CPOV

I'm so excited and yet so nervous for tonight. I've been pacing my room back and forth several times as Elliot and Luke look at me with confusion.

"Bro calm down please. You're going to send me into a tizzy," Elliot comments. "It's just a ballet and a party. Nothing could go wrong."

"But this is her first ballet and party. I want it to be perfect for her."

"I'm sure it will be Christian," Luke adds. I hear his phone go off and I look to it like a thirsty man would look at a pool of water. "They're ready for us across the hall." Dressed in our tuxedos, we exit the hotel room and take two steps to reach Kate and Elliot's room. Elliot knocks while I bounce on my feet anxious to see her. Mia comes out first in the mint dress we bought on the first shopping trip we went on with Ana. Next comes Kate in her purple gown, wiggling her eyebrows at me with a knowing look. I glance behind her and my breath stops in my lungs. Out steps Ana in her gorgeous blush gown I bought her. She looked stunning in it before but now that she has regained her weight, she fills out the dress wonderfully, showing off tasteful cleavage and accenting her curves. I fall in love with her all over again. She locks eyes with me and blushes while catching her bottom lip in her teeth.

"You look captivating, truly bewitching Anastasia," I gush as I bend to kiss her cheek. I take her hand and lead the party to the elevators. I can't stop looking at her and playing out in my mind how tonight will hopefully go. We step outside the hotel to a waiting limo, gather inside and are ushered off to the theatre. Once there, the paparazzi are already on the scene waiting for us. Word travels quickly when a well known CEO will be attending something. Ana grabs my hands and I feel her hesitation radiating off of her. "Don't worry baby. Just smile that gorgeous smile and they'll leave us alone." She chuckles before pecking my cheek and getting out of the car with her hand in mine. As the lights flash in our faces and we hear several nagging voices trying to get our attention, I just look lovingly down into Ana's eyes as our group enters the building. We have a box reserved so we're immediately showed upstairs. Ana's eyes grow big after we're seated. We read the playbill, looking over the plot and the cast and crew members. As the lights go down and the room becomes dark, she takes my hand and brings it to her lips before the ballet dancers seemingly floating over the stage mesmerizing us. At times I just look over to Ana and watch her astonishment and expressions. As the play progresses and the first part of the night comes to an end, I silently pray the second part will go just as swimmingly as this part has.

After the ballet ends, we get into the limo once more and head to the building where the party will take place. Once we arrive in the building people wanting to say hello to me ambush us. I nod and shake hands with these strangers all wanting to get on my good side. Even with Ana on my side with her arm laced into mine, women still come up to us, brushing their breasts against my arms. I quickly shake them off. We eat some finger foods and I offer Ana a glass of champagne. She takes a sip and doesn't wince this time like she did tasting wine. We finally get a chance to look over the room. There is a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. There's a large black piano and pianist located near the door. There is a floor to ceiling window showing us the ball that will drop, ringing in the New Year. We glance out of the window and see the large crowd that gathers outside every year to watch it too. The cast arrives and the guests applaud them.

"Ah Mr. Grey welcome," the man who played the prince, Mark Muddle comes over and shakes our hands with his date dangling on his arm. "Who is this pretty peach?"

"This is Anastasia Steele." She shyly offers her hand and gives him a beautiful smile. His rude date ogles me and turns her nose up at Ana. I roll my eyes before we continue to meet more people from the ballet. I watch in disbelief as other male crew members shamelessly flirt with her right in front of me. She gives them her smile and her hand politely to receive kisses upon it. My jealousy grows little by little with every guy.

We gather around the window as the ball begins to drop. I feel Ana's excitement surge through me. As it gets closer, my anxiousness becomes more and more by the second.

"Three, two, one. Happy New Year," everyone yells in unison. Everyone begins the tradition of giving a kiss to someone after the ball drops while confetti falls from the ceiling. I turn to Ana and look down into her sapphire orbs. I cup her face, watch her eyes close on instinct, and feel the connection of our lips as my eyes close too. The fireworks begin exploding in my mind once more as I feel her soft lips with mine. I pull back and look back into her eyes. She's flushed and it adds to her beauty.

"Happy New Year Ana." She stands on her tiptoes and continues kissing me. My other hand snakes around her waist and I pull her against my body as our lips still battle. I slowly extend my tongue and run it along her lips, asking silently for entrance into her mouth. She gasps and I slip my tongue over hers while her hands slide up my chest and into my hair, lightly tugging on it. Her tongue is divine and she tastes just as sweet as I imagined. We pull apart needing air. I look down at her and see she's grinning and her eyes are glazed over. I grin and pull her close to me again, fully intent on kissing her again until I hear Elliot calling my name.

"Christian I'm sorry but can we head back to the hotel now? Kate is feeling a little under the weather."

"Yes certainly."

"Is she okay," Ana mouths.

"Yes I think one of the hors d'oeuvres didn't agree with her." We catch up with our group at the elevator. Kate does look a little pale.

"I'm fine. One of the sushi finger foods didn't sit well," she states. We head out into the limo but instead of taking 30 minutes to get back to the hotel, it takes over an hour and a half due to all the traffic and pedestrians. The girls are fast asleep by the time we get back. We carry them to our according rooms. I lay Ana on the bed and slip off her shoes. I don't want to embarrass her by undressing her so I leave her in her dress. I wash away the make up from her face, change, and fall asleep with her in my arms, smiling from the kisses we shared.

As I watch the sun come up over the horizon, bringing in the new day, I sit watching it form the foot of the bed. I've been up for the past hour thinking of what I'm going to say to Ana when she awakens. My head hangs as I feel her shift on the bed. I look over my shoulder and see her sitting up rubbing the sleep from her eyes and smiling brightly at me.

"Ana, last night I saw what life you could live, the one you were destined to live. I could give you this life, but I know you would be better off loving a man who deserves your love. I can't be that man. My own biological mother didn't want me so why would you, a pure and innocent, good, beautiful woman so full of kindness and love want a man who would smother you and cling to you like you were a life line? If only you knew what how far I have gone to ensure you and your safety. Did you know I put a tracker in every car and can see where you go so I know where you are, every day to see if you arrived okay. It gives me a sense of calm but what is that? It's an obsession and that's not healthy in the slightest. I wish you could love me, but I know you need to give your love to another man, the one who deserves it. That's why when we get home, you'll have your own apartment. You can keep everything I bought for you. I'll still pay for your college classes. Luke will still be your bodyguard. But I can't stand on the sidelines loving you while you come to love another man. It would kill me." I don't have to see her to know she's crying. I get up and walk to the doorway. "I'm so sorry Ana."

"Christian," comes the soft voice of an angel that stops me in my tracks. My jaw drops and I turn to see Ana is as shocked as I am.

"Ana…did…you…"

"Christian," she says again and her voice is as soft as I thought it would be. Within seconds she's running over to me and jumping into my arms as the tears drop from my eyes. "Christian, you say you don't deserve my love, but you're wrong in many ways. You're worthy of my love on so many levels, far more than you know. You say you're clingy but you're not. You're caring for the ones you love and the ones that are strangers to you. You say you're needy, but you're not. You need something every human needs and that is reassurance and the feeling of being wanted. You say you're smothering but you're not. You show your love and compassion by offering what you can to others. If I had to pick a man to love, it would be you in a heartbeat in a second Christian because you already have my love. You deserve it, you're worthy of it, and you have it. I love you Christian."

"I love you so much Ana." I quickly catch her lips, finally feeling my whole heart beat at the sound of a woman loving me. She is everything I need and want. I could give up everything and be happy with her the rest of my life. Her tongue slides into my mouth and tastes the inside of my cheeks. I moan into her mouth and bring her into my body more. Soon we must separate to catch our breaths. "Baby we better get dressed. Everyone will be over in a minute for breakfast. I love you so much."

"I love you too Christian." She takes her clothing into the bathroom and gives me heart-stopping smile before she shuts the door. How could I have been so stupid, letting my fears and insecurities stop me from letting her love me? But that's what insecurities do according to Flynn; they stop you from being your true self and enjoying the life you have. As I hear the water running from the shower, I think of how happy everyone will be when they hear that Ana has her voice back. I grab my phone as it rings and see it's my dad calling.

"Hi Dad."

"Christian," he says in a serious tone. "I have news, regarding the sex slave market."