Four Years Later

Walking into the house, Victoria raked a hand through her head. It took her a few moments to toss her shoes from her feet and drop her bag to the floor. Yawning, she placed a hand over her mouth and placed her glasses on the top of her head. Ever since she had spent her time staring at a computer screen she had needed glasses for long distance. Wandering through into the kitchen, she almost tripped over one of Teddy's toys in the hallway. She wondered how her father was dealing with toys being left strewn around. Then again, since Teddy had been born he had mellowed.

Wandering through the kitchen, she saw that the doors had been opened at the back of the kitchen that lead out onto the garden. She caught a glimpse of Teddy running on the grass and saw Ana perched on a chair, a glass of water in her fingertips as Teddy sat down and played with one of his toys.

Victoria smiled as she went out the door and to the garden. Ana turned to look to her, her hand going to her forehead and shielding the sun from her eyes. She smiled as soon as she saw Victoria. "You're home early," she commented.

"I am," Victoria said. "I left my work in the office. I didn't want to bring it home tonight. I've got to teach a class tomorrow morning so I need to be back on campus."

"How is the research going?" Ana asked her.

"Good," Victoria said, "my supervisor seems to be happy."

Victoria had started her PhD one year ago in the History department of Seattle University. She had been enjoying it thus far after spending a year working in a museum in the city. It was then when she realised what she wanted to research and had applied for the PhD programme and had gotten in.

"That's awesome," Ana said and Victoria smiled. Ana was always interested in what Victoria was doing. She was always keeping up to date over the dinner table and Victoria was happy to talk about it. She only hoped that she was not boring her. "Your dad called earlier. He shouldn't be late home tonight."

"Good," Victoria said as Teddy finally saw her.

"Vicky!" he shouted and moved to his feet, running towards her. Victoria smiled and bent down, grabbing hold of Teddy and hauling him upwards as he wrapped his arms around her neck. "You're home."

"I am," she said to Teddy. Teddy was about to turn four and he was an adorable little child. He was the perfect mix of both Ana and Christian. Victoria only hoped he hadn't inherited her father's temper. "And what have you been doing today?"

"Mommy took me to play area," he said and Victoria.

"Did she?" she asked him. "Did you go down the big slide?"

"Yeah," he said with a nod.

"Well, that sounds amazing," she responded and put him down to the ground. "Did you go with Jonah?"

"Yeah."

"Jonah's mom came back here for a drink," Ana said and moved to her feet, looking to Victoria. She moved a hand to her stomach and imitated a bump. Victoria nodded. The last time she had seen her she had suspected that she was pregnant but keeping quiet. She wasn't drinking and she wasn't eating rich foods, both things she loved doing. Victoria had said that she suspected it when she was with Ana and her father after the family had gone home and Teddy had gone to bed.

"How was the book you were reading?" Victoria asked Ana as she lowered Teddy to the ground and he went back to his play set. Victoria placed her hands on her hips as the sun hung low over the treeline.

"Good," Ana said. "I think you would enjoy it. It is set in Victorian times in England…murder…love…all the basis for a good thriller. Although I have some queries about the historical accuracies."

"I'm not an expert on the Victorian era," Victoria said. "But I will read it. I love the fact you get to read books before they are published."

"I must admit, I love being able to work part time," she said to her. "Although a part of me is excited to go back full time…but I can't see that happening anytime soon."

Ana placed a hand to her own stomach. She was pregnant again. She was only two months gone and was keeping it quiet for the time being, but Victoria knew. Of course, Victoria knew.

"What do you think then?" Victoria asked her. "A boy or a girl?"

"I am hoping for a girl," Ana said honestly. "A boy and a girl seem like a perfect set."

"Are you going to find out?"

"I like the surprise," Ana shrugged.

"I can get that."

It was then when Christian made his presence known. Moving through the back door and into the garden, he was dressed in a grey suit, a blue tie sat against his white shirt. He looked smart and relaxed, which was unusual for Christian. Before he had a chance to greet his wife and daughter, his son had seen him. Running towards him, Teddy got excited for the latest arrival. Picking him up, Christian kissed his cheek and asked him what he had been doing as Ana moved over to them and Victoria remained stood where she was, watching the scene for a moment before turning her head back to the garden.

"How was your day?" Ana asked her husband as he held Teddy.

"Good," he said to her. "And yours?"

"Good," she echoed back to him. "I need to go and give Teddy a bath before dinner. Mrs Jones is making us pasta tonight."

"Sounds delicious," Christian said and kissed his wife as she took Teddy from him. "See you soon, Mrs Grey."

"Yes you will, Mr Grey," she replied with a flirty smile.

Christian looked over to his daughter who had taken a seat the end of one of the sun loungers. Her hands were behind her back, supporting her weight as she basked in the evening son. Loosening his tie, he moved over to her and sat down next to her. Leaning forwards, he clasped his hands between his legs and Victoria opened her eyes, her gaze turning to him.

"How are you doing?" Christian asked his daughter.

"Good," she said to him. "I have a class to teach tomorrow so I need to be going in early. Are you heading into work early?"

"Why?" Christian asked her. "Are you trying to catch a lift?"

Victoria smiled. "Am I so transparent? I just hate parking on campus. There are never any spaces and they are so tight. I swear I am going to hit someone's car when reversing out a spot."

"I will get Taylor to drop you off on the way to work," he informed her. "When do you finish?"

"About four," she responded. "But I can see if Andrew will give me a ride home. Is he still okay to come for dinner tomorrow night?"

"Of course," he responded. "So…did you two stay out late last night? I didn't hear you get back, but you did text to say you were fine."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "We went to see a film," she responded to him. "It's nothing, dad. We're not dating and we won't date. We have been there and we have done that."

Christian chuckled. "If you say so."

Andrew had moved back to Seattle a year ago after his contract in California had expired and he had decided to move into teaching. He had gotten back in touch with Victoria, asking her if she wanted to hang out as friends. She had agreed and since then they saw each other twice a week. She sometimes wondered if the spark was there, but she didn't want to risk everything. She enjoyed spending time with him. She didn't want to ruin it by bringing romance back into the equation.

"Don't do that," she urged her father.

Christian shrugged. "I have seen how he looks at you," Christian said to her. "Then again, he would be made to give upon you."

"You have to say that, you are my dad," she informed him. "Besides, I am happy being single at the moment. I have so much on my plate what with teaching and the PhD."

"Well you know I am always glad to hear that, but you can do a lot worse than Andrew."

"I…I don't intend to rush into anything," Victoria only said to her father. "Besides, what with our growing family a new baby should keep all of us busy. I remember when Teddy was a baby…the crying…sleepless nights."

"But look how good things are now."

"I know," Victoria said. "I'm not complaining. I love Teddy so much…just not the crying and the smelly diapers."

"None of us enjoyed any of that," he said to her. "But Ana is looking forward to it again and so am I."

"Wow."

"What?" Christian asked and looked back to her.

"Nothing," she said. "I just never ever thought I would hear you say that. Do you ever remember how it used to be?"

"I know," Christian said. "And I am-"

"-Do not say sorry," she interrupted him, holding her hand up to stop him. "Look at where we are. It is better now than it has ever been. That is the main thing."

"I do wonder what it could have been like. I always will do," Christian said to his daughter as he moved an arm around her shoulders. "But there are some moments I don't miss…like when you got drunk and I had to come and pick you up…that I do not miss."

"It happened once," she said to him, protesting with a roll of her eyes. "Besides, that was when you hugged me for the first time in a long time."

"I know," she said to him with a soft smile. "And you told me off for getting drunk the next day. I don't think I ever got drunk again."

"Glad to hear it," Christian said and she rolled her eyes. He would always be slightly controlling. That was never going to change. She leaned against her father and he kissed the top of her head. "I'm proud of you, Vicky, you know that, right?"

"I know," she responded.

"I don't feel I tell you it often enough," he said.

"Well, you don't need to," she said.

"I do," he said. "You know…with Teddy and the other baby…I…you might be a grown woman, but you are still my little girl. You will always be my little girl."

Victoria rolled her eyes but felt a warm feeling in her stomach as she rested her head against his shoulder and he kept his arm tightly wrapped around her. "I love you, dad."

"I love you too, Vick," he whispered down to her. "So much."

They both remained silent then for a few seconds, comfortable in each other's company. Closing her eyes, Victoria's lips arched as she felt her father kiss the top of her head once more and she knew that whatever happened now, she would be happy. She had her family.

….

The End! Do let me know what you think!