When Aiden arrived about a half hour later, entering the code at the gate, he drove through the grounds and approached the guest house slowly. He saw Hodgins pacing outside, looking a bit frazzled, and when he looked up and saw Aiden, he waved and smiled, his eyes darting back to the house. Aiden parked the car and climbed out, watching as Hodgins took a deep breath and glanced back to the house. "Hey, Jack." Aiden said, grabbing one of the bags on the seat, he saw Hodgins sigh. "What's going on? Is everything alright?"
"Ant is upset. She's crying." He said with a sigh. "Angela's in there with her, and I don't know what to do."
"Why is she crying? Did something happen?" Aiden asked, walking to the back of the truck, Hodgins came with him and helped to gather the groceries and other items that he had brought. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine, it's honestly nothing. It is, really." Hodgins sighed. "I was just talking to her, and she just started to get upset." He shrugged.
"She's probably really tired." Aiden nodded, giving Hodgins a friendly smile. "So, she got upset, and you just decided to wait it out outside?" He asked.
"I didn't want to make her more upset." He said, smiling sheepishly.
"I understand." Aiden chuckled as they walked toward the house together.
"The house is full of Grace's wedding supplies, so just watch your step when you come in." Hodgins said, pushing the door open with his foot. Aiden followed him inside, and looked around with wide eyes.
"This is a… lot of stuff." He said, looking around at the piles of supplies and other wedding items, he immediately noticed that the house was quiet. "Where are they?" He asked, following Hodgins through the house, he looked toward the living room, and Hodgins noticed that they weren't there anymore.
"I'm not sure." He said, looking around. "Must be in one of the bedrooms." He shrugged. "I'll put the groceries away, why don't you check on Ant. She's been waiting for you." Hodgins said with a friendly smile.
"Thanks." He replied, turning to walk down the hallway, he passed an open bedroom door, and though it was darkened, he could see a familiar form lying on her side, her eyes closed. He turned his head to see Angela walking down the hallway, smiling as she set her hand on his shoulder lightly. "Where's Melody?" He whispered.
"She's in the far bedroom. There are some toys and books in there, and she seems content. Jack and I will keep an eye on her for a couple hours, why don't you take a little time for you and Ant." She said with friendly smile. "I think she needs you." Angela said softly.
"Thank you, Angela." He said, accepting her offered hug. He turned toward the bedroom where Antonia was lying down and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He stepped toward her, watching her for a moment, when he watched her eyes open, looking up at him. "Hey there, beautiful?" He said softly, crouching down next to the bed, he cringed from the pain in his ribs, but was able to stay in that position for a moment. She reached for his hand and he placed his hand around it.
"Are you going to hold me?" She whispered.
"I would love to hold you." He said as he stood up slowly. He kicked his sneakers off and climbed onto the bed behind her, pulling her body into his tightly as he tucked his chin over her shoulder. "Mmm…" He groaned lightly into her ear, feeling her move slightly against him. "I missed holding you."
"I miss being held." She whispered, closing her eyes. "Aiden." She mumbled. "If I ever go full on bridezilla, will you please just put me out of my misery?"
"We should just ask the minister to marry us at your sister's wedding when everyone else leaves for the reception." He said with a bit of a chuckle in his voice. What he didn't expect was for Antonia to roll around in his arms and face him in the dim light in the room, a mischievous look in her eyes. "Tex, I was absolutely kidding. Your father would kill me."
"No, he wouldn't." She said, the curve of her lip was taunting and sweet.
"Your mother would have my head on a pike." He whispered.
"But we'd already be dressed up." She whispered. "It wouldn't cost anything extra. We wouldn't have to do all of this crap that Grace is doing."
"That's what you want? Easy?" He asked, leaning in to kiss her tenderly, he could feel her hand running lightly over his hip, her hand moving under his shirt to gently run her hand across his skin. She carefully pulled herself tighter against him.
"You never complained about easy before." She mumbled into him, listening to his playful laugh. "It's economical."
"But it's not what you want." He whispered, pulling away slightly, he looked into her eyes. "You want to be married on a beach. You want your friends there, not Grace's. You want your own dance with your father, not to share that moment with your sister. You want your own colors, your own dress, and your own cake."
"Mm… cake." She groaned into him as he chuckled lightly. She pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes.
"We don't have to go overboard, but I want you to have whatever you want. Whatever you dreamed of when you were a little girl." He said softly. "Anything you want."
"I want to wait until after the baby is born." She said thoughtfully. "Maybe after the adoption."
"Then we will do that." He said, kissing her nose gently. "Whenever it is, I'll be the one at the end of the aisle waiting for you. Name the time and place, and I'll be there." He smiled, pulling her into him. He could feel that she wasn't completely relaxed, and waited patiently for her to tell him why. "I love you." He whispered, letting her know that he was there, he was listening.
Antonia closed her eyes, her body still riddled with anxiety as she held Aiden tightly. "What if I can't have what I want?" She whispered suddenly, breaking the silence.
"What is that?" He whispered, certain that he knew what she was speaking of.
"Melody." She whispered. "What if we are unable to adopt her. What if they don't let us?" She asked thoughtfully. "I know that we talked about this before, but Ace and Rebecca were going to adopt, they were in the middle of the process when it all fell apart. I don't want this to fall apart." She sighed.
"Tex, according to Ace, the child that they were going to adopt had a mother who decided she wanted to keep the baby. Melody has nobody. She was offered to her mother's family, and they declined. She has no father. She has an incredibly strong connection with you, with me. She trusts us. She trusts your mother and your father, Ace. She's in there right now with Angela and Hodgins, probably forcing them to color or play tea party because she knows that we would never leave her with people that she can't trust. She loves you, Tex. Even when she had no reason to trust anyone, she trusted you most. She loves you so much, that I don't think anyone in their right mind is going to try to take her away from you, from us." He said, feeling her start to relax against him. "Close your eyes, let me hold you for a while." He said, watching her close her eyes as she rested against him. After a few moments, he sighed lightly. "I love you, Antonia." He whispered. When she didn't answer, and the only thing he heard was the gentle sounds of her breathing against him, he finally let his guard down enough to close his eyes and fall asleep himself.
Sunday, July 15- 6:30pm-
Once Antonia and Aiden woke up from their nap, they visited with Hodgins and Angela for a little while before they decided to give them some privacy and head back to the main house. Antonia stood at the stove making dinner while Aiden chased Melody through the house as the little girl laughed playfully at his antics. She seemed completely comfortable in the new space, and her cheeks were pink with happiness as she squealed as he lifted her up.
"When is Grace coming over?" Aiden asked, holding Melody upside down as she giggled, his arms wrapped securely around her as she waved at Antonia.
"Who knows." Antonia sighed. "She's been working weird hours at the precinct, because of the wedding coming up, she's doing some covering and stuff. She doesn't have a set schedule. She was working last night."
"Yes. Yes, I am aware of that." He said, turning Melody over and setting her feet to the ground. "Did you want to talk about that?"
"Nope, not necessary." She said, flipping the burgers in the pan over as she avoided eye contact. "I know that you are an adult, you can make adult decisions." She said, turning to look at him. "I know that you're not proud of yourself for it. However, it is okay to let off some steam now and then. You can't hold it in." She said, turning back toward the stove.
"I can't let off steam like that though. That's not how I do it. Shooting range, maybe some sparring at the gym, or even a good run, but drinking is not who I am." He said, wrapping his arms around her from behind, he kissed her neck. Just as he kissed her again, the doorbell rang. "Must be Grace." He said as he started to turn.
"I'll take care of her." She said, turning as she handed him the spatula, she headed toward the door.
Aiden looked down at Melody as she watched him and he lifted an eyebrow at him. "I think Grace is at the door." He signed to her, and she smiled slightly, moving closer to him as she wrapped her arms around his leg as he cooked. He shook his head and continued his task with his hand on her head, her eyes looking up at him as she smiled.
Antonia stepped to the door and opened it to see her sister smiling at her innocently. "Hey, Toni." She grinned as Antonia pushed her way outside and closed the door behind her.
"This is entrapment." She said, pointing to the house, she narrowed her eyes.
"I missed you too." Grace said, a grin still on her face as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You're the maid of honor, this should be fun for you. You don't want to shirk your responsibilities, do you?"
"Grace!"
"The dresses are in the car. Listen, I have about 200 favors that need to be put together, centerpieces that need flowers, and place cards that need to be written. You promised months ago that you were going to help me with this stuff, and then all hell breaks loose, and you just drop your responsibilities? I don't think so! I need your help!" Grace exclaimed.
"You are certifiable!"
"You owe me, Antonia!"
"Owe you? I owe you? What do I owe you? How do I owe you? What have you done for me?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I got you a safe house." She nodded toward the house.
"First of all, Hodgins offerred up the safe house. And second, this house is full of your crap, and work for me to do for you!" Antonia argued.
"I dragged your bruised and boozed boyfriend home for you last night." She said, a smarmy grin on her face as she watched Antonia's eyes narrow.
"Fiancé." She said with an irritated grunt.
"And I have volunteered to spend my work day here, guarding our little charge while you and Aiden go to work tomorrow." She said, watching Antonia's eyebrow lift.
"Also, I've brought a bag. I thought I'd stay here tonight on the couch, make sure that everything stays secure so that you and Aiden can get a decent night's sleep." She said with a smirk.
"Goodie Twoshoes." Antonia grunted.
"Ice queen." Grace snapped.
Suddenly the door opened and Aiden looked out. "If you ladies are done sniping, dinner is served."
Grace watched her sister as Antonia smiled tightly. "Come on in." Antonia said, taking a step back.
Aiden opened the door a little wider, revealing the little girl that was wrapped around his leg as she looked out at Grace, but held tightly to him.
"You need to find friends closer to your own age, Fitz." Grace teased as she walked past him.
"Tell me about it." He said, a smile on his face as Antonia passed him, leaning in for a sweet kiss before following after her sister into the kitchen.