A/N

Chapter song is Masterpiece by Thompson Square. The prologue will follow this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 27 – Masterpiece

CPOV

Ana has been sleeping since we left China. We celebrated the gold medal win last night by fucking in every position possible once we got back to our room. I thought she would be tired, but she said she was riding the adrenaline high, and wanted to ride me. So, being the gentleman that I am, I let her. We slept in today until lunchtime, and the plane finally took off at 6 pm, China time.

I kiss Ana's forehead and rub her arm softly. "Wake up, baby. We need to get to our seats and prepare for landing." I kiss her head again, then each of her cheeks, and place a soft kiss on her lips.

"Mmm. I don't want to get up yet." She tries to cover her head up, and I latch onto the sheet to prevent it.

"I know you are tired, but we need to get to our seats soon, sweetheart." She groans in frustration.

"Fine," she huffs and throws the sheet off of herself. Either she has forgotten she is naked or she doesn't care. She reaches for her clothes, and I climb out of bed to help her.

"Can I help you?" I reach for her t-shirt and slide it over her head. She sits down on the edge of the bed, and I push her sweat pants over her feet and up her legs as she stands. As I stand up, I come face to face with her bare pussy. "Sans panties, Ana?" She nods and grins mischievously. I shake my head and pull her pants the rest of the way up. I pat her butt as she walks out of the bedroom in front of me.

As we sit down and buckle up, she asks about our plans once we arrive home.

"Is everyone going to be at the house when we get there? I'd like to spend a few days catching up on sleep and getting used to the time change." She reaches for a bottle of water and a pack of crackers.

"Are you feeling alright?" I ask with concern.

"I am feeling great; thank you. Just eating a snack. All the sex earlier has left me hungry."

"I text Elliott before we took off and asked him to pass along the message that we don't want any company until tomorrow. We also need to figure out about telling everyone about your pregnancy now or waiting until after the wedding." I take her hand and kiss each fingertip.

"What do you think? I don't mind telling them, but I don't want them to go overboard into protective mode. I will only put up with you being that way. Let's see how I feel tomorrow, and I go from there?" She rests her head on my shoulder.

"That sounds perfect. I am excited to spend our first night in the new house. Have you been able to see it since Elliott finished it?" I ask and rest my head against hers.

"Yes, and it's beautiful." Stephan comes across the speaker to advise we are approaching Sea-Tac.

"By the way, everything for the wedding is ready to go. Your dress has arrived at the house for final alterations." She sits up and faces me.

"What do you mean everything is ready to go? I didn't help you do anything! How did you manage that?" She stares at me with wide eyes.

"Well, while you were practicing hard in Anaheim, everything was handled. You said you trust my judgment, so I ran with it. I hope it up to par." She smiles and leans in for a kiss.

"Yes, Christian. I do trust you. You are amazing. I love you." We kiss for a few moments, and I feel the wheels touch down.

"I will give you some of the details later." She smiles up at me and cocks her head to the side.

"Some of the details? Why not all of them?" Before I can answer her, the flight attendant comes back to tell us we can unbuckle and get ready to exit the plane.

"We will continue this conversation later, Mr. Grey." She giggles and reaches for her bag. The main door opens, and Taylor enters through the security door as Sawyer enters the plane.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but the paparazzi got word of when you would arrive back from China. There are tons of them out there. I suggest we make a quick exit to the car and leave without any comment." I give him a puzzled look.

"Why do they care if we are back here. God, it was nice in China. There was no one around to stick a camera in our faces the entire time we were there." I huff out my frustration, and Ana starts to leave the plane.

"Wait, Ana. What are you doing?" I reach for her arm and pull her back to me.

"I was just going to look out, Sir." She bats her eyes and me and bites her lip. Oh no, not here and not now. I feel my pants start bulging and have think of something nasty to calm down my libido. Elliott in speedos, mom and dad kissing. Crisis averted.

"Sir, they want to take pictures of Miss Steele with her gold medal. Elliott must not have told you about the watch parties they had here for the gold medal game. Everyone is going crazy because a local person is part of a gold medal team. They want to have a parade or something." Ana choke laughs next to me.

"They want to do what?" She laughs as Taylor explains all the bars and places that televised the game.

Suddenly, I am thankful for the new house and the additional security measures we put in place. The people of Seattle are going to go nuts over my girl. I can't have her stressed out during this pregnancy.

"Okay, so let's exit the plane as normal, and let them take all the pictures they want. We won't pose for anything. Besides, your medal is packed away safely in your bag." I reach for Ana's arm and prepare to exit the plane.

"Wait, Christian. I am proud of this medal. I worked hard to get it." She reaches inside her shirt and pulls the medal out. How did I not realize she had put it around her neck?

"So what are you suggesting, Miss Steele?" I ask, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.

"We can exit the plane as normal, and I will stop once and display my medal with a huge smile on my face. Don't worry, baby. They won't take your picture this time." She smiles widely and skips towards the door.

We escape the airport after Ana poses for a few pictures. The reporters asked her general questions about the trip and how she felt about winning the gold medal. She answered them quickly, and we leave with a wave goodbye.

"Home sweet home," Ana says while falling into the couch in our new living room. I sit next to her and pull her close to me.

"Yes, I couldn't be happier to be home. Would you like something to eat?" I kiss the side of her head as she snuggles into me.

"In a little bit. I need to make a few phone calls. One to my mother and the other to my doctor to see when she can get me in to check on the little peanut." I laugh at her nickname for the baby.

"Peanut? Where did that come from?" She shrugs her shoulder.

"Well, we could call it jellybean, or do you want to call it something else until we know what the sex is?" I think for a little bit about her comment.

"You want to know what we are having? No surprises?" She shakes her head, no.

"No surprises. I'd like to know so we can plan the nursery and other things. Is that alright with you? What do you want to do?" She turns in my arms and looks up at me.

"I agree. How are we going to keep this a secret? Especially from our mothers." She smiles and shrugs her shoulders.

"We may have to swear them to secrecy. Or just stay away until after the wedding. Are you sure everything good to go? What about the music at the reception?" She asks, trying to pump me for information.

"It's been taken care of, baby—no need for you to worry your pretty little head about it. Grab your phone, and let's call the doctor first. We can tell our parents after we have seen the doctor. The rest can wait until after the wedding." She reaches for her purse and pulls out her phone.

After we set the doctor's appointment is the following morning, we eat a small lunch in the sunroom. Before we fall asleep, I set the alarm on my phone, so we don't sleep all day.

After the nap, Ana and I spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking and discussing final plans for the wedding. The ceremony is going to be small and private, with only 20-30 guests. We will be going to the Mile High Club afterward for dinner and the reception. I still haven't told her about her friends singing for our first dance as husband and wife. I will keep it to myself as long as possible.

Neither of us knows any small children that can be a flower girl and ring bearer, so Elliott and Kate will bring our rings with them when they walk down the aisle. GEH has a photographer on staff, and I have requested that he take pictures of everything. Carla asked to take care of the flowers and set up for the ceremony. My mother is in charge of the dinner menu.

I can't wait to marry Ana. For the past six months, I have relished it being just the two of us. Now that she is pregnant, I plan on spending as much time with her as possible. Once the baby comes, she will be busy taking care of it and volunteering for the foundation.

"Are you using the Mile High DJ for the reception?" Ana asks while putting away her clothes.

"Yes." I decide a one-word answer is best. I am not ready to reveal anything yet.

"Are you keeping something from me?" She lays her clothes on the bed and walks over to me.

I clear my throat and shake my head. "No, I am not keeping anything from you."

"Are you sure?" She rubs her hand along my arm making goosebumps rise with her touch.

I nod my head. "Uh, hmm." She smiles and shakes her head.

"I will let you get away with it for now. I know you aren't telling me something." She goes back to putting away her clothes, and I take a deep breath in relief. I thought she would try to sex it out of me. The sex part I wouldn't mind at all.

We are sitting in Dr. Green's office the next morning, and I look around at the women there. Some are alone, and others have men with them. There are a few children that seem to be struggling to sit still. I chuckle to myself, thinking about our little one doing the same thing.

The nurse comes out and calls for us to come back to see the doctor. She instructs Ana to go into the restroom and leaves a specimen for them to check. I follow the nurse to the treatment room and wait for Ana. I sit in the chair beside the exam table, and the nurse pulls out a gown and a sheet.

"Have Miss Steele put this on when she comes back from the restroom. I will be back in a few minutes to take her vital signs." She opens the door and walks out, leaving it cracked open.

Ana walks into the room and closes the door. I stand, handing her the gown, and she starts to undress. "Are you nervous?" I ask as she changes.

"Not really. I'm excited to hear the heartbeat and see how far along I am. If I have calculated things right, I'm at least eight weeks along." She changes into the gown and hops up onto the exam table.

The nurse comes back in and starts taking Ana's blood pressure, along with some other things. She asks her general questions about her overall health and activity level.

"According to our records, you were due for a shot in June. You may be further along than you think. We are going to take some blood today to check for any anemia and other things that can affect your pregnancy," the nurse says then inputs something into the computer. "Dr. Green will be in shortly."

The nurse leaves the room, and I take Ana's hand in mine. "I know we won't be able to tell what the sex of the baby is today. I just want to know it's healthy and that you will be okay." Ana smiles at me, and I lean over to kiss her lips. I sit back in my chair and think about when we conceived the jellybean. We were having so much sex during that time; I have no idea. I hope it happened the day after the earthquake. Just thinking about that day makes me want to bend Ana over the exam table and fuck her hard.

Before my mind can go any further into the gutter, Dr. Green comes into the room. She and Ana talk about how things have been so far with the pregnancy.

"Alright, let's check on the little one, shall we?" Dr. Green asks, and Ana and I both nod excitedly. "Okay, Ana. I need you to lay back on the table and slide your bottom to the edge. I will be doing a vaginal ultrasound today." My eyes widen when I see her remove a wand-like thing and cover it with a condom. I hear Ana giggle, and I look over to her.

"What are you laughing at?" I ask her and look back at Dr. Green.

"Your face right now, Christian." She continues to laugh, and I shrug my shoulders.

"I have never been through this before, and I have no idea what she will be doing with the dildo looking thing. Is she going to stick it in your, you know." I choke cough and see Dr. Green smile. Why am I having a difficult time with this? My dick has been buried deep in Ana so many times; I have lost count.

"Mr. Grey, this wand is similar to the one we use for external ultrasounds. You'll see how it works. Ana, are you ready?" Ana tells her to go ahead. I take Ana's hand and prepare to see our little jellybean on the screen.

The machine turns on, and Dr. Green inserts the wand into Ana's vagina. I watch the screen for any sign but only see gray. After a few seconds, an image comes into view, and I take a deep breath.

"There's your baby." The screen changes angles, and a small round sac is on the screen with a dark shape inside of it. "If you look closely, you can see the heart beating." She reaches for the volume on the machine, and the room quickly fills with a swooshing sound.

"Is that..," I ask, and Dr. Green nods her head. My eyes fill with tears at the sound of our baby's heartbeat. I feel Ana squeeze my hand, and I look into her eyes. She is crying as well. I lean over and kiss her, telling her l love her.

"The heartbeat sounds strong and steady. Based on the measurements, I'd you are about ten weeks along, Ana. Would you like some pictures to share with your family?" We both nod, and she prints off a few for us to keep.

She removes the wand and passes a towel for Ana to wipe herself off. We spend the next few minutes discussing what to expect and when to come back for the next appointment.

"It's possible the trip to China brought on the morning sickness. Each woman is different; some don't have it all, and others can struggle with it the entire pregnancy. If you have trouble keeping food down, call my office, and I will prescribe anti-nausea medication. Otherwise, I have to say you are a very healthy woman. Your body is in great shape, and it is okay to continue exercising as long as you are comfortable. It will help make the delivery easier. Do either of you have any other questions?" I consider asking about sex, but I know Ana will kill me.

"No, I don't have any. Ana, what about you?" I squeeze her hand, and she says no.

"Alright, well, congratulations! Your due date will be around Valentine's Day, but that may change as we go along. I will see you in three weeks. Then after that, it will be every four weeks. Give me a call if you need anything. Take care." She leaves the room, and I sit and stare at the door.

"Christian, are you alright?" I look over to Ana and smile widely.

"Yes, I am perfect. You are healthy, and we are having a baby. I love you so much, Ana." I lean over her and kiss her deeply. She grabs my head, pulling me closer as she returns the kiss. I pull back and take a deep breath. "We should get out of here before I bend you over this table and fuck you senseless." She chuckles as I help her sit up.

"I don't know if I can keep it a secret that we are pregnant," Ana says while we are riding home. I gave Taylor the next few days off, and Prescott and Reynolds are in the front of the SUV. I take her hand in mine and kiss it.

"We can tell the family if you want to. They are coming over for dinner tonight anyway to talk about our trip. If you think it won't stress you out, I will be happy to spread the good news." I smile widely and lean in to kiss her.

"Alright, let's tell everyone at dinner," Ana says with excitement in her voice.

"Whatever you want, baby." I kiss her again, and we ride hand in hand the rest of the way home.

We spend the rest of the afternoon finalizing everything for the wedding. Kate comes by, and she and Ana catch up on everything. They spend a long time upstairs in the master suite making sure Ana's dress didn't need any alternations. She hasn't gained any weight, so unless the dress was made wrong, it should still fit perfectly. I can't wait to see it.

Ana POV

Kate and I spend the afternoon enjoying each other's company while catching up. "How was the trip to China? Were you able to do any sightseeing?" Kate asks while I lean back on the lounger.

"We were able to look at a few things when we first arrived there. The rest of the time was spent practicing and getting ready to play. How are things with your job? Is your dad treating you okay?" Kate shrugs her shoulders.

"For the most part, he is. I have to prove my worth. He wants me to travel and write about it. I told him no that I wanted to stay in Seattle and settle down with Elliott. He is still trying to talk me out of getting married. We have talked about eloping." I choke on my drink.

"He doesn't want you to get married? Why?" I sit up and face Kate. Seeing the tears in her eyes, I get up and sit next to her, putting my arms around her.

"He thinks Elliott will cheat on me down the road. He has heard the rumors about him and doesn't think it's a good idea to get married. That is one of the reasons why we set our date so far out." She wipes her eyes and leans her head on my shoulder. "I love Elliott so much, Ana. I am seriously considering not working for my father and finding another job somewhere else. Elliott said I could probably get a job with GEH, but I am afraid to ask Christian. What do you think?"

"Oh, sweetie! You should do whatever you want. I'm sorry that your dad feels that way about Elliott. If you want to elope, I support you both. As far as working for GEH, I think Christian would love to have you in PR. You have a lot of connections and could benefit the company greatly. We can talk about it over dinner, okay?" Kate nods her head, and I hug her tightly.

"I know life has taken us in different directions for the time being, but you have always been like a sister to me, Kate. I'm no longer traveling, and I am ready to settle down in Seattle. We need to make a point to get together frequently to talk about girl stuff. Especially since we are marrying brothers." She giggles, and I go back to my seat.

"Is everything ready for the wedding?" She asks while taking a drink of her mimosa. I fixed mine with non-alcoholic champagne, which Kate thankfully didn't notice.

"Yes, but Christian is keeping some things from me about the reception. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt this time. He knows I don't like secrets."

"You know it's going to be fabulous, just go with it. Christian only wants the best for you, Ana." I smile, thinking about my birthday gift.

"I know." I get up from the lounger and reach for Kate's hand. "Come on, let's get dinner going." We walk arm in arm to the kitchen and start getting things together.

Kate and I decide on grilled chicken with rice pilaf and vegetable medley for dinner. There is also a salad and fresh fruit bowl for anyone that wants it. The doctor told me to watch my intake of red meat and seafood until nausea completely subsides, so chicken seems like the best option.

We are enjoying dinner and light conversation when Christian reaches over and squeezes my leg. I nod my head, and he clears his voice. "Can I have everyone's attention for a moment? Ana and I would like to share some exciting news with you all. But first, I want to tell you how we found out." Grace puts her hands over her mouth, knowing what we are going to say.

"Before leaving for China, the team coaches warned us about eating food not made in the Athlete's Village. Some parts of China do not have clean water sources; therefore, contaminating food. Our second day there, Ana got sick. We thought she had eaten something bad, but that wasn't the case. After confirming what she already thought, Ana had a positive pregnancy test." The room suddenly fills with gasps and squeals from all directions.

Mom jumps up from the table and runs to me, grabbing me in a hug. "Oh, sweetheart. This is so exciting. I'm going to be a grandma!" She lets me go, and Kate hugs me next.

"You think I didn't notice you were drinking non-alcoholic champagne with your mimosa?" I laugh and shrug. "I am so happy for you both. Congratulations!" Kate kisses my cheek, and Elliott is next.

"So this is why you didn't play much in those last few games? I should kill Christian for not saying anything." He hugs me tight and whispers in my ear that he is glad me and Christian found each other again. Tears fill my eyes, and I nod my head.

I look over and see Christian engulfed in a hug from his mother. She is sobbing against his chest, and I know she never thought she would see this day. After we get hugs and congratulations from everyone in the room, we sit down and explain the rest.

"Ana dealt with morning sickness off and on but was able to minimize it by eating small meals and took some anti-nausea medicine from the team doctor. Before you ask, yes, we are surprised but mostly excited about having a little one. We went to the doctor this morning, and the baby is due around Valentine's Day." Christian explains.

"The doctor said the morning sickness could have been brought on by the plane ride over. Ana was never sick before she left. She was overly tired, but we attributed that to her practice schedule." Christian takes my hand and kisses it softly.

"Mia is going to be so excited to find out. They are flying in on Monday for the wedding and spending a few weeks here before returning to Europe to finalize things there. All of my children will be here close, and I am so excited!" Grace says while clapping her hands together. Carrick looks over at her, smiling.

We spend the rest of the evening talking about how we were as babies, and who was the worst one. Christian sits quietly during the conversation, and I reach over, placing my hand on his leg. "Are you alright?" He nods, and I smile back.

Later, Christian and I are getting ready for bed, and he is still quiet. I walk up to him and put my arms around his waist. "Did talking about everyone's childhood bother you? I noticed you kept to yourself for a majority of the conversation."

He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "I don't know how I was as a baby. The only thing I do remember is being abused and neglected." He takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly. "I promise you, Ana. I will be the best father I possibly can. I will cherish you and our baby, making sure you have no doubts how much I love you. Our child will want for nothing. You and I have so much love to go around, and the baby will be surrounded by it." I nod and bury my face in his chest.

"I know you will, Christian. You have made something of yourself, even though you had a rough start in life. She who shall not be named tried to take that away from you, but you found your way out, and I love you more for it. Come on, let's go to bed."

We help each other undress and crawl into bed. We hold each other close for the rest of the night. I fall asleep dreaming about a little boy with copper hair and gray eyes running through a field of flowers.

It's the day of our wedding, and I am so excited. Everything is ready outside, and I am waiting for Kate and Mia to help me with my hair and getting dressed. I could have hired someone to do it, but NDAs would have to be signed, and I would worry about the press getting wind of everything. So far, they have left us alone. There is the occasional reporter that follows us around, but for once, they are not intrusive.

I am writing my letter to Christian, and I am thankful my makeup isn't on yet. I keep tearing up but in a pleasant way.

"Knock, Knock!" Kate and Mia come strolling into the master suite, followed by my mom and Grace. "You ready to get hitched?" Kate drops her bags on the bed and hugs me.

"Yes, I have been waiting for this day for five years!" I hug Mia and kiss her cheek. "So, who will be doing this next? You or Kate?" Mia shakes her head vehemently.

"I am nowhere near ready to get married. We aren't even engaged yet. Let's get settled back into the US; then we will talk, Ana. Besides, today is your day. Let's get you, ready girlfriend!" Mia grabs the chair against the wall and pulls it to the middle of the room.

"Oh, Grace?" I reach for the envelope that contains my letter to Christian, and a small gift box. "Can you take this to Christian for me?" She smiles.

"Of course, I can. I will be right back." She leaves our bedroom in search of my soon to be husband. Mia and Kate get to work on my hair as mom looks on. She has tears in her eyes, and I know what she is thinking. Dad would be here, getting ready to give his baby girl away.

"I know what you are thinking, Mom. Dad should be here in person, giving Christian a hard time about marrying me and walking me down the aisle. But that has been passed on to you. Are you ready to give your daughter away?" She gets up and walks over to where I am sitting.

"Oh, Anastasia. I knew the first day you came home talking about Christian that he would be the man for you. Your daddy and I talked about this moment many times. He said he would dread the day when he had to give you away, but knew the right man would take good care of you, just like Ray did. Christian is a good man, and he will love you until the end of time. He loves you will all of his heart. I love you, Ana, and I am so proud of you." I stand up and hug her tightly.

Grace comes back into the room with tears in her eyes, carrying another envelope along with a box. "Here is his letter to you. I think we need to give you a moment alone to read it, dear. We will be back in a little while. Thank the Lord; your makeup isn't on yet!" I laugh through my tears as everyone leaves the room.

I set the box aside and open the envelope, seeing Christian's neat handwriting fill the page.

Ana,

In just a few short hours, you will be Mr. Christian Grey. I still have a hard time believing that you want to marry me. I was such an ass to you when we first met. You tried so hard to make me see the error of my ways, but I chose to be a hardass about it. Thankfully, you waited for me. You believed that one day I would finally get my shit together. Today, I give you my whole heart, baby. Today, I am thankful that you came back into my life when you did and gave me another chance. You and our little jellybean mean everything to me, and I will spend the rest of my life loving you both. See you at the altar. I love you with all of my heart,

Christian

I use a tissue to wipe my eyes and remember the box. I open it up to find a pair of diamond earrings. There is a note included with Christian's handwriting on it.

These earrings can be your 'something new' to wear today. I love you. XO

I look at the earrings again as they sparkle in the sunlight. My man has impeccable taste. The door opens, and everyone files back into the room.

"Well? What did he have to say?" Kate is nosy as ever.

"Nothing you need to worry about." I show her the earrings.

"Wow, those are beautiful!" Kate says as she passed them to Mia.

"Ana, I want to give you something to wear that is old. Your father gave it to me when we got married, and I want to pass it down for you to wear today." Mom hands me a small jewelry box. I open it and inside a find a diamond pendant necklace. It perfectly matches the earrings that Christian gave me.

"Did you two plan this? My earrings match this necklace perfectly." Mom smiles and nods her head.

"He came to me asking about the jewelry you would be wearing. I told him what my plan was, and he took it from there." I hug mom's neck tightly.

"Thank you, mom. It's beautiful." I place the box next to the earring box, and Grace walks to me next.

"Ana, here is something borrowed." She hands over a diamond hair clip that sparkles like stars on a clear night. I put my hand over my mouth and look into Grace's eyes. "It belonged to my mother. She wore it on her wedding day, and I wore it on mine. I want all my girls to wear it on their special day." I hug Grace and kiss her cheek.

"Thank you so much. It will be my honor to wear it."

"Last but not least, here is your something blue." Mia hands me a larger box, and I open it carefully. I chuckle and pull it from the package. It is a light blue garter with white lace trim. There is writing on it, and I pull it closer to read it. I throw my head back, laughing.

"Mia, you know Christian won't follow this." She shrugs her shoulders and smiles.

"What does it say?" Kate leans over my shoulder and reads the words aloud. "Hands off?" She busts out, laughing. "You are right, Ana. There is no way Christian will keep his hands off of you."

"All right, ladies. Time to get this show on the road." I lay the garter beside the other items and sit down so Kate and Mia can fix my hair and makeup.

CPOV

I have been banished to the guest room on the other side of the house while Ana gets ready in the master suite. She stayed with her mother last night, while Elliott and Dad came here for drinks and playing cards. It was nice to spend time with them and not have anyone else around. It felt like old times.

I read over the letter I have written to Ana, making sure it explains how I feel about her. I am closing the envelope as Mom comes into the bedroom. "Hello, Mom." I rise and greet her with a hug and kiss on her cheek.

"Christian, Ana asked me to bring this to you." She hands over the envelope and a small box.

"Thank you. I have something I need for you to take to Ana in return." I reach for the small box that contains her earrings and hand it over, along with the envelope.

"Why are you writing letters to each other? Are you not saying vows at the ceremony?" Mom asks. I guess we didn't share our plans with everyone.

"We decided to use traditional vows during the ceremony and write each other a letter to read before we get married. I didn't want everyone to know my thoughts on certain things, and I wanted it to be more personal between Ana and myself only." I set the box and envelope down and continue having a conversation with mom.

"That is sweet. I am so happy you are marrying Ana. She is such a sweet girl, and I know she loves you very much. Is there anything I need to do for the ceremony or reception?" I peek out the window and see the chairs and everything set up for the ceremony.

"Everything looks good from here. You may want to call the Mile High Club and make sure the private room everything ready for the meal. Only those that are at the ceremony will be eating. The bar area and dance floor will be private for us for a few hours. We may open it up to everyone before we leave. I have a few surprises in store for Ana during the reception." Mom smiles and pats my cheek.

"I love you, Christian. I am so proud of you." I choke back a few tears and pull her into my arms.

"I love you, too. Thanks for being there for me, even when I was a pain in the ass." She nudges me in the ribs and laughs.

"You weren't that bad, son—just a work in progress. Now, don't think about the past. Enjoy today and your beautiful bride. I've got to go. I'll see you in a little while." She kisses my cheek and leaves the room.

I grab the envelope and see Ana's neat script.

Christian,

Five years ago, I thought this day would never come. When I first saw you in that restaurant, I knew there was something special about you. Then you kissed me, and I was a goner. The next few years took us in different directions, but we finally found our way back to each other. Thank you for being patient with me, even when I was acting immaturely. You bring out the best in me, and I excited to become your wife. I can't imagine my future with anyone but you, Christian. I have loved you from the start. I am yours forever and always. I love you,

Ana

I smile and place the letter back in the envelope. I reach for the box and remove the paper. It is small, and I wonder what it is. I open it to find two cufflinks with a C and A intertwined. I hold them up and look at them. The significance is there; we will be together, now and always. I place a kiss on them and put them in my pants pocket. I check the clock and realize it's time to get ready.

Dad and Elliott come into the room, and we have a casual conversation while getting dressed. The photographer asked for us to be by the water forty-five minutes before the ceremony starts to have pictures made. I give Elliott Ana's wedding band and threaten bodily harm if he loses it.

"Relax, bro! I got it under control." He smiles and places the ring inside his suit jacket. "Let's go and get you hitched." I roll my eyes. I hate that term.

"How are things with you and Kate? Ready to elope yet?" I laugh, and Elliott shakes his head.

"Her dad is a prick. He keeps trying to talk her out of marrying me. Says I will cheat on her. I have asked her if she wants to elope, and I think she is considering it. She doesn't want to work for him either. He is pushing her to travel, and she wants to stay in Seattle." He shrugs, and I reach for his shoulder.

"I will support you in whatever you decide. If you need the jet to fly to Vegas, say the word. Have Kate see me once things settle down from the wedding. I'm sure I can offer her something in PR if that is what she wants." Elliott nods his head.

"Thanks, bro. That means a lot. I hope they decide not to show up today. I'd hate for my fist to meet his cheek on your special day." He winks and continues to walk.

I shake my head. Maybe that is why Ethan didn't go into media. Mr. Kavanagh is the number one prick. Perhaps I should buy his business and put Kate in charge. I chuckle to myself.

The preacher says it is time, and Elliott and I take our places. Mom and Carla have done a fabulous job decorating. The flowers are beautiful, making the sunset backdrop even better. Kate's parents did make it, and I tell Elliott to ignore the bastard.

I look at the front row and see a picture of Ray where he should be sitting. I wonder where Carla is? Soft piano music starts to play, but it's not the traditional wedding song. I will have to ask mom what song it is. I see Kate walking toward us in a lavender-colored dress that is strapless and barely touches the ground. She has her hair up in a French twist, and she is smiling at Elliott.

The preacher signals for everyone to rise as Ana and her mother make their way toward me. She is a vision in her wedding dress. It is a soft white with a scoop neckline. I don't know much about fashion, but her dress looks to be satin with a lace bodice overlay. It flows to the ground, and I see white heels poke out as she walks. Her hair is pulled back into an elegant twist, held by a diamond clip. I look up to see her beautiful smile. I am speechless as she walks toward me. I can't form a coherent thought as she and her mother stop just short of me.

"Who gives this bride away in marriage?" the preacher asks.

"Her father and I," Carla answers, and I reach for Ana's hand. I lean and kiss Carla on the cheek before she sits down.

I take Ana's hand and walk us to our place in front of the preacher. "You are beautiful" is the only thing I can say at the moment. Thank goodness I don't have to remember any vows. I would be floundering for something to say.

The preacher starts the ceremony, and I continue to stare into Ana's blue eyes. They mesmerized me from the start, and they continue to do so. Ana squeezes my hand, and I hear the preacher say my name and asks me to repeat after him.

We go through our vows, and I place Ana's ring on her hand, and she does the same with mine. With the sunset making a beautiful backdrop, and our hands joined together, we become Mr. and Mrs. Christian Grey.

In the place I asked her to be my forever, she became mine for always.

After what seemed like forever, we arrive at the Mile High Club for dinner. During the limo ride, Ana couldn't keep her hands off of me. She wanted to have sex, but I told her we didn't have time. So instead, she sucked me off, and I got her off with my fingers. Crises averted, for now.

We finish a fabulous dinner and make our way to the bar and dance floor area. The band sets up, and Ana smiles widely. "How did you get them here? I thought they were on tour?" She hugs my neck tightly.

"I checked their schedule when we saw them in Sacramento. They were happy to do it for us. Now, let's have our first dance as husband and wife, shall we?" She nods her head as I hear Jordan introduce us as Mr. and Mrs. Christian Grey.

When I first heard this song, I knew it was about us. I quickly learned the words by heart, and when Ana told me she would marry me, I wanted our first dance to be to this song.

I take my wife into my arms as the music starts to play. I hold her close so I can sing the words in her ear.

Some men spend a lifetime trying to somehow leave their mark

Waitin' and waitin' for grand inspiration to spark

To leave behind somethin' remembered

Somethin' everyone has heard of

Some people build it, some people paint it

Some people do it with love

Shakespeare sure knew how to write down

Words that will live throughout time

And that Eiffel Tower's still standing

Was built to be one of a kind

Da Vinci's got his Mona Lisa

And Beethoven's got his symphonies

But you're my masterpiece

We continue to sway to the music, and I kiss her cheek softly. She is holding onto me tightly, and I know she is on the verge of tears.

Every love story ending is just fairytales until us

Yeah, 'cause this kind of story, no one could ever make up

It started the day that I met you and this fire won't ever burn out

And I know when we die what we leave behind, they'll always talk about

I continue to sing in her ear, and I know she has started crying. I can feel the tears falling down her cheeks. I look into her eyes and wipe the tears with my thumbs. The song ends, and everyone starts clapping. I kiss her lips again and tell I love her.

"Oh, Christian baby. I love you too. That song was beautiful." She is smiling through her tears, and I lead her off the dance floor.

"Did I do okay with the surprise?" I ask, and she nods her head.

"It was perfect. Thank you."

We join our family off to the side of the dance floor, and the band turns things over to the DJ. I asked the group to play that song for our first dance, and then they could join us during the reception. One by one, they congratulate us both. I thank them again for being able to play and compliment them on their talent.

Our reception was a blast. The DJ came on and did an impromptu karaoke. Luckily, we hired extra security to help keep people from being too intrusive to us. Most of them respected our boundaries, but there were a few troublemakers. They were dealt with promptly and banned from the property permanently.

Our night was winding down, and we decided to do a group song for guys and gals. The girls, comprised of the wedding party and a few Mile High employees, sang Hit Me Baby One More Time. Once they finished singing, all the girls made a circle around Ana, and she tossed her bouquet, which was caught by Kate.

Before we sang our song, Ana sat in a chair in the middle of the dance floor. The DJ plays I Wanna Sex You Up while I remove Ana's garter. I let one of my hands stray to her sex and find her panties soaked. The room is full of catcalls because my hands stay under her dress a little bit too long. I remove the garter slowly while making eye contact with Ana. Her eyes are dark with desire, and I'm ready to hit the road now.

Kate yells at me to look at the garter, and I direct my eyes to the dark navy script. Hands Off. I shake my head at Kate and mouth, fuck no, shaking my head. She and Mia are laughing hysterically. The garter must have been their idea.

The guys finally go on stage and sing YMCA, and Elliott caught the garter once we finished singing. We stayed for a while longer and I could tell Ana was getting tired.

"Are you ready to go, Mrs. Grey?" I lean in and whisper in Ana's ear.

"Lead the way, Mr. Grey." She chuckles, and I take her hand.

We say goodbye to everyone, and Taylor meets me at the door. "Sir, the paparazzi are everywhere outside. Also, there have been pictures uploading onto multiple social media pages showing you and Mrs. Grey together. How do you want to handle it?" I look at Ana, and she shrugs.

"We are going to have to face it eventually. Has your PR department drafted a statement yet?" I nod my head. "Let's leave out this way, and if they get a picture, so what. Have your PR team release the statement, and we can go home. Sound okay?" I look to Taylor.

"Okay, Prescott is ready to follow behind Mrs. Grey, and I will be in front. Are you planning on answering any questions?" I look at Ana again.

"No, but we can give them the money shot, which will be me kissing my wife." I grin, and Ana nods. "Let's go then. I'm ready to start our honeymoon." Time for Ana's other surprise.

"Honeymoon? Where are we going, Mr. Grey?" Ana smiles, and her eyes light up. I tap the tip of her nose and tell her she will need to wait and see. "Spoilsport." She pouts as we walk toward the exit.

"Hey, my surprises have been good so far, right?" she nods her head. "Trust me on this. You will love it."

"Alright, let's go." I take her hand, and we walk out into a multitude of media. Our family is lined up along the way, throwing birdseed up in the air as we walk to the limo. The reporters and cameras are at least three deep. The extra security we hired for inside must have made it out here to help get us to the waiting limo.

"Mr. Grey, why keep it a secret about getting married?" One reporter asks.

"Ana, are you a gold digger?" That turns my head, but I can't tell what dumb fuck asked the question.

"Ana, are you pregnant?" Yep, but that is not the reason we are getting married.

They are yelling questions at us in a hurry, and I stop us short of getting in the limo. "This is why I wanted to keep our wedding secret." I wave around at all of the cameras. "Ana and I became husband and wife a few hours ago and will be leaving now for our honeymoon. Get your cameras ready because you will have only one chance at this picture." I take Ana in my arms and lay a deep kiss on her lips. I can hear the cameras clicking and flashing. Once I feel like they have enough, I break the kiss and open the door, helping Ana inside. I don't say another word as I get in, and Taylor shuts the door behind me.

The Limo pulls away, and I pull Ana into my lap. "Would you like to know where we are going?" She nods her head and puts her arms around my neck. "Bora Bora." Her eyes light up, and she smiles. "We will have our private bungalow and beach for two weeks. Is that enough time away from everything?"

"That sounds perfect, Christian. Thank you. Today has been the best day of my life. I love you."

I pull her into a deep kiss and feel the excitement as we start this new life together. "And I love you, Ana. Forever.