Thank you for all the feedback. I'm happy taking chapter suggestions and would love to hear them. I have already began writing one on Thomas working with Christian, so any more ideas will be great. Review please.
I pull on my leather jacket and converse while I wait for my Dad to finish his phone call, and my brother to come downstairs. Suit shopping isn't a fun thing, and it's even less fun with your father and older brother.
Leaning against the door of the Audi R8, I can't help but grin knowing someday I'd be able to drive it. My brother already has a car, and his is nice but when I get mine I want this one.
"Theo, come on." My Dad calls from the doorway as he makes his way over to me. My brother is close behind him with a solemn expression.
"Shotgun," I yell and my brother runs at me but before he can do anything I jump into the front seat on a satisfied smirk.
He tries to pull me out but I hold on tightly, shoving him away. He growls at me and turns around. "Dad, I'm the oldest so I'm in the front right?" He asks expectantly.
"Thomas called shotgun, that's always been the rule Theo, get in the back." He orders and I grin. My brother mutters to himself as he takes a seat in the back. My Dad winks at me and I smirk. He like me grew up being the younger brother so he is all for equality of ages.
We'd been driving for about 10 minutes in silence until my Father breaks the silence.
"I want you two on your best behaviour tonight, there will be reporters there, and I'm not having a repeat of the other year."
I try to hide my grin as I think back to a few years ago when Theo and I went full out crazy on each other and then ended up knocking over the large ice sculpture, and wrecking my Grandfather's birthday party. It was fair to say our parents had never been more embarrassed.
"Get that grin off your face Thomas, I'm serious. If you step out of line there will be serious consequences." He threatens with an expressionless face.
"I'm so scared," I respond cheekily.
"You should be." He replies amused. Keeping his eyes on the road and one hand on the steering wheel, he pokes me in the side. I push his hand off with a grin, and he smirks at me.
"Are we going to be having a meal Dad?" Theo asks from the back.
"Yes, there will be a selection of meals served and then we will socialise for a bit, watch your Mom and Aunt Kate attempt to dance and then we'll leave." He answers with a grin. Theo and I laugh at the memories of our Mom and Aunt Kate dancing awfully after a few too many drinks.
"Please tell me Theo, Phoebe, Ava, Alex, Hannah and I will get our own table again?" I ask hopefully thinking back to last time and how much fun we had with no adults at the table.
My Dad narrows his eyes at me as he pulls up outside Prada and parks the car. "I think us adults learnt our lesson after leaving you kids alone last time, didn't we? We will all be sitting together." He mutters.
"Come on Dad, you have to admit me sneaking alcohol to the kids table was pretty funny," I laugh grinning at the memory. How I, an 11 year old boy, had managed to retrieve alcohol from the bar was still a mystery to the adults, which only made it funnier.
"No it was not, and I will be keeping an extra close eye on you this time." He warns. I grin cheekily. He shakes his head but smirks slightly.
"Come on my boys, let's shop." He instructs pushing into the large shop. We are greeted by Kiera, who has known my Dad for years, and often helped us choose outfits.
"Mr Grey, lovely to see you as always," She smiles shaking Dad's hand before turning to my brother and me. "Theo you've shot up since I last saw you, and still as handsome as ever." She smiles warmly at him. "And my little troublemaker, well I see you're still little," She teases bringing her hand up to compare our heights "But once again as handsome as ever, and you still have the cheeky grin."
"Only for you Kiera," I wink cheekily.
My Dad raises an eyebrow at me. "That's enough Thomas, Kiera we need new suits for these two."
"How come we have to get a new one but you don't?" I moan looking up at him.
"Because I already have plenty, you two don't and it's about time you got a new one, so stop complaining." He warns with narrowed eyes.
Kiera who had been silent during his lecture smiles at me. "Let's go and find you something worthy of your looks," She leads the way and we follow.
I'd tried on about five suits by now and each one I hated. One was too blue, anther too itchy. They just weren't right and I still hated shopping.
I pull on the next one Kiera has picked out and look at myself in the changing room mirror. The suit is navy blue and tight fitting. It was matched with a black shirt and a navy blue tie. I like this one, and if I do say so myself it brings out the blue of my eyes.
"Thomas, if you don't come out in 10 seconds I'm coming in." My Dad calls from outside. I roll my eyes but exit the changing room.
He looks me up and down before grinning. "What a good looking son I have,"
Theo walks out wearing a black tuxedo. We grin at each other. "Well little brother don't you dress up well, looks like we'll be getting some tonight." He jokes.
My Dad frowns. "The only children your age will be your cousins so no you won't be getting any tonight."
"Well who says we can't try for someone a bit older?" I quip with a grin.
"I do. Now come on, we need to get you both some new shoes to wear with them." He orders. God does he like to boss us about.
"No way, I'm wearing my converse. They're black so it will look fine" I protest. My converse are my pride and joy, much to my Fathers dismay they're the only shoes I'll ever wear. When I was younger he used to try and buy me dress shoes for when we went out but I would scream and fight until he let me wear my converse.
"You're not wearing them with a suit. Now, come on." He glares at me waiting for me to follow him, raising an expectant eyebrow at me.
"I'm wearing my converse and I don't care what you say." I reply not backing down. I know if he really cares about this I'm going to end up with new shoes. I'm just as stubborn as him, but he can easily overpower me physically.
"Thomas," He warns breathing in heavily, running a hand through his hair in agitation.
"Please Dad," I ask with my best innocent eyes. I know I have him. It's the crystal blue eyes I got from Mom, he can't say no to them.
He sighs but his face softens. "You really are a manipulative little boy, you know that?" He asks with a grin. I nod and match his expression, before we go off to buy Theo some new shoes.
As I listen to my Dad and Brother argue tiredly about shoes, I start to walk off in search for something to do. But, I don't get very far.
"Thomas, stay here." My Dad orders, stopping his argument to grasp my arm and pull me back over to them. I groan in frustration and scan my eyes around the vast store, grinning when I see someone familiar.
"Hey Dad, look Uncle Elliot and Alex are over there." I point to the corner where my Uncle and cousin are standing. Their equally blonde hair and athletic build making them look almost identical from behind. We watch them as they compare shirts, most likely for tonight.
My Dad looks over at them with a grin, they hadn't noticed us yet.
"They both look like they're having as much fun as us," Theo comments dryly earning a glare off our Dad. We walk over to them hurriedly.
"I think the pink would suit you better Alex." I tease my 14 year old cousin. He and my Uncle turn around swiftly and grin.
"Funny kid." Alex mutters with a grin "I think the little boy sections over there," He jokes pointing his head in the opposite direction.
"Yeah well then right next to the little girl section for you." I muse, earning a poke in the ribs from my cousin.
"Alright boys, that's enough. What are you doing here Christian? Don't you already have enough suits for a lifetime?" My uncle teases.
"Actually Elliot, we're here for Theo and Thomas. I'm assuming you're picking out clothes for tonight?" My Dad asks.
"Your Dad's a smart one isn't he." My uncle jokes earning a glare off my Father. Their playful banter is often the topic of our family meals. They loved to mess with each other, but it's obvious they'd do anything for each other as well.
"Oh the brightest," I comment earning a glare from my Dad again. Apparently, it's not okay when anybody else joins in on their banter.
"He said it not me." I protest mildly, with raised hands.
"Just be careful, Thomas." He warns, before wrapping his arms around my brother and me "Well Elliot as much as I'd like to advise you on your fashion choices, we must be going. Laters."
"Laters little brother" Elliot calls after us, shaking his head at my Dad's comment.
It's 6pm when we're all ready to go. As usual my Mom and Phoebe take the longest. My Dad is standing at the bottom of the stairs shouting for them to hurry up, dressed in a grey suit.
A few minutes later my Mom walks down in a tight, dark blue dress which comes down to her knee. Her brown hair is curled and tussled over her shoulders.
"You look absolutely stunning Anastasia." I hear my Dad tell her, "Although that dress is very revealing, I don't know if I'll appreciate my parents friends ogling you," I can't help but smile at this, Christian Grey, aka the most overprotective man you could ever meet.
"I know you're old Christian," My Mom teases "But most of your parent's friends are over 60 years old so you shouldn't feel in competition."
He smirks at her with narrowed eyes. "Oh Mrs Grey, the things I'd like to do with that smart mouth of yours." He kisses her with passion and my brother and I turn away disgusted. As much as I love the fact my parents are happy and in love, I'd rather them not show it.
"Keep it in your pants Dad," Teddy jokes, earning a glare off my parents.
"Watch your mouth young man." My Dad warns him before kissing my Mom on the cheek.
Phoebe comes down next wearing a tight purple dress which came halfway down her thigh. Her dark hair is tied up in a simple pony tail, she looked beautiful as always.
My Dad glares at her and holds out his suit jacket. "As beautiful as you look sweetheart, if you would like to continue wearing that dress you're going to need to wear this."
"Seriously Dad?" She asks with a roll of the eyes as she pulls on the jacket. It's massive on her, and comes halfway down her leg, which is probably why my Dad gave it to her.
"Yes seriously, and don't roll your eyes at me." He answers firmly, before leading us all out in to the car where Taylor is waiting. He opens the doors for us all and we climb in the Audi Q7.
"We're not getting our own table again this time, isn't that a shame?" I ask my sister, who grins. I see my Mom and Dad share a look in the front of the car. I'm only saying it to piss them off, and I can tell it has worked.
"But we had so much fun last time," She moans on a grin, "How come we aren't allowed our own table?" She asks my parents, although we all know the answer.
My Mom turns to face us all with a glare. "You know exactly why you aren't allowed your own table. Your Father and I are still angry about what happened and it was almost a year ago."
"In all fairness it was mostly Tommy's fault. He was the one that managed to sneak over the wine and beer, and the one to drink most of it," Theo points out and I glare over at him.
"He is your little brother, you should've been looking out for him not letting him drink, it was very dangerous." She lectures my brother and sister. I smirk at their expense. One of the only pros of being a few years younger than my siblings was they often got the blame.
"I had also asked you to keep an eye on him Theo. And Phoebe I asked you to make sure he didn't get into any trouble, both of you let me down." My Dad says sternly not taking his eyes off the road. But he looks back in the mirror quickly and sees me smiling.
"I don't know why you're grinning Thomas, you let us down the most." He snarls. I roll my eyes when he isn't looking, although he probably knows, he always does.
"This was ages ago and I've heard the lecture about a hundred times, so I don't think I need to hear it again thanks." I mutter annoyed.
"Well think of this as a warning you three, if anything like that happens tonight…" My Dad doesn't finish the threat but eyes us all in the mirror. My siblings and I share a look, which is caught by both our parents.
"Thomas, I am deadly serious. If you even step out of line, I won't be forgiving." My Father warns, as he pulls up at my Grandparents estate.
"Yeah, yeah." I mutter, jumping out of the car and storming off.
As soon as I reach the large house, I notice everyone is outside standing around talking outside. My family walk in to the house, but I spy my Grandparents, Aunt Mia and Uncle Elliot standing in the corner of the front yard.
I walk up to them with a grin on my face. "Happy Anniversary Grandma and Granddad."
"Thomas sweetheart don't you look handsome, the spitting image of your father when he was a boy," My Grandma compliments as she pulls me into a hug.
"How are you young man? I heard you've been suspended from school?" My Granddad asks but he had a slight smirk. I grin in response, so word has got out about my suspension.
"I have to go to work with Dad all week, I think I'd rather be at school." I mumble.
"Well you should've thought about that before you started a fight." My Aunt Mia scolds and I look at the floor. She used to be so much cooler when she was younger, and all us kids were younger. Now, since my cousin, Hannah, is a teenager, Mia isn't so relaxed.
"You took the words out of my mouth, Mia." A voice booms from behind, and we turn to see my parents. My Dad glares at me.
"Happy Anniversary." He says greeting both of my grandparents and my Mom does the same.
"Would you like a drink, Thomas?" My Grandma asks and I can't help but smirk.
"A non-alcoholic one that is." My Uncle Elliot confirms with a grin.
"Am I ever going to live that down?" I ask with a grin.
"With a family like this probably not, but what are you talking about?" My fifteen year old cousin Ava appears next to me and I notice Alex with her. They both look exactly the same; the blonde hair and athletic builds.
"When this little trouble maker got absolutely wasted at the grand age of 11." Uncle Elliot repeats a grin still on his face. Whereas my Aunt Mia has gotten more serious, my Uncle Elliot has stayed the same care free guy, unless something really serious happens, then he can be just as bad as my Dad.
"Elliot." My Dad warns him.
"To be completely honest it was the funniest thing I've ever seen," Alex comments lightly getting me in a headlock. "You're a little lightweight."
"Probably due to the fact he was 11, and don't encourage him young man. You're his older cousin you are supposed to lead by example." My Aunt Kate scolds him before walking off with my Mom to find something to drink.
"Mom and Dad haven't let it go," Alex mutters looking at my Uncle "They're always going on about how we should've been looking after you because you're so little." He patronises me, sticking his fingers in my side making me flinch and push him away.
"With perfectly good reason, Alexander." My Uncle Elliot reminds him.
I smirk up at my cousin and give him a knowing look. I'm ready to start causing some trouble. "Don't worry, neither have mine." I glance at my Dad who is eyeing me. "Do you think we should do something else so they have something else to lecture us on?" I ask with a grin, making Alex shake his head in amusement. Clearly trying to be mature and not succumb to my level.
I am fully aware of the glares I'm receiving off all the adults but that only makes it funnier. "I don't know if you think you're being funny, Thomas, but you're not so stop it right now." My Dad warns me gripping my shoulder.
"Leave him be Christian, he's just teasing." My Grandma tells him and he glares at us both.
"Yeah Dad, leave me alone." I quip with a grin.
"Now come on you two let's go and see how long till dinner is served." My Grandma leads Alex and I off but I can hear the adults as we walk away.
"Why does she always take his side? Is she trying to undermine me?" I hear my Dad vent.
"She's just trying to keep you calm and him out of trouble." My Granddad comes to her defence but I can't hear any more after that, because my Grandma is talking to us.
"Would either of you boys like to give a speech this evening?" She asks and we both look at each other wide eyed.
"We're never normally allowed to do one because apparently we're not mature enough." Alex mutters.
"Yes, but this time I'd like you to, you can do one together." She finalises and we grin.
"You know we love you so much Grandma." I remind her and she smiles at us. "I love you both too."
Everybody starts to take a seat as the food is served, Alex and I walk over to our table which is the same for the entire Grey family. I go to sit down next to him but I feel a grip on my arm and find my Dad glaring down at me.
"I want you next to me where I can keep an eye on you." He drags me to the other end of the table and pushes me down next to my 13 year old cousin, Hannah, and then sits the other side of me.
Alex looks over at me confused. "What the hell Tommy? Why aren't you sitting with me?"
"Watch your language Alexander." My Dad warns him "You two sitting with each other never turns out well so I'm taking precautions this time."
"Sorry Uncle Christian," He mumbles but smirks at me after.
"Are you wearing converse with your suit?" Hannah asks looking down at my feet strangely. Out of all my cousins, Hannah and I, even though we're close in age, are the least alike.
"Thanks for stating the obvious." I reply dryly.
"Thomas, don't talk to your cousin like that." My Dad hisses. I glare down at my glass of coke, this is going to be a very long meal.
Once everybody starts eating and chatting, I lean back in my chair and sighed. We've only been here an hour and I'm already fed up. If I got to sit with, Alex, everything would be fine.
"You're not eating much Thomas, come on, eat up." My Dad lectures and I consider throwing my chair at him. What is his obsession with food? It's all I ever hear from him, that and how much of a disappointment I am.
"Well if you give me time to breathe." I mutter quietly, but apparently not quite enough.
"What did you say?" He asks loudly with a glare, the entire family is watching us and I just want to leave.
"Nothing, alright, I said nothing." I reply through clenched teeth. I can see Phoebe and Ava looking at me with raised eyebrows. Nearly every family occasion we have ends up with my Dad and I having some kind of argument. We must have conflicting personalities, or something.
"Don't talk to me in that tone, Thomas." He warns me.
"Christian, just leave it." My Mom says softly putting her hand on his arm. Like everyone else, even she gets tired of our constant fighting.
"No Ana, if he's going to disrespect me then he should face the consequences." That's the final straw. He is always such an asshole, and he takes things way too seriously.
"Will you just give me a break? Jesus Christ Dad! You're always on my case." I protest loudly and stand up.
"Sit your ass down right now." He orders, eyes blazing. He's standing up now as well and glaring down at me.
I watch him with narrowed eyes, my fists are clenched and I'm riled up. But so is he, and we could go for hours just standing glaring at each other.
"Thomas, sit down." My Mom repeats but I still don't move.
"Listen to your Mother." My Dad snarls. Before I have the chance to reply my Grandma is behind me and comforting me.
"Come on sweetheart, let's go and have a walk to calm down shall we?" She smiles leading me off.
"Mom! Don't just let him get away with it! That's not parenting!" My Dad calls after us.
Mr Grandma turns around with a scowl aimed at him. "Don't lecture me on parenting Christian, I raised you three, now sit down and eat your food whilst I talk to your son!"
She takes me inside away from everyone and we sit on the chairs next to each other.
"I didn't mean to make him angry, Grandma." I say although it was only partly true.
"I know Thomas, but your Dad just has a very short temper. However, he does always try to control it with you, Theo and Phoebe." She replies soothingly.
"He's always on my case, anything I do wrong he's there to remind me or lecture me." I moan.
My Grandma wraps an arm around me and pulls me towards her. "He loves you so much sweetheart, he's also very protective of you though and wants the best for you."
"Well he's got a funny way of showing it." I mumble.
She pulls me to my feet keeping an arm around me "Come on let's get back, are you going to apologize to your Dad?"
"Yes although I don't know what for."
She smirks slightly. "Me neither but just apologise it'll make him feel better,"
I can feel my parent's eyes on me as we walk over and I can't help but smirk. My Grandma kisses me on the forehead before gently pushing me into my seat, and then moving back to hers. She looks over at me expectantly.
"I'm sorry if I disrespected you, Dad." I mumble not looking at him.
"Look at me, Thomas." He orders and I raise my eyes "Don't let it happen again." He warns.
I nod wanting him to just shut up.
"He's just like you when you were a boy, Christian." My Grandma mumbles and he scowls.
"Oh really?" I drawl with a smirk "You never mentioned you were a bit of a bad boy growing up Dad, I'm shocked."
"I was not a bad boy." He says sternly looking at my Grandma "I studied hard, and I behaved myself just like I tell you to as well."
"That's not true for a second Christian." She replies with raised eyebrows.
"Thank you Mother," He says dryly and we all laugh.
"None of you were, you and Elliot drove us up the wall with your attitudes and fighting, Mia was full of cheek. You're all lucky your kids aren't as bad as you." My Granddad joins in earning glares from the three of them.
"Dad!" They all shout.
"Well it's all coming out now isn't it?" I quip cheekily and grin over at Theo and Alex "You know what this means? It means we can get away with anything now because we have the bad boy gene."
"It certainly does not." My Dad interrupts, eyeing me, "You are one person who definitely doesn't need a bad boy gene."
"What sort of stuff did my Dad used to do Grandma?" Phoebe asks intrigued.
"Phoebe," My Dad warns but she ignores him, and so does his mother.
"When he was fourteen he took my car and crashed it into a ditch." My Granddad recalls with a grin over at my Dad.
"Please, can we change the subject I don't want the children to start behaving like maniacs because we used to occasionally cause trouble." Aunt Mia pleads and her brother's agree.
"Fine then, Thomas, Alex, would you like to give your speech to everyone, the stage is free?" My Grandma motions over at the front of the backyard where a microphone stands on the wooden platform.
"How come they get to give a speech and I don't? I'm the oldest." Theo protests.
"They're not giving a speech, Mom, I don't think that's a very good idea." My Dad states evenly, eyeing both me and Alex.
"Of course it is, they're both mature young men, I trust them." My Grandma responds with a glare towards my Dad.
"Have you met them?" He mumbles and I grin at him.
"I have to agree with Christian here Grace, do you really want those two giving a speech in front of all your friends, and reporters?" My Aunt Kate adds.
"Yes I do, and Theo you're more than welcome to give one after, as are you girls." My Grandma finalises and before anyone can protest anymore, Alex and I stand up. My Dad grips our arms as we walk past and we look at him oddly.
"Do not embarrass us, I want a sensible speech, or you're both in serious trouble." He warns. I grin at him before pushing Alex to lead the way up the front. We climb up on to the platform and stand next to each other in front of the microphone, Alex a good four inches taller than me.
I grab the microphone and bring it down to my level. Everyone is staring at us, well actually my Dad and Uncle Elliot are glaring.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," I begin with a grin "I would like to thank you all for coming on behalf of my grandparents, who are celebrating 48 happy years of marriage. I hope to one day have a marriage as good as theirs, one where I can still love my wife after the hell of raising three very troublesome children." I laugh slightly when I see my Dad, Uncle and Aunt glare even if there are small smirks on their lips. "I as a 12 year old boy can't understand the amount of love you must have to marry someone, and then the amount of love you must have to love your children even when they let you down. But when I look at my Grandparents I see it, and then I look at their children and I see it. I see the way my Dad told me he loved me when I smashed the window at our house. I see the way my Uncle hugs my cousin when she screams at him saying she hates him. I see the way my aunt holds my cousin as she cried. But more importantly I see the way they've been raised by my Grandparents – with love, passion and commitment. Their children are a credit to their parenting skills, and the love shared between them. Congratulations Grandma and Granddad, I hope you have many more happy years together." I finish and look over at our table expecting glares sent my way but instead I get smiles.
I hand the microphone to Alex who looks at me with narrowed eyes and a smirk. "I don't think I have anything to add, my little cousin has said it all for me, so Grandma and Granddad we love you, and thanks for putting up with your kids long enough that they could have us." Alex jokes earning laughs.
I snatch the microphone back with a grin. "Because we know it must have been hard with your sons fighting all the time, and stealing cars."
My Dad stands up and signals for us to finish with a glare. "And of course your daughter being, well a girl and getting emotional, and bitchy all the time."
My Dad steps forward slightly, a silent threat. "Well folks looks like we have to wrap this speech up because my Dad is sending me a very scary look, and I've already pissed him off today, oops now everyone at my table is glaring at me, oh well, congratulations!" I yell the end and we make our way off the stage as the guests laugh and clap.
"That was a very amusing speech, boys." My Dad says dryly as we approach the table "Some of it was inappropriate but some of it was very well said, so well done."
"Was that a compliment Dad? I haven't heard one of them in a few years."
He looks at me but not out of anger, more out of sadness. "You know I love you Thomas, and if I've ever made you feel like I don't then I'm sorry."