When the doors to the grand ballroom were opened for her, Liona expected at least some level of grand announcement to play or happen when she entered. She wasn't wrong. The second she crossed the threshold she was showered in confetti and balloons and congratulations were announced. She sighed internally and plastered a smile on her face as she was approached by her dad. Her dad, handsome as ever, was wearing a three-piece formal suit, looking so dapper, held out his arm for her to take so that he could escort her the rest of the way into the ballroom.
Taking her dad's arm, she heard her dad tell her, "Happy Birthday, Princess." She smiled up at him and tried to act like she was happy with this pageantry.
She tried to tell herself this was the last year her family was going to celebrate her, so she should just let them do as they pleased. She knew part of this display was also for her grandfather, but they were making a big deal out of her birthday more because her grandfather had reached an age where he was done celebrating getting older, or so her mom had told her at one point when she asked. At 71, her Grandfather, Lionel, didn't look a day over 50. Even her Grandfather Kaito, who was 64, still looked like he was in his 40s.
There were good, strong genetics in the Edevane and Bartley families that helped them defy most aging standards. In fact, they were all really healthy for the most part, and they were a long-lived family because most of them were alpha and omega. Ever since her grandparent's era, there had been very few betas born in the family. The only betas she was aware of, were from her beta, Great Aunt Caragh, who had a beta daughter, Deirdre, who was her second cousin. Her alpha and omega second cousins had not been able to make it either, since they both had mates and had moved overseas. But her great-aunt and great-uncle were able to make it, so she looked for them in the sea of familiar faces.
"Happy Birthday Liona!" Her entire family that was present shouted when her dad escorted her to the center of the ballroom. Everyone was dressed in formal wear and radiant with their happy faces as they each congratulated her on her birthday and for reaching the age of majority. She accepted their congratulations and said her thank-you's and waited for her celebration to commence.
Her mom approached her next with two glasses and handed her one. She looked so damn beautiful in a custom mermaid gown that was similar to hers, but in a coral pink and was strapless, unlike the sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves of her dark turquoise dress. They really looked like mother and daughter when they stood next to each other in these dresses. Not only did she have her mom's height, only being an inch shorter, she had the same figure as her. Even if she had not inherited her eyes or hair, her facial structure was more like her mom's, even sharing the same cute button nose.
"Happy birthday, my darling baby girl! May you have many more happy days to come as you continue to shine as brightly as you are now." Her mom raised her glass in a toast to her. She took a sip of the glass and discovered that it was not sparkling water like she had expected. It was a light and refreshing beverage that had a slight bitterness to it with undertones of sweetness that she could not identify. She was careful as she sipped it, since she was certain that her mother had just given her a glass of champagne. If she had, then she was just given a privilege that she had begged her mom for a taste of since she was 16. As she carefully sipped her glass with the toast, her mom smiled as if she was silently approving of her carefulness.
After the toast, soft music began to play in the background and various family members came over and congratulated her on her birthday more personally than the earlier generic congratulations. She greeted them all as they wished her a happy birthday and made small talk with them before the next family member took their place before her. As the more extended family members finished their greetings and congratulations, Liona finally saw her favorite aunts and uncles approach her.
"Happy birthday, Liona! You've gotten so tall since I last saw you!" Her Aunt Noel greeted her.
"Hi Auntie! Of course, I grew! It's been almost a year since I saw you last! Where's Nollaig and Heidi? I don't see them…" Liona looked around the grand ballroom.
"They are both at home. Nollaig was caught sneaking out of the house when he was specifically told that he couldn't see his boyfriend today. As for Heidi, she's got the flu, so she's staying home to recover while her brother looks after her." Her Uncle Henry said as he joined her Aunt Noel.
"I thought he was seeing a girl. He was all over one at school just last week!" Liona exclaimed in disbelief.
"He apparently broke up with her for being too clingy and then latched onto this boy he met at the arcade over spring break. I can hardly keep up with whom that boy dates!" Liona's Aunt Noel exclaimed.
"Ugh! He's turning into such a playboy!" Liona groaned.
"It's the family curse, Sis!" Liona's dad sauntered over and joined them.
"Don't give me that nonsense! There's no such thing as a curse, especially not a family curse! He's just attractive to most teens his age, and so he's discovering his preferences of whom he wishes to date and driving me up a wall in the process." Aunt Noel complained.
Liona moved on from her aunt and uncle when she noticed her Aunt Alice and Uncle Atreus with their twin girls. "Uncle Atreus! Aunt Alice! Cass, Cassi!" She greeted her uncle's family.
"Happy Birthday Liona!" Cassiopeia and Cassandra, her twin cousins, greeted her.
"Thanks Cass, Cassi!"
Her uncle and aunt wished her happy birthday as well before Liona had to move on again and greet the rest of her family.
As the evening wore on, Liona found herself very tired and completely distracted by her family. Seeing most of them here to wish her a happy birthday meant the world to her.
As the grand finale, to close out the evening, Liona was swept onto the dance floor and got to dance with most of her uncles as well as her dad and then her grandpas.
"One day, I'll be giving you away and having a father daughter dance, just like this. You've grown up into a fine young lady, Liona. Your mother and I are proud of you, as is the rest of the family."
"May I cut in?" Liona's Grandpa Lionel tapped her dad on the shoulder. He had a sparkle to his eye that she loved seeing. It meant that her grandpa was happy and having fun. She knew this because her dad would often get the same sparkle in his eyes. She was swept up into another dance with her grandpa, so she giggled and let him lead. He was a good dancer, and it reminded her of her childhood where she would dance on his feet when she visited him and her Grandpa Kaito.
"Are you ready for your birthday present, Liona? Your grandpa Asher is eager for you to see his as well, but I got to you first!" He laughed with a deep belly laugh that made her smile.
"Okay! What did you get me, Grandpa Lionel?" She asked eagerly.
"Your birthday gift is getting to leave a lasting legacy on your school. So, when you graduate, you get to introduce the new school uniforms that will be used the next year. You will get to work with your Great-Aunt Raylina to design the new uniform before it's introduced. I've been told that the uniform is very outdated and needs updating every dozen years or so, and you've been very vocal about that…" Her grandpa smiled cheekily at her. Of course, he would know about it, since she whined to all her teachers about it all the time. Nothing in that school got past him, not a single complaint went unaddressed.
"Really?! Oh, my goddess! I'm going to design the best uniforms ever!" She was truly excited to get to do this.
"Hogging our granddaughter, I see! I step out for just a minute, and you sweep her off her feet with that school uniform talk of yours! I think my gift is much better, so I'll be cutting in!" Liona laughed as her Grandpa Asher stole her away from her Grandpa Lionel.
"Your birthday is a special occasion, and you only get one a year. So, this year, after much consideration on what to get you, it took a little effort since we wanted it to be special."
"What did you get me, Grandpa Ash?" Liona eagerly awaited what it was.
"We couldn't bring it with us, but you'll get it when you next visit us. Since you didn't visit for spring break, we hope to see you in the summer and your gift will be waiting for you then." Grandpa Asher teased.