Tony did great going back to work, but now it is Thanksgiving. As long as a case doesn't come up we are free for a long weekend. Spencer, and Toby, Emily, Ashley, Mike, and Hilary are all staying at the house with us for the Holiday. It's kind of a tight fit, but we are making it work. Me and the girls are all staying up in the bedroom and Mike, Caleb, Toby, and Tony are staying downstairs.
We are sitting at the dinner table shamelessly eating away at the feast set before us. The team is here as well. I feel complete, everyone that I love is all sitting under the same roof eating dinner together. The good food also helps… "Aria, you are looking great. You couldn't tell that you were just shot a few months ago!" Hilary complimented.
I smiled, "Thank you! It still hurts if I use it too much, but I think by the time the baby is born I shouldn't be having any problems with it." I said rubbing it a little bit. I still won't be throwing a punch with that arm any time soon, but as long as I'm not doing too much with it, it doesn't hurt at all.
"Well I hope it doesn't hurt too bad that you can't hold a bouquet being a bridesmaid at the wedding?" she asked with an excited voice. I wasn't expecting this. Sure Hilary and I have gotten pretty close over the last few months, but we've only known each other for a little while.
I looked at Mike to see if she was joking with me, but he just nodded his head and smiled. "I would love to be a bridesmaid!" I told her as I got up and gave both her and my brother hugs. "Just let me know anything you need." I told them after I we let go.
Her smiled got bigger, "Well, I have a fitting on Saturday and you need to get your bridesmaids dress!" she told me as we all sat back down.
When we finished eating no one moved from the table, we had all eaten too much to have any desire to clean everything up and move to the living room. "So how have you been, Tony?" Spencer asked. Ever since she heard that Tony had gotten sick she's been calling more often than normal to check up on everything. As any good friend would be, she's been insanely concerned about the whole situation. She's even had Toby call Caleb to make sure we aren't lying to her.
He shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not recovering as fast as I would like to, but I'm doing okay considering. I've been on desk duty for a week now and I've been able to work full days. On Monday I'm going to start some physical therapy so I can get my strength back." he informed her truthfully. I'm not sure if she'll believe him right now though. Right now he is tired and full, so he is a little short of breath.
Toby patted his wife's shoulder, "Well, we're glad that you're feeling better. There for a little bit I was really having to convince Spencer that she didn't need to fly down here, that if you guys needed our help, you would let us know." he tattle-tailed. I had a few conversations with Toby about the matter. I love that Spencer was concerned, but we had plenty of people here to help out.
Abby rubbed Spencer's arm, "I made sure that everything was taken care of. I even made sure that Aria didn't have more coffee than she's supposed to. Hanna made her breakfast, I took her to lunch or brought her lunch everyday, and we all usually ate dinner together. I think it was getting to the point Aria was getting sick of us!" she reassured Spencer for me.
"I could never get sick of you guys! It's not like you tried to bathe me or anything. That would have been crossing a line, but yes both Tony and I have been cared for very well." I told her as I leaned into Tony a little bit and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Ducky leaned in to join the conversation, "Yes, were as he did have a setback because of the blood clots, which is not uncommon, he is recovering wonderfully. This just shows how far modern medicine has come. In the twelfth century once the symptoms started they had two days at most to live. The epidemic killed off a significant portion of Europe." he started his history lesson.
No one had the heart to stop Ducky for his story, actually Spencer was engrossed to everything he was saying. I leaned back and my seat and sighed in contentment. The only thing that would make me happier at this moment was if I weren't nauseous from eating way too much. After a few moments, I had to get up. "I think I'm going to go take a walk to work off some of this food if anyone would like to join me." I offered as I got my coat and shrugged it on.
Emily got up to join me so we linked arms and walked outside to the snow that was just starting to settle leaving everything have a pure white look. "It's so beautiful here, with so much history. I can tell why you love living here so much." Emily commented as we started down the road.
I smiled, "Now that I'm here, I can't imagine living anywhere else. It's home. The team is my family, I'm living with the man that I love, doing work that I love." I replied when a sign caught my eye. Our next door neighbors have a for sale sign in their yard. I stopped and looked for a moment. "Look at this. The neighbors are moving." the asking price is less than the house is worth. Makes me wonder what happened.
"Do you really think that Hanna and Caleb could afford this place?" Emily asked trying to knock some sense into me. The only reason Tony and I can afford the home that we do is his inheritance.
I rolled my eyes at her. I know they can't, we live in a gated community. "I'm aware, but Tony and I can. It's the perfect Christmas present." I said as I started walking up the driveway. The house isn't as nice as ours, but it's still much better than others.
She raised her eyebrows at me, "You're thinking about giving them a house?" she asked in slight disbelief.
"Not give them per se. Tony and I can buy the house, and they can pay rent every month at a discounted rate. I'll be a good investment since Hanna is going to take care of the baby during the day, so in the long run we'll be saving money because of daycare." I explained.
Emily rolled her eyes at me and patted my stomach, "Well keep me posted on your mini-me. I can't wait to meet her!" she said as we got to the end of the road and turned back to the house.
Over the next few weeks we filled our time with baby planning and wedding planning. I'm pretty sure neither my brother's wedding, or the first two years of my child's life will be lacking in any sense of the word. Then, life came again and Mike and Hilary had to get back to school, and everyone else to work until we all meet up again for the wedding.
Today, is my baby brother's wedding day. I seriously can't believe that this day is already here. I am with Hilary in her dressing room along with her family and other brides maids. We are about to start making our way down that aisle. I just saw Mike, and neither of them seem to have cold feet. I think that they are going to be very happy together.
The ceremony was beautiful. I was so thankful that mom was able to be here and have a dance with Mike. She's done really well throughout the day, but I sent Ducky to keep an eye on her. I got to actually sit and talk with her without her freaking out on me for killing dad. As soon as the ceremony was over Ducky and McGee got on a plane with her to take her back home. Once Mike and Hilary graduate and move here this summer we've already found a place for mom to stay so I can hopefully see her more.
"May I have a dance with the best big sister ever?" Mike asked me holding out a hand with a smile on his face.
"Of course you can best little bro ever." I answered as I took his hand and let him help me up out of my seat and gave him an awkward hug. Almost any hug is awkward right now because of my growing stomach.
"It's been one crazy year, but I think that it's been a really good one. Before all of this we barely talked, but now we're like best friends, you're making me an uncle, I'm married to the love of my life. Things are going great." he reminisced as we swayed back and forth.
"It has been one crazy year. This past year has made me thankful for everything that I have. You really are a great brother." I told him as I rested my head on his shoulder.
A/N Please Review!