Christian
The phone calls have been made, Paperwork signed and sent, Now all I have to do is wait... And I don't do waiting but this isn't really up to me, It was Anastasia that decided she wanted to play with they adults so lets play...She wants a fight il give her one, Never underestimate Christian Grey!
Ana
It's been 2 weeks since Teddy's birthday, 2 weeks and there's been no sign of Christian, Thank God, Today is a saturday, Not only is it a weekend for Teddy meaning no school but it also means no work for me either, I still work for SIP but when I told my boss I was pregnant they opened up a new position for me saying they didn't want to lose me, I am emailed Transcripts, I read and edit them then send them back with detailed notes on the ones that are good and the ones that aren't, I really like this job because it means I can work from home, I loved having the time with Teddy when he was a baby, I would do work through naps and playtime, Teddy was always a very quiet and sweet baby, No crying fits or tantrums for him which surprised me with who his father is but I had nothing like that, Kate wants her and Elliott's baby to have Teddy's temperament, Elliott prays that the baby is more like him and not Kate cause lets face it one Kate Grey is enough, Yes you read right Kate and Elliott married last year, Teddy was Elliott's best man, There wedding was simple and elegant, So not Kate's style but she looked beautiful non the less, I was worried about running in to Christian but Elliott told me that Christian refused the invite, Elliott wasn't too happy but Kate was thrilled, She's always hated Christian but now it's with a blood curdling passion and to be honest I don't blame her, If Elliott had done the same to Kate as what Christian's done to me I would follow through on Kate's promise to Christian that she would cut his balls off and wear them as ear rings... Now that would be funny to see.
Kate fell pregnant a few months after the wedding and Elliott was thrilled, I felt a pang of jealousy when they told everyone, We were all sat around in Carrick and Grace's living room, Teddy was running around like a chicken with its head cut off...
Flashback... Elliott and Kate's announcement
"Ana what has he been on today? He's more hyper than ever" Grace laughs as we watch Teddy run around with his arms stretched out, He's pretending to be a plane, All we can hear is 'Neeeewwww'
"I don't know but what ever it is I want some" I laugh back, Watching Teddy happy and in his element brings such joy to my heart, It's the best feeling in the world when your child is happy, I can't believe he's 3 already, Where's the time gone?
I look over to where Kate and Elliott are engrossed in watching Teddy, They're such a happy loving couple, I wish my life could have turnt out like there's but everything happens for a reason. Right?
"Teddy settle down dude, Go sit near your mom me and Aunty Kate have got something to tell you" Elliott smiles as Teddy stops and does what he's asked, Wow! Teddy hardly ever listens to anyone when he's in these moods, He has a very special bond with his Uncle Elliott so that's why he does
"What Uncle Elliott? What is it?" Teddy asks excitedly as he sits next to me, All our ears pick up as Kate and Elliott stand
"Well dude, We want to tell you, Well everyone but especially you" He winks at Teddy and he giggles "Me and Aunty Kate are going to have a baby, Your going to have a little cousin buddy" Elliott smiles as Teddy leaps off the sofa to hug them, That's my little boy so full of love, The family all do the same, Kate and Elliott make their rounds of receiving kisses hugs and congratulations, I pull Kate in to a hug and hold her tightly
"Congratulations Kate, A husband and a baby on the way... I never thought I'd see the day" I laugh, Kate pulls away and looks at me sympathetically
"Are you ok? We were worried about telling you cause, Well you know" Am I ok? Yes, My friend is going to have a little baby, My son is going to have a little cuddle to play with and even though I'm not technically family, Kate won't let me forgot that I will be an Aunty to her and Elliott's child.
"Yes I'm fine, I'm so happy for you guys" I smile as Elliott wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight,
"You ok Ana?" He mumbles as I sigh,
"Yes Elliott I'm fine, I just told Kate that I'm so happy for you guys" Elliott gives me a look that says 'Are you telling me the truth or are you bull shitting me?' I roll my eyes,
"Look just because your brother treated me like shit doesn't mean I'm going to hold it for the rest of my life, It's to short, What's the point? Christian made his choice to walk away from Teddy and it's his loss" I smile as Elliott nods,
"I've just text him and told him that he's going to be an Uncle" He mumbles, Kate's eyes blaze and I know she is remembering her promise to me not long after I gave birth to Teddy. 'I will make him regret the day he walked away from you and this little miracle Steele, I promise you'
"And pray tell, What did the biggest asshole in America have to say to our happy news?" Kate says sarcastically as Elliott rolls his eyes, His cell buzzes and I know he's got a reply, Elliott keeps a straight face when he reads it and then sighs when Kate reaches out for the phone, Her face isn't so forgiving
"You wanna see Steele?" She asks and I think about it, Do I really want to see him congratulate them and be happy that he's going to be an Uncle to this child when he really couldn't be bothered to be there for his own?
"Believe me he's not thrilled" Elliott mumbles as Kate passes me the phone
* Well I suppose Congratulations are in order so there they are*
Really? That's it? Jesus he could at least try to sound please, His brother is going to have a baby, He's going to have a nephew and that's all he can be bothered to say?
"Sorry guys" I apologise for him though I have no idea why
"Not your fault Ana, He's always been a dick, Why would we expect him to change now?" Elliott half smiles and walks away to see his mom and dad, Shit! Christian just enjoys hurting everyone doesn't he, Though it would have hurt like hell for him to reply with some excited sit I would have rathered it to Elliott being like this...Fucking Christian just ruins everything!
I shake my head to rid thoughts of him, It's been 2 weeks and I've not seen nor heard from him, Maybe when his little stunt on Teddy's birthday back fired and I didn't bow down at his feet he realised that it's not worth it and has given up... Yeah that doesn't sound like Christian Grey, Not least the one I know.
"Hi Mommy"
"Morning baby boy, You sure slept late it's almost 11 am" I giggle, Teddy never sleeps late, He's to active, Which is brilliant for him but not so much foe me, I am not a morning person but waking up at 3 am with a baby made me realise I had to adapt, So eventually I got used to sleeping less and less and my body adjusted, Now I wake up at 6am every morning and It doesn't bother me... Well not much.
"I was tired, I didn't sleep well, I had a bad dream" He mumbles rubbing his eyes, Another one? He's been having them since his birthday, Each morning he wakes up more tired than the day before complaining about his bad dreams but he never tells me what they're about... When ever I mention them he calms up and doesn't speak till I change the subject, Grace wants me to get in contact with some child therapists, I want to say he'll be fine but if they carry on I might just have to think about booking him in to see someone
"What do you want to each baby?" I ask changing the subject before he can clam up,
"White egg omelette and juice please mommy" He yawns... Strange he's changed his breakfast, He never has anything apart from pancakes and bacon but if that's what my little man wants that's what he'll get.
During breakfast the post comes, The only letter I have is one marked Miss Anastasia Steele. URGENT!, I decide to wait till Teddy's finished and runs off to play to open it.
Miss Anastasia Steele,
A court order has been set in motion against you from my client Mr Christian Grey, Mr Grey has filed for full custody for his son Master Theodore Raymond Steele, Born: 8/11/2011.
Mr. Grey has made it known that he wishes for the child in question to be solely cared for by himself, A custody hearing has been set up for 10/02/2016 and you must attend on this date.
Any contact between yourself and Mr. Grey must be made through his lawyer and yours.
Yours..
Matthew I. Cooper, Attorney at Law
Bellevue Child Custody Attorney,
Seattle.
The second page of the letter says:
When you have a child with someone, the law connects you to that person until your child becomes an adult. When you get divorced or split up, there are important issues to decide regarding who cares for the child and when. In Washington, family courts make these decisions based on what is in the best interests of the child. At my firm, I help clients work toward an arrangement that best suits their needs. Contact Matthew I. Cooper via email or call my Bellevue office at 425-467-1999 to schedule a free, 30-minute consultation.
Making Important Decisions
Your parenting plan will help define your rights and responsibilities as a parent. Where will your child go to school or church? Will your child get braces or contact lenses? Who gets to make decisions about after school activities? Where will your child be on birthdays and holidays? A parenting plan will affect you and your child for as long as it is in place. I can help you craft a parenting plan that reflects your wishes. The importance of the decisions you make now cannot be underestimated.
In some locations, such as King County, parents must attempt to resolve these issues in mediation before they may be tried. I can help you prepare for your settlement conference to ensure that your wishes are reflected in any proposed agreement. If mediation does not result in an acceptable agreement, I am a skilled litigator who can fight for you in family court.
Related Issues
In addition to custody plans, I help clients with child support, property division and modification of existing parenting plans. As an experienced Bellevue child custody attorney, I know the process and the people who will be involved in deciding these important issues. I have a network of professionals I work with to help our clients present the best possible case to achieve their goals. I have a lot of experience with Parenting Evaluators and Guardians ad Litem who investigate custody issues and prepare reports in disputed cases.
Whatever issues arise regarding your parental rights, I will be there for you to give you the strong, professional legal guidance you need. Call 425-467-1999 or contact me online today.
I can't believe what I am reading, I had a feeling Christian would bring his Lawyers in to this for some form of access but full custody? He's got to be fucking kidding me... I need this sorting and I need it done now!
Picking up my cell I dial the number, They answer on the 3rd ring
"Hellooo" The voice sings in to the phone
"Mia, It's Ana listen are you busy today?" I ask trying to calm my breathing
"No i'm not busy, What's up" She asks sounding happy and cheery, The complete opposite of what I'm currently feeling
"Could you have Teddy for the day please? I know it's really sort notice but I've got some shit I need to take care off and I'd rather Teddy wasn't there to witness it" I fume
"Sure Ana I can have Teddy, Bring him over, Is everything ok?"
"Not really Mia but il explain when I see you, Thanks Mia you're a life saver" I hang up and get Teddy ready, Christian Grey wants a war Il fucking give him one.
The ride to Bellevue was stressful to say the least, Teddy decided that he didn't want to spend the day with Mia, He wanted his Uncle Elliott, I told him Uncle Elliott was busy and he wet in a sulk with me, Luckily Grace saved the day with a promise of making cookies and cakes with her and Aunt Mia so he was happy after that.
Sitting in the office with Carrick he looks over the letter I received from Christian's lawyers this morning, His face is hard and unforgiving, His eyes skim over the page and his jaw sets in a hard-line
"Well Christian sure does have a way of doing things doesn't he?" Carrick sighs as he rubs his hands down his face, I feel like I've placed him in a tough position, Christian is his son, Know matter what he's done to me and Teddy nothing will ever change that but Teddy's his grandson.
"What can we do Carrick?" I ask feeling like I'm at the end of my tether, Yes Christian hasn't been there for Teddy but surly there going to take Christians money in to consideration when the hearing comes, How the hell am I going to fight against that?
"I could try talking to him Ana, Get him to back down on full custody but you know Christian, Once his minds made up he's set on getting it" He mumbles and I feel my heart sink
"Ok Carrick, Do your best" I stand and give him a hug, I walk out of the house to my car, I need to think of something, Christian is not going to take my son away from me.
Christian
Sitting in my office at Escala, I've just received a phone call from my lawyers telling me that the custody papers were delivered to Anastasia this morning, So now it's all a matter of time, I don't really want full custody of Teddy, I would never do that to Ana but she needs to know that I'm serious about getting some sort of access to my son, I know I've been a shitty father but I've dealt with my own personal shit, That's no excuse I know but she needs to know that once Teddy came in to this world there was never a day where I haven't thought about him, I've been involved in most aspects of Ana's life since she told me she was pregnant, I brought SIP and put the new position in for her to work from home so she wouldn't have to give up her job, The money I give my mother and father each month pays Ana's rent, Gas, Electric, It pays for new clothes for Teddy, Toys everything, The rest goes in to a savings account for when Teddy's 18, I have one set up in his name for when he's 21, I may not have actively been in his life but I've always been on the outskirts, I've always been there watching, Waiting till I had managed to get my shit together.
I abandon work for a glass of wine, It's only 2 in the afternoon but thinking about Ana and Teddy always makes me need a drink, Gail has the weekend off so does Taylor, I decided not to mention that I saw them at Teddy's birthday party and just carry on as normal, I don't know where they are and I don't really care, I won't be going anywhere this weekend so I just want to be left alone.
The elevator pings pulling me from my thoughts, Who the fuck is this?
"CHRISTIAN!"
A small smile forms on my lips, I knew it wouldn't take her long, Ana storms in to the kitchen, All red-faced and angry
"What the hell is this?" She fumes shaking what I'm guessing are the custody papers
"Well I won't know till you stop shaking them and show me" I smirk as she glares
"Don't get fucking smart with me Christian, It doesn't suit you" Ana slams them on the kitchen island and I move to look at them, Yep! there the papers
"The look like custody papers" I mutter, I see Ana's fists all and her lips set in to a hard-line, She's pissed
"Why?"
"Why what?" I frown
"Why did you file these?" She shouts pointing to the letters
"I want to see my son"
"Oh you mean the son you wanted me to abort? The son you wanted nothing to do with? For someone with abandonment issues Christian you did a really good job at hiding them when it came to abandoning me and Teddy" The harsh words flow from her smart little mouth and I feel like she's spitting bullets, They hit me in the chest and I recoil from them. She's right Grey you did abandon them
"I want to see my son Ana, I have a right to see him, I'm his father" I mumble feeling ashamed of myself
"Yes your right he is your son but you gave up you rights when you left us, You want to see him Christian you have to prove to me that you give a fuck about him, You have to prove to me that you want to be the father he's missed out on for the last 4 years" Ana's anger deflates and I can't tell what she's thinking, We stare at each other for what feels like an eternity, Then I have an idea, I'm hoping it doesn't back fire on me and she slaps me again
"Ana, Do you trust me?" I ask but the look on her face tells me I've just asked the dumbest question ever
"Can a blind man see?" She smirks... Ok I've got the answer
"You don't trust me?" I mumble as she shakes her head,
"Ok go look in my bedroom" I hang my head as she frowns and walks away, I hope this goes a little way to showing her that I've always been there.
Ana
I pause when I reach Christian's room, What ever's in here won't sway me, I will fight him from taking my child away from me, I open the door and flick the light switch I gasp and all the air leaves my lungs.
What the fuck?
Pictures... Of Teddy line the walls, Through out the years I sent Christian pictures of Teddy, Pictures of him as a baby, I sent him a couple of pictures every month, I wanted him to see Teddy's progress, Even if he threw them away, Shredded them ect at least they were his choice to do with as he wishes, I never in my wildest dreams thought he would do this.
"Can I come in?"
I turn to see Christian on the thresh hold of his own bedroom and he's asking me if he can come in, I nod, He walks in, Running his fingers over the pictures he sits on the bed
"What is all this Christian?" I ask feeling like I'm in a dream
"This is a version of my own memories" He whispers as tears fill his eyes and he turns away, I feel a little sceptical, Once upon a time I would have crumbled and consoled him in my arms to take his pain away but I'm not the same Ana anymore, I'm not the sap that first rolled over at the good looks and charm of Christian Grey.
"I've always been there Ana, I've always cared" He whispers as I scoff, Yeah right!
"You haven't always cared Christian" I smirk even though he can't see me, He can hear it in my voice, He turns on the bed and looks straight in to my eyes, His usually bright Gray orbs and dull, lifeless, His face looks remorseful and miserable but this is Christian, He's manipulates people, That's his job, It's how he gets what he wants and he's brilliant at what he does.
"I know I haven't, I treated you badly Ana I know that but I've never been that far away" I look at him confused he's speaking in riddles like he used to do when he didn't want to tell me something, When he dances around the actual issue and feeds me scrapings off the sides
"What do you mean you've always been there christian? Please for once in your life tell me the truth and not a bunch of bullshit"
"I've always been there Ana, I've always been there for Teddy" I cut him off with his rambling
"For Gods sake Christian, For once in your life can you actually fucking tell me and not dance around it! Please explain to me HOW you have always been there for Teddy" I yell I'm getting frustrated again, Christian's tears dry up and his dull gray orbs turn to flames, He grits his teeth and walks in front of me so we're standing nose to nose
"You want me to tell you the truth, I'm the reason you never had to quit from SIP, Roach didn't want someone on the pay roll who had only just started the job to be going on maternity leave in a few months, When I brought SIP I told him to give you the choice of quitting or working from home so you could keep your job and also be a mother to Teddy, I give my parents $20,000 a month for you and Teddy, Ever notice why you don't get bills for things like Gas and Water? That's because I pay for them so you don't have to, What ever is left at the end of the month goes in to a savings account for Teddy... See Ana, You and the rest of my family may think I don't give a shit about that little boy but I do, I made the biggest mistake of my life when I told you to choose between me and Teddy and I have had to live with that every day for the last 4 years" Christian's voice went from harsh and deadly to soft and sad through his little confession, I can only stare blankly at him, I'm trying to process this, All of this, How did I not know that Christian was paying for everything? How did I not know that he has been involved in his son's life without me knowing?
"Ana?" He whispers, I must look a I'm catching flies, My brains gone blank and I can't think of anything to say, I came round here with thoughts of a screaming match and for us to bring war upon everyone but now I don't know what to think, I don't know anything anymore
"Ana? Say something please" Christian steps closer to me but I step back, I can't have him to close, The closer he gets the more suffocated I feel, I can't deal with everything that's going on, My cell rings in my pocket pulling me out of my thoughts the I.D reads Grace
"Hi Grace" I try to sound up beat and happy but there's no point, Grace will see straight through me
"Ana, Where are you?" Grace sounds like she's running
"I... I'm... I'm with Christian" I sigh as I hear her breath catch, She covers it up with a slight cough
"Ana, Teddy's had an accident, We're taking him to the hospital now, I will meet you there" She says quickly
"The hospital? Grace what do you mean teddy's been taken to the hospital?... GRACE!" I yell, There's no answer she's hung up, I rush out of Christian's bedroom with his running behind me
"Ana? What's going on?" He grabs my arm and spins me around
"Christian I don't have time for this, Teddy has been taken to the hospital I need to meet your mom there" I say as tears fill my eyes, Christian pulls me in to his arms and holds me tight, I cry in to his shirt as he strocks my hair and whispers relaxing words in my ear, What are you doing? You need to get out of his arms and to the hospital to your son, I push Christian back and run to the elevator... I push the button for the garage and wait for the Christian to join me but he doesn't, I look up to see him standing in the same place as where he was when I left him after the playroom, I take a deep breathe, I can't believe I'm going to do this.
The doors start to close and I place my foot in between the doors
"Hey" I call as Christian's head lifts up
"You coming or not?" I raise my eyebrow daring him to say no, His mouth pops open in shock and he looks like a fish out of water for a few seconds but quickly recovers, He nods his head, Grabs his jacket and rushes in to the elevator alongside me, The ride down seems to take for ever but once the doors open we both rush to Christian's car, It's faster than mine and I don't think I can drive with shaky hands.
"Don't worry I'm sure he'll be fine" Christian smiles slightly as the engine raws to life and we pull out of the garage, Oh please God let him be ok please...