The road stretched ahead, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights as John and Athena drove away from the wedding venue. The rhythmic hum of the Rolls Royce Phantom's engine filled the silence, a comforting backdrop to their thoughts.
Athena leaned back in her seat, kicking off her heels and resting her feet on the dashboard. She let out a dramatic sigh. "If I have to stand for one more hour in these death traps, I might actually die."
John glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You could've just worn something sensible."
Athena snorted. "Sensible doesn't get you compliments, John. And I'm not you—I can't just show up in a tux and steal the show."
John chuckled. "Fair point. Though, let's be honest, you stole the show anyway. Did you see how many people were staring at you?"
"Jealous?" Athena teased, smirking back at him.
"Not really," John replied with a shrug. "It's hard to compete with someone who threatens to steal the groom's thunder."
Athena laughed, the sound light and genuine. "You're not wrong. Poor Aaron probably spent half the night making sure Amy didn't think I was a threat."
John shook his head, his deep gray eyes flickering with amusement. "You really know how to stir things up, don't you?"
"It's a gift," Athena said, stretching her arms over her head. She let the silence settle for a moment before glancing at him again. "So... do you think Aaron and Amy will actually make it?"
John raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question. "What do you mean? They seem solid to me."
"Yeah, but... I don't know," Athena said, her tone softer now. "Marriage is a big deal. People change, things get messy. It's not like a game where you can just reset and try again."
John considered her words, his expression thoughtful. "True. But I think they'll be fine. They've known each other forever, and they genuinely like each other. That's more than most people can say."
Athena nodded, her violet eyes distant for a moment. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
The car fell quiet again, the comfortable silence of two people who didn't need to fill the air with words.
Eventually, Athena broke the quiet, her voice carrying a playful edge. "You know, you're not as bad at this emotional stuff as you pretend to be."
John smirked. "Don't get used to it. I have a reputation to maintain."
Athena laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're such a dork."
They reached the beachside mansion as the clock neared midnight. The house stood like a beacon against the dark sky, its modern design illuminated by strategically placed lights.
John parked the car in the driveway, and they both stepped out, the cool ocean breeze greeting them.
"Home sweet home," Athena said, stretching as she gazed at the mansion.
"Yep," John agreed, locking the car. "And no wedding chaos to deal with."
Athena grinned. "Until Aaron calls you for advice on his honeymoon itinerary."
John groaned. "Don't even joke about that."
Laughing, they walked into the house, the night behind them and their usual, chaotic yet comfortable sibling life waiting inside.
To be continued...