Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles ~

Wednesday morning, Sarah and Aiden are in bed, discussing plans for the day. Aiden is still drowsy and refuses to open his eyes.

Sarah is excited. "Bedroom furniture will arrive today! We can go to the store and purchase bedlinens and what else we need. I am eager for us to move there."

Aiden yawned. "Sounds good. We should get some clothes as well… and are you still interested in painting those two rooms by yourself?" His voice was lazy. He was fighting not to drift off to sleep.

"Yes, yes. I would like to try painting a wall or two. How difficult can it be? … If I mess it up, we will get professionals to do it... I thought you want to do it also?"

"Yes. I will help." He yawned again.

"Then that settles our plans. After breakfast, we are shopping for bedding, clothes and painting supplies, and then heading home." Sarah looked up at him and realized that his eyes are closed. "Do you want to sleep more? We are not in a rush…"

He opened his mouth to respond, but his phone on the bedside table started beeping, it was the alarm. Sarah reached to turn it off and saw notification for an email.

"You have an email, from University."

Aiden frowned. "What is it?"

"Oho!" She nudged him. "They are letting you know that you will do the valedictory speech at the graduation ceremony!"

His frown deepened. "Letting me know? Shouldn't they ask me if I'm willing?"

Sarah nudged him again. "Open your eyes! This is a big deal! How can you sleep?"

He opened his left eye and looked at her. "You look happy."

"Of course, my fiancé is valedictorian! I will buy a new camera just so that I record you delivering the speech! Or even better: I will get a drone which Eve will operate, so that I can focus on you… the view will be better! You will be standing on the stage, in a robe, with a graduation hat on… Ah! I can't wait! … Why are you not happy? Open both of your eyes!"

Aiden opened his other eye. He was still frowning. "Your grades are better. That should be you."

"Oh… Is that what you are thinking? Our grade average is the same, right? But I have less grades than you since I started from third year courses. I'm sure they took into consideration how many courses each of us took, and you have more… I believe that you deserve it…"

Sarah got closer and pressed her index finger between his eyebrows. "How many times I need to tell you not to frown? It will only give you wrinkles…"

"…and you will not think of me as handsome… and not like me anymore?" Aiden finished in her place.

"You added that last part about not liking you. I would never say such a thing because I will always love you, even when you are old and wrinkled up."

Aiden looked at her and his expression softened up. Her words that she will love him even when he is old, tugged on his heart, because it implied that they will be together for a long time. There is nothing else he wants in his life than to spend it with her and knowing that she wants the same fills him up with joy.

He pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I love you.", he whispered.

"I love you more…", she whispered back and wrapped her arms around him.

After some time, Sarah looked up at Aiden and saw that his mood is much better. She concluded that it's safe to get back on the topic.

"Do you want to invite Oscar and Elanor for graduation ceremony? It would be nice to have parents there. I will ask Edward and Stella to come. Our parents didn't meet each other in person yet… we should call all of them… Jeff and JoAnna and Sophia and Felix as well… It would be great if everyone can come! Do you think they will stay overnight? We should get them hotel rooms if they are staying. We will stay at your place, right? … I don't want anyone using my place considering that we found out who the neighbor is… Oh, we still need to empty my place… we can stay few days in Fairfield and handle that while we are there… I will schedule movers so they can take furniture out as soon as possible. We can have everything in a storage unit and then decide later what we want to keep… I like desks we have in that study room; we can move them to our new home. Exercising equipment also…"

Aiden was watching Sarah who was excitedly planning at loud while jumping from one topic to another. He agreed that he likes the idea of their parents meeting for their graduation. And he supports that furniture gets moved to the storage unit, so they don't need to go to her apartment.

He wondered if Sarah is so happy because he is valedictorian or because she is not, so she does not need to deliver the speech. But even if it's the latter, she will not admit it, so there is no point asking.

'Ah, I need to come up with a speech… what a headache!' Aiden closed his eyes again.

~ Seattle, Hill family villa ~

Stella found Edward sitting on the patio in the back garden.

"Sarah called. We are invited to her graduation ceremony in three weeks. Do you want to go? Aiden is valedictorian." She sat on the chair next to him. "They will invite Aiden's parents as well. If we go, we can meet them."

Edward took a deep breath. "Whites…", he mumbled. "Why is he valedictorian? Sarah has top grades."

Stella saw that Edward is upset and hurried to pacify him: "He has good grades as well. And she is excited for him… That is not the point, is it?"

Edward was not pacified by Stella's words. But she was right. The point is that his baby daughter is graduating. "Will you go?"

Stella nodded. "Yes. By then, Sarah's apartment will be empty, but she wants to go and check it out before putting it on market. I will not let her go there without me."

"You think that man will wait for her?" He guessed that Stella is worried about King approaching Sarah. And maybe even hurting her.

"Even if he is not there, someone is watching over the place. They will notice movers taking things out. I don't want to risk it..."

"Right now, he is in South Africa. But I agree. Let us not risk it. I will join you." Edward held Stella's hand in his and gently squeezed.

She smiled.. "Thank you."