Married to the Mob?

Ch 20: Meeting Father Thomas

Christian and Anastasia made it to St. Thomas Church where Father Thomas was waiting for them. As they walked in Christian could tell she was taking in all the woodwork and the stained glassed windows. The ceiling was tall too with hard wood beams going across. It Seemed a small sanctuary for such a large church complex. There was a rectory next door and a small nunnery.

As she stood to the side taking everything in he just was in awe of her beauty. Just how she stood and looked around was captivating. But Christian was starting to panic too, if Father Thomas suspected anything about his marriage to Ana not being "real" it wouldn't be pretty. Not that he would do anything to harm her, it's just that he wouldn't perform the marriage ceremony, which was important from his mother as well grandmother too.

"Listen, I've known Father Thomas a long time, he is very sharp and if he senses anything wrong with this picture... well, let's just say he can pick up on things pretty well. If he even suspects our marriage isn't real... I..." his voice trailed off.

I think she picked up on the tone of my voice.

"Do you think I am an idiot? I know how to pull this off."

"I'm just trying to remind you..."

"I'm not only going to pass this … test, but I'm gonna ace it. And I'm going to do it thinking about, Jose."

UGH! Here we go again with her ex! I understand that she still has feelings for him, I do. But to keep have her keep saying his name... well it just hurts.

Suddenly, Father Thomas makes his appearance. He came through the door of his office to where they were waiting for him.

"Christian, my boy, it's good to see you again," Father Thomas greeted as he shook Christian's hand and greeting both of them.

"Anastasia, it's nice to see you again as well," he said, as he sat down in his old but brown leather chair.

The couple was guided to the other brown covered leather chairs that sat in front of his mahogany desk.

"Well, you both know why you are here since a Catholic ceremony will be performed . I understand, Ana, that you weren't raised as a Catholic," Father Thomas said to her.

"That's true. Whatever, Christian, wants is what I want too. Besides, my mother's family was Catholic, so I'm familiar with the basic rites and rituals."

Father smiled at Ana and said, "That's a good start! Christian probably told you this instruction is basically to reinforce what you both probably already know. The most important aspects of a solid marriage are communication and compatibility. I'm sure you heard this before, right Ana?" he asked.

She nodded and said, "Yes, it sounds familiar."

"Okay then why don't we get started. Do either of you have any questions?" he asked them leaning back in his chair.

"Not me... unless Ana does." Christian replied looking at his wife as well.

Ana shook her head no.

"Okay. Well, how long have you two known each other?" Father Thomas asked them both. Christian was a little skittish to answer that question because it might assume they were moving too fast.

He started to answer his question, "Um... not long although..." his voice trailed off because Ana surprised him by chiming in.

"When you have an immediate connection with someone and you look into his eyes and know that you're seeing his soul. It's like..." her breathing was breathy as she continued, "You're bound to each other forever."

Christian just gawked at her stunned. WOW! She took my breath away.

Father Thomas was happy with her response as he said back to her, "That's lovely, Ana, that's very well said. All right um... do you find that you agree or disagree on most subjects?"

"Well, Ana and I as you know, we come from two very different worlds, but we're learning how to respect and appreciate each other's differences. Right?" Christian questioned her.

"Background doesn't matter, it's how much you love someone and how much you're willing to fight for that love no matter what."

Father Thomas asked, "What are your thoughts about children? About starting a family?"

"Oh well, Ana knows how important family is to me, family is everything," Christian responded as both he and Father look to Ana. "Right sweetie?" he asked her.

"How do you feel about the prospects of motherhood?" father asked, her.

She kind of stared straight as she answer his question. "I really never thought about having children until I met the man I love. And everything is just so clear coming home from the hospital. A little tiny baby in my arms, and my wonderful husband by my side. And everything I dreamed of..." her voice trailed off as she became emotional.

"You know one of the reasons I asked to do this is to make sure you're entering the marriage on your own free will. Is there anybody pressuring you, because if there is you must tell me?" he asked Ana.

I wasn't really comfortable him asking that question however I knew he was only doing his job.I will admit Ana had me freaking out at first because I had no idea what she was going to say or do next. She just sat there staring into Father Thomas eyes. It was like she was trying to have a silent conversation with her. But she surprised me when she answered.

"No, I'm marrying Christian because I want to." She looked at Christian as if she was looking through to his soul.

It was at the moment when he realized this marriage could really work.

"Ana, do you love, Christian?"

"Oh he knows how much I love him and want to be with him."

Yeah you could say that I was so loving this. Part of me was really hoping this wasn't an act. I smiled at her as she smiled back at me and I rubbed on her back gently reassuring her.

"You know, I took a moment to read the surveys that you two filled out. And I found these responses to be very enlightening. Particularly the way you answered the last question. What do you want from the marriage and what do you expect to bring to the marriage. Will you please read this aloud?" Father Thomas handed her the compatibility test paper.

Ana took it and began to speak looking at the paper.

"What I expect to bring a lifetime of marriage is love, support, sharing and open mind and open heart."

She hands the paper back to Father Thomas and as he handed Christian his compatibility test paper as well.

"Christian, please?" he directed.

Christian hesitantly took the paper as well and said, "All right... My hope is that I hope I can bring to the marriage, everything that I am and not hold anything back." He struggled to reveal so much of his hopes in front of her but kept going, " and that I can share all my hopes and dreams and offer my wife complete love no conditions... Do need me to read more?" Christian asked him hoping he didn't.

A glance at Ana showed that she had pensive look on her face.

"No that's okay. I just never had a young couple as yourselves have so much compatibility and so much in sync with each other. It's really striking how similar so many of your sentiments were which is good because now I can now pronounce this meeting over with," he said getting up out of his chair.

"Christian, it was nice to see you again, " Father said shaking his hand. He looked to Ana who was still sitting but she got up to hug the father as he said, "You are a lovely young lady. God bless you both!" he said as he left the room.

I was happy that we both passed their test. But what amazed me the most was Ana and how she handled everything. She sat down as I did to sitting there wondering what just happened. I rubbed both my hands on my face as we just sat there.

She said quietly, "You really surprised me."

Christian laughed and replied, "I have? How so?"

She got up really quickly and said, "I don't know... the response you gave... I didn't know."

"That what? That I have a heart, and that you're not the only one."

"No, Christian. I ...I...just trying to tell you..."

"That I want the same thing as you do that I want, well what basically everybody wants," he said as he sat and looked at her.

"Just the way you want someone to love.

"I guess everyone wants that for themselves." Christian got up and said to her, "Look, I know you gave up a lot by doing this, I do."

"I'm just saying that I didn't realize how much you gave up until now."

"Well what other choice did I have? Marry you or..."

"Kill me." She finished my sentence for him.

"You're safe now and that's what matters. And I promise no one will touch you as long as you remain my wife."

We stood there looking into each other's eyes. I felt her stare as if she was looking into my soul. I could sense she felt the same way.

"Ana, I want you to know that I respect you in every way. I do. I hope that we can become friends and hopefully more than that. I promise to keep you safe," Christian said quietly.

For a moment there Christian could have sworn they made a connection.

But she walked away from him saying, "Ugh! I can't do this. This is not fair to either of us, you know? We're going to start hating each other again soon enough. There has to be another way," as she banged on Father's desk. "This can't be it. Just we just try at least to find some way out of this so both of us to be happy?"

"I guess that another way we're different, Ana. I understand that life is not always going to be perfect." Christian said sighing to her.

Just when I thought we were finally making headway to each other she just wants out again.

A/N: This story is angsty, there will be an HEA eventually. If there weren't angst the story would be boring.