Anastasia

I hate waiting in the school pickup line. It's a damn shit show. If you don't get to the school an hour early, you'll be at the end of the line and it'll take longer than that to get to your child. I arrive forty-five minutes early and put the SUV in park while I sit with a book. I'm trying my hardest to concentrate long enough to read, but I find myself re-reading the same sentence over and over again, my mind still on the engagement. He just proposed last night and it was everything I could imagine it would be. Christian said he had wanted it to be perfect and he figured the traditional down on one knee would be everything I wanted. He's right. Finding him down on one knee in front of the fireplace and Christmas tree with snow falling outside the window next to him was absolute perfection. It is something I will never forget.

I look down at my ring and my heart begins to flutter all over again. It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen. It's everything I could have ever hoped for. It's classic and beautiful. It's a statement piece and I love that Christian wants everyone's eyes to go straight to the rock on my finger; it's a reminder to everyone that I am taken by him. He's already admitted to how satisfying claiming me is for him and he says that on our wedding day, it'll be even more so. Possessive man. Hell, I don't mind. It also means he'll be wearing a ring on his finger. I'm not stupid; I know that many women aren't going to give an ounce of shit that he's married... but there will be some that will respect it.

I promised I wouldn't tell Ellie about last night until he's home from work today. I had handed Christian my ring this morning when we talked about it, but when I took it off he went apeshit, saying that now that the ring is on my finger, it should never come off. After shoving it back on my finger and giving me a sharp slap on my backside, he told me I'd have to find another way to hide it until he got home. That man is a mess. My plan is to turn the diamond around and hope she doesn't notice anything until her father gets home. He promised he wouldn't be late tonight, so I just need to hide it for a couple of hours.

My phone goes off and I grin when I see that Kate is facetiming me. She lasted longer than I thought she would.

"Hello!" I answer, giving her a smile.

"So..."

"So what?" I play stupid, pretending I have no idea what she's talking about.

"How was last night?"

I shrug, doing my best to keep my smile off my face. "It was a long one considering my best friend didn't text me when she got home like she promised she would."

She narrows her eyes at me. "I figured you were busy."

"With what?"

She stays quiet and just scowls at me from her side of the screen.

"Why are you acting so weird, Kate?"

Her face goes white and she swallows. "I... I just figured since Ellie was staying at his parent's house that you two would do something fun."

"Fun?"

She nods.

"Oh... you mean, like this?" I hold my ring up to my face.

"YES!" Kate screams from her side, making me laugh. "God damn you, Anastasia Steele! You had me worried sick the asshole pussied out and didn't ask you! You had me sick to my stomach!"

I laugh and bite my lip.

"So, are you so excited?"

"Beyond! I'm just so blown away, Kate. I never thought this would happen."

"I'm so excited for you, babe. We're going to be sisters-in-law! Real legal family now!"

I love how excited my best friend is for me. I can't imagine how hard it was for her to keep her mouth shut yesterday while we shopped. "Who would have thought we would find brothers?"

"Hot brothers."

My head falls back in a laugh. "Can't deny that." Those two are centerfold hot and sexy.

"Maybe we can do a double wedding." Kate wiggles her eyebrows at me and I snort.

"Like either one of us are willing to share our wedding day."

"Touché, Steele."

"Speaking of that, though... that reminds me..."

"What is it?" Kate looks confused.

My stomach twists in my gut. I'm suddenly super nervous. I don't want to upset her.

"I want you to be completely honest with me about this. It isn't going to hurt my feelings if you're not okay with this..."

"Just spit it out, Ana!"

"Christian wants to get married on New Year's Eve at his house in Aspen."

Kate's mouth bobbs like a fish. "Wow."

"I told him that I wasn't willing to take time away from your wedding for ours and he promised me he'd hire someone to plan ours so that we could plan yours uninterrupted. We'd fly everyone to Aspen to share the holiday with us if this happens. I told him that I wouldn't agree to anything until I talked with you. I don't want you to be hurt or upset over this. I know you've been waiting for years for your wedding and it isn't fair for us to swoop in and be selfish by getting married first and interrupting anything about yours. I don't want this to take away from your-"

"Ana, Ana! Slow down. Take a breath." I am rambling, I know, but I don't want her hurt.

I actually get teary eyed. "I don't want to take away from your day in anyway. That would be devastating."

"Don't be silly. I think it's a great plan! I'm not going to complain about getting to ski in Aspen for New Years!"

I laugh and when she winks at me, I know it was her way of trying to ease my worry.

"It'll be great. Just tell me when you want to go dress shopping."

My heart warms and all of my tension disappears. "You-you want to go dress shopping with me? You're so busy, Kate."

"Of course I do! I'm not about to let my best friend buy a ghastly dress! I have to put my two cents in! Your parents will be starry eyed no matter what you wear. You need someone with an opinion. Ellie and I will take care of that."

"You're the best." I love her. "I'll tell Christian to go ahead and find a wedding coordinator so that we can continue with yours."

"But don't you want to plan your own?"

I shrug. "I honestly don't care to. We'll pick the colors and the wedding attire. The coordinator, I'm sure, will show us stuff along the way. It's only going to be family. I've always wanted a small, intimate wedding so there won't be much to it. I'll enjoy the giant party at yours." It's amazing how different Kate and I are. She's a tall, blonde bombshell with perfect fake breasts and a loud personality and I'm a short, quiet brunette that enjoys anything cozy and intimate. She wants her wedding to be a large, giant party with everyone they know. I want my wedding to be warm and intimate...more romantic in a way. Even though we're opposites, we have found such a deep love for each other that will last a lifetime. She's my soul sister and she evens me out.

'And then babies?"

My cheeks heat at her question, but I nod. "Yes. Definitely."

She squeals again. "We're going to be pregnant and have babies at the same time! God willing, of course! This is so damn exciting, Ana. YES! Please get married on New Years Eve!"

Christian

I'm beyond excited to tell Ellie that Ana and I will be married soon. When I had my talk with her about marriage, it was hard for me to explain to her what was really happening, but I had already decided that marriage was inevitable with us, I just wasn't to that point yet. I told my daughter that, promising that Ana and I would marry some day, but that she had to keep it a secret because I didn't want it to ruin the surprise for Ana. Selfishly, I also didn't want Ana to get her hopes up if Ellie told her and be disappointed at every turn when I wasn't there, yet.

I'm ready now. I don't know exactly what it was, but something during the holidays shifted and I felt a feeling of calm and need wash over me to make her mine. I just wish it was instantaneous. I don't want to wait for her to become my wife. I know I'm a fucking crazy bastard, but I know what I want and I'm impatient.

When I walk into our home, I find the girls coloring at the kitchen island while Gail makes dinner.

"Welcome home, Daddy!"

"Thank you, lovebug." I press a kiss to the top of her head before kissing Ana. "I've missed my girls today."

Placing my shit down, I wrap my arms around Ana and press another kiss to her temple.

"So needy." Ellie admonishes me lightly, but she grins as she rolls her eyes so I know she's teasing.

"Ellie, Ana and I have news to share with you."

Ana looks up at me, a large smile on her face. She's as excited to tell Ellie as I am.

Our girl gasps. "What? Are you pregnant?"

I roll my eyes. This girl and her obsession with a baby. Then I wince, realizing she probably got her impatience from me. I want a baby, too. I can't be too annoyed with her. I've just been asked to stop pressuring Ana about it.

"No, but someday lovebug. Last night, I proposed to Ana."

Her eyebrows raise and then a wrinkle forms on her forehead. "Proposed?"

I realize it's not a term she's heard of.

"Ellie girl..." Ana swivels in her seat and turns her ring around, holding it out for her see. "Daddy and I are engaged."

Ellie's eyes widen. "Like Uncle Elliot and Aunt Kate?" Her words come out in an excited whisper.

Ana giggles. "Yes."

"You're going to get married!" Eloise squeals loudly and throws herself towards Ana and I throw my arms out to help Ana catch her before she slides out of her lap. "Oh, I can't wait! Daddy said he was going to ask you some day and now-now you're going to be my Mommy forever!"

Ana tucks Ellie's hair behind her ear. "Yes, baby. I'm here forever. You're mine now."

My baby's bottom lip comes out in a pout before it trembles and she launches for Ana's neck, sobbing into it.

"Oh, lovebug." I cup the back of her head and stroke her hair. My heart aches for her. She wants a true mom so bad and I hate that she had to go through all of this hurt and worry before getting what she begged for. "We're a family now. She's not going anywhere."

Ana sways them back and forth while she hugs her tight. "I'm so excited to marry Daddy and you. I'll be here forever for you. You'll always have me. I love you so incredibly much."

Anastasia

We're at Christian's parents for a Sunday dinner and watching Kate barely keeping her excitement in check is incredibly entertaining. We haven't told the rest of his family yet and I can see she's having a hard time not attacking me and demanding to see the ring in person.

Christian gets everyone's attention by clearing his throat and saying that Ellie has an announcement for the family that she wants to share.

"An announcement? Oh, I can't wait to hear it, sweet girl. Tell us!" Grace smiles at her granddaughter who is beaming.

"Daddy and Mommy are getting married."

The smile drops off of Grace's face and her hand goes to her chest, like she's about to have a heart attack. Fuck. I feel like I'm about to have one just watching her. Before I can think too much on it, Mia and Kate are on us, hugging and congratulating us.

"The ring! Let me see the ring!" I hold it out for Mia. "Now that's a ring! My brother has great taste."

I laugh.

"Congratulations, Stasia." I turn and smile up at my Tarzan.

"You knew."

He chuckles and shrugs. "He asked for my permission."

I let out a laugh. "He did not!"

Nodding, he wraps me in a hug and, as always, I about suffocate in his chest. "He told me he was ready and asked if I was okay with him asking."

He releases me, but I hold tight. I am so touched that Christian would do such a thing... and that Elliot is so fiercely protective of me that he felt the need to.

I can feel his laugh in his chest. "Are you happy?" He asks, rubbing his palms up and down my back.

Finally, I pull away and wipe a tear out of the corner of my eye. "Yes. Completely."

"If he ever gives you any trouble, come find me and I'll knock some sense into him."

"No bros before hoes?" I tease.

"Don't ever call yourself that." He smooths my hair around my face. "I meant what I said, Stasia."

"I know." It feels good to have him in my corner. I never plan on going to him over any of our marriage issues, but it's nice to know he's offering his services if his brother becomes too much. I can handle the brooding alpha.

I catch my fiancé's eye and he gives me a grin while his mother clings to him in a hug. He has her tucked into him and it makes me giggle. Seeing her grip his shoulders reminds me of what I just did to Elliot. I hope this means she's happy. I hope she isn't sobbing into his neck because she thinks he made the wrong decision.

"Welcome to the family, Ana."

I smile up at Carrick. "Thank you. I'm excited to be a Grey. I already feel like I'm a part of you all and now it'll be official."

He pulls me into a hug. "She's beyond ecstatic. Don't worry." He whispers quietly in my ear as I squeeze him.

Pulling away, I give him a guilty grin. My worry must have been evident when I was watching her with Christian.

"Ana?"

"Grace." I smile and take the few steps over to her while she lets go of Christian just to hug me. She smells of Christian's cologne and it makes my smile widen.

"I am so happy for you two. You are so good for each other. I am so thankful that Christian has decided to follow his heart. You have such a beautiful future ahead of you."

My heart swells at her words. It means so much to me that she approves of me. I've never felt completely worthy of Christian, but the last couple days have proved that I was wrong. I was letting my own insecurities take over.

"It means everything that you accept me, Grace. I didn't know I could love anyone like this. I'll do my best to keep him and Ellie happy. He's torn down his walls for me and I'll spend my life making sure he never has to rebuild them. I want you to know I don't take marriage lightly... I won't give up on our family."

"Oh, Anastasia." She releases me, but holds both of my hands. "You don't have to try to convince me. The second I met you, I knew you had a sweet, honest soul. Elliot and Ellie spoke so highly of you... and then when I saw the way my son looked at you that first night... I knew you were it."

I feel like my face might break with how large I'm smiling. I'm so thankful for Christian's family. They're all so wonderful.

"So, tell me, Anastasia. When should we expect this shin-dig to happen?"

My eyes meet Christian's and I realize I never told him that I talked to Kate.

"New Year's Eve. In Aspen."

The smile that forms on his face tells me he's excited and relieved.

"Yes," Christian pipes in. "At our home. Just family. We'll marry in the great room with the reception in the library." He keeps his eyes on me and I bite my lip. It sounds perfect. "Then that evening we'll ring in the new year with everyone."

"Wow, that's soon!" Grace looks half panicked at the thought. "There's so much to do."

Christian shrugs, but his eyes remain on mine. "I'll hire a coordinator. I won't spend one second of the new year without Ana as my wife."

I hear Kate and Mia coo at his words, but I can't pry my eyes off of his. It takes Elliot making a gagging noise for me to blink a few times and finally look at the ground.

"You two are so fucking sweet, my teeth are rotting out of my mouth. Stop drooling over each other."

XxXxXx

"I am so ready for bed." This evening has been so emotional that I'm physically and mentally exhausted. It doesn't help that his mother makes enough food for am army and I'm stuffed to the point of it being painful to breathe. I hide a yawn behind my hand as we make our way out to the car.

"We'll be home soon and I'll get both my girls into bed." Christian gives my hand a squeeze and I look down at Ellie, who looks completely exhausted, too.

Elliot and Kate are behind us, looking thoroughly stuffed and drowsy, too.

"C, what is that?" Looking up at Elliot, I see him pointing to Christian's R8.

Christian slows as we take in the vehicle. All four tires are flat and there is a knife sticking out of the back driver's side tire.

"What the fuck? Ellie! Inside!"

"But, Daddy-"

"I said inside! Now!"

Kate grabs her hand. "Come on, Ellie."

"Call the police." Elliot tells Kate as she rushes Ellie back inside.

The three of us make our way closer to the car and Christian puts his hand out. There's a note pinned between the tire and knife. Christian rips it off and lifts it to the light trying to read it.

"Christian? Christian, what does it say?"

Christian breathes out a long string of expletives and I rip it out of his hand, wanting to read it before he tries to hide it from me.

I'm coming for that tight little cunt.

Reading it over my shoulder, Elliot lets out his own colorful string of expletives.

Dropping the piece of paper like it's toxic, I take a step back and wipe my hands on my jeans. He touched it. I feel disgusting just handling that piece of paper.

"He's coming." My voice is tight. I spin and look around, scared he's going to jump out of a bush.

"El."

As I hear Christian growl his brother's name, I'm being lifted and find myself wrapping my arms around Elliot's neck as he hurries me inside. My legs immediately wrap around his waist but my legs are too short to link my ankles. I cling to him using my thighs, even though my muscles feel like wet noodles. My body is trembling as he holds me to him.

"But-But Christian! He's going to get Christian!" Looking over my shoulder, I see Christian kicking at his tires as he screams something I can't make out.

"He can handle himself. Give him a minute." He makes his way into the entryway with me, but doesn't put me down.

Kate comes up beside us. "I called the police. Grace is upstairs with Ellie. Carrick is going over video footage."

My shock is wearing off and I find myself panicking. "He-he's coming. He's coming back for me. Christian- He's out there! He isn't safe." I'm trembling so hard, I know I'm not helping Elliot keep me up, but he seems to hold me easy enough even through this mess. I don't fit to him like I fit to Christian. His shoulders are too wide and tall, making my forearms ache while I cling to my own elbows. His body is too wide, making my thighs ache from exhaustion since I can't hook my ankles together. He's larger than life and I'm narrow and petite. I find myself pouting at the pitifulness of it all. I just want my Christian. He should be inside with us, safe and close to me. Poor Elliot shouldn't have to carry his brother's girlfriend around.

Tears burst out of me and I choke back a sob at the thought of it all. Elliot's face contorts into some mix of sorrow and panic when I do and it just makes me cry even harder. He has to go through this all over again with me. It isn't fair. Elliot doesn't deserve this... and he doesn't deserve me comparing him to his brother either. I'm being completely ridiculous.

"This is all my fault!"

He hushes me and presses his hand into the back of my head, urging me to rest it on his shoulder. I find myself sobbing into his neck while he sways us from side to side. I know it's supposed to soothe me, but honestly I just want to throw up.

Christian comes stomping into the house, slamming the door and I startle in Elliot's arms. I watch Christian go stomping down the hall with his hands in his hair.

"Your brother, Elliot. He's going to have a heart attack! Do something. Christian!" I try to call for him, but my voice is choked and rough from crying.

Elliot looks at me for a beat before giving me a nod. "I know what to do. Christian!" He calls for him. "Anastasia needs you!"

Christian

I turn quickly on my heel, abandoning my mission to go through the security tapes and stomp my way to my girl. Elliot is obviously not doing a good enough job at comforting her.

I put my arms out when I reach them and she turns toward me, reaching for me so I can take her from him. She clings to me and I hug her close, pressing my lips to her hair.

"I've got you, babydoll. I've got you. I'll never let anything happen to you."

She cries into my neck and I plop down on the bench in the hall so I can comfort her without worrying my legs are going to give out from the shock.

"Perfect fit." I hear her whisper into my neck.

I hear the police sirens and find myself relaxing against the wall while I squeeze her. I keep whispering to her that she's safe and that I have her, rubbing a palm over her back.

"Where's Ellie?" I notice Kate standing next to Elliot for the first time.

"Grace has her upstairs."

I give a nod. My girls are safe and that's what's most important. A part of me wishes that he was still out there so I could hurt him. I want my hands on the fucker. I want Elliot to be able to get his hands on him, too. I want his body so fucking damaged that he can't recover.

"He left." My father appears with an iPad in his hand. "About an hour ago."

There's a hard knock on the door before I can ask if we got his face on camera. The police are here and we've got a long evening ahead of us. I press a kiss to Ana's temple while Elliot answers the door.

"Baby, I know you're exhausted, but we have to do this. I promise I'll take you home as soon as I can and get you to bed."

Sniffling, she pulls out of my neck and gives me a soft smile. "I'll be okay."

Reaching over to the hall table, I grab a couple of tissues and offer them to her. I want to offer her caffeine, but her body is still trembling. I'm not about to give her a heart attack over this shit. She begins to move, but when she stands, I pull her back into my lap. "Stay close."

XxXxXx

Hours later, Ana and I return home with Taylor while Luca stands guard at my parents house while Ellie is there, sleeping. I'm going to allow Ellie to stay home from school today so she can have some fun with my parents and I've decided not to go in either. I can't bear to leave my Ana by herself in the large house right now. It's got Fort Knox security, but it still doesn't set well with me. Even touching the gate or wall around the house will set off the alarms and immediately alert the police, but right now it's not enough to settle my heart. Plus, I'm so fucking tired. Ana looks so pale with her dark circles under her eyes while she sits next to me, yawning every few minutes.

Reaching over, I sweep her hair off her shoulder and cup the back of her neck, pressing my thumb against her jugular so I can feel her heartbeat. It calms me and I caress the side of her neck with my thumb while my hand holds tight to the nape of her neck. I feel her shoulders relax a little and her body sink further into the seat. Soon, her body leans into mine and I shift so she can rest her head on my chest.

I'm doing my best to keep my anger in check for her. I feel completely out of control and it's something I don't deal well with. Tonight, we found out that Hyde had a warrant for his arrest, but the fucking police didn't actively search for him. They were waiting for him to fuck up enough for someone to bring him in. Apparently, they didn't find the need to put him on the dangerous list. Like beating and raping multiple women wasn't dangerous enough. They let him roam free without any fucking consequences and now he's threatening us yet again. They have promised me that this time they would actively look for him, but I won't fucking believe it until they call, saying he's in custody.

When we reach the house, we wait for Taylor and Sawyer, Ana's second CPO, to do another house search. They've already done one and searched through the video footage before coming to get us, but we can't be too cautious at this point. Hyde has nothing to lose. Who knows the things he could do to my girl if he got his hands on her. He could kill us both. He could hurt Ellie. He won't. I have to remain calm and remind myself that my team is the best around.

Taylor appears at the front door and gives me a nod.

"Come on, baby. Let's go to bed. We're safe."

She slowly pushes herself off of me and I release the back of her neck so she can slide out of the door Taylor opens for her. I see her pout when our connection is severed. I don't let it be severed long. As soon as I'm out, I wrap an arm around her so I can escort her up to our bedroom, where I shut and lock the door behind us.

She drags herself across the room looking half-dead while she sits on the side of the bed so she can yank her boots off her feet. The pout is still on her lips and it fucking hurts me. Stepping over to her, I take her face in my hands, angling it so she looks at me.

She looks up at me and she looks so damn devastated, I flinch. The look is branded in my fucking brain. Jesus Christ.

"Let me take care of you." I search her face for any sign of approval and I see her face soften, just barely. "Okay?"

She nods softly and I try to give her an encouraging smile. "That's my girl." I press a kiss to her pouted lips and release her face so I can kneel down and rid her of her boots. Her socks come next and then her top and bra. I pull her up on her feet and unbutton her jeans so I can pull them down her legs. I leave her in her panties and pull down the linens so she can curl up in bed.

"Are you leaving?" It's the first thing she's said in hours and when her voice breaks as she says it, I get tears in my eyes.

"No, baby. I'm not going anywhere." She watches as I strip down quickly and slip in beside her. I pull her against me, but her eyes don't leave my face. I can see her overthinking. "You're thinking too hard."

She wets her lips and then shrugs a shoulder. "I'm scared." Her eyes drop to the duvet.

"Baby, I'll keep you safe. I'm here to protect you. I'm hiring more men to protect you. I won't let anything happen to you."

She shakes her head. "No, I mean... for us."

"Us?" I wince when I hear my voice crack.

"I'm not safe for you and Ellie."

My heart drops. "Ana." She isn't saying what I think she's saying.

"You're going to wake up and realize that I'm a risk. A risk that's not worth keeping around. You have a child to protect and I'm-"

"Enough."

Her eyes shoot up to mine and I see the tears filling hers.

"Ellie is safe. You are safe. Neither one of you are going to be put in danger."

"But..."

"But what, baby?"

"How can you still love me after all this? Your whole family is caught up in this mess and it's my fault. This is such a burden to put on everyone. The look on your mother's face when she found out what happened..." She lets out a sob and I yank her to me, squeezing her against me. "She was disgusted."

"No. NO. She was devastated, Ana. Devastated for you. She loves you and what happened to you broke her heart. We all love you. This shit hasn't changed that. Nothing that fucker does could change how I feel about you. I love you. So fucking much, baby."

I feel the breath from her sigh against my chest. "I'm sorry I'm a mess."

"No more sorries. I won't have it. You have nothing to be sorry about. We're both exhausted and emotional. Let's try to sleep, baby. We'll talk more after we get some good rest." I rub her back and feel her finally relax into me.

"Yes, you're right. I'm sor- I mean, goodnight."

I chuckle. I can't help it. "Good girl."

Teaser? Just Ask.

Next Up: Christmas.