Angel

IX

   "I made it for you. You have to wear it and never take it off."
   Vivienne smiled and blushed as she gave Stefani the bracelet she made herself the night before, spending countless hours to make it as perfect as possible.
   As she heard these words, Angelina froze a second, surprised, and turned to face her little daughter, all shyness and cuteness, giving her lover this lovely gift. She smiled, moved by the adorable scene of two of her biggest loves, and then went back to pouring lemonade in all glasses.
   "I promise. I promise I will never take it off. Ever."
   Stefani attached the bracelet around her skinny wrist, tilting her head so the little girl wouldn't see her eyes shining with tears. She'd been welcomed so warmly in this family over the last few weeks and she was so grateful. She sometimes felt it was her family too, that these kids were her own. She never regretted asking Angie to meet her lovely children. She felt happier than ever, being around the one she loved and her loved ones.
  Angelina handed a glass full of fresh beverage to Stefani and sat next to her on the bench. The kids were playing, they seemed happy, happy to see their mom happy again, probably a relief. They had seen her in a dark phase, and ben though she was hiding her tears, they knew how miserable she felt, they saw it on her face. But now she was glowing again, more beautiful and shiny than ever before. They siding quite know exactly who Stefani was for their mommy but they knew that a big part of this happiness came from her, and they were grateful.
"Such a sunny day in December, Stefani said lightly, sipping on her lemonade.
- It's because you're here, the clouds are hiding, they're afraid of your perfection."
Stefani looked at Angelina, her eyes full of love, a small smile on her lips. They knew how stupid and childish what they said to each other was, but they didn't care at all, just drowning into their passion for one another. They both felt like they were teenagers experiencing love for the first time. The happiest, purest kind of love.
"The kids really like you.
- Do they really ?
- Yeah."
Angelina paused, drunk some of her cold drink and smiled, looking at her children, and at her lover.
"They truly do."
Stefani was moved. She knew she wanted to be a mom one day, and being around Angie's kids sometimes made her feel like one. Besides, watching Angelina being such a sweet, caring and loving mom just inspired her so much, and gave her the envy of having some children of her own.
"Vivienne spent hours last afternoon making this bracelet you're wearing. I didn't know she was going to give it to you. I mean I am not surprised. She really likes you.
- I didn't expect it either."
Stefani took the think bracelet between her fingers and made it roll around her wrist.
"It was really sweet of her. She's really sweet. All of your kids are. You must be so proud of them.
- I am. I've always been and always will."
   Both women looked at each other. Angelina smiled and her bottom lip started trembling, her eyes watering with tears. She was the happiest she had ever been in years. She thought these times of joy and unconditional love were over for her and there it was, life proving her wrong once again. She took Stefani's hand in her, pressed it gently and increased her smile as she stood up.
   "I'm gonna go get the cake."
   As soon as she was gone, Shiloh and Pax ran across the garden, laughing, with a malicious look in their eyes. They stopped right in front of Stefani. Pax's eyes were stuck on her sister, but Shiloh was looking straight at Stefani, a small smirk on her mouth, her eyes shining.
   "Do you love my mommy ?"
   Stefani choked on her lemonade, and started coughing. What. Was. She. Supposed. To. Answer ? She wiped her lips with the back of her hand, trying to avoid eyes contact with the ten-year-old standing in front of her, waiting avidly for an answer.
   "Well I...
   - You're making mom happy, Pax said, cutting Stefani off, She's happier when you're around.
   - She's happier than when she was with daddy, Shiloh added, She's just like before. When we were a family."
   Stefani's heart stopped a second. She was talking about Brad and Angelina being a family to her, not about her. She wasn't a part of a family. She was just someone around. Wasn't it what Shiloh was saying ?
   "Even with dad it didn't feel like a family sometimes, Shiloh kept on going, They weren't even sleeping together. It was weird sometimes. But not anymore."
   The little girl looked straight into Stefani's eyes and smiled.
   "Now we're like a family again !"
   She jumped and laughed, looking all excited.
   "You're a part of our family now. If mommy loves you we do too."
   Stefani's heart melted as she heard these words. So that's what they thought of her ? They loved her too ? Considered her as family ? She felt her tears starting to flow on her cheeks. She bit her lips and smiled, wiping her crying with her fingers. She nodded to the kids, her eyes closing.
She heard the footsteps of her lover, Angelina was coming back with a freshly baked vanilla cream cake, and only the sound of her heels made Stefani's heart beat faster.
"Stefani are you okay ? Have you been crying ? Pax, Shiloh what happened ?"
Stefani stood up and walk towards Angie, tears still rolling down her face. Her hand caressed Angelina's cheek, brushed her hair softly, and landed behind her head. The white cake fell on the ground, but nobody seemed to care. Stefani pressed her lips against Angelina's, softly, before taking a last breath and kissing her passionately.