CPOV

I kissed Ana's forehead as she slept in my arms, still not believing what had happened last night. My nightmare, I don't want to think about that at the moment, it's what happened afterwards that I want to focus on.

Hearing a moan from Ana, I watched as her hand automatically moved down to her stomach, rubbing gently. When she moved her hand away, I placed mine where hers had been, feeling my children move within.

They were active, both of them it felt like. If they were like this every morning, Ana and I were in for some fun.

"Morning" Ana mumbled, opening her eyes.

"Good morning."

Ana looked around for a moment as if she didn't know where she was. Had she forgotten about last night, about our kiss? From the smile on her lips when she looked back to me, my worries were unfounded.

"Last night was real," she asked me.

"It was, do you regret it."

"No," she said smiling at me. "If it was a dream, I want to go back to sleep and continue to dream it."

"It would be a beautiful dream, I prefer the reality though," I told her, placing a kiss on her lips.

It was only supposed to be a peck on the lips, as I knew she would disappear to the bathroom soon, but Ana had other ideas, wrapping her arms around my neck and holding me close to her. To kiss her after all this time of wanting to is an amazing feeling. To know that Ana wants more with me than just being parents to our children makes me happier than I have ever been before.

As our lips parted, I placed a few more kisses upon Ana's lips before giving her room to breathe.

"How did you sleep," she asked, brushing the hair from my forehead.

"Better with you here" I sighed.

"No more nightmares."

"No, you chased them away," I told her, trying to forget what the nightmare was about.

Ana leaned forward placing a kiss on my lips this time, before getting out of bed.

"Are you alright?" I asked as she looked around my room.

"Yes, sorry to kiss and run but one of our children has just kicked my bladder. Where is your bathroom or should I use the one in my room?"

"Ana, it's at the end of the hall," I told her, pointing to the small hallway that led to my bathroom and closet.

She was quick to disappear as I lay back against my pillows, looking at the city that surrounded me. It wasn't long before Ana was back again, joining me in bed as I held the sheet up for her.

"How did you get these," She asked, brushing her finger gently over one of my scars.

"You know I'm adopted."

"Yes," she said, running her finger over another of my scars before looking at me. "They're burns."

"Yes, my birth mother was a crack addict and a prostitute. Her pimp did that when I wouldn't be quiet."

"Oh my god, why didn't she stop him."

"Ana calm down please, it was a long time ago. I don't want your blood pressure to rise because of this. She didn't stop him because I think she was too high to do anything."

"That's why you were so worried when you couldn't find me."

"You're nothing like her Ana, you love our children so much. Her, I don't know if she ever loved me, it felt like that anyway."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that Christian, no child should ever have to live through something like that. Is that what your nightmare was about" she asked.

"Part of it" I sighed, pulling her closer to me. "I had nightmares for years as I was growing up and I managed to get them under control with my family's help. Stress can sometimes bring them on, but it's rare. Speaking to Sky about Kate, and her targeting you, it wasn't me in that position as the child."

"It was our children."

"Them and you," I told her.

"We're here Christian, we're ok."

"I know," I said, kissing her forehead.

"Did you have a nightmare on Thursday night."

"Yes, I was loud enough for Taylor to come running, gun drawn."

"He tried to stop me coming in here last night, worried in case you accidentally hit out."

"My nightmares can be erratic, they used to be anyway, but I heard your voice."

Her voice had calmed me, soothed me enough to bring me out of the nightmare.

"I didn't know what else to do. I spoke your name and you seemed to calm down."

"I did, Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, Christian, I'm just glad I was here for you….I don't know how this will work with us living in two different places, but I want it to. Not just for our children, but for us too."

"I do too Ana. When you mentioned about your dad making the nursery furniture, I was happy as it's such a beautiful gesture but knowing that our children would be split between two homes made me sad too. What you said about homes in Montesano, I'm seriously thinking about buying somewhere there so I can see you and them every day."

"I'd like that but how would you get to work on time. A ninety-minute drive every day is bad enough during the day, add on the time in rush hour and you will be asleep before you even get home."

"I'd fly."

"What, the nearest airport is Sea-tac. You would be flying around in a circle before landing back where you started."

"Not if I fly my helicopter. I would need somewhere with enough space to land it, but the commute would be less than half."

"You're seriously thinking about this," she asked me, seeing me nod.

All I've thought about since I found out about my babies is how I would see them. I would love for us to all be under one roof and I hope that one day happens, but I won't rush Ana. Having Ana living closer to Seattle would be the perfect scenario for me, but not Ana. I can't ask her to up route her life for me. She's already doing enough as it is and where she already lives is the safest place. I'm trying to think of the best scenario for everyone but at the moment, it's eluding me.

"I want to see you and our children everyday Ana. Our lives at the moment are going in reverse. People are supposed to meet, date, maybe get married and then have the children. Our children are arriving before anything else has happened."

"We will just be a unique family. A one of a kind family that makes everything work for us."

"I like that, I'd also like it if you would be my girlfriend. I probably should've asked you before I kissed you, but like I said, reverse."

"I would love to" she laughed.

We lay in my bed, neither of us willing to move until her stomach started to protest at the lack of food. Feeding Ana and our babies was the first priority of the day, what happens after that, we'll talk about later.

…

"Can I ask you something?" Ana asked me, as she started to wash her breakfast bowl.

"Of course."

"You have such a big place, just for you. Why not buy something smaller."

"You have how many acres, just for you" I teased, making her laugh.

"I bought the house which although it has three bedrooms, they're not overly large so it's the right size for me. The land was a bonus."

"The ducks too," I asked, seeing her nod. "I suppose buying here was about wants and needs."

"How so, you wanted all this space, as opposed to needing it," she said, washing my own bowl as I dried hers.

"No, more like the other way around. You know what I said about my birth mother."

"Yes."

"I was born in Detroit, in a tiny apartment that..."

"What," she asked, pulling me over to the couches. Ana sat by my side, her hand never leaving mine.

"It was just me and her, or just me it felt like, as she acted like I wasn't even there. Yes, she did feed me, but it was usually when she was hungry herself. Even after all these years if I'm in a place as small as that, I can still smell the stale air, still, see her dead body."

"What" she whispered.

"Yes, she overdosed. It was days until I would be found so it was just me and her in that tiny, rancid apartment. When I had money to buy my own place, I wanted the space, wanted to be able to breathe."

"You needed it."

"I did. I bought the best there was in both my apartment and office buildings. Somewhere with a lot of space and also somewhere, where I didn't have to go far so I could just step outside."

"The little garden at Grey house, do you go out there," she asked.

"Yes, why do you think it exists. My work usually means I'm in the building all day, almost every day. It did anyway before you and our children. Having that one place to escape to was what I wanted, and I definitely needed it too."

"I understand the need for air. I don't think I could work in an office all day, I would need constant breaks so I could step outside. I have written many a word sat on my porch, do you use the balcony's here?"

"I do and it's lovely to sit outside. It does get windy up here though, come."

I helped Ana up from the couch, taking her hand and led her out onto the balcony.

We walked closer to the edge, looking down at the city before us. From where we now stood, we had a perfect view of Elliot Bay.

"How much time have you spent in Seattle before," I asked.

"A few days here and there, normally when I'm visiting my publisher or catching a flight out, not much. The longest time I suppose, was when I started going through the IVF treatment," she told me.

"Was this your first try."

"No, a few months before was my first time."

"God this sounds horrible even to me when I say this, but I'm glad things worked out the way they did."

"So am I Christian."

Standing behind Ana, with my arms wrapped around her, I pointed out the sights of Seattle. Places that I hoped one day to take our children and Ana to see.

….

"Hey mum," I said, answering her call.

"Hello son, how are you, how is Anastasia."

"We're both fine mum," I told her, smiling when I could hear Ana laughing. She was on the phone to her own mother and thankfully even though my name had been mentioned, the call was going well. I'm not sure how Ray will take us being together, I hope he's as happy with me being in his daughter's life as he is with me being part of his grand children's.

"Have you seen her."

"Ana's here mum. We went shopping for the babies last night and she's staying with me."

"You sound, happy son."

"I am mum. Ana and I have become very close, not just as parents of our children but as a couple too."

"Oh Christian, I'm so happy for you."

"Are you crying, mum?" I asked, hearing her sob.

"Ignore your mother" she laughed. "With everything going on, it's lovely to have some good news for a change. Your father and I would love to meet her, I know your sister would too."

"I'm not sure of her plans yet, or when she's travelling back home. I will speak to Ana and get back to you."

"That's fine son, no pressure. Have you spoken to Elliot since Thursday?"

"Yesterday morning, I spoke to him. He's gone from upset, to happy to pissed again. Sorry, mum."

"Don't worry son, that woman could make a nun swear. The sooner she's gone from all of our lives the better. To target that young woman, after all, she has been through is disgusting."

"She targeted Elliot too, just to get to me."

"I know. I'm so happy that her plan didn't work."

"Me too mum, me too."

I spoke to my mum for a few more minutes, leaving Ana to her conversation before stepping out onto the balcony to take a breather. Thinking of Kate does make me angry and I try to push her from my mind but something Sky said has been bugging me though. Kate said that Ana had stolen her children and her life. Did she really think that if she had gotten pregnant with my sperm that we were going to play happy families together, that I was suddenly going to fall in love with her because she had this sick notion that she was pregnant my child? Whatever her plans had been, whatever she tries in the future, I will make sure they're stopped and she stays the hell away from my family.

With Ana there will be no playing, we will be a family, a happy one at that. With regards to falling in love with Ana, I'm already on my way there.

"My mum said hello," Ana told me, coming to join me outside when she had finished her call.

"Have you told her?" I asked.

"About us," she asked as I nodded. "Yes, she knows and she's very happy for us."

"My mum is too. I haven't brought it up before now, but how long are you staying in Seattle."

"Have you had enough of me already?" she asked, giggling when I tickled her sides.

"Never" I mumbled, kissing her lips.

"I don't have to rush back for anything this weekend. I brought my laptop in case I found time to do any work but I'm perfectly happy for it to stay in its case. I have to be back in Montesano for my appointment on Tuesday, so I can leave Monday at the latest."

"Stay for the weekend then. I have a meeting Monday morning which unfortunately I can't miss. We can leave after lunch and then I will drive you home. I would like to be there for your appointment, even if it's just to hold your hand while you have your blood pressure checked."

"I'd like that. Would you like to stay with me."

"Yeah, as long as the ducks don't oppose."

Saying that her giggles were back. I had seen the nasty bite mark that Luke had on his hand and he had certainly been given a nip.

We enjoyed our own bit of peace as we spent the day relaxing in my apartment, the most peace you will get in the middle of the city. Bringing up my mother's conversation about her wanting to meet Ana, she seemed nervous but also pleased.

"They will love you, but I apologise for my sister now."

"Is she really that bad" Ana laughed.

"She's your biggest fan when it comes to your books. I think your first was her favourite."

"My first book, or my first novel," she asked, quietly

"Your first book. She's a doctor, specialising in children's cancer."

I could see the look on Ana's face, a look of sadness and pain. She masked it with a smile, but I didn't want to see the mask, I wanted her real smile back.

"I'm sorry I brought it up."

"No, don't. It's the most important book I have ever written. I was in a lot of pain when I wrote that book. It helped me focus, put what I was feeling down on paper. Somedays it seems like a lifetime ago but it's always there, lingering."

"The cancer," I asked, not even daring to think of Ana like that.

"The treatments, the after effects, more than the cancer itself. It took so much away from me, but over time, it's given me some things back. When you're sat in a hospital bed, tubes everywhere and hooked up to so many machines, it's hard to see a future beyond that room. It gave me my dad because had I not been there, he wouldn't have met my mum or me. It gave me you too because I don't think our paths would've crossed otherwise. Life works in crazy ways sometimes, it's like a merry go round that doesn't stop. Yes, you could jump off the ride when it feels too hard but what would I have missed out on if I would've given up all those years ago."

"You and Elliot are the bravest people I have ever met," I told her.

"We have to be."

….

Driving to my parent's, I could see how nervous Ana had become. She was wringing her hands together, looking out at the unknown streets that we passed.

"Ana, calm down please."

"I am calm," she told me, which made me raise my eyebrow. "I just want them to like me."

"They do Ana, they already do," I told her. As Taylor stopped outside of my childhood home, my parents were stood by the door waiting for us. "I'm jealous, even I don't get this when I arrive. I'm going to put in a complaint" I told her, wanting to see the smile back on her face. It gained me the desired result, as well as her laughter.

"A welcome party."

"Come on," I said, getting out to open Ana's door so I could help her out as well.

While Ana got out of the car, my parents stayed on the step, so as not to crowd her. As we approached, my mother took the first steps towards us.

"Lovely to see you, son," she said, placing her hand onto my cheek, once I had kissed hers.

"You too mum…. Mum, dad this is Anastasia Steele. Ana these are my parents, Carrick and Grace Grey."

"It's lovely to meet you," Ana said, shaking their hands.

My mother was reluctant to let her hand go as she smiled at the woman by my side.

"You too, come in," she told us as my dad and I followed Ana and my mum up the few steps and into the house.

"Is Mia here?" I asked once we were in the hallway.

"She is" We heard behind us as my sister appeared on the stairs. "Oh my," she beamed, looking at Ana.

"Hello Mia, it's nice to meet you," Ana told her, stepping forward to shake my sister's hand.

Mia as always would have none of that and pulled Ana in for a hug.

"Please don't squash my children Mia."

"Don't worry, big brother, I won't. Come."

Once again, it was one of the women in this house who stole my girlfriend away. Ana didn't mind though, she had calmed now that she knew her nerves were unwarranted.

We all went into the living room where I was able to take a seat by Ana's side. I could see the latest scan photo of my children, framed on the mantel and Ana could too. I had given it to my parents the day after I had arrived home. Mum cried like mums do and I think even my dad looked like he would've shed a tear too once he was alone. I think what had them both emotional was not just the fact that they had a granddaughter and grandson on the way, it was how happy Elliot had been of that fact as well. Kate's plans could've ripped our family apart, but it's only brought us all closer if that was even possible as we have always been very close, Elliot and me especially.

"Is Elliot coming for dinner?" I asked my parents.

"He said he was," Mum said. "He should be here soon."

While we waited for my brother to arrive, the twenty questions started for Ana, from Mia. I would've thought it would have been something about the babies first, but true to form, Mia surprised me.

"When is your next book out, you left the last one on a bit of a cliff-hanger," Mia asked, excited that she had her favourite author in front of her and she could grill her on what was ahead.

"That wasn't intentional, for me anyway. Publishing companies like to leave the readers wanting more so that last little bit was their fault, not mine. I've nearly finished it, so I will send a copy to Christian to give to you before it's published."

"You can read it after me," I said, teasing my sister.

"Are you going to tell people, about you and the babies?" my dad asked me more than Ana.

"It's bound to come out eventually unless we never leave Ana's home which I would be perfectly happy to do," I said, hearing Ana laugh.

"You don't live here," Mia asked.

"In Seattle?" Ana asked, seeing Mia nod her head. "No, I don't. I actually live just outside of the small town where I grew up."

"Too quiet for you Mia," Elliot said, joining us. "Although you would get on with the ducks, you're just as quackers as they are."

"Ha-ha," she said, blowing a raspberry at our brother.

"It's nice to see you here Ana, especially holding hands with my brother," Elliot told her, a beaming smile on his face.

"Thank you, I'm very happy to have his hand in mine too."

With all of my family here now, we moved into the dining room where I pulled Ana's chair out, before taking my own seat.

Ana was hungry, although she didn't eat as much as she usually does, probably because my sister continued to ask her questions throughout dinner. She would know the entire plot of her book by the time we went home at this rate.

...

"Are you ok?" I asked Elliot as we stepped outside to talk while Ana spoke about her pregnancy with my mother and sister.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Do you know, I feel like I've gone back to my twenties again, living on my own."

"Um bro, you're still in your twenties, until December anyway."

"Ok smart arse, I meant my early twenties. I can go out for a drink after work without getting earache. I can leave my clothes on the floor without having them thrown at me and being told to pick them up. The only problem I will have if I ever date again is if I bring her home. She will think I'm a slob" he laughed to himself.

"Be a slob for a while, enjoy yourself. I know you were only married for two years but she locked my brother away. I like having him back again."

"Me too. I like being me once more…. I had a visit from Eamon at the construction site yesterday."

"Why didn't you call me, he should've been kicked out."

"Oh, he was, eventually. He came to plead her case that she was having problems and wanted me back. I think it was more like he had to deal with her spending, her tantrums once more. He facilitated them, he can deal with them. I told him I didn't want to know, she's his problem and if she starts to contest the divorce, I will see her in court. I've had it with being pushed around or keeping quiet so as not to hurt other people's feelings. What about my feelings, don't they matter."

"Of course, they do Elliot, they do to everyone in this house. She took your feelings and manipulated them for her own selfish cause."

"I'm happy for you Christian, so happy for you and I hope I can meet someone who truly loves me like you do with Ana. Don't deny it, it's written all over your face. Me, I need to be alone for a while, be me for a while before I meet someone else."

"There's no rush for you Elliot. We all want you happy and that doesn't have to be you in a relationship. Live a little, have fun… then you can ask Sky out" I teased, hearing his groan before he pushed my shoulder laughing.

"I do admit that she's beautiful and if I wasn't still married and going through all this Kate shit I would've asked her out at the barbecue. I need to be free of Kate first before I think of anything else. Pursuing something while married, Kate will only start shit saying I was having some affair and with Sky telling her that she couldn't take her case on because she was friends with me, will only add fuel to the fire. When it's all done, and I get my head in the right place, if Sky's not dating, married or whatever comes after that, maybe I'll ask her out, who knows. For once in my life I don't want to follow a set plan, I want to live day to day… what."

"You and Ana are so similar."

"How so."

"I told you the babies' sex, I didn't tell you that my daughter is a little on the small size."

"What, is she ok."

"She's growing, she's just not as big as her brother. I panicked at Ana's last scan."

"I would've too Christian, what has the doctor said."

"She has grown between the scans Ana has had and as long as she continues to do so, there shouldn't be any problems."

"If she doesn't," he asked, a question I don't even want to contemplate.

"There is a chance they both will have to be delivered early. Day by day Ana told me we take it and that's all we can do. Ana has her next appointment on Tuesday which I will be there for."

"Shit, my problems seem trivial now."

"No, they're not Elliot" we heard behind us as we both turned to see Ana, wrapped in my coat.

"My niece," he asked her.

"Is probably in a food coma from all the dessert that has just been sent her way. I'm not far off it" she said, coming to my side.

"Ready for going home, well my home, it's a bit far to go to yours," I asked, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

"Yes, I think I'm ready for a nap."

"You keep missing them," I told her, kissing her forehead.

"Some things are worth missing them for, although they do make me pay for it later," she told us, trying to hide a yawn.

"I think you need to get sleeping beauty home before you have to carry her to the car," Elliot said, smiling at us both.

"No carrying, I'm too heavy" Ana complained.

"I highly doubt that, no matter how many babies you carry."

We made our way back into the house, thanking my parents for dinner. They had loved meeting Ana, my mum and sister especially, both wanting to know when they would see her again.

"When my book is finished, I will be back in Seattle. I'm not far off it so it shouldn't be long. I will have to fit it in with my doctor's appointments."

"Let us know when you're back and we will have to have a girl's lunch," my mother said, shocking my brother and me.

My mum and sister always had lunch together once a week, never inviting Kate though. They always told her it was mother and daughter time. Inviting Ana to join them, had a large smile on my face.

As we drove away from my parents, Ana was cuddled into my side. Resting her head against my shoulder, she closed her eyes.

"What are we going to do when people see us together. Do we say we're friends or a couple as we are."

"I don't want to hide us, Ana. There are going to be questions about you being so heavily pregnant and us not being seen together before but how we deal with that is up to us. We can ignore it, or we can put a statement out."

"If we put a statement out, we should just tell the truth. It's well documented that I had cancer and the after effects of that would be known too, to anyone who had gone through it before. I'm not ashamed of needing IVF to have our babies and I don't want to hide that you're the father too. I think the only thing in all this is Elliot. You being the donor and the mix-up would mean people knowing why you were a donor in the first place."

"I will speak to Elliot about it. If he doesn't want it coming out, we will have to find another way."

"Ok," she said, opening her sleepy eyes. "The reason I asked is, José's show is on now and I was planning on going next weekend. I wanted to know if you would like to go with me."

"I'd love to Ana," I told her, kissing her forehead.

"Good, I will let him know" she mumbled, finally letting sleep take her when she closed her eyes once more.

Ana didn't wake when we got back to Escala, she didn't wake when I put her in my bed, getting her out of her dress and into my t-shirt. She needed her sleep, our children too but mine eluded me for a while.

Going public was a big step but it was the next step for us. I want to be able to take Ana out for dinner, push my children in their stroller without people questioning why I was with them. Ana was right, there is no shame in how our children came to be, they were meant to be here and just as importantly, they were meant to be ours.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Christian might be thinking about needing his own home in Montesano, but I doubt it will be needed by the time the twins arrive.

I'm unsure of when the next chapter will be up as I'm away for two weeks from Wednesday and I still have so much to do before I go. I will have my laptop with me for one of those weeks as I visit my parents in Wales so I might be able to get some writing done, but as where they live, the internet is patchy at best, any new chapters might have to wait until after the 29th when I'm back home again.

Until next time whenever that may be, take care.

Caroline.