And now... There's us

Chapter 7

Nicholas P.O.V

It's been a year since Emmalin and I first got together, and I've never been happier. I walk out of Antonio's office with a huge grin on my face. That was a very important meeting, so I'm glad it went well. When I hear voices coming from the kitchen, I make my way over there.

"You guys said, whoever grabs the cookie gets it, and I got it. Not to mention the fact that I'm the one who made them!" My beautiful Emma says.

She's wearing a pair of denim shorts with a t-shirt. It's really nothing special, but I've come to learn that whatever she wears is amazing. In her hand is one of her famous snickerdoodles, that she's holding in the air, while arguing with the twins. She doesn't see me coming up behind her, so I take the opportunity to take half the cookie into my mouth.

"Hey! I had to do a lot of work to get that!" She slaps my chest, and I chuckle.

"Sorry sweetheart, but I'm offended that you made snickerdoodles without calling me." With that, I take the second half of the cookie as well. She huffs, and walks to one of the cupboards, taking out something wrapped in foil. She unwraps it, revealing two more snickerdoodles.

"Actually, I saved you two. I guess that I'll just have to eat them myself." She sighs dramatically, before taking a bite out of the first cookie. I'm in front of her in two seconds. She lets out a squeal when I pick her up off the ground. Immediately, I grab the cookie out of her hand, and stuff it into my mouth. There's one more left, but I, being the gentleman I am, only ate half of it, giving her the second half.

"Okay, let me down now!" She squeals, and I tilt my head in thought.

"Hmm, okay I will, if you say 'Nick is the hottest guy in the world'" She rolls her eyes.

"Fine. Geez, you're like a two-year-old. Nick is the hottest guy in the world." She grumbles. I give her a quick peck on the lips, and put her back on her feet. "Where did the twins go?" She asks, and I shrug.

"They probably left when I picked you up." She hops on the counter, and I stand between her legs.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" She asks. I'm usually at wok at this time.

"I had an important meeting with your brother, and I'm taking Sofie for a milkshake." I nuzzle my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent, while she plays with my hair.

"You are?" Emma loves it when Sofie and I bond. I don't mind it either, because the kid is pretty cool. The reason for today's trip is different, though. I can't tell Emma what it is just yet. "Can I come with?" I don't know how to tell her no, but thank goodness Sofie walks in at that exact moment, and saves me.

"Absolutely not." Sofie says with a scowl. "I've planned this perfectly. Hudson is going to be there, too. I heard him say so to his friends, but if you're there, it would ruin everything. You know he has a crush on you." I stand up straight.

"I don't like this kid. Where does he live?" Sofie rolls her eyes.

"He's fifteen, you can't do anything to him."

"You're not allowed to have a crush." I say, folding my arms.

"She can't exactly control how she feels." Emma defends. "Plus, it's not like she has a boyfriend."

"And she won't. Not until she's thirty." Enzo says, walking into the kitchen, and ruffling her hair.

"I don't have the energy for this." Sofie mutters, before leaving and getting into my car. I chuckle.

"Boy am I glad my sister is older than me and married." I say, kissing Emma one last time, and then getting into my car.

Emmalin P.O.V

"Emmy, wake up!" I groan, and very reluctantly, open my eyes.

"Go away, I'm sleeping." I throw a pillow at my sister, who easily catches it.

"I don't exactly care, because it's your birthday!" Since Nick took Sofie for ice-cream last week, everyone has been extra clingy for some reason. I barely got a second to myself. Like, for example, yesterday, I woke up with the twins and Sofie lying in my bed, sound asleep.

"Ugh, fine, I'm up." I walk to my bathroom, took a shower, and brushed my teeth.

"There's the birthday girl." Luca picks me up, and spins me around in a circle.

"Happy birthday, princess." Dante says, kissing the top of my head.

"Thanks Dante." I kiss his cheek.

"Alright, Nicholas has asked permission to have you from ten o'clock, which is why you're up so early." Antonio kisses the top of my head, and hands me a plate full of pancakes. Antonio is the best cook known to mankind, but only uses his skill on our birthdays. Over the past couple of years, I've noted that Antonio is extremely laid back; well, as laid back as Antonio can get, but again, only if there's a birthday.

I dig into my pancakes immediately, and see everyone look at me. They all have this soft, dreamy expression on their faces, and if I'm not mistaken, I think I see a tear in Luca and Dante's eyes.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" I ask, looking around the table. They come out of their daze, and smile.

"Well, it's just that my big baby sister is growing up. Twenty-five." Sofie says, grabbing a strawberry. I shrug it off, and finish my breakfast.

We spend the rest of the morning opening presents, and just hanging out as a family, and it feels really nice.

"Okay, it's ten minutes before you leave, so come on, I'll show you what to wear." She grabs my hand, and leads me back into my room.

"Wait, do you know where he's taking me?" She simply shrugs.

"He's here!" Sofie says, handing me a backpack with who-knows-what inside. All my brothers are waiting for me outside. Why are they doing that?

I say goodbye to everyone, which was odd, because they all gave me extra long hugs. Geez, I'm twenty-five. What's the big deal?

"Good morning, my gorgeous birthday girl." Nick says, leaning over the console to give me a quick kiss.

"Good morning, my handsome prince." He winks at me, giving me a smile that shows the dimple in hi left cheek. "So, are you going to tell me where we're going?" I ask hopefully.

"Now, that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" He smirks, repeating the same line he said on our first date.

Twenty minutes later, we pull up at JFK, and I give Nick a puzzled look. Of course, he doesn't say anything, as we board his private jet.

"Okay, I'm going to ask." I turn to face him. "Where are we going? Why do we need a jet to get there? How long is our flight?" Nick chuckles, before pulling me into his lap.

"We're going on a vacation. We'll be there for five days. Now, before you say anything, I had Sofie pack your suitcase with clothes, and anything else you need." I gape at him.

"Where are we going?" He didn't get to answer, because the pilot did that for him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are set to arrive at 5pm to our destination; Paris, France."