Romance The Long Ride

"That will show you," Callum chuckled melodically.

"Well now, I know how you paid for that. I hope Itzel liked the ring."

"She's the one that picked it out."

"Of course, she did."

"You're not going to try to one up her now, are ya?" Callum retorted noticing his smirk in the window of the store.

"No Cal, I'm an adult. I'm not that little girl anymore."

"Then why do I hear that tone in your voice?"

"Can't help it Cal, but that doesn't mean I don't want your future marriage to succeed, because I do. Like I said before, you are still my friend, even if you don't think I am," Vanessa said, leaving out the fact she hated that her ex-boyfriend was going to marry someone far prettier than she was. "How can he be marrying a damn model?! How is that fucking possible?!" she raged inside her head.

"Right... well, I need to get home and field phone calls," Callum said, feeling his phone vibrating violently in his hand.

"Cal... you know the two of you can come over anytime you want, you know that right?"

"We'll see, got to go," Callum said, before ending the call as he started his bike.

Two weeks later...

"Daddy! Look it's the plane!" Shari stated excitedly as she bounced on her feet and pointed at the jet as it taxied.

"So it is, you ready?" Callum asked, looking down at his daughter.

"Mmmhmm," Shari hummed nodding her head very vehemently.

"You sure?!"

"Yeah, I got you with me Daddy," Shari said lovingly, as she slipped her hand into his. "And I also got my new Mommy," she uttered as Itzel didn't hesitate to take the hand Shari offered her. "So there's no need to be scared Daddy," Shari spoke with that innocent smile.

"Maybe you can share some of that strength with me," Callum said, as he squatted down in front of his daughter.

"You scared?!" Shari asked, tilting her head.

"Meeting the in-laws is always scary honey," Callum replied brushing a strand of her hair

"Really?!"

"Don't you worry Shari, that's something you don't have to worry about for many years," Itzel said, lightly patting Shari's hand. "It seems the plane has taxied into boarding position. Cal, I know this will be hard, but please, don't take what they say too hard. It won't change a thing between us," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Babe I don't really care if your parents like me or not. They aren't the one I'm marrying. You are," Callum said, as they walked out onto the tarmac.

"Good, I hope you think that after we've been there a week," Itzel said, with a warm smile as they walked towards her mother's corporate jet.

"It's good to see you again Ms. Danbury," the pilot greeted with a tip of his hat.

"It's good to see you too, Matt, how's the family?" Itzel asked, greeting her mother's long time pilot.

"Doing well, Jenny is in high school now. May left us a year ago..."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know," Itzel said, sympathetically.

"Well... marriages fail every day, we had a good run," Matt said, shrugging his shoulders not caring what his now ex-wife was doing or who for that matter. "So these must be the extra passengers your mother spoke to me about," he said, his eyes ran over Callum and Shari.

"Are you really a pilot?" Shari asked, looking up at the man.

"Yes, yes, I am. And just who might you be?" Matt asked, smiling warmly down at the little girl.

"I'm Shari," she stated holding out her hand like her father always told her to do when you were introducing yourself.

"Nice to meet you Shari, I'm Matthew or you can call me Matt," he said politely, as he shook her hand. "So you must be her father?"

"That I am," Callum nodded.

"Well, Ms. Danbury we have a two hour and thirty minute flight time. Shall we?"

"Yes, we mustn't keep my mother waiting," Itzel nodded, "you ready Shari, it's going to be fun?!"

"Really?! Can I sit by the window?" Shari asked, with wide eyes.

"You can sit anywhere, except the cockpit, in the plane," Itzel said, as she and Shari walked up the stairs while Callum carried his and Shari's bags.

"Can I ask you something?" Callum whispered low; he's been dying to ask another father that had a daughter this question.

"O-okay, is this about the flight?" Matt asked, confused.

"No, it's personal in nature."

"Oh, depending on what it is I might answer," Matt stated with a friendly smile.

"How did you handle your daughter starting to date?"

"Badly, very, very, very badly," Matt said, truthfully.

"Oh... yeah, I kind of get that," Callum nodded in understanding. "No one's going to be good enough for our little girls, right?"

"Ain't that the truth," Matt chuckled. "Just don't tell her not to be with a guy you know to be the wrong sort of person if you know my meaning. That will only push her into his arms, and I can assume you know what that means."

"Yeah, hopefully, she won't make the same mistakes I did."

"I take it you had her very young?" Matt asked, as they walked up the stairs.

"Yeah, sixteen isn't the age you should be raising a child on your own even with the help of your parents. But I loved every minute of raising her."

"Spoken like a true parent, why don't you go and get settled while I go over the check list," Matt said, as he closed the door and locking it in place.

"Okay folks, the tower has finally given us the clearance to take off, please fasten your seatbelts until we get to cruising altitude" Matt's voice came over the speakers after waiting twenty minutes for the clearance.

"Daddy?!" Shari's hands gripped the armrest as the powerful jet engines roared to life.

"Look at me Shari," Callum said calmly, as he and Itzel sat across from her. "It's just the engines winding up. You remember how you were scared the first few times when you first started riding in the side car and how the roar of the engine frightened you so much you wouldn't let go of my leg all during the ride?" he asked, seeing her nod. Hoping his calm tone would ease his daughter's fear.

"Yeah," Shari said, weakly.

"Well, honey, this is just like that, there's no need to be scared okay," Callum said, even though he was as nervous as his daughter was. After all this was their first time ever flying anywhere.

"Have I told you how good you are at being a dad?" Itzel asked, dreamily.

"No... but do go on," Callum smirked, trying to hide his own fear from his daughter.

"It's okay Cal, no reason to be nervous," Itzel whispered in his ear. "Hold my hand if you need to," she cooed feeling her smile lifting the corners of her lips as Callum didn't waste a second to fill her hand with his. "You lean on me Cal, you can't be strong all the time," Itzel whispered softly. Lightly rubbing his arm as his hand began to squeeze hers as the plane started to rocket down the runway. Making silly faces at Shari to keep her mind off of the takeoff. When Shari started to laugh she felt that Callum too was beginning to ease from his jitters as well. Watching how Shari's eyes got wide as the plane started to lift off.

"Well folks, we are currently cruising at twenty thousand feet, you are free to move around the cabin."

Shari didn't wait a second before she undid her seatbelt, darting to every window to gaze out and down onto the earth below them. "Daddy, it's so small?!"

"That's because we're so high Shari."

"So cool," Shari said in awe, as her eyes tried to take in everything.

"Well, seems Shari's over her fright," Itzel chuckled at how quick Shari's turn around was.

"Never doubt the power of something new to explore," Callum said lovingly, as he looked over at Itzel.

"I'll keep that in mind," Itzel uttered as she snuggled up to Callum as they soared towards LA, and the meeting of destiny.

"I think I'll be needing this back, Captain," Matt said warmly, as he took his cap from Shari's head.

"Aye, aye," Shari replied with a cheery smile.

"I hope you two enjoy your stay in LA, Ms. Danbury always a pleasure in seeing you again," Matt spoke with a wave of his hand as Itzel and company walked towards the private terminal.

"Oh, I plan on showing them all the sights!" Itzel called back. "See you in a week?!"

Mr. and Mrs. Danbury stood waiting, all dolled up in the best LA's fashion stores could deliver. Their helpers pestering them with schedule changes, meeting times, and everything else they have vying for their limited time. After nearly thirty years together, a lot of heart ache, a lot of fights, and still their love for one another hasn't waned. Although LA life was hectic and it left little time for their personal lives, that didn't stop them from sneaking away for an hour or two just to remind themselves of what they meant to each other.

"That's them," Elena whispered to her husband as her daughter walked hand in hand with whom she could only assume was Callum. Then her eyes glanced down as the little girl's head looked all around. She wondered if Shari had ever been in an airport.

"The one you say has swept our daughter off her feet?" Asher inquired.

"He is indeed the one," Elena nodded.

"So then why did he bring along a child?" Asher mused as he stroked his chin as his assistant whispered in his ear.

"That's his daughter Asher," Elena stated, "she's awful cute," she said, feeling a light smile spreading along her lips as Shari smiled up at her father.

"Daughter?! That can't be, he's too young," Asher gasped.

"It's true honey, now hush," Elena said, lightly smacking her husband's right arm.

"Mom?! Dad?!" Itzel cried joyously as she held out her arms to her parents as she rushed up to them. All were silent as the three of them embraced each other after months apart.

"Itzel!" Elena gasped in shock as she took hold of her daughter's hand gazing down at the diamond ring on her finger. "Explain?!"

"Well... Cal asked me to marry him two weeks ago and I said yes," Itzel said, peering back at her fiancé. "I hope the two of you can be happy for us," she said, eyeing her parents.

"Honey... marriage isn't something to rush into..."

"Dad, I'm not, we aren't married yet, just engaged. Yet the way I feel about Cal, just no one else has ever made me feel this way before," Itzel said, cutting her father off. Something he hated given his high powered position.

"Honey, we'll talk in detail about this when we get home. Now why don't you introduce us to your... fiancé," Elena said, she knew her daughter wanted to marry the man. Yet she didn't think she would be engaged when she called her yesterday to confirm that they were still coming. Obviously, her daughter was withholding that piece of information from her to shock her, which Itzel certainly did.

"Gladly," Itzel said, with an excited smile. Quickly moving to stand behind and in the middle of Callum and Shari. "Mom, Dad, let me you introduce you to Callum Edwardo MacRoe, and his lovely little angel of a daughter Shari Eva MacRoe," she said proudly, as she rested each hand on one of their shoulders. Telling her parents silently they were her family too, either they could approve of their relationship or sit on the sidelines.

"Odd name Callum," Asher said, extending his hand to Callum.

"Yeah, my father is definitely odd that's for sure," Callum said, with a friendly smile. "I can see where Itzel got her eyes from," noticing Asher had the same color of eyes as she did, "and where your daughter got her looks," he said, laying on the charm as he greeted Elena.

"Oh?! My, I do hope you don't charm other married ladies," Elena teased.

"Not a chance, Itzel is all I need," Callum said, with a coy smirk, seeing the approving look in Elena's eyes.

"Hello Shari," Asher said, arching an eyebrow as Shari stuck out her hand.

"Hello Itzel's Daddy," Shari greeted warmly, smiling up to Asher.

"Call me Asher, and this is my wife Elena... or grandpa would be better in this case," Asher said, lightly shaking Shari's hand. Glancing at Callum as his daughter had a firm yet feminine grip at the same time, while her father's was strong but not bone crushing.

"Like Papa?!" Shari asked, confused.

"My father," Callum supplied when he saw the perplexed look on Asher's face.

"Oh, yes, Papa is acceptable," Asher nodded, knowing it was better than being called grandpa, he wasn't ready for that yet. Taken by surprise as Shari abruptly hugged him.

"Hello Papa! Nana!" Shari cried out as she latched to Elena's waist.

"Shari... I think that's enough..." Only to glance at Itzel as Elena matched Shari's enthusiasm as Elena wrapped her in a warm hug.

"Look at you, my aren't you just a pretty little thing," Elena said, smiling warmly as her thumb brushed along Shari's right cheek.

"I know?!" Shari giggled as she swayed back and forth.

"You're going to make all the boys..." Her eyes glanced up as Callum cleared his throat. Smirking at Callum when it appeared to her that he wasn't ready to even think about that. Watching how Shari quickly returned to her father's side, and how she took hold of her own daughter's hand. Arching an eyebrow at Itzel, wondering just how much time the two of them had spent together. Also noting how her daughter gazed down at Shari, she didn't need to ask, Elena already knew her daughter was taken by Shari. "Come, our car is waiting, I'm sure the three of you could use a bite to eat," Elena said, casting the three of them a warm smile.

"Itzel you live here?!" Shari gasped as she stared wide eyed at the enormous mansion once they had arrived at Itzel's childhood home in Brentwood. "You live in a castle?!" she asked, with excited eyes.

"I guess you can call it that..."

"It is really big," Callum whispered in Itzel's ear. He had seen such houses on TV before just never in the flesh. He never thought he ever would given how tight his finances have always been. The thought of even moving to somewhere slightly larger was out of the question. Not that he didn't like living in his small two bedroom, one bath house, yet another bathroom would be nice. "And you gave this up?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Mmmhmm," Itzel nodded. "It was worth it," she cooed as she snuggled up to him.

Elena and Asher had been watching slyly, studying how their daughter interacted with Callum and his daughter. Even they had to admit this wasn't like any of her other relationships. Asher even liked the fact that Callum hadn't once asked him to see about getting him into movies like a few of Itzel's boyfriends had done the moment they were alone. He also liked the fact that Callum had been respectful from the moment Itzel introduced them, and while his daughter was eager to see all the new sights around them she was attentive to her father's words. Elena didn't miss that fact either, he knew his wife well enough to know that she was secretly eyeing the two as Elena and Itzel spoke on the ride from the airport.

"Are you a Princess?!" Shari asked, as she danced in place.

"Well no, Itzel isn't a princess per se, yet she is my princess," Asher said warmly, as he stepped up to his daughter's side and placed a fatherly kiss on her temple. "Just like I'm sure your father thinks the same about you." Watching how Shari's cheeks got a nice red hue to them as Callum nodded in agreement.

"Dad," Itzel groaned but couldn't keep her smile from her face as her father squeezed her lightly against him.

"Well, you three, how about we have a late lunch, hmm?" Elena asked, eyeing all of them.

"As long as it doesn't contain peanuts, peanut products, or shellfish," Callum said, in a protective fatherly voice.

"Are you..."

"Shari is," Callum replied.

"Well then, I'll just have to make sure our chef knows this. I would hate to have this little one to get sick while you're staying with us," Elena said, her eyes twinkled as she gazed down at Shari's smile that had yet to disappear from her face. While she and Asher would have liked to have more children, yet they could never find the time in their busy schedules. However, once Itzel reached the age of ten they simply agreed that one child was enough for them. Still though, she did miss the days of carrying Itzel around. Although she didn't miss the days of changing dirty diapers.

"Come, let me show you two around the place," Asher said, as he led the way.

"Now regale me on how you, a man so young, can have such a pretty little girl as old as Shari is," Elena inquired, shooting her daughter a smirk as Itzel rolled her eyes as she looped her left arm around Callum's right. Watching how Shari slipped her hand into Itzel's right. Seeing the look in her daughter's eyes, it hadn't faded all through their trip from the airport. So she knew there would be no talking her daughter out of this. Her daughter was like her after all, going after what she wanted most, and it appeared to her that her baby girl wanted a family. Elena couldn't fault her daughter for that, she just hoped Itzel knew what she was doing. "Really, all on your own?! That must have been terribly hard on you," Elena cooed as they entered her home.

"Well... sometimes it was, I mean I was eighteen dealing with Shari's terrible twos," Callum said, smiling at Shari as she huffed and turned her nose up at her father.

"I can understand that, Itzel had this terrible habit of running around, after she ripped off her pull ups, through the house nude as a jay bird..."

"Mom?!" Itzel gasped in horror to which Elena simply chuckled. "Oh my God, I don't believe this is happening," she groaned as her face fell into her hand.

"Oh?! Did she now, interesting." The murderous look Itzel was giving him warned him not to utter the words that were forming in his head. "I can't say Shari had that habit, but she would run around in this unicorn outfit my mother got her and would never take it off. So I had to be sneaky and undress her when she was sleeping," Callum said, seeing Shari's eyes widen then glisten she had always thought it was magical because it was always cleaned.

"Bad Daddy!" Shari screamed before running off.

"Shari!" Callum called out only to be stopped by Itzel's raised hand.

"I think you've done enough," Itzel said, releasing a 'Hmpf' as she spun on her heel.

"Shari?!" Itzel called out as she walked down the expansive hallway of the west wing of her parents' mansion. Tilting her head to the side as Shari peeked out from what used to be her old bedroom. Arching an eyebrow as her little hand waved for her to come in.

"I've found something," Shari whispered, yet the wonder lust was evident in her eyes.

"Oh?! And just what did you find?" Itzel asked, with a warm smile.

"Unicorns!" Shari whispered low. Thinking she just found a treasure trove.

"Oh?! That is something, we better not tell your dad or he might take this away from us," Itzel said sternly, in a joking voice to which Shari vehemently nodded.

"Come on," Shari said in a hushed whisper as she took hold of Itzel's hand. "See... unicorns!" she said, excitedly.

"I know, this used to be my room," Itzel stated smiling down at the surprised and shocked Shari.

"You... this..." Itzel contained her chuckle as Shari went speechless. Itzel's body rocked as Shari's body slammed into hers as Shari hugged her tightly. "I so love you; can I sleep here with all the unicorns?" Shari asked, peering up at Itzel.

"I don't know Shari, depends on if you apologize to your father for running off like that. I bet he was hurt when you said those words. You know he was only speaking out of love. Cal told me you were so adorable in that outfit, that he only washed it when you were sleeping so you could continue to wear it," Itzel said in a motherly fashion, as her hand gently rubbed Shari's back.

"But I thought it was magic," Shari said, sadly.

"I know honey, but your dad wanted you to think that so you would be happy," Itzel said lovingly, as her hand brushed along the back of Shari's head. "So how about we go save your dad from my parents okay?"

"Okay," Shari said, weakly.

Itzel's ears twitched as she heard her father's deep chuckle filling her childhood home. Then the soft cadence of her mother's giggle. Arching an eyebrow wondering if her parents had eaten Callum alive yet.

"Honey! You didn't tell me Cal was this funny," Elena said, smiling warmly at her daughter as she dried her eyes.

Itzel looked over at Callum who just shrugged, feeling Shari's hand slipping out of hers as Shari approached her father.

"Daddy, I'm sorry for running off and calling you that..."

"It's okay honey," Callum said, leaning forward and hugging his daughter. "I didn't mean to make you upset Shari if I did," he said, his thumb brushed along Shari's left cheek. "Do you forgive me?"

"Of course, Daddy," Shari said sweetly, as she wrapped her arms around Callum's neck.

"Now that we are all together, let's have lunch," Elena said, with a warm, caring smile.

"Shari, have you ever seen the ocean?" Asher asked, as their meal was halfway through.

"No, Papa," Shari muttered. Fidgeting as Itzel wiped the mustard off of her right cheek. "Is it big?!"

"Oh yes, it's so big that you can't even see the other side," Asher nodded, he already knew she and her father never had given the questions he and his wife asked while Itzel and Shari were gone. "Then how about the day after tomorrow we all go down to this little place your Nana and I know about, and let you see just how big it truly is?!"

"Can we Daddy?!" Shari asked excitedly, as she squirmed in her seat.

"There a CVS around here?" Callum whispered to Itzel knowing he couldn't pass up this chance for him and his daughter. It would probably be the only time they would ever lay eyes on it ever again. "Sunscreen..."

"Oh, no need for that," Elena interrupted. "We certainly have that here, I do believe I have just the perfect one that would work best for you Shari," she said, putting on airs as she dabbed the corners of her lips. "I do hope you brought your swimsuit Miss Shari," Elena said, she had to admit so far Callum was definitely not like all the others who have dated Itzel.

"Mmmhmm, Itzel helped me pick it out," Shari answered with a broad smile.

"Oh? Did she now?" Elena mused as she shot her daughter a look. Causing a smirk to raise the corner of her lips as Itzel blushed very hard. "Well, knowing my daughter it will be quite tasteful, after all, she got her fashion sense from me," she said, sitting regally in her chair.

"Shari how would you like to get a sneak peek at a new movie I helped produce?" Asher asked, knowing that getting her thoughts on the matter would help to drive sales. "That is if it's alright with your father," he said, his steel blue eyes flashed over to Callum.

"Depends on what it is," Callum stated plainly.

"Dark Enchanted," Asher said, matter-of-factly. Arching an eyebrow, his eyes slowly glanced at Shari as she stared at him in shock. Wincing as she squealed in excitement.

"Please, Daddy, please, please, please?!" Shari asked, bouncing in her seat.

"Isn't that the one with the..." Callum thought back on where he heard the name before.

"Mmmhmm," Shari answered with a very vehement nod. "Can we post about this?" she asked, referring to the Facebook page Callum had setup long ago so his extended family could stay in touch along with their friends from the motorcycle club.

"Sure honey, as long as they don't mind if we post a few pictures of the room," Callum said, asking for permission.

"This is just for your family and friends yes?" Asher asked, as Callum nodded. "You may photograph the title screen, for the rest cameras are put away?!"

"Sure, not a problem," Callum agreed.

"Then I don't see a problem with it," Asher said, looking over at his wife.

"If we are posting this, then I must look my best, would the two of you like..." Her eyes ran over their hair.

"Not cutting, just a little styling," Itzel said, in a motherly voice, while looking at Callum to make sure that would be alright who shot her a coy smirk.

"You sure? It would be no..."

"Shari likes her hair like this, don't you honey," Itzel cooed, while her eyes silently told her mother to drop it.

"Mmmhmm," Shari hummed.

"Well then, shall we ladies," Elena said, with a warm smile as she gestured for them follow her.

"You ever have sherry before?" Asher asked, getting up from his seat, nodding for Callum to follow.

"Can't say that I have," Callum replied, slyly looking back as two men exited the kitchen. Whistling at the wall of wines that lined the far wall as he and Asher entered the small climate controlled room whose only purpose was to house all the alcohol. "Well, I know where Itzel gets her taste in wine from," Callum spoke causing Asher to chuckle.

"Yeah... she did have a habit of raiding the shelves. Now this is Pedro Ximénez it's a sweet sherry wine," Asher stated as he poured about a quarter of a glass full for Callum as the dark liquid filled the glass. "I think you may like it," he said, handing Callum the glass.

Swirling the glass around like he had seen Itzel do numerous times when she uncorked a new bottle of wine. Noting how her father was watching him as he held the glass below his nose something else he picked up from Itzel, given he was not what you would call a wine connoisseur. While the wine was good, just for his taste beer would always be better and cheaper. "It's... a nice wine," Callum said, smacking his lips as the wine clung onto his pallet.

"Enjoying the aftertaste?" Asher asked, with a smile. "Now I know you might not be able to partake of this lifestyle," gesturing to the wall of bottles, "but if you're going to be my son-in-law, you have to enjoy a good wine," he said, with a sneaky smirk.

"It's not bad, but not as good as the one Itzel and I shared a few days ago," Callum said, handing the glass back to Asher.

"Oh?! Itzel already breaking you in?" Asher teased.

"Well... I guess you can say it like that. Wine is just too expensive," Callum said, offhandedly looking around at the labels he could see as his eyes ran over the wax seals.

"I can see where you're coming from, there mustn't be a whole lot of wine being sold up in Deadwood," Asher said, handing Callum his refilled glass.

"Yeah, what cash I had left over normally went to Shari, or the bills," Callum said, taking a sip. "Okay, I'll admit it is better than beer," he said to himself.

"Itzel likes her reds, I'm assuming that was what it was," Asher mused, wondering if they had a bottle. "Please see if we have one," he said, gesturing to the rows of bottles. "The reds are on that wall," Asher said, his thumb pointed to the wine shelf behind him.

"Dad?!" Itzel whispered sticking her head in the wine room. Biting her lip as Callum stood with his back to her. "What are the two of you doing in here Mom and Shari are waiting in the theater room?"

"Cal's looking for that wine you had... when was it again?" Asher asked, curiously.

"The one we had with dinner two nights ago," Callum said, peering over his shoulder. He had no idea what she did to her hair, but he still couldn't believe he was lucky enough to win Itzel's heart.

"Oh," pushing the door open further as she stepped into the room, "you're looking in the wrong place," Itzel said, as she stepped up to Callum's right side. Bending down, knowing how her father organized his wine collection by alphabetical order. "Here it is," she uttered as she rose handing the bottle to her father, not missing the last bit of sherry in Callum's glass. Taking it from him and draining the last of it. "Pedro?" Itzel asked, casting her father a glance to which he nodded. Smiling at her father as he chuckled as she held the glass out for a refill.

"Now that I have my wine, and my man," Itzel said, snuggling up to Callum as she looped her arm around his. "How about we go enjoy that movie. Shari seems to be dying to watch it."

"Yeah, she wouldn't stop talking about it when she saw the previews for it when I took her to see 'Frozen 2' last year," Callum said lightly, as they left that small cool room. Knowing how long it took to get that 'Frozen' song out of his head given how Shari watched that movie to the point even he knew the lines by heart.

"What's it about?" Itzel asked Callum instead of her father, just wanting to hear the sound of his voice.

"If I remember correctly, it's about a little girl and this unicorn going off to find others of her kind," Callum spoke seeing Asher nodding in agreement.

"Ah. No wonder she's nearly bouncing off the walls," Itzel giggled lightly, keeping her wine glass from sloshing around as they walked towards the theater room.

"I take it your daughter has the same fascination mine did about them?" Asher asked, as spoke from behind them.

"It would seem so," Callum nodded. Mouthing 'Wow' as they walked into what looked to him like a smaller version of what they experienced in the movie theaters kind of setup, except for the projector hanging from the ceiling in the back of the room.

"Let me honey," Itzel cooed as Callum started to pull out his phone. "Mine does have a better camera on it, and don't you want the world to know how hot I am?" she purred into his ear. The smirk that formed on his lips matched the mischievousness dancing in her steel blue eyes. Nodding when Callum whispered to her that she was now able to post to the Facebook page once he had invited her to it. Her fingers flew across the keyboard of her screen as she typed out: Hey everyone, I'm not sure if you all know who I am or not. But hi! I'm Itzel, Callum's fiancée, coming to you from my parents'

home in LA, yes I'm sure that's a shocker for some of you. But when you get to know me, you'll agree Callum couldn't do much better! Adding a winking emoji to the end of it. So here's the pretty Miss Shari all eager, waiting for her slow daddy to hurry up so she can get a first viewing of the new movie Dark Enchanted?! Taking a picture of the title screen (And one of herself), showing that it wasn't a lie. Showing it to Callum before she posted it.

"Oh, I think old aunt Gale is going to blow her top," Callum chuckled as he rested his hand in the small of Itzel's back.

"Too much?!" Feeling her cheeks heat as Callum shook his head.

"Hold that pose!" Elena exclaimed once the movie was over as her daughter and Shari had their foreheads pressed together as they gazed at one another as they hugged. Her thumb pressed rapidly on the camera button snapping off shots. "What do you think Cal?" she asked, sitting down next to him as she swiped through the number of photos she had just taken.

Callum was speechless at how beautiful they were together. It was almost as if they were mother and daughter, at least that's how it appeared to him. His eyes glanced up as the leather of the seat in front of him squeaked and Itzel and Shari peeked over the head rest of their chairs.

"Got to say, you do know how to work that camera," Callum said, complimenting his future mother-in-law.

"Why thank you," Elena cooed lightly, softly patting Callum's left arm. Noting how his eyes lustered as he gazed at the image of her daughter and his on her phone. There was no mistaking what she saw in his eyes. Love. She didn't know the first thing about what drew them together, yet that was neither here nor there any longer. What mattered now is whether or not they actually belonged together, and so far, Elena's doubts were beginning to wane. "Would you like one?" Elena asked, liking how easy Callum was given to smile rather than scowl.

"Do you even have to ask?!" Callum's mirth laced his voice as he pulled out his phone.

"Oh, you can expect me to call you all the time now," Elena teased as she texted Callum one of the better photos to him. Watching how he then posted it to his private and public pages then to how he gazed at it for a few seconds before watching Callum set it as his new wallpaper. Smiling warmly at him as he caught her watching him.

After dinner that night...

"Cal." His name softly left her lips as Itzel rested against the doorframe of her old bedroom as Shari, sitting on the floor, played with the figurines she had collected over the years, with Callum watching over her.

"Hmm?"

"I know it's been a long day, I was thinking maybe, the two of you would like to visit this little park just down the road from here?" Itzel inquired, smiling at Shari as she gave one of the oldest pieces a kiss on its snout.

"Sure, I don't mind stretching my legs. How about you Shari?" Callum asked, as he looked down at her.

"Let's go," Shari nodded.

"First let's put away the things Itzel was kind enough to let you play with, okay?"

"Kay!"

"So this park?" Callum mused as he and Itzel walked hand in hand down the sidewalk as Shari skipped a few paces ahead.

"It used to be a place I'd go to be alone for a while, where there were no cameras, no paparazzi following me around," Itzel said, gesturing to how quiet the streets were. "I thought maybe you, Shari and I could watch the sunset," she said, bashfully.

"I'd love too," Callum said, as his thumb lightly brushed along the back of her hand.

The breeze was light, the heat of the day was dying off as Callum and Itzel rested on a bench beneath the shade of an oak tree as Shari ran around exploring the area while staying within sight of Callum. Itzel's eyes wandered about looking for anything that could harm Shari or ruin this day. Pointing out to the bay as the rays of the setting sun danced along the waves. The shadow of Golden Gate stretching out eager to touch the shore. However, as they turned to look at one another, their kiss sealed the moment as Shari's cheerful voice rang out.​