It was going to be Andrea’s first birthday in a few days. And to that end, Emily and Theodore invited the family over.
Emily had never gotten around to finish college – which she had admittedly barely had a taste of – and it was no longer her top priority.
If Theodore could abdicate the damned throne for her, she could very well postpone pursuing her studies until Andrea was a bit older.
Andrea was running to the room where her aunt was staying, joyful giggles escaping her all the way there.
Emily followed after her, but didn’t catch the little girl in time for she barged into the room, slamming the door open.
Serena was on the phone with her mate, and it seemed like they were having a heated argument. “You can come if you would just make time,” she told him in a scathing tone.
He must have not said something convincing for she went on, “Well, she is my niece. And her birthday matters to me.”
And with that, she hung up, giving her mate no chance to argue some more.
“Men,” she spat out, finally looking at Emily.
“Men?” Andrea repeatedly innocently.
“Yeah,” her aunt told her softly. “Men can be impossible at times.”
Andrea beamed at her and then said, “But me girl?”
“Oh my god, she is so adorable!” Serena cooed, seemingly forgetting all about her issues with her mate.
“I’m sorry about her barging in on you like this,” Emily said with an apologetic smile plastered on. “Theodore and I often chide her about this – hell, even Mrs. Steams does – but she doesn’t listen.”
“Don’t worry, dearie,” she responded softly. “I do not mind at all.”
Emily smiled at her.
“When are Liam, Tatiana and the twins arriving?” Serena then asked.
“This evening,” Emily informed her.
“Nice, I can’t wait,” she retorted sweetly, despite the conflicted expression that returned to her face.
Emily could only guess she had remembered her issue with her mate.
Andrea started rummaging through Serena’s things, and Emily’s eyes widened at that. She was ready to admonish the child when Serena waved it off. “Let her,” she told her. And seeing as the little girl was looking at her clothes with open wonder, she added, “She’ll be big on fashion one day, I’m telling you.”
Emily giggled at that. “Not sure her dad will appreciate her becoming anything but a brilliant doctor like his sister.”
“Flattery will lead you nowhere, dearie,” Serena spilled. “I am not going to spill the beans.”
“Oh come on,” Emily pouted. “I really want to know what his surprise is.”
“It’s a surprise,” Serena echoed after her, putting emphasis on the last word.
“I am aware,” Emily sighed. “But I am sure you know what he’s preparing.”
“I have a mild idea,” she told her teasingly. “But my lips are sealed.”
“Meanie!”
“Whatever you say, dearie.”
“Meanie?” Andrea peeked from the mess of clothes she had made and repeated after her mother.
Both women chuckled at that.
** ** ** ** ** ** **
Theodore was away for a matter that could no longer wait. Nope, it was not business related – it had nothing and yet everything to do with his empire.
Already, he couldn’t wait to go back to the estate, bearing the surprise, and yet keeping it from his mate till it was time.
He went to get Liam, Tatiana, and the kids from the airport.
Their bodyguards traveled on a different car. And once at the estate, they remained in the staff quarters after Liam told them he’d call for them if the need arose.
“How are the preparations going?” Tatiana asked him, a wicked smile on her face.
“Perfect,” he told her with a wink. “Emily knows a surprise is waiting for her at Andrea’s birthday party but she has no idea what it is.”
“I hope you didn’t tell Serena,” Liam observed. “She’ll spill the beans.”
“I might have threatened her,” Theodore said almost sheepishly.
“I’m not surprised,” Tatiana joked. “You’re rather good at that.”
“I take offense at that,” he told her with narrowed eyes and a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Well, what can I say?” She shrugged, giggling.
“Our court certainly made you bolder,” he taunted.
“I’ve always been bold,” she stuck her tongue out at him.
“Play nice, you two,” Liam said placatingly.
And both Tatiana and Theodore chuckled at his tone.
“This is us,” Theodore said in a duh-tone.
“It’s just how we interact,” Tatiana shrugged.
“Papa!” Andrea came running to her dad as fast as her little legs could allow it.
He met her halfway, and in one swift move, he was hugging her, and then he had her perched on his shoulders.
She let out a stunned oh as she always did when she was held so high.
Emily came to welcome them all in, Serena following right behind her. Both women cooed at the twins who laid asleep in their strollers.
“What did you get us?” Emily asked, stars in her eyes.
Oh, no, you won’t be off so easily, he said mentally but opted for a sweet and confused, “Was I supposed to get you something?”
“What’s the surprise?” She insisted.
“Oh, that,” he said.
“Yeah, that,” she urged him, eager to know.
“All things in good time, dorogaya,” he told her softly and then was about to plant a kiss on her lips when she avoided him. His lips landed on her cheek instead.
“Is that any way to welcome your mate home?” He said in jest.
“My mate isn’t playing nice,” she shrugged.
“He never does,” Tatiana said in a conniving tone.
“Oi,” Liam nudged his mate not too discreetly, “we don’t want to upset Theos in his own estate.”
Mrs. Steams arrived from the kitchen at that moment, a bright smile on her face.
“Welcome everyone,” she said in greeting. “The estate definitely can handle many more guests, and more children too.”
Emily blushed at that.
She and the once strict housekeeper had grown closer over time. They had a heart to heart and settled their differences. Nowadays, they were almost inseparable, and acted like a doting grandmother – who was still slightly strict around the edges – and her grand daughter – even though this latter never managed to drop the title.
“Oh come on, Mrs Steams, do not tease me so,” Emily said after her blush dissipated slightly.
“Teasing you? Me?” Mrs Steams echoed after her in a slightly incredulous and rather jesting manner, “I would never.”
At that, everyone laughed, even Serena who looked to be rather irked by something – or maybe someone.
Theodore made a mental note to talk to her later and get her to open up to him.
The birthday party was in full blast. Andrea was dressed like a little princess – which admittedly she was – and Serena was having the time of her life taking pictures of everyone. It was both a hobby and a passion of hers.
Emily and Tatiana had just gone to bring the cake when Liam approached Theodore.
“Are you ready to pop the question?” He said in a whisper.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Theodore nodded.
“It sure took you a long time to do that,” Liam commented.
“Well, our kind doesn’t really need such formalities.”
“But she was human once,” his brother countered.
“True,” Theodore conceded. “Did you check up on the twins?”
“They’re fast asleep, and Mrs Steams is still reading to them despite that,” he told him, his words holding humor.
When Emily and Tatiana reappeared with the gigantic cake the cook had baked, Theodore readied himself to do what was required of him.
The women arranged the cake on the table that was in the gardens and Emily called Andrea, “Come, sweetheart. You need to cut your cake.”
The little girl’s eyes alighted at that.
It was now or never.
Theodore approached the table, and approached his mate who was looking at him, an adorable confused frown on her face.
“Emily,” he began sweetly, saying her name for the first time in ages. And then he dropped to one knee.
She gasped and then held her hand to her mouth.
Their little girl looked confused between them, and then went to hug her daddy. “Papa?”
“Papa is proposing, sweetie,” he told her before placing a kiss on her forehead.
Serena opened her arms in invitation and the little girl ran to her aunt.
He got the ring out of his pocket and then began, “You make me the happiest man every day, Emily Nill, and I vow to make your life just as happy. Will you…”
“Yes,” she exclaimed, cutting in, “Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes!”
And then she started crying.
“Mama?” Andrea said worriedly and went to her mom.
Emily hugged her and reassured her, saying the tears were of joy.
“Isn’t it me you should be hugging right now?” Theodore teased as he rose to his feet.
Her smile was so bright, he wondered why he had waited for so long to propose to his sweet mate.
“I’ll do more than hug you even,” she said, a wicked smile on. “I’ll kiss you senseless, Theodore King.”
He smirked at her, placed the ring on her finger, and then dived for a prize that was totally his for the taking.
Their little girl was at their feet, looking at them with open wonder.
When they parted for air, she said almost impatiently, “Cake?”
They all laughed at that.
And then a phone went off just as Emily was guiding Andrea’s small hands to cut the first slice.
Serena answered her phone, a blush creeping under her skin.
“Where are you, Gregory? I swear to god…” she began her angry tirade only to shut up a split-second later. “Oh, you’re at the gates?”
She turned to Theodore with stars in her glistening eyes. “Can you please tell your watch to allow him in?”
“Sure,” he nodded, and then exchanged a look with his brother.
They were going to have a talk with Serena’s elusive mate who was sometimes cold, sometimes hot. No one played with their little sister’s heart – not even her mate.
It was either he was all in, or out of the picture indefinitely. There was no in between.
The tacit agreement wasn’t lost on Emily. And she warned Theodore with a hissed, “Be nice.”
“I will be,” he promised her.
“Whipped,” Liam coughed to conceal what he was saying.
“You better behave as well,” Tatiana warned.
And at that, Liam paled slightly.
“You were saying, brother?” Theodore chuckled.
“Shut up,” he told him.
The warlock was approaching them when Serena said in a whisper. “You better not act like the protective older brothers you can be.”
Both men didn’t answer her, and rather glared at the approaching prince of Oblivion.