CPOV
Dear Christian,
I know we weren't planning on doing anything like this, but I wanted to tell you something before we get married. The first time I knew I was in love with you. It was the night I did Zumba, you came into my room and I had a back spasm. That was the first time I've ever showed anyone my back willingly. For you to see my scars and say I was beautiful, I knew I found the man of my dreams. You were so patient and considerate while my confidence grew, and I couldn't ask for a better man to marry. You are the best thing I could have ever imagined to happen to me. I am so happy to become your wife.
Forever yours,
Ana
P.S. 'Reader, I married him.'
I can't wipe the shit-eating grin off my face as I give the letter to Dad to hang onto until the wedding is over. I put on my cufflinks marked with the letter G Ana gave me for Christmas. I tie on my blue and silver striped tie and button up my blue vest. I place my black jacket on, button it up and look at my reflection. I just want this wedding to be over so Ana and I can be husband and wife finally! That and to whisk her off to England. Kate and Elliot are going to France for their honeymoon.
"Looking good Christian, but nowhere as good as me," Elliot says as he comes over to the mirror and playfully shoves me out of the way.
"Oh shut up Lliot," I say as I gently punch his arm.
"You know Christian, to be serious, I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law to have than Ana. She makes you so happy, and I hate to sound like Mia, but your happiness means a lot to me. You two just complete each other, and I just know the only direction we'll be going is up. Love you man."
"Love you too little bro. And Kate will be an amazing sister-in-law to have too." I bring him into a hug as Dad comes in from the side door of the changing room.
"It's time boys."
The church's sanctuary looks amazing. The pews have silver banisters strung across one to the next, with bouquets of white lilies and blue carnations tying them off. Lilly and carnation petals are scattered across the silver rug that runs up to the altar. All the pews are packed! I see Ros and Gwen in the pews and wave as Elliot and I make our ways up to the altar. I then see Gail and Jason and wave to them. Gail looks as if she's been crying. Man, wait 'til the wedding actually starts! The music begins as I see my parents come down the aisle, then Kate's mom with Carla and Brian. Next comes Mia holding onto Luke's arm. She's wearing a beautiful blue knee-length dress with cap sleeves. Luke is wearing identical clothing to Elliot and I but I see something different: the way he's looking at Mia. I wonder when he'll propose? They take their places as Pachellbel's Cannon starts playing and my eyes become transfixed on the entryway. In they come with their fathers on a side. They both look beautiful but the whole world melts away as my eyes meet Ana's. She looks breathtaking and I feel tears brimming my eyes. All four reach the bottom of the altar, Ana kisses Ray "goodbye" and wipes away a tear of his as he goes to join Carla and Brian. I take her hand and guide her up the two steps. She takes her place on my right side and just beams at me.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the pastor says drawing everyone's attention. "Today we gather in the house of God, to bare witness to the holy matrimony of this man and this woman, and this man and this woman. I know everyone is dying to go to the reception, so we'll keep this short." Everyone lets out a chuckle as Elliot and I turn to our brides. "Christian and Elliot, do you take these women to be your wives, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her this day?"
"I do," we say together.
"Anastasia and Katherine, do you take these men to be your husbands, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor him, to love him faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with him this day?"
"I do," they say in unison. A tear escapes Ana's eye and I quickly wipe it away as she continues to smile her amazing smile upon me.
"And now for the exchange of the rings." Luke has Kate and Elliot's set while Mia gives our set to us. As we place the rings on our fingers, the pastor reads a passage from the Bible Ana really wanted him to say: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. "'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But when there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.' It is my privilege to announce the new Mr. and Mrs. Grey's. Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides." I lift Ana's tiny veil out of the way.
"Pucker up buttercup," she whispers and I let out a chuckle before I plant my lips against hers and bring my hand around the side of her neck. The crowd explodes into applause as our kiss depends just enough to leave us both breathless. We turn and dance down the aisle, as we get ready for our pictures to be taken.
"Thank you for the letter Mrs. Grey," I whisper into the shell of her ear. She shivers and leans into me.
"You're welcome Mr. Grey but to be honest, I can't wait until this reception is over for us to have sex again. I missed you yesterday."
"Believe me baby, I missed you too."
Pictures went really well, and now we're getting ready to do our first dance as a couple after Elliot and Kate get done with theirs. Our reception is being held at a ballroom exclusively for balls and galas. Like I said, the Grey name has its perks. We've already had our dinner of salmon and rice pilaf and I keep looking over at our cake. It has six tears and is white with black music notes placed all around.
"Why are there music notes on the wedding cake baby?"
"Because love is the music of life. Our love started off with music, so why not celebrate it beginning as a married couple with music?"
"My God baby, you're a genius!" I kiss her forehead as the DJ announces it's time for our dance. I get up, hold my hand out to her and take her across the dance floor. She had a song in mind that she thought perfectly our growing love.
"All those days, watching from the windows
all those years, outside looking in.
All that time, never even knowing
just how blind I've been."
I trace my hand down her side and rest it on her hip, bringing her closer to me. She glides her hand up my arm and rests it on my shoulder. I take her other hand and raise it as we start to circle around slowly just staring at each other.
"Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
now I'm here, suddenly I see.
Standing here, it's, oh, so clear
I'm where I'm meant to be."
I gaze into her loving sky blue eyes and see what a wonderful future we have in store for us. As I start to listen to the lyrics, I understand why she picked this out for us to dance to.
"And at last, I see the light
and it's like the fog has lifted.
And at last, I see the light
and it's like the sky is new.
And it's warm and real and bright
and the world has somehow shifted.
All at once, everything looks different
Now that I see you."
All those years we've had to endure pain and hardships, all the years we spent apart, not knowing each other even existed. We had to endure those years just so we could have this moment right here, right now. The male counterpart comes in as we swirl around on the dance floor.
"All those days, chasing down a daydream
all those years, living in a blur.
All that time, never truly seeing
Things the way they were."
Oh my God! I can see why she chose this song for us! All I use to care about was work and getting more money and more things. Everyday was the same, one after the next after the next. I didn't really notice because I didn't care. But now I care about everything and everyone.
"Now she's here, shining in the starlight
now she's here, suddenly I know.
If she's here, it's crystal clear,
I'm where I'm meant to go."
She's here in my arms. My ray of light in the dark, my sun on a rainy day, and my joy to my sorrow, my wife: my Ana.
"And at last, I see the light
and it's like the fog has lifted.
And at last, I see the light
and it's like the sky is new.
And it's warm and real and bright
and the world has somehow shifted.
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you.
Now that I see you."
"Anastasia Rose Grey, I love you."
"And I love you Christian Trevelyan Grey." We crash our lips together as the crowd applauses. But we're too busy kissing to care.
