you shine even on a rainy day

Aria tangled her fingers with mine and gave them a squeeze as we started up the walkway, her heels clacking against the sidewalk all the way up to the door. "Don't worry, she called off the strippers and magicians. There might still be a huge cake that I was supposed to jump out of, but -" She cut her own words off as I gave her a pointed look, making her break into a huge grin. "Come on, that was funny!"

"You have a different sense of humor than I do," I retorted but the smallest of smiles was playing on my lips.

"You don't find me funny? I'm hurt," She faked a pout, which was cute and made me wish we were still alone.

So far she had worked really hard to give me the birthday she wanted me to have. I didn't care if I turned 30, it was a day like any other to me, but I wasn't going to stop her when so had she had spoiled me in the best way. So far she'd surprised me with morning head and breakfast, took me out to lunch at my favorite secluded restaurant in town followed by an after lunch blowjob, and now we were having dinner at my parents. "You're my comedian instead," I said with a forced smile, tensing all over again.

"Thank you, I try," She stole a quick kiss on my lips while I rang the doorbell, it sounding like a million voices behind the door.

I pulled back and grinned at her, noticing that she was a little nervous too and it made sense. So far the only person knowing that we were married was Erin, but she didn't really count. 

"Seb!" All of the older girls enveloped me into a hug before we even had the chance to know that the door had opened. They told me happy birthday all at once, laughing at how in sync they were. I hugged them back and then they broke away one by one, walking into the house before they hugged Ar next. Even though things had been up and down in our relationship in the past, they had always been so welcoming of Ar, excepting her like she was part of the family and that had always made me happy, even when things hadn't been as good as they were now. 

"Happy birthday Uncle Sebby," Jules smiled up at me, one of her front teeth missing. "I made you this," She held out a card that she'd drawn a picture of what looked like me and Ar holding hands on the cover.

I took it in my hand, my lips widening into a smile as I looked at it. "Thank you cutie, it's beautiful." I said and I bent over her to kiss her cheek, but she kicked me off balance and threw her arms around my neck instead. The reason why I didn't know how to act with kids was that they were unpredictable and I felt comfortable only with things I could control instead. Wrapping my arm around her tiny waist, I pulled my head back to look at her, "Who's holding my hand?" I asked, studying the drawing.

"Aunt Aria." She said back with a grin as she glanced up at my babe, not moving an inch and basically keeping me trapped in this uncomfortable and awkward position. "But look inside Sebby!" She added, with enthusiasm and I did as told, smiling bigger at the trembling letters forming her name next to a girl who was obviously Jules.

I gave her a serious look even if it was hard, because she was adorable, the daughter I'd never have in a way, and I loved that little girl. "You did really good, this is the best card I've ever gotten in my life." I said as I handed it to Aria who was looking at me with an amused expression I wished I could wipe off, "Keep it safe." I added and when I straightened myself in a standing position again I realized that my niece had no intention to let me go, so I picked her up effortlessly, thinking about how fast time went by.

"Aunt Aria did you make a card for Uncle Sebby?" Jules asked, looking finally content with her new position which was above everyone.

"No because I'm not as good as drawing as you are." Ar said back with a silly smile on her face while I did my best not to think about what she had gotten me. Ugh.

In that moment, Haylie decided that she wasn't getting enough attention from us, and her mother had disappeared along with my other sister, so she started waving her tiny chubby hands in the air, "Me too Seby." She protested, making it clear that she wanted to be treated like her sister.

I didn't know what to do, I couldn't pick two babies but I couldn't leave one on the floor either without making the other upset. I shot Ar a look, hoping she could save me since she was a lot better with kids than I was. "Come here pretty baby." She said softly and picked our other niece up, setting her against her chest and staring at her. "Better now."

Haylie nodded but didn't add a word, always the shy one between the sisters. "Where's grandma?" I asked to Jules, wondering why my parents hadn't popped out yet. 

"In the backyard." She answered and pointed her little finger in that direction.

I started walking, Aria following me. "Do you know what's waiting for me already?" I asked to my wife, only hoping there wouldn't be any kind of surprise.

"Stop worrying." She answered but from the grin on her face? I knew I had something to worry about. My relationship with my family had gotten a lot better, we had spent Christmas together, my parents had come to Seattle twice, and I heard from my sisters almost every week, but I couldn't help getting always a little tense whenever I was with them.

"Look at you two, you came with your kids!" My sister Natalie said as we joined the rest of the family in the backyard before she chuckled at her own stupid joke, "No wait, those are mine."

I ignored her and headed to my dad, who was standing by a huge grill, cooking meat like no tomorrow. "That looks good." I said from over his shoulder and let out some of the breath I had been holding. It was clear now that my birthday dinner was going to be a barbecue and I couldn't be happier about it.

He turned his head with a grin on his face, "I wouldn't mind some help." He said.

"I got my hands full." I said as I winked at my niece.

"It's his birthday, he can't help you!" My mom protested as she came out from the house, holding a bowl with some salad and setting it on the table before heading to Aria first. "Hi Aria." She said, hugging and smiling at my wife before her eyes dropped on her hand. And on her ring. I wondered how long I could push the moment when I'd have to tell them.

"Hi Helen, you did a great job here." My babe said back, grinning wide while I just stood there, holding my niece and wishing I could run away with her and play with dolls instead. I wanted to tell my family, I just didn't know how.

"Thank you honey." My mom smiled one more time then walked to me, taking me in slowly. When her eyes found my hand, it holding Jules, her mouth dropped open again. "Oh god Sebastian." She said with the same shock on her face I had seen when I had told her I had broken up with Aria years before. I hoped this was another kind of shock, but I guessed it was just as big.

"What's wrong?" Aria butted in, noticing my mom's expression as she bent over to let go of Haylie.

My mom glanced at her before looking back at me and I felt everyone's eyes on me but I could only look at her. I knew she had done the math by now and I wasn't surprised she had noticed that little detail before anyone else. "Yes mom." I breathed out, answering at the silent question I could read into her eyes. It was surreal.

Her hand flew to her mouth and a gasp like laugh escaped her while tears sprung to her eyes and a groan left my mouth, quiet, but still. "Sebastian!" She said again but this time sounding happy. Her eyes flew to meet Ar's then back to mine, Jules blinking at everyone in the same confusion everyone else had to feel. "Aria," She said next and walked back over to her, enveloping me in a hug. "Welcome to the family!"

My sister gasped next as Ar hugged my mother, while I was tempting to groan again only louder this time. "Thank you," Ar said and smiled at her as she pulled back, Kathleen hugging her next while her eyes locked on mine as my mom gave me one of her squeeze hugs. "You're going to marry a Pitt? You must be crazy," Kathleen grinned at Ar. "But I'm glad you'll finally be my sister."

She parted her lips and looked at me again, finding her voice as she shook her head slowly, "We're already married..." Their heads shot it two directions; half of them looking at me while the other half looked at Ar.

"We got married in Bora Bora," I said in one of my nonchalant tones, everyones eyes huge.

"Why?" Natalie asked, looking even more confused. "Are you -"

"No," Ar cut her off and shook her head, guessing what her question would be. "We're not planning on having kids."

"Well you didn't plan on getting married and here you are instead." My sister Kathleen pointed out instead, getting a glare from me. "I'm just saying."

"We're not having kids, end of the story." I retorted, not liking being on the spot and not liking when people questioned my choices either. I bent over and set my niece back on her feet regretfully, knowing this was a moment for adults only even if I wished I could escape with her. "Go play with your sister." I told her quietly, smiling too and watching we nod with a confused expression before she marched towards Haylie.

"You're not bad with her though." Natalie said, looking at me with her arms crossed and a teasing smile on her face that looked a lot like my own, which only annoyed me more. This time I groaned.

My dad seemed to be the first to recover from the shock and patted my back, "Well done son. Congrats, it was about time." He said sounding honest and looking proud too, prouder than I had ever seen him before. My family was proud of my job, or at least I thought so, but I had always known they had never been really happy about my view on relationships and Aria had always been their ray of hope. 

I scrathed the back of my neck, not knowing what to say but I didn't need to say anything before my mom broke into a loud sigh. "Why didn't you tell us anything Sebastian?" She asked, even using the full name for effect then looking at Ar. She knew she wouldn't get much from me. Walking to my wife, she hugged her again, "We're really happy to have you in our family. Well, officially, because you've always been during these years."

Ar bit down on her lip, looking a little moved and I suppressed another groan because I didn't need her to get emotional. "Thanks Helen." She breathed out as she hugged her back, "I'm happy to be a Pitt." She added with a smirk that fit her better.

"Gate Pitt." I corrected her and this time it was my turn to get a glare from my babe. I deserved it though.

"How did that happen? When? Why didn't you tell us girl anything?" My sister Natalie asked to Ar, setting her hands on her hips, "I bet he forced you to keep the secret."

"I'm glad to know you have such a great opinion on me." I said sarcastically but then again, I deserved that too. I was closed off and that was why I didn't say things, not because I didn't want to share my wife and the news with my family. Even if right now I was suffering from all the attention.

She ignored me, while Kathleen grabbed Aria's hand and looked at her ring. "How long have you been engaged?" She asked, curious like a monkey.

Ar glanced at me and bit down on her lip, "Two days." She said with a hint of amusement in her tone, "Your brother surprised me. It wasn't planned, at all."

More shock appeared on the members of my family's faces. "So he happened to have a huge ring by chance?" Natalie pointed out while Jeff shot me a sympathetic look and Caleb shook his head, all the men a lot quieter than the girls who had, of course, a lot of questions.

"No smarta.ss, it was supposed to be her birthday present but I changed my mind instead." I explained flatly as I stared at my older sister before my eyes went back to my mom, who looked like she didn't know if she wanted to hug me, slap me, or faint. 

"Maybe Ar's present to you will be a baby," Natalie joked back, knowing how to push my buttons.

Ar shook her head quickly and looked as against that as I knew I was. Kids were adorable, as long as they were not mine. "No. Definitely no baby."

My mom let out a sigh and smiled eventually, even if it looked forced, "Let's give the two of them a break." 

I stared at my mom skeptically, wondering where her change of attitude had come from and I guessed that, in a way or another, I had upset her. Still, I didn't regret a thing, I couldn't have done things any other way. All I had wanted and needed on my wedding day was Aria. "Who's hungry? Your father has been cooking all day," She added with another cheerful smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and I feeling I rarely got made its way into my chest. I felt guilty.

"Your moms right," My stood up a little straighter and walked back over to the grill to put the meat on a plate.

The girls both looked at me once more before finding their husbands and kids. Ar crossed her arms over her chest and walked over to me, looking as upset as my mom. Fuck my life. "They're mad," She said in a hushed tone.

I felt uncomfortable and shrugged my shoulders, still not wanting to admit anything, "They're happy for us."

"That's true," She admitted, that much was obvious. They had always approved of our relationship and took a quick liking to Ar. "But they're hurt for being left out."

I swallowed, wondering if I had done the right thing, questioning my own choices for one second...but no. I had followed my heart, my brain and my needs. I felt like choking, because I had no idea of how to handle this situation. "Happy birthday to me." I said eventually in a cold tone, closing myself off like I did everytime I got defensive. Deep down I knew that my mom had any reason to be upset, but I was sure she had never thought I would've gotten married in first place, couldn't be happy about that and get over the other part? 

"Seb." Aria said seriously, staring at me, "Think about them for once, will you? Don't you think they would've been happy to see your wedding?"

"I don't want to argue with you right now." I retorted, my mood on its way to be ruined wich was a shame since I had been in a great one so far. She narrowed her eyes on me and I ignored her, grabbing her hand instead, "Let's join them, they made everything for me I don't want to make them wait."

She sighed but followed me eventually, "We need to tell my family too. I don't want to keep them in the dark, it's not fair." She said quietly as we walked to the table where everyone was sitting.

I suppressed a groan, "I can't wait." I muttered under my breath before wearing my straight face again and taking the seat next to my dad, Aria on my left. "Thanks for this dinner, everything looks really good." I said to my family, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.

"Thanks to you for giving dad an excuse to make a barbecue." Kathleen grinned at me, reaching for a plate full of meat and handing it to Ar.

"I forgot the beers." My mom said absentmindedly and got up, the look into her eyes a blank one that killed me a little. Not that I'd ever show that.

"Let me help." I said as I stood up myself, following her inside the house and trying to find the words. I didn't know where to start, I was so damn bad at talking. "Mom."

She opened the fridge, reached for a few bottles and gave them to me, "Here Seb." She said quietly, not even glancing at me.

I grabbed them and set them on the table behind me, brushing my mom's shoulder tentatively. "Mom, stop." I breathed out, waiting for her to turn around and swallowing when she finally made eye contact. "I'm sorry mom. I didn't want you to know like this and I had no intention to keep anything from you or dad or the girls."

"I know Seb, I know." She nodded, almost choking on her words as she brought her hand to her heart, "But I would have liked being there, you're my only son and I'm happy for you and Aria, you know we all love her...but it's a moment you get to live only once and I have missed that chance."

"Mom we weren't planning it. We were on vacation, I had this ring and I realized that I wanted her to be my wife...I'm sorry." I Said quietly, feeling like words were failing me. What was new.

"I know how you are when you want something. You want it right away. And I know how Aria makes you even more stubborn and impatient than you already are." She pased and took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "It's okay. Let's go back to dinner." She added and didn't give me a chance to say anything back as she headed back outside. Not that I knew what to say, but still.

I followed her with my beers in hand, dying a little inside and wishing I was everywhere but there. I handed a bottle to my dad, then to the other men before sitting next to Ar again, "Nothing for you right?" I asked quietly.

"The girls are having some bubbly," Kathleen winked at Ar before handing her a glass full of white wine.

"Thank you," She smiled at her and brought the glass up to her lips to take a sip, while I was making my plate.

"Mom?" My younger sister asked and looked at our mom who shook her head.

"Nothing for me tonight," Mom said but smiled a little more genuinely, making me wonder if my words had actually had an effect on her. Who knew, women were hard to read. "What were you guys talking about?"

Natalie smiled at Ar then looked at our mom, "Aria was telling us about the wedding."

"It was on the beach!" Jules added from beside her mom, hiding against her side when we all looked in her direction.

"Booch," Haylie added in a matter of factly tone that made every one laugh.

I glanced at Ar with a raised eyebrow, eating a piece of steak while she rested her hand on my leg and gave it a squeeze. "Aria looked stunning," I said finally and everyone smiled back at me, looking relaxed since the moment had started out so tense.

"Did you take any pictures??" Natalie asked as she stood up to reach for the salad.

"Of course," I answered then added a forced smile in an effort to play nice.

Ar grinned at me, "We hired a random man we met. He barely spoke any English, he just kept saying "Yes" to everything we asked him. Fortunately, he was great with the camera."

Kat's eyes widened as she looked at me, "And you're not afraid he'll sell the pictures to a magazine??"

Ar shook her head, "He looked about 90 years old and had no idea who we were."

"And it was Aria's camera, so." I said nonchalantly with a shrug, stuffing my mouth again because eating was better than talking. These days everything was better than talking, my mood was constantly ruined by the thought of my last movie and I had to thank Ar if it wasn't like that on my birthday. I was still dangerously on edge of falling back into it, but still.

My wife swallowed before breaking into a teasing smirk, her eyes bouncing between my sisters. "Do you really think he'd let anything out of his control? You should know your brother better than that."

"Sebastian the control freak." Kat joined the teasing wagon and I ignored her. That was my only way to survive.

"If I had paparazzi always after me I'd be one too." Jeff pointed out out of nowhere, "I'd hate to see the picture of my own wedding on magazines."

I looked at my brother in law, "Thank you for that." I sighed, moving my eyes back to Aria, "See? I'm not the only one who cares so much about his privacy."

"But maybe you're pushing it, since not even your family knows what you're up to." My dad cut into the conversation, surprising me since that sounded so little like him and so much like something my mom would say instead. My guess? He was reading my mom's thoughts and taking her side, which I couldn't blame him for. At all. 

"I still think it's better to know something maybe a little late then to know it from magazines." I said back as I kept my face straight, I had no intention to bite my tongue and feel sorry because I had chosen to get married the way I wanted to. 

I caught Ar parting her lips and I glanced at her, daring her to say the wrong thing. "We took a few pictures with Seb's phone too." She said with her sweet smile, always knowing how to save a situation, as she looked at my mom.

She lightened up, "I'd love to see them." She nodded and I could sense Ar's triumph even if she wasn't doing or saying anything.

I reached for my phone and gave it to Ar, "They're in the wedding folder." I instructed her, since I had other photos too that were better not to be seen, and I focused back on my food, since I felt this close to get mad.

Aria caught my eye before taking the phone. I really had to trust her and love her if I was giving her my phone. She tapped a few icons and pulled up a picture of her in her dress, one while she was getting ready. "This is me getting ready," She said as she handed the phone to my mom.

She smiled big, "You look breathtaking."

"That dress is amazing!" Kat gasped.

"My girls would've been adorable flower girls," Nat added, shooting me a grin before looking down at the phone again. I had to agree on that, my nieces were beautiful girls.

"Flowers!" Haylie repeated, perched on her mom's lap.

They kept scrolling through the pictures while Ar turned her head in my direction and gave me a dreamy smile, the kind that was the reason why I had wanted to marry her. She could have been against marriage, but I had sensed that deep in her heart she would have loved that. "I love you," She whispered and kissed my lips softly.

I smiled back against her lips as I kissed her just as softly, my hand dropping on her leg and I had to pull back regretfully because I definitely didn't like showing my affection towards her in front of my family. Even if I wanted to keep kissing her, but that would be time for that later. "I love you too babe."

"You two look really happy." My mom's voice brought us back to reality.

Ar kept looking into my eyes, still smiling, "We are happy."

"How did you manage to arrange all of this in two days? It's crazy." Kat asked, still flipping through the photos as her eyes stayed on my phone.

I shrugged my shoulders as I glanced at her, that meaning that she could answer for me. Actually, for us. "Everything's easier when it's for two only." My wife answered very diplomatically and vaguely too. She was starting to learn from me.

"This cake looks adorable. Delicious too." My other sister pointed out as she glanced up at us for a moment, "And oh my god look at how many flowers! Oh Seb..." She trailed off with a smirk on her face, shaking her head. Of course she knew that was me going crazy for Ar, but at the same time she could't hide the amusement that knowing I could get sweet for Ar was causing her.

I stared at her blankly before sipping a large gulp of beer. "Can I have my phone back please?" I asked politely, stretching my hand in her direction.

She rolled her eyes and kept scrolling, "I'm not finished yet. Have a little patience."

"I thought phones weren't allowed at the dinner table," I added in a more monotone voice, trying to trick my sister into giving me the phone back.

"Nice try," She flashed me a grin before glancing down again. "You look so handsome!"

"As always," Ar smiled at me, but I was too busy being impatient to get my phone back. I knew it was crazy, but it was as if it was a part of my body since I always had it either on me or at sight. 

My mom smiled with glazed eyes and I tensed up beside Ar at the sight of an emotional woman. Her hand was over her mouth but you could still see her megawatt smile, her eyes leavig the phone for a second to look at me and then back at the pictures once more. "I honestly couldn't think of a more perfect wedding for the two of you," She said sincerely, even if we knew she wished she could be there. Finally she was realizing that, knowing me, I couldn't have done it any other way, I wasn't made for big audiences, even if it was an odd thing to say if you thought I made movies for million of people. That was different though, this was my love life. "You did a great job Sebastian. I'm very proud of you." More tears in her eyes. Good lord.

My dad reached for his wife's hand and smiled at her, "No tears at the dinner table."

"They're the good kind, I promise," She replied and smiled at him, staring at him the same way Ar looked at me: admiration and love.

I let out a sigh without even noticing, having a hard time handling all these attentions and emotions. "I'll make sure to have a ton of kleenex when you'll see the other ones." I said in an attempt to joke, to make the moment lighter. Thank god it worked.

My dad laughed and so did everyone at the table, my mom glaring at me for a moment. "Sebastian! Don't make fun of me." She protested but a second later she was chuckling too.

I smiled more genuinely at her, feeling Aria reaching from my hand from under the table and tangling her fingers with mine, "I just wanted to make you stop cry."

"No wonder why she forgives you everything, you always lick her-" Kat started but Nat cut her off.

"Language! She protested, setting her hands on Haylie's ears.

Jules tilted her head as she looked up at his dad, "What does uncle Sebby lick?" She asked.

"Look at what you've done." I said looking at my younger sister who, thank god, didn't have kids yet. She still had to learn apparently.

"I was thinking I could take the girls to Disneyland one of these days." Aria said out of nowhere and I knew what she was doing. Again. She just made it so the attention went from a subject to a whole other one. I wasn't sure if that was a good idea though.

"Yes!" Jules clapped her hands as she jumped down the chair, making what looked like a happy dance, "Yes aunt Aria, take us to Disneyland!"

"We'll see, maybe if you behave." Natalie said to her daughter then glanced at Ar, "How long are you guys staying in town this time?" She asked and I was tempted to stand up and go hit my head against the nearest wall. We had been busy a lot, with the wedding, the movie, and hadn't had time to think about the future yet. I knew it was going to be a big conversation and I wasn't looking forward to have it because, for the first time in many years, I was confused about what I wanted to do.

Aria parted her lips, looking as taken aback as I was with the difference that during the last days, if not weeks, she had been asking me that question a few times but I had always found a way not to answer. She glanced at me but I had a mouthful of food, making it clear that I had no intention of answering and was leaving it up to her. "We're not sure yet," She said honestly.

She raised her eyebrow and glanced back and forth between me and my babe, "What do you mean? Seb plans out everything. Literally."

"He obviously doesn't plan out everything," Kat pointed out like a smartass, getting a glare from her sister in return. "Well the wedding was pretty spontaneous! Our baby brother is full of surprises."

Ar grinned at her, while I was already annoyed by my sisters share of words. "We have the place in Seattle and I'd like to keep it," Ar started, that sounding like no news since she had already told me once or twice. I didn't really get why though, of course we, mostly she, had put so much work into the house and it was a really nice one, but beside that? We had nothing else keeping us in Seattle. "Beyond that, we haven't really discussed it."

"Well you two just got married," Caleb shrugged, "Enjoy the honeymoon phase while it lasts." 

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kat lifted an eyebrow at her husband.

He let out a chuckle and kissed his wife, "It means that I love you." 

"It sounds like you're already bored with me instead," She quipped back, giving him a face that reminded me a lot of my own annoyed face. 

She bit back a grin and winked at me while I enjoyed the show who was quite amusing, and I was also thankful that the attention wasn't on us for once.

"Bored? Never," He said quickly and looked a little frazzled, probably wishing he'd kept his mouth shut.

She sighed and rolled her eyes before looking at us again, "What's wrong with LA?"

"What's not wrong with LA?" I asked back flatly, eating my last bite of food as I looked at my sister with a brow raised.

"See? Enough said." Aria sighed and shook her head, our opinions on the city opposite.

My dad furrowed his brows, "I didn't know you didn't like LA." He pointed out casually.

"He hates it." Ar said back and I side glanced at her, tempted to groan again even if she was right. I hated it with passion. "What, it's true!"

"It's hot as hell, the traffic is so bad it takes one million years to go anywhere and there are paparazzis everywhere." I retorted, saying things she already knew but I never missed a chance to remind her. 

She parted her lips but before she could speak Kat talked, "I feel like this is going to be interesting." She said in an amused tone.

"If it was up to him?" Ar said and glanced at my sister, "He'd go live in Greenland with seals."

"Ha!" I scoffed then shot a grin at my wife, not wanting to get into this conversation now, with my family as audience, and not wanting to argue either. "I so would."

My mom chuckled, shaking her head as she got up from the chair, starting to collect everyone's empty plates, "You're just being silly Sebastian."

"The tragedy is that he's serious instead." Aria sighed but there was a grin on her lips to let me know she was playing along with me. I took it as a good sign, we'd have time to face the issue seriously and I was in no hurry.

"Aunt Aria can I come visit?" Jules asked to my wife with wide eyes, "Baby seals are cute." At that everyone relaxed, I did too.

Getting up, I walked over my mom to take the pile of dishes from her hands, "Let me help you mom." I said quietly and smiled at her, knowing she had to be working all day to arrange this dinner. I was grateful for my family, despite I had been pushing them away for years, they still loved me. I was a lucky man.

"But it's your birthday-" She started but I cut her off gently.

"You already did so much." I said gently before glancing at Ar, who got the hint and stood up herself as she took everyone's forks and knives. "Ar is helping me, you can relax."

"Well thank you," She smiled from her seat, her hand intertwining with my dad's on the table. 

Aria let me lead the way to the kitchen, carefully putting all of the dishes in the sink first while she added the utensils. "Let me do the dishes, birthday boy," She bumped me with her hip as I stared at her in amusement. "What?"

"Nothing," I shook my head and shoved my hands into my pockets and leaned against the counter. I almost felt bad for letting her do all the work, but she offered and it was actually my birthday. "I'm just surprised you aren't making me do the dishes instead since I offered."

"Birthday princes aren't allowed to do any work," She said in a silly voice while I let out a snort, the word prince didn't fit me at all.

"Please, we've already come to the conclusion that I'm just as much a prince as you are an angel."

She laughed back and shrugged her shoulders, "Speak for yourself. I have my angel moments every now and then."

"Yeah, while you're asleep," He replied with his grin still in place.

"It counts still," She winked at me and went back to focusing on the dishes. "We're going to need to discuss where we'll live soon, but not today."

Another chuckle escaped my lips while I watched her wash, "Whys that?"

"Because I have to say yes to everything on your birthday," She wrinkled her nose.

I stared at her with an eyebrow raised, my amused expression back on my face, "And you're telling me that just now?" I asked, crossing my arms against my chest.

She shot me a side glance, rinsing the dishes carefully, "What?" She asked back.

"That you have to say yes to everything I say today." I repeated her own words, my grin getting impossibly wide since I was starting to think about all the things I could have asked for. She didn't answer but sighed, shaking her head slightly, being silly. "What babe? I think that's a great moment to talk about where we'll live instead."

She laughed this time, turning her head in my direction once she was done with the dishes. "You wish. You'd tell me to move to some crazy cold place and I'd have no choice."

I reached for a clean dish towel and used it to dry her hands, taking them in mine as I forced myself not to think about the future. Lately, it panicked me. "San Francisco is not that cold." I said in a low tone, almost a whisper since it was as if I was talking to myself.

She parted her lips and stared at me, then blinked, terrifying me for what she could say. "As I said, we don't have to talk about that now." She said instead, her smile maybe a little forced but I appreciated it anyway. I didn't want to ruin this day either, we already got too close to that.

I nodded, tossing the towel on the kitchen table and setting her hands on my chest before I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist. "Okay. We have plenty of time for that." I smiled back at her as I leaned into her, my lips capturing hers in a chaste kiss that left me wanting more.

"It's all a fire the first three months." My sister Kat's voice interrupted us with her usual tact.

I groaned and pulled away from my wife regretfully. "We could have been married for years as well, nothing changed from how we were before." I pointed out before smiling again, for Ar only though. "I think it's cake time." I winked at her before making my way back out and leaving her with my sister. To be completely honest I didn't even know if there was a cake, but I was starting to suffer from all the attentions and I wanted to go back home with my girl so if there really was a cake I wanted to eat it as soon as possible and get over with all the birthday stuff. If it hadn't been for Aria, I wouldn't have even celebrated it.

Once I joined the rest of my family again, they all looked at me with a questioning expression on their faces. It was scary. "What's wrong?" I asked when I finally sat back at the table, feeling like a caged animal.

"Nothing, you're just different." My dad pointed out and I was sure that those weren't his words, but my mom's. I just shrugged because yes maybe I was different or maybe not, I didn't care anyway. "Aria is always the same, so nice to everyone."

"She's perfect." I said simply because there were really no other words to describe her. Okay, maybe she wasn't technically perfect, but she was for me and I was a lucky man. 

"We couldn't have asked for a better daughter-in-law." My mom said and she looked on the verge of tears.

"Mom please." I said softly, staring at her. I didn't need to say much to her, she got me anyway. Fortunately in that moment the girls got up, getting everyone's attention and a moment later they started clapping her tiny hands as they followed Aria who was walking towards the table with a cake in her hands. They started off the birthday song, everyone singing along while I kept his eyes on Ar. She set the cake down on the table in front of me then took her seat beside me once more, leaning her body into mine and pressing a quick kiss against my cheek. When the song finished, I blew out the candles and the girls started arguing over which piece they wanted, which of course was the same piece.

"There's plenty for everyone," Natalie told them and took the knife from her sister's hand to start cutting and dishing it up. "Seb gets first choice since it's his birthday."

"Any piece is fine," I responded.

"Uncle Sebby is the birthday prince," Jules announced and handed me over a paper crown.

"I think I'm too old to be a prince." I smiled at her, a little taken aback since I wasn't used to have kids around and I wasn't used to show a side of me that came out only when I was with kids. Basically, I wasn't used to kids.

She climbed on my lap and adjusted the crown on my head, a serious expression on her tiny face, "Princes become kings when they get old." She announced and we laughed at how cute she was.

"Allright, I'm the birthday king." I said to my niece and smirked, tickling her side a moment and making her giggle before taking a bite of my cake. This was surreal, something I had never thought could happen. There I was instead, married, spending my 30th birthday with my family and a paper crown on my head.

Aria kept her eyes on us, licking the extra frosting off the corner of her mouth before speaking, "Does that make of me a queen?" She asked and faked a face that was as straight as serious.

Jules turned her head at her aunt, blinking as if she was taken aback but recovering soon, "Yes, but I have no crown for you." She answered and shrugged nonchalantly, killing me a little. 

I shot Ar a look as I smirked, "You can't be a queen without a crown."

"What did you do exactly to my brother?" Natalie asked, cutting into the little conversation that was going on between Aria Jules and I, her expression a mix of amused and shocked. I didn't groan just because Jules had just stuffed my mouth with a bite of cake.

"She made him happy." Jeff answered instead, he wasn't a man that talked much, but when he did...well, he always went straight to the point.

Aria nodded with a smile on her face, loving those words of course. She already knew that, it was so obvious, but she was the kind of girl that loved hearing things, not just see them. "Your husbands a smart man," She told Nat, grinning wider when Jeff got a gloating look on his face.

"I tell her that all the time and she never agrees," He added as his wifes mouth dropped open.

"Hey!"

"She was the same way as a kid," Kathleen added and wrinkled her nose. "Once a know it all, always a know it all!"

Nat crossed her arms over her chest, "Can't we go back to teasing Seb instead?"

"No way," I shook my head. "I'm the birthday king and what I say goes."

Jules grinned big at me. "No being mean to Uncle Sebby, mom!"

"Oh, I'm not picking on him baby," She told her daughter with a sweet smile before looking at me more serious. "I'm really happy for you instead. I've never seen you so.... happy."

"Happy!!" Haylie clapped her hands together, chunks of cake that she'd been eating by hand dropping onto her lap.

"Happy happy," She smiled at her youngest daughter before looking at the two of us once more. "Are you going to have a wedding reception here at least? Even if it's just our two families?"

Aria parted her lips and looked at me while I did my best to keep a straight face, "We hadn't discussed it.. or even thought about it."

My mom's face lit up and she held a hand to her heart, "That's a great idea! You can do something small... maybe even here. I would love to meet Aria's family!"

I mentally counted to ten. Then to twenty. Maybe I'd need to count to one hundred or maybe I needed to cut my tongue off not to say what I was thinking. When my mom's eyes looked into mine though, I knew I couldn't do any of that so I stuffed my mouth with a bite of cake and shrugged, wishing I had warned her about Aria's family. They weren't bad people, at all, but they were...hard to deal with. And hated me, mostly Ar's dad. I couldn't care less about that, but having them with my family? It sounded like my personal nightmare. 

"Isn't it weird that we never met anyone of your family Ar?" Kath asked nonchalantly, never being able to keep her mouth shut and didn't have a filter between her her thoughts and her mouth either.

"We saw her sister on tv, does that count?" My older sister added like a smarta.ss and I eyed Ar carefully, knowing how the subject was a touchy one.

"I say let's make it count." She answered instead, surprising me with her teasing tone but if I knew her as good as I thought I did? Her thoughts weren't so positive.

"What do you think Sebastian?" My mom cut into the conversation once again, making it very clear that she wanted to know my opinion and I couldn't escape that. F.uck my life.

I suppressed the urge to groan, just because it was my mom and she had already done so much for me. Not to add that I had done so little for her instead and had upset her about one hour before. "Ask my wife, I'll be fine with whatever she decides." I said instead, shrugging nonchalantly even though I felt trapped. I couldn't say no to my mom, but I was going to hate every second of this so called reception. We had gotten married in a semi desert island to avoid all this and now? We were in the middle of a circus anyway. 

Everyone shifted their eyes to Ar, my mom's face a hopeful one. "We'd love that," She said with a smile, but I could tell that she was as happy about that as I was which only made things even more complicated. She was my rock in situations like those. She grabbed onto my arm for support, linking her arm with mine and tilting her hear back to smile at me, letting me know she only made the decision because she had to.

Jules was the first to speak, sitting up a little straighter on my lap, "Will you wear your pretty dress Aunt Aria?"

Everyone laughed and the tension seemed to ease up a little, even I had cracked the smallest of smiles but just because my niece was so cute it was hard to be grumpy around her. "Maybe if you make me a crown so I can feel like a princess," She smiled more genuinely at her.

"I will!" She said then looked up at me and the crown I still had on, a giggle escaping her lips.

"What's so funny?" I asked her with an amused expression.

"Nothing," She said in a little voice, hiding her face against my chest to laugh.

"It's a shame that neither of you want kids," Natalie shook her head with a sigh, getting a semi-glare from me in return. Was it so hard to people to understand that not everyone wanted to have kids? "What? You two would make beautiful children!! It's a compliment!"

"We'll borrow yours for now," Ar grinned at her then made a silly face at Haylie who was smiling at her.

"For now." My sister Natalie said with emphasis and paused to smirk like a smarta.ss, "You still have time to change your mind."

I glanced at her and shot her a blank stare. "Drop it Nat." I said flatly because while I was trying to be as accommodating as possible on many subjects, that one was a no that would never change and I was also too tired now to have a conversation with my stubborn sister. Or to see my mother upset part two because I didn't want to give her more grandchildren.

"Uncle Sebby I want a cousin." Jules said as she tugged at my shirt to get my attention. It was true what they said, girls were smarter than boys at that age. 

I looked down at her and smirked, leaning back in my chair, "Aunt Kath will make you a ton." I said seriously, knowing my younger sister would hate me for that.

"Don't plant silly thoughts into her head." Came quick her response and a glare was shot in my direction. I wasn't impressed.

Jeff glanced at his watch and got up from his chair, "It's late girls, time to go to bed." He announced and I had the feeling that he just wanted to have some time without his daughters. Being a parent had to be really exhausting.

"NO!" Jules said loudly, making her dad cringe as she held onto me, "I want to stay with Uncle Sebby and Aunt Aria instead!"

Now, that was the exact situation I couldn't handle. Kids were stubborn, random and delicate too. No matter how much of a good parent you were, you had no control over them and that sounded really scary to me. "We're going home too now." Aria said softly before I could come up with anything. Thank god for my wife. She looked down at her and smiled, "But I promise you that next week Uncle Sebby and I will take you to Disneyland."

My niece seemed to process her words as she stared at my wife, "Really? Do you promise?" She asked and when Ar nodded, she looked at me too, "Promise!"

"I promise." I said and got up myself, placing a kiss on her cheek before setting her back on her feet. I couldn't wait to go back home, I was exhausted. "We're going too." I announced to my family.

Everyone stood up and started making their way over to us, taking turns with hugs. "Which day would work for you two?" Mom asked, already planning our wedding reception in her head. "I'm open this weekend and the one after. Well, any day would work really."

"Don't forget that you're taking my kids to Disneyland," Natalie grinned at me, using both hands to mess up my hair and making me grumble. I wanted to grab her wrists and glare, but I counted to one million instead.

"Maybe we'll take the kids to Disneyland during the week and then have the party on Saturday?" Ar looked at her then glanced at me, but I had no say in this even if she wanted me to. I didn't care about when my personal nightmare would become a reality and speaking about our days with the girls, that was something I did with more enthusiasm but it scared me. A lot. It was weird, because Aria and I were usually a team, when I didn't go in full control freak mode, while right now I didn't want to think about anything, I didn't want any reason to argue with her and I'd go with whatever she decided on the matter. 

"Perfect," She smiled at us, pulling her into a hug. "I can't wait to meet your family!"

I kept my face straight, knowing I couldn't show any of my feelings since they were all bad ones. It was going to be awful, so awful I didn't even want to think about it. "It'll be fun," Aria smiled at her, taking a step back as they broke the hug, her hand finding mine.

We said a general bye to everyone before walking out of the house and heading to my car. With my free hand I reached for the paper crown I still had on my head and handed it to Ar, "Can you keep it in your bag please?" I asked quietly, my expression now a more genuine one. I didn't know how my face looked, but I was sure it showed my thoughts and my feelings, something that didn't happen much, but a lot more with Ar lately. Now, even when I was in a hell of a mood, I tended to open up to her, it was hard but it was liberating too. 

She nodded as she let go of my hand, both of us climbing into my car and a second later I was already speeding through the stupid traffic of this even more stupid city. "It didn't go too bad, did it?" Ar asked and I knew from the tone of her voice that let me know she was still trying to ignore my mood and save the moment.

"It could have been worse." I shrugged as I drove, my eyes on the road while I weighed my options for the uncoming party. I could get drunk, I could stay quiet all night, I could get a fever and skip it, or I could use Jules as a human baby shield to avoid everyone.

She kept quiet for a few moments, lost in her own thoughts too, then dropped her hand on mine and offered a smile, "Don't let that thought ruin your birthday." She said softly.

I glanced at her briefly then took a deep breath, trying to listen to her for once. "It's easier said than done." I paused, trying to go through all the possible scenarios...not even one looked good. "We got married in the middle of the ocean to avoid all this nonsense. And now I feel trapped. I have to go through this stupid reception that will be hell on earth even if I don't want to, and you know how much I hate doing things against my will." I said eventually, letting it all out.

Aria pursed her lips together and it took her a while to speak, but I knew she wouldn't agree with me on that one. We just saw things differently. "No ones making you do anything against your will," She said seriously and while she was technically right, we both knew I had no other choice. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that having our families together wouldn't be that bad, I was too stubborn to change my mind and deep down I knew I'd get fingers pointed at for all the bad decision I had made in the past. Or just because I was how I was. 

"Right," I snorted and she wrinkled her nose as she looked out the window . 

"Well I'm excited," She said after a moment.  

I didn't look at her or even move my eyes from the road, "Because our families will get along so well?" I asked, wondering if she was that naive. Her dad hated me and I could really see him talking to her and trying to convince her to divorce me. Would he take it well that she was mine now? I doubted it. I was more hopeful about her mom though, while I didn't even want to think about Amelia or Gavin, mostly because any relationship between the four of us had died. 

She ignored my comment. "I didn't marry you in the middle of the ocean to avoid anything. I married you because I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you and I couldn't wait another day without being your wife," She said quietly.

"Why do you think I married you instead?" I said and as soon as I heard my voice I realized that I was taking a bad turn. When Aria said nothing I started counting again, giving myself some time instead of getting mad. I wasn't mad at her, I was mad at myself, but what could I do, I was just an human being and I still had flaws, some I had gotten rid of but others were still part of me. "I think I said the wrong thing."

"No I think you said exactly what you think instead." She said back but the tone of her voice was still quiet. 

I turned my head just so slightly to glance at her, it took me a second to see that she was sad. In that moment I wanted to kick my own ass. It was one thing when we fought or were mad at each other, it happened to every couple, but when she was sad and it was because of me? I couldn't handle it. It killed me and made me feel like the worst asshole in the world. She was so good to me, the least I could do was make her happy and I tried a lot. "It came out wrong." I said eventually, still stubbornly but wanting to explain myself because I couldn't let my words hurt her and plant any doubt in her. She didn't say anything back and didn't look at me so I kept driving but used one hand to caress her leg. "I married you because I love you Ar and I'm very proud of that decision...when I asked you I also let you decide when and how to get married and I honestly think it couldn't have been a better wedding, but I'd be an hypocrite if I said that your choice wasn't a convenient one for me too. I loved being just us because when I'm with you I can be myself without worrying about anyone's judgement." I tried to explain myself, not sure if I was making things better or wrong. I didn't care about anyone's opinion on me, except the one of my family, and Aria's even more. But she, of course, cared about her family and I cared about her so in a way I cared about them too. Truth was I always wanted things to go my way. 

Aria tilted her head in my direction and I wondered what she was seeing, if after so long she still couldn't tell what I was thinking. Smiling, she nodded her head, "I wish that everyone else could see you the way I do. You're an amazing man, but you're so hard on yourself." 

"I only care about your opinion," I told her and squeezed her leg before returning my hand to the wheel. I didn't know if I was that amazing but I did know that I needed to be hard on myself or I'd never get better, I aimed for perfecting always, no matter if I already knew I wouldn't reach it. 

She kept her eyes on my profile and I let her, waiting for her to say whatever she had in mind. "I can't believe my wise old man is thirty..." She trailed off with a grin as I groaned. Thirty wasn't that old really, and I was in a point in my life where I felt as old as I was. But I wasn't getting any younger anyway, years we're passing so fast. "Have you ever gotten road head?" 

I lifted an eyebrow but kept staring at the road, only giving her a glance when her hands found my zipper. "Ar," I groaned again. "You're going to make me crash."

"Pull over," She said with a mischievous smile, pulling her hands away from the erection that was growing in my pants. My words and my penis currently weren't agreeing with each other. 

I pulled into a parking lot and gave her another raised eyebrow when she unbuckled her seatbelt and started feeling around on the floor of the backseat, returning to her seat with two boxes in her hands. I stared at the wrapping paper and then looked at her, "What's this?" 

"A present... It's what you give to people -" 

"Such a smartass my wife is," I cut her off and smirked, taking the smaller of the boxes from her and ripping into the paper. 

"It's for when you go running or hiking without me," She told me as I eyed the iPod. I was speechless, I wasn't expecting a present and getting one that was something I would've gotten myself was a really nice surprise. "I already loaded it with your songs and there's even an armband for it to wear while working out." 

I smiled and gave her a kiss, "Can I wear it when you're with me instead?"

She laughed and captured my bottom lip, sucking on it and then giving it a tug. "You like listening to me talk instead," She said after pulling back.

"Thank you," I said and sat there staring at her, thinking about how well she knew me.

"There's another present!"

I grinned and opened it, this time finding a larger Apple product. Now, I was officially impressed and excited too. That was something I had out my eyes on for weeks and I was only waiting for a moment to go and buy it. "The new Macbook Pro?"

She nodded, "And I've already synced it with your computer so it's all ready for you. I even added a few naked pictures of me, so that'll be a nice surprise when you find them," She added with a smirk.

"Technology and you naked, you really know what I love babe." I grinned and leaned into her, my hand lifting and my fingers tangling in her hair to pull her closer and press a kiss on her lips. I felt her own hand setting on my chest, it clutching at my shirt when the kiss got deeper then letting go when we broke it regretfully. "Thank you Ar." I added softly against her lips as I smiled, my eyes not leaving hers. I felt a really lucky man, and it wasn't for the presents themselves, but for how they showed the care and the love I was getting from my wife. 

"You're welcome." She said back and her smile was matching mine, her eyes still on me even when I pulled away from her regretfully and started driving again. "What do I get for getting you such awesome presents?"

"Nothing until I see the pictures of you. What if I don't like them?" I joked, because that was impossible. It didn't matter if naked or dressed, the pose, the expression, I'd like my babe always because she was beautiful and she was mine too. When I glanced at her I saw her rolling her eyes, but she was still smirking, "It was a mice birthday." I added casually, as if admitted things that easily everyday. 

She knew me enough not to give me a witty remark, instead she kept looking at me. "Should we do it every year?" She asked softly and, even if I was barely looking at her, I knew she was thinking about the future. It was weird, but it was as if I sensed it. 

I had no idea of what I'd do in a week, let alone in a year. It was an uneasy feeling for someone who planned everything always, but being certain that I'd be with Ar no matter what helped a lot. "And have a habit like a real couple?" I said as kept a serious face and faked a gasp, allowing myself to be silly and joke. "I don't know if I can do that."

She poked my side, "We are a real couple!" She protested but she was chuckling, a sound that always made me happy. 

I kept driving as a satisfied grin curved my lips, my right hand reaching for her left one and our fingers tangling together. "One with a very happy husband."