Chapter 31: Welcome to the Family

Phoebe POV

It's been nearly three weeks since Thanksgiving and Aunt Mia's funeral and life has, obviously, kept going. Ted went back to college and my younger brothers and I went back to school, as did Ava. Our teachers have been so good and patient with us which I'm thankful for, but it also annoys me because I feel they're treating us different to the other students.

I've finally spoken to Kenny, who was as good as he always is, patient and loving. He seems to understand my need for space but now he is there for me and won't let me push him away. No matter how much I don't want to burden him I find myself pouring my heart out over the loss of Mia, but with Kenny and Dr Flynn's help, I'm learning to accept it.

Christmas break started on Friday which mean we get two whole weeks off school! It's only been the weekend and I am already bored. Even though I honestly feel like I haven't been at school much lately but never mind. I have managed to catch up on some of the work I missed already so I'm not really behind.

Dad is worried about mum. She's nearing the end of her pregnancy and even though she is tired all the time she refuses to slow down, especially with Christmas next week. Even though we're not exactly excited for Christmas this year, we're still doing something small, just family. Grandma and Grampa cancelled the annual Christmas ball this year and thankfully the guests were very understanding about it.

Dad had to force mum to stay in bed this morning, telling her it is not an option and she has to have breakfast in bed. She wasn't happy but she finally gave in. She can't keep doing it all. We don't see her for lunch either, dad claiming that she felt so uncomfortable she can't even move today so she gets treated to lunch in bed too. I go and see her after lunch to see how she is feeling, even though we're technically not allowed in mum and dads room. I knock gently on the door and dad opens it a minute later, since he had lunch up here with her.

"Phoebe? You ok?" he asks.

"Yeah, I just wanted to check on mum. How is she?" I question in return.

"She's alright. Just resting," he smiles at me.

"Oh for God's sake Christian! I'm fine. Let Phoebe come in, there's no harm in it," mum snaps and dad grudgingly moves aside. He really doesn't like the thought of us kids being in his and mums private space.

Mum is lying on the bed with her top half propped up by a handful of pillows. She's taking deep breaths and rubbing her stomach. I perch myself on dads side off the bed and take her free hand.

"How you doing mum?" I smile.

"I'm alright. Though I don't think I can go through another two weeks of this. This baby is so big they're squashing everything!" She laughs. I join her.

"I have half a mind to ring Doctor Greene and get you induced," dad comments seriously. "I don't want to risk anything going wrong if we wait till your due date." Mum just sighs and rolls her eyes.

"So how are things with Kenny going? Did you sort things out?" She knows I didn't talk to him much after Mia passed and said she worries about it. I just nod.

"Yeah, I'm talking to him now. He was very understanding and said it's all water under the bridge. He thought he'd give me space to cope but now he's there and won't go anywhere," I smile.

"Yes, but do you really want him to?" she raises an eyebrow.

"No," I laugh. "I wouldn't be without him."

"What a shame," dad says jokingly. I know he likes Kenny as well. Mum suddenly gasps and reaches for my hand, gently placing it on her stomach.

"Here, Phoebe. Feel what your new sister is doing," she smiles. I feel the baby practically doing somersaults in mum's stomach and I can't help but laugh.

"She's dancing. Or doing gymnastics."

"I remember when your mum was pregnant with you. You were such a wriggly baby. Your poor mum barely slept! And you were no better when you were born," dad says.

"Yeah, but she was a daddy's girl from the beginning so you took most of the night feeds and care." Dad agrees and wraps his arm around me. I don't even tense anymore. I'm almost back to my old self and my scars are practically invisible now.

"Well, at least this time you'll have extra help. I'll be happy to step up and give you a bit of a break. When they're a little bit older of course. I know you wouldn't want to leave a new-born."

"That's very sweet of you, Phoebe. But we wouldn't expect that of you. Especially at night when you need your sleep for school the next morning."

"That reminds me. You know we were talking about college for next year? Do you think we would be able to check some out in the New Year? I mean, I know you'll have the baby any everything, but I was just thinking-,"

"Phoebe, slow down," Dad interrupts. "Of course we can go and check them out. It won't be for a few months so the baby can come if your mother doesn't want to stay behind," he glances at her and she gives him the look that says 'don't say that again'. "Nick, James and Ashley can stay with Aunt Kate and Uncle Elliot if they want. I don't want you to worry about it right now. Let's get through Christmas first. Ok?" I smile and nod.

"OK."

… … …

Still Phoebe POV

I go back to my room after spending an hour with mum and dad and do a little reading. It's a relatively new book that Ava (of all people!) recommended to me. It's about how a girl is trying to find answers about her mother's death which leads to a lot of complicated issues throughout the book. She finds her father, she gets kidnapped, goes through hell and comes out fighting still. It's a good book a real page turner.

I finish my book and think back to the university conversation I had with dad. I know normally students might go off the semester after their 18th birthday, but my school has a college department where students do a couple of years working towards a degree to help us decide where we want to go in the next stage in our lives. It has all sorts of subjects that each student has to do and we get to pick two of our own in something that may interest us. Teddy did two years, trying every subject he could before finally settling on the sciences and mathematics with the intention of going to medical school and becoming a doctor. Since he's already done two years in those subjects, the theory is it shouldn't take too long to get to where he wants to be and he won't be the youngest in his class.

I have decided that I definitely want to go into business. I've been reading mergers and contracts since I learned what words are and I have worked with dad on some of the smaller deals in his company over the years. I have also been reading through manuscripts with mum to and helping decide which ones get published, which ones need work doing to them and which ones have no chance at anything! That's where I become torn on where I want to go in life. Grey House or Grey Publishing?

Dad would love me to go into Grey House with him and while I love the work and the hustle and bustle at his office, mum's job is a little more relaxed and involves a lot of reading, one of my favourite things to do in life. At least I have a few more years to decide and since I'm going into business I can find my true destiny in my classes.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts by my phone ringing. It's Kenny.

"Hey," I smile.

"Hey gorgeous! How you doing?" he sounds cheerful.

"I'm good. Just finished that book Ava made us read but now I'm bored. How are you?"

"I'm good. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out again before Christmas? Or are you booked up?" There's only six days until Christmas but we normally have things going on. However, this year with mum being heavily pregnant and Aunt Mia's death, we haven't planned anything.

"We can if you want, but we may have to stay at my house, if that's ok? I want to be around to help out mum."

"That's fine babe! We can do whatever you want. I just want to see you. I miss you."

"It's only Sunday! You saw me two days ago," I tease.

"Yes and those two days have been too long!" he says overdramatically. I have to laugh.

"Ok, well I'm free Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but I'm afraid Thursday and Friday is family time."

"That's cool. How about tomorrow? Dad's working so I'm free all day. How about lunch?"

"It's a date. How you going to get here?" I wonder out loud.

"I'll take the bus. They're still going until Wednesday so I should be alright."

"Don't be silly. I'll get Marx to pick you up."

"Are you sure? I don't mind," he protests.

"Don't be silly. It's no trouble and I'm not going anywhere so she won't be needed here," I answer. He relents and makes sure once more that it's ok. We chat for a bit longer when we're suddenly interrupted by dads panic shouting across the hall.

"Taylor! TAYLOR!" he shouts. I hear heavy footsteps as Taylor runs along the hall, answering dads call. I peak out of my room to see what's going on.

"Sir? Everything ok?" Taylor asks.

"Go get the car ready. We've got to go to the hospital," dad says, running back into his and mums room. Taylor turns and runs back down the hall.

"Dad? What's going on?" I ask when I suddenly hear mum scream.

"Your mums in labour. At least I hope its labour," he says surprisingly calm. I realise that Kenny is still on the phone so I quickly tell him what's going on and we hang up. I go into mum and dads room and see dad helping mum sit up on the bed.

"Anything I can do to help?" I ask. Dad asks me if I can grab mums hospital bag out of the closet and together we get mum down to the waiting SUV. I climb in the front while dad cradles mum in the back seat and she scream obscenities at him. Taylor is on the phone to Mrs Taylor, letting her know what is happening and could she watch the boys in the meantime. I call Ted and let him know that mum is going to the hospital. He's due to fly over in the morning anyway but I thought he'd want to know.

When we arrive at the hospital, mum is immediately taken up to a private room with dad at her side, so Taylor and I fill in the paperwork that's needed. It doesn't take long and soon I've joined my parents upstairs. Mum is panting in an attempt to control her breathing. Dad is holding her hand trying to soothe her.

"Christian, it's too early. She's not due for two more weeks!" Mum says suddenly panicked. Dad strokes her hair and shushes her.

"It's ok, Ana. I'm sure she's fine. You just focus on your breathing and let the doctors worry about the baby," he tries. She just shakes her head.

"No, no, no, something is wrong I can feel it!" she panics even more. I go to her side and take her other hand. OUCH! She squeezes hard as another contraction hits.

"Mum, listen, everything is going to be fine. She's just a big baby. Don't panic or you'll feel worse," I try to calm her down. At that point Doctor Greene enters.

"Ana, how are you feeling?"

"Horrible. I feel like my stomach is being squeezed. Please tell me you can give me some pain relief?" She's pleading with the good doctor.

"Let me just check how diluted you are and we'll go from there." And with that she has mums feet up in stirrups and is checking between her legs. "Ok, you're not very far just yet so we'll sort you out some pain meds and I'll be back to check on you in a couple of hours." Dr Greene gets up and leave the room.

"Phoebe, you don't need to be here," mum says.

"I know. But I want to be," I reply. Dad doesn't say anything and crawls onto the bed next to her and strokes mums forehead. He kisses her repeatedly and she relaxes in his arms, even if it's just for a few minutes before she gasps in pain again. She has tears in her eyes and takes some deep breaths while clinging onto dads arm for dear life.

"I don't think I can do this, Christian," she whimpers. "It hurts too much."

"Shush, yes you can. You've done it before. Five times," he soothes. I go and sit on the small couch under the window and sit down, giving them a minute to themselves. A nurse comes in to give mum some pain relief and then mum by some miracle drifts off to sleep.

I spend my afternoon contacting family members to let them know what is going on so dad can focus on getting mum through the pain when she wakes up from her short nap. Grandma Grace and Grandpa Carrick go to our house to look out for the boys and I don't know where Grandma Carla is as I couldn't get through to her.

Before I know it, it's eight o'clock and I realise we haven't had any dinner yet. We've been here nearly five hours and mum is still only at 3cm. Dr Greene doesn't seem too worried at the moment but is still monitoring mum closely due to her complications in her other pregnancies, even though this is her easiest pregnancy so far.

"Phoebe, what do you want for dinner? I'm sending Taylor out to get you and your mother something," dad says suddenly.

"Anything is fine with me. I don't mind," I answer. Dad sends Taylor to get burgers and fries, which is what mum asked for. I go with Taylor so I could get some air.

"How you doing, Bumble Bee?" Taylor asks me as we drive to the nearest restaurant that do good burgers.

"I'm good. How are you?" He chuckles at me.

"I am good. Thank you for asking." We chat for the whole drive, him asking me about school and Kenny and telling me stories about his years working for my father. I love Taylor, he's kind of like a second father, one who is just as protective and overbearing as the man himself.

… … …

Christian POV

While Phoebe and Taylor are gone, Ana gets up to walk around. She's been given gas and air to try and relieve the pain since she refuses to have an epidural. She screams horrible things when a contraction hits but then soon apologises as she clings to my arm and cries. I hate seeing her in pain, I always have.

"Christian, what if I need another emergency C-section? I don't want to go through that again," she asks suddenly. With Teddy and Phoebe, things went wrong very quick and an emergency C-section was the only way to ensure both mother and baby would survive.

"Everything is going to be fine Ana. Would you like me to read your book to you? Will that help you relax?" Reading to her in the past always calmed my wife down. She just nods and tries to get comfortable on the bed again. I grab her book out of her bag and open it up to the chapter she was on.

"Belle's chest started to hitch. Her breath was coming in small gasps with the happiness that replaced the fear she felt when she thought, she would never be found. Alex grabs her hand and pulls her out of the cell she had spent so long in. 'At last, I've found you,' he says to her. She could not contain her smile as he led into the sunlight.

'I have not felt the sunlight in so long,' she whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. After a few minutes he gently turned her around and placed the most magical kiss she had felt in two long years.

'I'm sorry it took me so long, my love,' he whispered into her hair. Tears spilled from Belle's eyes and he held her tighter. Never had she felt more safe than she did in this moment-" I'm cut off by another scream from Ana.

"Oh my God!" she squeezes my hand tighter than ever. "I want this over now!" I need to distract her.

"Ana, what is this book about? I'm a little confused," she looks like she wants to kill me but answers me anyway.

"Belle is in love with this guy Alex but she was kidnapped by this prince who wants her for himself and thinks he can do no wrong. But when she refuses to submit to him, he keeps her locked up in the dungeon for two years until Alex can find her. It starts with her being locked up with flash backs to how she ended up there. Ah! There is more to it but that is the general gist of it," she explains.

Phoebe and Taylor return after forty minutes and find Ana impatiently walking around the hospital room trying to get comfortable again. Ana tries to eat some of her food but only manages two or three bites before she throws it away from her.

Dr Greene comes back around midnight and checks Ana again. Phoebe is curled up on the couch sleeping as she spent the whole time with Ana since she and Taylor returned with food. She put up with Ana squeezing her hand, shouting horrible things and tried singing to her to calm her down (which to be fair, Ana did calm a little until another contraction hit). Ana is at 7cm now but still has another 3cm to go and by now she has been in labour nine hours!

There's a quiet knock at the door and I see my mum standing in the doorway. Why is she here so late?

"Mum? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to check in and see how everything is going. Also Ana called me." I look at my wife who is finally starting to relax thanks to the medication she's been given.

"Grace! You're here!" she has tears in her eyes again as Grace walks to her side and takes her hand. "I'm scared. I don't feel right, somethings definitely wrong!" Ana panics again, even though Dr Greene has told her a hundred times that everything is fine. The ultrasound was fine and even now they're still monitoring the baby and everything is normal.

"What is wrong Ana?" Grace asks her patiently.

"I don't know, I just feel it!" she screams again.

"Ok then. I believe you, Ana. But if something is wrong then the best thing to do would be to stay calm and wait until your baby is here so all the doctors can fix it. There is nothing we can do right now so try and stay calm." Ana nods at my mother and takes a deep breath in an obvious attempt to relax.

I go and sit on the couch next to my daughter and gently lift her head into my lap. She stirs a little but settles again.

By six in the morning, our baby still isn't here and Ana is even more restless than ever. She's been up and down constantly and is so hot, the cold cloth I keep applying isn't doing much to cool her down. She has now been in labour for fifteen hours.

Phoebe has gone to fetch Ana some ice chips and calls her brothers to keep them up to date. Ted is on the plane heading back to Seattle and is planning on coming straight to the hospital when he lands. I have to admit, my daughter has been amazing. I would have preferred she stay at home but since I was in a rush yesterday I didn't even realise when she climbed into the front of the SUV. I'm glad she did. She's held her mother's hand, fetched things for her, sung to her, read to her and done everything she can think of to keep Ana calm.

Her phone suddenly rings and I wonder who it is and why they are calling so early when I realise that it is now eight in the morning and I have no idea where the time has gone. Phoebe steps outside the room to answer it but since the door didn't close all the way, I overhear her conversation

"Hey Kenny. We're still at the hospital, baby isn't here yet. I'm going to have to cancel our plans today… I'm sorry. I'll have to see you after Christmas now I guess?... oh right… Well in that case I will see you in the New Year… Merry Christmas."

"Everything ok?" I ask when she re-enters.

"Yeah, that was Kenny. We were supposed to hang out today but I've cancelled and he's busy between Christmas and New Year. I'll just see him when we go back to school."

"Are you sure? We'll be fine here-"

"No, dad. I want to be here. To support mum," Ana lets one another agonising scream as Dr Greene comes back. She's been good and checked up on Ana continuously throughout the night.

"Right, let's have another look, Ana," she says getting Ana's feet in the stirrups again. "Hmm," she says and quietly leaves to call a nurse in. "Ok, Ana. You're fully dilated and I can see the head." I quickly rush to Ana's side and grasp her hand. Phoebe runs to the other side. "When I tell you, I want you to push as hard as you can. Ready?" Ana just nods, panting hard. "Ok, Ana, push!"

Ana grunts as she pushes with all her might and suddenly her screams are replaced by the high pitched scream of our new baby. Ana collapses back against her pillows in relief and looks at Doctor Greene holding our child.

"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Grey. You have a new baby girl," she smiles at us. She hands our baby to a nurse who does all the quick checks and then hands the baby to Ana, who is smiling uncontrollably.

"Hi baby," she whispers with happy tears in her eyes. "I'm your mummy. Oh, you're so perfect," she kisses the baby's head.

"Oh mum, she's gorgeous," Phoebe says, leaning on Ana's shoulder.

"Yes, she is," I say kissing Ana's temple. I look down at our baby. She really is perfect.

"I'll give you two a minute," Phoebe says, getting up. "Shall I let everyone know? Or do you want to call them?"

"You can call them if you like," Ana answers. "Just make sure you tell them we're not ready for visitors until your brothers have met her, ok?" Phoebe nods and exits the room. I don't want to be mean but I'm slightly glad Phoebe gave us some time to ourselves.

"Well done, Mrs Grey," I say to her as I wrap my arms around her and pull her and our baby close. She leans her head into my chest and exhales happily but sleepily.

"You still happy with the name we've chosen?" she asks.

"I am. Are you?" I want to check before I say it out loud.

"Yes. But will your family be? I don't want to upset anyone," she sounds nervous.

"I think everyone will be perfectly fine. And they knew what name we were thinking anyway."

"I know but now-,"

"Stop. Nothing has changed. We are still going to use the name we chose. OK?" She nods. "Brilliant. Now can I hold my daughter?" she smiles and passes me the precious bundle. Once I have my daughter in my arms she leans back against the pillows and watches me, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Hello, baby. I'm your daddy. And I promise I will love and care for you for as long as I live." I kiss my baby's forehead. When I look at Ana I see that she has finally fallen asleep. She must have been exhausted.

Phoebe re-enters the room half an hour later and lets me know that everyone knows but will wait until I call before they can come to visit. She sits next to me and looks at her baby sister, who is sleeping soundly. I offer for Phoebe to hold her which she gratefully accepts, making sure the head is supported.

"You're good with her," I compliment.

"Yes, you are," Ana comments, sitting up. At that moment a nurse walks in and tries to get Ana to feed the baby, even though she is not fussing yet. Even so, Phoebe hands the baby over but the baby doesn't latch.

"So do you guys have a name yet? Or are you going to go with the one you already planned?" Phoebe asks.

"We do have a name-," I'm interrupted by a knock at the door and find all four of my sons there.

"Hey guys. Can we come in?" Teddy asks. I didn't even realise his flight got in yet.

"Of course!" Ana says excitedly. "I'm glad you're here because your father and I want to tell you all the name of your new sister first." She looks at me and I nod. "Meet little Mia Carla Grey."

They all gather round to see their new sibling. It may just be my imagination but I can't help but think that she looks a little but like my sister. Her hair looks darker than mine and Ana's but I don't know if that's just because she's a new born or if it will stay that way.

My baby girl was born on the 20th December and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect Christmas present.