Holding On & Letting Go
"Teddy" Ana bolted up from where she was sleeping to find Christian and Teddy wrapped in his embrace fast asleep. She smiled at the sleeping pair and got up to fetch a glass of water. In the mean time Christian had awoken due to her absence. He managed to slip Teddy out from the warmth of his shirt and place him upstairs in his nursery, he double checked the windows were locked and the alarm system was on before heading back downstairs to find Ana. She was caught up in her own world when he entered the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her waist, she jumped with the fright "Christian" she breathed out a sigh of relief when he smiled down at her.
"Sorry for scaring you" he nuzzled her neck and rested his head on her shoulder as she leaned back to the comfort of his arms. They stayed like that for a few moments when she spoke "What time is it?"
"Just a little after six" he said yawning. "I think Mr Grey needs more sleep"
"I hav-" he barely got out another sentence when he yawned again. The lack of sleep was getting to him, dark rings had begun to form under his eyes and he was slightly paler than usual "Come on baby we both need the sleep, even the staff do to let them sleep in" Ana held Christian's hand as she pulled him from the kitchen and up the stairs where they were met by three sleepy heads, Sawyer,Taylor and Mrs Jones.
"Oh Mr Grey, Mrs Grey. Good mor-" Gail yawned "Oh excuse me" she half smiled and blushed
"Gail I think it's time you called us Christian and Ana, I am quite tired of the formalities around the house we are friends after all. So why don't you three go back to your rooms and catch up on some well needed sleep. Teddy is fast asleep and he's fed so he will be fine for another few hours" Christian said sleepily with his arm over Ana's shoulders as they began to make their way to their bedroom. They both stripped down to their underwear and plopped on the bed "Oh I forgot how comfy this bed is" Ana smiled over at her husband who was on his way to the land of nod at this point "hmmm it's even better you're here" he said as he pulled Ana close to him as he wrapped his arms around her cuddling his wife as he sighed in contentment. Ana through her free arm over his waist as she laid her head on his chest whispering "I love you Christian" she as "I love you Ana" barely escaped his lips as he fell into a deep sleep with his wife by his side.
"bababa" Teddy was babbling away as he sat at the kitchen counter on Taylor's lap while Gail and Sawyer sipped mugs of coffee laughing at the baby. They had woken around 1pm to hear the little guy fussing so instead of waking his exhausted parents they decided to give a hand considering they were told to go back to bed earlier that morning. "Yeah I did too. No more meanies getting past me aye little fella?" Taylor said straight back to Teddy who grinned
"baba.. da..ma.. ma" Teddy smiled in between his barely recognised baby talk as Sawyer took him from Taylor's arms "Hmm I bet you will be some lady killer huh? Your mommy will be beating the women away from the door for you huh?" Gail and Taylor chuckled as Sawyer bounced Teddy gently on his knee as he head the little laughs erupt from him. As they continued to play and talk to Teddy they didn't hear Christian and Ana who stood just outside the kitchen for the past fifteen minutes listening to them trying to hold in their laughter "Let me hold him" they heard Gail say as she took Teddy into her arms "See you and your cheeky Grey grin, while you smile you had us all so worried little fella" she cooed at the baby as he responded with more baby talk no one could understand.
"Teddy seems to have taken to those three quite well" Christian said as he had an arm wrapped around her waist as she leaned into his touch "Why wouldn't he? He has been around all three since the moment he was born? Plus what's not to like about them?" Ana smiled up at Christian as she pecked him on the lips. They felt well rested and refreshed after that sleep and wanted nothing more than a nice hot meal and to hold their son who was back safe and sound. "We should do something for them"
"Like what?" he asked looking to his wife
"Maybe a break away from all of this? Send them to the holiday home you bought only last year?" she suggested "We can manage on our own for three weeks and yes I said three weeks they obviously need it and with Jason and Gail together maybe let Luke take his girlfriend he hasn't seen her in a few days only called her." she pointed out to her husband.
"That's not a bad idea but how about we let them know later" he said winking, he had a trick or two up his sleeves.
"Ah Mr Gr- I mean Christian" Gail said smiling with a grinning Teddy in her arms "What would you like to eat?"
"I was thinking we could all have a picnic in the garden ? It's a nice day out side and I am sure you all need a bit of relaxation?" Christian smiled at Gail who was a bit shocked but didn't turn down his offer. She didn't have time to respond when Taylor cut in joking "I think I need several beers with that too" Ana burst into a fit of laughter at him and Christian grinned "That can be arranged too"
"Uhm I was joking Mr Grey... I mean Christian"
"Relax Jason" he laughed "I know" Taylor just smiled back at him and then over to Ana as if to say 'who is he and what has he done with my boss' "So picnic ?" Christian asked all three again who nodded their heads eagerly "We can all help prepare some food for it. Teddy can sit in his bouncer chair in the tv room, he stays quiet when Tom & Jerry come on surprisingly" Ana pipped up
Thirty minutes later and two basket full of food and two large picnic blankets they all sat comfortably out under the warmth of the sun in the back garden chatting away forgetting the earlier events of the week. Ana and Gail chatted about Christian and Taylor as the earned a few winks from their men while Sawyer, Taylor and Christian were in conversation about soccer, cars and other big boys toys. Teddy lay on the picnic blanket kicking away as he managed to roll over onto his stomach and kicked more grinning as he knew he caught the attention of his parents "Aww look at him" Gail said as she patted his back gently "There you go little fella, it wont be long before he begins to crawl" she smiled at Ana and then to Christian.
"Come on buddy" Christian lay flat on his stomach stretched out facing his son who was babbling away and nearly eating his pudgy fist "Your getting to be a big boy huh?" Christian watched as Teddy rolled on his back, he then tickled his sons stomach earning a little squeal of laughter and a grin, the famous one his dad often wore.
"You'll have your hands full with this little guy" Taylor said as he slapped Christian's shoulder lightly as he stood back up taking Teddy into his arms "He'll be some heart breaker with that grin"
"Like his daddy I bet, I heard Mia's friends were quite disappointed when they heard you were engaged to Ana" Gail said to Christian who chuckled at her words remembering that day as clear as a bell. "They wouldn't even compare to her beauty" he said winking at Ana and earning a blush in return "See I still have it" he joked to his son who did nothing to but smile as the people around him laughed.
"Looks like we better head in it's getting quite nippy" Ana said as Teddy began fussing. He was beginning to get tired again. The men cleared up the picnic blankets and baskets while Gail and Ana took Teddy inside and bathed him and fed him before putting him down to rest. "Sleep tight Teddy Bear" Ana placed a kiss to her son's cheeks as Gail shut his bedroom window and locked it. They went downstairs to find Christian sitting with Jason and Luke drinking a beer watching the game on tv. They left them to it and sat in the kitchen drinking tea and coffee.
"Ana" Christian poked his head in the door and called her out "Wanna tell them now? I have the plane set and I may have prepared a new wardrobe for them all when they arrive" the sparkle in his eyes showed he was excited to do this for his most trusted employees who he could call his friends.
"Yeah let's tell them" she said eagerly as she called Gail out to them when Christian shouted down to the tv room "Jason, Luke" he waved his hand and they moved quickly over to them.
"Christian?" Jason asked
"It has been brought to my attention that since you all worked for me you need a break. So I decided" he got out when Ana interrupted him "Ahem?" she raised her eyebrows looking at her husband who grinned "Ana brought it to my attention and she decided we should give you a three week break in our new holiday home in Tahoe, it's a beach side holiday home and it's perfect this time of year. I have already made the arrangements and I already have sorted out flights on my jet and you wont need to spend a cent I have everything you need paid for. Luke your girlfriend is actually meeting you at the airport in forty minutes so I suggest you take the car and Jason and Gail, you wouldn't want to keep her waiting" Christian finished leaving an awe struck trio in front of him
"Guys he's being serious, get going you don't wanna miss the flight"
"How?.. I...this is.." Gail was speechless. She couldn't string a full sentence together.
"Gail you can thank me in three weeks by returning safely" he smiled before giving her a hug causing her to cry happy tears "Oh thank you" she said as Christian slapped Jason and Luke on their backs giving them a nudge towards the front door "We will be fine for three weeks, Ana did it by herself for nine months so I think we can manage" Christian chuckled
"Bye Ana" Gail said hugging her as she followed the men out the door. Ana smiled at her husband as they watched the suv leave the driveway. "They were so not expecting that" Christian grinned
"Did you see their faces?" Ana said excitedly "They do appreciate that"
"I know they do and they worked hard to earn it" Christian embraced his wife in a hug as they heard the little cries from their son "I'll get him" Christian said as Ana closed the front door and began to make her way to the kitchen to prepare some dinner for them. "He was just lonely and wanted to be held" Christian grinned as Ana chopped up some vegetables and chicken for a stir fry.
"What you making?" Christian asked as he bounced Teddy gently in his arms
"Some dinner for my man" she grinned at him
"I'll go watch some tv with Teddy then and leave you to it" he kissed her on the lips before leaving the room with his son. As Ana filled the plates with the food she took the plates and cutlery to the tv room and laid the plates on the small coffee table as she took Teddy and placed him on his play mat with colourful soft toys. She sat beside her husband and began eating away watching their son with smiles on their faces as they sat in contentment like a normal happy family.