One Shot: Paradise

Hai there! If you're a former CEF reader, welcome back! And I love you. Truly, with all my heart. If you're new here and plan on going through all the chapters, yay! Hope you have fun! Most chapters are really bad written though, sorry. Long time ago. If you just plan on reading this as a simple one-shot, there could be a few quotes that won't make sense, but being a fan of Chris' you'll simply get to enjoy being married to him. I'm publishing this today because it is actually the day of Tom's one year bday in the story :) I don't know if I'll get to make more one-shots like this one, but if I do I'll let you know! Also, fun fact: this one shot is about Tom turning one, which actually is today! Yay! And this is also to celebrate Chris' bday on the 13th. xxx

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– Pleeeeease let me go now? – asked as she looked up at her husband.

– Hmm... – Chris wondered – No.

laughed. Chris had been hugging her for so long that she was almost starting to get annoyed. It was an important day and she had things to do, but instead she just tucked her head in his chest and stopped fighting his super-tight hug. His excuse for those was when he was about to leave for shooting a movie and wanted to "take in the whole of her". This time it was Captain America 2, bound to sweep him away three days after that sunny Saturday they were having in Boston.

But that's whenever was busy at work, of course. Because if she wasn't, Chris would parade his wife of five years all around the set, until she got acquainted with everyone. It was even worse when Isabella and Tom followed. Last time that had happened was when Chris went to Jay Leno a couple months before to promote Iceman, and a solid hour was spent in showing his adorable children to the entire crew.

– I'm only letting you go because if I don't, you'll forget to go pick up the cake – Chris untightened and looked at with a smile – And that just cannot happen.

– Alright then – smiled and smacked him, then got her purse and walked out.

– Dad! – Isabella called and Chris went to meet her in the living room. He smiled at the sight of his daughter crouched by the cabinet bottom drawer, taking all the video tapes out, while little Tom was in a playpen, distracted by the mobile hanging above him.

– Yes, Isa?

– Aunt Carly said her Little Mermaid tape was here, but I can't find it – she showed a disappointed face and Chris smiled.

– Come here. I know where it is – Chris crouched and picked Isabella up with one arm, turning to the pen at the laughing baby – You're gonna be fine on your own for a while, Tom?

– Dad! – Isabella laughed – He can't speak!

– Well, it's about time, isn't it? – Chris joked.

He then walked upstairs with his daughter to his older sister's old bedroom, and went straight to the top shelf in the wall, where he reached for a blue box in the corner and lifted the top open. Isabella immediately leaned forward to see the content.

– It's here! – she replied contently and picked the tape from the box.

– I know! – he smiled and started walking back down – Aunt Carly would always leave the tape in that box, even though grandma told her not to, because aunt Shanna kept trying to steal it – he concluded and Isa laughed.

Getting back to the room, Chris sat his daughter down on the couch and put in the tape in the old VCR. Soon the movie started playing, and Isabella squealed as if it was her first time watching the movie she knew all the lines to. Chris then picked Tom up from the pen and sat down on the couch, sitting the little baby on his lap, to face him.

– So, Tom... One year today. How does that feel? – he gently massaged his thumb over the little belly, covered with a white jumpsuit, and Tom squealed, biting his plastic toy. Chris then took a deep look at his beautiful little child. His blonde hair was starting to get darker, and his eyes, which started off grayish, were now a beautiful sparkling blue. Chris turned him around and supported his back over his lap, so he faced the TV as well.

Chris never saw himself becoming a father that early. Not even then, at thirty-two years old. Let alone at twenty-seven, when he adopted Isa. The first time it occoured to him proposing to was because he knew she was the one, and Isabella at first was "part of the package deal". But then he let her into his life. And he fell in love with her as well. So, when he finally asked to marry him, it was not only because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with . It was because he wanted her and Isa to be his family. And then destiny brought them someone else. A strong, smart and beautiful little baby who had lighted up their life that past year. And now he couldn't picture his life any other way, because he felt he couldn't be any happier than that.

– Hey there – smiled when entering the living room, sitting on the floor to join Isa, who beyond Chris' notice had sat there to play with dolls.

– Aunt Shanna gave me one of her boy dolls, look! – Isa showed her mom a blonde-haired male doll.

– Oh wow, he's handsome!

– He's gonna be Toby's boyfriend.

– Yeah? – smiled.

– Yeah. Even though my friend Kaley said that men can only be with women.

– And what did you say to that? – looked over to Chris, who was paying attention as well.

– I said that my mommy and my daddy taught me that sometimes men like women, and sometimes men like men. Or women like women. I even told her that my uncle has a boyfriend. The important thing is that all those ways are right – Isa smiled at and went back to her dolls.

– That's right, sweetie – ran her hand through Isa's hair.

couldn't help but smile proudly. Ever since Isabella started noticing how different families were formed, she made sure her she knew all the ways possible in which that could happen – including single mothers, since she thought that what she would always be. And meeting Chris' brother, Scott, helped a lot with that. Isabella was faced daily with different kinds of families, and was really happy she already accepted them all at such an early age.

– How's the birthday boy? – sat by Chris' side and kissed Tom's little cheek and he babbled in response, making her smile. When resting her head on Chris' shoulder, she saw Isa get up and stand in front of Chris, and she knew just what she was doing.

– Tooom – she called out and her brother looked at her, smiling instantly – Where is your nose?

Tom shook his hands excitedly and stretched his arms, hoisting himself up. Then he flexed his arm, pointing one finger out and putting it over his little nose. He'd done that for the first time about a month before, but it still generated clapping and cheering from the other three – especially Isabella, who liked to test out Tom's abilities almost every day.

– And who is that? – Isa pointed at Chris and Tom immediately looked back, laughing.

– Da...da – Tom babbled and and Chris smiled.

– And that?

– Mama – Tom threw his chewing toy to the side and it hit 's lap.

– Wow, thanks Tom! – she joked and Isa laughed – And who is that?

pointed at Isabella and Tom looked at her. He then looked back at his mom with his big eyes, a bit uncertain, and she gave him a nod, so he looked back at his sister.

– Sah – he opened his mouth widely and Isa smiled, hugging him.

– I like it when he calls me Sah. It can be my new nickname.

– Yeah, it's nice, isn't it?

– It's very different from my name though...

– Well, your name is too difficult for Tom to say it yet. But I'm sure he'll do it in no time.

Within the next hour, and Chris were already ready for the party. While waiting for the guests to celebrate Tom's one year birthday, Chris was outside in the garden with the baby and was finishing getting Isabella ready.

– Mommy? – Isabella asked just as had started brushing her hair.

– Yes dear?

– Will you sing the song for me?

The first time Isabella had watched Tangled, she fell in love with the movie. Like any other girl her age, she'd watch it over and over again and never get sick of it. Recently, she'd started asking her mom to sing her the Healing Incantation almost every time she brushed her hair, never forgetting to claim that her much shorter and brown hair was just as magical. breathed out a laugh and began the song sweetly.

Flower, gleam and glow
Let the power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine

Heal what has been hurt
Change the fate's design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what was mine

What once was mine
Since the party was at Chris' parents, them and his siblings were already there. 's parents were at a hotel nearby and arrived soon as well. Within the next half hour, most of the friends and family had arrived to the party.

– Oh, you want to go with aunt , don't you? – Sam tickled the belly of his baby daughter as she giggled – Yes you do!

– Come here, sweetie – responded to the stretching arms with a smile and held Sofia in her arms.

– Mommy! Mommy! – Isabella came running.

– Yes, dear? – looked down.

– Aunt Abby's baby is kicking a lot!

– Oh, really? Do you think it's gonna be a boy or a girl?

– I don't know... But I hope it's a girl! – she squealed and ran off, and smiled. She then walked to the living room and sat down on the couch, with Sofia on her lap.

– I hear someone's excited to be here – put her hand over Abby's six-month bump and smiled.

– I'm pretty sure the baby's just hungry – Abby laughed.

– Why? Are you not eating?

– I am, but apparently not enough – she answered and they laughed.

– Hey, so I hear you've been locking lips with Scarlett, mister – Hayley said to Chris as they sat close to and Abby.

– Oh, yeah, yeah, it's been a fun couple of days – Chris joked.

– Were you not there to supervise it, ? – Hayley asked with a laugh.

– Unfortunately not... I'd probably let him enjoy it anyway though – joked and they laughed. – Well you've been none the less lucky, haven't you?

– Oh, do you mean with Tom? – Hayley asked.

– A-ha. How's he doing by the way? I haven't seen him in really long.

– He's doing amazing! We had such a fun time in London with Paul, and I met his new girlfriend.

– Oh, he's dating? That's great! – smiled while picking up a toy Sofia had dropped.

– Yes! Her name is Jessica, and she's the sweetest person. They look really happy together – Hayley smiled.

– Someone wants "mama" – heard the voice and turned back to find Chris' brother Scott holding Tom, who was crying and babbling for her.

– Aw, okay baby, hold on – lifted Sofia and gave her to Hayley, turning back and picking up her son.

– Oh, I wanted to pick him up now! – Chris cried out.

– What are you, a child? – scowled. – He wanted to come with me!

– Then you come over here and everyone is happy – Chris patted his lap and laughed, proceeding to get up and sitting on Chris' lap as still holding Tom.

– Mom! – Isabella drew closer from where she was playing with Lily – When are we gonna go back home?

– Tomorrow night, why? – she asked.

– Because I don't wanna miss my first theater class!

– It only starts next Saturday, sweetie – smiled and Isabella cheered.

– Aunt , aren't we gonna sing Happy Birthday? – Lily asked.

– We can sing it right now. Will you two help me?

– Yes! – the two girls shouted together and ran to the kitchen.

stood up and left Tom in Chris' lap, and then went to the kitchen. The girls helped bring the plastic plates and forks to the table and brought in the big chocolate cake, where Lisa and Carly had written "Happy Birthday, Tom!" in blue. Lily and Isabella then went around the room calling everyone in to sing.

When , Chris, Isabella and Tom were positioned behind the table and the candles were lit, the guests intoned the happy birthday song. couldn't help but watch as Chris pointed at the candles, which Tom was dazzled with, and Isa clapped cheerfully. She remembered Isabella's first birthday, which was just a gathering with her sister Abby, her brother-in-law Josh, her friend Liz and her parents. It was a great day, and felt immense happiness at the sight of her little baby finally fine and healthy, and that was happening again now. It was almost too much happiness to drink in, watching her perfect little family be. Everyone clapped again when the singing ended, and Chris hugged with his free arm.

– Isa, Lily, why don't you blow the candles? – suggested.

– Okay! – Isabella pulled Lily by the hand and they got behind the cake, blowing the candles and everyone clapped once more.

After a while, the guests were back on sitting down and eating the cake. was by the table with Tom in her lap and Chris sat next to her when Isabella came by once more.

– Mom, do you think Tom saw me blowing the candles, so that I could teach him something?

– I don't know sweetie – laughed – Why don't you try to teach him to show how old he is?

– How? – she looked up at her mom.

– You ask him how old he is, and show the one in your hand until he copies – smiled.

– Okay. Tom, how old are you? – Isabella asked, and showed the one with her finger. She kept on asking him a couple more times, and was about to give up when Tom curled up his little finger, just like he'd seen his sister do as he intently watched her hand. – Yay! Look mom, I taught him something – Isabella cheered and hugged Tom as smiled.

– That was very good, Isa!

– Look daddy! – Isa called Chris' attention to Tom's pointed finger.

– Wow! Tom is so smart, isn't he? – Chris smiled and hugged Isabella from behind – Just like his sister and mama – Chris then got up and smiled at , giving her a sweet kiss while Isabella talked to Tom about all the other things she'd teach him over the years.