The porch erupted into laughter, each sibling teasing and bantering while Ashley stood frozen, her hand instinctively rubbing the back of her neck. Mia clung to her side, face half-buried in embarrassment.

"Alright, alright, enough!" Ashley finally spoke, holding her hand up. "We're together, okay? Can we stop dissecting our love life now?"

"Together?" Riley's voice carried a teasing edge. "Like girlfriend together, or 'Mia skipped the dating stage because she doesn't have the patience' together?"

Mia peeked out from behind Ashley, face red but still defiant. "Does it even matter? The point is we're happy, okay?!"

Harriet chuckled, leaning casually against the garage wall. "It's just funny. The last time I saw you this flustered, Mia, was when Ashley was your bodyguard, and you wouldn't stop swooning every time she opened a car door for you."

"I wasn't swooning!" Mia protested, stomping her foot like a child caught stealing cookies.

"Uh-huh," Nyx quipped, arms crossed, smirking. "And those heart—shaped eyes you threw her way? Totally professional."

Ashley rubbed her temple, trying—and failing—to suppress a grin. "You all seriously have way too much time on your hands."

Zoey nudged Harriet. "What do you think, Doc? Should we take bets on how long it'll take these two to tie the knot?"

"Zoey!" Mia wailed, hiding her face in her hands again.

"Don't encourage her," Ashley muttered, shaking her head but clearly amused.

Vera, ever the composed one, stepped in. "Alright, everyone. Let's leave them alone before Mia combusts from all the teasing." She gave Mia a warm smile. "We're happy for you, Mia. And you too, Ashley."

Mia peeked at Vera gratefully, nodding. "Thanks, Vera. At least someone here knows how to be supportive."

"Supportive?" Nyx laughed. "This is family bonding, Mia!"

"Some bonding," Ashley muttered under her breath, earning another round of chuckles.

As the group finally began to disperse into the house, Riley lingered behind, giving Ashley a light pat on the shoulder. "Welcome to the chaos," she said with a wink before following the others inside.

Ashley turned to Mia, who was still recovering from the relentless teasing. "You okay, sugarplum?"

Mia groaned, leaning into Ashley's side. "Why did I even agree to come here?"

"It's your choice, isn't it?" Ashley teased, wrapping an arm around her.

Mia pouted but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just hope they don't bring up the hickey again."

Ashley smirked. "You mean the 'mosquito bite'?"

"Oh, hush!" Mia said, smacking Ashley's arm as they walked inside.



Mia leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin on it, stealing glances at Ashley, who was carefully folding paper roses. Sitting on Ashley's lap was Shiloh, Nyx and Vera's son, happily watching her work.

"Ashley might just melt if you keep staring at her like that," Vera teased, her soft laugh breaking Mia's trance.

Mia groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Is this normal? I mean, everything she does feels... magnetic. Am I still normal?"

Sienna chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, I remember feeling that way. Welcome to the club."

Zoey capped the baby bottle she was holding and adjusted Sydney, the daughter she shared with Harriet, in her arms. "Completely normal," she said, shrugging. "Especially if it's your first same-sex relationship. The feelings can be... overwhelming."

"Actually," Vera mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "aren't all of us in same-sex relationships for the first time?" She glanced around the group.

One by one, everyone nodded.

"So yeah, it's definitely normal," Vera said with a laugh. "I felt the same way about Nyx. Of course, we skipped the whole dating thing and jumped straight to getting married."

Mia rubbed the back of her neck, her face growing warm. "I thought maybe it wasn't normal," she muttered. "She's just too cool—it's like she's not even real." Her eyes darted back to Ashley, who was now teaching Shiloh how to fold a rose.

Sienna smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Wow. That's rich, coming from the same person who wouldn't stop shouting, 'I'm straight! I'm straight!' not too long ago."

Vera and Zoey laughed softly as Mia rolled her eyes, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.

"Maybe I was, or maybe not?" Mia muttered, chuckling nervously. Then she straightened, leaning back in her chair. "You do know I grew up with three sets of parents, right?"

The room fell quiet as Vera and Zoey exchanged surprised glances.

Mia laughed at their expressions. "Yeah, my biological mom and dad. Then there's my mom's girlfriend and my dad's boyfriend. A very modern family." She scoffed, her tone light but tinged with sarcasm. "Let's just say, holidays were... unique."

"For real?" Vera asked, blinking.

Mia nodded. "Yep. My dad came out first when I was in high school—introduced us to his boyfriend. Not long after, my mom followed with her girlfriend. Talk about a plot twist."

Zoey whistled low. "That must've been... fun. Or, well, chaotic?"

"Both," Mia said with a laugh. "It was like living in a sitcom. But hey, it was their choice. Maybe they just discovered their preferences a little late."

"Well, at least it sounds like you had a colorful upbringing," Sienna said, smiling warmly. "I mean, you've been treated like royalty, haven't you?"

Mia rolled her eyes. "Sure, by my parents. But not during my marriage." She scoffed, crossing her arms.

Vera smirked, nodding toward Ashley. "Maybe that's because the one who's meant to treat you like royalty is right over there."

Mia followed her gaze, catching Ashley's warm smile. Her heart skipped a beat as Shiloh trotted over to the group, holding a bouquet of paper roses.

"Hi, Mama!" Shiloh chirped, handing Vera a single rose.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Vera said, beaming as she gently patted his cheek.

"This one's for Auntie Zoey, and this one's for Auntie Sienna," Shiloh announced, passing out roses with a giggle.

Zoey and Sienna pinched his cheeks playfully. "Thank you, Shiloh," they said in unison.

Finally, Shiloh approached Mia, holding up the bouquet. "This is for Auntie Mia!" he declared proudly. "Auntie Ash said to give it to you." He giggled, covering his mouth as if sharing a secret.

Mia blinked, her cheeks flushing. She glanced at Ashley, who was watching her with an affectionate smile. Slowly, she took the bouquet and gently cupped Shiloh's face.

"Thank you, kiddo," she said softly, smiling. "Tell Auntie Ash that Auntie Mia is very grateful for this."

Shiloh nodded enthusiastically and scampered back to Ashley, giggling all the way.

"Wow," Sienna said, stifling a laugh. "Someone's being spoiled."

Mia fidgeted, her face burning as she avoided everyone's gaze. "See what I mean?" she muttered. "She does things like this all the time. It's... it's so..." She trailed off, burying her face in her hands.

"Fluttering?" Vera offered with a laugh.

"Exactly!" Mia exclaimed, exasperated.

Vera shook her head, amused. "This is only the beginning, Mia."