Six months later

Remember how life went to hell in a handbasket, up in flames, whatever you want to call it in six days a couple of months ago? Well, it has been absolute perfection for six months now, she thought.

She swatted Mary’s arm for probably\ the tenth time. “Stop that!” she teased as she handed over the next cupcake for her to frost.

Mary and her were in the kitchen at the Malibu house, finishing off the frosting on the last few cupcakes for Christmas dessert.

Only, Mary was sneaking more glances at Milo, Rhys and Luc who were casually draped over the couches in the lounge, than focusing on her frosting. Luc and Rhys were strumming their guitars and all three were singing along to some old Misery tune, trying to decide who could do the best imitation of Jett. Their music was interspersed with shots of laughter as they tried to outdo one another with what they called their “Jett moves.”

“So,” she drew her attention back to their conversation. “I have some news. I’ve been accepted to the Otis College of Art and Design! I start in the spring!” She watched with bated breath as she froze, threw her hands up over her head and started swinging them around, her “whooo hoooo!” resonating through the house. “Congratulations, girl! I knew you would get in! I knew it!” She threw her arms around Serena and hugged her tight.

The guys stopped their fooling around at Mary’s cheers and she felt Rhys’ strong arms wrap around her waist. “You told her, then?” he asked, pride ringing in his voice. She had been reluctant to start actually applying to schools, convinced she wasn’t good enough to get in. Rhys wouldn’t take no for an answer and patiently but doggedly insisted she apply. He had been with her every step of the way and seemed as excited as she was.

“I did!” She beamed at his twinkling eyes and he rewarded her with a soft kiss. “I’m so proud of you love, you’re going to be great!” he whispered against her ear, his breath washing over her skin, sending shivers up her spine. Instead of dwindling with time like she had expected, the effect that Rhys had on her became stronger every day. And she thanked her lucky stars for him every morning when she woke up next to her living, breathing dream come true.

Rhys and her had decided to move to the house in Malibu about a month after they had gotten back together. It was more peaceful here, they were more relaxed and they had more time to themselves - which had been the deciding factor after the third time she'd been on the brink of orgasm only for someone to knock on the door looking for the bathroom or a spontaneous party broke out at the house in the Hills. It might have been Rhys’ place, but it was way too convenient for the guys to move - or organize - their parties there. Something that they had taken to for a while there, claiming to miss having them around all the time.

There was a lot less foot traffic here. The guys were here all the time and Mary and Katie visited often, but it was different- no groupies, executives or lawyers in sight and the only parties they hosted were the ones they actually wanted to have, when they wanted to have them, with the people that they invited.

Well, the guys minus Anders for now - were here all the time. Once he was released, she had no idea whether they would stick to the plan to record from the studio here or if Anders would insist on recording elsewhere.

It had been hell getting him to agree to rehab. Finally, first Rhys and then the others had gotten him to agree by refusing to start recording the new album until he got clean. Deacon threw a complete shitfit - it had been glorious to behold - and threatened that the label would drop them if they didn’t start recording immediately. As the family that they were, Misery had stood their ground against the threats - shrugging them off in their ”devil-may-care” way until Anders agreed to go just to “shut them the fuck up” as he had put it.

And the press? Annie was a complete genius! The band had announced that they were taking a bit of a break before their next album was released, claiming exhaustion from the pace they’d been keeping up for the last five years. Somehow, no one had found out about Anders having been admitted to rehab. As far as the world knew, he was backpacking across Europe. Photos of his trip even showed up on his Instagram page every now and then.

Luc’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. He hopped up from the couch now, clearly distracted by something on the giant Christmas tree Rhys and she had set up. “That’s my face!” he exclaimed, examining the personalized baubles she had ordered.

“Cool, huh?” Rhys shot at him, still holding her in his arms. “Serena found this place online that you send pictures of your family to and they turn your pictures into Christmas tree decorations.”

“Awesome!” Milo bellowed, having joined Luc at the tree. “Our faces have been on some crazy shit, bro, but this is the fucking best!” He examined the baubles delicately, his face almost reverent. “Thanks Serena, this is really cool!” he added, his voice softer now. “So much cooler than that range of vibrators.” He let out a peal of laughter and ducked out.

She'd gotten to know Milo, Luc and Jett quite well over the course of the last few months. None of them had had easy childhoods and she doubted they had any good Christmas memories, so she'd wanted to create a special family Christmas for them. Especially since Rhys had told her that their Misery Christmas tradition was to get slaughtered on the 24th and stay that way till past New Year's.

Definitely time for new traditions, so she'd banned alcohol from “New Christmas” - yes, there had been a lot of complaining- and she planned on stuffing them with cupcakes and warm memories instead.

“You know what time Jett will be here?” Milo asked, sharing a look with Rhys as he settled back on his couch.

Rhys had had this strange, nervous energy these last few days and while he had been relaxed the last few hours fooling around on the guitars, it returned with a vengeance at Milo’s question.

“Yeah,” she said, glancing at her watch. “He texted me when he left the house, he should be here any minute now.” Rhys planted a kiss on the top of her head and whispered a soft ”love you” before bounding outside. “I’m going to get some fresh air before he gets here,” he pronounced over his shoulder, Luc in tow.

He was acting really weird, but she wasn't worried. He would tell her what was going on when he was ready to. She had grown completely confident in their relationship, in him, so she trusted him implicitly. Stupid maybe, but she was in love, and he hadn't given her a reason to doubt him. He’d been honest with literally the whole world about being in a relationship. Most of his followers on social media seemed happy that he was happy, but the rest had been downright vicious toward her.

Her train of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Ah, that must be him now, Miles,” she said to Milo, who nodded as he rose from his position on the couch. “I’ll get it. How are the cupcakes coming, ladies?”

She spun with a flourish as she set the last one down. “Done.” She was bummed that Katie wasn't here, but she’d promised that her last minute change of plans was important…

Rhys and Luc had made their way back inside, and Rhys followed Milo to the front door while Luc was back to examining the personalized baubles on the Christmas tree. Mary and Serena joined him. “Oh look, I’m here, too!” Mary cried happily at spotting her bauble. “Of course you are, Mare. You’re like a sister to me, you know that!” she declared, noticing that silence had fallen at the front door.

Milo stepped aside to reveal Jett - with Anders at the door. Jett stepped inside and he and Milo talked quietly as they joined everyone. Rhys and Anders stared at one another, neither making a move to talk or walk - or fight for that matter, so that was something. At the same time, they each took a step toward the other and then exchanged a long hug, thumping on each other’s back in that way that men do. Then they shook hands and both broke into grins as they walked toward the rest of them.

To her surprise, Anders pulled her in for a hug as well after exchanging another back- thumping hug with Luc. Mary seemed stunned again, he was the last member of Misery she had to meet and her starstruck expression was fixed firmly on her face again. Serena stomped on her foot lightly, and her face returned to normal.

“I’m happy you’re here, Anders. Really fucking ecstatic actually!” Rhys announced. “There’s something really big that I’ve been meaning to do and it’ll be great to get your support.” Milo, Luc and Jett lit up with smiles that made the lights on the Christmas tree seem dim as Rhys slid down on to one knee and took her hands in his, staring up at her with bright, insanely beautiful eyes.

Her breath hitched and her heart stopped. What now? Was he… No! He couldn't be!

“Serena, my princess, my angel, my love. That first time I went down on my knees for you, I hadn’t been planning to, the idea came to me in that moment staring at you over that kitchen counter and it just felt right. Felt right just like every day feels with you, and I think a part of me knew even in that moment that you are the love of my life. I knew deep down inside that something was happening, changing, in me. My heart nearly stopped when you said yes, and every day that you have said yes to being with me after that brought light to my black soul, a love that runs so deep that my heart feels like it’s going to explode with it every time I look at you, and a life filled with joy beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes of course I will!” she gasped, tears springing to her eyes. He broke into the happiest, widest grin as he slid an ornately designed diamond ring onto her finger and pulled her into a deep kiss that set her body on fire instantaneously. And he wanted to be hers forever!

“I’m the luckiest girl in the world!” she murmured against his lips as their kiss broke and she became aware of the cheers of their family around them for the first time. “I can’t believe that we’ll get to feel this way forever!”

He stared into her eyes, still holding their faces close together. “Feel this way forever,” he mused. “That’s actually not a bad name for the new album, maybe it’s finally time we really get into making a new one.”