Is this destiny?

JoAnna and Jeff left the study, and Aiden and Sarah went through other photos and videos which were on that SD card.

Aiden wanted to double (and triple) check how only that one video is with him.

"How come out of all of these, I am only on one?", he complained.

Sarah laughed. "You trespassed. You should be happy that you are on that one."

Stella entered the study and asked enthusiastically: "Anna told me that you got some old videos?"

"Yes, from 2003…", Sarah gave a short introduction and happily showed photos and videos for Stella (and Aiden) to see.

"I remember that year…", Stella said dreamily. "We were thinking of letting you spend the summer with your grandparents, but you came back after less than a month. We cut it short because you were giving a hard time to gran and gramps, you didn't talk to them. You started speaking late, but by age four you had a decent vocabulary… they were unable to get you relaxed enough to talk and Mary said how she is worried that they are not taking good care of you because they don't know what you want. I was in the middle of a project, so I took you with me, and that is when you started accompanying me…"

Stella was talking for a long time while traveling through memory lanes. Eventually she noticed that Sarah and Aiden are holding each other on the sofa in silence (and probably waiting for her to leave), and she decided to make her exit and give them space. "Thank you for showing me these. I will appreciate if you send us the copies. Edward would love to see these and hear Mary laugh so cheerfully. I'm going to finish few more things in the garden before lunch…"

Sarah's head was on Aiden's chest and she listened to his heartbeat. Somehow, knowing that they met each other as kids made her feelings toward him stronger, more solid. Like another invisible connection between their hearts was established.

Sarah smiled while remembering the video when Aiden planted a sloppy kiss on her unsuspecting lips and called her his woman. She was convinced that she gave him her first kiss on the dancefloor at the Christmas party at Orion Enterprise, unaware that he already stole it many years ago. Ah, he was cheeky even as a 7 year-old.

Aiden sighed and tightened his hold on Sarah.

She looked up at him and saw that he is smiling.

"Tell me…", she demanded to know what made him smile.

"I don't know how come we didn't ask our grandparents if we met as kids. They are living next to each other and considering that Jeff and Anna met there, the probability that we met as well was not zero."

Sarah agreed with him. "I don't remember going to the East Coast as a kid, so I didn't think about it."

Aiden ran his hand through her hair. "What I DO remembered is our first meeting, at the University in front of the bulletin board. Or was that our second meeting? It was a short exchange which left me with your phone number and an email, and a strong urge to go after you. Now I wonder… What if that was my heart telling me to prevent you from leaving my side because it recognized you?"

Sarah smiled hearing his words.

Aiden assumed that she does not believe him, and he continued explaining: "Love, before I met you, no woman moved my heart. It was the first time for me to want to impress a girl and to get your attention and I was confused by that fact how the more time we spent together, the harder it was to let go. I believe now how that was my heart telling me that you are my woman, the one I left on that swing with my first kiss."

Sarah pouted and said half-teasingly: "Now that you mention it… you would kiss any girl who was sitting on that swing."

Aiden chuckled. "But it was you. It was always only you. Never doubt your position in my heart and in my life."

"And I hope you never doubt my love for you. Even as a four year-old who didn't speak to my grandparents for a month, I told you my name."

Aiden hummed in agreement. "I wish that you shouted, so that I could hear you. Maybe knowing your name would be the trigger for me to remember the whole thing."

Sarah placed her palm on his chest. "Your heart heard it."

Aiden thought about Sarah's words before responding: "Makes sense. My heart recognized you and that is why the moment I started following my heart and getting close to you, things fell into place."

Sarah hugged him tightly. "I am really happy. This house, and the kids, and our friends and you… us. Everything is perfect. I wish that we can stay like this forever."

"Everything is perfect because of you." Aiden kissed the top of her head and added: "You are at the center of it all."

Sarah shook her head in disapproval. "It's us. You don't know but… without you nothing makes sense. So, it's us. Everything is perfect because we are together."

Aiden understood that she was talking about the time when he was in a coma. Nothing makes sense when they are not together.

He touched her chin and tipped her head up so that he can kiss her on the lips. It started with gentle pecks and then slowly morphed into longer and more passionate kisses.

…

While Sarah and Aiden are lovey-dovey on the sofa in the study, outside in the garden…

Preparations are almost done.

Jeff and JoAnna are there and so are Stella and Edward. Also present are Elanor and Oscar, Penny and Ben, Emma and Charlie, Emma's brothers: Ryan, Sean and Mike. Tiffany is there as well and so are Bridgette and Steve.

Sophia and Felix arrived with Lia (and her nanny) and Bridgette didn't like that she had to wait her turn to hold the baby after Stella and Elanor.

Steve laughed seeing Bridgette pouting and he went to join Jeff and Charlie at who were talking with Ben.

Pam was ecstatic when her eyes landed on Leah. Leah didn't tell Pam that she will be present, it was a surprise.

"When did you arrive?", Pam asked excitedly.

"Last night.", Leah smiled.

Pam's mood dropped by few notches and she asked reluctantly: "Why didn't you call me?"

"I was beat and just slept off after a shower. And also, I didn't want to miss the chance to see your expression when you find out that I am back."

Pam held her breath while analyzing Leah's words. "You are back?"

Leah nodded in confirmation. "I have one more trip planned, but it will not be more than a week. And then I will join Orion Enterprise, Los Angeles office. I spoke with Sophia about it. We still need to finalize some details, but I will start in the business administration department."

Pam glanced at Sophia. "She didn't tell me anything about it."

"I asked her not to. Because I wanted to tell you."

Leah reached and held Pam's hand in hers. "Are you happy to hear that?"

A big smile bloomed on Pam's face. "Yes."

"I've got you souvenirs from Peru and Argentina. They are in my hotel room. Do you want to come after the party and check them out?"

Pam's eyes lit up.

"Of course…", Pam said under her breath while images of the night they spent together at the Golden Ocean Resort flashed in her mind.

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