"Five more minutes."
She laughs, the sound warm and content."Okay.Five more minutes."
But before we can move, there's a knock on the door.Then Sophie's voice, excited and way too loud.
"Aunt Evangeline!Uncle Hades!The movie's over and we heard you talking about getting married!"
Oh fuck.
Evangeline's eyes go wide.I sit up, pulling the sheet over us both."Sophie, baby, we'll be down in a minute."
"Are you really getting married?"That's Mason now, and even more cautious.
"Yeah," I call back."We are."
The hallway erupts.Squeals from the girls, whoops from the boys.I can hear them jumping around, celebrating.
Evangeline covers her face with her hands, laughing and mortified in equal measure."They heard everything."
"Not everything.Just the important part."
"This is so embarrassing."
"This is perfect."
I kiss her forehead and quickly pulling on jeans.She does the same, throwing on clothes while still trying to hide her flaming cheeks.
When we open the door, all five kids are waiting.Lily launches herself at us immediately, wrapping her arms around my legs.
"You're getting married!You're getting married!"
"We are," Evangeline confirms, her smile genuine despite the embarrassment.
"Does this mean you're our aunt and uncle forever?"Sophie asks quietly.
"Forever," I tell her."Nothing's going to change that."
"Well, technically they'll be our mom and dad after they're married," Emma says, ever the practical one."Right?"
The question hangs in the air.I look at Evangeline, seeing my own emotions reflected in her eyes.
"If that's what you want," she says softly."If you want to call us that."
"Can we?"Jake asks."Really?"
"Really," I confirm."We're a family.All of us."
Mason, the oldest, steps forward.He's been the most reserved through all of this, carrying the weight of trying to be strong for his siblings.Now his eyes are suspiciously bright.
"Thanks," he says, his voice cracking slightly."For not giving up on us.For wanting us."
"Always wanted you," I tell him."From day one."
He nods, then surprises me by stepping in for a hug.I wrap my arms around him, feeling the kid shake slightly.The others pile in, creating a mass of arms and bodies and love.
Evangeline's in the middle of it, crying happy tears.I reach over heads to touch her face, needing the contact.
This.This is everything.
