'Adorable' Grandma...?

Ryder

"Do you think we can do it every year? The lights, memorial stone jar and the butterflies," Wilder asked as Morales served breakfast and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You liked it that much."

"It wasn't exactly a joyous occasion, but yeah. It was pretty nice," he said quietly but I heard him.

Honestly I had the same idea. After we'd left for my room earlier the previous day we'd kept away from my father and his guests, who by the way really had to be kicked out for overstaying their welcome. You could guess he was in no way happy about it but given the fact that the increase in guards was courtesy of my mother's family, who had showed up some time later, when they found out about his scheme, he could only apologize and talk them out of their anger for the humiliation. Of course, this wasn't the major highlight of the day. Some time after we'd decided to go down and pay respects to her grave, we'd been left shocked. 90000⁸

The fact that Diana didn't know my mom, it still shocked us to the core just how much she had put much thought into celebrating the anniversary. Where the building lay was in the middle of a garden filled with all sorts of flowers her favorites lying close, on a raised area. In all honesty it was more or less, a shrine and in the coming years it would probably be a family one given the fact her ashes were stored here. With a translucent glass dome that gave us a glimpse into the glittering night sky, a couple of pedestals placed around, and an urn resting at a pedestal in the front middle of the room. Her ashes could have been placed elsewhere, probably close to her home but with the indifference of her family, the chaos that had led to her death and her stubbornness she had been laid here. The garden being private, none of my father's guests had come in here but the room was still full of flowers. For the most part, all sorts of colors but ones that seemed to give off a tranquil feeling but one could tell they were picked specially for today as they lay around the urn. In addition to the flowers, scented candles had laid around and just about for everyone who came. Given the surprised looks everyone's faces, they weren't aware of this and my eyes immediately fastened on Diana. The faint blush on her cheeks, the wringing of her hands so vigorous that one could think they'd fall off and the pitiful expression on her face that screamed 'I totally did this and wasn't expecting so many people, please don't hate me' I couldn't help but smile amused.

"I thought we could all try something new," I had said in the spur of the moment and she had played along relieved like a little helper. It didn't not take long but though most of them guessed it was her doing they played ignorant.

Soon enough, the lavender scented candles were lit, she introduced the memorial stone jar that by the end of the night had been filled to the brim with memories recalled that were laughed over dinner and the final show of the night the white butterflies she had gotten delivered sometime were released. Though, if it were upto her, if not the fact it was illegal here she would have definitely gotten out the sky lanterns. Under the stars, the dome had been opened as people stood together watching the magical sight as the white butterflies soared up bathing in the moonlight.

"'The butterfly counts not months, but moments- and has time enough.'" She had murmured as I wrapped my arms around her waist standing close to her and she laid her head on my shoulder.

"Poet Rabindranath Tagore," my grandma (my mother's mom) whispered beside us with tears brimming her eyes as she dabbed pitifully and I couldn't help but put an arm around her too.

It is needless to say that she was completely enamoured by her that Wilder and I got kicked out of her room for 'girl talk'. Though we were glad to be spared from this year's doting, which mostly included her trying to teach us how to embroider under the excuse of catching up and asking whether we want her to reclaim custody since our father is a 'brainless, incompetent nicompoop' her words not mine before discovering we were completely hopeless with pricked and swollen fingers just because she had a new interest in wanting to have stuff made by hand, we were slightly jealous. Not to mention they actually fell asleep and I lay on a cold bed all night.

"Sure."

"So what have you planned for today? Don't give me that look. It's Valentine's day. Your birthday of sorts?"

"Why are you asking?"

"Because," he said and I looked at him waiting for him to continue but he didn't. More like he wasn't planning to tell me. "Where is Diana anyway?"

"Asleep. She and grandma stayed up playing mahjong," I said and he drew back shocked.

"She plays mahjong!?"

"Grandma taught her," I shrugged. If she could she'd probably take Diana with her. Not that I'd allow it but God knows just how much I got my ear talked off about it. For now, he claims she utilizing her short time.

"Jeez, if she like that I wonder how grandma Stone will act." I wondered the same thing too. She was a hard but to crack but I believed Diana could win her over. "So what have you planned?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing!? Are you kidding me!? You are the most unromantic fellow I've ever met. I'm ashamed to call you my brother," he lamented but i paid him no heed. Truthfully I was still stumped. She could be...difficult. I figured that out the first time she paid me back for buying her clothes. My only choice would be to do something she really couldn't pay back. And my solution came in the form of my my grandma.

"There is my birthday boy," she entered suddenly bringing me into her embrace and placing kisses all over my cheeks and I let her.

"Hey, don't I get a kiss too."

"Is it your birthday?"

"No, but.."

"Then you don't get some."

"Kisses only once a year!? You are too stingy grandma. How can you bully me like this," Wilder cried dramatically and I felt my lips twitch in humor. Truly, no one could beat my brother when it came to being dramatic to get his way, I thought as she relented moving over to comfort him before for some reason the conversation turned to me being the 'most unromantic fellow' and she cast a cold glare at me.

"It's not my fault she is not materialistic," I let out frustrated and I swear her eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store and I suddenly felt afraid.

For a woman almost in her 70's the impression you got when you saw her was a kind lady in her early fifties at the most. Calm, sweet and charming. Though she was all that, like all grandmothers in the world at least my own were manipulative and shameless at the very best. I guess I should be most glad Grandma Stone isn't around but even on her own she was not a force to be trifled with.

"My lovely little Stone. What would you without grandma?" She asked in an overly sweet voice and I tensed as she reached for her purse and took out her phone and keys. "Tell me what kind of suite would you like ocean view or a penthouse? What kind of hotel should I reserve for you? No wait it should be five-star? How about I go and kick that other nicompoop of an uncle and I get him to clear out all the reservations for tonight? Oh shit, we've got to doll her up. Knoxie darling, we need to get reinforcements ASAP. I'm getting a granddaughter-in-law tonight."

She said and I almost spat out my coffee as I watched her fiddling with her phone as the next moment a young female burst into the room. Shit!, When did she call her assistant? Listening to her asking about bed drapes and linens, fuck! why did she seem like she was planning for a honeymoon instead of a valentine's date? I watched the proceedings stunned before her next words snapped me out of my daze.

"Love, how old is she? I've got the civil affairs bureau on the line. I need to book an appointment."

"What the hell are you.." I said reaching for her phone and she pulled it out of my reach, well as far as she could go hiding behind a guffawing Wilder.

"She's my granddaughter-in-law," she said looking up at me defiantly and I was left speechless. Damn, she looked really determined to fight me on it.

"Grandma..?"

"I don't want to hear it. I've made my decision," she said stomping her foot down completely ignoring me. I really wanted to believe she was merely teasing me but... she had already started throwing a tantrum about how much I don't care about her enough to give her little 'dumplings' to dot on.

At this point, the assistant watching us strangely, Wilder sprawled on the floor still laughing I could see Alfred watching from the door amused, alongside some of the helps who were to set up breakfast for those with permanently built in alarm clocks while I was at a wits end. Who would have thought this adorable grandma was such a piece of work?

"Well if you don't want her, how about Howard? She is his type, right?" She said her eyes sparkling and for a moment I thought about thrashing her. She stole my girlfriend for the past two days and now she wants to hook her up with that bastard? Hell no!?

"You wouldn't dare," I blurted out with a growl and she shot me a challenging look and I groaned tugging at my hair. I felt like I was already going bald. "She's 17 grandma. And for the record, that bastard has nothing on me."

I said but all she did was smile at me with her eyes twinkling as if she hadn't heard me insult him. Everyone knew she couldn't have anymore kids after my mother and she doted on him more than she did anyone else after she adopted him when he was barely a toddler. Not even her eldest son, my mother's older brother. And now I was dissatisfied. I should have taken her away when I saw them coming. I had a feeling I'd have to...share her.

"Oh when will she be turning 18?" She asked eagerly and I shot her a dark look making her smile sheepishly.

In the end, though after she left, I had the ownership to a new apartment in the suburbs under the claim that I needed a place where I could take my girlfriend without worrying about being intruded on by certain people, namely Wilder and William Stone. But of course moments later, we shared joint ownership of course this would be official after I made sure she liked it and knowing how she is... She would definitely return it as soon as she found out I thought of gifting it to her. And if I succeeded, she wouldn't exactly be bothered about overstaying her welcome in the Stone mansion. On the plus side, it was merely about half an hour from school. Feeling proud about my thinking, I decided to go see if she was awake.

She wasn't but it didn't bother me as my lips curved up slightly finding her sprawled on my bed and my agitation at my eager grandma dissipated. I know for sure she retired to her room because I had taken her there when she insisted on taking a shower. She never made it out of the room, falling asleep immediately after her shower leaving me to dry her hair before tucking her in. Looking at the thin navy blue blanket wrapped around her form like a burrito she looked like she had just nosedived onto my bed. Never have I ever seen such an amusing sight, I thought holding back a laugh as I rounded the bed to where she was snoring lightly on my pillow clutching onto it like it was her life support no matter how much I tried to move it and I glared at it hopelessly sitting beside her head stroking her head lightly my mind drifting back to the conversation merely minutes ago. She truly surprised me. As fate would have it, I was closer to Nana stone and Wilder her. We didn't have a bad relationship but it was good enough to get spoilt as equally as Wilder but to base everything on Diana...

This girl. She was right. She is truly likeable... I thought just as a low groan slipped from her lips and I froze for a moment as her lashes fluttered slightly before she peeked up at me with those seductive eyes as I brushed a lock of hair off her face.

"Ray..? What are you doing here?" She asked and I pushed back the urge to smirk as I raised an eyebrow at her.

"You mean in my room?" I asked amused and her jaw dropped slightly as she raised her head taking in her surroundings before she sent me a sheepish smile before pouting as a second later she threw herself at me and I caught her surprised as she hugged me.

"I was looking for you to wish you a happy birthday, but I underestimated how much tired I was," she said quietly and I refrained from chuckling hearing that aggrieved tone and yet I immediately warmed up at her words as I buried my nose in her hair.

"That's okay."

"Really?" She asked profound innocence pouring from her eyes and my heart fluttered rapidly. Damn those accursed doe-like eyes. Sleep filled and yet unusually bright without the usual slyness that was embossed in within that they'd make any man weak in the knees. No doubt it rouse an overwhelming urge to protect her.

"Really," I murmured bumping my nose with hers gently. "Aren't I going to receive my morning kiss?"

I teased fighting to fight the urge to laugh as she stiffened before giving me a perplexed look. It was hard to believe that this sly little demoness could have this side of her. Especially when she's made it a goal to sleep with me, something that I didn't exactly understand. Even if she has her moments where she's as tempting as an succubus and sly like a fox, there were those underlying traces of innocence that could only come from a person sheltered as much, well as sheltered as it gets while being trained in the harsh reality of the world.

As far as I could tell from all those times we've sparred in the gym or the fact that the guard protecting her has mentioned accounts of her leaving for a fighting club. The fact that she wasn't even trying to sneak could only tell me she had no intention of hiding it. And for someone her age taking down with a full grown man was astonishing but it gave me a sense of pride and comfort. She could at least handle her own fort if she got into trouble at a close range and leave the rest to me in the shadows. But now seeing her eyeing me suspiciously after catching her off guard amused me. When she didn't overthink it, she would do it instinctively but with the thought planted in her mind upfront made her mind race. It was amusing.

"Is this one of your birthday requests?" She asked and I could feel my lips twitch. I hadn't gone to thinking that far though I was sure it would have come up some time. But sure... let's go with that, I thought before nodding and her face darkened visibly making me chuckle.

"Babydoll, why do you look like you are going to war?" I asked poking her cheek lightly and she pursed her lips pulling them into a pout.

"You are teasing me again?"

"Let's call it that," I mumbled under my breath before she moved forward planting a kiss on my cheek and pulled away not giving me some time to react and laid her head on my chest.

Silly girl, I thought smiling before putting my arms around her, her scent comforting and purging all the previous worries I had gained a while ago to pampering her all day. She wouldn't want anything extravagant that for sure but I didn't mind. Maybe dinner tonight. Shouldn't be hard, I thought before the apartment popped in my mind again. It was alright. But how to get her there? I missed as we sat quietly in each other's embrace, both of us lost in our own thoughts. Resting my chin on the crown of her head, as I was still trying to figure out how to bring it up she finally shifted.

"Can we go shopping today?"

"Shopping? Where did that come from?"

"Well, I still have to bake you a cake, don't I?" She said and I could feel my lips twitch slightly before I nodded mentally integrating that in my plans for today before I finally coaxed her out of bed after some breakfast in bed and into the shower as she looked me out of my own bathroom (in fear that I would intrude on her shower). I totally would by the way but I have exercised my restraints to the fullest, I thought refusing to think how much they were rendered useless in her presence.

Taking a deep breath, feeling that familiar twitch of my fingers wanting to smoke out my rising libido, I stepped back into my living room to find Wilder giving me a wronged look as I looked at the bruising under his eye nonchalantly before heading into the kitchen.

"You won't even look at me. It's your fault I'm this ugly," he whined following me and I rolled my eyes.

"It was an accident. I was aiming for him," I muttered and he looked towards the male standing by my bridge and he snickered his mood making a huge turnaround.

"So you owe me a favor?"

"Why don't I know this?" I asked and he gave me a pointed look making me sigh. "Okay, what is it?"

"Let's go to Knoxantis. KnoxLandia? Okay give a guy a break I'm still working on the name," he muttered as I gave Howard a questioning glance to which he just shrugged.

"What's this all about?"

"Nana Stone said we can finally use Aegis island," he explained and I looked at him shocked. "She finally finished the villa..well it's more like a palace but she finally finished it. And we can go there tonight."

Nana Stone had mostly dealt with properties and real estate while Grandpa Stone with bu

"You're going to throw a party aren't you?"

"And get drunk all night. I already told you I'm going to school hangover on my first day back."

"Your first day back was two weeks ago," I pointed out and he waved me off rambling on how rad the party was going to be and I cast a glance at my so-called uncle. "You're letting him go through with this."

"It's not like he's going to listen to me," he answered and I frowned. I'd forgotten about that. I'd been taking care of him for so long that he rarely does anything else without getting my consent but looking at him now, I'm always that one of the reasons he is closer to Diana than anyone else is their ability to play the tear works.

"Don't worry. I won't mess around with your date and there really won't be many people. Just family and close friends?"

"And how people are those?"

"A 100 maybe. Typically anyone who can find a boat," he said and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You have a 100 close friends?"

"Well with grandma around I'm pretty sure we both will after tonight," he said rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as I pinched my brow. I knew I hated birthdays for a reason. There was going to be a lot of bootlicking tonight.

"Just make sure we are not interrupted at all. I'll move dinner plans," I said and he nodded his head eagerly before rushing out and Howard finally moved as we heard shuffling in my room.

She was done with her shower and at the thought I turned to him indifferently as he grinned widely making me roll my eyes.

"I don't need to show you out, do I?" I asked crossing my arms and he shook his head with a smirk before shooting a glance at the hallway where the shuffling of footsteps was nearing before leaving.

He always rubbed off the wrong way and I can't help but wonder why on earth he was interested in her. Of course I can name a few reasons but was he just trying to rile me up or was there something to it? I huffed angrily before turning to Diana entered looking curiously at the door.

"We're just with someone?"

"Gone," I answered before smiling amused at her. "What are you wearing?"

"Robe..? Incase you haven't noticed I don't exactly have clothes in here and no still not moving into your room. You are not making me your old lady..." She said before stopping suddenly and before blushing as I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Old lady?"

"Don't even ask. I'm going to get dressed," she said before rushing out of the room as if the devil was hot on her heels and I chuckled before going on to get ready before I went to meet her back out still thinking about her words. With the way she spoke and given that one time she first rode on my bike, I wondered just what background she had. Sometimes you'd think she was just a normal kid with a normal upbringing, on other days you wonder if she was just your average street smart teen or if she was from the high society, your average rich kid brought up with parties and in country clubs especially when almost all her stuff is persomalised. It didn't help that she had more faces than this. Where sometimes haughty and proud, other times extremely domineering. And most of all her innocence. Well she's probably not that innocent, I thought grumbling slightly my mind wandering back to the seduction attempts and the increasing number of cold showers I seem to taking lately,  she's pretty much so in the sense, even when people think she might just be playing coy, with a long-term aim to live a stress-free life. Though when you think about it that probably her being majorly lazy but I wouldn't dare miss out on the rare moments I get to spoil her. And so it's a given that as long as I'm around, I'll aim to give her that, I decided snapping out of my thoughts when I felt her presence at the top of the staircase.

"You like?" She asked and I stood stunned as I watched descending the stairs and my lips twitched briefly as she locked her gaze on me a seductive smirk hanging onto her blood red lips.

On her form was a similar coloured dress with two waist slit that revealed her smooth legs on a nude pair of heels every time she took a step closer to me and I felt my throat tighten the same time my pants did as she cocked her head and my eyes landed on her bare and elegant neck. Simply dressed, little to none make up and accessories but it didn't hide the elegance she had that made my heart race unrestrained.

"So?" She asked twirling infront of me, her bright mismatched eyes wide in anticipation, her expression making her seem like a little fawn curious about the world.

Letting my gaze roam over her exquisite yet make-up less face to her long hair hanging on her shoulder in a single braid and the baby hairs framing her face, I suppressed the urge to pinch her cheeks.

"It's nice."

"Nice?" She asked her face scrunching up slightly before she lowered her eyes and I refrained from laughing as I tipped her chin, amused by her gloomy expression as I rubbed the cushion of my thumb on her red lips slightly surprised it didn't smudge.

"Yes, babydoll, and that's more or less an understatement. If I told you how I really feel about it, we really are going to get sick of seeing these walls," I whispered in her ear only for her cheeks to burst out in an appealing reddish-pink before sticking her tongue out at me and hooking her hand in mine as we made our way to the parking lot.

"I guess I can live with that," she said but my gaze was drawn and still fixated on those red lips wondering if I should kiss of the eye-catching color off her lips before giving up. She seemed to have taken to the type, not that it's entirely my fault. She is too alluring and her lips plump and kissable, I thought with a silent grumble as I got the door for her.

"So where are we going first?" She asked and I refrained from laughing at her eager expression as I leant forward and she watched me wide-eyed before I reached for the seatbelt and her face turned beet-red making me chuckle as that mask came over her face. Not that it did anything but make her look cuter, but the blush didn't recede her face and she turned away from me.

It felt like this rare expression had began happening more often lately. It made me wonder just what exactly she was thinking in that intelligent brain of hers. Knowing I shouldn't push it, I kissed her cheek before pulling back.

"We'll stop at the house first."

She looked at me questioningly for a moment before nodding as she looked outside with what I could describe as a wistful look and my lips curved.

"We can come back here any time you want." She cocked her head in question.

"Wouldn't it be too lonely here? The house is humongous," she answered and my lips twitched in amusement. "Not that I hate the silence..."

"Wilder could help with that. He's always throwing parties here."

"Really? How often is that?"

"As long as there is no party, so at the very least two weekends in every month."

"Are you sure people just don't like coming up here and take advantage of the fact he loves partying?"

"It's not like it's closed off to the average public. The house itself is worth a lot but that's just because of the reputation they gave the place. If it wasn't for them trying to suck up to us give me there is always a representative for every event it would just be another pricey house in the woods." And we definitely would not be needed to keep a tight leash on everyone wanting to use the place. We even have to deal with producers and directors and their investors looking to set up in the place. Partly a reason for the added guards courtesy of my father giving way to one of those investors.

"I doubt it. Even if they weren't, I'm pretty sure if I were to sell your picture, I would get a couple of bucks for it," she said and I glanced at her speechlessly.

"You'd pawn off pictures of me for... money?"

"Sure, just take your shirt off and there you go. I'm pretty sure I could make a thousand if I tried hard," she said and for a moment I fluttered slightly wondering if she would really do that before I shrugged of the thought squinting my eyes slightly. She wouldn't.

"It's not like you need money," I snorted coldly.

"Maybe I don't but what's a few more."

"Is this your money-grubbing side showing?" I asked pursing my lips indignantly and she giggled before winking at me.

"How'd you know?" She asked her expression cute and probing and my lips twitched as I held back a smile.

"Okay, I'll let you pawn me of for your money earning purposes."

"Is that so? Then it would be safe to assume you wouldn't mind if I extort them a little?"

"Of course, I'll mind. But I'm willing to let it go as long as you make a sizable hole in their pockets. An irreparable for that matter," I teased and she gave me a sly smirk.

Of course, it would only be later that I'd realize that I should probably have attempted to sway her unreasonable extorting skills.