Hello everybody!, First, I'm sorry I didn't updated yesterday, but it was a busy day. On the good side I'm done translating, I'm just editing so the story will be complete this week.

Second, a warning about this chapter... it's really corny and I let myself dream, just remember they're super rich and it's a fanfic, don't take it so seriously.

Third, during the weekend for the first time I received bad (mean) criticisms, and guess what... yeah, they were from guests. I'm really humble about the writing because I don't considere myself a writer at all and I'm always open to criticism, but being mean is different, if you want to leave a bad review is welcome, but do it with respect because I've been nothing but kind here, that being said, I want to say thank you for reading anyway, because it looks like you are hating the story but you keep reading it, so I really hope you enjoy what's to come.

Fourth, thank you so much for all the kind and beautiful reviews you always have for me, I think they are all showing now normally on the website. Thanks also for the PMs and to the people that's following the story or have favorited it. I hope you enjoy this chapter, remember the warning. :P

Most of the characters belong to E. L. James

August 5th, 2022

Christian's POV

The music sounds in the air, dinner and the table are ready, there's a dim light plus the candles that decorate our penthouse at Escala give the place a romantic touch, even Ana and I are wearing matching clothes, the true is she coordinated my outfit, in my humble opinion though, we look pretty good together, but sooner rather than later I'll have her out of that dress, I don't care how good we look. As always in these years I have in pocket the little Cartier box giving me courage for what's to come. Soon our guests start arriving and filling the apartment, everyone's is dress for the occasion, we haven't had any incident yet.

Taking a lot of courage I have greet everyone, Ana by my side is encouraging me, every time is easier, just as it used to be, I hope no one is thinking about hitting me, that would ruin my self confidence for the night and I need it.

Despite the odd stares in disguise we received at the beginning the mood in the place is festive, they see us smiling and seem to realize that we are back together for better, there are cheerful conversations in the room, I even see Sawyer having a pleasant conversation with my little sister…, I don't know if I like that.

The tense moment was when Ray and my parents arrived, they gave us maybe a too cordial greeting, but soon they have let themselves go with the rest of the guests and now they are also having a good time.

While Ana fixes my bow tie for the thousandth time tonight I see Reynolds coming out from the camera room, he gave me a discreet gesture with his head and goes up to the second floor. Is here. I excuse myself with Ana and follow him. Andrea is here, she arrived along with the surprise I have for my wife… this is the moment. I greet him and thank him, I tell my PA to go down and enjoy the party, after a small talk we coordinate his entrance and go back down.

From the stairs, from a certain height, I see what I missed for two years, seeing my family and friends. While they enjoy a little catering, Jose is immortalizing every moment with his camera. My parents, Ray, Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. and Mrs. Kavanagh are laughing out loud at a joke my dad just finished telling, I'm sure it was a lawyer's joke. Kate is seated on Elliot's lap while they talk cheerful with my grandparents that are holding hands. Ana smiles while talking to Mia and Sawyer, Ethan is having a deep conversation with Ros and Gwen. Gail and Taylor look at Sophie dancing with Andrea in the center of the saloon.

Sophie is a pretty sweet girl, I've always thought in having a boy, but I just realized it could be a girl, however this is not the time to think about that, I have to focus in my task.

I know the moment we have been waiting for is here, my moment to speak, that's why we are all here today, I touch one more time the pocket of my jacket to find some courage, take a deep breath and keep going down towards my wife. I tell one of the waiters to hand drinks to everybody and sparkling water for Ana and me.

I hold my woman's hand and we walk to the upper place at the end of the foyer, just in front of our dance floor and the piano, that way everybody will see us.

Other of the waiters we hired changes the music that we ordered him to play when this was happening. When 'I Choose You' by Sara Bareilles starts to sound we ask for silence in the room, Ana and I chose that song for this moment, it explains more than what we can say right now. In a half moon our guests look at us. I breath again, pull Ana closer to me and start giving the small speech I prepared for tonight with a steady voice.

"Family and friends, Ana and I would like to welcome you to our home and also thank you for coming today. We know there are several questions around and that's why you are here, to have some answers, but also, besides the curiosity, we know you are here to be part of our happiness."

"Five years ago I had a conversation with Ray before Ana and I left to Boston to study, I asked him his daughter's hand, I barely was 19 and Ana 18, but I was sure that Ana was my ever after." I look at her smiling and continue talking to our audience. "Ray words were encouraging. He said he trusted on us, that when he sees us together he knew marriage wasn't a game for his daughter or me, the only condition he had for me was to take care of Ana, because he didn't have a greatest treasure here on Earth to take care of than her. That's what he promised one day to Ana's biological parents and in that moment after making the same promise he gave me her daughter to make her happy and protect her", I make eye contact with Ray and he nods.

"On August 20th of 2017, as most of you here know, I asked her to be my wife and she said yes. This wonderful woman standing here next to me accepted to get marry with me. Our lives were running fine, we already were living together and did everything as a team so we didn't give it much thought to the when and how, for us being together was enough, we were in love and we were young."

"A month and a half after that, on October 9th of the same year, we were in our little apartment in Boston and we just knew, we didn't want and didn't need to wait any longer, our biggest ambition was to be husband and wife", Ana and I giggle remembering that afternoon. "Many things passed through our minds, we didn't want our families or friends to be upset, we were both still studying, my father was paying my education we knew that by the way we did it, it could mean to lose some privileges back then, and we were both students with future careers ahead so we decided to leave it as our secret until the right moment showed up."

"There were so many times we wanted to tell the world that it was official, that we were a marriage, but we never found the proper time. When we finally found it the situation changed and something happened that turned our world upside down. I'm sure you all remember the date June 18th 2020, that was the day we were going to give the big news", I take a moment to let out the pain in my chest and breath again, Ana caresses my hand encouraging me, everybody is looking in silence and paying attention.

"What nobody knew, not even Ana, is that since April that year we started receiving threats. When I started with my business they were something I got used to, but this time was different, the threats weren't to me or my company, they were to my most beloved belonging, they were to what I promised to protect, to my wife, until then just known as my fiancée by our closest friends", I can see the worry in the faces of our family and friends. "I was working in Seattle and Ana studying in Boston, I felt I had my hands tied up, I was younger, starting my career in business and I was afraid of losing her. Ray", I say again looking at him, "I promised to protect your daughter and that's why I let her go, the threats stopped, but with the promise of finding my next weakness. None of you here", I look around, "to the exceptions of the ones that work for me, saw me for two years. I didn't want to be seen with someone and making them a new target for threats, I couldn't live with that in my head. I intentionally gave interviews saying I was single and went to all kinds of events alone so they couldn't make any connection with Ana or anyone, that way I dispel any possibility of threats from her and you all."

"Those were two long years that Ana and I were miserable, you were witnesses of her suffer that I caused", I have to stop again, thinking about Ana suffering is not my favorite image but I continue, "and my workers can testify how wretched I was and the monster I became without the person that takes the best out of me. Because, you see, when I met her, she was the cure to all my problems, I was an 18 year old guy that barely talked to his family, never smiled, didn't tolerate to be touched, I felt as a dross by the way my life started and I barely could sleep a couple of hours every night, that was I before Ana."

"Before Ana because the Christian after Ana was a completely different person. When I met her it was almost instantaneous, the first time I saw her was the first time I didn't have any nightmares, that I was able to rest as a normal person, I started talking to my family. Ana taught me to accept myself the way I am, she taught me that people don't want to hurt me and that's possible they could feel happy for me, I could hug my parents and siblings, my sister taught me how to dance", I look at my little sister, I know she has missed me and smiles to me, "even my taste of music changed to a happier one, she cured my scars with love…, but when we separated everything went away, I shut down in myself, I didn't sleep, I didn't smile, my phobia came back my world was a constant of darkness and sad melodies."

"All of this was until last week when my brother Elliot and Kate's wedding was held. It was shocking for all of us, I haven't seen you in a long period of time, you could see how was I without Ana and I could see with my own eyes the unhappiness I provoked in my family and friends."

"Now, I don't want to offend anyone, less Kate and Elliot because that was their day, but that night I only had eyes for one person", I can hear the giggles, it was pretty obvious that I didn't look to anyone else. "Ana and I saw each other after two years and we simply went back on time, we didn't care about anything, I think you all were witnesses of the reencounter. I knew I couldn't be apart of her again, I never stopped loving her, I never stopped thinking about her, there wasn't a day something didn't remind me of her, every day was a constant fight with myself to not go after her and see her even for an instant, but I always thought I was protecting her and that I had to be strong."

"She was always protected", I say looking at my father-in-law again, "she had security with her all the time, but I had to be apart, that was what would keep her safe from something hurting her, but instead I broke her heart and mine, I broke the other part of my promise, to make her happy." Ana caresses my again she knows how hard is for me to say this out loud.

"But for reason further than understanding Ana and I chose each other long ago, she forgave me, understood my reasons and I'm no so afraid anymore because this time we are together, we have grown up and we'll face everything that goes on our way as the marriage and the team we have always been", Ana and I look at each other, our eyes are shining. "We are not perfect family, but we'll learn from our mistakes and everyday we'll show us how much we love each other."

"With these words I want to say I'm sorry if I hurt you, I trust you'll understand, maybe not now, not tomorrow, but when the time comes I'll appreciate it from the bottom of my heart."

"Now all being said I don't want to prolong this anymore so, family, friends, enough of secrets and sad stories", I say leaving Ana's hand and taking her by the waist pulling her closer to me. "Let me introduce you my wife, Anastasia Grey."

Some silence tears fall from several faces and before we can go on my grandfather speaks up.

"Christian, family and friends, I was young too, I also made mistakes, I had to asked for forgiveness at some opportunities too, and if something life has taught me is that you have to be very brave to do so. You are my grandson and I'm proud of you because I can see the man you have become. Today my wife and I are not only winning back our grandson, besides we have won a granddaughter. Carrick and grace had won a daughter. Ray a son, and Mia, Elliot and now also Kate have won a sister. Life has ups and downs, you can be standing up and you can fall to the ground the important thing is to get up looking up and with dignity, don't be afraid of what can happen, live your lives peacefully and what's to come will come and your family will always be here to support you. I don't have anything else to say but to make a toast for you, to Christian and Anastasia, to a long and happy marriage", he says raising his glass.

"Cheers!" they all say and take a sip then clap, if there were small tears before now nobody is hiding their feelings, but Ana and Ii are not done yet.

"Thank you grandpa", there's nothing else to add to that, his words were perfect. "Now if you allow us to continue", I say turning to be right in front of Ana and taking out the box from my pocket, I'll never carry it there again.

"My love", I say with the steadiest voice the moment allows me, I open the box and take out the ring and put it in her finger while I talk, "finally we can tell the world that you and I are one, I promised to protect you and make you happy and in front of our families and friends I reassure you that I'll keep doing it. I chose, I choose and will always choose to be yours for the rest of my life."

"Christian", says my beloved wife fighting the tears and putting the ring in my finger, "my heart has chosen you and I'm happy we can announce to the world we are two halves that have joined to make a whole and that's why today in front of our families and friend I promise to make you happy and I can say I chose, I choose and will always choose to be yours for the rest of my life."

We kiss as there's no one else, we separate when we heard the applause of the people present, what was left of tension is gone and the ones who don't have tears of emotion have huge smiles on their faces, our families are here and support us. I ask for silence one more time, we still have night. With a gesture they stop the music I had in repetition and keep talking.

"Now, as a way of showing my honest words and that never, Ana, ever again I'm going to give up on you, I want you to dance with me" I lead her to the center of our dance floor hold her by the waist and the music starts.

Everybody turns to watch, even Ana, when they hear the sound of a guitar that's coming down from the stairs and Jason Mraz starts walking down and sings 'I Won't Give Up.' Once Ana assimilates the fact we start start dancing, tears roll down her face but she is smiling, even I have some tears in my eyes, Ana is mine and I'm hers and the world will know. And while he sings and our families look at us my wife and I move looking into each other's eyes and declaring once again our love for each other.

Ana's POV

I can't believe it, Christian made this evening the most perfect of all. We have practiced our little vows, the dance and what we'll do after, but he never mention that the same Jason Mraz would be singing here for us, I hope Jose has pictures of everything, I saw Mia taping on her cellphone, it was a magic moment. Some benefit must have being billionaires after all.

After dancing with Christian Jason sang the song 'You Can Rely On Me' and we danced with our families, I started dancing with dad, then Carrick, Elliot and grandpa Theodore. While Christian danced with Grace, Mia, grandma Trevelyan and Kate. Our family is united again.

After a small talk with Jason and a couple songs more and obviously our favorite 'Love Someone' he left, but before he took pictures with everyone of course. It was a perfect moment.

Jose took several pictures for the press to Christian and I that will go along with the statement that Sam will delivered and one taken specially for Mr. Kavanagh, soon the world will know. The emotive moment wasn't only when grandpa Theodore talked or Christian's speech, besides was when before dinner started my dad and Carrick acknowledge us and gave us their best wishes. That was everything my husband and I wanted.

Christian's POV

We are all completely full, we can't put anything else in our stomachs, we have eaten, laughed, danced, and talked like we haven't done in so long. Nothing could be better besides the small detail of the threats, so when I see everybody immerse in their businesses I call my father and Ray to my office. I know dad can be helpful and Ray needs to know.

I start telling them everything about the suspicion of Isaac Ferguson and his relationship with Elena Lincoln and how it has been impossible to reach her. Dad promised to help and Ray appreciated the information.

Our guests start leaving, they are starting to look tired, it's almost 11 at night, it's late and most of them have to drive to Bellevue or outside downtown Seattle. Mr Kavanagh promised to release the news after everybody left, that way we don't have major issues and they can all leave peacefully.

I'm just noticing how I missed human contact, I feel my age again sharing with my friend and family and they know the true, I feel they took away the weight in my shoulders. I hope soon I can sleep better.

It's 11:47, we are about to go to bed when I receive the Google alert, I open the article.

*Kavanagh Media*

The young businessman, Christian Grey (24), CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings Inc. has surprised later this afternoon declaring in exclusive to us and in a emotive and intimate ceremony with his beloved beings giving the news of his marriage to who was miss Anastasia Steele (23), now Mrs. Anastasia Grey. (In the photograph on the right Mr. and Mrs. Grey at their penthouse in Escala minutes after giving the news. Rights of the photo belong to Jose Rodrigues Jr.)

The marriage was held on October 9th, 2017 in Boston, where the couple was coursing their studies at Harvard with barely 19 years old. They decided to keep the news as a secret because both had promising careers to develop before being absorbed by the eye of the press. Mr. and Mrs. Grey have been in a committed relationship since high school.

The news arrives six days after the wedding of the eldest Grey son, Elliot (28) with Katherine Grey (24), maiden name Kavanagh. There's not doubt the Grey-Trevelyan family has a lot to celebrate.

Kavanagh media gives the happy couples the best wishes.

Christian's POV

"It's official baby" I say to Ana that is resting in my arms, we are seated in the living room, I show her the short article.

"I like it, it says just enough and it's focus also in Kate and Elliot not just us."

"Yeah, we'll see what the others say tomorrow" I don't think they'll be so positive with the news but I keep it to myself.

"Jose is the happiest, I'm sure he will manage to sell a bunch of photos" says Ana.

"Yeah, he is going to be the envy among the photographer here until the paps manage to get pictures of us."

"Mmm…, I wish they won't make a big deal" she says worried.

"I hope so honey, but let's not worry about that until Monday", I say in her ear and biting it softly, "now… what I have in mind is that this weekend we'll be along, only a GEH's guard will be in charge of the cameras, the rest have the day off and you Mrs. Grey at this time of the evening are wearing too many clothes for my taste, that in my wife is unacceptable…"