Chapter 4 Accepted Love
"Mommy and I got married the summer after. It was one of the most wonderful days of my life. Grandpa attended the wedding as well, but he still wasn't happy for us" He said unfortunate.
"So when did he approve of you?" Rick asked trying to get ahead in time. He always wanted to know how the story ended even before someone started telling it. Afterwards he always found out that it wasn't as excited anymore when you knew what would happen.
"I'm not going to tell that yet" Ezra said with a little goofy smile on his face.
"But Daddy" Rick whined trying to make up some excuse, but he already knew it wasn't going to work this time.
"No, you'll just have to wait" He answered.
"Okay, so what happened after the wedding?" His son asked instead, because the sooner they would get through that stuff, he would know the whole story.
"A few months later, Mommy and I found out she was pregnant with you. Let's just say, Grandpa was really upset about that. Being married was one thing, but having a child together was really another. We could both understand where he was coming from, because Mommy was still in college then. So I tutored her every day after school" He said trying to control his laughter.
"Did that actually work? I mean, when you and Mommy cook together it doesn't really work out either" Rick said probably thinking back to the dinner he had had yesterday. Let's say it ended up with them ordering some Chinese take-out instead.
"Well, sometimes it did. But those were really rare, for example when Mommy really didn't understand anything of it. But most of the times we used it as an excuse to see each other" He confessed. He was surprised by the fact how well he knew his parents.
"But Daddy, don't live married couples together?" He asked confusingly, probably because he had taught it at school at some point.
"Yes, they do. But Grandpa wanted her to live at home as an exchange for her to marry me. Obviously, I agreed. He told me that when he was okay with us together, he would overthink her living situation" He told his son, before he saw a small gape escape his son's mouth.
"Tired, little man?" He asked before he yawned himself.
"No, definitely not! Just tell the story. When did he overthink Mommy's living situation?" Rick asked instead.
"You're going way ahead of yourself" Ezra answered with a smile.
"You shouldn't stop telling the story then" He said trying to find a right explanation for his behavior.
"Okay, you're right. Mommy and I decided you would live with me, because we could avoid Grandpa easier that way. Plus, Mommy was mostly at my place until really late anyways. So we bought some stuff for you together. Like a crib, some clothes and all the other baby stuff. Mommy looked so happy buying all these things. The glow on her face, it looked so beautiful on her" He said smiling at the many memories he had from when she was still pregnant with their first child.
"Just like she has now?" Rick asked, reminding his father again about his new little brother or sister. Rick was beyond excited to finally have a sibling. He had helped with painting the nursery, so he could be a really good bigger brother for his new sibling. Rick really wanted to be the perfect brother, a brother his sibling would be proud of and looked up to. It was cute to see him this excited about having a sibling, because Aria and Ezra hadn't been sure if he actually wanted one. He had been the only child in the house for such a long time, they thought it would need some time to get used to for him. But he was almost even more excited than they were. If that was even possible.
"Exactly like that" He said clarifying the things he remembered.
"So what happened the day I was born?" Rick asked with a happy smile on his face.
"Mommy was once again with me. We were in our favorite bookshop, until she called really loudly for me. In a second, I knew what was happening, so I picked her up and I buckled her in my car. Mommy and I had decided beforehand, we didn't want either of our parents to be at the hospital with us"
"Why didn't you?" Rick asked curiously, because he didn't really get the point.
"Mommy and I wanted that moment to be ours" He said before Rick nodded his head.
"How was it?" Rick asked, probably because he had drifted to his thoughts again.
"It was really hard to see your Mommy in so much pain, but when you were finally there. I don't even think I can describe that moment. After you were washed a little, I climbed in the bed with Mommy and you were in our arms. The picture in the living room was taken that moment" He said signaling with his hands to the living room, even though it was down stairs. He had these weird habits of using his hands when they didn't make any sense at all.
"How did the new Grandparents react when they arrived at the hospital?" Rick asked after he had probably thought about the picture for a little while.
"Well, my parents arrived first. They loved you the second they saw you. They understood why we had called them after you were born. When they were about to leave, Mommy's parents arrived" Ezra said stopping there for a little while.
"Go on!" Rick said enthusiastically, because he wanted to know what happened. This had been the moment his Grandparents had met him first.
"First they stormed into the room, quite angry. They definitely weren't happy about the way we had dealt with the situation. Mommy started crying and just before I could comfort her, you started crying as well. I don't think they even noticed you until then" He said looking at Rick to see his response. He knew this wasn't the way he wanted to be first introduced to his Grandparents, but there wasn't more to it.
"How couldn't they have noticed me, they were coming there for me!" Rick said a little bit taken aback by these new facts.
"Actually, I'm really happy that happened" Ezra simply stated towards his son.
"How could you be happy about that? That was the first time they saw me and they were yelling at you and Mommy! I will never forgive them for this" Rick practically yelled by the end of his last sentence. He folded his arms over one another and put on his angry face.
"Something really weird snapped in Grandpa's head. He took you in his arms and he immediately fell in love with you. That was the moment he accepted Mommy and I, when he held you in his arms for the very first time" Ezra said, squeezing Rick's arm a little. Rick couldn't help but smile.
"What did he say?" Rick asked now, because he was really proud about the fact he was the reason his Grandpa accepted his parents. His body language said it all. His arms unfolded and his eyes shone bright again. Just like they did when they talked about his new sibling.
"He said that he had never thought something as beautiful as you could come from Mommy and I. A few minutes later he added that he wanted us to live together, as a real family while you were still in his arms. The next day, I took Mommy and you to our new home" Ezra said happily.
"How long did we live at the apartment?" Rick asked almost as if he wanted to remember the apartment, but he couldn't.
"We never did. A week before you were born, I bought a new home for Mommy and you. This home" He added before he finished his sentence.
"So you and Grandpa are best buddies since the day I was born?" Rick asked, because that was probably still something he wanted to figure out.
"Well, best buddies isn't really the word combination I would have used, but you could say it like that if you want to" He laughed a little, because he would never describe his relationship with his father-in-law as best buddies. There had been some struggles in the beginning, but Ezra knew that deep down inside, Byron had always liked him. He had taken care of their daughter when they couldn't and that was something he would be grateful for.
"If Grandpa was so happy about me, why don't I have like three siblings?" Rick asked, because it was probably another thing he didn't really get.
"Mommy and I decided it was more important for her to finish college and get a job. We were and still are really happy with you. But on the longer road, we want you to have a sibling as much as we would love another child around" He said stating some facts.
"So in how many months will I have a brother or sister?" He asked excitedly. The question came around every single day, so he probably knew the answer by heart. This didn't stop him from asking the question as many times as he could.
"Four really long months, my son" He said brushing his hand through his son's hair. Afterwards, he stood up from the bed and walked to the door.
"Daddy, can I ask you one more thing?" Rick asked before he could switch the light off.
"Of course" He simply replied.
"What do I talk about with Sara tomorrow?" His son asked blushing slightly before holding his plush penguin closer to him.
"Just talk about the project. Tell her what you want to create, but listen to her ideas as well. Work together and try to make things fit for the both of you. You can ask her to play here after school if you want" Ezra suggested, trying to give his son some good advice.
"I don't think I dare" He said before sinking in his beddings a little further.
"I thought you were a real man after our long talk" Ezra said trying to sound offended.
"Right. I need to be a real man and show Sara I really like her" He said replacing his head on his pillow.
"That's the spirit" He said before turning off the light.
"Goodnight Daddy, thank you for telling me the story" He said with a sleepy voice and Ezra knew it wouldn't take long before sleep took over him. He closed the door and he wanted to walk downstairs, so he could see if Aria was home already. But before he had the opportunity, her lips attacked his. She tangled her arms around his neck and his arms found her waist. The kiss felt loving and passionate against his lips. Her kisses would always be different, but every single time a little bit better.
"That was the most beautiful bedtime story I have ever heard" Aria said after she leaned away from him a little. Their arms were still around one another and she played with the short hair in his neck.
"How long have you been standing there?" He asked with a smile before wrapping his arms around her.
"Long enough to hear all about Sara and another really familiar story" She giggled a little, but he lifted a finger to her mouth to keep her quiet, so Rick wouldn't hear.
"What about that familiar story?" He asked after a little while.
"It's only the most beautiful story ever, because it all let up to this. To us having a little family together. Soon to be little bigger" She said smiling before he leaned down and kissed her belly.
"I know, my darling. I know" He said before he lifted her up and carried her to their bedroom.