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I didn't plan it, but you're the best thing that has ever happened to me.

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N o t e

Happy Valentines Day everyone! (It's like 1 am here, so it is V-Day ;) )

I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and I kind of admit, it is a filler so I am sorry if you don't like it.

And I am also really sorry about how long it took me to update this chapter (I wanted to update on V-Day because I'm corny like that) but school has been stressing me out like no other and I can't believe I am this stressed like I literally have no time for anything and it kills me that I don't have as much time for writing as I used to.

PS - Unedited because Mechanics gives me dark under eye circles.

PPS - What are you V-day plans? I have a super hot date with my husband William Herondale, so tell me yours! :)

Enjoy xx

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"Okay people, we all know about the new drinks we need to make and –Aaron are you even listening?"

The blue eyed boy spared Steve a glance, shrugging. "Does it matter?"

Steve let out a helpless sigh. "We are in the middle of a meeting and you're asking me if it matters–"

"We're holding this meeting only because you were the only one not aware of our new beverages and secret menu items," Aaron said warily. "So don't start with me."

Claire snorted, biting on her bottom lip as she tried to control her giggle. "Aaron is right–"

"I'm not hearing it right now," Steve said, his lips pursed as his green eyes shot Aaron a look. "And it was just one time alright people, one time."

Aaron nodded weakly. "And we're holding a meeting because of it."

Steve muttered under his breath. "Can we all just proceed to the topic at hand here?"

Aaron smiled lightly, letting a small chuckle brew his chest. "Can I be excused?"

"Did you deliberately divert the topic of this meeting and publicly humiliate me because you wanted to be excused?"

Aaron shrugged. "I tried telling you before, it wasn't working."

"So you embarrass your boss?"

"You're not my boss,"

"You're fired."

"You're still not my boss."

"For Christ's sake," Steve muttered. "Go. Leave."

Aaron sent him a sickly sweet smile. "Thank you."

"That's half your salary deducted Aaron."

"You're still not my boss Steve,"

"Don't make me force you to work overtime."

"Oh for fuck's sake."

➳➳➳

It was always so easy to have a house wasn't it?

A kitchen, a bathroom, perhaps two bedrooms if you will, and a dining room was always enough to make a house. A meter or two of wallpaper, a couple of chairs and a table along with a sofa.

It was always easy to have a house.

But you see, it was always harder to have a home.

A home where his Mom's homemade pancakes wafted through the morning air; a home where Aaron was able to smell his Dad's cologne even if he was miles away from him. To recollect the memory of that stain on that chair; of that scratch on that table. To be able to compare his Mother's smile to the early sunrise; to be reminded of his Father's sparkly blue eyes whenever he saw the sky at dawn.

You see, a home was something Aaron never had. He had a bed to sleep on, and he had a table to eat on, but there was nothing that made it feel like he belonged. Like it was his to cherish or remember; that even though all those things were for the DeGarner family, it never felt like they truly made it their own.

Even after years of use, the chairs were still brand new and the tables were spotless; the wallpapers were as clear and unwrinkled just like the first time they bought it.

The house seemed like nobody ever lived in it; that children were never a bit too reckless to spill some spaghetti sauce on the chair, or that toddlers were never a bit too excited to peel off some of the wallpaper, or that the parents were never a bit too confused on how they were going to cover up the juice stain on the couch.

It seemed as though the house was always just a house –it was never a home.

A home where stains and peels were something normal; where it was okay if dust and dirt were on the edges of old chairs and tables. A home where it was a place with its very own scent; a place where Aaron could sleep in and feel like he belonged.

A home where everything was normal.

"Aaron you okay there?" Rose nudged his shoulder with her own, her caramel eyes dotted with specks of concern.

"Yeah," He breathed, letting out a tired breath of his own. "Just thinking."

Rose exhaled. "Thinking about what?"

"Stuff that doesn't matter."

She smiled softly at him. "It matters if it got you thinking so hard about it."

He smiled slightly. "I was just thinking about my family."

Rose's lips tightened, her fingers already finding his own as she let out a breath. Her room was slightly chilly today –We need to go under the blankets Aaron– and Rose even did the effort of setting up her fairy lights across her room –I need a little help Aaron– with Aaron's help of course, but not without his crooked smile and mischievious eyes –Aw you need help there shorty?

The yellow of the lights caught the specks of green in Rose's eyes, and illuminated the curve of her neck and the dips of her collarbones. Even her eyelashes looked like they were bathed in gold and sprinkled with stars before God left Aaron to hyperventilate on his own –Jesus Christ I am losing my fucking mind like how can someone even be so beautiful Christ I can't fucking breathe–

"You want to talk about it?" Rose whispered quietly, her eyes flashing to his as she tried to smile.

"There's nothing to talk about," Aaron replied, leaving her a small kiss on her forehead. "I'm okay, I promise."

Rose snuggled further into Aaron until her blonde locks tickled the back of his neck. "It's okay not to be okay."

He let out a light chuckle, already feeling the stiffness of his chest soothe away. "I know, I trust you Rose."

"Good," She said quietly, giving Aaron one of her lazy smile, and the fact that she smiled that damn smile while she was illuminated by the yellow lights almost made Aaron pass out over how ethereal she looked like.

He needed to calm the fuck down.

But how could he calm down when Rose's legs were tangled with his own that he had no idea where his began or hers ended? And that the warm breaths she left on his chest and collarbones were like secrets his skin was absorbing like some insane drug addict with heroine; and that her lips somehow always managed to brush against the side of his neck and she'd look up at him as though she didn't have the first clue on what it did to Aaron?

How could he keep calm when she was giving him a million and a half reasons not to?

"Since my parents are gone and the house is all to ourselves, can I interest you in a cup of hot chocolate?"

And when he looked down at her and saw the most stunning smile painted on her lips along with the luminous glint of amber in her eyes, he would say Yes even if she asked him to rob the banks of every single country on the face on this Earth.

He shut his eyes –Jesus Christ get a fucking grip on yourself– "Sure, I'd love that."

She beamed before she practically peeled the blankets off her and waltzed out of the room, yelling a See you downstairs loser! as she ran down the stairs, which obviously made Aaron roll his eyes and shout back a Don't run down the stairs you Moron!

After getting his breathing back to normal, Aaron eventually got out of bed and headed downstairs to join Rose, smiling at all the cracks in her room's wallpaper and the stains of baby pink on the marble floor of the kitchen. It made him excited to know how in the world it got there.

"Okay, so which mug?"

Aaron glanced at the two mugs Rose held up; squinting his eyes at her as his lips pursed. "They look exactly the same you Moron,"

Rose's lips thinned into a line. "But this one has an Always on it with Severus Snape on the side and the other one has Harry saying Espresso Patronum." She grinned. "Get it? Like Expectro–"

"Jesus Christ Rose, you drive me insane."

"But there is nothing Ron with me."

"Rose–"

"I know you can Neville get enough of these jokes."

"You seriously need to stop?"

"Do you Siriusly want me to stop?"

"Jesus Christ," Aaron cracked a huge grin, letting the chuckle slip through his lips as he shook his head.

She was beaming though; all her teeth on display as she leaned her head back and let out a giggly laugh. He didn't even know how someone could giggle and laugh at the same time, but he did know that when Rose did it, he thought he was seeing stars and that he was just going to drop dead on her kitchen floor.

"You're awful at this," Aaron remarked, grinning goofily. "You're such an idiot."

Rose shrugged, still smiling. "But I got you to laugh." She glanced at him as she stirred their cups, the smile turning warmer and warmer. "So I'm satisfied."

He smiled at her as she handed him his cup, whispering a quiet Thank you before he took a huge gulp of the warm chocolate. And Rose smiled at that, letting out a little laugh as she sat beside him, tracing the rim of her mug with her fingertips –a habit that Aaron found out Rose only did when she was thinking of something rather determinedly.

"Something on your mind?" Aaron asked, taking another sip of his hot beverage.

"I want to build a fort," Rose said, looking up to him after her trance. "What about you?"

Aaron could feel his cheeks burn as he cleared his throat awkwardly. He let out a small breath as he settled his cup down and licked his lips. "I've never actually built a fort before."

Rose eyes widened. "Really?" Her fingers were back on the rim of her mug. "Why not?"

"It never really crossed my mind," Aaron shrugged, trying to look away from her curious golden gaze. He cleared his throat. "And the mess was always a lot to handle for me."

Rose smiled warmly. "Well there's a first time for everything!"

And then she whizzed out of the kitchen and back into her room, yelling a We're making a fort Aaron! and he could hear her knock out every single comforter, blanket and pillow she had in her room.

He smiled when he glanced at her untouched hot chocolate, letting out a nervous breath as he took her mug along with his own up to her room. He could hear her push over tables and chairs and even heard her huffs of annoyance before he strolled into the room and placed their mugs on the table –where he hoped it would be safe.

"What in God's name is that?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "It's still in the process of making, just calm down."

"I am calm."

"No you're not, you're just as excited as I am."

He grinned sheepishly. "Alright I'll calm down."

She smiled at him; the lights catching the locks of gold in Rose's hair. She looked like an angel.

And he thought he was going to die.

When Rose called him over to help, he was hesitant, but the confident sparkle in her eyes and the softness in her smile, it told him that it wouldn't hurt to try. They pushed her table against the wall –Careful Rose, the mugs, the mugs, the MUGS! – and even stacked a few of her books on top of the table to add a little more volume and height when they draped the blanket over it.

They took her comforter and placed it under the table, Rose's smile almost as smooth as her blanket when they draped the blanket over the stacked books and the table –This doesn't look quite right Rose– and she was persistent with her tongue slightly poking out of the corner of her mouth –We're still in the process of making it flawless Aaron, beauty takes patience.

They spent fifteen minutes layering blankets over blankets, Rose even yelling at some point –Aaron I thought you were holding onto it! – and it was Aaron with his sheepish smile and long legs that he thought were going to tangle together –Well I thought you were going to put this one on first!

It was a lanky 6'3 boy whose black shirt was starting to wrinkle by how much force he was using to balance the blankets in his arms –Rose I swear I am not cut out for this– and a beaming blonde who couldn't stop giggling whenever Aaron's legs coiled with the long comforters; her blonde locks always swaying as she leaned her head back and laughed –You look a little stuck, want some help with that?

After that, Rose was looking at their fort like it was her proudest accomplishment she has ever completed while Aaron was looking at how beautiful Rose looked like when the light caught the lines of her throat and the curl of her eyelashes.

"We did it!" Rose said excitedly, her smile almost as warm as her eyes. "It looks awesome!"

He glanced at their fort and he could feel a small smile climb up his lips. "It's the first one I ever made, so I really have nothing I can compare it to."

She gave him a look. "Well I know it might not be the best, but hey, it could've ended up worse."

"Yeah, like if I didn't help you."

She rolled her eyes. "Narcotic much?"

He grinned. "Aren't I always?"

She then gave him one last flat look before her eyes sparkled at the fort again. "Come on, we didn't do that hard work for nothing!"

He watched as she crawled under the table, even listening as she let out an excited giggle –Jesus Christ she is so fucking cute like I am losing my fucking mind– and saw how she patted the spot next to her. "Come on, I will be closing up soon." She said, holding up the blankets as she peeked at him from inside.

He smiled, rolling his eyes before he crawled next to her; watching as the blankets and multiple pillows encompassing them, including Rose's snuggle bear Fred –Come on Aaron, please? He'll listen to us talk about Harry Potter, right Fred? – and Rose even insisted on lighting up a scented candle –We really don't need a fire right now Rose– but he let her anyway.

The fairy lights from outside were like specks of gold peeking through the multiple blankets; and even though they were too dim to notice, they were bright enough to catch the Arcadian glow on Rose's cheeks and the effulgent brown of her eyes.

"This is really comfortable," Aaron found himself mumbling as his eyes drank every corner of the little fort; noticing how it felt so cozy and warm in here even though it was only layers of blankets along with Rose's warm gaze.

"Do you like it?"

He looked at her, smiling at how phenomenal her hair looked like tangled between her pillow as she lied down; locks of gold and brown sprawled together in such a delicate labyrinth that he thought he was going to go into a cardiac arrest. Rose caused cardiac arrests too –the worst cases usually to Aaron.

"It's awesome," He told her, grinning, his eyes still taking in how comforting the fort felt. "Thank you for making it."

"Well technically, we both made it." Rose said, smiling too. Her eyes became so gentle, almost as though if Aaron stared into them long enough, he would feel every single muscle in his body relax. He smiled at that.

She took a sip from her hot chocolate, and judging from how she grimaced after she gulped it down, it became cold and bland. Aaron laughed. "You should've finished it first before we made the fort."

Rose shrugged. "I was so excited."

"I could tell."

He could see her bite back a comment, watching in amusement as she pursed her lips and let out a breath. "I think you're more bitter than my cold hot chocolate."

"And I think you're more beautiful than this fort."

She rolled her eyes. "Smooth Aaron –every time I offend you, you shower me with compliments so that I will feel bad about offending you." Rose fired back, grinning. "Well those reverse psychology crumbs doesn't work on me."

He grinned at her, impressed. "Not bad for a noob."

She quirked an eyebrow. "You mean a professional who was just acting as an amateur to deceive you into thinking she was weak and helpless?"

He smiled at her. "I never thought you were weak and helpless," His fingers unconsciously traced her knuckles. "You proved that a long time ago."

She smiled shyly; her cheeks tinting pink. "Stop it, God damn it, it won't work."

He laughed quietly. "I mean you punched Emette in the fucking face, what more can you not do?"

"Dance," She replied. "I can't dance for my life."

"I'll teach you," He said. "I promise."

"I might cut off one of your toes."

"Without shoes."

"I might dislocate your arms or your shoulders."

"I was thinking that a few trips to the hospital won't be that bad."

She grinned at him, exhaling as she embraced him. "Thank you," She whispered.

"For what?"

"For being her with me. For being you. For liking me. For everything."

"Rose," He sighed, letting his arms go around her. "How many times do I have to tell you? I don't like you anymore, I love you." He was smiling, his blue eyes gleaming in the dimness of the fairy lights. "And for you, anything."

"I'm still not used to this stuff," Rose said quietly, as though she was ashamed. "I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me–"

"Hey hey hey," Aaron hugged her to assure her it was alright. "Don't stress on it. It's alright if you don't love me –God you shouldn't think about stuff like that Rose." His fingers were tracing circles on her shoulder blades. "It doesn't matter if you don't love me, maybe in time you will, but you should know that even if you just like me, Christ, that is plenty enough."

"I'm pretty sure I passed like Aaron," Rose said.

He smiled at her. "Then when you're ready sweetheart."

"I don't know how you do it," She said. "You're so patient with me that I'm starting to feel bad."

He kissed her forehead. "Waiting for you isn't something bad Rose, I waited before I could court you and I will wait for you until I can marry you."

She turned beet root red. "Aaron–"

He grinned. "Calm down, I was just saying my mind."

Her fingers came on his chest, the softness of her eyes almost seeming like an oil painting; effortless and precise. "I'll drop the L word when you least expect it."

"Do we still come off as cliché to you?"