Family Moments: Part 1
Notes: Before reading: read these notes on the characters. Length: 2,341 words (I got carried away...) Warnings: None, other than my horrible writing lol. Kind of proof read. Ship: OC x reader Published: January 20th, 2025 Outfit moodboard: here Summary: Join the Alder family as the wife of a doting husband and three wonderful daughters through all the trials that come through being a family, the journeys ahead, and all the love that comes with them.
I sighed as sirens came on behind me, looking in the rear-view mirror to see an all too familiar cop car as I pulled over onto the shoulder of the road and stopped. I watched as the tall silhouette of my husband got out of the cruiser and walked over to my door, knocking on my window softly before I rolled it down, Mark leaning against the door to be eye-level with me in the car. "Hey, Angel. Would you mind gettin' that license and registration for me?"
I rolled my eyes while grabbing the documents from the glove box and handing them to him. "Really, Honey, now?" Mark smiled as there was a yell of "Daddy!" from the back seat from our youngest, Evangeline. "I don't know what you're talkin' about, Princess. I'm just doin' my job. You were going five miles over the speed limit back there, and with our precious little girls in the back, too," he gestured to our daughters in the backseat—Lorelai, our oldest at 15, Andronica, 9, and of course, Evangeline, our 5-year-old who was straining to look at her father through the window.
I groan, leaning my head into the headrest. "Mark, Honey, we live in South Carolina. Everyone goes five miles over the speed limit." I finally meet his eyes as Mark leans through the window to peck the corner of my lips. "I know, Babygirl, I'm jokin'." He kissed me again before looking back at the girls. "So, do you mind tellin' me where you are goin' after takin' the girls out of school early?"
I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows at him. He wasn't actually serious, right? He was just joking. "You're kidding, right?" I watch as Mark's face switched from amusement to genuine confusion. "Kiddin' about what, Babygirl?"
I couldn't believe him. "The trip? The Disney one you helped plan? The trip I have been telling you to pack for? Did you actually forget? Are you even packed?" I watched as Mark's face fell with horror. Evangeline spoke up from the back, her voice sad. "What? Daddy forgot the trip?" Mark stumbled to save himself as he looked at her. "No, Baby. Daddy didn't forget. He's just messin' ya, alright? He's heading home with you guys right now to finish packin'."
I had to fight the urge to laugh as he sent me a panicked look, running back to his cruiser and following us back to our house before running inside, the girls and I following behind him.
"Girls, go make sure your bags are packed and that you have everything you want to take. Bring them down when you are down so Mark can pack them into the back of the car." I look at Lorelai. "Make sure you have your ID and cash for stuff you want." I watched my oldest as she nodded before going upstairs. "Yes, ma'am."
When all the girls were upstairs, finishing their last bit of packing, I grabbed their loungeflies and started packing them for the car ride to Orlando. Snacks, gum for the older two, books, chargers, hair ties, sunglasses, liquid IVs, and I filled their water bottles with ice water before they came back downstairs, towing their suitcases to the entryway for Mark to put them in the trunk, and grabbing their backpacks before going out to sit in the car.
Once Mark finally got downstairs, wearing a cream knit polo and khaki shorts with his duffel bag in hand, I was leaning against the counter, sipping at my own water. "Took you long enough." I watch my husband set down the duffel and walk over to kiss my cheek, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Yeah, I know, mama. I'm sorry I didn't listen and pack my bag earlier. Can you forgive me, babygirl?" I hum before turning my head to kiss him quickly. "I forgive you, baby. Now, can you take the bags and put them in the trunk because you love me?" Mark chuckled before kissing my forehead, then my cheek, before letting me go to start grabbing the bags. "Sure, babygirl."
When Mark had fully packed the bags into the trunk, he climbed into the front seat, buckling himself in before grabbing my hand and gently kissing the back of it, his warm lips lingering on my skin as he looked at me lovingly from his seat, before a cry of 'EW!' came from the girls in the back, specifically Evangeline and Lorelai while Mark simply chuckled, putting the car into drive and pulling out of the driveway.
The seven-hour drive to Orlando was calm. I was asleep, Lorelai was doing whatever on her phone, Andronica was reading some chapter book she had managed to get her hands on, and Evengeline was sitting in her carseat, looking out the window, going between talking to her Winnie the Pooh stuffie and playing I spy with Mark. Apart from the occasional bathroom breaks and snack stops, we had made good enough time to make it to the Riviera before eight o'clock, just in time to freshen up before heading to the Polynesian for our dinner reservation.
Mark went in first to grab the room key before helping the girls and I grab our suitcases from the trunk to take them up to our room-a suit on one of the top floors of the Riviera hotel.
Once we were in the hotel, we helped Lorelai and Andronica get settled into the bedroom with two beds, Evangeline playing with her plushy on the murphy bed while I get ready in the bathroom, Mark unpacking our clothes. I refreshed my makeup, took care of my hair, and got dressed into a simple, comfortable Disney-bound outfit: a cream coloured shirt and a coral skirt, holding a pair of brown sandal wedge heels in my hand. I walk out into the master bedroom, leaning against Mark's side, my cheek against his strong arm. "Mark, honey, would you mind helping me?" I held my shoes out to him, letting my husband take the shoes and kneel in front of me, placing one of my feet on his thigh as he kissed my ankle before helping me put on the wedges. "Sure, princess. Whatever you need."
Mark's hands were gentle as they slipped my feet into the shoes, carefully clasping the straps around my ankles before standing back up to pull me against him, kissing me gently. His hands slowly caressed over my back as we stood there for a moment, his forehead resting against mine before he pecks my cheek, then my lips, before letting me go as Lorelai walked in. Her wavy black hair that she had inherited from her father was pulled back into a low bun, and her outfit was similar to mine: a white tank top, a brown skort that reached her mid-thighs, a coral coloured cardigan and white sneakers.
The fifteen-year-old walked over, wrapping her arms around me while laying her head on my shoulder, letting me hold her in my arms. "Hi, Lora." Lorelai hummed quietly, swaying with me gently. "Hi, mama." We stood there for a moment, just hugging each other as Mark kissed me and the top of Lorelai's head before going to help Evangeline get ready to go. "Is everything okay?" Lorelai nodded slightly. "Mhm. Just hungry." I make a gentle sound of agreement, running my hand over the hair soothingly. "I understand that. As long as you're okay. I love you." Lorelai finally stood straight, kissing my cheek. "I love you too."
The drive to the Polynesian was quiet. Disney songs played quietly through the speakers while Mark held my hand in his, holding it against his lips while he drove, humming slightly to "You'll Be Here in My Heart". Occasionally, Mark would press his lips against the skin of my hand, letting the kiss linger for a moment before going back to humming against it, his warm breath fanning over my flesh.
Inside the resort, it was calm. Quiet Polynesian music playing in the background woth a few people loitering in the lobby, talking quietly to each other as we walked to the Ohana resturant, Mark's hand a steady weight in mine as he walked up to the hostess.
"Hey, reservation for five, Mark Alder."
The hostess looked through the reservations on the screens in front of her, finding Mark's name.
"There you are Mr. Alder." She grabbed five menus-a mix of normal menus and kids menus for the littles-and lead us to our table, setting the menus in front of us as she took our drink orders. Evangeline sat beside me and exclaimed happily at the Lilo smoothie-a smoothie of strawberry and chocolate-saying she wanted that one, while Andronica shyly told the waitress she would like the coconut and pineapple Stitch smoothie before going back to her colouring beside Mark. Lorelai looked over the drink menu before simply ordering a water with me and Mark.
I watched Mark as the waitress walked away, seeing him look at the beer selection. He smiles at me gently, taking my hand as he kisses my temple with a softness that bordered on reverence. "Only lookin', my love. You know I don't drink that no more."
I hum, playing with his fingers gently as I lean into him, looking up into his dark brown eyes, love and sadness shining in my own. "I know, hon. Just making sure. I don't want to ever see you like that again." Mark pecks my lips gently before wrapping his free arm around my shoulders in a warm hug.
The dinner eating itself was slightly chaotic. The older two girls were more than happy to dig into the delicious food with us, listening to the live music while watching the fireworks from Magic Kingdom through the windows. Evangeline, on the other hand, was more cautious, her picky eater tendencies on full display as me and Mark gently try to coax her into eating. Nothing seemed to work. We had offered treats, cotton candy, a bubble wand, an extra dessert or drink as reward for eating the food. It wasn't until Mark suggested she eat for a baby stuffed animal from Animal Kingdom that she had been eyeing since our last trip that she finally allowed us to put a few shrimp, small pieces of chicken, noodles, and a few vegetables on her plate, promising her whatever stuffed plushy she wanted if she ate most of the plate.
By the end of the meal, everyone's stomach were full, Evangeline having had second helpings of the noodles with most of her vegetables and shrimp pushed off to the side, but she had done it.
Evangeline yawned, letting Mark pick her up to carry her to the car in his arms as I hold Andronica's hand while she quietly tells me about the story she had been reading on the drive down to Florida, the nine-year-old making extra sure to step over every crack in the sidewalk while she spoke. Lorelai walked beside me, paying attention to her little sister's perspective on the book, asking her questions about it before helping her into the car.
Mark set Evangeline into her seat, letting Lorelai buckle her in before he grabbed the handle of the car door before I could, opening it for me before helping me into the black Escalade, buckling me in before kissing my fingers and walking around the car, getting into the driver's seat.
Back in the hotel room, the routine was slow. Mark helped Evangeline get changed and ready for bed while I braided Andronica's long, beautifully wavy darkly coloured brown hair she had inherited from Mark's father, her eyes already drooping tiredly while Evangeline babbled to her daddy about all the things she wanted to do and see tomorrow in the parks.
Lorelai got out of the bathroom, kissing my cheek as she got into bed, wearing pajama pants and a hoodie, getting comfortable as we got Andy and Eva into their own beds, kissing them good night before heading into our own room and closing the door.
I stood in front of the mirror, humming gently to "So This Is Love" from Cinderlla, dressed in a soft satin night set as Mark hugged me from behind, kissing the nape of my neck as we start swaying to my quiet singing, Mark joining in with his own scratchy purr as he forehead rested against my back.
When we finished, his hand slowly run up and down my sides as I do my skincare, doing Mark's after every step as we relaxed. "Hey, beautiful." I smile at him gently in the mirror as I moisturize his face. "Hello, handsome." I run my hand over his stubble gently and hum as my fingers brush over his jaw. "You need to shave." My husband chuckles gently as he feels his own face, feeling the prickly facial hair. "You're probably right." He leaned down, pressing his face into the crook of my neck to press a kiss to the side of my throat, running his hands over my arms.
"I'll shave tomorrow before we head to the park." I hum in agreement, relaxed in his arm as I lean against him. Mark raised his head, looking at my face with a loving expression. "You're so pretty. How on Earth did I pull you of all people?" I giggle as he kisses me sweetly, his lips lingering against mine. "Thank you, my love."
We stood there for a moment longer, relaxing against each other before Mark picks me up in a bridal carry and lays me on the bed, getting in to lay beside me and pulling the blankets around us before wrapping me in his arms again, my head against his chest, listening to the strong heart beat beneath my ear as his hand rests on the back of my head, kissing my hair while we drifted off to sleep.
"I love you, babygirl. Night."
"Night, baby. I love you too.
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