A/N: Without further ado. Here comes the bride!
Mainly because I couldn't wait any longer to read the reviews for this chapter & I know your anticipation is ... well you know.
Time for their wedding and reception! I really hope you like it!
Enjoy!
APOV
My dad slowly walks me down the stairs of the Grey family home. Taylor and Sawyer open the Grey's patio French doors for us. We walk outside and to the tent with Kate. Taylor and Sawyer following. My dad is holding onto me. Kate walks in front of us. She stands at the entrance of the tent. Taylor and Sawyer stand on each side, ready to open the tent's curtains. When it's time they open the curtains for Kate. She walks through. I can't see anyone or anything inside the tent. Taylor and Sawyer close the curtains after she walks through. I take a deep breath and hold my bouquet tight. My dad and I walk up and stand in front of the curtains. We wait until it's time. I look at my dad. He has tears in his eyes. Oh, daddy. You're the only man I'd ask to do this for me. I love this man! He's always been there for me, even though he didn't have to be. I hope one day, many years from now, when Christian and I decide to have babies. That he and I can be half the parents, Ray, Grace and Carrick, didn't have to be.
I smile at my dad and wipe his tears.
"Walk me down the aisle daddy?" I ask him.
He holds me tight, not letting go. "I don't know if I can do this, Annie."
He doesn't want to give me away. He doesn't have to. He will always be a part of my life.
"I'll always be your little girl." I repeat to him, what he said to me, when I was 13. "And you'll always be my daddy."
I feel a tear close to falling. He wipes it.
"How'd you get so strong?"
"You." I kisses his cheek. "I learned from the strongest man I know."
I wipe his eyes again. He kiss my head and takes a deep breath.
We two steps closer to the tent's entrance. Taylor and Sawyer at the ready. I take a deep breath and nod for them to open the curtains. Before they do.
"Congratulations, Ana." They both say.
I grin, showing all my teeth. "Thank you both. For everything."
They smile a rare megawatt smile and nod.
"Ready?" Taylor asks me.
I grin and nod. I'm ready.
They pull the curtains back and leave them open. Daddy and I walk through the entrance. Taylor and Sawyer stand at the opening, hands clasped together.
I look up and see Christian. My sexy man. He's wearing his tux. My heart starts to race seeing him. He's swallows hard. He looks so handsome in his tux. Almost reluctantly, my daddy walks me down the aisle. I can't keep my eyes off of Christian. He can't keep his off of me. I see his eyes roam my body. I grin. Daddy and I reach the alter. Christian's pupils are dilated. I smirk, thinking of what I thought on our first date. Eat your heart, Grey. You haven't even seen the back, yet.
I mouth 'I love you'. He mouths, 'I love you'. I mouth, 'Always.' He mouths, 'Forever.'
"Do you give your blessing and loving support to the union of this couple?" Reverend Walsh asks my dad.
Christian and I are still starring at each other, grinning. My dad doesn't say anything. He just holds me tight. I look at him. He still has tears in his eyes. Oh, daddy. I kiss his cheek.
I whisper. "You can let go now, daddy. I'll be okay." He nods.
"I do." My dad says. He kisses my check and shakes Christian's hand. Then he goes to his seat, next to Kate's parents.
Christian reaches out for me. He holds my hip. And before I can even blink, his lips are on mine. His other hand holds my head.
"Woah!" Elliot chuckles and pulls Christian back. "We're not that far yet, brother."
Everyone laughs. I giggle.
I hand Kate my white roses and stand in my place, next to Christian. I look at him and grin like the Cheshire Cat. This is it! Christian and I hold hands.
"Please be seated." Reverend Walsh says. Everyone sits back down on their chairs.
"On behalf of Christian and Anastasia. I welcome you and thank you for joining them on this beautiful day to witness their wedding. I'd first like to start off by asking, if there is anyone here that feels these two should not be brought together. Speak now... and we will kindly have you removed." He nods to the back, towards Taylor and Sawyer. They stay impassive.
I giggle and everyone laughs.
"Christian asked me to say that." Reverend explains.
I look at Christian. He smirks and shrugs. I shake my head, grinning at him. Reverend Walsh continues with our ceremony.
"Christian and Anastasia have written their own vows. As the saying goes, ladies first."
I take a deep breath.
"I give you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, to stand by your side in good times and in bad, to share your joy as well as your sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals and dreams, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, to share my hopes and dreams with you, and bring you solace in times of need. And to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
Christian says his.
"I solemnly vow that I will safe guard and hold dear and deep in my heart our union and you. I promise to love you faithfully, forsaking all others, through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, regardless of where life takes us. I will protect you, trust you, and respect you. I will share your joys and sorrows and comfort you in times of need. I promise to cherish you and up hold your hopes and dreams and keep you safe at my side. All that is mine is now yours. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this moment on for as long as we both shall live."
"May we have the rings?"
Elliot pats all his pockets, overdramatically. Christian glares at him. Elliot pulls out our rings grinning.
"Anastasia, please place this ring on Christian's left ring finger and repeat after me."
Reverend Walsh, gives me Christian's wedding band. I put his wedding band on the tip of his finger. And look at Reverend Walsh to continue.
"I, Anastasia Rose Steele, take you, Christian Trevelyan-Grey, to be my husband."
I look at Christian. "I, Anastasia Rose Steele, take you, Christian Trevelyan-Grey, to be my husband."
I then slide the ring on Christian's finger, covering his Anastasia tattoo.
"Christian. Please place this ring on Anastasia's left ring finger and repeat after me"
He gets the ring from Reverend Walsh. He places my wedding band at my finger tip.
"I, Christian Trevelyan-Grey, take you, Anastasia Rose Steele, to be my wife."
He looks at me and repeats Reverend Walsh.
"I, Christian Trevelyan-Grey, take you, Anastasia Rose Steele, to be my wife."
Christian slides the ring on my finger, covering my Christian tattoo. He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now, kiss your bride."
I'm married!
Christian is just starring at me in awe. I giggle at my husband. I internally squeal. Husband!
"Are you going to kiss me, or not?"
"What are you waiting for, bro?" Elliot gives Christian a small push toward me.
Christian grabs my face. "You're finally mine." He breaths.
"I will always be yours."
He kisses me. Really kisses me. It's a full blown passionate kiss. I'm getting wet, in front of our family and friends, for goodness sakes. Our loved ones start cheering and whistling. Elliot wolf whistles. Christian doesn't stop. One hand stays holding my head. His other hand moves to my back.
"Oh, fuck." He murmurs against my mouth. He found out it's backless.
"Save it for the honeymoon, bro!"
Christian gives me one last chaste kiss. We turn to face our loved ones. Christian raises our joined hands in the air, grinning.
Christian and I are standing in front of the closed curtain's of the reception tent. Taylor and Sawyer, once again, waiting to open them. We had José take some photos of us after the ceremony. I've changed my dress to the shorter one.
"This dress becomes you, Anastasia." Christian's hand is roaming my bare back.
I twist my hips back and forth. "This old thing." I giggle.
Christian smiles and gives me a chaste kiss.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I hear Elliot say. His voice amplified. Oh, no. Who gave that man a microphone? I giggle. "Let me be the first to introduce you to, Mr. Christian Grey and Mrs. Anastasia Grey!"
The beginning of At Last, by Etta James, starts to play. Christian snakes his arm around my waist.
"Ready to party, Mrs. Grey?"
I grin at him. "As I'll ever be, Mr. Grey."
He grins and bends. He lifts me in his arms and carries me toward the tent. Taylor and Sawyer open the curtains. Christian walks in carrying me over the tent's threshold. All are loved ones are lined up on either side. Making a path in the middle for us. They are cheering and whistling. Christian carries me to the middle of the dance floor and sets me down.
I haven't seen the reception tent fully decorated. Grace, Mia, and Kate have out done themselves. They have it beautifully decorated in pale pink, silver, and ivory. The dance floor is located closest to the water, with the tent opened fully so we can see the view of the bay. Tables around the dance floor. A lavish buffet at the other end of the tent.
"Since they're already on the dance floor." Elliot continues talking into a microphone. "It's time for the bride and groom to dance their first dance as Mr. and Mrs."
Christian spins me around to face him, in the middle of the dance floor.
Piano music starts and skips to a stop. It starts again, still skipping to a stop. Christian pulls one hand away from me, still holding me with his other.
"Elliot. Give me the mic." Christian says to his brother.
Elliot, microphone already in hand, gives it to Christian. I look at Christian confused.
He wraps one arm around my waist, pulling me to him. I hold onto him. He puts the microphone to his lips and the same piano music from before starts, only this time, it continues. Christian leads us, dancing around the dance floor. Suddenly, the room is filled with Christian's sexy voice, as he starts to sing the song we're dancing to. There are collective gasps around the room, including mine. He's looking so deeply into my eyes as he sings.
"Every time our eyes meet,
this feeling inside me
is almost more than I can take."
He continues to dance with me, still singing.
"Baby, when you touch me,
I can feel how much you love me
and it just blows me away."
I have tears in my eyes, as we dance together.
"I've never been this close to anyone, or anything.
I can hear your thoughts, I can see your dreams."
He gently kisses my lips. We continue to sway to the music as he sings his heart out to me.
"I don't know how you do what you do.
I'm so in love with you.
It just keeps getting better.
I wanna spend the rest of my life,
with you by my side.
Forever and ever."
It's just the two of us, dancing alone, in this crowded room.
"Every little thing that you do,
baby, I'm amazed by you."
I caress his cheek and kiss his lips, tears falling uncontrollably.
"I love you." I sob out a whisper to him. He wipes my tears with his thumb.
We continue to dance and he continues to sing to me.
"The smell of your skin,
the taste of your kiss,
the way you whisper, in the dark.
Your hair all around me,
baby, you surround me,
and touch every place in my heart."
He spins us around, holding me closer.
"Oh, it feels like the first time, every time.
I wanna spend the whole night, in your eyes."
We're dancing, swaying our hips together.
"I don't know how you do what you do.
I'm so in love with you.
It just keeps getting better.
I wanna spend the rest of my life,
with you by my side.
Forever and ever."
He kisses me during the break in lyrics. I put one of my hands in his hair, my other hand still holding his bicep. He pulls away from our kiss. He turns off the microphone and puts it in his suit pocket. He wraps both arms around my waist. I wrap my arms around his neck, playing with his hair at the nape of his neck. He continues to sing. But this time, just to me, without the microphone.
"Every little thing that you do,
I'm so in love with you.
It just keeps getting better.
I wanna spend the rest of my life,
with you by my side,
forever and ever.
Every little thing that you do,
every little thing that you do.
He stops moving, so we stop dancing.
"Baby, I'm amazed by ... you."
He leans down, as I reach up. We kiss.
I've dance with my daddy, our father/daughter dance. We danced to 'I Loved Her First'. I giggled when my dad said "If this song skips, don't be expecting me to sound like your husband." I can't believe Christian did that. He told me that it was him playing the piano too. He recorded it. I love that he did that for me.
I'm watching Christian and Grace dance their mother/son dance. Grace, of course, is getting emotional. They're dancing to, Because you loved me, by Celine Dion. Grace can barely hold back her tears. Christian suddenly stops dancing. Grace looks confused. The song screeches to a halt.
The next thing we hear is,
Come on, baby! Let's do the twist!
Chubby Checker's, The Twist, starts playing. I giggle seeing Christian doing The Twist with his mom. Grace, no longer emotional is laughing and twisting with Christian all over the dance floor. God, I love that man! The things he does for the people he cares about. I'm both surprised and not, that he actually wore the hot pink socks I got him. Christian holds his mom once more, as if nothing happen. And the Celine Dion song comes back on. Celine sings the last verse.
I'm everything I am, because you loved me.
Christian kisses his mother's cheek and I read his lips. He tells her. 'Thank you'. I wipe my tear. Christian escorts his mother back to her table. He comes walking back to me. He grins with his hands in his pockets. He wiggles his brows at me. I giggle again. He sits next to me and gives me a sweet kiss.
"You're something else, you know that."
Elliot's voice, amplified from the microphone, causes me to look at him. "We're going to move along with the speeches, while you all enjoy your meal. Up first is Ana's best friend and maid of honor, Kate."
Kate gets up and takes the microphone from Elliot. He sits back down, near Grace.
"Hi everyone. Most of you already know of me, but I'm Kate. Best friend of the bride. Best friends?" She giggles. "We're more like sisters. I've known Ana, since we were five. She was so quiet and shy, still is. I was, and as you can see, still am, very much loud and outgoing. We were total opposites. Still are. I'm sure people look at us and wonder how we are still friends after all these years. Opposites attracted, don't they? I'm kidding. I know you're all dying to know. The truth is... I don't really know. What I do know is, that girl, has been there for me. Just as I have been for her. Through tough times, happy times and times in between. We've laughed together and cried together. We snuck out together. Sorry mom, dad, Ray." Everyone laughs. "Ana has a big heart. She is as sweet and friendly as they come. If a friend needed her. She would drop everything, just to be there for her friend, never stopping to ask what's in it for her. That's when you find out who your friends are. When they're there for you, when you need them. A true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes, while everyone else believes your smile. And every girl needs a best friend to help her laugh, when she thinks she'll never smile again. Ana, it's so great to see you so happy and smiling a truly happy smile. I can see your smile and I know it's genuine. I see how much you love Christian and he you. It's obvious he adores you. You found your prince, girl!" I wipe my tear that has fallen. "Carrick. Cover your ears for a sec. Grey?" She looks at Christian. "Just so you know. If you hurt one hair on her head. I'll help her hide your body." Everyone laughs. "In all honesty, I'm happy for you Ana. Congratulations to the bride and groom. May they live happily ever after."
Everyone toasts with Kate. She puts the microphone down and comes running over to me, with tears in her eyes. I stand and we hug.
"I'm so happy for you Ana." She whispers, emotionally.
"Thank you, Kate."
Kate smiles and walks back to the table with Elliot. Before she sits she grabs the microphone from the table.
"Now it's time for Christian's best man, who also happens to be my best man, to make his speech."
She puts the microphone in front of Elliot and sits at the table. Elliot stays seated and picks up the microphone.
"I'll keep this short because I have to use the little boys room." Elliot stands, doing a little dance. I giggle. "I have just a few things to say, anyway."
He takes out what looks to be fifty loose pieces of crumpled paper. He starts to smooth out the sheets of paper. He lays them on the table and tries smoothing them. Then rubs them over his chest. It takes him a while. Finally, after getting them as unrumpled as he can. He clears his throat.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen."
He folds up the papers again and puts them back in the breast pocket of his tux. Everyone laughs.
"For those who don't know me. Which everyone here does." Everyone laughs. "I'm Elliot. Christian's best and only man and his older brother. Last weekend Christian said 'I don't really want you to speak at my wedding, but you're the only brother I have'. So here we are.
I'm honored and a little excited to be my brother's best man. He said if I do well, I could be the best man at his next wedding." Kate and Grace hit Elliot. "I'm kidding! Joke. It was a joke." He chuckles. "Let's get right to it shall we. Everyone raise your glasses to honor the real reason we're all here tonight."
Everyone raises their glass.
"The open bar." Everyone laughs, again.
"Ana, I liked you from the moment I first met you. You laugh at all my jokes, when my brother just shakes his head and calls me an idiot. You're beautiful, inside and out. You're kind, caring, compassionate, and most importantly, you make my brother happy, in a way I never could."
Christian shakes his head. "Idiot." He mutters. I giggle.
"Ana, let me just say, you look gorgeous tonight. You're a vision. I think I speak for all the guys here when I say, it's a sad day. Because another beautiful, intelligent girl is officially off the market. And I think I can speak for all the ladies in the room when I say, today is just another day." Everyone laughs. Even Christian. "I would tell stories about Christian growing up, but most of those stories incriminate me as well, so lets move along. Shall we? Everyone here knows Ana or Christian individually. But they don't know them well, as a couple. Now that may be because they haven't been together very long." Laughter. "I can't help but take some credit for Ana and Christian meeting. If it weren't for me meeting Kate and having Christian pick me up from her apartment. Christian might not have gotten jealous. You see, Ana was Kate's roommate and she answered the door when Christian came to pick me up. Christian thought Ana and I were together, he didn't see Kate. That's right. I knew you wanted Ana, as soon as I saw you with that famous Christian Grey, scowl on your face. Me being... well, me. I had to jerk your chain a bit in the car." Christian shakes his head and Elliot laughs. "I was with them, when they went on their first date. Ana was one of the very few women I have ever known, who wasn't swooning over my little brother. I was beginning to think she was the one that was gay. Not Christian, like he was rumored to be and everyone assumed." Everyone laughs. "Ana is a very beautiful, smart, caring, and devoted girl. She deserves a great husband. And since I'm already in a relationship, you'll have to due." Everyone laughs. "As you can see, I joke around a lot." Elliot laughs. "But I want to say, I'm proud of you Christian. And I wish you both all the best with your new life, together. ... Mom, made me say that." Everyone laughs. "But seriously. I love you both. Almost as much as I love my new truck. Thanks for that by the way." Laughter. "All joking aside. Congratulations you two. Let's raise our glasses, for real this time. To the bride and groom. My brother and his beautiful wife. I'm going to go hug them, then go to the bathroom."
I laugh.
Elliot rushes over to us doing some kind of dance. He hugs me and shakes Christian's hand. Then he runs out of the tent and too the bathroom. I giggle. I guess he really had to go. Christian and I sit and finish eating.
We've danced. We've cut the cake. We've done everything. Now it's time for the bouquet and garter toss.
I pick up my bouquet of white roses and walk to the middle of the dance floor. The song, Single Ladies by Beyoncé, starts to play. I giggle seeing Kate, Mia and Hannah doing the dance moves from the music video, as they walk towards the dance floor with the other few single ladies here. I turn around when all the single ladies are on the dance floor. I look over my shoulder and giggle again. Kate and Mia take off their heels, tossing them aside and playfully push each other out of the way. Both determined to catch the bouquet. I turn around again and take off the ribbon holding the roses together. I toss the roses over my head and turn around to see the roses spread out and fall all over the girls. They all get as many roses as they can. Some have caught the roses, some pick roses up off the floor. Everyone has a few. The girls smile and go back to their seats.
Elliot then brings a chair out to the dance floor. He has the microphone again. He talks while carrying the chair.
"Alright, brother. It's time for the garter toss."
I sit on the chair. Christian gets up and comes out onto the dance floor.
"What do I have to do?" Christian asks Elliot.
"You have to get the garter off Ana's thigh. Without using your hands."
Christian looks at me, sitting on the chair, and smirks mischievously.
"With pleasure."
Oh, no. He wouldn't dare do anything in front of our parents, surely. Right?!
Christian stalks toward me, like I am his prey. He has a smoldering sexy look on his face. Oh, god! He gets down on his knees in front of me. He lifts my foot and takes off my blue stiletto. He kisses my ankle, then starts kissing up my calf, to my knee. Never taking his eyes off of me. He puts my leg over his shoulder. I squirm. Oh, god! He puts both of his hands on my thighs and pushes the hem of my dress up a bit. Then lifts the hem of my shorter dress. He smirks at me, eyes dark. He lifts my dress slightly, just enough to put his head under my dress. Oh, god! He kisses up my thigh, passing my garter. His nose pushes into my sex and he inhales deeply. Oh, god! I blush scarlet red. I get wet, hearing his groan of pleasure. His tongue runs flat along my panty covered sex. Oh, god! I push his head away, through my dress. He chuckles and kisses back down my thigh, back to my garter. I feel his teeth on my thigh, at my garter. He pulls it down my leg using his teeth. His head pops out from under my dress and his eyes are completely black. I swallow hard. He lifts my leg, taking it off his shoulder and pulls the garter completely off my leg, using his teeth. With the garter still grasped in his teeth, he picks up my blue stiletto and puts it back on my foot. He winks at me and stands. He takes the garter out of his mouth and holds it above his head in victory.
"Well it took you long enough." Elliot chuckles. "Now all the single fellas, join me on the dance floor. Get your, a.. ah." He looks around. Grace and Grandma look at him in warning. "Single guys come to the dance floor. Christian is going to toss the garter."
"What?" Christian asks.
"You're going to toss the garter." Elliot explains. "Like Ana did with her bouquet."
"Oh, hell no." Christian says stuffing the garter into his tux pants pocket. "Mine."
"Dude." Elliot chuckles. "You have to toss the garter."
"The fuck I will. No man is getting their hands on that. It was on Anastasia's thigh!" I giggle. Like that is a legitimate reason why he can't.
"Alright fine. Single guys. Go back to the bar. It seems Christian is a little too possessive and doesn't like to share."
The guys laugh and go back to their tables. I stand up and Elliot takes the chair away.
Christian pulls me into his embrace. "Time to go." He kisses me. "I don't want to share you with all these people anymore." I giggle thinking about Elliot's comment about Christian not liking to share.
"Can we leave our own wedding?"
"Baby, it's our party. We can do whatever we want. We've danced. We've cut the cake. You tossed your bouquet." I giggle. He didn't toss the garter. He smirks. "And right now, I'd like to whisk you away and have you all to myself." I bite my lip and nod.
Christian pulls my lip free and puts his hand on my lower back. He leads me to Elliot and whispers in his ear. Elliot nods and gets the microphone.
"Ladies and gents. It seems our groom is impatient to get his bride alone." Elliot says suggestively and wiggles his brows. Christian slugs Elliot's arm. "Ow! Alright!" Elliot rubs his arm. "The bride and groom are leaving. Let's say our 'see ya laters' to the happy couple."
Everyone stands and makes a line at entrance, now the exit of the tent, like they did when we came in. Christian leads me to them. We hug, shake hands or kiss cheeks of our loved ones.
Christian and I hug Grandma Trevelyan. "You two seriously need to get working on making my great-grandbabies." She smiles.
My eyes pop open wide in horror.
"We'll see grandmother." Christian kisses my temple and puts his hand on my lower back, moving us down the line of our loved ones.
Near the end, our parents are waiting for us.
"You make on hell of a bride, Annie."
"Oh, dad..." I stifle a sob, and hug him.
Christian and my dad shake hands. I hug Grace and Carrick.
"Ready?" Christian asks me.
"Yes." I grin at him.
He takes my hand and we run to the front of the Grey's house, laughing. Our loved ones running along with us, following us to the front. They are blowing bubbles like crazy. We turn the corner and I stop dead in my tracks. I look at Christian, shocked. He's already looking at me so intently.
He shrugs. "I told you I could get a white horse." Oh, Christian.
I look back at the two white horses and the carriage, then at Christian with tears in my eyes.
"Oh, Christian." I breath.
He pulls me into his embrace. "I love you, baby."
I kiss him and murmur against his lips. "Always"
"Forever."
A/N: Does anyone remember that conversation Christian and Anastasia had about a white horse? (Chapter 11)