Christian
After our long camping trip I was all about how to celebrate Ana's birthday. Needless to say...I wanted it to be special. We would be starting school in a week and I think I think I have a perfect idea about where and when to spring her surprise on her. By some awful turn of events Ana's birthday lands on a school day and not just any school day it is during the back to school College bound trip.
This trip was a bus road trip to visit all the schools most of us would be applying to. This would take us to the UDub, University of California, Berkley, and UNLV. And that is when it comes to me...Las Vegas! They have chapels and wedding places all over the place. All we would have to do is leave while we are staying on that campus and for us to go and get married. My birthday surprise is my wedding ring to her. I felt like a Hebrew slave working the summer with her dad. There were many things I learned on the job but what I ended up getting with my wages was Ana's wedding ring.
I saved everything I earned to get her the ring that I wanted her to have. It was modest because I knew she wasn't one to make huge statements with jewelry BUT it also was big in the stone department. I wasn't a diamond but a pearl. The pearl was genuine and showed how perfect she was. I couldn't wait to get it on her finger the first chance I get.
"So what are you going to pack for the trip next week?" Ana said. She was sitting on my bed with her back against my headboard. It was our ritual most days when we weren't working. Now that classes are back in session her coming to my house or me going to her house was a given, we said homework was being done but in all honesty it was just us wanting to be with each other.
"Well I think I am going to take a lot of casual clothes but from what I have read we are going to be having dinners with staff members at each stop so I am going to bring a couple dress clothes to be safe." I wanted to drop the hint about dress clothes so she would bring something she could use for her wedding dress.
"Oh! I hadn't thought of that. Great thinking I will do the same." She says with a big smile.
"What are you thinking about?" I really want to know why she is smiling so wide.
" I am thinking about just being here. This time last year I didn't have any immediate friends. Jose was off at his school. Kate and Ethan were friends when they came around. I was lonely last year and I can see that now. I am just happy to have you with me everyday." she said this in a dream like voice. At the end of her speech I couldn't help the emotion that built up.
I go to lay my head in her lap. "I know exactly how you feel."
...
"Alright everyone on the BUS!" said Mr. Roberts
"Okay mom I will be fine" I try to calm my crying mother.
"Just be careful and don't talk to no one. I mean people you don't know. Don't eat road food. Eat what I got you and Ana. Put toilet paper on the seats when you go to gas stations..." she was rambling
"Mom I don't sit down when I do that." God this was getting embarrassing.
"Then tell Ana. OH GOD ANA!" my mom gestures to Ray and Ana who are across the lot from us. Carry her bags.
"Ana eat what I gave Christian. Put toilet paper on the seats. No strangers. Don't drink weird things. Shake with a firm grip..."
"Eww Mrs. Grey" Ana said with a smile
"What?...Oh! You know what I mean." Mom said with a blush and a smile
"Oh yeah I know what you mean." My dad said with a smile and a wink at me. I actually shudder from the vomit in my throat.
"OKAY! We are boarding the bus." I take Ana's hand in mine and walked straight to the back of the bus. I put our bags above us and we sit for the not so short but still long ride to UDub. Leg one of our trip is done...Oh jeez Ana is nerding out over the libraries and I quote "SO MANY BOOKS!"
...
We are in Las Vegas... my palms are sweating.
UNLV looks great no lie.
They have the facilities looked great and I "ooo'd" and "Awed" in all the right places. I was really just looking forward to tonight.
...
The dinner for the final night in Las Vegas is finally behind us.
"So what do you want to do tonight?" she asked as we walked across campus
"How about we celebrate your birthday?" I see her surprise "Did you think I would forget your day?"
"I was just never one to be celebrated." She said with a smile.
"Okay how about you share your day with me? Do you have your wallet?" I ask with a smile
"What do you mean? yeah." she asks with a confused expression
"What do you say we get married tonight?" I say with a smile and Ana just jumps on me then kisses me all over my face.
"YES!"
"Okay lets go." I lead her to where we have a waiting taxi.
...
We pulled up to probably the only normal looking chapel in Las Vegas. It wasn't along the strip and was owned by a woman who would be described as a hopeless romantic.
"Hi me and my girlfriend would like to get married" I said as we approach a very organized front desk.
The whole chapel surprised me. I was expecting gaudy walls and lots of options for who we would want to marry us but this place was nothing but professional.
"Well hello there lovely young couple. Oh doesn't your bride look lovely in her dress. Okay of course you may be married here. First I am going to need some ID. Here we must verify age and then you just have to sign a couple releases and then your marriage certificate. My father will be presiding over your ceremony. He is a retired Pastor." She did the whole run down "Now witnesses?"
"Damn we don't have any." Wasn't that shit a myth? How can I be so stupid?! It's not like we could go back and have some non-existent friend that we had at school come help us out.
"Well... Lucky for you my sister is here tonight and I will help out by being a witness myself. No worries we will get you guys married in no time." she then busies herself finishing our paper work.
Ana's knees were bouncing and she was chewing her lips the entire time. Not a good sign.
"Hey if you don't want to do this or you are getting cold feet..." I start to murmur
Ana's head whips over to look at me in horror.
"NO NO NO Christian I am not thinking like that I am excited! I can't believe we are doing this. This is a point in my like where I am happy I am doing something that was not planned our discussed about. I thank God I had the guts enough to sit at my normal table when you came to school. I was thinking about how I could have never had you with me. We could have been in completely different placed then we are right now." Wow she was feeling all that?
"Wow, are you going to explode with all those feelings?" I said with a laugh but I really did know how she felt. I thought the same things myself.
"Just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon..." she trailed off with a smile.
"Did you just quote Harry Potter?" I end that question with a booming laugh.
"You walked right into that reference." she said with a giggle
"OKAY! We are ready!" The lady whose name escapes me walks us to the back and it was actually really beautiful. It was set up just like a church and I couldn't be happier with my choice of venue.
"This is my father, Jim. He will be doing the ceremony."
"Hello good to meet you," He shook our hands and the ceremony began.
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore – is not by any – to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly – but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace.
Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy – and for the help and comfort given on another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly – it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained.
Through marriage, Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele make a commitment together to face their disappointments – embrace their dreams – realize their hopes – and accept each other's failures. Christian and Anastasia will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together – through mutual understanding – openness – and sensitivity to each other.
We are here today – before God – because marriage is one of His most sacred wishes – to witness the joining in marriage of Christian and Anastasia. This occasion marks the celebration of love and commitment with which this man and this woman begin their life together. And now – through me – He joins you together in one of the holiest bonds.
Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between two people. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between them. It is the construction of their love and trust into a single growing energy of spiritual life. It is amoral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage should be a life long consecration of the ideal of loving kindness – backed with the will to make it last.
Do you Christian take Anastasia to be your wife – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?"
"I Do" I said
"Do you Anastasia take Christian to be your husband – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?" he said
"I Do" Ana said with the biggest smile. She just bound herself to me and I couldn't be happier.
"What token of your love do you offer? Would you place the ring in my hand?"
Ana looked stricken. I don't have a ring she mouths to me. All I do is smile and produce her pearl ring. She goes from stricken to stunned in one swoop. She is tearing up.
"She is the only one with a wedding ring today Sir." I say
"May this ring be blessed as the symbol of this affectionate unity. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go – may they always return to one another. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women year. May they grow in understanding and in compassion. May the home which they establish together be such a place that many will find there a friend. May this ring on her finger symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts."
He hands the ring back to me.
"Christian in placing this ring on Anastasia's finger, repeat after me: Anastasia, you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity and with this ring, I thee wed."
I repeat after him with tears burning my eyes. Looking at Ana she isn't doing any better than I am. She finally gets a look at the ring I got her and she couldn't be happier with my pick. I just know it.
"Though you don't have a ring please Anastasia please repeat after me." Said Jim
"Christian you are now consecrate to me as my husband from this day forward and I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity and with this, I thee wed."
Ana repeats after him with a smile and a tear. Holding my hand tightly.
You have pronounced yourselves husband and wife but remember to always be each other's best friend.
What – therefore – God has joined together – let no man put asunder.
And so, by the power vested in me by the State of Nevada and Almighty God, I now pronounce you man and wife – and may your days be good and long upon the earth.
You may now kiss the bride." He said with a smile and a laugh.
I pulled Ana to me in a passionate kiss. I could feel her tremble with tears. We held each other tightly for a while. She not only is my friend but my wife now.
We collect our marriage certificate and when we walked out of the chapel Ana was so happy.
"Oh God Christian I am so happy!" she said with a spin.
"Oh I love your crazy self, Ana. Come here we need to get back to campus. I know we can't have a honey moon right now but I promise we are going to celebrate tonight really soon." I so wanted to be buried inside of her but I know we would get in trouble if we were found out.
We walk carelessly to a cab and the euphoria made the ride quick. I walked her to her building and kiss her deeply.
"Oh my real wife" I said with a victorious smile. "Have a good sleep"
"You too husband. You don't sleep enough when we are apart." She said with a sad smile. She rubbed the nap of my neck and I groan. Not only from the massage but the fact that her two rings were there too.
She gave me a quick kiss and walked into her building.
As she walked away I just couldn't help it. I gave an excited scream and yell.
So what do you think?!
I promised a marriage
Review or else (dun dun dun)
The drama begins