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Now to the end:

A/N: Well, here we are…The last Chapter of Late Night Thoughts- 20 Years later. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, and PM'd me. I am so very grateful for your support. It's been overwhelming, thrilling, touching, and mostly humbling. I've met some wonderful people through facebook, twitter and fanfiction because of this story. I'm honored you took a little time out of your life to read my story.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I do not own the characters. They belong to E.L. James. This is just for fun.

We're still moving the timeline…So here we go…

Swan Songs- Part three of three.

The End.

Saturday July 30, 2061

Late Night Thoughts- 50 Years Later

Fifty Years of Grey

I wake up too warm once again. Christian is lying on his side, wrapped around me; his arm draped over me and a leg hooked around both of mine. For as uncomfortable as this can sometimes be, I will never tire of it.

I slowly untangle myself from Christian's hold and watch him peacefully sleep, his mouth slightly parted; his soft breaths barely audible and his long lashes fanned against his cheek. His gray hair is still as unruly as the day we met. I desperately want to run my fingers through it, but I don't want to disturb him. He never sleeps enough.

"I know you're watching me," he mumbles with his eyes still closed, the hint of a mischievous smile playing at the corner of his lips.

"I am doing no such thing. You're crazy." I beam.

"Crazy for you. Happy Anniversary, baby." He reaches his arm around me, to the small of my back and pulls in me close to him, rubbing his nose against mine. He softly kisses me then smiles.

I love waking up to that smile.

"Happy Anniversary, husband of mine."

"Five years has flown by."

"Five? You better check your math, Mr. Grey. Try fifty years."

"Impossible. The beautiful girl lying next to me can't be a day over twenty six."

I giggle.

"Oh, Mr. Grey. Either the girl lying next to you isn't your wife, in which case you are in a lot of trouble…or you need to put your glasses on, because the woman next to you has a few years on twenty six. And I don't know about the beautiful part."

"You are so beautiful. I don't need my glasses on to see that." He gazes over at me with love in his eyes.

My heart melts. If he feels this way when I'm this age, I think I'll hide his glasses until the end of eternity.

"You can be very sweet, you know." I blush. He reaches his hand up and lovingly caresses my cheek. I take his hand and kiss the back of it.

"If you're giving out kisses, I have something else you can kiss." He murmurs as he flexes his groin into my side. I roll my eyes.

"You're so bad, Christian." I shake my head.

"Only the good die young, baby."

"Then you'll live to be a thousand, for sure."

He laughs.

"Stay here. I have a surprise for you." He grins.

He leaves our bedroom and returns ten minutes later holding a tray. He places the tray over my lap. I look down at the tray. There's a cup of English Twinings Breakfast tea, Greek yogurt with blueberries and granola in a bowl.

"You made breakfast for me?"

"I did. This was your favorite breakfast while we were on our honeymoon."

"This is so…lovely. I can't believe you remembered. I love you, Mr. Grey"

"Right back at you, Mrs. Grey. Now eat," he says sternly.

"Bossy as ever."

"That will never change, baby."

"I figured that out a long time ago."

I look down at the tray. This simple gesture means so much. His attention to detail is amazing. He's still full of surprises. I look up at Christian; he's pursing his lips as his eyes fixed on my breakfast tray. What's bothering him? Ugh, I know what it is. I'm not eating. I take the spoon and dig into the granola.

"Good girl." He nods.

Once I finish my first spoonful, he relaxes. I roll my eyes up toward the ceiling, jeez; he's right... Some things will never change.

He leaves to go to the kitchen and comes back to our bedroom with a muffin and coffee for himself and sits back on the bed next to me, peeking at my bowl to make sure I ate all of my granola. Oh Fifty.

After I've finished my breakfast to Christian's satisfaction, he clears away the tray and takes something out of his nightstand drawer.

"This is for you."

He smiles his shy smile, my favorite smile, and hands a small red leather box to me.

I slowly open the box and look inside. There's a delicate platinum gold cable link chain with a platinum charm dangling at the bottom. The charm is in the shape of a storybook. I lift it out of the box and read the engraving on it.

"They Lived Happily Ever After…"

"It's beautiful. Thank you." I sigh as I feel the tears well up in my eyes.

"It opens," he says quietly.

"Oh, ok." I open the book charm at its small hinge and inside is a tiny candid photograph of us taken on our wedding day. My favorite wedding picture, in miniature.

"Do you like it?" he asks warily.

"Oh Christian, I love it. It's perfect, just…perfect." The tears roll down my cheek.

"Perfect like you," he says as he wipes my tears away with the back of his thumb.

Christian lies down on his back, staring up at the ceiling. I turn to my side, leaning my head into my hand, resting on my elbow. I trail my fingers through the hair on his chest while we talk. I love touching him.

"When I first met you, you intimated me so much. I'd never have guessed you could be such a romantic."

"Neither could I, baby. Neither could I. Then again; I would never have guessed the shy girl who fell into my office would end up to be the love of my life."

"That's such a lovely thing to say."

He turns his head toward me. "It's the truth. It's only been you Ana, for fifty years, it's only ever been you."

"I'm very glad to hear that. I can't imagine my life without you."

"When you left me." He swallows hard. "It opened my eyes. You opened my heart. I never thought I'd have this life."

"When Charlie Tango went down, I was so scared we wouldn't." I shutter just remembering the feelings of despair, waiting to hear if Christian was alive or dead.

"I know, baby. You were my talisman. All I wanted was to come home to my girl."

"I'm very grateful you did. How do you think your life would have been if we never met?"

"Boring, dull, meaningless."

"Me too." I sigh.

"You had a line of suitors. They'd be thrilled to get their grubby hands on you."

"But I never wanted anyone until I met you. You are it for me."

"I never wanted more…until you. And after fifty years, I still want more."

I blush and lean to the small patch of hair on his chest, lightly kissing it. It makes me happy just thinking about how far we've come.

"Are you ready for the busy day ahead?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." He sighs.

~o0o~

Christian and I didn't want a big party to celebrate our anniversary. If it were up to us, it would just be the two of us quietly spending the day together, but Phoebe was insistent that we had to mark this milestone properly. Once Phoebe decides on something, there's no saying no. We agreed to small get together to appease her.

The Big House is full of people, mostly family. I forgot how big the family grew until we're all in one place. It's wonderful seeing Kate, Elliot, Mia, Ethan, our five grandchildren and our nephews and nieces all in one place.

Our guests have spread themselves out between the inside of the big house and the patio. Fortunately, it's a lovely day. My ninety two year old mother is sitting in an Adirondack chair on the patio, wearing her red hat, as always, sipping on a margarita while chatting up a storm with Kate. I roll my eyes…Poor Kate. My mother could babble on for days, especially after a cocktail or three if you don't find your out and escape her. Christian and I spot Jason and Gail's arrival and walk over to greet them.

"Jason, Gail, it's good to see you." Christian shakes Jason's hand and kisses Gail's cheek. I give them each a big hug. Even though we talk on the phone pretty often and still see each other on occasion, I miss them terribly.

"Christian." Jason nods as he looks Christian up and down. A devilish smile appears and I know they're going delve right into their special brand of communication… Trading jabs with each other. "Your name is fitting. You're all gray."

"At least I still have all my hair."

"I'm a bad ass."

"A balding elderly bad ass?" Christian laughs.

"Age is just a number, and besides, I have the body of a twenty year old."

This has been Jason's customary answer for the past twenty years. I peek over at Gail who is rolling her eyes.

"Keep telling yourself that Jason. Are you receiving treatment for your dementia? I could recommend a doctor."

"Still as grouchy as always, aren't you Grey?"

"It's my signature move."

"You're good at it."

They laugh as Christian reaches his arm over to Jason and pats him on the shoulder.

"I've missed you Jason. Why don't you extend your stay? You and Gail can stay here. You can show my security team how it's done."

"I still keep tabs on them."

"And the call me a control freak." Christian chuckles. "Stay. The four of us can go sailing tomorrow. Ted is taking us out, join us."

Taylor looks over at me and smirks then back to Christian.

"It looks like you heeded my warning. Ana looks happy. I'm glad you didn't fuck this up."

"So am I." Christian wraps his arm tightly around my waist.

"She's the best thing that ever happened to your sorry ass."

"She is." Christian agrees then looks over at Gail. "She's the best thing that ever happened to you, old man."

"Don't I know it." Taylor tightens his arm around Gail's waist.

"So you'll stay?"

The Taylors look at each other and smile.

"Sure."

~o0o~

"Everyone, please. I'd like to say a few words about my parents. Does everyone have a glass of champagne?"

Our guests nod and the chatter quiets down as all eyes are on Teddy and Phoebe standing at the front of the Great Room. Christian and I are off to the side of Teddy and Phoebe; our arms wrapped around each other's waist.

"First, I'd like to thank everyone for coming. Some of you traveled quite far to be with us today, and I know my parents appreciate it.

We've been fortunate in our lives to have experienced true love first hand. My parents love and respect for each other has been the example my sister and I brought into our own marriages. Two opposites yet, they are the perfect compliment to each other…with my dad being…well…my dad and my mom balancing him out. You can't picture one without the other.

I joke about my dad being overbearing…Okay, it's not a joke. He is overbearing; a force to be reckoned with, but anyone in this room knows, he's putty to the woman standing next to him.

It's no secret that our parents are passionate people. They love with all they have...and they fight with all they have too.

Imagine our horror when we cracked what we secretly refer to as 'The Anastasia Code'."

Christian and I look at each other, puzzled. What in the world is he talking about? Teddy continues…

"Our dad had a habit of calling our mom 'Anastasia' whenever they'd have a disagreement. When we'd hear 'Anastasia', we'd run for the hills to avoid the crossfire. As time went on and we got older, we came to realize that sometimes our dad would call Mom 'Anastasia' when they weren't having a disagreement. She'd usually blush, and then they'd disappear for a nap. Our dad barely sleeps as it is; he certainly wasn't a person who napped…then it hit us…the horrible realization that scarred us for life- the Anastasia code wasn't only for arguments, it was also used for making up, if you catch my drift. He was either mad at her, or mad for her, usually the latter."

"And we all thought your Father was gay." Elliot chimes in. Christian looks at Elliot and scowls.

The room erupts in laughter.

I place both my hands over my face, as I'm blushing bright red. Christian slowly slides his hand down my backside and squeezes my ass. Pervert.

"Let's be grateful your Grandpa Ray isn't here to listen to this, he'd shoot me for sure," Christian jokes.

"But seriously," Teddy continues, "before I married Maddie, I asked my dad what the secret to a good marriage was. He told me to fall in love with your wife every day."

"What a lovely thing to say," I whisper to Christian.

"It's the truth, baby." He takes my hand and sweetly kisses the back of it.

"Dad doesn't talk much about his life before Mom. He says it's because he never really felt alive until he met her. Love was something he couldn't live with; that is until he met my mother and came to realize that it was something that he couldn't live without.

Dad has always maintained that if something was meaningful to my mom, then it was meaningful to him. They love each other with all that they have, and when that's not enough, they'd reach down deep and find some more.

There is no Christian Grey without Anastasia Steele and visa-versa. One is not complete without the other. We're very fortunate to be a part of them. I love you Mom and Dad. Thank you for everything." Teddy nods at us and looks over to Phoebe. "I think Phoebe wanted to say a few words too, so I'll hand this over to her."

Teddy winks as Phoebe begins to speak.

"My dad has always maintained that my mom is his lifeline. I think that's true. She keeps him afloat."

I think back to when Christian first said those words to me. It seems like a million years ago.

"When I married Matt, I asked her how she knew Dad was 'the one'. She said that he made her happy, even when he wasn't there…And that's how she knew she couldn't live without him. She gave me advice that will always hold true: Depend on each other's strengths and accept their weaknesses. She said that a good marriage doesn't just appear overnight; it takes patience, forgiveness and two people who truly want to be together. That sums up our parents. Two people who truly want to be together. I love you Mom and Dad.

Let's all raise our glasses and toast, To Ana and Christian, in each other, they found their Happy Ending."

I look up at Christian, who is looking down at me, his eyes glowing with love. He sweetly kisses me and wipes the tear rolling down my cheek.

~o0o~

"Everyone, I'd like to say a few words about my husband. Things I've meant to get off my chest for years."

Our guests are oohing and aahing my declaration, waiting to hear what I have to say.

"As you all know, Christian is a very private man, a man of few words and one who holds his secrets close to the chest. However, I feel it is my right as the long suffering spouse to confront him about something and I want you all here as witnesses."

I turn and face Christian.

"I know about your mistress. I've always known. People have always assumed that with Christian's wealth, power and charm that he'd have a mistress. I am confirming this. He does."

The room falls silent. Christian narrows his eyes at me, but I can see the amusement hidden behind his scowl.

"That's right; GEH has been the other woman in our relationship for as long as we've been together." I grin. "And like any man with a mistress, I've caught him countless times sneaking around, huddling in some corner, secretly reading the emails on his blackberry, working late in his study; just him and his beloved company. Years ago, Christian promised me he would slow down, even retire. You know, after he was done 'building up the business' as he likes to say. Of course, I knew that was never going to happen. He's too much of a control freak to let it go entirely. He can't help himself. His version of retirement is arriving at GEH at nine-thirty instead of eight and taking off on Fridays…unless he goes in."

"I have to keep the employees on their toes, baby," Christian jokes.

"He says retirement is an ugly word and likes to point out that Michelangelo was carving the Rondanni just before he died at eight-nine. GEH is his work of art.

But that's who he is and I wouldn't have him any other way. If there's one thing I know about Christian, when he loves, he loves completely; whether it be me, our family, his dogs or his mistress, GEH.

I love you Christian Grey. I love your loyalty, drive, over protectiveness, kindness, generosity. You are such a good man. I am so very proud to be your wife." I feel a lump in my throat forming, as the love I feel for this man overwhelms me.

I've come to realize that Christian will always be fifty shades, but over the years, some of the darker shades have faded, replaced with brilliant bright, colorful light.

Christian wraps his arms around me and holds me tight, inhaling my hair then kissing to top of my head. He faces our guests and clears his throat.

"Looks like it's my turn. Thank you all for being here. I'd like to thank Phoebe and Ted for their kind words. And a note to my son, I have heard you refer to Maddie as Madeline on quite a few occasions. It seems to me that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Eh?" He winks.

"It's all in the genes, Dad," Teddy yells back.

Everyone in the room laughs. Maddie looks down to the floor, turning bright red.

"And another thing, your mother has always maintained that we do not fight. She calls it 'communicating'. As you know, communication comes in many different forms." He raises his brow and smirks.

"Oh, Dad, please stop!" Phoebe cringes. Christian laughs.

"On a serious note, I wake up every morning and look at this beautiful woman sleeping next to me and thank Divine Providence for Ana. When I see her lying next to me, I'm reminded that I'm not alone in this world, that I have someone to love and someone who loves me back. I know don't deserve her, as a few of you were so kind to point out to me many times in the past." He smirks as he's glares directly at Kate, his eyebrow arching.

"It's okay, Moneybags. You've redeemed yourself," Kate teases. Christian rolls his eyes and continues.

"But I am thankful she's sees differently. Ana may complain about my retirement, but don't let her fool you. How many manuscripts did you read this week, Ana?"

"Just a few," I squeak out.

"As I thought…It seems my darling wife has her own secret love life."

"But I love you more," I blurt out.

"Damn right you do, Mrs. Grey," He barks.

Everyone laughs.

"And I only go to the office twice a week," I add.

"Six of one, half-dozen of the other," he quips.

He's delusional if he thinks they're the same. He continues his speech.

"Seriously, I am the luckiest man in the world because of this beautiful woman standing next to me. My favorite place in the world is beside you. Thank you for marrying me, loving me all these years and healing a heart I didn't know I had. My love, Anastasia, thank you for fifty of the best years of my life."

He lifts his glass and the rest of the room follows, raising their glasses and toasts us.

~o0o~

I'm leaning on the doorway arch to the Great Room, watching everyone laughing and talking the night away. Christian sneaks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

"Let's get the fuck out of here," he whispers in my ear.

I turn around to face him.

"Christian, we have a house full of people. We're in the middle of our Anniversary party."

"I don't give a fuck. I'm tired of sharing you. I need a break from these people and the noise. Meet me at the dock in ten minutes."

"Christian, we just can't leave."

"Anastasia, I expect to see you there in ten minutes. This is not a request."

"Oh…fine. I'll be there." I sigh. This man is exasperating.

~o0o~

Quietly, I sneak out of the house, careful not to be seen by any of our guests. I stroll through our yard, over to the dock by the water. There's a silver ice bucket with a bottle of Pink Bollinger's sitting on the dock with two tea cups next to it. I laugh; Christian really does think of everything.

I take off my shoes and sit at the edge of the dock with my feet dangling over the water, swaying them back and forth. There's a warm summer's breeze. The moon is huge tonight, giving off a bright light. The stars are reflecting in the water, hundreds of twinkling lights dancing in the water.

"Good, you made it." Christian comes up from behind me.

He slips off his shoes, rolls up his pant legs and sits next to me, dangling his legs over the dock. I lean my head on his shoulder as he wraps his arm around my waist. We sit quietly looking at the moon's reflection rippling in the water, one of my ankles intertwined in his, swaying in unison. I still feel the electricity that has always crackled between us when we touch.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asks.

"I was just thinking of how many times we've come to this dock and watched the stars."

"I can think of a few times we did more than just watch the stars on this dock."

"Does your mind always go back to sex?"

"Would you want me any other way?" He smirks.

"No." I grin.

I look out at the twinkling lights reflected in the water; it's always so peaceful and serene here.

"It's so beautiful here." I sigh.

"Yes, it is," Christian says. I look to my side and he's looking at me, like he's seeing me for the first time. He makes me feel beautiful, because he is. I feel butterflies in my stomach.

"Champagne?" He takes the chilled bottle out of the ice bucket.

"Yes, please."

He effortlessly pops the cork, pours the champagne in the tea cups.

"I like the tea cups, brings back memories."

"We aim to please, Mrs. Grey. Before we drink that, I'd like to say something."

"Okay."

He stands, holding out his hand to me. I grab onto his hand and stand up, facing him. He picks up the tea cups and hands one to me. He gazes deeply into my eyes and smiles.

"I once told you I wanted your world to start and end with me. The truth is, my world starts and ends with you. Because of you, I've become the man I didn't know I always wanted to be. What I love most about my life is that I share it with you. I'm a man who has always thrived on controlling all things, but you fell into my life and I discovered that the one thing that I thrived on the best, was the one thing I had no control over…love. You've made me whole.

Anastasia Rose Grey... I. Am. Yours."

I melt.

"Christian, in my mind love was the product of romantic novels I read, but it was just another word because it never had true meaning…Until I met you. You hold my heart in your hand. I'm married to my first love, my last love, my only love. I love you, body and soul. Thank you Christian for fifty years of More, for fifty years of you and most importantly, fifty years of us."

He shyly smiles, his secret smile reserved only for me.

We clink our tea cups. The bubbles from the champagne tickle my nose and I giggle.

Christian cocks his head and smiles at me.

"That's such a lovely sound."

"I'm glad you can still hear me so well in your advanced age," I tease.

"That smart mouth of yours, Miss Steele." He shakes his head; his brow furrows as his mouth forms a hard line. I know he's joking.

"You can scowl at me all you want," I say, cocking my head to the side.

He narrows his eyes. I ignore him and continue…

"But I know. I know how you feel about me."

A long time ago, this statement had Christian wide eyed, tortured, and panicked. But today, fifty years later, his eyes soften as he looks at me.

"You love me," I whisper.

His grey eyes tenderly gaze into mine. He tucks a few strands of my hair behind my ear and smiles at me as he strokes his fingertip down my cheek, no longer vulnerable to this one simple truth.

"Yes," he whispers "I do."

And They Lived Happily Ever After.