Christian's POV

It's been nine days since the school shooting, but the media attention is just as intrusive as it was the day it happened. Reporters have been trying to get to Phoebe and Ava for interviews, and I'll be fucking damned if I let that happen. My father the DA had released another statement to the media asking to give our family space and privacy, but they still will not let up. We were hoping they would get a life and move on to another fucking story, but unfortunately a school shooting at a prestigious private school in Seattle is just too big a story to let die.

Kate had approached Ana and me to see if we wanted to make a statement on the Today show, but I refused. It's one thing to have my business plastered all over the news and tabloids, but my kids don't need to be any part of that. Phoebe and Ava's horrific experience and recovery is none of their fucking business.

I sit up in bed with my legs over the side and run my hands through my hair at the thought of my daughter and niece having to deal with the media. We've kept Phoebe home all week after I took her out for the day last Saturday because the media figured out that she was one of several of Miss Wilson's intended targets. They started following us home from the hospital last week, calling Phoebe's name and snapping away with their cameras. That only adds to Phoebe's stress right now. She's still having nightmares. Even with the news of Miss Wilson's arrest, Phoebe still cannot be left alone even for a minute. We've had Ava spend a few nights here with her. We've even had Trevor spend a few nights. Yes, I Christian Grey allowed a teenage boy to sleep with my teenage daughter in her bed. I shake my head and snort at the thought. That is so not like me. But right now, that is what is best for my daughter. My team had to be very slick about how they got Ava and Trevor here. Since Ava's been followed by the media, she's only left Escala to come here. We made sure to get her here in a car that the media wouldn't recognize as ours. We would have them follow a decoy, and then Ava would be in a car that would leave the garage a few minutes later.

I turn around to see my beautiful wife sleeping soundly. Today is her birthday. Normally we would make a reservation at a restaurant for our extended family to celebrate the adult birthdays, but in light of what's happened we've decided to have Ana's birthday dinner catered at our home. Security will be able to monitor the cars that come through our gate, and we wouldn't have to worry about the media breathing down are necks while we celebrate. This will be our life until the media attention calms down and focuses on something else.

Ana starts to stir. I lie down next to her and plant soft kisses on her temple. I trace more kisses down her face and she lets out a delightful moan. A smile spreads on her face before she opens her eyes and looks into mine. "Happy Birthday, my beautiful Anastasia" I say to her softly before I plant a kiss on the tip of her nose. I will never tire of having this woman wake up next to me in our bed. How did I ever get this lucky?

"Oh no, is it really my birthday?" She covers her eyes and whines. I wrap my fingers around her wrist and pull her hand away from her eyes. I then plant a kiss on the back of her hand.

"Don't hide from me. I meant what I said. You are so beautiful, especially in the morning." I continue to plant kisses on her hand.

"Only you can say that. I'm sure I look hideous." She starts to get out of bed, but I stop her and pull her back down. I reposition myself so that my body is partially on top of hers.

"You Are My Beautiful Wife" I say each word with emphasis. "And nobody else can say that because I would claw their eyes out for even looking at you." I am awarded with her delightful giggle. "You know I love that sound." I crash my lips into hers, and she kisses me back. Our tongues start to waltz as I slowly brush my hand up her leg and lift her nightgown. "How 'bout we start the day with a little vanilla?"

She smiles at me, her smile that exposes nearly all of her pearly whites. Her unspoken answer to my sensual request.

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Phoebe's POV

I wake up with Ava asleep next to me. I feel like such a nuisance lately, having my family around me constantly, having to have someone with me at night, not being able to leave the house. I can't go to my dance classes and I can't volunteer at the hospital. When I saw Danny last week I told him I would be back. I feel awful for not being there for him. I talked to Brooke and asked her to explain why I couldn't be there. I am basically trapped in this house as long as the media and paparazzi are hovering outside our gate. No way are they taking a picture of me. There's really no point. My father is rich, not me. Yes, I was in the school during the shooting and I was someone that Rachel wanted to shoot. So what? Why can't they just leave me alone?

I sit up in bed and wait for Ava to wake. She does and throws a pillow over her face to block the sunlight. I pull it away from her and bring it down on her backside. We both laugh and she turns to face me. "Did you sleep okay?" she asks me.

I shrug my shoulders. "I guess, I don't remember having any nightmares." She nods and lowers her eyes to the sheets. "Thanks for staying here Ava. I'm sorry for being such a baby about all of this."

"Stop it" she says as she brings the pillow down on me this time. "Besides, you're not the only one having nightmares."

I raise an eyebrow at her. "You too?"

She nods and then raises her index finger at me. "Don't you dare tell anyone, Grey."

I nod and giggle. "Your secret's safe with me. But, why keep it in the dark? My parents knew about my nightmares the first night and they've been so cool about it. They even let Trevor stay here with me a few times."

"That's because you're not having sex."

Ava's comment burns me, but I try to hide it. I don't think she means to upset me. I think a distraction is in order. I climb off the bed, hoping that will inspire her to get up as well. "How 'bout we see if anyone is up for breakfast?"

She sleepily groans. "It's too early. Why the hell does your family get up at the crack of dawn?"

I shrug my shoulders. "We just do. You're cranky." I pick up my hairbrush and run it through my hair a few times.

"A normal response to waking up at nine o'clock on a Saturday morning. Tell me again why I agreed to do this?"

"Because you are tired of being trapped at Escala with your parents and a teething baby brother" I answer her before I run the brush through my hair a few more times.

"Oh yeah, that's right. Was it like that with Natalie?"

I stop and think about it for a moment. Natalie was a pleasant baby for the most part, even while she was teething. But her molars? They were another story. "I remember her molars being pretty painful. Dad had to stay up with her a few nights. But her other teeth didn't seem to give her a problem."

I place my hairbrush down on the vanity and retreat to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. As soon as I'm finished, Ava makes her way into my bathroom with her crutches. She'll have to use them for a while until her leg heals.

"About time you bum" I tease her, and I'm awarded with a shove. She pushes me out of the way and starts to brush her teeth.

After she rinses she finds a washcloth for her face. "What are we doing for your Mom's birthday?"

"Dad said something about having it here, and catered."

"We'll need something to wear" she points out.

I nod in agreement. When Ava and I were little, we used to share clothes just because we found it to be fun. We certainly had plenty of clothes, but we wanted to borrower each other's dresses, shoes and jewelry. That all changed when we were twelve. Ava started developing her own sense of style which involved wearing clothes that were very different from what I was used to wearing. She always looked gorgeous. Her boobs developed way before mine did, and still she felt the need to stuff her bra. I didn't need a bra until I was fourteen. She also started wearing makeup at school but took it off before Aunt Kate or Uncle Elliot could see. I could never pull off most of the things that she wears, so of course I'm not about to offer something from my closet. So I am completely shocked when she makes the suggestion.

"Maybe I can borrow something of yours." I'm not really sure what to say to that, so I just stand in the middle of my room with my jaw dropped. She limps back into my room with her crutches and catches my shocked expression. "What gives? You don't want to share?"

"No, that's not it. I'm just surprised that you want to."

She limps past me and into my closet. "We used to borrow each other's clothes all the time" she says as she brushes her hands through the material of one of my dresses. "Don't ever tell anyone I said this, but I kind of miss those days. You and me being little kids and just doing fun and stupid things, not a care in the world."

I nod and smile as I approach my closet. "Yeah, I miss that too. We couldn't wait to grow up, but little did we know things were so much easier when we were younger."

Ava pulls out one of the dresses and observes it. "I like this one" she says and then holds it up to show me. "What do you think?" It is an orange sundress that ties at the waist and falls just below the knee. It has waves of dark, medium and light orange, not just one solid color. I think it will look great on Ava. But then again, who am I to judge? I'm not into fashion like she is. "Phoebe, come on what do you think of this dress?"

"I think it will look great on you. I guess I'm just surprised that you want to borrower one of my dresses."

She swiftly brings the top of the dress down over her arm and glares at me. "Oh, come on Phoebe. Don't put yourself down. I know we have different styles, but that doesn't mean you don't have style. This dress it is." I nod in agreement. "Now then, let's find something for you."

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Ana's POV

I'm forty three. How can that be? I feel like thirty three wasn't even that long ago. Of course it was, because Teddy was ten and Phoebe was seven. Those were the days of homemade birthday cards, picked flowers from the garden and "pamper Mommy for a day" or "best behavior for a day" passes. I can't believe my babies are not babies anymore. I miss the younger versions of my two eldest. I look down and rub my growing baby bump. I still have a toddler, and two more babies will be here before I know it. I have an amazing husband and the best family and friends a girl could ask for. I don't think it gets much better than this. I just wish I didn't have to turn forty three. That seems so old to me.

Christian has ordered me to stay in bed while he tends to Natalie and sees that the girls get started on breakfast. I know that means he will be bringing me breakfast in bed. My husband is so sweet and thoughtful. He often does these things even when it isn't my birthday. I finish my business in our bathroom and make my way over to our huge unmade bed. As soon as I sit down, I see my husband carrying our adorable baby girl. She is still in her pajamas, which is the usual for Saturday mornings. She has the biggest smile on her face, and her father has one to match. He carries her over and puts her down on our bed so that she can crawl over to me. Before I can take her in my arms she shows me a card she had made out of construction paper. "Happy Budday Mommy" she says to me in her cute adorable voice. Christian sits on the bed behind her and watches me. I reach up and dry a tear that has escaped as I look at the card. There are a few scribbles that she had made with red and purple crayons. The card itself is pink, and there is a purple handprint painted on the inside.

"Is this your handprint?" I ask her animatedly. She nods her head excitedly and then throws her arms around me. I return the hug and twist side to side for effect. "I love this. Thank you Baby."

"You welcome, Mommy" she says as she pulls away and is pulled into Christian's lap. He kisses the top of her head. I know he helped her with this and it is just too sweet. "Can we have cake?" she asks, and Christian and I can't help but laugh. She already associates birthdays with cake.

"We're going to have cake later tonight, Baby. After we have dinner" Christian explains to her. "Right now, we need to go and get Phoebe and Ava and make some breakfast, while Mommy relaxes."

"You welax Mommy" she says to me. I reach over and pinch her nose between my middle and index fingers and she giggles. Christian picks her up and repeats his order that I stay in bed and relax. I'm not going to argue with that. I watch them leave the room, which is lit up again with the delightful sounds of my daughter's giggles. Christian is tickling her side while he's carrying her. After they leave, I get comfortable and take in a manuscript that I've started reading yesterday. I have a few that I hope to read before I return to the office.

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Christian's POV

My plan for today is going smoothly so far. We are a few hours away from our guests arriving. The caterers have just arrived and are starting to set everything up. I settled Natalie down for her nap just under an hour ago. Phoebe and Ava are spending time in the backyard. And Ana and I are relaxing in our main room. We have just finished skyping with Teddy. He couldn't fly home for the weekend because he wanted to be there for Rebecca's physical therapy. He said that it is going very well and he is optimistic about the pace they have her progressing at, although Rebecca is very impatient. She wants to run before she can walk. Good thing she has my son there to keep her from hurting herself. He said he and Rebecca would make plans to be home for Phoebe's birthday weekend next month.

At my insistence Ana has her feet up and resting on a pillow on the coffee table, and I am sitting on the coffee table, facing her and massaging them. I so love pampering my wife, and the soft moans coming from her are making me hard. I must contain it though. Ana and I will have our fun later tonight after the guests leave.

"Thank you, Baby" she says to me softly.

I bring her foot up and kiss her big toe. "It's my pleasure. Are you relaxed?" She smiles and nods. "Good. This is how I always want you. Relaxed and happy."

"I'm always happy with you" she says as she sits up. She moves so that her face is closer to mine. "And you know just how to get me relaxed." She leans forward and crashes her lips into mine. She tastes so good, like peaches. That gives me an idea. We pull apart and I tell her to stay put. She obeys, which pleases the hell out of me. When I return I have a bowl of fresh fruit, and I am met with her gorgeous relaxed smile. I sit on the coffee table again and begin to feed the fruit to her. She licks the juice off of my fingers after each piece. She repeats the gesture and feeds a few pieces to me. I must say, fruit has never tasted so good. She could feed dirt to me and make it sexy as hell.

I feed the last piece to her and she grabs my wrist to lick the juice from my fingers. "Good?" I ask her.

"Delicious, and so erotic" she says before she licks off some more of the juice. "You sure we can't take this upstairs now?"

I smile at her and shake my head. "Eager, are we?"

"Very"

I'm having a hard time waiting myself, but the longer we wait the more pleasurable it will be. "You, my beautiful wife, are just going to have to wait. We'll go upstairs to get ready for our guests, we'll greet them, have dinner, some music and dancing, you'll open your presents, and then later tonight I'll get to open my favorite present when I peal you out of your party dress." I plant two kisses on her forehead, and I know she is pouting. I place my fingers under her chin and lift her face. "Don't pout, it will be worth it, I promise."

"And until then, you are just going to torture me with your sexpertise and drive me crazy."

"Who, me?" I ask her playfully. She softly punches my chest and I feign pain. "Ow, Mrs Grey I don't think punching me is a good way to proposition me."

"Is your palm twitching?"

I smile at her, but at the same time I try to contain my excitement. "Maybe"

She rolls her eyes at me, and she does it oh so dramatically. "How about now?"

"You are so in for it Mrs Grey" I say to her softly as I lean in closer to her face. I kiss her for a moment and then pull away. "After the party that is."

She sighs in defeat as I stand from the coffee table, fruit bowel in hand. "I'm going to check on the girls and then Natalie. Don't do anything naughty until I get back."

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Ana's POV

Christian is driving me crazy with his clever antics and sexpertise, and he knows it. He's doing it on purpose, strategically kissing me and then almost kissing my neck in just the right spot, touching me and trailing his hands down my body before letting me go, whispering sexy innuendos to me and then walking away, leaving me blushing as I greet our guests. I am so happy when I see my mother. She and Scott flew in this morning so that they could be here for the party. I wish Carla would visit more often, but she's been busy with Scott's band. She helps them with scheduling gigs and traveling plans. I had to tell her about my pregnancy on skype, and then about the twins on skype. She is excited to be a grandmother to more grandbabies and promises that she'll visit more often. I don't hold her to that, but I secretly hope to have my mother around more often.

Kate and Elliot arrive with Cameron. He looks so handsome in his little suit. I'm touched that everyone got so dressed up to attend my birthday dinner. My husband prefers the formal attire, but if it were up to me we would all be in sweats. Elliot is also wearing a suit, and Kate looks gorgeous in her dark green dress that is sleeveless and falls just below her knees. Kate greets me with a hug and Elliot gives me a peck on the cheek. I take Cameron from her and hold him for a few minutes. He is just too cute. He calls me Anana, which is pretty darn close to Aunt Ana. He reaches his head up and puckers his lips to give me a kiss, so I lower my cheek to him. It is a wet kiss, but it is the cutest thing. Elliot takes Cameron from me and they proceed to greet the other guests. Carrick and Grace are right behind them and they both envelope me in a hug. They tell me that Ethan and Mia are running a little late, which is just fine. I'm not one to get too stressed over that. That's the best part of having our dinner at home. We can relax and be on our own time.

Collins and Dovis are here with their wives, and Sawyer brought Brooke and their son Lucas. Taylor and Gail are also here as guests. Christian had insisted, since he has plenty of people on his security team to cover the weekends. Our birthday dinners usually only involve our extended family, but Christian had extended the invitation to a few of our long time security members since we are having the party at home. That makes me so happy, since I've always insisted that the Taylors, Sawyer, Dovis and Collins feel like part of our family.

Trevor and Nathan arrive together and they are also wearing suits. They appear nervous as they are lead into the room. They smile shyly at me and kiss my cheek before wishing me a happy birthday. I look around for the girls but I don't see them. They are likely still up in Phoebe's room getting ready. I see my husband and I motion for him to come over. He excuses himself from a conversation he is having with Carrick and makes his way over to me. He kisses my head and snakes his arm around my waist. "Hi beautiful wife" he says to me before nuzzling my nose with his.

"Hi husband. Have you seen the girls?"

Christian looks away from me and sees Trevor and Nathan. He greets each of them with a handshake while his arm is still around me and they thank him for inviting them. "I'll go and find them." He kisses me again and takes off to look for the girls.

Grace brings Natalie over to me. She looks upset. I squat down to be at her level. "What's wrong Baby girl?"

"Mommy, I faught Sophie was comen"

I gently brush my hand through her hair and smile at her. "She'll be here soon, baby. Aunt Mia is just running a little late."

"Pwomise?"

"Yes, I promise. You look really beautiful" I tell her to distract her. Of course she does look beautiful. She is wearing a light pink sundress and white sandals with pink flowers. She wouldn't let me put anything in her hair, but she is wearing a few bracelets. "Do you like getting dressed up?"

"Yes Mommy, I wook pwetty. And you wook pwetty too."

"Thank you, Baby." My daughter talks a lot, but she still cannot get her "L"s or "R"s. I don't mind though. I just like hearing her talk.

"Sing song Mommy?"

"Mmmm how 'bout we sing later, at bedtime. Okay Sweetheart?"

"Okaaaaayy" she says, dragging out the word. I love singing with my baby girl, but not with a room full of people. I stand and see Ethan and Mia make their way over with their kids. Mia, of course looks gorgeous, but she also looks exhausted. All three of their kids had soccer practice today. I think Elizabeth even had a game. She looks tired too. Christopher doesn't look tired. He looks wide awake and mischievous. I have no doubt he'll get into some kind of trouble while he's here. Ethan always has to yell at him about something. I feel bad when he gets yelled at. He is so adorable. He is the first to greet me and wish me a happy birthday. I pick him up and give him a hug. Christian walks over just in time to admonish me. My fifty is always worried about me.

"Should you be doing that?" he asks me. Picking up Natalie is one thing, but Christopher is a few years older and a bit heavier. I only hold him for a few seconds before I put him down. He goes to Christian to slap his hand, but Christian teases him by pulling it away. He holds his hand out again for him, and Christopher makes another attempt to slap it, but Christian pulls it away again.

"Heyyy" Christopher says as he giggles. This goes on a few more times before Christian picks him up and tickles his side. He finally allows him to high five him, and Christopher slaps his hand as hard as he can. Mia makes her way over to me and gives me a hug, followed by Elizabeth. They both extend birthday wishes. Ethan is carrying Sophie. He puts her down next to Natalie so that they can hug. Our girls are so cute. I am so happy that they get along so well at their age. They actually ask for each other and look forward to spending time together. Ethan greets me with a peck on the cheek and then quickly excuses himself, having to already follow Christopher around since he had started running the moment Christian put him down. I look over to see that he was running toward Grace and Carrick for hugs and kisses. Mia and I giggle as we observe Ethan trying to control their over excited yet lovable son. He took off running because he saw his grandparents.

I look down and see that Natalie and Sophie are sitting on the floor. Probably not a good idea with this many adults walking around. Christian squats down and lifts them both into his arms, carrying them into the main room where we keep Natalie's toys. We had moved some of the toys out of the room just for the party, but we kept the castle and princess dolls so that the girls would be entertained. They both immediately start playing together. Christian wraps his arms around me and kisses my hair. "Let's sit down, Mrs Grey." He leads me over to the sofa and I sit with Carla and Scott. Carrick, Grace, Kate, Mia and Elizabeth are also seated on the sofa and love seat. Elliot and Christian stand and Elliot hands him a beer. Phoebe and Ava both appear with Trevor and Nathan. Poor Ava is on crutches, but she and Phoebe look absolutely beautiful. Christian reaches for Phoebe and kisses her temple. Elliot wraps an arm around Ava's shoulder and kisses her head. Their boyfriends then lead them over to some chairs that we have set up along the wall, which is where Sawyer, Collins and Dovis are hanging out with their girls. Lucas and Christopher are on the other side of the room. Lucas has been able to get Christopher to settle down into a board game. Let's see how long that lasts.

I talk to Carla and Scott about the kids and my plans to retire. While I talk to them I look over at my husband, and his eyes find mine. I am so happy in this moment with our family surrounding us in our home. I smile at him, and he smiles and winks at me.