I Do

a/n - before we begin, we're gonna time travel a little around 2 1/2 years into the future! adrian is turning 3 soon!! anyways enjoy the chapter

The night before

Paedyn

"You gotta eat your carrots, Adrian," I say. I've been trying to get him to eat them for the past twenty minutes, and he's refusing to eat them. Adrian shakes his head.

"Hey, buddy, you should eat your carrots. One time, I didn't do what your mother said, and I got a dagger to the throat," Kai chimes in. I glare at Kai.

"Ooh. Sounds kinky," Jax says. I whip around.

"I'm surrounded by three-year-olds," I say. Adrian looks up at me with carrots in his mouth. "Ohh, good job, Adrian!" I plant a kiss on his head, and he giggles.

Kai

After dinner, Adrian is running around the room, giggling as Jax chases him. I lean back in my chair, watching them. "Careful," I warn as Adrian nearly collides with a table.

"I got him," Jax says, scooping Adrian up and tossing him in the air. Adrian shrieks with laughter, his tiny hands reaching for Jax's face. Paedyn glances at the clock.

"Okay Adrian, time for bed!" she says. Adrian does not like that.

Paedyn

Adrian frowns, shaking his head furiously. "Nooo, not bedtime!"

"Yes, bedtime," I counter, stepping toward him. He clings onto Jax like a little koala. "Bath, then bed."

Adrian's bottom lip sticks out in a full pout. "No bath."

Kai leans back, smirking. "You gonna argue with her, little shadow? I tried that once and ended up in the river."

Jax gasps dramatically. "The river?"

Kai nods. "She has no mercy."

I cross my arms. "I will throw both of you in the river if you don't give me my son."

Jax grins but hands Adrian over. The moment I have him in my arms, he starts his next strategy—flopping like a fish. "Mama, no bath!"

I sigh, shifting him onto my hip. "You don't have to like it, but you do have to do it." He continues to squirm in my arms as I grab his clothing from his bedroom.

Kai leans on the doorframe.

"You're amazing, you know that right?"

Kai

I watch as Paedyn handles Adrian, balancing him on her hip while grabbing his clothes. He's still half-heartedly wiggling, but she doesn't even flinch.

"You're amazing, you know that, right?" I say, shaking my head.

She laughs, adjusting Adrian in her arms. "I know."

I chuckle. "Oh, so humble too."

She smirks, tossing Adrian's sleep clothes onto the counter. "I have to be. Raising two children is exhausting."

I place a hand over my heart. "Two?"

She raises a brow. "Yes. You and him."

Adrian chooses that moment to flop dramatically against her shoulder. "Mamaaa, no bath," he groans.

Paedyn lowers Adrian into the warm water, and the second the water touches his skin, his entire personality changes.

"Ooooh," Adrian hums, relaxing into the tub. "Feels nice."

I blink. "Are you serious?" Adrian giggles, kicking his little feet and making the water splash. "Dada, your water is cold."

Adrian laughs again, and I can't even be mad. I crouch beside the tub, watching as Paedyn washes him. She gently runs her fingers through his dark curls, rinsing the soap out.

Once Adrian is dressed, she tucks him into bed. He yawns, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Mama?"

She brushes his curls back. "Yeah, baby?"

His tiny hand finds hers. "Love you."

Her face softens. "I love you too, sweetheart."

I lean over, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Love you, little shadow."

His eyes flutter closed, and Paedyn just stares at him for a long moment. I slide an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"I have a surprise for you," I whisper as we walk out of the room.

"Oh?" she turns to look at me. I lead her outside the castle, to the stable, and lift her onto a horse. I mount behind her, and wrap my arms around her to reach the reins. She leans into my touch.

Paedyn

We get to the poppy field, but it's a different one. I have never been to this.

"Is this new?" I ask. Kai nods. He take a strip of cloth out of his pocket and ties it around my head. A blindfold. He gently guides me down a path until he unties the blindfold, leaving me to look at a house. Wait, a house?

I blink a few times. "Kai, what is this?" I whisper. Kai grins and steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "This, darling, is our future."

I turn to him, eyes wide. "Our future? You got us a house?"

He chuckles softly, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. "Not just any house. This is where we'll be, together. Where Adrian will grow up. Where we'll create all our memories."

"I—" I start, my voice catching, "I don't even know what to say."

Kai smiles, leading me toward the house. "You don't have to say anything. Just know, it's for us. All of us."

I step inside. The main room has a huge stone fireplace in the center, with a large, cozy couch in front of it. The walls are lined with shelves, filled with books, and there's a giant window that looks out over the poppy fields.

"This is... perfect," I whisper.

Kai steps beside me, wrapping his arms around me. "It's ours."

I turn to him, my heart full. "I don't even know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," he smiles, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Just know it's for you, Adrian, and me."

The next day

I groan as Ellie yanks me out of bed.

"Ellie, the sun isn't even up yet. It's too early for this," I mumble.

"I don't care," Ellie says, yanking the blankets off me. "You're getting married today, and we have a lot to do."

That wakes me up.

Oh. Oh.

Right. I'm getting married today.

I sit up, blinking in the early morning light. Adrian is still curled up on the other side of the bed, fast asleep, his tiny body rising and falling with soft breaths. I lean down, pressing a kiss to his forehead before I stand.

We invited the Hawthorne family to our wedding, and Avery is waiting in the dressing room. The dress I wore was one of Adena's designs, in a silky white fabric. It was a halter top neckline, and the rest of the dress cascaded down, with a slit on the side. My hair is loosely curled, some strands pinned back to frame my face.

Avery beams. "Kai is going to lose his mind when he sees you."

Ellie grins mischievously. "Speaking of Kai, are you ready for the waterworks?"

I snort. "I highly doubt Kai will cry."

Avery smirks. "We'll see."

–

Adrian is the first to walk down the aisle, dressed in a tiny suit, his curls bouncing as he carefully carries a small pillow with the rings. He looks up, searching for me, and when our eyes meet, he grins widely.

"Mama!" he calls out, waving.

I bite back a laugh as Ellie quickly ushers him forward. "Go to Dada, baby."

He scurries toward Kai, who kneels to take his hand. The sight makes my heart swell. Kai whispers something to him, ruffling his curls before standing tall, waiting for me.

My legs carry me forward, my heart pounding with every step. By the time I reach him, Kai takes my hands.

"You are unreal," he whispers, his voice rough.

I smile. "You ready for this, Kai?"

He smirks, the emotion still lingering in his eyes. "I've been ready for this my whole life."

The ceremony is a blur of promises and vows, and then, "You may kiss the bride." Kai takes me in and presses his lips to mine. 

Kai

Later at the reception, I watch Paedyn and Adrian dancing together. Adrian's little legs are jumping up and down, and tiny squeals escape from his lips. After the music ends, Adrian runs off, and Jax sprints after him. Paedyn sits down next to me. I pull Paedyn a little closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. 

"Can you believe it?" I whisper, barely above a breath. She shakes her head. Adrian runs up to us, his little face flushed from running around. 

"Mama, Dada! Can I have more cake?"

I laugh and nod. "Go ask Aunt Avery for help, buddy."

Adrian comes running back, his mouth already covered in cake, grinning ear to ear. "Thank you, Aunt Avery!" he calls out over his shoulder.

I laugh, wiping some frosting from his chin as he climbs onto my lap. "You've got a little something on your face there, buddy."

Paedyn smiles. 

"Best day ever?" she asks. Adrian nods flinging cake onto the table. 

The day wrapped up with Adrian covered in cake and his little snores as Paedyn tucked him into bed. 

"I love you," I whisper to Paedyn.

word count - 1446 words

holy crap guys. that took forever. wedding night is coming tmrw, with some of y'alls favourite – smut! 

idk if i can but maybe two chapters tmrw?? not sure. hope you enjoyed this!