Chapter Eight-Gifts

I take a deep breath as I look at myself in the mirror. I can't believe I'm getting married tomorrow. And to Anastasia Steele. I never saw myself getting married. And if I thought I ever was I would have never thought that Ana would be the one I would be with up at the altar.

The past week has gone by in a blink in the eye. Ana and I discussed a few more details about what we'll tell our families on the way home from that cliff. But after that, everything has just been a blur.

We got back home and my mother immediately jumped Ana and I as soon as we walked through the door. She and Mia had apparently been planning details of our wedding, which I guess was necessary since we would be saying our vows in a week. Ana and I sat down with my mother for five hours as she asked us about all the things we wanted for our wedding. Who would have even known someone would care about what kind of champagne glasses they would be drinking from?

My mother was adamant that she wanted the wedding in the backyard, and who were we to deny her of that. Plus it was easier to let her decide rather than going back and forth ourselves. The only time we got stumped is when we came to the guest list. Neither Ana nor I had very many people to invite, and we decided the less the better. Why would we want to share a sham of a wedding with hundreds of people? The guest list ended up being fewer than thirty people, which neither Ana or I had a problem with.

Mia was disappointed when Ana picked Katherine Kavanagh as her Maid of Honor, because I chose Elliot as my best man, but she eventually got over it when I reminded her that I'm letting her plan our wedding. And then there were the scrutinizing stares and odd remarks from my grandfather and father, doubting my love and commitment to Ana. Their lack of faith in me only pushed me harder to prove them wrong. Whenever they were around I was sure to be touchy-feely with Ana and whisper sweet nothings in her ear.

Thinking about it now, I didn't realize how much of a help Ana has really been in pulling this off. She's been playing the love-struck fiancée to a T. I know the hardest part isn't over yet, but she's been a big help in getting us here.

My attraction towards her hasn't lessened. It's intensified. We've had to kiss a lot, making our families believe that we are in love, and each time my lips find hers I feel like keeping them there forever. And she always smells so good. Like fresh-picked roses. It drives me insane. Mainly because I don't want to be attracted to her; I don't think she's attracted to me. Not that I care of course, but it's always nice to feel wanted. Whether me wanting to feel wanted by Ana or just in general by any woman has still yet to be decided.

"You look good, bro," Elliot says, coming up from behind me and placing his hands on my shoulders. He gazes at us in the mirror. "Who picked the colors?"

"Ana. Why?"

He shakes his head. "I wasn't expecting pink, is all."

I smirk. "It's actually rose gold."

"Call it what you want, it's pink."

I laugh. "Don't worry, I said the same thing. But I wanted Ana to have her first wedding be her dream wedding even though it isn't real."

He frowns. And I immediately realize my mistake. I try to walk away but he grabs my arm.

"What did you just say?" he asks quietly.

I give him a lost look. "I didn't say anything." I try to walk away again, but he pulls me back.

"Cut the shit, bro. Did you just say this wasn't a real wedding?"

I stare at him for a moment, deciding whether I can trust him or not.

I sigh and bow my head. "You can't tell anyone," I whisper.

"Just tell me, Christian."

My shoulders slump forward. "I asked Ana to marry me so I can get Papa's trust fund early."

He stares at me. "Are you serious right now?"

I gaze blankly at him.

He shakes his head and steps back away from me. "So you're telling me this whole time you and Ana have been playing all of us just so you can get your money?" I don't say anything. "Well you sure as hell fooled me," he mutters, surprising me. "I mean at first I was a little skeptical, you know, because I had just told you about the trust fund and next thing we know you come prancing in with Ana as your fiancée. But then as I watched you two together, when you weren't arguing or insulting each other, I thought I really saw something between you guys." He shakes his head again. "I can't believe this is all fake. And that Ana actually agreed to it. How did you get her to agree?"

"I offered her a percentage."

His eyebrows shoot up. "And she's actually going to take it?"

I nod. He shakes his head.

He sighs loudly. "Well I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to get where you want."

I look up at him. "You're not gonna tell anyone, are you?"

He gazes at me for a moment. "Nah, I think I want to see how this naturally plays out. But just between you and me, bro, fake wedding or not, I wouldn't let Ana go. I sure as hell wouldn't." He winks at me and begins to walk out my room, but stops and turns around. "Oh, by the way Gramps wants to see you in dad's office."

"Alright. And thanks, Elliot, you know, for not saying anything."

"No problem. Just do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Just be happy."

I blink at him. "Okay," I say slowly.

He smiles and walks out of the room. I frown at him as he leaves. I know I'm not happy all the time, but I don't think I'm an unhappy person. Just unhappy about not having the people or money I need to build my dreams.

I shake my head and change out of the outfit I will be wearing tomorrow as I promise myself to Ana forever. Jeez, what a daunting thought. I wonder who came up with the idea of marriage. Why would someone want to stay committed and spend every night and day with the same person for the rest of their lives? I don't get it.

I go downstairs and knock on my dad's home office door. I wait till I hear I can come in, and then walk into the room.

"Close the door, son," Gramps says as he sits behind my dad's desk.

I do as he asks and then walk to stand in front of the mahogany wood. He looks up at me, a proud smile softening his face.

"Take a seat."

I sit down with my eyes focused on him. I stay quiet and wait for him to tell me what he wants.

He looks at me through squinted eyes. "Did you give Ana an engagement ring?"

The blood drains from my face when I realize I didn't. I didn't even think about that with all the commotion going around. I mean, even if I wanted to I wouldn't have been able to afford it. I'm marrying her to get money. I can't buy a diamond ring with air.

"I didn't think so, but then again I wasn't expecting you to. Your grandmother was very displeased when she saw Ana's finger was diamond-less. Even more displeased that it took her six days before the wedding to realize it." He chuckles and shakes his head. "That woman is something else. Anyway she told me to give you this to give to Ana. I decided to give you something, too."

He holds his hand out. I place my hand under his as he drops something into the palm of my hand. I look down and pick up the diamond encrusted engagement and wedding bands and a man's wedding band. I look up at him.

"That was your grandmothers. It was the first engagement ring I bought her before I bought her the one she wears now. And that wedding band was mine before I got the one I have now."

"Gramps . . ." I whisper.

"You think Ana will like it?"

"Yes. It's beautiful."

He nods his head. "Custom made."

I gaze down at the ring fascinated. I've never seen a ring like it before. It has a big square diamond in the middle, but on either side are two rubies held in by prongs that form the shape of a heart. Etched on the band are delicate swirls. The wedding band is silver with tiny diamonds planted firmly all around the ring. It's so simple, yet so exquisite. I smile. This ring reminds me of Ana. It's just like her.

What will be my wedding ring is a silver band with three sections. The middle section is a dark steel color, and spaced evenly around that are two thin strips that are embedded with very tiny diamonds. I like it just because it was his.

"Good, now that that's settled." He slides over two silver keys across the desk. I frown as I put the rings in my pocket.

I pick up the keys and examine them with a frown. "What are these to?"

He doesn't answer me, just slides over a piece of paper. I read the top of it and my eyes instantly fly to his.

"You're giving me your house?" I ask him incredulously.

He nods with a smile on his face. "I figured after you and your bride return from your honeymoon you would like your own house to come back to."

I stare at him in shock. "But . . . this is your house."

"Once you sign this it won't be anymore."

I shake my head. "I'm not signing this. I can't take your house, Gramps!"

"You can and you will," he says.

"No. Where will you and Grams live? I can't just take your house."

He laughs. I look at him like he's crazy. "Son, your grandmother and I will be living only a few houses down from you." I look at him confused. "We bought another house. A smaller house. There's too much space and it's getting harder walking up and down the stairs with our old bones. Plus it'll be big enough for you and Ana when you have your own family."

I shake my head, my brain not comprehending the significance of this.

"But . . ."

"Christian, you know I'm not going to let you leave without signing this, so you might as well stop stalling and write your signature along the line."

I gaze up at him. I want to say so much to him but none of it comes out. I think I'm still in shock. I stare down at what will be the deed to my house, and I feel myself tense up. He's expecting me to live here with Ana. Expecting us to start a family here. Jesus, what would he say if he found out all of this was just to get to my trust fund? He would be crushed. Disappointed. Ashamed.

I can't do this. This is going too far. I can't accept this stuff knowing I'm not being honest when he's being so generous, so loving.

And then what would happen when the year is over and Ana and I separate? What will I do then? It's supposed to be a family home, but then I'll be the only one living there . . . or maybe not.

I pick up the pen he slides over and sign Ana's name. I pass it over back to him. He reads it and then gazes up at me. A slow smile crosses the lips. He lays the paper down on the desk and gazes at me.

"You and I are alike, did you know that?"

I clear my throat. "No."

"Well we are. What you just did, I did the same thing when Maggie's father offered me his house before we got married." He chuckles and then grins, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "The things we do for the women we love. We give up and sacrifice so much to keep them happy, because having them unhappy is just completely unacceptable. I'm telling you this because that young woman of yours is something to hold on to. Not many are like her; she's one in a million. And coming from a man who's made many mistakes in his marriage, just remember one important thing: if you love her, nothing else is more important than that love. Just keep that in mind when things get tough, and they will, but then again life has this way of always working itself out."

He smiles at me, stands up and walks over to me. I stand up to. He shakes my hand and pulls me into a hug. "I'm so proud of you, boy. I'm excited to see you take this new exciting step forward. And I know you'll do incredible things."

He steps back while I try to keep my emotions under control. "Wow," I rasp out. "I don't know what to say, Gramps." I look up at him. I admire this man so much. "I don't think words are enough. I don't know how to show my genuine gratitude for this." I glance down at the keys in my hand.

He smiles and pats my cheek. "Just live your life, son. And be happy. Nothing in life is worth anything unless it makes you happy, and that's what I want for you: genuine happiness."

"I want that too," I whisper. I don't realize how true my words are until I say them out loud.

He steps away from me and walks towards the door. "Now go give your future wife her ring before the girls steal her away for the night." He winks at me.

I chuckle. "Alright."

I walk out of the door with Gramps following me, and when we step into the hallway I turn to him. Without hesitating I give him a full hug, wrapping arms around his shoulders.

"Thanks you for believing in me, Gramps," I whisper.

He pats my back affectionately. "You're more than welcome, son. Now go, your fiancée is going to disappear in a few ours and the women won't let you see her." He laughs.

I smile, trying to gather myself, and then walk away without looking back.

Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites.

SS&G xoxo

I saw Darker yesterday. I was sooo disappointed. As a movie itself it was incredible, it was romantic, sexy with just enough drama and suspense. But based off the book it was sorely lacking. They left out so much, I mean they only included a few main scenes of the book. There just wasn't enough details. Ugh, whatever I guess there's only so much you can put into a two hour movie based off a 500 page book. I thought Jamie and Dakota did amazing though, they're so funny and cute.

Real quick, I know you some of you want longer chapters, but since this is already pre-written and it's meant to be short, the chapters aren't really going to get longer. I'll just have to update more frequently I guess ;)