With Phoebe back in her bassinet, I decide to go find Taylor and run through today's protocol again.
I find Taylor and Gail sitting in the waiting room sharing a private moment. I almost feel bad interrupting.
"Good morning Mr. Grey!" Gail says when she sees me. Taylors head whips up from kissing her neck.
"Sorry, sir." He apologizes.
"No need to be sorry, Taylor. That's your wife." I smile. "Good morning to you both. I just wanted to go over the protocol for this morning." I'm paranoid as ever but that's because we go home today and the last time we left the hospital with a newborn baby, the paparazzi swarmed us. I wanted to kill every one of them. Someone could have gotten hurt, especially Teddy, who wailed and cried thanks to all the commotion, or Ana who was recovering from her C-section. Then a few jackasses decided to follow our car home to see if they could get photos of us getting out of the car at home. A car chase is not what a father wants on the day he brings home his newborn son! This time, Taylor and I have devised a plan to help spare Ana and Phoebe from that mess.
I know the paparazzi are in full force right now because yesterday I brought Teddy in to see Ana and Phoebe and this morning our photo was on the cover of the tabloids talking about "Day three of baby watch!"
"Yes, sir." Taylor responds, releasing me from my thoughts. "Well, Gail is going to get into the wheel chair and take Phoebe. I'll push Gail. I have an old T-shirt and hat that I'll wear with my sunglasses. They definitely shouldn't notice me. They don't know what Gail looks like. We rented a cab for the day and Arthur will pull up and help us in and then behind us Sawyer will pull up in our SUV. This should distract everyone from what we're doing and put the focus onto the SUV. Then you'll exit with Mrs. Grey, and everyone will wonder where Phoebe is but by the time you exit Arthur will have pulled away with us. We'll continue on home so as not to be followed and you and Mrs. Grey and Sawyer will leave a few moments later."
"Good. Thank you Taylor." as I finish, my phone rings. I decide to give Taylor and Gail a little privacy and stroll down the hall toward the nurses station to answer it.
"Grey." I snap into the phone.
"Sorry to be calling you so early, sir." It's Andrea and she sounds flustered.
"What's wrong Andrea?"
"There has been major flooding down at the shipyard in Taiwan due to the Typhoon. Everyone is calling to ask me what the next step is."
"Okay, schedule me an emergency meeting this afternoon at 3PM! I'll see you then."
"Yes, sir." Andrea says and as I hang up I hear Taylor bellow down the hallway.
"Mr. Grey!" Taylor is calling from in front of Ana's room.
It must be Ana or Phoebe! My head snaps up in panic.
As I run toward him and Taylor's eyes don't leave the door of the room. When I brush past him and enter I find Ana in a ball, sobbing on the bed.
"I think I rolled over onto my stitches in my sleep. It hurts!" She cries.
"Fuck!" I want to touch her and check to make sure she is okay, but I don't want to hurt her. I hate seeing her like this! I run my fingers through my hair and then tell Taylor to get the nurse, but Taylor is already gone.
Phoebe is crying now and I notice Gail pass behind me and goes straight to comfort Phoebe. The wailing ceases, and I can tell that calms Ana down a little.
A nurse finally appears with Taylor. She checks over Ana's stitches carefully.
"Everything looks fine Mrs. Grey. You're just very sore. I'll give you something for the pain. It should go away soon." She leaves and then comes back a second later with a paper cup and two pills. I scowl.
"Don't you have something a little faster acting then Motrin? She's in pain!" I bellow at her but it's too late because Ana has taken them too quickly.
The nurse stares at me, startled. Probably scared of me. She opens her mouth but as she goes to talk, all I hear is Ana's voice.
"It's fine. I'm okay. Thank you." Ana promises and smiles at the nurse who quickly leaves the room.
Now Ana is glaring at me. Shit. I pissed her off. Ever since Teddy's been born she has begged me to be nicer to people. She doesn't want Teddy to see me being so short with people. For the most part I am trying, but this is who I've been for years and it's taking a lot of getting used to.
"I'm sorry." I say, leaning down to kiss her. I can't stand seeing her in pain like this. I wish I could take it all away for her. I would do anything to protect her.
"I just worry about you baby." I whispers against her lips before pulling away. I could kiss her all day but we have to leave soon.
Another nurse comes in with a wheelchair for me and I carefully pick her up and places her into it. Gail is holding Phoebe.
When everyone is ready, we make our way out of the suite. I can tell Ana notices the other wheelchair at the end of the hallway. She looks up at Christian confused.
"It's to deter the paparazzi." I answers her confused look. "Gail and Taylor are going to exit with Phoebe. The paparazzi won't recognize Taylor dressed down and with a hat and sunglasses on." Taylor is behind me doning his new outfit, but Ana can't see behind me. "And they've never seen Gail out in public. We'll exit a few minutes later once the new car is pulled up."
As we near the end of the hallway, Gail sits down in the new wheelchair. I see Sawyer and Paul patrolling for paparazzi. I don't see anyone except a few nurses or doctors, so I nod and give the okay to them. They open the doors and Taylor wheels Gail and Phoebe to the elevators. No one even looks up at them. Once they are in the elevator with Paul, I see Sawyer call Arthur to tell him to bring the cab around. So far, everything is going as planned.
I look down and can tell Ana is nervous. I don't like Phoebe being away from us at all, but it's for her own safety and I thoroughly trust Taylor with Phoebe's safety, and I believe Ana does too.
I lean down and whisper into her ear, "Don't worry baby. Everything will be fine. "Taylor would kill someone before he let them anywhere near Phoebe." This seems to relax her. I see
Sawyer gives us the okay when the elevator returns and and we open the doors and wheel out to where he is.
As soon as the nurses and doctors see us there seems to be a bit of commotion and confusion. Everyone is looking at us, most likely wondering where the baby is.
The elevator is open and waiting for us and Sawyer hurries us on. Before we know it we're down in the lobby and before the elevators open I lean down and kiss Ana's head. "Relax baby. Breath."
The doors open and there is a ton of commotion outside but Gail and Taylor are nowhere to be found. For a moment I panic and look at Sawyer. "Don't worry sir, they have already left. No one even noticed them." I relax, and I feel Ana relax in her chair.
As we exit there are at least a dozen reporters, all of them shouting our names accompanied by lots of bright flashes from their cameras.
"Ana! Christian! Is it a boy or a girl?" One bellows.
"How many pounds? Measurements?" Another one chimes in.
"What's the name?" The first one bellows again.
"Where is the baby?" Another questions.
Ana has her head down and her hand shielding her face and my face is stern and angry. I'm so pissed off that I can't enjoy normal moments with my wife and children because the world wants to know what we're up to. It's annoying.
We make our way to the SUV and I lift Ana gently into her seat and then make my way to the other side and get in. Sawyer is already in the front seat and as we make our way out of the hospital lot the sounds of the voices shouting at us become fainter and fainter until they are gone. Thank God.
"Are you okay?" I ask Ana immediately. I take her hand in my hand and caress it, before lifting it to my lips and kissing each of her knuckles.
"I'm fine." She breaths. "Are you okay?"
"More than okay. I get to bring you home, back to where I know you are safe, and we get to start a new life with the beautiful baby girl you've given us." I couldn't be happier right now.
"Christian, I'm worried about Phoebe. I don't like being away from her so soon."
"Sawyer! What's the status on Taylor? Get him on the phone."
"Sir!" Sawyer dials Taylor through the car's bluetooth and before I know it Taylor's voice fills the car.
"We're almost home. Is everything okay?"
"We're fine Taylor." I assure him. "Ana is just worried about Phoebe."
I can hear Taylor smile. "Phoebe is fine. She is sleeping in the backseat and Gail is keeping a close eye on her. We're about 10 minutes from home. Would you feel more comfortable if we stayed on the phone with you, ma'am?" Taylor asks Ana.
"Yes, Please, Taylor. Thank you." She seems to be happier now but she is gazing out the window, almost lost in thought. I wonder what is wrong with her. Before I can ask, my phone rings. It's Mia.
"Yes Mia?"
"Christian! Is Phoebe okay?" It sounds like she has been crying.
"What? Yes, or course Phoebe is okay!" I answer before even thinking about Ana hearing only one side of my conversation. Her head snaps up at me and her eyes search me as if looking for a clue as to who I'm speaking with.
"It's Mia." I say putting my hand over the phone and rolling my eyes.
Her eyes soften but she still looks at me expectantly.
"Thank God!" Mia exclaims.
"Why are you asking?" I'm curious now.
"My friend Megan called me and told me she just read on Perez Hilton that you and Ana were spotted leaving the hospital without Phoebe and now there are rumors going around as to why Phoebe didn't exit with you guys and why you both looked so upset."
Shit, those fuckers are fast!
"I'm looking at the photo of you and Ana now. It looks like she is crying and you look so upset. I got scared that maybe it was true!"
"Mia, Phoebe is fine, and you know that we'd tell you before we let some gossip site report it!" I scold her.
"I know, but I just-"
"I've told you a ton of times to stop reading that crap. Now I'm hanging up and going back to enjoying my ride home with my wife. Okay?"
"Okay. Just be careful."
"We will. See you tonight."
I hang up and Ana is still looking at me. Waiting for me to explain what just happened.
"Well, they've already reported on us leaving the hospital."
"That fast?" Ana say in shock.
"Apparently they are assuming the reason we didn't leave with Phoebe and the reason we looked so upset is because we lost the baby."
Ana gasps and her hand flies to her mouth.
"I'm sorry baby, I didn't even think about how they'd turn it into something like that. But don't worry, we'll have Jose come and take a few more photos and we'll sell them to People magazine to settle the rumors. Maybe we can even do a brief interview for them."
"Christian, they aren't going to believe it's our baby. They'll probably think we bought a newborn baby to cover up. This is such a mess." Ana is practically in tears. I hate when my plans don't go the way they are supposed to, and what's worse is I've upset Ana in the process of protecting her.
"Ana, I'm sure the tabloids will interview hospital staff at some point and they will verify that Phoebe is alive, well, and ours." I assure her. "Stupid fucking tabloids." I mutter under my breath and look out the window thinking of all of the times we've had to deal with this. The only time I've ever actually enjoyed seeing us in the tabloids is that one family Christmas in Aspen.
______
"Ana! You have got to see this!" Mia tosses an opened STAR magazine on the breakfast bar in front of Ana.
"Uck! You know I hate tabloids Mia." She say rolling her eyes at her. That's my girl.
"Mia, get that crap off of our kitchen table." I scolds her.
"No really, this is so cute! Read it!" She points to our names in bold at the top.
It reads
"Mr. Grey Goes To Washington"
I roll my eyes in disgust. This was from our weekend trip to DC when we were invited to the White House for dinner. It was a lovely weekend, and one of our last trips before Teddy was born. Ana was about 8 months pregnant and uncomfortable and that spring was unusually warm which made things worse for her. But I promised her a picnic under the famous cherry blossoms and I am a man of my word.
Ana is studying the photos and all of a sudden she stops on one and begins to flush. I am quite interested as to what is causing her to blush.
"See! Even Ana is blushing over how cute you two are!" Mia pipes up as I smiles at Ana. She points to the photo of us sitting at the table at the White House party. I'm leaning in whispering something to her and she looks very coy. I remember this is when she was wearing the silver balls. What a wonderful night that was. My smile widens and she knows I remember.
I see there are several other photos of us splashed all over the article, like a collage. I see one of us at dinner at that bistro Ana begged me to take her to. There is one of us holding hands walking with the Washington Monument behind us. A nice one of Ana holding her tummy, while I have one arm around her and I'm talking on my phone.
"I don't remember this at all." She says, pointing at a photo in the center of the page. It's a photo of us on a picnic blanket in the park. Ana is laying on her back and her pregnant tummy sticking up in the air. I'm propped up on my elbow with one hand in her hair and the other on her stomach. I'm gazing down at her with a smile on my face.
"You look so in love!" Mia giggles.
"That I am." Christian says, still gazing at Ana with a smile.
She blushes and continues reading. While I look down at her. I miss pregnant Ana. She looked radiant and happy. Like she looked in Jose's photos. The way I always want her to look.
-------
I ended up having that article framed and it sits on my desk at work. It's like a collage of photos of us. The article ends up talking about how in love I am with her and how women all over wish they had a husband to dote on them like I dote on Ana. But to me, the words are just words. It's the photos that mean everything to me. They are reminders of the beautiful trip we had.
My personal favorite photo is the one of us at the Lincoln Memorial. I'm looking up at the statue and talking- I can't even remember about what- but she is just looking up at me, adoringly. I remember this is right before she leaned in and kissed my arm. It took me by surprise because I wasn't expecting it, but one kiss from Ana can radiate love throughout my body and every kiss she is willing to give me is welcomed and appreciated.
The thought makes me lean over in my seat and pull her into my arms.
"What's wrong?" She says.
"I love you so much." I tell her I love her every day, more than once. It's a big change going from someone who never said it to someone who says it every day. Now I say it to my wife, my children, I've even said it to my parents and Mia. But it feels good to say it.
"I love you too, Christian."
"Thank you for Phoebe. And Teddy. And all of our wonderful memories together, like DC."
She smiles. "Thank you too."
We are pulling up to the house now and her eyes leave mine and dart around looking for the cab.
"Taylor!" She calls.
"Yes ma'am."
"Where are you?"
"We're already inside ma'am."
"Very good Taylor. Thank you." I say, motioning to Sawyer to hang up.
I hop out of the car and go to the other side to help lift Ana out. I carry her into the house and immediately Teddy comes running through the hallway. Ana's face lights up.
"Mommie!" Teddy cries out with his arms open.
I don't put Ana down, for fear that Teddy will hurt her.
"Teddy bear!" She calls back and looks at me as if to say 'why aren't you putting me down so I can hug my son?'
"I want to make sure he is gentle." I answer her unasked question. "Teddy, remember, we have to be gentle with Mommy. She has a boo-boo on her tummy and remember how much it hurts to touch a boo-boo?"
Teddy nods, and is standing at my feet now, looking up at Ana.
"I 'anna kiss boo-boo. Make better!" Teddy exclaims.
"No baby boy. It's okay, you don't have to do that for Mommy. Just be very gentle with me, like you're gentle with Phoebe." Ana says as I slowly put her down.
Teddy hugs her legs but ever so gently. I'm glad he listens to us.
I help Ana walk into the family room where I sit her on the couch and Teddy climbs up next to her. Gail comes over and places Phoebe's carrier, with Phoebe sleeping peacefully in it, across from Ana on the coffee table.
"She was a perfect angel the whole way home." Gail says. "Can I get you anything Ana? Mr. Grey?"
"No thank you." We both say at the same time and then smile at each other.
"How about you Teddy?" Gail asks.
"No fank you." Teddy repeats after us. We all smile and Gail leaves the room.
"Mommy looks a little sleepy Teddy. Why don't we let her relax a little and you can show me the fort you and Sophie made last night."
"Okay." Teddy agrees and looks very excited to show me the fort. Ana looks sad.
"What's wrong baby?"
"I want to play in the fort." She pouts.
Oh she is just too adorable. I wish I could take her pain away from her. Before I leave with Teddy I scoop Phoebe out of her carrier and put her into Ana's arms.
"You get the better end of the deal. You get to snuggle with Phoebe." I remind her and then lean down and kiss her gently, and then kiss Phoebe on the head before taking Teddy's hand so he can lead me to his toy room.
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