(If you can play 'Thinking Out Loud' by Ed Sheeran please do so now.)
Anais turned the music player on, playing some romantic music. "Some music to set the mood." before she joined Darwin in the kitchen.
"I'll be right back with a small starter for you." Gumball smiled before leaving the two alone.
"Ooh, we get a starter as well?! You're spoiling us!" Richard grinned excitedly.
Nicole chuckled "and they're quite right to do so!"
The two smiled at each other, Nicole giving Richard a quick kiss before they clinked their wine glasses together and drank.
Richard continued to smile, sighing delightedly. "Ah, this brings me back to when we were young and reckless..."
Nicole smirked. "Well, one of us still is..."
Richard's ears lowered as he looked down feeling guilty.
Nicole squeezed his paw and looked him in the eyes, smiling. "but I wouldn't have you any other way."
He placed his paw on her cheek. "and I wouldn't change you either. You're already perfect, and even after 26 years and 3 rambunctious kids, you're still the same funny, wonderful, caring little kitten I fell in love with all those years ago..."
She teared up. "Aww, Richard..."
They smiled at each other before he pulled her in for a long kiss.
He finished and let go as she stared at him lovingly. "I love you." She wrapped her arms around his head.
"I love you too..." He tickled her behind the ear, making her smile, close her eyes and let out a quiet purr.
Gumball came back in and smiled as he saw them, happy they were having a good time. He almost didn't want to interrupt.
He cleared his throat and spoke in his terrible French accent again. "Madam, Monsieur, your starter..."
They looked up and saw he was holding a bowl, and gasped as he placed it down, realising what was in it.
"Acorns..." Nicole said in delight, as a wave of nostalgia and comfort hit her.
Richard smiled and held her paw. "Just like the one I gave you the day we met..."
"But...how could you have known about that? We never told you about it..." Nicole asked confused.
"Well, you didn't, but Dad did, quite a while back actually..."
"He did!? When?!" She said genuinely surprised, having had no idea about this.
"About...6, 7 years ago I think, back when Darwin and I were young, he told us about how the two of you met, and I remembered the acorn thing when we were brainstorming ideas for this."
She chuckled. "I'm surprised you remembered something like that."
He shrugged. "It was a pretty iconic part of the story."
Richard picked one up and broke it in half, handing her one of the two pieces. "Go on, for old times' sake."
She smiled and took it and they both fed their piece to each other.
"Ah, this takes me back. Hey, remember when we used to hide acorns for each other to find? We hid them in all kinds of places, each other's homes, school, the mall, anywhere really. It was great fun coming up with places to put them." Richard chuckled.
Nicole giggled. "Oh, I do! It always made me smile whenever I stumbled upon one, especially when I'd had a bad day, as it reminded me I had someone out there that cared about me for who I was, someone who I could turn to for help and comfort, and just be myself around without fear of being judged or shouted at."
"Awww...I'm glad our silly little tradition helped make you so happy..."
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
She smiled and sighed. "Those were the days, back before we had two wonderful kids and one incredibly annoying demon to look after." She turned to look at Gumball.
His face fell and he looked down, his ears lowering as he let out a slight whimper feeling guilty.
Nicole chuckled. "Awwww, sweetheart, I'm only joking! Raising you has been a very bumpy ride but I wouldn't want to change anything about it."
She ruffled the fur on his head, making him giggle. "Me neither."
"So...how come you stopped doing it then?" He asked as they ate more acorns.
"Stopped doing what?" She asked.
"Hiding acorns for each other."
"Well, life got in the way. We got married, moved here, had 3 kids and I got a job. We didn't really have as much time for silly stuff like that anymore."
"That's a shame, it sounded fun. Maybe you should start doing it again."
"Hmmm, maybe I will..." She smiled, thinking back to how much she enjoyed doing it.
He smiled. "Anyway, you enjoy those, I gotta go help the other two with dinner!"
"Hey, you'd better not be making a mess in there, because I'll probably be the one who has to clean it up!" She called to him as he went back in.
"Oh, in that case, we'll make sure to make as much mess as we can!" He joked with a grin before entering the kitchen.
She playfully rolled her eyes and chuckled before looking over at the letters.
"Anyway, let's see what mean and horrible things our kids have said about us, shall we?" She joked.
Richard chuckled and picked up Gumball's letter, opening the envelope.
Inside was a card with two photos attached to it.
The first was one of the three of them from when he was 4, all wearing party hats. He was riding on his Dad's shoulders and holding his arms in the air cheering as Richard blew on a party horn and Nicole had her arm around his neck kissing him on the cheek as she held out her other to take the selfie.
The second was of him and Nicole on the sofa asleep together, with him curled up on top of her, her paw placed on top of him protectively.
On the back of the card was a message.
'Happy Anniversary! What do I think of you? Meh, you're alright, I guess...
...hah, just kidding! I love you both, so, so much! You've always been there for me, playing with me, comforting me, answering my crazy questions, dealing with whatever shenanigans I put you through, and just generally making me feel loved and happy. You've gone out of your way to provide for me, Darwin and Anais, Mom doing long gruelling shifts at a job she hates and Dad putting up with the rambunctious, annoying little kid I was, and let's face it still am, and I appreciate it so, so much. You're the best parents ever!
Lots of love, your little Gummypuss
P.S Sorry I cheaped out on the front, but, well, I suck at drawing and I kinda forgot about this and left it until yesterday...oops...'
Richard laughed. "Yeah, that's Gumball alright..."
Nicole smiled and sighed happily as she looked at the first photo. "I remember that day well..."
Richard smiled. "Yeah, it was his fourth birthday and we went all out for him. He had a blast, running around, laughing and playing with all of his presents and stuffing himself with cake!"
Nicole chuckled. "It was hell to clean up afterwards, but it was completely worth it to see him so happy..."
He picked up the other one and smiled. "This was later that day, during the evening. The two of you ended up falling asleep together as you were both so worn out. He looked so adorable curled up on top of you that I couldn't resist taking a photo..."
She smiled and sighed. "That was a hell of a day...I'm glad he enjoyed it so much. I know I sure did..."
Nicole rested her head on Richard's shoulder as he picked up and opened Darwin's card.
On the front was a drawing of Nicole and Richard together with a giant heart behind them.
"Aww, that's adorable..." Nicole's smile grew as she looked at it.
Richard turned it over and they read the message on the back.
'Happy Anniversary, hope you have a great day! Even though I may not actually be your son you've still treated me like I am, made me feel like a real, proper part of this family, made me feel so loved and welcome and given me somewhere that I can call home. You've given me a brother, who I get to call my best friend and an amazing little sister, siblings I'm so proud to be able to call my own and I'm so, so grateful for all of this, for the amazing opportunities you've provided me and the memories you've allowed me to create. I appreciate it more than you could ever know. You're the best parents I ever could have wished for and I love you both so much.
-Darwin'
"Awww, I love you too my little Guppy..." Nicole teared up slightly, starting to feel emotional.
"Feels like only yesterday we got him...time sure does fly fast huh? Richard chuckled.
"Too fast...I wish they could stay kids for longer...part of me never wants them to grow up."
"Me too, me too..."
Finally, Nicole picked up and opened Anais' letter. The front was a drawing of the whole family in a group hug.
She chuckled at it before turning it over to read the message.
'Happy Anniversary! I love both of you so much, you're the best parents ever! Thanks to you I have two amazing, albeit pretty annoying, brothers that I can always turn to for help and comfort, and I'm lucky to be able to call them my own. Although I may act like this family is nothing but annoying and frustrating, I wouldn't want any of us any other way. We're all perfect just the way we are and I'm so proud to call myself a Watterson and I genuinely look forward to the future and whatever crazy adventures I get to have with you, Gumball and Darwin. Love you, have a great day!
Lots of love, Anais'
"God, our little brainbox is already four years old, the time really does fly by..." Nicole reflected aloud.
"It sure does..."
"She's right though, we are one crazy family aren't we...?"
"We are, but it's one I'm so proud to be a part of." Richard smiled.
Nicole smiled back. "Awwww..."
She looked up as she heard food being plated and smiled, putting the card back down as she noticed the kids were about to come back in with dinner.
