personal A/N

i'm so sorry about this chapter, it's far from my best and i want to provide the best for you guys. you've all helped me through so much on a daily basis without knowing and i feel like i'm disappointing you. i feel like a failure with this chapter. i'm sorry. i'm experiencing some writers block and i'm trying to work through it.

i've added a self love quote because i want you all to know that you're beautiful, strong and everything will be okay. i love you guys more than you know.

❥

"It's a girl" The woman smiles down. "A girl?" A tear rolls down Ellie's cheek. I squeeze her hand.

I replay the memory in my head as I get ready for work. We've been back from Majorca a while now, I successfully got my job after my job interview. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. I've already had a couple shifts but I still get a rattling tummy ache when I prepare to go in.

I really like the people I work with, so far I've made friends with a girl called Lolly - she goes by Loz for short - and a boy called Reese who has dark toned skin and a mop of curly hair. They've all been so welcoming and the most important thing is, I love my job so far!

Some days I'm stocking up the gift shop or wondering around the gallery to make sure everything is okay. The visitors are so lovely as well, so intrigued about the art and what I've to say about them. I'm technically not allowed to give a little talk about the paintings to people but I just know so much information about them I find it really hard not to. By the time I'm finished telling everyone about the painting I've gathered a crowd of impressed looking people.

My phone buzzes, It's Ellie. I smile, she's sending me pictures of anything pink and baby related. She's so happy she's having a little girl, I think she would of been happy with both but her mom always wanted a little girl as a grandchild so I think It's quite special to her.

She told Nathan but he wasn't interested, I told Issac - out of habit because I tell him everything - and he seemed happy for her, I'm so happy they're getting on now.

I grab my bag and go downstairs. "Darc, ready for your first driving lesson tomorrow?" Joseph winks from behind his mug of tea. "With you as my teacher? No" Me and mom share a laugh - she's flicking through a magazine at the kitchen table.

"It won't just be me" He chuckles almost evilly, "Dad will be there too" He laughs properly now. I mentally face palm, this isn't going to go well.

"Lord give me strength" I close my eye mumbling a quick pray, I'm not religious but I'm hoping someone up there will do me a favour. "Can you drop me at work please?" I eye him, he laughs and picks up his keys.

I arrive at work in one piece, surprisingly. Joseph drives like an absolute maniac. "Hi Darcy" Lolly smiles. I enter the staff room and hang my stuff up. "Hi Loz, you okay?" I walk over to the fridge.

"Yeah, I have stumbled upon writers block and don't know what to do" She sits at the round table, chin in palm. "What are you writing about?" I say with my head half in the fridge trying to find a space.

"Love, I'm in love with love" She sighs. I squeeze my pack lunch in next to Tati's - another woman who works here. "Have you ever been in love?" I emerge from the fridge and sit opposite her. I check the time, I'm ten minutes early.

"No" She frowns even more. "I had one boyfriend but it wasn't love" Her eyes shy away, shrugging.

"It might be hard to write about something you've never experienced? Who else have you been in love with aside from a relationship?" I lean on the table. I see her mind go into thinking mode. "I had a dog once" She mumbles.

"There you go" I smile, aiming to perk her up. "What was that like?"

"I loved her so much. I was always scared of dogs when I was little so my parents decided to get a puppy and from that day we were inseparable" Her frown turns into a smile. "I would of done anything for her, she was my whole entire world and when she passed away I was completely heart broken. I miss her everyday" She looks upset but I see a small smile printed on her face.

"Maybe channel into that. That's how I feel about Issac, I'd do anything for him. I love him, he's like my best friend as well as my boyfriend" I smile, my stomach feels fluttery at the thought of him.

"Really?" She looks hopeful. "Thank you, I'll try that" She nods.

We get on with our shift. I go around and make sure everyone is okay. I sigh when I walk into a room with beautiful paintings, no one in here.

I hate to see art being unappreciated so I give each painting a moment of my time. One of the days I must come up here with my sketch book.

When my shift finishes I say goodbye to Lolly and head to dad's. "Hey sweetie" He opens the door, he's still living in this hotel room. "Hey dad" I hug him.

"Darcy!" Adelaide comes bounding over, "Hi baby" I scoop her up, kissing her head. "Dad, when are you going to move out of this hotel?" I sit down on the bed with Adelaide on my lap.

"Actually that's what I needed to talk to you about" He sits down opposite us on a chair. "I'd hoped Cindy would be here but I hope she won't mind" He rests his elbows on his knees.

I start to feel worried, "So, as you know, me and Cindy live far away and we've been down here for quite a while now" He gulps, I start to panic. Are they moving back? Are they taking Adelaide away? I clutch her tighter to me.

"Are you moving away?" My eyes widen. He smiles, "No, in fact, we're moving here!" A smile breaks onto his face. I sigh a massive breath of relief.

"Really? That's amazing" I smile. "No one knows yet so don't tell anyone" He winks.

"What about Cindy's family?" I frown, I hadn't taken into consideration how long she's been away from them since she's been here.

"They don't mind, she's been going down every other weekend to see them" He smiles. "She loves it down here, she was the one who suggested it. She loves being around you kids" His smile grows, so does mine.

"That means we can be together forever" Adelaide reaches her hands towards the sky. My heart fills, "Forever" I plant a kiss on her forehead.

"Honey, I'm home" Cindy chirps in the poshest accent. "Hey sweetheart" Dad chuckles and helps with her massive bags.

"Been shopping?" I raise my eyebrows, the size of the bags fills all the floor space. "No, they're for you" She brushes her thick hair from her face.

"Me?!" I gulp, what could It possibly be? "Well for you to give to Ellie" She ties an elastic around her pony tail.

"Oh I see, what is it?" I'm unable to peek due to Adelaide plaiting my hair. "It's all Adelaide's baby things" She smiles, "I'm a big girl now so, I don't need them" Adelaide stands tall on the bed.

"You are indeed" I scratch her stomach, causing her to fall on the bed giggling. "Thank you, that's so kind of you" I kneel beside the bags, looking in them.

"Why don't we drop them off?" Dad suggests from his now standing position. "Yeah that would be great" I nod.

We trot into the car, buckling Adelaide in and then we're off. "I told her about our plans" Dad looks over to the passenger side - where Cindy is sitting.

"You promised you'd wait for me!" She pulls a face at him, "I know, I'm sorry" He frowns, she huffs but after some silence she eases.

"So, what do you think Darc?" She twists round on her side to look at me. I smile, "I think It's great, I'm so excited" She looks relived.

"We're looking at a house in a few days, what to come?" Her eyes are full of joy causing my heart to fill for the second time today.

"Of course!" I smile just as we arrive at Ellie's. She answers the door with a bright smile, "Hi! You didn't say you were coming?" She opens the door to let us all in.

"Sorry completely forgot to text you on the way, we brought you some things" I close her front door and follow them into the living room. "You shouldn't have" She frowns at the massive bags.

"It's no problem sweetie, we don't need this stuff anymore. Plus most of this stuff is brand new, I'd hate to see it go to waste." Cindy shakes her head, Ellie peeks in the bags.

"Wow everything is so beautiful" She pulls out cute little clothing items, "Thank you so much" She hugs Cindy tight, she looks surprised at first but embraces her.

Mom and dad leave to sort out some stuff whilst me and Ellie unpack the bags. "Can I help?" Adelaide smiles in the doorway, "Of course princess, could you fold some clothes for me?" She returns her smile with an even bigger one. Adelaide skips over, positioning herself next to Ellie.

Dad left Adelaide in my care so him and Cindy could get some work done. "I can't believe I'm having a girl" Ellie's voice breaks, I look over to see a tear leak.

"Oh El" I smile and wrap my arm around her. Adelaide hugs her waist. "I know I keep crying about it, I just can't help it. Mom would of loved her" She wipes her tears.

"She's here, so is your grandad, they're here with you, looking down" I rest my head on hers as we look at all the clothes and baby related things.

"We need to cheer her up" Adelaide frowns tightening her grip on Ellie. "Yes, good idea" I nod.

"Amelia has invited me round for tea, you could come too" I smile lifting myself up onto my knees. She frowns, "I'm sure they wouldn't want me there" She mumbles, trying not to let her emotions flicker onto her face.

"Of course they would! Amelia is never one to hold onto the past, if you want I'll text her and ask" I pull out my phone, I see her nod from the corner of my eye.

I send a quick text then wait, Ellie strokes Adelaide's hair. I smile, she's going to make a great mom.

My phone buzzes with a reply, "She said she'd love for you to come" I read the message aloud first, Ellie looks surprised.

"Ever since I've been pregnant my emotions have been so sensitive and I've realised how badly I've treated everyone and I thought it was to late to fix things" She smiles, tears forming again in her eyes.

"Better late then never, right?" I wrap my arm around her again. She nods, "Let me get changed, I haven't seen Sam and John in so long" She frowns.

Me and Adelaide peel ourselves off her. I'd completely forgot that Ellie and Amelia's family used to be really close, to the point Samantha was like a mom to her. This could be a good thing for her, a chance to fix and rekindle things.

She pulls a shirt and jeans over her bump and I text Issac to see if he'll pick us up on the way back from his football game. "Are we going to see Issac?" Adelaide smiles handing me her hair bobble, after pulling it out her hair.

"We are" I smile back, Adelaide loves Issac. I think I may have some competition.

When Issac arrives outside Ellie's we clamber in, Ellie in the front. "Issac!" Adelaide squeals as soon as she gets in the car. "Hey baby" He smiles at her with his perfectly straight teeth. "How are my two favourite girls?" He spins round in his seat to look at us.

"We're very good, very hungry" I laugh. "That's good because mom is making her famous, gorgeous, roast dinner" He almost growls with pleasure at the thought.

We both giggle. Him and Ellie share a smile, I can't really make out the vibes from it. We get to Issac's and I instantly smell everything good and warm when I walk in.

"My favourite couple" Samantha hugs us both, "And who are you little lady?" She crouches down to Adelaide's height.

"I'm Adelaide, Darcy's sister" She mumbles with a grin, I feel her little hand tuck into mine. "Ah I see! Well a sister of Darcy's is always welcome here" Samantha has the biggest grin.

"Amelia told me Ellie is coming?-" Her sentence is cut short when it's answered. She meets the eyes of Ellie whose nervously hiding behind Issac.

"Hi" Her voice is just almost above a whisper. "My dear girl, how are you?" Sam wraps her arms around Ellie like she belongs here.

"I'm okay thank you" I hear Ellie's voice wobble and I know she's about to cry. "Oh sweetie, don't cry. It's all okay" She pulls back and wipes Ellie's tears away.

"Sorry, I'm just so emotional these days" She shy's away. "Of course you are" Her eyes are warm and understanding, "Have you found out the gender?" I see Sam gently squeeze her hands.

"Girl" Ellie smiles, another tear leaks. "Oh your mom would of loved that" She smile. Her reply is answered with Adelaide's grumbling stomach that make's us all laugh.

"I think someone is hungry" Issac laughs. "Tea will be ready in 20, Amelia is upstairs" She smiles and off we go.

I knock then enter to find Amelia, Henry and..Eric?

"Eric? Hey, you didn't tell me you were coming over" Issac raises his eyebrows. They're all sat on the bed. "I came with Henry" He smiles.

We all share glances, "Okay, I know what you're all thinking" Henry breaks the silence. "So now since you'll all here, me and Erin have something to tell you" Henry is bursting with joy.

"What is it?" Ellie answers completely oblivious, whilst we all know what's coming next.

"I don't know what I am yet, sexuality wise" Eric starts off, nervous. "But I know I wanna be with Henry, I've denied it because of my parents mostly but It's becoming impossible so we've decided we're only going to tell you guys" His voice is shaky.

There silence, then we all break out with cheers and hugs. "I'm so happy for you!" I beam at them, all of us now on the bed. "This stays between us, my parents can't find out yet" Eric looks happy but also very scared.

"Of course" Issac brushes off, "When did this even start happening?" Ellie asks still confused, we all laugh.

We fill Ellie in, her face is shock all through out. I can't help but laugh. "I never knew!" She squats Henry.

"Because you were too wrapped up in your massive crush on Issac!" Henry winks, Ellie is the shade of a tomato. "Okay, that was ages ago" She defends herself.

"It's true I had a crush on Issac since school but that was quite a long time ago! Stuff has happened since then I mean, I'm pregnant" She's trying to be serious but with all our interruptions of laughter she's finding it hard.

"How's that life going?" Amelia giggles. "Being pregnant? Great" Her fake smile is so fake we all break out laughing again.

"Okay, seriously now?" Amelia rolls onto her stomach. "I miss alcohol sooo much!" She groans, "And I always need to pee" A bigger groan.

"But, it's absolutely beautiful. There's a little girl inside me, I'm carrying my little girl" She smiles so bright and I think all our hearts warm.

We chat for a while until tea is ready, Adelaide is the first one down there.

I sit next in between Henry and Adelaide, "Okay, food delivery!" Sam and John plant our stacked plates in front of us, my pupils turn into hearts.

"How are my beautiful children?" John sits down opposite me, I smile. "We've a new couple" She winks at Eric and Henry, "An old married couple" She points at me and Issac, we laugh and pull faces. "An adorable little princess" Her voice squeaks at Adelaide, she smiles in response with gravy around her face. "And a pregnant one" She catches Ellie mid stuffing her mouth, she waves with a look of embarrassment.

"Well, all sounds well" He smiles. We sit and laugh around the table even long after we've finished food. Adelaide is very comfortably perched on Issac, she's falling asleep. I look around and smile, my heart is so full today and this has just put the cheer on top.

❥

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