CHAPTER 21
All credit to ELJ
ANA
Christian pats my back and I finally get my coughing under control. This is the second time he's mentioned having kids. Well, the third time. He mentioned it when he proposed, but we've never had the conversation about children.
"Kids?" I ask between coughs.
"Yes, kids. I want a family with you," he turns and looks back at the house. "I think we have the room," he jokes.
"Look, Ana, I know I've never mentioned it before, but I want to talk about it."
"Not true, Mr. Grey. The night you begged me to marry you, you said you wanted to have kids with me. I remember every word of that proposal. Best moment of my life," she says.
"Begged? I beg to differ, soon to be Mrs. Grey. I only would have begged if you had said no, but you didn't even let me finish my proposal before you screamed out yes," I remind her.
"That's not how I remember it, but yes. I want to have little ginger babies who look just like their daddy. In fact, I have this vision of a little boy with red hair and gray eyes who answers to the name CJ," I tell him as I place my hands on his chest.
"CJ?"
"CJ for Christian Junior. He's going to be a mini you, right down to the designer suits you'll probably make him wear to pre-school," I tell him.
"I like the sound of that, soon to be Mrs. Grey," he says against my lips. He pulls me closer and I wrap my arms around his waist. "I'll get in touch with Prada. Why wait until pre-school. He'll need an outfit to wear home from the hospital. I'll send the staff away and I can knock you up real quick. No time like the present."
"As romantic as that sounds, I'm not quite ready to be a mother. I'm selfish and want some time with just my husband for a while. I want spontaneous trips, lazy weekends in bed, making love in front of the fireplace just because."
"How long is a while? We have this huge house to fill," I remind her. "Remember Ray is in desperate need of a fishing buddy." At that I roll my eyes.
"Carla is Ray's fishing buddy. You have already made plans for a fishing weekend with the guys, so Ray has plenty of fishing buddies. I want my husband all to myself first before I share him with our children," I say, willing him to understand.
"How long? I need a timeframe."
"What's the rush, Christian? We're both young and have plenty of time," I tell him.
"You once called me a control freak. I just want to plan." Bullshit. He wants to lock me into an exact date.
"Fine. Three years. I want three years of just Ana and Christian before we start a family."
"No. That's two long. I can give you three months." So, he wants to negotiate.
"This is not one of your business deals, Christian. I don't want to negotiate when we start a family. Don't you want some time with just me? Think about it. You can come home and ravage me whenever you want. We can't do that with a baby. And I don't want nannies raising our kids. I want us to do it together."
"Fine. Six months."
"Ugh! You're still negotiating!" Fine. I'll meet him on his level.
"Yes, and I've already bid against myself. Your move."
"2 years and six months."
"7 months."
"I'm not doing this. You're being unreasonable. I don't want to negotiate a child. What's gotten into you? What's this really about?" I ask him. He turns away from me and goes and leans against one of the pillars.
"Why are you so reluctant to have a family with me?" What the hell has gotten into this man?
"Reluctant? I have the name already picked out for our first son. What part of that says reluctance to you? I want it all with you. We're planning our wedding for god's sakes," I say totally exasperated. I look at him and I know there is something else.
"What's going on, Christian? Talk to me."
"I don't want you to leave me, Ana. Ever."
"Why would I leave you? I love you. My entire world is you."
He takes my hand and we walk back to the table. He takes a seat and gestures for me to get on his lap.
"My life was so empty before you, Ana. It was filled with nothing but work and a bunch of women who meant nothing to me, and some family obligations. That was it. Then one Friday night I met a beautiful girl at a party and everything changed. You became everything to me right at that moment, and then to have you love me back is just everything. I don't want to lose you," he says. I look in his eyes and he looks like a scared little by, not the domineering, bossy alpha male that I've come to know and love. Does he want to have a baby so that he can hold on to me?
"Look at me, Christian. You are the love of my life, my entire world. My life begins and ends with you. You have me and I'm not going anywhere, ok? We don't need a baby so you can have a grasp on me. I'm with you willingly and because I would die if we weren't together. You're my everything. And I do want to have your children, and soon, I just want to have you to myself for a while first."
"Three years isn't soon, Ana."
"Forget the three years. Let's have children when we're both ready."
"I'm ready now."
"I realize that but you just sprung this on me. Don't you want a honeymoon period? I do. I you to come home after a long day and just rip my clothes off and have your way with me for hours. I want us to just spontaneously take off for a long weekend. I just want to be with my husband. Don't you want to be with me? What is this really all about?" I try to get him to look at me but he looks away.
"Talk to me, baby."
"I'm afraid, Ana."
"Of what, Christian.
"I'm afraid that one day you'll wake up and realize you made a mistake, and the life I can provide for you is not the life you want, and you'll leave."
"That's never going to happen, but how is a baby going to stop that?"
"If we have a child, you can't just take off. You'll have to at least try to work things out with me," he says.
"Oh, Christian," I say to him as I rest my forehead on his. He puts his arms around my waist and pulls me closer.
"First of all, our life is all I want. Nothing will ever make me want to leave what we have. I am absolutely crazy about you," I say to him. I grab his face and force him to look me in the eyes.
"You are my life, baby. There is nothing I want more than to walk down to aisle to you on my father's arm, and recite my vows to you. It's going to be you and me until death do us part. And as far as having your kids go, I can't wait for that. You are never sexier to me than when you come into the daycare and play with the kids. And that time you played with Henry in your office, I swear I wanted to rip your clothes off and have you right then and there. I want it all. I want to marry you, fuck you on every surface in this new house, carry your children, grow old with you. I want everything. I'm not going anywhere," I say to him, imploring him to believe me.
"That's all I've ever wanted, Ana."
"And I know the man I'm going to marry. No way in hell you'd let me go. You love me too much," I say trying to tease him out of his mood. His hold tightens around me and he puts his face in my neck.
"You got that right. I'll lock you in a room and beg until you take me back. I'll never let you go," he whispers against my neck. He lifts his head and kisses me deeply, pouring all of his feelings in that kiss. I do the same, and kiss him with everything in me. I hold the back of his head and pour all of my love in that kiss. Just as I feel him start to harden underneath me, he breaks the kiss.
"I love you so much, Ana. I just want to make you as happy as you make me. And having you to myself for a while does sound appealing. It's going to take us at least one year to fuck on every surface of this house," and he's back.
"Yes. How about we table the baby talk for one year. We'll revisit it on our first anniversary."
"Deal," he says while nibbling on my neck. Just then the staff brings out our appetizers, followed by our main course of sea bass.
Once we've had our dinner, we feed each other delicious crème brulee for dessert.
"I'm so full, Mr. Grey," I say to him as he puts another spoonful of dessert in my mouth. "I think it's time you take me home and fill me up with something else."
"I like the sound of that, soon to be Mrs. Grey. What exactly shall I fill you up with?" He asks seductively. I shift on his lap and feel his hardness underneath me. I take my hand and stick it down his pants, holding his hard cock in my hand.
"I was thinking," I begin.
"Hello, lovebirds," I hear Elliot yell just as he walks out in the patio, with Kate following behind him. I'm mortified and quickly pull my hands out of Christian's pants.
"Banana, I'm going to pretend that I didn't see you just pull your hands out of my little brother's pants." I'm going to die. The ground is going to open up and swallow me whole.
"I don't need those nightmares, Elliot," Kate says.
"What the hell are you two doing here?" Christian asks, none too pleased with the interruption.
"Just so you know, I just took my wife out to dinner and wanted to check something out in the house. You two should be happy I'm so dedicated to my work," he says as he takes a seat across from us and puts Kate on his lap. His hand automatically goes to her protruding stomach. I notice that Christian's eyes are on Kate's stomach as well.
"We didn't invite you two to sit," Christian says, but I hear a hit of laughter in his voice.
"Since when do we need an invitation? You got anymore dessert? I'm pretty sure Kate wants some," Elliot says and Kate playfully punches him. Two minutes later, more crème brulee is brought to the table for our uninvited guests. Kate dives right into her dessert, and Elliot even feeds her some of his. The entire time, he has one hand on her stomach and I notice that Christian is looking intently at Kate's stomach.
"I don't appreciate you two crashing our date night," Christian says as he rubs circles on my back. I discretely grind against his crotch, feeling his dick underneath me.
"You shouldn't have told me you'd be here then. You're lucky I didn't invite our parents."
"Steele, this house is insane," Kate begins. We spend the next few minutes talking about the house and plans for the bachelor/bachelorette parties. We originally wanted to go to New York, but with Kate being almost 7 months pregnant by the time the parties arrive, it's best if we stay closer to home. Kate's pregnancy is fine, but her blood pressure has been a little high so It's best to stay close to home. Of course, that means clubbing for the women is out of the question. Kate says she doesn't care if we go without her, but I want my BFF there with me every step of the way.
"If we go to Las Vegas, we can do the spa thing while he guys play golf, gamble and catch a show. What do you think?" I suggest.
"I think you're absolutely brilliant," Christian says and kisses my temple. Elliot rolls his eyes at us, but I beam at my fiance's compliment.
"I'm in," Elliot says. "Katie and I will do all the planning. All you two have to do is show up."
"Nothing on the weekend of September 10th. I have plans for Ana's birthday," Christian says.
Everyone but Kate drinks to that. We chat for a bit longer, but I can feel my fiance shifting underneath me. He's rock hard and my panties are drenched.
"We should do this again next Friday night," Elliot suggests.
"Nope. We spend enough time with you two. It's time for us to leave," Christian says as he gets up. I stand up and go hug Kate and Elliot goodbye.
"I'll find out where you're going to be next Friday and we're going to crash your date again! Save yourself some trouble and get a table for four!" Elliot yells to our retreating back. These Greys have no fucking boundaries, but I can't wait until I'm one of them.
CHRISTIAN
About 1 month before the wedding
Thank fucking Christ we can get off this damn golf course. We all flew into Las Vegas last night for our separate bachelor/bachelorette parties. Today, all the ladies are having brunch, followed by an afternoon at the spa, a show and dinner. Dad and Elliot wanted to do a round of golf, but unfortunately they picked one of the hottest days of the damn year. I have sweat dripping down my back and my balls.
Carrick was so happy to be going golfing, but my trainer, Claude Bastille, is the better golfer. Since Ana started training with Claude's wife, Claudia, they have become friends and she insisted on inviting them this weekend, along with Heather from work. Now Carrick is making plans with him to golf again back in Seattle so he can have a re-match. Ray was totally out of his element on the golf course and suggested we find a shooting range this weekend. Little does he know that my mom would kill all of us if she were to find out. Thankfully, our weekend is jam packed so there will be no time for that! He also took this opportunity to invite back to Montesano sometime this fall to use that gift card for the shooting range he gave me for my birthday. How the hell am I going to get out of this one?
Our entourage consists of Elliot, Ray, Carrick, Ethan, Claude, Taylor and Sawyer. Gail counldn't join the girls because she already had plans with her sister this weekend. We hired a few temporary guards along with Reynolds and Ryan, who are with the women.
"Let's get out of this damn heat and get a drink," I say to Elliot as we walk back to the club house. We go to our private room and wait for our drink orders and food. I wonder how Ana is doing.
"Can I have my phone, Elliot?"
"Nope. Let Ana have a few hours without you breathing down her neck. This is one of the last weekends you're going to have as a single man," the jerk says to me. He snatched my phone from me and told me Kate also took Ana's.
Before I can strangle him, the drinks arrive.
"Can I have your attention, please?" Carrick starts. Oh, lord. I just want to talk to my girl!
"Let me be the first to say that I am so excited to be here celebrating my other favorite son's upcoming wedding. I admit, I never saw this day coming, but Grace and I are so happy that you found Ana. Lord knows your mother has spent many sleepless nights worrying about you, but from the moment that you brought Ana home for Sunday dinner, her days of worry were over. We knew from that day, that we would soon be here. Congrats, son," dad says. Now I feel like an ass for being annoyed. I get up and give him a hug and he pats me on the back.
"I love you, son," he says so that only I can hear. I nod.
"Love you too, old man."
I hear someone clear their throat and see Ray stand up.
"I'd like to say a few words, if you don't mind. When Annie first told me about you two dating, I admit I was uncertain about the whole thing. My Annie was young, only out of college less than a year. We lived a pretty sheltered life in Montesano, and I was worried about her getting involved with a city slicker." A what? What the fuck is he carrying on about?
"But when I first met you, I liked you instantly. I knew you were terrified of me, and that endeared you to me even more. It told me that you wanted to make a good impression for the sake of my daughter. I know a man like you doesn't normally give two shits what people think of you, but because you cared about what I thought told me all I needed to know. I'd like to take a moment to welcome you and the rest of the Greys into the Steele family. I guess I was wrong about your kind," he says jokingly at the end. Your daughter is my kind now, fucker. I walk over and hug him. Thankfully there is no tension between him and my father after that horrible prenup fiasco. It's amazing how quickly we can put all our differences aside for the sake of one tiny, little woman with brown hair and freckles. Damn, I need to talk to her.
"I'd give a speech, but I'm saving it for the wedding," Elliot says. He better not embarrass me at my own fucking wedding.
Our steaks soon arrive and Ray pulls out a box of cigars he had with him. I don't normally smoke, but I can't refuse him. Poor Ethan practically chokes to death after his first drag. I see Ray roll his eyes at him as he pats his back.
"Ethan, you need to come spend a few weekends with me in Montesano without that girlfriend of yours. I need to make a man out of you, boy," Ray says and we all laugh. Ethan turns red with embarrassment but he laughs too.
"Hey. Kate told me that at her shower, the ladies all gave her a piece of advice. Let's do that for Christian." What the fuck kind of advice is Elliot going to give? Don't knock up your girlfriend before you propose? I've already mastered that, asshole.
"Remember my father in law is sitting right here, asshole," I warn him.
"He's not our father in law yet, asshole. He can still convince Ana to dump your ass."
"Annie can't be convinced to do anything she doesn't want to do. I'm sure your brother knows that." That's for` sure. Stubborn woman!
"Well I've been married for almost four months now so that makes me an expert on the whole marriage thing. There are two rules. One, your wife is always right. Two, when you know she's wrong, keep that shit to yourself and pretend she's right. Oh, and always have food around." Idiot. He's a complete moron, but we all laugh.
The waiter comes in and I order rounds of bourbon for everybody.
"We're going to make a man out of Ethan yet," I whisper to Ray and he winks at me.
We all take a shot as soon as it's brought out. Ethan only coughs once. I order another round.
"I've been married for 7 years now so I might not have the same level of expertise as Elliot, but I think I know a few things. It's important to have similar interests, but it's also ok if not all of your interests align. Always listen to what your wife has to say, and always, always make her feel like she's the most important person in your life. Women are way more complicated than men, but you'll have a happy wife and a happy life if you show her with your words and deeds how much you love her." Well Claude is way more eloquent than that idiot, Elliot.
Our next round comes out and we all take a shot.
"Don't sip it, Ethan. It's not tea for god's sakes. It's bourbon!" Ray says. Ethan finally takes the shot. No cough this time.
"I only have one thing to say, Christian. Continue to make my daughter happy and you and I will never have a problem. I don't know what you're doing, but whatever it is, it's working. I've never seen her so happy," Ray says.
"I bet I know what he's doing," Elliot says with a wiggle of the eyebrows. Ray harrumphs and I take an ice cube out of my water and throw it at Elliot.
We all take another shot.
Dad stands up and stumbles a bit. Mom is going to kill him.
"You've been given some good advice here, son. Nothing more I can add except this. Sex solves lots of problems. Even headaches. You've never heard of your mother complaining of a headache, have you? And just be honored that she agreed to spend the rest of her life with you. You found yourself a good one."
"Dad, you're not allowed to give out anymore advice. We don't need to hear that. I'm going to have to wash my ears out with bleach," Elliot says. "Where's the waiter? I need another drink."
"I'm single so I'm hardly in any place to give advice," Sawyer says.
"I do whatever Gail tells me," is all that Taylor offers. I've seen Taylor knock out another man with just one punch, and yet here he sits telling us he says how high whenever Gail tells him to jump. I guess you just never know. It's always the quiet ones. I bet Taylor would make a good submissive. I shudder at the thought.
"Seriously? You take orders from Gail?" I ask.
"You're obviously never seen Gail upset."
After our late lunch, we head back to the hotel to shower and change before we do some gambling. We rented out a floor at the MGM Grand, but the presidential suite belongs to me and Ana. Unfortunately, the girls are at the damn spa when we get back to the hotel and I don't get to see my Ana. I grab the hotel phone and dial her cell, expecting it to go to voicemail. To my surprise, Kate answers and she passes Ana the phone.
"Baby," I say when I hear her sweet voice. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, but Kate has been holding my phone hostage. How has your day been so far? I'm horny," she whispers.
"Ana, baby, have you been drinking?"
"Mmmmhmmm. They just keep on bringing the drinks, but there's only one thing I want to drink. It's thick and creamy." I'm instantly hard.
"I think I know exactly what you need. I'm going to fill you with so much creamy stuff tonight, you might need a life jacket," I say seductively.
"Ugh, that's gross, dude," Kate says. She must have taken the phone from Ana. "Take a cold shower," she says before hanging up on me. Rude much?
I shower and change quickly before we meet in Elliot's suite. We have more drinks and go in search of a poker game. This time, Ray is in his element. He has Ethan sit next to him so he can teach him how to play like a man, whatever that means. He catches me looking at him and he nods to the other seat next to him.
"Lord knows your poker game needs some help," he says to me. We spend the next few hours playing poker and black jack and drinking. After several hours of being in the casino, we go to the mob museum, followed by the Gene Woods racing experience. That's probably not the best idea considering how drunk we all were. Elliot kept trying to crash into everybody. Ethan was his primary target.
"Let's go, lads. We have dinner plans," Elliot announces once we're done with the race track. We arrive at Twist and taken to a private room.
I hear my name being called right before Ana jumps into my arms. She wraps her legs around me and attacks my mouth with hers. I can taste the tequila on her tongue.
"I've missed you so much," she says against my mouth.
"I've missed you too, baby," I say not caring that we're making out like a couple of teenagers in front of everyone.
"This is my favorite place."
"Las Vegas?" She rolls her eyes at me.
"Your arms, silly." This time I'm the one who attacks her mouth.
"Get a room," someone yells. I think that someone is my mom. I set Ana down and look at all the women. Everyone, except Kate, appears to be drunk.
"Did you ladies have a good time?" Ray asks.
"Oh, yes! Kate did a wonderful job planning it. We've been drinking champagne all day. And the good stuff, Ray. Not that cheap stuff I get from Target. " Carla says as she hiccups.
"Only the best for my BFF," Kate announces.
Kate has decided on the seven course tasting menu, paired with seven different types of wine. By the end of this meal, I'm pretty sure we're going to have to carry the girls and Ethan out. I sit next to Ana and hold her hand under the table. She removes her hand from mine and starts to slowly rub circles on my thigh. I lean down and kiss the top of her head. Her hand moves up and It lands on my crotch and she starts to slowly massage me over my pants.
"You're killing me, baby. My lap misses you. You're sitting too far away," I say as I lift her hand and place it back on my thigh. I feed her a bit of the food from my plate. She eats it slowly and then takes a giant sip of her wine.
"Easy," I warn. She responds by taking another giant sip.
"So, where are you two going on your honeymoon? Carrick and I went to Hawaii and had the best time," Grace begins and goes into a long speech about all of the fun things they did while in Hawaii a million years ago.
"It's a surprise, but it's not Hawaii. Hawaii is just so typical," Christian says.
"That's where Elliot and I went," Kate says. My point exactly.
The dinner continues and everyone gives little anecdotes about their honeymoon. Even Ray talks about taking Carla to Los Angeles for their honeymoon.
"What's your favorite memory, Carla?" Grace asks.
"Which honeymoon? I've had three," Carla says as she finishes her fourth glass of wine.
"Mother! I think you've had enough."
"Relax, Anastasia. It's all in fun. It's not like I'm the first person in history to be married more than once."
To her credit, Grace tries to change the subject and asked about the last minute things they have to do for the wedding.
"Ana, did you pick up those cufflinks you ordered for Christian?"
Ana loudly drops her fork in her plate.
"That was a surprise, mother! Can you just stop talking now?"
"It's not like that's the only thing you got him. I didn't tell him about the,"
"Ok, Carla. Hush. That's enough. Annie, why did you let her drink so much? You know she can't handle much alcohol?"
"She's a grown woman, dad. And we were supposed to be having fun," my girl huffs right before she downs another glass of wine. I need to keep my eye on her so I feed her some more.
"You two are so adorable. Aren't they cute, Ray?" Carla slurs.
"Drink some damn water, Carla."
"Well, I'd like to say something," Carrick begins.
"Oh, yes, dad. Please bring up the prenup again," Elliot yells out. The room falls into an awkward silence falls in the room, and I'm ready to punch Elliot.
Ana covers her face with her hands.
"Kate, how did you end up with this idiot?" Ana asks.
"He knocked me up," Kate says with a shrug as she continues on with her food.
"Grace, talk some sense into your son before I strangle him in a room full of witnesses!" Dad yells, turning red with embarrassment. Before my mom can turn her wrath on Elliot, Ethan jumps out of his seat and runs of the private dining room with his hand covering his mouth.
"He told me how you guys kept shoving bourbon down his throat," Mia says before she runs after her boyfriend.
"We'll make a man out of him yet. Right, Ray?" Elliot says. Kate gives all of us guys the death glare.
"Hush up, you trouble maker," Ray says and the entire room starts to laugh, including Ana.
Elliot and I go check on Ethan in the men's room and help carry him up to his room before we come back and finish dinner. We spend the rest of the night laughing and making more wedding plans.
"I can only imagine what our first blended Thanksgiving is going to be like," Ana whispers to me. I kiss her nose and wonder the same thing.
THE NEXT MORNING
"I'm never drinking again," I hear my fiance whisper. I get up and give her the advil and water that I had waiting for her. After our dinner, I had to carry my drunk and tired fiance to our suite, where I put her to bed. Thankfully, she's made of sturdier stuff than Ethan Kavanaugh and didn't throw up. I spent the first part of the night watching her, making sure she wasn't going to get sick.
"Thank you, baby. You always know just what I need," she says before she takes two advil.
"It's my job to take care of you now," I say as I kiss her cheek. "I ordered room service. It should be here soon. You'll feel better after you eat." She sits up in the king size bed and I sit next to her. I take her legs and put then across my lap before I start to massage her feet. She moans in pleasure.
"What are you and the guys doing before we leave?" The plane leaves at 3. I know Grace and Carla have a little shower planned for Ana in my parent's suite.
"I'm not sure. I'll see what Elliot has planned. Are you excited about your shower?"
"I am. Not that we need anything, but I'm looking forward to it. A girl only gets married once. Unless you're Carla Wilks Lambert Steele Morton Wilks," she says with a playful shrug. I can't help but laugh.
"Well my girl will only get married once, but we can renew our vows every year if you wish," before I can kiss her, the food has arrived. We're served breakfast, and a few hours later I go to meet the guys. Elliot wanted to do the rides at the top of the Stratosphere Tower but Carrick and Ray objected. We also took one look at Ethan and decided to change plans. Since we got a private pool, we decided to just spend our time swimming and eating lunch by the pool.
By the time we all board the jet, everyone is tired, but the women are laughing and carrying on about the gifts at the shower. Ana got tee shirts made up for all the girls, but I love that hers says soon to be Mrs. Grey.
"It was a naughty shower," Ana whispers to me. "You should see what I got. And your mom's not as demure ash she pretends. She's one raunchy lady when your dad's not around. You should see what she got me. Do you know that your mother and father like to..."
"Ana, please stop talking right now. Whatever it is, I don't want to know. I don't need or want that shit in my head."
"Well let's just say that those flowers you sent were the only pure things in that suite."
Thankfully Kate comes and sits across from us.
"Steele, did you tell Christian about the jewelry Grace gave you?"
Ana tells me about the pearl earrings, bracelet and necklace that my mom gave her. It was a gift from my grandmother and my mother wore it for her wedding ceremony. I look at mom, touched that she would do this. I guess the diamond earrings I got for my bride will have to wait for another day.
"I'm going to wear the set she gave me for my wedding with my maid of honor dress," she says and the girls start chatting about more wedding details.
ANA'S BIRTHDAY
ANA
"Are you ready for your day, baby? I really wanted to take you to New York for your birthday but our moms threatened my life if we went out of town this close to the wedding." Our wedding which is just ten days away. It's a beautiful and warm September day and I can't wait to celebrate with my fiance. Since we're spending the day on The Grace, I have on a simple romper, a pair of espadrilles and a bikini underneath.
Chiristian is dressed simply in a pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt.
"I'm thrilled. It's my first birthday with you. And I've never had a party on a yacht before. I can't wait." I take his hand as we get on the elevator to go to the garage.
"Your first surprise is this way, soon to be Mrs. Grey," he says as he leads me out of the elevator. I see it right away. Right next to his black Audi R8 is a white R8 with a red bow on the windshield! I'm speechless for a full minute before I jump in his arms and kiss him right there in the garage with Taylor and Sawyer watching.
"Can I drive to the marina?"
"It's your car and it's your birthday," he says as he hands me the keys.
We arrive at the marina at the same time as the rest of the Greys. Elliot goes crazy over my new car and demands that Christian buy him a red one for his birthday next month. We all roll our eyes at him.
Soon my parents and the rest of the guests arrive, and we spend the day swimming, laughing, drinking exotic cocktails prepared by the two bartenders on board, eating steak, shrimp, lobster and anything else the caterer has on the yacht. Our guests include the same group from the shower, but this time I invited Gail, Ros, Gwen and Kate's parents. Once the sun went down, the music was turned up and we spent the night dancing. Best birthday ever.
"I can't wait to get you home," Christian says as he opens my car door for me. He insisted on driving us home since I was so exhausted. When I step out of the car, he picks me up bridal style and carries me until we reach the bedroom. He sets me down and runs us a bath, where he massages my shoulders and feet.
"Do you know how beautiful you are? How lucky I am to have found you?" He asks.
"I don't know about the beautiful part, but you're very lucky to have found me," I joke. He pulls my back to his chest and kisses the side of my neck.
"You joke, but you are the most beautiful woman in the world and I'm so lucky to be marrying you." I turn to face him and grab his face, imploring him to look at me.
"I'm the lucky one, baby. You are the most amazing man, and you had to put up with all of my issues and insecurities. I'm so glad you never gave up on me," I say before our lips lock.
"I'd never give up. I'd still be fighting for you now," he says.
"Lucky for you I was so easy, huh?" We both laugh at that.
"Let's get out of this tub. I have one more surprise for you."
After we dry off, Christian leaves me standing stark naked in front of the long mirror in the bathroom. He returns with a bag bearing the Tiffany's logo.
He opens it and drapes a cobblestone diamond necklace across my neck, followed by matching diamond earrings. I stand there speechless.
"I want to make love to my fiance on her birthday while she's wearing nothing but the diamonds I bought her. I love you so much, baby."
"Not as much as I love you," I say as the tears pool in my eyes. We don't spend any more time talking. I take his hand and lead him to our bed where we spend the next few hours exploring each other's bodies.
THE WEDDING DAY
CHRISTIAN
"Look at my handsome little brother," Elliot says as he straightens my tie. For once in his life, he's not acting like an infant. "You picked a good one, bro. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, man."
We are lucky to have a perfect early fall day for our wedding. The temperature is in the seventies, and the sky is clear. Ana was so nervous all week because it rained every single day until today. I joked that the weather is the only thing our money couldn't buy.
I'm standing in my old bedroom and I look out into the back yard. I haven't seen Ana since the rehearsal dinner last night. All of the women stayed here, and the guys spent the night at Elliot's.
Ana and the wedding planner did a spectacular job. There's a huge tent for where the reception will be held. There's a huge arch decorated with off white roses where I'm to stand and wait for my bride. There's a long white carpet with rose petals along both sides. There are huge pillars topped with a floral bouquet at the end of each row of seating. My baby did not spare on the flowers.
Ana chose plum with silver accents for our wedding colors. There are thousands upon thousands of silver lights for later on in the evening. I look at my wedding present from my bride, platinum cufflinks with our wedding date and the letters A and C intertwined, and I smile. Always so sentimental.
I hear a knock on the door and Carla walks in.
"You look so handsome, Christian. I'm so happy for you and Ana," she says and wipes away a few tears. "I can tell how much you love her. Here," she says as she hands me an envelope. "Ana wanted me to give you this." She kisses my cheek and leaves. I quickly open the letter.
My dearest Christian,
I could tell you how much I love you, but you already know. I could tell you how happy you make me, but I hope that the permanent smile that I've had on my face since the day we met is clue enough. I could tell you how I think we are perfect for each other, but the fact that we are going to be married in less than an hour should be proof of how perfect I think we are together. What I want to tell you is this. For the rest of my life, I plan to be by your side, loving you, honoring you, fighting with and for you. For as long as there is breath in my body, you will have someone who is always there for you, who is always on your side. I want to be your refuge, your comfort, your lover, your partner and your best friend. From this day forward, you will never know what it's like to be alone. I'll see you soon. I'll be the one dressed in white.
Your soon to be Mrs. Grey.
I wipe the tears from my eyes just as Elliot, dad and Ray walk in.
"It's time, son," Ray says. We all walk out of my childhood bedroom and before I know it, I'm standing at the alter with Elliot by my side.
The music starts to play and I see dad walking mom down the aisle, followed by Carla. Next is Mia, wearing a long chiffon dress in plum. Kate is next in a similar dress, but a version that makes room for her growing belly. I look over at Elliot and he tears up at seeing his wife. She winks at him and he winks back.
The song changes to the wedding march and I feel my heart stop when I see the most beautiful bride I've ever seen walk down the aisle to me on her father's arm. She's dressed all in white in a fitted wedding dress with a high neck line. I dress has small train, but with Ana's small frame, it's perfect for her. She decided against a veil, but she has her hair down with loose curls.
I didn't even realize I was crying until Elliot handed me his handkerchief. I quickly wipe my eyes and focus on my bride. Our eyes lock and she mouths I love you, and I tear up again. Just like the day we met, my tongue got stuck to the roof of my mouth and I was without speech. My vision blurs again but she arrives before I can wipe my tears. She places her hands in mine, and Ray kisses her cheek before he takes his seat.
Elliot takes out his handkerchief and wipes my eyes, and forehead, causing laughter from our guests. I look away from Ana for a minute and look at our guests. Grace and Carla are sitting next to each other crying, as are Mia and Kate. Even Ray's eyes are looking suspiciously moist.
I finally get my act together and mouth I love you to Ana. As soon as I do that, her eyes fill with tears.
Reverend Walsh clears his throat and begins.
"Dearly, beloved..."
This is it! Epilogue is up next. I won't go too far into the future because I'd like to check in with these two from time to time. I want to tell you how much fun I've had writing this story. Your response has been amazing and have encouraged me to keep writing when I wanted to give up. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read and review this story. You guys are amazing!