APOV
I'm so excited Kelly got my dress done this soon. I can't wait to try it on! I'm in love with the drawing and now to see it in person. I squeal in my excitement, causing Sawyer to glance at me in the mirror. I see him slightly smirk. These guys aren't as tough as they look. They're more like very protective big brothers with uncle Taylor leading them.
The paparazzi have dwindled. There wasn't that many outside Escala when we pulled out. They took a few photos of the SUV, but with the tinted windows they couldn't see who was inside. It looks like Christian's plan to give them a false year we're to wed worked. They're still around and interested, but have backed off. When Ray found out about what my mother did, he was just as upset as Christian. I was actually surprised. Not about him getting upset, of course. But, my daddy actually raised his voice. My dad is a very quiet man. Even growing up when my parents would have a disagreement he would get frustrated but I have never heard him raise his voice. I love that man so much.
Sawyer has just pulled up to Kelly's shop. It doesn't look like the girls are here. Sawyer gets out and he opens my door.
"Thank you, Sawyer."
Sawyer and I walk to the front door, of Kelly's shop. Ryan stays out with the SUV. He's going to wait for the girls. Kelly closes her shop for me, so nobody will see my dress. Everyone is trying to get a look at The Christian Grey's fiancé's dress. I'd hate for it to get out and Christian see it before our wedding, when I'm walking down the aisle.
Kelly is at the door waiting for us. She opens it, letting us in. Locking it behind us.
"Katie's not with you?"
"No. She's with Grace and Mia. They're at the bakery ordering our cake. They'll come here, after they've done that."
"How nice. I'm glad you have Kate and Christian's family to help you. You'll always be family to us Kavanaghs."
We walk to the back room where my dress is.
Kelly looks back at me. "You know... I always hoped your name would be Kavanagh, one day. Ethan had such a huge crush on you, when you all were little. But, don't listen to me, that's just wishful thinking. I can see you and Christian Grey, were meant to be."
"That would be weird. Ethan's always been more like a brother to me." She laughs.
"Okay, sweet girl. Are you ready?"
"Yes!" I smile brightly. She opens the door to the fitting room and we walk in.
"Don't be afraid to let me know what you think. We still have plenty of time to change anything." I nod franticly.
She unzips the bag my dress is hanging in. I see the white lace fabric and my heart starts to race. She pulls it out of the bag. It's beautiful.
"Let's get this on you, darling girl."
I nod. And stand up.
I take off my dress and my bra, since I can't wear one with my dress. Kelly helps me into the dress. I put my arms through the sleeves and Kelly clasps the back. I'm not facing the mirror, so I can't see what I look like in the dress. But I can see, it's beautiful. It fits snugly on my curves, and lose on the bottom near my legs, just how I wanted. The lace she used, looks very delicate and feels amazing. Christian will love it.
"Okay, sweetie." Kelly helps me into my, something blue stilettos, and moves away from me. "Turn around."
I slowly turn around, looking down. When I'm facing the mirror, I look up. Gasp! I look... like an angel. A beautiful, stunning, goddess, that is about to wed. The lace overlay on the white dress is beautiful. It's everything I want. The lace on my shoulders doesn't have anything under it so it's just the lace and my bare shoulders. I turn, to see the back. I move my long hair to my shoulder, so I can see my bare back. The lace on top of my shoulder blades is the same as the front, just lace and bare skin. Larger near my arms, thinning towards the middle. I stand facing the mirror, again.
This is the dress I will wear, when I marry Christian. I can't believe, I'm getting married. In two weeks!
"Kelly... I... I don't know what to say."
"Do you like it?"
"Oh, Kelly." I start to tear up. "Mama, I love it! Thank you, so much." I smile at her and we hug each other.
Kelly pulls back. She plays with my hair and puts some behind my ear. Her eyes are glossy and I know she's close to crying. That just gets me going, as well.
"You're very welcome. Congratulations, sweet girl." She quickly wipes her tear that has fallen.
"Thank you, mama."
-knock-knock-knock-
That must be Sawyer. He's the only one in the store with us. Kelly opens the door for him. He walks in, Kelly holding the door open.
"Ms. Ste-" He stops mid-sentence when he sees me in my wedding gown. When he realizes he's starring, he clears his throat and continues. "Ms. Steele. Ms. Kavanagh and the Grey ladies are here."
"Thank you, Sawyer. Can you let them in?"
"Yeah." I giggle. Yeah? I've never heard Sawyer say 'yeah'.
"Thank you."
He turns to leave, when I realize he's the only man, that will see this dress before Christian. My dad will, but he's my dad.
"Sawyer." He turns to face me. "What do you think?" I give him a little spin.
"You look captivating, Ana. Mr. Grey, wont be able to keep his eyes off of you. I wont either, but that's my job." He smirks.
"Thank you, Luke." I smile at him.
He leaves.
Kelly says we can walk out to the showing room, that is located just outside the changing rooms. That way, everyone can see my dress and we wont be crowded in the fitting room.
I hear a commotion outside the room. That must be the girls. Kelly opens the door. We walk out to the hallway. All the girls have their back to us. When they hear us the all stop talking and turn around. Every one of their jaws are on the floor.
"Wow." Mia breaths.
"Holy shit!" Kate yells.
"Oh, my goodness." Grace whispers and wipes her tear.
"Look at the back." I tell them and turn around.
"Christian is going to come in his pants, when he see's you walking down the aisle!"
"Katherine Agnes Kavanagh!"
"Shit! Sorry Mom. Sorry Grace." I bite my lip to stop from laughing.
I change back into my earlier casual dress.
Kelly insists Grace and Mia find dresses, on her, for the wedding. She's designing Kate's maid of honor dress, but wanted to get mine done first. Grace, chose a dark grey gown. Mia, chose a knee high, pink, flowy dress. It's similar, to what Kate's dress will look like. Kate's dress, will be a sutble blush pink. We're having Kate and Elliot stand up with us. I would have Mia, as well. She's Christian's sister and is becoming a great friend, but with our wedding so small, we don't need a bunch of people standing and nobody sitting.
We're all walking out, Kelly is closing for the day so she's locking up. Grace and Mia walk to their car and leave. Kate and I hug on the sidewalk in front of her mom's store.
"I can't believe you're getting married in two weeks, Ana."
"I know. It's like I'm dreaming."
"I honestly never thought I'd see the day. Not after-" Kate gets interrupted.
"What the fuck lies have you told, Grey?!" I turn around, hearing his voice.
Paul is walking down the sidewalk towards us. I thought Christian said he has someone following him.
Sawyer tries to pull me to the SUV, but I'm not backing down this time. I haven't said anything to him, since the day he put me in the hospital. I stop Sawyer. I'm standing with my back facing the SUV, Kate next to me. I'm sure, if Sawyer hadn't of helped my dad train me that day we visited, he wouldn't let me do this. But I need to do this. I see Ryan on the phone, probably reporting what is happening. Paul and I are standing in front of each other, not close enough to touch. Sawyer slightly in front of me, facing Paul. Paul's back is facing the building.
"I didn't lie. What you did to me was not a lie. You hit me, Paul. You told me you could, because you're a man. You put me in the hospital. That's what kind of man you are. One that preyed upon a young weak girl. Well, I've got news for you, Paul. I'm not that weak little girl anymore."
"That happened when we were kids, Ana."
"That's your excuse?! You were old enough to know better, that's for damn sure! And just so you know, if you touch me again. It's not this guy you should be afraid of." I nod towards Sawyer.
I see Ryan walking around, still on the phone. He's still close, but far enough to talk to whomever he's speaking to. He's watching the scene, watching Paul.
"Grey? Yeah, he already fucked my whole family. He wants us to move to fucking Alaska. Alaska."
"What can I say, he's an, in the moment kind of guy. But, no. Not Christian."
"Who then?"
"Me."
He laughs. "Why should I be afraid of you? Don't you remember last time, Ana?"
"Hit me again and you'll soon find out."
"What are you going to do? Did step-daddy dearest, show you how to throw a punch?"
"I wont just hit you. I. Will. Fucking. Kill. You."
"You're fucking crazy."
"You haven't seen me crazy, yet."
"Have fun in jail, then."
"I wont go to jail. My father in-law is a lawyer. He'll get me off."
"I don't care who your new man has in his pocket. Murder is murder."
"Self defense is not murder."
"I'm a man, Ana. There's no contest. There's no way you'd be able to hurt me. All it would take, is one hit and I'd have you. You're just a little girl."
"Then do it. Hit me. Again. I fucking dare you." I growl out at him. "I'll show you what this little girl is made of." I challenge him.
He steps forward, just as Sawyer does. Sawyer is in Paul's face.
"Touch, Ms. Steele and I will fucking kill you." Scary Sawyer. I'm sure if his job wasn't on the line he'd let me.
Paul swallows and steps back.
"You're not a man. You're a fucking coward." I say to Paul.
I turn to walk back to the SUV.
The girl, Christian's ex-sub. She is standing near the back of the SUV, facing us, when I turn around.
"Why?" She asks Paul, eerily quiet.
"I told you, it's not what you think." He says to her, in a demanding voice.
"You're obsessed with her. You said, she was the one that got away. I heard you."
"Leila-
"NO! She's taking my men! I had him first! He was mine! Now, you wont stop obsessing over her!" She yells at him.
Sawyer moves us closer to the SUV. Letting the 'lovers' have their quarrel.
"Hey!" She yells. I turn around looking at her.
She pulls out a gun and aims it at me. My eyes widen.
"Now you wont be able to take anyone from me?" She pulls the trigger.
"ANA!" Christian?
Everything happens so quick.
I see someone tackle Leila, the same time the gun goes off. I hear a man cry out, being hit. Sawyer pushes me to the ground and gets on top of me. There is screaming.
"Get off her!" It is Christian!
Sawyer stands, pulling me up easily, with him. I am quickly pulled from his arms and wrapped in another. I inhale. Christian. Safe. I wrap my arms around him, still in shock. I look over his shoulder. I see Taylor, putting some cable tie flexicuffs on Leila. He must of been the one to tackle her. Ryan is holding pressure on Paul's bleeding inner thigh. Kate and her mom are hugging near the store entrance. I hear sirens in the background. Christian, starts rubbing my head.
"Baby. Oh, god, baby. Are you okay?"
He pulls back to look me over. He puts both is hands on my face, holding my head. Forcing me to look at him and not at the scene.
"Anastasia. Are you alright, baby? Are you hurt?"
I look at him, but I don't speak. Still in shock.
He starts looking all over my body, using his hands. He doesn't see any injuries. He pulls me back into his embrace, kissing my head multiple times.
The parking lot is now covered with police and an ambulance. Paul is being loaded into the ambulance. Leila is taken into police custody. The police take everyone's statement of what happened. Leila is going to be charged with attempted murder. I'm surprised there is no media around. The ambulance sirens start again and it drives off. The police let us know we're free to go. Christian puts me in the back of the SUV and climbs in next to me. He's holding me like I'll disappear if he lets go.
Taylor, drives us home.
I wake with a start. I look out the window and see it's still dark. What woke me? I look at Christian, it's dark so I can just barely see him. He's sleeping. I look at the ceiling. I can't fall back to sleep. I get out of bed and walk to our kitchen. In the kitchen I get a glass of orange juice and walk to the windows in the great room. I sit facing the windows, looking out at a sleeping Seattle. I turn around and rest my back against the window. I take another drink of my juice and think about what happen.
The other times I've seen Paul I was weak. I'm so glad I wasn't weak this time. I'm sure Sawyer would have let me at Paul, had he not of been risking his job. Christian, surely would have fired him. If Paul would have even touched me, or got close enough to touch. Even breath on me. Christian would have freaked out on Sawyer. I'm glad Sawyer let me say what I wanted and needed to say.
When I saw that Leila chick, I didn't think anything of it. Then when she started talking to Paul, it was clear she wasn't a threat to me. That sure was wrong. When she said Paul was obsessing over me, that was ridiculous. He was probably obsessing over Christian. And what Christian had done because of the relationship Paul and I had. But she said, I took him from her. That he was hers first. I knew she wasn't talking about Paul. It had to of been Christian she was talking about. That chick is crazy. Why would it matter that I have Christian, if she has Paul. It's a good thing she's going to prison. She's psychotic. When she pulled that gun out, all I could think about was Christian. I don't know why or how Christian and Taylor got there when they did. I'm just glad they were. Leila would be charged with murder instead of attempted murder if they hadn't. But, Taylor tackled Leila the same time the gun went off and she shot Paul.
I lean my head back against the glass. I still have so much I need to do for our wedding and I don't even know what I have left to do. I've never done this before. Christian said we can hire a wedding planner, but I like planning our wedding. Kate and Mia are great help. And Grace and Kelly are awesome, too. I-
"NO!"
I sit up fast, hearing Christian yell out.
"NO! ANA!"
Shit! He's having a nightmare!
He told me he use to have night-terrors, before we slept together.
I quickly get up and run to our room. I open the door. He is tossing and turning, in bed. His eyes tightly shut. Oh, Christian. I rush over to him. I get on the bed, on my side, sitting on my knees.
"Christian."
"Ana!" He cries out, in his sleep.
"Christian. Babe, wake up. Christian, wake up." I run my fingers through his hair. He calms slightly.
I continue to play with his soft hair. Gently soothing him, calling his name. His eyes spring open. He looks at me, wide eyed, panicked.
"Ana." He breaths, like I'm not real.
"Hey." I gently kiss his lips. "I'm here. I'm here, Christian." I caress his cheek.
"Oh, Ana!" He grabs me, pulling me to him. Holding me tight and inhaling my scent. He flips us, so I am under him. He buries his head in my neck.
"It's okay, Christian. It was just a nightmare." I continue to play with his hair, holding his head.
"It wasn't just a nightmare. It was real."
He settles next to me, still holding me tight. I twist to we can face each other. He wont let me go.
"When Taylor came in my office, to tell me Ryan phoned him. That Clayton was at Kavanagh's Bridal. I panicked. We rushed to get there. When Taylor pulled in the parking lot, and I saw you near Paul and Leila." He puts his arm over his eyes. "I died a thousand deaths, seeing Leila pull out that gun and aim it towards you. Taylor charged at her, tackling her to the ground. When I heard the gun go off, I saw you and Sawyer fall on the ground. I thought you were hit. I heard Clayton cry out. And I knew it was him, that got hit. If I ever lose you, baby..." He takes his arm off, from covering his eyes and looks at me. "I can't lose you. I can't. Today, I thought... I thought..."
"Shhhh." I caress his cheek. "It's okay. I'm okay. I'm safe. I'm here. You saved me. Taylor and Sawyer, saved me. Everything is alright, now."