Obsessed

forty | EPILOUGE...

8 years later...

"My wittle babieee!" June cooed at one year-old Clìo, her little arms reached out to grab his hair, giving it a squeeze as she giggled.

The father and daughter duo never failed to make Amirlya's heart flutter, she watched them play together as she held Karim's little arm, the four year-old was fussy this Christmas Eve morning and she couldn't point out why.

He was fed, dressed, and had slept all throughout the night. The real deal was that the little boy was desperate to tear open the stack of presents under the Christmas tree, but only if he behaved. He had June's scant patience and Amirlya's irksome stubbornness, it was going to be a hassle trying to get him to listen.

Amirlya waddled towards her two beloveds, heavily pregnant with the third child. It was only a matter of time before her stomach bursts open, she was huge, and June loved her cute big belly.

He loved that she was carrying another symbol of their love.

"Mama said she's on her way, did you call Don?"

June nodded his head, "They're picking up Theo and then driving here, it'll take a good four hours tho."

The couple silently thought of Theo, it had been a while since the two saw him. Theodore was all grown up now, a whopping sixteen years. The boy was nearly as tall as his older brother and would probably grow to be taller. He was the outgoing basketball star of his school, the ladies loved him, and the boys wanted to be him. Too busy preparing for next years Olympics, the young man didn't have time to hangout with his family as much. Little did they know he was going through a battle of obsession himself, a diagnosis that seems to run in the Vatican family.

___

Christmas this year was hosted by the Vaticans 2.0, and everyone was invited. The holiday spirit filled the home with warmth as the couple continued to decorate.

Ding dong! The doorbell rang, Karim wasted no time scurrying his little feet to the front door, jumping up and down in reach for the doorknob.

"Get away from there you knucklehead!" June shouted.

The door opened to reveal the one and only Anui Khoul, her hands had a firm hold on the Christmas gifts for her neice and nephew. Passing them abruptly to June, she lifted Karim up in the air and smothered him with loving kisses.

"Auntie Anui! I missed you!" Karim cheered.

"Everyone does!" Anui responded happily. She was the childless rich auntie that everyone loved, and she was proud of it.

Anui gave June a small greeting and grabbed Karim and made her way in search for her best friend.

Amirlya stood in front of the stove stirring her pot of macaroni. She didn't need to turn around to know that Anui was there, her signature scent was giving it away.

"You're best friend, Emmy winning actress and film director at your presence!" Anui bragged. Amirlya laughed as she continued to list her out her achievements in the joking matter, Anui's acting career was flourishing and she couldn't be prouder.

"Ya know Mir, I was thinking, you should like totally write about my movie in the New York Times, like, give it a little boost."

Amirlya smiled at her request. Her internship at the New York Times went so well that she had gotten a job offer, it didn't take her long to climb up the ranks as one of the best writers the company had to offer, sooner or later, she found herself as chief executive, working along side Nobel prize authors and making a series of award-winning novels herself. Anui had begged Amirlya to use her skills to promote her before, the press would be good for her up and coming movie, and she wanted to prove to her colleagues that she wasn't only good at acting, but directing too.