinner with Teddy, Playing with him, Bathing him and then reading him a story, He's so tired he doesn't last through the end of the book, I tuck him in and kiss his soft copper hair
"I love you Teddy" I whisper as I walk out of his room
I have a lot stuff still to finalize for tomorrow, I need to call Grace and Carrick to see if everything is ready for my little mans special day, Grace said that she wanted to offer Bellevue as the stage for Teddy's party, I was a little unsure about it seeing as I didn't want to run in to Christian but she assured me that Christian wouldn't be there, Whether that's because Grace and Carrick don't want him there, Or he can't be bothered to make the effort I don't know and I don't want to know.
I dial Grace's number and wait, She picks up in the 2nd ring
"Ana dear" How does she always know?
"Hi Grace" I giggle
"How are you dear? How's little Teddy? Is he excited about tomorrow?" She asks excitedly
"I don't know who's more excited you or teddy" I laugh as she does the same
"Me of course, But it's a close one between me and Elliott, We had the bouncy castle delivered today and Elliott went off in a sulk when I told him he couldn't play on it" She laughs as I imagin a very sulky Elliott being told off by his mother,
"Elliott is still a big kid at heart" I smile
"He sure is, Teddy will mature faster than Elliott" She laughs, I hear commotion in the back ground
"I am not!"
"Elliott get off the line, I'm talking to Ana" Grace scolds
"Yeah about me" He moans and I burst out laughing
"What are laughing at Ana?" I can hear him smirk
"You, You sound like Teddy when I tell him he can't have cookies before dinner" I laugh
"Well he learnt from the best then"
"Elliott get off the line"
"No I want to talk to Ana" He whines
"Elliott!" Grace warns
"Fine I'm going, Say hi to my little man for me Ana and tell him we will kick ass at his party tomorrow" Elliott says
"Elliott!"
"Yes ok mom, Bye Ana"
"Bye Elliott" I laugh, Theres a soft click and he's gone
"Sorry about him Ana" Grace sighs
"It's fine Grace honestly" I smile
"I just called to see if everything's ready for Teddy's party and to thankyou again for doing this"
"Yes everything's all set, There's no need to thank me Ana, Teddy is my grandson and I love doing things for him" Grace gushes, And I can't help the small tear that slips from my eye
"Ana honey are you ok?" She asks with concern evident in her voice
"Oh yes Grace I'm fine" I try to cover the sadness in my voice but she see's straight through me
"Ana you know you can't hide anything from me"
"I know" I sigh, She's right I can never hide anything from her, It's a blessing and a curse
"Your thinking about Christian aren't you"
"Yes" I whisper
"Have you heard anything from him?" She asks
"Nope" I make sure to pop the 'p'
"Have you?" I ask quickly
"No dear, We get a text from him every so often telling us he's fine and he's alive but apart from that nothing, We haven't seen him for months, Not since he came over for dinner and he and Elliott had a fight over Teddy" She sighs
"It's ok Grace" I mumble
"No Ana, It's not ok, Christian has never seen his son, His son has never met his father, I can't believe my son has left it so long, Teddy is a beautiful little boy, I can't understand why he doesn't want to be apart of his life" I hear tears in her voice and I try so hard to keep mine under control,
"Oh Ana I'm so sorry, I shouldn't be upsetting you like this" She sighs trying to get herself under control
"Grace, I offered Christian chance after chance to be in Teddy's life, I've sent him pictures of him and everything but he just doesn't want to know, It's his loss" I clench my jaw to keep the tears at bay
"Your so right dear anyway let's get on to a happier topic, Teddy's birthday party starts at 2pm till 5pm, If you want to bring him about 1pm we would love to see him" Grace says with a lighter tone
"Ok Grace il be over at 1pm, I know he can't wait to see you all" I smile
"Ok Ana dear, Il let you go, Get some rest, We're going to have a very excited little boy tomorrow and we're going to need all the energy we can get" She laughs
"Ok Goodnight Grace" I smile
"Goodnight Ana, Give Teddy a kiss from me and his Grampa for us"
"I will"
"Bye Ana"
"Bye Grace"
We hang up and I breathe a sigh of relief, I love Grace but I can't talk about Christian, It hurts too much, I fall in to bed and close my eyes and fall in to a restless sleep, I dream about Gray eyes and harsh words... Oh Christian, Why did you have to ruin everything?