A/N: This is going to be the last chapter. I hate to say this, but I really lost my mojo for the story. I tried and tried to get back into it, but I couldn't. The last chapter, where he visited his mother's grave, was something I really wanted to do from the beginning, along with the ending I wrote. But, sometimes it's better to finish on a high note then try to drag it on. Plus, everything has been solved from the books, and I didn't feel the need to make more drama. I hope though I finish it nicely for all you (you may need tissues for the end?)… I even edited chapter 18 changing a few words to make the story flow right (there's no more nuts coming like Ang suggested in that chapter 18 -that's been edited) Thank you all for following and reviewing. I appreciated all the love and support of this story!-enjoy
Friday September 9th 2011
The days draw on, in once was our hectic lives together, finally became more simple, normal even. The people that threaten to come between us were gone. Either in jail or a psych ward. I wonder how different life would have been if I wasn't given this chance. If I end up having to go back to that life, would I still be able to salvage it.
It's getting close to that time when the locket will glow red or blue for my answer. I feel almost confident that I will be able to stay in this new life. This better life. A life I never thought in a million years I could have.
Today is day before Ana's birthday. Instead of us getting ready for her party tomorrow night, she throws a curveball at me. A new challenge that I wasn't sure would happen for a time to come. Ten minutes ago, my life changed forever. Again.
"What's going on with you?" I ask Ana as we sit down for dinner. She's been acting insanely quiet tonight. She keeps nibbling at her fingernails, a habit that I learned she does when she's nervous.
"I'm not sure how to tell you…" She says softly, her worried baby blues stare at me.
"Just tell me." My heart starts to pound in my chest. This isn't like her, she's not normally shy to tell me what's on her mind.
"I'm pregnant!" My eyebrows raise into my hairline, as she bites her lips and stares down at her plate.
"What?" I ask, wondering if I heard her correctly.
"I'm pregnant. When I went to see Dr. Greene today, she um- gave me a pregnancy test. It was positive- so she did an ultrasound." She reaches into her bag that's laying on the table and pulls out the evidence of her doctor's visit and hands it me.
I take the paper from her, my eyes have yet to leave her face. I think I've gone into shock. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears, my heart is thumping out of my chest.
"She thinks that the shot failed or ran out early. She said it happens. Or maybe we just have to much sex that it couldn't fight off all your little soldiers," She gives a nervous giggle. But, stops when she sees I haven't reacted.
"You're mad, aren't you?" She says meekly and I can see the tears well up in her eyes. I want to reach out and hug her, but I feel glued to my seat. I'm watching her now and I can see her mouth moving, but I can't hear anything but my heartbeat.
I finally buck up the courage to look at the paper I'm holding in my hand. I'm not sure really what I'm looking at. It's like a little gray dot in the middle of a black hole.
That's a baby?
When I finally look up again to Ana. She's gone.
I finally snap out of state of shock, and stand to my feet and go in search of my runaway wife.
I jog to our bedroom and when I push open the door, I can hear muffled sobbing, which makes me believe she's crying into a pillow.
I slowly walk into the room and crawl into the bed and gather her in my arms. Her head falls into my chest as she cries into me. I brush her hair back, "Shh…" I tell her and kiss the top of her head. "Please don't cry Ana."
"You're...not…happy." She hiccups.
"I never said that." I tell her calmly.
"You wouldn't say anything. I know we didn't want this right now. You just stared at me I couldn't tell if you were mad or not. I've never seen you express so many facial expressions in just a couple of minutes. I'm sorry." She sniffs loudly.
"Why are you sorry? We're having a baby." I tell her.
Her crying ceases and you want to talk about a mix of emotions written on a face, she would be one to talk right now.
"What?" I chuckle at her, she looks so adorable right now.
"From what you showed me, I'm guessing the little dot would be our baby?"
She nods at me and a smile traces her lips. I take my thumbs and wipe the tears from her face. I kiss the little v on her forehead, then kiss her lips that are always so soft when she cries.
"Blip." She says softly
"Blip?" I question
"I thought he or she kind of looked like a blip." she smiles up at me.
"I like that." I spread my hand over her stomach. "Our blip." Ana sniffles and lays back into my chest. I reach over and grab the tissues off the nightstand and place the box in her lap. She takes a couple of tissues and blows her nose.
"Were you really that scared to tell me?"
"Nervous, worried. We talked on our honeymoon about waiting a couple years. So, when Dr. Greene told me I was pregnant I was surprised. I just got overworked about how you would react. I had a hundred different scenarios running through my head."
"I can agree to it being a surprise too. So, I'm guessing this is a product of all that riding of my dick on our honeymoon?"
"Oh, no you can't blame me for all the sexing Grey. I remember being tied up and at your mercy many of times."
"Mmm. Yes, I remember it all fondly. In fact-" I lift her up and throw her down on the bed. I crawl onto of her and kiss her. Her tongue tangos with mine as her hands reach through my hair and tug.
I part my lips from hers and kiss down the side of her neck, over her collarbone to the swell of her breast. I nuzzle my face in them, before looking back up at her. "I think I'm going to have to enjoy these, before I have to start sharing them."
She giggles in return to my statement, "well, why don't you suck on them now, because I think they're in desperate need of your attention."
"Is that so?"
"Mm-hmm"
"Well, I wouldn't want to ignore the girls if they are aching."
I roll up her shirt and pull her bra cups down. I roll her nipples with my fingers and feel as they pebble under my touch. I take my precious time, sucking and licking them as she quivers below me.
I move to kiss my way down to her stomach and plant several kisses on her stomach, "Hello our little invader. Daddy loves you already, and if you find yourself bouncing around alot, that's just mommy and daddy playing."
Ana giggles and shoves me shoulder. "Christian."
"What? He can't hear me yet." I look up at her and she's shaking her head at me.
She pushes the top of head downwards, "You're pushy woman."
"I want your lips on me." She begs.
"We aim to please, Mrs. Grey. Because my lips are dying to be on yours."
September 10th 2011
"Happy birthday beautiful." I whisper to her as I gently touch her cheek. She moans and closes her eyes tighter.
"Go Away." she mumbles and tries to swat my hand away.
"No." I tell her as I nuzzle my chin into her shoulder. "I have things planned for you today."
Her eyes open partly and she's glaring at me. "No, I want birthday sleep. You kept me up most of the night, and in return I would like sleep before we do whatever these plans you say you have are."
"But I have gifts, and we are to be in Bellevue in two hours."
"Fine, wake me in an hour." She swats me away to roll over on her stomach and buries her head under her pillow.
I remove the blanket that's covering her naked form and smack her bare ass.
"Fine, we'll get your birthday spankings done early."
"Christian!" she squeals as a pillow comes at my head. "I'm up, and I don't like you very much right now."
I smack her again, "I don't need you to like me, I just need you to get up."
"Fine, but I'm taking a shower- alone." She sits up and moves out of the bed.
"Are you sure you don't need help washing your back?" I call out after her, but before I finish she closes the bathroom door on me.
I pull on my shirt and make my way to the kitchen to greet Gail. I wanted to try and make breakfast for my wife, but thought against it. For one, I want her to actually like what she's eating. And two, she doesn't need food poisoning, especially now that she's pregnant
Pregnant! It's still hard to believe that I'm going to be a father. I'm shaking in my boots at the thought, but I think this is something I can do. This little person is solely going to rely on me and Ana for everything.
"I'm going to be a Dad."
I hear a couple dishes clatter in the sink and I realized I just said that statement out loud. I watch Gail turn around to look at me, as she wipes her hands on her hand towel.
"Congratulations, sir." Gail almost looks bewilder. I'm pretty sure she never expected me to say those words before.
"Thank you, Gail. Let Mrs. Grey be the one to tell you though. I didn't mean to say that aloud." I smile at her, as I pull out a tray.
"Very well. But, if I may sir." I nod. "You're beaming and it's a delight to see. You two will be wonderful parents." She tells me.
I can't say anything back to that. No matter how much easier life is now, compliments are still not my strong suit.
"Is breakfast ready?" I ask, trying to change the subject.
"Yes, sir. Mrs. Grey's favorite. Pancakes, eggs, and bacon."
"Gail?"
"Yeah?"
"Call her Ana and me Christian." I tell her after I set up the tray. "You're practically family, so I don't think we need the formalities anymore." I pick her up the tray and walk back to the bedroom before giving her a chance to answer.
I lay the tray on the nightstand and grab the gifts out the drawer. The bathroom door opens and Ana walks out, with her hair in a messy bun and a white fluffy robe.
"You still don't like me?" I ask as she moves towards me.
"Ah, you must have been talking to lack of sleep Ana, fully awake Ana adores you." She tells me before planting her lips on mine.
"I made you breakfast." I tell her patting to the side of her bed so she sits down
"You? Made? Breakfast?" She looks at me skeptically asking each word as a question.
"I mean, no, I put it on this tray for you to eat." I give her my winning smile.
"Ok, good. You scared me there for a second." She grins and sits down on the bed. I pick up the tray and place it over her. "I hope you're sharing this with me. I don't have to eat for two yet."
"Yes, I'm sharing. Dig in." She bites into her pancakes and moans out. "These are so good."
I take a bite and she's right they are good. "I was thinking we could tell our families today about the baby."
She knits her eyebrows together, "I think it's a little early, most people wait till after they're twelve weeks, before saying anything."
"Oh," I say sulkily
I don't know if I will be able to keep myself from shouting it from the rooftops.
"I mean if we could just keep it to the immediate family that should be fine."
"You sure?" I beam
"Yeah, plus they might figure something is wrong when I turn down the alcohol. Especially, Kate, I'm sure it will be her first guess." She giggles. I move to sit next to her and kiss her cheek. I place my hand over her stomach.
"Who would've thought four months ago, we would be married and with a baby on the way." I muse aloud.
"I didn't, but I couldn't be happier. It's like this was always meant to be in a way."
"Like maybe no matter what path we took, you think we could've still been here?" I ponder the thought, if Ang didn't give me my second chance, was there still a chance Ana might have come back?
If she did I probably would've been a bigger asshole and god knows how old Christian would have acted to this pregnancy. I don't think he would be floating on cloud nine right now.
"Ok, so I have two things for you."
"You know you didn't have to get me anything."
"Sure, I did. I'd buy you the world if I could." I hand her the long sliver box first.
She opens it open and it relieves a charm bracelet. "Christian, this is beautiful."
"There's a charm for all our firsts together. Although, I'm going to have to add one more-"
There's a bed, an ice cream cone, the Eiffel Tower, a Helicopter, and a heart with our initials in it.
"It's perfect, Christian." She touches my face and kisses me hard, "Can you put it on me?"
I take the bracelet and put it on her wrist. "I have one more." I had her a smaller black box.
"Christian-" she says softly as she opens the box and pulls out a pair of keys. "What?" She looks at them questionably.
"Remember when we got back from our honeymoon, you mentioned how much you liked the R8?"
"You bought me an R8?" She gasps.
"White, I think was the color you wanted."
"Can I drive it today?" Her eyes gleam with excitement.
"I think we should be able to work that out. Now finish eating, then we can get ready."
X-x-x-x-x
Ana drives her new R8 to my parents' house and I feel like I aged ten years. I think I might consider giving her driving lessons.
"Oh, keep your hair on." She turns to me when she turns off the engine and gets out of the car.
"You do know you don't have to go fifty around corners, right?" I tell her as I join her to walk to the door.
"Why fifty is a good number." She kisses my cheek, before turning the handle and walking in the house.
"You know I still owe you birthday spankings, and I just might add a few more."
"Hmm," She turns at glares at me, "You act like that's like a punishment, when all I have to say to that is; bring it on." I grab her hand and pull her body flushed with mine and kiss her soundly.
The thing that brings us apart is multiple clearing of throats. Both our heads spin in the direction and notice my parents, Carla, Bob, Ray, Elliot, Mia and Kate staring at us.
Opps.
"Mom-" Ana breaks out of my hold and goes and hugs her mother. "You came..."
"Yes, your husband sent for us. My baby girl is 22. Only seems like yesterday that I had you-" Carla says starting to tear up.
"Ok mom." She pats her shoulder.
"Oh, sweetie you'll understand one day when you have kids." Ana and I both still and look at each other. I can't help the grin on my face, but I know now isn't the time to say anything, especially with Ana shaking her head at me mouthing 'not yet.'
"Holy crap, you're pregnant!" Kate blurts out and quickly covers her mouth. "Oh, my god, I'm sorry- I just saw that look you two exchanged-"
"Good way to ruin a moment, Kate!" Ana rolls her eyes at her, but then a broad grin spreads across her face. She takes my hand and nods at me.
"But, yes we're having a baby. It's still early, but we were going to tell you all later." Ana gives Kate a pointed look.
"I'm sorry. But Christian's face was screaming I knocked my wife up and you telling him to shut up. What can I say I have a knack at reading people." Kate shrugs like it's no big deal.
"Damn bro, didn't waste any time." My brother as always has to throw in his two cents.
The family engulfs us in hugs and congratulations. My mom comes up to me and hugs me tight. "My little boy is going to be a dad."
"Mom-" She steps back and grabs my face.
"You just don't understand how happy you've made me lately. To see you so happy, me being able to hold you, and now you're making me a grandmother. I feel like the universe is finally aligning for you."
"It feels like that for me too." I tell her.
My mom gives me another hug before walking off and downing a glass of champagne. I watch as Ray hugs his daughter and kisses her temple. He walks over to me and gives me a hug as well.
"Congratulations son." He tells me gruffly.
"Thanks Ray." He pats my back and walks away.
Mia runs over to me and practically knocks me to the ground in her excitement and I have feeling the girl is going out shopping first thing tomorrow.
"I'm gonna be an Auntie!" she cheers, busting my ear drum.
Mia gives me another hug before skipping off to go bug Ana and Kate.
I go to grab myself another drink when my dad approaches me, clasping my shoulder.
"Christian, can I talk to you?"
"Are you going to say something to piss me off? Like about how quickly-"
"No." he snaps at me, "Didn't even cross my mind. I told you I made a mistake in what I said before you were married, I don't feel that way. Anyways, I have good news on top of yours- "
The both of us walk away from the group, "What's going on?"
"It's about Jack Hyde."
"I thought you said it was good news..." I groan.
"It is- I mean for you and Ana."
"What? Is he pleading?"
"No, it seems like he got into a huge tussle with a bunch of other prisoners, and he didn't make it, after being shanked in the neck. From what I could tell it seems like the one that did it had a huge vendetta against him. It seems like Jack had raped his sister."
I guess that's karma for ya?
"So, it's over?
"Over, he's gone."
"Thank god."
Seems like I have my Angel looking after me, after all.
I feel a pair of arms wrap around my waist, "Hey, you ran off from all the hugging."
"Sorry baby, my dad just told me some great news." I tell her kissing her temple.
"You're not pregnant too are you Carrick?" Ana jokes making my dad roar out a belly laugh.
"Oh, no dear, not at my age." he gives her a hug telling her how happy he is about being a grandfather and then leaving us alone.
"So?" my wife asks, "what's the news?"
Always hungry for information.
"It seems like someone in prison took care of Jack for us."
"Really?" She says surprised.
"Yep, it seems all the nuts that tried to harm us or tear us apart are dealt with and out of our lives."
Ana squeals before jumping in my arms and hugging me tight. I look across the room and see Ang standing in the corner smiling at me. She nods her head and raises her glass before disappearing.
My Angel, always watching over me.
October 9th 2011
"God, I love you." I pant after I pull myself out of Ana. I roll her so her body is now curled into my side. Her head resting on my chest.
"I love you, too." She tells me equally out of breath.
I notice a glowing light coming from my dresser.
I remember the date it's October 9th. My heart starts to race.
It's my answer; if I stay or go.
"I need to get something." I untangle myself from Ana and walk over to the glowing pocket watch.
I brace myself as I pick it up.
It's blue.
I stand staring at the object in my hand almost in disbelief.
I'm staying. Just where I want to be.
"Christian what are you doing come back to bed." She pats the side of the bed next to her. I move myself to the bed, wrapping my arms around her. I caress her belly, before kissing her temple.
I can't wait to find out what we are having.
"What's this?" She asks touching the now non-glowing watch in my hand.
I hand it over to her and she looks at it. She turns it over and smiles, before opening it up.
How the heck did she do that? I've been trying everything in my power to open that damn thing.
"Aww…" Ana gasps. "You were such a cute baby." She tells me.
"What?"
She shows me the picture inside the watch of a little copper haired baby.
"Where did you get this?" she asks curiously.
How do I tell her my spirit guide gave it to me? That I'm convinced is the spirit of my birth mother.
"I found it?"
She purses her lips together, not believing me, but lets it go. "Well, I know you've been working on rather or not your mother really loved you. I think this might be some proof." She hands me back the pocket watch and inside next to my picture reads:
"I'll take you on a journey of writing wrongs and second chances. I'll always watch over you. I love you my baby boy."
She loved me, and I know now that I loved her too. I think I've might have known for awhile. But this is major.
I love my birthmother.
After Ana is asleep I take the watch and head to my office. I plop myself in my chair and examining the watch. I open it up and stare and the picture of my young self.
I wonder if my child will look like I did.
I read the description over and over again., before I fiddle with the wind up on top.
"Did you miss me already?" Ang stands before me.
I stand up and walk over to her.
"Mom…?"
Don't wuss up now.
She smiles brightly at me and holds out her arms.
I go to her and engulf her in my arms.
"I've always loved you sweet boy. I should have done better to protect you and shown you just how much." She tells me.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were my mom?" I ask her.
She smirks at me, the same trademark smirk that I have.
"I think your words to me were 'Why would I listen to someone that looks like my crack whore of a mother'."
"I'm sorry." I tell her softly. I wish I could take that back.
"None of that, sweet boy. I'm sorry. That's why I'm here too. Not only were you given a second chance, but so was I. There was nothing more that I wanted to do was help you. Help you overcome the horrid childhood I caused you. Let you see the truth against another horrid person that stole your youth, then make sure you ended up with the person you belonged to, your Ana."
"I love you mom." I hug her again, I can feel my tears welling in my eyes.
I can finally admit it. And it feels good.
"I love you too sweet boy."
x-x-x-x-x
In Detroit; the small plaque that once said only a simple name with a simple date is now much larger. The simple name and simple date all still read on the marble headstone but now there's more
In loving memory of Ella Johnson
A loving mother, and angel. Whose light will always shine bright with her son.
May the heavens always know that she too had her second chance and will always be loved.
The End:
I hope this tied everything up for you. Thank you for joining me in writing this story-