Carlie with the puppies^

"So have you thought about names for them?" Molly asked as places each of the puppies inside a carrier and I looked over at Riley who shook his head making me raise a brow

"Well you'll have plenty of time to think of them." She said with a smile before letting us know that we were set to go. We thanked her and made our way out of the room only for her to stop us at the front desk

"I'm having dinner tomorrow. I was hoping you can join me? Jaden and I have some news to tell you guys" she said

"What time would you like us to be at your place?" I asked with a smile and Molly smiled. Molly and Jaden, who knew, ended up getting together at the end of their junior year of high school and just last year they moved in together and live in one of the most beautiful houses I've seen aside from mine that is, but it's beautiful none the less, with a beautiful garden and a big back yard

"How does 7 sound?" She asked

"Sounds perfect. Should we bring something along?" Riley questioned but she shook hear head with a chuckle

"Just your presence will be enough, besides we're going to have enough food for everyone" Molly replied and we nodded before giving her a hug before leaving the clinic all together.

We got in our seats once we got to Riley's car with me placing the box with the puppies on my lap

"So what do you think Molly and Jaden have to tell us?" He asked as he turned the engine on before driving out of the parking lot being careful to not drive fast due to the puppies sleeping

"Who knows with those two. It may be them getting a pet to going on a trip to Greece to getting married" I said making him laugh before shaking his head

"That's so true. Any way, what should we name them?" He asked nodding to the puppies on my lap and I bit my lip

"I thought we were just going to get them back to health before bringing them back here so they could get adopted" I said and he raised a brow

"Babe, you and I both know that's not happening. Besides I've grown quite attached to them already" he replied with a smiled making me grin

"I quite got attached to them too, specially this little one" I murmured petting the smallest of the litter making it sniff my finger before sucking on it making me smile

"So what should we name them?" He asked as he made a turn onto our street

"Well, I think we should find strong names for them. Considering they all made it out of the woods. Specially the runt of the litter" I replied and he nodded. He pulled up into the long winding driveway before parking beside his dad's car who got out when he noticed our arrival.

"We can think of them when we're inside" Riley stated as he turned the car off and I nodded unbuckling and opening the door with Riley taking the box from my hands so I could get out with out trouble

"Hi" Riley greeted his dad

"Hi, Riley, hi Alex" Marcus greeted

"Hi, Marcus." I greeted back with a smile,"Did you wait for long?"

"No, I actually just got here. Your mom and sisters will be over later though" Marcus said looking over at Riley who nodded before waking to the front door and opening it to let us in, while Riley and I entered the house, Marcus for Carlie and her three puppies from the back before following us inside.

It's been two days since we moved into the house and we still had a few boxes left to unpack but that's down stairs in the gym/spa room. The puppies were under observations for two days before they were giving the all clear.

"Where are you going to put them in?" Marcus asked as we walked to the living room and I paced the box down on the sofa

"We were thinking of putting them here since it's the biggest and warmest room in the house. We'll have a bed for them in the corner over there" Riley said pointing to the corner in the far side of the living room and Marcus nodded

"I brought her bedding with me so if you want we can set it up in the corner" his dad said and Riley nodded so with that said, both Riley and Marcus left the room to get the bed bride coming back and setting it up in the corner. As soon as it was made, Carlie went and lied down and Marcus placed her three puppies down and they were quick to lacy onto her nipples and began feeding. Riley took each of the puppies from the box and set them down one by one and Carlie licked them and nuzzled them before letting all six puppies feed. So in total she was feeding 9 puppies.

"Riley? Alex?" A voice called from the lobby and we smiled as their footsteps soon approached us,"There you two are. Hi honey"

"Hi mom," Riley greeted Vivian with smile walk government to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek

"Hi, Vivian" I greeted her in the same fashion as Riley did a second ago

"Hi, honey. Where are the girls?"Marcus asked and his wife smiled

"They're out back with Montana and Cain" she replied and we nodded. We still needed to introduce Riley's dogs to the puppies but that can wait until later.

"So where are the puppies?" She asked and we pointed to the corner and she smile walking towards the corner and cooing when she saw all the puppies and Carlie laying down. I was so happy that Carlie accepted them so quickly as she had without a second thought. Some dogs are known to be territorial when it comes to protecting their young but not her, she was the perfect foster mother they needed.

We headed to the kitchen to get something to drink and to leave Carlie and the puppies alone to rest and feed.

"So what are their names?" Vivian asked as she and Marcus took a seat on the chairs by the island an Riley and I grabbed the glasses and juice

"We haven't picked them yet. What about her puppies?" Riley asked and Marcus smiled

"Well Isa and Bella already claimed two of the three while Kenny claimed the other" he said with a chuckle making us smile

"Figures. Kenny finally got Brian to agree to get a dog?" Riley said and his parents laughed and I shook my head. Brian was one of those people who was hard to persuade so Kenny getting Brian to agree to getting a pet was big. He was never one for pets. All of us kids had one but him.

"He did" Marcus nodded

"Did he use his famous puppy eyes on him?" I asked making Kenny's parents and brother chuckle. One thing is for sure, Brian was a sucker for puppy eyes. He was never one to say no to any of us whenever we asked him for something whether it was buying us a new toy or playing catch or hide and seek. He always caved in.

"He did" Vivian giggled and we burst out laughing.

"He's going to get a lot of those in the years to come" I said making them raise a brow and I told them about his weakens and that had them laughing again.

"What did they name the puppies?" Riley asked once we had all settled down form our laughing fit

"Isa named hers Cocoa" Marcus said and we nodded

"Bella named hers Smoky" Vivian added

"And Kenny and Brian named theirs Maverick" Marcus said

"Those aren't bad names" I said and they nodded in agreement

"That is true"

The four of us sat and chatted for a bit longer before the twins came inside with Montana and Cain. They asked to see the puppies and we led them to the living room but Riley held Cain and Montana back by their collars as they were ready to follow after the girls.

"Sit" he ordered and both dogs sat on their hunched whining wanting to go see what the fuss was about. The twins fished over the puppies before waking over and asked us the same question we've been asked twice already and we face them the same answer, that we haven't picked names yet.

Riley's family stayed a few hours longer catching up and asking if we needed anything but we told the that we had everything we needed at the moment and that we'd let them know if we needed anything.

"Alright, let's get Cain and Montana to meet the new additions to the house hold" Riley said and I nodded sitting down by the bed Carlie had vacated a few moments ago to go eat.

Cain and Montana wagged their tails and waited patiently as we gathered the six puppies and placed them in the box they had came in before we beckoned them over with Riley keeping them in check in case they got overly excited and hurt one of them.

In the end, Cain and Montana took to the puppies the same way as Carlie did, they accepted them as part of the family and Riley and I couldn't be happier.

"Now the naming" I said and Riley nodded and the rest of the night as we ate dinner was spent discussing names for all six puppies.

~~~~~~~~

"Are you almost done?" Riley asked as he walked into our room dressed in a pair of black skinny pants and button up shirt head rolled up at the elbows showing off his tattoos

"Yeah, I just need to put my shoes on and we can head out" I said and he nodded

"I'm going to go check on the puppies and Carlie and make sure Cain and Montana don't bother them" he said before leaving the room after he placing a kiss on the cheek. I shook my head with a smile before putting my shoes on. I texted Molly asking how we should dress and she said to dress casual but not to causal so Riley and o were both wearing jeans with button up shirts and dress shoes.

I climbed down the stairs once I was done and met with Riley at the door

"Ready?" He asked and I nodded and with that we both walked out of the house with him locking it behind us.

"Do you work tomorrow?" I asked as we drove down the road towards Molly and Jaden's house

"No, why?" He asked making a turn after checking to see if any cars were coming when he made a stop

"Making sure. Kenny and Brian's rehearsal dinner is tomorrow" I said and he nodded

"I know, Kenny texted me to remind me. You know how bad I am with dates" he said and I couldn't agree more. The only dates he remembers our birthdays and anniversary and that's about it.

"Yeah, Brian called to make sure we were going" I said as he pulled into the driveway of the two story house

"We're their best men, why would we not show up?" He asked as we got out and I chuckled

"Because they're idiots?" I offered making him chuckle

"That they are" he agreed before ringing the bell and a second later it was opened revealing Molly in a beautiful knee high black and red dress with her hair up a fancy style

"Hey, you guys made it just in time" she said as she greeted us with a hug and kiss before letting us in. We followed her down the hall towards the dining room where everyone was waiting. And by that I meant all of our friends.

"So what's the big announcement?" Bethany asked as she leaned against Cory rubbing her belly

"Jaden and I are getting married" Molly said and I looked over at Riley and mouthed 'told you so' and he rolled his eyes. We all congratulated them on the news before we made small chat and joked around.

I looked around the table and couldn't help but smile. It's been four years since we all became friends and nothing has changed. Yeah, most of us are either married and have kids or have moved in together while others have moved away for work and school, but no matter what, we always got together even if we lived mikes away in other states or across the pond.

And to think all of this happened because I got hit in the head with a football one Monday morning. God these people have become my family over the years and I couldn't have locked better people to share memories with then with this bunch.

"What are you thinking about?" Riley whispered and I smiled shaking my head

"Just how happy I am to have you and everyone around this table in my life" i said and they all looked over with brights smiles on their faces while Riley leaned over and kissed my temple

"And were happy to have you in our lives too, Alex" Anna said as she leaned over and placed her hand over mine.

Yeah these people are my family and I can't thank god enough for putting them here.

"I love you guys"

"And we love you too, Alex"