It's Been A Long Time... [Desperate Measures Sequel]

FortyThree.

I had never watched the parade on telly before, to be honest, in England the closest thing we got to a parade was the yearly Crown Fair where some local girls would be a Queen for the day and everyone would follow them around the town before heading to the carnival in the town centre. My mum and dad would drag my brother and myself there every year to watch, even trying to encourage me to apply to be a Queen, I was not Queen material, I was barely peasant material.

The parade on the telly was so grand, the tone of it was magical with hundreds of people turning up to watch it and millions more tuning in to watch it. I had managed to find some time to get dressed between food prep and the parade starting, it was a big deal for me, this was the first time I had seen Brie since everything happened, I wanted to make a good impression. I had picked a black skater dress, a cute little dress that was just about the knee and had a little gold belt about the waist, I teamed it with nude tights and a gold coloured cardigan that matched the belt. I did pick some pretty black boots to go with it but I doubted I would be spending too much time outside so I left them off.

I spent my time on the sofa, Cassidy glued to my side as I sat on the edge of my seat my eyes never leaving the screen. Dean was the other side of me just watching my reaction. His sister and Aubrey on the opposite sofa watching the television but not as intensely as myself.

 I got excited at the same time as Cassidy when we saw a Hello Kitty balloon being pulled through the streets, she grabbed my hand and squeezed it as she stared at the screen. 

"Calm down Cassidy," Katherine told her daughter sternly as she looked over. 

"She's okay," Dean told his sister. "I remember how excited you used to be when you watched it when we were young."

Cassidy let go of my hand before she spoke, "Can we go to the parade next year mommy?"

Even I turned to look at Katherine to hear her reply, she smiled at her daughter. "I think we can arrange it," she told her daughter before she looked at Aubrey. "What do you think?"

Aubrey shrugged her shoulders, "I wouldn't mind."

I wanted to know why she had such a lack of enthusiasm, I wanted to ask questions but I knew better than to ask anything than to get involved. I smiled in Aubrey's direction before I looked back at the screen. My eyes lit up as I saw the next balloon being lumbered through the street, it was a giant Pikachu. 

Dean put his arm around me and laughed, "You are so mesmerizing." He kissed me on the cheek, "I've never seen an adult so excited about the parade."

I pulled my eyes away from the screen and turned to Dean, "It's just I've never seen anything so amazing." I smiled widely at him, "It's just so beautiful."

"Maybe," Dean took his arm back and did a little shoulder bump against mine. "Maybe we could go next year and watch it up close."

Widening my eyes I put my arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight grip, "You are amazing," I burst before I returned his kiss by kissing him on the lips, just a peck but enough for me to say thank you. 

I took my arms back as the doorbell rang, Dean looked away from me and got to his feet, "I think it's about to get busy in here." I smiled as I watched him leave the room heading to answer the door. 

"Quick," Cassidy shrieked, her little hands slapping my leg to get my attention. I looked back to the screen and almost let out a squeal of excitement when I saw Toothless from 'How to Train Your Dragon'. 

"It's so beautiful," I whispered as I stared at the screen. 

My ears pricked up when I heard a voice I hadn't heard for so long but recognized. I looked away from the screen towards the door, a few seconds later I watched as Daniel walked through the door. His beard was getting long, like a sea captain. He was dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans with a blue checkered shirt, just looking smart as he always did. He looked at me and smiled, "Natasha, nice to see you again."