"Declan, are you ready yet?" Aryess peered into the mirror, trying to fit in the back to her silver dangly earring.
"Almost," the 21-year-old called from the other room. "Why do I have to go to this thing again?"
"Because I want to be there when Jasper makes the big announcement."
"Again, why do I have to go?" Declan walked into the foyer wearing a navy three-piece suit. His fair hair was spiked in the front casually, somehow boyishly mature.
"To show support for our friends!" she said. "Where's Riley?"
"Tada!" the four-year-old exclaimed as he jumped up from behind the couch. His bright-blue eyes stood out against his dark hair and black tux.
"Wow, little man," Aryess said. "You clean up nice."
"Uncle Declan used fancy gel in my hair!" Riley sad proudly.
"Cute," she commented.
"The car's here," Declan said. He was looking out the window at a black Mercedes below. Riley ran over and peaked over the window sill as if the busy street was an exciting circus act. Declan pulled a fedora low over his eyes and picked up his nephew and strode out the door, quickly followed by his younger sister.
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"Aryess?"
The blonde turned to meet the hazy blue eyes of a tall man. He carried a ruby-studed cane in his left hand. A dark haired girl stood beside him, her elegant, satin maroon dress matching his tie.
"Jazzy! Em!" Aryess greeted, hugging them each in turn. "It's so good to see you."
They chatted easily about college, life, their families, any usual things two heros and a vigilante could talk about. The party progressed around them, associates of Kenway Industries and friends of the family mingling and wandering the dazzling ballroom.
Aryess had spotted Bruce Wayne here, representing Wayne enterprises accompanied by Dick and Kyra. She was sure Sam Grant was somewhere in the crowd in favor of Grant Industries. Nic was undoubtely in a circle of girls flirting with them all.
Finally an associate of the Jasper's called him away and he excused himself.
"I didn't think you were going to come," Emily muttered to her legally sister when they were alone.
"I wouldn't miss this for anything," Aryess said quietly back.
"It's only been two weeks since..." she trailed off. "How's Riley?"
"Good," Ary responded, happy for the change in subject. "How's your soon-to-be-husband?"
The older woman smiled and twirled the glass of champagne between her fingers.
"Amazing," she said. They were interrupted as a girl with short, dark red hair walked quickly to their side.
"Hey, Ary," Coda greeted before turning to Emily. "Jazzy's up on stage."
"Alright," Emily gave Aryess a departing smile before turning and disappearing into the crowd.
Declan stepped up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder, Riley sitting atop his shoulders. The teenager looked to the raised platform where Jasper was walking up to the microphone. His parents stood to the side smiling proudly at their eldest son beside with Coda, Adam, and Emily. The complete Kenway family.
Aryess wondered in the back of her mind if this was what 'normal' was supposed to look like: elegant gowns, fine-pressed tuxes, glittering chandlers, plenty of champagne. And family.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending tonight's event," Jasper began. All chatter was halted and attention turned respectively to the man on the staged. "I would like to present to you my fiance, Emily Weston and my sister, Coda Kenway. My new co-partners in Kenway Industries." He had to raise his voice slightly as the crowd erupted into applause. The two said women walked onto the stage waving and beaming. Emily kissed Jasper on the cheek, earning them loud approving whistle from Declan.
Even Adam, the youngest of the Kenway siblings at the age 16, usually scowling in a playboy fashion, stood straighter and smiled subtly.
Declan suddenly stiffened. The grip on Aryess's arm hardened at the same moment the girl felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up. Declan slid Riley down from his shoulders and into his arms in a flash. The skylights in the ceiling suddenly shattered inward.