california boy

” yeah ——— I got ‘im. ” Chris says, jogging over to the child and scooping him off the ground much to Oliver’s disappointment. by the time the man has him settled against his hip, he’s already mumbling about wanting down. ” no, you can look later. we have to go get mommy first. “

completely oblivious to the duo behind her, Aspen’s making way to follow the employee who’s guiding suited with his best attempt at speaking in complete english sentences. but as another fitted worker soon advanced with a tray of complementary hors d’oeuvres that happened to be decorated in seafood, Aspen’s stomach turned in a nauseating way that could only be in respect of her pregnancy. unintentionally rude, she wordlessly abandoned the man in a wince and made hurried strides to the counter where she patiently awaited her family’s approach. 

" ----- bae? " Chris glances up to watch Aspen's speedy departure before hurrying over to catch up with her at th desk. " you alright? " the older man questions with a slight tilt of his head, reaching out with his free hand to place it on her forearm in a comforting squeeze. " you're looking kinda pale. "

                  ❝ we’re getting married. ❞ Chris responds with a smile, leaning down to guide Oliver in the right direction. the child hasn’t said anything since the three stepped into the resort so he can only assume that he’s awestrucked by the scenery. ❝ so - uh - where do we check in? ❞ he turns back to Aspen, though he keeps an eye on Oliver.

     ‘ married. ’ she repeated just for emphasizing entertainment before each shoulder tensed toward an ear with a contenting smile morphing upon her features. ‘ i don’t — i’m not sure, baby. i think we’re supposed to follow that guy. ’ off in the distance, she pointed to a man dressed in employment attire who was certainly waving them over. feet began to move, her stare looked back at the duo. ‘ do you want to pick him up or at least watch him? he’s probably really curious. ’ and that was never a good thing.

" yeah ------ I got 'im. " Chris says, jogging over to the child and scooping him off the ground much to Oliver's disappointment. by the time the man has him settled against his hip, he's already mumbling about wanting down. " no, you can look later. we have to go get mommy first. "

"it’s whatever you want." 

it had been a seemingly short duration of a day and a half, and as scheduled their four in the morning flight arrived at the desired destination sometime around noon, the next day. the location and the resort appeared even more divine in person. squared in the middle of the south african forestry, it was almost impossible to fathom as it seemed like something concocted on the big screen. the gold infused pillars, statues, the marble painted floor and everything aspect seemed fit for a king — enlarged in sized and quantity. naturally, it left the female in awe with their approach in arrival. with her hand situated lovingly upon her significant other’s nape, her blue hues continued to gaze at the scenery. “we’re getting married here.”  

                  ❝ we're getting married. ❞ Chris responds with a smile, leaning down to guide Oliver in the right direction. the child hasn't said anything since the three stepped into the resort so he can only assume that he's awestrucked by the scenery. ❝ so - uh - where do we check in? ❞ he turns back to Aspen, though he keeps an eye on Oliver.

” baby ———- I’m not going to make a list. It’s a waste of time. ” silence as Chris searches for a nice button up shirt. ” I know what I need to pack - I don’t need a list to remember everything. I’m not that old. ” though the older man does tend to forget the necessities, including but not limited to a toothbrush, razors, and shampoo.

huffing a breath of defeat, Aspen stepped forward and closer to his presence that was turned away from her own. with her front now pressed to his backside, she wrapped both arms lightly around his collar region. lips pressing to his nape, she grinned. “let me do this for you — you and your son have to get ready. your parents are going to be here really soon.”

" uh ----- alright. " Chris pivots on his heels to steal a quick kiss from Aspen's slightly parted lips. " you're amazing, you know that? " he mumbles before slipping out of her embrace to get back into his closet. " so sweater and jeans? is that okay or no? "

” Aspen, my parents like you. they just don’t know how they feel about me - you know - I mean - they’re just worried that’s all. ” he leaves it at that and turns back to the closet before tugging out a plain black duffle. tossing it on the floor, taking care to avoid Oliver, Chris then goes about tossing items such as t-shirts and shorts into it. ” a circle thing… . . with flowers? I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it. “

"maybe it’s because i’m foreign. do you think they think i’m only with you for a citizenship? you can tell them that i have one. tell them i’m an American citizen, okay?" she’s nodding eagerly now with her ridiculous articulation that was concocted out of three hours of sleep and endless birthday slash wedding slash vacation planning. "and what are you doing? no — Chris no,” feet move toward the closet at hurried pace to face his motion. “you are carelessly packing. we are not a family of careless packers, you careless packer. make a list, fold your clothes and do it nicely.” 

" baby ------- I'm not going to make a list. It's a waste of time. " silence as Chris searches for a nice button up shirt. " I know what I need to pack - I don't need a list to remember everything. I'm not that old. " though the older man does tend to forget the necessities, including but not limited to a toothbrush, razors, and shampoo.

Chris merely shrugged as a response to the light brunette’s question. to be completely honest, he really didn’t have a clue as to how his parents might react to the news, but something told him that they wouldn’t take it well if it was announced along with a surprise wedding in Africa. ” they’re just - I don’t know - can’t we just wait until we get back? ” and with that, Chris has himself immersed in his closet in search of a duffle bag. ” alright —— I’ll find something … . . you bought a flower crown? ” he sends a look in her direction, questioning her emphasis. ” so like ——- an actual crown made of flowers? “

now she’s furrowing her eyebrows. “you don’t know — if they don’t like me? but parents love me.” except for maybe her ex-husband’s mother, but that didn’t need to be mentioned. “i gave them a grandchild. i gave their child a child.” now she’s talking aloud to herself — it wasn’t exactly uncommon for her. “i’ll be honest with you — that sounded better in head.” with her expression never shifting, her fingers maneuvered to set Oliver down on the ground so that she could make hand gestures for further explanation on said flower crown. “no, babe, it’s like a — circle thing with flowers and — i don’t know, you’ll see.” 

" Aspen, my parents like you. they just don't know how they feel about me - you know - I mean - they're just worried that's all. " he leaves it at that and turns back to the closet before tugging out a plain black duffle. tossing it on the floor, taking care to avoid Oliver, Chris then goes about tossing items such as t-shirts and shorts into it. " a circle thing. . . . . with flowers? I guess I'll just have to take your word for it. "

” fine - fine - I’ll put some jeans on. ” Chris calls over his shoulder as he makes his way up the winding staircase. at the young woman’s next statement, he stops his progress to their room and leans over the balcony. ” baby Pine is going to have to wait. I don’t need my parents having a cow on my birthday. ” another short pause follows his reply. ” we’ll tell them when we get back - in person- I’ll invite them over for dinner or something. I promise. ” and before Chris can turn to walk down to his bedroom, Aspen is speaking again. ” a week? ——— um - alright. what should I even pack for that? “

"thank-you." smiling at his defeat, she was sure to follow behind the older man with their son still hoisted against her ossified hip. neck craning to watch his movement, Aspen’s motion halts with his stopping presence against the stair railing. free hand on hip, she’s narrowing her eyes in process. "you think they’ll be distraught about us having another baby?" Aspen’s eyebrow then arched with a not-so-serious, yet questioning look. "is this your way of telling me that your parents don’t like me?" after a moment of silence, the female nodded to agree with his proposal. "it’s hot there — summer clothes." there’s a pause. "but make sure you bring something dressy for the wedding. but not too dressy. it’s just us. i mean, i’m just wearing a white maxi dress — and a flower crown. i bought a flower crown." 

Chris merely shrugged as a response to the light brunette's question. to be completely honest, he really didn't have a clue as to how his parents might react to the news, but something told him that they wouldn't take it well if it was announced along with a surprise wedding in Africa. " they're just - I don't know - can't we just wait until we get back? " and with that, Chris has himself immersed in his closet in search of a duffle bag. " alright ---- I'll find something . . . . . you bought a flower crown? " he sends a look in her direction, questioning her emphasis. " so like ----- an actual crown made of flowers? "

" can I wear sweats and a t-shirt to my party? " Chris questions innocently, pulling at hem of said shirt. it just so happens to be one of his many berkley shirts though this one is quite worn as displayed by the hole in the collar. " Aspen ——— you didn’t need to do all of this for me, but - uh - thanks. " he smiles and rubs at the back of his neck before pulling himself to his feet. " and we’re not telling them anything about anything. we’ll let it be a surprise. " a pause as he slips past Aspen and into the hallway. " four? you know I’m not a morning person, baby. " the older man teases before adding, " and yeah I should probably pack. how long are we planning on staying? "

"you can wear whatever you want, sweetheart," the tone’s induced with sweetness but it was masked with a knowing want of his attire to be changed. however, she wouldn’t pester him — she was making this day about him, after all. smiling at his next set of articulation, she tensed each shoulder with ruffled Oliver’s slight concentration. "not even baby Pine?" she questioned in heightened octave of a voice that could be deciphered as a mixture of a childlike pout and disappointment. "but i like baby Pine." and she was definitely excited to share the news. however, it was his parents, not hers. "just the — uh, week and a half. i want to see the jungle safari. everyday.” 

" fine - fine - I'll put some jeans on. " Chris calls over his shoulder as he makes his way up the winding staircase. at the young woman's next statement, he stops his progress to their room and leans over the balcony. " baby Pine is going to have to wait. I don't need my parents having a cow on my birthday. " another short pause follows his reply. " we'll tell them when we get back - in person- I'll invite them over for dinner or something. I promise. " and before Chris can turn to walk down to his bedroom, Aspen is speaking again. " a week? ------ um - alright. what should I even pack for that? "

” tell mommy that you make a good cupcake. ” Chris says, reaching up to wipe some frosting from the tip of his son’s nose. in response, Oliver’s blue eyes cross and he’s obviously disgruntled by the gesture. ” no. ” he says petulantly as if he can understand what his father is asking him to do.

"he makes a messy cupcake.” Aspen commented back while reaching unoccupied appendages toward the boy’s messy golden locks to smooth them back. his saucy reply only produced a light grin upon the girl’s visage. she then turned back toward Chris. “you should get ready. i have a lot planned today. i have caterers coming in to set up in the backyard for your birthday lunch and dinner. i invited your friends, our friends, your parents, your sister —” trailing off, Aspen looked around in thought. “and i think Katie’s taking Oliver tonight so we can have alone time. but i really just need to call to confirm everything for the wedding and our flight times — which is tomorrow at four am. are you packed? everyone else is.” by everyone, she meant her and their son. she then nodded quickly with her hurried speech. it was obvious she was overworked. “do you think we should tell your parents about the baby or the wedding tonight? or both? or nothing? i can’t decide.” 

" can I wear sweats and a t-shirt to my party? " Chris questions innocently, pulling at hem of said shirt. it just so happens to be one of his many berkley shirts though this one is quite worn as displayed by the hole in the collar. " Aspen ------ you didn't need to do all of this for me, but - uh - thanks. " he smiles and rubs at the back of his neck before pulling himself to his feet. " and we're not telling them anything about anything. we'll let it be a surprise. " a pause as he slips past Aspen and into the hallway. " four? you know I'm not a morning person, baby. " the older man teases before adding, " and yeah I should probably pack. how long are we planning on staying? "

Chris tilts his head up slightly, adjusting the angle of what was meant to be a chaste kiss. pulling back, he looked over to Oliver’s now white face and pressed a quick peck to his forehead to avoid getting frosting on his face. ” it’s not a problem ——— I’ll sign whatever I have to. ” he sits back again and sets the leather bound book on the desk. ” thank you so much. you’re amazing. I’m really going to have to step up my game for your birthday. “

in a grin, she looked down toward the older man before placing nimble fingers upon his shoulder for a light, massaging squeeze. “well you don’t have to, i just wanted to thank him.” in yet another signature eyebrow quirk, her lips curled inward while the ends, upward. “you already gave me the greatest gift i could have ever asked for.” head craning to Oliver, her gawked at his parents curiously, Aspen’s smile morphed wide. “— this cupcake.” 

" tell mommy that you make a good cupcake. " Chris says, reaching up to wipe some frosting from the tip of his son's nose. in response, Oliver's blue eyes cross and he's obviously disgruntled by the gesture. " no. " he says petulantly as if he can understand what his father is asking him to do.

and Chris is absolutely dumbfounded by the thoughtfulness of the gift that his cheeks are flushed a light, pastel pink under the short hairs of his salt and pepper beard. ” you’re - how did you even find this? ” he picks it up with careful hands that definitely aren’t shaking to open it to the first page. ” I mean ——- this couldn’t have been easy to get a hold of. ” a pause as the older man’s eyes scan the page through glass lenses, obviously already enralled. ” I seriously love you so much it’s unreal. “

in a small bend forward, her lips swooped to capture atop the older man’s head for a loving and slightly lasting peck. naturally, Oliver attempted to purse his own pout for a matched kiss, but Aspen was quick to pull back for Chris probably didn’t want an icing-stained presence. “i know a guy who knows a guy who works at the museum they were holding this at. and i can be very persuasive — i sold my soul and our second born for it.” grinning in banter, each brow raised. “that — and his daughter is a huge Star Trek fan. as a thank-you, i told him you would sign a few things.” pausing, her mouth curled inward with his heartwarming articulation. “i love you just as much, babe,” 

Chris tilts his head up slightly, adjusting the angle of what was meant to be a chaste kiss. pulling back, he looked over to Oliver's now white face and pressed a quick peck to his forehead to avoid getting frosting on his face. " it's not a problem ------ I'll sign whatever I have to. " he sits back again and sets the leather bound book on the desk. " thank you so much. you're amazing. I'm really going to hve to step up my game for your birthday. "

Chris takes the offered card and opens the envelope with nimble fingers. he pushes his glasses back up his nose to read it though the card really doesn’t say much at all - perhaps the various colors mean something to Oliver. ” thanks, Ollie. ” with an amused expression, Chris looks up at his son who seems content with eating frosting. upon opening the box, Chris’s jaw drops to about the floor. ” oh my god ——— you’re kidding - Aspen - thank - I love you. “

hoisting the young boy further up her hip, Aspen looked over to witness Oliver’s continued devouring of the pearly mixture. “say ‘you’re welcome, daddy.’” it was a bit of a stretch and more-less a failure as all their son could do was babble with his coated lips and migrate all ten fingers into his mouth. but upon turning her attention back to her lover, who now opened his gift, her lithe frame moved with her son to stand adjacent. the stuttering, strung-together sentence left her with a sense of pride and obvious contentment. and it did not even surprise her that Chris could tell what it was by just looking at the leather book covering engraved with ‘Noah Webster.’ “it’s from when he was a student at yale, he hand wrote a bunch of philosophies — this one’s English literature and you’re the only person in the world who has it.” 

and Chris is absolutely dumbfounded by the thoughtfulness of the gift that his cheeks are flushed a light, pastel pink under the short hairs of his salt and pepper beard. " you're - how did you even find this? " he picks it up with careful hands that definitely aren't shaking to open it to the first page. " I mean ----- this couldn't have been easy to get a hold of. " a pause as the older man's eyes scan the page through glass lenses, obviously already enralled. " I seriously love you so much it's unreal. "

" huh? " Chris quickly glances up from his MacBook causing his thick framed glasses to slide down his button nose. " oh ——— " the brunette flashes a quick smile and closes the laptop, turning his full attention to Aspen and his son. " what’s this? " at the sight of Oliver’s frosting covered face, he can’t help but smile even more. " Aspen - baby - you didn’t have to get me anything. "

"that’s, uh —" she knew he was referring to the gift, but with his stare shifting toward their son, Aspen couldn’t help but direct her articulation to Oliver’s buttercream-covered visage. "that was your son. now he’s a cupcake." in a matched grin, their bodies moved closer toward Chris’s desk. "what are you talking about? it’s your birthday, you’re getting older and i love it and we have to celebrate it." atop his workspace, she inched that crimson box with an expected dachshund birthday card to match and a quirked brow. "read the card first, Oliver did the whole thing." so basically, it was just colorful scribbles. "and then open it." 

Chris takes the offered card and opens the envelope with nimble fingers. he pushes his glasses back up his nose to read it though the card really doesn't say much at all - perhaps the various colors mean something to Oliver. " thanks, Ollie. " with an amused expression, Chris looks up at his son who seems content with eating frosting. upon opening the box, Chris's jaw drops to about the floor. " oh my god ------ you're kidding - Aspen - thank - I love you. "

"Oliver, stop eating the icing — that’s for Daddy. we went over this, remember? you had one job.” that was all that could be heard in a muffled distance that soon followed the young boy’s incoherent babbling matched with light chuckles. it was then the duo intruded the desired man’s home office with a wrapped, gifted box in one hand and a cupcake on a plate in the other. well — technically, Aspen possessed the present while Oliver gripped (and licked) at the treat on the serving. with the young boy still hoisted along her hip, her blue hues darted to her lover with a brightly expression. “happy birthday, doodlebug!” 

" huh? " Chris quickly glances up from his MacBook causing his thick framed glasses to slide down his button nose. " oh ------ " the brunette flashes a quick smile and closes the laptop, turning his full attention to Aspen and his son. " what's this? " at the sight of Oliver's frosting covered face, he can't help but smile even more. " Aspen - baby - you didn't have to get me anything. "

” I’m thinking that we could play words with friends. ” Chris says innocently with a quick bat of his long, feathery eyelashes in Aspen’s direction. ” but if that’s not what you were thinking than you should probably explain it. ” he adds just for good measure though he’s sure that his play at being naive isn’t working all too well.

"i was thinking two player killer versus inspector on the iPad." rising a shoulder in a half shrug, Aspen looked onward to the man who was further up the bed. her tone was a matched innocence until it dipped velvet. "and the loser has to go down on the winner." pausing, a coy expression surfaced and her pout curled inwards. "— — or whatever they want." 

Chris raises an eyebrow in her direction. " it's on, baby. " he purrs back, his tone dipping to match Aspen's sultry voice. " but if I get a handicap because I'm old and have never played before. " he jokes, moving Oliver out of his mother's prying hands.

” I’ll have to rearrange a few things but I’m pretty sure this week could work. ” he presses a quick kiss on Aspen’s cheek before moving to sit beside Oliver. ” is the other thing what I think it is or… . . ? ”

the grin never faltered and that was all due to his enticing articulation that sounded immensely promising. with his migration, Aspen maneuvered to lay upon her stomach with her chin resting firmly along the mattress. each hand retracted to grip at the younger one’s feet and she wiggled them from side to side. “i was thinking what i thought you were thinking. are you not thinking what i’m thinking?” 

" I'm thinking that we could play words with friends. " Chris says innocently with a quick bat of his long, feathery eyelashes in Aspen's direction. " but if that's not what you were thinking than you should probably explain it. " he adds just for good measure though he's sure that his play at being naive isn't working all too well.