Fated (A Chris Evans Series)

The World Premiere

Chris adjusted his silver tie in the reflection of their stainless steel fridge before grabbing a beer from it. It was 6:14PM, the car that had been sent for them was waiting outside, and still Denise wasn't ready to leave for her world premiere. The last time Chris checked, the prep team their publicist had sent for her were packing up to leave after completing the finishing touches on her hair. But still, Chris was patient because he understood that he was a guy and it was always going to take him half the time it took her to get ready for a red carpet event. And considering this red carpet event was hers, he was going to give her all the time she needed.

"What are you doing, buddy?" Chris chuckled, lowering his beer onto the island bench when he saw his eighteen month old yanking at his little silver tie. "No, Jack. Stop," he carefully pulled Jack's tiny hands away from the crooked tie and readjusted it. "You have to look dapper for Mama's premiere, we didn't buy you a suit so you could ruin it before we got to the premiere."

Chris lifted Jack out of his high chair and into his arms before he walked back to his beer to take another sip. Jack wrapped his tiny hands around Chris' beer bottle as Chris took a sip, trying to pull it from his tight grip. "Sorry, pal. Not till you're eighteen. Uh uh," he moved the bottle out of his reach then mirrored his son's adorable pout. "C'mon, let's go see if Mama's ready, shall we?" He rhetorically quizzed as he rested the beer bottle back down on the bench top and started towards the staircase.

"Doger," Jack squirmed in Chris' arms when he spotted Dodger. "Doger, Dada. Doger!" Jack started to scream when Chris wouldn't lower him onto his feet. It wasn't that he didn't want to let Jack play with Dodger while waiting, he just didn't think Denise would appreciate Jack getting dog fur all over his little suit. "Down! Dada, down!" He squirmed and wiggled profusely, screaming till crocodile tears began to form in the corner of his eyes. "Dooooown!"

With Jack's hands flailing around, it didn't take long for Chris to get smacked in the face. "God, Jack." Chris winced, lowering Jack onto his feet because he wasn't about to get smacked again. The second Jack got his hands on Dodger, he calmed and was back to his smiley state. "Hey," Chris lowered himself onto his knee, beckoning for Jack's attention. "You need to listen to me, okay? Today is Mama's big day, so I'm going to need you to be on your best behavior." Chris was so busy lecturing Jack that he didn't even hear Denise's heels descending the stairs. "I don't want you ruining today for her, do you understand me?"

Denise stood at a distance and smiled at how seriously Chris was taking her first event. The fact that he was willing to lecture their all so precious little boy said more than enough. "Sorry to keep the two of you waiting," she said as she approached them. Chris looked up and a breathless chuckle escaped his lips as his heart skipped a beat.

"Wow," he breathed. His gaze remained on her as he rose to his feet, and he smiled as he walked over to take her hands in his. Words couldn't describe how beautiful he thought she looked in her silver halter neck chiffon gown. "Just- wow," he repeated, placing a hand on his heart. He pulled her towards him, placing a hand on her waist. "You look amazing, Denise."

"Thank you," she tenderly kissed his cheek then brushed off her lipstick mark with the pad of her thumb. "You're looking very handsome yourself. A little stressed, if you're lecturing our toddler-" she teased him then giggled when he chuckled. "But very, very handsome. Should we go?" She asked as she pulled away from him to take Jack's hand.

"Before we do," he caught her wrist in his hand and she turned to him with raised brows. "I just..." He trailed off, smiling. He wanted a perfectly worded sentence to tell her how proud he was of her and what she'd achieved, but he couldn't find it within himself. All he could muster were "I am so proud of you." Simple, direct, and emotionally effective. "I wish I had a better way to phrase how proud I am of you, but I'm no writer so I'll just keep it simple. I am so, so proud of you, Denise."