21.
Ava sits at the table in aunt Chris's backyard. Today is her last full day here and she wishes it didn't have to end. Aunt Chris and her mom went out to run errands for a few and Derek is around watching the girls. Ava is feeling mixed emotions about leaving, she's happy they saved the falls and reminded people of its existence, but she's sad because leaving the magic behind is always the hardest part.
"Hey, whatcha drawing?" Derek asks, sitting down next to her.
Ava looks up with a small smile, "I'm drawing the cave," she says.
"I like how you made the blue glow right here," he tells her, with a smile on his face.
"Me too," she says, confidentally.
"Can I tell you a secret?" he asks.
"That depends," Ava says, setting her blue crayon down.
She looks up at him like she's a business woman ready to make a deal with someone. Derek chuckles at her straight posture and serious look.
"On what?" he asks her.
"If the secret will get me in trouble," she says.
"Nah, not this secret."
"Okay," she says, crossing her arms at her chest. "Whatcha got for me?" she questions.
Derek can't help smile at her sassy little attitude.
"Now, I already asked your sisters for their help and they are gathering the supplies as we speak, but I need your help too."
"I'm listening," she says.
"You know how much I love your aunt, right?"
"Ew, yeah," she says.
Derek laughs, "Well, what would you say if I officially became uncle Derek?" he asks.
"Like we could adopt you?" she questions with wide eyes.
His smile never fades, "No, as in I want to marry aunt Chris," he tells her.
"Oh! Well why didn't you just say so? I mean it would have saved us a lot of time."
Derek shakes his head in amusement.
"So, how can I help?" she asks.
"I thought you'd never ask," he tells her. "Do you think your magic could create some music? Also I need you to take care of the most important thing," he says, holding up a shiny engagement ring.
"Oh it's so shiny!" she squeals.
"It is, but holding this ring comes with a lot of responsibilities," he says.
"Oh, I like responsibilities," she says, only it comes out as respo-bilities.
"Wagon's packed Derek!" Kate yells.
Derek and Ava look over and there are a ton of decorations inside an old red wagon. Including something in a bottle her mommy calls wine.
"So what do you say?"
"I say let's do this!" Ava says happily.
Derek calls Sophie over, and gives him a sparkly purse. Then Derek takes the purse and sets the ring inside of a small blue box he pulls from his pocket. The box is then put inside the bag and handed to Ava.
"I will guard this with my life," she says.
"I know you will," he says, kissing the top of her head.
"Shall we ladies?" he asks.
Setting up decorations in the middle of nature was a challenge, but two hours later there are solar white christmas lights strung up on bushes and wrapped around trees. Ava's magical wind has left crowns made of flowers for everyone. They sit on top of some stones that lay against the falls. The sun is finally setting, it's almost time. Derek helps the girls get back to the house so they can change. Derek retreats back into the woods just as Lauren pulls into the driveway with her sister after a day of pampering.
The girls rush upstairs to get changed. Kate puts on a blue floral dress with whtie flowers, and a cute little white belt that hugs her waist. Sophie has on a black floral print dress with quarter sleeves, and her favorite black boots to match. Ava's is a lighter blue, but floral also. When she spins the dress lifts, and it makes her happy.
It's perfect timing, as they exit the room aunt Chris and their mom stand at the top of the stairs. Aunt Chris's eyes stay focused on something behind them. A gorgeous white lace dress is hung on her door.
"What's all this about?" she questions everyone, her eyes land right on her sister.
"The girls wanted to dress up and take a walk through the woods tonight, it's their last night and they want a party," Lauren tells her.
"It's beautiful girls. Thank you," she says.
The girls giggle and aunt Chris all stares at them like she knows they are hiding something.
"We'll be downstairs when you ladies are ready," Kate says with a smirk.
The girls giggle all the way down the stairs, and talk in loud whispers all shushing each other as they head down the stairs.
Derek waits nervously and hopes he can remember what he has to say. He also hopes that Ava remembers the ring and he's thinking maybe asking a six year old to hold onto the ring wasn't the best idea. There's no turning back now, because he can hear the giggles as they get closer. Through the tree's he can see the love of his life coming forward in her amazing white dress, and it makes him that much more excited for the actual big day.
He shakes his head and takes a few really big deep breaths as the girls walk through the clearing. Aunt Chris's eyes widen as the girls take their positions. They each grab a crown and after placing one on their heads they race to their mom and aunt Chris and place one on theirs. Then they run back and stand near Derek.
"Guys what's going on?" she asks, her voice shaking.
She takes small steps and Derek feels like it's taking forever for her to reach him. The moment she's in front of him and she's finished looking at all the twinkling lights both the artificial ones they put up and the stars, Derek immediately gets down on one knee. Aunt Chris puts her hands over her mouth, her eyes tearing up. Lauren goes and stands with her three girls and watches as her sister gets her happy ending.
"Christine, you light up my life more than anything in this world. I love that you and I both can believe in something as magical as this place and that we can share it together. I knew from the moment I met you that there was something special between us, even if it took me forever to say it," he laughs.
Aunt Chris laughs through her sniffles.
"Your family is amazing and I'd love to be a part of it, if you'll let me," he says, turning to Ava.
Ava has the sparkly purse around her and walks towards them. She unzips it and pulls out a small blue box. Aunt Chris continues to cry happy tears as Derek opens the box. Ava takes a step back. She can't seem to wipe the smile off her face.
"Christine I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and the four silly girls behind me. So what do you say? Will you be my wife?"
"Oh-my-gosh, YES! Of course, yes a million times," she says.
Derek slips the silver ring onto her fingers and stands. Aunt Chris doesn't hesitate to wrap her arms around the man she loves and kiss him. Kate again covers Ava's eyes and Sophie makes another grossed out noise.
"Guys I'm getting married!" she squeals.
Everyone rushes in for a hug just as some rain drops start falling from the sky. It's an unexpected shower, but not one of them cares. They all dance around like the rain is their music and meadow under their feet is the dance floor. Ava looks around at everyone and in the six years she's been alive she's never felt this happy. She's so excited for her aunt, for them saving the waterfalls, and for her family to have the happy ending they deserve.
"I have some news myself," Lauren Darling speaks up.
Everyone turns to her, the only one who knows her secret is aunt Chris.
"So, I kind of bought the house down the road a bit," she says. "We move in June first," she says.
The girls all look at each other, Lauren cringes at first hoping it's okay with Kate, and is relieved when she sees a huge smile on her face. The rain continues to fall and everyone dances around. The three Darling sister; Kate, Sophie and Ava couldn't be happier, they have found a new place to call home and it's the best news ever!
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