Ten thousand feet in the air, the British Air flew and was close to landing. It had announced all the SOP before it landed with a certain Addison DiLaurentis, dressed as her twin Kenna Montgomery, was seated nervously in first class looking out the carob fibre window taking in the sights that was London, England.
"Okay, this is it," she sat back from looking out the window, letting out a long nervous sigh. "Oh, god, I hope she likes me. Please like me," she chanted clasping her fingers together in a kind of prayer, shutting her eyes.
The plane descended and finally it landed. The cabin doors were open and people started pouring out. Addison immediately grabbed her small purse – her only carry and exited along with the other passengers. She entered the terminal amidst the continuous stream of people coming and going. Since she was so small, a bit petite to be exact, she could hardly see through the tall bodies surrounding her. Spotting a row of benches, she quickly went over to them and clambered over one which gave her a better view of the airport terminal. She looked around and was trying to look for any familiar face (from the pictures her sister showed her) when she heard a woman calling out her 'name.'
"Kenna!"
She whirled around and saw a tall, dark skinned woman with brown hair in ripped blue skinny jeans, and a white band tee with a jean jacket, holding a small bouquet of flowers in her hand. This is it! She thought and immediately called out in her best English accent (without sounding overly dramatic),
"Aunt Emily!"
Emily was ecstatic at the sight of her niece and she immediately hugged her tightly and handed her the bouquet. She hugged her back just as tight – Addison DiLaurentis too was ecstatic to get to know the aunt her twin kept babbling on about.
"Missed you." Emily said after letting go of her.
"Missed you," she answered, looking at her longingly and smiling at her aunt in excitement.
Emily appeared to be studying the new look of her niece, "What did you do to your hair?" she asked which proved that she was.
"Cut it, do you like it?" Addison felt apprehensive, her aunts face didn't really seem to register that she was pleased with the haircut but she was proven wrong when she smiled.
"I love it! It's the new you!" Emily gushed, "And you had your ear pierced!" she noted as she carried her down from the chair, "Give me five, kid," she said, putting her hand out.
Addison was stunned for a second but quickly recovered when she remembered that this was supposed to be their 'secret handshake'. Gathering her wits about, she quickly put the bouquet on the chair and shook her aunts hand which started their 'secret handshake'. She let out a quick sigh of relief when she managed to do it and then they were off!
The Rolls-Royce they rode took Addison throughout all of the nice sights of London and she couldn't help but roll down her window and stick her head out...just like an American tourist.
"This is so amazing!" she gushed as she put her head back in the vehicle.
"Eight weeks at camp and you act like an American tourist." Emily joked, stroking her niece's hair.
"That's what camps for silly. It makes us appreciate home." Addison quickly covered up.
The car suddenly passed by Buckingham Palace which caught the attention of the young girl. She gasped and stared until they passed it while her aunt chuckled at her.
The car turned a corner in Regent's Park and drove through a row of elegant looking houses. It pulled up in front of the house numbered seven and the driver got out and opened the door for Addison before tending the luggage.
"Home again." The driver greeted Addison and she smiled at him and said thanks.
"This is it," she muttered to herself opening the black iron gate, "Number 7 Pembroke Lane..." and looked up to see a window with the white billowing curtains – she supposed it was her mother's room. Gathering her courage, she walked across the tiled path, up the stone steps and opened the dark wood door to the threshold of her mother. She was amazed by what she saw, the curved staircase in front of her, the living room to her right and the drawing room beyond that.
"Hello?" she called out. Upon hearing no answer, Addison quickly went over to the living room and paused for a while to see a cloth with the words WELCOME HOME KENNA artistically inscribed on it before heading to the austere drawing room and she saw two women in there, one sitting at the desk on a laptop, with brown hair, brown eyes and an oval shaped face and one on the arm chair by the window, a pretty blond with blue eyes, reading a magazine.
"Aunt Spencer? Aunt Hanna?" she asked tentatively. The two women's heads snapped up to look at her as they both smiled big happy smiles and got up to greet her. "I'm home..."
"Kenna? Your home!" Spencer exclaimed in an excited voice while walking up to her niece and hugging her tightly.
"Yes," she answered her breathlessly, "I'm home," she said as she hugged her other aunt.
"Kenna, you look so beautiful!" Hanna said as she took her niece into her arms once she let go of Spencer. "We've missed you so much." She whispered in her ear as they hugged. Addison smiled into Hanna's shoulder as they hugged.
"Is that Kenna I hear?" Two men walked into the room, one with brown hair and blue eyes, with a kind smile and the other with dark brown and hazel eyes, with a happy smile as both of them looked at Addison.
"Uncle Toby!" She said as she hugged her uncle and then she turned to her other uncle and hugged him too, "Uncle Caleb!"
Caleb chuckled, "Hey, Kid, it's been quiet without you here." He joked.
"It's good to have you back," Toby said jovially as Addison stepped back to look at everyone.
"Kenna?"
That voice put a pounding in Addison's heart and she couldn't help but stiffen up a bit. Right there, across the living room, atop the curved staircase stood Aria Montgomery. Her aunts and uncles smiled at her and Addison rushed back to the foyer and saw the most beautiful woman in the world; her mother. Addison knew that she had her dad's bright green eyes but she was thrilled to see that she got the curly brown hair from her mom. She stared at the woman above her – stared at her soft hazel eyes and her exuberant expression at her daughter.
"Mum," she said excitedly.
"You're back!" Aria exclaimed just as excited.
Instincts kicked in and Addison was slowly ascending the stair case as her mother descended. The two met in a hug at the middle and Addison was so overwhelmed, her eyes filled with happy tears as she hugged her mother tighter. Aria kissed her daughter's cheek in greeting.
"I can't believe it's you," a teary Addison gushed as she stared at her mother.
"And I can't believe it's you." Aria said and stroked her daughter's hair, "And with short hair! Who cut it for you?" she asked and Addison shrugged, "A girl at camp."
"Do you hate it?" She asked insecurely. Whoa, backtrack. Since when has Addison DiLaurentis insecure? If only she knew what power this woman had over her father. Then she would understand.
"No! I love it! You got your ears pierced? Are there any other surprises? Tattoos, belly-button rings..." Aria continued while Addison giggled.
"What is it sweetie?" Aria asked, noticing the non-stop tears streaming down her daughter's cheeks; she gently brushed them away.
"I'm sorry, it's just...I've missed you so much." Addison said through her tears.
"Can you believe it? It seems like it's been forever." Aria sighed, hugging her daughter again.
"You have no idea." Addison mumbled to herself as she clung on to her mother.
"C'mon, let's go upstairs for tea." Aria said and took her daughter's hand to the master bedroom. Addison's eyes widened as she looked around the elegant but chic room, the walls were a colour of carnation and the queen size bed was in the middle of the room on the back room, looking like it was out of a magazine. She looked towards a window where the wind seemed to make the white curtains billow and she smiled inwardly; she was correct upon her assumption when she stood outside of the house a while ago. She heard the chinks of china and saw her mother pouring tea into two cups. Aria looked up and patted the empty spot beside her on the loveseat.
"So, Kenna, how was camp? Did you like everyone? Was it fun?" Aria asked her daughter as she sipped her tea.
Addison thought about it for a moment, "Yeah, it was great. And I like this particular girl too, she's from California. Have you even been to California?" she asked. It was Aria's turn to think for a moment as she recalled her days in California...
After reintroducing Jason to her parents, the newlywed couple settled in LA where Jason has set up shop and was living in an apartment as Aria managed her business. Those were the days of pure marital bliss and Aria designed wedding gowns while stimulatingly being a photographer while she tended to the apartment and waited for Jason to come home.
One day, Jason walked through the door of their apartment to find it filled with yellow balloons. He wondered what the occasion was and wondered to the master bedroom where he saw something sitting on the bed. Getting closer, he discovered that it was a pregnancy test and upon much closer inspection, he saw the plus sign.
"Ready to be a 'Daddy'?" Aria asked as she leaned on the doorframe of their en-suite bedroom. Jason looked at Aria, tears gleaming from his eyes.
"Now more than I ever will be..." He said as her rushed over to her and picked her up. Aria squealed as her husband twirled her around in happiness and then kissed her.
"Yes...once when you were born," she answered her daughter. Thankfully she was able to hide her zoning out perfectly. Little did she know, her daughter actually noticed. A knock on the door interrupted the mother-daughter reunion and they both looked up to see Emily holding a shabby white rabbit stuffed toy and barely hidden amusement on her face.
"I found this when I was unpacking your bags and I didn't know what to do with it?" Aria only glanced at her daughter whose eyes became as wide as saucers as she realised that her Cuppy was not supposed to be in her bags but Kenna's.
"Oh my god, Cuppy," she whispered a little too loudly.
"Cuppy?" her aunt echoed, trying in vain to hide her grin; "so since he's not our Cuppy, should we get rid of it?" she asked, looking at her best friend, knowing she was messing with her niece and loving it as it was obvious in her dark brown eyes. Aria rolled her eyes at her.
"No!" Addison cried aghast. She immediately rectified her actions when she saw the strange looks her mother and aunt gave her, "I mean, no. I'll mail him to her – remember mom, the one I was telling you about?" Aria nodded, "She loves this thing a lot. A lot. A lot. She's like slept with that thing her entire life and she could never sleep without him. No, no, I'll take care of it, thank you, Aunt Emily," she said in a much calmer tone as she got up and gently pried the stuffed toy away from her aunt. Aria smiled at her daughter and Emily chuckled with a nod.
"I'll be downstairs if you need me," she called out to them before disappearing from the doorway.
Suddenly the phone rang and Aria stood up to answer it.
"Hello? Hi...Really? Can't you manage without me? Kenna just got home from camp...Well, what's the problem?" Addison stood up and looked around her mother's room as her mother continued to talk on the phone. Aria gave a worried glance at her daughter.
"Kenna?" she called out and Addison was snapped out of her reverie as she looked at her mother, "Would you mind running down to the studio with me?"
Addison broke out into a huge smile. "No, I'd love it."
The two-travelled down Abbey Rd and then onto Kings Rd going to Aria's studio. Addison held on tightly to her mother's hand as they walked and she had probably the biggest smile of the face of the planet. Finally, they arrived in front of the boutique and Addison was amazed to see the beautiful wedding gown on display.
"Wow, that's incredible. You designed that?" Addison gushed and Aria smiled proudly behind her.
"Well I had to do something while you were at camp. You don't think it's too..." she started.
"No. I love it. You know who would look really beautiful in that gown? I mean, like really beautiful?" Addison asked, looking up at her mother.
"Who?"
"You."
"Me?"
Aria gave her daughter a smile, "I think the time change has made you all loopy – c'mon, let's see what all the fuss is about," she said and ushered her daughter inside.
The two arrived at the studio on the second floor of the boutique and Addison watched with interest as the people scurried about and the photographer was taking pictures of the bride model.
"Alright I'm here!" Aria announced walking purposely into the room.
"We're saved!" the photographer exclaimed then in a much lower voice said, "I don't know what to do about the veil. If we put it on it covers the back of the dress and it seems..."
"Incomplete." Aria finished for him and then asked the model to strike poses. Addison didn't listen anymore but watched as her mother looked around the studio. Spotting some top-hats, she called her daughter to hand her one.
Addison couldn't believe it and picked out two, a black and white and handed it over to her mother.
"Which one do you like?" Aria asked.
"The white one," Addison answered and her mother nodded, taking the white hat.
Finally, the problem was solved and the photographer smiled. He was able to take a picture with the back of the dress showing and the veil.
"Mom is so cool." Addison mumbled to herself while watching her mother work.
The model continued doing poses when Addison suddenly had the urge to join her. Fortunately, no one stopped her and she was pictured along with the bride model. She looked at her mother who smiled at her approvingly and she thought about her father. How on earth could my father, Jason DiLaurentis, ever let this amazing woman go? She thought to herself as she posed and smiled along with the bride model.
After the day's work, mother and daughter were walking home and Addison suddenly looked seriously at her mother.
"Have you ever thought about getting married again?" she asked and Aria stopped in her tracks.
"No, I like thing the way they are," she answered her daughter with a smile.
"But mom, seriously, doesn't designing all these wedding gowns make you think about marriage...or maybe just think about the 'F' word?" Addison continued and for a moment, Aria thought that her daughter was referring to that profane utterance she dreamed her daughter would never learn of, hear or use.
"The 'F' word?" she asked, hoping against hope it was not what she thought it was.
"Our 'family.'" Addison explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We're not a family without two parents."
"Oh, that 'F' word." Aria made a mental sigh of relief but it didn't stop the onslaught of memories all centred on the certain blond hair, green eyed man she used to love.
"So, don't you want to get married seeing all these dresses? Doesn't it make you think of my dad?"
"Well, no, actually it doesn't because I didn't even wear a wedding gown or have a huge wedding when I married him," she told her daughter. How can I forger? Jason was hysterical with laughter and I was hysterical because we were about to be married and I didn't have a proper wedding dress. I only had this white, flowing maxie-dress and a white shawl – well, he said it was okay...I wouldn't blame him though, at least I had something. Jason had to borrow a tux from someone. Aria recalled fondly.
"You didn't? – why not?!" Addison asked disbelievingly.
Aria just laughed and faced her daughter, "Why the sudden curiosity about your dad, huh?"
"Well, maybe because he's never mentioned, and you can't blame a kid for wondering. Mom, you can't avoid the subject forever; at least tell me what he was like?" Addison pleaded and Aria sighed, giving In.
"Okay," she said, "He was quite charming to tell you the truth. When we met, he was...actually entirely charming. All right?" she said in a final tone.
"All right." Addison answered and smiled. It suddenly started to rain and Aria took out her umbrella.
"So did you meet him here in London?" Addison sprung the question and Aria must have been expecting it because she didn't seem surprised the finality in her voice was ignored.
"We met when I was in high school..."
"Really?"
"Yes. I was friends with his younger sister, Alison, we had become good friends but then they moved away at the end of my senior year, their mother, Jessica, died. So the whole family moved. After I graduated, I met him again while on the SS Seabourn 2, it's an ocean liner that sails from New York to LA. We both had been on the same ship. We met the first day on board, he blocked my sun with his..." she was about to say nice abs but it didn't seem appropriate, "Body," she manage to say.
"So...was it love at first sight?" Addison pressed on excitedly and Aria heaved a big sigh.
"I knew you were going to ask me all these questions one day." She exclaimed. A taxi passed by and Aria hailed it.
Dear old Dad... Addison thought with a sigh as she sat beside her mother, I wonder what he's doing at this very moment?