"Happy birthday, beautiful," Light kisses being pressed all over my nape and back woke me up from my deep slumber. I shuddered involuntarily as lips pressed against my neck, warm breath hitting my skin.

A smile on my face, I turned over and wrapped my arms around Aiden's neck whose body hovered over mine. Scrunching my nose when she leaned down to kiss it.

"Good morning," Aiden greeted with a wide smile.

"Morning, baby."

"I made breakfast," she whispered, thumb tracing my bottom lip.

"My favorite?"

"Favorites. I made it extra special since it's your birthday."

"How special?" I asked with a grin.

"Oh, you know, put a little bit of love potion here and there. Also poured some of my love for you, it was overflowing," she answered playfully.

"You're disgustingly cheesy," I laughed when Aiden's jaw dropped, taking the chance to push her off of me and ran towards the bathroom. I didn't manage to run far as arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I squeled when she lifted me up and bit my shoulder teasingly. "Ouch, baby!"

"You deserved that," she smirked.

"Let me go," I whined, trying to pry away her hands. "I need to take a bath."

"We need to take a bath." Aiden closed the door with her foot, finally letting me go but also pulling her shirt over her head. "I believe my girlfriend deserves a morning birthday sex, don't you think?"

"I don't know, does she?"

"I think she does," Aiden grabbed me by my hips, pulling me close to her body. I bit my lip as she smirked, eyes full of lust and desire as her hand went lower and touched my ass. "Right?"

I arched my body against hers. "So right."

And just like I always would, I succumbed to her temptation and let Aiden pleasure me in more ways one.

Holding hands and both wearing a smile on our faces, we went down to the kitchen where Aaron sat holding a box in hand, Tristan and Bianca sitting with him. His eyes lit up upon seeing me, immediately rushing to give me a hug.

"Happy birthday, mom!" He handed me the gift and a small envelope. "For you. But don't open it now."

"Thank you, sweetheart," I leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I'm sure I'll love it."

"Of course, Aiden and I picked it," He said smugly. "We made breakfast, by the way!"

"Did you now?"

"Yes, Aide and I woke up early for it." I let my son drag me towards the dining area where the table is set and just like they said, my favorite dishes are all prepared onto the table along with a bouquet of pink tulips.

"I love it, baby. Thank you."

"You're welcome!"

Bianca went to my side and gave me a hug, Tristan kissing my cheek next as they greeted me.

"Where's my gift?" I asked playfully, raising a brow.

Bianca indeed handed me a gift while her boyfriend just smiled widely and said that he's the who picked Bianca's gift for me. "That's from both of us."

"You're so stingy."

"I'm not," Aiden butted in, touching my waist. "I have 5 gifts for you in the guest room. Well, 6 technically. I have another for you later at night," she whispered the last part so only I could hear. I blushed, swatting her arm as she chuckled.

"I may not have heard that, but I don't like the look on your face," Tristan faked gagged as Bianca shook her head.

"What don't you like, dad?" Aaron asked, coming back from the kitchen, now holding a tray of baked cookies which I'm pretty sure are his favorites, not mine. I'm guessing Aiden couldn't say no.

"Your mom," he snorted.

"I know, isn't that why you two are divorced?" He asked so innocently that both my jaw and Tristan's dropped open in shock, Bianca and Aiden laughing in the side.

"Damn, bud. Good one," I glared at Aiden, effectively shutting her up. "Sorry, baby." She smiled cutely and kissed my lips.

"Ew," Aaron scrunched his nose. "Kissing is dirty."

"What's dirty?"

All of us turned to the voice, way too familiar in my ears. My eyes widened when they landed on my dad and mom, older but still similar face to mine staring at me with a raised brow. Fuck. How did I not hear them come in?

"Mom, dad."

"Hi, sweetheart," Dad greeted with a smile. "Happy birthday."

"T-Thanks, dad."

"Where's my grandson?" Mom asked.

"Grandma!" As if on cue, Aaron run into their arms. "Why are you here?" My son asked excitedly.

"It is your mom's birthday," Mom asked, ruffling his hair. "We're here to celebrate."

"Amara, Emanuel, it's been a long time," Tristan also went to my parents, kissing my mom's cheek.

"Where's your new lover, my boy?" Mom asked as if it was a natural thing to ask from my ex. She does consider him as her son.

Tristan wrapped an arm around Bianca's shoulder. "This is my beautiful girlfriend, Bianca. Bianca, Amayah's parents, Amara and Emanuel."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am, sir," Bianca said, smiling slightly.

After shaking each other's hands, that's when my mom's eyes landed on Aiden who's standing quietly beside me, her foot tapping against the floor, indicating she's nervous.

"And who is that young lady in the back?" Mom asked, catching dad's attention who's busy talking with Aaron.

Aiden cleared her throat. "I'm–ah... I'm Aiden Guevarra, ma'am. Amayah's f-friend–"

"Aiden is mom's girlfriend! Just like Bianca is dad's," my son interrupted, all smiling and innocent. "Right, Aide?"

My girlfriend nodded nervously, avoiding my parents wide eyes from the shock of my son's revelation. "R-Right."

Shit.

"Your mom doesn't like me," Aiden concluded after we talked to my parents and briefly explained our relationship, without the details they shouldn't know, of course.

"She doesn't like anyone, except for her husband and grandson."

"You didn't mention more about your parents to me," Aiden whispered, eyes glancing at the two people who raised me currently entertaining their grandchild.

"That's because they're not worth mentioning," I whispered back, rolling my eyes. "I rarely talk to them, except my dad, but he loves mom too much that he can't defend me whenever she decides to treat me like I'm not her own daughter."

"Why?"

"Oh the usual, I married too early, had a child too young," I wasn't even that young, I was 23 when I had Aaron. "Didn't fight enough for my ex-husband, let him leave me for another woman, chose my career instead of staying home with Aaron, neglected my family, agreed to the divorce, raising my son in a broken family, and I'm pretty sure our relationship will be one of her ongoing lists."

"I'm sorry," Aiden said sadly, arm pulling me in a warm and gentle hug.

"It's okay, I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't have to be though."

I sighed. "Let's stop talking about her, she's not worth it. It's my birthday so make me happy."

Although I knew she wanted to talk about it more, she respected my decision and relented. "I was planning on having a family date, but your parents are here. So, that's out of the list."

"We can do it once they leave," I suggested.

"Okay. They are busy right now though, do you want to open my gifts for you?"

"I'd love that."

Sneaking away, Aiden led me to the guest room where indeed 5 perfectly wrapped gifts are placed on the bed. She sat me down with her, handing me the biggest box first.

I raised my brow at the grin on her lips and playful glint in her eyes. Unwrapping it, I couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing the box of a cookware set.

"A cookware set? Really?" I asked, smiling.

"It's non-stick," Aiden wiggled her eyebrows. "And from HexClad."

I laughed, cupping her face and placing a chaste kiss on her lips. "I love it. But I think you bought this just so I could cook for you more."

"How did you know?" She gasped.

I rolled my eyes. "You're an idiot."

"Your idiot."

"All mine." I kissed her lips one more time before she handed me the second gift, the third, and the fourth–which I all loved– before the fifth one. My eyes widened in surprise when Aiden opened the small box, revealing a dazzling gold and emerald diamond ring.

"I-I...What–Aide? What the fuck?"

She chuckled shyly. "I'm not proposing, don't worry. We've only been dating for 2 months, you know."

"Then what is this? Because that looks like an engagement ring to me."

Aiden stared at the ring. "Oh, it is an engagement ring," my eyes widened again. "But, I'm not proposing. Just... think of it as a promise ring or a reminder."

"Reminder?"

Aiden nodded, taking the ring out of the box and bringing my hand to her lips to plant a soft kiss on the back of it. "A reminder that someday, when we're both ready, I'll get down on one knee, ask you to marry me and promise to spend the rest of my life loving you." She whispered, brown eyes staring deeply into mine.

"Y-Yeah?"

Tears forming in my eyes, I let Aiden slide the ring onto my finger. "Ever since the day I saw you, had the absolute privilege to make you smile, laugh... I knew there and then that this woman, this beautiful, kind, intelligent and caring woman, will be the love of my life." Aiden bit her lip, chuckling lightly. "It still baffles me that someone like me managed to make someone as perfect as you fall in love with me, and it feels so surreal that you're mine and I'm yours."

I closed my eyes briefly when her hand reached up to touch my tear-strained cheek, thumb caressing ever so gently. "Whenever I think of the future–our future, I see myself, sleeping beside you, wrapping my arms around you while we sleep, waking up still next to you and giving each other kisses. Telling you I love you with all my heart."

"And building our own family together with Aaron," she whispered softly. "I want that life with you, Amayah. And this ring will be a reminder that someday, we will have that kind of life."

"You sure this isn't a proposal?" I asked through my tears.

"You wish," Aiden grinned playfully.

Throwing my arms around her, I buried my face into the crook of her neck. "I love you, Aide. I don't think I'd ever love someone like I love you."

"Good, because you're the only person I'll love until the day I die and that's never going to change. I'm in love with you and all that you do."