Ana's POV (12 months later)

" I really like this one…. But I also like this one." Kate said. She had a beautiful lace wedding dress in her left hand and a strapless high low one in the right hand.

"Why don't you try them both on and then make your decision." I said to her.

Kate was definitely flustered. Kate and Elliot decided that they cannot wait any longer and decided to have their wedding this summer. Although there was a time crunch that faced them, everyone in the family was supportive of their decision. They also decided on having the reception right on the beach as well .

As for my wedding goes, everything is pretty much set in stone. My spring wedding will be on March 20th , the first day of spring. Both the wedding and the reception will be at Bellevue. Kate's mother Leslie Kauvanaugh will design my dress just like she did for her daughter. I already gave her some ideas on the dress: simple, but at the same time elegant. Leslie promised that whatever she thinks of, I will definitely like and I trust her. She is known for her wedding dress designs. The color scheme for my wedding will be lavender and white. My bridesmaids will have lavender dresses, but each of them will have their dress designed to their liking. I don't want to force them to wear dresses that they are not comfortable in.

"Okay Ana, I am ready to show you the first dress." Kate says from the fitting room.

Soon she comes out in a beautiful dress ( the one that was in her left hand). It had lace sleeves that connected it to a long white dress that was also adorned with lace. Kate admired herself in the mirror. Leslie came into the room and soon was crying tears of joy after seeing her daughter wearing one of her creations.

"Kate, you look beautiful." She said, choking back the tears.

Kate turned around and smiled at her mother. She was also crying tears of joy.

"I can't believe that I am getting married." She said.

She looked back at the mirror.

" You know what, mom, I think this is the one. Ana, what do you think?"Kate states.

" I love it. You look amazing as ever." I tell her.

"Okay then it is settled." Kate announces.

"So you're not trying on the other one." Leslie asks Kate.

" I would, but I really like this one. " She answers.

Leslie goes into the fitting room to retrieve the other dress and put it back into the show room.

Kate goes in and changes into her normal clothes.

Seeing Kate in her wedding dress made me really giddy about my wedding. Soon, I will be trying on wedding dresses with Kate and Mia by my side. Mia was supposed to join us today, but she cancelled last minute. Today, she is catering for a business luncheon, so she won't have time to stop by the boutique.

Kate appeared by my side, a few minutes later.

" You're not going to look at shoes ?" I ask her. Not only does Leslie have a wide selection of dresses, but she also has wedding day shoes to go with them.

"My mom told me not to look at the wedding shoes. She says that she is going to get a new shipment of shoes earlier this week so I will stop by and check them out as soon as they arrive." She says to me.

We walk out the store and walk into a nearby coffee shop. I order my usual English tea with an orange cranberry scone while Kate orders an double shot espresso with a blueberry muffin.

"I am so excited for my wedding, Steele. I cannot contain my excitement." Kate says as she sits down at our table by the window of the coffee shop.

"I can tell. You remind me of a giddy school girl." I tell her. I am happy for Kate. Very soon, she will start a new chapter in her life with Elliot. The two of them are definitely a match made in heaven. And I am not just saying that because she is my best friend and because he happens to be Christian's brother; they are perfect for one another.

Kate smiles and takes a bite out of her muffin.

" I was thinking of having a bachelorette party in Vegas." She says. " I just wish there was a way that we can talk Christian out of not bringing security for you."

" That's not gonna happen, Kate. You know Christian; he won't budge on that topic." I tell her. "He would either let me go with security or not let me go at all."

"True, but I don't see the problem. You are going to be with me and everyone else and we are just going to have fun. He should just stop being so paranoid." She says.

She is right. If Kate has her bachelorette party in Vegas, we are going to have a great time. If security is there, they would report to Christian everytime a stripper grinds on me and that would infuriate my fiancé who would probably storm into the place and cause a scene.

" I will try to talk to him, but I doubt that he will be lenient. " I tell her. I drink some of my tea.

"Well, you need to convince him that it's a good idea. There is no way that I will have a bachelorette party without my best friend." Kate tells me. " I mean, Ethan is out of the country and he has no clue about the bachelorette party , so its not like he will show up and even if he does, he won't be allowed to go in anyway because it's a girls only thing."

After Ethan got out of jail on bail, he left the country. Nobody really knows why, but I am hoping that when he does come back to the states, he will not continue to pester the Grey family as it will land him back in jail. But I am sure that he has long given up with the idea of a second chance with Mia because he is still with his fling girl. She was also put behind bars for several hit and run accidents in Seattle, but she was very lucky to have Ethan bail her out or else she would have stayed behind bars.

"I will talk to him. I will do my best to convince him that we would be better off without security at least for the bachelorette party." I tell my best friend.

" I just hope he puts his guard down for one night. Im asking for one night, Ana. You make sure he understand that." Kate instructs me.

" I will make sure that he understands that." I let her know.

We finish up our drinks and munchies and head our separate ways.

…

" How was wedding dress shopping with Kate?" Sawyer asks me. Although I could have easily drove back to Escala, Sawyer made it clear that he was going to do so, Christian's orders.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. She immediately fell in love with a dress and she made her decision right then and there that she will be wearing that dress to her wedding." I answer him.

Sawyer doesn't say anything to that and continues to drive back to Escala. I don't like driving in silence so I decide to ask him about Mia.

"I wish that Mia came with us today." I say.

" She told me that she would have came, but she had a big luncheon to cater, so she had to cancel last minute." Sawyer says.

" How are things with you two?" I add. This is the perfect time to ask him.

"Everything is perfect. We both enjoy one another's company and there is always so much to talk about."Sawyer tells me.

"That's great! Are you two planning to do something together any time soon?" I ask him.

" After the luncheon, I thought we can have a picnic at Volunteer Park." Sawyer says.

Volunteer Park happens to be a very nice park. I have been there a few times and I do believe it's a wonderful place to have a picnic.

"That's a great idea. Im sure she will love it." I tell him.

I can see Sawyer smile. I can tell that he is looking forward for his date later on today.

When we arrive to Escala, I head straight to the elevators and make it up to the penthouse. Once there I make way to the kitchen.

Gail is busy chopping up vegetables when I enter the kitchen.

" Hello Ms. Steele. Would you like me to make you something?" She asks me.

" Not right now. I had some tea and a scone with Kate a while ago, so I am not really hungry. " I tell her. "I would like to ask you for a favor."

" Yes. What is it?" She asks, still chopping veggies.

" Would you please make Christian's favorite mac and cheese tonight for dinner?" I ask.

"Of course, I can. Is there anything else you would like?" She says.

" If its not too much work for you already, you can throw in a garden salad for dinner as well." I tell her.

"Nonsense, Ms. Steele. I am more than happy to make a garden salad as well." She says.

"Thank you so much Gail. " I say with a smile.

" You're very welcome." She says. "And just so you know, I have already made Mr. Grey's chocolate cake earlier. Its in the fridge."

Ah, Christian's favorite desert! By the looks of it, if everything works out tonight, Kate will have a security free bachelorette party. There will be security just not Christian's security.

" Gail, I would like to spend the evening with just me and Christian. If there is nothing else left for you to do, you can have the night off." I let her know.

" Certainly, after I am done preparing the mac and cheese and the garden salad."She says with a smile.

At that point, I leave the kitchen and head upstairs. I thought that it would be a great idea to convince my man by treating him to a nice dinner and some love making later on. I know he would realize something is up because he will be eating his favorite foods for dinner, but I will do my best to not say anything until after dinner is over.

To be continued….