Christian's POV
I hold the letter in my hand and read it about five times. Ana is watching me the whole time, but my focus is solely on the letter. I can feel the panic start to rise in my chest. My daughter took off, and she left us with a note. She wants to learn to be self-sufficient. Why the fuck does she want that? She's been damn lucky to live such a life to not have to do everything for herself. She wants to worry about her next meal and where she will sleep? What, she wants to live like she's poor? Why? She doesn't eat or sleep enough as it is. She justifies going away with the fact that she'll be going to college soon. So what? When she goes to college I'll be sending two guards to keep an eye on her. That is, if she lives long enough to attend college. I clutch my chest at the thought of my daughter being found dead in some ditch. She left without security, nobody to keep her safe. But wait, she goes on to say that she and Trevor will take care of each other. Yeah right. I'm supposed to trust this Trevor kid with my daughter's life? Aside from having him over for dinner and the information in his and his family's background check, I don't really know this kid. How do I know that he's capable of protecting my daughter? I feel the rage start to build in my body, quickly replacing my fear.
"Taylor" I shout, and I fail to see my wife flinch at my sudden outburst. Taylor quickly makes his way to the second floor to find us standing outside of Natalie's bedroom. We can hear Natalie crying for Ana, probably because she heard me yell.
"Sir"
"Phoebe's gone. She left this. We need to find her."
I pace as Taylor reads the letter, and Ana goes to put Natalie back to sleep. Ana joins us when Taylor finishes the letter. "We should move this downstairs and away from Natalie's room" she says to me, and I can hear the quiver in her voice. I turn away from them and start walking toward the steps, and they follow. I run both of my hands through my hair and I don't care that I am pulling hard at my hair.
"When was the last time you spoke with Phoebe?" Taylor asks me. We reach the top of the stairs and walk down to the first floor.
"In my study, this morning before breakfast. She wanted to talk about this fucking road trip with Trevor and his friends." I turn around when we reach the bottom of the steps and now I am practically shouting. "I told her no, God damn it I told her no, that she was not prepared to be on her own like that. What the hell is she thinking?"
I grab my hair again and pull at it. It's fucking amazing that I still have hair after everything that girl has put me through. Ana closes the distance between us and puts her arms around my waste. I put one arm around her to comfort her, but it is not much comfort to me. I look up at Taylor and wait for him to speak.
"We should check with Teddy and Ava, see if they've heard from her. She didn't take her phone with her, Sir"
"Of course she didn't." I can't keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Of course she didn't take her phone. She knows I could track her phone and our cars in an instant. Which means she most likely didn't take one of the cars. She hasn't learned to drive yet, but I'm sure she could figure it out if she needed to. I run out to the garage and check, leaving Ana to check with Teddy and Ava. I run the entire distance between my foyer and the outside garage, and I stop there to catch my breath. I sprinted, trying to get here as fast as possible, hoping to find one of the cars missing. But as I catch my breath I look up and notice that all of our cars are here. Once again the panic starts to rise. The only two things I could use to track her were left at the house. And now she is out there with no phone, no security and no reliable transportation. I walk back into the house to find Ana on skype with Teddy.
"Hi Dad" Teddy says when he sees me. Ana is sitting at the breakfast bar and I am standing behind her.
"Son, when's the last time you talked to your sister?"
"Earlier today. She was talking to me about the road trip. Dad, I tried to talk her out of it, and I thought she listened."
I look at my son and see his pained expression. This is not his fault, and I don't want him to worry about this. There is nothing he can do from the other side of the country. I run my hand through my hair, and I'm a little more gentle about it this time. "I know you tried son. Don't worry, we'll find her. She couldn't have gone far."
"Teddy, if you hear from her could you please let us know right away?" Ana pleads with him.
"I will Mom. Please find her."
We finish skyping with Teddy, and it is when Ana shuts her laptop that she starts to sob. I turn her around and get her to stand up so that I could hold her. I sway side to side and hold her tight as I rest my chin on top of her head. "We're going to find her, Baby. We will."
She pulls away from me and sniffles. "How? She doesn't want to be found, Christian. Where do we even start to look for her?"
I think about that for a few minutes as I take her in my arms again and hold her. I honestly have no idea where to look for her. One thing's for sure, I can't get law enforcement involved. Once law enforcement is involved, the media will be involved. And every enemy of mine and every predator will be out looking for her. I can't let that happen. I won't.
"Did you call Ava?" I ask her softly and kiss the top of her head.
"Yes, she hasn't heard from Phoebe. In fact, she is now pissed off at her cousin for not bringing her along."
The irony is not lost on me. Ava would have definitely been on board with this. She is actually more likely to pull this on my brother than my daughter is to pull this on me. This isn't like Phoebe at all. I have to wonder if this Trevor kid was pressuring her to do this. Either way, my daughter will be in a lot of trouble when she gets home.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
A week has gone by and Christian and Ana have not heard from Phoebe. They've spent the past week using their resources to find her, sending out security to check specific locations and the bridge tolls to see if there is any sign of her or Trevor. They had found his car. He had ditched it at a bus station. That means they are traveling by bus and taxi and possibly hitch hiking. That hasn't gone over well with Christian. He has been growing more and more agitated by the day, yelling at the staff and snapping at Ana and Natalie. He has also started growing a beard, sleeping less, skipping showers and skipping meals. He hasn't been performing well at work, losing deals left and right. But he doesn't care about any of that. He is focused on the fact that his daughter left him. She left the safety and security of her parents and her home, and he has not been able to find her. He is starting to lose hope, and more and more of himself every day.
Christian and Ana are in their bedroom, and Christian is sitting on their bed staring off into space. Ana brings Natalie into the room from their bathroom after giving her a bath. She puts her down in front of Christian with a towel wrapped around her.
"Christian, could you get her dressed please? I'm running late." Despite the fact that her daughter is out there on her own, Ana has been going to work. Christian stops staring into space and looks down at his daughter. She has a mischievous smile on her face, completely oblivious to what is going on with her parents and her sister.
"Come, Natalie. Let's get you dressed" Christian says to her as he reaches behind him for her diaper and clothes.
Natalie giggles and runs away from him, ditching the towel so that she can run around their room naked. She wants to play, but Christian is not in the mood.
"Natalie, come here now and get dressed" he demands, but Natalie doesn't register his serious tone. She thinks this is a game, so she continues to run around. She giggles louder when he stands and starts to chase her. She doesn't see that he is getting angrier with her running from him. She still giggles when he catches her and picks her up, unaware of his foul mood. He sits on the bed and swats her bottom twice and hard, which makes her cry.
Ana emerges from the bathroom and immediately scolds her husband. "Christian!"
Christian puts Natalie on the bed and starts to put her diaper on her, not doing anything to comfort her as she cries. Ana grows more angry and pushes him out the way. "Move, I'll do it."
"Ana" he complains, but she ignores him and goes about dressing Natalie. "What?"
Ana glares at him after putting a dress on Natalie. "Christian, go take a shower. You need to cool down, and frankly… you stink." She whispers the last part since she doesn't want Natalie to hear and repeat it. Christian gives her a confused look and watches her walk out of the room with Natalie in her arms.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Christian walks into the kitchen and over to his wife at the counter. He is freshly showered so the room starts to fill with his shower wash scent. Ana would normally drink in the scent of her husband, wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him passionately, but not today. She is angry with for the way he has been acting lately, but she's yet to verbalize her feelings.
"Satisfied?" he asks her when he stands next to her. She has been preparing breakfast for the three of them in silence.
She looks over at him and doesn't make a move to be affectionate. "I made an appointment with Flynn" she tells him. "I want you to come with me."
"Why, so that I can sit in the waiting room while you tell Flynn what a complete ass I am?"
"Christian, please don't be so cold. I need you." She looks at him with pained eyes and hopes that he will soften, but he doesn't.
"Fine" he says and walks toward his study. Ana sighs and wipes a few tears away.
"Time for breakfast" she says softly to herself and serves herself and Natalie some pancakes. She leaves some pancakes for Christian in case he decides to eat, but she is once again disappointed when she and Natalie finish their pancakes with no sign of Christian emerging from his study. Ana covers her face with her hands and almost cries, but she suppresses it since she is with Natalie.
"Mommy?"
"Yes Baby" she snaps out of it and manages to smile at Natalie.
"Are you sad?"
"Yes, Baby. I'm sad that Phoebe isn't here." Ana reaches over and gently runs her hand through her baby girl's hair.
"When is she coming back?"
Ana has to suppress a cry again to answer her. "A few weeks. But you know what? Teddy will be home tonight. And I know he can't wait to see you."
"Yeah" Natalie cheers with excitement. Ana cleans her up and allows her to go and play with her toys. She asks Gail to watch her while she and Christian go to their appointment.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
At Doctor Flynn's office, Ana decides that she wants Christian to be in the room with them, which surprises both John and Christian. Christian is silent as he listens to his wife talk to Flynn about Phoebe going on the road trip against their wishes. He is sitting in the chair next to hers with his leg crossed over the other, his elbow leaning on the arm and his hand supporting his head. He is frowning since Ana has started to talk about him and the way he has been over the past couple of days.
"Christian" John addresses him, but he keeps his body still and his frown on his face. "Why do you think Phoebe did this?"
Christian takes a moment to think about the question before he responds. "My daughter wishes to be self-sufficient. That is what she wrote in the letter."
"Yes, that is what she wrote in the letter. Ana has said that Phoebe tried to talk to you twice about this road trip. During those conversations, did she have an opportunity to tell you how she feels?"
Once again, Christian has to take a moment to answer the question. He is taken back to the conversations that he and Phoebe had about this. The first one turned into a shouting match, and the second one ended with her leaving his office thinking he didn't have any faith in her. "She doesn't think I give her enough credit, John. She thinks she can handle this on her own, but she can't. She is still a child."
"I didn't ask you how you feel. I asked you if she told you how she feels."
Christian grows more angry and even lets out a growl. "I heard what you said."
"Christian" Ana scolds, and Christian temporarily glares at her.
"It's okay, Ana" John says as he waves off Christian's rudeness. "Let's talk about you then. How do you feel about your daughter taking this road trip?"
"I am fucking pissed, John. She should not be out there on her own without security. She should not have left home against our wishes. It is torture not to be able to pick up the phone and talk to her, make sure she is safe. And to yell at her for doing this."
John nods and looks pleased. He pauses before he asks his next question. "What are you angry about? Angry that she left, or angry that she defied you?"
Christian grits his teeth. "Both"
"Well" John says. "I suggest you work to suppress that anger. You still have your wife, your daughter Natalie, and your son Teddy, and this baby on the way, and they all need you. You and Ana will need to draw your strength from each other, and your kids will draw your strength from you." This doesn't do anything to settle Christian. He goes back to crossing his leg over the other and resting his chin on his fist. "Christian, your wife wanted to come here today to talk this out, but she also has something she needs to tell you."
Christian looks over at Ana and doesn't soften his expression, even though she looks like a nervous wreck. "Go ahead, Ana" John presses her.
A single tear runs down Ana's cheek before she begins to speak. "I went and saw Dr Greene this weekend. You were supposed to come with me, but you weren't around. Anyway, she said that everything is fine, that I'm not at risk right now." She looks down at her stomach and rubs her hand over where her bump is starting to show. "As long as I keep a good diet, get enough sleep and lay off the stress….. she said I have high blood pressure, and I've never had that with any of my pregnancies. I know it has to do with Phoebe being gone."
Christian doesn't change his expression. He still looks angry and cold, as if he's not even listening to her. She continues anyway.
"There's something else" she says and then looks at John. He nods at her, encouraging her to continue. "Teddy called me last night. He said he heard from Phoebe."
Christian leans up in his chair upon hearing this. "He heard from Phoebe? When?"
"Last night" she says softly.
"Ana! What the…. Why would you keep that from me?" Christian is even angrier now, and Ana has to look away from him. She looks down at her lap like a child does while being scolded. "I can't believe this. Why, Ana? Why would you keep this from me?"
"This is why, Christian!" she shouts as multiple tears run down her face. "Because you react like this. You shout at me and you snap at me, ever since Phoebe took off you've become this monster." Ana stops and works to regain some composure. "You don't come to bed anymore, you don't eat with me, you don't shower every day. You've stopped taking care of yourself. And Natalie? This morning she tried to be playful with you, and you saw it as defiance and smacked her. She needs her father Christian, and I need my husband. I can't do this alone."
Ana's speech does nothing to soften Christian's position. He is still angry about Phoebe leaving, and now he is angry at Ana for keeping news of Phoebe's call from him. They leave Dr Flynn's office without accomplishing anything other than adding fuel to the fire that is Christian's temper.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Christian and Ana arrive home. They had argued during their ride home and they are still arguing as they emerge from the car.
Ana slams her door shut and follows her husband to the front of their house, with Taylor keeping his distance from the couple. "Christian, why did you fire Sawyer? It wasn't even his fault. You gave him the day off last Saturday when Phoebe left."
Christian turns and faces his wife to justify his decision. "I fired Sawyer because I don't need him anymore."
"He's been loyal to us for twenty years. How could you just let him go like that?" she fires back.
"Ana, I said I don't need him anymore. I kept him on staff to watch over and protect Phoebe, but now that she's taken off, we don't need him to do that anymore."
"What about when Phoebe comes back?" Ana challenges him. "Won't we need him then?"
Christian lets out an evil chuckle. "Anastasia, when Phoebe comes home, the first thing I'm going to do is have her fitted for a permanent ankle monitor. She will never be allowed to leave the house, so, we won't need Sawyer."
Christian turns and stomps toward the front door of the house with Ana behind him. "You can't do that, Christian!" she yells at him.
"Can't I?" he asks as he looks over his shoulder at her. They approach the front of the house, and he is brought out of his angry brooding when he hears Natalie scream and cry. He sees her lying on the pavement in front of their front steps with Gail tending to her. Christian runs over and is by her side in an instant. "What happened" he asks Gail frantically. He looks down and sees blood gushing from his baby girl's chin. She also has a scrape on her knee. Christian cradles her in his arms and carries her over to the steps so he can sit with her cradled in his lap. Ana rushes over and sits next to him.
"Sir, I'm so sorry. We were playing with her new tricycle. She let go and fell right off." Taylor is by Gail's side now and tries to comfort her.
"Could you get the first aid kit please?" he asks them, and they rush into the house to retrieve it. Ana grabs some tissues from her purse and hands them to Christian so that he can cover the cut on Natalie's chin. He holds the tissue in place and bounces her in his lap as she cries out in pain and fear.
"Shhh" he tries to soothe her. "It's okay, Sweat Pea. Everything's going to be okay."
Ana looks at Christian and is amazed at his sudden mood change. It took their daughter getting hurt for him to open his eyes and see that she and Natalie were still there with him. Gone is the irate inconsolable man that constantly snapped at them, and in his place is the concerned loving parent cooing his injured daughter and trying to calm her. Natalie's loud cries start to turn into soft whimpers before Gail emerges with the first aid kit. They work together to gently clean her cuts and cover them with band aids.
Gail excuses herself and walks back into the house, leaving Christian and Ana with their baby girl. Ana puts her arms around her husband's arm and rests her head on his shoulder. "What have I done, Ana?" he asks her softly with Natalie still cradled in his lap."
Ana shrugs before she answers. "You checked out for a bit there, Grey. You let your anger take over."
Christian looks down at Natalie and then back at his wife. "I'm sorry Ana. I've been so awful to you. To both of you." He looks down at Natalie again and feels his wife hold him tighter. "I'm just so angry with Phoebe for leaving. This has to be the biggest and scariest thing she's ever done. I'm scared for her, Ana."
"I'm scared too, Christian."
Christian lets out a sigh, like he's been holding his breath all week. "She has to come home. She has to be okay, right? What did she say to Teddy?"
Ana keeps her place next to him with her head on his shoulder. "She said that she's doing okay, that she doesn't want us to worry, and that she loves us."
"Nothing about where she is?" Christian asks with disappointment. "I've been such and…. arse" he says after looking down at Natalie and realizing that he has to watch what he says. "I'm going to do better, I promise. I'm going to be there for you and our kids."
Ana smiles. "Glad to hear it."
Christian feels a tiny hand on his chin and looks down at Natalie again. "I don't like this" she says, referring to his beard. Christian and Ana both laugh.
"Should Daddy shave his beard?" Natalie nods. Christian leans down and kisses her forehead. He then leans to his right and kisses his wife, a long overdue kiss that they let last until Natalie complains.
"Daddy"
Ana giggles when they have to stop their kiss. "I love that sound" he says to her. He stands with Natalie still cradled in his arms and walks into the house with his wife.