:) Thank you , Chris! :))

Ana knew was wrong when her Mom showed her the guest list of the Christmas party she was throwing with Grace.

"I thought Christmas was a family celebration." Ana said reading through the list of people attending the party.

"Yes, it is. But that's the Christmas Eve celebration. And since Mia and Ethan are dating, Monica and Christian are together, Grace and I thought that we could have a little party just for these families."

What am I supposed to do there if I am not dating any of the Grey's? Ana thought to herself as she reread the list.

"Do I need to get a gift for everyone included? " Ana asked her Mother.

"Oh, no!" Carla laughed. "Honey, it's just a party. The gifts will be given the next morning when each family celebrates Christmas without their significant other. And you know I don't need gifts." she said smiling at Ana.

"Okay. Can I take Jose? " Ana asked.

"Of course, you can, but isn't he celebrating with his family?" Carla asked confused.

"His parents still can't accept the fact that he is gay." Ana said taking a sip of her Twinings English Breakfast tea.

This was Ana's first Christmas in so many years without Ray.

Ana put that thought to the side. She had many things to do today. She had to go to the city centre and today she would be selling the house she shared with Ray. She was also meeting Kate and Jose for some Christmas shopping.

"So, how did it go?" Jose asked as they had a cappuccino at the nearby Starbucks.

"I am a bit richer than I was." Ana confessed. She got a good deal from the house. If only she knew what to do with the money.

"What will you do now?" Kate asked, sipping her hot chocolate.

"I don't know. But there is one thing I would like to do though." Ana said.

Maybe she should fulfill this dream that she and Ray had once had?

"What thing?" said Kate and Jose in unison.

"I will go to New York for New Year's Eve." Ana told her best friends.

She remembered Ray telling her about the Big Apple and Timesquare and he said that they would go there for New Year's Eve one day.

Maybe this was that year.

"Oh, really? That is amazing!" Kate exclaimed in happiness for her friend. "You really need a trip somewhere!"

"Alone?" Jose asked with a smirk.

"Alone, Jose." Ana stated. "No, actually accompanied by my thoughts and hopes for the New Year."

"Oh, Ana. I hope 2014 is our year." Jose said.

"You say that every year Jose." Kate laughed.

"But next year, I hope that Kate will get the promotion she wanted and also this man that loves her. And you, Ana, I hope you will finally find your dream job and then find the love of your life and marry soon after." Jose said sharing his hopes for the New Year.

"Jose, no offence or anything but I wish you a new brain. Things just don't happen that easily." Ana said. "But, Kate, what have I missed? What man?"

Kate and Jose shared a look before Kate turned to Ana.

"See, when you left us at that bar a few weeks ago... An old friend approached us and bought me a drink. Then, later we kinda made out and then he asked for my number. Now we are kinda dating and I think he is serious." Kate quickly explained to Ana.

"Kate, that's so sweet! Why didn't you tell me that? Who is the lucky man?" Ana asked her best friend.

"Well, his name is Elliot." Kate said nervously.

"Elliot who?" Ana asked.

"Elliot Grey." Kate said with a squeaky voice.

Ana's eyes widened in shock. Everyone was dating and dating someone from the families that she knew.

What was up with everyone? As if they couldn't find their partners outside the neighborhood they grew up from.

"Ana, you okay with that?" Kate asked her.

"Of course, I am. In fact, I am very happy for you. So, the Christmas party Grace and my Mom are throwing, you two will attend together right?" Ana asked Kate.

Ana was happy for her, more than happy. But at the same time she felt jealous. Everyone at the party will have their boyfriend or girlfriend and Ana will show up alone. At least Jose was single, for now.

"Yes, that is if we don't break up in the next few weeks."Kate said laughing.

"You won't! Don't say that Kate! He clearly is head over heels for you" Jose said assuring her.

"Okay, okay enough about me. What have you two bought?" Kate asked taking a look in Ana's bags.

"What is that?" Kate took out the jumper and said "Please tell me this is not for me."

"Hey! It's for my mom!" Ana said taking the jumper from Kate's hands. "It is good quality and my mom will like it." She said defending the jumper.

"Ana, in case you didn't know, your mom is single again. And with this she won't meet her husband number four." Jose said,

Ana sighed as she realized that they were right. But she had been a bit distracted when she had bought it.

As she was walking around the shop, she saw Christian Grey's girlfriend at the lingerie section.

"Anastasia Steele, right?" She asked making Ana turn around and face the woman.

"Yes, that's right. You're Monica Baker, correct?" Ana responded, trying to still smile no matter how much Monica disgusted her.

"Don't act innocent, honey. I know what you tried to do with Christian. Accidentally sleeping in his bed almost naked? What did you think? That he would suddenly choose you over me? Guess what. You are wrong. He loves me. I am the best thing that happened to him."

Ana actually wanted to laugh at her.

"See, Monica, it really was an accident. I have no intentions for your boyfriend, trust me." Ana said truthfully.

"If I ever see you near him, trust me, honey, I won't even try to control myself." Monica said threatening Ana.

And with that Monica left, not even allowing Ana to laugh.

Even though Ana knew she no longer had a crush or even Christian, she wondered why her? Monica Baker had lived in the same neighborhood as her before she moved to Ray's. Monica was just two years older than her. She came from a richer family, she could afford those brand clothes.

But it could also have been her. What would have happened if Ana had stayed with her mom? Maybe she would be the one with Christian? Would she have been like Monica?

In a way, Ana was glad she didn't stay with her mom. There was something about Christian that no longer attracted her, but scared her.

The way his voice sounded when he talked to her or yelled at her that morning.

The way his eyes watched her.

The way he had turned out to be.

"Well, I have the receipt. So, I will be able to return it." Ana said, placing the jumper back in the bag.

Ana had to stop thinking about the "what ifs." She would find her Prince Charming someday. Who knew who she would meet? No matter how wealthy or good looking Christian was, the world is full of men like him. Some probably even a better catch she reminded herself.

Money and status was not to Ana. Love was important to her. She knew she wanted to be loved. She wanted to meet a good man who would love her. A man who would care about her and take care of her. Ana did not want a man buying her what she wanted but by comforting her when she was feeling down, who would bring her tea when she was sick. A man who would be there for her.

Meanwhile, Jose and Ana said goodbye to Kate as she had a date with Elliot.

Now, that they were alone, Ana decided to ask him something. Something that had been on her mind the whole day.

"Jose..." Ana said looking at him.

"Yes, Ana?" He said making her smile.

"Do you have any plans for Christmas Eve?" she asked him.

"Yes." he said and Ana sighed. He continued, "I will be drinking whisky alone by my Christmas tree."

"Oh!" She laughed. "I thought... Okay, how about you change your plans and join me at my Mother's party?"

"Ana, I thought this was yours, the Grey's, Kate's and Baker's family party." he asked her.

"The Baker's are invited because Monica is dating Christian." she told him.

"And why do you want me to be there?" he asked her.

"Well, because... Okay, look we all know I had a major crush on him when I was a teenager. And somehow returning here has changed something in me. And the fact that he is happy with Monica, while Monica is such a horrible person. I could have been in her place if I had stayed here with my Mom. Now, Monica is looking down at me like she had when we are in school. I thought that I would feel more confident if I also had someone..." Ana said not looking at him.

"Like a boyfriend?" Jose asked with a smile on his face.

"Oh, no... Well, yes." Ana said finally looking at Jose.

"Oh, Ana. I would love to be your boyfriend. But doesn't your and Kate's mom kinda know that I am not into girls?" he said with a smirk.

"Don't worry. You won't have to act for them." Ana laughed knowing that there were only two people who had to see how happy she was and how good her life was.

She had to show Christian and Monica that she no longer had feelings for him. She would be happy with Jose even if it was for show.