Chapter 39

APOV

It's been almost three months since our wedding and honeymoon. It was such a roller coaster when we got engaged that I almost thought we wouldn't make it down the aisle. At first, it was very awkward around Christian's parents but the four of us sat down and talked. They even threw us a magnificent engagement party. Unfortunately, the gossip magazines and the paparazzi did not get sick of us. If anything, they were more enthralled with the upcoming wedding. Kate loved it because her picture was taken with me one night when we were leaving from dinner. They featured her in one of the magazine's 'Who Wore It Better?' article.

Kate and Mia helped me with all the wedding planning while Christian planned the honeymoon. The wedding was wonderful. We got married at Christian's house in Aspen. The ceremony was on his deck with a splendid view of the mountains. It was just family there making it perfect. I wore the Aspen dress by Jenny Packham - I thought it was apt.

After the ceremony, we all sat down and had a wonderful dinner and celebrated until late in the night. There were stories and laughter, but the best part was being surrounded by the people who love us the most. The following afternoon Christian swept me off to our honeymoon. It was luxurious and romantic. We spent two weeks in France visiting Paris, Bordeaux, Tremolat, Aix en Provence, and Monaco.

We went on a sunset cruise on the Seine, had a private wine tasting at winery chateaus, and walked through the lovely gardens of Giverny. We had some paparazzi take pictures of us while we were touring in Paris but luckily Christian had bodyguards there to make sure nothing happened to us. I guess I am going to have to get used to it. Mia even told me all the gossip magazines were talking about the wedding and trying to get pictures. She heard pictures of us on our honeymoon were being sold for as much as $25,000.

It was tough coming back home and to reality after that fairytale. Christian told me I don't have to work but I enjoy it, besides, I don't know what would I do with myself all day. I refuse to become one of those socialite wives who just lunches all the time.

I wake up and start to get ready for the day. As usual, Christian has woken up before I do. I put on my robe and realize my breasts are tender. He must have been rougher than I thought last night. I walk into the kitchen, everything is as it normally is, and suddenly the smell of coffee is overwhelming and my stomach turns. I barely make it to the bathroom to vomit.

"Ana? Baby, are you OK?" Christian knocks on the bathroom door.

Ugh. "Yeah, I think so. I must have a stomach bug or something."

"Do you need anything? Do you want me to bring you some ginger ale? I'll bring you some ginger ale." I can tell by the anxiety in my voice that he's not sure what to do.

After brushing my teeth, I take a few moments to gather myself and come out of the bathroom. Christian rushes into the bedroom with a glass of ginger ale and some saltines. He hands the glass to me and sets the crackers down on the nightstand. He feels my forehead. "You feel warm, Ana. You should lay down."

"Christian, I'll be fine. I'm already feeling better. I swear. Anyway, I have an important meeting at work." He gives me the look and I know he wants to tell me I don't have to work.

"I'm not quitting my work. I like it."

"Just let me take care of you, Anastasia. I'm your husband and it's my job."

"Christian, this isn't the 19th century. And, it's not about the money. I'm good at my job and I like it." I swear we have this discussion every couple of days. I get dressed and go to work. I sip tea in the morning but by the afternoon I feel fine, albeit warm. By the time Christian picks me up at the end of the day I am starving.

"How are you feeling?" he asks before I even get all the way in the car.

"Fine. But I am starving. Seriously, I wish we had snacks in here, I feel like I can't even wait the few minutes until we get home."

"We'll have to rectify that when we get home." He picks up my hand and kisses it. People often say the romance dies after you get married. But not with Christian; a girl could get used to this. I feel fine for the rest of the night and with the exception of me snacking a lot, it's a normal evening for us.

The following morning my alarm goes off and despite going to sleep earlier than usual, I am exhausted. I stay in bed for the next few minutes just trying to get the energy to get out of bed. With my first step as I get up, it hits me. Once again, I run to the bathroom to vomit. And, once again, Christian is at the door asking me if I am OK.

I assure him I am fine. "Baby, I think you should stay home today to work. I'm working from home, too." I know he just decided now he's working from home because he's trying to convince me to stay home. It's sweet in the Christian-Grey-Control-Freak way.

I relent. "OK. But if I am feeling better, can we go to lunch? We haven't gone to lunch with each other during the week in a while."

He gives me a little smile. "Whatever you want, baby."

I work in the morning feeling increasingly tired. By 10 I can no longer keep my eyes open. I curl up on the chair in the library and fall asleep. I hear my name being sweetly crooned to me. "Anastasia, baby, it's time to wake up…"

I reluctantly open my eyes and see Christian gazing at me with a ridiculous smile. "Ana, it's lunch time. Are you hungry?" I smile back at him.

My stomach growls. "Famished." He grins even bigger.

We head to the cafe on the corner where they know us. They place us at our usual table where we are hidden but can still see out the window. "Are you going to get your usual burger?" Christian asks me as he peruses the menu.

Suddenly, the thought of hamburgers makes me feel nauseous. I have to stop myself from gagging. "Um, maybe just some chicken soup. My stomach must still be off from this bug I have."

"Maybe we should take you to the doctor. What if it's something serious?" Christian's gray eyes are glittered with worry.

"Christian, it's nothing. I promise." As I say this, I see a woman walking a little puppy down the sidewalk. "Oh my god!"

"What?" he asks anxiously.

"Look, that puppy!" I am pointing out the window at the puppy. Then, inexplicably, I start bawling. Not the type of crying where you quietly sniffle, but the kind where you are flat out bawling and making your cry face.

"Ana, what's wrong?" He is so worried he hasn't realized the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Do you think the puppy is happy? What if he misses his puppy brothers and sisters? What if he misses his mom?"

He looks at me perplexed, "What?"

"What if he doesn't remember his mom?" I shriek and begin to sob even harder.

"Baby, I think maybe you're tired and we should just head home." He tells me as he signals the waitress for the check. She brings it over and he gives her a $50 bill and tells her to keep the change. Meanwhile, I can't stop crying.

He walks me the short distance back home with his arms protectively around my shoulders and holding me tight. When we get to the apartment, he leads me to the bedroom. "Why don't you lay down, Ana? I have to do some work and I'll be back."

I am so tired I can only manage to nod and climb into bed. I fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow. When I wake, the room is dark. For how long have I been sleeping? I get out of bed and go to find Christian. He's sitting in his office concentrating on something on his laptop. He looks up and smiles when he sees me. "There's my sleeping beauty. How are you feeling?"

"Better, thank you. Sorry about earlier - I don't know what came over me."

"About that - would you do something for me?"

"Christian, I don't need to go to the doctor…"

"No, not the doctor. Not yet, anyway. I want you to take these." He hands me a pink and purple box. I look and see it's pregnancy tests.

"Christian, I don't need these. I'm on the pill. I can't be pregnant - I'm just barely 23."

He walks up to me, puts his arms around my shoulders and kisses me sweetly. "Baby, I don't need to tell you about the birds and the bees. Just humor me, please?" He gives me his puppy dog face that I can't resist.

"Fine, I'll do it to humor you but I told you it's just a bug." I take the box from his hands and walk to the bathroom. I had to go anyway. The test is supposed to have 'rapid results' so it shouldn't take long to know.

Christian and I wait the excruciatingly long minute for the results. "I can't look. You do it." I say as I hand the test to him to read. He looks at it, looks at the box, and looks at it once more.

"Mrs. Grey, it looks like your stomach bug won't go away for about 9 months." He says as he has a huge grin on his face.

"Wait, what? I'm pregnant?" I'm in shock.

"Well, I'm not the pregnant one. Your bug is a baby. Our baby." He looks down at me with love.

"A baby bug?"

He smiles at me and nods. "Yes, a baby bug. We're going to be a mommy and daddy. Baby, you look scared."

"I don't know how to be a mom. I don't know what I am doing!"

"Anastasia, I don't think anyone really knows how to be a mother until she becomes one. You're going to be a wonderful mother."

"And you're going to be a wonderful father. We're going to be a family."

THE END