Beautiful Mistake (Mistake #1)

by Laiza Millan

  "Well if he stops bugging the mouse, maybe -"

  "What?! The mouse is the one egging him on -"

  "Are you watching what I'm watching?! The cat -"

  "Who cares about the damn cat when the stupid mou -"

  "The mouse is so small, there's no way he can -"

  "Size does not matter because that evil ugly mouse -"

  "How the hell is the mouse evil?! For wanting to go inside his home?! Are you barking -"

  "Oh my goodness, Collins, stop talking." Drake interrupted her in a dismissive tone. "Your voice is bugging the shit out of me, I might just kill myself."

  What.

  Oh hell no.

  No one talks to her like that.

  Not even Mr. Drake Rogers himself! She gawked at his rudeness and smacked his arm with no warning.

  "The hell?!" Drake growled, immediately rubbing his arm to ease the sting she forced upon him. "Why did you hit me?!"

  "You didn't have to be rude!" Emma snapped back, crossing her arms. "It's just a kid's show, no need to - hey!"

  Did... Did Drake just freaking flick her nose?

  "Did you know your nose scrunches up all weirdly whenever you frown like that?" Drake asked conversationally. "It's kind of adorable, actually."

  Emma stared at him out of confusion, "This is the weirdest conversation I've ever had with a boy."

  "Well good!" Drake beamed, "That means we will never grow bored of each other."

  "Guess so." Emma mumbled sarcastically, rubbing the growing irritation on her nose. "You're something else."

  "Is that a yes then?" Drake grinned cheekily, "Does that mean you'll agree to go on a date with me?"

  "What?" Emma laughed, "Where in this conversation did you get that idea?"

  This is probably the third time he asked her out on a date. Is this man seriously not going to give it up?

  "You keep flirting with me, I can't help it." Drake winked, "So? Don't leave a man hanging."

  "You're incredible." Emma shook her head, giving her attention back to the show. "Completely insane, for that matter."

  "C'mon, Emma Collins." Drake lowly murmured, bumping her shoulder with his. "Give your fellow Englishman a chance. Just one date."

  Emma bit her bottom lip.

  He really isn't going to take no for an answer, huh?

  Why does she have this feeling that he's going to keep asking even after she refuses?

  "Just one date?" Emma asked, clearly reluctant.

  Third time's the charm. Drake smiled, and nodded. "One date."

  .:End:.

  .

  "I always felt like those two remind me of us." Emma said, as she watched the lady in the television hitting Tom, the cat, with a broom.

  Drake didn't realize he was staring at the television screen while his mind was on something else. But once what she said settled in his mind, he had to laugh. "I always thought so, too. I mean we are always at it like those two."

  "Except you are always Tom and I was Jerry." Emma teased, reaching forward to give his hand a squeeze. "Tall bully."

  "Now, now." Drake made a tsk-tsk sound, waving his index finger annoyingly back and forth in her face. "Tom was just this misunderstood kitty, whilst Jerry always played the innocent victim - when he's not! - just because he's small."

  Emma rolled her eyes, but grinned.

  She misses having this fun banter with him. It's not every day where they can always make fun of each other just for the sake of their own amusement.

  This past year has been such an emotional roller coaster ride for the both of them, they had almost forgot what it was like to spend time together like this - not a care in the world.

  She would always inwardly laugh whenever she calls him 'Jerk' in public, and see people giving them these weird looks as they pass by.

  Who gives a shit what those people think, Drake would say. And she agrees.

  "Emma?"

  She blinked, odd that her mind brought her back to those old days. "Yes?"

  Drake opened his mouth but then closed them... No, now's not the time.

  They're not even in the right atmosphere!

  But ugh... this question has been burning in his mind for days already. He being in the hospital was like a huge kick to his rear end, giving him the reminder that life is too short and to work for what he wants.

  Well he wants her. He wants her and Aidan, all of them in one like a package deal that will grant him this ultimate happiness he needs to make his life less pathetic.

  When Drake didn't answer her, Emma grew concerned. She left her attention from the screen and turned to Drake, frowning. "What is it? What's wrong?"

  She can read the battles going inside him. She could sense that something is bothering him, yet she doesn't quite know what.

  The way his eyes stayed on her, as if he's trying memorize every flaw she has - flaws that I find endearing, he would always remind her; like the way her nose scrunches when she frowns, apparently - and the way he kept squeezing her hand...

  "Drake," Emma murmured, getting up to stand closer to him. "Remember, you just woke up. I know you like to think you're Super Man and all, but you're still recovering. Relax."

  Relax?! Drake screamed inside. He can't relax! Easy for her to think she's not the one who is going through this bullshit feeling again and -

  "Yes, I will marry you." Emma blurted out.

  While Drake was having this internal battle in his head, Emma had an epiphany.

  She didn't realize what his problem was until he kept glancing at her fingers. Plus, Drake Rogers is never nervous when it comes to her - unless life-threatening. But they're safe now, so that rules it out.

  The only time she seen him this nervous and jumpy was during that night when he proposed to her. That one amazing night that was ruined by that one phone call that started this all.

  "What?" Drake shakily asked.

  Oh, so he wants to play dumb, does he?

  Well then.

  "What, are we taking turns now then?" Emma stole his smirk, "Alright, since you massively failed the first attempt. My turn."

  Letting go of him, she brought her hands to her head and playfully fluffed her hair, trying to appear more decent. When that was sorted, she sat on the edge of his bed and gathered his hands with hers once again, before clearing her throat.

  "Drake Rogers," She tried to keep a serious tone. But damn, that little smile on her face was doing something to him already. "I know we have our ups and downs. You are a completely arrogant son of a bitch, and I am just a complete bitch. We're perfect for each other, don't you think?"

  He furiously shook his head, "You're not a bit -"

  "Drake," Emma hushed him with her finger. "Don't interrupt me, please. I'm trying my best to be a girl version of you, and I'm failing horribly thanks to you. Anyway,"

  She stopped talking, closing her mouth and just simply staring at him with the most loving look she has ever graced him with. When she finally spoke again, her voice was soothing; giving him a sense of comfort.

  "We are not the perfect couple. We all have our flaws and things we both need to work on. I know how you kept telling me I was the one who never gave up on you, but it was you who never gave up on me, no matter how many times I pushed you away from Aidan and I. You kept going, proving to me that people can definitely change for the better regardless."

  Drake brought her hands to his lips, unable to say anything.

  Emma continued, "And for that, I fell in love with you once again, Drake. I mean, you freakin' pushed me out of the way just so you could take a bullet for me! How many people still do that for the people they love? I mean, truly love?" She didn't realize tears were tracking down her cheeks, until Drake's fingers brushed them away. "I would be barking mad to let you go."

  Drake tried to sit up, but dizziness greeted him once again; telling him to take it easy.

  "Emma," He breathed, feeling tired once again. It's probably the medicine they hooked him up with. Stu
pid medicine and their wrong timing. "I want to propose to you, not fair. I'm the man, after all."

  "We're in the 21st century, Drake." Emma lightly said, grinning at his playful glower. "Women could definitely propose to the person they love, you know."

  He shook his head. Damn this woman. "Okay. But I still want to be the one to ask you."

  "Let's say it together than?" She suggested, noticing how sleepy he is becoming.

  "'Kay." Drake nodded, leaning down but kept his eyes on her.

  They can be the first couple he knows where they propose together the same time. How awesome is that?

  Fuck yeah, that's awesome.

  Okay then.

  One.

  Two.

  "Will you marry me?"

  "Will you marry me?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh fuck yes."

  Emma let out a jubilant amused laugh, leaning down and giving him a kiss.

  Drake wrapped his arms around her, bringing her head closer to his as he gave his last bit of conserved energy.

  The feeling of complete joyfulness surrounding them once more as they finally asked each other the simple - yet completely scary and complicated! - question.

  "I love you, Emma." He murmured against her lips.

  "I love you too, Drake." She smiled back, pressing tiny kisses on the corner of his lips.

  "Holy shit!" a shout interrupted them, "That has got to be the most intense yet most romantic shit I've ever seen!"

  Emma and Drake broke apart to glare at the open door revealing Richard, who is carrying a lively Aidan, staring back at them with wide eyes and that stupid boyish grin of his.

  Chapter 29

  .

  He's here!

  Aidan's here!

  Emma grinned widely at Richard and Aidan. Oh, bless Rich for bringing her son back to them.

  "Where are Nancy and Jenna?" She asked, as Rich closed the door.

  "They're here, they're on the way." Rich assured her, adjusting his hold on a hyper child. "I picked up Nancy and we ran into Jenna in the parking lot. But once we neared the elevator, Nancy wanted to stop by at the gift shop so Jenna is accompanying her as a guide."

  What? What is Richard saying? Honestly, Drake isn't paying attention right now because this is almost too much.

  The moment Drake caught the sight of Aidan squirming against Rich's arms, was when his previous happiness increased tenfold; adding into the feeling of complete joy and such high spirits.

  "Emma," Drake murmured, glancing at his woman with a small grin as his gaze switched back to their son.

  Emma smiled back, knowing exactly what Drake needed. She quickly took a step back before turning around and walking towards an excited looking Aidan.

  Oh man, just look at him... He's only just a baby, but his energy level is just completely all over the place than the average baby. Then again, Aidan is a very special young boy, is he not? Well, she certainly thinks so.

  She reached Rich and extended her arms, giving him the signal to hand her son over. Once she felt the warmth of baby Aidan, she wrapped her arms protectively around him and brought her lips to her cheek.

  She turned around but stopped halfway, "Hey Rich?"

  "Yes?" He asked, roughly patting Drake's foot as a greeting while he sat on the chair close to the end of the bed.

  Emma turned to him and threw a playful glare, "Did you cuss in front of my baby a minute ago?"

  Ah, there's the Emma he loves to rile up with.

  "Did I? Why?" Rich winked cheekily, "Afraid shit might be his first word?"

  Emma merely rolled her eyes and headed towards Drake, her mood far too joyful to be broken by Rich's jokes. She's seen and heard young children utter curse words before and can't help but cringe all the time.

  She definitely doesn't want that to happen to Aidan when he reaches the tender age of five, so she'll have to whip Drake into getting rid of bad habits. And when she means whip, she means whip.

  In bed.

  With his wrists tied above him reaching the corner of the bed rails and his legs spread apart at her mercy; begging until he surrenders to her conditions.

  Ha, Drake would surely love that surprise. He did, after all, confessed to her on their ever first date about his wild - and weird! - fantasies. She remembered telling him his dirty thoughts will never happen, but hey. Minds can change over the years! Maybe she'll reward him with a something-something? Maybe.

  .

  .

  Drake couldn't help but simply stare at the way his fiancé walk towards him with their son in her arms. Is this being a parent and having someone you love feels like? If so, why the hell did it take him this damn long!?

  It's so hard for him to imagine how this time last year, he sentenced himself to a lifetime of cruelty and coldness. To make sure he would be the most hated guy in the city - so no one can expect anything from him.

  But now?

  He has a fiancé - a real fiancé whom he loves this time and a son who expects him to be the best loving father he can be.

  Thank the stars Emma made him fight for them.

  If she had relented immediately, he probably wouldn't have cared that much because his ego during that time would have just thought of it as another easy victory. He honestly thought she was going to be all sweet if he showed some small kindness, but nope!

  She made him actually work for it, and even gave him a small taste of his own nasty medicine just to knock some sense into him. It fucking sucked, but all the shit he went through... It just had to happen for someone like him to make him realize.

  Impulsive actions can sometimes lead to a lifetime of consequences and regrets.

  His negative impulsive actions to shun Emma and Aidan away in the beginning caused him so much heartache and annoyance - but in the end, it was all worth it to him. So damn worth it because he is another rare example of how something simple yet complicated as love, can change a person.

  He doesn't like to dwell on those kinds of things, simply because the intensity of what he feels is still something he's not used to. Something he hasn't been introduced to until she walked in that office in their junior year as another foreign exchange student.

  "Hey." Emma murmured, breaking his thoughts.

  He wanted to smooth the worried wrinkles from her forehead with his lips, but he was far too sore once again to even sit up straight all the way. "Love you, Emma Collins."

  "Whoop! There it is." Richard obnoxiously half yelled and sang, snickering at his own joke.

  Gods, she can never get tired of hearing Drake say that.

  Blushing, she sat on the chair next to his bed, gently placing Aidan on the empty space right next to him. But Drake wanted more, so he gathered Aidan with his arms and slowly but carefully laid him down across his chest; making sure all the tubes are out of the way and ignoring the small extra weight pressuring down on him.

  "You're safe now, baby." He whispered, taking his left hand and lightly brushing the smooth soft skin of Aidan's cheek with his thumb. He could feel the warmth of Emma's hand resting on top of his right arm, as she let out a few chuckles here and there.

  Drake closed his eyes for a minute and inhaled.

  Oh, bliss.

  He exhaled, letting his body relax completely. He is experiencing the ultimate bliss and he doesn't want it to end.

  "Love you too, Drake Rogers." Emma finally murmured, as she watched Aidan mutter baby nonsense, drooling all over Drake's hospital gown.

  Drake's eyelids fluttered open as he turned to look at her with that small smirk of his. He lifted his right arm and felt her fingers slip at his action. Shaking his head, he immediately turned his hand and caught Emma's; letting their fingers entwine.

  "It's a good thing we're in the hospital." Rich stated, looking at them back and forth.

  "Why's that?" Drake asked, angling his head to catch a glimpse of his friend behind his son.

  "The amount of sweetness and cheesiness in the room isn't good for
my diabetes." Richard grinned, causing Emma to snort and Drake to make an annoyed sound.

  "You are such an assho -" Drake caught Emma's warning look and filtered himself, much to his chagrin. "Butt hole."

  "I'm such a what, Drake?" Richard still couldn't believe how pitiful Drake is when it comes to Emma. "A butt hole? I'm sorry; I didn't realize I'm back in pre-school. You're a puss - I mean, vagin -"

  Emma quickly disentangled her fingers from Drake's grip and took an empty Styrofoam cup closest to her; hurling it across the bed towards Rich.

  "You are an obnoxious pig!" Though she couldn't help but laugh at Rich's dumbfounded look the moment the cup smacked against his forehead.

  He stared at her for a few seconds before whirling to Drake, "She's already adopting your habit of throwing crap, watch out!"

  He bent down to pick up the cup and threw it back at Emma, earning an amused chuckle.

  "You're lucky it was the cup and not her hand." Drake rolled his eyes, grabbing her wrist again until her fingers comfortably curled around his once more.

  Keeping his view on Aidan, he lifted Emma's hand and kissed her knuckles, feeling smug at the sudden intake of breath coming from her.

  "Ugh," Rich made a disgusted sound, scrunching his face in a bitter expression. "Please. There's a baby in the room."

  "You're right." Emma said, throwing him a look, "Turn around and don't look, Richard. This is for mature people only."

  Drake let out a snort, ignoring the way his best friend threw him a dirty look back.

  "I'm mature." Richard scoffed, crossing his arms before smirking. "And by the way," He immediately stood up and threw his arms up, "Congratulations! On your future marriage, I mean."

  He paused, looked at Drake before continuing, "Better make sure this is the woman you want this time, bruh. Don't want a repeat like last time with Alona the Dunce." He faked a shiver, before winking at Emma. "I've got you covered on the secret lover, Ems. In case Drake doesn't perform well, if you know what I mean."

  She glared at him.

  He winked back.

  "You're incorrigible." Emma groaned, closing her eyes. She sat back down and leaned her head against Drake's hand.