Bending The Rules

Chapter 22

Chapter 22
Ana POV
"What we don't know is what you are to Christian..."
Her words took me by surprise. I'm relieved she is not his lover but my brain is still trying to wrap itself around him calling out my name during sleep. How many others have heard him do this?
"He's called my name?" I whisper. My eyes once again drift to Christian's supine form.
Mia scuttles closer so we can carry on our conversation away from a sleeping Christian. "He's called out a few times. Mom and I were beginning to wonder who this mysterious Ana is," she teased.
This is not the way I wanted to meet his family. I fantasized that when this would happen when I am much older and graduated from high school. "Please tell me no one else heard." I covered my face. I was slightly embarrassed by being caught out by Mia.
"Just mom and I, and probably some nurses. Mom seems even more curious than I am. She should be in to check on my brother soon. She's a doctor here."
I quietly walk over to Christian. Most of the left side of his body is wrapped in casts and his head is bandaged. His eyes and face are swelled and I notice that he must have recently had an IV because his right hand had the tell-tale sticky residue from medical tape. My heart is breaking seeing him like this. I am trying so hard not to cry in front of Mia but the crap from these last few days come crashing around me. The wondrous kiss, Kate getting drugged, Christian not showing up...
It is too much to take in. Privacy is damned; tears escape and I don't care if Mia is here. My head is bowed and I tentatively run my hand across his lower leg. I feel a warm hand placed gently on my shoulder tugging me back gently. I obligingly take a step back. Mia turns me around and pulls me into a tight embrace. The floodgates open and I cry. I cry in the arms of a virtual stranger. I do not push her away. I pull her closer and sob into her hair.
Mia rubs my back softly. "Hey, he'll be alright. I just know he will," she affirms. I'm not fully confident in Mia's promises, but I do find comfort in her arms and it dawns on me that I took comfort in Christian's arms also. Must be a familial thing...
She just holds me and lets me cry.

Christian POV
I wake up and feel like I had a dream so wonderful that I didn't almost want to wake. I feel happy and rejuvenated like I had the best sleep ever. The room is warm and I hear a gentle breeze tousle the papers on my desk. I sling my arm over and stretch to blindly pick up my phone. I pull my eyes open and the phone lights up when I tap the screen.
I smile and look at the screen. The wallpaper is of my bride and me on our wedding day. I slide the screen and view the several email alerts displayed. A sweet voice bellows from downstairs.
"Time to get up, sleepyhead!" I can't contain my cheesy grin and I stroke my knuckles on the scruff on my chin. The bed is disheveled and I see the evidence remaining of where she slept. I roll over and search for her pillow. The sheets are no longer warm with her heat, but her vanilla and honey scent lingers. I drag her pillow over my face and breathe it in. To this day I still can't believe she agreed to marry me. I was a lucky son of a bitch when I found her and I will never understand what she sees in me, but I'll never tempt fate again.
I sit up and drag my feet up and over the bed. I plant my feet on the rug and squish my toes in its lushness. I convince myself that I should get up, but the thought of having a lie-in on a Sunday with my wife is much too tempting. Maybe I can persuade her...
I start to hoist myself up when a blurry toddler bounds and leaps toward me, knocking me backward onto the bed. I spin and cradle the little one to prevent hurting him. "Hey, Little Man!" I muss up his copper curls and pretend to push him away.
"Daddy, you're so silly. Mommy says get up." He tries to use his bossiest tone. "I heard her, Daddy!" He squirms and tries to wriggle out of my hold. I snuggle him closer and tickle him with my whiskers. "Stop, Daddy!" He giggles as he tries to pull away again. I loosen my hold and he crawls up to the pillow and turns over to his back. He picks up my phone and starts pressing apps. He taps a game app I keep on my phone for him.
He gets quickly engrossed in the game. His little nose crinkles up into deep concentration; well as good as a five year old can concentrate. I push up beside him and rest my head on his chest. I feel his little heart beating. I tug his shirt up and blow raspberries on his tummy. He uses one had to hold my phone and another to push me away. I pretend to be hurt but he determinedly goes back to his game.
I get up and head to the in suite bathroom. I see an older man in the mirror. I open the taps, splash water on my face and dry off. I get back to the bed and pick up Teddy and toss him over my shoulder. He manages to keep a hold of my phone as I trek downstairs.
A huge smile greets me as I enter the kitchen. Standing at the sink is my beautiful wife with our little Phoebe balanced on her hip. Phoebe tugs at her hair as she prepares breakfast.
"About time you got out of bed," she admonishes, but her tone is light. Even in her cotton pyjama pants and my old university t-shirt she is still breathtaking after these past five years. "Here, come take her from me. She misses you."
I place Teddy at the table and he goes back to playing his game. And never one to miss a chance at holding my daughter, I stroll over and place my hands out. Phoebe leans over and I catch her and scoop her up into my chest. She smells of baby powder and something sweet and sticky. I nibble into her neck and she fists tufts of my hair. "So, our little one will be two soon. What are we planning?" I say as I am walking a squealing Phoebe around the kitchen.
"Oh, this and that. Nothing is solid at the moment," she hedges. She brings out plates and places the eggs and toast on them. I slide the highchair to the table and strap Phoebe in. I kiss Teddy's head as I walk past to help bring the breakfast to the table.
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