Adrien was confused wondering who it can be. It required a special card to get to his door.

He went and opened the door only to be pushed aside and suddenly his parents rushed inside.

"What the hell Adrien? We are in Manchester for one of my projects and I hear from Henry my son is arrested from a club for beating someone to almost death! Are you insane? It could create so much of problems if he charges you! Or worse he could have fought back and beaten you to death instead! Do you want to die you idiot! " Eliza King screamed at the top of her lungs.

Emerson and Adrien winced.

Nathan put a comforting arm on her shoulder and rubbed her back.

"Calm down Liza, breath."

"Don't tell me to calm down? Seriously Adrien. You were in club means were you drunk to get in a fight? And did you --- wait, are those bandages I see! Seriously Adrien you could have hurt yourself more. If that man died you could will have to spend your remaining years in jail! Weren't you here to make up with Emerson and you did something like this instead? " She shouted loudly.

His parents hadn't noticed Emerson in the corner yet.

Adrien dragged his palm on his face.

"Mo---"

Adrien was cut again.

"No Adrien. Weren't you saying you wanted to give Emerson and this marriage a chance, how are you going to do it if you are in prison? And even if you are bailed and the things are covered, do you think she would be married to someone who assaulted a man! She would be terrified of you! And isn't her birthday in this near time! Such a fool Adrien you could also loose your potential love interest ---"

A throat clearing cut her off.

"No Nathan, don't cut me ---"

"Ma'am, it's ok." Emerson cut her off.

Eliza froze along with Nathan and turned behind.

Emerson was shuffling from feet to feet awkwardly.

Her first meeting with Eliza, not at wedding but the dinner at Henry's was cold. And so it's was obvious for her to feel shocked at her rambling and specially the word - Love interest.

Eliza gave her a shaky smile.

"Oh hey Emerson, you look good." She said intervening her fingers and drumming her hands which Adrien knew was his mom's nervous habit, which was rare to see.

Emerson glanced at her dress , she was still in her top and shorts she knew her hair messed a little.

"Uh.. Thanks? " It came out like question.

"And her birthday is today.' Adrien mumbled to himself but Nathan heard it.

He face palmed himself.

" You got in a fight, more like beat someone up in a club. Which meant she was there if she is here and you ruined her day? " Nathan asked in disbelief.

Eliza gasped.

"It's her birthday TODAY?"

Emerson gulped, a little more than uncomfortable.

"Mr and Mrs Stone, don't scold him, he didn't do it intentionally . The guy badmouthed me and Adrien snapped." Emerson defended him.

Adrien looked shocked to see her defend him. He blinked twice.

Eliza stepped out and called someone.

Nathan sighed.

"What happened? And I want truth. " He said pointedly.

Adrien sighed.

"Emerson and I weren't on talking terms. I went to Phoenix because Noah invited me, she came with her friends to celebrate. A bad coincidence, some of my employees and their friends too came. One of my employee insulted Emerson and lunged at her, security threw her out. Her cousin badmouthed Emerson, I snapped. Someone called police, and here we are." He explained in short, leaving the main information.

Nathan raised his eyebrows and his eyes held amusement making Adrien frown in confusion.

Emerson's phone rang making everyone snap their attention to her.

She picked the call.

Listening to the other end, she muttered an ok in the last and hanged up.

She glanced between Adrien and Nathan.

"Michael's not recovering that well, his family is yet to be informed. Keep a lawyer ready. It's an open shut case --- you beat him up, every evidence will point towards you. Let's hope he wakes up, so that you will be only charged with common assault which can sentence you for six months prison and a hefty fine. You could be easily bailed. I hope it's your first time, so it would be easy. If he doesn't wake, it won't be categorised as common assault and things can go downhill. Also,you could possibly need to show records of visiting a councilor or therapist for anger issues " She told in a go.

Nathan nodded and Adrien pursued his lips.

Before he could say something Eliza came back with her driver behind her with a big box and some parcel bags in her hand.

Everyone was confused at that.

She ordered the driver to keep the things on the table and leave .

"Well , since my son and that man ruined your birthday, I ordered a cake and some food for us. Don't want your birthday to go unhappily." Eliza said with a smile.

Emerson's jaw dropped on the floor.

Adrien wasn't that shocked because apparently mother was a sucker for birthdays. Even if they didn't talk whole year, but still she would celebrate everyone's birthday happily.

"Yo- you didn't need to do it Mrs Stone, it's so kind of you." Emerson said politely.

Eliza waved her hand dismissively.

"It's nothing. Now open the box and cut the cake, I didn't know which you would like so I just ordered a big vanilla flavoured cake. It's plain but every one likes it." She said casually.

Emerson bit her lip, her gaze averting.

"Thank you so much. It means a lot to me. " She said, her head down.

Her chest was tugging painfully. How she wished for a mother who would do this for her. Eliza wasn't her mother , neither did she act very affectionately, but Emerson was happy by her sweet gesture.

Eliza gave her a smile and gestured towards the cake.

She put on a single candle on it.

Emerson stood in the middle and the other three stood around her.

"Blow the candle." Nathan said , but suddenly a voice interrupted them.

"Starting without us? "

Emerson looked up and tears welled up in her eyes.

She ran where grandpa Henry and Grandma Rose stood and hugged grandma rose tightly.

"Te extrañé mucho ( I missed you so much)." She muttered in her neck.

Rose laughed happily.

"Oh my dear, finally 24 . Time flies by so fast." She said.

She pulled back, tears shining in her eyes .

Rose rolled her eyes.

"Such a crybaby. I don't want my liner to smug, so don't cry." She said sternly but Emerson couldn't control her tears.

Rose's eyes softened and she hugged her again, kissing her head softly.

She wiped Em's tear stricken face.

"I didn't know someone loved me more than Peter." She said teasingly.

At Peter's mention her tears increased.

Rose cupped her face.

"Don't cry sweets, he must be proud of what you are now. Trust me, I know. He told me once you are what he wouldn't have expected even from his own children if we had any." Henry said and patted her head.

A soft smile broke on her face.

The Stone couple were looking at the scene unfold curiously.

It also made them wonder how it would have been if they had a daughter...

Adrien, even if an egoistical jerk who gave more importance to his pride than her, could never watch her tears. It was painful for him. He just couldn't stand if anyone made her unhappy.

No wonder he blacked out like a teenager with anger issues.

Rose's eyes too became misty at the mention of Peter's love towards Emerson.

She composed herself.

"Enough with the sappy drama now. Let's cut the cake. No more tears." Ride said sternly.

Emerson wiped her tears and nodded.

Rose turned to Nathan and Eliza.

"Rosaline Santos. Emerson's Grandma, and your dictator's unfortunately best friend." She introduced herself.

Adrien tried to stifle his laugh when Henry glared at him. Eliza and Nathan were looking at Rose wide eyed.

No one, and it means literally no one insults Henry Stone. But Rose wasn't no one.

"Grandma! " Emerson scolded, but she too had a ghost of smile on her face, her tears long forgotten even if the traces were there.

Rose turned to Adrien and gave him a wide, too wide smile.

He gulped visibly.

"Hello Ma'am." He said shakily and refrained himself from touching his ear.

Rose raised an eye brow, and it was like a button switched in him he started explaining, more like rambling.

" I swear I did nothing wrong , that asshole was badmouthing and insulting Emerson and I just couldn't see it. I swear if I knew he would be such a jerk I would never have let Noah invite him and his cousin Ms Griffin. I know I came early here when you clearly told me not to but I couldn't let her be in a completely different country alone and keeping our distance was her idea even if it happened it was due to misunderstanding, I tried my best to give her the care she needed but she is an independent lady and ---"

Henry and Rose looked amused at his behavior , Stone couple shocked and Emerson embarrassed.

Rose cut his rambling off by clearing her throat and keeping a resting bitch face.

Adrien stopped and realised he was rambling and his ears turned red.

He glanced at Emerson to see she face palmed herself, shaking her head in second hand embarrassment.

"Sorry." He muttered.

Rose hummed.

"I never asked anything, I was just going to say we meet again and here you made me look like I threatened to castrate you if Emerson is unhappy in front of your parents." She said in a mocking sad tone.

His eyes widened and Henry laughed out loud.

"Leave him now Rose. He had too much today. Let's celebrate Emerson's birthday now."

Rose gave Adrien one last look and nodded.

********

Ciao

S. A. D.