A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!

"Christian?" Waking up a few moments ago, my hand accidentally went to his side of the bed. Only instead of touching him, it touched the empty mattress. I can't see a lot in the semi darkness of the room but can see my husband isn't in the bed with me. When we came home from my mom's yesterday, I followed through with my statement of going straight to bed. An iciness blanketed the entire room, spreading throughout the apartment as daylight arrived. I spent most of today reading and lounging while he worked in his study. Of course he tried a few times to ease the tension, but I need time to get over his recent actions. He finally agreed to back off a little. Easing my feet on to the carpet, I notice a small light drifting from underneath the closed bedroom door. I pad to the door and slowly turn the knob. What I find on the other side twists my heart. Christian's sitting on the floor with his back against the tub. His hair is soaked with what appears to be sweat while tears saturate his face. "Christian?" His eyes travel to my feet but don't move upward. After a few seconds, I'm able to bring myself down to the floor. I'm positioned in front of him, and yet he still won't look at me. "Please answer me."

"I can't do it.", he murmurs. "I'm sorry, but I can't do it."

"Can't do what?", I ask, grabbing the sides of his face so I'm able to finally get a clear look at his face.

"Be a father, be a husband." It feels like my heart is being hit with small jabs, increasing by the second. "I thought I was going to be able to make you the happiest woman in the world and give you the life you deserved, but all I've done is make you suffer. I'm nothing but a fucked up guy who was fooling himself and you."

"You've given me all I've ever wanted. I know this is about what happened yesterday. I've been giving you the cold shoulder, but my love for you hasn't wavered. I still love you as much today as I did two days."

"You're right in a way. What happened yesterday helped me see that no matter how hard I try, I'll always fail. I know what's going through your mind. You're thinking I'm having a moment like I did when Leila arrived back in town, but that's not it. I may have gotten through that time but only by putting a band-aid over the wound. Now the band aid is gone again." Any initial thoughts of him acting like this to get his way are long gone. He's truly hurt.

"I'm thinking we've both made mistakes that we can't take back. The thing about mistakes is you learn and grow from them."

"But I keep making those mistakes Ana.", he stammers. "I'm tired of being the cause of your tears."

"You're not the only cause of them. The other day I cried because I couldn't find a pen.", I say, trying to break through to him. What may or may not be a hint of a smile appears. "Watching you walk out of your parents' house to see Welch hurt. It made wonder where I stood in your life."

"I've been a mess since Leila returned, and I promise it has nothing to do with having any feelings for her. Worry about what she could have planned has been invading my mind. I thought it could be nothing, but I also didn't want to take any chances. If something were to happen..." He gently rests his hand on my nightgown covered stomach. "To either of you, I would never forgive myself. It would be my fault since I'm the one who is connected to Leila."

"You can't blame yourself for her what she does or doesn't do. I won't let you. I love you, and even though this baby isn't here yet, he or she loves you. I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I know that love is going to get us through anything." I move my body and lips a little closer, hearing his breathing relax. I test the waters and kiss him. It's gentle but becomes more fervent. We're soon devouring each other with our lips and hands.

"No, no.", he mutters. "Not here. I want to make love to my wife in our bed, not on the cold bathroom tile. He stands, pulling me to my feet before scooping me up in his arms. We're kissing the entire way back to the bedroom, only stopping when he places me on the bed. I sit back and watch him strip his pajama bottoms and boxers. The heat between legs is aching for him. He climbs on to the bed where he kneels in front of me, sliding my damp panties off. He starts kissing my inner thighs as I watch his every move. His soft lips finally arrive at my core which is dripping. I feel his tongue move inside, lapping up my juices and sending my body into a tailspin. I'm about to come down from my high when his tongue is replaced by his cock.

"Oh.", I moan while he pumps into me. He stops and grins before grabbing my hips and moving on to his back. He stays in me as I'm now on top of him. I begin gyrating along his body which like mine is coated in a light mist of sweat. The muscles in my lower body begin to constrict as my release approaches. Christian pulls me down further, ravaging my lips while my orgasm hits.

"Fuck baby.", is all he can muster with his own release. "I love you Ana, my everything."

"How could Leila and Rachel know each other.", I say, thinking out loud. Christian freezes by the closet where he's getting dressed. "Do you know?"

"Ana, we made headway last night so we shouldn't go backwards. I'm certain Leila set out to put strain on us which she has succeeded in doing."

"If we take her on together, we'll show her that she can't divide us. At least tell me how she knows Rachel." He blows out a breath and sits on the edge of the bed.

"I only found out about thirty minutes ago when I checked my email. Welch found out that Rachel used to spend her childhood summers with her aunt in Connecticut which is also where Leila is originally from. Upon digging further, he found out that Rachel's aunt lived on the same street as Leila."

"So they're childhood buds. You know what, you're right. We did make progress last night, and that shouldn't be tarnished by those two witches. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not worried about what they're scheming, but I also don't want to give them the satisfaction of coming between us. We need to go about our lives as normal." He holds his hand out for me.

"We'll still be on alert."

"Hey." I close the filing cabinet and see Olivia standing by the door of my and her former office.

"Hi. Come in." Today's the day the news of the sale is being announced to the staff so I arrived at work earlier in an attempt to get as much work done as possible in the likely event I'm bombarded with questions about Christian being the new owner.

"You've kept the office the same.", Olivia says while sitting down in the chair across from me as I sit down in my chair.

"Not true." I turn around the double frame photo that's on the top of the desk. One side holds a photo of Christian and I, and the other side holds a copy of my last ultrasound.

"Wow a frame.", she jokingly gasps. "You should add more to it."

"I don't know if this position is going to stay mine so I'm holding off on any more decorating. Besides sometimes more is less. I suppose you're here to see how I'm doing in anticipation of the announcement."

"Partly and because I just wanted to see a friend. I heard everyone is going to be given a memo with the news. I'm confident it'll go over well."

"I do too, but I still have a slight case of anxiety over it. People may say they're fine with my husband owning the magazine, but what if it's entirely different things are said behind my back? Do you think I'm justified or being paranoid?"

"Paranoid.", she giggles. "You've worked with these people for a while. They know you and know you're behind this desk because of your hard work and dedication. Having your husband as the new owner won't change their views on you. Did they start treating you different when you took over for me?"

"No. They've been supportive from the beginning.", I reply.

"And that support isn't going anywhere. The entire staff will see how this sale was the best thing. The magazine wasn't going out of business, but if changes hadn't been made, who knows what would have taken place in the future." Christian said the sales weren't were they had wanted, but I've wondered if he was only trying to ease my worry. She touches the vase of pink roses which Christian brought. "From Christian?"

"Yeah. He brought them last week."

"They're pretty." Normally, talking relationships is part of friendship, but talking about Olivia's relationship with Sawyer is something that's been avoided considering he's my security. Still, I can't help myself.

"Uh..this may seem awkward, but how are you and Sawyer?", I ask.

"We're good.", she answers. "We cooked dinner together last night at my place which was kind of odd."

"How so?"

"My kitchen is probably the least used room in my apartment. I can cook but find dining out easier since it's usually just me. Luke told me about his grandmother's famous chicken and dumplings. She would gather the entire family on Sunday afternoons and cook the dish for them. They'd spend several hours eating and talking. When she passed away five years ago, those afternoons became less frequent. I thought maybe if I cooked those dumplings I could bring back a few of those memories."

"Olivia, that's a sweet gesture. How did the dumplings turn out?"

"I used his grandmother's recipe and forgot that it was for several people so we ended up with a lot. What we ate last night was delicious. I sent some home with him and brought some with me for lunch today. I went ahead and put them in the break room fridge on my floor. I also brought some for you and placed them in this floor's break room."

"Yum. Thank you.", I smile. "The baby and I will enjoy them at lunch." As my mouth starts watering at the thought, my office door swings open. Kate's standing in the doorway with a scowl. In her hand is a piece of paper which I'm assuming is the memo. "Kate, hi."

"Hi is all you have to say to me?", she scoffs. "As soon as I stepped out of the elevator I was handed this piece of paper. I thought it was nothing until I saw the words new owner Christian Grey. I knew there was no way he would have bought the magazine and not told you." Olivia remains seated with sympathetic eyes concentrated on me.

"I knew. Christian told me when he started considering the buy. I've been aware of each step since then."

"You felt you should keep the news from your best friend?"

"Kate, I think you should cut Ana some slack.", Olivia says.

"How long have you known?", Kate asks. She taps her right foot while waiting for an answer. Before Olivia answers, I get up and start towards Kate.

"If you want to be upset with me, fine. Go ahead. I agreed not to say anything until the paperwork was finalized." I start feeling a little light headed, grabbing the corner of my desk for support.

"Ana." Kate's voice has eased as she holds on to my shoulders and leads me back to my chair. "I'm sorry. I should have known better than to come in here with my tirade. I'm going to call Christian and then we're going to get you checked out to make sure you and the baby are ok."

"I'm fine. I got dizzy for a second, but I'm better now." Olivia stands and heads to the door.

"I'm going to go and get Luke. Kate, call Christian. Tell him what happened."

"The baby has to be ok.", I whisper to Christian as I'm on the exam table while waiting on Dr. Barrett. Christian was already waiting on me when Sawyer and I arrived in the parking lot of the hospital.

"You're both going to be ok, but this has to end. You've been under way too much stress lately."

"Don't go back to last night. I've been letting things besides Leila and Rachel get to me. I shouldn't have been as stressed about work as I've been."

"Kate shouldn't have been so hostile with you." Concerned about me and the baby, Kate followed us to the hospital and told Christian about her hostility towards me over being shut out about the sale. Christian was fuming although I think part of his reaction was a reflection of the anger towards himself. I caress his knuckles with my fingers as Dr. Barrett steps into the room. "Finally."

"I'm sorry it took me so long. There was an emergency with another patient.", Dr. Barrett explains. She looks over the chart in her hand. "Ana, your blood pressure is a little high. Have you been under stress?"

"Yes.", Christian answers for me.

"I have.", I add. She lifts my gown and starts running the transducer over my bump. "Is the baby ok?" A whooshing sound reaches my ears. "Is that the baby?"

"It is.", she replies. "The baby is fine."

"We were scheduled to find out next week what we're having. Is there any way you might be able to tell us now?", Christian asks. He looks at me and smiles. "Ana?"

"I'd be fine with finding out today if it's possible."

"Let's see." Dr. Barrett's eyes narrow on the screen. "You're in luck with the baby's position. If you'll notice right here." She points at the screen. "It appears to be a boy."

"Appears? So you don't know for sure?"

"I'm ninety-nine percent sure you're having a boy." Christian wipes his tears and then mine. "Ana, I want you to get some rest. That means no stress."

"Ok.", I murmur as she looks at Christian.

"Can I count on you to help ensure she gets the rest she needs?", she asks Christian.

"Of course. I'm going to make sure she's well taken care of."