Ben glanced out the car window as they approached the red carpet entrance. "We're almost here. Two cars before us, then our turn."

"Ugh. I can't do this," Aria said from the seat next to him, leaning her head back against the headrest. "Ben, I can't go out there. Let’s just go home.”

“It’d take us another hour to drive all the way back to the beach, babe,” Ben said with a laugh. They’d purchased their dream home overlooking the Pacific Ocean that was both expansive and cozy. For the first time, Ben understood what it meant to have a home, and that it was about so much more than four walls. “Aria, you can do this. You look beautiful.”

"Don't lie to me, Ben. I know I look like a beached whale in rhinestones, okay?" Aria ran her hands over her swollen belly, which to him made her only that much more beautiful. How could he not find the mother of his future child breathtaking? "Do you know how many pins are holding me into this dress? I just got it fitted last week, and I'm already busting out of it."

Ben chuckled, pride filling him as the car moved closer to their destination. "Lawson men make big babies."

"Ben, I'm serious!” Aria huffed. “What if I can't get out of the damn car because I'm too big to fit through the door? What if my dress splits on stage? The press is going to rip me to pieces."

She was definitely beginning to spiral, and Ben didn't blame her one bit. This was her second time attending the Academy Awards and she was nominated for her first Oscar thanks to her most recent leading role in Murals. Last year, Travis had taken home the Oscar for Best Actor for Scarlet's Letters, and Aria had cheered him on the entire time.

She hadn't been nominated for that film last year, but had come back in a big way when Shepherd Films took over the production of Murals and cast Aria in the leading role solely based on her talent—something the press had finally stopped questioning after her stunning performance in Scarlet’s Letters.

Though there was some stiff competition for the award tonight, Ben had zero doubt that Aria was taking home the award for Best Actress.

Similarly, he was on a career high with his release of two Academy Award worthy films in a row. The moment Murals had fallen apart after the original producers lost support when word got out about their sexist leadership, Shepherd Films had swooped in and purchased it at an amazingly low cost. Ben completely believed in the movie—he had since the first time Aria had mentioned it to him—and had been thrilled to see it become a box office hit.

Ben was also thrilled that he and his company were getting a reputation for philanthropic films and causes, opening the door for even more advocacy work in the future. He planned to keep making films that meant something, that inspired people—his own personal dream come true.

"Aria, look at me." Ben took her hands in his, pressing his forehead gently against hers. "You. Are. Beautiful."

"Ben..." She began to pull away, doubt crinkling the corners of her eyes.

"I'm serious, Aria." He caressed her cheek with his hand, cupping her face gently. "I couldn't be prouder to be starting a family with you, and you look downright gorgeous. You're glowing, baby."

She laughed, leaning forward to kiss him. Unfortunately, she couldn't lean forward very far because of her very-pregnant belly, and quickly gave up. "Kiss me," she said with an exasperated sigh. "Kiss me and tell me we're not absolutely insane. The new project, the new house, the baby...are we crazy?"

"Oh, we're definitely crazy." But he kissed her with everything he had. Life had certainly been full of unexpected surprises over the last few years—the baby being one of the biggest—but Ben was completely committed and excited about every part of it, and he knew Aria was, too.

They were both working on new films with noteworthy buzz in addition to their non-profit work, which was quickly gaining them the reputation of Hollywood's newest power couple.

But even if all of those wins were suddenly stripped away and all he had in this world was Aria standing next to him, holding his hand...it would still be the best damn life he could ever imagine for himself.

When Ben finally pulled away and broke their kiss, Aria's anxieties seemed miles away. Her smile wide, her body relaxed. She kissed him one more time, the smile never leaving her lips.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded. "As I'll ever be."

They pulled up to the red carpet, and Ben climbed out first. He turned quickly to help Aria out of the car and shield her from photographers until she was ready.

Smoothing her dress, she took his hand. "Well, I fit through the car door. So…there’s that."

Ben laughed and squeezed her hand, lifting it to his lips and kissing the back of her palm. Her diamond ring jabbed his cheek slightly, but he didn't mind a bit because it was just another reminder that this was his woman.

This was his family, his future, his soul mate.

"I love you, Mrs. Lawson."

Aria looked up at him from under long lashes. "I love you, too, Mr. Lawson." She placed her other hand on her belly, gazing adoringly at it. "You're going to be so loved, Baby Lawson."

Ben grinned, his heart bursting in his chest at how beautiful and perfect his wife looked in that moment. "He has no idea."

"Or she," Aria reminded him.

Honestly, Ben would be happy with whatever life had in store for them. As long as he had his wife by his side.

Photographers caught wind of their arrival, and the flash of cameras began.

"ARIA LAWSON! BEN LAWSON! LOOK OVER HERE!"

"ARIA ROSE, WHEN ARE YOU DUE?"

"ARIA, TELL US WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING THE BEST MAN AT TRAVIS PETER'S WEDDING LAST WEEK TO HIS HUSBAND?"

"ARIA ROSE, DO YOU THINK YOU'LL WIN BEST ACTRESS FOR MURALS TONIGHT?"

"ARIA, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING NAMED ‘ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR' BY ONE OF THE LARGEST WOMEN'S RIGHTS ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY?"

The press shouted at them from behind a long metal fence. Aria smiled sweetly, posing both with Ben and by herself. She was already a pro, and he admired every second of watching her work the carpet. There was a grace to her that the press had finally begun to respect, and Ben loved how strong she was, and how she commanded respect from the very people who had once hung her out to dry.

No one was asking her about her sex life, or her nude photos, or even her outfit. They were asking about her career, her talent, her humanitarian efforts, her non-profit...they were focused on who Aria Rose was.

The women he admired more than any other.

The woman he was in love with, would raise a family with, and grow old together.

The woman he'd married last year in a small, serene beach wedding that only one teenager chasing Pokémon had crashed.

Ben had never been prouder in his life to step back and let his better half take the spotlight.

She was a shining star, and he'd happily spend the rest of his life helping her burn brighter and brighter.