Chris adjusted his silver tie in the reflection of their stainless steel fridge before grabbing a beer from it. It was 6:14PM, the car that had been sent for them was waiting outside, and still Denise wasn't ready to leave for her world premiere. The last time Chris checked, the prep team their publicist had sent for her were packing up to leave after completing the finishing touches on her hair. But still, Chris was patient because he understood that he was a guy and it was always going to take him half the time it took her to get ready for a red carpet event. And considering this red carpet event was hers, he was going to give her all the time she needed.

"What are you doing, buddy?" Chris chuckled, lowering his beer onto the island bench when he saw his eighteen month old yanking at his little silver tie. "No, Jack. Stop," he carefully pulled Jack's tiny hands away from the crooked tie and readjusted it. "You have to look dapper for Mama's premiere, we didn't buy you a suit so you could ruin it before we got to the premiere."

Chris lifted Jack out of his high chair and into his arms before he walked back to his beer to take another sip. Jack wrapped his tiny hands around Chris' beer bottle as Chris took a sip, trying to pull it from his tight grip. "Sorry, pal. Not till you're eighteen. Uh uh," he moved the bottle out of his reach then mirrored his son's adorable pout. "C'mon, let's go see if Mama's ready, shall we?" He rhetorically quizzed as he rested the beer bottle back down on the bench top and started towards the staircase.

"Doger," Jack squirmed in Chris' arms when he spotted Dodger. "Doger, Dada. Doger!" Jack started to scream when Chris wouldn't lower him onto his feet. It wasn't that he didn't want to let Jack play with Dodger while waiting, he just didn't think Denise would appreciate Jack getting dog fur all over his little suit. "Down! Dada, down!" He squirmed and wiggled profusely, screaming till crocodile tears began to form in the corner of his eyes. "Dooooown!"

With Jack's hands flailing around, it didn't take long for Chris to get smacked in the face. "God, Jack." Chris winced, lowering Jack onto his feet because he wasn't about to get smacked again. The second Jack got his hands on Dodger, he calmed and was back to his smiley state. "Hey," Chris lowered himself onto his knee, beckoning for Jack's attention. "You need to listen to me, okay? Today is Mama's big day, so I'm going to need you to be on your best behavior." Chris was so busy lecturing Jack that he didn't even hear Denise's heels descending the stairs. "I don't want you ruining today for her, do you understand me?"

Denise stood at a distance and smiled at how seriously Chris was taking her first event. The fact that he was willing to lecture their all so precious little boy said more than enough. "Sorry to keep the two of you waiting," she said as she approached them. Chris looked up and a breathless chuckle escaped his lips as his heart skipped a beat.

"Wow," he breathed. His gaze remained on her as he rose to his feet, and he smiled as he walked over to take her hands in his. Words couldn't describe how beautiful he thought she looked in her silver halter neck chiffon gown. "Just- wow," he repeated, placing a hand on his heart. He pulled her towards him, placing a hand on her waist. "You look amazing, Denise."

"Thank you," she tenderly kissed his cheek then brushed off her lipstick mark with the pad of her thumb. "You're looking very handsome yourself. A little stressed, if you're lecturing our toddler-" she teased him then giggled when he chuckled. "But very, very handsome. Should we go?" She asked as she pulled away from him to take Jack's hand.

"Before we do," he caught her wrist in his hand and she turned to him with raised brows. "I just..." He trailed off, smiling. He wanted a perfectly worded sentence to tell her how proud he was of her and what she'd achieved, but he couldn't find it within himself. All he could muster were "I am so proud of you." Simple, direct, and emotionally effective. "I wish I had a better way to phrase how proud I am of you, but I'm no writer so I'll just keep it simple. I am so, so proud of you, Denise."

"Thank you." She leaned in and met his lips, smiling when she felt him smile. She broke the kiss then turned her attention onto their son, holding out her hand for him to take. "C'mon, sweetheart." Jack staggered to his feet and stumbled over to her. "Let's go walk a red carpet." She glanced at Chris with a grin as she added, "together as a family."

• • • • • • • •

The red carpet scene turned out to be a lot busier than Denise had expected, with almost everyone she'd issued an invite to turning up. People flew in and drove up just to show their love and support; all their family and friends from different states and different parts of the world. Chris' Marvel cast mates: Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Mackie, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Pratt, and Cobie Smulders. It was needless to say that Sebastian Stan was there too, with Luca, his beautiful wife. Octavia Spencer came, as did McKenna Grace. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi showed up, as did Jimmy Kimmel and his wife. The red carpet was absolutely bustling, there were even celebrities there that Denise had never even met in person before. But that wasn't because of her, or Chris; Emilia's hard work had paid off.

"Fancy meeting you here," Luca chimed over Denise's shoulder and she spun around, squealing. "Hi," she chuckled as Denise threw her arms around her. Though it had only been a few months since they last saw each other, it felt like it'd been years. "I am so proud of you, Nise."

"Thank you," Denise gave her a tight squeeze before she released her to hug Sebastian. "And thank you for coming, it means the world to me to have the two of you here." Sebastian and Luca smiled, nodding in acknowledgment. "I'm so sorry I made you abandon your son for the weekend, I hope he's doing okay with Grandma Georgetta."

"Don't you worry about a thing," Sebastian smiled, "tonight is your night. And-" he chuckled when his gaze fell over Denise's shoulder. He could see Robert carrying Jack from a distance, the two were gleefully posing for all the cameras. "Jack's, apparently." Denise glanced over her shoulder and laughed. "The kid is doing very well in front of all those flashing lights."

"He gets it from his mom," Chris quipped as he approached, wrapping his arm around Denise's waist. "Hey, guys. Good to see you." Sebastian and Luca smiled. "Sorry to steal her away from the conversation, but she's needed on the carpet." He informed and Denise felt her heart start to race as she heard Sebastian and Luca excuse themselves. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

When Robert saw Chris and Denise approaching the carpet, he made his way over to return their son to them. And when they posed as a family in front of the cameras, the crowd went wilder than they did when Jack was with Robert. What didn't change was Jack's enthusiasm and his love for the attention he was getting. He giggled every time he did something cute and got the crowds cheering for him. It definitely got Chris and Denise thinking about what Ellen said about his possible career path. Chris and Denise glanced at each other, smiling as they watched their son wave at the cameras. Perhaps being made for Hollywood was genetic.

"Chris, Denise!" Jill, a reporter for Hollywood Reporter called for their attention. They looked to their publicist for the nod because they followed her lead over. Before Jill could start her interview, Susan informed her she had five minutes before the couple was to move on. "Good evening, you are all looking fantastic tonight. Hi, Jack," she turned her attention onto the toddler. "It's nice to meet you." Jack giggled then wrapped his arms tight around his mother's neck, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"Maybe he's our kid after all," Denise joked with Chris, gently running her hand up and down her son's back. "Sorry, he's all over the place tonight. One minute he's happily waving at everyone, the next he's doing this. Are you suddenly camera shy? Yeah?" She poked his side and chuckled when he squirmed and giggled. "Thankfully you've still got Chris and I, otherwise this interview might be a total bust."

"Yeah," Jill laughed. "So, welcome back to the red carpet. It's been a while since the two of you have made an appearance, what with Chris still on hiatus." Chris and Denise nodded in agreement. They haven't discussed when he was going back to work yet, but it was assumed he'd start looking for a new project once hers came to a close. "And I'd compare this to your usual red carpet appearances, but I believe this one is a little different."

"Oh, it's very different. Tonight, she's the star and I'm the arm candy," Chris quipped, playfully nudging Denise's side with his elbow. She chuckled as he continued, "you can tell from the way we're dressed. You see, my tie is matching her dress, not the other way around."

"I don't think there's a difference," Denise laughed. "But I appreciate the sentiment." She kissed his cheek then turned back to Jill, who was beaming at how adorable the couple was. "Sorry, I feel like we're wasting your interview time. Would you like me to answer a serious question now?"

"It's okay, all this is- it's pure gold for all the fans. But I think uh- I think my boss would appreciate it if I talked to you about the movie for a little bit," Jill said and Denise chuckled. "How would you describe the movie in a sentence to entice the people to come watch it?"

"A sentence?" Denise was a little taken aback by the question. She wasn't sure if she'd thought about her movie in a sentence summary before, but time was ticking away so she had to answer fast. "I'd say 'a lesson for those who think they can settle in love.'" Both Chris and Jill seemed startled by the simple brilliance of her answer. "Because you can't, love is more than just convenience and slight compatibility. It is chemistry and passion and- magic. I'm sorry if some people don't believe it, but there is magic in true love."

"And that is why I married her."

"That's so sweet," Jill smiled. "I really hope the two of you make a movie together at some point because I have a feeling that is going to be even more magical." Behind Chris and Denise's backs, Susan pointed at her watch to inform Jill her time was up. "Well, it has been a great time talking to the three of you. I can't wait to go in there and watch the movie, I hope the rest of your evening goes really well."

"Thank you," Chris and Denise chimed as they proceeded down the line to the next reporter. "You know something, Denise," Chris began as he slipped his hand into hers. "I am so glad you taught me not to settle in love because God, I'd be devastated if this wasn't my life. If I didn't have you with me."

"Ditto, Evans."