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SABINA
"Happy Birthday!!"
A cheer rises up from the gathered crowd like a swelling wave, loud enough to deafen almost everyone, but there's no way to dampen the pride and excitement that bursts from everyone clustered in the back yard of my new home.
The past six months have been a complete whirlwind. House hunting was equally the most stressful and exhilarating thing to kick off our new life, especially when Illyana found a home she loved on the outskirts of NYC near the water, giving her a sense of closeness to the city she was growing to love and peace for all three of us. Finding out my apartment had been repossessed just made it easier to move into our new home. The next thing on the list was my job, and I was happily overwhelmed to learn that Raven had set up an entire excuse for my disappearance, logging it as a real missing persons case so that when I returned to work, I was welcomed with open arms.
The house is safe under twenty-four-hour protection organized by the Suit and is only needed when work takes Cassian away. I never sleep right until he's back at home and in my arms where he belongs, but I live knowing that chances are, he's saving people like me, and that's all that matters.
Illyana settled into her new school like a baby duck to water and only required a tutor for a month to help her bridge the gaps in her education. Her mind is sharp and she's been catching up and improving in leaps and bounds ever since she started attending.
It makes me unbelievably proud, but not as proud as the crowd gathered in my back yard yelling Happy Birthday as Illyana walks down the decking with the biggest smile I've ever seen on her face.
Bradley greets her first with his partner, Zira. She delicately places a little tiara on Illyana's head while Bradley hands her a card likely filled with money and a cheeky riddle. Next in line is Valentina, who gives Illyana a small card and leans in, whispering something in her ear that makes Illyana's eyes widen even further. Valentina's partner, Diego, also gives her a card and a hug.
Ruslan is next. He and his wife, Ivy, put together an all-expenses-paid trip for Illyana and as many friends as she wants to bring to Disney. Her scream of delight is so high, only dogs can hear it, and she throws herself into Ruslan's arms while thanking Ivy over and over. Even Raven makes an appearance but after she gives Illyana a gift of a new laptop, she vanishes. I'll likely find her under a table somewhere later.
Illyana finally reaches Cassian and me. Her smile is wide and her eyes sparkle with happy tears.
"Mom! This is amazing!"
"Do you like it?" The entire garden is decorated for her birthday party, with streamers flowing from the trees to the fence, glittering lights, a bounce house and treat buffet, a magician, and even a small petting zoo where most of her invited friends stand, clustered around a rather adorable guinea pig.
"It's the best party ever!" Illyana hugs me tightly, squeezing me for all she's worth, then she hugs Cassian who kisses the top of her head.
"Happy birthday, champ."
"Thank you, thank you!" She pries herself away, waves at everyone, and then races down the garden to her friends.
"Do you think it's too much?" I ask softly as Cassian's arm winds around my waist. "I don't want people to think she's spoiled, but also, I want to spoil her."
"Fuck what people think," Cassian murmurs, kissing the top of my head. "It's her first birthday with us. We all want to spoil her."
I glance over my shoulder as the crowd disperses. Bradley and Ruslan move back to the barbecue grill, but they're quickly chased away by an adamant Valentina who snaps tongs at them and orders them to leave. They laugh and mingle with their partners, enjoying drinks from the bar while Ruslan breaks away to set up the paddling pool.
"I'm mostly happy she has people around her," I murmur. "I want her to have a big family. I want her to be loved."
"She is loved. She has four kickass aunts and uncles on top of a fabulous mom and a rather awesome stepdad. She's loved. Look at her." He casts his hand toward her.
She stands next to the animal keeper and lightly touches the guinea pig, then a frantic giggle escapes her, which causes all her friends to laugh.
"She's happy. The happiest kid I ever saw."
"We get one more year of this, right?" I reply with a smirk. "Then she's going to be a teenager, and given how you all influence her, I think I'll be losing quite a few arguments."
"Part of the fun, right?" He tightens his arm around me and laughs.
"I wouldn't change it for the world," I agree softly. "I'm going to give her the world."
Illyana's birthday party is a huge success, ending in a cake cutting and more candles than anyone can count, then a game of pass the parcel for the adults to see who gets to drive everyone home. Ruslan loses, much to Valentina's amusement, and by the time the sky turns dark and the stars come out to play, peace descends on my home once more.
I tuck Illyana up into bed but she's so exhausted, she falls asleep before I've even finished saying goodnight. I kiss her cheek and hurry from her room, then make my way downstairs to where Cassian sits out on the patio with two glasses of red wine.
"Here." He holds up one glass the second I walk outside to join him. "You've earned this."
"Thanks." I collapse down onto the bench next to him and sink into his hold. "Shit. What a crazy year. This time last year, I think my biggest stress was working myself to the bone so I didn't have to think about the date. Now I've just thrown her the biggest birthday party ever. And I have to beat it next year." Raising the glass, I sip slowly. "It's weird how fast things change."
"Weird," Cassian agrees softly, his arm resting around my shoulders. "But it's beautiful. She looks so happy. So do you."
