"It's you asking for her hand. Why do I need to be present? And with Serena on top of that!"Agnus scowled glaring at me from my couch.

I fixed my tie and paid him no mind. "Stop complaining. Celine thought it would be a good idea if we all went together, to show her parents that she was happy, and surrounded by loving people"

"But Serena would never accept. Celine does not even know her" Agnus said, his chocolate brown eyes staring at me like I had three heads.

"She did accept. Father called her about it and she agreed. So get your shit together. Seriously she's your fiancé"I grumbled turning to look at him.

"By obligation. Not choice" Agnus snorted.

"Right of course, and that's probably why I saw you parked against her favourite coffee shop the other day staring at her like a creep?"Landon said, settling down next to him comfortably.

Agnus actually turned bright red. "What the actual fuck? My helmet was on.. How the hell did you recognise me? And..what were you doing there?"He asked, eyes narrowing.

There we go again..

"Chill. I went to get coffee. Maybe if you weren't so absorbed in her, you would have noticed it when I walked in" Landon snorted.

Agnus scoffed. "I wasn't absorbed. It's called observation, alright. I have the right to know who I'm getting married to."

"And by being there you were doing what exactly? Trying to find out how much sugar she likes in her coffee?"Landon asked.

I sighed and carefully placed the box containing the vase in a bag while these two argued back and forth. Celine would soon arrive with Serena and I had no time for their banter.

"She likes it all black without any sugar for your information. Probably because her soul is as black and bitter"Agnus retorted back.

Landon laughed. "And you think yours isn't?"

"I'm the brightest and sweetest person on earth, what do you mean, you peasant!"Agnus said throwing a pillow at him.

"Papá!"Elysium said, rushing down the stairs in his pristine black suit.

"Can you fix that? Why do I even need to wear that, it's like a snake strangling my neck and it's not even the wedding yet"He said, pulling on his tie.

I chuckled softly and smoothly fixed his tie, ensuring his collar was straightened well too. "You look handsome with it, little lion. Plus didn't you say you wanted to dress like me, tonight?"

"Yeah, well I didn't think you would wear this."Elysium grumbled, going to join the others.

I shook my head at him and grabbed the bag just as Celine walked in with Serena. Her beautiful green eyes immediately found me and sparkled with warmth. She looked breathtakingly beautiful with her dark green strapless dress and high heels accentuating her curves perfectly.

"My little Flame" I placed a soft kiss on her cheek the moment she reached me, one arm wrapping around her waist protectively.

I couldn't help it.

I would always be Her Devoted Protector and the need to wrap her in my arms protectively would eternally be instinctive to my soul.

Mine to protect, always.

"Hey" She whispered, pecking my cheek, eyes shining with affection.

"Little moth" Agnus said, inclining his head to Serena who gave him a very unimpressed look.

"Dickhead." Serena muttered, crossing her arms. With her black jumpsuit and high heels, midnight deep blue hair and pitch black eyes with black nail art, she looked like the goddess of the night. But right now it seemed she was plotting Agnus'death in 10 different ways as he so rightly pointed out before.

"Behave, you two. It's important to us, tonight and I really don't want both of you to give a bad impression to her parents" I chided giving them both a firm look.

Serena stared at Celine for a beat and sighed reluctantly. "Alright, I will behave. But that's only because Celine is an amazing woman."

Agnus stood up, tucking his hands in his suit pocket. Ironically his suit was the exact shade of Serena's hair. Something that didn't go unnoticed by her judging by the way her eyes roamed over him from head to toe before she promptly looked away.

"Alright, Vamos!(come on) it's time"Celine said, grabbing Elysium's hand.

We all got into our cars. Celine, Elysium, Landon and me together in one car. Agnus and Serena in the other. Both looked equally displeased about it but hey they had to get comfortable with each other one way or another. They were future husband and wives after all.

The moment we walked inside her parent's house, Elysium was the first one of course to rush forward and engulf both her mother and father in a big hug. "Abuela, Abuelo! (Grandma, Grandpa!) I missed you so much!!"

They both hugged Elysium tightly. "We missed you too, nieto (grandson)."

Angelina and Luis De La Cruz both looked like the perfect embodiment of class and elegance. Luis'salt and pepper hair was slicked back with a few strands falling on his forehead, his face softened with warmth and green eyes fixed on his grandchild. A pair of black trousers and a white t-shirt framed his wide shoulders perfectly. No wrinkles in sight.

Angelina also looked elegant with her perfectly done chignon, golden pearl earrings and a crimson red spaghetti strap dress engulfing her slim frame beautifully. Her hazel eyes were filled with warmth and affection. Even years later, they both looked as elegant as ever.

I took a deep breath and extended my hand the moment they broke the hug. "Mr and Mrs De la Cruz"

"Oh hush now, we told you before to call us by our names, Eli" Angelina said, pulling me into a warm hug as Celine hugged her dad.

"It's for you, both. I made it yesterday" I said, offering her the vase.

The moment Angelina opened the box and held the intricate vase in her hands, she beamed at me "C'est magnifique, trésor ! Merci beaucoup!(It's magnificent, darling!) Thank you so much!"

I smiled warmly, "I'm glad you love it"

Luis stared at me with a knowing look, his green eyes so similar yet different from Celine bore into my eyes with a glint of protectiveness. He probably figured I was here to ask for her hand and didn't seem to like it much.. For now at least.

Diosito(Dear God).. I hope he accepts.

I shook his hand the moment he broke the hug with Celine and smiled warmly with what I hoped was a welcoming expression. "It's a pleasure to see you, Luis." I said politely.

Luis inclined his head. "The pleasure is returned"

"Be nice" Angelina chided, making me bite back my smile as Luis sighed.

"Mamá, Papá.. This is Landon, Eli's brother. And this is Agnus and Serena. They are our close friends and also newly engaged." Celine said, smiling as her parents shook their hands simultaneously and congratulated Serena and Agnus for their engagement.

"Celine, you never told me your mom was such a diva, it's a pleasure to meet you, my lady" Agnus said, placing a soft kiss on Angelina's hand, making the latter laugh.

Serena snorted. "Charmer"

"Jealous, little moth? If you want my attention, just say it"Agnus said, smirking.

Serena opened her mouth to retort but Elysium wisely stepped in "Abuela, I'm starving, what did you cook?"

Angelina chuckled and grabbed Elysium's hand. "Come on then, you're going to love it"

"Let's settle down, everyone. Make yourself at home please" Luis said, guiding us to the dining table.

I lifted my eyebrows at the feast waiting for us. Angelina definitely surpassed herself. Rows of Paella, Gambas al Ajillo, Patatas Bravas and tamales filled the table, the mixed fragrance perfuming the room in a mouth watering fragrance coupled with the soft sugary scent of Churros con Chocolate and Tarta de Santiago.

We all settled down comfortably and dug into our food after expressing our gratitude to God for this meal. Conversations flowed seamlessly as her parents asked me about work, life and how my parents were.Agnus and Serena occasionally bickered over something for no apparent reason while Elysium happily chatted with Landon.

The night unfolded peacefully, everyone simply happy to bask in each other's presence and make up for the time apart but as dessert approached, I cleared my throat. "Tonight, we chose to have a family dinner together because I have something important to speak with both of you"

Celine grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed comfortingly as everyone turned silent, eyes fixed on me. Agnus giving me an encouraging nod, Elysium giving me thumbs up, Serena and Landon giving me warm smiles.

I took a deep breath and held my little Flame's hand as I stared at Angelina and Luis. "I came here tonight with a heart full of hope to ask you both for Celine's hand"

Angelina's eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions, tears gathering there as she stared at us. Celine's father on the other hand, his jaw clenched tight, eyebrows creased.

I understood his reaction.

"I know you are worried, Luis. That you're probably thinking of a thousand ways I could possibly hurt her.. I understand. You're her father and raised her, provided for her all these years, watched her climb the steps and build her career.. I know you're worried I could hurt her. But I want you to trust in me, in her, in our love for each other. You know who I am, I have been by her side for years and never once hurt her. As a father to Elysium, I know it's painful and difficult to watch our child unfurl their own wings and live their life, building their own home away from us but as parents we know they deserve to live their own lives too. And no matter what, you both will always be a part of Celine's life, our lives. I'm not taking her from you. Far from that. I'm asking for your blessings because I wish to hold her hand for the rest of her life, because I want to be the one who takes care of her when she's sick, who makes her breakfast every morning, who laughs with her and holds her when she's sad. I want to build my life with her and grow old by her side. And I genuinely don't want to marry her without your blessings because you're both her parents and you matter to her, to Elysium and to me" I said, voice calm yet the most sincere because I meant every word I just said.

Luis stared at me for a beat, before glancing at his daughter. His eyes softened. "I know you are not a bad man, Eli. I watched you with her over the years. And even though you're right about me raising her, she's always been closer to you than us." He said, staring at Angelina.

Both of them sharing a silent message of understanding and acceptance. "Angelina and I weren't always there for her all the time, we realised it when she left the mansion to start her own life. We realised how much we were so absorbed in our work that we didn't get the chance to really experience her childhood with her. We can't bring back the time lost and we truly regret that.."

"Papá.." Celine whispered, her voice croaked.

"No.. Let me finish, my child" Luis said, holding Angelina's hand.

"We know we weren't there for you.. And we regret it, everyday. For that, we truly apologise. For everything, for having not been more present for you when you needed us" Luis said, expression fractured with sorrow and regret.

"But you were there for her, Eli. I definitely remember watching you from the window when you were still a young boy.. Watching how you kneeled in front of her and blew on her knee because she fell down and injured herself, I remember watching you carry her to her bedroom after school and sleeping on a nearby chair while watching over her as a kid yourself until I came to drive you home" Luis said, voice gentle and fatherly.

"It's true that we are worried." Angelina added, squeezing her husband's hand before continuing. "Because we want what's best for her, even if we were not always present in the past, we love and care about our daughter deeply. We want her to be in good hands, we want her heart in the palms of a man who will know how to cherish her properly. Who will never ever raise their voice against her or use violence when things don't go their way."

She stared at Luis with a soft smile before glancing back at me and Celine. "For us, that man is you, Eli. She's happy. We can see it, she's glowing with happiness and as a mother that's all I could ever want for my daughter. For her to be happy so that one day when it's time for her father and I to pass away, we will rest at peace knowing she's loved beyond measure and in good hands"

I released a breath of relief and gratitude hearing their words. "I will not disappoint you, Angelina. I vow to you, I'll protect her and love her with all my heart, mind and soul for eternity"

"I know you will. And even if I preferred to keep her by my side, I know she's happier with you, you have our blessings" Luis said, smiling warmly with a soft gaze.

I smiled back, heart filled with gratitude and replied"Thank you for accepting me, for accepting us. I vow to you both, I will take good care of her, always"

I stared into Celine's eyes and placed a soft kiss on her forehead silently vowing to her too that I would never break the heart she entrusted to me.

Never.