As Alex and I lounge together on the couch, we watch Bruno playing with one of his new doggy toys. Alex frustratedly groans as she looks at her text book, and she throws her pencil down before closing the book.

"I quit!" Alex exclaims.

"Calm down, Alex. It's only difficult because you're making it difficult."

"What's that even supposed to mean?" Alex grumbles while crossing her arms.

"You're making it seem difficult, when it actually isn't." I say.

"Well, you're a doctor and you hold a Masters degree. I need your big brain to help me out." Alex whines.

"You're a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for, Alex."

"Yeah, I wish I was smart enough to figure out this complicated shit." Alex complains, and I laugh at her potty mouth.

"Okay, we'll take a look at the problem." I say, and she reopens her textbook while I reach for her pencil.

"It's simple, Alex. If z is a function of y, and y is a function of x, than z is a function of x. The problem is f(x) = 2x + 3 and g(x) = –x2 + 5, find ( f o g)(x). So, what you're doing is trying to find the formula from plugging the formula for g(x) into the formula for f(x)." I explain, and Alex furrows her eyebrows.

"What?!" Alex says, looking very confused.

I take her paper, and I lead her step by step through the problem, and she face palms as I finish the first one.

"Wow, I'm an idiot." Alex says, and I frown.

"No, you're not. This stuff can be confusing at first, you're not an idiot just because you don't get it."

"So, let me get this straight. You're a doctor who's not only drop dead beautiful, but you're also very intelligent, chivalrous, and warm hearted?" Alex asks with a smile, and I chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess so." I reply, and she smiles.

"How did I ever get so lucky?" She asks herself, and I continue to laugh.

"I could ask you the same." I say, and she covers her redden cheeks as she goofily smiles.

"Aww, you make me blush." Alex says, and I smile before leaning in to kiss her.

My phone rings just as our lips connect, and we both sigh. I pick up my phone after answering it, and I press it to my ear.

"Hello? Rian?" My mother says, and I smile.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Well, at the party your father and I made plans to have brunch with you and Alexandrianna. I just called to know when you two are free."

"When are you free?" I ask Alex.

"I'm free this weekend because obviously I won't be in school." Alex says, and I nod.

"This weekend is perfect, Mom. We'd definitely be able to have brunch."

"How does 10:30 on Saturday sound?" Mom asks.

"Sounds great. I can't wait to see you." I say, and I can visualize her smiling.

"I can't wait to see you, too."

"Bye honey." Mom says.

"Bye."

Once I hang up, I see Alex madly erasing her work away before rewriting it.

"I didn't know that brunch would be happening so soon." Alex says.

"Well, the party was a while ago, and my mother is bubbling with excitement over it."

"Why? She's already met me." Alex states, and I laugh.

"That's the thing about my mother, Alex. She's very excited about things even if she's done them a million times." I say, and she laughs.

"It doesn't really annoy me. I like your mom." She says, and I smile.

"She really likes you, too."

"Okay, we can talk about that later. Just help me with this, please." Alex begs, and I laugh.

"Of course, of course."

Once Alex is finished with her homework, we both close our eyes and snuggle up close to each other before we soon fall asleep.

~~~

"Which dress should I wear?" Alex asks, holding a dress in each hand.

It is now Saturday, and Alex stands in her bra and underwear in front of me in the walk in closet. She holds one of the dresses in front of her body, and she views herself in the mirror that's in front of her. Alex wrinkles her nose before pouting.

"I don't know which one to wear, babe. Help me pick!" Alex whines, and I smile.

"You'll look beautiful in either one, Alex. Besides, it's not like you have to necessarily wear a dress."

"I want to look nice. We're having brunch with your parents, a.k.a, the most important people to you so I don't want to show up looking like I don't care." Alex continues, and I grab one of her hands.

"You're right about them being the most important people in my life, but you're right up there with them." I say, and her cheeks redden.

"You mean that?" She asks with a slight gasp, and I chuckle.

"Yes, I really do mean it."

"I'm surprised because I almost stupidly ruined what we had over my past, and yet you're still with me." Alex says.

"I told you that if you're ever unsure that I'd remind you everyday until you're sure."

"I know, but I was doing a mighty job at almost tearing us apart over something that doesn't even matter. The fact that you still love me is beyond me, because I was being so immature and unwise and—" she continues, put I place a finger over her lips.

"Don't. I hate hearing you talk bad about yourself. It's okay to have questions and doubts about things. We might've been mad at each other, but it's over now. We made up, and we're making up for lost time." I say, and I kiss her hand before carefully rubbing it.

"I know, but I still feel awful. Do you see me differently now? Am I not as important to you as I was when we met?" Alex asks, and I scoff.

"How could you think that? You're extremely important to me, Alex. Every single part of me belongs to you, and you belong to me." I say, and I begin to smile.

"I wouldn't say that to anyone else but you, either Rian. I am yours, and you are mine." Alex replies, and I smile.

"It's been that way all along, Alexandrianna. It'll stay that way."

I take the dresses from her hand and toss them to the ground before grabbing her waist and pulling her closer to me so that our bodies are touching. Her smooth skin glides along my chest, my groin, and I feel myself growing warmer and warmer by the second. I become so hot that it's unhealthy.

She still has me wrapped around her finger.

I'm still falling in love with her more and more.

No, falling isn't the correct term.

I willingly fell in love with her, and I was extremely grateful that fate lead me to her. As corny as that sounds, I truly believe that it was fate that lead us to each other.

Every step along the way, I'd choose her and only her, and I know she chooses me.

I lean down and kiss her lips, smiling before I do so. We kiss passionately, tentatively, tenderly. I brush her hair away from her face with both of my hands, and my hands slowly skim down her face and to her shoulders before resting comfortably on her waist.

Our eyes meet, and Alex's eyes flicker rapidly across my face. A smirk spreads across my face as she continues to look me directly in the eyes right before she glances at my lips.

"I love you." She whispers.

Our lips meet again, and we lower ourselves so that we're on the carpeted floor, and Alex beams up at me as I remove my shirt.

"Wait, what if your parents arrive sooner than we thought?" Alex asks, and I laugh.

"It's an hour and a half drive to get from Sacramento to San Fransisco. We've got plenty of time." I reply, and she smirks.

Alex sits up and begins to kiss my chest as I reach behind her to unclamp her bra. Her lips send a flow of electricity throughout my chest that radiates to my back. Her lips continue to travel downward, and she slips my sweatpants off of my hips.

Her mouth inches toward my shaft, and as soon as she begins to slowly suck, my phone rings.

"Are you serious?!" Alex groans.

I groan as well before pulling up my sweats before taking my phone and answering it.

"Hello?" I ask, slightly annoyed.

"Well, that's a way to greet your mother." She says sarcastically before chuckling.

"I was kind of busy with something." I say while looking over at Alex.

Alex is now completely naked, and she's perched on the floor while she unconsciously twirls her hair. She bites her lip before her big beautiful eyes flicker up at me, and her eyes linger on my bare chest. Her bewitching eyes sparkle as I look into them, and I bite my lip to try and hold in my longing.

"Sorry to interrupt you. We just wanted to know that we'll be on our way shortly."

"You know what, Mom? I'll drive up there, you guys just stay put." I offer.

"Are you sure? Your father and I have no problem picking you and Alex up."

"It's fine, I have no problem driving to Sacramento. It's no big deal."

"Okay, just be sure that you're here before our reservations." She says, and I nod.

"Definitely." I say quickly, ready to end this conversation.

Once we hang up, Alex just smiles before covering her mouth to suppress her laughter.

"How are we going to go to brunch with your parents when we can't keep our hands off each other for a while?" She asks, and I shrug.

"I have no clue. But I do know that we were a little busy."

I walk over to Alex, grabbing both of her hands and holding them above her head to restrict her. My lips press against her collarbone, and I kiss it so carefully like it is the most fragile part of her body. Alex gasps instinctively as I continue to kiss my way down her body, and my tongue moves slowly between her thighs.

"Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop." Alex begs, and I smile.

"Already begging for more?" I ask with a smirk.

"Yes, please." Alex says, forcing my mouth back down.

My tongue glides across her slick wetness, and her sensitive nub. Alex is moaning more and more by the second, and I slowly insert one of my fingers deep into her. She sucks in lungfuls of air as spasms of delight rocket through her body. Alex moans my name repetitively, and I continue until her entire body is shaking uncontrollably, and that doesn't even stop me. Alex shoves my head away because the pleasure is all too strong, and she laughs before pulling my head up to her lips.

Alex reciprocates the pleasure by basically making the entire world spin around me as her lips send shocks throughout my body. I shudder and convulse pleasurably at the touch of her hand, and I can't get enough of it. It doesn't take very long for her to have me feel the shattering release and the euphoric calm afterwards as we lay side by side.

~~~

I'm speeding along the highway, passing multiple semi trucks and other cars on the way to Sacramento. Alex fidgets in her seat, involuntarily shaking her leg and twiddling her thumbs.

"Alex, you've met my mother. Why're you fidgeting?" I ask, and she shrugs.

"I don't know why, Rian. If I could stop, I would."

"You know, fidgeting could be linked to disorders. Schizophrenia, PTSD, ADHD, GAD and even something as simple as caffeine addiction."

"I'm not disordered, Rian. Maybe I'm just nervous to see your mom again." Alex replies, rolling her eyes at me.

"What, I can't be worried about my girlfriend's health? It is my job to worry about that, because I'm a doctor."

"I know, I know. Dr. Rian Peterson to my rescue." Alex says, pretending to faint.

"Is it because it's been a while since the party?"

"Yeah, it's been a month and we haven't seen her since."

I place one of my hands on her thighs, and she places her hand on mine. I can tell that she's smiling at me because my veins begin to tingle, and my face heats up.

I slowly pull up to the iron gate, and once it opens I park next to the large fountain. Alex's mouth is wide open as she stares up at the mansion in front of her.

"This is your house?" She asks, extremely amazed.

"Yeah, I grew up here." I reply flatly, and she stares at me.

"It's beautiful." She says, and she opens the passenger door and walks closer towards it.

I grab her hand once I get out of the car, and we both walk towards the large double doors. I ring the doorbell, and not even ten seconds later I can see my mother sprinting towards the door.

My mother stands in front of us, and she wears an all black pantsuit with silver loafers. Her grayish blonde hair is perfectly straightened, and her dimpled smile spreads from ear to ear.

"Rian!" She exclaims, and I smile before lowering my body so that I can hug her.

"Hey Momma, you look really nice." I say into her ear before kissing her cheek.

"Thank you, honey. So do you."

"Hi Mrs. Peterson." Alex says, and my mother lets go of me so that she can hug Alex.

"Alexandrianna, you look beautiful today."

"Really? I was really struggling to choose what to wear." Alex admits, and my mother smiles.

"I told her that she looked beautiful, but she was still a little unsure. She shouldn't be, though." I say, and Alex's cheeks redden.

"Oh, Rian. Listen to you, you're such a gentleman." My mother says.

"I wouldn't be any other way." I say.

I see my father making his way down the stairs, buttoning his blazer and putting on his watch. It still pains me to even look at him sometimes, because I can see all of the life slowly leaving his face.

"Rian, Alex." My father says.

"Hi." Alex and I say in unison.

"You two look wonderful today." He says, and he wraps his arm around my mother.

"Thank you Mr. Peterson. You and your wife look really nice as well." Alex says kindly, and they both smile at her.

"Thank you, Alex. You're too nice." My mother says bashfully.

"Oh, you're welcome. You guys totally deserve a lot of praising. You guys have really raised a truly wonderful man, and I'm incredibly grateful for Rian." Alex says, and I press my lips to her temple.

"You're damn right we raised him into a wonderful man. Rian, our boy, is definitely more than we could've asked for." Dad says, smacking me on the shoulder.

We all smile before heading out of the door again, and into the car. As we head to the restaurant, they converse amicably about something while Alex and I view the scenery.

"This is really stunning. I wish I grew up in a place like this. It seems really peaceful, and like it's a great escape." Alex says, looking out of the window.

"Yeah, it really is. One day we'll just have to stroll around here and I'll share my memories with you."

"That sounds nice." Alex says, smiling at me.

About twenty minutes later, we pull into the parking lot of the restaurant. I get out of the car and open the door for Alex, and she thanks me while grabbing my hand. My father looks at me and gives me a smile before grabbing my mothers waist.

"Hello! How may we help you guys today?" The man at the front says.

"We have reservations for 10:30. Peterson is the name." Mom says.

"Right this way!" The man says, and we all follow him.

We enter the restaurant, and people are chattering quietly or clinking their glasses and devouring the large portion of food in front of them. Contemporary wall art and soft lighting is coats the entire restaurant as a piano gently plays, and the spacious layout of the restaurant seems never ending. A crystal chandelier rains down over the tables, and small vases filled with flowers are in the center of each pristine linen covered table.

I take the chair and pull it out for Alex, and she smiles before sitting down. My dad does the same for my mother, and I lean down and kiss Alex's cheek before I sit next to her.

"We never really got to know much about each other, Alex. So please enlighten us." Dad says, and Alex clears her throat.

"Well, I'm nineteen years old, and I was born and raised in San Fransisco. I have three siblings, and two of them are younger than me, and one is older than me. I'm still in school, but once I graduate I do dream of becoming a model." Alex says, and I smile.

"Oh, wow! How interesting! I could definitely see you becoming a model, Alexandrianna. You're quite a beautiful girl." Mom says, and Alex blushes.

"Thank you Mrs. Peterson. You must've modeled when you were younger, huh?"

"Oh, no dear. It never really interested me, and plus I'm too short to model. I do real estate, honey. That's flattering that you thought that I did model, though."

"Oh, of course. So, Mr. Peterson, what do you do?" Alex asks inquisitively.

"I was an entrepreneur and started my own business shortly after I met Emmanuelle, and it's been running smoothly ever since. Peterson Manufacturing is the name of my business." Dad says.

"I remember that name! I was driving somewhere one day, and I saw people outside of building that needed to be renovated. The bold letters were written on the back of their safety vests." Alex admits.

"That's something Alex never told you about herself. She's very perceptive and observant." I say, and I pick up the menu.

"That's a good thing, Rian. She's a very smart girl. Not like most of the ditz's today. I like that about you, Alex." Mother says, and Alex smiles before thanking her.

We all look down at the menu, and everything is written in immaculate calligraphy. Alex constantly flips the pages of the menu, and she's still unsure of what she wants.

"What are you getting, babe?" She asks.

"Salmon eggs Benedict. You?"

"I might get that, too. There's so much to choose from." Alex says.

"We've been here so many times and we still struggle to choose as well, Alex." Dad says, and she smiles.

"Do you guys always come here?" Alex asks.

"I met him here, Alex. Way back in the day when I was in my twenties, and the restaurant was so simple and things were inexpensive. This charming man in his thirties comes up to me and starts talking to me, and I was so smitten with him." Mom says, and Alex's smile continues to grow.

"Well, from my perspective, I saw this gorgeous young girl all by herself, and I thought she needed some company. If I wasn't bold enough to make that move, Emmanuelle and I wouldn't have even met." Dad says.

"Awww! That's so sweet!" Alex squeals.

"How did you and Rian meet?" Mom asks.

"Well, I'm in cheerleading at my school and I had dislocated my knee during practice. I needed to get to the hospital, and after my X-rays, Rian came in and told me what was going to happen, and it all started there." Alex says, and they smile at the both of us.

"I'm happy for you both. Rian has changed so much since he met you, and it's a good change. You seem to really care for my boy, is that true?" Dad asks, and Alex nods without hesitation.

"Of course I love your son. He's changed me in a good way as well. I wouldn't do anything to hurt Rian. That's the last thing that I'd want to do. He's helped me through a lot more than you think, and he knows me inside out."

"We're glad to hear that. We love the way you speak of him, and the way he speaks of you." Mom says, and before Alex can say anything, the waiter comes back to our table.

"Are you ready to order?" He asks, and we all nod.

"Ladies first." I say, and Alex smiles.

"I'll take the salmon eggs Benedict with orange juice and a side of potatoes, please." Alex says politely.

"I would like a chocolate and banana crepe with a side of bacon and an espresso." Mom says.