A:N/ There's so much drama in this chapter guys. I hope it doesn't overwhelm! Thank you guys for all your reviews, favorites, and follows! You are the best!~Whit.
As I watch Christian dash out to the patio, I realize all my worst fears.
"TAYLOR!" I shout and hear the walls shout back at me. Taylor's footsteps pound against the floor as he comes flying into the room. I point out to where Christian is, tears still falling down my cheeks, and unable to voice my concerns. Taylor nods, drawing his gun. I watch out the window at the blurry horror scene playing out before my watery eyes. Christian is directing Taylor and running his hands through his hair in exasperation. Taylor keeps his gun drawn as he nears the bushes. Chills run through me. Taylor gets to the initial spot that I spotted the mystery intruder and my hair stands on end. I wipe my tears away, hoping to get a clearer picture of what's happening. Christian is constantly surveying the land, whipping his head side to side to watch out for Taylor and I. Taylor disappears from view into the bushes and I suddenly feel as if I am being watched. I shiver and feel my breathing escalate. The air becomes ice cold, but I cannot take my eyes away from Christian. I can sense another presence, but I'm glued to my spot. I feel someone's hand on my shin, causing me to jump out of my skin and scream. I turn, my eyes as wide as they can get.
"Mommy." Ted mumbles, his eyes as shocked as mine.
"Oh, Ted. I didn't know it was you little man. You scared Mommy!" I try my best to play it off and giggle and Teddy, fortunately, buys my act. I bend, as best I can, and open my arms to wrap my little love up. Teddy cranes his neck to peek out the window, but I walk away briskly, not letting the violence invade my innocent, pure baby.
"I hungry." Ted proclaims and scrunches his face as I set him in his highchair and pull him up to the table. I walk to the cabinets and begin to search through them, knowing that Gail must be on her way back shortly from the grocery. I spot some bread and peanut butter in one cabinet.
"Peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" I ask Ted. He shakes his head and sends me back to searching the cabinets. Hmm… cereal?
"Cereal?" Teddy shakes his head again. I don't see much more in the cabinets, so I start to rummage through the fridge. I spot some yogurt and fruits.
"How about strawberry yogurt with some bananas and blueberries?" Teddy nods quickly and grins. I grab the yogurt and one of Teddy's baby spoons from the drawer, placing the meal in front of him. Then, I grab a knife to cut one of the bananas into slices for him. Ted takes no time digging into his yogurt, making "mmm" sounds between bites. After slicing the bananas, I put them in the shape of a smile on a plate for Teddy and put blueberries all around, making the head and eyes. I admire my work, making a fruity face for my fruity boy.
As soon as I place the smiley plate in front of Ted, Christian and Taylor walk in through the patio. Intense gray eyes lock with mine. Holy cow… he looks upset.
"Daddy!" Teddy shrills in between bites of bananas. Christian ruffles Ted's hair and smiles at him, but gazes back to me.
"Taylor, can you watch Teddy for a few minutes? I need to talk with Anastasia." Taylor nods his head, but I'm puzzled. Why can't we just talk here?
"What do we need to talk about?" I cock an eyebrow at Christian and he gives me his "What do you think" stare. I huff and stand, following Christian's path.
As we get closer and closer to our end destination, it becomes clear to me what Christian wants.
"Christian, this is no time for sex." I declare, stopping both of us in our tracks.
"I will always want to lose myself in you, but just because we are going to the bedroom does not mean that we are going for sex." Christian is amused. Instant mood change. I shake my head and will him to continue on. We reach the bedroom and he opens the door for me. Stepping inside, I make my way to sit on the bed and watch Christian rummage through some papers on our nightstand. He finds a small piece of paper with some names scribbled on it. His jaw tenses and his eyes flash with anger.
"What is it, dear?" I reach out to look at the paper, completely puzzled by his anger. He reluctantly hands it to me and I scan it, not noticing anything out of the ordinary.
"It's Teddy's guest list for his birthday." I state matter-of-factly and Christian slowly nods.
"Those are the people who have had access to our gate code." What? Christian is talking crazy.
"Yes? Okay? And?" I just don't understand.
"Ana… one of these people put that box of things on our doorstep." Christian fills in the blanks. I scowl at the list again, not knowing which one of these people would do something like this.
"So, it's just family and friends. None of these people would do something like that, Christian." Christian says nothing, but stays tight-lipped. I try another tactic to get him talking.
"Who do you think it is, Christian?" I say, softly, hoping he will talk.
"Ana… I almost know it was Jose." Anger rises in me and I clench my fists.
"Jose would NEVER do anything like that, Christian!" I spit at him, causing Christian to blink a few times.
"Ana. It all makes sense."
"No, Christian, it doesn't. You can't hate Jose forever. He never did anything bad to you, anyway." I shout, crossing my arms.
"Teddy will hear you." Christian's stern voice reprimands me. I lower my voice a fraction, but I'm not backing down. Jose wouldn't betray me like this. Christian has lost his mind!
"I know Jose would never do that and I won't think for a second he would."
"The fucker takes pictures." Christian growls, but I'm not budging. I stand up, making my way to the door.
"I'm finished with this conversation." I huff, grabbing the door knob. Christian catches my wrist just before I walk out.
"Consider it, Ana." Christian pleads softly, but I can't believe how audacious he is being.
"No. Let go of me!" I half-shout at Christian, squirming under his tight grip. He frees my wrist and I hurry down the steps, running away from Christian.
At the bottom, I walk to Teddy, expecting to hear Christian's footsteps padding behind me, but I don't. He must've stayed behind in the bedroom. The thought of him up there alone tugs on my heart strings. I imagine him sitting on the bed alone, his head resting in his hands, waiting for me to come soothe him. I'm just too mad at him at the moment. I'm surprised to see that Teddy has finished all of his snack and Taylor has cleared the table and Ted is in the floor playing with Taylor.
"Hey Teddy!" Ted whips around to see me, a huge smile plastered on his face.
"Have you been playing with Taylor?" I ask and he nods enthusiastically.
"I learn army man." Ted holds up a tiny G.I. joe figure and I laugh. Of course, Taylor is already teaching Teddy about the army. Taylor has a huge grin on his face, too, as he sits cross-legged on the floor.
"Thank you, Taylor. I appreciate it." I nod at him, causing him to stand.
"It's my pleasure, Mrs. Grey." He grins and exits the room, probably off to his study.
I sit on the floor with Teddy, setting up some figurines to play with, but Ted has already lost interest in them. He waddles over to the doors leading to the patio and stares out them. I'm mindlessly setting up tanks and figurines with one hand and rubbing my belly with the other, thinking of playing dolls and tea party with my little girl. Ted's sweet voice brings me out of my reverie.
"Daddy!" Ted squeals and points out the window. That's weird. Christian was upstairs? I try my best to get off the floor. I make my way to the door and stare out, searching for Christian. Ted continues pointing and I follow where he is, but that isn't Christian. That's someone in a dark green hoodie and gray sweatpants… and he has a camera. Bile rises in my throat and I snatch Ted up quickly, running up the stairs as quick as possible.
"Where we goin'?" Ted quizzes, but I must ignore him. I yell for Christian, and he comes running through the door of the bedroom. His hair is a mess and his sculptured lips are parted slightly.
"Christian… he's still out there. I saw him. Ted saw him." I breathe quickly and Christian dashes down the stairs, yelling for Taylor on his way out of the door. There's so much action happening around me that I begin to feel extremely dizzy. My heart is beating out of my chest and everything around me begins to look fuzzy. I set Teddy down as fast as I can and I still feel faint. So, that's exactly what I do.