Enjoy

Sins of the Father

Chapter 25

Wild Horses

Ana's POV

"I swear I am going to track down whoever invented mornings and make them pay," I grumble to Kate and Elliot, sitting down with them at the kitchen table.

My body has adjusted back to West Coast time and I am not liking this whole morning thing.

"Good morning to you too, Ana Banana," Elliot greets me.

He came banging on the door around midnight demanding that Kate marry him. They argued for about an hour before ending it with sex. It must have been good because I haven't heard a peep out of him until now.

He hands me a cup of coffee. In my desperate need to wake up, I take the cup.

"I mean it," I say to him, taking a sip of coffee and frowning in disgust at the taste. He has it way too sweet for me. "Whoever it was, I will find him and I will kill him."

"Do you mean to sound like that guy from Taken," he asks me.

"Liam Neeson," Kate tells him his name.

"Whatever," he says, unimpressed that she knows it. "Besides, I don't think even he can take on the big man upstairs."

"Oh. Damn, I forgot about God creating it and all."

"Lord, please forgive her," Kate says. Elliot and I look up waiting for him to answer.

"I'm going to get dressed," I tell her. "I have an early meeting with Carrick."

"I cannot believe Christian Grey is the father of a five-year-old," she says. "I never would have thought it to actually be true."

"Believe it," I say. "It's the truth."

"And you're just okay with all this?"

"It is what it is," I shrug, getting up. "And Teddy is an amazing little boy."

"Whatever you say, Miss Denial."

"Miss Denial about what," Elliot asks.

"Nothing," Kate and I yell at him.

"Fine. Keep your little secrets."

"Don't forget to meet me at the bakers for the cake tasting," Kate reminds me. I assure her I won't before going to grab a quick shower.

"So, the wedding is still on," I hear Elliot ask her. I leave my door cracked so I can eavesdrop.

"I'm just…trying to figure it out," she tells him.

"What's there to figure out Katie? I want us to be husband and wife."

"Only because I'm pregnant."

"What difference does that make?"

"It makes me think you don't really want to marry me."

"Kate, I love you and our baby you're carrying. That's the most important thing."

"I'm scared, Elliot. I can't even keep plants alive. I don't know if I'm ready to be someone's mom."

"You think I'm not shitting my pants," he tells her. I cover my mouth to stifle my laugh. I can just picture him close to fainting when he saw that test with his tanned skin drained of all its color. "Hey, I'm over here freaking out just being an uncle. But we'll figure it all out. Just say you'll marry me."

"We'll see," she says and I want to strangle her.

….

I enter the law offices of Grey and Associates. I'm a little early but one of Carrick's partners allows me to go through. The building is of rich earth tones that I can tell has Grace's touch.

Carrick is sitting at his chair with a brunette sitting on top of his desk facing. She leans down close to listening to whatever it is he's saying. She finds him amusing so she throws her head back and laughs. He grins coyly at her melodramatic gesture.

He looks in my direction and so does she. Quickly she stands up, seeing that I've noticed how close she is to him.

"I'm sorry. I can come back," I tell him.

I'm not sure what to make of this. If it had been anyone but Carrick I would have felt embarrassed for interrupting such an intimate scene. But he is Carrick Grey. Dedicated Husband and father. The ultimate family man. I'm sure I just misinterpreted.

"Ana. No, please come in," he says, getting up from his chair. He swivels it unnecessarily all the way around before he does. It reminds me of what Hunter does when he and I get caught in his office and he has to adjust himself before getting up. "This is Natalia Reinhold. She's a lawyer friend of mine."

"Reinhold? As in Judge Reinhold?"

"Guilty," she says with a smile. "He's my father."

Her voice is naturally raspy and her boobs are perked up in a low scooped-cut blouse. Her dark hair is long and lose, but it does nothing to hide her attributes.

"She's agreed to speak to him on our behalf," Carrick explains. "Isn't that right, Natalia?"

His tone is condescending to her, almost parent like, even though she looks to be about forty years old.

"I'm confident that I can persuade him," she assures him.

"You'd better. If you know what's good for you."

He means it as a joke, but red flags are going off in the back of my mind watching the two of them interact. I am feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"I better get going," she says before grabbing her jacket off the back of a chair and slipping it on.

"Remember, time is of the essence so don't disappoint me," he warns her.

"I wouldn't dream of disappointing you," she's says turning back around to look at him. She makes such a meal of him that it almost makes me blush.

I watch as she goes, entranced by her walk and the blood red soles of her stilettos contrasting with the beige carpet.

"Now," Carrick says and I jump a little at his voice getting my attention. "Let's have a seat, shall we. We have a lot we need to discuss."

"Uh, sure," I tell him, allowing him to lead me over to his desk. "You two seem...close."

"Natalia? I've known her for many years. She's like a daughter to me."

"A forty year old daughter?"

"I've watched her grow into her own and helped her a some along the way."

"That's why she seemed so...familiar with you?"

"I suppose so," he chuckles. "We are all one big happy family around here."

…..

Five Days Later

Christian's POV

Teddy has been sulking around all morning because he knows that Ana is scheduled to leave later today. He's been held up in the fort Elliot helped us re-put together. Only coming out to use the bathroom and for the few hours I had to run to GEH and I brought him along with me thinking the new surroundings would lift his spirits.

He was quiet as we took the 15-minute drive over.

More than a few of my employees stopped to do a double take at the owner of the little hand that was firmly holding on to mine as we walked inside to the elevator.

"Push number 35," I told him. He had to stand on his tip toes and stretch his arm but he managed to reach it.

"Mr. Grey, good afternoon. Teddy, hello. Nice to meet you," Andrea said in greeting, like she's known I've had a child and he's been visiting me here for the past five years. I swear nothing fucking fazes her.

I got Teddy set up with a lap top next to me while I worked. If someone would have suggested to me I'd be in my office signing million-dollar business deals and conducting phone meetings all while some fucking Thomas the Tank Engine game app played in the background I would have fired their ass.

Teddy didn't really eat his breakfast before we left. He only picked at the toast and had a few spoons of the cereal he asked for. He refused Gail's offer to make him a snack when we returned and now he sits staring at the chicken strips she made for his lunch.

"Just try one," I nudge him to eat. My fear of him starving is getting the better of me. He picks one up and nibbles it. "Good?"

He nods his head yes.

"Why does Ana have to go away," he asks me again for the third time today.

"She was only to be here for a few days to get you settled in," I tell him. "But she's not going to stay away. She'll be back for your uncle Elliot's wedding."

"Kay," he says, taking a real bite of his chicken strip. I relax when he finishes it and then picks up another.

"Dr. Trevelyan, Sir," Taylor comes in carrying Mom's overnight bag, with her walking right behind him.

"Grandma," Teddy exclaims, like he hadn't just seen her yesterday and every day since she found out he exists.

"Hello, my beautiful boy," she tells him. She is dying to hug him but she refrains, respecting his boundaries.

"Where's Grandpa?"

"He'll be along in a little while," she tells him, kissing my cheeks hello. "He had to go in to work for a few hours."

"I went to work today," Teddy tells her.

"You did?"

"Yeah. I played on the computer and Miss Andrea gave me candy, but I'm not supposed to say how much of it I really ate."

"That sounds like fun," mom says with a laugh.

I give up trying to get him to eat the last of his lunch knowing that mom will try again later. She and Dad are spending time with Teddy while I have a night out. A late business meeting is the excuse I gave them.

My old room is all ready for Teddy and I've been taking him over to visit for the last few days, but I don't think he's ready for a sleep over without me being there.

A few nights he's woken up but has found comfort in his surroundings. I would hate for that to happen when he's at my parent's house only to feel scared at not knowing where he is or how to find me.

When he wakes, he sneaks downstairs, not that I don't know he's doing it. His door alarm goes off every time. He finds me at my piano much like he did his first night here. But now, he and his teddy bear join me on the bench.

He watches as I play until his curiosity gets the better of him and before long his little fingers are pecking at the keys, trying to pick up the rhythm. I may be biased, in fact, I know I am, but he is does have an ear for sound.

I hate that he is so affected by Ana leaving and I'm not too thrilled about her leaving either. He just sees it as one more person he cares about leaving him. But nothing besides her love and obligation to Kate is drawing her back here while everything she seems to want is pulling her away.

Last night, I made a final attempt at trying to talk to her about what happened between us.

It was under the guise of Teddy needing her in his life. I let him be my motivation to call.

In the back of my mind, I knew Teddy had little to do with why I was dialing her number. After one too many bourbons, I was feeling a bit selfish and frankly pissed off at how easily she had dismissed our relationship as insignificant.

She was to be my wife for fuck sakes. How do you just not feel anything for someone that was once so fucking close to you that you saw yourself spending the rest of your life together. I don't get that shit. The Ana I love couldn't do it and I know deep down, she is still that Ana. The feelings she had for me couldn't have gone away so completely.

"Christian," she answered her phone. Her voice groggy from sleep. "What's wrong? Is it Teddy?"

"He's fine. He's sleeping. But he knows you're leaving tomorrow."

"Christian, he'll be okay. He has you. He has his family. He'll be just fine."

"What about you," I asked her. "What about me? What about us?"

"Christian-"

"Ana, we need to talk. You just left me without a word. All this time has passed and you still won't talk to me. "

"Nothing has changed."

"You're right. Nothing has changed. My feelings for you haven't changed. I'm still not over you, Ana. I want you back. I know we can figure this out, fix what's wrong between us."

If I hadn't heard the light sound of air as she inhaled, I would have thought she'd hung up.

"Ana," I called her name, but silence was my only answer. "You truly have nothing to say to me? Is it because you truly feel nothing for me?"

"I will always care about you, Christian. You know that. I've told you that. But I…I'm in love with someone else-"

"I don't believe that. I don't believe you give two shits about that fucker. You are using him to hide from me, to get over me."

"That is not true. I do love him. I've moved on… and... you need to move on too."

"Ana-"

"I'll come by and say goodbye to Teddy tomorrow before I go. Good night, Christian."

"Ana, wait," I called to her before looking at my phone to see that she had hung up. "FUCK."

I paced the floor in anger, to prevent me from going over to her place. For what purpose, I didn't know. Fuck that, I did know. I wanted to fucking punish her. Punish her for making me feel…for fucking making me FEEL, only to run away because I couldn't jump through her hoops as perfectly as she demanded me too.

I tugged at my hair, picking up the pace. My phone still a death grip in my hand. I looked down at it contemplating calling her again. TRYING A-fucking-GAIN to get through to her.

I dialed another number instead.

"Sir?"

"I need to see you."

"When? Oh God, please don't say now," she groans. The disappointment in her voice calmed me. At least someone wanted me.

"No, Teddy's here," I reminded myself. "But why not now?"

"I'm on my way to Woodinville."

"At this hour," I said, checking the time. "Its 2 in the damn morning. What the fuck for?"

"I have a Mare. Her water just broke."

"There's no one that can cover for you? I'm not pleased with you driving this late."

"Its not that far and I've done it many times."

"Text me the address. I'll send Ryan and Reynolds to collect you when you're done. I don't want you driving back after being up all night birthing some fucking horse."

"Yes, Sir. When can I see you?"

"Tomorrow."

"Perfect," she sighed.

"I have a lot of frustration to work out, Kitten, so tell the owners of all your fury patients they'll have to wait."

"Wild horses, Master," she says. I smile at her words.

Wild horses couldn't drag her away when she's with me.

Author's Note:

*Questions were raised about Little Christian now being called Teddy. The reason for the name change was given a few chapters back.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.