834"I can see the bus!" Christy yelled. She was sitting on Devon's shoulders, jumping up and down, kicking her feet in the air with excitement.
It had been too long since I had last seen my little nephew leaving for camp and even though he had called us every day I'd still missed him too much.
"It's really coming, Anna," Christy yelled again.
"Hey, be careful, sweetheart," I told her. "I know you're excited, but I don't want you falling on the ground."
"The fact she is almost kicking me right in the face is perhaps also a reason to stop?!" Devon said.
"You're such a wimp," I teased him, while getting hold of Christy's leg to make sure she wouldn't hurt him.
"Oh we certainly don't want you to be kicked in the face," Sarah said. She was standing next to Devon and laughed at the worried expression on his face. "I mean you'd be scarred for life and the wedding pictures would look horrible."
"It's good to know you care, dear sister in law," Devon said. "Anna, could you please hit her. I can't, because I'm trying to keep Christy from falling down."
"Well she is kind of right about the pictures…" I answered. "We would have to postpone the wedding if anything happened to that pretty face! And I don't even wanna think about what the plastic surgery is gonna cost"
"Ok, that's it…" Devon said, and took Christy by her arms, bringing her down. "I am sorry Christy, but I need both my hands now to teach my future wife a little bit more respect for her husband to be!"
His words made me giggle and I quickly moved away from him. However an approaching bus made me forget all about Devon.
"The bus…!" I yelled.
"I told you it was coming," Christy argued, but I didn't listen to her.
"Can you see him?" I asked. "I can't believe he's already back. I hope he had a nice ride."
"Relax Anna," Devon said, putting his arm around me, "I'm sure he's fine. Don't forget he's a boy. He won't like to be fussed about, especially when he's with his new friends."
"I know…I know," I said, "we just haven't been apart for so long. I can't help being a little excited!" and I pinched him in his arm.
Devon smiled. "You are just like your little niece," he teased me, but I didn't listen as the doors of the bus finally opened and a dozen little boy got out.
It took me a lot of self discipline to keep myself from yelling his name when I saw Michael among them.
Christy on the other hand had no trouble showing her enthusiasm. "Michael," she yelled and ran towards him.
Michael looked a little embarrassed, but at the same time I could see he was pleased to see her.
"Did you miss me?" Christy asked. "I missed you. Devon is teaching me to swim. I swam yesterday and he says I'm a nata...natur….ehm very good. But then the dogs got in the pool as well and they got all wet. And Julia didn't allow them on the patio because they smelled bad. Why do dogs smell when they get all wet? Devon says it's because of their fur, but that's just like hair and I don't smell bad when I get wet. Did you get to swim at your camp? If you like it I can show you how good I can swim when we go back home….!"
"Slow down…slow down," I laughed. "Give your brother some rest!"
"It's ok," Michael smiled.
A woman approached us. "You must be Anna," she asked, "Michael told us all about you. It's nice to put a face to all the stories we've heard."
"Yes I am," I told her. "Thank you for looking after my nephew."
"He was one of my favourites," the woman smiled. "Here's a bag Michael, with all the information you need to keep in touch. It was nice having you. I hope you'll have a great summer and maybe we'll see you next year."
"So how was it?" I asked Michael.
He smiled up to me. It was great he said. They had a telescope and we went star watching in the middle of the night and we had a camp fire and we went swimming, but then the teachers came and we had to run for it, because we weren't supposed to be there and…"
I laughed and then couldn't help myself and gave him a quick hug.
"Anna!", Michael protested, trying to get out of my arms.
"I'm sorry I apologised, but I'm just so glad to have you back safe and sound and I am so pleased you had a nice time."
"What did I tell you", Devon said and rescued Michael out of my arms. "I'm sorry," he apologised to the boy, but you know what women can be like!"
"I just gave him one hug," I said.
"You don't hug young men," Devon said. "I thought you understood that by now."
"But she can hug you, right?" Sarah asked.
"Devon isn't a young man," Christy said, looking all serious. "He's old, so Anna can still hug him!"
I couldn't help myself from laughing once again.
"You are so right sweety," Sara said and stuck her tongue out at her brother in law.
Devon pulled me in his arms and whispered in my ear: "You do realise you're in serious trouble right now?"
"I am sorry," I whispered back, "but I just can't stop laughing…come on it is funny."
Devon grumbled in my hair and as always his close proximity gave me goose bumps all over. Then he took my hand in his. "Come one," he said, "who likes ice cream before we go home!"
"I do…I do," Christy yelled.
"You're not too tired?" I asked Michael.
"Oh no," he answered, I slept at the bus.
"I don't wanna be a spoilsport," Sarah said, but we still have some things to do in town. I promised Julia we'd get some things from the supermarket."
"That's ok", I answered. "We can always get an ice cream later."
Christy looked a bit disappointed, but Michael nodded. "I've brought you a present," he told his sister. "I'll give it to you when we get home!
A smile reappeared on her face. "Is it pink?" she asked.
"Oh no…don't tell her Michael," Devon teased. "She has to wait till she gets it!"
"Is it Michael….is it?" Christy asked again, ignoring Devon.
I laughed and took hold of Devon's hand. "Ok, let's go," he said, smiling back at me. "First to the shops and then home?"
Christy squeezed herself in between us taking both our hands. "Can't we go home first?" she asked.
Devon laughed. "No we can't, miss impatience!" he said.
The flash of a camera startled me for a second and looking next to me I could see an expression of annoyance on Devon's face, while he turned around.
"Got you!" Thomas yelled, a big grin on his face while holding a camera in his hand.
"Really uncle Devon," Derrick asked, "It's almost like you think you are still big news. Everyone knows you and Anna are so last season!"
I apologise for the behaviour of your two nephews Gregory said, appearing behind his two sons. "We were early and I thought Anna and you would like to have some quality time so I'm here to pick up my wife. I think Julia mentioned some shopping that still needed to be done?"
Sarah smiled. "You're spot on," she said. "This way Christy will be able to get her ice cream after all, while we go to the supermarket."
"Can't we come with you? Thomas asked Devon. "Please…you know what mum is like when she's shopping!"
His uncle laughed. "After that stunt with the camera…I don't think so…" he said.
"Oh please…."
"No, boys, I need you to come with me," Sarah laughed. "I think you need some new under wear and this will be the perfect…."
"Dad!" both boys called out wit horror all written over their faces.
"Don't look at me," their father said, "I don't want her to go shopping for me as well!"
His wife punched him on the arm. "Hey….I heard that," she said.
Gregory laughed and the four of them left leaving me with Devon and the children.
"So anyone up for an ice cream?" Devon asked again.
"Yeah!" both children called and they ran towards the car, while Devon after picking up Michael's bag followed.
For a short moment I just stood there watching the three of them. Then Devon, noticing I'd stayed behind, turned around.
"Aren't you coming?" he asked.
"I am…" I said, "I am."
He took a few steps back and put his arm around my shoulders.
"Happy?" he informed.
I smiled up to him. "Never been more happy in my life!"
Devon grinned back at me. "I knew you liked ice cream, but aren't you overdoing it a little bit?!"
I softly squeezed his arm. "I love you," I said. I still was a little shy when it came to saying things like that, but I my heart felt so heavy I knew I had to tell him or it would burst.
His grin got bigger. "I love you too, sweetheart," he said. "And I love the family you've give me!"
"Don't say that!" I called out annoyed, feeling tears filling my eyes. "You know what I'm like and I promised myself not to cry today!"
"I'll kiss your tears away," Devon said and I could hear the laughter in his voice while he bend over me.
"Anna….are we going to get that ice cream now?" Christy asked a few minutes later.
"Can't you see they're busy" Michael said.
I pushed Devon away, just knowing that even though I was getting a little bit more used to his way of showing his affection, I had still turned as red as a tomato!
"You made Anna blush again," Christy said.
"So I did," Devon answered, "but you are quite right, we should get that ice cream."
"Finally…" Michael sighed and I laughed. "I am sorry " I then apologised.
"I am not…" Devon said. "I am sorry, but I will never be sorry for kissing your aunt, Michael."
The little boy looked at him with a serious face. "That's ok," he said, "because that's how it should be. You and Anna belong together…right."
"We all belong together!" Christy yelled. She'd already run towards the car and was now waiting for us. "You said so yourself, right! We all belong together, because we're a family, right?"
"You're absolutely right" Devon said. "We are a family….and we belong together…for now and always!"
The end!
a/n I know...it's been a while...personal circumstances kept me from writing for a while...but I'm back now. This story has finally come to an end now. I hope you all liked it. I know it's been a bit cliche and all, but that was the idea: trying to write a modern fairy tale. I will start a new story very soon...I hope you will all like that one as much as you liked this one! Just wanna thank you for all the kind reviews. I loved reading them...As I have told everyone before...don't take this story too seriously...it's just a bit of fun...and I'm still shocked by all the comments I've been getting...you guys have been too nice.