Chapter 39

CPOV

Everyone is gathered in the Garden Room seated around the canopy excitedly talking about our surprise. I can't wait until first, I see Anastasia walking up the aisle to me, and then when she is finally my wife. I feel like I've waited years and years for her.

I walk out in front of everyone and it gets quiet. "Family and friends, thank you for being here to share this occasion with Anastasia and me. As you have determined, Ana and I are getting married tonight. Actually, in a few minutes. I know some of you are probably not too pleased with us keeping this secret…" I look right at Mia and she gives me her 'stink face' and the rest of the guests laugh. "... but a wise woman, named Nora Ephron once said, 'When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. With that said, we hope you have a wonderful evening celebrating with us and we are happy you all are here."

I take my spot in front of the canopy made of branches and decorated with green hanging amaranthus, ferns, gardenias, and ranunculus. A few moments later I hear the first notes of 'Your Love is My Turning Page' and I know soon I will see my bride walk down the aisle to me. I take a deep breathe to calm myself down. It's not that I am nervous, but I don't want this evening to go by too quickly. I want to enjoy it and remember it forever.

Then I see her… she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, even if she does look nervous. We lock eyes and she smiles at me melting my heart even further. When she and Ray finally reach me, Ray gives her a kiss on the cheek and shakes my hand. Quietly he says, "Take care of her, son." I can hear in his voice he is straining to not cry. He takes a seat next to my parents and my mom gives him a quick hug. Ana gives me another sweet smile and just says, "Hi."

Pastor Davis nods to both of us and begins the ceremony. "You may all have a seat. Welcome everyone. Christian and Anastasia have chosen you, those special and important to them, to witness and celebrate the beginning of their life together. Today, as we create this marriage, we also create a new bond and new sense of family - one that will undoubtedly include all who are present here today.

"Christian and Ana, remember to treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Take responsibility for making the other feel safe, and give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at some time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not just the part that seems wrong. In this way, you can survive the times when clouds drift across the face of the sun in your lives, remembering that, just because you may lose sight of it for a moment, does not mean the sun has gone away. And, if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

"Now the couple will exchange their vows to each other. Anastasia, you may begin." She looks up at me and takes a deep breath then smiles.

"I, Anastasia Rose Steele, take you, Christian Trevelyan Grey to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."

There is one tear rolling down Ana's cheek as she recites her vows to me. Pastor Davis then prompts me. "Christian, you may now recite your vows to Ana." Before I start I wipe the little tear from her cheek and whisper, "I love you." Then, I begin.

"I, Christian Trevelyan Grey, promise you, Anastasia Rose Steele, that I will be your husband from this day forward, to be faithful and honest in every way, to honor the faith and trust you place in me, to love and respect you in your successes and in your failures, to make you laugh and to be there when you cry, to care for you in sickness and in health, to softly kiss you when you are hurting, and to be your companion, your protector, and your friend, on this journey that we make together."

The pastor smiles at us. "You have for each other special rings – symbols that love is the most precious element in your life together. The ring has no beginning and no ending, which symbolizes that the love between you will never cease. You place these rings upon each others' fingers as a visible sign of your vows this day, which will make you husband and wife. Christian, please place the ring on Ana's finger."

I take her wedding band out of my pocket and as I slip it on her petite finger, I tell her, "Anastasia, I give you this ring, a symbol of my love, as I give to you all that I am, and accept from you, all that you are."

"Ana, will you please place the ring on Christian's finger." She nervously takes the ring from me and steadily slides it onto my finger.

"Christian, I give you this ring, a symbol of my love, as I give to you all that I am, and accept from you, all that you are."

"And now, by the power vested in me by the State of Washington, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss". I swoop down and hold Anastasia in my arms and as if it is just us in this world, I lovingly kiss her for the first time as my wife.

"Family and Friends, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Christian Grey."

5 years later...

I am sitting at my piano in the formal living room of my house on the sound. As I play a happy little tune, I look at the pictures hanging on the wall - our wedding day, Ana and I holding a newborn Teddy, the Grey family picture with my parents and siblings, Teddy's first birthday, Anastasia glowing and smiling as she is very pregnant with Phoebe, us with newborn Phoebe, and finally a family picture of the four of us on Phoebe's first birthday.

Laughter from Ana, Teddy, and Phoebe fill the air as I finish the song. I hear a happy squeal of "'Gain Daddy!" from Phoebe and it brings me out of my reverie. I start another song as the kids hold hands with Ana and they dance around the living room. Teddy is a mini-me but much happier than I ever was as a small child. Phoebe is beautiful like her mother and is dancing around in a little pink tutu.

Teddy is four and definitely a handful. Like me, he has a love of helicopters and cars. And, he has a temper that I have to admit can rival mine. The only person who can console and calm him is Mommy. Anastasia has always had a way with us Grey men.

Phoebe has large blue eyes that depending on her mood darken to gray. Like a typical little girl, she loves pink, dancing, and Angelina Ballerina. And just like her mother, she has me wrapped around her little finger.

The doorbell rings and from the foyer we hear my mom shout, "Grandma is here! Where are my loves?" The kids yell and run over to her giving her hugs and kisses. Ana walks up and gives my mom a kiss on the cheek and I follow. Just moments later, my dad, Mia, Elliot and Kate walk through the door. "Ana, let me help you in the kitchen," my mom says to her. Ana, Mia, Kate, and my mom head to the kitchen to finish dinner.

Elliot picks up Phoebe and holds her above his head making her giggle. "There's my little moonbeam!" He gives her raspberries on her belly and she laughs until she hiccups.

A little while later we are all around the dining room table sharing a meal made by my wife. Teddy is next to me focusing on his mashed potatoes while Phoebe happily babbles in her highchair. Everyone else is involved in their own conversations. As I look around, I realize I am truly the richest man in the world and my net worth has nothing to do with it. I never knew I could be this happy and I would never give it up.

THE END