Chapter 224 - 2.101 Homecoming (1)
Xander and Diana couldn’t believe they didn’t notice the entire party hiding in the living room via the party seal. They both tried to stop looking at the locations while they were in Paradise. They put it out of sight, out of mind, but it was better that way. They were genuinely flabbergasted someone put a surprise party together for their return.
Scarlet and Iris were even up and out, although it was only around 9:30 and were in matching onesies, although Scarlet’s human form was about 6 inches taller than Iris, whose little black and blue demon eyes continued to scan the room. Scarlet’s human form was just like her mother’s, and she had a single small white horn forming from her body. Ignis and Leila thought it was going to be red, white was a nice surprise.
Emery and Emma ran up to their brother and gave him a big hug and the party snapped a bunch of photos of the newly wed couple. They looked completely different than they did the two Exterian days before they left. Sora, Brie, Celeste and Eris promised each other they wouldn’t give away their new looks, but after watching the wedding, they had an idea they looked different, but a camera view was different than seeing the impressive couple in person.
"Thanks everyone!" Diana yelled with a big smile.
"Damnit, I knew this was going to be awkward," Julius laughed while hugging Xander, who was now taller than him.
"Like I saw you in diapers dude..." They both laughed, and Diana smiled.
"I’m glad I didn’t see him wearing diapers or that young or this would be really, really weird right now."
People were laughing and flooding them, causing Diana to become a little overwhelmed. Xander noticed and remembered what it was like for him when he first started seeing colors and realizing what they meant.
"Just take a deep breath babycakes. I know it’s a lot. Everyone’s really excited, curious, and are in great moods. Just try to focus on something else, if you can."
"Thanks Xander. It’s so much! Doesn’t it drive you crazy sometimes?"
"The worst it gets is when you’re in public with a lot of people you don’t know and you see souls who aren’t good people and are thinking about doing things to harm others. I’m just glad I don’t see yours anymore. I always felt like I had this unfair disadvantage and it made me feel like crap a lot."
"Orin is overwhelmed too. It’s ok little guy, they’re just our family. Do you want to meet Scarlett the little dragon girl?"
"No, I want Hope to out back with hope and I’m hungry Mama." Orin said quietly.
"Here, let’s go out back and let them out so they can relax and Orin can hang out with Hope?"
"Good idea, thank you sweetheart."
"If everyone would excuse us for a second," Xander said politely, and the two teleported out back. Diana let Orin out of her, and Hope flew out of Zander. They watched as they flew magnificently together in the cool fall air. The moon was shining brightly and Exteria’s atmosphere always felt so much different after a long time in Paradise.
"I got the little guy. You two go have fun, we’ll be with you later or if we need you, one of us will talk to you." Hope said cheerfully.
"Thanks, Hope!" Diana said while blowing her a kiss.
"You need a minute?" Xander asked while giving her a big hug.
"No, I think I’m ok. How about you?"
"Yes but I wanted to ask you. Did you want to move into the mansion with me or did you want to still live with your parents?"
Diana almost got mad, but then she realized he was being polite. Of course she wanted to live with him, they were married. She thought about if he just assumed she would want to live with him and what that would sound like and realized how sweet Xander was being.
"Of course I want to live with you, forever." Diana said with a big smile, slowly kissing him.
*****
"Wonder what’s taking them so long?" Sasha asked.
"Not sure, maybe Diana is a little overwhelmed with all the emotions?" Levi asked.
"You have to remember she just had a phoenix implanted in her as well. Maybe he wanted to get away from all the commotion?" Sora asked while wrapping his arms around Brie.
Xander and Diana teleported in holding hands, right next to his parents.
"Hey dad, can you please change he party seal so she can live here?" Xander asked politely.
"Oh, yeah, sure." Sora said while making adjustments to the seal that allowed her to live in the mansion, treat her as an equal member of the family, including financial assets and property items.
Diana followed along in her head and finally started tearing up, so Xander hugged her, squeezing her tightly.
"It feels like it’s too good to be true. Why are your parents so nice?!" She said while lightly crying tears of joy into Xander’s chest.
"Well, at least you’re happy to be a member of our family." Emery said cheerfully.
"Yeah don’t be sad Diana, we want you to be happy! This is your party, silly!" Emma added.
She laughed. "Thanks, you two. You are always so sweet. I guess I’ll be living in the mansion with you now too so you’ll get to play with Orin and Hope!"
"Yay!" They cheered.
Everyone else in the party was having a good time, relaxing and trying not to put too much pressure on Diana or Xander. Rissa finally came over and complimented them and pulled Diana away with the other ladies.
Xander was now by himself and it reminded him of those 77 days where he was alone.
’Damn, now we have a war coming up. It’s like we can’t catch a damn break, ever.’
"Ok everyone, it’s time to watch their wedding with them and I have a special surprise." Celeste said while clapping.