FicWad

The sun was in high noon, with a slight breeze bringing the normal hot temperature down a few degrees. Children of all ages ran around the park, playing games like red rover or catch, on the long, green, summer grass. Young and old couples strolled along on the dirty white pavement enjoying each others company while clinging to each other displaying their affection publicly.

Lexi laced her fingers loosely around Pete's arm, leaning her head on his shoulder as they leisurely pushed the red stroller containing little Robert cooing and pointing at butterflies as they fluttered by. Pete looked down at his amazingly beautiful fiancé, with her black hair shining in the summer sun that enhanced her facial features to perfection.

Placing a small kiss on her temple, see looked up at him with her bright, sea, blue eyes, compassion filled in them. He returned the look, feeling the same love towards her, but quickly broke the gaze.

If only she knew what really was on his mind.

A bright blue butterfly that seemed to match Lexi's eyes fluttered right past Robert, and he let out a noise of excitement, reaching after it.

"Robert it's too fast for you," Lexi smiled, letting go of Pete's arm and kneeling down playing with her son's cheeks.

"Let's stop here?" Pete suggested, turning the stroller already onto the grass.

Lexi unbuckled Robert out of his seat and gently set him on the ground on all fours. He smiled a big, toothless, smile and wobbly crawled over the grass. Pete and Lexi sat on the blanket together and she huddled close to him. They watched Robert crawl in a circle, giggling as he did.

"I still can't believe I'm a dad," Lexi sighed as Pete spoke, watching his son start to crawl back to them. "It's insane,"

"And soon to be married," she smiled at him. "It's like all my dreams are coming true,"

Pete laughed uneasily, and shifted a little. Guilt was getting the best of him, but he hid it well. He leaned back, supporting himself with his arms behind him and outstretched his legs in front of him.

Robert returned and plopped himself in front of his parents. Lexi reached into the stroller basket and handed him a chewed up toy. Immediately he grabbed it and stuck it into his mouth, drool slipping out of the corners of his mouth.

"I wonder what he's thinking about," Lexi said, pushing her hair out of her face.

"Probably about how amazing his mommy is," Pete leaned in and kissed her tenderly on her lips.

Her hand cupped his cheek, his stubble poking her soft hands. He placed a hand on her waist, bringing her closer to him. Lexi couldn't help but smile, breaking the intimate moment.

"I don't think I can be any happier," she whispered, looking back at Robert, who was now gnawing away at his toy.

"Me neither," Pete replied, but the words seemed to be half full with meaning. He scooted away from her again, and stared up into the sky, trying to hide his guilt. Lexi sensed something wrong, and tilted her head to the side to examine Pete.

"What's wrong?" Pete shook his head.

"Nothing...I'm just thinking," Lexi bit her lip, wanting to nudge for a more fulfilling answer, but decided not to, bringing an awkward silence between them, only Robert making noises.

"Well look who's here," Aloe's voice broke the silence and Pete widened his eyes.

It was like all his worst fears were coming true, and he was sure that he was going to crack if he was to look up at the woman he had grown to love unconditionally.

"Hey, Aloe...I didn't expect to see you here," Lexi spoke in her soft voice. "It seems like it's been forever," Pete glanced up to see Joe crouched on the ground playing with Robert as he cooed. Aloe glanced over at Pete as well and a light smile appeared on her lips, something that went un-noticed with Lexi.

"This band break is killing me," Aloe commented and Lexi let out a light laugh.

"It's alright, just giving more time for the kids to grow up," Pete listened in as Aloe laughed with her.

"What about you Pete? How's recording going?" Joe's ears perked up and looked over at Pete.

"Oh, um..." Pete was caught off guard. Joe filled in for him.

"For just wrapping up things it's going great," Aloe looked a bit disappointed but shook it off as she looked back over at Joe, who stood back up and intertwined their hands.

"Alright then," Lexi said out loud as she stole a worried glance at Pete. Joe cleared his throat.

"So how's wedding plans going?" he asked and Lexi smiled her bright eyes twinkling in the sunlight.

"We were planning on heading over to Heather's place so she could help me pick out decorations, you know how she is," Aloe nodded to her answer and cleared her throat before tugging on Joe's hand.

"We should get going, Joe," Joe looked a bit surprised that she wanted to get away from her friends but obliged either way and let Aloe drag him away, the seemingly happy couple walking away.

"You're really excited about our wedding, aren't you?" Pete asked once they were out of site.

Lexi didn't let it faze her and smiled down at Robert who determinedly tugged at a daisy, rolling over on his back as he did. Pete let himself smile too as Robert giggled, thrusting the flower in Lexi's direction. She took it in her soft fingertips and twirled it slowly before locking eyes with Pete.

"It's the icing on the cake of my future, Pete," she spoke softly and Pete clenched his stomach in. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Pete listened as she spoke just above a whisper, her frail yet full features looking over the bright yellow daisy. Pete reached over and took her hand, intertwining their hands as he attempted to prove to her that he was ready as well.

"And so do I," he replied and they locked gazes again before Pete leaned over and captured her lips in a promising kiss.

Lexi smiled as Pete pulled away at looked at the beauty he had a hold of, but not so quite. He knew deep down that if he faltered, slipped up or said the wrong thing, what he had grown to know as perfection would slip right through his fingers like sand.

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They pulled up in front of Heather and Patrick's cozy suburban home. Robert clapped his hands excitedly, recognizing where they were. Pete unbuckled Robert and fastened him around his hip while Lexi grabbed the diaper bag and placed the strap on her shoulder. Together they walked up the stone pathway to their door.

"Patrick that wouldn't match!" Heather's voice echoed out to the streets from inside the house. Pete and Lexi questioned each other with eyes, hesitating to ring the doorbell.

"I told you we should have called first," Lexi whispered, Pete nodded and rang the doorbell.

"Get the door!" Heather yelled again. Footsteps from inside the house came closer to the door and Patrick mumbled to himself, before opening the door. Relieved to see the visitors, he greeted them happily, embracing them in a hug.

"I didn't know you guys were coming." Patrick stepped aside and let them into the house. Sadie and Martin came running from around the corner and wrapped their tiny arms around Pete and Lexi's legs.

"Hi Pete and Lexi!" Sadie sputtered and Pete put Robert on the floor, who crawled directly to the table where he spotted something shiny. Martin let Lexi go and followed Robert.

"Hi Sadie and Martin!" Lexi mimicked Sadie's voice, putting the diaper bag down on a chair. Martin turned around and waved, then went back to playing with Robert.

"My god, you two are getting bigger everyday!" Pete exclaimed, kneeling down in front of Sadie and ruffling her hair a bit. She smiled at Pete, making him smile widely back at her.

"Okay, I go play," she said, pointing to herself, and went over with her brother and Robert. Pete stood back up and fixed his shirt a little.

"I can't wait until Robert is their age," Lexi said, as Patrick shut the door and motioned them to follow them into the kitchen.

"Oh yes you can. Those two are a handful," Patrick let out a small laugh. "When they start talking you're going to wish for them to stop." They entered the kitchen where Heather was sitting with various wedding décor magazines spread open all over the table. She looked up from the page with very elegant white rose decorations.

"Hey!" Everyone took a seat at the table. Lexi nosily looked over a notepad that Heather had been scribbling ideas down on for the past few days. "I was just looking at possible ideas for alter decorations."

"You're really out doing yourself there Heather," Pete said as he looked over some of the magazines and the possible prices for the wedding. His mouth dropped slightly at some of the possible costs. "Seventy-five thousand dollars!"

"I told her she was going overboard," Patrick raised his eyebrows at Heather with I-told-you-so look on his face.

"Patrick, this is a woman's job," Heather said a matter of fatly.

"That doesn't mean I can't help."

"Don't start," she shook her head, "you can't mix lilacs and roses."

"They're just flowers Heather!" Patrick yelled. Pete and Lexi looked at each other uncomfortably, unsure whether to interrupt or just sit back.

"But this is going to be their big day, Lexi deserves the best," Patrick let out an annoyed, raspy sigh and stomped off to the living room where the children were playing.

"Whatever," he muttered and Lexi creased her eyebrows together before looking at her best friend.

"Heather," Lexi spoke in a motherly way and Heather shook her head, taking a deep breath.

"Which ones do you like, Lex?" she asked quietly but Lexi just pushed the magazine away before cupping Heather's hands in her own.

"Heather, that's not important right now," Pete watched intently at the gesture and took a deep breath. "Pete?" Pete shook his head out of the daze and looked into the eyes of Lexi. She smiled sympathetically and tilted her head towards the living room. "Could you talk to Patrick?" she asked and he nodded, awkwardly finding his steps and walking through the door to the living room where he saw Patrick observing his children and Robert playing. He took an u-easy seat next to him and watched as he sighed, eyes closed.

"I'm sorry you guys had to see that," he mumbled and Pete cleared his throat slightly.

"What's been going on lately?" he asked and Patrick glanced over at his best friend and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Silly fights that I can't really control...I've been sleeping in the guest bedroom for the past month," Pete felt his eyebrows twitch in surprise.

"I never thought it would get that bad," he whispered and Patrick smirked, looking back at his twins.

"That's what I said," a silence ensued and the two soon looked up to see saddened Heather and an uneasy Lexi by her side.

"Pete, I think it's best we discuss wedding plans another time," she spoke firmly and watched as Sadie let out a disapproving whine.

"You leaving?" she asked and Lexi smiled, bending over to gather Robert in her arms.

"Yeah, but we'll be over real soon, alright?" Sadie brightly smiled and nodded furiously before grabbing her brother's hand and dragging him to the nursery. Lexi turned to Pete and he stood, grabbing the diaper bag and looking back at the silent and slightly disturbed couple.

"How bout we come back Saturday, ok?" Patrick shrugged and Heather had a delayed response.

"Ok," she mumbled and dismissed the two, leading them out the door.

Lexi looked upset as she sat in the passenger seat, and every once and a while he would glance over to catch her either looking back at Robert through the rear-view mirror or playing with a loose strand on her shirt. He sighed inwardly and turned his head to her as he stopped at a red light.

"What's the matter, Lex?" he asked and Lexi looked up, her fearful eyes sparkling.

"Will you promise me we'll never get like that when Robert grows up?" she asked in a very low whisper, he voice faltering as tears started to brim her eyes.

Pete reached over and wiped the escaping tears that sneaked over her eyelids. Lexi looked as though she was holding her breath, waiting for an answer and Pete blinked before twitching an answering.

"I promise," he whispered and let out a light sigh of relief when Lexi smiled and looked back down at her lap. Pete turned back to the road and continued the journey home.

He couldn't help but think of why it didn't sound so sincere to him...