Emily and Sonny walked into Trent's backyard hand in hand. They were only a half an hour late and if she hadn't convinced him, they would still be in bed. Most of Bravo team was there, including Eric, and they all watched smiling as they arrived.
"Hey Trent. Here, I brought two cherry pies," said Emily as she handed him two pie carriers and hugged him.
"Homemade?"
"Yes. Let me know, if all else fails, I can open a bakery," she said as she winked jokingly.
They laughed and as Trent went to place the pies on the wooden table, Emily and Sonny joined the others.
Early on, the men gathered around the grill and the women regrouped around the bonfire, sitting on blankets on the grass.
"You changed," said Naima as she smiled.
Emily looked at her and laughed. "So did you."
Naima laughed in turn.
"Is that why you're late?"
"We're not late, you guys were just early."
They laughed together and Stella looked at them envious of them being so carefree.
"How do you guys do it?" asked Stella.
"Do what?"
"They've been gone for two months and all I wanted to do was keep Clay all to myself for the next 24 hours."
"Don't kid yourself, so did I," replied Emily.
"Then why are we here?"
Emily looked in the direction of the grill as the men were laughing and drinking their beers. There was something about seeing them all together, enjoying the calm, quiet and peace in comparison to what they usually knew together out on the field, that made her thankful that they were there for one another. Sonny linked eyes with and winked, she smiled back, then looked back at Stella.
"Because we love them, and because this is just as important to them as we are. They rely on each other, they have been through thick and thin together and that creates a bond like no other, especially when you are ready to lay your life on the line for one another," said Emily.
"Even if this is hard to admit," she resumed, "relationships come and go in life. If there is one constant thing in theirs, it's the team. When you get married you say it's until death do you part, that's just to make it sound nice but it's just words that most people don't take seriously and very easily find a way out of. But if you want to see a relationship where it's until death do you part, you've got it right there around that grill."
Stella blinked a couple of times at what Emily had just said. It was harsh but she somehow understood what she meant. "Are you OK with that? The fact that you are not number one on his priority list."
Emily smiled. "You think we are not number one on their priority lists? You're wrong, we are. But who said there was only one at the top of the list? They just don't go out saving the world for others, they also do it for us, so that we don't have to. I'm proud of what Sonny and Eric do. I don't come second, Stella. None of us do, because we are all a family the minute we are in their lives."
Naima nodded. Emily always had had the ability to put things into words and perspective. She often spoke the truth and never sugar-coated it and it was better that way, because you knew where you stood. "Emily is right. But it's what makes our relationship so different, amazing, and strong, because those men, over there, they know what it means to commit to something they feel strongly about."
Sonny, Ray and Clay left the grill and headed towards them. They sat down and Emily handed Sonny a beer, just as Naima did the same for Ray. Stella realized that these two couples were so in sync. They were there for one another, looking out for one another, without even expecting anything in return. She grabbed a beer and handed it to Clay, mirroring what Naima and Emily had done. Clay took the beer and smiled at her.
Sonny stood, feeling suddenly strangely too far from Emily, and placed himself behind her, encircling his arms around her, as the firewood cracked, and the flames danced in front of them.
"Any plans for Thanksgiving?" asked Ray.
"Clay and I are going to Florida," answered Stella.
"Where exactly are you going?" asked Emily as she nestled comfortably against Sonny's toned chest.
"Fort Lauderdale."
"That's great, I'm sure you guys will have a great time away from here. Nothing like disconnecting for a couple of days."
"What about you guys?" asked Naima as she looked at Emily and Sonny.
"Well, the girls are coming down from Brown for the long weekend and Eric will join us for Thanksgiving dinner."
"And my dad is coming in from Texas for a couple of days as well," added Sonny.
"Wow, looks like it's going to be a full house."
"Well, my dad prefers going to the hotel. I'm already surprised he's agreed to leave the ranch," said Sonny laughing. "I guess, he's eager to meet Emily!" he said as he kissed her on the cheek.
"What about your parents?" asked Ray to Emily.
"They already have something planned and they want to stay home in Arizona. They said they'd try to come at Christmas."
"That's too bad, it's been a while since you haven't seen them."
Emily nodded as she let her eyes stray toward Eric. Knowing exactly what she was thinking about, Sonny hugged her a bit tighter trying to comfort her.