49 | ☕ Double Trouble and Wedding Hustle ☕ #2
Her gaze shifted to Colette, who was still lying on the plush play mat, her eyes following Anya's every move like she was trying to figure out what was going on. The stare was so intense that Anya had to bite back a laugh.
"I know," she said to the little girl. "You want a piece of the action too. Just give me a minute."
Zion hiccupped and quieted, his gaze finally relaxing into a more contented stare as he nuzzled closer. It wasn't long before he was latched onto the bottle, his tiny hands holding it awkwardly.
Colette, meanwhile, seemed to be having an existential crisis of her own, her big eyes narrowing as if she were contemplating something far more profound than a few ounces of formula. Anya wasn't sure what was going through her daughter's head, but she could almost hear her thoughts:
I will not be ignored.
Zion finished his bottle, giving a soft burp, and Anya shifted him to her other arm as she reached for Colette, scooping her up. She cradled both babies now—one in each arm—like the pro she was becoming, though it still felt a little surreal.
"Look at you two," Anya murmured to them, her voice thick with love and exhaustion. "You're both so... so demanding already. At this rate, I'm gonna need a personal assistant just to keep up."
As she carefully rocked them, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror across the room. The bags under her eyes were still there, her robe a little too loose around her waist, but she didn't mind. Not when she looked at them—Zion and Colette, who were everything.
Atlas had finally gone back to work—just for a few hours, he'd said. "To catch up on things," he claimed.
Anya didn't protest too much. He needed the distraction, and so did she. Besides, she was adjusting. Slowly, but adjusting.
Atlas was most definitely not catching up on work.
Instead, Atlas found himself in his office, sitting behind his desk with papers scattered in front of him. The dim glow of the desk lamp highlighted his furrowed brow as he meticulously went through the details of the wedding he was planning with Anya.
His fingers moved deftly, circling items on a list, making notes, and crossing out things that were no longer necessary.
His mind was consumed by the to-do lists, venue arrangements, and seating plans.
But beneath the meticulousness was an undercurrent of joy—this was a celebration, a commitment to the woman who had turned his world upside down in the best way possible.
The door to his office creaked open, and Kaia walked in, a sly grin on her face as she leaned against the doorframe. "You planning for a wedding or an international summit?" she teased, her eyes glancing at the array of wedding magazines and spreadsheets spread across the desk.
Atlas sighed, rubbing his temples. "It feels like a summit sometimes. There's so much to consider. But... I want it to be perfect for her."
Kaia arched an eyebrow, crossing the room to drop a bottle of water onto his desk. "Perfect for Anya? Or perfect for you?"
He shot her a wry smile. "Both. But mostly for her. This is... huge. I don't want to screw it up."
Kaia leaned back in the chair across from him, folding her arms. "Relax, big guy. You've got this. You're Atlas. The man who can manage a global empire, but panics over flower arrangements. It's cute."
He chuckled, finally looking up from his notes. "It's not about the flowers. It's about getting everything right. I want Anya to feel like she's the only person in the world, like everything around her was made with her in mind."
Kaia softened a bit, her grin fading into something warmer. "You're a mess, Atlas, but in the best way. I get it. You love her."
He nodded, the weight of his feelings evident in the depth of his gaze. "I do. I've never been more sure of anything in my life. She's... everything."
With a sigh, Kaia leaned back, running a hand through her hair. "Okay, then. Let's make sure this wedding lives up to all that. But seriously, maybe ease up on the spreadsheets, yeah? You'll drive yourself mad."
Atlas smiled, the lines of tension on his face relaxing just slightly. "I just want everything to be perfect. I want it to be a celebration of us... everything we've been through. All of it. This isn't just another event, Kaia. This is... us, starting something new."
Kaia met his gaze, her eyes softening with understanding. "I get it. And I'm here. We're all here. You're not doing this alone."
He nodded gratefully. "I know. Thank you."
As she stood up, heading toward the door, Kaia threw one last look over her shoulder. "Now, stop stressing about the little things. Anya won't care if the napkins are the exact shade of ivory you've been obsessing over."
As the door clicked shut behind Kaia, Atlas took a moment, staring at the papers in front of him.
But it wasn't the lists or the logistics that mattered.
It was what all of this represented—the next chapter of his life with Anya.
The wedding would be a beautiful day, yes, but it was the promise of a lifetime together that truly made this moment significant.
He leaned back in his chair, allowing himself to picture her again—her smile, her laugh, the way her eyes softened when she looked at him.
He smiled softly, the weight of the world somehow a little lighter, knowing that, no matter how chaotic the planning might get, they were going to be okay. He would make sure of it.
It was official. The wedding was now entirely Atlas's creation—at least, technically.
After all, he'd taken over every detail, obsessing over every aspect like it was a top-secret project that could never go wrong.
And, truth be told, the amount of care and dedication he put into it made Anya's heart swell with appreciation, even if she couldn't always keep up with his perfectionist tendencies.
But in the chaos of it all, Kaia had managed to sneak in little Kaia touches, of course.
She was, after all, Kaia—the one who couldn't leave well enough alone, the friend who would definitely show up with extra confetti in her purse just to make sure the celebration felt lively.
She had taken it upon herself to subtly influence the details in her own unique way.
A quirky decoration here, a cheeky suggestion there—nothing too extravagant, but enough to give the whole event a signature Kaia twist.
While Atlas was laser-focused on making sure everything fit perfectly into place, down to the last inch of ribbon on the chairs, Kaia was quietly contributing the extra touches that made the whole thing feel personal, fun, and a little unpredictable.
And honestly? It made everything feel just a bit more like their group—full of love, chaos, and a tiny bit of mischief.
Atlas, ever the planner, had insisted on taking charge of everything himself.
No florists, no caterers, no wedding planners—just him, his thoughts, and a very detailed notebook full of hand-drawn diagrams and carefully thought-out spreadsheets.
He wasn't about to leave anything to chance.
Not for Anya. He would not stand for any of the uncertainties that could come with planning something as important as this.
Every detail had been analysed with precision.
The flowers were handpicked. The music playlists—each song carefully chosen to convey a certain emotion.
The timeline was down to the minute, ensuring that everything would go off without a hitch.
The colour scheme was muted pastels, with soft pinks, gentle blues, and flashes of gold—colours that seemed serene, calm, and ageless, just like her.
Atlas chose these hues because they reflected Anya's kind spirit and the quiet strength she carried with her every day.
He did not want anything loud or overpowering, simply something that reflected her beauty and grace.
Every shade was carefully chosen to create a serene and elegant ambiance around them as they swore to love each other for the rest of their lives.
He had even chosen the venue with a quiet reverence, a secluded garden tucked away from the bustle of the world.
It was a place with ivy-covered trellises and old stone pathways that seemed to hum with ancient romance.
The venue felt like it belonged in a fairy-tale—a place where time slowed down, and everything faded into the background except the love between two people.
The garden was private, intimate, and magical, with wildflowers peeking out from every corner, as if nature itself had decided to bless the union.
But then, the Kaia factor came into play.
No matter how hard Atlas tried to keep everything under control, Kaia's personality had a way of slipping into the cracks, adding an unexpected flair to the proceedings.
Her subtle interference was like a splash of vibrant colour on a canvas Atlas had tried to keep simple.
There was the addition of twinkling fairy lights in the trees that Atlas had initially deemed "too whimsical," or the small table of cupcakes (with tiny edible flowers) that Kaia had insisted would "add a bit of fun" to the dessert spread.
And let's not forget the perfectly timed confetti cannon that went off the second the couple said their vows, to which Atlas had groaned, knowing full well Kaia was behind it.
It started innocently enough. One day, Kaia barged into his office with a tray full of cupcakes.
"Okay, first of all, you need to relax," she said, setting the tray down in front of him. "I get it, you're planning the most important day of your life, but you're about to burn out. Let me help!"
Atlas narrowed his eyes, the glow of his computer screen reflecting in his tired eyes. "I'm fine," he signed, clearly exhausted but unwilling to admit he was slowly cracking under the weight of it all.
Kaia's grin grew wider as she picked up a cupcake. "Right. Totally fine. Just like you're definitely not overthinking every little detail." She raised an eyebrow. "But seriously, you need to take a break. I promise, I won't change your precious vision."
Atlas glanced at the tray and signed skeptically, "You already have ideas."