HEY GUYS

SORRY ITS BEEN A LITTLE LONGER FOR THIS UPDATE BUT I HAVE BEEN RUSHED OFF MY FEET AT WORK.

THE WHOLE CHAPTER IS A FEEL GOOD CHAPTER.

DONT FORGET THE PINTEREST, I WILL UPDATE IT LATER TONIGHT

THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS

I WILL TRY TO POST AGAIN OVER THE CHRISTMAS BUT IM NOT PROMISING ANYTHING SO IF I DONT TELL YOU THEN, ILL SAY IT NOW.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

CHEERS

LORNA XOXO

ANAS POV

The first time ever I saw your face

I thought the sun rose in your eyes

And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave

To the dark and the endless skies, my love

To the dark and the endless skies

I am pulled out of a beautiful dream I was having about Christian and strawberries when I hear the first notes of Roberta Flacks, The first time ever I saw your face.

If feels like I have only just gone to sleep. We went to bed a few hours ago after being exhausted from the drive back from Ray's. I know Christian was next to me when I fell asleep but I can tell by the coldness from his side of the bed that he is no longer there.

I slowly open my eyes and sit up in the bed. I gasp when I see what has happened to our bedroom.

It's been transformed in to the most romantic room I have ever seen.

There are thousands and thousands of red and pink rose petals scattered all over the white bedding and the floor. On every single surface of the room, candles flicker in the darkness. I look over and the time on the clock snags my attention.

Its midnight. Officially my 22nd birthday.

"Christian" I call out.

"I'm right here, baby" I hear his voice from just off to the left of me. He is stood I'm the open doorway of the closet. He is wearing his black Calvin Kline boxers and in his hands is a beautiful bunch of red roses. He walks over to me and places the roses next to me on the bed before he leans down and kisses me softly

And the first time ever I kissed your mouth

I felt the earth move in my hand

Like the trembling heart of a captive bird

That was there at my command, my love

That was there at my command, my love

"Happy birthday, Anastasia" he says and then stretches out over me. We make love slowly while listening to the music.

And the first time ever I lay with you

I felt your heart so close to mine

And I knew our joy would fill the earth

And last 'til the end of time, my love

And it would last 'til the end of time, my love

The songs change but every one is telling the same story. He is telling me through music and with his body just how much he loves me. The only words we say to each other for the next hour is how much we love each other. I fall into a blissful sleep while I am on top of him and he is still inside me.

So far, this is shaping up to be the best birthday ever.


"It's time to wake up baby" Christian gentle shakes me from my slumber. I swat his hands away from me and bury my head in to the pillows Which makes him laugh. He grips my hips, slaps my ass and then flips me as if I weigh nothing.

"You're such a bully" I pout up at him.

"Yes but I am a bully with presents" he grins and the gestures to the massive pile of appallingly wrapped gifts beside me. I start giggling when I pick one up and see what must be a roll and a half of tape has been used.

"Yeah...I kinda suck at wrapping" he tells me sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. I pull him to me and give him a smacker of a kiss on the lips.

"You are so adorable, Christian Grey"

We both sit Indian style on the bed and he starts handing me gift after gift and after I open gift number twenty, I tell him that he has gone a bit overboard.

"Yeah but it's your first birthday being my woman so I thought you needed to be spoiled" he shrugs and hands me another gift. I gasp when I see the three first edition Thomas Hardy books.

"Christian...,these are...wow! These are fantastic, but the must have cost you a fortune!"

"They were worth every single penny just to see your eyes light up like that" he leans forward and kisses me again.

"Now this one" he picks up one of two envelopes and hands it to me "You don't have to do this. You can stay on as my PA forever. I love working with you but I think I can utilise that brilliant brain of yours a little bit better with this" he tells me and I open the envelope and pull out the papers inside.

I don't really understand what I am looking at but I recognise the words Seattle Independent Publishing.

"This is the place where I was offered a job but turned them down because I had bad vibes from the guy I would have worked with. I don't understand what this all is?" I hold up the sheets of paper and he gently takes my hand in his.

"I bought SIP. At first I only went after it because what you told me about that guy making you feel uneasy, well it set alarm bells off form me. I had Barney and Welch look into it. The guy had assaulted his last five PAs and none of them had said anything so we compiled a lot of incriminating evidence on him and handed it over to the police. He was arrested and from what I have been told, he is looking at a long time in jail"

"Wow. If I had taken that job I might have been his next victim" I shudder at the thought and Christian pulls me onto his lap.

"No one will ever hurt you, baby. Not all the time that I am here" he kisses my head and then picks up the papers I dropped.

"Now, on to the second reason I bought SIP. It was on course to going under by the end of the year, so I bought it because I think that with the backing of GEH, it could flourish And I would like you to help it get there" he holds up more papers and I can see it is a contract.

"This is a contract to become the assistant editor. I would have just given you the whole business but I think it will help you more to start at the bottom and learn everything you need to know. I am moving the whole company over to the fifth floor of Grey House and the move should take place in the next month. You don't have to take the job, but I would like you to consider it. If you do take it then I would like for you to one day take it over as the CEO. I have complete faith in you" he says sincerely.

I sit stunned. He bought a publishing house and he wants me to help run it one day. He wants me to be CEO one day. Working with authors and getting a book to the top of the best seller list has been a dream if mine since...as far back as I can think.

"You're unbelievable...I can't believe you did this..." I whisper.

He fidgets uncomfortably and runs his hands through his hair.

"I...I'm sorry...it was too much...you don't have to do it...give me the contract and we can just forget I mentioned it" he reaches over to take it but I pull it back. I drop it on the bed beside me and then I launch myself at him so hard he falls back on the bed.

I kiss every single inch of his face I can reach with as much passion as I can muster while I tell him what I think of him.

"You" kiss "are" kiss "the" kiss "worlds" kiss "best" kiss "boyfriend" kiss "ever!" I squeal and he laughs.

"So does that mean..."

"It means I accept! Where do I sign?" I scoot off of him and grab the contract. I reach over to the bedside table and grab a pen. Just as I flip to the last page to sign, Christian stops me.

"Whoa whoa whoa. Anastasia, you always, always, read a contract before you sign it. For all you know that could be a kinky sex contract!"

"Where do I sign?" I say with out missing a beat and he laughs. He scoots over to my side and then flips the contract back to the first page.

"You need to read it all, baby. I have put a few amendments in it that normal staff don't get"

"Such as?"

"Well, normally all assistants only get to work from home or a different location if their immediate supervisor is working from home or at the same location as them. Your contract..." He flips it open to page three "States that you have a flexi contract and can work from anywhere at anytime of your choosing which means that when I go away on business trips, you can come with me and while I'm in meetings you can work on some manuscripts and such things"

Tears spring to my eyes. Could I love this man anymore?

"Come here" I hold my arms out and he leans forward into my embrace. I hug him as hard as I can while gently kissing his neck.

"I love you so much, Christian"

"I love you more, baby"

I lean back and grab another gift when the other envelope catches my eye.

"What's in this one?" It feels heavy at the bottom. I start to open it but Christian takes it from me.

"This one...this one is for later and it goes with your contract so sign it later after I give you whats in this one" he puts the other envelope in his night stand along with the contract and shuts the drawer.

"Why can't I have it now?" I pout

He smirks at me and then pushes his boxers down which makes his erection spring free and then he rolls over in top of me.

"You can have it now if you want baby" he grins and then takes my mouth with a searing kiss.


"I loved it mom...yes I did...thank Bob for me too...Christian is his usual wonderful self, he has spoiled me today..yes I'll send you a picture of everything he bought me...ok...thanks mom...I love you too" I hang up the phone from my mom and then throw myself down on the couch.

I love my mother but she just goes on and on and on about Bob. Who is by far the most boring human being on the plant. He seems nice enough but all he talks about is Golf and for the first year of his marriage to my mother he called me Amanda.

Kate has just left along with Mia and they both bought me some really nice bath salts and perfume for my birthday. While Mia was in Christians study, bugging him about the super cool pink car she wants, I asked Kate about her reaction to Christians abuse.

She sat and told me about her high school maths teacher. She was almost 16 and he was 38. She told me how he basically groomed her for months. He told her he was in love with her and wanted a future with her. Kate told me she was a messed up teen because her parents were going through a separation and she just wanted the love that was lacking at home.

He took her virginity in his class room after hours Across his desk. It went on for two months until he started to get rough with her. She said no but he didn't stop. She avoided him for a week by skipping school and she said that during that week it was like a cloud had lifted and she saw him for what he really was.

She reported him to the police that night and he was arrested. It wasn't just Kate that he had sunk his claws into. By the time it went to court, 17 victims had stepped forward.

Kate told me that for years after she used sex as a way of escape and it wasn't until she met me and then later on Elliott, did she calm down.

I start replying to the texts from Andrea, Barney and Welch who all have wished me happy birthday. Christian was not comfortable at first with the friendship that I struck up with Barney and Welch but we have all spent so much time together at work that it's hard not to form friendships.

I suppose I will have a whole new staff to get to know when I make the switch to SIP. Well by that time it will be called Grey Publishing but I am super excited.

I look up when I hear a door slam hard and Christian marches into the living room. He is shrugging on his jacket while he swears up a storm.

"Ana...baby...I am so sorry. I have to go into Grey House. My japan deal is in crisis and Ros can't deal with it on her own. Im so sorry baby. It's your birthday and I don't want to leave you" be holds my face gently in his hands and peppers my lips with small kisses.

"Babe, it's fine. You go and sort out your work stuff and I'll just hang out here. Unless you need my help?"

"It's ok baby, you stay here and get yourself ready because no matter what, I'm taking my girl out tonight" he gives me a big wet kiss and then leaves me twiddling my thumbs.

I spend the next couple of hours getting ready for our night out. Christian won't tell me where we are going but he did lay out the outfit he wants me to wear. He picked a little black bandage dress and black stilettos. I leave my hair down and wavy. I spritzs myself with my strawberry perfume and grab my new purse that Christian got me and I'm ready.

Now I just need my boyfriend.

I walk into the great room and find Sawyer waiting by the breakfast bar.

"Hey Luke"

"Hey Ana, happy birthday, you dont scrub up too bad" He smirks. We have almost a sibling bond going on and he is a great friend. Christian insists that I have a CPO and even though no one knows we are together he wants me to be safe so Luke follows me everywhere under the pretence of us being friends who hang out. A lot.

More than one person has assumed that we are dating and I have had to put them on the right track. Luke thinks it's funny because he's been with his boyfriend Josh for three years. He's such a macho man that no one thinks he is gay but when you get to know him, he's as camp as they come.

"Mr Grey just called me and he asked that we pick him up at Grey House and then you will both go on to the restaurant from there"

"Oh, ok" why didn't he call me himself? I grab my phone and see I have no missed calls. He must be snowed in with this deal.

We make our way to Grey House and normally we go straight in to the underground garage but today, Luke pulls right up outside the massive glass doors. Taylor walks from...where I don't know, and opens my door.

"Thanks Taylor"

"You're welcome Ana and can I just say, happy birthday" I reach up and pull him into a quick hug. He blushes but hugs me back. Taylor is like an uncle to me and over the last three months, he has become one of my most favourite people.

Luke and Taylor walk me to the door and each of them hold one open for me.

"Are you guys not coming in?"

"We have a couple of security checks we need to do down here" Luke tells me and I nod my head. I walk across the empty lobby and hit the button for the executive elevator.

There is no one at all in the lobby. It's a Saturday and Grey House is open on Saturdays but today it's like a ghost town. The elevator doors glide open and I hit the button for the top floor. The doors close and I notice the music is really loud in here today. And it is so not the normal elevator music! Normally it's just a generic little jingle but today it's playing an old favourite of mine, Amazed by Lonestar. I smile because the words of this song describe perfectly how I feel about Christian.


Every time our eyes meet

This feeling inside me

Is almost more than I can take

Baby when you touch me

I can feel how much you love me

And it just blows me away

I've never been this close to anyone or anything

I can hear your thoughts

I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do

I'm so in love with you

It just keeps getting better

I wanna spend the rest of my life

With you by my side

Forever and ever

Every little thing that you do

Baby I'm amazed by you

The smell of your skin

The taste of your kiss

The way you whisper in the dark

Your hair all around me

Baby you surround me

You touch every place in my heart

Oh it feels like the first time every time

I wanna spend the whole night in your eyes

I don't know how you do what you do

I'm so in love with you

It just keeps getting better

I wanna spend the rest of my life

With you by my side

Forever and ever

Every little thing that you do

Baby I'm amazed by you

Every little thing that you do

I'm so in love with you

It just keeps getting better

I wanna spend the rest of my life

With you by my side

Forever and ever

Every little thing that you do

Oh, every little thing that you do

Baby I'm amazed by you


The elevator reaches the top floor and I step out absentmindedly but when I look up, the shock of what I see makes me drop my purse and cover my mouth.

Just like our bedroom was this morning, every single surface is covered in flickering candles and rose petals. The music is being pumped around the room and the lights have been dimmed. A small movement catches my attention and when I look up, Christian is stood next to my desk wearing a tuxedo.

"Christian...this is...what?" I can't string my words together. He walks over to me slowly and when he reaches me, he plants a small kiss on my forehead. He takes my hand and leads me towards his office but before I can cross the threshold he stops me. I am out side his office and he is inside. What is he doing? is he? No he can't be...

Slowly, very slowly, he drops to one knee in front of me. Tears spring from my eyes and I cover my mouth to stop the sobs that are threatening to breakout.

"Anastasia, it was on this spot, right here, where I first saw you, first held you and it's where I fell in love with you. All it took was one look into your beautiful blue eyes and I was a goner. I will love you and cherish you until I take my last breath on this earth and then I'll love you in the after life. I love you so much, baby, so very much. Anastasia Steele, will you marry me?" He snaps open a small red box and holds up the diamond ring inside.

"Yes, yes, a million times yes!" I scream and he jumps up and pulls me into his arms so tight that my feet leave the ground. I start crying into his chest and when I pull back I see that he has tears in his eyes.

"Oh my god! We're engaged! I'm engaged! We're getting married! Oh my god!" I literally start jumping up and down.

"I love you so fucking much Future Mrs Grey"

"I like the sound of that"

"Me too baby. Hey, your ring" he holds the box up again and gently takes the ring from where it's nestled and he gently slips it on my finger and then kisses it.

The ring is exquisite! It's a pear shaped diamond and it has smaller individual diamonds running down the band.

"Christian this ring, I love it! It's beautiful" I lean up and kiss him again and again. I'm so happy.

"Not as beautiful as you, Anastasia. Come, we still have lots to do tonight"

"We do?"

"I have a few more surprises up my sleeve yet, Miss Steele" he smirks and then takes my hand and leads me out the office. We kiss and grope each other all the way down in the elevator and if I wasn't so excited about what we will be doing next, I would suggest that we just go back to Escala and lock ourselves away in the bedroom for the next week.

Christian holds me close and as the elevator doors open I spot Sawyer and Taylor standing by the lobby. I watch with humour as both of them train their eyes down to my left hand and when they see the rock on my finger they both forget professionalism and high five each other. I can't help the giggle that comes from me as I see the utter relief in Taylor's eyes.

"Congratulations Sir, Miss Steele" he shakes Christians hand and then gives me a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you Taylor"

"Congratulations Sir" Luke shakes Christians hand and then turns to me "Congratulations banana!" He gives me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek before Christian pulls me to his side.

"Is everything set up at...our next location?" Christian asks and Taylor nods.

"Ok then. I'll check in later tonight and we will see you both tomorrow" they both nod and we leave them and head out side where Christians R8 is parked on the curb. He opens the door for me and then motions me in with his hand.

"In you get, future wifey" he grins and gives me a kiss before I put my first leg in his cr.

"Thanks, soon to be husband" I get in and put on my seatbelt as Christian hops in the drivers side and we take off into the traffic.

"You said to Taylor that we will see him tomorrow. Where are we staying tonight?" I ask him and he gives me his shy smile.

"We will be staying at your next gift"

"My next gift? What do you mean?"

"Patience baby"

I bug him for answers for the next twenty minutes but he just keeps smiling and driving. We head into a residential area and he pulls the car over in the side of the road.

"Why did you stop?"

"I'm going to blindfold you. I want this to be a complete surprise, ok?"

"Okay" he pulls out a red silk eye mask from his pocket and then gently puts it over my face. He holds my hand as he starts driving again and after a minute or two I feel the car stop but he doesn't kill the engine. I hear his window go down and then tapping and then I hear the window go back up before the car pulls forward.

A minute later the car stops and he switches off.

"I'm going to come around and get you babY, stay there" I snort and roll my eyes. Like I'm going anywhere.

"Just because I can't see them doesn't mean I don't know you just rolled your eyes at me, baby"

"Whoops" I giggle and he gets out the car. My door opens and he reaches in and takes off my belt before helping me out. He stands behind me and wraps his arms around my middle while resting his chin on my shoulder.

"Do you remember the day you officially moved into Escala with me? You asked me to go to lunch and I said I couldn't because I had a really important call? Wellllll what is in front of you is what my call was about. It's a birthday gift for you but it's also a gift for me too. It's for us. It's for our future...take the blindfold off baby" he whispers and then he reaches up and helps me take it off.

When I open my eyes I gasp for what must be the millionth time today.

We are stood on a circular drive way in front of one of the most beautiful houses I have ever seen. I spin in Christians arms to find him grinning at me.

"You...you...you got me a house!" He grips my hips tighter and pulls me a bit closer to him.

"Well, to be exact, I got us a housebut seeing as it's your birthday, I thought today would be a great day for you to sign your name on the deed so this..." He quickly opens his car door and pulls out the envelope that he wouldn't let me open this morning. He pulls out a stack of papers and then a beautiful diamond encrusted pen. He leads me to the front of the car and turns to the last page.

"This is the deed the paperwork to put half this house in your name. I bought it the day after you moved in and Elliott and his whole crew have been working round the clock since then to get this place ready for us to be able to move in this weekend" He smiles at me but I can't do anything.

I think I'm in shock.

"You bought us a house?" I squeak again Making him laugh. He pulls me close to him and kisses me once,

"I've had today planned for months. We will be getting married and this house, is the first step towards our future. I want bring you back from our honey moon to this house. I want to make our babies with you, in this house. I want to grow old with you in this house, Anastasia"

I fling my arms around his neck and kiss him with everything I can. I love this man so much!

"I love you, I love you so fucking much Christian"

"I love you too baby. Now sign the papers so I can show you around. I want us both to walk in there as the owners of this place"

He hands me the pen and I take a minute to study it. It's a mont Blanc fountain pen that has hundreds of tiny Diamonds all over it. On the side there is an inscription and when I read it, I once again tear up.

My Love, My Life! My Darling Wife, Anastasia xoxo

"Bit if a forgone conclusion wasn't I?" I laugh And then stop when I see Christian blushing.

"What's wrong?"

"Um...well...it's a bit embarrassing how long I've had that pen" he rubs the back of his neck while blushing to his roots.

"How long have you had it?" I giggle

"I...I bought the pen online the day we first met...and I had the inscription added the day after we first slept together" he tells me sheepishly but my heart swells once again. He leans down and squeezes me tight.

"You were mine the minute I saw you, Baby. And I was yours in return. You and me, forever"

"Forever" I say and then kiss him.

I lean down and sign my name on the dotted line with a flourish. He kisses me once and then takes the contract and the pen and puts them in the car. He walks back over to me and scoops me up in his arms bridal style making me squeal.

"This is the second time I will carry you over the threshold, I can't wait for the third" he grins and then walks up to the huge oak doors.

"The keys are in my pocket baby" I reach I to his pants pocket and grasp the key. I keep my hand in there longer than what I should which makes Christian moan.

"Ana, I want to christen this house in our bed the first time, not on the front porch"

"Such a spoil sport" I mumble making him laugh. I lean forward and open the door and he lightly kicks it open And carries me in.

"Wow!... Holy cow! This place is amazeballs!" I say and he starts laughing.

He takes me on a tour of the whole house and the more I see, the more I fall in love. It has 8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, home theatre, indoor pool, games room, library, study, outdoor pool, BBQ pit, Gym, indoor half basketball court, 5 car garage and separate house on the grounds for Taylor and Gail. But what really made me well up was the master bedroom.

It's huge, like huge huge! The bed is a custom made California king size four poster. It's made of a light coloured pine and it has hand carved posts and headboard. Around the room are chest of drawers and tables all in the same wood and the carpet is cream with big brown throw rugs. The wall opposite the bed is all glass and we have the best view of the puget sound. The roof is vaulted and right above our bed, its made of glass. He asked me a few months ago about my dream crib and I told him I wanted a glass roofed bedroom so that we can just lay there and watch the stars. And he did it. He took my dream and made it a reality.

"Why are you crying again baby?" He asks softly and I bury my head in his chest and hug him tight.

"You make me so happy Christian. Today has been the best day of my life, ever! The way you loved me at midnight, my presents, the proposal, SIP, the new house and now seeing this roof" I shake the tears from my eyes "You're a remarkable man. The best man. I'm going to love and cherish you for the rest of my life because you're my soul mate. I love you so so much" I kiss him softly and I can see that my little speech has made him choke up a bit.

"I love you too baby...let me show you" he whispers against my lips and then gently lowers me onto our new bed.

We make love for the next few hours and then fall asleep in each other's arms.

By far, the best birthday ever!


CHRISTIANS POV

When I wake the next morning I am met but the beautiful blue eyes of my fiancé who is laying flat on top of me.

Fiancé! Jesus Christ! I'm getting married!

"Good morning, handsome fiancé" she grins and then kisses my chest.

"Good morning, Wifey"

"I'm not your wife yet, Christian"

"In the eyes of the law, maybe. But in my heart and soul, you're already Mrs Grey" she smiles at my words and then climbs up my body and starts kissing me slowly. Her hands are in my hair and I put my arms around her and press my erection into her belly making her groan.

Just as things start getting even more heated, she starts slapping my hands away from her and then she launches herself out of bed and runs to the bathroom with her hands over her mouth. It takes my brain a minute to catch up because most of my blood was in another area, but when I hear her being violently sick into the toilet, I run into the bathroom and hold her hair while she empties her stomach.

When she is finished she rests her forehead against the bowl and I pass her a glass of water. She rinses her mouth out and then slowly stands up. I lead her back into the bed and cover her up.

"Are you ok? Do you need a doctor? Are you sick? Where does it hurt? I'm calling my mom!" I start panicking and as I reach for my cell phone she stops me.

"Babe, I'm fine. I must have a stomach bug, that's all. I feel fine now"

"Have you been feeling off at all? Is this the first time you have thrown up?" She blushes so I now she is keeping something from me.

"Tell me Anastasia"

"It's like...maybe the third time, but I feel fine, I promise. I must be eating something that doesn't agree with me"

"When were you sick before? And why the fuck didn't you tell me?" Do not shout at her. Do not shout at her. Do not shout at her!

"Um, well...I was sick a few days ago at work and yesterday while we were at Rays I threw up while you two were out on the porch"

I rake my hands threw my hair and then stand up.

I hate the fact that she has been ill and she hasn't told me. I could have helped her or called my mom to get checked over. The fact that she has thrown up three times doesn't bode well with me. The only reason people throw up all the time is if you're sick... or I suppose if you're a woman it could be because your Pre...pre...OH MY GOOD GOD!

I spin around so fast that I make Ana jump a little.

"Ana...are you?...could you?...are we?"

"In full sentences please" she giggles but she soon stops when I ask her my next question.

"Are you pregnant?" I whisper.

Her eyes bolt and she opens her mouth to say something but then stops. She starts frowning and then starts counting on her fingers. She does it again and again and from what I can see, she keeps coming up with the same number.

"Ana?" She looks up at me and I can tell what she is about to say next before she says it.

"Christian, my period is late"