As they reached the milestone of five years of marriage, Maya and Liam affably shared the space with friends and family, a region brought together by faces from different locations. It took five years of wisdom, adaptability, and evolution. A phase in which the two of them in the past had to move from the dissonance brought about by their differences to appreciating their differences as their biggest asset. Together, those two stood looking across the throng, astonished at the convergence of lives they had created, which had no respect for cultures and spoke of the richness of cultures co-existing.

The anniversary celebration was filled with enjoyable content that corresponded with their kind of living. They organized it in their desired park where they had a lot of Sundays with the kids watching them run around in the beautiful open sky. Colorful bright parols were hung on the trees, filling the space in soft tints as the night set in with white clover-shaped decorative bulbs, in honor of Liam's Irish heritage, turned on around them. It was a mixture of elements from the jeepneys and their Irish heritage, full of color and creation.

The cuisine was likewise an assortment of flavors and remembrances. For Maya, it was almost instinctive; she knew how to make lumpia, adobo and pancit, dishes she grew up eating all her life. Liam contributed by creating his version of popular Irish style stew, which also included soda bread and an Asian style shepherds pie that they had both perfected together. Their children dashed about trying to give away both Indian and Irish snacks to the visitors and explained how both cuisines were theirs without a hint of any embarrassment. They were proud doting parents, which was an indication that Maya and Liam had been successful in their attempt to instill their culture in these children.

When evening fell, the couple took a breather, looking at each other tenderly, yet scanning the surroundings. Maya's parents had arrived all the way from the Philippines, and now they were busy interacting with Liam's family who spoke English, Tagalog, and Irish, amongst themselves while having a good time. The room was occupied by many friends, all the people whose lives were deeply intertwined with theirs, who had supported them, taught them and even fought alongside them at times.

"Remember when we were just starting out," Liam speaks softly, "I never dreamed we would get to this level. Five years back, I was clueless on how we were going to make this work and reach out to each other. But now, I look around and... it is like all our lives have come together and created a brilliant picture. One that is Filipino and Irish but not only that. It is ours."

Maya nodded her head, a smirk forming on her mouth. "I used to be afraid of forgetting myself," she confessed. "I thought amplifying my presence meant divorcing myself from certain aspects of myself. But I think that in addition, I've lost so much more—people, culture, practices old and new, and all of you... all of you made it so comfortable for me here that I did not know was possible so far from home."

They enjoyed the silence and comfort while the little ones tapped their feet to Filipino folk music in the background. Connor and Isabela were spinning and giggling, looking relaxed and poised at the same time. Maya and Liam were well aware that their children fared much better as they had access to two cultures, two histories and two modes of existence. Connor, who had just returned from school, told his teacher that he was 'double lucky' for being two races—Filipino and Irish, a saying that had never left Maya ever since.

A few moments later, a friend came forward with a microphone and offered a toast to the couple. They stood as one, their hands clasped, as their friends and family toasted them.

"As we raise our glasses, my last toast is to Maya and Liam," said the speaker, "who showed us that love does not have a distance or an end. We wish you each and every day filled with fun, knowledge, and the same happiness which you give us. Hooray for love which knows no boundaries and the family who knows how to connect them. Yay!"

The audience tipped their goblets and while they hold their goblets to the air, Maya and Liam shared a look full of appreciation and pleasure. They clinked their mugs and drank lightly when suddenly, swept by the moment, Liam pulled Maya close and started jiggling around under the starry sky hanging with vibrant parols. Suddenly the fast beat transformed into a slow romantic song and they began dancing only two of them much to the enjoyment of the guests.

At that instance, surrounded by who they considered as their family, Maya and Liam were engulfed by an inexplicable sense of well-being. From the beginning, they had led a life together, which was not merely a bridging of two cultures, but the embracing of them. Their household, their offspring, and their union illustrated how love could cross over barriers that time and space have segregated. The pains and disputes of the past were still there, but they had already taught some lessons – shaped values of respect, strength and appreciation towards each other.

While moving to the rhythm, they began to speak about their future, in soft tones. They saw what the future held for all of them together, with growing Connor and Isabela, looking forward for their every accomplishments and achievements. They saw themselves going back to Ireland and the Philippines, dreaming of raising their children with the values of appreciation for both aspects of their background. As life is never entirely perfect, it had its own flaws, but it was a good life; a constantly growing and changing mix of Filipino and Irish-American values thanks to the love as well as respect for one another.

During a calm spell, Liam made a brief glance towards Maya. His gaze was full of tenderness, love and gratefulness. "Maya, thank you," he breathed out. "For everything. For letting your world wrap itself around mine, for being understanding, for not abandoning us. I don't know if I have said this enough but I appreciate everything every single day as I walk with you in this life."

Maya raised her hand and placed it on his cheek. "And thank you too Liam. For your acceptance, for embarking on this journey with me and for knowing that it can be hard and yet it is beautiful. Every other direction is inconceivable to me."

As they kept dancing, both Maya and Liam were aware that no matter what they had to face in the future, they would conquer it. They would learn more, evolve more, and create a life that embraced who they were and who they were becoming without ceasing. And looking at the family and friends who filled the space, they knew without any doubt that they belonged in this moment together – in love, in differences and for the adventure that life has to offer.