BECOMING A SANCHÉZ

BONUS

VIVIANN:

The warm Italian sun filtered through the trees, casting playful shadows across the sprawling garden of our home. The sound of laughter echoed around me, coming from somewhere in the distance, and I smiled. Ten years had passed since our wedding on that beach, and in those years, our love had only grown stronger, deeper, and more profound. The life we had built together felt almost like a dream, but it was real-beautifully, wonderfully real.

I stood on the terrace, looking out over the sun-soaked grounds. Our children-now no longer the tiny babies we had once held-were running through the garden, their laughter carrying on the gentle breeze. Valentina and Valentino now seventeen , was leading their younger brothers, Adrigo, and Amando, in a game of tag. The boys, at eleven were just as mischievous as ever, their giggles making my heart swell with pride and joy.

Behind me, the sound of footsteps approached. I turned to see Sander, Calus, and Kane walking up from the beach, their smiles wide as they took in the scene before them. Sander's hair was longer now, streaks of silver peppering the dark strands, but his eyes held the same warmth and love as they always had. Calus, still as steady and strong as ever, had a quiet grin on his face, while Kane, always the protector, gave me a look that spoke of deep contentment.

"Enjoying the view?" Sander asked as he wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing a kiss to my neck. "Always," I replied with a smile, leaning into his warmth. "I never get tired of seeing our family like this." Kane chuckled, stepping up beside us. "They're getting harder to keep track of. It's like herding cats at this point." Speaking of Cats we got Tiago a girlfriend her name is Labella, they hit it off instantly now we have a littler of four cubs running around the kids all gave them names, three boys and one girl, Romana, Romeo, Renzo, and Riccardo it was Valentino who came up with matching the cubs names, they were also a growing family and adorable as ever.

Calus nodded, watching as Valentino darted behind a tree, narrowly avoiding being caught by Valentina. "They've got your spirit," he said, glancing at me with a soft smile. "All of them." I laughed softly, the sound mixing with the playful cries of the children. "And yours too. It's a perfect mix." We stood there for a while, just watching the children play, soaking in the peacefulness of the day. Ten years had brought so much love, laughter, and even challenges, but we had faced everything together. There wasn't a day that passed where I didn't feel grateful for this life, for the love we shared. "Remember our honeymoon?" Sander asked suddenly, a teasing glint in his eye. I smiled at the memory. Our honeymoon had been the adventure of a lifetime-a whirlwind trip through Europe, full of spontaneity and passion. We had traveled from the French Riviera to the Swiss Alps, stopping in quaint little towns along the way, indulging in quiet moments and romantic nights.

"Oh, I remember," I said with a laugh, my cheeks flushing slightly. "You couldn't keep your hands off me." Kane grinned. "None of us could." "We practically got lost in the vineyards of Tuscany," Calus added with a smirk, "because someone insisted we didn't need a map." "Yeah but we had a lot of fun getting lost." Sander threw his hands up in defense. "Hey, we found our way eventually! And besides, that detour led to one of the best nights of the whole trip."

I blushed at the memory, knowing exactly what he meant. That night, tucked away in a little villa in the middle of nowhere, under a blanket of stars, had been magical. We had sat by a fire, sipping wine, talking about our future, and imagining what our life would be like years from then. I hadn't imagined it could be this perfect.

"And now look at us," I said softly, glancing at each of them. "Ten years later, with our beautiful family, and we're still just as in love." Kane brushed a strand of hair from my face, his eyes filled with that fierce devotion I had come to know so well. "More in love," he corrected, his voice low but full of meaning. "We've grown together, all of us. There's nothing we can't face." Calus nodded in agreement, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "We're stronger now than we've ever been."

Sander kissed the top of my head, his arms tightening around me. "And we're going to keep making memories. The best is yet to come." Just then, Valentina and the boys ran up, their faces flushed with excitement. "Mom! Dad! We're hungry!" Amando exclaimed, his wide smile a mirror image of mine. "Well, it looks like it's time for lunch then," I said, laughing as I gathered them into my arms. "Come on, let's get you all fed before you turn into little monsters."

The kids cheered as we made our way toward the large outdoor dining table, where a feast was already being set up. The scent of fresh bread, pasta, and grilled vegetables filled the air, reminding me of all the family dinners we had shared over the years. The laughter, the stories, the love-it was all woven into the fabric of our lives.

As we sat down together, surrounded by the warmth of the Italian sun, the sea shimmering in the distance, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with happiness. Our life wasn't perfect-no life ever is-but it was ours, full of love, joy, and the kind of bond that would carry us through anything.

Sander, Calus, and Kane sat close by, their eyes on me, on our children, and on the life we had built together. The children chattered excitedly, their laughter filling the air as we shared stories and memories.

And in that moment, as I looked around at my family, I knew without a doubt that our love, our connection, would carry us through another ten, twenty, fifty years and beyond.

Because together, we were unstoppable. That's what Becoming a Sanchez means, Family comes first.

THE END...