"Everything appears to be in tip top shape, Scarlett. Honestly, you shouldn't have anything to worry about."

Dave goes over the plan for next week again. Monday is the interview. Tuesday is the house evaluation. By Friday we should have a court date. I lay back in the chair, feeling two years of stress slowly ease away.

Joe smiles at me, "The only thing you can do is wait and see how everything plays out."

I nod, getting out of my chair. There really is no reason to stay here, halfway out the door Dave stops me.

"Scarlett." He places a hand on my shoulder, "Happy Birthday."

I let the words register in my mind as he pulls me in for a hug. Technically, my birthday isn't until tomorrow but it still feels so surreal.

Eighteen.

I drive with the radio off, not really feeling the need for music. My mind is enough to keep me occupied. I'm surprised to find Ashton waiting on my porch, a small smile working its way onto my face as I greet him.

"Hey, you know you could go inside." I tell him, peaking through the window just to double check that everyone is home. They are.

"I'm not here to stay, I know you guys need some alone time." He says, toeing the porch board.

Oh. I'm touched he wants to give me space but I'd never turn him away.

"But I wanted to see my girlfriend." He smiles down at me and fireworks go off in my chest. How did I ever get so lucky?

"You know, Mister McClain, after tomorrow you'll be dating an older woman." I tease, throwing my arms around his neck.

His birthday isn't until August. The one thing we had to do when transferring to Riverview was be held back a year. It sucked to repeat a grade but I'm thankful for the friends I have because of it.

Ashton shrugs, a glint in his eyes. "I know, it's kinda hot."

The fireworks continue as he picks me up, my legs wrapping around his torso. What an ass, but I can't help but smile against his lips. He sits down on the porch swing, resting my legs on either side of him. I study his face, the new scab on his lip and faint traces of bruising.

"I'm actually here for a reason." I raise my eyebrows. "I'm here to ask my girlfriend what she wants for her birthday."

I flick his nose, everyone has been harassing me all week to figure out what I want and the answer has been nothing.

I already have everything on this planet I could ever need. My family is happy and healthy. I have four more friends than I did a year ago. Most importantly, I have a boyfriend that means the world to me.

I'm set.

Tracing the bruise along his cheek, I sigh. "What I want is for tomorrow to be just like any other day. I want to turn 18. Celebrate Sage turning 17. Get custody of my siblings. And ride off into the sunset."

A very uneventful, secure sunset.

"Oh, and I suppose I could spare some time to be with you."

He smirks, "I think I can manage that."

I would certainly hope so but before I can say anything my thoughts are cut off by Ashton kissing me. I'd be content with a thousand birthday kisses instead of an actual gift.

Once he leaves I walk inside, finding the twins in the TV room.

"Thank God, I didn't think you two would ever stop sucking face." Silver says, pausing the TV.

My jaw drops, "Excuse you?"

"Don't even try to deny it, Scar, your neck gives you away." Sterling offers before they both burst out laughing.

We may have gotten a little carried away. I jump on the couch, hitting them with a pillow. Why, exactly, am I excited to get custody of them? We end up making a mess, chips crushed into the couch and carpet as we fall onto the floor. Doritos slice into my back like glass shards.

"Why do I always miss out on the fights?" Sage asks, jumping over the couch.

I huff out a breath, both of the twins sitting on top of me. To think the doctor wants Silver to gain more weight. "A little help?"

Instead Sage joins them, adding even more weight. I can feel my organs being compressed. "We're going on a family diet, starting tomorrow."

Sage pushes down, "As the birthday boy, I call bull shit."

"As the birthday girl, I say get the hell off of me or we won't be celebrating shit." I promise him, my eyes bulging out of my head.

They all jump off, picking me off the ground. I'm so happy threatening works.

*****

"Happy Birthday!" Is screamed in my ear, waking me up the next morning.

Sage and I groan, throwing the covers over our heads. Every year we sleep in my room on our birthday, enjoying every moment of our special day. Being an Irish twin is weird, we didn't share a womb but we're close enough to do everything together like we did. We choose to be close.

I peak an eye at my brother, who's rubbing his face. "Happy Birthday, Bubs."

"Happy Birthday, Sis."

Saffron jumps onto my bed, landing on top of me, her russet hair all knotted up. "Wake up! I want cake."

"Saffron." The boys complain, Sterling slapping his forehead.

I laugh, ruffling her hair as I throw the covers off. The twins force blind folds over our eyes, guiding us down the stairs. I make it in one piece but there's a thud before Sage let's out a collection of swears.

"Sorry." Silver mutters, "I was checking my phone."

We get all situated in the kitchen, before a they count down. "Three. Two. One."

We pull our blindfolds off to find the kitchen covered in different shades of yellow. Growing up, mom could never decide how to decorate for the party so one day she declared yellow to be our color and every year since then yellow has been our color.

Uncle John blows a horn, a way too small party hat on his head. "Happy Birthday, kiddos!" He yells, pulling us in for a hug.

We eat breakfast, including chocolate cake, laughing and opening gifts. Sage opens a small box, dropping it to the table as he looks back up at Uncle John.

"No way." He whispers, shaking his head.

I peer into the box, letting out a gasp. It's one of dad's chains. He wore three around his neck till the day he died: a cross, an angel, and a Saint Christopher. This one's his cross, the same one his dad wore.

Uncle John takes the box, pulling the chain out and unclasping it. "Your Dad was your age when his mom gave this to him. It's only right you get it today too."

Sage starts to tear up as the chain is put on him. I pick up the box John gave me, how do you top that? Slowly I peel the lid off, taking a nervous pause before I look inside. I can't pull my eyes away.

It's mom's anniversary ring. Dad had it made to celebrate knowing each other for twenty years, three stones set in a silver band. A sapphire on the right for Saffron's birthday, a topaz stone in the left for the twins and a diamond in the middle for Sage and me. All of our birthstones. The word kitten inscribed on the inside.

"I thought it was fitting." He explains, "Something to symbolize the next step."

I pull it out of the box and slip in on my right hand, ignoring how bad I'm shaking. It fits perfectly.

"Th... Thank you." I croak out. Never in a million years did I think this ring would end up on my finger. Mom wore it everyday, even when she didn't have her wedding ring on.

He pulls me close to his chest. "Bean, they would be so proud of you."

I let myself cry, opening my arm out to Sage who joins in. The twins migrate to either side of us a few seconds later. Saffron wrapping herself around my torso. This is all I could ever need.

Eventually I dry my eyes, peaking a glance at the clock. "Time to go school."

*****

Sage and I walk through the hallway before class starts, feeling weird. We haven't seen our parents yet. Dave said it would be best not to miss school, no matter the reason, so we're going later.

I grab my books, momentarily surprised to see the ring. I don't think I'll ever get used to wearing it. A pair of strong arms wrap around my shoulders, a very familiar scent surrounding me as a kiss is pressed to my temple. "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart."

I turn around, a hand covering Ashton's mouth. I don't want anyone to know about my birthday. A weird tingle spreads through my body as something wet presses against my palm, I jerk my hand away from his mouth.

"Did you just lick me?" That's disgusting.

He shrugs, pressing his forehead against mine. "I'm rather fond of talking about you."

I roll my eyes, kissing him quickly. What a drama queen. Sage coughs, pulling our attention away from each other. I kinda forgot he was standing there.

"Happy Birthday, Sage." Ashton offers, extending his hand for their bro thing.

My brother smirks, "What, no kiss for me?"

The next thing I know Ashton wrestles Sage into a hug, pressing a wet, sloppy kiss to his forehead. "Happy Birthday to the light of my life! I have no idea what I would do without you brother."

Sage shoves Ashton off of him, wiping his face. "I knew you had a thing for me."

I shake my head at their banter. Boys.

Everyone joins us, Ella, James, and Zev respecting my wish to keep my birthday quiet. However, Gabe and Stella decide to take matters into their own hands.

"Happy Birthday, Scarlett and Sage!" They shout together, running down the hallway with two yellow balloons.

I shrink into Ashton as the entire hallway stops to stare at us. That's one way to keep quiet, at least they stuck to the theme. We're handed a bunch of cards before Gabe opens up his bag, pulling out a ginormous plastic bag full of jelly beans.

"Holly shit, what are those for?" Sage asks but I begin to laugh.

They all look at me so I try to calm down. "When we were in fifth grade, I told Gabe I loved jelly beans so much I could eat them everyday. So one day he brought a three pound bag and told me if I ate them in fifteen minutes he would bring me jelly beans whenever I wanted."

I finished them in ten minutes.

He laughs with me, "I figured I was a couple years behind so you should be good for a while."

I hug him, surprised he remembered something from so long ago. He can be an irritating, nosy asshole but he has a heart of gold underneath all of it. Thankfully the last little bit of distance I kept between us disappeared after he showed up at my house, now we're just like we used to be.

We walk down the hall to class, bickering and running into people as we go. I can't help but look at all the cards I have in my hand. My past two birthdays have been miserable but today I've laughed and smiled more in two hours than I did the last two years combined.

I link my fingers through the hand Ashton has hanging over my shoulder, listening to James and Sage argue over whether pineapple belongs on pizza. I couldn't be more grateful for my weirdos.

*****

"Have you had a good day so far?" Ashton asks as we walk to lunch.

"Of course."

My phones been going off all day. RJ called me in between classes, singing a terrible version of Happy Birthday. While I was touched he called I instantly forced him to hand the phone to Riley once I learned she was in the room.

After chatting to her on my walk to Spanish I give her a five star review, she's smart and a smart ass. Exactly what he needs.

The Hollins' wrote me a letter that made me cry, along with a very generous birthday check. The Mackenzies'; however, are giving me the best present ever, Dave is swinging by later for me to sign one last piece of paperwork now that I'm an adult.

Part of me foolishly hoped any of our old neighbors would text or call. I may have cut out the West Side but I never truly understood how deeply I would miss it eventually. Ever since the baseball game I've been looking at old photos, missing it more and more. I guess that's just another thing I can thank Bennett for.

But then again his silence after the baseball game is the perfect birthday gift.

"I still need to give you my gift." He says, tugging on a curl.

"I don't need anything." I assure him for the millionth time. "Just having you is everything I could need."

He rolls his eyes as we round a corner, running straight into someone. I mentally swear as I take in Avery sprawled on the floor, her blond hair stuck to her face.

Begrudgingly, I offer my hand to her. After a moment's hesitation, she accepts. "Do you mind if I talk to you for a moment?"

I nod, following her a few feet away from Ashton. Avery's been slightly less annoying since that day in the hallway. It's almost like we've reached a truce.

She reaches into her bag, pulling out a folded envelope. "I've already seen Sage so this one's for you. It's from Conner and me, Happy Birthday, cousin."

She shoves the envelope into my hand, stopping to take note of the ring on my finger. Her sapphire eyes scan my face, the shock being replaced with a smile.

"Nice earrings." She offers before strutting down the hallway.

My hand reaches up to my ears, my moms earrings that Conner snuck into my jacket at Christmas. It's the first time I've worn them, the fact that they're moms helped with her absence. She might not be here but I can wear her stuff.

I walk back to Ashton in a daze, placing the money in my bag.

He throws his arm over my shoulders, "Well that went surprisingly well."

Letting out a laugh I shake my head. Did we just have a conversation that didn't end with a threat or a sneer?

*****

After school I'm standing in the parking lot of the cemetery, holding Sage's hand. He gives me a reassuring squeeze, we can do this.

Slowly we walk over to their graves, the kids waiting by the car.

"Hey, Mom and Dad." Sage starts, sitting down on the ground. I follow his lead, picking at the grass. "We're another year older."

"And wiser." I add halfheartedly.

We chat for a while, I get up to let Sage have his moment. Dreading for my turn to say something, ten minutes later he gets up and I walk over.

I cross my arms, staring down at their names.

Mateo Rhodes
Father and Husband
Loved by all, adored by six

Katherine Rhodes
Mother and Wife
Color outside the lines of life

I open my mouth, expecting words to come out but nothing happens. I don't even know where to start. I haven't spoken to them since Saffron's birthday and, even then, I've never really said anything.

It's always been difficult to talk to them because they're the only two people I can't lie too.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, turning away from them. I'll come back another day.

*****

We have dinner at our house, everyone leaving after hours of laughing and talking. After cleaning the kitchen and saying goodnight to everyone I make my way down to the basement. Uncle John's joint birthday and custody gift was completely renovating the house. Nothing major but the parts that are already done are unrecognizable. My room is currently under redecorating which means I'm sleeping on the basement pullout couch.

I find Ashton waiting for me, already changed into pajama pants. It's a very good thing Uncle John left with everybody else, I don't even want to imagine the lecture I would get. At least we aren't in my bedroom.

"Where did you get the flowers?" He asks as I rummage through the clothes I have with me.

I don't bother pulling my eyes away to answer, knowing that he's talking about a bouquet of  black roses. "I have no idea. They were delivered to the house while we were at school."

The note had blown away in the wind by the time I was able to bring them inside.

He waits as I change, going back into the room to find a box on my pillow next to him. "Ash, I thought I said I didn't want anything."

I'm pulled onto his lap, his arms keeping me from moving. "Sweetheart, just open the box."

Flicking his nose I lift the lid, instantly closing it. "I can't..."

He takes the box from me, pulling out the bracelet. "You can and you will, besides it's personalized. No returns allowed."

How convenient. I evaluate the bracelet, re-reading the inscription in awe.

Lux in tenebris~ XO Charming.

"It means, light in the darkness." he explains, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Thats exactly what you are, a beautiful, bright light pouring into others." 

Rolling my eyes in attempt to hide how emotional I am,  I slid the bracelet on. A blush spreads across my face as I kiss him, he's always had a way with words. "Thank you, I love it."

"It's true, you know."His lips graze my skin, causing me to shudder. "I've never seen someone as beautiful as you."

The blush deepens as I shove his shoulder, "Someone's feeling flirty tonight."

I expect him to laugh but he frowns, "You don't believe me, do you?"

"It's not that I don't believe you." I assure him, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. He knows I hate to talk about myself. "It's just that I'm more aware of my flaws."

I reach over to turn off the light and lay down, wanting the conversation to be over but Ashton apparently has a different idea.

One second he's beside me and the next he's hovering over me, a serious look on his face. "What flaws are you talking about?"

"Ash, I don't want to talk about this right now." I protest, it's my birthday I should have a say on what we do and don't talk about. This is the last thing I want to be focused on.

"What flaws?" He asks again.

I try to shove him off of me but he doesn't budge, after a moment of glaring at him I sigh. Fine, if he wants to do this right now we'll do it. "There are bags underneath my eyes that will never go away."

They make me look like a hag.

Ashton kisses both of my eyelids. "They're beautiful, they show how strong you are. I couldn't do anything if I was as tired as you." I roll my eyes. "What else?"

"My hair." It never looks nice, always sticking out a million different ways. People always make comments on how different it is, so unlike everyone else's hair.

"I love your hair more than anything else, it's so wonderfully you." He kisses my forehead. "So wild and defiant. Never something to be confined when it already has a mind of its own."

I want to stop, knowing he isn't just talking about my hair but for some reason it feels good to say these things. I've said them in my mind for years but letting them out makes me feel better.

"I just don't like my body." I finally admit, hating the words as they leave my mouth.

It's never been good enough and these last few years I've changed so much. I went from being healthier and muscular to losing tons of weight. Everything got so disproportioned.

"I love your body." Ashton whispers, using a hand to move my face back to his. I'm about to protest, he's never even fully seen my body. My mouth opens to say something but he shakes his head. "Do you know why?"

I stay silent, no longer wanting to fight him. This conversation is really depressing me.

He smirks, "I'll break it down for you. You're shoulders always feel perfect when my arm is draped over them. You have no idea how much I love using them to pull you close."

I blink in surprise, this is definitely not how I saw the conversation going.

"When your arms wrap around me there is no place I'd rather be. Plus, I'm always impressed by how strong you are. Then then there's your neck."

He pauses, kissing my collarbone. I giggle and he smiles before continuing. "Do I even need to