Chapter Eleven: Senior Year

"Ok Amelia, now you can open your eyes" Aiden says and I hand her the keys "Are you kidding me? THANK YOU!" she yells excited and I can't be happier for her, after a lot of thought we decided to get her a car…it's not like she doesn't deserve it. "since your 16 birthday is only a few weeks away…" "Mom! Dad! I looove you, thank you so much" Aiden hugs her "you just have to promise you'll be careful" she nods eagerly and I sit on the passenger seat "why don't you take me to the bakery? I need to pick the cupcakes for your party" her eyes light up "yes, of course!".

I watch Amelia showing her car to Simone and Carl, he already has one but Simone doesn't know she'll get hers for her birthday "Amy, this is so cool!" "I know Moon, I still can't believe it" my daughter says, I smile…she deserves it, she's not only finishing high school this year, she's also getting her first white coat…she finished all the basic science's courses and it's officially a third year medical student; I'm a very, very proud mom. Jack sits beside me "did you know Carl wants Amy to be his date for the prom?" my eyes widen, prom is still a couple of months away "wh…what?" being realistic, it shouldn't surprise me…and probably this doesn't exactly mean what I'm thinking… "don't worry, he told me he wants to take her because that way she won't have any excuse to miss it" "Oh right, you know Amy isn't that much into partying and stuff like that" "I know, that's why I think it's a great idea". We keep listening to our children conversation, "Damn, how am I going to survive high school without you?" Simone says to Amelia, she smiles softly at her bestie "Moon you'll be fine, I survive it in one piece and I'm a total nerd remember?" Simone chuckles and Carl looks at Amy "Amy you're not a nerd" Amy rolls her eyes "I'm finishing high school with 16 years, what does that tell you?" they all laugh and I look at Jack "I'm so glad they'll always be there for each other" "yeah, me too".

3 weeks later we're all celebrating Amy's birthday, and that Carl is officially a Yale student too, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Amy! Happy birthday to you!" Amy's smile gets bigger and bigger, Aiden and I hug her as tight as we can, and we let the others do the same "congratulations Amy" Carl kisses her cheek "Amyyy ! I love you sister" "I love you too Moon" Simone squeals and hugs her for a very long time until Nolan claims it's his turn "my beautiful goddaughter! Happy birthday sweetie" "thank you Nolan" she kisses his cheek and he smiles "you'll be a hell of a doctor sweetheart" Jack clears his throat behind them and I laugh loudly, "I can't believe you're 16 already! Congrats Amelia" he hugs her and Margaux smiles "don't listen this old man, you are gorgeous sweetie, happy birthday" "thanks Margaux" Amy says chuckling. "Now Carl, how does it feel to be a Yale student?" he blushes, "Oh it will be awesome Carl!, you'll love it" Amy says excited "you think so?" he asks a little bit shy and my daughter nods quickly, "well I guess we just have to wait and see right?" "Totally right Emmy" "and don't worry if you get lost I'm sure Amy can show you the right way" Simone jokes and he pushes her "don't be silly moon, I won't get lost" he says proud to his sister and Jack laughs, "moon it will be your turn too in a couple of years" she raises and eyebrow and huffs "I don't like to wait".

I thank god we're still a couple of months away from the end of the school year, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to watch Amelia graduating high school and then getting her first white coat, I'm a sensitive mom for god's sake! And even if Aiden loves to deny it, I know he is a very, very sensitive daddy. I laugh with my own thoughts, it's way too early to be awake but I don't mind… all those years waking up at 4 AM, training… it's hard to break the habits. I run my fingers through my husband's hair; we were so young back then, so lost, so naïve but so determined at the same time. Aiden stirs "what time is it?" I smile "4:30…go back to sleep" he sighs "not without you, come here" he pulls me closer and I can hear his heart beating, I kiss his chest "I love you" "me too Emily" smiling, I close my eyes.

We return home from Simone's birthday celebration, "good night Amelia" I kiss her cheek and she looks down "actually mom…can we speak?" I frown "sure, are you ok?" she nods and takes my hand, Aiden looks curious but he goes to our room. "Amy, you're worrying me…what's going on?" she sighs loudly "I'm so stupid mom" "sweetie you're anything but stupid" I take her hand, "no, I really am stupid… I don't know what to do" she puts her free hand on her face; I pull her closer to me "Amy…" "How did you know…how did you realize you loved dad?" realization hits me, I clear my throat and take both of her hands "I…it was so long ago, and believe me it was not love at first sight" she giggles "really?" I nod "really, I hated him at first with his sexy accent and his beautiful eyes… ok maybe I didn't hate him that much, but still…then we started talking and I realized how smart he was, how broken he was and I wanted to help him…" Amy smiles sweetly "oh, and then what happened?" "what do you think? We got closer and closer every day, he used to pull me into his arms every chance he had and I didn't complain" I notice she's blushing but I decide to continue "until one day he promised he would always be by my side, protecting me…and that's when I realize we were both head over heels already" "what did you do then?" I smile "I kissed him…I was so scared I was wrong, but I did and we've been in love since then… even when we weren't together, I have always loved him" she sighs again, "Mom…I think I'm falling for my best friend" I hide my smile, she doesn't need to know I already figured that out "Oh Amy, it happens to the best of us" Amy looks horrified at me "ugh mom, Nolan is your best friend!" I laugh "he's my second best friend, don't look at me like that…your dad will always be my best friend" we stay silent for a while, I can hear her thinking "what am I supposed to do?" she finally says, I hug her "you must be brave sweetie".

A whole month goes by after that night, and I thought Amelia wouldn't do anything about her feelings… until this afternoon, Amy had to finish a report a Carl needed help with a physics problem. They love to work outside…which gives me the best view. I watch them for a whole hour, smiling every time Carl looks at Amy… suddenly I watch my daughter sigh, she puts the pen down and I believe she calls her friend, he instantly looks at her… Amy doesn't say anything else and Carl looks worried, he puts his hand on her face and I can see Amy's lips moving; I text Margaux 'she told him first!' and when I look up I see my baby crying and when she's about to go he grabs her arm and…kisses her!. I leave the kitchen quickly, I saw enough. I'm in my room when my phone rings "whaaaat happened?!" a very excited Margaux asks "she told him!" I say happily, all of us were waiting for this moment "oh my god…and now what?" "well, I left them alone, but …he kissed her" I can hear Margaux squealing "yes, I knew it! That's my son!" she says proud and I giggle, "now we have to wait until they're ready to tell us remember… so not a word to the guys or Charlotte, we know she couldn't keep this a secret".

The next morning, I wake up later than usual and I can hear my daughter in the kitchen, she's singing and dancing while waiting for the coffee machine and I think I can't be happier for her. "good morning mom!" she says way too excited "good morning sweetie" I kiss her cheek "did you finished your report?" she shakes her head "no, I only wrote half of it but I plan to finish it today" I raise my eyebrows "you never leave anything half way" she chokes with her orange juice and I smile "I got too distracted" "I see…" we stay in silence for a while, I watch Amy finishing her coffee "Mom I gotta go… love you!" she leaves in a hurry and then I watched her come back "thank you for the advice mommy" she hugs me and then goes to her room… I smile, "Amy…you forgot your coffee honey!" I call her and she returns blushing "right, thanks again mom" I grab her arm "something wrong?" she smiles and shrugs "not really, I just woke up in the wrong side of the bed I guess" I raise an eyebrow "sure…".

Every day after that morning I have to hide my smile when Carl comes to the house, with Simone by his side, trying to cover the real reason he's here "Mom asked me to bring her…again" he says rolling his eyes and I laugh "don't worry Carl you know our house is yours" he smiles and kisses my cheek "thanks Emmy…where's Amy?" "Outside, finishing some stuff for the hospital I think" Simone runs outside and Carl follows his sister, "Carl made me walk!" I hear Moon complaining "tell him something…I mean now that you two are dat…" I laugh quietly watching Amy covering her friend's mouth…I start 'reading' and I can feel Amy's eyes on me but apparently she doesn't find anything suspicious. Hours later I go outside "Moon, Carl do you want me and Aiden to take you home? Or should I invite Jack and Margaux?" Simone's eyes light up "call my parents pleeeease Emmy!" I look at my daughter and she just shrugs, Carl looks nervous, "what do you say Carl?" I ask him sweetly, he looks at Amy and finally sighs "sure, call them Emmy" Simone hugs him and I raise my eyebrows, Moon blushes "what was that about?" I ask her "nothing Emmy…I just didn't want to walk" I let her mistake slip "right, I'll make dinner for 7 then".

Margaux and I smile secretly at each other the whole night, our husbands on the other hands seem clueless to what's right in front of them. When we're all in the living room, Carl and Amy sit next to each other and Simone looks at them smiling, she whispers something in Amy's ear that makes her blush and Moon starts pushing her, "fine! But stop that please Moon, is annoying" Simone giggles "I'll tell them if you don't…you said you'll do it today" Amy pushes her friend "I know, but can you go to my room or something while we do it?" "but I… ugh fine, only 'cause I love you" Aiden looks at them "what's going on?" he asks Simone and she shakes her head "nothing wrong, but it's not my place to say" she goes and I can see my husband getting anxious; "Simone's gone, now will you tell us what's going on? Jack asks worried, "are you in trouble?" Aiden adds, Amy takes Carl's hand and he looks up…I smile encouraging him "No Aiden, we're not in trouble…at least not yet" Margaux can't hide the smile on her face anymore "you won't be" Carl looks shocked "you know?" Margaux nods "of course I know, I'm your mother" "wait, what does your mother know that I don't?" "Oh my, you're so blind" I say laughing, "you too? Mom why didn't you tell me anything?" Amelia says smiling, "it was your secret…don't worry you'll be fine" "ok, this is pissing me off, now tell us please" Aiden says, I take his hand and he relaxes a little. Carl looks at Amy and then us "Aiden, Dad…Amy…we're dating" he says quietly and Margaux and I hug them "see? I told you, you only needed to be brave" I kiss my daughter's cheek and then I hug Carl "just promise me you will take care of her" he nods "always Emmy"; Amy laughs at something Margaux says to her and Carl rolls his eyes "I can't believe mom is embarrassing me already" I laugh, "come on, I'm your godmother…I know everything about you and she does too" I say pointing Amy… "Aren't you going to say something?" Margaux scolds Jack, he shakes his head "sorry, I was kind of…surprised" he hugs Amy and Carl "I know I'm your father but if you hurt her I'll hurt you, understood?" "clearly dad" "good, now I'm going to let Aiden have a talk with you" Carl looks worried but Aiden smiles at him "well, your dad took the words out of my mouth… I can't say I'm surprised though, I saw this coming a long time ago" our kids blush immediately and Aiden laughs "what? You know it's true… anyway, I can't think of anyone better than you to be my daughter's boyfriend…just don't do anything that will make me change my mind".

~A&E~

I was dying to get here! I can't believe I only have one more to go…. I really, really, really hope you like this one as much as the others, let me know what you think ;)

Kisses, Cami