APOV

Christian had some work to do in his office. Work on his birthday can't possible be fun. He's the owner, the CEO, can't he just say, 'no, I'm not doing it today.'? I've showered and am ready for when we go to his parents house later for dinner. While Christian works, I bake a cake for his birthday. Chocolate. His favorite. We can take it to his parents' house for dessert.

I've just pulled the cake out of the oven. I'm going to start the icing but I don't have all the ingredients I need. I go to Christian's office to let him know I'm leaving. When I peek inside, he's too engrossed in a phone call so I don't want to bother him. I then go to the security office to let Taylor and Sawyer know where I'm going, incase Christian finishes before I return. They both stand, upon seeing me enter.

"May we help you, Ms. Steele?" Taylor asks me.

"Um. I need to go to the store. I'd like to drive myself if that's alright?"

"Have you discussed that with Mr. Grey?" Taylor asks.

"No. He's busy and I need to go now."

"You can drive your car, Ms. Steele. However, Sawyer or I will have to come along for your safety."

I try not getting too upset. I know having one of them with me is for my safety since I am known to be Christian Grey's girlfriend. His only known public girlfriend. But it's just to the market.

"Fine. Can we go now, please." I turn to leave, hearing footsteps behind me.

I push for the elevator. When the doors open, I am surprised to see Taylor step in with me. Huh, I thought Sawyer was my CPO? That's okay, I like Taylor. He has a very avuncular feel about him. That, and he takes care of my Christian. The doors open. He walks to the SUV he usually drives. I assume he'll follow me since he said I could drive my car but then he opens the rear door. I just stand there, not getting in.

"I thought you said I could drive my car?"

"Right." He shuts the door.

"Are you going to follow me in the SUV?" I ask as I walk to the convertible.

"No, Ms. Steele." He opens the passenger door and climbs in. Okay.

I start the car. And since it's a great day, I lower the top, grinning. I really like this car! I turn on some music. I pull out of the parking space, then onto the main road. I giggle when I see Taylor hold on as soon as we leave the parking garage. I need some cash, so I pull into my banks lot and get out. Taylor following. I'll use the walk up ATM that I always use. Taylor stands guard as I get out my wallet. The black Christian Grey. Anastasia Steele. card is still there. I forgot to ask Christian about that. I take out my card and use the ATM. I get my cash and my receipt. I look at the receipt and nearly faint. There is $50,000.00 more than what should be there. Christian!

I get back in my car. Taylor holding on, in the passenger seat. Honestly, I'm not that bad of a driver.

~..~..~

I pull into the store's lot. We get out and walk inside the market. I grab one of those little hand baskets and start my shopping. I grab the few things I'll need for the cake's icing. I also get more orange juice since we used the last of it this morning. I better get some nuts too while I'm here. Christian likes nuts on his ice cream. I'm trying to decide which package of nuts I should get, when I notice a young girl walk up to me. Taylor steps in her path, blocking her from getting to me. Seriously. She's just a little girl. I know I shouldn't judge. Even I don't look like I can handle myself, but I can now. It's a surprise when people see me take down a grown man. Look at Elliot, for example.

"Pardon me," She says. "But are you Christian Grey's girlfriend?"

I look around then back at her, over Taylor. "Um. Yes."

She squeals a little and grins. "Can I have my picture taken with you?"

My picture? She wants a picture with me? "Uh. Okay."

She gets out her phone. Taylor steps to the side. I bend down and we take a selfie, smiling into her phone's camera.

"Thank you so much. I loved that top you had on the other day!" I raise my eyebrows. My top? Is she a stalker?! Seeing my shocked expression she explains. "I saw it in a magazine."

"Oh. Thank you." She grins.

"Thanks for the photo." She walks away and pushes buttons on her phone. She puts it to her ear and I hear her say "Guess who I just saw that the grocery store!" excitedly.

"Ms. Steele, we'll need to get going now."

"Okay." I grab the bag of nuts from the shelf that I was about to pick up before I got interrupted by ... my fan?

We checkout and even more people are starting to stare. I guess this is why Christian doesn't do everyday things like grocery shop.

~..~..~

I drive us back to Escala and Taylor gets in the elevator with me instead of using the service elevator they usually use when Christian and I are together. I hear someone call 'hold the elevator'. Taylor pushes the door close button. My mouth drops open. I can't believe avuncular Taylor just did that. He puts in the penthouse code and we go up. I look at him. He is his usual impassive self. I smirk. Maybe he's only like an uncle to me. I giggle. I'm shocked when I hear a tiny chuckle follow.

We get off the elevator and go inside the penthouse. Taylor goes back to the security room. I go to the kitchen. It's too quiet. I play music on Christian's IPod. Toxic by Britney Spears comes on. I start dancing around the kitchen, putting the things I've purchased away. Then I start making the icing for Christian's birthday cake. Beyoncé's Single Ladies, comes on. This is what Christian listens to when nobody's around? I giggle.

~..~..~

I've finished the icing and since the cake is cool, I start frosting it. I'm gently swaying my hips to Ellie Goulding's, Love me like you do. I'm almost done frosting the cake when I feel strong hands slide around my hips, wrapping around me, holding me to him. I lean back against him as we sway together to the song.

Her words hit me.

Never knew it could mean so much.
I don't care, cause I've never been so high.
Love me like you do. Touch me like you do.
What are you waiting for?

Christian kisses my temple while I finish frosting his cake.

"Have you finished working?" He stills and tenses, but only for a moment, then continues to sway with me. What was that about?

"Yes, Ms. Steele." He reaches his hand to the bowl of icing and dips his finger, getting some icing on it. He sucks his finger. 'Mmmm.' He hums in appreciation. That just does things to me. Delicious things. "This is the best chocolate icing I've ever had. Here. You try."

I turn my head to give him access to my mouth. He puts his finger in my mouth and I suck on it. I look up at him through my lashes. His eyes darken. He takes his finger out and dips a new finger into the bowl. I turn to face him but instead of putting his finger into my mouth he wipes it on my bottom lip. Then he leans down to suck it off. He nibbles on my lip and pulls it with his teeth, after he's sucked all the icing off. He gives me a chaste, teasing kiss.

"Mmmmm. Ana and chocolate. My two favorite flavors." I blush.

Frank Sinatra's Witchcraft, starts playing.

"Dance with me." He whispers seductively to me. All I can do is nod.

We dance to the song. He spins me around effortlessly throughout the main room of the apartment. We are grinning and can't control our laughter. We sway to and fro, in front of the large windows. We cover every inch of the room. The song is nearing the end. He dips me, singing the last 'There's no nicer witch than you.' to me. I hold onto him smiling. He pulls me back upright and kisses me so sweetly.

"Ready for dinner at my parents?"

"Yeah."

Christian drives us in his R8. We're on our way to his parents house, when I remember the card and extra money in my account.

"Christian. When I went shopping the other day there was a black card in my wallet with both our names on it. And today when I went to the ATM, I used my card. There seems to be a substantial amount in my account. I know, I didn't put there."

"When did you go to the ATM?"

"Today. Why do I have a card and money that is not mine?"

"Did you go alone?" He continues to ignore my questions asking his own.

"Taylor went with me. Although, I'm not sure why, since Sawyer is my CPO. You were working and I didn't want to disturb you."

"Baby, you can disturb me anytime you want. And Sawyer mentioned your driving to Taylor." He smirks.

"I'm not that horrible of a driver, Christian. I've never been in an accident before."

"You may not have been in one. But you've probably caused a few." He chuckles at his joke.

He continues to drive. Still not answering my question.

"Christian?"

"What?"

"The money?"

He signs, taking a hand off the wheel and running his fingers through his hair.

"Baby, I'm very wealthy. You are the girlfriend of a very rich man. You're going to have to get use to the money."

"I understand that, Christian. But you don't need to give me any money. I don't want it. I just want you."

"I know. And that pleases me a great deal." He takes my hand in his and kisses it. "But you're mine, Anastasia. I want to take care of you. I take care of what's mine."

He pulls into his parents driveway. There are a few more cars parked here than usual. He parks and turns off the engine. He gets out and walks around opening my door. I take his hand and we walk up to the house. He opens the door for us, unlike last time when it was nearly ripped from it's hinges.

We walk in and hear chatter coming from the main living room. Walking in, the chatter stops and everyone looks at us. His parents, Mia, Elliot and Kate are here, along with an older couple I've never seen before. Grace and Mia look at my hand. Although surprisingly, it's the hand Christian is not holding. I feel Christian tense. Grace comes over to us.

"Christian. Happy birthday, darling." Grace says, kissing his cheek. She grasps his arms and grins at him. "I'm so happy for you." She tells him quietly.

"Thanks, mom." He sounds like he's warning her.

Everyone follows Grace's lead with their happy birthdays and well wishes to Christian. She turns to me and hugs me.

"Thank you for coming, Ana." She beams a blinding smile at me. She's being more attentive to me than usual.

"Thanks for having me, Grace. I've brought a cake. Oh! I forgot it in the car."

I go to move so I can get the cake, but Christian stops me.

"I'll get, baby." Christian kisses my head.

"Nonsense. It's your birthday. Elliot, get your brother's cake, that Ana made, from the car." Grace tells Elliot, as she leads us into the room.

"Awww, mom." Elliot whines. "Do I have to?"

She gives him a I didn't ask you stare. He stuffs his hands into his pockets and hangs his head, pouting to the car. I giggle. He sounds and is acting like he's five.

"Grandmother. Grandfather. Allow me introduce my girlfriend. Anastasia Steele."

Christian's grandmother quickly pulls me into a hug, much like Grace did when she first met me. At least I'm dressed appropriate this time. I giggle.

"Oh. He's finally found someone." She pulls me arms length to better examine me. I blush. "And so pretty! They would make beautiful great grandbabies." My eyes widen. I look quickly to Christian. He matches my look.

Luckily, Grace comes to our rescue. "Mother, don't embarrass them."

CPOV

My birthday dinner is going well. My grandparents love Anastasia. We're just finishing the meal when my grandmother just asked my mother about her and Ana's first meeting. She wants to know what my mom thought of Ana and how my mom felt, finally seeing me with a girlfriend. Both my baby and my mother blush, remembering their first meeting. To be honest, I completely forgot about her wearing only my shirt, until I pulled her out. I thought she was trying to avoid us being more than friends again, by not wanting to officially meet my folks.

"Well,..." My mom starts, then stops.

"We first met Ana as Christian's girlfriend, at his apartment." My dad fills in for her. "She was wearing nothing but Christian's shirt and her underwear." Anastasia blushes a deep red.

"I met Ana once before. Here at the barbeque we had. I thought something was going on between them then. But when mom told me Christian had a girlfriend. I rushed over to his apartment and found them in his bed. - Sleeping." Mia chimes in with her story of how she officially met Ana as my girlfriend. She almost forgot to add the sleeping bit. Mia blushes. We were naked when she walked in.

Elliot starts laughing. "At least you guys didn't walk in on them after they fuc-" He looks to our mother and grandmother. "ah.- after they had a tryst, in his office. I walked in to see Ana here, completely nude in my baby brother's lap! It was right after their office rendezvous. Christian's dumbas- ah, I mean. Christian didn't like the fu- ah, the door and rushed to cover her naked body with his hands." Is it that hard for him to talk in a complete sentence without cursing? I'm one to talk, I swear all the fucking time.

Anastasia's eyes go wide at Elliot's recap of that day in front of my parents and grandparents. She blushes deep red.

"Elliot!" Everyone warns him, including myself.

"What? It's true." He takes a drink of his drink.

"Well, now I feel short changed. We met your girlfriend fully clothed. Seems she lost more and more clothing the more people she's been introduced to." My grandmother says.

"I could get naked now if you'd like" Ana blushes and giggles at her joke. She better be fucking joking. Everyone laughs, as well.

Anastasia and my sister just went into the kitchen to get the cake. I plan on asking Anastasia to marry me. Tonight. As soon as we walked in, my mother and sister looked at Anastasia's left hand. Mia can't contain her excitement, so my mother must told her of my plans. I had her help organize it. These girls are going to give me away. I'll ask her after we have cake. If I wait any longer, they are bound to spill the beans. I never thought I would ever settle down. Neither did my family, obviously, with the way they are acting. But I know Anastasia is the only one I will ever want. Forever.

"Your mother says this is getting serious with you and this young lady?" My grandfather asks.

"It is. As serious as it can get. I love her. She means everything to me." She's everything I could ever want or need.

"Let me give you some advice from someone who's been in your shoes. Women are mysterious creatures. We men can't figure them out. Don't try. We will never understand half the things they do." He laughs. "Well, that wasn't very good advice now, was it. All I can say is," He looks at my grandmother. "don't blink, Christian."

He looks at my grandmother with love in his eyes. He takes her hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kisses it. She turns to look at him and smiles then continues her conversation with Katherine.

Mia and Anastasia come in with the cake. I look at Ana the way my grandfather was just looking at my grandmother. and that's when I knew. She was meant for me. We were made for each other. She will always be mine. Forever, mine.

Anastasia smiles as she sets a slice of cake in front of me. She bends and kisses my cheek.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart." She tells me in her sweet voice.

She continues to serve everyone, while Mia slices the cake. I sit back and watch her interact with my family. She fits right in, perfectly. Anastasia Grey. I can't control the smile on my face. I thought my mother or Mia would give away my plans tonight, but I may be the one to give myself away if I don't control my excitement.

Anastasia sits next to me, eating her slice of cake. I lean over and kiss her lips. She smiles at me. She continues eating and talking with my family.

~..~..~

When she's finished eating her cake. I lean over and whisper in her ear. "Take a walk with me." I swallow nervously.

She nods and stands. We walk out of the room, hand in hand.

When Mia notices, she lets out a fucking squeal of excitement. I scowl at her. My mother tries to calm her and gives me a knowing smile.

This is it, Grey! Don't fuck it up!