Aemilia smiled when she placed the coffee cups under the coffee machine, she was now married for over a month. But she was still in the honeymoon stage, she felt more like home inside the house she currently lives in. Sebastian still comes home with flowers and her favorite chocolate every day.

"You look happy." Gloria said, while she grabbed her cup from under the machine. "What did he this time?" Aemilia knew that she had bragged about Sebastian. About the fact that he had given the flowers and sweets, this weekend he has given her tickets to a jewelry throughout the ages' exhibition. Which will take place in the local museum next month. Which again was very thoughtful off him.

"He made breakfast." Aemilia replied. "Normally I would do it, because I wake up earlier. Only this time he beat me to the punch. Complete with scrambled egg, bacon and coffee." Gloria gave her a soft smile and sighed.

"Really, girl, you are so lucky. He sounds like an amazing guy. Given you all those gifts and now cooking breakfast, What is next..." Gloria said.

"I hope divorce." Her mother's voice echoed throughout the shop. Aemilia rolled with her eyes, she knew better than to engage. Because when her mother started a rant, you better let her go at it until she runs out of full. "Did you know that the man has a child with another woman. Which wouldn't be as bad, a lot off man had a sex live in the past, but he those not even pay child support." Her mother looked at her and Aemilia shook her head. "Do not tell me, that you know all of this already? How can you support a man that those not take care of his own flesh and blood?"

"Because it is not his own flesh and blood. It is true that Morgan and Sebastian shared a bed, one drunken night. But when he found out that Morgan was pregnant, he requested a paternity test, which came back negative. However, the father of the Cindy, wanted to do nothing with his unborn daughter and that is when Sebastian stepped in and let Morgan and Cindy, live with him. Until she got married to his cousin John. Morgan and Cindy were in here, the other day. Such a lovely girl, wasn't she?" Aemilia asked, turning to Gloria. Who nodded. "Morgan is a shopping assistant and she works for a number of clients, one of which wants jewelry of one of the designers my store carries." Her mother's mouth fall open.

"Did you know about him going to therapy?" Her mother asked, Aemilia nodded. "His secret and illegal business?"

"Which is not so illegal, I have seen the documents." Aemilia said. "And yes mother, he told me all of that himself. After some incurousments of his therapist, who I also met and the therapist wife Ellie." Her mother's mouth fall open, which was the first time in forever that Aemilia had seen this. Her mother really went through all these lengths to accuse Sebastian. Just like Sebastian predicted. "We also talked about couples therapy, to learn more about each other."

"This is the first time I heard about that. But it makes a lot of sense." Gloria said.

"Stay out of things that does not concern you, girl!" Her mother screamed. "That man is bad news, I am telling you." Her mother started to stamp her feet on the floor, like a little child having a tantrum. "He is the youngest son, of a second rate businessman! You were supposed to marry the firstborn, the one who will inherit the company!"

"Mother, can't you just be happy for me? Sebastian is treating me like a queen and I think he is starting to love me." Aemilia said, she really wanted to know what her mother thought about that. Her mother narrowed her eyes, and said nothing for a couple of minutes. Or were they just seconds, it felt like they were minutes.

"No, Aemilia. I can't be happy for you. Not when I know that he is going to lose his job when his brother takes over, not when he lives in a small house in the suburbs. Not when I know he still owns his cat, when he knows you are allergic." Her mother said.

"Mom, I am the one. Who is against rehoming Kitty. She is a gem of a cat, really sweet and does not go inside the kitchen or either of the bedrooms." Aemilia said. "And if you really feel that way about mine husband, then there is nothing more for us to discuss." The door of the store opened and Morgan, with a mini version of herself entered the store. Aemilia walked around her mother and gave Morgan a large smile. "Morgan, how lovely to see you once again." Now she focused on the child. "And you must be Cindy, I heard so much about you." Cindy started to smile.

"Is this the tramp, who slept with your husband?" Aemilia's mother said behind her back. But Aemilia ignored her.

"What can I do for the two of you?" Aemilia instead asked. Signaling Morgan with her eyes not to engage. Morgan answered with a simple nod.

"Cindy is begging John and me to have her ears pierced. Something we did not want to do until she was a bit older. But she is wearing my clip on earnings for a month now, and John and I agreed that we would do it if you are the one piercing her." Morgan said. Aemilia nodded, she had followed a piercing workshop before opening the shop. So she was able to do it.

"That is no problem at all, Cindy come with me and you will be able to chose your buds." Aemilia said, reaching out her hand towards the child. Cindy took her hand and walked with her towards the counter. Gloria already had grabbed the buds out of the case. They were simple buds, with a small zirconia stones in various colors. There were also some blend ones, but those were mostly picked by the boys. Cindy's eyes went over the buds, but chose the purple ones. The door of the shop opened once again.

"Hey darling, you are just in time." Morgan said, Aemilia looked up and saw a man standing next to Morgan. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Where is George?"

"My mother picked him up, she does not agree to our decision. But I told her that we thought long and hard about it." John said.

"Rosela is right and you should listen to her more often." Aemilia's mother chimed in. "It is clear that who has the pants on in your household." Aemilia sighed.

"Gloria, take Cindy out for some ice cream." Aemilia said. Gloria nodded and took Cindy out of the store. "Mother, I know you do not like Sebastian. And that is maybe the understatement of the century. I know you do not like me working, I know you do not agree with other life choices. But all that gives you no right to dictate my costumers and their families, not even when you know them. This is my business, and they." She pointed to John, who clearly had to say something, and Morgan. "Are my costumers." Aemilia took a deep breath. "So I am not even going to ask this nicely of you, leave me the hell alone. Leave my husband alone. Do not show up at our house, do not show up here. And do not tell me that my father will hear of this, no worries I will call him soon after you leave." Her mother's mouth fall open, the second time that day. She nodded and left. Aemilia looked at John. "I am sorry about that. My mother is on a path of war ever since she found out that I was going to be married to Sebastian, instead of Albany. This however those not excuse her comment about you or your family." John nodded and sighed.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"I may not be Sebastian's biggest supporter, I leave that role up to my wife and daughter. But if I have to choose between the two brothers, I would pick Sebastian every time. He took care of a woman with child that was not his own. He did not have to, but he did it anyway. He was the one who introduced me to Morgan. So yeah, I am so grateful to Sebastian." John said and Aemilia could see it in his eyes that he meant every word of it.

"There are Gloria and Cindy, it is going to hurt her. So do not be alarmed when she starts crying, the buds need to stay in her ears for over a month. After that she can take them out and I would recommend replacing them with other buds, until she gets much older." Aemilia said, she hopefully didn't need to explain why this is. John nodded slowly and Morgan nodded much quicker, she knew why. "Good." The door opened. "Hello, well we are ready for you." Aemilia grabbed her tools and went to work.

********

"Yes dad, I know she is my mother. But that those not give her the right to say stuff like that." Aemilia said. She was at home, after a long day of work. Cindy was very brave and did not cry, which was a good thing. Still Aemilia knew how much it hurt, as a reward she got to pick two sets of follow-up buds. After that she completely had forgotten to call her father. But what she did not expect was that he would wait for her at her home. She was shocked at first, but quickly realized why he was there. She had invited him in and told him all her mother had said and done. "It was not so much the things she said to me. But Morgan and John were at that moment my costumers. Yes they are also my family, and I want to believe that Morgan and I are at the beginning of a friendship. But not at that time, at that time they were paying costumers. With their seven-year-old." Her father took a sip of his tea, Kitty was lying next to him. The cat was so sweet, and her father even dared to give her some pets.

"Aemilia, I totally agree with you on that front. But cutting all contact with her?" Her father asked and Aemilia sighed.

"Dad, I know you love me, and that you want the best for me. But just as I said, I can handle the crap she is throwing my way. And Sebastian is so used to this kind of crap from his own family. That he would take her crap as well, but as his wife and partner, I can not and will not stand for that. She is my mother, but he is my husband. I really care for him and I know he cares for me." Aemilia said. Her father nodded and started to pet Kitty once again. Aemilia smiled when she saw that, her father also smiled at the cat.

"I think this little one has you to thank for her still being here, even with your allergies." Her father said, as it was a matter of fact and it was. "Your mother, thinks we got the wrong side of the deal. But hearing you talk about Sebastian, seening you things throughout the house. I believe we got the better man." Aemilia nodded and smiled. Her father was clearly listing to her, which was a good sign. "I can also see a lot of vases, with your favorite flowers. I am drinking your favorite tea. And I know from Micheal that you are not responsible for the groceries." This was true, even when she insists on going to the store to pick something up or do the shopping, Sebastian tells her that it is all taken care off. Something she admires, but it slowly starts to irritate her. Before she moved in here, she was able to do some shopping. Maybe that would be something they need to talk about, no not maybe, it was something they needed to talk about. She was happy and glad that he was willing to take care of her, but she was more than capable to take care of herself. Her father nodded. "Your mother also ranted about the two of you going towards couples therapy." She nodded.

"We still are learning so much about each other, yes we are married. But we need to have the tools to work on a healthy relationship. Something therapy can help with, it was his therapist who suggested it. He and his wife are going every month and he claims that it those wonders." She replied. The door opened and Sebastian stepped inside.

"I am home, and I got your favorite ice cream, oh hello sir." Sebastian said, he froze when he saw her father sitting on their couch. "Keep on talking, I was planning on making dinner anyway." He looked at Aemilia. "I am going to make pasta carbonara. The way you like it." That means he would make it with extra mozzarella. Her father nodded and smiled.

"Are you making it with bacon?" He asked.

"I am sir, just the way she likes it." Sebastian replied. He always makes it in the way she likes it. Claiming that her taste in food is much better than his, which she had heard from Morgan was not true. And she herself had called him out for it. She wanted to know what he liked so that she could cook his favorite meals, she already got some recepies from Morgan. And every time she cooks something he was eating it, loving every bite and telling her that he loved the way she had made it. Saying that she gave it a special touch, something that was bull because she had followed Morgan's instructions to the letter. But maybe it was because she had cooked the meal. She did not know, again something they can talk it out during therapy.

"My daughter is a lucky girl." Her father said and he stood up. "I am glad she married you." This was hopefully true. "But I think we are done talking, her mother will be waiting for me. And after I told her what Aemilia told me, and the fact that I will stand by her decision..." He stopped for a moment and looked at is cup. "You know what I will first finish my tea and then prepare myself for a scolding. Her mother will be not too pleased with me." Sebastian frowned, So Aemilia started to tell him the whole story.

"You do not have to go no contact, for my sake." Sebastian said.

"I am going no contact for our marriages' sake. You take care of me, and I take care of you. I made that promise on our wedding day, and I will keep it." She said, while standing up, and went over were he was standing. "My mother did exactly as you predicted, telling me about Morgan, your therapy, your supposed illegal business." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Who knew that watching Chinese drama series could be so helpful."

"Wait, he knew that this was going to happen because of Chinese drama?" Her father asked and Aemilia nodded. "Well at least you will not get surprised."

"I hoped to be wrong sir." Sebastian said.

"I believe you, and I am going to watch some of those dramas, myself. Maybe I learn a thing or two." He said placing his empty tea cup on the table. "You two have a nice evening." And he left the house. Leaving them alone. What to do? She placed her lips on his and started kissing him. They never went further than a stolen kiss or two. But deep down she was longing for something more then a kiss. She wanted him all for herself. She took the ice cream out of his hands and placed it on the diner table. She did not care if it would melt, she would have a salted caramel milkshake. All what she wanted now was him.

"Aemilia, what are you doing?" He asked, between two kisses. She however did not answer, but turned him around and pushed him towards the couch. Her hand were already under his shirt, feeling his muscles tighten under her thatch. Normally she was not a person driven by desire, except for the one-night stand during collage. But this was different, this was totally different. He fell on the couch pulling her with him, not breaking the kiss for one moment. "Aemilia." He whispered, something that made her melt. She grabbed his shirt and pulled it off him, breaking the kiss for only a second.

"I want and need you." She said. "Because I love you."