Reflection 2:Better Together

•Forever• [Final]

*5 Years Later*

"Lauren, get out the bathroom, you're uusing up all the hot water!" I whined, banging on the door. We were supposed to be on a flight to Los Angeles to reunite with the girls at Auntie Milika's house, and Lauren's 45 minute showers were preventing us from being on time. Mike, Clara, Taylor and Chris were already waiting downstairs with Caiden and Anthony.
Oh, yeah, Caiden Prince Jauregui, our now four year old son. He was born in late August, and I had carried. He was born with the creamiest tan skin, amber eyes, and thick curly hair, a basic carbon copy of me. But personality wise he was completely Lauren. Sassy, yet big hearted. He managed to make me smile at all times.
Despite the PTSD that both Lauren and I suffered from the events in and after the ordeal with L.A., we realized that having Caiden would be an incredible step towards healing ourselves.
"I'm coming! Beauty takes time, babe." The girl called back, causing me to roll my eyes. I knew good and well that she was literally staring into space. I opened the door and reached into the glass baricade, turning off the water, "In that case, get dressed. That takes you forever, too."
She growled at me before getting out and wrapping herself in a towel. Me being the perv I was couldn't help but stare.
"You're a married woman, Paige, hold it together." She joked, shoving her ring finger in my face.
"I bet," I mumbled leaving her to get herself ready for the flight.
I went down the stairs and was met with the most adorable sight. The adults were all video taping Caiden dancing to Worth It. The boy had inherited my rhythm (thank God) and was literally twerking to the beat.
"Mommy, look at me!" He giggled with glee and I could not refrain from giggling.
"Good job, king." I cheered.

The scene continued on until I felt a pair of warm arms around my shoulders.

"He's definitely your child." Lauren's voice said.
"I know," I laughed, "he's the booty pop king."
"Shut up." Lauren cautioned.

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The flight was filled with excitement and joy, and soon enough it was over, we drove out rental cars to Aunt Milika's house.
The girls were already in the backyard, Ally, Troy and their kids Duncan, Leah, and  the child they'd adopted years before who was now almost 12, Dinah and her now husband Ahe with her protruding baby bump, Camila and her, rather special  friend Alexandria with their daughter Catalina, and Normani and her family- August, Aaliyah, and Jordan.
I couldn't help but remember the joy I had felt seeing Ally reassure me that she could, in fact, walk down the aisle at my wedding, seeing Camila take her first breath of fresh air without a pain shooting down her body, Dinah eat without reserve, Lauren do anything other than blankly stare into space, and Normani quit with her shakes. We had come so far from those fateful days.
The view now in front of me was something out of a photo- old friends grown up, Camila chasing after the kids, Dinah and Normani practicing some Beyonce dance from back in the day, Ally and Troy watching on in amusement. The parents gathered watching their grandchildren, nieces, nephews. This is was how it was meant to be.
"Babe, what are you thinking about?" Lauren asked by my side. I had been sitting there for a few minutes now, just watching.
"Two things, we need to have another child, and this is literally perfect."
"...True.. And what is?"
I positioned her so that she could watch the scene with my arms wrapped around her waist, "This is our family. Caiden, Anthony and whatever we name our newest will grow up with so much love and happiness."
"Laila."
"Who?"
"Let's name her Laila."
"If it's a girl. What if it's a boy?"
"Stellan," She sighed, "his name will be Stellan."
I nodded, "I love you, Lauren."
"I love you, too."
We continued to watch the scene a while longer until I let her out of my embrace. We joined hands and the smile on both of our faces, the happiness between us was undeniable.

We were absolutely, 100% better together. And now we would all be together forever.