Chapter 45 Passenger Seat

Eric's POV

“You look really beautiful...” a little girl says to Serenity.

Serenity smiled and patted down the ruffles of her gown, “Why thank you.”

“Are you a princess?” a little boy asks her.

She gave a giggle, “For tonight, I’m not.”

“Well, you look like a princess.” Another boy says, “I say you are.”

“Yeah!” the other kids that was around her cheered.

The children’s parents laughed as they watch their kids surround Serenity, intrigued of her wardrobe.

“Why don’t you want to be a princess?” one girl asked, all their eyes turned from joyful to curious.

“Well,” she looked around, “cause tonight I’m a bride.”

I couldn’t help but smile hearing her say that. Pride and love swelled in me that the astronauts would probably see me more than a blimp outside their capsule’s window.

A little boy tugged her by the skirt, and she gracefully turned to him, making sure she doesn’t hit any of the kids with her balloon of a skirt. And I must say, Anna had done a wonderful job designing the gown, it was as if designed for Serenity and for her alone.

“What’s a bwide?” the little boy asked.

“Well, a bride is a lady who will be married to the love of her life.” she said, “Like when your mommies married your daddies.”

“So you’re having babies?” one girl asked with open mouth.

She glanced my way, a blush creeping in her cheeks. I raised a brow, as curious as the little girl was.

“Well, not yet.” She says, not taking her eyes away from me, “But I’d sure would want one… or two.”

I chuckled and nodded. Noted. I thought.

You’ll rip your face if you don’t stop grinning. I heard Josephine tease.

I sighed, Tease me all you want, cause it will be the last night we’d be together, Josie.

Urgh! Quit it with the nickname, dork.

I stifled another laugh hearing her getting annoyed.

Looking back now, the few times that Josephine saved me, talked with me and dragged me back to sanity, learning exactly how teenagers talked nowadays that it often drove me back to insanity… I was pretty sure I’ll miss her.

And I’ll make sure she knows it.

Hey, Josie?

What? She snapped.

I’m gonna miss you.

She grew quiet, then I felt all warm inside, finally satisfied.

I will miss you too. She says, her voice had a hint of a smile, dork.

I smiled and continued to watch Serenity playing around with the children.

She will be a great mother. Josephine says.

Yeah… I smiled again as she dance along with one little girl and twirled her around before turning to a little boy who had his arms raised for her to take and dance with her as well.

Everything will be fine now. I said to myself remembering the vows we exchanged earlier.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I do…” I said in almost a whisper, while I was getting lost in the depths of her eyes.

“And do you, Serenity, take Eric to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

She radiated of class, beauty and happiness the moment she stepped out of the car after changing into her gown. In fact she was so beautiful that everything around us- the cherry blossom tree, the perfect sunset, the vast lands of grass and beyond that, everything, is just a blur to me.

“I do.” She sighed out.

And I was pretty sure I was sporting the biggest and scariest smile anyone could see upon hearing those words.

“With the power vested in me by the state…” I hear the judge says, “I pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” She patted me on the back.

Serenity gave a laugh as I pulled her by the waist and gave her a long kiss that I’ve dreamed of for the last year.

I pulled away and rested my forehead with hers. “I love you,” I whispered to her.

She smiled and ran her hand from my nape to my chest and back as if checking if I was real.

“I love you too…”

I smiled and gave her another quick kiss.

“Hey,” we turned to the judge who we pulled out of the courtrooms just to marry us. “I know this wouldn't matter much, but how about an exchange of vows?” she gave us an encouraging smile. “Why not? You dragged me out of my office to this private land, which I would tell you now could get us in a lot of trouble…” then she winked at us, “But I can get you of it, I’m sure.”

I smiled and looked back to Serenity, “What do you think?”

She raised a brow, worried. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” I pulled her closer and shifted on my feet. "Remember how bad we felt that we were unable to say things we wanted to say before all that crap happened?” she gave me a small nod, “I don’t want that again. I want you to know every thought and everything I feel. And the same for you, I want you to know that you can tell me anything and I will respect every word and every moment.”

“Besides, I’ve never married a couple underneath a tree with the sunset as our backdrop.” She looked up at the cherry blossom tree.

Serenity smiled, “Then maybe I should start.” She took a deep breath and I felt her linked her fingers behind my neck, “Let’s see. I have a complicated life… with being who I am, having an over protective brother who’s probably on our tail now, a more overprotective best friend whose probably planning how to lock me up and skin you alive, two guys who are plotting along with him, an uncle who’ll never let me forget doing this, 2 sisters in law who’d just… ok, they won’t do anything bad, but they’re probably upset not seeing me in this gown and I’m sure they’ll give me hell for that…” I stifled a laugh at that one cause its probably true. “But you know that, yet, here you are. Standing in front of a judge marrying me, and I didn’t even have to use the alpha tone…” we both laughed along with the judge. “Eric, this is more than an escape, this is a chance I am grabbing to have a new life… with you… and I am not hoping that it would be a good one, cause I know… I know deep in my heart and my mind that it would be. I don’t know if you feel the same, but I’ll make sure that I live through days remembering why we came to this point, to this very place… exchanging our I do and planning for tomorrow-“

“One day at a time.” I added.

She laughed and nodded, “One day at a time.” She repeats. “I love you Eric, so much… so much…”

I smiled and pulled her to a hug, “I love you too…” I whispered, then I pulled away and stared back at the most captivating eyes I’ve ever seen. “The day I saw you at mama Ellena’s home, I thought, how beautiful you were… I walked away thinking that I will make you fall in love and it didn’t matter if I am the one you were meant to be with, just a moment, a little attention and a smile was all I wanted from you. But I found that wasn’t enough, ‘cause for some weird reason, fate agreed with me and made you my better half. And when I realized that, I made a new promise… I promised that I would never walk away from you ever again, not now, not ever.” A bigger smile appeared on her face, her eyes were now filling with tears. “Now here we are, married and together, finally happy and completed.” I cupped her face as I organize my thoughts. “I don’t think I’d ever forget why we’re here. I’ve dreamed of this moment, and so many more moments for our future. Whatever we left behind will stay there, when we come back, it may never be the same, but we… us… you and me will always be together, united and one with everything.” I then pulled her back to me around the waist, “Always.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It wasn’t my plan to make her cry, looking back now, I’m pretty sure I could have made such a better vow if I was able to prepare for it, then I would understand what the tears were for.

Right after we drop off the judge back at her office; Serenity and I went to the carnival that we spotted along the way. Still in my tux and she on her wedding gown, we ran around going on from one side to another. Until we reached an area of the carnival where they propped up a dance floor, and young people, even old ones were dancing. Children were running around carrying cotton candy, toys, or sparkles while their parents were probably dancing.

I lead her to the middle of the dance floor and we start to dance; our first dance as husband and wife.

We swayed along with the music; she rested her head on my shoulder and I rested my cheek on top of her head, as I listened to her humming along.

And that was how the kids found us.

They started to ask Serenity questions and took her attention away from that I had to step back and watch from afar while she played along with them.

Now all of them were taking turns dancing with her, while she was singing along with the music, and it was the most beautiful sound I have heard. And I wasn’t being biased, she could actually really sing.

“You have one hell of a lady there.” I hear someone say behind me.

I turned and saw a man about the same age as my dad. I smiled proudly as we looked back at her on the dance floor as she laughed about something the little boy said.

“Thank you.” I said, “She is something.”

“I’m pretty sure she is, you married her at such a young age, I’m guessing you didn’t want to let her go?” he asked. “Expecting a bun maybe?”

I laughed and shook my head, “Oh no… no… nothing like that.” I said, “Our families back home are actually preparing a grand wedding for us.”

“Then what’s this?” he raised a brow, “Dress rehearsal?”

I laughed along with him, to be polite, “No, we, uhm, eloped.”

“Eloped?” he asked surprised. “But I thought-“

I rolled my eyes, amused and expecting that reaction, “I know, everything sounds good at home, what’s the need to do this…” I sighed as I turned back to Serenity, “She wanted some peace and quiet.”

“Then marriage isn’t for her.”

“I think we can make it work.” I grinned. “I know we will.”

He was quiet for a moment, “Are you planning to go back home soon?”

I shrugged, “No, not really. She wants a few years away from all the hustle and bustles of our families and I…” I smirked as she looked my way and flashed me a smile, “I just want her to be happy.”

“Well, it looks like you’re good kids.” He says, “Maybe I can help you out?”

I turned to him, curious.

“I’m Adrian,” he says, “Adrian Pierce. I’m a music producer and, well, I’m all for a sappy love story and a good talent.”

“A music producer?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m actually on a date right now…” he looks around and hissed, “A hell like of a date if you ask me. And I just need your help.”

I chuckled, hearing desperation in his voice and the pleading look in his eyes. “What do I have to do?”

“Act like my kid?” he suggested.

“But what-“

“There you are Addie!” I hear a high pitched woman shout from behind, that I’m pretty sure will scare the kids away.

I glanced at Adrian giving her a look saying seriously? He just shrugged and gave me another pleading look.

“I damn well did!” I shouted, “I married your daughter and I am not sorry for it.”

“What?” he asked, I caught the woman stop on her tracks and stood behind him.

“Daughter…?” I heard her whisper.

Then Adrian finally got into the act. “Well, you should be. You young kids think you know everything just because you go through some little hard time-”

“Well, it’s not as if you’ve been supportive of me and Serenity.” I snapped. “You were never there when she was growing up, that was not a little hard time for her. It doesn’t make a difference of you not being there on her wedding day!”

People around us stopped and stared.

Hm, I’m pretty good at this. I thought.

Eric, what’s going on? I hear Serenity ask.

In the short time we got back together our link seemed to have gone stronger, even during her shopping spree with the girls we can talk.

Just trying to help out a fellow man. I thought amused.

Well, can I help? She asked.

If you’d be the daughter of a record producer and got caught eloping, then yes.

Piece of cake. She responded excitedly.

“So you think you are a man-“

“A better man and a better husband, and maybe even a better dad.” I added.

“And you think eloping makes you a better man?” he snapped.

“If taking the most important person away from the hell she’s in, then yes.”

“I am-“

“Eric, what’s-“ I hear Serenity step in from behind me. “Daddy, what are you doing here?”

I shook my head and turned to her, taking her hand. “C’mon baby, let’s get out of here.”

“No.” Adrian snapped, “I am not letting you do this, Eric.”

“Well I’m not letting you stop me.” I said.

“Adrian, sweety…” I hear the girl behind him say, “I think I should just go, let you take this-“

“Who the hell is this?” Serenity snapped.

The girl gave a nervous smile, “Uhm, I’m just your dad’s friend, sweety."

“Friend my ass.” Serenity snapped and turned to Adrian, “All this time you said you were busy at work, damn! You said you had a meeting tonight that’s why you won’t be able to make it on my birthday dinner.”

“Sernity-“

“No, this is the last straw, dad.” She waved her hand on his face, “I’m going away with Eric, and you can have all those girlfriends and record labels at home and be happy… alone.”

“Adrian I should go-“

“Don’t bother,” Serenity glared at her, “it doesn’t matter.”

“Serenity, sweetheart, this is just a little misunderstanding,” Adrian tells her, acting all embarrassed and apologetic.

“Yeah, of you thinking that I’m coming home.” Serenity says. Hmm, I’m pretty good at this. I had to hold a laugh as I stare at the woman behind Adrian.

“Adrian, you should fix this first,” she says. “I should go-“

“But I drove you here-“

“I can take a cab.”

“Yeah, you are just like every one of them.” Serenity crossed her arms over her chest, “Running away the moment you find out he has a kid.”

“That’s enough Serenity,” Adrian says.

Her mouth dropped open, mad and offended. “You’re siding with her?!”

“Well, you’re the one who eloped and married-“

“Because I was always alone at that house!” she snapped, tears building in her eyes, “At least Eric has the decency of staying with me, protecting me.”

“Serenity…” Adrian frowned, reaching for her but she moved away and stood near me.

“I want to leave Eric, please…” she begged. I nodded and put my coat over her shoulder.

“Serenity, wait!” Adrian called out as we walked away.

We heard him apologizing to the girl and running after us.

“That was so cool.” Serenity whispered as she wiped her tears away.

I chuckled and pulled her closer to me, “You were so hot, baby, you should consider acting.”

“You think?” she giggled.

“I know,” I said.

“Hey!” Adrian finally caught up with us and cut us off making us stop. Then he turned to Serenity with a huge smile, “You, little lady…” he took a deep breath, “were amazing.”

Serenity laughed, “Thank you.” she says, “So we did well? She’s out of your back?”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure you scared the hell out of her.” Adrian laughed.

“Well, glad we could help.” Serenity says as she pulled me past Adrian.

“Wait, you haven’t taken your end of the bargain,” Adrian says.

“Bargain?” Serenity turned to me.

I gave a sheepish smile and scratched my back. “Well, Mr. Pierce here offered to help our, Uhm, situation,” I said.

Serenity raised a brow and I turned to Adrian.

“Oh!” he says, picking up on what I was trying to tell him- which was to explain to Serenity the bargain. “Yes, yes… well, I’m Adrian Pierce. A record producer, but you know that already, I don’t know why or how but… anyway! Uhm, how about I offer you my services by giving you a home and a chance to work for me?”

“Work for you?” Serenity asked.

“Yeah.” He said, “You do need to work for this marriage to work, and with the looks of you two you’ve never known a day of work in your life.”

I chuckled. Yeah right…

“So, how about I continue acting like the douche daddy and you get me out of those situations in exchange I’ll give you a home, work, and let you go to school, cause I’m pretty sure you are still in high school.”

“Senior.” We said in unison.

“Great!” he says. “I’ll work on the fake credentials and stuff, and I promise you, you wouldn’t be found by your family until you want to be found.”

Serenity and I exchanged looks, and with that single look, we knew we made a decision.

Thus, we were halfway to our destination.

I turned to look at the passenger seat, watching Serenity asleep, arms around her legs, in a fetus position while I follow three other cars.

It turned out that Mr. Pierce was moving back to L.A where he was planning to open a new branch for his recording company. And Serenity and I were to go with him to man the business for him.

We planned on finishing high school there and then go to college. If we were to have kids during those four years, Mr. Pierce was happy enough to accept his surrogate grandchildren.

I reached to touch Serenity’s face as LA finally come to view.

She shifted on the seat and looked up at me with a smile.

“Hey…” I said glancing at the road then back at her.

“Hey…” she says taking my hand with hers. Then she sat up and looked around. “Are we there yet?”

“Yes, we are baby,” I said, and glanced at the road, while she looked outside the window.

“This is it,” she says as she took a deep breath. “The land with the least population of shifters.”

That was true. LA was, well, it was just too loud for our kind, chances of being discovered were big. And I wasn’t all that thrilled about going and living there, but if it meant that we’d have peace and quiet, even just for a few years, then I’ll be all for that.

“And we’d be fine.” I said, “I have everything I need right here.”

She smiled and nodded.

“Hey, you upfront, no more being mushy…” we heard Jean groaned from the back.

Serenity and I both laughed as she sat up and leaned in between us.

“We there yet?” she asked.

“Almost.” Serenity says, giving my hand a squeeze.

“You sure they’d never find us here?” Jean asked, worried.

I glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

“I still don’t get it, why did you run away from your mate again?”

She gave another groan and leaned back to her seat, “Eric, we’ve been through this.”

“Well, I just can’t understand,” I said. “He obviously had changed his mind, he had marked you, apologized, and begged you to stay with him. I don’t see why you’re here without him.”

She sat back and looked out the window. “I just need to do this…” she said in almost a whisper. “For me.”

“And we’ll be right with you with our full support.” Serenity says.

Jean gave her a smile, “Thanks, princess.”

“Urgh, as long as you don’t call me that, we’re good.”

We all laughed as we turned and looked at our new home.

It has been half a year since we started our new life in L.A. To say that we were happy would be an understatement.

School kept us busy, and we have also made a few friends along the way. We went to the local high school, both of us flashing our new surnames around. Eric and Serenity Pierce, the young newlyweds of the high school. We decided not to hide our status in school either since we are legally married and to avoid problems in the future.

Besides, I wanted a happy and stress-free life with Serenity, as promised.

I stared at her sleeping figure beside me in bed. She was lying on her stomach, her head rested on her arms, her bare back was lit by the moon, and her long hair that was now red falling to one side of her back.

It has been a while since we had some time to ourselves. Adrian was currently busy with work, and the number of women who we have to chase out had dwindled down to one every month. He said it has reached the point that he is embarrassed to flaunt his dates when his children were happily married and satisfied.

I can't argue with that.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“And you're ok with that?” Martin, one of our new friends in school, asks after finding out Serenity and I were married.

“Why shouldn’t I be?” I asked. “She’s perfect.”

“I get that part, she’s hot and beautiful, but c’mon man.” He looks around and dropped his voice in a whisper, “You *uck the same girl.”

Obviously, he’s a player, so much worse than Aaron, if you ask me.

I chuckled as I opened my locker door. “Well, that’s the idea.”

“And you’re ok with that?” he asks again.

I sighed and faced him, “Man, you’ll understand when you get there.”

“Yeah…” he snorted, “Not until I’m thirty or something.”

I laughed and shut my locker close after getting the things I need. We turned in the corner and saw Serenity by her locker door, lost in thoughts.

“Hey baby.” I greeted, which surprised her and jostled her out of her thoughts as well.

“Hey…” she smiled.

I gave her a look, “You ok?” I asked, “you’re looking pale.”

“Yeah…”

I reached for her face and instantly she calmed down. She stepped forward and leaned on me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked again this time wrapping her in my arms.

“I’m just tired.” she says.

I pulled away and looked down at her, “Do you want to go home?”

“What?” she asked, “No, I’ll be fine...”

“Baby, you’re as pale as a ghost.” I pointed out, “Maybe you’re coming down with something…”

She gave me a look, then she looked around making me nervous and look around as well. In my peripheral I saw Martin flirting with some random girl in the hall.

She then pulled me in front of her locker, putting herself in the middle.

“Promise me you won’t freak out…”

“Serenity I-“

“Just promise me.” she pressed on, “Please?”

I sighed, “Fine.” I snapped, and she turned to her locker, “But this better be not life threatening or-“

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I chuckled, remembering the events of today.

Just before I can tell her off she flashed me three little stick that was supposed to be every guy’s fear and make them run away.

Pregnancy tests… three very positive pregnancy tests.

The effect on me was of course the other way around. I wanted to be beside her more often, never leaving my sight, which I think kind of irritated her at first, but later on just accepted.

She needed to. I had all my classes matched with hers. It was only half way through school year and she was already a month pregnant.

A month.

In five months we’ll be having our own baby.

I would admit it, I am scared as hell.

I didn’t have any idea of how to deal with kids, much more how to raise her. Yes, her, no matter what hell Serenity went through I’d still want a baby girl. My baby girl.

It didn’t matter if she’d be chosen as the next Daughter, she’s my daughter and she’ll never have to be scared of anything. Not while I was still around.

I smiled and ran the tip of my finger down her back to her side.

She grumbled and shifted, moving closer to me.

“Get some sleep Eric…” she mumbled, “we have school tomorrow.”

“Yeah… ok…” I said, not really planning to do as told. As I continue to lie there, staring at her.

Until she sighed and opened her eyes looking at me.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.” I said.

“Baby, you love your sleep, usually it’s you who forces me to calm down and sleep and not fuss about school work or chores.” She says, “What’s wrong?”

I smiled, amused of how she seemed to know me a lot.

“I’m just… I don’t know.” I pulled her toward me and rested my hand over her stomach, “I can’t believe we’re having a baby.”

She smiled and put a hand over mine, “You better believe it mister, cause I want this kid to be just like you.”

“Like me?” I asked.

“The perfect gentleman… or lady… whichever goes first.” She says and kissing me on the tip of my nose.

I laughed and rolled on top of her making her giggle.

“I’d prefer a little girl, but if you want a boy we can always try again.” I teased her, kissing the skin where I marked her causing her to give a low moan.

“Eric, we have school…” she reminds me, her voice husky.

“I know.” I kissed her on the neck down. “This is physical ed.”

She laughed as she reached for my face and made me look at her.

“We’re starting a family soon, Eric.” she says with so much love that it would have melted even the coldest heart. “I guess you have to give some love in the backseat as well.”

I laughed, “I love you and our baby, and wherever they sit in the car doesn’t matter, cause I love you… I love her… I love him…” I said between kisses making her laugh.