Sorry about the delay but my life has been crazy the past few days so it was hard to find time to write but I finally just sat down and got this chapter out. So I don't know when chapter 4 will be out but I would say that it would be Friday by the latest? But don't hold me to that!
Christian's POV:
I couldn't sleep, I tried but nothing was working and I knew why I couldn't find rest. It all had to do with that Adam kid and his stupid background check that was sitting on my desk in the office. I had to look at it regardless of what I told Ana, it was literally eating me alive.
I waited until Ana's breathing evened out before I slowly sat up in bed. If I was going to make it to my office I was going to have to make sure Ana was not going to stop me. If she found out that I had looked at the background check after I told her I wouldn't she would be so pissed at me.
I shifted myself so my feet were hanging off the edge of the bed before I moved forward to place them on the floor when I felt Ana's hand grab mine.
"You won't find the background check, I had Taylor move it and I forbid everyone from letting you get another one. Lay down and get some sleep." Ana said keeping her eyes closed as she spoke and I let out a huff as I settled back in bed next to her.
"I need to know Ana." I said and she shook her head.
"No you need to sleep, you want to find out. Look if after you meet him tomorrow you still feel like you need to see the background check then I will let you, but until then I am going to hang onto it. Now move closer to me because since you moved from where I am laying this part of the bed has gotten cold." Ana said and I smirked as I pressed my body against hers.
"Well we are just going to have to take care of that aren't we Mrs. Grey?"
The next thing I knew the alarm clock was screaming at me to get up. I reached over and pounded the top of the machine and sat up as I rubbed my face with my hands.
"It seems like every time that alarm goes off it just mocks how old we are getting." Ana said as she pulled herself into a sitting position.
"Speak for yourself Mrs. Grey, I still feel as young as I was the day I met you." I said as I leaned over and placed a quick peck on her lips.
"I'm sure." She said as she rolled her eyes and I smirked.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?" I asked and Ana smirked back.
"I believe I did Sir, what are you going to do about it?" Ana said as she got up onto her knees.
"Well Mrs. Grey I am going to-"
"DADDY!" Blake squealed as he ran and jumped up on the bed completely ruining my moment with Ana.
"Hey buddy." Ana said as she pulled Blake up onto her lap.
"What are you doing up this early?" I asked as Blake nuzzled against his mother.
"Don't know." Blake said and Ana just smiled at me as she ran her hands through Blake's golden hair.
"You know I am so excited to see what this new baby is going to look like. Everyone other than Phoebe looks like you..."
"Other than their eyes."
"Yes, those with your eyes seem to be the ones who give you the most trouble..."
"Don't you just mean Phoebe?" I asked and Ana laughed as she placed a kiss on Blake's head.
"Teddy has his moments." Ana said and I nodded.
"That has more to do with the fact that he is a teenager, Phoebe has always been defiant." I said as I noticed Blake was asleep again against Ana. "He's asleep." I said and Ana smiled.
"Want to put him back in his bed and then join me in a quick shower?" Ana asked as she shifted Blake so that I could easily grab him.
"No, I think showering alone will be a good alternative punishment for rolling your eyes. Enjoy your shower Mrs. Grey." I said as Ana's jaw dropped open a little and I pulled Blake into my grasp as I walked him out of our room and down the hall to where his room was located.
I quickly laid him in his bed and then slowly walked out of his room. I was on my way back to my bedroom when I heard singing coming from Phoebe's room and I made my way down the hallway to her room. I couldn't tell what she was singing through the door but I stood outside and listened for a minute before I softly knocked on her door.
It was a few seconds later that Phoebe pulled the door open with a scowl.
"Blake if you do not leave and go back to bed right now I am going to- oh it's you." Phoebe said as she leaned against her door frame.
"What were you going to do to your three year old brother?" I asked with a grin and Phoebe rolled her eyes. Oh she was such her mother's child.
"Nothing but he has been up for an hour annoying the crap out of me." She said as she turned and walked into her room and I took that as an invitation to follow her inside.
"Well then you will be happy to know that he is now back in bed. Why didn't you come and get your mother and I so we could take care of Blake? And why aren't you asleep? You said he has been up for an hour which means that you were probably up before he ever came to bother you, so when did you get up this morning?" I asked as Fee sat on her bed.
"You see that is a trick question because if I were to answer it honestly I would have to say that I didn't get up this morning..."
"PHOEBE!" I snapped and she just pulled her legs up on the bed.
"Yell all you want but it isn't going to change the fact that I didn't sleep last night." She said calmly and I just shook my head as I quickly walked down the hall to our room and into the bathroom where Ana was in the shower.
"What happened?" Ana asked over the water from the shower.
"She didn't sleep last night." I said as I started to pace and Ana shut the water off.
"She as in?" Ana inquired.
"My mother, who do you think Ana? Phoebe, she didn't go to bed last night."
"I'll take care of it, go get Teddy up for school and then get ready for work." Ana said as she stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her.
"Fine." I said as I stormed out of the bathroom and towards Teddy's room. At least he knew better than to stay up all night.
"Ted it's time to get up for school." I said as I walked into his room and he sighed as he rolled over and looked at me.
"I hate school." He groaned.
"No you just hate waking up, now get up and get ready. Just remember that today is Friday and you can sleep in during the weekend." I said and he sat up.
"You always say that but you never mean it." Teddy said and I smiled.
"Just get dressed, we will be eating breakfast in half an hour so get moving." I said as I turned and walked back to my room so I could get ready myself.
After a quick shower I slipped into a grey suit and then fastened a light blue tie around my neck before I headed down to the kitchen where Gail was making a marvelous breakfast.
"Good morning Mr. Grey, I heard Blake will not be joining us this morning." Gail said and I nodded.
"He was up early this morning and has retired to his bed again for the time being. I will make sure he is up before I leave this morning for you." I said and Gail shook her head.
"If he wants to sleep just let him sleep I will get him up in a hour or so." Gail said and I smiled.
"Thank you."
"It's not up for discussion now take a seat." Ana told Phoebe as they walked into the kitchen and Phoebe took a seat at the bar in a huff.
"What's with her?" I asked as Ana gave me a kiss as she came up next to me.
"I told her that everyone will leave before dinner tonight and that she is going to bed as soon as dinner is over and she takes a shower. Lets just say she wasn't too keen on having a set bed time tonight."
"Yeah well if she doesn't start sleeping when she is suppose to the set bed time will become a permanent thing." I said loud enough that Phoebe could hear me.
"Breakfast will be on the table in a moment Mr. Grey." Gail said and I nodded as Ana took my hand and led me over to the table where we took a seat while we waited for breakfast.
It was a few minutes later that Ryan and Teddy came down and sat at the table with us. When breakfast was served Phoebe came out and sat with the group. It was a quiet breakfast to say the least but I was just happy that everyone ate. Teddy and Phoebe were about to leave with Taylor when I called them to the side and handed Teddy his keys.
"What are these for?" Teddy asked.
"Speed with your sister again and Sawyer will be your new personal driver until you are thirty." I said as I turned and walked towards my office.
"Thank you dad." Teddy said and I just smiled as I shut the door behind me.
Phoebe's POV:
I wasn't too surprised that dad ended up giving Teddy his car back. Mom and Dad always had a soft spot for their first born, plus dad needed Taylor to become his personal body guard again being as he barely know his right from his left without him for the most part.
Teddy was thrilled to be behind the wheel of his car again and I was happy that there was a chance to have Adam drive me home like I had talked to him about yesterday.
"So I have soccer practice at the park after school, hitch a ride home with Ava." Teddy said and I rolled my eyes.
"Dad doesn't want me riding with Ava." I retorted.
"It's not like you don't blatantly do things to piss him off anyway." Teddy snapped and I held up my hands.
"Whoa, down Fido. What is eating you?" I asked and Teddy sighed as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.
"It's nothing. Look can you find another ride home today or do you want me to take you?" Teddy asked and I shook my head.
"No I can find someone to take me. I wouldn't want to keep you from a friendly soccer game with your friends."
"Fee..."
"No, it's fine, but I do wish you would tell me what was bothering you. I mean we used to be so close but in the past few years I have felt like you don't talk to me anymore." I said as I looked over at my brother and he just sighed.
"Can we talk later Fee. I just can't deal with talking about this right now." Teddy said and I nodded as we rode the rest of the way in silence.
I quickly made my way from the car and found Adam waiting for me by my locker.
"Miss Grey." Adam said as he moved so I could put my things away.
"How did you know this was my locker?" I asked and he just smirked.
"Lucky guess. Can I help you with your books?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.
"This isn't the 1970's I can handle carrying my books, but thanks for the offer." I said as I shut my locker and we headed down the hallway together.
"So are we still on for studying tonight?" Adam asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, just everyone has to be gone before dinner." I said relaying the message my mom gave me earlier.
"You don't seem happy about that." Adam said and I shook my head.
"My mom and dad just freaked because I stayed up all night last night trying to finish reading the book for our report."
"And did you finish?" Adam asked and I nodded.
"Um yeah, barely though. So have you read the book?" I asked and Adam nodded.
"I have a set aside time to make sure I get my homework done. I have a very strict schedule that I have to follow."
"Now your life is starting to sound like mine. Well at least I know that I am not going to be doing this project on my own this time." I said as we settled into our desk.
"What no help from Ava and her boyfriend?" Adam asked and I shook my head.
"We are lucky that they are even going to be making an appearance."
"We're lucky? We could just not put their names on the paper..."
"The teachers love Ava, it wouldn't be in our best interest."
"Figures." Adam joked and I smiled as Ava took a seat next to me and we settled in for class.
After school Ava and I walked out to her car and I assured her to go ahead and go without me. She just shook her head as she drove away and I turned and found Adam a few feet away waiting by a car.
"What no motorcycle?" I lightly teased as I walked towards Adam's car and he shook his head.
"Unfortunately not, Ms. Linc-my mother thought that this would keep you a little safer."
"Your mother is concerned with my safety?" I asked and he nodded.
"She wouldn't want your father to sue her if anything happened to you, she understands what a powerful business man your dad is." Adam quickly said and I sighed.
"Yeah that would be pretty bad." I said as he opened the passenger side door for me and I slipped into his car.
"Speaking of my mother, she has some strange interest in meeting you. She wanted to know if you would be able to come to dinner sometime soon." Adam said as he got into the car and put the key in the ignition.
"That will all probably depend on how this afternoon goes, but so far I would say you are off to a great start." I said as Adam slowly guided his car onto the main road.
"Well it's good to know that I am doing something right. So your dad knows that I am coming over?" Adam asked and I nodded.
"Of course he knows that you are coming over, he doesn't just let strangers wander into our house." I said and Adam just smirked.
"That is always good to know."
"So are you prepared for my dad flipping out when we arrive?" I asked and Adam nodded.
"I think I can handle your dad."
"I doubt that. Take the next left." I said and Adam eased his car onto the road.
I directed Adam the rest of the way to the house and I sighed as I saw my dad pacing in the front driveway a few feet away from Ava's car.
"And here we go." I said as I got out of Adam's car and my dad came storming over to where I was.
"Where in the world where you? And where is Teddy?" He barked and I tried to stop myself from rolling my eyes at his overreaction.
"Ted had soccer practice and I was on my way here." I said as Adam hung out by the car trying not to get in the way but he clearly looked amused.
"Why didn't you go home with Ava?" He asked and I rolled my eyes as I walked past him and he followed me into the house, being sure to hold the door open for Adam who quickly followed the commotion inside.
"You said that I was not to ride with Ava until uncle Elliot bought her a new SAFER car. Your words not mine." I said as I spun to face him and he ran his hand through his hair once as he took a deep breath and faced Adam.
"Christian Grey, welcome to my home." He said as he extended his hand and Adam took it hesitantly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Grey, I am Adam Smith but you probably knew that." Adam said and my dad gave a curt nod.
"Now that we have that out of the way Ava is waiting with your mother in the living room Phoebe."
"I'll go save her. Come on Adam." I said and Adam followed me to where Ava was talking to my mother about who knows what.
"Mom this is Adam, Adam this is my mom." I said as I took a seat next to Ava.
"It's nice to meet you Adam. Tyler should be coming over soon right?" My mom asked and I looked over at Ava who nodded.
"Yeah, he just had to run by his house for a minute but he will be here as soon as he can." Ava said as Adam took a seat in an arm chair a few feet away from the couch we were on.
"Alright well I am going to let you three get started, let me know if you need anything I will just be in the other room." She said as she quickly exited and I sighed knowing that my parents were going to be watching us on the security system the entire time.
Tyler showed up a little while after we started the project but him being late didn't really slow down our progress being as he wasn't a big help. The project was just about done when my mom came in and informed us that everyone had to go and reluctantly I helped ushered everyone out.
Ava and Tyler were having a moment by Ava's car while I walked Adam over to his car so I could say goodbye.
"So I think I am just going to finish up the project when I get home and I will show you the finished product on Monday." Adam said as he played with his car keys.
"You don't have to do that..."
"Trust me, I want to do it. So yeah just talk to your parents about the dinner thing because my mom really wants to meet you and I guess that's it." Adam said and I nodded.
"Yep, so um you have my number and if you need help with the project-"
"Yeah I'll text you."
"Or if you just wanted to text me, you know for the fun of it, that would be cool too." I said and Adam smiled.
"I think I will take you up on that Ms. Grey." He said as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
"Bye Adam." I said with a slight blush.
"Go eat and get some sleep and I will text you tomorrow." Adam said and I nodded. "Good night Phoebe." He said as he lightly stroked my face and then got into his car and I took a few steps away so that he could pull out of the driveway without me being in the way.
I watched as Adam drove away and then I turned and walked back into the house where my dad was watching from the doorway.
"I don't like him." My dad said and I rolled my eyes.
"I don't care." I said as I passed him and walked over to the table where everyone, except for Teddy and my dad, were seated ready for dinner.
"You should care." My dad said as he sat down at the table and I looked over at my mother who was ignoring the pair of us the best she could.
"You just don't like him because he touched my face." I said and my dad just looked at my mother and sighed.
"When will dinner be out?" He asked and Mrs. Jones walked out and served dinner without a word.
"Thank you Gail." My mother said as she placed the last plate on the table and she just nodded as she left us to dinner.
"So Phoebe, your mother and I have been talking and we think that we might have been a little excessive with your grounding."
"Wait, so what does that mean?" I asked and my mom smiled as she locked eyes with your dad.
"Tomorrow your dad and I are going to take you to get your license and then we have a little surprise for you."
"Seriously?" I asked and they both just nodded.
"Yes seriously. Now finish eating and then go take a shower, I haven't forgotten what I told you this morning." She said and I sighed as I went back to eating.
"So Adam asked if I could possibly have dinner with him and his mom sometime." I said as I nearly finished my meal.
"Your father and I will think about it." Mom said before dad could shoot down my request and I nodded as I pushed my plate away slightly.
"I'm done, may I be excused?" I asked and my dad nodded and I quickly took off towards my room hoping to have a text from Adam waiting for me.
Ana's POV:
I knew that I was really pushing Christian when it came to the whole Adam issue but I also knew that if we didn't give Phoebe a little bit of what she wanted we were going to have one unruly teenager on our hands and I knew that was the last thing that Christian was prepared to deal with.
"Ryan when you are finished can you take Blake upstairs for a little bit?" Christian asked and Ryan nodded as he finished eating the last bite of his dinner and then took his little brother upstairs.
"So what do you want to talk to me about?" I asked not looking up from my plate as I continued to eat the little bit of chicken that was left on my plate.
"I think you know what I want to talk to you about. Who does this kid think he is asking Phoebe to go out to dinner with him and his mom? I mean the two of them just met and they are already planning dinners together?" Christian asked and I sighed as I laid my fork down.
"Well if I remember correctly it didn't take too long for us to go from just meeting to well you know." I said and he sighed.
"She better not take after her mother in that way, I will ground her until she is forty." Christian snapped and I lightly smirked as I shook my head playfully.
"So dramatic Mr. Grey. Can I take this as you want to see the background check on Mr. Smith?" I asked and he nodded.
"Yes, that hasn't changed since meeting him. Actually meeting him has only made me want to see his background check even more." Christian said and I nodded knowing that this was coming.
"Then I guess I have to keep my promise. You can see the background check only if you agree to let her go to this dinner with his mother..."
"No. I let this kid into my house without a background check but there is no way in hell that I am letting my daughter go out to dinner with a stranger without me knowing who these people are. Ana I cannot do it, that is a hard limit." Christian said and I could see the panic that was setting in.
He was feeling so out of control with this whole situation. Phoebe wasn't the little girl that he knew anymore and he wasn't sure where he fit into her life. It was easy when Fee was little, anything that went wrong she would run to her dad to have him fix and now things were just complicated. Fee doesn't run to Christian for help anymore, in fact she hated to be around him now. She has turned into an independent pain in the ass. She is stubborn, controlling, hardheaded, she is her father in so many ways that the two just clash and Christian doesn't understand how to deal with it.
"Christian I understand that but Fee won't. She finally feels like we are trusting her, you didn't totally lose it when Adam brought her home, and you were nice for the most part. Christian you have to try..."
"I am trying Ana but Phoebe is not going to dinner with people I know nothing about. I get that I am a control freak Ana, I do but she is my daughter and I have a responsibility to keep her safe..."
"She is OUR daughter Christian, not just yours. How about this, I will look at the background check and if I think that you need to go through it then I will hand it to you and you can take it from there. Would that work?" I asked and he paused for a moment.
"You have to look at it BEFORE she goes out to dinner with them, no exceptions. And she has to take Sawyer and Taylor with her to dinner."
"Just one." I said negotiating with him and he sighed.
"Fine, she can go with just one but I get to choose the restaurant in which they meet and I get to set up a private dining room for their dinner." Christian said and I nodded.
"I think that is more than fair. So is her surprise ready for tomorrow?" I asked and he smiled.
"Well that depends on if she goes to bed tonight." He said and I smiled.
"Go check on your sons and find out where Teddy is and I am going to go make sure our little princess is in bed asleep." I said as I got up from the table and Christian walked over and wrapped his arm around my waist.
"I can't believe she is sixteen." He said as he placed a kiss on my temple and I sighed.
"I can't believe my baby boy graduates this year and he is going off to college." I said.
"I try not to think about that too much." Christian said as we reached the top of the stairs and parted ways.
Phoebe was lying in her bed with her phone in her hands as I walked in.
"Texting Adam?" I asked and she shook her head.
"No, he told me to go to bed and is refusing to text me back so I was talking to Ava." She said as she placed her phone on her nightstand and I picked it up and moved it farther away so it wouldn't tempt her to stay awake late tonight.
"That boy is a good influence, you should listen to him. Anyway I talked to your dad and you can go to dinner with Adam and his mom but dad has certain rules that you need to follow..."
"Of course he does." Phoebe said as she slipped under her covers and laid her head on her pillow.
"He is picking the restaurant and you have to take Sawyer with you but that is it. There will be no background checks and he will not be monitoring your evening." I said and she sighed.
"I guess this is good as its going to get." She said and I nodded.
"Get some sleep, we have an eventful day tomorrow. I love you Phoebe." I said as I bent down and kissed her forehead.
"I love you too mom and thanks for making dad back down on this whole thing, I really appreciate it." She said as she rolled on her side and I smiled.
"He only does this because he loves you." I said and she shook her head.
"No, he does this because he is a control freak and he wants to control every aspect of my life." She retorted and I sighed not really wanting to get into this with her right now.
"Go to sleep Phoebe I am not going to sit here and argue about your father with you. We both know that he loves you so much now get some rest of I am sure your father will be more than happy to come and sit in here until you go to sleep." I said and Phoebe rolled her eyes as I walked over and shut the lights off before I closed her door and walked down the hall where Teddy was walking into his room.
"What took you so long?" I asked and he spun to face me.
"Our scrimmage game took a little longer than anticipated and then we went out to get some pizza. I meant to text you to let you know but I forgot." Teddy said and I nodded.
"If your dad asks you texted me and I forgot, now take a shower and then you can do whatever." I said as I gave him a hug and then kissed his golden hair before I released him and let him go into his room.
God I wished that I could keep these kids from growing up. I could remember when Teddy was running around in the meadow with Fee when they were just babies and now one was off with his friends while the other one is texting her boyfriend. Time went by so fast and I was about to do it all again. Christian I surely are crazy.