50 Shades of Drake 5 and 6

Chapter Five

    Destiny took one look around the family and friends gathered on the patio of Aubrey's estate. Out of everyone gathered, Sadie was easily the happiest to see Aubrey. It seemed that she hadn't forgotten him from when he visited Destiny's family in Arizona. If she wasn't seated in his lap while he was seated, then she was gripping his hand or his pants leg while he was standing, conversing with Jasmine or Candace. He occasionally drifted away from the people gathered near his swimming pool to speak with his staff, but Sadie was never far behind him. If he approached someone she didn't know, she simply stood three feet away from him with her index finger in her mouth.

    Aubrey had given everyone a tour of his property. His property was expansive, so it had taken a few hours. The pool area, a theater room, a recreation room, the studio (with the equipment covered to protect it from dust), the many bedrooms, the other living quarters located on the property...it was disorienting to see Aubrey speak about the house as casually as he did, as if it wasn't practically a miniature community. The one area that seemed to touch him was the studio. When he stepped inside of it, his lips curved into a sad smile. A nostalgic look flashed in his eyes as he moved further into the room, running his hand along the engineering board.

    Destiny followed him inside with her arms wrapped around herself, vaguely aware that her parents were poking their heads in through the doorway.

    "All of the magic that 40 and I used to create in studios just like these," Aubrey said, turning around in a small circle. "All of those late nights, those conversations that led to hits, those sick beats..." He shook his head. "It feels like it all happened another lifetime ago."

    "Is he the one who'll be helping you with the new album?" she asked, trying to imagine Aubrey and 40 creating songs together.

    "He has a lot going on, but he's going to help me out with a few tracks," Aubrey said. The tone of his voice said that he missed the old days.

    She walked up to him and slid her arms around his waist.

    "Oliver is trying to help me take control of OvOFest again," he explained, covering her arms with his own. "He said it's proving to be a lot harder than he expected."

    "But he'll get it done," she said encouragingly.

    He glanced at her over her shoulder, then looked beyond her at Mr. and Mrs. Richards speaking in low tones near the entrance to the studio. After giving Destiny's hands a pat, he cleared his throat. "Look at me. I'm supposed to be giving you guys a tour, and I'm standing here taking a trip down memory lane."

    "The memories that you lived right here in this city are what helped to create the impressive catalog of music that you're known for," she pointed out.

    "There you go, sounding like a journalist again," he said, turning around in her arms and looking down at her.

    She smiled up at him. "Bad habit."

    They stared at each other for several moments. Then he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

    She closed her eyes the moment his lips touched her skin. It almost felt like the beginning, when their lives were easier. Devoid of tragedy and pain and heartache.

    He lifted his head and took a step back, but made sure to grab a hold of one of her hands. Leading her back towards her family, he said, "Well, this is the studio. Most people will tell you that the bedroom is where the magic happens, but this studio...this studio is where the magic really happened."

    After the tour, everyone gathered out on the patio. Destiny's parents were in love with the way the patio was designed. Beautiful wicker furniture, a cushioned oasis lounging area surrounded by water, gorgeous lights strung up around the area lighting up the night.