Love Will Remember

Family

(Aquantis' POV)
I was woken up when my bed dipped down beside me. I opened up one of my eyes and saw my cousin next to me laying with Champ. I closed my eye and decided to scare him a bit. "Who gave you the right to come to my room to lay on my bed and with my dog?"

"Holy shiitake mushrooms! Aquantis, you can't be doing that, man."

"Last time I checked I was a woman, excuse you."

"Geez, whatever. Everyone is downstairs, by the way, waiting for the bride-to-be."

"Oh, great, just in time. Now, can you leave my room so I can freshen up."

"Alright, woman." I glared at him and he quickly left my room. I rubbed my eyes to take the sleep out of them and got up to go to my bathroom. After I deemed myself clean enough, I got dressed in a casual outfit and threw my hair up into a bun. I left my room and went downstairs to greet everyone that showed up.

When I got downstairs, a few of my family members came up to greet me with hugs. "I can't believe you're getting married." I heard one of my aunts say.

"I know my baby girl is all grown up." I heard my mom say.

"Awww, mom." I walked up to her and gave her a hug. She wiped the few tears that came out and smiled. "Alright, why don't we have a family cook out? We haven't had one of those in a while."

"That's a great idea, the guys are grilling." My aunt Mandy said. The guys all groaned, but headed to the back anyways. My aunts and my mom went to the kitchen. While my little cousins went to run around the backyard taking Champ with them.

I stayed in the house and turned on the tv to see what was on. Before I got the chance to actually find something to watch the front door opened. "Babe?"

"I'm in the living room!" It was my hubby-to-be. When he rounded the corner I smiled at him and opened my arms out to him. He came and sank into the spot beside me and into my arms. "What's up with all the cars outside?"

"Some of my family came early before the wedding."

"Oh, where are they?"

"In the back, well the guys and the kids are. My mom and all my aunts are in the kitchen."

"Oh ok." I nodded and hugged him closer to me. "Quantis!"

"I'm in the living room, mom!" She came from the direction of the kitchen and into the living room. "Oh, hi Aidan, sweetie."

"Hi Natalie."

"Just call me mom, honey. Your already apart of the family." She playfully scolded him. He chuckled and nodded.

"Quantis, why don't you introduce Aidan to everyone."

"Alright mom."

"Now."

"Okay, okay geez." Aidan sat up and I stood and I pulled him up. We both walked hand in hand to the kitchen first and greeted my aunts. There was a chorus of 'awwww's immediately and I tried to refrain from blushing, but failed and used Aidan's arm to hide my face. My aunts all complimented how adorable we look and my mom told them briefly about our love story. I rolled my eyes, but inside I was fond of some of the memories we've shared.

After talking to my aunts for a bit and answering some of their questions, we both went to the back where the guys were grilling. I introduced Aidan to my uncles and my older cousins. They all looked like they were going to gang up on Aidan, so I glared at them and they toned down a bit. I was surprised Aidan was handling them well and wasn't afraid. Once they got through their tough exteriors they immediately started joking around. I shook my head at them and started to smile nonetheless. I was happy that my family and Aidan got along.

During conversation, one of my uncles got my attention. "Quantis, do you guys have any fold-out tables?"

"Yeah, they should be in the shed."

"Alright, we need to put those up so we can all eat outside." Some of my cousins got straight to doing just that after hearing my uncle. I turned to Aidan, "hey, I'm gonna go back inside."

"Alright." I leaned up and he met me halfway for a quick kiss. I walked back inside and helped my aunts and my mom.

Once all the food was cooked, my cousins threw a cloth onto the outdoor tables and we set the food in the center of the tables. My family members all sat down with Aidan and I in the middle. I quickly sent Aidan a smile and he pecked my cheek. "Awww, you guys are so adorable," one of my aunts said, gathering the attention of everyone at the table. Aidan took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze before answering my aunt. "Thank you, but I think the adorable one here is Aquantis." I groaned while everyone else laughed. "Alright, lovebirds, I wanna give a toast to you." Everyone of us turned to one of my uncles. "I just want to say congratulations to you guys and I wish you the best for your future together. I am so proud to see the young woman you've become, Aquantis. Aidan, take care of this one, she's very special to all of us." Aidan firmly nodded and I smiled. "Now, in honor of the couple, lets raise our glass to them, wishing the greatest of wishes for them." We all raised our glasses and joined in the center of the table before taking sips.

After our dinner, my mom, Aidan and I said our goodbyes to my family as they all were going back to the house they rented, just for the time being before the wedding. Afterwards, my mom told us that we'd just put the table and chairs away tomorrow morning, before she went upstairs to her room. Aidan and I followed shortly after her and went to my room. I changed into some pjs and tossed Aidan his clothes that he'd usually leave here. Once we were changed, we both migrated to my bed and laid down. Aidan pulled me into his arms and I tucked my head in the crook of his neck. "Well, goodnight, future Mrs. Parker."

"Goodnight, Mr. Parker."