Chapter 24: Fertility

(Ana's POV)

"She is taking it", he says, deadpan.

"No she isn't", I say, holding my ground.

"She is."

"She isn't and I don't wanna hear more."

"But she can catch infection!" he grumbles.

"No I won't", Mila joins in and I hi-five her as Christian scowls in frustration. Take it, big man.

"There are thousands of kids who'll drink water from the same bottles in the school. It's better you take your own", he reasons.

"Why do you want her to carry extra weight?"

"It's for her own health."

"So you think I don't care about my daughter's health?" I snap out of no where. He looks back at me with an eyebrow raised but doesn't comment back.

It is Mila's first day of school and Christian has been insisting that Mila takes her own water bottle despite of water being available in school. Don't get me wrong, I care about Mila too. Its just that I don't want her to carry extra weight for something that is available in her school too.

"Fine, whatever floats your boat. Even Ava carries her own water."

"Then i'm sorry, but you are a parent to the wrong girl", I roll my eyes and walk towards the elevator.

"Mommy is acting weird", Mila says as I leave.

"I heard that", I call out but, of course, get ignored.

"Are you excited for school?" he asks her.

"Yes!", she says enthusiastically and claps her hand.

"Now there are some rules you have to follow", he says and I look back at him with confusion. What rules is he talking about?

"Are y'all coming?!" I call out.

"Rule one", he says as he picks her up and steps inside the elevator, "if you don't feel good or don't like school, you tell us first, okay?" and she nods her head. "Rule two, if someone troubles you, then you tell them politely to stop and if they still don't, you can be a little harsh to them."

"Mr. Grey!", I gasps, "Are you teaching your daughter violence?!"

He shrugs. "I don't want her to just stand there doing nothing if something like that happens." and I shake my head in disbelief.

"Rule three: No talking to boys. As long as you don't talk to boys, I have no problem with your school."

"Are you kidding me?!" Is he actually trying to tell me he wants our five year old daughter to not talk to the boys of her school? "Christian she is five. FIVE!"

He shrugs again. "So? First comes talking, the dates, than marriage? I just met her, I don't wanna lose her already."

"You are delusional" but he simply ignores me. Great.

We arrive at Mila's school, which by the way, screams richness in every corner. It's not exactly a school but more like a playschool. Apparently, Kate's daughter goes to the same school. I'm actually worried to run into Kate after she gave me the cold shoulder during the Grey's lunch. I don't want to create a scene here and the best way to avoid it is to avoid Kate.

"Are you ready, munchkin'?", Christian asks Mila, who is still in his arms, as she nods furiously. This girl loves school. He smiles warmly in return and kisses her head and my heart swells at the sight.

Christian, you are a natural and if you had not been cold about kids six years back, the present would've been something different, I say in my head.

"Come here", I take her from him. "Despite whatever your daddy said, you can do whatever you want-"

"Hey!", he protests but I ignore him.

"But if you have any problem or are uncomfortable with anything, you tell mommy and daddy, okay?"

"Okay", she says and kisses my cheek. She calls Christian towards her and when he leans down, she kisses his cheek too and I see him smile brightly. I put her down as she walks towards the entrance, waves her hand and goes inside.

"What are you doing now?", he asks as we turn to leave.

"I have some things to buy. I'll probably go to a supermarket or something", I say as he frowns.

"Go back home and tell Gail, she'll do that for you", he practically orders as I scowl at him.

"I can do my own work, Christian. You leave with Taylor while i'll go with Sawyer in his SUV."

"Fine." he says as he walks towards his car and Taylor follows him shortly. I get inside the car where Sawyer is on the driver's seat.

"Luke, we are going to the restaurant on West 82nd", and he looks at me quizzically. "I'm meeting someone there", I explain as he nods and drives us there.

As Luke halts the car, I get out and instantly feel bad for lying to Christian. I mean he is been supporting me so much lately, the least I could do is not lie to him but the person specifically asked that I shouldn't tell him about this.

When I go inside, I immediately spot her. She is wearing a golden coloured blouse and a black skirt. When she spots me, she stands up and waves towards me.

"Ana", she says as she hugs me.

"Dr. Grey", I greet Christian's mother.

"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice and call me Grace. Does Christian know about this?", she asks and I shake my head as we take our seats.

"You wanted to see me alone?", I start.

"Yes. I wanted to ask you some things.. that I didn't want to ask you over the phone. Also I ordered salad for us.. if you want I can change it-"

"No salad's fine", I say and look at her expectantly.

Grace texted me saying she wanted to meet me here today. She didn't mention why but she did mention that she didn't want Christian to know about this. I was confused reading the message but send her my confirmation that i'll come.

"You see.. after you left, Christian was all alone. He started to open a bit to you and when you left.. he needed someone to share his thoughts with and he chose me. He tells me about everything, well almost everything, and he told me about you too-"

"You know I have cancer." I finish as realization dawns on me. For some reason this makes me angry. I wanted to keep this private and here he is telling this to everyone.

"Yes, Ana.. don't be mad at him he just wanted to run things with me since he wants you cured."

"When did he tell you about it?", I say, trying my best to keep the anger out of my voice.

"The night before y'all came for lunch.."

And suddenly everything gets clear. Grace and Christian's father not being angry at me. They weren't not angry because they forgave me, no, it was pity and sympathy they showed towards me that day and for some reason that makes me more mad. I don't want anyone's sympathy.

The waiter brought us our salads and I muttered a thank you and as soon as he leaves, Grace speaks.

"Only my husband and I know about this. I haven't told Mia and Elliott about anything", she assures as she brings me back from my thoughts.

"Why did you call me here?", I ask.

"Christian wanted me to recommend the best hospital for treatment and I said Grey Sloan Memorial which, in fact, is the best. He wanted me to be there in your treatment but legally i'm not allowed to since i'm still your mother-in-law. So I'm supervising your treatment at Grey Sloan. Dr. Gerald is a very good friend of mine and she runs your reports with me and I wanted you to know this by myself."

"Oh..umm.. so..?"

"I wanted to ask you a question first handed so I can plan your treatment in that direction."

"Okay?", I say but it came out more like a question.

"Since you are still 28, I have to ask you this. Do you want to preserve your fertility or you are okay with your eggs being removed?" she asks and my breath hitched.

Now i'd be lying if I say I haven't thought about this. While I was on the internet searching about the options, I did stumble upon this question and haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

Do I want kids in future?

I don't know. At first I knew i'm not doing the treatment so I didn't have to think about this. But now since i'm going ahead with it, I have to answer this. It's not like I have a future with Christian anymore, it doesn't seem like it to me with the amount of hate he has towards me. On the other hand if I do fight against this, I don't want to be able to not have kids. I definitely want Mila to have a sibling in future, be it half brother or sister.

"Ana?", Grace asks after a long time.

"Yes", I say and she looks at me with an eyebrow raised. "I want preserve my fertility", I say as Grace gives me a small, knowing smile.

"Okay then. I'll contact Naomi as soon as possible to inform her about this."

"That's it?", I ask and she looks at me with confusion.

"What?"

"I don't buy this. I don't think this is the only reason you wanted to meet me", I state.

"Why do you think that?"

"You could've asked me this over the phone or Dr. Gerald could've asked me but you arranged a meeting just to ask this question? I don't think so" and she looks at me, impressed.

"Well yeah. Ana.. it is about Kate." she says. Kate?

"What about her?"

"When you left.. Kate and Elliott were about to get married. They had everything planned and when she found out about your departure, it broke her. She was so depressed that she didn't want to get married and this in turn angered Elliott and lets just say they called off their wedding. They did eventually get married though.. but she missed you in every living second there was. Now that you are back, at lunch I expected you both to bond but you didn't. You both didn't even say a word!"

By now I am biting my lip so hard in an attempt to not cry. I never knew me leaving would break Kate so much that she called of the wedding. Of course she and Elliott have every right to ignore me, I almost ruined their lives too.

"I want two of my daughters to bond, Ana. I can't bear to see the ignorance. I cannot really tell Kate anything right now.. that is why i'm asking you. Talk to her, make amends."

"How?" I whisper. "Everybody in Seattle hates me."

"That is what you think", she smiles a soft smile and I try to reciprocate it in the best way I can.

Suddenly, my appetite is lost. I don't want to eat anything anymore. The food is probably cold by now and I don't think I can stomach anything anymore.

What a great way to start a week.

And I haven't even started my treatment yet.

~*~*~*~

Leave your thoughts! I wanna ask you all this question: Do you think this story will be a HEA or no judging by the flow? XD

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Until we meet again, xoxo ~ Ava❤