Another update! If you guys have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. EL James didn't give me a whole lot to work with! lol But thanks to everyone who is faving, following, or reviewing! It means a lot! I hope you enjoy this chapter. ~Whit
"I should probably get going." I murmur once Andrea exits quickly.
"Please, stay with me, Mrs. Grey." Christian answers back, holding me closer to his chest. Suddenly, I realize the state we are both in.
"Christian...uhm.. You're still inside of me." I wriggle and he grabs my hips quickly.
"I know. Don't move or I'll take you again." He eases out of me and begins to do his fly again. I lift off his lap and put my dress and panties back on.
"If she had walked in earlier.." Christian goes on and I giggle. Poor Andrea. I'll never be able to look at her the same way. Christian's phone ringing disturbs my thoughts and he struggles to get it out of his pocket. I find it odd that it's not his work phone.
"Grey." He answers exasperated. I sigh, too. Can we ever get a break? He begins to shift under me and I feel like I'm too heavy for him. He furrows his brow and pulls me closer to him, so I listen to the one side of the conversation.
"Mom… slow down." He coaxes Grace. Oh, Grace. That's who he is talking to.
"Shit!" He exclaims and I jump a little at the tone of his voice. I look up at him, puzzled.
"We're coming. Now." I stand up from his lap lazily and he moves out from underneath me with lightning quick pace. Is he ever going to tell me why he's so jumpy? I look at him, expecting answers.
"We're going to the hospital. That was Mom." He splutters quickly. He grabs his bag and I stand watching him.
"Ana. Come on!" I stay rooted to my place, not sure why I'm not moving, too.
"Anastasia, Teddy is hurt. Come on!" I gasp and tears fill my eyes. My Teddy. I stay rooted to the ground as my tears slip down my face. So many questions are running through my mind. No, not my Ted.
"Anastasia!" Christian booms and before I know it, he picks me up bridal style and is carrying me through the door. Once through the door, we are met by a blushed-face Andrea.
"Cancel all my appointments. I'm on the way to the hospital." He orders and she nods, hiding her face. My mind wanders to my little Teddy. He's probably so scared and in pain. My Teddy bear. More tears slip down my face and I wipe them on Christian's shirt. I notice that Christian is rigid and is nearly running. I feel that I am slowing him down.
"Christian, I can walk." I murmur through my tears.
"No." Is all he has to reply. Soon, we are outside and I'm in the Audi SUV with Taylor and Christian. I begin to really weep and Christian rubs my back and kisses my forehead.
"I know, baby. I know." He coaxes and I send up a little prayer, begging for my baby boy to be okay.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
We arrive to the hospital in about ten minutes, speeding through all traffic and rain. It reminds me of the car chase I went on once before. Christian carries me from the car into the emergency room, and we are immediately taken to Teddy's bedside. The first thing I see when Christian and I get around the curtain is a frantic, crying Grace, and a sleeping Teddy. Christian gently places me on the floor and holds me up, making sure I'm okay before letting me stand on my own.
"Go to Teddy, Ana. I need to calm my mother." Christian chokes, but turns to Grace. I begin to walk over to Teddy. He's such an angel. Relief floods over me as I realize my baby boy is peaceful and not in too much pain. I pull up a chair next to him, hold his little hand and run my other hand through his copper hair. I don't notice any obvious injuries. I check his head and arms, but there's nothing. Then, I notice he has one foot not under the covers. I shakily rise from my chair and walk to the end of the bed. Teddy's foot is delicately wrapped in white gauze and he has three stitches on the skin connecting his big toe to the rest of his foot. Tears are welling up again when I hear Christian's footsteps behind me. He places his hand on my back and rubs it gently. I turn to him and weep in his chest as he holds me to him. He has both of his arms around my back, rubbing up and down, while I have two small fistfuls of his shirt in my hands.
"He's okay, Ana." Christian whispers, but he's choking up. I glance up at him and I'm met with a tear stained Christian.
"Christian." I sob and wipe away a few of his tears.
"Ana… he was…" He seems like he's struggling to go on. All I can see is fear in his large gray eyes. No, not Christian, too.
"Burned. He was burned." Christian puts his head in his hands and sobs. I wrap both my arms around his back and hold him as close as possible.
"Have I failed, Ana? Tell me, have I failed him?" Christian peeks at me, dropping his hands and searching my face for an answer.
"No, God no Christian." Tears are flowing, but I must reassure my husband. "Children are curious. Accidents will happen. This is no one's fault. He's okay." I soothe him and kiss his jaw.
"Thank you, Ana." He whispers to me and I wrap my arms around his neck.
"You're an amazing father, Christian. The best one, I think." I smile through my tears and he does the same. I finally realize why Christian is so upset over Teddy's injuries. It nearly railroads me. Christian is so upset because he was burned, too, as a child.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"He's doing well, Mr. and Mrs. Grey. He's fine to go home once he awakes." The kind doctor reassures us. She's very pretty and one of Grace's friends I believe. Her name is Meghan and she has long, curly, brunette hair and ice blue eyes. She smiles at us, then exits our room. I turn to Christian, who has not left Ted's bedside since.
"What is it, Christian?" I ask, like he is an injured animal. He looks devastated, watching our snoozing little Ted.
"I just… how bad is his burn?" He half-whispers. Oh, Fifty. My heart constricts.
"Second degree. I know you're upset Christian, and I understand why, but do not take this out on yourself. Grace told us that it was completely her fault, but I still believe it was an accident. She left the iron unattended and it fell on Teddy's foot. It wasn't on purpose." I try my best to convince him and I see him slightly relax.
"You look exhausted, Ana." I raise a brow at him.
"Growing a human isn't tiring at all, Mr. Grey." I sass to him and he smirks. Teddy begins to stir and Christian and I snap our heads in his direction.
"Mommy, Daddy?" He whimpers, his eyes half open. My Teddy. Christian immediately runs over and strokes Teddy's hair.
"Hey little man! How do you feel?" Christian's eyes are frantically running over Teddy, searching for answers.
"boo boo." Teddy points to his foot and frowns.
"It'll be all healed up soon. I hear Mommy and Grandma are the best at healing up boo boos! Mommy healed the worst boo boo daddy ever had!" Hearing Christian's words constricts my heart. Tears prick my eyes as I watch this interaction between my son and my husband. Christian turns to look at me and so does Ted. Teddy's eyes are as big as quarters and Christian is grinning at me.
"Where your boo boo, Daddy? Mommy fix it?" Teddy questions Christian and Christian beams at him.
"My worst boo boo was my heart, but Mommy fixed it all up." I tear slides down my face and i wipe it away quickly, trying to stay strong for my Teddy.
"We can go home, fix your boo boo, and eat some dinner with Mrs. Taylor." I explain to Teddy and he grins.
"Otay." He says and throws the cover off.
"Not so fast, Ted! Let Daddy carry you." Christian lifts him up from the bed and Teddy wraps his arms and legs around Christian.
"I'm so sorry, Teddy. Sorry for everything." Christian whispers into his ear and I dash away my tears again.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Once we reach the Audi outside, I'm pleased to see that Taylor has moved the car seat. I strap Ted in and slide in next to him. The car ride back to the big house is mainly filled with Teddy telling us about his adventures at Grandma's and Ted's favorite toddler songs on repeat. I've heard 'The Wheels On The Bus' so many times I think I've been ran over by the bus.
Upon reaching the big house, Mrs. Taylor has prepared Christian and Teddy's favorite dinner side. Macaroni and cheese. Cavatelli al ragu d'anatra is the main course for Christian and I and a side of asparagus for me. We all sit at the dinner table, eating in a comfortable silence as a family. Once Ted is finished, Christian tells him it's time for a bath. Teddy whines, but eventually gives in, and Christian carries him upstairs to the bathtub, so I'm left downstairs by myself. I'm staring out at the sound, absolutely engulfed in the sunset when the doorbell startles me out of my daydream. I walk over to the door and a delivery man is standing outside, looking quite bored and tired. I grin from ear to ear, knowing this is another Christian surprise. I can hear him and Teddy giggling upstairs and sloshing water everywhere. This is bliss.
"Delivery for Mrs. Grey." The delivery man says, stifling a yawn. I nod and sign my name and take my package to the table. I think about waiting for Christian, but my curiosity is piqued. I open the box to find the most beautiful 12 long stemmed pink roses I have ever seen. I marvel in their beauty. They're perfect and even more because they must be from my husband. They smell heavenly, too. I pull them out of the box and place them all in a white vase. They make a lovely new centerpiece for our dining table. Oh, my sweet husband. I hear footsteps coming down the stairs and I turn to see my oh so sweet husband and my towel wrapped Teddy coming towards me. Ted looks so adorable in his hooded puppy towel.
"We wanted to kiss mommy goodnight." Christian explains and Ted puckers his lips.
"Mwah!" I exclaim as I give my baby boy a huge goodnight kiss and he giggles. Christian is giggling, too, and then he eyes the roses on the table.
"When did you get those?" He asks, grinning at me.
"Just a few minutes ago. I love you and your surprises, Daddy." I bat my lashes at him and kiss his cheek, but he looks completely dumbfounded.
"Ana… I didn't order those." He furrows his brow and I do, too.
"Maybe they're from Ray or Grace?" I confess and walk over to the package. I dig around for a note and find a yellow sticky note inside. My eyes scan over the neat cursive writing.
"I am deeply sorry for how I acted earlier. These roses resemble your pure beauty and grace. Let us try another meeting." I am immediately confused and glance at Christian who is watching me closely. I read the last line and I nearly drop the note on the floor.
"With much love, Boyce Fox."