A/n: Explicit language in this one! Also, I know that not everyone that reads this is Jewish, but I mentioned a Jewish organization in this imagine. I also know that not everyone's ancestors are from the Ukraine, but it was fitting for the story. Anyways, please enjoy this imagine. Okay, without further ado, let's begin, shall we?

I've been married to the singer and songwriter, Shawn Mendes, for (almost) twenty two amazing years now. Together, we have Rose Lucille Mendes, who's twenty one, Jacob Alexander Scott Mendes, also known as Jake, who's nineteen, and Julia Kennedy Mendes, also known as Jules, who's seventeen. I'm also a high school adjustment counselor, I'm on a fundraising board for the American Heart Association, and I work with JDC - the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which is a worldwide relief organization.

You may be asking why I'm part of the American Heart Association and the JDC. I'll tell you: because as the wife of a famous, Grammy nominated singer, I have a platform. I have more followers on social media, so I can reach more people. I love helping people.

My work with the AHA started in 2015. It started just as participating in the Boston Heart Walk as I raised money in memory of my uncle who died of a heart attack. I was eventually asked to be on one of the fundraising boards, and I said yes. Since I'm Jewish, I asked the JDC how I could help, and I ended up becoming an ambassador for them. One of their projects is to travel to the Ukraine, and when they asked me if I would like to go with them, I instantly said yes. My great-grandfather was born in the Ukraine, and I told them that I would love to go. After I hung up, I went to my husband, Shawn. He smiled at me and pulled me into his lap.

"Hello Mrs. Mendes. What are you so smiley about?" Shawn asked.

"Well, you know how I'm an ambassador for JDC?" I asked. Shawn nodded as he rubbed my legs with one hand and my back with his other hand.

"Of course." He said.

"Well, they're doing a trip to the Ukraine and they asked me to go!" I said.

"Are you going to go?" Shawn asked. I nodded my head.

"Yeah. Shawn, you know that the Ukraine is where my great-grandpa is from. I've never been to the Ukraine, and it's the same city that he's from, Kyiv. It's not for quite a few more months, but I can't wait." I said with a smile. Shawn smiled back.

"Well I'm excited for you baby. What would you be doing?" Shawn asked.

"I would be one of the chaperones for the Active Jewish Teens conference, we would visit Jewish Community Centers and Hesed Social Welfare Centers, meet people that have helped the JDC, and tour places. It's going to be so much fun!" I said. Shawn chuckled at my enthusiasm.

"It sounds it. How long would you be gone for?" He asked.

"About a week." I said. He nodded.

"When is it?" He asked. I told him and he nodded.

"Would you mind staying home to take care of the kids? I know that Rose and Jake will be away at college, but would you mind watching Julia?" I asked. Rose is a history major at the University of Southern Maine, but Jake has stayed closer by going to Northeastern University, where he majors in Music and Communication Studies with a concentration in Music Industry. He says that he wants to be like his Uncle Andrew Gertler, Shawn's manager, and Andrew has already told him that once he gets his degree, Jake can go work for him. Shawn kissed my cheek.

"That's fine my love. I'm going to miss you." Shawn said.

"Oh honey I'm going to miss you too." I said. Julia then came downstairs.

"Are you going somewhere Mom?" She asked. I nodded.

"In the fall I'm going to travel to the Ukraine for about a week." I said.

"Can I come too?" She asked. I felt a pang of guilt.

"I'm sorry honey, but this is for my work for the JDC, and you would be in school. But don't worry, your father will be here to watch you and cook you dinner and stuff like that." I said. Julia scrunched up her nose a little.

"I say this with love Dad: Mom's cooking is better than yours." Julia said and I couldn't help but laugh a little.

"But wait, you always say that you like my pancakes." Shawn pointed out.

"Yeah... that's about it." Julia said.

"Well maybe Meimei can come over sometimes and help your dad out." I said.

"I can do it. I can do it." Shawn said. I smiled at him.

"Okay babe. I'll be honest, I think that you're good at cooking." I said. Shawn smiled at me.

"Thanks wifey." He said.

"You're welcome hubby." I said.

"So, Jules, have you thought any more about what colleges you want to look at?" Shawn asked Julia as she sat with us.

"Yeah. I want to tour Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Westfield State University, or Worcester State University. I'm leaning the most towards Westfield." Julia said. We nodded.

"Have you figured out what you want to major in yet?" Shawn asked. She nodded.

"Yeah." She said.

"What is it?" We asked.

"I want to get a Bachelor's degree in Communication with a concentration on public and corporate concentration." She said with a smile.

"That's great Jules! You'll do great things." I said.

"We're very proud of you sweet pea." Shawn said and I nodded in agreement.

"Thank you Daddy." Julia said.

Soon, it was time to attend the Heart and Stroke Ball, put on by the American Heart Association. I put on a red (burgundy) spaghetti straps, backless, long, mermaid style dress (A/n: picture of dress is above!). I then put my hair up in a cute bun and put on my makeup. I put on eyeliner, mascara, and eye shadow. Shawn, per usual, would be attending the event, but we were also able to invite all three of our kids. Rose drove down from Maine, and Jake came in from Boston.

Shawn and Jake were both dressed up in a suit and tie - the dress code for this event. Meanwhile, Rose and Julia also put on red dresses - red is one of the main colors of the American Heart Association. I was asked to make a speech this year, causing Shawn and the kids to be very proud of me. I've made a speech for them before, and for some reason, when they were introducing me, they mentioned the fact that Shawn's my husband. They later told me that it's because he's always made good sized donations. This time when they asked me to make a speech, I asked them not to mention that Shawn is my husband. I'm very proud that he's my husband, but my participation and involvement with the AHA wasn't something that he handed to me. This is my own thing.

"Shawn? How do I look?" I asked as I stepped out to where he was. His eyes widened.

"Holy shit babe. You look stunning. Va va voom babe." He said. I blushed and giggled.

"Thank you hubby. You look quite handsome." I said. Shawn smiled.

"Thank you babe. Come give me a kiss." He said, so I did. As our lips met, I felt my heart race as if I had just run a marathon, I felt butterflies erupt and fly around in my tummy, and I felt sparks shoot through my body like fireworks.

"Mom!" Rose yelled. I ran to her room as fast I could in the dress.

"What? What's going on?" I asked.

"Julia's wearing my dress, that I bought, with my money." Rose said. I looked at who Julia, who, sure enough, was wearing Rose's dress.

"Julia Kennedy Mendes, your sister bought that dress for herself, not for you. Please take it off, give it back to your sister, and then get into the dress that I got you." I said. Julia sighed.

"Fine." She said, her voice laced with an attitude.

"Julia, do not give me an attitude, especially right now. My nerves are already high enough because I have to make a speech in front of over a hundred people." I said.

"Sorry." She said.

"Thank you." I said, and went back to mine and Shawn's room.

"What happened?" He asked, and I told him.

"I'm so nervous babe. What if I mess up on this speech or stammer over my words or something?" I asked. Shawn began to rub my arms.

"You'll be fine darling. You've done this before, you can do it again. Plus, don't forget that this past summer you finished a book tour where you would speak in front of a bunch of people then too." Shawn said. He was right. The previous year I had written a book and then went on a book tour. I nodded.

"Okay." I said.

"Dad?" Jake called out.

"I'll be right back." Shawn said. He went and apparently Jake needed help with his tie. We soon were about to leave. Rose was wearing a red ruffle straps skater dress, Julia was wearing a plunge neck evening gown, and Jake and Shawn were in their suits and ties.

"Are we all set to go?" I asked as I grabbed my purse and double checked to make sure my speech was in it.

"Yes." Everyone said, and we headed out.

"Mom, how long do we have to stay there for?" Jake asked.

"The cocktail reception and entertainment starts at six, the ballroom opens at seven thirty and that's when the program begins, dinner and a live auction is at eight, and there's a dessert bar and live music at nine. Speeches will be made and awards will be given out during dinner, I think. I'm not sure of when it ends." I said.

"Okay." Jake said. He's never been one to sit still. That's why Shawn and I have always called him our monkey. We soon arrived, and had our group photo taken. Rose stood on one side of Shawn, I stood on the other, Jake stood next to me, and Julia was next to him.

Rose is a spitting image of me, Julia is a mix of both Shawn and I, but Jake is a spitting image of his father - which has caused him to have quite a few girlfriends. Jake, just like his father, is tall, and towers over me. His hair is brown and curly like Shawn's, and he has Shawn's eyes. We soon went into the venue and I suddenly realized something at the same time that Shawn was realizing it. We smiled at each other and then turned to the kids.

"Kids, do you guys know what happened here?" Shawn asked them as he held my hand. The kids shook their heads.

"No." They said.

"This is the State Room. Your mother and I got married here." Shawn said with a smile.

"Oh that's wonderful!" Rose said. Shawn, the kids, and I soon went to our seats, and it was eventually time for speeches to be made. I looked at Shawn after getting my speech out, and he could tell that I was nervous. He leaned over and whispered in my ear.

"You've got this babe." Shawn said before kissing my cheek. I nodded. Soon, I was announced by Amanda.

"Please help me welcome to the podium someone who has been involved with the American Heart Association for about thirty years. In those thirty years, she has raised close to a hundred thousand dollars for our association." Amanda said. Shawn smiled at me as everyone, including him and the kids, clapped. Amanda then went on. "This person has been chairwoman on one of our boards for quite some time now. So, please help me welcome to the podium, Mrs. Y/n Mendes." Amanda said. Everyone clapped and I grabbed my speech and went up to the podium.

"Thank you so much everyone for coming, and thank you Amanda for your lovely introduction. When I was asked to make a speech, and I got the invitation, I looked at the venue, but for some reason it didn't click. It wasn't until I walked in here that my husband and I remembered that this is the same place that we got married at almost twenty two years ago. About twenty years ago, I was asked to make a speech for the AHA. I brought along my husband Shawn, and a family friend of ours. Since then, Shawn and I have had three kids, all of which are here tonight. Rose Lucille Mendes is our oldest, Jacob Alexander Scott Mendes is our middle child, and Julia Kennedy Mendes is our youngest. There's a reason why Shawn and I decided to have Scott as one of the middle name's for our son Jake." I said. I then talked about my Uncle Scottie, and explained that he had passed away from a heart attack. I started to get a bit emotional as I talked about how I found out that he had passed away.

"You would think that considering the fact that it's been almost thirty six years since my uncle passed away, I wouldn't get this emotional, but grief hides itself, and comes out at the most random times. When Shawn and I began talking about our future together and what we would want to name our kids, I said that the name Scott is very important to me. Shawn had heard stories about my uncle, so he understood why I had said that, and when we found out that we would be having boy, we knew that one of the middle names would be Scott. I absolutely love to hear my son laugh. Not just because it proves to me that he's having fun with whatever he's doing or laughing at, but also because he laughs just like my Uncle Scottie." I said. I continued my speech for a little bit longer, thanked everyone, and then went back to my seat. Shawn's smile was huge as he continued to clap as I walked back to him. I sat down next to him.

"You did great! I'm so proud of you honey!" Shawn said before kissing my cheek.

"Thank you." I said with a smile.

"You're welcome." He said. I then looked at Jake.

"Did you mind me mentioning you in my speech?" I asked. He smiled and shook his head.

"Not at all." He said. Soon, it was time for awards. Amanda went back up to the podium.

"For the next award, the person that it will be given to has already been up here. Like I said about this person earlier, they have raised close to a hundred thousand dollars, and have been working with us for about thirty years." Amanda said.

"Oh my God." I whispered as my eyes went wide. Shawn rubbed my back, his wedding band touching my skin, and when I looked at him, he was smiling at me. Amanda continued.

"This is what the person's fellow chairmen and chairwomen have said about the person. One said: 'She always has a smile on her face. She doesn't mind telling her story. She's a hard worker, and I'm proud to work with her.' Another said: 'She's done so much for the AHA, and whenever she's asked why, she says that she doesn't want another family to go through what she and her family have had to go through. You can tell that she truly loves what she does here for the AHA.' With all of that said, please help me welcome back to the podium to accept this award, Mrs. Y/n Mendes." Amanda said.

"Oh my God." I said. Shawn and the kids, along with other people in the room clapped as I went back up to the podium. What do I even say? Okay, other people had thanked AHA and their loved ones. I'll do that. I went back on the stage and accepted the award as I smiled.

"Here you go." Amanda said and I thanked her. She then gestured towards the podium and I nodded and went up there again.

"Wow. Um, I'm a bit speechless right now. Thank you so much to the American Heart Association for presenting me with this award. To be able to make a speech at this beautiful event is an honor, and to get an award is an even bigger honor. Thank you to my amazing husband and kids for all of their love and support. Also, thank you to my Uncle Scottie for being my guardian angel. Thank you guys." I said, and then went back to my seat. The night eventually came to an end, and we all went home. Shawn and I went upstairs, said good night to the kids, and I clutched the award to my chest as we walked into our bedroom.

"I'm so fucking proud of you babe. Oh my gosh, come here." Shawn said as he opened up his arms. I put the award down on the bed and gave him a hug.

"I can't believe that I got an award." I said. Shawn pulled away from the hug a little and as he smiled, I noticed tears in his eyes.

"I can. I'm so proud of you. You're an extraordinary woman Y/n Mendes." Shawn said. I smiled and kissed him.

"Thank you. Will you help me take the dress of please?" I asked. Shawn nodded and unzipped my dress.

"There you go my beautiful girl." Shawn said. I blushed.

"Thank you. I'm going to go take my makeup off." I said and Shawn nodded.

"Okay." He said. The next day, the AHA emailed me a bunch of photos. One of them was the group picture of Shawn and I with the kids, other photos included Rose and Shawn dancing while smiling at the camera, Julia and Shawn dancing, Jake and I dancing, Shawn and I dancing, pictures of me when I made my speech, pictures of when I accepted my award, and a picture of just Shawn and I. I forwarded the email to the kids and Shawn so they could see them too. A little bit later, I got a notification that Rose had posted on Instagram. The first picture was our group picture, the second was of me accepting my award, and the third picture was of her and Shawn. I read the caption.

"Had so much fun last night at the Heart and Stroke Ball with my parents and siblings. Congratulations to my AMAZING mother for winning an award! We're all so proud of you! Also, cheers to my favorite dance partner: my dad." She wrote. I then saw that Julia had posted. She posted the group photo and a picture of me accepting my award.

"It was a Mendes family affair at the Heart and Stroke Ball last night. Congratulations to my mom for winning an award! Love you!" Julia wrote. Jake posted the group picture, and the picture of him and I dancing.

"Name a better looking family, I'll wait, but I'll be waiting for a long time because you won't. Congratulations to my amazing mom for winning an award at the Heart and Stroke Ball last night. We all love you!" Jake wrote. I smiled. Shawn made a post too, of course. He posted a picture of just him and I smiling and talking, the picture of us dancing, the group picture, a picture of me making my speech, and a picture of me accepting the award. I read his caption.

"To say that I'm a proud husband is an understatement. Last night, my wife and I were accompanied by our three kids at the Heart and Stroke Ball, put on by the American Heart Association. My amazing wife was asked to make a speech, and she did a wonderful job on her speech. When the time for awards came, and the presenter began to describe the person who would be getting the award, Y/n realized that it was her and whispered 'Oh my God.' but then went up and accepted it. Y/n, I'm beyond proud of you. I love you darling." Shawn wrote. I smiled and liked the post.

Soon, time flew by. Jake went back to college and so did Rose. Julia began her senior year of high school. It was time for me to go with JDC to the Ukraine. Shawn smiled at me and hugged me when we got to the airport. Julia was at school, so it was just him and I at the airport.

"I'm going to miss you." I said.

"I know baby, and I'm going to miss you too. But you'll have fun, and we'll text and call and Facetime constantly, I promise." Shawn said. I nodded.

"I love you." I said. He smiled.

"I love you too baby." He said and then gave me a kiss. I then boarded the plane and flew to the Ukraine. I had an amazing week there. It was amazing to see the country where my great-grandfather had come from. When I got back, I felt more determined than ever. I continued my work with JDC, and still did stuff for the AHA. I would get home from my job as an adjustment counselor at the local high school where I had appointments and meetings constantly, and Shawn would help me around the house. I was doing so much, and it was all at once. I had to be a mother, and a wife, and an adjustment counselor, and an ambassador to JDC, and on one of the boards for the AHA.

I came home from work one day, and instead of getting changed into more comfortable clothes, I didn't even take off my heels, I just laid down on the couch. I felt exhausted and I had a bad headache. I had been getting those a lot lately. I had been having trouble sleeping lately. I knew that I had a lot of tension in my muscles. I felt frustrated with random things and at random moments, and I just wasn't myself. As I laid there, it was like I was so exhausted that I couldn't move, but yet I couldn't fall asleep. Shawn walked in the door and laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" I asked, still feeling frustrated.

"You're just going to lay on the couch in your work clothes with your heels on?" He asked.

"Yes Shawn, I am, because I'm so fucking exhausted." I snapped. I didn't mean too, but I just wasn't feeling like myself.

"Okay, I get it that you're exhausted, but you don't have to take it out on me." He said.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I've just been going at a million miles an hour lately. I'm exhausted but I can't sleep." I said. I then began to describe everything that I was feeling to Shawn.

"Well how about we go upstairs and take a bath together? I'll give you a massage if you want?" Shawn asked.

"I'm so exhausted that I can barely move." I said.

"Okay, I'll be right back." Shawn said. I nodded and he went upstairs. When he came back down, he had some of my more comfortable clothes and my makeup wipes.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I closed my eyes so he could take my makeup off.

"Well, first of all, you haven't been acting like yourself lately and now it's reached a breaking point. Second of all, I'm taking off your makeup and putting you in more comfortable clothes, and then I'm going to carry you out to the car." Shawn said as he helped me sit up so he could undress me and put me in the clothes that he had picked out.

"Why are we going to the car?" I asked.

"Because I'm taking you to the hospital so we can figure out what's wrong." Shawn said. I shook my head.

"No, no I don't want to go to the hospital. Please Shawn, no." I begged. He looked me in the eyes and held my face in his hands.

"Honey, you haven't been yourself lately, and Jules has noticed it too. I want to figure out what's going on with my wife so she can get better and be herself again. Can you do this for me honey? Please?" He asked. Worry was laced in his voice and I could see it in his eyes. I sighed and finally nodded.

"Okay, just please don't leave me." I said.

"I won't leave you baby, I promise." Shawn said. I nodded.

"Okay." I said. He called the kids to let them know what was going on, and he called my parents and brother, and his parents and sister to tell them as well. He then brought me to the hospital and I was soon brought into a room. A doctor came in.

"Hi Mrs. Mendes, can you please explain to me why you're here today?" He asked. My eyes drooped.

"I'm too tired. Can my husband talk for me please?" I asked. The doctor shook his head.

"I can hear from him in a moment, but I want to know why you're here in your opinion." He said. I sighed and told him all of my symptoms. He then looked at Shawn. "Why did you bring her in today?"

"My wife hasn't been herself lately. It's not just me that's noticed it, but our youngest child as well. Here's the thing about my wife: when she sets her mind on something, it happens. She's a wife, a mother, a high school adjustment counselor where she's constantly in meetings and appointments. She's also on a board for the American Heart Association, and she's an ambassador for another organization, the JDC." Shawn said. The doctor nodded and then looked at me.

"Mrs. Mendes, you're on a board for the American Heart Association, so you probably know some stuff about heart attacks, correct?" He asked. I nodded.

"Yes." I said.

"Can stress lead to heart attacks?" He asked. I sighed and nodded.

"Yes." I said.

"I understand that you're a wife and a mother and you want to do everything at once and you want it all done perfectly, but look at where it got you: the hospital. You're currently hooked up to an IV and you have machines beeping around you. You can't do everything and you can't do it all perfectly. You're trying to do a million things at once, but you can't. You need to cut back on things. You're burnt out and exhausted. Okay?" He asked. I nodded.

"Okay." I said. He then left the room. I looked at Shawn.

"Okay, so let's choose three things to keep because I don't want my wife having a damn heart attack." He said.

"What?" I asked.

"You're a wife, a mother, a high school adjustment counselor, you're on a board for the AHA, and you're an ambassador for the JDC. Choose three to keep." He said.

"Shawn, no. I can do all of this." I said as tears formed in my eyes. All of those positions were very important to me, the tops ones were being a wife and a mother.

"Honey, I love you, and I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but you can't. Look at where doing all of it landed you. Pick three things to keep." Shawn said. I said.

"Wife, mother, high school adjustment counselor, but I also want to keep the AHA." I said.

"Nope, not an option." Shawn said. His voice was firm and stern.

"You don't get it!" I said as I broke down sobbing. Shawn moved so he was sitting on the bed with me. I put my head in my hands and cried.

"Then explain it to me. What don't I get?" He asked. I took my hands away from my face and looked at him.

"Uncle Scottie. I have to do the AHA for him." I said. Shawn's face softened.

"Honey, how about this: you step down from the board. You've already been doing this for thirty years, you've raised a shit ton of money, and you've won an award. How about you step down from the board, but still participate in the Boston Heart Walk every fall?" Shawn asked. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.

"I don't want to let Uncle Scottie down." I said as I kept crying.

"Oh honey, you would never be able to let him down. He wouldn't want you to be so exhausted and in the hospital. I know that I never met him, but I know that he would understand." Shawn said. I sighed and nodded after a moment.

"Okay." I said.

"Okay as in you'll step down from your positions at the AHA and the JDC?" Shawn asked. I nodded and wiped my tears away.

"Yeah." I said. Shawn kissed my forehead and smiled at me.

"Thank you honey. I'm proud of you." He said.

"Thank you." I said. When I went home the next day, I called the AHA and the JDC, explained to them what happened, and told them that I was stepping down from my positions. They understood.

"Good job babe." Shawn said. I nodded and we relaxed. Soon, I was back to my normal self. I'm so grateful for Shawn and for him taking me to the hospital to get everything figured out.

What Rose wore to the Heart and Stroke Ball:

What Julia wore to the Heart and Stroke Ball: