Good Girls do Bad Things Sometimes
Chapter Ten - I never wanted your love, but I needed it all.
The sun shines down on a small ranch style house in Philadelphia, making it a beautiful summer day. The season still being early, the weather is forgiving and therefore the backyards of this particular neighborhood are well shaded by their provided trees that have had years and years to grow their limbs. Similar to trees, children grow and grow despite their parents' want to keep them small forever, and that is exactly what has happened to the little girl with beautifully silky dark, chocolate brown hair that reaches past between her shoulder blades when she stands still. But catching this certain little girl standing still is a nearly impossible feat, especially when her honorary aunt and uncle are visiting as they are today.
Not only her honorary aunt and uncle occupy the territory along with her parents, but also her actually blood related aunt and uncle as well as her grandmother, exactly the list of people who were present for her birth a little over two years ago.
As Wren Kingston lifts the little girl to playfully spin with her in his arms, Mona Vanderwaal watches proudly from where she sits on their backyard picnic table. Her gaze moves over every person who has come to her house today and her brows knit slightly as a realization comes to mind. "Hanna, do you remember the last time we actually got everyone to drive here all together like this?" She tilts her head curiously as she questions the blonde who sits beside her, also watching her boyfriend and goddaughter.
"I think for Mike's graduation party right?" She raises an eyebrow. "Was it really that long ago?"
"That's what I was thinking." The brunette's eyebrows remain knit. That event had been a year or so ago, since Mike had switched to an online school and graduated with a GED as quickly as he could in order to move in with her at this very house so that she could continue her schooling as she had always wanted. Now Mona proudly attends classes and is working towards a Business degree, specifically in Marketing and Sales, with hopes of someday being able to try her hand at Management. Hopefully she'll make a well enough name for herself that she could try her hand at running a designer company, she and Hanna have daydreamed about that very possibility a number of times already and what better way to spend your days than work back to back, hand in hand with your best friend?
"It's kind of strange isn't it?" Hanna pulls her friend from her reminiscing.
"Yeah, really. Makes me think something's gonna happen." She rolls her eyes playfully. "Wren's not going to propose is he?" She teases.
"Oh, God no. He knows better than that." The blonde laughs. "And so do you to suggest that even being a possibility. You know how I feel about marriage."
"Sure, sure. But it still makes no sense to me." Mona shrugs as she looks down at her incredibly bare left hand. Hanna glances at her friend and bites her lip, she of course knows why everyone is here today.
"It's not … I just don't see the need. For me. That's all. It would totally be cool if you guys got married, and you knoooow I would be your maid of honor right?" She playfully bumps shoulders with her best friend who giggles weakly, the topic of marriage being a sore spot as she's been wondering these days if Michelangelo still wants to marry her at all. And if so why is her hand so bare?
Before Mona even has the chance to respond Ella, Elena now in her arms, saunters over as she coos. "Somebody got spun around a little too much." She giggles, stating the reason for why the little girl is currently pressing a hand to her forehead and squinting her sky blue eyes.
"Awww, poor baby." Hanna coos as well then stands to kiss the little girl's forehead. "I'll go punish the big bad meanie who did this to you." She chirps then makes her way towards Wren to somewhat lazily put her arms around his neck as she pecks his lips.
"Looks like a really horrible punishment huh?" Mona laughs as she takes her daughter into her arms and places her on her lap to hold her close.
"Mhm, a very fitting treatment." Ella adds as she sits on the actual bench of the picnic table instead of the table where Mona sits. She smiles at Mike as he brings over a plate of veggie burgers, all of the women present having out ruled the men's want of real meat, and sets it on the table next to his girlfriend before taking one and putting a decent amount of ketchup on the top bun then holding it so that Mona can lean closer and easily take a bite. Once she has done just that the brunette smiles and nods to show her approval.
"Very well done, you are indeed the neighborhood's grill master." She giggles. "Try it?"
"Since you've said such kind words.. I would be a terrible boyfriend to resist." He wiggles his eyebrows before dramatically taking a bite and chewing slowly. His expression stays impressively neutral until he swallows. "Edible." He mumbles teasingly.
"Pah, no. It's wonderful." Mona rolls her eyes, gently playing with Elena's hair to keep the toddler calm.
"I'll take your word for it." He shrugs then offers the burger to her once again, now sitting beside her on the table.
"More for me." She chirps then gratefully takes small bites until she has finished the burger. Mike takes the chance to find a napkin and carefully wipe a small bit of ketchup from the corner of her lips and she smiles somewhat shyly at him before turning her attention back to their daughter who is slowly but surely becoming annoyed with staying still. Thankfully Mona never has to move as Ezra and Aria make their way underneath the shaded area and the raven haired young woman easily accepts when the girl is moved onto her lap.
As she is transferred Mike smiles kindly at his sister who shares a supportive look with her younger brother, it was a little absurd to her when she first learned why they were invited here today but she has accepted the fact that her baby brother will be engaged before her. In reality she and Ezra have had an on and off, and on and off relationship whereas Mona and Mike have managed to stay completely loyal to each other. They seem to be closer to each other now more than ever. They are picture perfect as Mike moves closer and puts his arm around Mona's shoulders, she of course leans her head onto him and kisses his neck quickly as she cuddles close.
Mike takes a deep breath as he smiles widely to calm his slightly shaky nerves. Of course she'll say yes. She will say yes. Won't she? For what reason would she not. She doesn't want to wait until she's finished with school does she, he has seen her glance longingly at rings when they visit the local shopping mall hasn't he? He begs whatever higher power there is out there in the universe that she wants this as badly as he does, then closes his eyes for one last brief moment of serenity before he begins to speak.
"Mona…" He says slowly, still holding her close. "I love you very much."
"I love you too, silly." She giggles and rolls her eyes, watching Ezra lightly tickle Elena's arm to elicit a playfully high pitched giggle from the girl before she turns her attention to her boyfriend. "What's got you so tense baby, you're stiff as a rock."
"Nothing, nothing." He reassures her quickly, of course she can tell he's nervous. "It's just that the breeze is picking up a little and I'm worried she'll get too cold." He reasons.
"Oh, well, we could go inside for a while if you think that's best." Mona raises an eyebrow, sure that the breeze is not what has caused this reaction.
"I think it's already past, the sun must've been behind a cloud." He mumbles slightly then clears his throat before reaching for his can of coke to take a sip. He'd better up his game if he doesn't want her prying into what really has him so tense before he's ready to pop the question himself. He feels like every eye is on him, glancing his way and wondering when it will happen, and that certainly doesn't help his nerves at all. It's taking all of his concentration to keep his hand from shaking as he sips his drink again then sets it down once again before sliding to stand and take her hands to silently lead her over to a swing that hangs from a tree branch.
Multiple times Mona has watched him as he helped their daughter swing with a few pushes now and again, and it just so happens to be one of her favorite things to watch. So as she finds herself being lead to sit and then be pushed gently until she swings slightly she smiles to herself and bites her lip a little.
"Are you aware of how adorable you're being right now?" She giggles.
"I had hopes, but I do admit I was a little unsure." Mike laughs. "I'm glad that my hard work has produced the desired feelings being portrayed."
"Oh, has this taken you some hard thinking to plan? Poor baby, I'm so sorry that thinking hurts your brain sometimes." Mona giggles again, happy to be completely carefree for an entire day. It's been a while since she's had a day like this. Between her work schedule and Mike's - and not to mention having a daughter after all - she's busy these days more often than not. She misses days like this, times like this where it's only her and Mike. The thought that the only times they've truly had when they were completely alone were when she was pregnant makes her travel into the dark place in the back of her mind and second guess their life for a moment. But as always she simply shakes her head, she wouldn't ever dream of giving up Elena.
"That was a real burn, Mona Vanderwaal, you've still got it." Mike teases as he continues to gently push his girlfriend to make her swing not too high but also not boring her by being too gentle.
"Thank you very much, I have to practice from time to time to keep my skills you know." She rolls her eyes playfully.
"I'm very glad to be your testing subject whenever you feel like it." Mike replies softly as he steps to sit on the swing beside her.
Mona's dark eyes follow him as she looks over her shoulder, having been alerted thanks to her own swing not moving as it had been moments before, and she smiles widely once he sits down."Had enough of a workout, jock?" She continues to smile as she raises an eyebrow.
"Yes, thanks." He laughs in reply as his feet uncharacteristically nervously drag in the dirt below him. "I've had enough of a workout from chasing our daughter around in a good game of 'Daddy, come get me' earlier today if you don't remember."
"I remember quite clearly and I seem to remember it differently if you don't mind me jogging your memory-" Mona begins only to be cut off by the very little girl they're speaking about.
"Daddy, daddy!" She giggles as she reaches them, holding a small square black box with golden detail at the hinges. "You dropped this I think." Elena chirps and holds the box up to her father, Mona's eyes curiously studying the box.
It takes her a moment to allow her eyes to drift towards Mike's expression and find that it is carefully neutral as he takes the box. "What's that?" She asks as he begins to put the questionable object back into his pocket.
"Oh, uhm..." Mike glances down at his hand and stops the automatic motion of putting the engagement ring back into hiding. "Actually, it's for you." He says softly. "I've had it for a little while, honestly, and it's really getting hard to keep it in hiding. You're a really snoopy lady you know." He chuckles as he stands. "I think you've nearly found it at least five or six times. So it's about time I just give it to you. But don't think that means I haven't thought it through, made sure I was ready- we were ready. I think we are. We're a family anyways and I think we should make it official, you know?" As he leans onto his knee he stutters slightly, and then finally he looks up into his love's eyes - the deep dark depths that he's gotten lost in countless times - and all of his confidence returns. He should never have been nervous. How could he have been nervous?
Mona's gaze is completely void of any question. Her lips curl up into a somewhat shy smile as she silently encourages him. It only widens as Mike opens the box and the delicate diamond shines in the same manner as their daughter's excited blue eyes.
"I think it's about time we get engaged, don't you?" Mike jokes tenderly. "I'm sorry it's not from Tiffany's or more extravagant or-"
"It's perfect." Mona stops his drabble, then immediately nods her head emphatically. "And the answer is yes. I totally agree, it is about time isn't it?" She laughs joyfully as the ring is quickly taken from the box and slipped onto her slim finger. "It's so so perfect, I love it." She stands at nearly the same time as he does, draping her arms on his shoulders and burying her fingers in the hair on the back of his head immediately. "I really love it, and I love you." She says just before her lips become too occupied to continue talking.
As her parents enter their own world Elena smiles widely before skipping forward a step to grasp one leg from each of them in a tight embrace, her head nuzzling their hips. She's wanted this nearly as much as her mother as she's heard many conversations between her aunt and mom based on the very subject of ring receiving. Not to mention that happiness isn't exactly an unwelcome guest in any household. Seeing her parents both so ecstatically happy that they're kissing like there's no tomorrow is a welcomed sight.
Once both are in need of oxygen they glance down at their daughter and hug her tightly, Mona leaning down to pick her up and bring her to their height. "Are you gonna finally get married now so mommy can quit complaining about it to aunty Hanna?" She chirps and causes her father to laugh as Mona rolls her eyes playfully.
"Yes baby, we'll get married now. Are you happy?"
"Are yooouuu happy?" She raises an eyebrow in true Vanderwaal manner.
"We are." Mike smiles then kisses her forehead. "Mommy's crying because she's happy."
"I am not crying. There's dust in the air or something, maybe it's my allergies." Mona excuses.
"It's okay mom, you're allowed to cry. But just right now. Later when we're making a campfire for everyone to make some smores then you'll have to get it together." She kisses her mother's cheek quickly then wiggles out of her grasp to stand on her own two feet again. "Which, come to think of it, can that be now?" She asks sweetly then bats her eyelashes.
Mike laughs then nods his head as he slowly removes his hands from Mona's waist. "Sure Lena. I'll get the wood and start up a fire right now. How's that?"
"Perrrfect." She smiles widely as she takes his hand. "But let me help you okay?"
~Bridges can be crossed. Savages can be taught to behave. Some stories have a happy ending.~
