And she’s carrying my child.

Fuck. A child.

The gray-eyed asshole stares back at me, bewildered.

She’s done all of this for the simple reason that she loves me, and because she’s a decent human.

And how do I treat her?

Badly doesn’t cover it, Grey.

Her words haunt me. I do choose this defenseless baby over you. That’s what any loving parent does. That’s what your mother should have done for you. And I’m sorry that she didn’t—because we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now if she had. But you’re an adult now. You need to grow up and smell the fucking coffee, and stop behaving like a petulant adolescent.

And I thought she was leaving me.

I wipe my face.

Make this right, Grey.

On the way to the hospital, we stop and Taylor hurries into the café that he phoned for takeout. He returns with what looks like a breakfast feast for Ana; I hope she’s hungry. Sawyer pulls up at the entrance to the hospital, but when I climb out of the car, I’m ambushed by a couple of photographers, who start snapping away.

“How’s your wife, Mr. Grey?”

“Mr. Grey, will you be pressing charges?”

I ignore the assholes and dart inside the lobby. Taylor follows, carrying Ana’s breakfast.

We head to the nurses’ kitchen on Ana’s ward, where we lay out her breakfast on a tray. Damn, why didn’t I bring a small vase, and I could steal a flower from one of the many bouquets she’s received. It would go some way toward an apology.

“Sir,” says Taylor, as I lift the loaded tray, “before she left, Gail made Mrs. Grey’s favorite chicken stew, if I need to bring that in later for lunch, sir.”

“Good to know. I’m hoping I can take her home this morning.”

Taylor nods his affirmation and pushes open the door to Ana’s room to let me in, and I’m hoping for a warm welcome.

She’s gone.

Shit.

“Ana!” I shout as my heart catapults into overdrive.

“I’m in the bathroom!”

Oh, thank God.

Taylor bursts through the door, as alarmed as I was. “We’re good,” I reassure him, and he steps out again, presumably to sit in the corridor. I place the food on Ana’s rolling tray and wait, again, for Mrs. Grey…patiently, this time. A moment later she appears and rewards me with a broad grin—I’m relieved to see her up and about.

“Good morning, Mrs. Grey. I have your breakfast.”

She climbs into bed, while I pull the tray on wheels over toward her and lift the cover. One wide-eyed, grateful glance from Ana is all the confirmation I need as she gulps down the orange juice and starts on the oatmeal. I sit on the edge of her bed, taking vicarious pleasure in her enjoyment as she eats. Not only is she ravenous, but there’s some color in her cheeks. She’s on the mend. “What?” she asks, with her mouth full.

“I like to watch you eat. How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

“I’ve never seen you eat like this.”

She looks up, her expression serious. “It’s because I’m pregnant, Christian.”

I snort. “If I knew getting you knocked up was going to make you eat, I might have done it earlier.” My smartass remark is an effort to distract her from a serious conversation that I’m not ready to have.

I don’t know how I feel about this yet.

“Christian Grey!” She drops the spoon in her oatmeal.

“Don’t stop eating.”

“Christian, we need to talk about this.”

“What’s there to say? We’re going to be parents.” I shrug, hoping she’ll change the subject.

Ana’s not impressed. She pushes the tray aside, crawls down the bed, and takes my hands in hers. I sit staring at her, paralyzed. “You’re scared. I get it,” she says gently, pinning me with deep blue eyes. “I am, too. That’s normal.”

I’m aware that I’m holding my breath.

How can I love a child?

I’ve only just learned to love you.

“What kind of father could I possibly be?” I whisper, forcing the words through my tightening throat.

“Oh, Christian.” My name’s almost a sob, and it twists my heart. “One that tries his best. That’s all any of us can do.”

“Ana—I don’t know if I can.”

“Of course you can. You’re loving, you’re fun, you’re strong, you’ll set boundaries. Our child will want for nothing.” Her eyes widen, imploring me.

Ana. It’s just so soon…

Is there room in my heart for someone else?

Is there room in your heart for both of us?

She continues, “Yes, it would have been ideal to have waited. To have longer, just the two of us. But we’ll be three of us, and we’ll all grow up together. We’ll be a family. Our own family. And your child will love you unconditionally, like I do.” Tears pool in her eyes and slowly trickle down her cheeks.

“Oh, Ana.” I gasp while keeping my own tears lodged in my throat. “I thought I’d lost you. Then I thought I’d lost you again. Seeing you lying on the ground, pale and cold and unconscious—it was all my worst fears realized. And now here you are—brave and strong, giving me hope. Loving me…after all that I’ve done.”

“Yes, I do love you, Christian, desperately. I always will.”

Reaching up, I take her head in my hands and gently wipe away her tears with my thumbs. “I love you, too.” I draw her lips to mine and kiss her, beyond grateful that she’s still here and whole. Grateful that she’s mine. “I’ll try to be a good father.”