innocent | ethan dolan

thirty-six

her friends became her family

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violet's pov;

My father was getting back today in the evening so me, as well as the Dolans' decided that we should throw a surprise party for him since we hadn't seen him in quite a long time now.

I had tidied up the whole house, Ethan alongside me, helping me out as much as he could, despite his broken arm.

After we tidied up, Lisa, Sean, Grayson, Shawn and Joey had all come over to help set up the entire party. We had blown up a few balloons too as well as putting a few snacks on the counter.

"I knew there was something going on between you two." Sean, Ethan's dad says smiling at his son. Ethan smiles.

"Yup, she's my girlfriend." Ethan literally announces to everyone in the house. Joey smiles at me, wiggling her eyebrows, making me giggle.

Ethan looks at me with a grin on his face. We were official? He never really asked but then again I just assumed we were together.

"Should I put the fairy lights up?" I wonder out loud to Ethan.

"You could. Do you have a ladder?" he asks.

"Yeah, it's in the shed. Do you mind getting it for me?" I ask. He nods before going there and collecting it for me. Ethan puts it out for me, holding the ladder against the wall as I climbed up to hang them up.

"I'm enjoying this view." I hear Ethan say. I was glad that no one was around us to have heard that.

"Mhm, enjoy it while you can Dolan." I smirk. I heard him chuckle to himself as I climbed back down the ladder. The speakers played some of my dad's favourite r&b songs from back in his days. I helped set the dining table up for dinner.

I feel my phone buzz in my head pocket.

dad: i'm just 5 mins away

I smile to myself, turning off the lights as everyone tried to hide behind tables and behind the couch. Ethan stood next to me, next to the light display. I heard the front door open so I flicked the switch making everyone shoot up and shout surprise at my dad.

He smiled, holding his chest, the biggest smile on his face as he looked at me.

"Jeez, Violet, I'm nearly forty, you shouldn't scare me like that." he smiles, giving me a hug. I hug him back properly before we let go of each other.

"Sean! Lisa! You shouldn't have done all of this. You've already done so much for my family." he smiles, giving Ethan and Grayson's father a hug.

"Trust me, it was the least we could do. We loved having your daughter stay with us." Sean says, shooting me a smile.  They start having a conversation whilst Joey, Shawn, Ethan, Grayson and I all stand together, talking about random things.

After catching up a little, we all sit down on the table, Ethan next to me. I think my father notices that Ethan and I had been a little closer this evening compared to usual.

"So you two have become quite close haven't you?" my dad says, looking between Ethan and I. I feel Ethan hold my hand. Why was he nervous? My dad loved him.

"Yeah, we have. And um, actually we're um, dating." I say. I didn't know how my father would react to this so I didn't dare make eye contact with him. Grayson looked at me, his face just as anxious as mine.

"About time." my dad chuckles. I smile, as does Grayson.

"What?" I ask, looking at my dad.

"I knew there was something between you two. I take notice more than you think sweetheart." my dad says, smiling.

"You know, my dad said that too." Ethan says. I look at him and he smiles at me comfortingly. I look around the table and realise what amazing people I have around me.

"Thank you guys so much for being with us tonight. It means a lot to me." I say. Suddenly, everyone's attention is on me.

"You were always family to us, darling." Lisa smiles, holding up a glass of lemonade.

"To new relationships and Jayden's promotion!" Sean says, holding up the glass. Everyone else joins in, and we all clink our glasses together, cheering. I look at my dad and I don't think I have seen him with that kind of smile in a long time.

"So, finals are coming up." Joey sighs, looking at Shawn, then to me.

"Yeah, finals. Last finals we ever have to take before leaving that shithole." I say.

"Prom is also coming up!" Joey smiles.

"Yeah and I'm here literally like third wheeling the both of you guys. You guys are in relationships and I'm fucking single." Grayson sighs.

"Language Gray." Lisa says, from across the table before continuing her conversation.

I've got to say, I felt sorry for Grayson. He always seemed like the type to get any girl, however, he didn't really like anyone. He hadn't found the one like he had hoped to.

"Relax bro, you'll find someone. Or maybe you'll live with like 5 parrots. Not cats or dogs. Parrots. Because that's literally the only thing you're not allergic to." Ethan says, tapping his brother's back. Grayson rolls his eyes before we all start laughing.

"Damn, that must suck." I say.

"It really does. On the plus side, I already live with a dog." Grayson says, looking at Ethan.

"Shut the fuck up." Ethan says, smacking Grayson's head. Joey, Shawn and I all laugh at how easily they get annoyed at each other, even though it's just playful sibling fighting. Something I never had.

But it was okay. Grayson was like a brother to me. Maybe not at first, however, the more time we spent together, the more he became like a brother to me.

Joey was like a sister to me and Shawn was also like a brother. I had all the family I needed right here.

No one would've ever thought that we would ever hang out together at all. But fate is a funny thing isn't it?

"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Ethan whispers, putting his arm around me as he pulled me closer to him.

"You guys." I smile.

"I never had a proper family but I realised I have you guys." I say, looking around to see Shawn and Grayson were literally messing around with their forks and Joey who was laughing at Shawn.

"You'll always be family. Maybe, one day we'll even have our own." Ethan says, kissing my forehead.

I look at him in shock, "Really?" I ask.

"Of course." he says, leaning his head on mine.

The thought of a mini version of Ethan flashed through my mind, making me smile to myself.

I was eternally thankful for this family.

We weren't related by blood but certain bonds run even deeper than that.

For that, I was grateful.

a/n: this is a cute and sappy filler i'm sorry if u dont like 😥

pls vote and comment for me! :)
lots of love and d,
-N