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Caleb, meanwhile, was in a white tank top and loose black cotton pajama pants, lounging languidly across the couch. It was pretty apparent he wasn't nearly as interested in the popcorn as he was in the woman preparing it.

"Drink? Ahh..." Oh darn, he had to think of something other than her lovely bouncing form in the kitchen. "Is that bottle of wine still in the fridge, darling? I'd love a glass of that. If not then..." His look towards her said, I'd rather have you and a bottle of water. However, she was freshly back from a patrol and probably tired, so an evening of snuggling and a movie was probably just what the doctor ordered.

"Sometime next week, we should get started on ordering flowers for the wedding... and find the best venue... I know you wanted something small but wouldn't it be nice to have a big space to decorate? We could get those faux stone arches, wrap flowers around them..." Caleb was probably one of the only men in Destiny City interested in wedding decorum to this degree.

"I want whatever you want, sweetheart." he said, gently playing with her hair. "But talking with Lucia made me wonder if we should just splurge and make the ceremony grand. Worthy of you. That's what I think."

Lifting his arms, Caleb made a huge gesture in the air, as if to try and encompass the vision of the wedding he was having. "Lucia was talking about linen-backed chairs, flowers in your hair, a golden chandelier... Of course, her ideas are probably incredibly expensive, but she bought all these magazines and has been watching all the wedding shows on television. One would think she was the one getting married!"

Caleb chuckled. He loved his sister dearly and oftentimes he believed Lucia loved Makayla even more than that. Truth be told, Lucia looked up to Makayla like the older sister she wished she had. The girl was only seventeen and already considered Makayla as part of the family. "She kept saying she wanted lavender bridesmaids dresses and I told her it's up to you!"

It was then that the DVD booted into the menu screen but Caleb was hardly paying attention to it.

Caleb tried to playfully nibble at her fingers for a moment. "Oh you know, she says, you can't look at the dress and all the bridesmaids have to wear matching shoes or it won't look right and don't get too crazy during your bachelor party... She says I have to have a chaperon because for some reason, I'm less trustworthy when left to my own devices!"

As if!

He chuckled, tucking some loose strands of Makayla's hair behind her ear. "She fancies herself your wedding planner, I think, and I don't remember anyone giving her that title. I think she's just so excited, she took it upon herself to do some of the preparation. I'm sure she's been calling you almost nonstop since we made the announcement!"

Part of him wished her father would accept him for who he was and know he'd never do anything to harm his daughter, but there was no pleasing some people.

He leaned against her happily. "I'll tell her to lay off, just a little bit. I don't want her driving you bonkers before the big day and she's not allowed to make decisions without your input. The last thing I want is for our tablecloths to suddenly become plaid or polka dot or something."

The thought was terrifying and a very real possibility, knowing Lucia!

His hand ran through her hair. It was like velvet and he could lay in it forever if life allowed him to. "I still don't know how you can attend classes and work, darling. I think my brain would have exploded a long time ago! When I was in beauty school, I did that full time and had to live at home. I have no idea how I could manage a job on top of that. You're simply amazing."

And it was true! Caleb smiled brightly at her. "Do what you think is best. If you like working and going to school full time then you have my utmost blessing. But... I certainly wouldn't mind having more of you to myself..."

Wink wink...

"Well," he started, stretched and laying down to place his head in her lap when it was available. "I certainly wouldn't mind if you didn't work as much. Besides, I'm sure we'll be fine financially. However, if you did decide to remain full-time, I would just go to the bar and make googly eyes at you until you came home!"

And he would, too.

Caleb made himself comfortable and only vaguely paid attention to the movie. When Makayla was around, he could hardly focus on much else. "Don't worry about the bills. If anything comes up, we'll just cross that bridge at that time. No use worrying about something that might not even be a problem. When are you supposed to graduate, darling? I can't wait to see you in a cap and gown~"

"I'd be jealous, yes, but how could they not hit on something as lovely as you? In that bar, you're like an angel among filth!"

Caleb had a flair for the dramatic.

He thought about it for a moment and huffed like a small child, making a displeased face and folding his arms. "I could always... you know... start a bar fight for you. I'd do it! I might... break a couple nails but I would do it, just for you." Whining about trying to be manly was Caleb's way of proving he had a Y chromosome in there somewhere. He wasn't the manliest man by any stretch of the imagination but every once in a while, Caleb felt the overwhelming need to prove himself just as strong as his male peers.

Usually, it ended in tears and disappointment, but what could you do?

If it were possible for him to purr, the redhead would have, and how. The feeling of nails in his hair was utterly divine and the threat of being wanted after inciting a bar-wide brawl? Nothing made him smile more. Maybe then she could kiss all the bruises he'd no doubt have. Hopefully it wouldn't end in a trip to the emergency room. Talk about a buzzkill.

But her question made his smile disappear. "What? I never regret following you, Makayla." came the honest answer, Caleb turning his head in her lap to get a good look at her. "Okay, that one time of not paying attention and following you into the women's restroom earned me a slap that nearly broke my nose. What was that woman, a bodybuilder? She looked like a She-Hulk." And how, whoever she was, she was caked in makeup, likely over the age of forty and angry that an angel such as the raven-haired Makayla had a man following her ever move, especially into gender-designated bathrooms.

"But no, I don't regret following you. I'd regret it if I didn't, knowing what I know now. Knowing you'd be out there, fighting god-knows-what while I sit at home and wring my hands. It would be torture. Besides, you've given me even more reason to be a better person - I want to make sure you're safe, now that we know children are running around the streets at night, killing each other. Don't ever blame yourself for our situation, 'Kayla."

He reached up to cup her cheek.