~~CM~~

Life was happening too fast for Emily. She had always been of the mindset that nothing was fast enough. As a child, she couldn't wait to grow older, read the grownup books, listen to rock and roll, and go out all by herself. As a teenager, she couldn't wait to get out of school, out of her mother's home, and rush headfirst into the world. Then as an adult, her life and her lifestyle had been turned on its head when she met Ian Doyle.

After fleeing with a small child, she settled down off the grid. Emily grew accustomed to her sedate lifestyle. Slow cooking, slow internet, and very little human interaction outside of Declan had become her way of life.

Now, here she was, living in a busy city, her family doubled in size, getting engaged, making friends, and moving into her childhood home. She had a million emails from the boys' school about activities, conferences, sports, lunch menus, and volunteer opportunities. She had numerous texts from Jess, JJ, and Penelope about getting together. Her editor had scheduled a meeting to discuss the next book when her current one had only hit the shelves last month. And her mother had left her voicemails with contact information for a decorator and a painter for the house then the numbers of three wedding planners, two florists, a caterer, and her country club. As another call came in from Elizabeth Prentiss, Emily turned off her ringer and hid her face.

Needless to say, she planned on keeping all of her therapy appointments. Perhaps she should start going twice a week.

Aaron had been away on a case but arrived home to find her laying on the floor of the living room, cuddled up with Nutella.

"Em?"

"Hi Aaron. Kids are in bed but they might still be awake if you want to say good night," she mumbled into the dog's fur.

Staring at his black dress shoes, she waited as he stood over her for a minute then his shoes retreated. Fifteen minutes later, his socked feet appeared before her, "Boys were drifting off when I stopped in. They are asleep now." He sat down on the ground next to her, an open bottle of wine in hand.

"Overwhelmed?"

"Yup!" Emily accepted the bottle and took a swig as she sat up.

Snorting indelicately, Aaron rolled his eyes at her, "I brought glasses."

"This is faster."

Deciding that she was right, Aaron took a long sip from the bottle, "The boys? The grocery store? Your mother?"

That man does not forget a single thing, Emily thought, "Boys are great but there are so many options with school, chess club, book club, robotics club. I guess team sports are required in elementary school; apparently it's basketball season soon. And half of the PTA is complaining that school lunches aren't nutritious enough and other half think there aren't enough options. And I only complained about the grocery store once, Aaron. I was not used to so many options," Emily took the bottle back from him. After several swallows, she continued, "but all that I can handle. It's my mother and the wedding."

"In that case, I'm going to need another sip," Aaron kissed her, wrapping her up in his arms as he snagged the wine bottle back.

~~CM~~

Aaron happily hired movers, recalling the backaches that followed his move into the apartment. Between Emily and him, they could handle the packing and unpacking but he would happily leave the heavy lifting to professionals.

As their moving day grew closer, Aaron took a few days off to pack up the apartment, slowly moving small boxes and clothes into the new house.

He was pleased to find the house renovations completed since his last visit. Emily had organized the workmen to prepare the house for their official move in and it looked like they were done. She was shaking hands with the painters as Aaron carried the last load of his suits into the master bedroom.

Thrilled wallpaper was gone, he caught Emily doing a happy dance in the living room. Unable to stop himself, he stepped into her space and swept her up into his arms before kissing her. He danced with her, swinging her away and back as their giggles echoed through the empty house.

Taking advantage of the situation, Emily dragged him into the study. Furnished with a brand new desk, she hopped up on the top. Aaron stepped up, standing between her legs as he deepened their kisses.

A spark shot up his spine and he groaned as she leaned back, lifting her shirt over her head and before dropping it on the floor, "Emily."

Her hands tugged at his shirt, untucking it before sliding underneath, "Off, Aaron. Take off your shirt."

He couldn't help but giggle into her neck, "this is a bit naughty, isn't it?"

"Mmm, if we have an opportunity to be naughty, let's take it."

Afterward, Aaron had a pep in his step as he left Emily at the house to finish unpacking. He would pick up the boys from school and then head to the apartment to grab sleeping bags.

Emily had suggested they make the move as fun as possible. Pizza and a sleepover in the family room before they officially moved in the next day.

After the arduous process of picking up their children from the elementary school, Aaron asked about their day. Declan and Jack talk Aaron's ear off, interrupting each other the entire drive to the apartment.

Once inside, Aaron held his hand up and waited until the boys noticed. Finally quiet, they stood next to each other, looking up at him. Aaron couldn't help but smile at their sibling-like behavior, and launched into an explanation of the move, highlighting the sleepover in their new family room.

"And Nutella gets to come?"

"Can we have pizza?"

Saying yes to both of them, their small apartment echoed with their cheers.

~~CM~~

"I really love having a doggie door, Em," Aaron spoke quietly as not to wake their sleeping sons, "I didn't mind walking Nutella but having to get dressed and walk her down the block gets tiring after a long day."

Emily leaned down off the couch to pet the dog, "having a fenced in yard is perfect for her and the boys."

Aaron studied her face in the dim light. She looked tired but happy, her eyes shining. "Are you happy? To be here, in your childhood home?"

Nibbling on her lower lip, Emily was quiet for a bit, "even though everything is different, it does feel like I've come home. I keep expecting to see my dad when I turn a corner. I think he would be happy that I've come home. That we are raising our family here."

Reaching out for her hand, he brought it to his lips, "I love you, Emily."

Sighing happily, she snuggled in closer, tucking her head on his chest, "I love you, too."

They relaxed on the couch, watching the boys sleep under the makeshift tent of blankets. Aaron thought about their new home. It truly had their own touches on it now but for Emily, it was so much more personal. It was the home that brought her happiness as a child, the home she shared with her parents before her father passed, and now it was the home where she would raise her own family. This was the home that they would start their new lives, together.. Perhaps this should be the place for them to start their marriage.

Recalling all the reception hall and country club ballroom that Emily hated, an idea came to him. Aaron mentally reviewed all the wedding related decisions that didn't seem to appeal to his fiance. They had been going along this all wrong, allowing the idea of a big white wedding to take over their desire to be married.

Shifting up, Aaron pulled away and turned in his seat, "Em? In all honesty, do you like any of the wedding plans?"

Her left eyebrow rose as she studied his face, "What do you mean?"

"Imagine our ideal wedding. Church? Catholic or Baptist? Reception at the country club with a live band playing wedding classics, centerpieces,, catering for 200 guests," Aaron trailed off, "What do you really want?"

Emily smiled, "I want to be with you, the boys. Small crowd, nothing fancy. But at the same time, I don't want dressed-down quickie marriage at city hall. Does that make sense? What do you want?"

Nodding along as she spoke, Aaron was in agreement. He wanted Emily as his wife, Declan as his son, and the wedding details seemed unimportant compared to that. Her wishes helped cement his thoughts.

"What if," pausing, Aaron started again, "what if we got married here, in the backyard with family and a few friends."

Emily bit her bottom lip, her eyes blinking rapidly as she considered Aaron's suggestion. Lost in thought, she stood up and walked around the dining room, the large open kitchen, and through the french doors into the large backyard. She looked around the wide deck and green grass framed by mature trees.

Having followed her, Aaron stood silently next to her, assessing the space and trying to guess if she was pleased or disappointed with the suggestion.

After a couple of minutes, Emily turned and threw her arms around Aaron. Hugging him tightly, she whispered, "it will be perfect."

"Really?"

She gestured towards the west side of the yard, "if we put up a pergola over there, we cover it with white fabric and lights and we can have the ceremony under there. The house and deck are the perfect size to have a reception."

Seeing her vision, Aaron pointed to several areas on the deck, "we could run more lights, from the house to the deck rail. We can rent a few tables and chairs."

"And we can have a small caterer. Maybe a DJ instead of a band."

Turning Emily around to face the backyard, Aaron stood behind her, pulling her body flush with his. He couldn't help but nuzzle her neck, "can we rent a dance floor? Is that possible? Because I want to dance the night away with you."

"I'm sure between my mother and Penelope, we can get anything we want."

Sighing happily, Aaron kissed her cheek, "our wedding will be perfect. Now, let's get inside, my feet are cold."

Giggling, Emily pulled Aaron into the house, "you need slippers."

The couple continued into their home, laughing quietly so they wouldn't wake up their children.

~~CM~~

A/N: So my muse took a long depression nap. Despite still being really depressed this chapter finally came together.

I'm on Tumblr if you want to chat: GoodGodHenry