The better you look, the more you see.

Humility is for the ugly.

[queen-tinsley]

This is what she'd always wanted. This was it.

Naive was never a word one could use to describe Tinsley. She'd always been wise and cunning, well beyond her years. It'd been the reason she'd been able to rise to whatever metaphorical ladder was placed in front of her. She was a natural born leader. So you'd think she'd be ready to go into today. One of the most important days of her life.

Stefan was doing it. He was proposing. And yes, she was elated. This is what she wanted. She wanted it since the first day she'd laid eyes on the man. Seeing him for the first time was like if some divine being that taken everything she'd ever wanted in a signifcant other and put it into human form. He was just as cunning as she was, and my god, he was beautiful but he was also sophisticated in a way that no other guy in his age range was. He cared about culture, and sure, he might have been a bit of a playboy— their often makeups and breakups in their younger years having been proof of that but they'd eventually aged out of that.

Committing themselves to each other. That's why she felt terrible today. What was suppose to be one of the best days of her life had rattled her with anxiety. Sure, it'd been her choice to step out of their relationship and give into what feral attraction she'd felt towards the one and only, Holden Deaton but she knew that would never last. It could never. She hated Holden, he'd just been a release for the worst parts of her. And as much as she regretted it and lord knew she did.... especially as she stood in the mirror, the gorgeous Chanel dress she'd gotten with Marina making her look ever the vision in white. She'd needed that release.

Post the reveal of her involvement in what'd happened to Maya— she'd been held on such a short leash. She was to be perfect. The perfect representation of the Chadwell name. A pressure that her siblings no longer had to abide as fiercely. But that wasn't the truth for her. She'd done something terrible and being under the microscopic eye of her family was her penance. That pressure could cause even the toughest of people to eventually snap and that came in the form of indulging her desires for Holden. That thing she was never suppose to admit. Especially as it could and if revealed, would ruin everything between her and the love of her life. A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts, this was happening. Two heads of blonde hair belonging to her siblings, Ade and Keaton were there to ask if she was ready to join the conjuration of people who'd come out for this momentous occasion.

"Yeah, I am." She forced a smile, her eyes meeting those of Ade as she was the sole person who knew of her slip up. Yet another part of this she'd hated, given the close relationship that Stefan and her baby sister had formed in the last couple of years. "I am." Tinsley affirmed them, knowing she would make this up to Ade as well.

Her anxiety and nerves only grew exponentially as she made her entrance to the dinner, thankful to be flacked by both of her siblings by her side. Tinsley said her hellos, the smile only growing bigger as that awful feeling in her gut grew stronger. And there he was, the man of her dreams, looking only ever so much dreamier. "I'm so sorry to keep you waiting." She teased, taking a hold of his hand and intertwining her fingers with his. His mere touch having been enough to stave off the feeling of dread she'd been feeling. This was right. This was exactly where she needed to be. This is where she wanted to be.

The dinner had gone off without a hitch, all the bad thoughts having actually become a whisper at the back of her head as she enjoyed the great food and amazing company that Stefan had gathered that evening. Stefan had soon began to click at his glass and her eyes scanned the crowd for one, Bunny Chadwell. The look they shared being one of knowing. This was it. Her heart started racing as he began to speak, the words meaning more than she could even verbalize. It was the perfect summation of their lives together, from their very beginnings as kids to the life they now shared together. They had always been it for one another. Tears began to well up as she stared at him, how had she gotten so lucky? The man in front of her, he didn't deserve her. But she knew that she would do everything imaginable to be the person he did deserve. He got down to one knee and she felt as if her heart stopped in that moment. The cameras began to flash around them, the sight of the ring not just eliciting a gasp from their guests but from her as well. It was absolutely beautiful. All of this had been.

Then came the question. The world stopped in that moment. There was no doubt in her being that she wanted to be Stefan's wife. This was her destiny and she wasn't going to let a series of bad decisions stop this. She was going to be the best partner in crime, friend and wife to the man in front of her. What happened had happened, and she would atone for it for the rest of her life... but this was it.

"I will."

[thestefmckibbon]

If he was being truthful, Stefan was nervous throughout his proposal, but why? It wasn't as if he hadn't known that Tinsley wouldn't say yes. In fact, her declining his proposal never entered his mind, and yet his stomach had been doing flips from his position on one knee and it didn't still itself until he heard the two words he needed to hear the most - 'I will'. If Stefan had ever beamed as big as he had in that moment then he couldn't recall. All of the nerves were replaced with absolute elation. The cheers and clapping was great (again, attention wasn't something he'd lie about enjoying) but the moment was for he and Tinsley exclusively. Stef made quick work of slipping the engagement ring on Tinsley's finger and kissing his new fiancé.

Immediately after, there was a barrage of conversation and congratulations the two of them tackled together gladly, Stef personally was enjoying every moment of it. As far as he was concerned, this was just the fruits of his labor paying off. Stefan had grown from a careless arrogant boy who wouldn't know how to nurture a healthy relationship if he had step by step instructions to a man who was just as arrogant but only because he earned the right to be and who had a good heart that he fully and freely gave to his bride to be and re-committed to doing so every day. After some time, Stef excused himself and Tinsley so they could have a moment alone together and they retreated to one of the empty rooms upstairs, "You knew, didn't you?" He asked as the doors closed and before she could answer properly, his lips were on hers, "How are you feeling?" This time, he at least gave her the courtesy of moving his lips from hers to her neck so she could speak.

[thestefmckibbon]

After waiting for what seemed like a lifetime of waiting for the right moment, Stefan was convinced that he would have to make the right moment rather than it falling into his lap. If he looked back, he could admit that part of it was stalling - not because he had any doubts about Tinsley being his one, but because he personally had been on a trajectory of transition and for a moment there things felt like they weren't on as much solid ground as he'd thought. He wasn't a quitter and neither was Tinsley because they'd weathered what felt like a million rough patches together and the blonde didn't want to wait any longer on asking Tinsley to be his wife. So the moment he'd decided that he was ready he worked around the clock planning a proposal that may not be perfect but would be perfect for them. Of course, Stef had to go through the proper channels of getting grandmother Chadwell's approval which was the easy part considering the woman loved him (or rather what he represented in her eyes), then Tinsley's parents which was also an easy lay up. The gathering part was a little tougher as Stef wanted to strike a balance between having a proposal intimate enough that it didn't feel like just another Rosewood spectacle, but having an audience large enough to share the moment with (after all, they both loved an audience). Once he'd sat down and written it out, between his friends (his real friends like Amelie, Diego, and Siobhan) and hers plus close family the number akin to a decent sized dinner party provided the perfect excuse to gather.

Stefan of course looked stunning in a custom Kiton Cashmere, wool, and silk Tuxedo in navy blue that was perfectly tailored. The 8.5 carat cushion cut diamond flanked by epaulette side stones in a platinum setting that cost him a little over $1 million was practically burning a hole in the inner pocket of his jacket. Prior to Tinsley's arrival, Stefan had a moment alone where he was able to get out all of his doubts and nervousness allowing him to be the picture of calm once he was out in the main dining area. Everyone there knew what tonight was as they awaited Tinsley's arrival, and Stefan found it helpful for himself to work the room with his effortless charm.

When she walked in finally, Stefan's heart stopped for a moment. As per usual, she surveyed her surroundings with the scrutiny of royalty and he supposed he did a good job as he could see on her stilled features that she was indeed impressed. Marina had nailed her assignment because Tinsley was stunning in an outfit it was only right that she seized to be his girlfriend and transitioned into his fiancée' in. He excused himself from speaking with Bunny's mother and went over to her, "Fashionably late, my love?" He smirked as he kissed her cheek because she arrived right on time, meaning this dinner was one she was looking forward to. For the next 20 minutes or so, things concluded as any large gathering would, then the time for stalling was done and Stefan stood and clinked his glass for the attention of the room. "I'd like to thank everyone for coming out tonight first and foremost. If you are in this room it is because you mean something to myself and Tinsley and that is by design. As most of you know tonight is special and I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for making the cut." A chuckle spread across the room. He was sure Tinsley was confused because she was not a part of that 'most' yet, in fact she was the only one unaware of why they had gathered. He didn't want to lose his nerve or concentration she he didn't looked down and to his side at Tinsley just yet, getting addressing the room out of the way first and foremost to make way for the moment that was to be just for the two of them. One more deep breath in, and Stefan did look down at Tinsley and held his hand out for her to take. Once she did, he walked the two of them a few feet away from where they were seated, in the center of the two massive long tables where their guests resided. It was time.

Stefan's eyes no longer scanned the people in the room but rather they were wholly fixed on the blonde, the love of his life and Stefan, after writing and rewriting what he was going to say threw it all out of the window and spoke from his heart, "For as long as I've know you, you've always been the center of anyone and everyone's attention, it's just inherent to you, so saying that from the moment I met you I couldn't stop thinking about you isn't a unique experience although it is very true. What is unique though is that I felt a pull that we were two incomplete parts of the same picture so I didn't feel the need to pursue you romantically at first, I just wanted to know you. Every conversation we've ever had, even the combative ones where you told me it would never happen only served as confirmation for me somewhere deep down, I never panicked about you because in my mind I knew we'd be in each other's lives, it just felt that inherent to who I was. We grew together first as friends, then more once you came to your senses and stopped fighting fate." More subdued laughter, but it barely registered to Stefan, so absorbed in committing her to memory. "Baby, I'm so proud of us, we've grown as not the people anyone thinks we should be but as ourselves and we've grown together even when it was hard you never gave up on me and I never gave up on you and I never will, which is why…" Stefan let go of Tinsley's hands then and reached into his suit pocket, producing the velvet box and got one knee then opened it. Cameras flashed (of course he hired a professional photographer) and the people in the room gasped at the ring which was pleasing because of course this was their night, envy was to be inspired - Stefan was in love, not common. "Which is why what I knew on a primal level all of those years ago what solidified as we built this life together, that you and I were made for each other and there isn't a woman in this world that I could give my love to other than you - it's always belonged to you. So, Tinsley Randolph Chadwell will you move into the next phase of our inevitable amazing life together, rule the world as my partner for forever and always and become my wife? Will you marry me?" @queen-tinsley

[theaestheticmodels]

[adeline-chadwell]

Stefan didn't need her to tell him that her family operate like that, otherwise they wouldn't have paid her to go away. Oddly enough she didn't resent them for it, not as much as she could anyway, as getting out of Rosewood did allow her more room to come into her own. What him and Tinsley did for her though, that was the kind of family she wanted, and it came as a comfort knowing her and her siblings could potentially break the cycle. She shook her head, "It's not pathetic. It's good to like what you do, and that you're committing yourself to a cause, that's very sweet." Her tone was teasing a bit but she meant every word of it. "Collecting things, like what? Don't tell me you're a sneaker guy. I can recommend you some stuff, if you want. I doubt we have the same tastes but I can try."

[thestefmckibbon]

Adeline's capacity to forgive and not resent was much greater than Stefan's. There was a time where if his father turned a new leaf and wanted to be the dad he'd always needed instead of the monster who hated him for existing, Stefan would have accepted him with open arms. But after striving to be loved, then if not loved respected and still getting rejected at every turn in the most cruel ways possible all Stefan wanted to do was beat his father, prove that he could do what he did but better, not just in business but in family and general humanity. He wanted his father to witness his son's dominance and that resentment fueled Stefan - Succession didn't have shit on the McKibbons. "Sweet is crazy, but hey I'll take it, I've been called a lot worse." Stef snorted, "Sneakers? Do I look like some kind of teenage hybe beast? Please. I have a watch collection I'm very proud of, suits as well. I'm actually pretty into fashion, I believe looking good is timeless as are certain pieces of clothing. All that being said, I have a pretty good collection of sneakers, I just don't collect them, I wear them. So what kind are you into, difference in preference aside. Let me guess...you're a fan of New Balance, am I right?"

[adeline-chadwell]

"No no, it's fine. I wasn't trying to get defensive. I like blunt." It reminded her of Benitez, who never minced his words either, and he was one of her favorite people. She shook her head, "I just meant you and Tins caught me at a bad time, obviously, and I'm super grateful for that. Just don't think I made a great first impression is all. I like to draw," she said though he probably gathered that already from all the hours she spent hunched over a sketchbook in their apartment. "And paint, whether that's on canvas or people, like with makeup. What about you? Or is it all just work and my sister?," she teased.

[thestefmckibbon]

"In your defense you didn't exactly catch us at the perfect time either so don't think that any awkwardness initially was all on you. But I'm told that's what family does, and it's the kind of family we're just going to have to create ourselves." And it was true, Adeline showed back up when Stef was being pushed out of a company that was all but his birth right and while they were both dealing with the consequences of Tinsley's actions in high school and Stef's decision to stick beside her regardless if he agreed that she had been completely wrong in her doings and coverup. "Well I'm sure this is going to sound pathetic but I really do enjoy my work. Now more than ever since my friend Diego showed me the value of philanthropy. Beyond that though, I like to travel and enjoy collecting certain things. Truth be told I never explored arts or music or anything like that."

[adeline-chadwell]

"Pretty much. I think it could go either way for me too, so we'll see. Oh wow, okay." Adeline laughed though she didn't mind being put on the spot as much as she thought she might. It was still a loaded question. "I'm not in survival mode... that's very observant," she teased, then shrugged, "I have people I care about. Tins, Keaton, my friends. I'm into art and music and movies. I was never gonna jump off a building or anything, let's get that clear."

[thestefmckibbon]

"Sorry I'm not trying to give you the 3rd degree just curious I guess. And blunt, that part I could never really help. And I misspoke, I meant that you aren't, which I observed wasn't exactly the case when you first arrived on our doorstep." He shrugged, connecting with people sans drugs and alcohol always being a challenge for Stef who maybe had never made a good first impression outside of a boardroom in his life. "Is you jumping off of a building something people thought you would do before or something? I was just wanting to know what motivates you. Makes shit interesting for you, otherwise you're just walking through life bored and shit."

[adeline-chadwell]

"I mean, maybe." There was a time when she would've shut the thought down completely, just as she rejected every other traditional expectation placed on her. Now she figured she could do those things on her own terms if she wanted to, have a family of her own some day. "I think that depends who I'm with, and what we decide is important. 'Cause that's a two person decision you know, but I'm not opposed to it."

[thestefmckibbon]

Stefan nodded and chuckled, Adeline's disposition a funny one, "So in other words you can take it or leave it pretty much. Funny enough I can't really get a clear picture of you in either scenario so guess we'll just see how it goes. What do you care about then? I mean I don't know you all that well but I have eyes and doesn't really seem like you have to stay in survival mode anymore so what's doing it for you in life, making it worthwhile and shit?"

[adeline-chadwell]

"Could you bring it up before dinner," Ade suggested with a shrug. "Or if it's really just because, you could tell her that. Make it clear there's no correlation there. My sister is a lot of things but she's also a romantic."

[thestefmckibbon]

"Yeah she is - and I have to admit sometimes work really does give me tunnel vision but I can't drop the ball right. Whose says you can't have it all." He grinned, "What about you, do you plan on getting married some day - house and kids and all of that." He was pretty sure she was single but you didn't always have to have the right person to know what you wanted. Hell, it was the opposite of Stef - he desired none of that until he'd gotten together with Tinsley and fell in love with her.

[adeline-chadwell]

"Well yeah I wouldn't think so, my family loves you. Oh thanks," she chuckled. Funny enough it wasn't Stefan she immediately wondered about but her sister, curious if the time she caught her red-handed in a bathroom stall was just a one-off or if it'd been more. Maybe they had some kind of arrangement though, she didn't know. "No, that all makes sense. I might even lead with the closet space, I think that's way bigger a priority for her than passive income."

[thestefmckibbon]

Stef couldn't have been more oblivious to whatever indiscretion Tinsley had made behind his back. Infidelity on either of their parts was the farthest thing from his mind for better or worse, "You may be right about that. Anyway I think I'll just talk to her about it whenever she gets home, rip the band-aid off you know. I was thinking about cooking dinner for her tonight too though and I don't want it to seem like I'm doing it just to butter her up or something. It's just because you know?"

[adeline-chadwell]

She hummed in thought a second, "I'll take least scary Chadwell." Well, second to Keaton maybe, who didn't have a single intimidating bone in his body. Per his revelation Ade weighed her choice in words carefully, not wanting to draw any conclusions about their relationship. "And you think she'll be offended by that?" He seemed to be anticipating that at least, and they both knew her sister. "As long as you tell her and it's not something you do behind her back I think she'll understand. Or at least come around on it."

[thestefmckibbon]

"No no not scary, intimidating. I am not one of those weak willed people who see a name and fear strikes my heart. I forgot about Keaton though, yeah you're above him, so you've got that going for you." The delay in response and almost apprehensive tone she took confused Stef for a moment then it dawned on him that the motion sounded suspect, "Maybe yeah but it's purely because I want to be closer to work so on those really late nights I can lay my head down like that if need be." He snapped his fingers, "i don't want her to make any assumptions, she's been known to jump to rash conclusions, I don't have to tell you that, right? The condo will still be ours technically I just imagine I'd use it a lot more than she would. And if I find that I'm not utilizing it as much I'll rent it out as an AirBnb or something, just another stream of passive income. How's that for a pitch? Because if she's still not feeling it I'll remind her it just means more closet space or storage for her accessories and clothes and that'll do it."

[adeline-chadwell]

Her eyes narrowed, daring him to say more, and then she admitted, "It's not even mid-July yet, and I know about sunscreen. I use plenty of it. Why, bored without me?" She was kidding obviously but she knew Tinsley missed having her around as much. "My place is good. It's nice to be a little removed from all of it- not from you and Tins, but, you know. Set boundaries."

[thestefmckibbon]

"You strike no fear in my heart. As far as Chadwells go, you fall pretty low on the intimidation scale. " He shrugged, "It's still hot as fuck outside, but whatever I'm not the one flirting with tipping the Casper scale." Stefan loved his brother more than anyone else in his small family but even he didn't think he could stand living with him for an extended period of time, helping him run his bar and meeting up a few times a week was enough. "Say no more, I get it. I didn't mind having you but space is good. I'm actually looking into buying a condo right now. Tinsley doesn't know yet but I'm glad you agree with the sentiment in case she isn't keen on the idea initially."

[adeline-chadwell]

As grateful as she was for Stefan and Tinsley's hospitality, their apartment saw some of her worst moods. Not to any fault of their's of course but it was a weird time for her, with their family, and Ainsley, just adjusting to the being back in Rosewood of it all. She thought she was doing much better now, living on her own and as a more fully realized version of herself. "Oh, yeah, this is on purpose," she said with no offense taken. "I don't want to look eighty when I'm sixty."

[thestefmckibbon]

"That shade is on purpose...?" Stefan made a motion to zip his lips, following the 'if you have nothing nice to say' rule... "Well you are fortunate enough that at the very least, the shade doesn't look the worst on you, but sunscreen exists for a reason. "How are you liking your place? No regrets?" He asked as he pulled a joint from behind his ear and blindly reached underneath him for the lighter he tucked near his lounge chair.

[s-hawkins]

"Yes, my man, my man, my man." Siobhan said with a playful roll of her eyes. "And I'm going to make sure you never forget it." She let him know with a laugh. "Get out of here. That's a dream come true to many." She said, with a flip of her hair as she knew that she was many of people's dream girl. "You sure as hell don't." She let him know, poking at his arm teasingly.

[thestefmckibbon]

"If I didn't know any better I'd say that you drag it a little bit to remind yourself that you and I can never be. Maybe once upon a time a hate fuck would have been really hot, especially with that whole good girl in the streets southern bell thing, but I'm a faithful man. You missed your opportunity." Stefan would never tire of ruffling Siobhan's feathers with that particular narrative, hell he didn't even believe it to be true, just enjoyed fucking with her, "The heat makes you violent. Maybe we should go inside. I think I hit my sun limit for the day."

[s-hawkins]

"And they are allowed to be sick of it, just like I'm allowed to continue to express my love for my man." Siobhan let him know with a shrug, as she was way past the age of caring what others thought. "It's not always easy." She said, as it hadn't been. "There's been many moments where Kid's fame has certainly drove us to some disagreements, but he does a really amazing job of reminding me that no matter what, at the end of the day, no matter where he is... I'm the first and last person he talks." Siobhan said, with a scrunch of her nose as she never spoke of her relationship in great detail with Stefan but that was the truth. Kid always put her first, and she certainly did the same for him. "Did you just call me a maid? Don't get too comfortable, McKibbon." She asked him, bringing her fan right up to her face as his penance.

[thestefmckibbon]

Stefan chuckled if only because he had a sneaking suspicion that it would probably never change that the fastest way to get Siobhan to go from zero to 100 is to come for her relationship. "My man, my man, my man..." He grinned momentarily, but listened intently all the same, "Sounds like a nightmare. He must be a strong guy. And no, I called you an old maid - a very big difference. I don't want those kinds of problems, Hawkins."

[adeline-chadwell]

With a slight purse of her lips she shrugged. "You know us Chadwells. Always discreet." Or maybe he didn't know but that wasn't something she could really burden her conscious with right now. "Just a little," she laughed, "Or, okay, I take it back, I see it now. You're a perfectly acceptable shade of bronze." She gave it a second then added, "Matches your hair."

[thestefmckibbon]

People changed and knew that, hell if any of them were the same people they were 5 years ago that would be profoundly tragic, but there were multiple reasons that even after co-habituating under the same roof for some time, Stef didn't know much about Adeline and vice versa aside from what he'd gotten from Tinsley and the shitty comments their grandmother would make, (perks of being an acceptable candidate for marriage in the eyes of the Chadwell matriarch). "Thank you, all I ask for is honesty. You should get some though. I wouldn't go as far as pale, but your tone is saying I've been inside for a while."

[s-hawkins]

"I'm glad you know just how big a deal that is." Siobhan found herself laughing, the man in front of her could be called a lot of things but boring was certainly not one of them. "Well, I didn't exactly refer to him as perfect, I called him a perfectionist but... he is perfect actually. So yeah, both apply." She let Stefan know, as Kid had been perfect to her. Hence why they'd lasted this long and it didn't appear that'd be changing any time soon. She loved him just as much, if not more with every passing year. "You're welcome. I mean, you're one of my oldest... friends? that I've had here in Rosewood— we've got to look out for one another, old man." Siobhan nodded, a small smile on her features. "That's damn right."

[thestefmckibbon]

"Disgustingly, but as a member of the perfect partner club I won't do too much, just know that the world is sick of it. Actually on a serious note, how does that feel, your relationship in the spotlight 24/7 like that. That's got to be a lot of pressure. Fans can be fucking nuts and your guy has a lot of them." Stefan let out a chuckle, finding it amusing that Siobhan was just as bewildered that the label of 'friend' applied to the two of them, "If I'm an old man, then you're an old maid, so is that really the game you want to play with me, Hawkins?"

[adeline-chadwell]

"Is that how it works? I'm pretty sure my spot down there's secured," Ade joked. "At least the sun's out, it could be hot and raining, and you could use the color."

[thestefmckibbon]

Stef let out a chuckle, "You're not as much of a wild child as I would have thought, that or you're very good at being sneaky. Which is it?" Stef frowned slightly, "I couldn't imagine hot and raining. That may actually be what it's like in hell...which is exactly where you can go talking about I can use the color, my skin is perfectly sun kissed. Take it back."