Russel (almost) family day out

[Esme Russel]

(( 25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m79acdB3sA1rbtfkyo1_500.jpg - Cici
24.media.tumblr.com/e0879e123e922453403a35776430d418/tumblr_mfo35qjQcn1rdudl6o1_1280.jpg - Esme ))

Esme was actually still pretty pissed off at Jonathan for not defending their relationship to Avery and Kat the previous night but they'd made plans to spend the day together since neither of them worked and she felt bad disappointing Cici even if she didn't even realize that they were suppose to go out. She wasn't really as angry as she was behaving - she was just hurt that he seemed like he believed that Cici was a mistake that had ruined his life. She hadn't been conceived out of infidelity! She wasn't the result of an affair as Avery was behaving; why was she even so jealous? What did it matter that Jonathan had cheated on her when they'd been dating for a couple of weeks? They hadn't even been together that long nor had either of them fallen in love. She hadn't forced him to cheat! They didn't mean to fall in love when they did, it just happened.. Just like that and isn't that how it's suppose to be? They even had a baby!

It was for the best of their child that they were together. She knew that she was going to have to forgive Jonathan but she was really hurt and she felt like he had just told everyone that he never wanted to be with her and that they were only together for the good of their daughter. Cici hadn't ruined her life! She had saved it.. She would have ended up drinking herself to an early death full of dangerous sex likely leading to a sexually transmitted disease that ruined her life and the lives of everyone around her. "Jonathan.. What do you want to do first?" She hadn't asked him as if she was actually happy to be there with him.. She sounded angry... Very angry.

"I mean.. I don't want to force you into anything especially since I already ruined your life by getting pregnant." She glared at him before returning to pushing Cici's stroller. Their daughter looked absolutely adorable today and oblivious to the drama about her.. She was sucking on her pacifier and holding a sippy cup of apple juice which was diluted with some water.

[Jonathan Russel]

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Jon was at a loss for words that night; what was he supposed to say to everybody insulting their relationship, their family, their child? There was a part of him that tried so hard to maintain his cool, that tried to be nice to everyone -- but he failed to realize that in times like that, he should have defended Esme, defended Cici, not worry about the feelings of his bitter ex-girlfriend and some other random chick who didn't even have a right to be talking about his relationship when she didn't know either of them.

Jon knew it was wrong to stay quiet when Esme was taking most, if not all the hits last night. He didn't mean for his silence to seem like he didn't care! Of course he cared, he just didn't to get involved, if he got involved, he would've looked like an asshole -- breaking a girl's heart and then rubbing his whole relationship and happiness in her face regardless of her insulting him. Jon just needed to realize that there was a time to be a good guy, and a time to be a good boyfriend.

The tone of Esme's voice killed him. He hated her being mad at him. He'd slept on the couch that night! But, they both had the day off... and it wasn't as if they could fight in front of their little daughter. Jon didn't want Cici to see any of that, and Jon didn't want to fight, ever so being the peacemaker, "Baby, you didn't ruin my life," he insisted, "I love Cici, she's the best thing that's happened to me, you've got to believe that."

[Esme Russel]

Esme knew that she couldn't spend their entire day off grumpy over something that had happened the night before but she just couldn't seem to get over how hurt that she was. "Look .... I know that you don't want people thinking that you're a dick or something but I don't want people thinking Cici is a mistake and that we regret her because I have never once regret her. She's my lifesaver.. She literally completed me and you... you two are the missing pieces that I was looking for. Did you know that I have never felt better about myself than I do with you? Or that I haven't even thought of purging since we got back together? I love you.. I love you more than I love life itself and the idea that I have ruined your life is terrifying.. I just wish I knew that you thought that I was the one because I know you're the one for me." She glanced down at their daughter in her stroller and let out a small sigh.

Cici was starting to fuss a little so she lifted her up and snuggled her close. "I'm sorry for making you sleep on the couch last night but I feel like you regret us and I feel like maybe you love me now but you wish you'd explored other options." She moved closer to him and offered him a small smile, "But there is something that you could do to make it up to me...." She wasn't sure what she was suggesting that they do but she did know that she wanted her last name to be Russel and show that bitch who she was messing up.

"Why don't we go elope?" Elope? Wouldn't that be stealing Kegan and Thalia's spotlight? "I mean.. if you love me then you'd want to marry me so we can be a real family.." What was she saying? Was she really trying to guilt him into this?

[Jonathan Russel]

"Esme, I love you," Jon nodded, "so much, and Cici is the greatest gift in the world because she helped me discover what a wonderful person you are," he took her hand, "before we were together I didn't even believe there was a 'one', but you're my one, Esme." He let out a breath, shaking his head slightly; he never liked it when she was upset. It's that type of feeling you get when, you love someone to a point where, their emotions start to become your emotions. He couldn't let her feel that way.

"I don't regret a single thing in our relationship because everything that's happened, everything that led up to it, brought me here with you." Jon meant that -- he never thought he'd have that special person in his life. He'd been in love before, sure, but then, there are people who you're meant to fall in love with, but not meant to be with. And after that, there's the one person you know you're connected to, the person that you want to be with forever. That person was Esme.

But hearing her speak of eloping, right then, the idea of them being married... that didn't sound like the right way to do it. "Esme, I would love to marry you," he smiled, "one of these days. We'll always be a real family regardless of the title, the marriage certificate, the rings..." he looked down to Cici, then back at her, "But if we do that now, on a whim, I just," Jon shook his head, "I could marry you anywhere, anytime, but that place and that time has to be special."

[Esme Russel]

Esme knew that eloping wasn't the best idea in the world but she wanted to.. She wanted to be Jon's wife already even if it meant losing out on having a nice wedding. "Jon... Baby... Please? It'll be the three of us and that's all that matters. I don't need a big wedding or a bunch of guests annoying the shit out of us. I just need you and Cici there." She wanted to legally be able to call herself Esme Russel not that she couldn't technically be doing that now but it just wouldn't feel the same. She knew that crying girls, especially her it seemed, were his biggest weakness so she was letting the tears flow like a river.

"I just wanna be your wife already, Jon.. We were suppose to get married last year and I'm scared if we don't do it now then something will get in the way just like it did then. We live together.. we share our lives and I just want it to be official. I know Kegan and Thalia will say shit about us doing this because they got engaged but I don't give a fuck. I'm not going to wait just so we don't piss them off. This is our life and I'm done living it for other people." What was the harm? It'd be a quick wedding and then she'd be married.

Married at seventeen...

She never honestly thought that she would want this but it just felt like she needed it. "Come on, Jon... There's a thousand reasons not to do this but I still want to because I know that you and I are forever. We've come too far and Cici deserves two married parents who have their shit together." Why did this matter so much to her?

[Jonathan Russel]

Jon listened to each of Esme's words carefully... they'd been engaged before, and that lasted for a while, so, technically they'd already waited to get married, anyway, didn't they? So, they've run into a few problems along the way, and maybe a lot of people didn't want the pair to be together... they've stuck by each other's sides through everything, and that's all that mattered. Who cared if they were young? When you know something's right for you, you go for it. Getting married to Esme would only make it official, nothing would change except for the label.

He reached over to take her hand in his, staring at the bare ring finger on her left hand before shifting his gaze to meet hers, "You're sure you want to do this?" he asked, smiling, as if to make sure it was okay despite the fact that Esme had been the first to bring the thought of marriage up.

[Esme Russel]

"I'm absolutely sure... I have honestly never been more sure of anything in my life... I wanna be Esme Faith Russel.. I'm the one and you're the one and when something is as right as this.... It'd be insane not to get married right now." Esme nodded slowly before leaning over to give him a reassuring kiss. She really didn't have any doubts which was good but surprising. She didn't care that there would be hurt feelings from those who weren't invited or angry comments from those who didn't approve of their relationship... Hell, she didn't even want to think about what Avery was going to say.. Who honestly gives a fuck what their husband's ex-girlfriend thought? This was their life, their future and their choice.

And they were choosing to spend the rest of their lives together.. How could there be any fault in that? Two people who were so in love that they could see themselves wanting to be together forever even when they were old and grey. "I wanna do this if you wanna do this.." She had never wanted to do anything more in her entire life. "I love you, Jonathan Jacob Russel, and I don't care what anyone says about you and I together because this just feels right. I don't know what the future holds for me or you or Cici but I know that everything is always going to be okay if we're together. We're all in this together."

Oh dear.. She must be desperate if she was using a High School Musical quote to try and convince him that they should get married. "But if you're not ready then I can totally understand." She wasn't going to get angry! How petty would that be? She had called off their wedding because she was scared so if he did then it would be kind of karmic.

[Jonathan Russel]

Jon blinked for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts together for any good reason as to why he wouldn't want to do this, why he wouldn't want to marry Esme right then, but he couldn't think of one -- because in all honesty, he wanted this too. Their relationship wasn't perfect, but it was certainly close to it in his eyes. He looked back on all his past relationships, and none of the feelings he got in any of them compared to the ones he got with Esme. He needed her just as much as she needed him.

"I'm ready," he insisted, "I love you, Esme Faith Reynolds," Jon leaned in to kiss the top of her forehead, "and I want to make you my wife." The words coming out of him sounded almost surreal. Was he doing this? Was this happening? I'm going to get married... and strangely, none of it bothered him.

[Esme Russel]

Esme could already imagine how people were going to react upon finding out that she and Jonathan had gotten married and it was slightly concerning to think everyone could be angry with her. She adjusted her daughter in her arms and glanced at the store next to them that sold both men's and women's clothes. She also knew that she had a cute dress in the diaper bag for Cici to change into. "I need a dress and you need a suit, baby." She smiled weakly before pecking her daughter on the forehead and taking her soon to be husband by the hand so she could lead him into the store. "Okay... I know that this isn't going to be the most fun in the world for you but I want a dress.. Nothing big.. just something cute to wear for you and for the pictures because I want pictures." She wanted to remember this day for the rest of her life. No regrets - just love.

"Okay.. How about I pick something out for me and you pick something out for you and we meet outside in fifteen minutes and then we go to that little chapel three blocks down and make this official?" She didn't exactly wait for his answer before giving him a kiss on the forehead and turning on her heel with their young daughter in her arms. Was this really happening? Was this legit? She couldn't believe that it was happening but she felt oddly calm about this whole thing. She wanted nothing more than to be his wife and she knew that if they did this now then they would never regret it. How could they? They were soul mates - always and forever. Their relationship had been unexpected and she didn't know if she could ever love him like this but now she couldn't imagine not.

It only took about twelve minutes to find the dress and shoes that she wanted to buy. She changed herself and Cici into their fancier clothing in the store restroom and it only took about three minutes. She was a tad worried that she was going to be late meeting Jonathan but she didn't think that it would matter if he had to wait a couple of minutes.. He would be her husband soon! She felt giddy as she waited for him outside of the store; this was happening so quickly!

[Jonathan Russel]

This was it, this was really happening. Jonathan Russel was getting married Esme Reynolds in a short amount of time, and there he was, anxiously searching for the right suit to wear for it. Of course it didn't really matter what they were wearing, or where it was -- but he wanted to look nice, he wanted to remember this day, this moment, because it was an essential part of, well, the rest of his life. Jon had never imagined he'd get married so young, or even at all. The boy always thought he'd end up alone, he never thought he needed anybody, that he'd ever get tied down... but he didn't mind being tied down by Esme, at all. In fact, he was even enforcing it right now.

Taking a moment to stare at himself in the mirror after having purchased and changed into the new suit he'd bought, fixing the black tie he wore around his neck now, Jon let out a breath, his eyes fixed carefully on his reflection. This was it. He was about to marry the girl he loved, become a real family with their daughter. It was official, and there was no turning back now. There was a turning feeling in his stomach, and he couldn't tell if it was because he was scared, or excited.

Exiting the restroom now, he met eyes with Esme, and a smile began to form on his face. He was ready. This was the time, there was no turning back now, and honestly, he didn't care to have second thoughts. This was right. He offered her his arm, "Ready to go, soon-to-be Mrs. Esme Russel?"