Eileen adjusted the brightly colored ribbon tied around the flower pot and sighed. The hydrangea plant was beautiful and she knew Erza would love it. Her daughter had always been partial to the bright pink blooms.

"Is it really a housewarming if they're not technically moving?" Anna asked from the hallway.

"Maybe not." Eileen touched the edges of the pink petals. "But I don't think a gift is inappropriate. I suppose technically Erza moved. A plant is sensible considering they don't need anything."

"Well?" Anna appeared in the kitchen and tried to smooth the skirt of her dress. "How do I look?"

"Delicious," Eileen said pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"Is it summery enough?"

"Why are you so worried about it?"

"Because I want to always be prepared for an engagement announcement video."

"A what?" Eileen asked quickly.

Anna huffed and crossed the kitchen. "You know it's coming. Or some other announcement."

"It seems a bit of a reach, Anna. They've only dated for two years." She paused and watched Anna gulp down a tumbler of water. "And that's only if you count the summer where nothing but hotel rooms happened."

"I just want to look nice."

"Is this about that grey hair you found in your brush?"

Anna's shoulders fell and she spun around, her golden hair fanning in the early afternoon sun. "Maybe."

"And isn't it you always telling me how old we aren't?"

"It's one thing to say it, and another to see it."

"Maybe let's not be old. Let's be… dignified."

"That's not fun," Anna said firmly. "Dignified isn't fun."

Eileen leaned in and brushed her nose against Anna's. "You're cute." She stole a quick kiss. "Let's go. We'll be late for brunch."

"Brunch is just an excuse to drink before noon."

"I must've missed the problem," Eileen said, cradling the hydrangea plant.


Jellal watched the scene in the kitchen with a warm fondness. His father and Erza spoke in soft tones with only short breaks of laughter. They'd been up since dawn preparing and rolling tamales. Erza was a lot more interested in learning to cook these traditional dishes than he'd ever been and Acnologia was thrilled to teach her. The difference between Acnologia's tamales and Erza's was obvious at first but she'd caught on quickly.

"What do we do with all these extra husks?" Erza asked, arranging the last of the tamales in the basket.

"They go on top. Some say a towel is fine but my abuelita always used the spare husks."

"So how long does this take? Will they be ready for brunch?"

Acnologia's laugh was deep and smooth. It reminded Jellal of his childhood. He'd stood on a chair at the exact same stretch of counter and failed miserably at masa spreading.

"Perhaps, but I think these are better suited for an early dinner." He leaned in and smiled. "Jellal's mother has a soft spot for them when she's had her drinks."

"Do you miss her?"

Jellal didn't cringe, but he did watch his father carefully.

"I am happier as things are now. She is happy with your mother and I am here with my family. We are all connected."

"I've always meant to ask you. I thought it might be rude."

"It is not a rude question and I am not offended. Are you happy here?"

"I am. I think my mom deserves her space with someone she loves. Jellal and I are still..." Erza sighed and Jellal grinned. "We're still figuring things out."

"There is plenty of time for that."

Jellal cleared his throat and crossed the kitchen. "So when's lunch?"

"Brunch," Erza corrected. "You're always starving."

"It runs in the family," Acnologia said, winking at Jellal. "The tamales are not for brunch, son. They are for later."

Jellal's face crumpled and Erza snorted. "You look like somebody kicked your puppy, Jellal."

"I'm just hungry. What's for brunch, then?"

"Pastries, quiche, fruit –"

"So fake food, then?"

"I'm sure you'll survive," Acnologia said, pulling his phone from his pocket and glancing at the screen. "Perhaps Erza will allow you a tamale earlier than planned. Your mother will be here soon."

Jellal watched his father leave the kitchen before turning to Erza with his best pitiful face.

"You're such a baby, Jellal. We'll eat when they get here." She left him alone with the steaming tamales and followed Acnologia out to the terrace.


The weather was a perfect mix of summer balm and spring breeze. Jellal settled in a chair next to Erza with a full plate.

"I'd say you won't have room for anything else today but I know that wouldn't be true," she muttered, poking him in the arm.

"I can't help it. We're taking the summer off and I know the winter will be completely devoid of carbs. I'll work it off later. I'm hungry now."

"You know, Jellal," Anna said grinning at Erza. "You really should consider coming to work for me in the studio. You've always been good with the little ones. We'd love to have you."

"Really?" he asked in a surprised voice. "But I thought –"

"Eileen is debuting her troupe after the new year and I'm taking a few of her private clients. We'll need someone to cover the pre-ballet classes."

"Uh, well –" Jellal turned to Erza who reached over to flick a crumb from his face.

"You should do it. I'm… I want a bit of a break after this winter season." Jellal's eyebrows flew up. "I want to go to university full time."

"You'll always have a spot in my corps, love," Eileen said from beside her. "It's never a bad idea to have several backups. The world of dance is a fickle mistress."

"This is… a lot," Jellal muttered. Acnologia smiled and polished off his mimosa.

"I know you've been eyeing those early education courses, too, Jellal. You left your pamphlets on the table last month. Change is good."

"It is," Eileen said, folding her napkin and placing it on the table beside her empty plate. "And speaking of change, I have something to say." She turned to Anna, whose eyes went wide. "It's been a long road for us, Anna, for this whole family. And that's what I consider us. All of us. I think it's important for you and I to take another step forward with the people we love around us."

Jellal watched the scene with interest while still filling his mouth with mini quiche bites. Erza's mouth hung open. Anna looked on the verge of tears. Acnologia didn't look as if ant of this was a surprise.

"Yes," Anna blurted.

"But I didn't get to ask!" Eileen protested.

"You can still ask but my answer is yes." Anna took the ring from Eileen and wiped her tears. "And just this morning I was worried about how I'd look just in case the kids announced something important! And you knew!"

"I did." Eileen took Anna's hand, and the ring, and slid it on her finger.

"But what about your ring?" Anna pressed.

Acnologia cleared his throat. "You have an appointment at the jeweler this next week. Whatever you choose for your fiancée will be taken care of."

Anna turned to him. "What? You don't have to –"

"Let me give you this gift, Anna. You've given me so many things. I want to do this."

"So everybody knew but me?"

"I didn't know," Jellal piped up. He turned to Erza. "Did you?"

"I didn't have a clue." She smiled at her mother. "I'm really happy for you both. This is so exciting! A wedding!"

"A small one," Anna muttered, leaning into Eileen's side.

"Maybe on a beach somewhere far away."

Anna made an excited sound and pressed a slightly drunk kiss on Eileen's cheek.


Erza sat cross-legged on the edge of the terrace. The garden beyond was small and mostly grass but lovely all the same. She glanced over at her new potted hydrangea and smiled.

"Hey," Jellal said, sitting beside her and handing over a saucer with two still-steaming tamales. "Hungry?"

"I could eat something." She laughed at the way he dug into his own.

"Wow, these turned out great, Erza," he said with a full mouth. "I'm so glad you're making these now."

"Yeah, well, don't get too used to it. Those were labor intensive." Erza set aside her empty saucer and dangled her feet over the edge of the terrace. "What a day, huh?"

"I can't say I didn't see it coming."

"In a way I wish I'd moved out sooner so they could've had this before." She sighed and felt a knot of sad frustration in her chest. "I'm sorry I'm so slow."

"Erza, that's not fair. You're being too hard on yourself. You can't take something like that as a thing to be sorry for. We needed more than that first year," he added with a whisper. "I don't regret it."

"I still feel like it's always me holding us back."

"It's not. It's me who's always trying to race ahead. That's why we work. I wouldn't do anything differently."

"No?"

"No. We're here now and I'm happy. There's going to be a lot of changes soon and I think it's what we need."

"You don't resent me for wanting to take a break?"

"No way. I've always said I stayed for you, Erza. When you're out, I'm out."

"What if I join my mom's corps? As a backup, I mean."

"You know if you need me I'll be there. But I think you'll be fine. Just don't –"

"Try and be my mom?" she cut him off with a smile. Jellal reached over and tucked a strand of her hair behind one ear. "Did you know that I love you?" she whispered.

"Maybe you should show me."

"With more tamales?"

"Well, that too but I was thinking of another way."

Erza feigned scandal. "Right here? In front of my new hydrangea?"

"The plant should know what's up, Erza." He inched closer to her and pressed a kiss to her neck. "My dad's gone already. He left an hour ago to catch a flight. It's just us."

"And the neighbors?"

"I'll send them a viewing bill."

"You're the worst," she said even as she swung around and straddled his lap.


Note: Forgive this awful cheese but I couldn't think of a more fitting way to wrap up the story. I never expected for Anna and Eileen to take such a big part of the story but sometimes things change and evolve on their own. Thanks for reading!