Love vs. Payne (25 page)

Gia had said she wanted it to feel like heaven on the outside as much as it felt like it on the inside. Therefore, Beatrix had gone to the extreme to make sure she gave Gia a little piece of heaven on such a special day.

The groom wore a fitted tuxedo and a smile filled with life, love, loyalty and lust. He was happier than he ever remembered being and was ready to finally begin his life with Gia.

The bride wore a white, empire waist, satin gown with a full skirt that had enough layers to hide her condition. The train of the gown trailed through the yard, stretching out almost a mile behind her as she stood before the alter. Gia could not stop smiling for the life of her, even Paige's shenanigans had not ruined her mood. She was finally going to marry the man she loved more than life itself.

Maddox watched her, his heart swelled with love and pride over his bride. She was amazingly beautiful and her happiness was infectious, spreading her heart felt joy and giving a liberal dose of romance to the atmosphere. Their love for each other had enchanted their guests, leaving them to sigh and long for more.

***

Xavier watched as his nemesis walked down the long front yard to the main door where Xavier waited for him. Normally Xavier would have told security to have him arrested for trespassing, but since Xavier now loved his enemy's daughter like his own he would let Victor talk. Victor walked up and stood in front of his enemy, he never thought this day would come.

"What do you want Love?" Xavier asked.

"I never knew my grandfather," Victor said, "he was a miserable old bastard, my mother said his heart exploded because it was full of too much hate and anger. I loved my mother and I hated my father for abusing her and causing her early death, I always hated my father." then Victor's permanent scowl actually twitched, "I loved my wife though, I miss her terribly, but not as much as I miss my daughter." he said and Xavier just listened, seeing the pain on his foes face, "I've been a terrible father for far too long, it's time I made amends. So I am starting with the root of the problem, this war between our families." Xavier lifted a brow, "Our children are our future, not this war. They have gone against our rules, defied us and found a love that most would envy.”

"What do you propose?" Xavier asked.

"I propose we be the better men and lets do what our fathers could not, let's end this war." Victor said extending his hand to Xavier.

Xavier had spent his life hating this man and in all reality, he never knew why, Victor had never done anything to him that was not war related.

"How can I hate your bloodline when my grandchild is part of it?" Xavier stated as he took Victor's hand, "I declare the war between the Payne family and the Love family over."

Both men smiled as they shook hands. Now Victor had to convince his daughter to forgive him.

Love Payne ran through the back door and out into the garden, her pale grey eyes wide with excitement. There were bright colored balloons, pink ribbons, bows, a ridiculous amount of presents, a huge pink cake, a pony, and a merry go round. It was the kind of party that little girls dreamt of, a land of enchantment fit for a princess.

Beatrix had gone all out for this birthday, she held no expense and had created a virtual world of fairytales in their own backyard. However, in her defense, Love was her only granddaughter and Xavier had told her to go crazy with the party. Not to mention, she owed it to Love to outdo her birthday party from last year.

"Happy birthday Love!" her family sang out to her.

"You're a big girl now, three years old." Beatrix cooed as she picked up her beautiful granddaughter.

"All for me?" Love smiled ear to ear dazzling everyone around her.

"All for you Angel." Beatrix smiled then kissed her forehead.

***

Gia’s smile filled with joy as she watched her daughter, Love, open present after present, her pale eyes bright with joy. Her long raven curls, which her father was so proud of, bounced past her shoulders with her excited movements. She watched as all of her relatives formed around her, all doting on their little princess. Gia loved that her children had a large, close-knit family that truly loved them.

***

"Horsy, horsy, horsy!" Love sang as she ran past the chess table.

Xavier looked up from his friendly, albeit competitive game of chess, as Love sprinted over to the pony.

"I saw that." Xavier snapped as he quickly turned back around, convinced his chess partner had cheated.

"Saw what?" Victor shook his head.

"You moved your queen."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did."

"You Payne's always think someone's cheating you."

"That's because you Loves are always cheating someone.”

"Hey!" both men looked up to watch their granddaughter run over to them, "I'm a Love," she smiled deeply, showing off her dimples, "and a Payne." she sat her favorite dolly, Drusilla directly on top of their chess game, sending the pieces flying. "Watch Drew." she took off running back towards her grandmother.

Both men looked at each other than down at their ruined game of chess and began laughing hysterically. There was no more hatred between them or their families. Previous insults had now become jokes between the two, who were actually enjoying each other’s friendship.

"Let's get some food." Xavier chuckled.

"Good idea." Victor laughed.

***

Trent had met a sweet girl with long, honey blonde hair and a calm demeanor. He fell for her hard and loved her so much that he forgot to hate his sister.

"I bought you that doll you wanted so bad." Trent smiled at his niece as he handed her the doll with the elaborate pink dress.

“I love her!” Love hugged the doll tightly, “Thank you Uncle Trent.” she smiled then ran over to her mom and dad.

"Here, he can hold her." Love said her smile beaming as she put a cloth doll on top of her three-month-old baby brother, Dare. She then climbed onto her father’s lap, still holding on to the doll her uncle Trent had given her.

"Are you having a good time princess?" Maddox asked, his arm going around her as she stood up on his lap and put a birthday hat on top of his head.

"Yes, I got lots of dollies and a pink truck." she plopped down in his lap and he smiled kissing the top of her head, then pushing the mass of raven locks from her eyes, "and lots more presents."

He beamed with pride looking at her then looking up at her mother. They looked so much alike, same complexion, same hair which he could not be happier about. They had the exact same smile, although Love did have his eyes, the same color and the same shape. Dare on the other hand looked exactly like his father, same complexion, same eyes and the same smile. The only difference was that Dare had a head full of sooty curls, just a little looser than his sister and his mothers. Gia smiled at Love as she pulled the doll off Dare, who woke with a pout and a cry.

"He's hungry, I'll get him cake!" Love said sliding off her father’s lap, but Maddox held her before she ran off

"Get your uncle Dexter a piece of cake instead, he looks like he could use something sweet." he said.

"Ok." she chirped then ran off.

"Dexter does look mad." Gia whispered.

"He's always mad."

"Not as mad as he's been lately." Gia said seeing the root of Dexter's frustration walking into the yard.

"It serves him right, someone needed to give Dexter a taste of his own medicine." Maddox said watching Dexter’s nemesis walk straight over to him. Maddox watched as Dexter's face contorted with fury, "Oh he's
real
pissed off."

"I wonder what she did this time." Gia asked.

"Lord only knows with that girl." he chuckled.

Dare cried again, much louder this time, to remind them he was waiting to be fed.

"He's hungry." Maddox said, that all too familiar gleam in his eye.

"I have to feed him." Gia said.

"Good idea." Maddox smiled, helping her stand, "Hold on," he walked over to his parents, "keep an eye on Love for a minute, Gia needs to feed Dare."

"Of course." Beatrix smiled, watching him rush over to Gia. "Gia, do you want to take some cake with you sweetie?"

"No thank you." she smiled. "We'll be right back."

"Take your time." Beatrix smiled.

"Trust me we will." Maddox said in Gia's ear, walking behind her, trying to get her in the house as quick as possible while rubbing his massive erection against her ass.

"I am just going to feed him then we're coming right back down to the party." Gia warned Maddox with a smile, knowing how he got at times like this.

"Maybe." he said, pulling out the red bow and showing it to her, "or maybe not." he knew exactly what dare would make her change her mind