A/N: So glad you are enjoying my story. I have no writing skills what so ever but I guess you can count this as one. I hope you like this chapter.
"Good morning, Mrs Grey." Christian kisses my temples.
"Good morning, Mr Grey." I reply, stretching my arms out.
"You made the papers."
"Really?" I sit up against the head board, leaning against Christian's shoulder.
"Here." He hands over to me the paper then places of tray of food on my lap.
"What's all this?"
"Breakfast in bed for my gorgeous wife." He says, kissing me chastely on the lips.
"Christian. You did dinner. I should have done breakfast."
"No, no. You need your rest."
"You have a point there after last night." I smirk at him. Oh yes. Last night. After the amazing meal and hot steamy bath Christian made love to me so many times. I'm a little sore but I don't care.
"Read the article. It's also a great photo of you." He says.
I flick through the paper to the article and there it is. A blown up photo of me out shopping yesterday.
"My bump doesn't really hideaway now does it?"
"And I don't care."
I go back to the article and read it out loud.
"It says; 'Anastasia Grey was seen yesterday out shopping with her sister-in-law, Mia Grey, and her friends. She was seen later hanging outside a designer dress shop with her security. From the picture to the left, we can say for sure that Mr and Mrs Grey are expecting their first child. Excitement is in the air. We can't help but ask...Boy or Girl?...' Lily? A friend? That isn't true. Looks like Blip isn't a secret no more."
"Nope. And I'm more than happy for them all to know."
"Says I'm yours?"
"Yes." He whispers in my ear then starts kissing my ear. "Eat." He orders. I start eating my breakfast.
After showering, throwing my breakfast back up and dressing in a dark blue, knee high dress, I join Christian down stairs. My head is feeling a little fuzzy but I shake it off. As I reach the kitchen I hear chatter. Walking in I see Kate and Elliot.
"There she is!" Elliot chimes, walking over me and engulfing me into a bear hug.
"Elliot. Please." I plead.
"Ana?" Christian asks.
"I'm fine. Just morning sickness earlier."
"You sure you want to go to work?" Kate asks.
"I might call in and work from home. If that's ok with you?" I ask Christian, who is now standing next to me stroking my back.
"Of course it is. Look I have to get going. Morning meeting. I'll be home at lunch." Christian says, kisses my lips and leaves.
"Bye." I call after him. "So what are you two doing here anyway?"
"Came to see you. I saw the article. Couldn't stop laughing at the part they said Lily was your friend."
"Yeah, I laughed too." I reply. As I am about to sit on the bar stool the smell of coffee fills my nose. I turn my attention to Elliot is making a pot.
"Oh no." I say then bolt out of the room heading to the downstairs toilet. I start dry heaving. My stomach empty from earlier. My rips are aching. It finally stops and I rest my head on my arm. I feel so tired. I push myself up to my feet and quickly wash up.
I re-join Elliot and Kate in the kitchen.
"You ok?" Kate asks.
"Yeah. Can't be around coffee."
"We gathered so we got rid of it."
"Sorry."
"Na. It's fine. I got to get going. See you later you two." Elliot says, kissing Kate and giving me a quick hug then heads out.
"So. Mia is getting everyone together for New Years at Bellevue. She wanted me to ask if you two were going to go?"
"I think we might. I'll see what Christian says." I reply, resting my head on my hand.
"You sure you're ok? You've gone really pale."
"Yeah I'm fine. This one is very unsettled today." I reply, rubbing my bump. Kate sits next to me and places her hand on mine. And Blip kicks both our hands.
"WOW!" Kate squeals. "That is amazing. Hey little guy." She says, talking to my bump. "You making your mommy ill?"
"Oh Kate. He's fine." I say to her.
"Why don't you go back to bed?"
"I'd rather get some work done." I murmur." Why are you here anyway?"
"Thought I'd spend some time with you. If that's ok?"
"Yeah. Just I have some work to get on with."
"That's fine. I'll come round later."
"Sure. Dinner. Bring Elliot."
"Will do." We stand and hug each other. "I'll see you later."
"Bye, Kate." I say. Why the hell do I feel like crap? My stomach is doing flips and my nose is getting stuffy.
"You ok, Ana?" Gail asks, walking in with a basket of fruit.
"Yeah. I think I'm coming down with a cold. I was fine this morning."
"Let me have a look at you." She says, walking over to me and presses her hand to my forehead.
"You do have a bit of a temperature. I'll make you some tea."
"Thanks, Gail. I'm going to change into something more comfortable then get to work."
"Ok, Ana. I'll bring it to your study." She says.
I head back upstairs to our bedroom and change into sweats and one of Christian's t-shirts. I pull on my robe to keep me warm and a box of tissues. Heading down to my study I grab a few manuscripts and sit on the sofa near the fire place.
"Here you go Ana. Tea and a sandwich if you fancy it. I'll light the fire for you." She says.
"What would I do without you Gail?"
"I always wonder what you'd do to Christian if I weren't here."
"Oh Gail. What on earth are you insinuating?" I ask playfully which we laugh at.
"I'll leave you to it, Ana."
"Ok."
"Call me for anything else."
"Will do." I reply. Once she leaves to room I grab my tea, put my feet up and start reading. I think I'll be able to get through at least 4 today, maybe 5.
Half way through my second manuscript my blackberry rings.
"Hello. Anastasia Grey."
"Hi Ana. It's Hannah."
"Oh hi. What's up?"
"I just want to make sure you were ok. Sawyer phoned in for you earlier."
"Thanks, Hannah. I think I'm coming down with a cold and morning sickness hasn't eased up."
"Doesn't sound good."
"It's not. I'll be able to get these last few manuscripts done before I return to work. Oh and Hannah. When you're finished with your lot of reports you can finish up early."
"Thank you, Ana. I hope you feel better."
"Thanks. Plenty of rest will go a long way. Bye." I hang up. She's so sweet. I'm glad I hired her. Now back to work.
My nose won't stop running now. Glad I brought the box of tissues in with me, and thankful Gail lit the fire for me.
I look at the clock on the mantel piece. It's only 10:30 and I already have gone through four manuscripts. Great time for Blip to kick my bladder. I walk to our bedroom and head for the bathroom. I may need to have a bathroom built in my study if I am going to be working from home.
As I stand from the toilet a wave of dizziness hits me. Where did that come from? I shake it away and wash my hands. I better take things slowly. Oh Christian is going to love this. Any excuse to keep me home. I walk back to my study at a low pace to try and avoid the dizziness again.
I sit down on the sofa and let my head drop back. Wow. I am so tired. I'll just close my eyes...for...a...little...while.
"Fuck! Ana. Baby. Wake up. I need you to open your eyes." I hear Christian's panicked voice. "How was she this morning, Gail?"
"When I returned to the kitchen after Kate left she looks very pale. She had a temperature, but she said she was fine and came upstairs."
"Ok. Can you call my mom?"
"Already done."
"Thanks Gail. Can you bring some water up?"
"Of course."
"Ana. Wake up, baby." I feel him stroke the hair off my face. I'm too tired to respond. And I'm hungry and thirsty. "Ana." He says softly.
"Chris..ti...an..." I whisper. I slowly flutter my eyes open. I'm very hot.
"Hey baby. How are you feeling?" He asks, his eyes searching my facial expression.
"I feel...hungry...and...thirsty."
"Ok, baby. Gail is just coming." He tells me and on cue Gail walks in with a pitcher of water. She notices that I am awake and pours me a cup and hands it to Christian.
"Here you go, baby." He holds it to my lips and I drink slowly. I raise one hand to hold the cup but Christian keeps holding it.
"Thank you."
"What happened this morning? You were fine when I left."
"Mmm..I uh..I threw up this morning before you left, then again when Elliot made coffee, but nothing came up. I've been feeling crap for a little while but thought nothing of it"
"Well it's obviously not nothing. I think you've caught the flu."
"I gathered." I reply. I try to push myself up but my arms are too weak.
"Here, let me help." He sits next to me on the sofa and pulls me into his embrace. This is what I need. My husband holding me.
"Hello?" I hear Grace call as she climbs the stairs.
"In here, Mrs Grey." Gail calls out.
"Oh Ana. Let's have a look at you." Grace tells us.
After a thorough examination from Grace, forced by Christian, I have the flu. Christian carried me to bed and got me comfortable seeing as I was going nowhere.
"Now plenty of rest and drink lots of water and eat plenty of fruit. Ok darling?" Grace says.
"Thank you, Grace. Sorry you had to come over."
"Don't be silly. I'd do anything for my family." She smiles warmly at me. "I better go. I told Carrick I wouldn't be long. Now rest up. Christian, make sure you keep your vitamins up. Both of you."
"Will do mom. And thanks again."
"No worries, darling." She replies and leaves.
Christian turns to me and climbs on the bed on top of the covers then pulls me into his side.
"I think you know what I'm going to say." He says against my head.
"No work?"
"No work."
"Ok. I should let Hannah know."
"I'll get Sawyer to do it. You get some sleep. Or would you like something to eat?"
"I would love some soup." I smile weakly at him.
"Coming up." He kisses my head and inhales my scent, as I do to his chest, then leaves.
Great. Now what? I can't do anything because I will get dizzy quick. Oh Blip. I will get through this as quick as I can so you don't come to any harm. I rub my bump. I rest my head against the headboard and close my eyes.
"Ana. Lunch." I hear Christian whisper as I stir awake. "Here you go." He places a tray in front of me. It smells wonderful. Chicken I think.
"Thank you." I take a sip. "It's wonderful."
Christian sits with me, watching me as I finish up my soup. We occasionally lock eyes and I can see he is worried about me.
"Christian. Would you please stop staring and stop worrying about me?"
"I can't help it."
"I know. But please?"
"You're too beautiful to not want to stare at." He smiles at me. Oh sweet fifty.
"Have you been told about Mia's plans for New Years?"
"Yes. We can go, only if you are feeling up for it."
"It' in a few days so I should be better."
"Ok. We'll see how it goes. Now get some sleep." He kisses my forehead.
"Fine. You not going to join me?"
"Oh Mrs Grey. Let me take this down stairs and I will." He says. He quickly takes the tray downstairs. I can hear his footsteps from here. I lay my head on the pillow and my eyes soon close and I drift off a little. I hope this flu dies down by the time we get to New Years. I feel Christian's arms around me. He got here quickly. He starts planting soft kisses along my neck and shoulder. As his right hand reaches my bump Blip kicks.
"Oh...I think someone is telling you to let mommy sleep." I murmur sleepily.
"I guess he is." Christian replies. He quickly rolls me onto my back and goes further down the covers so his head is over my bump. He lifts my t-shirt up and starts kissing Blip.
"I'll let mommy sleep if you do, little man." Oh. I can't hold back the tears. "Hey." He kisses my bump again then hovers over me and kisses my lips.
"Oh Christian. With everything that happened at the start I still can't get over how much you love him." I murmur, tears falling freely down my cheeks.
"Oh, baby. It still surprises me too." He replies, staring deep into my eyes. "I never thought it would be possible for me to love anyone like I do for you and Blip." He smiles at me and kisses me, lovingly, passionately.
A/N: I know it's short, sorry. I'm keeping the drama for the next chapter, but don't get your hopes up though. Reviews much loved!