"I love hearing fairy tales about love." - Aria

21 years from now...
(Me & Andrew; 36. Aubrey; 12. Desmond; 10. Aria; 7).

"He rose and conquered the gra---a---a--vee.
Woahh, woahhh, woahhh.
Hey, hey, hey
Ooo, ooo, oooh"

Her voice echoed through the microphone a sweet sound. For being only twelve years old she could really sing. I smiled to myself, my daughter was up stage singing an amazing solo to an amazing praise song in church. My husband, Andrew, looked at with her such compassion and pride. The fact that HIS daughter was up there singing amazingly, was enough to make him boast for weeks to his band members (and of course, my best guy friends) about how amazing his child was. They would grunt and groan but he would just go on and on and on. Our son, Desmond sat on the other side of me, his arms crossed and his face disgruntled. He didn't like that Aubrey had the attention, he always hated when she got the attention because in his world; she was the ONLY one who got the attention and he was the chopped liver. Ahh, ten year olds. What are you going to do with them?

As she finished up and the congregation clapped I couldn't help but find myself praying (with my eyes open) and thanking the Lord for blessing her with such a talent to sing. I myself was never that good at singing and Andrew he was well....horrific, in the nicest way to put it. It made me seriously wonder where her voice came from because I knew it wasn't from my family, and most certainly not her fathers. She sat down next to Desmond, her white skirt swaying with her as she walked.

"Amazing job sweetheart." I whispered over to her with a smile, handing her the sermon notes and a pen. Sure my kids probably didn't understand a word the Pastor said but since Sunday School didn't run in the summer, they might as well make use of their time in church and actually learn something instead of drawing pretty little pictures of hearts and stars and all those other doodles kids come up with nowadays. Andrew looked over at her with a nod, his way of congratulating her without causing a distraction. Our youngest daughter Aria sat on the other side of Andrew coloring in some coloring book her father let her bring her. Andrew spoiled her like no other, probably because she was the baby.

The service ended and Andrew's parents came up to us, immediately complimenting Aubrey and hugging her, then Desmond, then Aria, and finally me and Andrew. Andrew's 34 year old brother Evan walked over, without his wife or any of his four children.

"So I was thinking, everyone come over for a huge pasta dinner at our house tonight say around six? I'll give Natalie the heads up about it when I go babysit little Joshua in an hour or so." Mrs.Rayder's voice was soft and sweet as she looked around us for approval. Natalie was her youngest daughter who was only 32.

"Yeah, sounds great." I replied with a smile.

"I figured we might as well celebrate Aubrey's amazing solo this morning. Man, she's got a voice." April cooed over Aubrey like she was 10 months old again.

"Why do we always do stuff for Aubrey!? Whenever I do something awesome with my musical skills or with my band I always get the short end of the stick. Aubrey's an attention hogger." Desmond spoke up as I shot him a look.

"Desmond that was rude. Your sister is not an attention hogger and we have celebrated you with your music before. Don't act like this always happens." I replied, giving him a stern look.

"IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT AUBREY!" He said in a loud voice that was just short of a yell.

"Desmond Joesph! Not now!" Andrew barked as he turned back to his parents. "Sorry Mom and Dad, Desmond is just cranky from being up all night watching the Red Sox game."

"Sure..." Desmond muttered under his breathe as I shot him another look. 'Knock it off' I mouthed to him.

"Do we to dress up?" Evan spoke out of no where.

"Yes, just like you do for Thanksgiving. It would be fun and we could get another family photo! Evan, where's Kari and the kids?" Ironic how my "twin" well teenage best friend managed to marry my boyfriend's, well now husband's, younger brother.

"In the car waiting. Declan's got a doctor's appointment at 12, Alyssa's got a softball game at 1 and Landon's got a baseball game at 4 which means we will have just enough time to go home change and then go to your place." Ahh, Evan had a busy life now. It made me laugh. I never thought he'd get married. He was like Bobby, so awkward with girls. I wonder what happened to Bobby...

"Busy life huh Evan? Wasn't what you expected right?" Andrew teased. I flirtly hit him and he laughed.

"You don't even know the half of it." He responded shaking his head.

"Yeah I do, I got three kids."

"And I have four."

"You beat me there."

"Okay so six it is!" Andrew's dad piped up. He obviously wanted to go.

"Yeah I should go. Kari's waiting and the kids are probably driving her nuts. See you guys later!" And he was out the door. We said our goodbyes and headed into the car. Andrew driving me in the passenger seat and Desmond in the middle of the two girls in the back. He looked real happy.

"Mommy." Aria's voice chipped in over the radio. Andrew turned it down and glanced at her in the rear view mirror as I turned around in my seat.

"Yes baby?"

"Can you tell me about you and daddy when you were kids?" She asked with a smile.

"Why do you want to know about me and daddy when we were kids?" I asked, with curiosity.

"Well you two have been together since you were like Aubrey's age or a little older and I love hearing fairy tales about love." I smiled at her and so did Andrew, a huge smile that could lighten up the entire world in an instant.