Sadie

"Everything smells incredible, Mom." Brandon smiled, pulling the chair out for me as we all took our seats at the table. Eli was in town for the weekend, and we had spent the afternoon visiting with everyone, and were now sitting down to dinner. I couldn't believe I was actually saying this, but it was nice to be all together, to be with family. It was something Adam and I had been desperately missing the last few years. So far, the mood had been light and I was actually enjoying myself, but that would change as soon as Brandon announced our news.

Everyone knew what had gone on with Herrera, and me being attacked, and I was thankful no one had brought it up. Most of my bruises were starting to heal and fade, but I tried to cover the few that were still visible as best I could.

"Thank you, sweetheart." Lorraine beard, setting a few other platters of food on the table. My mouth was water it all looked so incredible. She had practically made us an Italian feast, complete with seafood linguine and all the marinara and garlic bread you could dream of.

"It really does, Lorraine." Adam smiled, settling into the seat on the other side of me, and nudging me with his elbow. "We don't get food like this at home, do we Sadie?"

"I don't know if I believe that." Brandon jumped in, resting his hand on my knee. "We stayed at one of the apartments at the St. Regis last night and Sadie whipped up an incredible meal in seconds. She's an incredible cook. It was the best fra diavlo I've had in a long time. No offense, ma." Brandon smirked.

"I don't doubt it." Lorraine grinned ear to ear, taking her seat at the head of the table. "I did teach her everything she knows. In the kitchen department anyways."

I smiled, taking a sip of my wine. "You did. I'll never forget all the hours we spent in your kitchen, especially the day you tried to teach me how to make the homemade pasta. We were both completely covered in flour and exhausted by the end of it."

"But you figured it out!" She smiled. I had as many mother daughter type memories with Lorraine as I did with my own mother. My mom hadn't been much of a cook, and so I was fascinated every time that I came to the Avenettis' and Lorraine was busy in the kitchen. She was never too busy to include me in on whatever she was doing.

"I figured out it was way more work than I ever wanted to go through." I teased, realizing I hadn't even attempted it since that afternoon. Maybe I'd have to try again one day soon, since I was revisiting my roots and all.

"Why'd you guys stay at the St. Regis?" Alex asked, a slight smirk on his face as he poked the bear. Alex was the only one who knew that Brandon and I were married and he was definitely egging him on. Brandon shot him a harsh glare.

"Just wanted to try it out." I shrugged. "We used to watch the firework show at the park all the time when we were younger and Brandon took me up there to see it. It was really sweet."

"How adorable." Eli rolled his eyes, smirking. "I'd love to meet the sweet side of Brandon you speak of, Sadie. Normally, all we get is the uptight, brooding side."

Brandon reached over and gently slapped Eli's shoulder, chuckling. "You're hilarious."

"Case in point." Alex grinned.

"Everyone, I'd like to say something" Steven cleared his throat, holding his wine glass up. "It has been far too long since we have had everyone home, and I know we're missing a few, but it is so nice to see all of you back together. Adam and Sadie, welcome home. We've missed you."

"Hear, hear." Eli grinned, downing what was left in his wine glass before the rest of us had finished clinking glasses. "I sure hope this move is permanent. Brandon is much nicer, I have my best friend back, mom makes the good stuff, it's a win all around."

Everyone started laughing and we passed around the plates of food. All throughout dinner, Brandon kept his hand resting gently on my knee. I couldn't tell if it was out of habit, or as a show of support, but whatever the case was, it was nice.

The food tasted as amazing as it smelled, but my stomach was in knots at the idea of having to tell everyone we were married, and also having to talk to Steven. When Brandon cleared his throat towards the end of dinner, every muscle in my body seemed to tighten.

"Sadie and I actually have some news." He started, glancing towards me. "We got married yesterday." Well, he certainly wasn't beating around the bush about it. I pressed my lips into a firm line, ready for the tornado that was about to be unleashed.

Lorraine's eyes widened in a mix of shock and horror and she dropped her fork, sending it clamoring against her plate. "You what?"

"Well, congratulations!" Adam hugged me tightly. "I can't say I'm surprised, good for you guys!

"This was your brilliant plan?" Steven stared straight at Brandon, completely unreadable.

Alex sat back, watching everything unfold as a small smile tugged at his lips.

"What do you mean you got married?" Lorraine asked.

"Well, we went to the court house and signed a marriage license. This way neither one of us will have to testify against each other in court if it comes to that. It's called spousal immunity."

Lorraine let out a sharp laugh. "Spousal immunity."

"Yeah, it's so husbands and wives don't have to incriminate..." Eli started to explain.

"I know what it means." She hissed, glaring between he and Brandon. "Brandon, can your father and I see you in the kitchen, please?" She stood up without another word and Brandon and Steven both followed reluctantly.

When the door shut behind them, I was left with the rest of the boys.

I stood up quickly, throwing my napkin onto the table. "I think I need some air."

Brandon

It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that my mother was upset with my decision, and when she asked to speak with me alone, I knew she was ready to let me have it.

It wasn't ten seconds after the door shut behind her that her palm landed sharply on my cheek. "Have you absolutely lost your mind?" She hissed. "Forcing her to marry you?"

"Mom," I sighed, putting my hand to my cheek and rubbing the sting out of it. " I get you're angry, but it was the only option I had."

"Really?" She rolled her eyes. "Because I can think of about a thousand better ones right now. How dare you make her do something like that? After everything she has been through? That poor girl..."

"Now, hold on a second, Lorraine." My dad held his hand up. "Sadie isn't completely innocent in this. And it's not like he dragged her down there in chains and threatened to kill her if she didn't marry him." He glanced back at me, as if checking to be sure he was right before continuing. "And didn't we all expect the two of them to get married from the beginning?"

"Yes, in an actual ceremony. Not like this, you deficiente!" She spat, covering her eyes with her hand. I had expected my mom to be mad, but this was a whole other level. I understood where she was coming from, but she couldn't possibly understand the decision I had been faced with.

"Mom, trust me, I thought long and hard about this, and it was the only thing I could do to protect Sadie. Herrera is going to bury her, especially when he finds out that she told us the truth. Not to mention, the fact that he's trying to use her to take us down."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "How does she feel about all of this?"

"She's taking it pretty well. Look, it's not like I'm just treating this as a business deal. You know it's more than that for me, and I have made sure she knows that. This is just to protect us all, and she and I are going to figure out where our relationship goes from here."

"And what if you realize you don't love each other like you used to? I mean my goodness Brandon, you haven't seen her in years. You two aren't even the same people you used to be."

"Yes, and I would have much rather been able to explore than with her in our own time, but I'm trying to make the best of a fucked-up situation." I tried to reason with her. I hated disappointing my mom like this, but if I could just get her to see things my way for a second, she might understand.

"Lorraine, I think we just need to give Brandon some time to figure this out. Obviously, there is a lot to work through, but he's right. And honestly, I think he's made a very mature decision. He had every right to kick Sadie right out of here, or worse, for the things she's done, but he's trying to take care of her and protect her."

"You're saying that you would have let your best friend's daughter be tossed out because she was used and manipulated into working against you?" My mother arched her eyebrow at my dad, now directing some of her anger towards him.

"Of course not. I'm just saying I think this is more complicated than we think, because of who she is to this family. And I think it's time that we tell her the truth about her parents. It's not my first choice, but I think it needs to be done."

"You two do whatever you think you have to, but know that you'll have to answer to me when all of this is said and done, and if something happens..."

"Nothing will happen mom. That's exactly why I did this." I assured her, hoping my words were true.