Aurora's Point Of View

I wake to a wet feeling on my neck and groggily shift around the comfortable bed. Feeling a weight on my body, my eyes peel open. It's the devil.

"Arlan...wha...stop," I shift around tiredly, trying to wake up and push him off.

"Come on, we've got some time before dinner," He drawls. I try to push the turtleneck that he's pulled down back up. "I know you want to. Doesn't it feel good?"

I vigorously shake my neck.

"Just a little more pressure..." He whispers, adding more pressure with his tongue to my neck. I push at his broad and buff shoulders again, fully awake.

"Come on, the pie, w-we've gotta make the pumpkin pie," I whimper.

He sighed dramatically and rolls his eyes, rolling his body off me and standing up.

"I've already made it, you slept too long. And I miss you. I wanna touch you," His hands roam the sides of my body to my hips.

My face fell.

"Wh-what, it's already made? Why didn't you wake me??" I ask worriedly.

"Well I just did, no?" His hands sneakily slide to cup my bum and squeeze it. I shift away on the bed and wiggle out of his grip.

"Arlan I meant beforehand, so I could help make the pie. We told the Blake's we'd make it together."

"Relax, baby," He insists, leaning forward, kissing my forhead. He looks at me as a stray cow lick of hair falls and dangles over his green eyes. "They won't be mad at you, if that's what you're worried about. It's just a damn pie."

"No you might have poisoned it, that's what I'm worried about," I bite back, glaring at him, rolling up the turtleneck of my dress and adjusting the ribbon in my hair. I smooth my dress down and gasp as he lifts me by the elbow, straight into his body.

"And I told you, I have no interest in ruining this day, so why would I do that? I don't think that's really what's upsetting you."

I sigh and pout, shrugging slightly.

"I just wanted to do it as a thank you to them. I wish you woke me up beforehand. I...have a lot of trauma from foster care of constantly being told I'm ungrateful. So I just excessively worry that people will view me as unappreciative."

Arlan sighed and took in his bottom lip, coming forward and gently holding my forearms.

"And I'm sure they know just how thankful you are, even if you didn't crack a few eggs and stir some flour. You don't have to exhaust yourself proving yourself."

I exhale slowly, nodding.

"I promise, Dove."

I eye him in disgust when he says the stupid pet name, why did he have to ruin that?!

"Enough with the stupid name," I groan and he pulls me by the waist to him, making me whine.

"Someone's cranky, hm?" He nips at my ear making me shiver. "See, this is what happens when you go too long from me touching you. You need a good fuck to get rid of that attitude, hm? You miss me just as much as I miss you."

I wish I could spit on him.

I flinch a little as Alice calls us down.

"Aurora! Arlan! Dinner is ready!"

His cherry flushed lips smirked and he cocked his head.

"Hungry?" He asks.

"Disgusted," I muttered, pushing past him and opening the door.

When we leave the winding staircase, his hand in mine, we enter the kitchen which is filled with mouth-watering aromas of warm meals and pastries. When I seat myself next to Dacie, Arlan sits on my left. It makes me nervous seeing them so close together.

"Well, I'm surely thankful for this moment with my beautiful family. To my lovely wife, and our beautiful, funny, imaginative and oh so sugary sweet, Dacie girl," He coos at his daughter and Dacie blushes and giggles. "Who has made our family so complete with her unmatched, fierce love and compassion. And getting to meet you, Aurora," Denver smiles warmly at me, squeezing his wife's hand. "A true savior, a miracle, in our lives."

I purse my lips and try not to cry as I give my best smile to him.

"And you, Arlan, for the wonderful flowers and pie, and being an amazing boyfriend to Aurora, who likewise as Dacie, came from such rough circumstances," Alice raises her wine glass to him and Arlan smiles charmingly. "You know something about having a good heart, giving someone a good life."

"Well, although you've just met Aurora today,"Arlan turns to face me and I gulp, "It's not hard to see what a rare, wickedly intelligent, precious and unique gem she is in just one day," He squeezes my hand. "And how lucky anyone would be to cross paths with someone with such a vibrant, sunshine of a soul, such as she has."

I tried to hide the fact that I was panting by mindfully controlling my breathing, but everything he said was overwhelming me and freaking me out. It was one of those mind twisting moments where I couldn't decipher if he was being genuine or manipulative. I didn't want to start to panic by asking myself if he meant it or didn't mean it, so I tried to remain neutral and indifferent mentally, while just lightly smiling on the outside.

"I'm grateful for my Barbie house, school, and the fact that Aurora's gonna tell mommy to get a puppy!"

"What?" Her parents said in unison.

"U-uh, Dace," I laughed, lightly rubbing her arm. "I never said that."

"Why don't we all dig in? I'm starving, I'm sure you're all starving!" Alice cut in, causing us all to laugh as plates and food were passed around.

"You must try the sweet potato marshmallow casserole, it's a recipe passed down from my nona!" Mr.Blake insisted. "And Arlan, I'm happy to give you wine, if you're of age. It's a Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac from our time in France," Denver inquired, holding the bottle.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mr.Blake, I'm only eighteen, otherwise, I would. But everything smells absolutely divine and I'm sincerely impressed with all the cooking," He said, adding some salad to his plate.

Denver nodded politely and grinned, pouring himself a glass as I felt a creeping feeling of disgust in my stomach. He was still underage drinking all the time, yet he here was acting like a saint. I see empty Scotch bottles in our room every night.

"So if Aurora's a Princess...does that make you a Prince?" Dacie questioned to Arlan, cocking her head as she nibbled on corn bread.

My heart rate tripled in speed as my face paled. I didn't want Dacie talking to Arlan, or the two to interact ever. I would never let anything happen to her.

"Well," Arlan started, and hearing his voice addressing her made me squirm uncomfortably. Dacie sat there so innocently, knowing nothing. It wasn't fair. He didn't deserve to talk to someone as precious as her.

"I wouldn't say that. I think I was just lucky enough to convince this princess to like me," He grinned at me while I avoided his gaze entirely.

"B-but in Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora finds her true love with a Prince. If you're not a Prince, you're a bad guy!" Dacie said stubbornly.

"Dacie," Her mother insisted quietly, wishing her daughter to calm down.

It was true. Damn, this seven year old was smarter than she knew.

"Well, I wouldn't say I'm that bad of a guy," Arlan tried to joke.

"I-I guess that's true...sorry," Dacie blushed. "Besides, you're not a beast."

"Well, there are more bad guys than you think, we're just not able to see them all. Not all of them look like beasts or villians," Arlan countered.

What was he doing?!?

Dacie looked a little worrisome. I'm gonna kill him.

"But I'm no beast. And good thing they're far, far away from here, so none of them can ever hurt you," He finishes.

I exhale in relief and Dacie kicks her feet and grins joyfully.

"So," Arlan clears his throat. "Mr.Blake, I heard you've invested amazing stocks in the last year putting you at the top of your respective financial division. Where did you go to school?"

"Oh, please, don't get him started on his alumni talk, he'll never stop," Alice giggled, shaking her head and cutting into her turkey slice.

"I was at UPenn for grad and undergrad, top 4 percentile. A good work ethic will get you anywhere. Had an internship for two years before meeting my lovely wife senior year and jumpstarting Blake enterprises," He grins and kisses his wife's cheek. "There, that wasn't too alumni-y, was it?"

"Wellll, I was included in the story, so I'd say no," She chuckles bashfully. "And Aurora, how is boarding school, dear?"

I looked up from meekly sipping my glass of water.

"What?"

"Boarding school," Alice repeated, flashing a white smile. "It must be preparing you excellently for university."

I cleared my throat.

"It's really nice. The rooms are...nice. My classes are really nice."

"Well that's just great. I went to a boarding school before college," Mr.Blake commented. "Shaped me up great to take my academics seriously and succeed in life."

"Yeah, uh, I'm really grateful that I get to go," I awkwardly murmur, hoping they'll stop talking about this.

After we've all eaten plenty, digged into the desserts and taken some pictures, the sun is setting giving a warm ambience and glowy light to the room. We're sat in the living room couches when Arlan stretches his arms.

"Well, we should probably head out before it gets too dark out, we've got a long drive back to Sacramento," Arlan rubs his hands together, then points them to Alice and Denver. "Alice, Denver, we can't thank you enough for opening up your beautiful home and giving us an exceptional ThanksGiving dinner."

"Wait, you're leaving?" Dacie squeals, running to me and hugging me tight. She buries her body into mine and hides her face. "No, no, no!"

I wrap my arms around her and look up helplessly to Alice as Dacie sobs hysterically. I squeeze the precious girl tight.

"I'm sorry, Dacie, but it's almost bed time," I try to reason, though my heart breaks.

"Not enough time, not enough time! Don't leave me yet!" She yells and sobs so hard that she begins to cough. I feel my chest and heart tighten with sadness.

Her parents quickly dash over, both lifting their daughter up. Alice places Dacie in her lap, soothingly caressing her hair.

"Dacie baby, sweetheart, we've got to be polite and have good manners and let Aurora go home, right? Why don't you go upstairs for a moment to calm down. Play with your monkey, okay? We'll be right up," Alice says soothingly.

After a few loud sniffles and hiccups, she turns on her mother's lap and reaches over to me to give me one more hug. Her mother lets her go and she wounds her arms around my neck softly.

"Bye Princess, I love you," She says into my neck, sniffling and hiccuping.

"I love you so much more, Dacie. Even if I'm not physically with you, I'm with you, protecting you, okay?"

She nods sadly and I gently pat her back. The sweet angel makes her way to the staircase and soon we hear the pattering of tiny feet and her door closing.

"I'll go get a start on the dishes," Arlan announces quietly.

"Oh, that's so kind of you, thank you, Arlan," Alice smiles.

When Arlan enters the kitchen, I sigh emotionally.

"I just want to thank you both so much for everything," I say again.

"Aurora, we truly treasure having your presence around Dacie. You protect her, you make her so happy. We want to invite you to every ThanksGiving going forward, so you can still see each other," Denver spoke gently.

My eyebrows raise high in shock.

"R-really? Oh gosh, that would be so amazing to get to see her regularly, thank you both!" I say, shaking my head in disbelief. "I would love that so much."

"Of course, sweet girl. In fact, Alice and I have been talking, and," Denver looked to his wife who had a knowing smile on her face. She squeezed her husband's shoulder and nodded to him, before she looked at me with emotional, blue eyes.

"Aurora, we want to adopt you," Alice announced.

My body felt stunned as goosebumps of sheer shock showered over my body. Words I never thought would be directed towards me, had now been. Time seemed to hit an immediate and sudden standstill and everything felt surreal, my eyes widening beyond their sockets.

"Are you serious?" I said breathlessly, hot tears lining the waterlines of my eyes.

Both the Blake's nodded. Alice spoke emotionally, getting choked up.

"We want Dacie to be with her family, and you're her family. We want to be your family, too," She wiped a rolling tear. "We knew we wanted this the moment Dacie described her connection to you, we just needed to meet you to be 1000% sure. Meeting you just confirmed how much we want you to be with us," She looked at her husband who tightly held her hand.

"We want to give you a family, Aurora," Denver spoke sincerely, smiling that goofy smile, squeezing his wife's hand tighter. "We know that you're eighteen and likely won't get another family. We really want you to be a part of ours. You're a good kid. You're not doing drugs or hurting anyone, despite coming from a crime ridden foster home. You turned into an intelligent, caring and beautiful young woman who we are both so proud of."

I licked my lips and inhaled deeply, wiping the falling tears. My chest felt so heavy with emotion, mostly utter joy, as I tried to compose myself to speak.

"I,"-

"Woah, what's going on over here? Sad movie ending spoiler?" Arlan cut in and chuckled, coming from the front of the living room, making me freeze.

"Arlan," Alice wiped her eyes, taking hold of my hands. "We were just telling Aurora...we want to adopt her," She smiled at me and I laughed breathlessly, sniffling and smiling back.

As Arlan came into my view, he seemed to be pondering something. His lips pursed as his eyebrow rose up, he nodded a few times as if trying to understand. He laughed once, a blunt laugh.

"Oh." He said simply. He was quiet for a few moments, an odd reaction for such a joyous occasion. I felt Alice's hands squeeze mine making me smile.

"I just don't know if that's something Aurora would really want. What was the word you called the Blake's, before you even met them, in the car? ...Snobby motherfuckers?"

Alice dropped my hands instantly and gasped along with her husband.

"W-what?" Alice whispered, horrified and I felt my mouth gape.

"N-no, I never said that!" I stood up, eyeing Arlan in sheer distain. "YOU said,"-

"Okay, Aurora, please," Arlan took my hands tightly, giving me a knowing look as he shook his head, tsking. "Please don't throw an anger tantrum in front of the Blake's, we already deal with this enough at home..."

"Anger tantrums?" Denver repeated with concern and confusion.

"N-no!" I shimmied from Arlan's grip and ran to the Blake's. "I don't have anger tantrums, I promise," I shook my head to them. "Please, I would never call you snobby...mother effers. I don't even curse," I whimpered.

"Well, Arlan, why would you say that?" Alice questioned, hurt evident in her voice.

Arlan pursed his lips, shaking his head.

"You know...I shouldn't have. Whatever Aurora says behind your back is just better off without you knowing."

"Please, he's lying," I seethe urgently, fighting the urge to strangle him. "I never ever said that and I don't think that at all!"

"Aurora, you know I can take care of you if we just go home," Arlan insisted, beckoning me. "Come to me."

When I didn't go, he came forward and tried to reach for my arm.

"Aurora," Alice said quickly, getting up and holding my arms, blocking Arlan.

I exhaled shakily, horrified Arlan was actually attempting to sabotage this. Alice looked in distress and I felt horrible to ruin what was briefly a beautiful, life changing moment.

"Listen," She looked intently at me and I felt my bottom lip tremble in sheer fear. She licked her lips and sighed. "I don't even care if you did. You're a young woman, people make mistakes. We know in our hearts we want to adopt you."

I felt utter relief enter my body as I exhaled deeply and released a sob. Alice pulled me into a tight hug as Denver did, as well.

"We really want you to be a Blake," Denver agreed, hugging me tight.

Arlan sighed in distain, causing us to untangle and separate, looking at him.

"It is a good thing you girls are out of that foster home. I mean...Dustin," He shook his head. "To be arrested and dropped in jail to rot there," He looked directly at me, jade eyes darkening. "would be a pathetic way to spend your life."

I exhaled in disbelief. He was threatening me. He was really threatening me. Fear crept into my skin as I pictured what life in jail for someone as small and innocent as me would be like. If the Blake's took me in and adopted me, would Arlan turn me into the cops and have me arrested? Would they bombard into the Blake's mansion and arrest me, would Dacie have to see that?

"I'm sorry," I turned to the Blake's as my body shakes with tremors. "H-he's...right. I did say you were......snobby. I don't want to live with you both. Arlan knows how to take care of me. I want to stay with him," I mumble in a small voice.

Denver stuttered incoherently in shock, looking to Alice before back at me.

"Aurora, please think about this," Denver pleaded, "Just a few moments ago, you were smiling joyfully and wanting to be with us. We can give you a family and take care of everything, we can provide for you and you can still see Arlan."

"We will love you no matter what!" Alice pleaded.

I looked over to Arlan who gave me just the smallest hint of a smirk. The most disgusting man to walk this Earth. Not even a man. He was inhumane. He was a beast.

"No," I mumbled, looking back to them as I forced a face of indifference. "Thank you for the lovely meal."

I dried my tears, heading to the door while hearing Denver make a noise of shock and the two spouses lightly murmur in shock to each other. As we all approached the door, I hugged Denver goodbye. Then, Alice.

"Aurora," Alice whispers in my ear as Denver is shaking Arlan's hand goodbye, just enough for only me to hear. "If you change your mind at any minute, any moment, any second, the door is always open."

When she separates from me, I go to reach for my heels when Arlan palms my back and I freeze.

"Oh no, you've had enough on those heels earlier. I'll carry you to the car," He offers in my ear as anxiety rushes through my bloodstream.

"It's okay, I can just walk," I murmur brokenly.

"No, I insist," His hand grips my back tighter and I hold back a whimper.

Gulping, I turn to him, avoiding his eyes at all cost as my chest and heart burn with hatred towards him. A feeling of dreadful sadness sits in my gut as he lifts me in a bridal style and holds me securely.

"Goodnight, Blake's," Arlan grins, carrying me out the door.