Enjoy

Sins of the Father

Chapter 8

Protests Too Much

Ana's POV

"Christian, what's the matter," I ask him from just inside the doorway. I hope he doesn't think that we were arguing and it scared him.

"I don't want a daddy. No more daddies," we hear him say from his safe place under the bed. The stress in his voice is tearing at my heartstrings.

I go to get closer and try to calm him down, but Hunter stops me by grabbing on to my hand.

"Let me talk to him, Ana," Hunter offers, still holding me by the arm now to stop me from going to Christian as he cries from his hiding place under his bed.

I nod, unsure if it's the best idea to have Hunter talk to him when he is this afraid of men.

Images of his abuser telling him he was his daddy as he beats him come flooding my mind. I hope that is what has him so afraid of daddies and not anything Leila told him about his real dad.

His face is buried in a blanket that he's dragged under the bed with him and his little hands are over the blanket covering his eyes, like a sick game of peek a boo. If he can close his eyes tight enough, the person he is hiding from won't see him.

I watch closely as Hunter approaches the bed, ready to step in if I need to. And as unassuming as ever, he sits on the floor next to where the top of Christian's head is peeking out. With his back resting on the bedframe, his legs outstretched, and crossed at the ankles, he talks to the scared little boy.

"I get why you don't like daddies," he tells him, looking down at the mess of copper hair that is visible from under the bed. "I can imagine that for you, daddies can be quite scary. But you know what?"

"What," Christian's little voice asks through a sniffle of his nose, muffled by the blanket."

"Not all daddies hurt their little boys. Most daddies, who are real daddies, love their kids just as much as mommies do. I have a daddy and I can promise you, he never hurt me, not even once. He is the best daddy in the whole world. And you know what he used to do when I was about your age?"

Christian shakes his head.

"What," he asks. The sniffle is gone.

"Well," Hunt says, hankering down for a story. I cover my lips with my hand to hide my grin. "When I was just about your age, my two older brothers were becoming teenagers and they didn't want me hanging around them and their friends. Now, I loved my brothers. Back then, I thought they were the coolest big brothers ever. I still do. But as cool they were, they didn't want their little brother hanging around all the time. So, my dad became my new best buddy. We did everything together. He would take me fishing with him and his pals and every summer when I wasn't away camp, he would let me go to work with him. I loved that because I learned all about the place that I work at now. I loved hanging with my dad. I still do."

"He's nice," Christian asks, and Hunter smiles down at him. The weight of what that question meant didn't elude him. I sit down next to Hunter as he answers the question.

"He is very nice and he loves his kids very much. I remember one day, I got into a fight at school. My teacher sent me home with a note about the whole thing and I knew for sure once my dad found out he would be really angry at me. Fighting was a big no no, especially at school. Do you know what he did when he got home from work?"

"Hit you, cuz you were being bad?"

"No, Christian. He didn't hit me," Hunter whispers to him, trying to swallow the emotion in his throat. "He sat me down and listened to my side and when I was all done explaining how the boy was bullying me he said, 'Son, do you think that was the very best way to handle it?' and I told him I believed it was, and I did. Then, he said. 'I can't really be mad at you for doing your best.' And he gave me a hug and told me he was proud of me, no matter what. And to never be afraid to come to him when I'm in trouble."

"He said that?"

"Sure did. Not all daddies hit. That's the one thing my daddy taught me."

"You think my new daddy will be nice to me like your daddy?"

Hunter and I look at each other trying to think of the best way to answer the question. Hunter goes with the truth.

"I honestly don't know, Christian. But I can tell you what I do know. I know that no one will ever mistreat you again, never ever. Because now you have Ana and you have me. And we both care too much about you to ever let anyone hurt you."

"Promise?"

"I promise. With all my heart."

"And Hunter always keeps his promises," I tell him.

"Forgive the intrusion Sir, but Ms. Sasha Kinkaid has arrived for dinner," Giles announces, then diverts his attention to Christian under the bed. "Shall I tell her to wait a moment?"

"No, we'll be right down, Giles," Hunter tells him.

"Very good, Sir."

He waits for Giles to disappear before we continue on with Christian.

"What do you say, Christian. Are you ready to eat? Nora made something especially for you. Do you want to come out and see what it is?"

"Kay," he says, sliding out from under the bed, abandoning his blanket, and running out the room to find Nora, I'm sure.

Hunter laughs at him, getting up, and reaching a hand down to help me stand.

"That kid is going to be the death of me, I swear," he says. "God, Sweetie, I so get it now. I had no idea how hard it was. They just capture your heat and break it, don't they?"

"Every single time," I tell him of my job. "We better get down there and rescue Nora."

"He does seem a bit smitten with her," he says.

"Totally," I laugh. "Hey, thanks for that. I don't think I would have been able to get him out from under there as upset as he was."

"I meant what I said to him, Ana. I'm invested in that kid now. I made him a promise and I am damn sure going to keep it."

"I know," I tell him, pressing my lips to his and wrapping my arms around his neck. "Do you have any idea how sexy you are when you're all daddy lion alpha male-ing it?"

He shakes his head playfully at me.

"The shit that turns you on," he says and I giggle. "I've got your sexy alpha male right here."

I jump a little from him smacking my ass when I pass him at the door.

…

"Was that little whirlwind of reddish brown hair Christian," Sasha asks, kissing my cheek hello before doing the same to Hunter.

"In the flesh," I tell her.

Nora sets the table on the patio. Being out here seems to be more to Christian's liking and keeps him entertained well enough to get through dinner.

She serves him Mac and cheese with baked chicken. He told her the mac and cheese was his favorite during their milk and cookie snacking and she'd promised to make it special for him tonight. Only I am aware of the significance of that.

The rest of use enjoy a Cajun dish of Maque choux with shrimp, blackened catfish, and dill potatoes. It's very delicious.

"I could really get used to eating like this," I tell Hunter and Sasha. Hunter raises an eyebrow at me and I wink at him. I say the same thing every time I have dinner over here which is often, since Nora likes to spoil me with her cooking.

After another big helping of Mac and Cheese, Christian goes off with Nora to his room. There movie night is going to start in a few hours, but he wants to play a little with his new toys first.

"I'll leave you two alone to talk," Hunter tells me.

"You don't have to."

"No, Sweetie, its fine. I have some work I didn't get to today," he says. "See you later, Sasha."

"Thanks Hunter," she says, watching him go. "He seems to be adjusting well."

"Christian?"

"No, Hunter. He seems to be dealing with the fact that you are harboring your ex's kid really well."

"Oh, he is mad at me about that," I tell her. "But he has a soft spot for Christian."

"Are you still planning on taking him to Seattle?"

"I… um, actually need to talk to you about that-"

"Okay, where is the wine?"

"Why," I laugh.

"I have a feeling I'm going to need it."

I roll my eyes before getting up to go get it. We end up sitting on the cushioned bench outside, watching the city light up, drinking wine, while I bring her up to speed.

"Do you think he will agree to the paternity test," she asks.

"I don't know. I haven't spoken to him in so long. I don't know where his head is right now. I hope he does."

"Okay, so let's say he takes the test and turns out your suspicions are correct and he is the father. Are you prepared for what happens if the state deems him unsuitable to take over care? Or if he refuses to even try and gain custody of his son. Have you thought about what that means for little Christian? He would have to be placed in a-"

"No, I won't let him be placed in foster care."

"Ana-"

"No. He has extended family. He has a grandmother and grandfather who would gladly take him. Christian has a brother and a sister, both would take care of his son if he doesn't want to. We have better options here, Sash."

"Do you really want to take that route? Having Christian's family take care of a kid he didn't want? I mean talk about awkward family dinners. Is that fair to him?"

"I don't care what's fair to him if he doesn't man up about this. This is his kid we are talking about here, for fuck sakes."

"Alright, calm down momma bear," she says, holding her arms out pretending to fend me off. "Don't tear the devil's advocate to shreds over here. I hear what you're saying, but first things first, we need to establish paternity."

"I will work on him tomorrow. He will take that test even if I have to pull his damn hair out by the roots to get his DNA."

I eye her as she snickers at me.

"You certainly have a lot of moxie. Now on to you. How do you feel about seeing Christian after all this time?"

"I'm not looking forward to it."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. But what choice do I have?"

"Well, I would be more than happy to take over, if it will make you feel any better. It might be better coming from me anyway. When you think about all of the personal feelings involved-"

"I have no personal feelings for Christian Grey. Those are long dead."

"Really, Ana? This is me you're talking to. Remember me, the best friend? The one who used to sit up with you until two in the morning crying over Christian Grey? That is, before Hunter took over."

"Of course, I remember. Those days are long gone, thanks to you and Hunter."

"So, there are no unresolved feelings at all where he is concerned?"

"Yes. I have regrets. Like anyone in a relationship where you love the person and it all goes wrong. That's as far as it goes. I'm not looking to start anything with him and in fact, I'm hoping this will make it right. I'm hoping this will end it."

"Do you want my advice?"

"Always."

"If what you're saying is true, keep it professional. Stick to what is best for Christian Williams. Remember, you are his social worker. You are his voice. And on a personal level, remember that great guy who just made themselves scarce so we can talk."

"I would never do anything to hurt Hunter."

"Not intentionally. But there is a lot to you and this Christian Grey. I'm sure you haven't even told me the half of it all. Sometimes when you see unresolved exes, old feelings come up. We can help it. It just happens. The heart wants what it wants. It's a very fickle organ. It's a disloyal son of a Bitch and it doesn't give a damn who it hurts. Thank God, we have a brain to tell us better."

"Is this about you and Carlos," I ask her.

"No, this is not about me and Carlos. To hell with Carlos and his lying cheating ass. I hope his dick rots off."

"Alright then," I laugh at her little rant. "Is that your way of saying that Hunter is better for me?"

"Well, let's put it this way. Since you've known him, I haven't seen you shed one tear because of him. Now, that could be either because you don't care about him, or because he is a really great guy who cares the world about you and who puts you above everything else. From what I can see, he loves the shit out of you."

"I love him too."

"Then please let him know that. He's a guy. A guy whose girl is about to see her ex for whatever reason. The ex he knows as the guy who kept the woman he loves up crying all night long. Who the hell would be happy with that? I'm shocked that he even had dinner with us. I'm surprised he's not out getting that balsy ass PA of his with her killer stilettos ready to plant the heel of one in Christian Grey's forehead the moment he steps foot in the city."

I laugh. I thought I was the only one who got that 007 Bond Girl feel from Lidia.

"Hunter knows I love him."

"So, he's okay with this?"

I shake my head no.

"Okay, you need to wear his ass out tonight."

"Already a step ahead of you."

"Really? And did you plan this before or AFTER the little phone convo with Mr. Grey?"

"What difference does that make?"

"Really?"

"Will you stop saying that, please. And stop looking for red flags. There are none where Christian Grey is concerned."

"Ana, are you a fan of Shakespeare- nevermind, I forgot who I was talking to. To quote the literary master, 'Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.' Get what I'm saying?"

"That's not the accurate quote," I tell her in a huff.

"Whatever. I'm just worried about you."

"I know."

"Figure your head out before tomorrow. I mean it. Lives hang in the balance. I mean, this is grown up shit."

"I know. I know."

"In the meantime, I'll get on this paper work for Christian Williams."

"You are not going to put him in the system, are you?"

"Yes, Ana. I am going to put his information into the system. A very influential man is coming here tomorrow and forgive the cliché but all hell might be breaking loose. So, I am going to make damn sure all of our T's are crossed and our I's are dotted before we lose both our jobs. As a matter of fact, I think I should be in on this little meeting tomorrow."

"No, Sasha, come on."

I hate it when she gets all riled up suddenly like this.

"No, this is serious. Christian Grey flying his ass out here on a whim, is serious. He is much too spirited and you have been going rogue in this long enough. I'll see you tomorrow." She hugs me goodbye and heads for the foyer. "I'll see myself out, Giles."

She says waving him away and like me he stands looking at her as she goes.

A/N:

Finally, we get to see Christian and Ana together in the next update.

I do apologize for the delay in updates.

As some of you may know, I have decided to try my hand at self-publishing, so I have been reworking stories.

Unfortunately, that leaves little room to update as regularly as I used to, but I do plan on continuing this story here. It might just talk a bit longer.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. It is always appreciated.