EPILOGUE

ALL CREDIT TO ELJ

CHRISTIAN

"I'm going to kill Elliot and bury his body next to our mother's," I mutter to myself as I stand in front of the stove. I hear my audience snicker behind me, but I choose to ignore them for now.

"This is disgusting. There are raw eggs in here. You expect me touch raw eggs, Ana? We just got back from our honeymoon and you want to expose me to salmonella. What kind of woman did I marry?" I say dramatically. Instead of snickering, I get full on laughter this time.

"The kind who is naïve enough to marry a liar," my beautiful wife says to me. "Breakfast is more my specialty," she says trying to imitate my voice. "I married you under false pretenses. You're lucky I don't file for an annulment."

I go back to staring at the concoction in front of me. Elliot and his damn big mouth. I think back to the incredible toast he made at our wedding. He talked about meeting Ana for the first time and how all I did that day at Gail and Taylor's shower was stare at her. He talked about the irony of me finding the sweetest woman on earth. Then he opened his big, fat mouth and put his foot in it.

"Now if anyone knows Christian, you know that he's not even capable of making toast without practically burning down the house. Remember how he almost set your kitchen on fire mom?"

"Which time?" Grace yelled back, eliciting laughter from everyone, including myself and even Ana.

"My point exactly! Now, one morning, I call him at home and he puts me on speaker. When I asked Ana what they were doing," I whip my head towards him, giving him the universal sign of shut the fuck up, but he ignored me. "Ana says they are eating the breakfast that Christian made for them. As you can imagine, he immediately took me off speaker after she made that declaration." Everyone laughs, and Ana turns to me in shock.

"Ana, sweetheart, my brother couldn't cook you breakfast if his life depended on it."

"Wait! He's cooked for me twice. Where did that French toast come from, Christian?" She asks, directing her gaze onto me. I decide right then and there that if I'm going down, I'm taking my accomplices with me.

"Gail made it and Taylor helped," I quickly confess. All of our guests are laughing as they look on.

"Boss! You snitch!" Taylor says.

"Gail, how could you?" Ana says jokingly.

"Sweetie, we were going to get the boss the girl no matter what!"

"And what about the other time you cooked me breakfast? Gail and Jason were on their honeymoon."

"I threatened to fire Sawyer unless he cooked a breakfast worthy of you." Sawyer, who was an invited guest at the wedding, pretends to hide behind his date, eliciting more laughter.

"Oh my god! What else did you lie about?"

"That's it. I promise. At least I think that's it. Right, Taylor?" I ask looking over at him.

"Don't drag me further into this, boss."

"You want to know what I learned that day?" Elliot continues once the laughter dies down. "That Christian Grey, the west coast's most eligible bachelor."

"Former bachelor," my blushing bride says. Everyone claps at that, and I lean over and kiss her on the mouth.

"Excuse me, the former bachelor, is just like the rest of us. He's not above lying to impress a girl. And just like in business, his instincts in women proved right. He found the perfect woman for him. She not only loves him, she supports him in every way. Do you know what he told me at his bachelor party? That he was struck by cupid's arrow on a rainy Monday at the last day of March. And he wasn't even drunk when he said it! And now we know he's lame too." More laughter.

"Guys, I'm so happy about my new sister, I don't know what to do with myself. She's not just perfect for Christian, she's perfect for our entire family, because who else would put up with all of our dysfunction?" More laughter ensues, and my mother has the grace to flush and hide her face behind her hands.

"You have to turn on the oven, boss?" Taylor says.

"How do you run an empire, dude?" Elliot asks.

"Because Ros does most of the work," my dad retorts and I get more snickers.

"Uncle Chrissy, we hungry! Hurry up!" EJ yells.

"Hurry!" I guess Jackson agrees.

"Leave my big brother alone," Mia says, getting up. "I'll help you, Christian."

"Thanks, Meems. You're the only one who loves me," I say, turning around and giving my wife the stink eye.

"Come on, Christian. Let's show them what you got, son." My mom steps from her seat around the breakfast bar and joins me and Mia. "Don't let my money go to waste."

I roll my eyes at her because this is partially her fault. Two days after our wedding, Ana and I joined my family and Ray at my parent's house to celebrate Christmas where my mother gifted me with cooking lessons, which is about the worst gift anyone has ever given me.

Together, my mother, Mia and I cooked French toast for our family.

"For you, wife," I say as I put Ana's plate in front of her. "Don't give any to Elliot, Jason or Gail, mom. They threw me under the bus." They all ignore me as they make a beeline for the food.

Ana leans over to give me a kiss, but I move my head.

"I don't know if you deserve that, Mrs. Grey," I say as I start to eat. I reach into her plate and feed her a bit.

"So good," she says, giving me that look that goes straight to my cock. "And don't think I didn't notice that your mom and Mia did all the work while you just stood there. This isn't over, Grey. You're cooking again for me tomorrow."

2.5 MONTHS SINCE THE WEDDING

"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't ignore me in my own damn office, Mrs. Grey!" I say as I throw a pen across my desk.

Ana continues to stare at her laptop, tying furiously and ignoring me completely, which I hate.

This is our first fight since we got married almost three months ago, and I'm completely in the wrong, though I'll go to my grave without ever admitting that little fact.

I get up and cross my office in three angry strides and slam her laptop shut. I'm eager to get this fight over with by the time we get home so we can eat dinner, make love and soak in the tub, in that order.

"I said don't ignore me in my damn office," I hiss. She finally turns her gaze on me, and a smaller man would have run for cover, but I'm not a small man. I stand there, arms crossed, waiting her response.

"Everything that is mine is now yours," she says, imitating my voice and throwing back my wedding vows in my face. "Technically, this is my office now so back off before I have you thrown out."

I let out a loud snort at her audacity.

"Oh, really? Are you going to call Taylor and have him escort me out?"

She finally stands up, puts her hands on her hips and faces me.

"The way I'm feeling right now, I won't need Jason! How could you do this to me! How would you feel if I started putting my nose in how you run your business?"

"I'd love it. You can come work with me anytime you want."

"Yeah, right, Christian Grey!"

"And you're my wife so you're my business. I did nothing wrong!" That's the biggest lie I told this year, but it's only March.

"You went behind my back and offered them a bribe!" She yells.

"A bribe? You make me sound like some corrupt government official. All I did was make sure my wife got what she wanted. You told me this school was your first choice, so I made it happen. You won't get an apology out of me, Anastasia Grey!"

"Oh, you never apologize for anything, do you?"

"I apologize when I'm wrong, but that hasn't happened yet." I almost want to take a step back from the angry look that response gets me, but I don't. I just continue to dig a deeper grave for myself. "Get used to it!"

Ana interviewed at three middle schools last month, and when she mentioned a certain school was her first choice, I made a very small donation of half a million dollars to said school. I never said they had to hire her because of my donation, but the principal was no fool. He knew exactly what I meant. She was thrilled when she got the job, and she never would have found out if the idiots didn't send a fucking fruit basket to my office thanking me for my generous donation. When Ana saw the card, she put two and two together.

Before she can give me a scathing response, my office door opens and in walks our entire damn family, including Ray and Jose, who has become quite chummy with my father and grandfather.

When Ana sees everyone, she grabs her laptop, angrily shoving it into her Hermes bag.

Dad, grandpa, Elliot, Jose, Ray and I are going to my dad's country club for lunch, and the ladies (Ana, Kate, mom, Mia and Gail) are going to lunch at the Mile High before going shopping since Ana and I leave for our trip to China tomorrow. I smile when I remember the morning when I basically told her she'd be coming with me on this trip. And god damn it, I made it happen. And she's going as my wife, not my girlfriend. Damn, I'm good!

"Let's go, ladies," Ana says. "Let's eat and shop, but you might be going to China by yourself tomorrow, Mr. Grey."

I let out a laugh so loud, I inadvertently snort.

"I don't think so, wife. I told you months ago that you'd be coming with me on this trip."

"Oh, I remember that morning," Jose cackles.

"Oh, dear. What did you do, Christian?" Grace asks. I roll my eyes at her. Ana is by no means a huge fan of Grace, but she tries, and so does Grace. Once we got married, the family therapist asked that Ana join us for some sessions. Once there, she told Grace how she made her feel, but said she's willing to focus on the future. She told everyone that she knows I love my mom, and since she loves me, she would do her best to move forward, and she's done that. But that's not enough for Grace. She goes out of her way to get closer to Ana, including planning this girl's afternoon. And I guess this means she'll be taking Ana's side in any arguments that I have with her.

"Oh, mother, please. You're so obvious. And what makes you think it's my fault?"

"Because we know you. And we know Ana's a damn saint to put up with you," Elliot says drolly.

"I disagree, Elliot. I've known Ana a lot longer. I bet this is her fault," Jose chimes in.

"It is not, you traitor! Listen to what he did!" Ana tells them the entire sordid detail. The women all turn angry glares at me, but the men all shrug.

"See? I was right. This is Ana's fault. Is G-Money wrong for loving you and giving you whatever you want in life? You want him to apologize for getting you your dream job? Pfft. You have rich girl problems now, gurl!" All the men nod.

The men all nod in understand.

"Thank you, Jose! See, he gets it," I say.

"Whatever. He's only taking your side because you're paying for lunch," Ana says.

"And a damn good lunch. I'm in the mood for shrimp."

"She's an independent woman and wants to get things on her own. I get it, Ana. It's tough being a Grey," my mother says.

"Oh, yes, dear. It's so tough. Our women have it so hard, don't' they?" Dad says. "Tell me, sweetheart. How hard was it when I took you to Italy last month on that private plane?"

All the men high five each other.

"I'm sorry you married into a family of Neanderthals, Ana. Kate, you might want to think twice before going any further with Elliot," Mia warns.

"She's already in too deep, Mia. No woman can resist this?" Elliot retorts pointing to himself.

The women all boo at Elliot.

"My grandson is pretty irresistible," my grandfather says, getting another high five from Elliot.

"Theo, you agree with this?" Adelle asks.

"Nothing wrong with taking care of your wife, dear. Listen, I might have done the same thing about forty five years ago. That first school that offered you a job was in bad neighborhood, so I might have made a donation to that other school that was taking its sweet time getting back to you. I knew you preferred the other school and I wanted to make it happen."

Obviously Adelle didn't know this story from the look on her face.

"That might be where I got the idea," I confess.

"Let's go, ladies. I'll deal with you tonight, Theo. In fact, I won't deal with you tonight at all. You might as well retire those Viagra for the foreseeable future!" Mia and Elliot both make gagging signs and Grace has the nerve to flush in embarrassment.

"Gentlemen, let's table this argument," Taylor says. "I don't need Gail getting any ideas."

"Did you know about this, Jason?" Ana asks him.

"Ana, sweetie, I know everything the boss does."

"And you didn't tell me?" She asks incredulous.

"Or me," Gail says.

"Boys' code," Taylor says.

"Bros before hoes!" Elliot chimes in. That got him a slap upside the head from both Kate and our mother.

"I'm done with all of you," Ana says. "Let's go. Lunch and shopping on Christian Grey today, ladies."

"Yes!" Mia says.

"See! You made my point. Rich girl problems," Jose yells.

"Is that supposed to scare me, Ana? You know how much it turns me on when you spend money," I yell after her.

The women don't respond. Instead they all give us angry glares and start to walk towards the door. I run after my wife, grab her wrist and slam her against my body.

I lean in for a kiss, but it's like kissing an ice sculpture.

"I love you, Mrs. Grey," I say as I nibble on her neck. I get no response. "I said I love you, Mrs. Grey."

"I suppose I love you too," she says with just a hint of a smile this time. "But it will be a long time before you get this again."

"Yeah, tonight is a long time away. I'm making sweet love to my wife tonight, tomorrow morning, tomorrow afternoon, tomorrow night on the plane. You get my meaning."

"We'll see about that," but I can see some of the fight has gone out of her. I see desire in her eyes now.

In the end, I issued my first apology as a married man, but I left out the part where I would do it again in a heartbeat. She forgave me, and we spent the night making love in our bed.

2 YEARS SINCE THE WEDDING

"Can you believe this shit?" Elliot asks. "It was the perfect evening until she ruined it. Mom and dad had the boys for a sleepover so Kate and I could celebrate our engagement. She just finished riding my face like I was a stallion."

"You can skip that part, Elliot," Ana says.

"Yes, please," Mia says, looking as disgusted as I felt.

"He's right though, yuys. I rode him hard that night."

"Jesus, just get on with the story and leave out the porn. You two are just perfect for each other," I say and they both nod. Elliot grabs Kate's hand, and they intertwine their fingers. Kate's diamond engagement ring catches the light and it sparkles.

"So afterwards, there's a loud pounding on the door. I put on my shorts, grab my baseball bat and run to the door. EJ's mother is standing there." Elliot tells the story of how EJ's mother has returned and wants to see her son.

Everyone in the family is against it. Legally, she has no rights. She gave up all parental rights to EJ. Kate is planning on adopting him as soon as she's married to Elliot. EJ even started calling Kate mommy about six months into their relationship.

"So, are you going to let her see him?"

"The bitch already made sure of it. She showed up on a Saturday morning and told EJ who she was. He was confused at first, but Elliot and I explained it to him. He's asked about her since." Kate says, clearly not happy with this turn of events.

"Get a restraining order on her. I'm sure there's a judge we can convince. One who's up for reelection and needs a substantial campaign contribution, if you know what I mean. Hell, you can just offer her a bribe," Christian says sipping his coffee.

"Christian!" Ana says.

"She said she was sick and finally got therapy. She claims to have had severe post partum depression but says she's better now."

"Is she going to fight you for custody?" Ana asks.

"I'd kill that bitch with my bare hands," Kate says. "I'm his mother, not her. Fucking whore."

"She's not. She says he's better off with me but wants to be able to see him. That's all she wants. She signed away her rights, so that's that," Elliot says.

"But don't the courts usually side with the mother? If she can prove she had PPD, then doesn't she have a chance?" Ana asks.

"Yes, but Elliot's a Grey. She can't take us on. We'd ruin her," Kate says.

Elliot puts his hand on her forearm, calming her down.

"Nobody's going to ruin anybody, Katie. At the end of the day, she gave me my son and if she was ill, she put him first by leaving him with me when she realized she couldn't take care of him. I'm not going to punish her for that. I don't want EJ to grow up and get angry at me for keeping him from her. The more people who love him, the better. Dad says we have nothing to worry about with regards to custody, and she can't afford to fight us. I want him to know her, but only under our supervision."

"Damn right. If that bitch is so much as a minute late for one of these visits, she's done." I guess Kate is not exactly the forgiving type.

4 YEARS SINCE THE WEDDING

I wake up to a dark bedroom. I reach for my wife only to find her side of the bed empty but still warm.

Knowing exactly where she is, I pull the covers off my naked body and put on my shorts before going to look for my wife.

I don't need to go far. I open the door to the bedroom across from ours to find her sitting on a rocking chair and nursing our three month old son.

She turns towards me and smiles when she sees me. I walk over and sit next to her.

"Why didn't you wake me?" I ask.

"Because you just go back from your trip and you were exhausted. Besides, this is a one woman job," she says pointing to our nursing son.

"You know I like to watch," I say, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Always the perv," she jokes.

"Your perv, baby."

"Damn right," she says possessively.

"This is the most beautiful sight. My wife nourishing our son. Could things be any more perfect?" I ask.

And that's exactly how things have been since we got married. Our family has slowly come back together. We still fight, but our arguments don't last long these days.

Ana and Grace have even managed to form a friendship of sorts. I don't think Ana will ever be fully comfortable with Grace, but things between them have come a long way. It was Grace and Adelle who helped Ana learn how to start her own charity and who guided her when she got on one of the boards.

Mia gave up on a career in the restaurant business and went to law school, much to dad's excitement. She's now a junior associate at his firm and recently got engaged to Ethan Kavanagh, so the Greys are now planning another wedding.

My grandparents are still fighting and Gail and Taylor adopted a little girl named Sophie.

EJ follows Sophie around like she hangs the moon. We all laughed one afternoon when Taylor warned my five year old nephew to stay away from his daughter.

Jose went back to school and is now a professional photographer. He still lives in Ana's house, but now he lives there with his husband, Floyd.

Jose's wedding, which we Ana and I threw for him in our meadow, was filled with drama. Jose's mother decided she would not be attending the ceremony. Jose claimed to have been fine with it until the night before when he broke down in tears at the rehearsal dinner.

No one was able to console him. Not Ana or his father. Not even Floyd.

At the last minute, Mrs. Rodriguez must have had a change of mind, because she showed up ten minutes before the ceremony. Both Jose and his mother broke down in tears, but in the end, both Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez walked their son down the aisle.

By the end of Jose's wedding, both Ana and I were exhausted. On a whim, I whisked her to Napa for a few days to decompress.

About a year after our wedding, Ray decided to sell his house in Montesano and move to Seattle to be closer to his daughter.

"He's back to sleep now," Ana says. I slowly take our son from Ana and lay him in his bassinette. I help Ana up and we walk back to our room, making sure that the baby monitor is on.

"Remember the first time you came over here for Gail and Taylor's shower?" I ask as I hold her in my arms, running my fingertips along her collarbone.

"Mmmhmm," she responds.

"I knew then that you would be the mother of my children. I realized that day that I bought this house for you. I was getting ready for you. And I knew you wanted me too when I caught you snooping in here."

"I was not snooping. I was lost," she says.

"Sure, you were."

"I didn't know what I was feeling that day, but I knew my life would never be the same again. I love you, Christian. It's funny, isn't it? Under no circumstances should our paths have ever crossed, but I ended up working in your building. A location Jose's parents could never have been able to afford if not for your private life going public."

"I think all of this was meant to happen. This was my path to you, baby. I don't regret any of it. I wouldn't change a thing. You are what took me out of the darkness. I love you more every day."

"Not as much as I love you," she says.

"How long do you think we have before our son wakes up again?" I ask her.

"Maybe three hours if we're lucky."

"That's plenty of time. How about I blindfold you, so you can ride sir's dick?"

"Yes, sir," she says as she reaches into her nightstand for the blindfold.

"I can never get rid of this constant craving that I have for you, Mrs. Grey.

A/N: And just like that, another story about our favorite couple is complete. I hope you enjoyed these snippets into their future. To everyone who read, followed, favorited and reviewed, THANK YOU! Your support for this story has been incredible. I want to say a HUGE thank you to the ladies in the Sisterhood for doing this challenge way back in March (I think). This story came out of that challenge, so thank you so much. Let's do more challenges! Until Laters!