(Time jump 6 months)

APOV

Its the beginning of July and I'm out with my mom, Kate, Mia and Grace looking for dresses for the Coping Together Gala this year. Now typically you have to be 16 years of age to go but with Mia and her tantrums, then add in her power of persuasion our parents have said we can all go this year. I don't mind as I know that my mom and Grace both started this charity because of Christian and I.

If this had been around when we were younger then maybe our mothers would have gotten the help that they needed. I'm glad we get to go this year as it feels like we are helping raise the money. I know I like to help mom and Grace and the rest of the board for the charity but for some reason this makes it seem like I'm doing more even though I'm not really. We all head into the best story in Seattle and go about looking at the dresses they have. Mia and Kate are the first to find their dresses.

Kate's is a stunning emerald green mermaid style dress. It is a one shoulder strap dress with rhinestones on the shoulder and across the sweet heart neck line. When she comes out of the dressing room its like the dress was made for her.

Mia's dress is a silk floor length pink dress. The lace over the top of the dress is a slightly lighter shade of pink than the dress making it only just noticeable. The design on the lace is very flowery and totally Mia, she is a true girly girl and this dress again just like Kate's looks like it was made for her.

Mom and Grace are next to find their dresses and I have to say both dresses are wonderful. Mom's is a red chiffon dress that is tight to the hips the loosely flows to the floor. Grace's dress is royal blue similar to mom's but where as mom's has thin straps, Grace's is a halter top. They both look stunning.

I'm the only one now left looking for a dress but nothing and I mean nothing seems right. I want Christian to be speechless and I want him to be proud to be seen with me. Christian already asked me to be his date to the Gala as soon as he heard that us girls got to go. Thinking I won't find my dress I give up turning to head back to the front of the store when something catches my eye. I walk over and there is my dress. Its a strapless floor length grey chiffon gown. Its skin tight at the top down to the hips but it goes out slightly and hands loosely until it hits the floor. There are rhinestones around the top of the gown, a slit from the floor up to the left knee. But the main thing I love about this dress is that it is the exact same grey as Christian's eyes.

I stand there looking at the gown when a sales assistant comes over. "Hello miss would you like to try this gown on?" I nod my head "yes please" I say excited that I have found my dress. We head to the changing room where she proceeds to help me put the dress on. Once its on she steps back and gasps "oh my miss you look stunning I think this is the dress you are looking for" she says smiling widely. I nod my head and walk out of the changing room to look in the mirrors out there and also so my family can see the dress I've chosen.

They all have the same reaction as the sales assistant, they gasp, cover their mouths and look like they are going to cry. Oh my god if this is what they are like just shopping for a dress for the Gala what will they be like when I'm looking for a wedding gown. I mean its years away but I just know Christian and I are going to be together forever. But still we aren't going to get married for a good few years yet. But its still nice to imagine what it would be like, finding the right gown, planing every little detail, walking down the aisle to Christian knowing we are going to show everyone that we love each so much we can't/wont be apart from each other. That we are committed to each other for the rest of our lives.

After changing back into my clothes and paying for our dresses we all head out for lunch, Kate and Mia are talking about how they want their hair and make up done but I'm listening more to mom and Grace talking about the Gala and the entertainment, they are trying to find a singer as the one they had has had a family emergence and won't be able to sing at the Gala. Talking a deep breath I quickly say before I change my mind "I'll do it mom". The hold table goes quiet and they look at me "are you sure sweetie?" I nod my head "yes I'm sure I mean its only for the first dance auction and then a few songs after as you the other day the band it only playing for just over an hour then the DJ will take over" I look at mom and Grace and they are smiling a mile wide. I know they love hearing me sing and this will be the first time I've ever sang in front of people outside of our families.

With that settled we continue lunch and I join in asking Mia and Kate how they think I should have my hair and make up as they love playing dress up with me as I don't bother with my hair or make up. They say the will do it for me and not to worry they will make me look even more stunning than I already am. I know why they said that, even though Christian tells me I'm beautiful I can't truly except it, I mean look at Kate and Mia, they have boys falling over themselves to get a bit of their attention.

We head home after lunch and I head straight to the garden and down to the sound looking out at the water, I'm not sure how much time has past but I'm brought out of though as I feel an arm wrap around me. Turning my head I see Christian smiling at me. "Hey you've been out here for an hour and a half are you ok?" Looking into his eyes I can see he is a little worried. I know why ever since the accident I kept thinking if there was another reason behind it. I mean I know the police caught the person responsible for cutting the breaks on the mans car but I can't help it. He said he had cut the breaks as he didn't like same sex couples and that it was a crime against God and nature. He's now in a mental health facility as he claims that God had told him he had to do it and that he was to continue until ever gay and lesbian was off the earth.

I smile as he squeezes my arm "yeah just thinking" I rest my head on his shoulder "I'm singing at the Gala" I tell him not sure if anyone has yet, I feel him kiss my head "yeah mom told me you offered I have to say I was a bit disappointed I mean I wanted to dance with you" I giggle slightly "you will when the DJ takes over and I'm sure he will play some slow songs so I can be in your arms" I turn and look up at him and kiss him cheek. "I'll hold you to that babe" I smile up at him the turn to look back out at the sound and remember what he said when I was in the hospital.

Flash back the day Ana is released from the hospital

I'm so glad to be going home today I've been here for a week and a half as they wanted to make sure that there wasn't anything they had missed. I'm waiting for dad to sign the paper work and then I'm going home to my own bed. Christian has been here everyday and I had to tell him to go home and get a good nights sleep, even though he didn't want to leave me.

Christian is zipping up my bag for me and comes to sit on the bed next to me "Ana please please please don't do something like that again ok, I was so scared I thought I had lost you, that I'd have to live with out you and I can't go through that ever again it nearly killed me thinking you had died" he takes a deep breath but I don't say anything knowing he needs to get it off his chest "I know you were trying to protect me and I'm so thankful for that but you put yourself in harms way, in danger and I can't allow you to do that again I know you would have felt the same if it was the other way round but I can't lose you not now not ever it would kill me to know you died protecting me. I swear if you do anything like that ever again I will put you over my knee and spank you and no I'm not joking about it either"

He takes a deep breath and kneels in front of me wiping the tears that are falling down my cheeks "I love you so much baby and I hate seeing you in so much pain, not knowing if you were going to make it broke my heart and its something I never want to go through ever again. Promise me you won't do something like it again baby promise me"

I nod my head and wrap my arms around his neck and hold onto him as tight as I can "I promise I won't put you through that again I'm so sorry baby I love you so much too and I'm so sorry" he moves my head back and kisses me deeply holding me close to him.

End of flash back

Since that day we haven't spoken about it, I think its a hard subject for the both of us. "Will you help me practice for the Gala ? I mean play the piano for me?" I ask "of course I will baby come on let's go now" he stands up then holding his hand out for me. We head to his to practise as our families are at mine. After sending a quick text to mom to tell her I'm practising at Christians I put my phone away and we head into the music room to start practising.