Chapter 12:

"And if one remembers correctly, forcing their will on another can be dangerous to their health, Mr. Grey." Her blue eyes were stone cold. She then smiled. "But it is the season, and I will be more than happy to accept your kiss…but only on the cheek." She offered her right cheek. He leaned forward and kissed her softly. She took a step back and nodded. "Merry Christmas, Christian."

"Merry Christmas, Anastasia." His hands were thrust into his pants pockets and balled. He looked about his parents' home trying to find something else to say.

"Grace invited Trista and I to Christmas Dinner. I hope that won't be a bother to you."

"I don't see how that would. Mom and Dad are enamored of their first grandchild. I would never stand in the way of their happiness with Trista." He swallowed hard, still nervous. "I was wondering what I could get her for Christmas."

"There is no need. I am sure between the grandparents and Santa; Trista will make out like a bandit." She laughed softly, "And let's not forget your brother and sister. They spoil her as it is."

"But she is my child…and I feel…I should…"

"Christian, calm down. What is it that you truly want?" Without thinking, Ana reached out to him and took his hands into her own. "Do you want more with Trista?"

He nodded. "I want to know more about her. Is she like me? Will she like me knowing what I did with her mother?"

"I don't think that is a subject that will ever be brought up soon. Trista likes everyone who is kind to her."

"She seems to be very sweet."

Ana took Christian by the arm, and they started to walk down the hall toward the family room. "She can be very sweet and devilish, and at the same time. Trista likes what normal children like, toys, sweets, and attention. She is the biggest ham! Let her start singing and you have an hour-long concert!" Ana's giggle was soothing to Christian. He paid no attention to the fact that she was holding his arm and leading him into the family room where they found Trista on Carrick's lap unwrapping chocolates.

"Carrick Grey, what I have told you about giving her sweets before a meal? Counselor, you are in contempt of this mother's court, and I fine you … the rest of the candy." Ana stood in front of Carrick and snapped her fingers demanding the bag of candy that he tried to hide behind his back.

"You are busted, Carrick." Ray said laughing. For once, he was in the clear. "You might as well throw yourself on the mercy of the court."

Elliot sidled close to his brother and with a chuckle. "Now you know who reigns supreme in this house. Ana has become the queen bee in our parents' eyes. Lord, help us all!"

And reign she did. Ana was revered in this home. Grace, Carrick, Elliot and even Mia were charmed by her endless love for her child.

Christmas Morning at the Greys:

Trista was wide-eyed when she spotted the Christmas Tree at her Grandparent's home. Gifts were stacked half-way up the tree. Her Aunt Mia stood beside the tree and announced that most of the gifts belonged to a special little girl. Trista clapped with glee.

Ana rolled her eyes as she placed her daughter on her little feet and watched as the girl ran to her aunt. Her daughter was going to be spoiled big time today and there wasn't a thing she could do about it!

"I think you two over-did it." Ana whispered to Grace and Carrick who stood beside her.

"It wasn't us. We are innocent. It's Santa Clause." Carrick offered with a chuckle.

"Pretty weak, Counselor." Ana replied shaking her head.

Within moments, Trista, with the help of Mia, was tearing through gifts. Each gift was ooed and awed over. Trista opened the last gift and was silenced. She touched the face of a beautiful baby doll that resembled her greatly. "Mama." Trista said softly.

Ana scooted herself closer to her daughter to examine the doll. It was a replica of Trista when she was a baby. "Oh, Trista, she is lovely. She looks like you."

Trista held the baby close to her heart. "She's, my favorite." The little girl said with conviction.

Grace smiled gently. She knew where this gift came from. Christian had sent many of the gifts as his contribution for the Santa gifts, but this baby-doll was very special. Christian had asked for a photograph of Trista as a baby and had the doll customed made to resemble his daughter.

"Christian?" Carrick asked his wife. Trista was showing Ana the baby doll's precious clothing and the doll layette that accompanied it. Grace only nodded. Carrick nodded his head. "He did good."

Mia and Ana cleaned up the discarded wrapping paper as Trista sat on her grandma's lap rocking her babydoll that she named Rose. Mia held up a small gift that was addressed to Ana from Santa. "Looks like someone was a good girl." Mia teased.

Ana took the offered gift and opened it. She opened the box to find a beautiful bracelet made of her and Trista's birthstones of sapphires and rubies in a platinum setting.

"Hey, Christian did good." Mia announced as she admired the sparkling jewels.

"He shouldn't have." Ana softly said.

"Yes, he should. You are the mother of his child." Mia took the box from Ana and lifted the bracelet from the packaging. Without another word, she placed the bracelet on Ana's right wrist. "There, it's perfect."

Ana was about to reply when a booming voice wishing everyone a Merry Christmas filled the house. Elliot Grey was in residence. He barreled into the family room with even more gifts. "Ho, Ho, Ho, Santa's favorite elf is here." he proclaimed. "I was walking into the house, and I found this bag of gifts. I guess Santa must have dropped it." He plopped the bag on the floor before the tree and opened his big arms for the little girl running towards him. Elliot picked her up and swung her over his head. "And, lookee here. I found a little angel." He looked at Ana who rolled her eyes and shook her head. There was no use of fighting this! Trista was going to get spoiled rotten today and again, there wasn't a thing she could do about it!

It was close to noon when Christian arrived for Christmas dinner. He kissed his mother hello and shook his father's and brother's hand. He turned to be met with an excited Mia who wrapped her arms about him and hugged. "Merry Christmas, Mia." He gave the top of her dark head a kiss. "I'm sorry, I didn't get here earlier. The Darfur shipment was hijacked and I've been on the phone with international officials trying to get answers." His eyes found Trista who was still holding her baby doll then drifted over to Ana. He had to smile. Ana was wearing her bracelet and Trista was enthralled with her new doll. He went to Trista and bent down in front of her. "Hey, little lady, what you got there?"

"Santa brought me a baby." She smiled up at the man. She still didn't know that he was her sire. "Her name is Rose and she looks like me!" Trista proudly showed her doll.

"She is the prettiest baby I've ever seen." Christian declared so very satisfied that he had made her happy.

"I want a little sister." Trista declared cuddling her doll closer.

The room became silent as everyone looked to Ana and then to Christian. The silence was thick with anxiety.

"Well, I am available if you need a baby-daddy." Elliot declared with a smirk that caused Grace to turn thirteen shades of red. Only her oldest could be so crude yet adorable!

"Um, thank you for the offer, but I don't think so." Ana said with a nervous laugh.

"Think about it, with your brains and my looks, our kid would take over the world!" Elliot joked.

"Would you shut up?" Christian said lowly. His gray eyes bore into his older brother with a warning that promised a painful beat-down if he continued.

"Just trying to help, geez!" Elliot shrugged his shoulders. He knew what he was doing. He did love getting under Christian's skin.

Carrick stood up quickly hoping to defuse the situation. "Trista, let's go see if dinner is ready." He offered his hand to the little girl. "I think I smell pumpkin pie."

"We can't have pie yet. Pop-Pop Ray isn't here yet." Trista wrapped her arms around her grandfather Carrick's neck. "Do you think he went fishing? It's too cold to go fishing. The fish must be frozen." Her chatter could be heard down the hall as Carrick took her away from the uncomfortable situation in the family room.

"Elliot Grey, I can't believe you said that!" Ana said, trying not to laugh. "You know how Trista is. She will start asking questions and pestering me for a sister."

"I was just offering my services." He replied with fake innocence. He then began to laugh. "You should have seen the looks on your faces."

Christmas Dinner

Ray Steele made it for Christmas Dinner, and he brought more gifts for a certain little girl and her mother. Ana only smiled knowing that she could not argue with a loving Grandfather. She, did, however insist that these gifts should wait until after dinner to be opened. Her child needed to eat.

Christian watched silently as the family shared a meal and talked comfortably with each other. Trista and Ana had found their positions in the Grey family and were totally accepted. Grace and Carrick were over the moon to have a beautiful granddaughter and they adored Ana as well.

Carrick watched Christian closely. He could tell that Christian wanted so much more with his daughter and her mother. It was quite evident that his younger son was very much in love with these two females. He gave Grace a wink as she smiled at him from across the table. Maybe, just maybe, Christian found a woman who would complete his life as Grace did for him.

After dinner, Trista pulled her Pop-Pop Ray into the family room so she could open her gifts. Ray had a little something for everyone. Carrick was gifted a new fishing pole and a promise that they would go fishing soon. Grace was given a lovely necklace of pearls, Mia was given a ten-visit gift package to a high-end spa salon, and Elliot was the given a new set of woodworking tools. Christian was surprised to receive a wine collection from France. Ray gave his daughter an envelope which she opened to find papers.

"Dad, what is this?"

"It's our end-of-year report on SSE. You are now a billionaire, Annie."

"Holy shit!" Elliot exclaimed lowly. "Now, my offer is really serious."

"Shut it, Elliot." Christian growled. He turned to Ana and gave her a smile. "Congratulations and welcome to the club."

"What offer?" Ray asked when Elliot's words finally registered on him.

"It's nothing, Dad, just Elliot being Elliot." Ana placed the papers back into envelope. "This is nice, Dad, but I was hoping for a new fishing pole also."

Without missing a step, Ray produced another gift which was wrapped beautifully. She opened it to find a fishing pole and lures. She looked up at him with a giant smile. "I think we are heading to Minnesota for walleye fishing."

"Bright girl I have here." Ray said as he caught his daughter who pole-vaulted into his arms. "We will go in the summer."

"Mama, play the piano." Trista said after going through all her presents. She had more dolls, a paint set, her own little fishing pole, and new boots. She scooted off the sofa and went to the piano. "Mama, please, play our song."

Ana looked to Grace for permission which Grace gave graciously. Ana sat at the piano with Trista by her side. "Okay, little one, where is middle C?"

"Right here, mama." Trista gave a sweet smile. "I remember."

"Yes, you did." Ana gave Trista a kiss on the head. "Now, let me try to remember…" She went into an elegant introduction to a song…then stopped when Trista nudged her. She laughed then launched into "Santa Clause is coming to town". Mother and daughter sang together complete with ho, ho, hos and ended with a Merry Christmas. Trista leaned against her mother as Ana went into a more serious Christmas song. She played and sang "Silent Night" with such beauty that there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Christian was amazed by this woman. His heart of stone was chipped away, and he even felt a tear slide down his cheek. Mia leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder. "She is extraordinary, Christian. We love her and Trista so much."

"I know, Mia." He loved them also but wouldn't dare to voice it. He would only hurt them. "I know."