Don't forget to look at my pintrest /thecranberries/fifty-shades-of-wonder/
I'm sorry it's been so long I just got back from Florida.
Anastasia's POV:
It's a week before Christmas and I'm planning a surprise for Christian. I have instructed Luke to get a Christmas tree and pick up the ornaments I ordered. They range from wooden to glass and I had some hand made with out pictures inside. Decorating the tree has always been the best part of Christmas. I wonder what Christmas has been like for Christmas. Did he spend it with his family? Did he just no celebrate? I know we are going to the Grey's for turkey dinner this year. Christian's life when I first met him wasn't really living in my opinion. I thank the stars everyday I have him in my life. He's always talking about how I saved him, but he doesn't know how much he saved me.
I get a call from Christian saying he won't be home until seven which is perfect. Gail helps me prepare and decorate sugar cookies and gingerbread people. I help he cook dinner which is simply spaghetti and meatballs. I help Luke set up the tree and we unpack the ornaments. I'm waiting for Christian to get home to decorate the tree but setting everything up will make it easier. When were done Luke hands me a small wrapped gift. Inside there is a Millennium Falcon ornament. I look up at Luke no doubt with a goofy smile on my face and give him a hug.
"Luke it's wonderful."
"I saw it in the store and knew you'd love it." He hugs me back. I know Christian wasn't exactly happy when I befriended the staff, but they've become my family. I hear Christian clear his throat and I jump away from Luke. I run towards him and show him the ornament. "Look what Luke bought me."
"It's adorable. Did you do all this for me?"
"I did this for us. It's our first Christmas together." He smiles and kisses me.
"You are amazing."
"I know. Let's eat then we can decorate."
"Great I'm hungry." I pull him over to where the food is laid out and we sit, eat and he tells me about his meeting. I love hearing about Christian's day. If Christian had the mind to he could rule the world.
When we finish. I grab his hand and the tray of cookies and lead him towards the tree. I place the cookies on the table and lay the one of the blankets on the floor. Wellington runs over from where Gail took him and attacks us both. I love this dog so much. I show Christian the ornaments I had made with pictures of us and even got a last minute one made of the photo Taylor took for us at the park with Wellington.
Christian looks amazed at all of this. We are sitting on the blanket and Wellington is in my lap. Christian smiles as he looks at all of the ones of us. As were decorating we have to chase Wellington around because he thinks the ornaments are toys. As I'm placing the Millennium Falcon on the tree Christian comes behind me and tickles me. "Stop it." I shout, but he continues what he's doing.
Somehow we get from standing to lying down on the blanket with him continuing to tickle me. Tears are streaming down my face from laughing so hard. Wellington is beside Christian trying to bite him I guess he thinks Christian is hurting me. "Christian I'm serious stop!" Finally he does and I pin him down and tickle him.
"See it's not fun!" I look at him and he's so carefree. Like nothing bad has ever happened to him. I look up and see Grace and Carrick smiling. "Your parents are here." I say and kiss him quickly on the lips. We get up and greet them and Grace looks like she's been crying.
"Whats wrong mom?" Christian asks concerned.
"Nothing sweetie It's just so nice seeing you have fun." Christian pulls his mother in for a hug and she mouths 'thank you' to me. We sit down in the living room and Christian grabs a bottle of wine.
"This is Wellington." I say picking him up.
"You bought a dog?" They ask in unison.
"Christian rescued him."
"Well he's beautiful."
"I know."
Carrick pulls out his phone and shows me pictures he took of Christian and I during our tickle fight. "Could you send me those?"
"Of course." Christian comes back into the room and sits down next to me. We make a toast to the holidays and drink our wine, which is crisp and delicious. Grace and Carrick were just in the neighbourhood and wanted to see if we were coming for dinner on Christmas. Christian suggests that we all go over on Christmas eve and open presents as a big family. We all have out significant others an Grace is ecstatic. She is a wonderful mother. When they leave Christian and I finish decorating and climb into bed. It's not very late so we decide to watch a movie on my laptop.
It took some work, but Wellington is finally sleeping in his own bed.
When I wake up in the morning Christian is still asleep beside me. I check my phone and have missed calls from my publisher and Kate. It's too early to call them back so I check my e-mail. Three google alerts for Anastasia Steele. I open it and click on the first link.
The new author Anastasia Steele has cracked the top ten on the New York Times bestseller list. Her book 'It's A Constant Battle' is all about the struggles she has gone through as a young woman. It is one of my personal favourites and sales skyrocketed last week during the holiday rush. It's hard to make the list, but to have your first book make it is a serious accomplishment. Look out everyone we've got a rising star on our hands. Make sure to purchase her new poetry book 'China Girl'.
I scream. Pinch me I must be dreaming. Christian wakes up and scans the room. "Anastasia are you alright?" His voice is filled with concern.
I stand up and start jumping up and down on the bed. "I am more than alright Christian. Want to know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I made it on the New York Times bestseller list!" Sawyer and Taylor burst through the door.
"Is everything alright?" I do a little dance totally ignoring them. I jump off the bed and wrap my arms around the two of them.
"Everything's great!" I run past them and search for Gail.
"Gail guess what?" I obviously startle he because she jumps. "I made the New York Times bestseller list." She pulls me in for a a hug and congratulates me. I turn on some music and start dancing.
"Go Ana it's your birthday." Everyone is staring at me and I just continue what I'm doing. "This is the best day ever!" I scream and run up the stairs. Wow I have a lot of energy. I climb into the shower stand there letting it all sink in. When I walk out of the bathroom Christian is waiting outside the door.
"Congratulations." He says with a huge smile.
"This is amazing Christian. I'm in shock!"
"Let's have dinner tonight to celebrate."
"Sounds great!"
"I wish I could spend all day with you worshipping the ground you walk on because this is an amazing accomplishment, but I have an early breakfast meeting." He kisses me and heads into the bathroom. I head into the closet to get changed. I pick out my black long sleeve bodysuit and white high-waist embossed pencil skirt. I look through my shoes and decide on my Michael Kors aiden studded laser-cut booties. I think I look good. I brush my hair and leave it down. My hair actually looks good for once. Today is going to be a good day. I pass Christian on my way out of the closet. I turn on my heel and stand in the doorway. He's still a little wet from his shower so his perfectly sculpted body is glistening. Damn!
"Do you mind Miss Steele."
"Not at all."
"Good so let be get dressed."
"You're no fun." I walkout the door and take a sea at the breakfast bar. Gail has prepared chocolate chip pancakes with bacon and real maple syrup. Not that flavoured corn syrup that they try and pass off as maple syrup.
Gail tells me Sawyer told her to make these since it's a special day. I can't believe he remembers that. Whenever I had a big day or did well in school Ray made me this for breakfast. I'll have to thank Luke for that. Christian grabs me from behind and spooks me. He kisses both my cheeks and sits down next to me.
"I see you liked your breakfast."
"Very much."
"Good. I have a present for you." He reaches into the pocket of his charcoal coloured Michael Kors suit pulling out two little blue boxes. He hands them to me and I roll my eyes. "I saw that." I open the first box, which holds a beautiful necklace. Smaller diamonds circle a larger centre stone with rose gold. Oh my!
"Christian." I look into his eyes. "it's beautiful."
"Open the other box." Inside there is a pair of earrings to match.
"Christian I can't except these."
"Of course you can and you will." His eyes turn from blue to gray. "Anastasia when will you learn what's mine is yours. Were talking about marriage. You need to learn that this is nothing for me."
"Christian you need to learn this is a lot for me."
"I understand that, but soon my money will be yours. We're going to start a family and I am going to spoil our children." I roll my eyes again.
"Christian thank you." I don't want to fight with him. Not today.
Sawyer drives me to work since Christian needs to be in early. I can't wait to go out to dinner with him tonight. I get calls and people dropping into my office all day to say congratulations. This is all so unreal. I'm waiting for someone to jump out and say you've been punk'd. I have to stay late to meet with my publisher. Apparently he's been getting calls all day about doing interviews. He tells me I need to find a manager because it's not his job. Although he suggests I do the interviews. I have so much to think about. This is all so much for me. A couple months ago I was a nobody and now I'm dating Christian Grey and on the New York Times bestseller list. When were done I go back into my office and collect my things. Christian texted me the address of the restaurant and tells me to meet him there. I am way too tired to drive so I had Luke the keys.
"Did you ask Charlie out?"
"Yes." He blushes.
"What did she say?"
"Yes."
"I'm happy for you." It only takes ten minutes to get to Canlis. Christian's really going all out for this. Canlis is one of the most expensive restaurants in Seattle. I'm glad I'm somewhat dressed up right now. I give the name Christian Grey and I am directed to the private dinning room. I open the door and see The Grey's, the Kavanagh's, Ray, Taylor and Gail who all shout 'congratulations.' Saywer walks over to the rest of them and they all clap. Tears are running down my face and my father comes over and hugs me.
"I knew you were destined for great things." He whispers in my ear. I go around the table and thank everyone for coming. We laugh smile and talk. The waiter comes in and we go around the table ordering three course meals. Ray looks uncomfortable and I give him a shy smile. I am my fathers daughter. We are simple people and the Grey's have had a different life than we've had. I order the oysters to start, lamb as my main course and creme brulee for dessert. Christian orders a Pinot Noir for the table. Everyone makes a toast to me and we drink.
Kate asks what's next for me and I explain what my publisher told me. "A lot of people want to do interviews so my publisher thinks I should higher a publicist and a personal assistant. It's absolutely absurd. Why do I need a personal assistant?" Everyone goes around taking turns giving pro's and con's of all this stuff. Christian doesn't look please mostly because this means I have to travel. Everyone wants to know if I'm going to write another book.
"Actually I am and it's a tell all book about Christian Grey. Chapter one is called more money than sense." I joke and Christian actually laughs.
"Seriously though." Mia asks excited.
"I am going to. I've started writing some fiction, but it's hard." I shrug. "I guess I haven't found he right subject yet." We talk about plans for Christmas and the Grey's have invited Ray to join as well. I don't think he's going to come, but you never know. By the end of the night I am exhausted. Ray tells me he's flying back home on Christian's helicopter. He gives me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Christian's a wonderful man Anastasia." I fall asleep on the car ride home and Christian carries me up to bed.
"Thank you Christian." I smile as he tucks me in.
"No problem my angel." He kisses my forehead before leaving the room.
Thoughts?