We walked up to Jordan's main door and pushed it open since it was unsurprisingly unlocked. They had a similar floorplan and set up. The only difference was that they had tones of soothing blues while ours was more grey. It was a nice change. Amy also had more inside plants around the house and the hints of leafy green here and there made it even more beautiful.

We followed the smell of barbecue and entered their backyard. They had left the giant glass doors open. The weather was on our side today, it was sunny but the wind balanced the heat.

Greeting the four couples scattered around Bob who was handling the barbecue, I left Den and Jordan's side to go stand between my parents. We all were standing in a semi circle, our backs to the sun, the pool behind us.

"You guys hungry?" Mom asks squishing my cheeks as I rest my head next to hers.

"Starving," I sigh.

"This batch is almost done. Trevor, come on, the burgers aren't going to assemble themselves," Bob calls out to Trevor, Ian's dad without looking up from the grill.

"I'll get the drinks," Mark, Anna's dad offers and takes Marissa along with her.

"We have a tiny surprise for you guys, well mostly Roya and Anna, but eventually for everyone," Amy tells us and Anna and I share curious looks.

Just as Amy looks inside the house and everyone follows her eyes, Marissa walks out hand in hand with Sarah.

"Roro! Annie!" Sarah's smile widens as me and Anna rush to her and engulf her in our arms.

"You're back from summer camp!" Anna asks, squeezing her with me.

"Yes!" She laughs back. Sarah is Jordan's little sister and unofficially everyone's sister in the group. She's the favorite kid of the entire clan. Everyone loves her. Everyone.

"Guys let her breathe," We hear Ian and step back.

"No hugs for brother?" Jordan smirks at Sarah with this glint in his eyes that only appears for her. It's this shine in his eyes along with that soft but mischievous and Sarah's expression matches his.

"You got your yesterday," Sarah pokes her tongue out at Jordan and all of us whip our heads at Jordan.

"You met her yesterday?" Anna is furious.

"Surprise?" Jordan half chuckles but his eyes are nervous and everyone laughs at all of behaving like kids.

I watch as Ian hugs Sarah too and introduces her to Dave and Denver. Both of them getting there own share of bear hugs from Sarah.

She's the favorite kid for a reason.

We soon got our burgers and drinks and the parents helped us gather the bean bags from the basement up to the backyard on Sarah's request. Even though her seat was eventually Anna's lap.

While Jenna shared Ian's embarrassing childhood moments with Dave and Den, and Dad kept adding mine in the mix, making the incidents funnier, I just sat back and took in the scene in front of me. The pink and orange tones of the sun setting and the wind teasing all of our hairs to make them look just right. The scent of burgers and lemon in the air along with light music and this happy feeling in all of us. Every single one of us just being ourselves and enjoying it. And I think, I think of how everything turned out. How I stepped out of a shitty heartbreak and got to experience the love of not just one but two people who are now so important for me. So important that I would allow them to break my heart. How I found another brother in Dave. How there's so little of the darkness left in me. Sure, there will always be this side of me that's insecure and worried and a fucking mess but I also have people who understand me. I know there are still a few problems that we need to face like mom and dad's divorce and how to tell people about this relationship and adulting all in all but looking at this people in front of me, I know we'll get through it.

I know I'm not alone, never.

"Hey," Denver leans towards me a little from my left and I'm woken up from my thinking.

"Hey," I smile at him and he returns it back.

"You had that look on your face," he says, we're talking in lower tones, not disturbing whatever discussion is going on.

"What look?" I tilt my head a little in confusion.

"I've never seen it before," he frowns thinking about it, "you looked.. content," he manages to find the right word.

My smile widens at his explanation, "I am," I tell him, meaning it and our eyes stay locked for a moment before we both turn to look at Jordan sitting across us.

Jordan looks up after a couple of seconds, studying our happy faces and then gracing us with his own smile.

Yeah, content.

"So," my dad starts, "we have news," he holds mom's hand and says, looking at everyone in the circle first and then locking his eyes on me.

I feel every muscle in my body tensing up and a hand interlocking with mine, providing as much comfort as possible. My eyes are locked on mom and dad, no face blank and everyone around us quite.

Even, Sarah.

"Me and Joe visited the court a couple days back," mom continues. I feel another hand engulfing my free one.

Ian.

"And?" I gulp, asking.

"The judge approved since there wasn't any problem with dividing investments and money," dad tells me and my heart drops.

No. I- I was happy.

No. No. No.

This isn't happening today.

I can't-

"But we didn't," mom cuts my thoughts off and it takes me at least thirty seconds to understand what she said.

"What?" my voice is lighter, like I forgot how to use it.

"We didn't get divorced.. we couldn't," dad says and my hands get squeezed from both sides before I leave them and rush to my parents. They get up and squeeze me so hard that I almost can't breathe but it doesn't matter.

They're staying together.

A half sob and a half laugh leaves my mouth and mom presses her lips on my head. We stay like that, holding each other. I move back in their arms and see as tears build up in their eyes while mine are already falling. Dad wipes them away with the palm of his free hand and I smile. I smile and close my eyes in the moment because I feel like the fucking main character. We hear a sniffle and I open my eyes as all out faces turn to see where the sound was from.

Jordan.

Always an emotional person.

And I fucking love this emotional human.

"What?" He snaps wiping his nose with his sleeve as I look at him in amusement, "I would've cried if I saw something like this in movies and it's happening in real life you guys," he explains and a chuckle escapes my mouth followed by everyone's laughter.

I shake my head at him, my smile never leaving it as he smiles back with his glossy eyes.

"Well that calls for a celebration, Roya will finally continue with her anniversary dinners," Bob points out as Amy smacks him on the arm, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I'll get the whiskey," Jordan gets up, throwing me a smile, confirming that he'll get Hennessy.

"I'll get the wine," Marissa gets up next.

"I'll get the juice," Anna follows.

"Yeah, sure babe and I'll get the Vodka that you'll accidentally add in later," Ian follows, making us all laugh once again.

"Anna, feel free to electrocute him in his sleep," Jenna yells while Amy and Bob get up to bring glasses and ice.

Mom and Dad kiss me on the cheeks before taking their seats and I return to mine, my cheeks hurting from smiling so much but I cannot control it anymore. I see Denver and Dave looking at me with these smiles and I put my head in my hands while they chuckle.

Once everyone is settled and Jordan switches his seat with Ian to be on my other side, we raise our glasses containing all sorts of different drinks. And Sarah's containing just sprite, with a straw on her demand.

"To-"

"To-"

Dad and Bob speak at the same time. We look at them with knowing expressions.

"Man, I gave the news," Dad says.

"Congratulations but it's my house," Bob fires back.

"Mine is just next door," Dad deadpans.

"Then go there and make a toast," Bob shrugs.

"No-"

"To Bob and Joe," Amy rushes and we clink our glasses to that before sipping, knowing these two can go on forever.

My people.

A/N :

This was it people. We're only left with an epilogue.