WE REACHED 1K REVIEWS GUYS. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THIS IS SO AWESOME, IT MEANS THE WORLD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HERE IS CHAPTER 36!

Chapter 36: Smile For The Picture

The week passed very slowly. I'd had morning sickness for the past few days and it had been just awful. However, tomorrow was Saturday, which meant no college. I was having my first ultrasound and I was so excited. I awoke on Friday morning feeling slightly better than the previous day's and dressed quickly for college before Taylor drove me.

I met Brooke beforehand and we grabbed a hot drink while on our way to the day's lectures. When we were inside, she turned to me as she took a sip of her coffee.

"How's baby Grey?" She asked warmly.

I smiled. That had now become the given nickname for my baby and it was just the most adorable thing ever.

"Fine," I replied, glancing down at my stomach. "We have an ultrasound tomorrow."

"Oh! That's so exciting Ana. Are you genuinely looking forward to having a baby?"

I nodded, taking a sip of my own drink. "Yes. I mean, I'm scared, but who isn't? I just can't wait to hold him or her in my arms for the first time. Hold onto their tiny little hand. See their eyes open. I really am excited."

"That's good. I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you." I was sincere in my thanks. Kate had not been all that supportive lately and it was disheartening to start realising that my best friend perhaps was not my best friend anymore.

"Do you have any plans for tonight?" Brooke asked after a few moments.

"Yes," I smiled, remembering my plan for after college. "I'm doing a photo-shoot for Christian's Christmas present. I'm making him a calendar."

"What? Like, of sexy pictures of you?" She asked with a grin.

I blushed a little and nodded. "You run out of gift ideas for the man who has everything," I replied. "I figure he'll appreciate this."

"Of course he will honey," she said with a roll of her eyes. "Any guy would give everything to have sexy pictures of you. You're a complete stunner."

"Thank you, I hope so," I said grinning. "I've booked an appointment with a woman photographer because I know it would make him angry if it was with a man."

She nodded, understanding. I didn't think anybody understood just how angry Christian would be if I was ever in any state of undress in front of another man, for whatever reason. He'd forget all about the gift and go and hunt down the 'sleazy' photographer.

"You could come if you'd like?" I suggested to Brooke. I really wanted some company and since Kate and I hadn't really been speaking at the moment, I wouldn't have minded it being her.

"Really? Of course I will," she smiled.

"To be honest, I don't really want to go alone," I confessed. "I've never done anything like this before."

"It'll be fine," she insisted. "The pictures are going to look wonderful."

I really hoped so.

After college, Taylor drove Brooke and I to the studio, insisting that he would wait outside no matter how long I took.

"Can't I just phone you when I'm finished?" I implored as he opened the car door for me. "I feel bad making you sit out here. I might be hours."

"Miss Steele, I am under the strictest instructions when it comes to you," he replied politely, shutting the door behind me. "I will wait."

I sighed. There was no use. Christian would always be Christian. I felt bad.

Inside the studio was white, clean, and beautiful. It was very upscale and I was glad I had chosen to splurge on one of the very best. If I was going to do this, I wanted to do right and Christian deserved the best.

A smartly dressed woman came to greet me immediately.

"You must be Miss Anastasia Steele?" She asked with a smile, extending her hand.

I shook it and nodded.

"Right this way."

I followed her as her heels clapped against the marble floor.

There were expensive looking photographs that lined the pristine walls and I suddenly began to feel very nervous. I wanted these pictures to look sexy and sophisticated, something that would make Christian turned on and aroused. Something that he would admire and be proud of. I didn't want to be a bumbling, blushing mess. Like I usually was. We were both led into an enormous white room with cameras, lights, and different set ups that included benches, a bed, and several chairs. The room was very bright, almost blinding.

Another woman came to greet me next. She was quite old with graying hair and a big smile. I immediately felt more at ease with her and I took my jacket off, feeling quite comfortable. Brooke took a seat and got out some homework while me and the photographer, Linda, had a talk.

"So I understand that the project was a personalised calendar?" She confirmed, leaning over her desk and adjusting her glasses as she checked her notes.

"Yes."

"And you wanted the photographs to be themed by seasons?"

Yes. I had it all planned out. I wanted December to be a sexy Santa, October to be a sexy vampire etc... You get the picture. I had ordered a TON of new outfits offline and I had gone shopping at various underwear stores to buy the lingerie I wanted. I had big visions for this calendar and I wanted it to look perfect.

"Okay," she said, putting down her notebook. "Let's get started then. Shall we go by month?"

I nodded and we got to work.

January went smoothly. It was a simple photograph, just to get the ball rolling so to speak. I wore a scanty white underwear set with a woolly hat, knee high winter boots and gloves, to represent winter. The backdrop was just the white wall and I had fake snow falling around me. It looked amazing and I couldn't wait to do the rest. February was Valentine's Day, and so I obviously wanted something more intimate. Linda suggested I go topless while laying on my stomach on the bed with my legs up and crossed at the ankles. I was nervous but I did so because I wanted it to be beautiful for Christian. All I had on was a red thong while flower petals were spread around me and I had a rose between my teeth. March was Easter, so naturally I was some sort of bunny and by the time we got to June I was sweating it out in a bikini. For September, my birthday month, and the month we found out we were pregnant, I wanted something a little more personal and intimate so we just did an up close face portrait. The hair and makeup team took a while on that one because it was just of my face, and it made me more nervous than any of the body ones.

By the time we were finished, it was almost 8pm and I was starving and exhausted. All in all, the photoshoot had taken close to 5 hours and I felt bad for both Brooke and Taylor.

"I'm sorry it took so long," I said to her as I shrugged into my jacket and we headed out.

"It's fine," she insisted. "I wanted to come, remember? Besides, I got a ton of work done. My house is never quiet so it's hard to study."

"That's good then."

"I can't wait to see the calendar," she said excitedly.

"Me too."

Taylor was waiting in the exact same place he had left me, earphones in and reading a book. I sighed and shook my head. I needed to have a talk with Christian later because there was absolutely no need that he had to wait there doing nothing for so long. I felt like a villain.

"Your driver is so hot," Brooke whispered to me as Taylor opened the doors for us upon approach.

I grimaced and she laughed.

"I know you only have eyes for Mr Grey but let me tell you girl, my eyes are all over him."

I couldn't help but giggling. As we drove, she tried (and failed) several times to strike up some sort of meaningful conversation with him, even after I'd told her it was no use. He continued to answer in short, polite, professional sentences and I told her that he was a code she'd never break.

After Taylor dropped Brooke home, we both went back to the penthouse and I dragged myself straight to Christian who was on the couch in the living room, all but falling right on top of him.

"Hello baby," he said quietly, gathering me in his arms and wrapping them tight around me.

I snuggled underneath his neck and he kissed the top of my head.

"You were ages," he whispered, stroking my back and making little patterns on it with his fingers. "I missed you."

"I was getting your Christmas present," I admitted.

"And Brooke went with you?"

I nodded. I'd told Christian all about my new friend, and so far, he approved greatly.

"And Taylor waited?" He asked, checking.

"Yes." I pulled up slightly so that I could look at him. "Christian, he had to wait outside in his car for hours. It's not fair, there was no need. He could have just picked me up afterward."

He shook his head at me and moved a strand of hair behind my ear. "You're the most important thing in the world to me. I need to make sure you're safe, always."

"But-"

He cut me off by placing his lips over mine gently.

"No buts. Taylor is fine Ana. It's his job to protect you and make sure you're safe when I can't and I'm at work. It's what he gets paid for. There are far worse jobs than sitting in a car for a few hours okay honey?"

He started to kiss my neck sweetly, persuading me inch by inch. It worked like a charm, just like every other time when he would distract me with his kisses and soft touches. One hand cupped my chin while the other glided down my body, resting gently on my belly. When he broke away to look into my eyes, we both knew no words needed to be said. A silent moment of love and thankfulness passed between us, and with his hand pressed against the place where our unborn baby grew, it was beautiful.

After a dinner of chicken risotto and salad, Christian and I took a bath together, while we talked intimately about our wedding.

"When do you want it to be?" He asked, lathering up my body with the most gorgeous smelling body wash. "Before or after the baby is born?"

"After," I said immediately. "I'd like to fit into my dress."

He chuckled and kissed the side of my neck.

"And where do you want it? Here? Abroad? On Mars?"

"Thank you for the diverse choices," I said sarcastically.

I leaned back into him, letting the scent of vanilla and Rose fill my senses. Feel the warm water dancing over my skin. Feel Christian's hands all over my aching body. I closed my eyes and breathed everything in, imagining my perfect wedding day.

"A beach somewhere," I started. "I want to be barefoot, feeling the soft sand beneath my feet. Hear the crashing waves in the background, feel the sun kiss my skin. I want palm trees and blue oceans with white sand. I want turtles on the beach at night and a wedding reception at sunset..."

I realised I was getting carried away into my own fairytale world and opened my eyes. All I could hear was the gentle noise of the water and Christian's breathing.

"That's just a dream of course," I whispered, turning in his arms to face him and placing my hands on his cheeks. "If you want to get married here then I would be just as happy too. As long as I have you, I don't care where we are."

He kissed my forehead and then my nose, and finally, my lips.

"You'll have your dream wedding and your turtles and white sand." He replied adamantly.

I giggled as his lips descended on mind once more.

"Thank you," I breathed, pressing myself right against his chest and winding my fingers through his hair. "I can't believe how lucky I am to have you."

I meant this sincerely. I didn't know what I had done to deserve this man but I was grateful.

"I'm lucky to have you. Now let's get out of this bath so I can show you just how grateful I am."

I've received quite a few questions during my period away so I just want to answer some of them now:

Where did you go?Things have been so hectic with uni and RL right now (plus writing my own novel) that wriring FF has been on the backburner. Now that I have more time as University is finishing up, I hope to get back to a somewhat regular schedule. I'm thinking once a week like a lot of other authors? Let me know if you guys would like that.

What is Brooke's ethnicity? She is mixed/bi-racial. Half white & half black.

Is Grace Sincere? Yes

When are you next going to update? As stated, I'm going to try and stick to a weekly schedule.

There will be roughly 50 chapters of this story, most of it is fully planned out now. Next chapter is a surprise POV, and the real climax of the story is going to start to kick in. I'd love to hear your theories on what's going to happen next :)

For those of you that also read Second Chances (my other FSOG story) an update on that will be posted shortly as well and if you do not read it, then please go and check it out! Thank you guys for all the support, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please remember to review and I will see you soon - Elizabeth