"Come on Black, Luke just messaged me and they're 20 minutes away."

"Alright, is Isla awake?" I yell back, pulling on Hardin's shirt.

"Yeah, I just changed her diaper," Aiden replies.

I giggle to myself, who would have thought that Aiden would be the super parent to our 2 children and 1 on the way.

"Come on baby, ready to go," I tickle my son's stomach.

"Mummy," he giggles, clawing at my hands.

I laugh at my 4-year-old son, he giggles back.

Hardin grabs my hand and we walk to where Aiden is holding our 7-month-old daughter.

"What's happening little man," Aiden grins at his son who runs over to his father to give him a hug.

"I'll take her," I laugh when Hardin reaches up to his father. Aiden kisses my lips before passing me our daughter and picking up our son. Hardin was such a good boy, he knew not to ask to be held until I had given birth to our second daughter who I was 4 months pregnant with. We only meant to have 2 children but we were blessed with a third, a daughter who we had decided to name Eva.

"Ready?" I question.

Aiden nods, locking Kiara, our Labradoodle who was actually a puppy of Nala outside. Unfortunately, Nala had passed away a few years back, she was old though, it was time. We were lucky enough to have 1 litter from her before she passed and that was where we got Kiara.

She whines at the door but she wasn't fully house trained yet so we couldn't keep her inside.

Today was Charlie's surprise birthday party, she was turning 30, and Luke had planned a party for her at his parent's house, thankfully kids were invited, I guess it always worked out well when you had grandparents there to babysit.

I put Isla in her car seat and then go around to sit in the passenger seat, I wait for Aiden to lock in Hardin, and then we're off.

Once we had finished college, we had moved back to Pearlacre in a house that was less than a mile away from our parents and found jobs. Charlie and Luke had a large modern house on their side of town but Miles and Dale lived about a 5 minute walk away from us, Miles and Dale had both become very successful, actually, everyone kind of had.

The whole gang lived within a 15-minute drive from each other so as expected, we saw each other regularly.

We arrive at Luke and Miles's parent's house quickly and get out the kids before walking inside to see everyone else. Aunt Jen, who was Charlie's mother, and Mel and David who were Luke and Mile's parents were all playing with Charlie and Luke's 2 children, it seemed that every time I was pregnant, so was Charlie, except her and Luke had meant to have 3 children.

Hardin giggles, releasing himself from Aiden's hand and running over to his cousin, Luke and Charlie's son; Austin. Aunt Jen, Mel and David greet us, giving us hugs. Mel kisses Isla on the cheek but keeps a hold of Charlie and Luke's second son Kai. Aunt Jen takes Isla out of my hands, cooing at her. Surprisingly, Aiden and I were the first ones here apart from Lukes parents and Aunt Jen who had come over earlier to help watch their grandchildren, it was amazing how close they still were, my mother and Aiden's mother were just as close, they even had their own social group. A few years ago, they had a falling out with Tiffanie's parents so the group was now just my parents, Aidens, Luke's and Charlie's.

"Where is my godson," I hear a familiar excited voice. I laugh as Toby comes into view, Katie carrying their 3 month old daughter behind him. She laughs, shaking her head. Hardin sees Toby and runs over to him, Toby and Hardin absolutely adored each other, I was glad that Hardin would always have a male figure in his life apart from Aiden, even if that was Toby.

I give Katie a hug, being mindful of their daughter they had named Serenity.

"I swear my husband loves your son more than he loves me," Katie jokes.

I laugh with her.

"Hey Katie," Aiden smiles, kissing her on the cheek. Serenity was mine and Aiden's godchild.

"Hey Tobes," I joke, getting his attention from where he was now playing with both Hardin and Austin.

"Hey Mills, did you miss your BFFL?" Toby winks.

I laugh at him, I guess some things never changed, he stands up before I can lean down to give him a hug, it seemed that he was almost as protective as Aiden over my pregnant stomach.

He hugs me before he and Aiden bro shake and he goes back to playing with my son and my nephew, probably having just as much fun.

Soon after Jen, David and Mel greet Toby and Katie; Dale, Miles, Carter and his new wife Maya walk in with Dale and Miles adopted little girl who was 4, the same age as Hardin and Austin.

Miles and Dale had sat me down when they had decided to adopt, they asked my permission to name their daughter Maddison, I gave it to them instantly, it kind of seemed right that there would always be a Maddison for Miles.

"Hey beautiful girl," I smile, leaning down to give Maddi a hug, she giggles in my arm before joining Toby, Austin and Hardin happily. The 3 of them were already like the 3 musketeers and I wondered what they would be like when they got older, no doubt they would always be best friends.

Carter and Maya had gotten married a few months ago, I had a feeling that Maya was pregnant but they hadn't come out yet.

We all say our hellos before Blake and Katherine walk in, looking as happy as ever. It turned out that the girl that had Blake so besotted was actually Katherine, Blake had asked Aiden's permission to go out with her years ago and now they were engaged.

My mother, Robert and Ang walk in together soon after with Ella and Mia, they were 14 now, almost 15 and were both as stunning as their mother and brother.

"Emmy!" Mia enthuses when she sees me.

"Em and Aiden are here!?" Ellie questions excitedly before they both run out to us. I give the girls hugs, they whisper in my ear about Mia's secret boyfriend but they forbid me from telling Aiden, I laugh at them, they were probably smart to keep it from their still overprotective brother.

"Hey mumma," I smile, falling into my mother's open arms. She feels my belly, gives us both hugs, kisses everyone else including the kids and then takes Isla from Jen's arms.

"Hello beautiful," Ang smiles, wrapping her arms around my large frame before she gives everyone else a hug and goes and sits with my mother who had Isla.

"Hey kiddo," Robert grins, hugging everyone and then sitting beside David who had actually sat with Toby, Maddi, Hardin, and Austin and began playing.

Soon after everyone pours in, Amy and Liam with their 10-year-old daughter Amelia and the twins who were now 6, Hayden and Harrison. Alex and Cooper come in as well with their wives, Alex's wife; June was pregnant and Cooper's wife Natalie, was holding their newborn son they had named Jack. James and Lindsay come in with their children as well as Jorden and his partner, it seemed that Linsday was always pregnant. The child she was pregnant with now would be her 4th, and probably not her last. She and Jordan were as close as ever, if I had ever seen true friends, it was those 2.

Finally Luke and Charlie arrive, Charlie is stocked with the surprise and Lij and Sophia FaceTime me to say happy birthday, he and Sophia were actually on their honeymoon. Aiden had flown them to Rome where they were celebrating getting married a few days ago. Hardin was their ring boy and Isla was their flower girl, they had Sophia's older brother's only daughter carry her down the aisle, they looked amazing and it was great to see Ally and Chase. Aiden was even one of the groomsmen whilst I was a bridesmaid. Sophia's older brother's wife was pregnant again at the same time that her other brother's wife was, they were all bridesmaids with me and groomsmen with Aiden.

Justin and Victoria couldn't make it today but they had called earlier to wish Charlie a happy birthday.

I loved the fact that I had the same group of friends since high school, we had never drifted and had always been close, it was great. The grandparents and the twins watch all of the children happily while the rest of us (those who could) drink alcohol and laugh about our high school adventures. My life was perfect, great friends, great family, great partner, great everything and it was all because I made the stupid mistake of falling head over heels in love with the bad boy player.

Maybe it wasn't a mistake after all, it sure seemed that way now.

Either way, I wouldn't change a single thing.