by Laiza Millan
Jenna grinning excitingly while Richard walked besides her throwing a wink at Drake, and of course… Oscar and Aidan.
Oscar carrying Aidan in front of him with one arm, while his other is supporting the pillow Aidan is clutching on. The pillow that displays the two important wedding bands.
Just the sight of those two important symbols is causing him to look down and feel his own heartbeat accelerating with emotions.
Loud murmurs coming from the small crowd signaling the bride.
Drake looked up and watched Emma slowly walking towards him with a big smile on her face and her father holding her arm.
He felt as if some invisible hand is suddenly squeezing his heart; enabling him to move or breathe as he simply stared at her.
And oh man… She’s staring back at him, giving a nervous smile which he couldn’t help but grin back. Usually the brides would glance at the audience as she continues to walk down the aisle, but Emma kept her eyes only on him.
Just him.
Once she arrived in front of him, Drake lowered his head to Mr. John Collins as a sign of respect, and took Emma's hand, leading them to the front.
"You look beautiful." Drake whispered the first thing to pop into his head.
"You too." Emma chuckled back as she glanced at him once more appreciatively.
She noticed how handsome he looked with his classic black tuxedo and that little pink rose sticking out of the suit chest pocket. His black hair was styled, combed, and gelled in a way that made it seem as if he just got out of bed with his hair messily spiking all over the place – in other words, he looked mega sexy.
The officiant, who is the one going to ‘official-ized’ the couple, smiled warmly at them. "Are you ready?"
Drake looked at Emma, his eyes roaming all over her face. "Yes."
Emma blushed at his attention and immediately said, "Yes."
He squeezed her hand as they turned back in the front, ready to make their vows.
As the officiant talked, Jenna was going to burst into tears as she looked at Emma and felt the happiness radiating off of her. She caught Jason's eyes and grinned, knowing they felt the same way about their friend.
Her attention turned to the couple and noticed Emma's face lighting up as Drake slid a ring on her finger. Drake tried his best not to look too happy for the sake of so-called manly appearance, but his eyes showed his true colors.
Idiot. Jenna couldn’t help but roll her eyes amusingly.
After a few more minutes, Drake bent his face down while Emma stood on her tip-toes, telling the audience what’s to come.
The moment their lips finally touched, the crowd got up and started clapping as the newly wedded couple turned around to face their small group. Drake turned to Emma and smiled as he leaned forward again to caress his wife's lips with his.
"Mrs. Emma Rogers." Drake whispered in her ear, as they faced their guest again, lifting their hands up as if he just received the ultimate gift.
“Mrs. Emma Collins Rogers.” She brought their hands down, so she can kiss his knuckles.
“Too long.” Drake lightly complained, as he wrapped an arm around her while they went to greet their family and friends.
“But it’s my new full name.” Emma merely murmured with a wide grin, shaking some guys hand from Drake’s side of the family
Drake looked at her and smirked, “Are we having our first argument already as a married couple? It’s really turning me on again.”
Emma gently took Aidan from Oscar before throwing Drake an exasperated look.
“You are an idiotic imbecile, Drake.” She laughed, shaking her head.
“Keep complimenting me and I’ll have to take you right here in front of everyone.” Drake teased, kissing the side of her head. “You kinky woman, you.”
Yeah, Drake definitely isn’t the average man.
.
.
It’s been three hours since they tied the knot, and already Emma and Drake are arguing in their reception.
“Why not?” Drake scowled, speaking loudly because of the loud dance music blasting.
“I’m not saying no,” Emma tried to explain, watching as Jenna gently moved Aidan side to side to the beat. “I’m saying, we can have another child in like four years or something. Let’s wait until Aidan is at least five or six.”
“Emma, that’s so long.” Drake groaned, wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her closer to him. “I love you; I want to have a family with you.”
“We are a family, silly.” Emma leaned up and gave him a light peck. “Are Aidan and I not enough for you?”
“You both are,” Drake nodded immediately, “But I also want another mini me or even a baby girl who will grow up to be just as beautiful as her mother.”
“We shall.” Emma laughed, squeezing him tightly as she placed her head on top of his chest; the music turning into a slow jam. “But all I ask is if we wait until we’re completely settled. Make sure Jay is completely out of our lives, no more other gang members or whatever to worry about, you have a job, I get a better job – You know, settled.”
Basically, she wants everything to be set. Free from any danger. But sometimes life is full of surprises; it’s hard to have everything completely all set and stone.
“Okay.” Drake eventually agreed. He does agree, he wants to make sure they are one hundred percent safe from gang-related harm. “I just want a big family.”
“We will.” Emma promised him sincerely. She her gaze lingered to the side and saw their own parents talking to each other. “Speaking of family, how did my parents come here? I thought they wanted nothing to do with us?”
“I spoke to them.” Drake said, caressing the side of her face as they continued to sway against the slow jam.
.
.:One month ago:.
The moment Emma told Gina the truth; her mother flipped the hell out.
“What do you mean you gotten pregnant?”
“You already have the child?!”
“Emma, what the hell were you thinking?!”
“You have been such an irresponsible woman, your father was right!”
“You idiot girl!”
“You think just because you have a damn baby, you think marriage is the answer?! That’s so naïve Emma!”
More and more rants kept pouring out of Gina’s mouth until Emma couldn’t take it anymore; she nearly called out the wedding.
The whole time, Drake was right beside her once again, trying to comfort her and wiping the tears away from her face whenever they would leak through.
But when he noticed the emotional turn was draining his fiancé and how she would say this was all just a trick on his part, Drake took the phone from Emma’s hands and started snapping back at Gina.
“How dare you tell her that this is all fake!” Drake snarled, getting up to avoid Emma’s reach. “I love your daughter and your grandson – yes, that’s right! Grandson. Emma gave birth to a cute baby boy. I cannot tell you how sorry I am for the wrongs I’ve done, but I’m telling you, Mrs. Whatever-the-fuck-your-last-name-is now, I love Emma and I’m going to marry her because of that reason and because I love our son. So stop trying to play with Emma’s mind, because we all know how much your family fucked it up already before me.”
That pretty much shut her up.
It took a few weeks until it was Gina who called Emma, telling her how sorry she was and how she went overboard.
Of course, Emma was not an easily forgiving person, but she accepted it.
She accepted her mother’s apology, but at least she knows now that her mother still sees her as that naïve irresponsible teenage girl; instead of a young adult woman who has learned so much based on experiences and mistakes.
However, Drake still couldn’t help but notice how Emma was still feeling down.
Whenever he would tease her as usual, she doesn’t tease or argue back. She would just let him win and that’s it. No challenges or whatever. Whenever he i
nvited her to do some sort of activity for their wedding, Emma didn’t give him her full attention. When he questioned her, she would just shake her head with a smile.
He would ask if it’s about her mother, she told him that though her mother finally accepts that their future is permanent, she still won’t attend the wedding. Emma was too disappointed; she didn’t even bother asking why.
So when Emma was asleep, Drake did it all for her.
“You need to come to our wedding.” He pretty much ordered, “I’ll pay for your tickets, I’ll –“
“It’s not about the money, dear.” Gina interrupted him, “Emma’s dad came back to my life a few weeks ago. I’m worried what he will say or do.”
Right.
More daddy issues.
Drake is an expert on this subject.
“I’ll talk to him.” He said, “Give me his number.”
Silence.
“Please,” Drake added, as if he totally forgot the magic word. “If having both of her parents in the wedding completes her happiness… then I want you both here.”
“Wow,” Gina breathed, a few seconds after her shock wore off. “You really do love her.”
“Yes.” Drake rolled his eyes.
How many times does he have to tell this woman? Now he knows where Emma’s stubbornness came from.
When he called John, Drake was surprised.
He was supportive of them both, said he was happy that Emma found a man that truly loves her, but when Drake confessed that he gotten his daughter pregnant…
“You love her though.” John said dismissively, “Sometimes mistakes have to be made in order for the person to learn. In this case, you learned that you didn’t want to lose the both of them and cleaned up your act.”
All those times Emma tried to call him while she was still in school?
He ignored.
Was too ashamed to tell her that he divorced her mother and married someone else. He begged Gina not to tell Emma, so when Gina told him that she finally answered Emma’s first calls after so many years, John realized how much he misses his little girl and wished Emma would call him once more also.
But she never did, and he’s to blame for his own absence.
“Don’t tell her you’re coming.” Drake said, feeling excited all of a sudden. “I want this to be a surprise.”
.
Once their night was unfortunately over, Emma spent a few hours with her parents and Aidan. Drake gave her some space, knowing they had a lot to talk about.
To his shock, it was as if there was nothing wrong going in the family.
When he went to check up on them, he saw Emma giggling, and Gina teasingly reprimanding a laughing John who had been trying his best to change Aidan’s diapers. When Emma noticed him, she right away got up and grabbed him; letting the attention go to him.
This day a perfect indeed and it was all thanks to him.
“Today has been amazing.” Emma sighed contently hours later, lying down on the bed. She pulled her foot up and began to massage her soles, trying to ease the ache.
“Let me do that.” Drake murmured, climbing next to her.
He placed a sleeping Aidan on his wife’s waiting arms, wincing whenever the little boy would move. It took forever for that child to sleep! He would be pretty annoyed if Aidan woke up just because of one tiny movement. Emma noticed his relief and giggled.
Gods, she’s so beautiful.
Throwing her a teasing look, he took her aching foot and began using his thumb to massage circles starting on her upper foot; earning an appreciative moan.
“I can’t believe we’re married.” Emma sighed, turning her head to the side and leaning against his shoulder. “If someone were to tell me three years ago that you and I were going to become a family?”
“I would have punched the person in the face.” Drake snickered, using his other hand to massage her calves.
“We’ve been through a lot, huh?” Emma softly asked, kissing his shoulder as she looked up at him.
He smiled at her, kissing her forehead. Yes, he loves these little affectionate gestures they give each other.
“Yes.” Drake answered her, “I should thank you.”
Emma gave him a confused look, her brain trying to wrack on memories. “For what?”
Literally everything.
The pain.
The struggle of having a child unexpectedly.
For having Aidan.
Their confusion towards each other.
His true feelings.
Her true feelings.
Forgiving.
Growing up.
Redemption.
Everything.
“Nothing.” Drake said instead, flicking her nose for fun. “I just felt like saying thank you because I like being cheesy.”
She let out a sigh, returning her gaze back to Aidan. “You’re so weird sometimes, Drake. It worries me.”
Drake let out a laugh, “You should be the one thanking me for being this good-looking and actually settling down.”
Emma gawked at him and scoffed, “Oh, I should thank you?”
Her voice dripped challenging.
“Oh, Emma, you’re thanking me? Oh geeze,” Drake placed one hand on top of his chest, while using the other hand and waving it back to front during the word, “Shucks, doll. You’re welcome.”
She stared at him for a few seconds, shaking her head slowly as a small smile drew across her face.
She didn’t particularly like that egotistical smirk of his, so she pinched his side, causing him to use his fingers and wiggle them against the middle of her foot, making her let out a panicked laugh.
“Stop it!” Emma giggled; trying her best not to move around a lot for fear that Aidan might wake up. “Aidan’s asleep still, Drake.”
Drake stopped, but kept that victorious grin of his. “That’s what you get.”
“I love you.” Emma continued to giggle, lacing one of her arms around his. “Jerk.”
They both feel so safe and just simply carefree, not a care or worry in the world… it’s so refreshing finally.
Finally.
“I love you, too.” Drake said, the feeling of complete bliss consuming him once more every time she says those words. “Nerdy.”
One Year Later: Epilogue
.
"Drake, we're doing this for your own good." Emma snapped, crossing her arms as she waits for her husband to shut the car door.
This was his idea in the first place, and now he decides to change his mind? Hell no. They drove miles just to get here, Emma is not about to waste all that gas for nothing.
"For goodness sake!" She reached forward and grabbed Drake's wrist, pulling him forward until he was right next to her.
"I don't know what came over me, Em." Drake muttered, shoving his hands inside his pants pockets, kicking some of the lose rocks from the ground. "Let's just leave, we'll go another time."
Emma rolled her eyes and showed her ID to the guard, "We're already here."
After they gone through the process of checking to see if they're a threat or whatever – which they're not! At least, not anymore – the guard let them in and ushered them down the hall way to the visiting area.
"I should have brought father here." Drake continued to mumble, looking around the area and seeing other people with their plain dirty brown jumpsuit, being visited by family and friends.
Do these so-called family and friends even care about the "bad guys" who are thrown in jail? Like, they didn't fight hard enough for the person to stay away from this prison, so obviously that means they don't care all too much? Who wants a friend or family member who couldn't even abide the simple law of their country? Such a disgrace, right?
No.
Even though Drake see's Jay differently than how they were when they were younger, Drake still needs this closure.
"There he is." Emma nudged Drake on the side, nodding towards Jay walking towards them in handcuffs.
"What's this all about, bruh?" Jay asked a wide smile on his face. "Missed your own big brother?"
"We just wanted to see how you're doing." Emma politely said, noticing Drake stiffen with a scowl.
"Oh please," Jay scoffed, rolling his eyes and placing his handcuffed hands on top of the table with a balled fist. "As if you two care."
"We don't." Drake snarled, throwing his brother a look. "I just needed to see for myself that you're actually here and not terrorizing the neighborhood again."
"Is that so?" Jay let his gaze wander to Drake and smirked, "Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Jay is stuck here, Drake. In case you're too blind to see it."
Drake had this sudden urge to wrap his hands around the guy's neck and strangle him. But oh well, that would be jail time for him again. Been there done that. Besides, he's tired of his brother's bullshit.
"Let's go." He gently grabbed Emma's hand and stood up. "We had enough."
"Hold on, now." Jay immediately said, straightening his back when he saw they meant business. "Let's be real now, children. Why are you both here? Can't be because you missed me?"
"No." Drake snapped, sitting back down as he noticed the guards looking at them. Probably making sure they're not about to have a ramble or whatever. "I just... I just wanted you to know that I forgive you."
Emma turned her head to look at her husband and beamed, placing her hand on top of his shoulder and squeezing it reassuringly.
Drake smiled back at her before returning his attention back to Jay. "I forgive you."
However, Jay merely stared.
"You forgive me." Jay said slowly and distrusting. Forgiveness? Who is the hell is this man in front of him... Like whom fucking does that nowadays?
"Yes." Drake stated again. He doesn't understand why, but suddenly he felt better.
Yeah, it was that fast! Amazing how such a random act of kindness – in Drake's case, forgiving his half-brother Jay for being an exclusive ass dick – can make the person feel ten times lighter than carrying all that resentment.
"What the fuck?" Jay scoffed, looking at both of them back and forth. "Is this a joke?"
"No, it's not." Emma answered him, that small kind smile still playing across her lips. "Drake forgives you, because he understands why you went and betrayed him like that. Mind you, he probably hated you for it, but hey, you're paying the price."