You turn around to see Elizabeth, with her big smile. She runs down the porch stairs and gives you a tight hug. You hug her back with a little smile on your face.
She looks up at you.
"Are you here for another tea party?" She asks.
"I sure am!" You say, you look up at the front door to see William leaning on the door frame, with his dumb smile. He crosses his arms as you give him a look.
Elizabeth walks back up the stairs and hugs her dad, he kneels down and hugs her back.
"Daddy! We gotta get you dressed up!" William stops smiling and leans back.
"Sorry Elizabeth, but I'm afraid this isn't a tea party."
"It isn't?"
"Nope, it's a.. um .. a formal event."
"Oohh, I like those too!" William stands up. Elizabeth takes his hand. "You still need to get dressed up!"
She pulls him into the house. He grips the door frame and looks at you while you make your way up the porch stairs.
Help me He mouths.
You shake your head and smile.
Have fun. You also mouth. You unhinge his fingers from the doorframe. Elizabeth then runs with him up the stairs. You giggle to yourself.
You close the door behind you, then sit down on the couch.
"Mikey, Ev!" Elizabeth shouts from upstairs.
You turn to the stairs to see Evan and Michael sulking and walking upstairs.
A couple minutes pass and you hear them scream. Then a door closing. Elizabeth walks downstairs.
"It's your turn Ms. Y/n." She tugs on your hand.
"B-but I'm already dressed up."
"Yeah, but I'll make you prettier!"
"Alright then." You both walk upstairs.
"Where's the boys?" You ask.
"They're staying in my room for now, we'll go in daddy's room."
She opens the bedroom door.
"Please sit down."
You sit down on the bed.
You watch as she rummages through the boxes, they look like they've been there for years. Is that mold?
"Here you go! Wear this!" She gets out the closet and hands the black dress to you. At least the dress looks fine.
"Oh Elizabeth.. I can't wear this."
"Sure you can! You'll look wonderful."
You give her a little smile.
Tiny time skip
You walk out of the bathroom, Elizabeth has sparkles in her eyes as she sees you walk out.
"You look so beautiful!"
You giggle.
"Thank you."
She runs past you and into the bathroom. She rummages through the small compartment. She pulls out a beautiful broach.
"Let's put your hair up!"
"Alright.." You're a little skeptical, but you let her.
You sit down on the bed and she stands up behind you. She tugs on your hair, pulling it left to right. It feels like she's trying to rip your hair out.
But you try to keep your patience and wait patiently.
"You're all done!"
You get up and look at yourself in the mirror.
A perfect hair bun, only one strand loose in the front. The broach sits perfectly on top.
"Elizabeth, how did you-"
"My mother taught me! Before she left.." her face turns sour.
You walk back to her and take her hand in yours.
"Thank you Elizabeth, you did an amazing job."
Her sour expression quickly turns into a happy one.
"Stay here, I have something else to do." She says, then walks out the room.
A few seconds past and she comes back in.
"Go downstairs! Now now!" She runs over then takes your hand and pulls you out of the room.
"Okay okay! Slow down." She then walks behind you and stands there.
"Walk walk." She whispers.
You give her a confused face.
"Okay.."
You walk to the top of the stairs.
You feel three pairs of eyes on you. You look down to see William looking at you with complete disbelief.
He's absolutely dashing. Slicked back hair, dresshirt, black vest with leather gloves. You would expect Elizabeth to dress him in a dress.
-moments ago-
"Pink dress or purple dress?" Elizabeth holds both of them up to William.
"Purple- but listen- Elizabeth.."
"Yes daddy?"
"You always dress me up in dresses."
"I know! It's fun right?"
William frowns.
"Not really."
"What do you mean?" Her eyes start to well up with tears.
"Um-" shit "how about, I introduce a different kind of beautiful to you?"
Her face lights up again.
"There's a different kind?"
"Yes, let me show you." He makes his way to his room and grabs his best outfit combo.
He goes back to Elizabeth's room and hands her the outfit.
"This is beautiful!"
"See? I'll go change into this real quick, boys- you can change as well." William giggles as he looks over to his boys wearing glitter dresses with frowns on their faces.
-present-
William nervously messes with his gloves as he looks up at you.
You make your way down to him.
He raises his hand and touches the broach in your hair.
"Clara's broach.." He whispers to himself.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"It's okay, it looks wonderful on you, dear."
You're face turns a little pink.
"And so does her dress.." He rests his hand on your waist for second before pulling it back to his side.
"You guys should have a dance."
You and William both jump. Elizabeth was standing there with a phonograph. She also has a record. She blows the dust off of it and places it on the phonograph.
She plays the song. It was William's and Clara's song.
Elizabeth signals the boys to sit on the stairs, she sits there with them with smiles.
You look back to William. He looks down at you.
"Would you.. like to dance?" He takes his left hand out.
You place yours on top of his. He slowly pulls you closer to him. He rests his right hand on your waist. You place your left hand on his shoulder.
William lead you, you both moved in a square. You kept up with his pace, then he sped up. You both danced smoothly with each other.
Then he takes his hand off your waist and twirls you in a quick circle, which made you dizzy. He then dipped you, with both your faces so close.
Your vision was blurry for a second. But you could still see his slight smile.
He stands up, making you stand up as well.
"Was that too much for you?" He asks.
"Just a little."
You both giggle.
"How about we do this instead."
He puts both of his hands on your waist then rests his head in your neck. You raise your arms and wrap them around his neck.
You both just stayed there and swayed. You drowned out the music in the background. All you can think about is his touch. And the feeling of his steady breathes hitting your neck.
You completely ignore your surroundings, it was just you and him. You put all of your trust into him, and he did the same.
You love him. You finally fell for him, a little too hard.
He felt the same. If anyone gave you a hard time he would kill them. Just for you.
You would do the same for him.
He lightly kisses the crook of your neck. You raise your hand to his hair and yank a strand of it.
"What was that for?!" He whispers.
"Your kids are here."
He rolls his eyes.
As you guys keep dancing, you could feel his index finger tracing a heart on your hip. He stops and rests his hand again.
The music was about to end. William stands up straight and so do you.
He raises his hand and lightly takes your chin. He leans in and gives you a peck on the lips.
It's different from the other kiss. It's sincere.
And full of love.