7 years later
Archer's baby babbling could be heard around our table. He chewed at the frill attached to the shoulder of my dress, and I internally awed for the billionth time.
I was swaying him around when he started crying, I might love that little boy to death but once the tears start he is going to his momma. "Here." I hand him over to Sophia, and she shushes him in a matter of seconds. "Momma's boy." I mumble under my breath, Xavier agrees with me while Sophia just laughs.
Once I'm free of my nephew I grab a champagne flute from the waiter and go back to enjoying the party. It was organised by the Spanish mafia for the big announcement that was going to come later tonight.
People were dressed in expensive and fancy outfits. I myself was wearing a dark red dress, it was flowy towards the end and had silver designs towards the top. My date was currently talking to some representatives from France.
My family was scattered all over the place, Sophia and Xavier were looking after Archer as he played with a flower while sitting on a table, Alex was by the bar chatting up a girl. I was pretty sure Luca and his husband were off somewhere doing....things.
Marco and Dante were a part of a group all taking shots and doing whatever the hell they were doing.
"Hey slayer!" The voice came from behind me, Eren stood there with Leigh tucked under his arm as she smiled at me. I hugged them both in greeting. It was still funny seeing the both of them together. I remember ho Leigh had instantly friend- zoned him hen she had first met him, it was only after years of growling that she had finally given in to going on a date with him.But they truly looked happy together and that made me happy as well.
"Move I'm gay." I could never misplace that voice. Behind me was my dramatic bestie and his fiancé. Victor just stood of to the side and rolled his eyes with a smile while Elijah gushed over my dress.
Our attention was then moved towards the stage as we heard the sound of someone clearing their throat, the host aka Ace stood on the stage, a champagne flute in his hand the other resting in his pocket.
He stood there effortlessly as he waited for everyone to pay attention to him, once he had gotten the whole room listening he started to speak. "Good evening everyone. I know that you all must be waiting for the big news for which you all have been gathered today. And I promise that we will be getting to that soon but right now is the time for another special event for the night."
"My beautiful and extremely talented partner Katherine would like to serenade you all tonight. So please welcome her on stage with a big round of applause."
I glared at the man while he just gave me a cheeky smile. I had a minor in music my major was forensic psychology but he didn't seem to care about that, the idiot never missed a chance for me to play at a public setting.
I walked up to stage, the piano that was previously at the edge was now pushed to the middle of the room, taking a seat I lifted the lid, the clean and new keys shining back at me. I took a deep breath, placed my hands on the keys and started playing, the music to "Take me to church" flowed the relatively quite hall.
I didn't sing,just played the song as I lost myself in it. My eyes travelling to my family that stood the nearest to the stage, proud smiles etched on all of their faces. I could recognise what a proud smile was now, no one had ever given me a smile like that when I was young, now I had seen so many that I could actually tell myself if someone was proud of me.
Hozier's beautiful creation filled the silence in the room lulling everyone into a state of calmness. As the song came to an end, the applause broke out, the cheers almost deafening. With a smile on my face I welcomed Ace back onto the stage.
This was it, we were making the big announcement.
"That was certainly a spectacular performance." His voice a little scratchy, he always geared up a little when I played. "Now onto the reason why we have all gathered here this evening."
With a deep breath he continued "I took control of this organisation when I was twelve. I was just a clueless boy who was trying to help his mother get better." My hand found his, supporting through it.
"Now 13 years later I'm still here. I don't have my mother with me here but I still have family. I have people who care for me like their own and who have been looking after me since I was a kid." He motioned to the Marinos.
"Even more importantly I have the love of my life by my side." Ace's voice took a softer tone "I have a woman who has seen the darkest sides of me and yet she still wants to be with me, she is also the reason I am standing here because of it wasn't for her I would defiantly not be here today."
My heart swelled as he talked of me. "That is also why as of today Katherine Marino is the official co-leader of the Spanish Mafia." Loud cheers and gasps erupted around us. People were shocked to hear but there was no objections heard.
As soon as the talking turned to small whispers I stepped up to the mic to share my thoughts with the people around me.
"Hello everyone. I am extremely glad to see every one here with us today. This almost feels surreal if I'm being honest. I mean less than 10 years ago I wouldn't have thought any of this would be a part of my life. To be completely honest 10 years ago I thought I'd be dead by 18. But I'm not, I'm still alive and that is just a little example of how everything has changes so much for me over the years."
"When Ace had asked me to lead with him for the first time I was so shocked I felt like I was paralysed. But then he told me the same things he just said here and I just knew it in my heart that this is what I was meant to do."
I looked towards the front row and my eyes caught the sight of my family. I could feel tears starting to well up in my eyes. "And the entire reason I am here is because of my family. Like I said if it weren't for them I wouldn't have been here."
"I want to thank my brothers, for their support and love over the years, we had a bit of rocky start but you guys are the ones that gave me a new start." They smile towards me as my eyes shift to Sophia.
"I want to thank my big sister. I never knew I ever needed you in my life but now that I have you I don't think I could ever live without you helping me through every little thing." She laughs as I join her.
My eyes travelling to Elijah as he stand leaning his head on Victor's shoulder "I won't to thank the most chaotic friend I have ever had. Thank you for being as dramatic as me and doing all kinds of crazy shit with me."
"That's me, I'm the best friend." He shouts out into the crowd. "I love you bitch." He shouts even when I'm literally two steps away from him. I half laugh half sob. My eyes find Eren, a knowing glint in his eyes.
It was as if he was trying to say 'Ha! I always knew you were gonna get all of the happiness you could ask for!' I sighed happily before I spoke "I want to thank my guardian angel. You were with me longer than anyone else. You have quite literally patched me up countless times and I don't think I'll ever find enough words to explain how thankful I am for you."
And finally I intertwine my finger with Ace again "Lastly I want to thank the man I love. For loving me in a way I didn't think anyone could. And thank you most of all for wanting me to be your partner." He smiles as he kisses me and we turn back to the crowd shouting out that it was time for celebrating now.
The party raged on inside, the dance floor filled with sweaty bodies as they danced their hearts out. I stood out by the water fountain, wanting a little breather.
"How's it going?" I turn my head to look at the figure that is now stood next to me. He smiles down at me in his signature caring way, even after seven the feeling of seeing him doesn't get any different.
"Good." I answer simply. "You look happy." Dad states. He does that a lot, whenever I see him he just tells me if I look sad or happy. He is only ever around me when I'm either too happy or too sad.
"I am happy. All of this feels really nice." I look back to the hall.
"I like seeing you like this. How does it feel knowing you finally got what you wanted?" I turn to him and ask "What did I get?"
"Your happy ending."
I think over his words once. "Yeah, I guess I did find my happy."
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Love you all!💕💕✨✨