50 Shades of Family

Week 1

Ana's POV

Gail and the kids arrived at the hospital, Christian is getting settled into his room so there can't be any visitors yet. Gail has been with Taylor as soon as I told her I could handle Kenneth and Juliet on my own. She asked me about Teddy, but I have yet to call him. News like this needs to be shared in person, and I haven't found the strength to drive myself anywhere.

"Mrs.Grey?" I look up to meet sad green eyes. "Have you told Teddy about this yet?" I bite my lip and shake my head no. Alexander nods and looks down at my daughter that is currently curled up in his lap,before looking back at me. I can't hold his sympathetic gaze for long, so I look over to my son who is content with his red, yellow,and green cars on the hospital floor.

"Ana?" Alexander gets my attention again. I feel three inches tall right now. "Would you like me to take you to talk to Teddy?" I must be very transparent to everyone. I nod weakly and watch Alexander talk softly to Phoebe. Slowly she stands and walks over to me, taking Juliet from my arms.

"Go, Mom. I'll make sure to tell Gail where you are and watch over the kids." She promises and I nod my head. As if sensing how emotionally unstable I am, Alex offers his hand for me to take and I do. Once I'm on my feet he slings his arm over my shoulders,tucking me into his side for support.

"We will be back as soon as we can." I promise. Kenneth looks up, stands to his feet, and rushes over to me. He hugs my legs, squeezing me tight. I bend down,kissing him on the head, before he returns to his cars. Without another word, Alexander and I drift to his car.

I don't talk the whole ride. Luckily Alexander doesn't try to push any conversation, other than directions to Teddy's apartment.

I can't stop thinking about what the nurse told me, and what the doctor elaborated on just minutes before Gail and the kids showed up.The horrifying possibility that Christian could be brain dead. Or he could end up like a vegetable. I don't...I don't know what I would do. I feel my hands start to shake and my chest starts rising more rapidly than before.

"Mrs. Grey? Hey." I hear a car door slam and the whole world is submerged in water. My door opens and someone unbuckles me. "Ana?" Two hands grab my own. "It's okay. Everything is okay. It'll all work out." I soon come to and see Alexander right in front of me. It was his voice speaking to me,his hands on mine. "You can't let Teddy see you like this."

I look off to the side to see we are sitting in the parking lot of Teddy's place. Alexander is right, I can't let my son see me this way. It takes me a few minutes to compose myself, but once I do,Alexander steps back and helps me out of the car.

All day I wonder how I make it anywhere. Time speeds up and then it slows down. I've become numb to the change. The ride up to Teddy's floor is one of the moment where time speeds up. As soon as the doors close,they open and we are greeted with a hallway instead of a lobby.

Robotically I walk to his door without thinking about it,knock, and wait. I hear voice on the other side. They seem angry.Alexander stands in my shadow, allowing me to face this head on without support.

The door opens with a whistle, and there stands Teddy. Hair disheveled, tie loose around his neck, and shirt unbuttoned. His face is pale, eyes blown wide, and he seems to be cowering in on himself.

Sophie must be the one yelling at him.

When he takes in my appearance, color returns to his face and his stance changes.

"Mom, are you okay?" He ask and I shake my head no, giving him the honest answer.

He waves me in, as well as Alexander, and closes the door behind us.We walk in on Sophie pacing the room, barefoot, still in her pajamas, and her hair a mess.She looks up, opening her mouth to speak, but when she sees us she stops. It takes her a second the see that the atmosphere has changed before she is rushing over to me.