Just Breathe

by Mother of Pearl Fetish

What happens when Christian and Ana don't meet at the interview? What steps will he take when he first sees her at graduation? What will change when he inadvertently injures her before he can introduce her to the Red Room of Pain? 2015 Nominee - Fanatic Fanfics Multifandom Awards.

21. Chapter 21

Just Breathe, Chapter 21 – Message in a Bottle
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Ana's POV

While we were swimming back to The Grace, a bottle drifted toward me.

"Look! Message in a bottle!" I grasp it to show to Christian. How did he miss it floating by him? "Did I ever tell you about the time I caught a bottle when I was in fifth grade? Ray and I were fishing on some river; I can't remember where. When we got home, I opened it, and it had a letter in it. Some senior was tracking the flow and eddy of the river by dropping three dozen message bottles three at a time at the same time each day for almost two weeks. I filled out the longitude and latitude of where I found the bottle and mailed it back to the student. He sent a nice thank-you note along with a map of where his other bottles had been found. It was a cool science experiment."

"Well then, let's go look at your treasure," Christian suggested. He reached The Grace and scampered up a few rungs, reaching down to help me up the ladder. He led me over to the table. "Wait; let me get towels for us. I want to see what you've found."

He came back a few minutes later with towels and wrapped one around my shoulders. "Go for it," he urged. "I want to take pictures, in case you found a treasure map." He chuckled.

I cracked the wax sealing the cork to the bottle and tried to uncork it. After I worked the cork for a few minutes, it finally unsealed. The paper in the bottle, parchment actually, was tied so the paper slid out easily. I slipped the constraining band off the parchment and unrolled it.

Your love is like a thermal when I'm soaring; it lifts me and supports me. Your love is like the wind that fills my sails and gives me direction in life. A good marriage is sailing life's voyage together, weathering every storm, sharing every adventure, soaring every thermal. I don't want to be adrift through life without you. Please share life's adventures as my wife; my partner, the love of my life. I promise my heart, my faithfulness, my life to you. I promise to always be there for you. I promise to keep you safe. I promise to cherish you until the end of time. Anastasia Rose Steele, will you honor my love for you by becoming my wife?

I spin in shock to look at Christian. He's kneeling behind me, holding up a ring box.

"Please say yes, Ana," Christian's face beams at me, despite the plea in his voice.

"Yes...oh yes!" I ignore the ring and launch myself at him; pulling his lips up to mine, kissing every available inch of his face. He pulls me down to him and fastens his mouth to mine, kissing me over and over and over until I'm breathless and senseless.

"Don't you want to see your ring?" He finally pulls away and asks.

"Uh…yes…sorry…I was more interested in kissing you," I admit.

As I lay there in his arms, he nods at the box lying next to me. I open it and gasp. It's beautiful…a heart-shaped pink diamond suspended in air, and held in place by a band of etched flowers. "Hearts and flowers?" I look up at his smoldering eyes.

"For the rest of our lives, baby…hearts and flowers for the rest of our lives." He slid the ring on my finger and kissed it; kissing my fingers, my knuckles, kissing up my arm and down my chest to my heart where he kissed me tenderly. "My heart loves your heart," he said before he captured my mouth again.

"It fits beautifully, and it's not so large it's overwhelming. How did you do that?" I ask him.

"I measured your finger one night when you were asleep. I also took a picture of your hand. I gave it to the jeweler and told him to find the right-sized diamond for your petite hand. Four carats was the perfect size." He kissed my hand. "The perfect ring for the perfect girl."

XX

Ana is sound asleep, poor girl. I wore her out the last two hours, but it's not enough. It will never be enough. I want to watch her blush for the rest of our lives. I want to smell her hair for the rest of our lives. I want to bite that bottom lip she holds between her teeth when she's shy or over thinking things. I want to stare into those beautiful blue eyes. I want to touch that soft alabaster skin. I want to bury myself in her for the rest of our lives. I've never felt so enervated in my life and there are things to do. I reach for the mobile satellite phone and make a call.

"Keaton…Christian Grey. Good, good, and your family? Great, glad to hear it. Say, Keaton, I need a huge favor. It coincides with that secret NDA I had you sign yesterday morning. Do you remember that picture taken of Anastasia and me at the Coping Together event in July? I'm standing behind her with my arms around her, both of us have our masks off? Will you use it as an engagement picture?" I listened to the shouts of astonishment and then continued. "Tomorrow's Seattle Times would be great, lifestyle section. Ready to write?" I paused for a second and then began, "Mr. Raymond Steele of Montesano announces the engagement of his daughter Anastasia Steele to Christian Grey of Seattle. Grey is the son of Carrick Grey and Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey of Bellevue. Miss Steele is the daughter of Mrs. Carla Adams, Savannah, Georgia. Miss Steele is a Copy Editor for Grey Publishing. Mr. Grey is CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings. A wedding date has not been set." He listened again and confirmed as Keaton read the information back to him. "Your staff is covered under that NDA on Friday. No one is to reveal the story to anyone." He listened to congratulations again. "Thanks, Keaton and make sure you don't say anything to Kate. I want this to be a surprise for my parents and grandparents."

XXXXX
Sunday, September 4, 2013

********** Seattle Nooz **********

We were scooped! You heard it here! You read it there! Seattle Times Sunday Edition announced the engagement of Gorgeous Grey to Beautiful Steele. "Mr. Raymond Steele of Montesano announces the engagement of his daughter Anastasia Steele to Christian Grey of Seattle. Grey is the son of Carrick Grey and Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey of Bellevue. Miss Steele is the daughter of Mrs. Carla Adams, Savannah, Georgia. Miss Steele is a Copy Editor for Grey Publishing. Mr. Grey is CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings. A wedding date has not been set." We have not been able to reach either Grey or Steele for a comment.

We reached Raymond Steele; who commented Christian Grey asked him for his daughter's hand in marriage a month ago! He then surprised our reporter by saying, "I told the boy he had my blessing, but only Annie could give him the answer he sought." Swoon. We have not been able to reach Miss Steele's mother for her comment.

We contacted Carrick and Grace Grey and their combined comment was, "thrilled…in seventh heaven…on cloud nine…over the moon!"
********** Seattle Nooz **********

Elena took her reading basket, reading glasses and a mimosa to the gazebo. Her weekly schedule didn't allow her to read all of the paper each day. She usually skimmed the headlines and the society pages. She had a basket full of reading material waiting for Labor Day weekend when she could peruse materials at her leisure.

She weeded through old newspapers, circulars, advertising flyers, and sale catalogs. Elena settled back on her chaise with a mimosa and the Sunday Seattle Times. She flipped to the obituary notices. One of her long time clients might have died. She would contact their families to see if they wanted the specialized services of Esclava Salons to send their loved one off looking their immortal best. But before she got to the obituaries…she saw the engagement announcement for Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele with a 4x6 picture from the Coping Together event.

Elena read it with horror. FUCK…FUCK…FUCK…The engagement announcement was obviously rushed since they used the Coping Together picture. Christ…that bitch must be pregnant already and pushing for an elopement which is why there is no set date. Elena screamed and threw the crystal glass against one of the gazebo supports. She wanted to smash Ana's face. She called Grey House, leaving a message for Christian…calling him every possible profanity about his stupidity. Then she called Carrick's law firm; leaving a strongly worded suggestion about preparing an airtight prenuptial or Anastasia would take Christian for everything he had and come back for more. She told Carrick there were petite brunettes before Miss Steele who had been paid off to go away when they wanted more from Christian than he was emotionally ready to give them. She hinted Carrick talk to his son about his previous history and suggested he needed to repeat it with a larger sum of money to get rid of the tenacious Miss Steele. The phone calls calmed her nerves. She sat there, staring at the shattered glass and dripping remains of the mimosa; formulating a plan. Her gaze slid down the page and landed on the large ad for the Seattle Bridal Faire to be held next weekend…and whose name did she see? Couture by Celeste. Hell's bells…did she formulate a plan!

XX

"Fire up your internet," Ray emailed Carla the link to Annie's engagement announcement. "You're not going to want to miss this! Annie's out sailing on Christian's boat so she can't warn you…and you should know before the media contacts you."

XX

"HE did what!" Susannah slammed down the phone and ran to her laptop. She pulled up her online subscription to the Seattle Times. Sure as shit…Sir was engaged to his newest submissive. She burst into tears and ran for a box of Kleenex. She sat on the stool before her dressing table, examining her face. WTF did Anastasia Steele have that Susannah didn't? Well, her inner bitch snarked…she's got him and you don't! Susannah lost her temper and threw an expensive bottle of perfume at her reflection. She reveled in the sound of the smashed glass but regretted her action. It was expensive perfume given to her by Sir and she would be unable to replace it. The perfume ate the finish off her antique dressing table and the stench overwhelmed her…making her choke more as she sobbed.

XX

José hung up from talking to his father who had talked to Ray. He reached for his laptop and searched "Grey engagement" in Google. There it was in the electronic world – Ana was going to marry Christian Grey. He cursed the day she met Grey. The man was a control freak. José hoped Ana would come to her senses when she moved in with Grey. When he heard Ray had given Christian his blessing a month ago – which had to be close to the art show opening, he almost wept. He went in search of pictures he had taken the weekend Ana moved in with Christian – and he erased them from his camera's memory card.

XX

John Flynn called Leila Williams' psychiatrist and informed him of the engagement of Grey and Steele. Leila responded more every day, but had yet to be fully active and engaged in the outside world for more than an hour or two at a time. He said she rarely spoke and was completely docile for now. He did not know what would happen if she heard about the engagement and thanked John for the warning.

XX

Prisoners newly admitted to any prison in the Washington DOC (Department of Corrections) were sequestered for fourteen to thirty days until their paperwork was processed. After intake physicals and examinations were completed; inmates would be assigned to the cells where they would reside until transported to their permanent location. When the guard brought Inmate 89706 his breakfast tray, he sweetened the experience by announcing the impending nuptials of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.

Inmate 89706 (Jack Hyde) launched into a screaming fit, shouting obscenities about Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. He threw his breakfast tray at the cell door separating him from the guard. Despite warnings to shut up, sit down and calm down…Inmate 89706 continued his furious tirade. Guards entered the cell and subdued the prisoner. One chokehold and two simultaneous Taser blasts put him on his ass. A subdued Inmate 89706 was dressed in a four-piece suit (handcuffs, leg irons and double waist shackle) and hauled off to solitary confinement for the remainder of his intake period and an additional thirty days for fighting. The warden picked up the phone and called the Washington DOC to let them know Inmate 89706's reaction to the news. Phone, mail and visitor privileges were revoked for a period of 45 days except for visits from his lawyer. If Inmate 89706 could not communicate properly with the guards; he would not communicate with anyone. The warden was ordered to monitor the situation and keep Inmate 89706 from attempting to contact the newly engaged couple, their families, or their friends…and certainly not anyone he knew on the outside who could be a threat to the couple once his privileges were restored. This was not a precipitous beginning to the quarter-century stint faced by Inmate 89706.

XX

Jera Shaw, head of the weekend Grey House Communications Team called Roz Bailey. "Christ Roz, can't that damn man give us some kind of warning before he pulls this shit? It would be nice if we had advance notice once in a while so we could be proactive instead of reactive! Since the Seattle Times used a picture from Coping Together, we assumed it was a media prank! Christ, will the phones ever stop ringing? Did he leave a comment we can relate to the media?"

Roz laughed, "A wedding date has not been set." She was still laughing when she hung up.

Jera was in a bad, bad mood…Christian Grey's engagement announcement interrupted a snugglefuck with her latest man…the tall, the sexy, the hot-bodied Luke Sawyer. The engagement announcement ripped Luke out of her bed and sent him back to Escala to deal with the paparazzi. It put them both in a foul mood. It took three weeks for HR to give them permission to date. They both signed a very extensive NDA which proscribed them from discussing anything Grey-related during their personal time together. They were not allowed to discuss work schedules or have lunch dates during work hours. She hoped Grey was getting a good celebratory fuck from his new fiancé, because her love/sex life just flat lined.

XXXXX
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Ana's POV

I pulled out my smart phone and started making a list. "If we get some basics worked out before we get back to shore, it's a good thing." I settled into the seat beside Christian. "Big wedding or small?"

"Small, we can pull it off faster," he said.

"How fast?" I asked, surprised. "I thought you had thousands of business contacts who all had to be courted."

He made a rude noise and then replied. "October 1 if you are willing. I'm walking away from Esclava by September 30th along with eleven other businesses. If I'm out of town, out of touch for three weeks in October, so much the better."

"October 1 works for me, but how small are you thinking? 100, 200, 300 – what is a small wedding for Seattle's most eligible bachelor?"

"Less than 100 guests for Seattle's happiest engaged man," Christian corrected me, dropping a quick kiss on my lips. "I'm a private person, Ana. We could be married with just two witnesses at a drive-through wedding chapel in Las Vegas."

"Less than 100?" I repeated.

He nodded confirmation. "Do you need more time? Do you want a long engagement to torture me completely mad? Do you need weekends in New York or Paris with Kate and Mia to find the perfect wedding gown?"

"Believe it or not; I saw designs for the dress I really liked when I went to Celeste's shop on Thursday to be fitted for the bridal faire." I said.

"That's a start," he admitted. "Simple? Sexy? Victorian? An English meringue?"

"Huh uh…" I shook my head no at him. "It will probably be the only secret I'll ever be able to keep from you. Don't be churlish…let me surprise you."

"Colors?" He asked with a grin.

"I'd like you in a grey tux," I said. "One the color of your eyes."

"Then I'd like pink to be the other color…the color when you blush." He said huskily.

On cue, I blushed. "Okay, Grey eyes grey and Ana blush pink…and we need a neutral color…"

"Vanilla," he laughed and made me laugh too. "I took the liberty of announcing our engagement in the Seattle Times today."

"How did you pull that off?" I am astonished.

"I asked Ray's permission; so he gave us this weekend so I could propose. Keaton Kavanagh signed an NDA for me on Friday; I called him with the news yesterday while you were sleeping. I imagine our phones will be full of messages when we get back in range."

"Flowers?" I asked.

"Lots and lots," he said. "Frightfully huge bouquets that will hide us when I want to grab your bum." He said in a posh English accent.

"White roses only," I said, "and not frightfully huge bouquets. Something tasteful and classy."

"Let's make a deal," he bartered. "When we don't agree on something for the wedding, we'll write down a question that someone's bound to ask us. For example: are you pregnant. You get a list of people; I get a list of people. Say Kate's on your list – if she asks it first, you win, and you get to decide on the flowers."

"Sounds convoluted, and we have to have an equal number of people." I insisted.

"Works for me but I can't have all the guys and you all the girls because guys won't ask questions the way girls do." He asserted. "I called Gail and asked her to prepare dinner tomorrow night at Escala. She's going to invite Ray, Kate, mom, dad, Mia, Elliott, Grandma and Grandpa, her and Taylor. With us that's 12 people. You get Ray, I get Taylor. Neither of them will ask questions. You get Kate, I get Mia. You get Dad, I get Theo. Elliott's a nosy git so I get him but you can have Mom. Who does that leave?"

"Gail and your Grandma Frannie," I noted.

"You get Frannie and I get Gail. I doubt if either one of them asks questions either." Christian said.

"So? Questions?" I pondered.

"Questions and comments…Are you pregnant? Where are the rings? I don't have enough time to get a dress. Are you sure? Isn't this rushing things a bit? What's the hurry? Are we really wearing pink shirts? I look awful in pink, can I wear red? Have you told your mother? When are we going dress shopping? Can I invite friends? Can I have strippers at your bachelor party?"

"Right now…I'm telling you no strippers," I remarked casually as I'm typing the list of questions but I am seeing red. Trust Elliott to have an over-the-top bachelor party that will be in the press. The world will think Christian's a playboy like Elliott.

"Right now – I'm telling you no strippers," he said grimly. "I don't want Kate hiring some guy in a fake police uniform to frisk you."

"Deal," I said. "No strippers."

"I'd rather not have a bachelor party," he said. "I'm very happy with this decision and I don't need a bunch of drunk men trying to change my mind. How about we coordinate a day of sailing or golf with the guys the Friday before the wedding?"

"I'll coordinate a spa day on Friday for the ladies instead of a bachelorette party," I offered. "We can have a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Thursday night before the wedding."

"Can I suggest Canlis? I think it's only fair since they really wanted to be the place where Christian Grey proposed to Anastasia Steele." He laughed.

"Works for me. That will give us time to get reservations for their private dining room." I am madly taking notes.

"Now, where were we?" He asked.

"We have date – how about time?" I asked.

"Afternoon," he said at the same time I said "evening".

"All right," I laughed and wrote that down to be determined when someone asked a question.

"Venue?" He asked.

"Where are you thinking? Because I have no clue," I said.

"Mom and Dad's house, on the lawn, overlooking the water, like the Coping Together event." Christian said.

"I like that but do we have a back-up plan if they don't want us to get married there?" I asked.

"It has to be some place we can control the media." He said.

"We can threaten everyone with a chapel in Vegas," I laughed.

"Don't laugh – we'll tell them the Bellagio in Vegas. Mom will be so horrified we're thinking of a chapel wedding that she'll mow the lawn; enlist Frannie to trim the flowers and order Theo to clear the debris off the shoreline."

"You are so sneaky," I said. "But we may want to have a faux venue and faux wedding date arranged so that the press only gets the faux news…and nothing but faux news."

"Guest list?" Christian asked.

"Ray, Carla, Bob, Kate and the Kavanaghs, José and José Senior. I would like to ask Hannah, Claire, Emily and Amber from work. Mr. and Mrs. Roach and probably Robb Loeder and his wife. Oh, and Zann and her husband. That's 26 possible guests for me." I counted.

"Family, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Ben and Aunt Rachel – my mom's brother and wife. Barney, Welch, Roz and Gwen, John and Rhiann, Bastille, Andrea, Olivia, Stephan, Joe and Mac. That's 28 if the singles are plus one also."

I typed notes as quickly as possible into the list app on my smart phone. "We need to order invitations and get them printed in 24 hours and have them hand delivered by Friday if we're going to give people at least three weeks' notice."

"Should we get a wedding planner?" Christian asked.

"I don't want to spend my free time arguing with someone who doesn't know us or what we want. How about asking Mia to help? She's already doing some personal assistant/social secretary stuff for us," I suggested.

"Let's write down a list of what needs to be done and ask different people to take care of things for us? Then they can all coordinate through Mia. Mom can do the venue – she knows who to call for the marquee, the dance floor, tables and chairs for the reception, and the seating for the ceremony. Mia could do the invitations. She knows who can hand deliver and will sign an NDA. Dad can get a judge; unless you'd rather have a minister?"

"A judge is fine, but if Carrick gets a minister, I want someone nondenominational. Your proposal was wonderful; I think you should write your vows."

"We'll write our own vows." He agreed.

"How about Kate to organize flowers, José to take candid shots at the wedding. We need a wedding photographer." I typed more into the to-do list.

"I'll ask Keaton Kavanagh for a list of his best photographers and we'll try to vet one early. How about Elliott for the dance band or a wedding DJ? Mom can get us a string quartet for the wedding processional and for music through dinner."

"Sit down dinner or buffet?" I ask. "I vote for a DJ by the way, less people to muzzle."

"Buffet, less servers to vet," he said. "How about asking Gail to confer with Mom to find a caterer? Mom knows the servers and bartenders to use."

"Attendants – I want Kate for my maid of honor, but I'd like Mia for a bridesmaid." I type furiously into my smart phone.

"Elliott for my best man. Do you think Kate's brother Ethan would be a groomsman? I'd ask José but if he's taking pictures; it would interfere too much to have him be a groomsman."

"Ethan would be honored if you asked him." I said. "Do you think Taylor would loan us Sophie for a junior bridesmaid? She's too old to be a flower girl, but she could be a combo flower girl and junior bridesmaid? We'll have to get her sizes from Taylor to order her wedding attire. I don't know Taylor's ex-wife. She might sell our secrets to some tabloid."

"If we do that, I'll ask Taylor to be a guest instead of in charge of security. Ditto with Sawyer, Prescott and Ryan. We can rely on other security for the day. Taylor can coordinate transportation." Christian said.

"Sounds like a plan." We spent the next few hours working out wedding details…until I opened my big mouth and offended my groom.

"What do you mean you are willing to sign a pre-nuptial?" His quiet voice unnerved me.

"I told you, if Carrick draws one up; I'll sign it." I said firmly. "You know I don't care about your money, one way or the other."

'What part of no contracts, no rules did you not understand? You won't sign a contract for the playroom, but you are willing to sign one that determines how to end our marriage?" Christian roared at me. "It's going to be OUR money, Anastasia! What part of all my worldly goods I thee endow do you not understand?"

I sat there and stared at him. Crap. Holy Crap. He's pissed. "I'm sorry; I never thought of it that way."

"You have given me your love and your virginity; two priceless gifts which surpass Grey Enterprises Holdings and its assets. If you ever left me, you might as well take all the money – because I would be destroyed – there wouldn't be anything left of me." Christian insisted.

OMG, the pouting five-year old Christian Grey is back. I set the wedding plans we had been working on aside. I put my arms around him…but it was not enough.

He dropped anchor and sail and pulled me down into the master cabin. "You said yes Ana – now you're stuck with all of me – all fifty shades – including controlling, dominant and occasional asshole."

I didn't say anything…and he gave me a look. "That's yes, sir."

"Yes, sir, I'm stuck on you," I pulled my t-shirt off.

"That's stuck with you," he murmured and captured my mouth as he pushed me down onto the bed. His hands busily tied mine above my head with my bra. "What am I going to do with you and your smart mouth?" He said. Then he showed me several shades of love and domination.

XXXXX
Dinner, Monday evening, September 5

"Thank you, all of you for our engagement presents, but they were not necessary. I suppose it's time to cut the cake." Christian nodded at Gail who brought out a three-layer chocolate cake. On top was a miniature toy Charlie Tango. "Before we serve dessert, does anyone want to read what's on top?" Christian asked.

Everyone crowded around. Piped around mini Charlie were the words, Get me to the altar on time, October 1, 2011. Everyone stared at the cake and then stared at the newly-engaged couple.

"Ha! We shocked everyone!" I said. "I won that bet," my eyes danced with glee. "I'm wearing the pearl earrings and necklace Ray gave me for my sixteenth birthday as my something old."

"We've both agreed," Christian said, "we don't want a long engagement. We're getting married October first with a three-week honeymoon. We'd like to have a small wedding, 50-60 guests and we'd like to do it at your house, Mom and Dad. If you don't think we can throw together a wedding in almost a month, we'll hire a wedding planner who works for the Bellagio and elope in Las Vegas."

"Are you pregnant?" Kate asked in a shocked voice.

"HA!" I said to Christian; "I won that bet too. I get Bollinger champagne for the cake and toasts."

"Damn," he said. "Elliott, you let me down. I was sure you'd be the first to ask that."

"Why a month?" Mia said. "I need longer than that to find the right dress."

"Ha ha back at you," Christian said to me. "I won that bet – now I get a chocolate wedding cake with chocolate grand mariner mousse filling and grand mariner white frosting, and decorated with fresh flowers. We have just enough time to get the wedding topper I want with our initials. Gail, I'd like you to help select the baker and the style of cake. Ana thought you'd say that Kate."

"One month is not enough time to get you a wedding dress," Mia claimed.

Christian announced, "I won that bet. Afternoon wedding and reception. We're gone on our honeymoon before eight o'clock that night."

"I need to interrupt for a minute," Gail said. "I researched wedding traditions on the web. It's supposed to be good luck for you to get married between the half hour and hour mark because the hands on the clock are moving upward to the heavens. Additionally you're supposed to marry while the moon is waxing so your fortune is increased. Your date is during the waxing of the moon…what time are you considering?"

"Two thirty?" I suggested with a nod from Christian. "We selected the verbiage for the invitations." I took a moment to update some paperwork before I handed the paper to Mia.

The pleasure of your company
is requested at the nuptials of
Anastasia Rose Steele
and
Christian Trevelyan Grey
Saturday, the first of October
two thousand and eleven
at half past two in the afternoon
Grey Estate, 212 Lake Washington Boulevard N.E.
Bellevue, Washington

Card One:
Reception following.
R.S.V.P by September 12, 2011 to Mia Grey, 206-575-1188.

Card Two:
For the purposes of privacy; cell phones, texting, tweeting and social media contacts
are barred from the wedding and reception.

Card Three:
In lieu of gifts, please donate to the Treehouse as a gift to those in need.

TREEHOUSE
2100 24th Avenue S. Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98144-4643
206-767-7000

"I've already found my dress at Kate's mom's shop. I saw a design for it when I went to my fitting for the Bridal Faire. I have an appointment at six tomorrow night for a fitting. I've made an appointment for all of you, after hours at the same time. I have my mom's size, so I will pick her dress. Mrs. Kavanagh assured me we shouldn't have to wait for special orders. I will choose my shoes and wedding lingerie from a vendor at the Bridal Faire if I can get it on time. Otherwise, I'm calling upon Caroline Acton at Nieman Marcus. The guys have their tux fittings tomorrow night, here at Escala. The shop is coming to you. I will have measurements for Bob to order his tux at the same time. Ray, if you could stay over a day or two for your tux fitting; I'd appreciate it. The wedding dress is chosen, the style of the tuxes is chosen. All wedding party dresses and tuxes are being fitted tomorrow night." I explained.

Everyone at the table looked at the stack of cards in front of Christian and Ana. They worried about what questions to ask now.

"Have you picked colors?" Grace asked.

"I picked one and Ana picked one. I picked blush pink because I like the way she blushes. She picked grey because she likes the color of my eyes." Christian smiled. "Vanilla white for our neutral color."

"Are you sure you have enough time to pull this off?" Frannie asked. "Seriously, Christian, someone as prominent in business as you needs six months for a proper wedding."

"I won that one," I announced. "The flowers will be white roses.

"Tell me we don't have to wear pink shirts," Elliott moaned.

"I won that one," Christian said. "Grey tuxes for the guys with grey accessories, vanilla white shirts. My vest, tie and pocket square will be pink if we can get the right color. Ladies in grey also."

"Would we have worn pink if Ana won?" Elliott asked.

"Absolutely…" I teased. "No, the girls would have been in pink. I'm having Kate as my maid of honor, but I would be honored if Mia would stand up as my bridesmaid."

"Grey is so not my color!" Mia protested.

"Mia, I love you like a sister, but your I.Q. drops ten points when you wear pink," Christian snarked.

Mia stuck her tongue out at him.

"So pink, cream and silver for the wedding colors?" Grace said, trying to diffuse the sibling squabble.

"Actually the colors are grey and white with pink as an accent color," Christian explained and I nodded. I handed out color samples so everyone was on the same page.

"Colors for the mothers?" Grace asked.

"I'd like you in burgundy if you can find something you like, perhaps charcoal grey if you can't?" Again, I handed sample color cards to Mia and Grace.

"We have to take Grandma Frannie shopping," Mia said. "Otherwise she might pick something red thinking it is burgundy."

"I'm not the one who is color-blind," Frannie insisted. "Theo is."

"Forget colors," Mia said. "Where's the ring?"

"I won that one – macaroni and cheese will be one of the dishes at the reception. Miss Anastasia Steele is modeling her engagement ring. These are our wedding bands," He passed around a set of bands. Her white gold band was a ring guard with floral scrolled edges. His wedding band had a brushed core center with smooth upper and lower edges. All eyes turned to my hand. I started with Grace and walked around the table flashing the beautiful four-carat, heart-shaped, blush pink diamond set in a floral scroll band which matched my wedding band.

"Okay, I changed my mind; Christian doesn't need carat counseling," Kate said. "That's lovely Ana, and it will turn a lot of heads."

"We don't have a wedding binder. We don't have a budget. Ana's not interested in reading wedding magazines. We have a date, time, place and wedding party. If we need a planner –Mia is it. Some of you have to help us with wedding tasks. Everyone coordinates with Mia and she shares information with us. She keeps track of the vendors, NDAs, etc." Christian announced.

"Kate, will you coordinate the flowers? White roses only, no other flowers. We want a rose-covered arch for the ceremony and rose topiaries for the entrances and exits to the ceremony and reception. Heart-shaped rose wreaths for the doors at the house and the security gate. Otherwise, low containers of flowers for the tables with silver candelabras and white candles. I want a small heart-shaped bouquet of white roses with white ribbons. Figure out the rest for us," I requested. Kate took notes on the back of her card.

"Elliott, band or DJ. We have a list of the songs we want for the dances we want. Make it happen. Dad, please arrange for a judge or non-denominational minister. Mom, venue which includes the marquee, dance floor, tables, linens, dishes, etc. Ana and ladies dress upstairs; men get dressed in guest house by pool." Christian passed cards to them. "Gail, Mom will give you a list of caterers. We've provided menu suggestions on the back of the card. We need you to order the cake." He passed over another card. "That has some suggestions of what we want on it. No groom's cake. Taylor, will you coordinate transportation and we'd like to borrow Sophie to be a flower girl/junior bridesmaid. Gail, you need to be fitted for dress and Taylor, you need to be fitted for a tux along with the wedding party tomorrow night. The plane will need to be serviced and wheels up at eight p.m. Pilot, co-pilot, steward. Taylor, Prescott, Sawyer and Ryan fly with us. I will give you the honeymoon itinerary when Ana is not around. Welch will be in charge of security the day of the wedding. We want you and Gail as guests, not employees."

"Mia, at lunch time tomorrow, you and I have an appointment at Puget Paper to get invitations printed in 24 hours. Invitations will be selected, printed and hand delivered before Friday. You need to address and arrange hand delivery except for my mom and Ray's invitations. Mom's invitation need to be overnighted and I gave you the address. Carrick – I need an NDA for my mother – otherwise the entire social world in Savannah will know about our plans. I will hand out the invitations to people I work with by Friday. There's no time for save the date cards. Invitations printed on either white paper with grey ink or grey paper with white ink. Classic – nothing that has to be assembled. This is the engagement party as far as we're concerned. There will be no wedding programs or menu cards. The money we don't spend on them is going to Treehouse. We've already established a guest list." I gave copies of the guest list to Grace and Mia.

"All paper things at Puget Paper – invitations, reply cards, gift cards, place cards, thank-you notes and napkins... how about white rose embossed place cards; hand calligraphied with grey ink?" Mia asked.

"No paper napkins," I said. "It's a waste of money."

"Nonsense," Mia said. "You keep the extra leftover napkins and use them for picnics or for dinners on your anniversary or special dates."

Nonsense," I mocked her. "White marquee, white table cloths, white chair covers and either grey or pink cloth napkins. No bachelor or bachelorette parties, no strippers." I gave Elliott and Kate a stern look.

"God, you are no fun," Kate said. "No bachelorette party, no strippers, no napkins…"

"No matchbooks, no alerting the media, no guestbook, no wedding invitation with five different cards and envelopes. No announcing schedules on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media site. No texting or pictures with cell phones during the wedding. No tweeting what's going on at the wedding or reception." I said sternly. "We don't need a wedding website and Barney's going to monitor the press for us."

"I want it classy," Christian said, "real linens, real silverware, real china, no fifty flavors of booze at the bar, a sedate cocktail hour while we have formal pictures taken, wine with dinner buffet, champagne for cake and toasts. Centerpiece flowers to be donated to the terminal patients at Mom's hospital on Sunday after the wedding."

"What kind of drinks are you considering?" Frannie said. "I have a great recipe for pink champagne cocktails.."

"I take those your drink recipes," Grace said. "I can coordinate with Gail and the bartenders."

"Kate's whole family?" Elliott asked in astonishment after looking at Mia's copy of the guest list.

"I won that one," Christian laughed. "You have to wear your hair down for the wedding and no changing out of your wedding gown before we fly out on our honeymoon."

"Kate, your parents have been a huge part of my life since I met you. Ethan is a friend. Absolutely, I want your family there. Besides, Christian is going to ask Ethan to be a groomsman and help seat people. Kate and Elliott; Mia and Ethan," I said. "I'm going to have to talk to your mom and rework the veil for the gown since my hair will be down."

"Who is Zann?" Mia asked curiously.

"Zann is my biological father's first girlfriend. Carla has not been forthcoming with information about my family history – which Christian and I want for when we have children. Zann provided me with names, dates, places, etc." I explained.

"So, I can't invite Lily?" Mia teased.

"I won that question, so just the wedding party and family at the rehearsal dinner. BTW, I want my wife enjoying our day and not worrying about the cake knife being stabbed in her back." Christian said wryly.

"Have you discussed this with your mother," Ray asked tentatively.

"I won that one," I laughed. "You're escorting me down the aisle, alone and by yourself, so that's another reason to wear a tux. Additionally, my father-daughter dance will be with you."

"Only for you, Annie," he said. "I'll leave the shotgun at home since Christian's making an honest woman out of you."

"Thank you Ray, for sharing her with me," Christian said to the swoons of Kate, Mia and Frannie.

"We're asking José to take candid photographs during the ceremony and reception. Kate's dad is recommending a photographer." I clarified. "With the band/DJ and string quartet, photographer, judge/minister, security, etc. we're looking at feeding 100 people, Gail. Also, as you heard, Christian gets macaroni and cheese as one of the sides. We need you to select the baker and order the cake, and you heard Christian's choice for the cake and frosting flavors." I updated the backs of cards and passed them to Gail.

Gail read out her card. "Appetizers during cocktail hour: Grilled giant prawns; miniature crab cakes; and antipasti display with buffalo mozzarella, grilled eggplant, marinated mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts, vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and bread sticks, pepperoni, salami and prosciutto, roasted red and yellow pepper strips." She paused. "I recommend you ditch the grilled eggplant for something more palatable. Just a suggestion," she shrugged and continued reading. "Dinner buffet: Classic Caesar Salad; Braised Asparagus; Pasta Station (mushroom ravioli with roasted red-pepper sauce, fettuccini Alfredo, and macaroni and cheese); Carving Station (Baron of Roast Beef, Rack of Lamb, Whole Salmon). Bollinger and Christian's choice of cake. Do you have a white wine suggestion for dinner?"

"Sancerre," both Christian and I said.

She shrugged, "I can make that work."

"Ana arranged the seating." Christian explained.

I passed the seating chart to Grace. "This is tentative depending upon R.S.V.P. responses. Head table, 9 seats, with wedding party…Ana, Christian, Kate, Elliott, Mia, Ethan, Sophie, Taylor and Gail. Table two, 10 seats: Grace, Carrick, Theo, Frannie, Ben, Rachel, Ray, Carla, Bob and Ray's plus one."

Ray snorted and I gave him a look and continued, "Table three, 10 seats: Mr. K, Mrs. K, José, José Sr., John, Rhiann, Zann and husband and two spaces for José or José Sr. guests."

Ray snorted again. I gave him another look. "Ray, would you like me to put you at a single men's table with José Senior, José, Ryan and Sawyer? I'll tell my coworkers not to bring plus ones because there will be several single men for them to dance with…and possibly pick up after they catch the wedding bouquet? Additionally, all of you single men are standing up when Christian tosses the garter."

I ignored Elliott's strangled laugh and continued. "Table four, 8 seats: Hannah, Claire, Emily, Amber and space for the plus ones. Table Five, 10 seats: Bastille and Guest, Roz and Gwen, Andrea and Guest, Olivia and Guest, Barney and Guest. Table Six, 8 seats: Stephan and Guest, Joe and guest, Welch and Guest, Max and Guest. Table Seven, 7 seats: Mr. and Mrs. Roach, Mr. and Mrs. Robbin Loeder, Sawyer, Ryan and Prescott." I laughed. "Table Eight to seat quartet, DJ, photographer, judge/minister, etc. There may be changes; depending on plus ones."

"Everyone has to be vetted which is why there is a 72-hour window on the RSVPs." Christian explained. "Mom, Mia – will the two of you coordinate the schedule for the wedding? Rehearsal dinner for family and the wedding party – that means Gail and Taylor too – at Canlis on Thursday before the wedding. Coordinate with Carla on menu…not the guests. Spa day for the ladies on Friday at Ana and Kate's new salon. Sailing for the men in the morning; golf for the men Friday afternoon. Ana sleeps at your house Friday night. Dresses and tuxes delivered on Friday. Mom, Ana wants you to hide her dress in your closet so I won't go looking for it. Communications at Grey House will coordinate the wedding announcement with Kate if you are up to it." Christian explained.

"The wedding favors are selected, purchased and will be assembled and delivered to the house in Bellevue the week before the wedding." I ran down the list of items to cover.

"What are the favors?" Mia asked.

"A silver wine holder, a silver corkscrew and a pair of silver wine stoppers for the men. Silver tea caddy, silver tea infuser, and silver tea bag holder for the women. All in white gift bags with pink tissue for women, grey tissue for men," I explained.

"Mom, we need to get a block of rooms at the Bellevue Hyatt for guests because Ana and the ladies are getting dressed in the house. Guys are getting dressed in the pool house. Ana's trousseau for the honeymoon is arranged. My clothing for the honeymoon has been arranged. Packing has been arranged." Christian looked at our list.

"So, Ana what are your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?" Grace asked.

"My pearls, my dress and a blue beribboned garter…but the something borrowed I have to think about." I admitted. "Oh, and an English sixpence in my shoe."

"Why a sixpence and not a penny?" Kate asked.

"My biological father, Frank Lambert, had four generations of very proper English ancestors. It's a way to include him in the wedding." I explained.

"Tradition says your something borrowed should be a piece of gold jewelry from a married woman. It signifies bringing fortune and happiness to the marriage." Grace said. "I have a gold bracelet you can borrow, or I have my grandmother's gold wedding ring. It has hearts engraved on it."

"Thank you," I said. "I would like to look at both of them."

Everyone concentrated on eating cake, chatting about the wedding and making notes about things to research or do. Elliott was reprimanded several times by Carrick because he kept hounding Christian that he should have a bachelor party.

"Uhm dad, before you go tonight, there are legal things to discuss," Christian said.

"Oh, right," Carrick said. "I'll get to work on a pre-nuptial for you and have it ready for you to negotiate by next weekend."

"NO prenuptial," Christian said. "Don't anyone presume to argue with us regarding it. I get no prenuptial and Ana gets the word obey stricken from the wedding vows."

"But Christian…" Carrick's face paled.

"Dad, I'm offended you think Anastasia is marrying me for my money. I'm not about to have a prenuptial that determines a divorce settlement. We're in this for the long haul. If Anastasia is willing to share her life with me, I have everything I want. She loves me. I love her. We've already had this discussion. I'm not going to explain our reasoning to anyone. The answer now and forever is no prenuptial." Christian took a deep breath. "I need you to create iron-clad NDAs for all the vendors and guests."

XX

Christian pulled Grace aside for a minute while everyone was preparing to leave. "Mom, it's really important to me that the ceremony and reception look like it is taking place in an English garden. Ana is a fan of British literature. Do not share this information with anyone…I'm taking her on a Grand Tour for our honeymoon like out of the books she loves: Little Dorrit, Room with a View, etc. It would mean a lot to me if you and Kate could keep the wedding ceremony decorations a secret. I'd love for it to be secret until the wedding, but if it has to be revealed at the rehearsal; I can live with it. Please, no floral teapots with roses for centerpieces or tea cups with votive candles or shabby chic décor. No herbs in tea cups, etc."

Grace nodded. "We can have the basic layout for the rehearsal such as the arch and the seating. Then we can get the rest of it set on Friday and Saturday morning. I'll put the ladies on the east side of the house to dress, away from view of the pool house on the north and the wedding venue on the west. She can come down the east stairs and out the French doors of the library and take the sidewalk around the front of the house to the ceremony. We'll set it back far enough on the west that it won't be seen until she and Ray round the corner of the house."

"Thanks mom," he pulled her into a long hug, which brought tears of happiness to Grace's eyes.

XXXXX
Noon, Tuesday, September 8

"Oh god," I whispered. "That's gorgeous." I stroked the wrap invitation with its beautiful floral swirl and elegant grosgrain bow. "The swirl reminds me of my ring,"

"It has matching cards we can use for your insert cards and thank you notes. It has matching place cards," Mia pointed out. "Plus, it's 50% recycled paper products, available in dove grey with white ink."

"That's it. Let's get it printed in 24 hours." I said, feeling a flush of excitement at my upcoming wedding to the man I love.

"I've got Christian's credit card and an NDA," Mia laughed. We can make this happen."

XXXXX
Evening, Wednesday, September 7

"I like this cake style," I passed a picture to Gail. "Three tiers, square, set diagonal to one another, baby white roses and tea lights in frosted votive cups. Christian ordered a silver-plate cake topper with our initials. It will be put on a base after the wedding so I can use it for a paperweight in my office."

"Very pretty. Is that a lace motif design in the cake frosting?" Gail asked.

"It is, but instead of the baker choosing what motif to use; will you give him a piece of lace used in my wedding gown?" I handed her a manila envelope. "Christian can't see it."

"Understood," Gail replied. "After you do your cake cutting and feeding one another; I would be honored to cut your cake for serving. I did it at most of my friends' weddings."

"Thank you!" I sighed. "I never thought of it. I guess I just thought the servers would do it."

XXXXX
Early evening, Thursday, September 8

"Ana, this is Sarah Chapin; she works in my Photography Department. Sarah will take some candid pictures of you and Grey." Keaton Kavanagh introduced me to Sarah.

"Pleased to meet you," I shake her hand. "Did Christian talk to you about the pictures we want?"

"A set of informal pictures here at the penthouse and a set of informal pictures on his boat?" Sarah checked her email from Christian. "We won't be able to do the boat pictures tonight, but your schedules are free for tomorrow night, right?"

When we confirm, she tells us she'd like to see us in blue jeans and sweaters for the boat. She wants to stage an on-deck picnic as the backdrop for the pictures.

"Let's start with a quick tour," I said. "I'd like pictures by the piano, the fireplace and in the library."

"I'd like one of us dancing on the balcony," Christian said.

Two hours and sixty pictures later, Sarah shared her photos with us as a slideshow. Christian and I finally settled on a dozen shots out of sixty. She promised to send printouts of the chosen dozen along with a memory card. Keaton shook Christian's hand again and gave me a hug. "Celeste is thrilled to design your dress."

"I stopped by there Thursday for fittings for the Bridal Faire on September 10. I saw the design for dress I wanted…although I didn't know Christian was going to propose so soon. I hope Celeste forgives me for the short notice to create the dress." I shrug.

"Sarah and Keaton, what I'm about to say to you is also covered in tonight's NDA. Ana and I are getting married October first. We need a photographer and we liked the way Sarah worked with us. We're getting married at my parents' home in Bellevue."

"I'll put it on my calendar," she promised. "I will develop a list of formal pictures to be taken at the wedding. I'll email it and you can cross off any you don't want. One thing I like to do at weddings is create a small nook where I can take a picture of everyone who attended the wedding."

"Sounds lovely," I said.

"Your secret is safe with me; but I want your authority to print the announcement in the October 2 Seattle Times," Keaton promised. "I just wanted you to know, we've received 15,000 responses to the announcement of your engagement. A full five hundred are vendors who want to plan your wedding, bake your cake, design your dress, print your invitations, draw up your prenuptial agreement, etc. You may be overwhelmed by some of them at the Bridal Faire." He gave us six copies of the engagement announcement.

"I'll meet you here at 6:30 tomorrow night," Sarah said. "You'll need a picnic and bottle of wine. We'll plan on being done before the sun goes down; but I wouldn't mind a couple of sunset shots if we're not."

XXXXX
Friday, September 9

"I'm going reschedule Sarah and the boat pictures. We're fifteen deep in paparazzi out there." Christian shook his head. "Keep Sawyer close to you today. I'm going to go workout with Claude." He dropped a kiss to her forehead. "We'll have a quiet night here, and I promise to let you get lots of rest before the Bridal Faire tomorrow."

XX

Kate texted Ray and Grace. "Ray made terrariums out of repurposed windows. They are so cool and would be great to decorate Ana's English garden theme wedding. We can use them as corner pieces to mark the area for the wedding ceremony. Or we can use them on the corners of the dance floor. He can email pictures to you. I found a design for a six-inch ball of roses with white tulle ribbons to mark reserved seating at the wedding." She included a picture of the rose ball and a picture of the proposed arch decorations for Grace's review.

XX

"Claire…seriously…the next time my mother calls, please tell her to call my cell phone after six. She has the number." I sighed. "Or tell her to email me but not to expect a reply until after six. If she refuses to call back; hang up on her."

Every day Carla wheedles more information about wedding plans from me.Every day I am scolded because I don't have grand enough plans.

No save the date cards! That wedding invitation is so simple! Are you rushing into this because you're pregnant? Why aren't you basking in a long engagement with lots of parties thrown in your honor? What do you mean you don't want wedding gifts? Why are you asking for donations for a charity? For god's sake…you're marrying a billionaire not taking a vow of poverty! You don't have to show your future husband you can manage a household frugally and live within your means! He didn't give you a budget for the wedding…he gave you a damn black Amex card to pay for everything? A proper wedding would take months to plan and execute.

She fumes over the fact we have no wedding planner for her to share her concerns and conversations with because I'm oblivious to her suggestions.

It's an imposition to rely on Christian's mother and sister to organize everything…surely I should fly out tomorrow and take things in hand. I just want you to have a wedding planner, and a longer engagement, and a wedding befitting Christian's…interests.

At this moment, the two hours between our locations, means she's up at four my time and stressed about wedding plans and preparations well before I'm awake at six my time.

I'm the mother of the bride; I should have been there to help pick your wedding gown with you. There's difference between a Celeste Kavanagh designed gown and a Vera Wang designed gown. You should have a tiara with real diamonds to hold your veil…and oh god…why are you wearing your hair down when there are so many pretty updos to choose from? If you won't wear a tiara, will you at least have an updo with a real necklace of diamonds wound through your hair? Or will you please insist on an antique platinum hair ornament, encrusted with diamonds, like something worn by Lady Edith Crowley in Downton Abbey?

Why are the flowers just plain white roses? Surely something more…impressive…white orchids with a blush of pink? It's so difficult to choose colorful flowers for a wedding with the palette you have chosen…didn't anyone try to talk some sense into the two of you? Grey is NOT a color. Why did he give you white roses as the first bouquet of flowers? Well…at least it was a basket of flowers and not a single bud.

Emails, emails, emails…I handle those by ignoring them until the end of day. It's the excessive calls that eat away at Hannah and my work day. I send Carla an email in 24-inch font which tells her DO NOT CALL DURING WORK. I've had the meeting with Robb Loeder and Mr. Roach, swearing them to secrecy. I give them their invitations to the wedding. I give Hannah, Emily, Claire and Amber their invitations also. I insist on hand delivering invitations to Sawyer and Prescott. I won't be in the office the entire month of October. I'm working as diligently as possible to clear my desk but my mother's continuous interruptions are aggravating! Gail makes lunch for me every day whether I eat at GP or GEH. I'm spending several lunch hours exercising in the Grey Annex gym to work off aggression against my mother.

What are you giving Christian as a wedding gift? I will email suggestions with pictures…but you're running out of time to get something! What are you giving your attendants for gifts? It has to be expensive and special jewelry …after all, Mia is Christian's sister. They will show it to friends and family and exclaim it was their gift for being an attendant at Christian Grey's wedding. I will send along pictures and suggestions for those gifts also…but I sincerely recommend a private consultation at Cartier's. Really I need to come out and help you with these decisions since you won't quit your job and handle things properly.

Mom, if I wanted a wedding planner; we would be getting married at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. They can make a wedding happen in less than 72 hours, if we need the extra time to slink unseen into the Clark County Court House to get the license.

Why are you being married in a garden wedding at his parents' home with less than 100 guests? You should be married in the largest venue in Seattle. Since Christian has business interests all over the world and is listed as one of the richest men in America; he should have insisted on a huge wedding with hundreds of guests as is befitting a man of his means. You simply have to make more of an effort because he will become disenchanted with your simple ways and will leave you for a glamorous model who will show the world what being with Christian means.

Jane Eyre comes to mind again. Rochester had the exotic, colorful and quite insane Bertha Mason. He loved the quiet Jane Eyre. I'm not suggesting our love will be as epic as Jane and Rochester…but we have a good start.

Every other day Carla has suggestions about the rehearsal dinner.

Why can't I decide on the menu when I arrive? Why can't I pick and choose the items on the menu to create a special event for you. It's such a small rehearsal dinner. Can we hire a French chef for the evening? I want to talk to the sommelier about the wines before the event! Oh fine…we can order off the menu but I think it's classier if we have printed menu cards. How can a signature salad be special if it's tossed together at the table? All it would take is one inefficient server and I could be wearing signature salad greens on my dress. What is Grace wearing…no WHO is Grace wearing?

What are you wearing to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner? Why, oh god in heaven, why are you wearing the dress from graduation? Granted it coordinates with the palette of the wedding but for god's sake – Christian and the press have seen you in it twice! You already wore it to Canlis…you ought to care more about your appearance! You simply must have another dress for that night, and it cannot be the one you wore to Coping Together. I saw a fabulous blush pink dress by Alexander McQueen in a bridal magazine that would be perfect for the rehearsal and only $8,000!

Every third day Carla has suggestions about decorations for the rehearsal dinner.

The lovely stone walls and wood of the room are too barren for my taste. Also, how am I supposed to select classy decorations from the deplorable palette you picked for the wedding? How could you choose ordinary pink and grey? Well…Christian's eye color is interesting; and it's very sweet of him to like the way you blush…but really…the colors for weddings this year are hot pink, vivid purple, tangerine, sage green, buttercup yellow. I saw a wedding magazine where the bridesmaids were dressed in different colors of the sea and sky. Your wedding should be the bright centerpiece of Seattle's social season instead of a repeat of the dreary weather Seattle offers. Why October? The weather is shifting and the decorations in the store are all Halloween motif. Seriously, you should postpone the wedding until June, and then if you still had to have a small wedding, you could wed on a yacht in the Pacific Ocean with those lovely sea colors… Oh fine; as long as you don't HAVE to get married.

There have to be favors for the rehearsal dinner! What would be appropriate? Something silver –silver writing sets for men, silver bud vases for women…too ordinary! Cufflinks for men, bracelets for women…not special enough! There have to be hand-calligraphied place cards! I can't get the seating chart right no matter how long I struggle over it! The rehearsal dinner should be a party! You should have something grander than fourteen people! Surely Christian's grandparents and his family from out of town…what do you mean Christian's uncle and aunt are spending the evening alone with Grandfather and Grandmother Trevelyan? It's insensitive of you to not invite them to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Fine, I will discuss it with Christian.

What do you mean there is no dance floor in the private dining room at Canlis? What do you mean there are no musicians booked for the evening? What do you mean Ray is escorting you down the aisle? I should be walking you down the aisle! Well fine…since four of us will simply be a crowd coming down the aisle at your simple wedding…Bob and I will take our place of honor and be seated last before you come down the aisle. Why isn't Elliott escorting me down the aisle instead of Ethan…I am the mother of the bride…the best man should escort me! Oh fine…I'll settle for Ethan since Elliott insists on escorting his mother…but really…you are letting too many people decide what is to be done for the wedding.

Gail is practically hysterical when she gives me the much edited versions of my mother's phone calls which ring incessantly at Escala. Barney told Christian he wants three new staff members. He says he can't handle the interest in our engagement. The Communications Team is doing the best they can…but it's not enough.

It's all good, well and fine to have Katherine Kavanagh and Mia Grey as your attendants for such a small wedding; but I blame Christian for giving in to you. You should have a dozen bridesmaids. Who is helping you to dress? THE HOUSEKEEPER? Oh for god's sake… you need a personal maid. You need a social secretary. You need to quit your job and concentrate on making Christian happy! Really, I don't mind giving up my bridge dates at Bob's country club for the rest of the month. I can be packed and in Seattle tomorrow and stay until the wedding is over.

What do you mean Grace booked rooms at the local Hyatt in Bellevue for out of town guests? Bob and I are so little trouble, surely there's a guest room for us in Christian's penthouse? I hope she booked a suite for us; I simply cannot abide crowded tiny hotel rooms. Why aren't we flying in a full week before the wedding instead of two days before the rehearsal dinner? Why are we flying commercial instead of on the Grey House jet? All right…I understand he may need it for last minute business meetings before the wedding. And yes, I do understand that I can't discuss this with anyone…which is completely vexing. I need to stop the paper delivery and ensure the trash pick-up while we are out of town.

I should convince Bob to relocate to Seattle. My time with him and the country club taught me how to deal with society in Seattle. I blame Ray for your lack of social skills. Since you will not quit your job; I can interview a personal maid for you and interview a social secretary. You cannot depend upon your future mother-in-law to help when you have to make staffing decisions. After all…they will work for you; not her.

What do you mean there will be no media at the wedding? You need to show the world that you, Anastasia Rose Steele are so special that a billionaire is in love with you…has proposed to you …has plans to marry you. That engagement announcement should have had a formal engagement picture and for god's sake…why was Ray's name first…YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER. I was added to the engagement announcement as an afterthought. I have friends from the country club who saw that engagement in the paper and online. Embarrassing…that's what it was!

Christian says the Communications Team has turned down media requests from every possible talk show host in the U.S. They all want "personal and intimate" interviews. The only thing Christian wants "personal and intimate" is me. My fifty shades control freak has now met Hurricane Carla…something he cannot possibly control or handle. He's pulled out his CEO playbook and it's running short of creative ways to handle Carla. Daily we're learning the meaning of the Shakespeare quote: "What the heart thinketh; the tongue speaketh." Or, in Carla's case – in her heart; on her lips. He threatens to gag her and assign a Communications Team to monitor her mouth.

I hope you picked something appropriate for the mother of the bride for the wedding. Burgundy…you picked a burgundy dress? Burgundy does not suit my coloring. You have to pick a different dress. Well…there WOULD BE ENOUGH TIME if you weren't rushing to the altar! Did you enlist Grace's help when you chose for me? Oh…Grace, Rachel and Frannie are all wearing burgundy and this way I will coordinate. Well…fine. Thank you for ensuring that Bob has the same tux as the other men…although he will not look as dignified as the father of the groom…and isn't Carrick a name to make a woman weak in the knees? They all have elegant names and I am glad I named you Anastasia. It goes better with all of their names…certainly better than Kate's name if she's lucky enough to capture Elliott Grey's heart.

And for the love of God …why didn't you ask Kate to help you plan the wedding. She probably has had a wedding binder since she was sixteen. She knows dress designers and accessory labels. She's been dressing you properly for events for the last four years…let her take you shopping for a rehearsal outfit.

What do you mean there won't be a bachelorette party? Surely several of Christian's business acquaintances are throwing a bridal shower for you? Good lord… you cannot be a shy young woman any longer… your new position in society demands that you step up your game! I'm soooo tired of hearing the words "simple" and "classic".

Why are you having formal wedding pictures taken during cocktail hour? I'm going to need a drink to steady my nerves. After all…it's not every day my only daughter gets married to one of the most eligible and gorgeous bachelors in the world. What do you mean José is coordinating with the photographer for the list of pictures? Well, a special nook to take pictures of everyone at the wedding is quite charming and manageable since the wedding is so SMALL. I approve of two photographers for the wedding but really…do you have to depend on Ray's friend's son? Can't you hire another professional? You will regret the decision to not have the event videotaped.

Why haven't you taken ballroom dance lessons? Just because you danced without any problems at Coping Together does not mean you won't fall over you own two feet when dancing your first dance with Christian. Of course he can dance properly; his mother ensured he was prepared for society. You have to add an extra father of the bride dance so Bob can show off his considerable dancing skills. What do you mean the first dance is with Christian, the second with Ray, the third with Carrick? Good lord…Bob should get the third dance, Carrick the fourth and the rest of the men can share one dance with you. What song did Christian and you chose for your first dance…what do you mean you don't know, you're letting him choose? How are you supposed to practice dancing in your wedding shoes? What song have you chosen for your father daughter dance with Ray? What do you mean you gave the list to Elliott to work out with the DJ and don't remember? Too many people are making too many decisions for YOUR wedding.

Why are you having a buffet dinner for the reception! Macaroni and cheese? Salmon? Good lord why aren't you having a lovely cucumber salad and fresh strawberries instead of ordinary macaroni and cheese? You should have servers in white coats with gold frogs…well silver frogs to match the wedding colors…Fine…buffet dinner equals less waiters to vet for the event. Sigh…I understand if you don't want the hired help to outnumber the guests.

and then she goes off on a tangent about my color palette again.

Bollinger … well … all right… it's not Dom Perignon but thank heavens you are marrying a man with money so you don't have to use sparkling apple cider for toasts to save money.

What are you thinking! Agreeing to wear your wedding gown to the plane instead of changing into a lovely white silk suit with a Kate Middleton fascinator as a going away outfit? Good lord…why are you wearing Ray's pearls for the wedding instead of letting Christian buy you a diamond necklace and earrings to match your engagement ring. It is so pretty! Everyone knows how colored diamonds are more expensive than clear ones, and the pink is so stunning and unusual! Everyone is so interested in the wedding, I just feel inadequate explaining to our country club friends because I'm not there to help with the organization and YOUR answers are so VEXING! I just keep telling them everything is hush-hush because of who Christian is. NO… I did not tell anyone when you're getting married, and no, I didn't show anyone the invitation.

From Ana Steele
To Christian Grey
RE: Your mother-in-law
Christian, I'm sorry to bother you; but will you please ask Barney to block all emails from my mother which have images of flowers, venues, wedding gowns, jewels, etc. Is it possible for him to pull the text from those emails and drop it into one report at the end of the day? Will you send someone with an NDA to Savannah and make Carla and Bob sign it? I sent one with the wedding invitation; but it hasn't been returned yet. I'm sure from the tones of her emails and phone conversations that she's dissecting every detail of the wedding with Bob's country club. I'm desperately trying to clear my desk so I can spend my honeymoon in the arms of my husband without interference from my mother.
I love you.
Ana Steele
Seriously seeking sanity Copy Editor
Grey Publishing

From Christian Grey
To Ana Steele
RE: Not MY monster-in-law, yet
Email request done. Barney will send you a comprehensive email at the end of the day. Additionally, I've had Barney wave his tech wizard wand and make some magic with Carla's calls to your cell and to your work. Any call from her will be shunted to a special voicemail system. To prevent leaks about the wedding; I've asked Gail to monitor the Escala calls, and create a condensed report for us at the end of the day…after dinner.
Dad is flying out tomorrow with Carla's NDA. If anyone can make her behave, it will be him.
Christian Grey
I want to make magic with you CEO
Grey Enterprises Holdings

XX

Daily I describe mother's emails and calls to Zann…who gives me a cheeky response or the standard, "How does that make you feel?" question. God save her…she's helping me manage my mother-of-the-bride issues. I especially appreciate Zann's reply about the wedding necklace…doesn't my mother know I'm like Jane Eyre? Rochester agreed the pearls were more suitable for Jane than the overwhelming necklace he considered. She recommends I give my mother a first edition copy of Jane Eyre as a thank-you gift for all her hard work for the wedding. I laugh myself silly at the cheeky recommendation. The lessons of Jane Eyre would be lost on the southern beauty and manners of Carla Wilkes Lambert Steele Morton Adams.

XX

I awake from a media nightmare… "Mrs. Robert (Carla) Adams of Savannah, Georgia escorted her daughter, Anastasia down the aisle to her billionaire groom, Christian Grey of Seattle, Washington. The bride wore a designer gown, not a Vera Wang creation, for her SIMPLE afternoon wedding to Christian Trevelyan Grey, CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings. The SIMPLE afternoon wedding was held at the home of Carrick Grey, partner in the law firm of Grey and Dawson, and Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey, well-known Seattle pediatrician who practices at Northwest Hospital Seattle…

I shake myself out of my nightmare, which included a vision of an 8x10 picture of my mother in a gold lame halter gown at the rehearsal dinner. When asked if she enjoyed her visit to Canlis, Mrs. Adams explained how the food was delicious despite the barren decor of Canlis and their lack of a dance floor. How else could she show off her dance moves which were so much better than her daughter's…but what can you expect when Anastasia won't quit her job and take dance lessons!

A/N:

Thank you for the reviews and viewers; thank you for the messages and questions; thank you for the favorites and follows! PM'ing me that you're going to quit reading if I don't take your suggestion is laughable. Just saying…

I do not own Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters. They belong to E. L. James. My story is the interpretation of my thoughts about how the characters could have, should have, would have acted.