*THE ACCIDENTAL FAMILY*

__EPISODE 14: "5 Years Later"

__EPISODE 14: "5 Years Later"*

*JUNE 14TH.*

*5 YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.*

The house is LOUD.

It’s always loud.

"NO, LEO, THAT’S NOT HOW YOU HOLD A BRUSH!"

"LUNA, STOP EATING THE GLITTER!"

"STAR, DROP THE SHOE!"

Welcome to the Hale household.

Population: 5.

And one very disobedient golden retriever.

---

#### *7:00 AM: KINDERGARTEN CHAOS*

Leo: 6 years old.

Eliza’s curls. Damian’s scowl. My stubbornness.

Wears paint on his clothes 24/7.

Wants to be "an artist like Mama".

Luna: 6 years old.

My eyes. Damian’s jaw. Eliza’s laugh.

Talks to everyone.

Wants to be "a singer like Mama".

Off-key. Just like me.

"BABE!" Damian yells from downstairs.

"I’M NOT YOUR BABE, I’M YOUR WIFE!"

"Even better! HELP!"

I run down.

In pajamas.

Hair a mess.

Coffee in hand.

Damian is in a suit.

Trying to braid Luna’s hair.

Failing.

Leo is drawing on the wall.

Again.

"Good morning to you too, Mr. Hale."

"Mrs. Hale. Please. The twins have a recital in 3 hours and I’ve ruined her hair and Leo has declared the kitchen wall is now 'modern art'."

I look at the wall.

It’s actually good.

Stars. A house. Four stick figures.

And a dog.

"10/10," I say. "We’ll keep it."

Damian groans.

But he’s smiling.

He always smiles now.

Even when he’s stressed.

Especially then.

---

#### *10:00 AM: THE RECITAL*

School auditorium.

"Spring Sing".

Luna goes first.

Walks on stage.

Sees us.

Waves.

Forgets the words.

Starts making them up.

"Twinkle twinkle little star,

Mama paints them on our wall,

Dada burns the pancakes,

And we love him anyway..."

The whole room melts.

Damian squeezes my hand.

Whispers: "She got your voice."

"I’m so sorry."

Leo goes next.

Doesn’t sing.

Holds up a painting.

Of our family.

Under stars.

Teacher cries.

I cry.

Damian pretends he’s not crying.

After, parents swarm us.

"Mr. Hale! Mrs. Hale!"

"Your kids are so talented!"

"Can we get a photo?"

Damian does his CEO smile.

I do my "please don’t touch me" smile.

Then we escape to the car.

---

#### *2:00 PM: THE SURPRISE*

We get home.

Balloon.

On the door.

Silver.

Number 5.

Inside: More balloons.

Rose petals.

On the floor.

Leading to the nursery.

"Damian, what did you do."

"Nothing."

"You’re terrible at lying."

I follow the petals.

The nursery.

But different.

The _Home_ wall is still there.

But now around it:

Photos.

5 years worth.

First day we met.

The gala.

The proposal.

The wedding.

The twins’ first day of school.

Me asleep on his chest.

Him asleep on the floor.

And in the middle:

A new painting.

Us.

Now.

With the twins.

And Star.

Under it, in gold:

_Still Home_

I’m crying before I even see him.

He’s there.

Leaning against the wall.

In jeans.

No suit.

Holding two cups of coffee.

And a small box.

"Happy anniversary," he says.

"You did all this?"

"I had help. Mrs. Delgado. And Google."

He hands me coffee.

Takes my hand.

Kisses my knuckles.

Right over the star ring.

That’s gotten scratched.

And worn.

And perfect.

"Aria," he says.

"Oh no. Not again."

"Don’t 'oh no' me."

He gets down on one knee.

I gasp. "We’re already married!"

"I know."

"Then what—"

He opens the box.

Not a ring.

Another paintbrush.

Yellow.

New.

And a key.

To a studio.

"I quit the foundation board," he says.

"What."

"I’m opening a studio. For kids.

For art.

For people who think they’re not good enough.

And I want you to run it with me."

Tears.

"Damian—"

"And I want to renew our vows.

Right here.

In front of the twins.

Because 5 years ago I asked you to marry me.

Today I’m asking you to keep choosing me."

He holds up the brush.

"Will you keep painting stars with me?"

I’m sobbing.

"Yes. Yes to all of it."

He stands.

Kisses me.

Tastes like coffee and forever.

---

#### *4:00 PM: THE RENEWAL*

We didn’t plan it.

But we did it anyway.

Backyard.

Twins in their recital clothes.

Mrs. Delgado as officiant.

Star wearing a bowtie.

Vows:

Damian: "5 years ago I asked you to save me.

Today I’m asking you to keep saving me.

Every day."

Me: "5 years ago I said yes to you.

Today I say yes to us.

To the mess.

To the stars.

To home."

He slides the new brush into my pocket.

I slide the key into his.

Leo yells "YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE!"

We do.

---

#### *8:00 PM: THE HOUSE*

Kids asleep.

Dog asleep.

Us on the floor.

In the nursery.

Under _Still Home_.

"I’m scared," Damian admits.

"Of what."

"That it’s too good. That I’ll mess it up."

"You won’t. Because I’m here to yell at you when you do."

He laughs.

Pulls me into his lap.

Like he did 5 years ago.

"Remember 3AM bottles?"

"Remember burned pasta?"

"Remember the mural?"

"I remember you."

He traces the star on my ring.

"Eliza would be proud."

"She is."

We sit in silence.

Listening to the house breathe.

To the twins dreaming.

To Star snoring.

"Hey," he says.

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

---

#### *ONE WEEK LATER: THE STUDIO*

_HALE & CARTER ART HOUSE_

Big sign.

Yellow paint.

Crooked.

Perfect.

First class: 20 kids.

All messy.

All happy.

Leo teaches "how to paint stars".

Luna teaches "how to sing while you paint".

Damian and I?

We teach them how to make a home.

On the wall:

_Paint the walls if you want._

Rule number one.

---

*END OF EPISODE 14*