JACKSON

UPTOWN, CHICAGO, PRESENT

"What's my favorite color?"

April is lying under me, red hair fanned out around her head, shirtless. The lights are dimly lit in her bedroom, and we're playing a game. We're asking each other questions, and for every one we get right, the other person gets a kiss.

She giggles while I think, eyes gleaming as she looks at me.

"Blue," I say, after a while.

"No!" she sings, smacking my shoulder. "It's pink. It's always been pink."

"You never wear pink," I say, nearing my face to hers.

"Ah-ah," she says, turning her cheek and blocking me with one hand. "You got it wrong. No kiss. Your turn."

I sit back on my knees and she watches me, using her hands as a pillow behind her head. We've already had sex once tonight, fucked actually. It was hot, quick and dirty. The duvet had to be stripped and thrown in the washer because it got that messy.

She put a pair of pajama pants on after, but no shirt. And thank god for that. I'm using this time to stare at her chest - the creamy white skin, tight, puckered nipples, and prominent angle of her collarbones are getting me hard all over again.

"My favorite food," I say.

She rolls her eyes. "Any food is your favorite food. Get real."

"Correct," I say, and plant my hands on either side of her head. "Gimme a kiss. A big one."

She holds my neck and closes her eyes, puckering her lips as I get closer. I don't break away for a long time, using one hand to skim across her breast and rub her nipple with my thumb.

"Hey," she says. "Cheater."

"There aren't any rules against a little nipple play," I say, smirking.

"You're so-"

Interrupting her sentence, a voice cries out through the silence of the house.

"Mama…"

April's forehead crinkles, eyes darting to the door before centering back on me. "He might just be dreaming," she says. "Hold on."

We spend a silent moment, unmoving, waiting for another sound. Hearing nothing, I bend to kiss her again and she's just wrapping her legs around my waist when Theo's voice rings through the hall a second time.

"Mama… mama!"

"I better go see what's up," she says, pushing on my shoulders so she can get up. She stands, and I watch the muscles of her back move subtly under her skin as she reaches for a gray crew-neck sweatshirts of mine.

"You keep stealing my sweatshirts, I'm not gonna have any left," I say, from where I lie on the bed.

"Shush," she says, taking a step towards the door before noticing that Theo has already appeared there, rubbing his eyes and squinting against the light. "Baby," April says, tone softening as she approaches our son. "What're you doing up? It's late, honey."

He stretches his arms out for her, and she kneels to hug him. "Bad dream," he murmurs, pushing his face into her neck.

"You sure it was a bad dream, baby?" she asks.

Lately, Theo's new trick is feigning nightmares when he gets up to pee and sees our light on. He senses excitement happening without him, so he wants to join in. The first couple nights, we fell for it. Now, his plot is weakening.

"What was it about?"

"Too scary," he says.

"Okay," April replies, and I can hear it in her voice that she's not going for it. "Well, let's get you back to bed."

"But… but… can I sleep in here with you and Daddy?"

He peers over her shoulder to look at me when he says it.

"No, not tonight, sweetie," April says, picking him up.

"I won't hog the bed," Theo says. "Promise. I'm scared of a subway train monster under my bed, mommy. Please, can I sleep with you?"

"No, baby," she says, walking out of the room. "I'll lay with you 'til you fall asleep, but you know there's no such thing as a subway train monster."

I lie in bed and wait for a while, and when April comes back, she's laughing and shaking her head.

"That boy will pull any string to get in here with us," she says.

"You're so mean," I say, nudging her with my shoulder. "Such a mean mom, not protecting him from the subway train monster."

"You can shut up any time now," she says, shoving my arm. "I don't know where that came from."

"Let's take him to a movie tomorrow, after school," I say. "He'd love Justice League. We were talking about it the other day on the way home."

"You're gonna spoil our child," she says, taking my sweatshirt off after getting up to turn off the overhead light.

"And?" I say, pulling her close and relishing the feeling of her soft, bare skin. "He's a good kid. He deserves it."

"Sure, softie," she says, snuggling close. "But you're payin'. Movies are expensive, that's why we never go."

After school the next day, Theo is bouncing with excitement.

"I haven't went to see a movie in ten thousand years!" he says, swinging my arm as we get off the train at Fullerton. "Right, mommy?"

"Ten thousand years sounds about right," April says. "I can't remember the last one we saw. Maybe Minions, or something. I don't know, it a long time ago."

"And we're gonna go to the big theater with the hugest seats ever!" Theo says. "Daddy, we're in Lincoln Park. This is where rich people live who always wear new clothes. But Mama says that new clothes don't matter, it's my heart that matters. And that we're really, really rich but just not in money. Right, mama?"

April can't help her smile. "Right, babe."

We walk down Fullerton and take a left on Sheffield, then walk to Webster which is the street that the theater is on. It's a cold and sunny day, so I keep my sunglasses on. But even though I'm wearing sunglasses and a hat, I hear my name being thrown in whispers as we pass groups of people.

"April," I say, sternly under my breath.

"I know," she says.

"What?" Theo asks, looking between either of us. "Why did you say Mommy's name, daddy?"

"Nothing, little man," I say, and squeeze his hand. "Everything's fine."

We make it to the theater, and as we cross the parking lot, I notice a small group of people hanging out by the front doors. I can feel their eyes on me, then I hear a voice.

"Oh my god, that's Jackson Avery!"

April stops dead in her tracks, which causes Theo to do the same.

"It's fine," I say. "I'll just take a few pictures, sign a few things, it'll be okay. This happens sometimes." I plaster on my fake smile for the fans. "Hey, guys."

"Oh my gosh, is this your girlfriend? And your son? Hi, Theo! Hi! Oh my gosh, you're so cute! He's so cute."

"Thank you," I say, and notice how close April is keeping him. I don't blame her - she's doing the right thing. He has his face hidden in her shirt, peeking out periodically due to his curiosity.

I take a handful of selfies and sign a few notebook pages and phone cases, then wave April and Theo along to go inside. But before we can get through the doors, two cars pull up and a throng of paparazzi gets out, flashes going off immediately.

"Jackson, headed to the movies?" one says.

Flash.

Theo whimpers, plastering himself closer to April. She holds the back of his head and reaches for my hand - I grip her fingers tightly, telling her without words that I can handle this. I can handle this for all of us.

"What movie are you going to see?"

Flash.

"Is this the infamous baby mama? April, over here! Can you give us a smile?"

Flash.

My stomach sinks when he says her name, like it's tainted somehow.

"Little Theo! Can you look at the camera, buddy? Smile for the camera! Big smile, just like your daddy!"

Flash. Flash.

"Jackson," April says, urgently tugging on my arm. "Please, can we go?"

"I'm trying," I mutter, finding we've been trapped by the fans and paparazzi in a tight circle.

I hear people muttering words I can't quite catch. I get the gist of what's being said, but hope I'm hearing wrong.

I wrap a tight arm around April's waist, ready to bolster our way through the crowd, when a photographer shouts what I'd been afraid I was hearing.

"Jackson! Don't you think you could do better than her? Your fans seem to think so!"

What happens next occurs in slow motion, and my body acts out of my control. I spin, unlocking my arm from April's body, and encounter the shouting photographer face-to-face. Before I can be stopped, I'm winding my arm back, fist clenched, and it happens too quickly for him to dodge the punch. My knuckles collide with his nose, and suddenly there's blood spewing everywhere, people are shrieking, Theo is crying, and April is pulling me away from the commotion with strength I didn't know she possessed.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

"I'm gonna sue! Bet your ass I'm gonna sue, Avery!"

Flash. Flash.

We get into a car, and the silence is deafening. It reminds me of the first time I rode with April and Theo heading away from the hospital. Once again, Theo is on her lap, arms wrapped around her neck. But this time, he's crying softly. April is wearing an expression I can't read, maybe a mix of concern, fear and being fed up.

"Your hand," she says, taking one arm away from Theo to lift my wrist.

I wince. It hurts. It's bruised and bloody, but I'm not sure if the blood is mine.

"Weiss Memorial, please," April says to the taxi driver, and he speeds off.

APRIL

"Mama, you say violence is never, never, never, ever the answer," Theo says, later that night as I sit on the edge of his bed.

Jackson is in the living room, on the phone with his people in Seattle. I don't know what they're saying, and I'm not sure I want to hear the conversation. His manager, his publicist, all those people can get loud on the phone, and it makes me anxious to even be in the same room while they're talking. I can't imagine they're all too happy with him right now, so Theo's bedtime routine came at a very opportune time.

"I do say that," I say. "You're right. And it's still true. Daddy made a mistake today."

I can't find it within myself to be too angry with Jackson, though. I'm upset Theo saw him do that, because Jackson isn't a violent person. I don't want Theo to assume as much because of what he saw. It should have been handled differently, but he felt cornered. It was instinct. Protective instinct - he was protecting his family.

"He hitted," Theo says, wide eyes blinking into mine.

"He did," I say. "And it was wrong. You should never hurt others."

"All those people were scaring me," Theo says. "Too many people. And all the cameras. It was really, really scary, mama. So maybe it was okay that Daddy hitted? Just this one time?"

I smooth his hair back, sighing as I contemplate my answer. "It was a bad situation," I say. "It's hard to think of a good answer. I'm not sure if there is one. Sometimes, there's just no right answer. Can you live with that for tonight, baby?"

He nods slowly. "Yeah," he says.

"But just because Daddy hit, doesn't make it okay," I say. "You know that, right?"

"I know, mama."

"That's my good boy," I say, leaning to kiss his forehead.

"Will you lay with me and tickle my back?" he asks.

I can't help but oblige. Theo flips over onto his stomach and I lie on my side next to him, slipping my hand under his pajama shirt to drag my fingernails over his soft, warm skin until he falls asleep.

Once he does, I kiss the side of his head and slink out of his room after turning out the light. I head to the living room, where I hear the tail end of Jackson's conversation coming to a close.

"Yeah. Yeah, I heard you. I know that. Thanks. No, I know what you mean. I get it, it's for the best. Sure. Yeah. See you in a while. Send me an email of the… yeah, those. Thanks. See ya."

I sit on the couch next to him as he hangs up the phone and pick up his bad hand to examine it. He watches me with a stoic expression as I turn it this way and that, but I see pain flash across his eyes as I touch it.

I decide it's okay he feels a little pain. He deserves that, just a bit.

"I understand why," I say, setting his hand down on my thigh. "But you shouldn't have done it. Theo was right there."

He looks at my face for a long time, studying and waiting, it seems. He's piecing together the right words; I can practically see them flash behind his eyes.

"I couldn't handle it," he says, finally. He shakes his head, staring down at his wrapped hand. "I couldn't handle them saying that shit about you."

I clear my throat, trying to keep my tone soft, yet firm. "You don't have to stand up for me that way," I say. "I can take it. I'm tough. You know that."

He shakes his head again. "You shouldn't have to take it," he says. "You don't. Not anymore."

I don't have anything to say in response. I know he's right. I know I don't have to shoulder everything anymore. This is what I used to dream of, having a partner to help me, to stand beside me, to take some of the blows. And now that I have it, I'm not sure how to accept it.

Everything that once seemed easy is much more complicated than I anticipated.

"My hand," he continues, holding it up for emphasis. "That alone would put me out for a few games. 6 weeks, something like that. But…" he shakes his head. "The footage of me punching that guy's lights out is everywhere. They suspended me for the season."

My eyes widen to the size of dinner plates as my mouth gapes open. "Jackson," I say, worried. "Oh, my god. You… oh, no…"

"It's fine, Peach," he says, shrugging. And by his face I can tell he really means what he's saying. "It honestly couldn't have come at a more perfect time."

I tip my head to the side. "What do you mean?" I ask.

He chuckles a bit. "I don't wanna be playing football right now," he says. "I wanna be here, with you guys. And now, I can be."

A smile grows on my face, but while it does, my gut twists.

Jackson won't be leaving again. He won't walk out that door with a plane ticket in hand, telling Theo and me that he'll see us in a few weeks. We won't have to get used to life again without him here, then fall back into our old, comfortable routine. No, none of that will happen. Now, I'll wake up every morning with his body next to me in bed, radiating heat. He'll pick Theo up from school while I'm at work, help with dinner and homework at night. He'll be a staple in this house, in our lives - one that won't be at risk of disappearing.

That thought should be comforting. But instead, it terrifies me. And I'm not sure why.

We won't be playing family anymore. Now, it'll be the real thing. And I think I'm scared it won't live up to the high expectation I've built it up to be.

"Babe," Jackson says, tearing me from my thoughts with one hand on my cheek. "We can do this."

The light in his eyes nearly blinds me, and I can't help but latch onto his hope. "Yeah?" I say, leaning against his palm.

"Yeah," he replies, then kisses me.

"You want to be here?" I ask. "With us?"

He makes a funny, incredulous expression. "Of course I do," he says. "I was already dreading the day I was gonna have to leave."

"So was I," I say, and it's the truth. I wouldn't even let myself picture it. "We're gonna do this right, aren't we?"

"You're gonna have to teach me a lot about being a full-time parent," he says, now holding my face in two hands. "But I wanna learn. I wanna do this, you know… be domestic with you. Just fuckin'... be with you guys. I just wanna be here. I love you."

I laugh, in disbelief of everything. "I love you, too," I say.

We go to bed a little while later, just lying there snuggling in the dark for a few minutes without saying much of anything. That is, until Jackson pipes up. With his fingers drawing nonsense patterns over the bare skin of my upper arm, he says, "Can I say something and you not get mad?"

"Yes…" I say, narrowing my eyes.

"I wanna live with you," he says.

I scoff. "Why would I get mad over that?" I say. "I figured you-"

"In a house," he continues. "A nice, big house."

"Oh..." I say, letting my eyes roam around the room. I push my hand under his shirt to rest on his bare stomach and contemplate the gravity of what he's suggested. "Oh."

"I know you love this place," he says. "But I want more for you. For us. More space, a nicer neighborhood, a better school for Theo."

There's nothing wrong with what he's saying. Nothing at all, actually. But this apartment - this is all I've ever known living in Chicago. This has been our home for almost seven years. This place is where I raised Theo, the safe space we could come home to and be happy, no matter how hard the day preceding was.

Theo took his first steps here, said his first word. He came home to this apartment after his first day of school. We've cried and laughed and done everything in between under this roof, on these creaky hardwood floors.

But I know there's always a time to move on. And the perfect opportunity is being presented to me on a golden platter, by the most beautiful, well-meaning man. A man with the best intentions, who I'm so in love with that it's silly.

"Yes," I say.

"Yes?" he echoes. "Seriously?"

I giggle softly. "Yes, seriously," I say.

"Damn," he says. "I could've sworn we were gonna have a fight about that."

"I'm not stubborn as hell all the time," I say. "When there's reason to be seen, I see it."

"Only stubborn as hell most of the time," he mutters, and I tickle him so he laughs like a little kid.

After a long pause, he catches his breath and we sit in silence. I stare at the ceiling - its familiar cracks and ridges, and nestle my head further against his chest.

"We're moving," I say. I'm not sure how I feel saying it loud for the first time. "No more Uptown."

I feel and hear him smile without seeing it. "No more Uptown," he says.

UPTOWN, CHICAGO, CHRISTMAS DAY

"It's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas!"

I wake up to a little body pouncing on me before the sun comes up. I open my eyes and see Theo's face so close to mine that the tips of our noses brush.

"Santa came, mama!"

I raise my eyebrows, stretching my arms above my head. "Merry Christmas, honey," I say, voice still raspy. "Wake up your dad."

Theo jumps off of me and lands on Jackson, which makes him make a guttural 'oof' sound as he's forcefully woken up.

"It's Christmas! Wake up, daddy! Wake up!"

"I'm up," Jackson groans, rubbing his eyes. "I'm up. What time is it?"

"Time to get up, I think," I say, resting against the headboard.

"Happy birthday, Jesus!" Theo cheers. "Jesus was borned last night at midnight, and the wise men saw the star! Right, mommy? They saw the star, it was super, super bright. And Mary had Jesus come out of her tummy in a manger with hay and animals. Right now, Jesus is just a tiny baby! And we get presents on his birthday."

Jackson chuckles and shakes his head, closing his eyes as he tries to hide his smile.

"It's not funny, daddy," Theo says. "No one even had room for Mary and Joseph to stay. That's why they had to born Jesus with all the animals."

"You're right, baby," I say. "Daddy's not laughing at you."

"I'm not," Jackson says. "Promise. Who wants to go and see what Santa left?"

I put the kettle on, making water for Theo's hot chocolate as I turn on the coffee maker for Jackson and myself. Once everyone has their hot drinks, we gather in the living room, where Santa has made a light trip this year.

"You told me Santa said he didn't have that much for me this year," Theo says, bouncing on his knees by the tree. "But in Sunday school I knowed how to be grateful for every single little thing. Because some kids don't even have Christmas, that's why. And so anything I get, I'm gonna be happy. That's called being a good sportsmanship."

We give Theo his presents first - I told Jackson not to go crazy, but that he could spoil him a little bit, seeing as it's their first Christmas together. So from his dad, Theo gets a new bike, a science experiment set, and a backpack. From me, he gets a few new outfits and a special notebook that he's had his eye on for a while.

After he's opened all his presents, he gives Jackson and me each a big hug and a kiss. "Thank you, mommy," he says, squeezing hard. "Thank you, daddy!"

"You deserve it all," I say. "You were on top of the nice list this year."

"And Santa checked it twice," Jackson says, winking.

"Should we give our present to Daddy now?" I ask Theo, a glint in my eye. He knows what surprise we have up our sleeves, and he's been bursting to set it free.

"I'll go get it!" Theo says, and scampers off to the closet where I've hidden it in a secure place. When he comes back, he's holding a painstakingly-wrapped manila folder in his hands, trembling with excitement. "This is for you, daddy. From me, and Mommy, too."

Jackson looks at us, confused at the shape. He rips it open carefully and sees it's a folder, so he opens it and his face lights up when he sees what's inside.

"What's…" he says, unable to finish the thought.

"A certificate of name-change," I say, smile painfully wide.

"I'm Theodore Jackson Kepner-Avery now!" Theo announces, proud as can be. "Now everybody knows that I'm yours, daddy."

Jackson stares at the certificate like it's holy, holding it like it's something precious that could break. When he sets it down, he does so with grace, and pulls Theo into his arms for a giant hug.

"Thank you, baby," he says, voice muffled by Theo's neck. "I love you, I love you so much." He meets my eyes over Theo's shoulder and his are glassy with tears. "Thank you," he says again, kissing his son's cheek.

When Jackson lets Theo go, he's still bouncing with excitement. "We have one more!" he practically screeches.

"Wait, wait, wait," Jackson says, after he's taken a moment to compose himself. "I think it's my turn."

"Hold on," I say, holding up one palm. "I thought we said we weren't gonna do anything for each other."

He raises his eyebrows. "Looks like you've already cheated in that department."

"Technically, that was from Theo," I say, giggling.

"Well, technically…" he begins, trying to think of a comeback. "I don't know. Just let me go get it."

He stands up and leaves the room, and I call after him. "Oh, so you hid yours, too?"

"Yes, miss nosy."

I look at our son with excitement in my eyes as we both wonder what Jackson will return with. I pull on my long sleeve to make sure it covers my wrist, and situate my arms around Theo's waist as Jackson walks back into the room with a very square box in one hand.

He sits on the floor and hands it over. I take it from him and shake the box, then look at Theo with curious confusion.

"What could it be?" I ask.

"Open it," Jackson says. "Find out."

"Alright…" I unwrap the box slowly, driving both Jackson and Theo crazy, then lift the lid. Inside, resting on a plush, velvet cushion, is a silver key.

I screw up my eyebrows. "Is this…?"

"The key to the front door of 2321 North Halsted Street?" he says. "Yes. Yes, it is."

My mouth drops open and my hands go so weak that I drop the box, which makes the key fall out onto the carpet.

"What?" Theo asks, peering to look at my face. "What, mommy?"

I try and gather my thoughts enough to form a sentence. "You know the pretty house that we would look at sometimes, when we went to Lincoln Park?" I say. He nods. "It went up for sale. And you know how we're looking to move out of our apartment." He nods again. "Well, Daddy bought us that pretty house."

Theo gasps, hands covering his mouth. "And he's gonna live with us there, too?!"

I nod, eyes welling up with tears. "We have a house," I say, barely able to say the words as I look at Jackson.

He repeats the words. "We have a house."

I throw myself into his arms, which knocks him backwards onto the floor as he catches me and laughs. He presses his lips to mine in a slew of quick, happy kisses, and wipes away my tears with the pads of his thumbs.

"I love you," I say, laughing through my tears. "I don't know how you… I can't believe… we have a house!"

"We have a house!" Theo cheers, jumping up and down with his arms in the air. "We have a house, we have a house!"

I sit up and Jackson does the same, and I do my best to compose myself.

"We have something else for you, daddy," Theo says, wearing a smile so big I'm surprised his face doesn't break in two. My stomach jolts with nerves. We've been planning this moment for a couple weeks now, and I desperately want it to go over how I imagined. We've been putting all the work in, and it's finally here.

I never expected Christmas to be so momentous, but this one has turned out to be the most memorable one yet.

"Are you serious?" Jackson says. "You guys have already done so much."

"But I wanna do more!" Theo says, turning back to look at me. I nod him along, and he digs inside the tree to find the box we hid there yesterday. It's long and rectangular, and instead of handing it over for Jackson to open, Theo does it himself but so Jackson can see what's inside.

Lying on a tiny cushion, is Jackson's 'forever' bracelet, polished like new and re-engraved clearer. As Theo opens his mouth to speak, I pull up my long sleeve and expose my new and improved one, too.

"Daddy," Theo says, a smile in his voice. "Will you marry us?"

The moment seems to freeze around us as Jackson stares at the twin bracelets. Slowly, he takes the box from Theo and holds the delicate bracelet in his hand, and I can't help but remember the day he gave mine to me, on our one-year anniversary.

I can't believe how far we've come. Our child is sitting between us, and Jackson bought us a house. We're going to be married. Two high-school sweethearts who thought they'd lost it all at one point, have come back together with a bond stronger than ever.

"Yes," he says, clipping the bracelet on his wrist. It fits like he never took it off. "Yes. Yes, of course I'll marry you."

He gathers Theo and I both in his arms and kisses our faces, and we all burst into uncontrollable laughter, our bodies a mess of arms and legs.

"You guys are sneaky!" he says. "How in the world did you get that bracelet?"

"Had it shipped from your place in Seattle," I say. "Turns out, Gloria and I are great partners."

He chuckles. "Figures." He pauses for a moment, eyes swimming, then turns to me as if he's been struck by something. "You're gonna be my wife," he says.

I nod surely, dimples popping with my smile. "I am," I say, nodding more confidently. "And you're gonna be my husband."

"There's gonna be a wedding!" Theo sings, throwing an arm around either of us. "A wedding!"

"This has been… the craziest Christmas of my life," Jackson says, shaking his head. "We're engaged. Holy shit."

"Daddy, swear jar!" Theo scolds.

"And…" I say, tone lilting. "I have just one more thing."

Theo turns to me, shocked. We'd planned everything, all the ways to surprise Jackson, together. But there was one thing I kept from him so I could tell them both at once.

"April," Jackson says. "Seriously. It's too much! You really didn't… this is enough. You tell me I go overboard, but here you are-"

I can't keep it in anymore. "I'm pregnant," I say.

Both of them are quiet for a beat as my words sink in. Then, Theo jumps up from where he was sitting and covers his mouth in surprise again, staring at me with huge eyes.

"You…" Jackson says, but his voice dies off.

"You have a baby in your belly!?" Theo shrieks. "Just like Mary!?"

I nod, unable to keep my laughter at bay. "Yes, I do," I say, one hand on my stomach for emphasis. "I found out a couple weeks ago."

"Oh, my god…" Jackson says, still in shock.

Theo is still dancing around, pumping his arms in the air. Then, suddenly, he stops. "Wait," he says, looking at me very seriously. "Is the baby's daddy my daddy, too?"

"Yes, teddy," I say. "Daddy is the baby's daddy, too."

Theo runs through the house screaming, and after he leaves the room I turn to Jackson and climb onto his lap.

"I'm having your baby," I say, and he winds his arms around the small of my back. "Your second baby."

His eyes hold so much emotion I can barely take it. I don't know where to begin, but it becomes clearer when he kisses me. Everything is pulling together at once instead of coming apart. It's a feeling I still have to get used to.

"You're pregnant," he says, shaking his head. "You're really pregnant?"

I nod and take his hand, moving it to rest over my stomach. Of course, there's not even a semblance of a bump yet, but that doesn't matter.

"Your baby's in there," I say, giggling as Theo comes rampaging back into the room. "And right there, too."

I rest my forehead against his and close my eyes, breathing in this moment.

I'll never be able to go back and rewrite history. Even if I could, I would choose not to; the past is the past and it'll stay there, where it belongs. It has formed who we are today, and I wouldn't change a thing. We have the rest of our lives in front of us, and though we've lived in separate circles for a very long time, we're together now. Embarking on a brand new world.