❝ I ' D  R A T H E R  R I S K  H Y P O T H E R M I A ❞

"Oh, come on!" Addilyn argues exasperatedly. "Everyone knows Niall Horan is better than Harry Styles."

"Have you seen Harry's hair?" Jordan Besson fires back. "He obviously has better style."

Corbyn had finished opening his gifts a couple of hours ago, bringing an unofficial end to his small birthday party. The rest of the group decided to go to the store and find a cake that wasn't contaminated by Auora - so they could properly sing 'Happy Birthday' to him - while he and Addilyn stayed at the house.

It was safe to say that his favorite gift was Addilyn's, which was a three day visit from his brother and sister, Jordan and Ashley. Although, the small gray cat from Jack - who he named Mr. Whiskers and is currently playing with Mr. Quackington - was a close second.

"Okay, fine," Jordan gives in, chuckling as he holds his hands up in surrender. "But, you have to admit that Harry is better than Liam."

"I will do no such thing."

Corbyn and Ashley sit together on the opposite side of the living room, watching the argument amusedly.

"She is pretty great," Ashley comments absentmindedly, nudging Corbyn to snap him out of his revelry. "If you hurt her, we'll kill you."

"Don't worry," Corbyn says, glancing over at his sister. "I don't plan on it."

"You should tell your fans about her; they're going to adore her too," she suggests. "And, there's no better day to do it than on your birthday."

"I really want to," Corbyn admits. "She's amazing and I've wanted to tell the world about her ever since I first met her. But, she's going through a lot right now. And there's bound to be some backlash from the fans, although I don't understand how anyone could not instantly love Addi. I don't think she can handle that right now."

"From what I've figured out, she's so much stronger than you think," Ashley informs him, gesturing to Addilyn as she laughs at something Jordan said. "If I knew you or Jordan would be out of the country on Christmas, I'd be so upset I wouldn't even be able to get out of bed."

Corbyn nods along, smiling slightly as he briefly catches Addilyn's eye.

"And don't worry about the haters," she continues, punching her hand menacingly. "Aurora and I can take ca-"

"I WAS KIDDING!" Addilyn shrieks as Jordan throws her over his shoulder, cutting Ashley's sentence off. "PUT ME DOWN!"

"Nope," Jordan chuckles, heading towards the back door. "You brought this upon yourself."

Corbyn and Ashley share a look before hurrying into the backyard after the two. It's an unusually cold night in LA, making Addilyn confident that she wouldn't actually get thrown into the pool.

"Now will you agree that Harry is better than Liam?" Jordan questions, taking another step closer to the pool's edge threateningly.

"Never!" She laughs. "I'd rather risk hypothermia in this pool."

"If you insist."

The girl's eyes widen comically as Jordan tosses her, instantly proving her wrong. As the pool rushes closer, she tenses up, bracing herself for the freezing water.

But, she never hits it. Instead, Addilyn lands in Corbyn's warm arms and Jordan is the one that hits the water as he loses his balance.

"My knight in shining armor," she sighs dramatically before furrowing her eyebrows together. "But, how the hell did you do that? You were like twenty feet away."

"Magic."

****

"Happy birthday, dear Corbyn. Happy birthday to you."

The entire group cheers as Corbyn blows out his candles.

"What'd you wish for?" Carmen asks curiously, sliding the cake over to Jonah so he can cut it and keep it out of Aurora's reach, much to the oldest girl's dismay.

"I'd tell you, but then it wouldn't come true," the blond explains before instantly becoming distracted by a kitten jumping up onto the island. "Isn't that right, Mr. Whiskers?"

Moments later, Mr. Quackington comes waddling into the kitchen, quacking loudly for his owner's attention.

"Mummy is right here," Addilyn coos, scooping the duckling into her hand. "Do you want some cake too?"

"How many animals do you guys have?" Eben exclaims, looking around bewilderedly.

"Six," Aurora informs him. "Seven if you count Poodle."

"At least I don't bite people," Jack retorts indignantly.

"I only bite on Wednesdays," she huffs. "And any day your dumb ass touches my Cheez-its."

"Five dollars says she tackles him," Jordan leans over and murmurs to Addilyn, his hair still damp from his involuntary swim.

"My five dollars say Jonah will hand her cake before she does," Addilyn bets, smirking confidently.

Mr. Quackington honks, flapping one of his wings as he places a bet as well.

"FIGHT ME, YOU LITTLE FU-"

"Calm down and eat some cake," Jonah cuts Aurora off, handing her a slice.

Addilyn turns to Jordan with a triumphant grin, holding her hand out as he pulls a crumpled - and not very dry - five dollar bill out of his pocket.

"Will one of you take a picture of us?" Corbyn asks after practically inhaling his cake, gesturing to himself and his siblings.

"You already know I can't do it," Daniel laughs. "My pictures always turn out blurry."

"Same," Callie agrees.

"Stand back, amateurs," Aurora declares through a mouthful of cake. "I got this."

Taking Corbyn's phone from him, she guides the three Bessons to the opposite side of the kitchen, claiming the lighting is better there.

Addilyn can't help but to chuckle as Aurora continues to let her photography instincts take over and positions each of them in just the right way for a perfect picture.

"Smile," she finally instructs, holding up the phone. "This is going to cost you at least three boxes of Cheez-its."

"Wait!"

Corbyn dashes out of the camera's view and grabs Addilyn's hand, dragging her back over.

"This picture is supposed to be of you and your family," Addilyn argues, furrowing her eyebrows together.

"Now you're a part of my family too, and I want everyone to know it," he grins. "But, only if you're okay with that."

"Of course I am," she smiles brightly up at him just as the camera's flash goes off.