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I smile to myself as I watch my Mom, Dad and Brother having photos taken by several different newspapers. My Dad allowed the paparazzi in for an hour so they could sell off their photos and the money could go to charity.
Today is my big brother's 18th birthday, and it's fair to say we've gone all out for it. It has been a very busy day, and now at 10.04pm exactly it was party time. Theo had been trying to convince my parents to throw him a massive party for ages and they finally agreed, and this was the outcome. We rented out the local hall, put decorations up, hired caterers and bar staff, invited everybody we knew, got a DJ and finally, bought the biggest cake ever.
"What are you doing out here?" I turn to my right and find my sister, she was looking at me curiously and I smile at her. We are standing outside the back entrance to the hall, leaning against the wall. From here, we can still watch everyone inside and they can see us but it feels more private.
"I just came out for some fresh air" I tell her. She nods and moves closer to me, slipping an arm around me and leaning her head on my shoulder.
My sister looked so beautiful tonight. She always did but tonight she looked stunning, in her short purple dress and black pumps. I know, even if she was three and half years older than me, I would always protect her from any boy.
"I can't believe Teddy is 18" My sister muses, still resting her head on my shoulder, "He'll be going to college soon"
I look up at her and she moves off my shoulder, smiling sadly at me. "It will be weird without him around. We'll have to put up with Mom and Dad on our own"
I smirk at her, taking a sip from my glass of lemonade before replying, "We're going to end up driving them insane"
She laughs and pulls me into a tight hug. "You look so handsome tonight, Tommy. I can't wait to meet the girl you're going to marry so I can tell her she's not good enough for you" She jokes as she pulls away from me. I grin at her, shaking my head. We turn around and face away from the party, concentrating on the view of the field behind us. It was pitch black outside but the light from the moon shone down. I think about telling Phoebe that she'll be too good for any boy, and it will be me and Theo pushing her boyfriend's away but she probably already knows.
Although, I'll agree that I look very attractive tonight in my tightfitting, oxblood coloured, Giorgio Armani suit and black desert boots.
"So this is where my other children have been hiding" We turn around quickly, and find our Dad standing in the doorway of the exit. He's in his tuxedo and holding a glass of wine, a smile on his face.
"Oh, so you do remember you have other children then?" Phoebe asks bitterly, and my Dad loses his smile quickly. I glance at her with a frown. Of course, they are going to be spending more time with Theo tonight, it's his birthday.
He steps towards us. "Phoebe, please don't start throwing a tantrum on your brother's birthday, you two are the ones who decided to come out here on your own" My Dad replies, his mouth forming a straight line.
She releases a long sigh, but moves closer and wraps her arms around him. "Sorry, Dad" She mumbles into his chest. He wraps his free arm around her and kisses the top of her head.
"Go inside, Pheebs. It's cold out here and you don't have a jacket" He instructs and she nods, walking off back into the party.
With my sister gone, I'm left with the awkward tension between my Dad and me. I'd like to say things are better between us now after the car crash but it doesn't seem that way. If anything its worse, we can barely be alone together 5 minutes without wanting to kill each other.
My Dad watches me with an intense gaze, the only sound is the muffled music coming from inside the hall. I run my hand through my hair, not knowing what else to do and he smirks.
"You should come back inside as well, Thomas." He breaks the silence with a stern voice. I reply with a nod and move past him, back inside to the party.
I'm absolutely shattered and really not in the mood for this. So, I sit down at a table in the corner of the room and watch everyone on the dance floor. There is a disco ball, and neon lights flashing around to give it a nightclub atmosphere.
Theo and his friends are dancing around making themselves look like idiots. I notice James isn't here. They have to be at least slightly drunk, I mean they're 18 now so I wouldn't be surprised, they're only a few years off 21. Phoebe, Ava and Alex are messing about as well, by the looks of it they're practicing the dance routine we all used to do when we were younger.
I turn my head to look around some more and notice my Dad take a seat with my Mom on the other side of the room, they both look over at me and I stifle a yawn, before turning away.
Christian POV
I watch my youngest son from across the room. He looks tired, and I realise it is coming on for 10.30pm and he's only 12.
I turn to Ana and place a hand on her knee. "What are we going to do with Thomas? It's getting late, and he's probably tired"
She turns her attention to our son, and smiles slightly. "Get him over here, and he can sit with us until we go home"
I squeeze her knee comfortingly before waiting to get to Thomas' attention. When he looks around to us like I knew he would, I signal for him to come over here. He looks at me with a frown and nods, refusing. Why does he find it impossible to do as he's told? I send him a glare, and repeat my action. This time he drops his head back in frustration but gets up and walks over.
He stops in front of us, hands in his pocket and a bored look on his face. "Yes?" He asks, irritably. I don't appreciate the tone of voice but I let it slide on the basis that he's tired.
Ana opens her arms to him with a smile. "Come and sit with us, baby" She tells him, grasping his hand but he pulls away.
"I'm 12 not 6, Mom!" He hisses, looking around obviously feeling embarrassed. I don't know why though. I see Ethan with Hannah asleep in his arms, and she was older than Thomas. Even Alex, who was still on the dance floor is dancing with Kate.
"Come here." I growl, before pulling him into my lap and wrapping my arms around him. Tightening my grip when he tries to squirm away.
Finally, he relaxes in my grip and rests his head back on my shoulder, as we watch everyone celebrating the birth of my oldest son.
Knowing today is Theo's 18th birthday makes me feel very nostalgic. My big boy already 18, and soon my little girl will be turning 16. Then my baby boy will become a teenager. How are they all growing up so fast?
"I'd do anything to rewind 10 years and do it all over again" Ana muses next to me, and I nod. God, so would I. I would do anything to live through the sex talks and back chat with Theo. The attitude and mood swings with Phoebe. The tantrums and fights with Thomas, if it meant I could stop them all from growing up.
"Mom, Dad, I am really sorry" Thomas speaks quietly but we both hear him. Ana and I shoot each other a perplexed look.
"For what, baby?" Ana asks, stroking his hair. I keep my grip on him, just wanting him as close as possible, he's my little boy and he always will be.
He sighs heavily, the hot air reaching my hand. "For everything, for all the stuff I did, and all the stuff I know I'm going to do in the future. I'm sorry if I ever make you regret having me."
My heart tightens. How could he even think that? I kiss the top of his head and breathe in the scent of Lynx deodorant. "Thomas, we have never regretted having you, not for one moment, and we never will." I tell him honestly.
"You're tired baby, go to sleep" Ana says, still stroking his hair.
I feel Thomas shift in my arms and then relax again. "I'm sorry" He repeats, it's barely a whisper. But we both hear him. I look down at him and he's already asleep. His head resting on my shoulder, and my arms wrapped tightly around his body.
Ana is looking down at him in my arms, and she shakes her head in disbelief. "How is it possible for him to be the most frustrating boy in the world, but also the sweetest little thing?"
I grin at her. "He's our son, of course he was going to be a mix of them both"
Ana laughs, and I smile. When I look at her, I fall in love all over again, every single time. Then I look at our three beautiful children, and I fall in love with all of them. My family might not be perfect, but I'd die loving them.
She regains herself and then looks at me with serious eyes. "We need to talk to him Christian, like seriously sort things out. We can't all keep going on like this."
I nod. She's right. Jesus, I knew parenting was going to be hard but I didn't think it was going to make me want to rip my hair out and hug my children both at the same time.
I lean in and kiss her, being careful not to wake my son up. She accepts my mouth eagerly, and takes my face in her hands.