A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
"You're still standing in the same spot you were in when I went downstairs ten minutes ago.", Christian whispers into my ear. I smile and continue staring down into the bassinet below me. Sleeping peacefully is the most remarkable and precious baby, Oliver Raymond Grey. At only three days old, he has us mesmorized.
"I may have moved a centimeter." I turn around and find myself in Christian's arms. "Who can blame me though? He's pretty incredible."
"He sure is." Christian and I continue standing in awe of the miracle we created. "How about you take a nap while he's napping?"
"I'm not tired.", I shrug as I move from the bassinet and to the closet where I grab one of Christian's sweatshirts. He grins and watches me pull the sweatshirt over the white tee I'm already wearing. Christian and I agreed to take turns getting up with the baby, but he's managed to get up before me a few times. When he got up this morning around two, I watched and listened as Christian held and talked to Oliver. No greater sound has even resonated through my ears than the sound of Christian Grey talking to his newborn son.
"If you're not going to sleep, how about we go and get some food. I'm hungry, and I know you must be as well." He picks up the baby monitor from the dresser and peaks over at Oliver. "He'll be fine. We've got this.", he says while holding up the monitor. I take one last look at Oliver and walk alongside Christian out of the room. We go downstairs and into the kitchen where Taylor and my dad are talking. My dad's visit was only going to be a few days, but Oliver's birth extended it. It'll also give him more time to look for a place. Even after he does find one, he'll have to return home to get his things in order and packed.
"I take it Oliver's sleeping.", Taylor says.
"He fell asleep about ten minutes ago.", Christian answers. "Ana and I are going to get some food." He opens the fridge and starts rummaging through all the food which has been brought to the house. Despite having Gail on hand, visitors have been bringing food along with baby gifts. "We've got some kind of casserole, some ham rollups, baked chicken, and a few other things. What would you like baby?"
"I'll have some of the casserole.", I reply. Christian begins placing the casserole on two plates while I sit down at the table. My dad looks over from the counter which he's leaning against. "Dad, how about some casserole?"
"I had a sandwich not long ago.", he says. "After Taylor's shift is over, we're going to look at a small house not far from Sawyer's building."
"I thought you were going to move into an apartment."
"I might or I might not move into a small house. You know how much I love being out in the yard. I wouldn't be able to do any gardening if I were in an apartment." The back part of my head is screaming, "Maybe it's so he'll have more room in case my mom eventually moves in." Stop getting ahead of yourself!
"Plus a house will give you more room for when Oliver gets older.", Christian says. He's finished reheating the casserole and has set our plates down on the table. I take a bite of the casserrole and immediately am thankful Christian convinced me to eat. It turns out the casserole is hamburger casserole, one of my favorites. Christian takes a bite of his own and grins in delight.
"How's the hamburger casserole?", Taylor smirks. Christian takes another bite and looks over at him. "Ros dropped it off earlier when I was outside. She said she had to get back to the office but would drop by tomorrow to see Oliver. Oh, she also brought by a gift. I set it over on the table." He motions to a box that's neatly wrapped in blue and yellow paper.
"Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"You were upstairs with the baby, and I didn't want to disturb you." Christian and I go back to our food as Sawyer walks into the kitchen with Ethan and Max behind him. Both Ethan and Max have matching smiles, but Sawyer's looking anything but happy.
"Hey guys.", I say.
"Hi. I hope you don't mind us showing up unannounced, but Max hasn't had a chance to meet Oliver since he's been out of town.", Ethan says. Ethan told us at the hospital that Max was out of town for work.
"I literally just got off the plane and wanted to meet him.", Max smiles. "We can come back if now is not a good time."
"It's fine.", Christian tells them. "Oliver's sleeping right now, but you're more than welcome to stay. Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"No thanks.", Ethan answers. "Sawyer on the other hand might need a stiff drink." Sawyer blows out a breath and sits down at the breakfast bar. My dad and Taylor are studying him along with the rest of us.
"What's wrong Sawyer?", my dad finally asks the question everyone in everyone's mind.
"Just...stufff.", he shrugs. He glances over at Christian and I. "I'm going to catch up on my reports in the security room." He smiles faintly before disappearing from the room.
"Something is definitely going on with him.", I sigh. I hope things between Olivia and him are ok.
"He has a hearty appetite.", Christian says as I feed Oliver after Ethan and Max have left. In the hospital, I was worried that he wouldn't want to latch on, but my worries faded as soon as he did indeed latch on and start eating. Christian brushes his finger against Oliver's cheek, but Oliver is unfazed.
"He certainly does. You're a hungry baby, aren't you? Yes you are." He continues feeding until he's done. Christian has grabbed a burp cloth and is waiting not so patiently to burp the baby. "Go to Daddy.", I whisper. Christian gently takes Oliver into his arms and eases into the chair he's pulled from the corner. It's now my turn to do the admiring while Christian softly pats Oliver's back, trying to get a burp. "I can't believe he's here. It seems just like yesterday we found out we were going to have a baby, and now he's here and the most precious thing I've ever laid eyes on."
"Aren't you glad I said no to the overseas trip?"
"Very glad. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn' had you with me during the delivery.", I say as a loud burp erupts from the baby. "That was a good one."
"What time is your mom coming over?", Christian asks. My mom called earlier and said she was going to drop by the house later. I know she's wanting to see Oliver as well as my dad.
"Around six. I might wait until Olivia has gotten off work to call and see how things are."
"Meaning how things are with her and Sawyer?", Christian grins knowingly. "You're determined to find out what's going on with him."
"Christian, Sawyer may have started out as merely security, but he's become a friend. Scratch that. He's become family. You may not agree, but that's how I see it. He's been there for not only me but all of us."
"I know he's been there for us. He's a great guy, and I hope whatever is going on isn't too horrible. Here comes the part where I might sound like a bad person. I don't want his as he calls it "stuff" to affect his job. Remember how I was skeptical of him getting involved with Olivia?"
"You were worried about him being distracted from his work.", I murmur. "But he wasn't."
"True. He wasn't, yet I don't want to have that same concern over what's happening with him now. The stakes are even higher since Oliver's here." Oliver's tiny mouth opens in a yawn. "Do I sound like a villian?" Christian's concern is more than valid.
"Of course you don't. I understand what you're saying and where you're coming from."
"I'm sorry that you missed Dad.", I tell my mom. She doesn't move her eyes from Oliver who's resting comfortably in her arms. "After Ryan offered to start his shift early, Taylor suggested he and Dad go ahead and look at the house."
"It's fine.", she says. "I'm here to see this angel anyway. He looks a lot like you when you were a baby."
"Really? I see equal parts of both Christian and I. He has my mouth but Christian's ears. Despite not having a lot of hair, it has a cooper tint to it."
"How long do you watch him when he sleeps?" I shrug. "I used to watch you for a long time. I'd stand and try and count the times I saw your tiny chest rise with each breath. I'd tell myself to stop and start to walk away, only to go back seconds later."
"You've just described what we do. I can't stop looking at him. He's so perfect.", I sniffle. Christian steps out of his study and immediately looks at me in concern. "I'm fine. I was telling Mom how I watch Oliver when he sleeps." Christian crosses the room and stops next to my mom's seat. He leans down and places a delicate kiss on Oliver's cheek before moving to the chair next to me.
"I do it as well.", he laughs until Sawyer walks into the room. I called Olivia earlier, but she was about to head into a late meeting with members of the publishing staff. "Sawyer, do you need something?"
"It can wait.", he stammers.
"If you need to talk, go ahead.", my mom says. "I'll continue admiring the world's most beautiful baby."
"Thanks Mom.", I tell her. I shift my eyes to Christian and then Sawyer. "Let's talk."
"Fine.", Christian says. He helps me up from my seat and motions for Sawyer to follow us into the study. Maybe he wants to talks about his "stuff."
"I'm sorry for pulling you away from your mother.", Sawyer says to me. "I'm also sorry for the mood I've been in today. I owe you both an explanation. My dad kept having headaches and nausea. Being the stubborn man that he is, he refused to see a doctor. He brushed them off as nothing until my mom finally convinced him to get checked out. His primary doctor sent him to a specialist who ran tests and did a CT scan. The results were due back today, and that's the reason for my mood. Other than my family, Olivia was the only one who knew what was going on, but I asked her not to say anything."
"Sawyer, I'm sorry.", Christian says.
"My mom called earlier and said they got the results back. She wanted to wait until I was off my shift to tell me, but I needed to know right then. He has what the doctor called a Glioblastoma, a tumor. My dad's is malignant and located in the cerebral hemisphere of his brain." He shoves his hands in his pockets and begins pacing the room. "My dad's always been my hero. I've looked up to him my entire life, and now he's preparing to fight for his life. I love my job, but I love him more. You need someone who's fully concentrated on this job, and that's not me." Christian's eyes flash to mine as I recall the conversation we had earlier. "What I'm trying to say or rather ask is for a leave of absence. I'm not sure how long I need, but it's what I feel is the best thing for everyone."
"Of course.", I reply. "Your family is your top priority."
"Ana's right.", Christian adds. "If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask. I can make some calls and find the best doctor for your dad."
"I appreciate that, but the doctor handling his case, Dr. Mitchell Long, is one of the top doctors in not only Seattle but also the entire US. I did some research on him the other night. I'm sorry for putting you in this predicament of having to rearrange the staff."
"Don't apologize. Rearranging the staff won't be any trouble. What matters is you being there for your dad." Christian takes a step forward and then opens his arms to Sawyer who appears shocked, but he slowly takes the hug. I then offer my arms to him.
"Take care of yourself as well.", I say.