Grace made her way to the table and sat down across from her sister, who was carefully putting food on Melody's plate. "Hot." She said, signing to Melody as the little girl eyed the food as if she hadn't eaten in a week. "Be careful." Antonia said to Melody and looked up to see her sister's raised eyebrow, her head tilted just slightly as her eyes narrowed. "What?" She asked, putting food on her own plate before handing the spoon over to Grace.
Grace's eyes flicked to Antonia's hand, and back to her sister's eyes. "You're messing with me, right?" Grace said, scooping food onto her plate as she continued to watch her sister. "Right?" She said, looking to Aiden. "She's messing with me, right?"
"Is Antonia known for messing with people?" Aiden asked, nodding to Jack for him to take his portion before he got his own.
"There's no ring, and... and you said that if you even mentioned marriage, she'd..." She said to Aiden.
"She asked me." Aiden shrugged.
"Wait, you two have spoken about this?" Antonia asked, looking between Grace and Aiden. She glanced to Melody as she cut up some of the food, trying to cool it before handing it over. The little girl looked so eager to devour the meal. "You've spoken to my sister about proposing to me?"
Aiden looked to Antonia, his mouth opened just slightly as he looked to Grace, and back to Antonia. "She's getting married in a month." He said, indicating Grace as he tried to explain. "She does this thing where when she talks about the wedding, she insinuates that you and I should also be engaged." He said, trying to brush it off, he watched Antonia's eyes narrow. "It's nothing, she's just being a pesky little sister."
"Hey!" Grace laughed, Aiden smiled at her and scooped his own dinner onto his plate.
"So, when you asked me first?" She said, watching him shake his head.
"It was not spur of the moment, no." Aiden confirmed.
"Wait. You asked her first?" Grace asked, pointing at Aiden with her fork. "And she said no?"
"I believe her answer was 'is this a joke to you?'" He responded, watching Grace and Jack laugh as Antonia smirked and shook her head.
"Well, his response when I asked him was 'Shut up, yes', so I think we're pretty even on that account." Antonia said, watching Aiden's smile as he shook his head.
"Well, congratulations, anyway." Grace said, smiling at her sister and Aiden proudly. "I look forward to the chaos that is your wedding planning."
"Did you ask her about the powder blue tux?" Aiden asked Jack, watching as Grace's jaw dropped.
"That was your idea?" Grace exclaimed, watching as Jack and Aiden laughed. "I'm going to kill you!"
"I just like watching you freak out." Aiden laughed. "Did she freak out?"
"Totally." Jack laughed. "She even threatened to leave me over it."
Aiden's eyes flicked to Melody as she finished what was on her plate as if it were in record time, and was reaching for the spoon for more. "Woah, she ate that fast." He said, watching Antonia glance to her and tip her head. "Did she burn her mouth?"
"I'm not sure, I don't think so." Antonia said, "Slow down." Antonia signed, taking the spoon out of her reach. "Still hungry?" she signed, as Melody wiggled her fingers toward the spoon desperately and held out her plate, nodding emphatically. "Okay, okay." She replied, nodding for Melody to put her plate down.
Antonia scooped more of the casserole onto the plate and watched as Melody stared at it hungrily. "Was she denied food or something? She eats like a ravenous wolf." Aiden said softly, watching as she immediately began to devour the second helping.
"She's not underweight." Antonia said softly, signing for Melody to slow down her eating, she looked up at Antonia and did as she was told. She watched her carefully and ate slowly as Antonia watched her. "It's okay, nobody will take your food." She signed, watching the little girl's brow furrow slightly. "You are safe here."
"Well, I do think the casserole was good enough to eat too fast." Grace said, taking another bite.
"Why thank you." Aiden said with a smile.
"You really should learn how to cook." Grace said to JV, who rolled his eyes.
"I know how to use a microwave. I cook." Jack said defensively, laughing when Grace shook her head.
"Exposing your food to electromagnetic radiation is not cooking." Antonia said, shrugging. "Nor does it sound very appetizing." Antonia said, watching Jack glower at her.
"Well no, not when you say it that way." He muttered, he looked up at Aiden. "Dinner is delicious."
"Thanks." Aiden said with a smile. "There's pie for dessert."
"And that's why I asked him to marry me." Antonia said, shoving another forkful of food in her mouth as everyone laughed.
When Grace and Jack left, it was clear to Aiden that both Antonia and Melody were on the verge of falling asleep where they were sitting. "I think it's time for you sleepy girls to get to bed." Aiden said, watching Antonia's attention snap to him.
"I missed you." She said, watching as she smiled sleepily at him. "Okay, let's get this girl into some pajamas." She said, getting Melody's sleepy attention, she told her just that. Melody smiled and hopped from her chair, grabbing Antonia's hand as they walked toward the bedroom.
Antonia walked into the room, and smiled at the set up that Aiden had arranged in the room. She hadn't been in the space since she had gotten home, and was pleased to see the new sheets and blankets on the air mattress, as well as other goodies in the room that he thought would make her feel more comfortable. She had one or two new stuffed animals tucked into the blanket, and new pillows and a doll sitting beside the air mattress that looked like it was brand new. Antonia stepped to the bags of clothes that had been placed in the room, some from Grace's trip, and some that Aiden had picked up on his shopping trip, and she pulled out a pair of light blue pajamas with clouds and rainbows on it. "Look at these cute pajamas." Antonia signed to Melody, who smiled at her as she tugged at her dress to get ready for her pajamas. "I wish I had something comfy like this to sleep in." She signed, helping the little girl pop her head into the shirt, and her arms through the arm holes. She tugged it down over the little girl's tummy and noticed that she had an extremely serious look on her face. "Are you okay?" Antonia asked.
Melody shook her head, her brow furrowing as Antonia helped her with her pajama bottoms, her eyes filled with concern. "Bad men." She signed.
"No bad men will get you here." She assured, watching a tear come to the little girl's face. "I promise. You are very safe here."
"I'm scared." She signed, sniffling as she looked down at her new pajamas and her tiny bare feet. When she closed her eyes she could still see the awful scenes from the apartment. "Please." She signed, whimpering as Antonia pulled her tightly into her arms, holding her against her as she lifted her up. Antonia rocked her gently in her arms, holding her tightly against her body as she kissed her forehead. Melody began to cry softly against Antonia's shoulder.
"I've got you." She said against the little girl, knowing that though she couldn't hear what she was saying, she could feel her strength in her embrace. "I've got you, little one." Antonia whispered, closing her eyes as she rocked her. "Aiden." She called, turning to see that he was already in the doorway, a look of concern in his eyes as he watched her hold the little girl tightly. "She's scared." Antonia whispered.
"Bring her out here." Aiden said, nodding his head toward the hallway, he watched those blue eyes look up at him as Antonia passed. He reached out to touch her cheek and she sniffled a little, her body trembling against Antonia. He followed Antonia, grabbing Melody's stuffed bunny from the mattress as they walked back toward the living room, and Melody turned in Antonia's arms as she watched Aiden.
"Watch." Antonia signed, understanding what he was doing. Melody watched as Aiden walked to the door. He turned the lock to make sure that the deadbolt was locked, and pulled the chain for the door across to it's rightful place to completely secure the door. "See, it's locked." Antonia said, watching the little girl nod her head. They walked to the window, and Antonia showed her that each and every one was locked securely, and that there were no people lurking out on the street. "We are safe." Antonia signed, watching as Melody sighed, the look of concern still on her face. "Do you want to cuddle with me to get to sleep?" Antonia signed, glancing to Aiden for his approval, which he was more than happy to give. Melody nodded her head.
"I don't want the bad men to come." She signed, sniffling.
"They won't dare come here, not with me and Bean here to protect you." Antonia signed, watching as Aiden smiled a little. "I promise."
"Let's get you girls to bed." Aiden said, smiling as he leaned across and kissed the little girl's forehead gently. He handed her the bunny and she smiled slightly into his eyes as he gave her a little tickle on his side. She giggled at him and smiled a little through her concern, resting her head on Antonia's shoulder, she walked toward the bedroom, holding the little girl and her bunny as Aiden followed behind, taking one more look around the kitchen to make sure everything was in its place.