Phoebe's POV

I can't believe the day just flew by. I had a lot of chores that doctors assigned to me today, but Grandma insisted that I sit with Teddy while Rebecca had her surgery. I didn't want to completely blow off my responsibilities as a volunteer, so I made sure to spend some time with Teddy and took a few breaks to take care of some of those chores. Rebecca's surgery took about four hours. Poor Teddy, I'm sure those were some of the longest hours for him since all he could do is wait for doctors to finish and come and talk to him and Mr Lincoln. Fortunately it was great news that was delivered. Her surgery was a success and she'll be spending a few days in the hospital.

Right now I am in Danny's room. We've spent some time reading one of his books, but he got tired really fast. He didn't want to go to sleep since I was here, but I insisted that he needed to sleep if he wanted to get better. I wish there was more I could do to help this kid. He is so sweet and pretty smart for his age. I didn't know half the stuff he knows when I was seven. His mother told me that he reads a lot and that is why he knows so much. It makes me sad that a kid like him is sick and has to stay in the hospital.

I brought a book with me to read, but I haven't gotten past the first sentence. I am having a hard time concentrating. I can't stop thinking about this kid and what he is going through. How he manages to keep such high spirits, I'll never know. And then there's my father. I've hurt him so much. I never meant to do that. When I left for the road trip I didn't realize how selfish I was being. I just wanted to experience being on my own for a while and experience just being a normal teenager, and not Christian Grey's daughter. Not that there's anything wrong with being his daughter, I just wanted to be away from the money and the name and see what it was like.

My father has been on me all week about going to the Nurse's Ball with him tonight, but I can't figure out why it is so important to him. I overheard him tell my mother that he didn't want to take me. I can't blame him. I wouldn't want to take me either. So why this one eighty? I don't understand. Does he feel guilty that I overheard his conversation? He shouldn't feel guilty. I deserved to hear him say that after what I did to him. I deserve a lot worse than that. I told him that he didn't need to take me, but Christian Grey does not take no for an answer. I look at the clock and see that it is three thirty, and then I see my Dad in the doorway. I put my book down and walk over to him as not to wake Danny.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper to him.

He looks at his watch. "You have a Ball to get ready for, so Nurse Kelly here is going to sit with Danny until his parents return."

He lightly smiles at me, and I can't help but smile back. Did I mention he doesn't take no for an answer? I guess I'm going to the Ball. I collect my things and leave the room as Nurse Kelly takes my place in the chair. I look back at Danny before I completely leave the room. I feel guilty leaving him, especially since I won't see him until Monday. Dad puts his hand on my shoulder as we walk down the hall, take the elevator and exit the hospital. We meet up with Taylor outside. He opens the back door and I climb in. I have to slide over since Dad wants to sit in the back next to me.

I watch out the window and notice that we are not driving in the direction of our home. "Where are we going?"

I look over at my father and he lightly smiles again, but his eyes are on his blackberry. "We still have a few hours, so I thought you and your mother could spend some time together at the spa." I can feel my eyes widen. He looks at me and his smile quickly fades. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head and try to control my facial expression. "Nothing"

"Don't tell me nothing, answer me. What's wrong?" he asks me again. His voice is soft, not as stern as it usually is when he tries to press me for information. I start to pout, but then I think better of it. He doesn't like it when I pout. I hear him sigh. "Phoebe, tell me."

I shrug my shoulders and look at the seat in front of me. I can't look at him, but I know he is looking at me and waiting for me to answer him. "I'm supposed to be grounded" I say softly. "Doesn't feel right, going to the spa and then going to the Ball with you."

I hear dad laugh softly. I glance over at him and his eyes are no longer on me, and he has a smile on his face. He is looking at his blackberry again. "Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"

The rest of the car ride is silent. When we arrive, Dad opens the door and takes my hand to help me climb out. We walk inside and Mom is there waiting for us. She walks over and gives me a hug. When she releases me she proceeds to hug my father. He leans down and kisses her cheek. I smile since I love to see them be affectionate with each other, as long as it isn't overkill.

A lady walks over to us with a big fake smile. It's as though it is glued onto her face. She addresses my mother and then leads us both away from my father. I see him nod before I am whisked away into one of the rooms where there are a few women getting pedicures. My mother and I sit next to each other in the comfy chairs and are instructed to remove our shoes. My mother is wearing a skirt, but I am still wearing my scrubs so I need to roll up my pants. I slowly lower my feet into the foot spa and it feels so good. I instantly feel relaxed with the hot water and the leather chair, which is slowly massaging my back. I close my eyes and welcome the sensation. I vaguely hear the voice of Adele singing her heart out through the speakers in the ceiling.

I open my eyes and look over at my mother when I feel her grasp my hand. She smiles at me, and I can't help but smile back. She should be mad at me too, but I don't see that when I look in her eyes. Instead I see so much love, and right now she is glowing. Must be the pregnancy. It puts me at ease and I am able to close my eyes again and relax as the nail tech starts on my right foot.

After we are finished with pedicures and manicures, my mother and I prepare to leave the spa. This was the first time I received a gel manicure. I am still amazed that I can just go about the rest of my day without having to worry about chipping or nicking my nail polish. The nail tech had to laugh at the shock in my face when she sprayed my nails and then wiped each nail with a towel. The nail polish didn't smudge or come off. My mother still looks amused by it. We walk outside and Collins is there waiting for us with the car. After we climb into the back seat and buckle up, my mother explains that Aunt Kate is waiting at the house for us. She'll be doing my hair. I start to feel guilty again. My parents are doing these nice things for me, things I do not deserve. I don't understand why. I have a hard time hiding my discomfort from my mother as she grasps my chin and forces me to look over at her.

"You okay Sweetheart?" she asks me, and it's all I can do not to cry. I manage to suppress it and shrug it off.

"Yeah, it's just….." I look down at my nails and rub my fingers over the polish again, still amazed that it isn't smudging. "Pedicure, manicure, Aunt Kate doing my hair, just seems like so much."

I glance at my mother again and she is smiling. "You're going to a Ball. There's nothing wrong with going all out and dolling yourself up." She reaches over and strokes my hair as she says it.

"I know. I just wasn't expecting it."

My mother nods and she keeps her smile. "I know. You never do. That's what makes it even more special. You are a lot like me, you know? When your father and I were first going together, I had a hard time getting used to his wealthy lifestyle. I never went to the spa and I never got my hair done. I never purchased an expensive dress for a party until I married him."

"How did you handle it?" I ask her. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve to be part of my father's wealthy lifestyle just because I'm his daughter. It never occurred to me that my mother felt that way about herself too.

"It was difficult. It took me a really long time to feel comfortable with the wealth. Your father had to keep reminding me that it was 'our' money and he often sent me out shopping with your Aunts just to spend his money on something."

I have to laugh at that. I can just picture my father getting all worked up and ordering my mother to spend money. I can hear my mother laugh too, although I'm not sure if she's laughing about this or something else.

When we arrive home I follow my mother into the house. Dad is in the main room playing on the floor with Natalie and Aunt Kate is sitting on the couch watching them and my baby cousin Cameron. He is walking around with blocks in each hand. My mother and I stop in the doorway and refrain from making our presence known. We stand there for a few minutes and enjoy watching Dad play with princesses with Natalie. He's helping her place each princess in separate rooms in the four foot high castle. They have Ariel taking a nap in the bedroom, Snow White cooking in the kitchen and Jasmine taking a bath in the bathroom. "What about Belle?" he asks her. Natalie takes Belle from him and tries to set her up in one of the rooms with her Beast doll. She tries to set them up so that they are dancing, but the dolls keep falling over. When she gets frustrated Dad is able to calm her down and help her stand them up without falling. She cheers and claps her hands with excitement. I just love seeing this side of my Dad. I vaguely remember moments like this that I had with Dad when I was little. That's right, Christian Grey had sat on the floor, played with dolls and had tea parties with me. I have the pictures to prove it, but they are for our family's eyes only.

When Dad sees us he stands and walks over to us. Aunt Kate also walks over to us and gives Mom a hug. Mom then picks Cameron up and makes a big fuss over him. I watch Natalie rush over to Dad and wrap herself around his leg. I can tell she is jealous. Poor baby, if she's this jealous of Cameron I can't imagine how she'll be when the baby comes. Dad reaches down and picks her up. She protectively wraps her arms around his neck, and I can tell he looks uncomfortable with her tight grip. He gets her to loosen the grip and continues to hold her.

"How was the spa?" he asks us. Mom explains my reaction to the gel manicure and they all have a laugh at my expense. I can feel a blush come across my face. I don't like it when people laugh at me even if it is harmless teasing. Aunt Kate puts her hand on my shoulder and leads me out of the room and up to my bedroom. She immediately gets to work on my hair. I have to wonder why she isn't getting herself ready for the Ball. I thought she and Uncle Elliot were going as well.

"Aunt Kate, are you going to the Ball too?"

I can feel her smiling as she runs the come through my hair to smooth it as she prepares to tie it back. "No Honey, I won't be going."

"Oh." I feel a pang of guilt for asking. I hope I didn't make her feel bad.

She immediately relieves me of my guilt by explaining herself. "Since your Dad is taking you to the Ball, we thought it would be fun if your Uncle Elliot took Ava."

"Ava's going?" I can't hide my excitement. I haven't spent much time with Ava since school ended. First I had the road trip, and now I'm busy with volunteering. And she's busy with her boyfriend Nathan.

"That I am" I hear Ava's voice. I turn my head and see her standing in the door way. She is already dressed in a mint green long dress that hugs her curves, and her hair is down in wavy curls. I stand and give her a hug, forgetting that Aunt Kate was trying to do my hair.

"You look so beautiful" I say to her.

She releases me and looks me up and down. "Good thing Mom and I are here. You are way behind schedule Grey. Hair, make-up, dress. Let's go!"

I have to laugh at her as she pushes me in the chair and takes charge. I've missed my cousin. I'm so glad she's going tonight. I'm glad to be going with my Dad, but I still feel awkward around him, especially since he is doing all of these nice things for me today. Things I feel I don't deserve. I don't think I can talk to Ava about this. She would just tell me I'm being ridiculous and that I should just get over it. But I know I'll feel less awkward with her there.

Once hair and make-up are done I quickly get my dress and shoes on and proceed to walk down the stairs. Ava and Aunt Kate walk down after me. I am greeted by my father and Uncle Elliot is standing right behind him. My Dad smiles brightly at me. He's seen me in this dress before, but nobody else has. I am wearing the silver dress that I was wearing the night of Teddy's birthday dinner. My Dad requested that I wear this dress. He said I looked beautiful in it. I certainly didn't feel beautiful that night, but tonight is a different story. I am not being met with his unreadable expression. Instead I am being met with his smile that is so contagious I can't help but smile back. I reach the bottom of the steps and he takes my hand. "You look beautiful" he says softly.

"Thank you" I say to him and then turn to see Uncle Elliot kiss Ava's cheek.

My father has me face him again. "This is for you."

I feel the smile leave my face and it is replaced by more shock. "You got me a present?"

He continues to smile at me and looks down at the box that he had put in my hands. "Open it."

I slowly open the small box and I can feel the smile return to my face. "A corsage?" He takes the lovely arrangement of pink roses and baby's breath and puts it around my wrist. I don't know what to say, but I manage to find my manners. "Thank you" I say almost breathlessly.

"You're welcome" he says and then turns his attention to Elliot and Ava. "Ava this one is yours" he says and hands Elliot another small box. Ava opens it and Elliot puts the equally beautiful corsage around her wrist.

I then notice that all eyes are on us. Mom, Natalie, Aunt Kate and Cameron are standing around with smiles on their faces as they watch us prepare to leave. This feels as awkward as the Junior Prom. I'm hoping they don't start breaking out their cameras and take pictures. I am relieved when Dad suggests that we leave. "Shall we?" He takes my arm and tucks it inside of his as the four of us walk out of the house together. Taylor and Gail are waiting by the car and are also dressed formally. A few minutes later we are packed into the car and on our way to the Ball.