AN: I totally made up some legal issues, just as I made up medical stuff. Welcome to fiction, anything is possible here winkwink

CHAPTER 5: A CONTRACT

It wasn't a difficult decision to make, not really. She already considered getting a donor as her best option, at least before talking to her dad. Raymond Steele wasn't a man who showed a lot of emotions, but he was very upset upon hearing the news and Carla's response. He assured Ana that she would still be a mother if her children didn't come from her body, and he was devastated that he didn't have enough money to support his daughter. When she decided to go to Grey Manor and decline their offer, she didn't expect to find Grace in such an awful state. She felt terrible at the way she made them fight, involuntarily. Carrick had been very soft and fatherly at the end of their talk, but she knew for sure that Carrick didn't like her, he just tolerated her presence.

Christian's offer hit them like a train, but after she went home, making a decision wasn't difficult at all. The money issue was such a relief, but she couldn't lie to herself in the privacy of her house: She accepted because having a child from the man she ever loved sounded amazing.

She wasn't under illusions; she knew that it wouldn't be the same as having a child with someone who loved her back. There wouldn't be visits to doctors, the joy of seeing their child on ultrasound, trips to toy shops to buy them stuff, late-night visits to restaurants for cravings, the happiness of feeling their kicks, attending pregnancy classes, etc. She knew that she'd do all of these things all by herself, Christian's offer wasn't getting together, and it certainly wasn't a declaration of love. But still, she felt excited. To have his child, even if he wanted nothing to do with them. Was it such a horrible thing to be happy about? To hope that he or she would get their eyes from him?

For the first time in forever, she felt hopeful about the future. She was excited and happy.

So she sat down at her old, second-hand computer and wrote him an email.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Yes.

Date: August 29, 2023 21:20 EST

To: Christian Grey

Christian,

I wanted to call you, but I think I express myself better when I'm writing and I'm doing my best not to get defensive about money. Which is very difficult to do, when you are smirking at me with your stupid billionaire face.

Thank you so much.

And yes, I'm accepting your offer. However, I have a few things I want to make clear, for the contract:

- I want it to be stated that you want nothing, no visitation rights, no right to get involved in the decisions about the baby, etc. Nothing at all.

- I'm worried about their future, you said you'll provide for us, but how? How do we measure how much we'll need? I can't come to you each time I need something, you know I won't.

- Are we going to tell people that you'll be the donor? My dad? Kate? Elliot and the rest of your family? Or you don't want them to know? I'll be fine either way.

- I think I wouldn't be opposed to your parents seeing them if you decide to tell them, but I want that to be also stated that I'll be the one to decide if, when and where, always.

- This one might come as a shock but, if we are going to tell to people, it'll eventually go to press and in this case, I want security.

- My apartment is not child friendly, it's very old and I'm afraid it's not very safe. Is it possible for me to move on somewhere else when I get pregnant?

- You said you want your bloodline to continue, do you want them to carry your last name? (This is not a demand, I don't want you to think that I want them to be Grey to show them off. I simply thought that you might want them to carry something of yours since you won't be there to raise them. I'm just asking for your honest opinion.)

- Are you aware that children might have disabilities or diseases? Are you prepared for that, too?

My head feels like it's going to explode. But is it bad that I'm also excited?

Thank you, really.

-Anastasia Steele

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Re: Yes.

Date: August 29, 2023 21:34 EST

To: Anastasia Steele

Miss Steele,

I wasn't expecting an answer this soon. Are you sure? If so, keep in mind that once I'm in, I'm all the way in. You can't constantly change your mind, so decide wisely.

About your points:

- I said I'll provide for you both, and I will. We can discuss the details but, do you really think that I'm going to make you ask for money every time you need money? Do you think that lowly of me?

- I want this child to carry my bloodline, not to be my dirty secret. I want to tell our close circle but you are about the press, too. People will eventually figure it out. So if you are not against it, I prefer to let people know.

- Of course, you'll have the right to choose whether you want to let my parents see the child and I'll make sure that it's added to the contract. But I also want to add something, you can't force me to see them. I know it sounds cold and unfeeling but I have no desire to be a father and I want to avoid being forced to do things. Hoping you won't be offended.

- You might want to check your temperature about security because I'm sure you are sick. Who are you and what have you done with Anastasia? (Of course, there will be security, it's nonnegotiable.)

- About living arrangements, I prefer you to stay with me. This way I can make sure that you are safe and well taken care of. But if you prefer not to, I'll provide you with a house or flat of your choice. Don't worry about this.

- I'm aware that a child comes with its health risks. It's not like I'm going to be the one to take care of them so you are the one who needs to consider these things when making a decision.

- Can I have some time to think about the surname?

I'm happy to see you excited Anastasia, you deserve everything you dream of.

- Stupid billionaire with a stupid billionaire face

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Living Arrangements

Date: August 29, 2023 22:00 EST

To: Christian Grey

Christian,

I'm not sure if it'll be a good idea for me to move in. Isn't the room I used to stay in being used now? You don't have any empty rooms and I'm afraid I don't want to hear you with your subs.

Of course, I wouldn't force you to see the baby, I understand your stance on seeing them and I'm not offended. Of course, we can put this as a closure in the contract. Do you want me to be included in that statement, too? I mean, are you going to start avoiding me after I get a positive test? Am I never going to see you again?

-Anastasia Steele

From: Christian Grey

Subject: Understatement

Date: August 29, 2023 22:05 EST

To: Anastasia Steele

Miss Steele,

I might be capable of great things but staying %100 away from you is not one of them.

I'm afraid my "Control Freak" tendencies are going to go overdrive once we start this and if you are not opposed to it, I prefer to be with you in all the stages until birth, to make sure you and the baby are taken care of.

I didn't have another submissive for the past 7 months and I can make sure that it's added to the contract that I won't for the duration of your pregnancy. Would it make you reconsider? You can take the guest room next to mine, I promise you, nobody else but Mia stayed there before.

I can hear the wheels turning in your head across the screen, stop overthinking this.

It's not a decision to take lightly but it's also not that complicated.

Go to sleep, Anastasia. I'll see you tomorrow.

Laters

-Christian Grey, CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc.

From: Anastasia Steele

Subject: Re: Understatement

Date: August 29, 2023 22:07 EST

To: Christian Grey

I'll think about moving in. And yes, I'd like it very much to add this to the contract. I won't be able to have sex in this time, you shouldn't be, too!

You know I have nobody else; I prefer not to be alone in any step of the pregnancy so yes, I'm not against you being more involved than a traditional donor.

I can't help it, I'm happy, scared, hopeful, and sad all at the time.

But you are right, I should go to sleep. I cried so much today, my eyes hurt.

Sweet dreams

P.S. Don't think that I'll be always this agreeable.

Laters

-Anastasia Steele

"Please say something." She begged her best friend. Kate was dumbfounded and frozen since Anastasia told her about Christian's news. Anastasia shook her shoulder. "Kate! Please, I'm about to freak out!" She blinked slowly and took a sip from her water.

"So let me get this straight. Your ex-boyfriend, who broke your heart, whom you are still madly in love with, is going to be your baby daddy?"

"Nooo! It's not like that! He wants nothing to do with the baby. He doesn't want to be a father. He just wants someone else to carry his bloodline. He is going to provide for us and we are going to make a contract stating that he has no rights over the baby."

"Honey, this is a terrible, terrible idea! You are in love with him! Why would you ask him, why did you set your heart up to break again?!"

"I didn't ask him!" Anastasia nearly shouted. "It wasn't my idea at all! It was his! He came to me and he tried to convince me!" Kate looked suspicious; she thought about what it meant for a moment. Her face suddenly lit up. "Wait, was this on Sunday? When you guys sneaked out?"

"Yes. But we didn't sneak out, I did. He followed me." A delighted smile broke out from Kate.

"Okay. Okay, I take my words back. If he made the offer, you should take it up to him. It's not like he's going to miss that money. Elliot said he makes 100,000 dollars per hour, just by sitting, even when he's sleeping."

"I- I didn't know that." Ana frowned. She had never been interested in his money and now feeling entitled to it felt wrong on so many levels.

"I know you didn't honey, don't worry about that. I'm just telling you that he can afford it. Try not to think about money."

"I'll try." She sighed. She was afraid to tell Kate about his offer to move in. She knew that she wanted to be with him as much as she could, but she wasn't sure if they would jump into bed immediately. They had chemistry, it felt like electricity buzzed between them when they were alone. And knowing that he didn't love her, it would be an awful idea to have sex.

"He… I told him that my apartment was very small and I needed another place to stay. He offered me to move in with him." She bit her lip, waiting for Kate's outrage. Instead, she got a meaningful nod.

"I'm glad, it's a good idea."

"What? Really?"

"Ana, even I was thinking about making you move in with us by force. You are going to go through a heavy surgery and a very risky pregnancy immediately after. We need to make sure you are taken care of and we can't do that if we are away. The mogul has a full security team and a housekeeper, you'll be safe and healthy there." She tilted her head, watching her best friend's face. "But you look like you wanted me to object. Why?"

"I'm afraid that I'm going to jump his bones, and it's a very, very bad idea." Kate burst out laughing, rubbing Ana's shoulder.

"It's not! I heard pregnancy makes women very horny, you can climb him like a jungle gym."

"Kate!"

"Whatt?" She was laughing and trying to talk at the same time. "Honey, it's okay to have casual sex, too. I'm sure he'll be fine with it. Besides, how are you going to make the baby?"

"In the lab?" There was a hidden duh in Anastasia's tone. She scrunched her nose.

"Really? Why?"

"What do you mean why?! We are not together anymore! We can't make a baby by having sex!" Kate smiled at Ana, in a very kind, motherly way.

"Sometimes I forget how inexperienced you are. You don't need to be together romantically to have sex. I recall that you are the one who broke things off with Christian, right? He was ready to have you just physically if you didn't break up. Why wouldn't you? Now that there is a need. You guys have crazy chemistry, it's obvious even from the outside. You are going to be living together anyway, so why not make a baby, traditional way? The lab baby sounds so unromantic and kinda scary, to be honest." Anastasia frowned. She hadn't thought about it, but Kate had a point. Going into a clinic and getting shots etc. didn't seem like the most poetic way to get pregnant.

"I'm already in love with him. I was just moving on, I'm afraid it's going to get worse." She finally admitted the root of her worries, whispering.

"Honey, like you said, you are already in love. Sometimes being delusional works, do it. Try not to think a lot about the future and think about just having sex and having a baby with someone you love, okay?" She nodded but she was startled when Kate shrieked.

"Oh my god! It just hit me! You are going to be a mother!" Anastasia's eyes were immediately filled with tears.

"I'm going to be a mother." She agreed. Both hugged each other, laughing and crying at the same time.

Christian Grey immediately smelled something delicious, when he left his study. Gail was humming to herself and cooking, it reminded her of him the morning after his first night with Anastasia. She was dancing and cooking pancakes, he smiled at the memory.

"It smells delicious, Gail."

"It's just steak with some vegetables, I hope you and Miss Steele will like it, sir."

"You can take the rest of the evening off after serving dinner, we'll take it from here." She just nodded but after knowing for years, he noticed the frown on her face meant that she wanted to ask something but worried that she'd cross a line. He didn't blame them for being cautious around him, he knew that sometimes he treated Gail and Taylor as staff but sometimes as close friends, surely it must be confusing them. How pathetic was it that a 29-year-old man had no other friends than his staff? He tried not to think about it as he watched her cook, leaning on the table.

"Sir, may I ask a question?" He nodded.

"Are you and Miss Steele back together? Should I start cleaning her room and the other room again?" He sighed. He knew that he was going to get the first question a lot, especially after his family learned about him being the donor. The second question also made sense, he told Gail not to bother with the playroom in the second month after their breakup. He couldn't stomach the thought of entering the playroom again, after what happened there the last time. He didn't want to tell Gail the whole truth, since they didn't even tell their families, but it didn't sit right with him to lie, either.

"We are not back together in the traditional sense but Miss Steele will start living with me, soon. She'll take the guest bedroom next to mine so you might get it ready. No need to clean the playroom, it can stay locked." Her frown deepened but she didn't say anything else.

He thought about his playroom and the promise he made to Anastasia about not having a sub during her pregnancy. He didn't mean to imply that he wouldn't have sex at all, he was sure that at one point his hesitancy about scenes and submissives would've vanished and he'd want sex. He simply meant that he wouldn't have a contracted submissive, he planned to visit some clubs or maybe use a few of his hotels when he wrote that in the e-mail. Her answer made him laugh but eventually, he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to promise her not to have sex. He rubbed his face; it was so difficult to decide. On one hand, he was already celibate. He tried a few clubs in Seattle, after their breakup. He didn't even get hard when he entered the private rooms or even the public scenes they performed in the club. All he could think about was how he hurt Anastasia, how hard she cried and her scream at him not to touch her. After that he didn't even bother to go, he just focused on work and working out. Sometimes he woke up hard, he saw himself and Anastasia in his dreams, and he touched himself then. And sometimes in the shower but that was it. So promising Anastasia not to have sex during her pregnancy didn't seem like such a big deal. But he always thought that his high stamina and obsession with BDSM was a part of himself. He was a sexual being, he had needs, didn't he? He shouldn't be this hung up on a simple incident of losing his submissive.

On the other hand, clarifying that he was free to have sex, would mean that Anastasia had the same right, too. He felt his blood coil already when he thought about someone else's hands touching Anastasia, he couldn't imagine letting her have sex with someone else when she was carrying his child. That felt wrong on so many levels.

He raised his head from his hands at the sound of the elevator and watched as the doors opened. Anastasia walked in, a floaty, yellow sundress on and her hair was swaying gently as she walked to him, smiling. She looked so beautiful and so happy, he hadn't seen her this happy for a long while. He felt himself smiling at her as she walked and hugged him.

"Hi!"

"Hi!" They just looked at each other, both smiling. Until Gail interrupted.

"Good evening Miss Steele, it's very nice to see you."

"Hi, Gail!" She quickly went over and hugged her. "It's good to see you, too. How are you? How's everything?"

"All is well, thank you." She walked back to him, leaving her bag on the floor unceremoniously and sitting down.

"How are you? How was your day?"

"I'm good, Anastasia. It's been a long day at work."

"You are working so hard all the time!"

"Millions don't make themselves." He smirked.

"Apparently they do.." She giggled at his confused face. "It's just, that Elliot told Kate that you make over 100.000 dollars per hour, without doing anything. Isn't that right?" It was more than that but he didn't correct her.

"Yes."

"So that means millions do make themselves." He rolled his eyes and watched as she fake gasped and put a hand on her chest.

"Mr Grey! Did you just roll your eyes at me? How rude!" He leaned over the table, putting his hand on top of hers and gently caressing her hand with one finger. He looked seductively into her eyes and licked his lips, making her look down at them. He whispered,

"Yes, I did. Would you like to punish me, Miss Steele?" Her eyes got as big as saucers, her hand shaking underneath his. She blushed and blabbered

"I-I… What?" He smirked and pulled his hand, leaning back in his chair. It was good to know that he still had the same effect on her, that she still desired him. He watched her shake her head, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, her blue eyes were accusing.

"That wasn't nice!"

"I never claimed to be nice."

"Ugh, you are insufferable." She tried to sound annoyed, but she couldn't keep the smile out of her face. He remembered how much he enjoyed making her shy and frustrated, she was a delight, with her beautiful body and incredible shyness.

Gail served them dinner and wished them a good evening, leaving the couple to themselves. Anastasia immediately relaxed; she forgot how tense she felt to let someone do her stuff for her. She got used to Gail but then they broke up and now she was used to being by herself, doing everything herself. They started eating quietly, occasionally commenting on food but both lost in their own thoughts. Christian's silence worried Anastasia, usually, he would be the first one to initiate important topics like this. She took a deep breath.

"Did you change your mind?"

"What? No! Did you?"

"No. But you are unnaturally quiet, it's okay if you don't want to do this. I prefer that you change your mind now, than after I get all my hopes up." He shook his head.

"No, no! I didn't change my mind, I even got the contract ready, after our talk with our lawyers." She frowned. Mr. Lautner was a nice man but she didn't like that he was paid by Christian, also she didn't like how he tried to make Christian promise her more money. Especially when he already gave her no budget during pregnancy, promised a trust fund for the child, and calculated very generously for their all needs for 18 years. He already gave her so much and she wanted to strangle the lawyer when he suggested that they add more. She refused and told Christian that she wouldn't sign if they changed the money. "This is an untouched territory for me as it is for you, I'm just trying to organize my thoughts." She nodded. She couldn't believe how much they had done just in 3 days, they got the legal aspect ready, both got full checkups in the hospital, to see if there was anything they should consider, and they flew to Seattle, to talk to the gyno Christian had found, Jennifer Caster, and they got her surgery scheduled for Sunday, which was only 2 days away. She already knew that money made things easier but until last week, she didn't know how much easier. If they were normal people, everything they had done would've taken months.

"Did you have time to think about the surname?" He frowned, along with the sex issue, this one was the second topic that he couldn't seem to make his mind up.

"Can we leave that to later?" She nodded. She understood that it was a complicated decision to make and she didn't want to rush him. She would be fine either way so it wasn't such a crucial thing to decide now.

"Are you sure about the rights of the child, Christian?" Her voice was quiet since this was a sore spot since their meeting with the lawyers. Christian wanted the contract to be worded as he had no claim over the child and he wasn't going to be a part of their lives but also as the communication door will be open if the Anastasia or child has a problem about anything in future. His lawyer was vehemently against it and he went as far as to tell Ana that "maybe her child will want to never work and just take money to live" in the future. It made her feel sick and she suggested that they added "no responsibilities" to the contract, to make sure that the child also had no rights over Christian's money. He was deeply against it and he screamed at his lawyer to drop this or he would fire him. She was already scared that he or his family would see her as a gold digger, but she had no other choice, and Christian was the one to offer. But having her child blamed for being a gold digger also struck a chord.

He sighed and went around the table, pulling her into his arms. He squeezed her tightly.

"Anastasia, I never want you or your child to want for anything. I know that you think that I'm already giving you a lot but you never know. You never know what situation you will find yourself in in the future, I won't be there. I just want to know that if something happens and you find yourself in a difficult position, it doesn't even need to be about money, you'll know that you have an open door, always. It could be an accident, sickness, problems with law, anything, really. I'll drive myself crazy, thinking that you might be in a difficult situation and too proud to come to me. Can we leave it as it is in the contract, please? To give me peace of mind?"

"Aren't you worried about what your lawyer said?" She said, her voice muffled because she pressed her face to his t-shirt, inhaling his scent. "What if they grow up to be freeloaders? You won't want to find a man or woman on your doorstep, wanting you to give them what they want. You won't be able to refuse them if they have this opening in the contract. You are working so hard for all you have and you already give me so much. You are paying for the surgery, my rent until pregnancy, and everything else. You don't deserve to be abused like this, not now, not in the future." He squeezed her tighter, the silly girl didn't understand that this was precisely why he wanted to give her all he had. Because she didn't want it.

"Anastasia, look at me." She raised her head, looking up at him. "It's impossible for your child to be a freeloader. They'll have you as their mother, they are already the luckiest in the whole world. They are going to be amazing, and capable. I just want them to have me as a security net, okay? Don't make a big deal out of this and please don't cry." She laughed, he could see her eyes filling with tears. She forced herself to nod and pull away from him.

"Okay, have it your way." She mumbled. Kate's suggestion about making the baby "natural way" plagued her mind all this time but she wasn't sure how to bring it up.

"Did you talk to Ray?"

"Yeah." She scrunched her face. "He wasn't very happy about the donor being my ex-boyfriend but he softened when I told him about the contract. He told me that he's going to visit after my surgery, next week. He'll probably want to see you, sorry about that in advance."

"It's okay, I can handle Ray."

"And did you talk to your family? Kate's having a difficult time keeping it a secret from Elliot. She agreed that he has the right to hear this from his brother but you know, I'm sure it's difficult to keep a secret from your husband."

"No, honestly, I'm kind of worried about their reaction."

"Yeah, I can understand that, especially Carrick." She sighed, he was probably going to think that she was trying to trap Christian with the baby.

"It doesn't really matter, we are both adults, this is our decision." She nodded. She licked her lips, trying to think of a way to bring up the baby-making part, which made her whole face blush. He watched her curiously, she rarely blushed that deep.

"Miss Steele, what is it?" She bit her lip, the sight going directly to his dick. He groaned internally, he was so cocky about his effect on her that he almost forgot how much she affected him, too.

"I want to talk about something else, too." He waited, watching her play with the soft fabric of her dress, her face getting redder. "Umm, do you agree with what Jennifer said, about the process? Artificial insemination, I mean?" He didn't understand what she meant, the procedure seemed easy enough. He goes to a room to jerk off, they take his sperm, make a baby, and put it into her belly. What was there to agree or not?

"I'm afraid I don't understand. Do you want to go to another specialist? We can do that, of course! I'll look up more-"

"No!" Her outburst was like a flash of light but after that her shoulders dropped, her blush leaving her face. "I'm being stupid, never mind."

"No, tell me, what is it?"

"No."

"Anastasia." His voice was commanding, his "Dom voice" as she named it. She shuddered and tried to take a deep breath, he wasn't helping, at all. "You will tell me what is it, right now."

"I-I think…" She took a shuddering breath. "I think I'm a little bit scared of the whole process. It sounds very clinical and not what I imagine when I think of being a mother." She took another breath and looked up at him, her eyes vulnerable. "Will you be opposed to making a baby in the traditional way?"

His face was a picture of pure shock, Ana noticed that it never even crossed his mind. She felt very stupid then, she kept forgetting that he didn't love her as she loved him and probably didn't think about her as often as she thought about him. Maybe it was even disgusting to think about making love to her again-no, not making love, fucking her. Christian Grey didn't make love. A few moments later, he was still looking at her in surprise and she felt so little and so humiliated.

"I'm sorry, you are right." She said, rushing to take her bag and leave with the little dignity she had left. "It's not fair to ask something like this, I- I'm really sorry. We'll do it like they said. I just need to go home now, thank you for the dinner." She spoke as quickly as she could and rushed to the foyer. She kept pressing the button of the elevator repeatedly, it was getting difficult to keep her tears at bay but she already humiliated herself, she couldn't break down.

"Anastasia, stop!" He shouted, rushing after her. He was much taller than her, it didn't take him long to catch up. He grabbed her hand pressing repeatedly to the button and hugged her. She struggled, trying to get out of his arms but he held her tight.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I was just very surprised, please stay. Let's talk about this."

"There is nothing to talk about, it was a stupid idea, I'm sorry. You probably don't even want to lay a hand on me, don't you? I'm not your submissive and I'm sure I was already the worst one you had so it makes sense that you don't want to-" He couldn't think of another way to stop her word vomit and frankly her low opinion of herself was already getting on his nerves, he grabbed her neck, kissing her deeply.

AN: Does this one count as a cliffhanger? If so, I'm truly sorry! :D

I enjoyed reading your comments, even though I wasn't able to reply to all. Can't wait to hear about your opinions!