A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!

C POV

"We'll see you tomorrow night at seven. Ok. Bye." I end my call with Gil Hanson and look over at Ana who's sitting on the other side of the study desk. She's busily writing on the notepad she's using for advertising agency ideas. "I told Gil we'd meet him tomorrow night at seven at Capital Grill. Is that ok with you?"

"It's fine.", Ana answers. She glances up and yawns. The last week has been spent planning the wedding and brainstorming for the new business, and it's starting to show. I stand and walk around the desk and behind her. My hands fall to her shoulders which I start massaging. "That feels nice."

"Does it feel relaxing?", I ask.

"Yes. I know I said there wasn't a rush to get the agency going, but my excitement has other plans."

"I understand. I don't want to add to your stress, but you need a staff. In fact adding a staff will probably make things a lot easier." She looks over her shoulder. "You really don't plan on doing everything yourself, do you?"

"No, but I haven't really thought about a staff.", she murmurs. "I'll hire someone. It'll just take some time."

"It might not have to." I move around her and lean against the desk. "You already know two qualified people." She frowns. "Kate and Julia. They could be great additions to your new venture."

"I'm aware of their talent, but they already have jobs. I can't poach them from Nelson."

"All I'm saying is it wouldn't hurt to ask them." I can see the tension build back up in her body so I decide to drop the subject. "Nevermind." I bend forward and kiss the bridge. "A more positive topic?"

"Please.", she answers.

"We're getting married next week." Ana beams. "I thought hearing that might make you happy."

"It made me very happy although I'll be even happier when I say I do."

"This food is delicious.", Gil Hanson says. He takes another bite of his steak. "This might be the best steak I've ever had."

"They've got great food here.", I tell him. I glance over at Ana who's working on her plate of pasta. "Good?"

"Yeah.", she answers. "Gil, I'm glad we're finally meeting. Christian has spoken very highly of you."

"Not as highly as he's spoken of you.", Gil replies. "I'm also happy we're finally meeting. One thing I don't have many of is friends, and I've come to think of Christian as a good one."

"Likewise.", I say, raising my wine glass. "So, what's new with you?"

"As you know I've been working on our phone deal along with some other projects which all take a lot of my time but not all of it. I recently met a woman by the name of Melinda. She's an interior decorator who I met at her family's furniture store where she also works part time. I decided to buy a new sofa, and she helped me. The two of us carried on a lovely conversation the entire time. I may or may not have prolonged the sofa search just so the conversation wouldn't end. Alas, I couldn't stay there all day so I gathered the courage to take risk by inviting her to dinner. I was certain she'd say no, but she said yes. The dinner went well, and we've been seeing each other since."

"I'm happy for you.", I say.

"Congratulations.", Ana adds.

"Thank you. She and I are living in the moment and enjoying each other's company."

"Sounds like something I told myself when Christian and I first started seeing each other, and look where we are now.", Ana giggles.

A POV

"We're now one week away from the wedding, meaning it's crunch time.", Mia says as she walks to the dry erase board she's hung up on an easel in her living room. She's made two lists, a Done one and a To Do one. "The location and flowers are set. The decorations are being worked on." Like the rest of the wedding the decorations are going to be simple. White folding chairs are going to be placed in rows and have teal bows on the back. Mason jars with candles are going to be set up around the backyard of Carrick and Grace's house.

"What about the food?", Julia asks after returning from the kitchen with a bag of chips.

"We're going to it catered by Lou's. It's a catering company that Grace told us about. They're going to be serving a variety of finger sandwiches and appetizers. Eleanor, Lou's wife is making the cake. Christian and I decided on a three layer chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Each layer is going to be decorated with hearts and flowers."

"That answers my question about the cake.", Kate says. "And you're set on not having bridesmaids or groomsmen?"

"We are." We're mixing things up by not having the typical wedding party. Instead I'm going to be escorted down the aisle by both of my parents who'll also stand by my side during the ceremony. Carrick and Grace are both standing at Christian's side.

"Ok. What next?", Mia murmurs, tapping her marker against her arm. Her train of thought is completely thrown off when Sawyer walks through the living room. "What are you doing?"

"I was just going to say hi. I've been locked up in the bedroom for too long.", he smirks.

"You're the one who said you'd go in there while we talked wedding plans.", she counters. "Feel free to join us if you'd like." He settles in one of the arm chairs and stares at the dry erase board. "Don't you dare make fun of my board."

"I'm not.", he chuckles. "It's cute although it's not as cute as you."

"Aww.", Kate, Julia, and I sigh in unison.

"Ana, I'm assuming you have the dress."

"It's locked away in a safe place and not going to be seen by Christian until he sees me walking down the aisle." I found my dress last week when Mia and I were shopping. It immediately caught my eye. The dress is sleeveless and has a sheer neckline along with floral designs on the chest. The bottom is flowy and has a whimsical feel about it. "Christian said you're going to be back at work soon."

"If all continues to go well.", Sawyer answers. "Well, I'll let you all get back to the wedding plans." Sawyer gives Mia a quick peck on the lips and then pads out of the living room.

"The plans seem to be in order.", Mia says. "Ana, if there's anything else you need help me, let me know. I know you've got a lot happening with the wedding and trying to launch the agency."

"Mia, thanks for all you've done, but there's nothing else I can think of. The wedding plans are falling together nicely, and the agency ones are slowly but surely getting there. Christian brought up the fact that I need to hire a staff which will help things."

"He's right. You can get more done.", Julia says.

"Elliot told me Christian mentioned the possibility of Julia and I working for you.", Kate tells me. My jaw falls open. "And I'm guessing from your expression you didn't know that."

"Christian suggested it to me, but I shut him down. I told him the two of you already have jobs. When did he tell Elliot?"

"I'm not exactly sure when, but Elliot said something to me this morning. Ana, you shouldn't be upset with Christian. He had your best interest in mind. Besides, I might be interested in working for you. I haven't been very happy at Nelson, and I've been considering a change."

"Kate, you're a great worker, but I can't let you take that risk. It's going to be a while before any profit comes in."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. I started putting a little more money back a while ago. It was around the same time I started feeling unhappy at Nelson. I saw it as a way of being covered in case I quit. Let me come and work for you. Please." The sincerity is evident in Kate's voice and eyes.

"Ok.", I nod. "But if at any point you want to walk away..." She dismisses me by raising her hand.

"Not going to happen."

"I'd like to say I'm financially stable enough to help you, but I can't.", Julia sighs. "Becca's hours at her work have been cut so I've been picking up the slack with our rent."

"Don't feel guilty.", I reply. "You're already supporting me by being my friend."

"I feel a group hug coming on.", Mia giggles from her chair. Sure enough the four of us are soon embracing each other.

"Gil's on his way back to London. His trip wasn't as long as he would've liked, but he has some important meetings back home.", Christian says after walking into the living room.

"It was nice meeting him.", I say without looking away from the television. He drops next to me on the sofa, and I feel his eyes on me.

"The weather channel must be pretty interesting.", he laughs. My eyes are steady on the seven day forecast. "I guess it's more interesting than me." I turn the tv off and shift my body to face. "Something is clearly bothering you."

"Remember the talk we had last night?" He draws a blank face. "The one in which you suggested that I hire Kate and Julia?"

"Ah. That talk.", he says.

"Yeah. That talk. You went behind my back and told Elliot who then told Kate. Christian, don't sit there and pretend you didn't know Elliot would end up telling Kate." He blows out a breath.

"I may have figured he'd say something although I wasn't entirely sure.", he shrugs. "And you're upset because I told Elliot."

"After I told you hiring Kate and Julia wasn't something I wanted to do. You went behind my back. We're supposed to be getting married in a week, and you're pulling stunts like this.", I huff.

"I'm sorry, and I'm not. Going behind your back wasn't the best idea, but I wanted to help you. Ana, you've been working like crazy on both the wedding and the agency, and it worries me that you're doing too much. It wasn't too long ago that you were recovering from a gun shot wound. If you want to be mad at me for looking out for you then go ahead. Be pissed. It won't be the first time, and I'm confident it won't be the last." I scowl and shake my head. "Are you going to respond or are you going to go back to ignoring me?" I grab the front of his shirt and pull him towards me, melting my lips on to his. We sit and kiss until we need to break apart for air.

"I'm still upset with you, but I'm also seeing your motive. By the way, Kate wants to come and work for me. I told her she didn't have to, yet she said she wants to do it."

"Baby, that's wonderful."