To Have and To Hold

Ana's POV:

"You are undeniably the most beautiful mother of the groom there ever was" Christian compliments me as he sneaks up on me and commences to kiss my neck. I can't help but giggle as he continues his kisses up and nibbles softly at my ear.

"Can you zip my dress up?" I request.

"I would rather not. Unzipping has always been more preferable than zipping up" Christian has been even more playful than usual. I know he is looking forward to today, as much as I have. However, I know I won't be able to prevent a few tears.

"Want to get rid of some nerves before we go to Bellevue?" Christian salaciously offers.

"We can't or else we will be late, and our son's wedding is no place for just fucked hair" I state teasing him.

"Oh you and your smart mouth are making my palm twitchy Anastasia."

"I hope so, but it will have to wait." I raise my eyebrows, and Christian snakes his arms around me and starts to kiss me. I happily and willingly allow him to possess me.

"Turn around" Christian whispers into my ear. He does up the zip on my dress and looks at me with approving eyes. My silk, silver dress is tight-fitting along my waist, with a long skirt. It is elegant and unmistakably catches my husband's attention.

"Do not move" Christian walks into our wardrobe and comes out with a familiar looking Cartier box. "I saw this and thought it would be ideal for the mother of the groom." Christian opens the box and pulls out a platinum diamond necklace. He fastens the necklace, and it is astounding.

"Christian, you shouldn't have..."

"Yes I should, and I always will. I think it finishes your dress perfectly." Of course, he is right.

"Thank you Christian. It is beautiful."

"You are beautiful, you always have been and always will." He tells me sincerely.

"I feel a little old to be honest. I can't believe that Ted is getting married and going to be a father. That means we are going to be grandparents" I conclude.

"Yes, but very active and hot looking grandparents." Christian gives me his boyish smile, which takes decades off him.

"Very smooth. We better go downstairs, Ted is probably getting nervous." Christian and I walk hand in hand downstairs.

Josh is sitting on the couch whilst Ted is pacing a little. My poor son, who is usually so composed, looks edgy. He is never nervous, or at least ever shows it. Not on his first day of school, first date, and not even when he went to confront his father at the age of seventeen over his trust fund. Gosh was that only six years ago? So much has happened.

"Good you are both ready," Ted says.

"How are you feeling?" I pick up his pocket rose and pin in it to his coat.

"Feeling? I am excited and thrilled, but I am also shitting myself." Ted says throwing his arms up, unsure of his emotions.

"You will be splendid. You just need to get through the ceremony and then it is all easy sailing." I reassure him as Christian walks off into the kitchen.

I step back and look at my grown son. His dark copper hair has been slicked back neatly ad his grey eyes are glowing. I don't think he has ever looked more handsome than now. He is so reminiscent of his father at our wedding day.

"You both look dashing" I compliment them both.

Christian returns to the main room finishing a call and with the gift that he and I selected for Ted.

"Who was on the phone?" I enquire. Surely on the day his son is getting married, GEH business can wait.

"It was my parents. Ted they want you to know that everything is going smoothly." Christian reassures our son. Ted gives us a small smile.

"Ted, this is a gift from your mother, your sister, and I" Christian announces.

"Thank you," Ted is surprised as he takes the box and opens it. Inside is a set of cufflinks with the letters 'T' and 'L' entwined. It is similar to the set that I gave Christian when we got married. Christian helps Ted put them on as I am starting to get emotional. Gail enters the main room and passes us four glasses of champagne. Thankfully we ate before we got dressed.

"Ted, may your day be memorable, and your life with Lily, be filled with joy" Christian toasts and we all take a long drink.

"I just pray that I don't forget what to say." Ted says with a deviate tense tone to his voice.

"As long as you say 'I do' then you will be fine." Christian tries to reassure him.

"Yeah, forget to say that and you won't have to wonder if you will have any more children or not. Lily will have your balls, buddy" Josh mocks. Christian gives Josh his usual disapproving look, but his comment has actually relieved Ted as he thinks of a comeback.

"Even then, my balls have had more action than yours Josh" Ted rebuts.

"Hey, I never said that they don't get any action. It's a long term and deceit girlfriend that can't seem to find. So I am looking forward to seeing Ava again. I think she rather likes me." Christian makes an audible, disgruntled sound at the back of his throat.

"I promise Mr Grey, I will be a perfect gentleman today," Josh says defence fully.

"Yeah dad, Josh may act like poorly mannered fool, but he is rather chivalrous" Ted comments.

"Mr and Mrs Grey." Taylor calls out getting our attention. "The car is ready"

"Thank you" I reply.

"Let's get this show on the road then," Christians tells us. Doing a final check, of rings, outfits etc. We walk out and get into the white limousine. There had recently been some media attention lately over this wedding that it was decided that it would be best for Lily to get ready at Bellevue with her family. This way it would reduce the chances for the media to get unofficial photos.

The car ride is relatively quiet, though calm. Ted resists the urge to run his hands through his hair so not to mess it up. As we enter from the back and are driven up to the long path, we catch a glimpse of the exquisite decoration and setting of the marquee where the reception will be held and to the other side chairs have been set up with floral arrangements. It is breath taking.

"Wow it all looks amazing. It is just more than I thought it would be, but it's perfect." Ted comments.

"What do you mean it is more than you thought?" I enquire as our car comes to a halt.

"I just didn't think Lily, and I asked for as much… dazzle… but I love it, as will Lily." Ted and Josh are the first to exit the car and they both share some joke that we are not privy to. I lean over and give Christian a quick but memorial kiss.

"What was that for?" He asks.

"Do I need a reason to kiss my super caring, generous, loving and romantic husband?" I look up at Christian through my eyelashes, making him give me his classy smile.

"No, but that has a very substantial description of me," He says giving me an unreadable expression. Oh my fifty! He is trying to hide the fact, but I know he would have instructed the wedding planner to make it memorable. I am sure that no expense was wasted.

Christian helps me out of the car, and we follow our son inside. The Grey family members are on the left wing of the house, whilst Lily and her family are located at the opposite side. Christian wants to get a family photo beforehand, of our family of four, and so Phoebe is being collected by security. We will have to leave the larger Grey family photos till later as Ava is unable to join us right now, and we also want Lily in those photos.

I settle myself down on the couch next to Kate, Mia and Grace, with a glass of sparkling water, when Phoebe enters the room. My little girl looks incredibly grown up with her hair up in curls. The designer did a phenomenal job on her dress. The sleeveless silk bodice is stunning, with little crystals scattered, with a layered chiffon skirt, all finished with a bow on the side. The dress is perfect, it has enough wow factor while ensuring it is not over done.

"Hi Mommy" Phoebe says and wraps her arms around me.

"Hi princess. You look sensational." I praise her.

"Did daddy buy you a new necklace? I haven't seen that one before" Phoebe observes accurately. She is usually the first one to observe anything new.

"Yes he did." I confirm. Christian, who has been previously occupied with his brother, father, Josh and Ted, notices our daughter comes over. I know he is making sure that they haven't covered her face with too much makeup, and he is happily appeased, with her lip gloss and blush.

"Hi Daddy, I like the necklace you bought mommy. Teddy gave Lily a new necklace too. Is that what husbands do? Do they buy their wife's necklaces?" Phoebe asks.

"It sure helps" Kate states looking at Elliot and making sure he hears.

"Husbands do other stuff too" I outline.

"I know that. They also help put babies in a mommy's tummy. Daddy told me that day in Paris." Phoebe says seriously. We all desperately try to hide our humour at our Phoebes comment, but we fail to suppress our laughter.

Christian pulls out the last gift from his pocket that we need to give out, from us both. We gave Lily a pair of diamond earrings to match the necklace that Ted purchased for her, and then gave Ted a set of platinum cufflinks.

"Phoebe, this is for you, from your mother, and me" Christian says. Phoebe is standing there in shocked silence. This is certainly a first. He opens the box to show her the little platinum bracelet with sporadic little diamonds on it. I help put it on her wrist, and she stares at it excited.

"Thank you. I love it" She says jumping up and down. Christian can't hide his glee at her reaction. He has been wanting to buy our daughter her first piece of real jewellery, but I have continuously pointed out that she was too young. This wedding just gave Christian the perfect excuse.

"Phoebe, you look as beautiful as your mother" Christian commendations our daughter, making her giggle loudly. He loves her giggle just as much as mine.

"Hey, you didn't ring last night like you always do, when you spend the night away from us. I missed talking to you" Christian asks.

"I was just really excited, I forget to ring. Sorry" Phoebe shrugs.

"Phoebe has been excited since we left your house yesterday" my mother adds. "She woke up at 5am ready to get ready for today, and came into our room" Christian, narrows his eyes and, shakes his head slightly at Phoebe, but I know he isn't really upset. No one could blame Phoebe.

"I did knock!" Phoebe says in her defence.

"Grace, I hope you sent her back to bed" I comment. Phoebe and her grandmother share a conspiratorial smile.

"Grandma and Grandpa, didn't make me" Phoebe confesses proudly.

"We let Phoebe get into bed with us and the she went back to sleep. So rest assured she has had a sufficient amount of sleep. It is going to be a terribly long day" Grace tells Phoebe. She nods and then runs over to, Ted who sweeps her up into his arms.

Ted's POV:

I stand anxious and excited as I wait for the ceremony to stand, next to Joshua. My parents and family often give me a comforting smile, even Joshua has put away his usual 'humorous' comments for the time being. The priest asks me if I am ready and I nod. A few moments later the smooth and poetic music commences. First Phoebe starts to walk down the aisle, dropping flower petals rhythmically down the aisle. She has been practicing for months.

Ava then appears and looks stunning in her one shoulder, long mint colored silk dress. She winks at me as she reaches the altar.

"Damn, Ava looks even more hot today" Joshua whispers into my ear, making it look unsuspicious. I don't respond. Rather my attention is focused to the end of the aisle. I feel my heart start to beat faster as the music changes, and I can see Lily, standing in between Ros and Gwen. My heart stops, the whole world seems to disappear, and the only thing that exists is us. I don't think I have ever seen her as remarkable, so perfect and stunning as she is now. Her off the shoulder gown with a crystal waistband, only makes her look even more beautiful than usual. I love the necklace I gave her ad my father was right, the earrings are perfect. Most of all I am overjoyed that she isn't wearing a wedding veil. This way her face is fully exposed and I can memorise how she looked and felt as she walks down the aisle.

After Gwen and Ros give her away, I take her hand to step forward in front of my grandparent's priest, and plant a soft kiss on her hand.

'I love you' I mouth.

'Love you too' she replies in a similar fashion.

# # # #

"Nice dance moves" Josh states. Lily and I have spent the last hour on the dance floor. We have danced with each other, friends and family. I have just gotten off the dance floor with Phoebe as Lily is dancing with her grandfather.

"Yeah I know. You should go and dance some more" I suggest but Josh shrugs.

"Have you asked Ava?" I enquire and look around for my cousin. I find her already on the dance floor, dancing with Lily's cousin, James. They look rather cosy. "Sorry," I say sympathetically

"Don't be. I think she knows that guy she is dancing with." Josh informs me.

"Josh, do you want to dance with me?" Phoebe asks.

"Sure, why not. It's actually going to be the best offer I have gotten all evening" Josh says.

"This is going to be my first dance with a boy, who isn't in my family" Phoebe announces.

Lily, who has finished dancing comes over to join me. "Are you ready to leave soon?" I ask.

"More than ready." Lily states.

"Then we should go and get changed." I advise.

"NO!" Lily calls out, a little too loudly, and gets the attention of our guests that are in close proximity. We both smile until their attention is refocused. "I want you to take me out of this dress, and I want to take your suit"

"As you wish" I reply.

# # # #

"Thank you Taylor" He offers us a kind smile as he open the door of our car as we come to a stop at the private hanger. My father has offered us the use of the GEH jet to get to our destination.

"Ted, security has been briefed, and all your plans are set. Have a fantastic honeymoon and I will see you both when you return"

"Look after my parents and sister, please" I request.

"Always." He replies.

I hold Lily's hand as we walk up the stairs to the jet, and occasionally play with her wedding ring. Our stewardess passes us a glass of champagne, and we buckle ourselves in.

"Are you ready?" I ask.

"Yes, but where are we going?" Lily asks. I place my finger on her lips and shake my head slightly. I have no intention of telling her just yet. Rather there are other matters we need to address.

Authors Note: Sorry that this chapter isn't that long but with life as busy as it is, this is the best I can do whilst still giving you all regular chapters. The next chapter will feature the honeymoon and then the birth of the babies. Afterwards, I will jump a period of time. I am so looking forward to writing what I have in mind.

Cheers for reading and please review.