CPOV

"Calm down Christian, you're fidgeting like a teenager going on his first date" Elliot laughed.

We had left the cabin and were on our way to Ana's and Elliot was right, I was nervous. I have no idea why, but I was nervous to see Ana again and also meet her dad.

Elliot seemed lighter today, happier than I have seen him in a long time. Dad had gone to Elliot's house looking for Kate as soon as he got off the phone with Elliot yesterday. She wasn't there, she was at her parents blaming the whole thing on my family and especially me.

My dad, ever the professional lawyer that he is, kept a straight face when she thought he had gone around to apologise for my mother slapping her. I know my dad would never hit a woman, but I think Kate pushed him close to it when she opened the papers and all the bullshit started to spew from her mouth. He bid her good day, treating her like anyone who would be served papers and didn't have an ounce of compassion for the fact she had been his daughter in law for the past two years. She upset his son, all of us and once she realises because of the prenup that my dad was insistent she signed and taking into account her agenda of why she married my brother in the first place, she will find with her behaviour and actions, she will get nothing, including the house that Elliot was going to give her. Elliot didn't want it but after waking up this morning and calling dad first thing, he doesn't see why she should have it either. She will leave the marriage with what she brought into it, nothing. Security has been advised at all properties owned by a Grey, she's not to be allowed entrance.

"Elliot, I think you just went past the entrance to Ana's drive."

"What, where," he asked, pulling over to the side of the road.

"Back there," I said, pointing to an opening in the trees we had just passed.

"You sure. It just looks like a dirt road that would lead to one of the fields around here."

"Ana said to look for the entrance on the opposite side of the road from the giant oak. If I'm not mistaken, that's an oak."

"Ok, but if we end up in some creepy place, you can go in first."

"Get going" I laughed, as he turned the car around.

Elliot drove us back, turning into the dirt road.

"It doesn't look like somewhere a multimillionaire would live," he said, driving forward until we arrived at large gates which had an intercom to the side. Pressing the button, we waited for someone to answer.

"Hello."

"Ana."

"Yes, it's me. Come in" she said as the gates started to open before us.

"Now this looks like somewhere a multimillionaire would live," Elliot said as he drove us up the winding drive, a meadow on one side and on the other it was all grass apart from the large pond in the middle, which did at the moment have a few ducks swimming around.

"How do you know she's a multimillionaire."

"Google, or our Google, Mia. She knows that much about her, I'm surprised she hasn't been arrested for stalking."

"God help us all when they meet then" I laughed as we pulled up by the house.

The house was completely different than the clapperboard houses we had passed on the way through town. This looked like a larger version of the cabin we were staying in and fit perfectly in the surrounding area.

"You found me then," Ana said, standing on the porch, her hand rubbing the side of her stomach. I smiled seeing her, the nerves gone. It's like now I was near her, or our children I could be calm once more. Breathe easy again now I can see they're all ok.

"We did, although I think my brother would've taken off if it was someone else who had answered the intercom. Ana this is my brother Elliot Grey."

She carefully walked down the few steps, shaking his hand as I brought the beer we had purchased from the trunk.

"It's lovely to meet you," she said, smiling to Elliot.

"You too….you have ducks," he asked, looking to the pond.

"Like I told Christian, they like to come and visit… come in" she told us, making her way back up on to the porch as we followed behind.

"How long have you lived here," I asked Ana as we entered her home.

"About three years. I find the peace and quiet a good companion when I'm writing, the ducks too" she smiled.

"Where do you want me to put this," I asked, nodding to the beer.

"You didn't have to bring anything."

"We couldn't turn up empty-handed," I told her, as she pointed to the kitchen.

We hadn't been inside long when we heard a car approach. Whoever it was, Ana obviously knew as there was no need to use the intercom.

"It's José and his dad," Ana said, smiling as she went out of the door to greet them.

"Don't even think about carrying anything young lady," we heard a man say, which just made Ana laugh.

"Don't worry, I won't. Come, there are some people who I want you to meet" she told them before they all entered the house.

"José, Pops this is Christian and Elliot Grey. Christian, Elliot this is José and his dad José Rodriguez."

"Lovely to meet you both" the elder of the two said. "Which one" he added, and I knew what he was asking.

"That's me," I told him, before he smiled, nodding his head before he made his way past us with José into the kitchen where they placed whatever they had been carrying down.

José walked over to Ana then, hugging her tight. He hadn't said one word to us, but he spoke to Ana.

"Two weeks, it's been two weeks since I've seen you and you've grown again."

"Babies are supposed to do that" she laughed, hugging her friend.

I observed the closeness between these two and I felt a tinge of jealousy at how close they were. Why I felt like that, I don't know. We both had our lives before the mix-up and it was selfish of me to want to push myself into hers, so I could be a part of it when in reality the only part we really share is our children.

"You two should've been twins," José Snr said, coming back into the house for a second time, with another box from the car.

"The only twins are these two" José laughed, patting her stomach.

"Continue to pat my stomach and I will introduce you to my breakfast," she said, before leaving the house as another car approached.

With Ana gone and the elder of the two following, José joined us at the table.

"I hear Ana's going to give you a chance to be a part of those children's lives."

"Yes, she is."

"Don't hurt her. You must know of the hell she's been through by now. Just don't hurt her or those children."

"Hurting Ana or those babies is the last thing I would ever do. Yes, I know about Ana's childhood, our sister informed us, who happens to be Ana's biggest fan. She's also a doctor, working with children with cancer so she knows of her first book too."

"I wish I could've read a book like that back then. Maybe it would've helped my journey be that little bit easier too," Elliot told him.

"You?"

"Yes, when I was even younger than Ana."

José seemed happy with what we had said. Not the fact that Elliot had cancer as well, more for the fact that we had all lived through it, all knew how fragile life was and we all knew how precious the woman was who had just walked into the room with her father.

"Christian, Elliot this is my dad," Ana said, as we both got to our feet, shaking his hand.

Like the elder Rodriguez, he seemed happy that we were here as well.

"Mr Steele."

"It's Ray, no formalities around here unless you want me to call you Mr Grey."

"Christian is fine, Ray," I told him, seeing Ana smile.

It wasn't long before the intercom started to beep, and the other guests arrived. We all left the house, helping Ray and José set tables up while Ana went into a large shed with José Snr. There was no animosity towards me which I was worried about unless you count Jose's words. No one was worried like they would've originally been that I was trying to take the babies away. Ana had told those who needed to know that I would be a part of their lives and they were happy with her decision.

"Ray, can you banish your daughter from the shed, please. She's trying to move the barbecue."

Ray and I looked to each other before running towards the shed.

"You can't move it and I was only moving a spade out of the way" we heard as we approached the door.

"Anastasia Rose Steele, do not lift anything," Ray told her, but Ana just rolled her eyes at him, leaving the shed with the spade still in hand.

"Thank you, I always wanted a new spade," I told her, taking it from her hand. She just laughed, leaving us to it as she made her way back to the house.

"What's the problem," I asked.

"The barbecue hasn't been out since last year. June weather was a bit of a washout, so it's managed to find its way buried under my tools."

"Do you live here?" I asked him.

"No, I have a house in town. With Ana moving out here, she has probably more space than the rest of us put together so tools I don't use every day, have found a home here."

While Ray and José Snr moved the tools out of the way, Elliot and I lifted the barbecue out into the yard. My dad loves his barbecue, but I think he would even be jealous of this monster.

There must be about fifteen people here now, all who had brought food and beer. I watched Ana make her way over to a car, hugging the young woman who got out.

"You look so well," Ana told her.

"So, do you, look at these babies" she laughed, smiling at us once she noticed Elliot and me approach.

"Sky this is Christian and Elliot, guys this is Skylar a very good friend of mine and a fellow survivor."

"It's lovely to meet you and it's Sky. I have heard a lot about you Christian, all good so don't worry."

"That's a relief" I laughed.

"Ok, put me to work Ana. What do you want me to do," Sky asked?

"There's not a lot to do apart from relax. I was going to clean the barbecue before it's lit but I've been banned from doing anything by my dad."

"I'd like to see him ban me and his clean and mine are two different things," she said leaving us but not before linking her arm with Elliot's and taking him with her.

"Poor Elliot" Ana laughed as we watched them, Sky talking for both of them it seemed. "How are you Christian," Ana asked, now we were alone for the first time.

"Still trying to get my head around everything but I think that is more to do with how evil my soon to be ex-sister-in-law was and not about our children."

We walked over to the duck pond where a bench was, taking a seat.

"Evil comes in many forms, some although not many, can lead to beautiful things too," she said, taking my hand and resting it on the side of her stomach where I felt a kick. "If I hadn't needed IVF, I wouldn't have had these two. Yes, I would've had a chance to conceive a child naturally, but they wouldn't have been these exact two babies I'm carrying now, these two that I love more than anything."

"Do you know what they are?" I asked her, as I felt the now gentle movement of our child.

"I do, my last scan in Florida revealed it to me. I didn't know if you would want to know or be surprised. I didn't really get the chance to tell you in the hotel, my mind was on keeping the stress to a minimum and concentrating on them."

"I would like to know," I told her.

"From my scan, the big kicker in my stomach is our son."

"A boy," I asked, a beaming smile coming to my face.

"Yes, and the smaller twin who doesn't kick as hard as their brother is our little girl."

"We have one of each" I laughed.

"Yes, they're growing well, although our daughter is a little smaller than her brother, but the doctor said, that can happen."

"Can I ask you something."

"Of course," she said, turning to face me more.

"When you were in Florida, José said you were in the hospital. Was it because of what happened in the clinic."

"Yes," she sighed, rubbing her stomach as if they comforted her. "José picked me up and took me straight to the airport. I was due to go to my mums that day anyway so instead of going out for lunch as we had planned, he took me straight there. I thought if I was through security and on my way, that she wouldn't be able to get near my baby as I thought it was at the time."

"I'm sorry, you should've never had to go through that."

"It happened, and we can't change it. I'm ok, the babies are too and that's all that matters. My blood pressure has always been a problem since I was diagnosed with cancer, so when I reached Florida, it was too high. Instead of spending the first two nights in my bed at my mums, I was in the hospital instead."

"How old were you."

"When I was diagnosed," she asked, seeing me nod. "Ten, I was ten."

I was quiet for a moment, thinking of our children and what Ana has had to go through just to get to this point. As a duck landed on the pond, I smiled thinking of how much fun our son and daughter would have here. I would travel here, I don't care how far really as long as I got to know my children and they got to know me too.

APOV

I enjoyed the peace with Christian, even though we were not far from the others. I knew what Sky was doing when she took Elliot away, she was giving Christian and me a few moments together. Those few moments turned into over an hour before my growling stomach interrupted our conversation as it let me know my children needed to be fed.

"I'm sorry" I laughed, when I took his offered hand, rising to my feet.

"Don't be. Our children need sustenance" he said, as we walked back to the group.

I watched Christian make his way over to Elliot, joining in the conversation that he was having with my dad by the barbecue. Myself I stayed near the table, knowing I would need a seat again before long.

Feeling Sky bump hips with me to get my attention, I turned to her.

"He's cute, just think how cute your babies are going to be."

"Sky."

"What, I'm only stating the obvious. He likes you."

"I hope so, we're having two children together."

"No, I mean he likes, likes you."

"Sky," I said again, but there would be no silencing my friend.

"What, you're a beautiful woman Ana, he's a cute man."

"Cute, do you know what that would do to a man's

image if he heard you calling him cute" I laughed, earning a smile from Christian when he heard me laugh.

"Ok, handsome, sexy even, although he's not my type."

"I thought you didn't have a type as you said you weren't interested in anyone ever again," I told her, stating what she had said to me in some of the conversations we have had.

"Well, I'm finally taking your advice. Life's too short so it's time to start living" she smiled, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

"You don't sound so convinced," I said, as she said the last part quietly.

"There is always some fear."

"I know Sky. When I went for my first appointment with the clinic I was terrified, wondering if I was making the right decision. If something happened to me in the future, I would be leaving two children with no mother. I was selfish to want them, I know that, but I can't live my life on what ifs."

"So, if Christian came over here and told you that he wanted to be more than just the babies' father to you, what would you say."

"Honestly, I have no idea. Our situation is complicated, we hardly know each other, and we will have two children together who have to come first. I know he was a donor for his brother, but I still have no idea if he has a girlfriend, boyfriend, nothing like that has ever come up in our conversation, it's always been about the babies.

"Ana the way that man keeps looking at you, you and not your stomach. If he has someone waiting for him at home, I will kick his arse."

"Behave" I laughed, before hearing my dad say that the food was finally ready. "Come on, I want some food."

We walked over, joining everyone by the barbecue. While Sky filled her plate, I took the one from my dad with his burnt offerings. They were burgers, sausages at one point but I think my dad's worried about me having undercooked food, so burnt is better in his eyes.

"Can I have a burger that is not cremated?" I asked.

"What about the ones you have."

"I don't like black teeth, even the ducks would turn their noses up at that."

I was given a burger, by Christian in fact. It was one he had been given only seconds before and it found its way onto my plate.

"Thank you," I said, making my way back to the tables to find a seat, saving one for Christian while he waited for his own burger.

Elliot polished off my original burger before throwing the rest of it for the ducks, who as I thought, didn't go anywhere near it.

When the light started to fade and talk of fireworks was amongst us, I was ready for my bed. My day normally had a nap in there somewhere but today, that would have to wait.

As the fireworks lit the sky and the noise echoed around the hillside, I had my own little fireworks going off in my stomach.

Each loud noise earned me a kick and I soon had hands wanted to feel too.

"You're tired," Christian said, after about my fifth yawn, as I tried to hide it from him.

"Carrying these two does make me tired, so a nap is usually in order."

"You missed that today," he said.

"I did, but I have enjoyed myself, so it was worth missing it. Tomorrow, did you want to meet me at the doctor's office or come here first and use one car."

"Elliot said he's going fishing tomorrow, so he doesn't need the car. I can come here and then I can drive us down."

"I'd like that. I have my car but I'm still nervous to drive it with my stomach so close to the steering wheel."

"How did you get to your other appointments," he asked me.

"Dad usually, although he hates the smell of hospitals, so he stays in the car."

"I won't be sat in the car," he said.

"No, no you won't" I smiled.

...

"It's me," Christian said through the intercom when he arrived the next morning.

"Come in," I told him, making or waddling my way towards the mirror to make sure I looked alright.

There was no denying I was pregnant, and if someone didn't know that I was expecting two, they would think I was ready to give birth right now. My babies need to stay where they were for a lot longer though, although I knew the chance of an early birth was possible.

I had left the front door open, so Christian could come in while I gathered all my doctor's notes from Florida. My doctor here should already have a copy by now, if not then I will have them with me.

I looked up when I heard his footsteps approach, smiling when he joined me in the dining room.

"Good morning Ana."

"Good morning. I won't be a minute, I'm just checking I have everything I need. Baby brain means I have to check and double check."

"We have time Ana" he smiled, as I picked the file up off the table and we headed for the door.

He drove us into town, both of us so quiet.

"Tell me something about you," I asked, wanting to break the silence.

"What do you want to know," he asked, smiling at me when we stopped to let a car pass.

"We're going to be parents to two children in a matter of months and apart from your name, where you work and the fact you have adopted parents and siblings, I don't know that much about you. I know in our situation, well if there has been a situation like ours, familiarity is probably not advised or needed, but it would be nice to know the father of my children."

"I will tell you anything you want to know Ana, all you have to do is ask."

"How old are you?"

"I was twenty-eight last month, you?"

"Twenty-three…. What made you want to start your business?"

We continued to ask each other questions back and forth on the short drive. One question I did ask, he was only too happy to answer.

"No, there is no one waiting at home Ana, no girlfriend."

"That's good, I suppose. Although there would be no problem if there was" I told him, although my mind was shouting, yes there would. "It just might have been awkward me walking in with my large stomach and introducing myself as the mother of your children."

"There's no one Ana" he repeated, as we stopped outside of my doctor's office. It was small compared to the hospital I had been in, in Florida but was fully equipped with everything I need. "Any more questions before we go in."

"No, I can't think of anything else to ask you, for now anyway," I told him, making us both laugh.

"Ok, I will ask you something. What made you want to become a writer" he asked, helping me from the car.

"Ever since I was little, I have loved books. Spending a portion of my childhood in a hospital bed, there was not a lot else to do apart from read or write, not a lot of energy to do much else either. I had one English teacher who said I had an overactive imagination, so I thought I would put it to good use."

"You certainly did that. I've read a little of your last book."

"You did," I asked.

"Yes, my sister Mia showed me your book when I mentioned your name, to ask if you were Ana Steele. When we were getting supplies for our trip, your book was on the shelf of the store we were in, so I picked it up. I expected to get some ribbing from Elliot, but he was too busy in his own world to worry about what I was reading."

"I hope you like it then" I smiled, seeing a little nod as we stepped inside my doctor's office, making our way to the reception.

"Anastasia Steele," I told the receptionist before she smiled telling me to take a seat.

We weren't waiting long before Dr Scott came out, calling us into his office.

"Dr Scott, this is Christian Grey, the babies' father," I told him, as he shook Christian's hand.

"Welcome," he smiled. "It's lovely to see you, Anastasia. The reason I have called you in today is just a general check-up. I have read the notes from Dr Neil about your blood pressure and I'm hoping the results are nowhere near what they were when I check it today. In his report it also mentioned that baby b, the female is smaller than her brother, so I would like to do my own checks on her too."

"The woman who did my scan said it was normal to have one baby smaller than the other," I said, worried now and I could see it mirrored on Christian's face too.

"It is, no two babies are completely the same, even in twins. Weights and sizes differ. We may just need to keep an eye on her to make sure she's growing as she has been doing, that's all."

I was wringing my hands together, trying to keep myself calm and not send my blood pressure through the roof. Feeling Christian place his hand over mine, I flipped mine over, gripping his tight.

"Please don't worry, you will only make that blood pressure rise again."

"Easier said than done," I told him. My blood pressure was fine before I entered this room.

"I know. I'm going to do your blood pressure last, as I know despite what I say, you will only calm once you see that your children are fine. I will do the scan first," he told us before I was instructed to go into the adjoining room, so my weight could be taken by a nurse and then I was told to lie on the bed.

I had wanted to keep hold of Christian's hand, wanted to take him with me but I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable being dragged by a terrified woman from the room.

They soon joined me, my large stomach on display. I don't know who reached for who first, but our hands were soon joined again.

"Let's have a look at these two then," the doctor said, squirting some gel onto my stomach, and turning the TV screen on behind him.

"Oh my god" Christian whispered seeing our children for the first time.

"I know," I said, squeezing his hand.

We waited quietly while the doctor checked my children over, trying to stay calm. The thing that did calm us both was when Dr Scott flipped a switch and a heartbeat could be heard around the room.

"That's your son," he said before moving it to the other side of my stomach. "That's your daughter. Both healthy. She is a little smaller than her brother, but she still has plenty of time to grow. We will keep a close eye on her and make sure she continues to do so" he told us before moving the wand again, picking both heartbeats up at the same time.

"Seeing the pictures, it felt real to me then but seeing this now," Christian said, in complete awe at what he was seeing and hearing.

"I know," I said, smiling before I turned to the doctor. "Is there any change. I know it's not been long since my last scan, but have they grown" I asked.

"Ana they're both at the stage when they will put weight on weekly. Yes, there has been a slight change on both, which is encouraging to see."

"Thank you," I told him, taking the paper towel from him which I cleaned my stomach up with before Christian helped me sit up.

Dr Scott, printed photos off for us and while I was sat there, he took my blood pressure, my pulse too, assuring us everything was fine.

Seeing them both once again did bring me some relief and I hope to feel that again when I have another scan in just a few weeks. The rest of my pregnancy will consist of scans and check-ups, but I didn't mind that as long as they were well.

"You've been quiet," I said to Christian as we walked back to his car.

He leant against it and for a moment, was struggling with what to say. Instead of words, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me and holding me as close as he could, tight. I held him as well, knowing how many times since I had started the IVF process, have I just needed a hug.

"I...I'm sorry" he mumbled into my hair, getting ready to step away.

Feeling my grip tighten on him, he held me tighter still.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Christian," I told him, as he looked down at me.

"Seeing our babies, was the best moment of my life. I know you told me our daughter was smaller but hearing the doctor say it is something they need to keep an eye on, I don't know Ana, I just felt sick. I feel protective of them and especially protective of you. I want to keep you all safe and I can out here, but in there" he said, placing his hand on my stomach. "There is nothing I can do."

"That's why being parents, we have to be a team. We'll both make sure they're ok when they are here, until then, it's my job to keep them safe."

"You make it sound so easy."

"It is," I told him. "What ifs don't work for me. If I listened to every doubt, we would not be stood here, and these children would never have been conceived. Life's too short Christian, I know that more than anything, I bet Elliot does too."

"Our daughter."

"Is healthy and growing. If that changes then we will make the decisions together. If I have to deliver them early which most twins do anyway, then we will do what's best for our children."

"And what about you," he asked, pain in his eyes.

"I've been fighting since the day I was born. I'm not about to stop now and especially not when our children are involved. We take it day by day."

I took his hand, placing it on to my stomach where our daughter was kicking away. Our son soon joined in, not wanting to miss out on the connection to their father.

Christian smiled, knowing what I said to be true. Letting go of my stomach he kissed my forehead before opening the car door for me to get in. The feel of his lips, even for just a second on my skin made my heart skip a beat.

Our future is not set, we don't know what will happen in a few months from now, just as tomorrow is unknown too. All I know is that I will fight whatever awaits us because these children deserve to live and so do I.

Thank you for reading.

Before anyone panics, there will be no character deaths. Although finding a cliff to push Kate off or as some have suggested, letting the ducks at her, is tempting.

Until next time, take care.

Caroline.