Ana's POV
Come on Ana, just call her, I tell myself while I stare at my phone. We had a family dinner yesterday to announce that we are having a boy. So, now the whole family knows. During the dinner both Mia and Kate couldn't drink alcohol and Grace got suspicious, so now it is out that three new members of the Grey family are on their way. Carrick was shocked and Grace was so overwhelmed she couldn't stop to cry happy tears. Mia shocked us though. She is 13 weeks pregnant. I still can't believe that it took her so long to find out. My baby boy will be born in november, Mia is due around christmas and Kate is due in late january, it's so crazy just to think about.
Still, I want my mom to know that we are having a boy. I asked my dad if he has heard from her and all he knew was that she was preparing to move to Seattle. I guess so she can go out and have fun... not because she wants to be close to her family. I look at my phone and finally decide to just make the call, I dial her number and she picks up after the third ring.
"Carla Steele"
"Hi, mom, it's me. Ana."
"Oh, Ana honey, how are you, I'm at the salon getting my hair done, I'm meeting with some friends. Is everything okay?" wow she sounds happy. I guess now that she can do what ever the hell she wants she is happy with her life.
"Well, yes I'm fine. I just... you know you never called and I was thinking we needed to talk."
"Ana, what I said at that dinner. I love you and your siblings, I really do, but this feeling that I was missing out on something it just grew and grew with every day for years. I never meant to hurt you and I am sorry for what I did."
"Honestly mom, don't tell me this, I won't deny that I was hurt and shocked, I still am, but you really hurt Patrick. He is just fifteen mom and he heard what you said about wanting to end the pregnancy when you found out you were pregnant with him. If you don't want to call me and leave it to daddy to visit Jenny, I guess that's your choice, but he is still a child mom."
"Ana all I want is some time to myself. Patrick will be fine, one day he will understand." she says and I snort, is she kidding?
"Mom, I have to go, I just wanted to call you to tell you that the baby is a boy."
"Oh, that's lovely Ana, you will be a wonderful mom, you have always had this nurturing spirit."
"Yeah, I wonder where I got that from" I huff and sigh. "I have to go now, call me if you want to talk" I hang up before she can say another word and bury my face in my hand. I don't even know what to think about what she said.
"Baby, what is wrong?" I look up and Christian is standing in front of me.
"I called my mom. She is happy doing her thing and couldn't care less about anything else than herself. She thinks Patrick is going to understand what she said and did with time. Oh and I was always so nurturing, I'm going to be a good mother, as if she has any idea what she is talking about."
"While I really hate to do that, I have to agree with her, you are a nurturing human being and you will be a very good mother, everything else, frankly I have no idea in what kind of parallel universe she is living in, but for now all you can do is to ignore her if you feel talking to her just stresses you or makes you upset."
He sits down on the sofa next to me and pulls me onto his lap where I curl up and rest my cheek against his chest.
"I just really don't want to even think about her right now, it makes me mad and that's not good for blood pressure."
"Okay, so everything that we've ordered to paint the nursery arrived this morning, I thought we could go start this afternoon. Oh and my mom called, she teamed up with Luke's mom to get them to marry before the baby is born. Mia told my mom she would love to have a christmas wedding" he smirks and I laugh.
"Oh my gosh, what is she thinking, she is due around christmas. Imagine she goes into labor just when she is about to say yes."
"Don't start with this Ana, I have nightmares about her calling us that she misplaced the baby in her constant chaos" he chuckles. Yes, Mia is definitely chaotic, thank god she has Luke who is the most organized guy I have ever met.
"For Luke's sake I hope her child is going to be just as organized as he is." I giggle and kiss him.
"So, do you want to start today or wait until next weekend?"
"No, we can start with the nursery today, once it the paint is dry I want to look for furniture."
"Why so soon, we still have 5 months." he says and now I know that there is something he isn't telling me, whenever I bring up that I want to go and look for furniture, he tells me to wait.
"Okay, out with it, what are you trying to hide Christian?"
"Nothing" his answer comes out so quick that I have to laugh. "You are a terrible liar, now tell me."
"I can't baby, it's a surprise."
"What surprise and don't think I will let you get up before you tell me"
"Fine, your dad wants to surprise you by making the furniture for the nursery himself."
I look up at Christian and I can't help it, I start to cry. Damn those pregnancy hormones!
"Baby, if you want to buy the furniture I'm sure Ray will understand..."
"No, it's just isn't that sweet. He has so much going on and he still wants to do this for our baby." I whisper through my tears.
"He is your father baby, of course he wants to do something for our baby. And well, I guess I should tell you that I've talk to him yesterday after the dinner." he says looking uncomfortable.
"What is it? Is something wrong with him?"
"No, well, your mom stopped paying the bills for the house in Montesano, Ray can't afford it on his own and... he is going to sell it. He doesn't want to go back to Montesano and you know he is worried how you will react to this news."
"It's just a house Christian, I mean yes, it is my childhood home and I loved the place for all the memories it holds, but to be honest I never liked to go back there ever since I moved out for college, you know, after what happened with Jenny and Josh, it kind of ruined all those memories. If my dad would like to keep the house I pay for it, but if he wants to sell it, I'm fine with it."
"Good, once it is sold Ray wants to move out of Escala and find his own place, he says Escala is too fancy for him. I told him I could find a place for him, but he wants to do it alone. Oh and if you don't mind we want to go on a fishing trip tomorrow, Elliot, my dad and Luke will come, too. I want to ask Patrick later."
"Sure, you don't have to ask me for permission to have some guy time, Christian. Oh but since we are talking, have you thought about John's suggestion?"
We had our therapy session with John on Thursday and he too suggested that Christian would visit Ella's grave and maybe write a letter first, so he could write down everything he wanted to say to her. I really think he needs this, just get it all out so he can hopefully let go of the anger inside him and move on with his life.
"Yeah, I started the fucking letter about 20 times while I was in my study this morning, I always stopped because I had more invectives than anything else written down. I hate her Ana, I hate her for not protecting me, for using me to make money, fuck, why did she keep me, she could have just left me in the hospital or find a family for me, but she chose to keep me and put me through this hell. I hate her so fucking much"
"Then this is what you should tell her at her grave."
"Maybe, I don't know." he says and buries his face in my hair. "Christian, you know you don't have to go. No one is trying to pressure you into something you are not ready for. If you don't feel ready to go now, then give it sometime, you'll know when you are ready."
"Good, so do you want to start painting the nursery now or after lunch?" he asks and I know this is his way of telling me that he doesn't want to talk about this subject anymore.
"We still have almost two hours until lunch, so let's start." I get up and we go upstairs and change into some old clothes, well actually I'm now wearing some of his old sweatpants and a t-shirt from him, since I don't have any old clothes that still fit me and Christian thinks I look so funny in his clothes he had to take pictures of me in it.
We decided to turn the room opposite our bedroom into a nursery and the security guys already took all the furniture out of the room.
"So, how are we going to this, do we just paint the walls until all is covered?" he asks and I have to smile he really never had to paint anything in his life, that's so weird.
"First, we have to cover the floor, so we won't get any paint on the carpet and then we have to use masking tape on the window frames and door frames. After that we can start."
"Or we could just start and simply get a new carpet later" Christian points out and I shake my head laughing.
"Come on, it's easy" I giggle and grab the foil covers for the floor. Once we have started to paint I know I will regret my decision to do this on our own. Christian is not good at painting, he has so much of the light blue color on his paint roller that there are little puddles of paint on the floor where he is painting, jeez, he has more paint on the floor than on the wall, if he keeps that up, we will have to order more of the paint to get the room done.
30 minutes later I know I've made a mistake, the part of the room where he is painting is a disaster there are parts of the wall where the paint is actually dripping off while over parts are barely covered. Oh man, I need to get him out of here, but I don't want to hurt his feelings.
"You know what I really want right now?" I ask and he looks over to me.
"No, what do you need baby?"
"I could murder for a smothered burrito and cheesy potatoes from Taco Bell."
"Really? Gail is cooking pasta with tuna for lunch I thought you are craving pasta these days."
"I was, but now I really want a smothered burrito and cheesy potatoes" I give him my best smile and he laughs.
"Alright, can I leave you here for an hour without getting into trouble? Taylor has his day off and is working on his bike and we only have Ryan here for security today, so I have to go myself."
"You would? Thanks!" I kiss him and he leaves the room still chuckling. I wait until he has changed and left and quickly look for Patrick, who is outside with the dogs.
"Patrick, do you want to earn 50 bucks?" I ask him and of course he is excited and follows me upstairs.
"Wow, don't tell created that mess of paint" he laughs looking around.
"No, it was Christian, look I've sent him out to get me fast food, we have to finish the room before he is back and never mention that you helped me. I don't want to hurt his feelings, but if he keeps painting ... well I guess you can see what I mean" I say and gesture around the room.
"Sure, let's do this."
Together we manage to paint the rest of the room in no time and I really like the color, now all that's left is putting on the wall decoration once the paint is dry, but that is so easy that not even my darling husband can screw it up.
"Thanks Patrick, I will give you the 50 bucks once I had a shower."
"Keep it, this was fun or you know maybe you could let me take Nataly to my room again" he says blushing and I sigh.
"Patrick, you are too young, look once you turn 16 what ever you do is legal, that doesn't mean that I think you should go for it once you turn 16, but at least it will be legal. Imagine you have sex with Nataly and she gets pregnant, her parents could sue us and you are way to young for a child. My advise for you, wait to have sex until you are a little older."
"Easy for you to say, Christian and you do it all the time" he sulks and I know I'm blushing. Talking about sex with your little brother is just awkward.
"But the difference is that Christian and I are married and we are a lot older than Nataly and you are. Besides I was a virgin until I was 22, so take it from me, waiting doesn't hurt."
"You are a girl" he says as if that's a valuable argument.
"I'm not telling you to wait until you are 30 just, wait at least a little longer, there is no rush Patrick. You barely know Nataly, so give it some time."
"Yeah, maybe. I better leave you here, Christian will be back soon" he says and leaves. I start to remove the floor covering and masking tape and just when I'm ready Christian comes in.
"Hey, wow, you are ready."
"Yes, just finished, I just want to take a quick shower then we can have lunch, ok?"
"Sure" as I walk past him he grabs me and kisses me. "Don't think I don't know that you wanted to get me out of here so you could fix the mess that I have made" he smirks and I smile apologetically.
"Come on, take your shower" he let's me go and I walk towards our bedroom. "Oh, and Ana as punishment for not just telling me to get the hell out and not touch any more painting rolls you will eat this grimy food you told me to get while I will enjoy my pasta with tuna" he smirks and I pout but make my way into the our bedroom strip out of my clothes and get into the bathroom to take a shower.
After my shower I put a simple white summer dress on and look at the way my belly looks in it in the mirror. I love that I'm really starting to show now and I can feel Teddy move quiet often, though so far his movements are to light for Christian to feel them if he puts his hands on my bump while Teddy moves.
I'm pulled from my thoughts when I hear the clicking of a camera. I turn around and see Christian snapping pictures of me.
"Is he moving again?" Christian asks and points to my belly, he is so looking forward to feel Teddy move he is staring at my belly constantly waiting for the slightest movement. I feel bad for him, knowing that it could be weeks before it happens.
"Yes, though he just stopped. Is lunch ready?"
"Yes, and you got away Patrick saw the burrito and asked if he could have it." Christian says and my face falls.
"Wait, I thought you just told me to get that shit so I would be out of the nursery."
"Well, yes, I did, but actually now I was looking forward to having it for lunch."
"Do you want me to get you a new one?" he asks but his face clearly says that he would absolutely hate to go again.
"No, I'm fine, I can have something from Taco Bell next week." I tell him and we go downstairs to have lunch, but during lunch he is really quiet and the moment his plate is empty he goes to his study without a word.
I watch him leave and decide to give him a couple of minutes before I try to find out what is wrong. 30 minutes later I make my way to his study and find him staring out of the window.
"What is wrong Christian?" I ask and he turns around. "Nothing"
"Christian, please, I think that I know you well enough to know that you are chewing something over in your mind. Do you want to tell me what it is?"
He sits down on the small leather sofa in the corner of his study and I sit down next to him.
"I'm just thinking about today and the thing with the kitchen. Fuck, you must think you've married the biggest idiot in history" he says and I have to suppress a giggle.
"Honestly, I think it is very relaxing to know that there are things you can't do."
"What?"
"Think about it, even after what happened to you in your early childhood and with that old bitch, you never gave up and while you dropped out of college you managed to become one of the youngest self-made billionaires in history. You have so much knowledge about business and technology, you are philanthropic and always look for ways to make this world a better place. You are fluent in french, you can play the piano to concert standards, you can sail, you can fly your own freaking helicopter, even though you like to deny it you are a really good dancer, you care for the people you love and you are funny and loving, strong... hell, you are perfect" I giggle and finally he smiles.
"If you put it like that, I guess I'm a pretty decent guy. Though so far I couldn't find a thing you can't do." he frowns.
"You want the list?" I laugh and he nods.
"Okay, let's see. I can't tell left from right, I actually have to look at my hands and think for a second which hand I use to write before I know where left and right is. I failed my driving test 3 times and managed to ruin my first car within a week, when I rear ended my dads car. He was so mad he threatened to never let me drive again in my life. I can't eat anything with capers in it or I have to choke. I had spanish in school and my teacher begged me to transfer into another class, because I was so bad at it he couldn't stand to look at one more of my tests. I was nine before I could tie my shoes, my parents had to buy shoes with velcro fastener for me all the time. I love to cook but so far I never managed to make a proper souffle and lord knows I tried it often. Oh and if my dad ever makes his famous chili, you don't want to be in the same room with me, because I get so nasty gas I have to open all the windows." At this point I have to stop because Christians is laughing so hard he has tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Okay, you won, wow I never thought you had so many imperfections" he laughs and I have to laugh too.
"So, are we good?"
"Yes, we are and since you mentioned sailing, how about we take The Grace out, it's the perfect weather to sail."
I agree and so we ask Gail to pack us a lunch and we spend the rest of the day on The Grace just enjoying some time alone together.
Sunday
Christian and Patrick just left with Taylor for the fishing trip and I have plans for a girls day. Mia, Kate and Grace will come over in an hour and we just want to relax in the backyard and enjoy the good weather. We also have to make the last arrangements for Christian's surprise party next weekend, so it's good that he isn't here.
Because I'm hungry, but I also have to watch my weight gain, I decide to ask Gail if she can make me a smoothie. I have no clue why, but her smoothies taste better than any smoothie I ever had before.
I find her in the kitchen sitting at the table and just staring at a glass of water.
"Gail, is everything alright?" I ask a little worried because she looks upset.
"I shouldn't bother you with this Ana, can I do something for you?"
"Yes, you can sit with me and tell me what is wrong, Gail." I sit down and she keeps looking at her glass.
"I had my blood work and some test done to see how my chances are to get pregnant. I got the results yesterday."
"And?"
"Considering my age and medical history I won't get pregnant with out help. My doctor gave me information on the possibilities I have and I'm not sure if I can do this Ana. Jason says we can just try, if it's meant to be it will happen, but in all honesty it would kill me if we try and I would not get pregnant. But at the same time I really want to try, I always saw myself in a small house with a nice garden and many grandchildren. I'm just scared to go through all of this and end up finding out that my body failed me, that I'm not meant to be a mother." she says and I feel tears burning in my eyes.
"Gail, if there is any woman I know how is meant to be a mom, then it's you. It's okay to be scared, every women in your position would be scared, but don't let your fear win Gail. Try it, don't torture yourself by spending the rest of your life wondering what if you still have so many options."
"I know, my doctor even told me if nothing works I could decide to use the help of a surrogate."
"Could you imagine to do that?" I ask, I know I wouldn't won't another woman to carry my child, but it's easy for me to say I am pregnant.
"No, it's just... this might sound selfish, but I want the experience of giving birth, I want to know how it feels when you are completely exhausted and scared and just overwhelmed with everything and then suddenly you hear the first cry of your baby. I was pregnant 4 times and I never had that, I never gave birth to a living child. I miscarried three times and when I finally thought I would have my baby I woke up in the ICU and not only my child but also my husband were dead. I don't want to see my child come into this world, I want to push it out myself." She says and now we are both crying.
"Then don't give up, try the options your doctor has given you. You deserve to have this experience Gail." I lean forward and hug her until we both have stopped crying.
"Yes, you are right, I deserve it, so I guess I have to try. Now, can I do something for you?"
"Actually yes, I would love one of your smoothies."
"Cherry banana?" I nod and Gail gets up and starts to make my smoothie. I hope she can have a baby, I'm really convinced that Gail would be a perfect mother, she just has it in her. I wish there was something that I could do for her, but I don't know what offer than to be there for her if she needs it. I decide to ask Grace, she is a doctor, so maybe she knows something.
An hour later Kate, Mia, Grace, Gail and I are outside on the patio on sun loungers and we just relax. Well, everyone except for Mia who arrived with a huge box full of tacos and hasn't stopped eating since we came outside.
"Dear god, Mia, stop eating, you will end up getting sick" Grace says and looks disapprovingly at her daughter.
"But mom, I'm hungry and I allowed I'm eating for two!" she says and takes another bite.
"Mia, darling, what you have eaten in the last three hours would be enough for 6 grown man. I'm not telling you this as a mother but as a doctor. You have to watch what you are eating. A pregnancy is not free pass to eat what ever you want in huge amounts. This can be dangerous for you and the baby. Try to eat more vegetables and fruits if you are hungry, but this fast food is not good for you." she scolds and Mia pouts but puts the three remaining tacos away.
"My doctor told me if I crave something I'm allowed to eat."
"Yes Mia, but not beyond all measure. If you crave tacos have one or two but not ten. Your baby needs the right amount of nutrition, but this is mostly fat and artificial ingredients I don't even want to think about. I have a good book at home about how to eat healthy while being pregnant."
"Oh please Grace, you have to give me the name of that book. Elliot has lost his mind, he puts tons of food in front of me at any given chance, because he thinks the baby needs it." Kate groans and I have to giggle.
"What you shouldn't laugh, I heard Christian and Elliot talk friday after we all had dinner. He is afraid now that the baby is growing bigger inside you that he will give him a knock on the head if he fucks you too hard." Kate says and I gasps. Jeez, why can't she use some sort of filter before she talks, I don't want to talk about Christian fucking me hard while my mother in law is on a sun lounger next to me.
But before I can say anything it is Grace who starts to giggle. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, but I think now it is clear that all of my children need some extra lessons about all things related to a pregnancy." Grace shakes her head amused and I just take a sip of my orange juice hoping, but I know I'm going to have a talk with about topics I don't want her to bring up while Grace is in the room. I love my mother-in-law, but talking about my sex life in front of her is where I draw the line.
"Do you have had any weird cravings so far, Ana?" Mia asks and I think I'm cursed because I blush again.
"Not really, chocolate and pasta" I mutter hoping we can finally find an easier topic of conversation.
A little later Reynolds comes out to tell me that Nataly is there to see me. I have no idea why she is here, so I go inside and find her in the livingroom.
"Hi Nataly, has Patrick forgot to tell you that he is not here today?"
"No, I umm I wanted to talk to you. If you don't have time it's okay, I can leave, I don't want to interrupted your day umm sorry I shouldn't have come here." she says nervously and I can't help but smile.
"Come on, let's go into the kitchen have something to drink and talk" I wrap one arm around her shoulder and lead her into the kitchen.
"What do you want to drink, we have iced tea, soda, lemonade, water?"
"Iced tea sounds good, Mrs. Grey."
"Okay, and please call me Ana" I fill two glasses with iced tea, place them on the kitchen table and sit down with her.
"So, what do you want to talk about, Nataly?"
"I'm not a slut" she says that in such a rush that I'm not even sure she really said that.
"Nataly, I never thought of you that way. Why would you think that?"
"Well, your husband caught me umm doing umm you know what and I like your brother and I don't want you to think I have a bad influence on him."
"Don't worry Nataly, I don't think you are anything less than a nice girl. I just think that both you and my brother are too young to know what you are doing. I probably shouldn't ask that, but are you even on birth control?"
She blushes looks down at her hands and shakes her head. "My parents have no idea that I'm seeing Patrick. They think I'm meeting my girl friends. I'm not allowed to date."
"But I thought Patrick was over at your place last week?" Shit did they meet somewhere to have sex?
"No, I wanted to tell my parents, but I chickened out, we went to the mall and after that we went to the movies."
"Nataly look, you are 15 and while I understand that you are curious and that you like my brother, just seeing you here tells me that you should take things slow."
"I know, but all my friends already had sex and they are making fun of me and I really like Patrick, so I thought I just do it and now I'm just confused, Patrick told me you and your husband and his dad told him all to wait and he left the decision to me. But I'm afraid we do it and in the end I will think I've made the wrong choice or it hurts and I can't talk to anyone" she says and I can tell by the tone of her voice that she is about to cry.
"Nataly, first just because all your friends had sex it doesn't mean that you have to do it. Besides, believe me some people your age just say that they had sex so they feel grown up or something like that. And from what you just told me I know that you are not ready. First you need to inform yourself about sex, birth control and everything that goes with this subject. If you have sex just because everyone else has sex it's not the right choice, I know it's hard being your age and everyone around you talks about things you have never done, but believe me many girls who are having sex at your age regret it later. Take the time you need, Nataly.
You are so young, if you like Patrick then take your time and get to know him. If you still like him in a year or two it's still early enough to have sex. And please, talk to your parents, if you lie to them you only make it hard for them to trust you. They just want to protect you from making mistakes."
"Okay, so you are okay if your brother and I continue to see each other?"
"Of course, I'm not against you and Patrick dating, I just don't want you to rush into things especially something that can have serious consequences like you getting pregnant."
"Oh my gosh, my parents would kill me." she says wide-eyed and I smile.
"See that's why I want you to wait."
"Yes, well thank you for listening to me. I umm should go now." she says but keeps sitting on her chair.
"Are you meeting with friends?"
"No, I will just go home and watch tv." she shrugs and I get the impression that she doesn't want to go.
"You can stay here and wait until Patrick comes back. I'm outside with my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and my soon to be sister-in-law, you can swim in the pool and just lie in the sun with us."
"I really don't want to disturb you and your family."
"You don't. Come on. We are just having some girl time while our men are on their fishing trip and since your boyfriend is with them, you are official a part of the group. Come on!"
She smiles and follows me, but stops when we are almost outside.
"There is one more thing, one of my friends you know one the girls who had sex before... she told me that you can get pregnant if you swallow semen. That's not true, right?"
For a second I'm speechless and I also make a mental note to find some books about sexual education who are suitable for teenagers and give them both to Nataly and Patrick. Christ, I thought this old myth died ages ago.
"No, you can't get pregnant from oral sex, but you can still get STD's if you perform oral sex on someone who has one, I know my brother never had a girlfriend before, so you should be safe, but just keep that in mind for the future."
"Oh my, I really need to do some research on this" she sighs and follows me outside were we all just hang out and relax until the men arrive back in time for dinner and we have the fish they caught.
When they all have left I'm pretty tired and Christian and I head straight upstairs.
"How tired are you baby?" he asks with a smirk and I can't help it. I have to tease him.
"Pretty tired, but I still give you the chance to give our son a knock on the head" I grin and Christian groans.
"Don't tell me Elliot told you, that fucker!"
"No, Kate listened to your conversation, she lost her filter again and mentioned it in front of your mother" I giggle and he actually blushes.
"God damn it, I'm not used to having so many people around all the time. I swear I'm going to put a bell on anyone who comes through the front door so I know when I can talk and when not" he mutters embarrassed and I have to laugh.
"Yeah, I was embarrassed too, I love your mom, but I so don't want to talk about our sex life in front of her." I giggle and get onto tiptoes to kiss him.
"Well, it would be pretty fucking awkward if you would talk about our sex life to my mother." he says and kisses me again.
"How about we talk a little less and just do it" I smirk up at him.
"Why Mrs. Grey. We aim to please." and with that he swoops me off my feet and we make love until I fall asleep in his arms.
Next chapter will be up by Thursday or Friday... next will be Christian's birthday party, his visit at Ella's grave, some lemons and the last act of the Hyde drama... I know some of you thought he was gone for good, but I always planned one more chapter with him...