A/N Originally this was going to be a one shot, but at the request of the readers, I decided I will add two more starting with this chapter. Thank you to those who read and review. I love you all.
Darien deeply exhaled. "Mom." He released another breath. "Dad." He scratched his forehead. "Man that I hill. I swear. Gets harder and harder to climb." He slowly exhaled. "Probably the worst part of aging. Things hurt randomly. I get tired easily. The struggles." Suddenly a feeling of awkwardness rushed through him, realizing his parents never truly understood what it meant to age.
His heart started to pound and his body suddenly started to feel hot. "I am not sure why I am so nervous." He lightly chuckled. "But uh...remember that girl I have been telling you two about...I am sure you do." He started sweating. "From what I hear she is all I ever talk about, but I mean everything is so great about her. How could I not? Everything she does is amazing, and what can I say it crazy she has not gotten tired of my moods, and schedule."
He heard a throat clear behind him. He looked over his shoulder quickly, then turned back to his parents.
"I'm sorry. I am so confused why I am nervous." He adjusted his collar. "I know I said I was going to do this for some time, and I tried to do it sooner, but we were so busy. I am sorry, but better late than never I guess." Trying hard to stop his ramble. "I brought someone with me for you to meet." He turned around to see her standing behind him. Hands together with comforting smile. He rubbed his hands against his hands to dry the sweat, then he put his hand out for her to grab.
"Serena..." He forced a smile. "I would like you to meet my parents." He presented their name plates. "Mom. Dad. This is the love of my life. Serena."
Serena instantly fell to her knees and ran her hand over their names.
"I am so glad to finally get to meet you two." She felt something build up in the back of her throat. She swallowed hard. "Thank you so much for your amazing son." She smiled trying to hold her tears back, looked up at Darien. "He is such a good man, and I know you two would have been beyond proud of him."
Darien laid a blanket down next to her for her to sit on as he sat down next to her. Pulled into a side hug, kissed the top of her head. Then released her. He watched as she traced their names with her finger, so delicately.
"Didn't I tell you guys, she was beautiful?"
Serena blushed, tucked her hair behind her ear. Exposing the finger that now had 2 carat single diamond ring. Darien smiled as the sun beamed off it. He grabbed that hand and turned to his parents.
"I guess we have another announcement. I have...I know she and I have not been together very long. But I really couldn't see myself without her. She makes me a better man. She makes me happy. She help me finally enjoy the little things in life, in a way that nobody could. And I know I have told you guys this before, but I just couldn't imagine losing her. So I finally did it." He exhaled. "I asked her to marry me." He put her ring out towards the name plates to show her ring. "I wanted to get her bigger diamond with little diamonds, I worked all the extra over time, but she was not a fan."
"Not that I was not a fan." Serena interjected. "I just like the simple things. The other ring was gorgeous, but just not me. My friends did try to tell him. He doesn't listen very well sometimes. But I am sure you two know that first hand."
"I listened to them about not doing a gigantic display of proposal! I had a plan too."
"No you didn't! You are the most unextra person ever!" Serena disputed.
"I really did! And I am still surprised you didn't want a big spectacle." Darien argued back. "I am telling you mom I had a big plan, but her friends told me not too."
"Fine, if that is true. I guess I will give you that one time." She rolled her eyes. "I am sure you two have tons of stories." Her heart sank. Her voice dropped. "I wish you two were here to share some of them with me."
Darien suddenly reached into his back pocket, pulled out an envelope.
"Serena and I really wanted you two to be the first to receive an invitation." He stuck the invitation under some flowers. "The wedding will be very small. Intimate. And in a few months. We will save you two seats right up front." He sniffed his tear back.
"I wish you could really be there. Still trying to figure out what to do for the mother son dance thing that everyone talks about." He rubbed his eyes for a couple seconds, cleared his throat. "But speaking of dancing, I really wish you two could be there see how crazy she is when she dances." He looked at her and forced a smile.
Serena ran her hand down his cheek.
"I really do love you son." She whispered and turned back to the plates. "I promise I will take good care of him. I promise together we will turn a house into a beautiful home, and I promise I will raise your grandchildren to know as much of you two as we can, and I promise we will bring the kids here and they will play, and they will get to meet you." Serena rubbed her nose, as it itched from wanting to cry.
"Darien told me how he vividly remembers eating tiramisu with you two. He feels like it is your favorite." She held Darien's hand and rubbed her thumb against his hand in a circular motion. "I will make sure that is on our menu, even if I have to have it delivered."
Darien just chuckled. He doesn't remember the full night, but he has flash backs of a night where they were at some restaurant. He was in suit. His mom in a dress, at least he thinks. He only remembers the top. His dad was also in a suit. He remembers being so happy as the waitress placed the big slice of tiramisu in the middle of the table.
Darien's dad pointing out his hand, signaling Darien to take the first bite. He was never huge on sweets, but could never resist the sweet coffee taste.
"Didn't I tell you how thoughtful she is." Darien brought her hand up to his mouth for a kiss. "She doesn't even like coffee." He gave his dad's plate a weird look. "I know. How does she function?"
Serena gave Darien a stoic look.
"Doesn't she looks so cute when she is angry?! I will never understand how I got so lucky to have her." He sighed. "I knew you guys would have loved her."
Serena leaned her head on his shoulder. "I am so glad I finally got to meet you two. I know Darien really needed his moments with you two, but I have been really wanting to be here too."
"I would give anything to be sitting at a cafe, listening to you two tell embarrassing stories to her." His eyes started to burn as tears pooled in his eye. Serena linked her arms with his. Kissed his shoulder, and again just rested her head there. She knew there was nothing she could say that would make it better. So she just stayed there.
"I really loved having my alone time with you two, but now that I have my future wife here. This is nice. This is my family." He shrugged. "I cannot wait until we bring our kids here. Then it will be as close to perfect as I will ever get." He kissed the top of Serena's head, then ran his names across their plates.