Alice Hart scurried out of her car after a long day of work. She pushed open the door to the jail and checked in at the desk. This had become part of Alice's routine to come see him as often as possible. She wanted to feel close to him. She wanted to be his everything.

Waiting patiently behind the Plexiglas that separates the 2, Alice smiled when she saw him being brought into her view. Even in that orange jumpsuit he looked devilishly handsome to the love sick Mrs.Hart

"Hello Greg." She said twirling a piece of hair seductively. "Hello Alice." The man replied boredly.

According to Greg Scott, Alice Hart was simply a means to an end and if that meant allowing her to believe they were lovers he would do so until she was no longer needed. "How had jail treated you my love?" Alice grinned even though Greg didn't return it

"Did you get the job done?" Greg asked trying to get this over with. Alice's goofy smile vanished "No. I messed up." She mutter ashamed of her mistake

"Alice you had one job. Figure out when she's alone. How the hell did you screw that up?" He growled in a low voice

"I asked her about her mother and they all jumped to her defense." Greg glared daggers at the stupid woman

"How can you be so clueless?" He asked incredulously

"Why do you even want with a 9 year old?" This whole plan seemed insane to Alice but she would do anything to make the love of her life happy. "I want that girl to pay for what she did to me and my wife." It was her fault that Greg and Lina were in jail. If she had kept her mouth shut about her injuries everyone would be happy but no, she just had to need medical attention. The nerve of that girl

"Are you still talking about Lina? Baby me and you are meant to be together." Alice whined. "Have you told your husband and kids about the plan?" He couldn't exactly tell Alice that he planned to dump her ass as soon as the girl was dead.

"No. The kids have taken a liking to her." Alice couldn't see how her family liked that girl but then again they weren't trying to impress the love of their lives

"Leave Alice. I'll tell you the plan next time you visit." Greg just wanted her ugly mug out of his sight. "Alright darling. I'll see you soon."

Greg bit his tongue knowing that his reward would be well worth this frustration.

"Happy birthday Abbey!" I yelled wrapping my arms around my crazy red headed friend

"Thanks Thee!" She replied giddily. "So Ab's how does it feel to be 10?" Collin asked joining our circle. "It feels the same as being 9." She claimed "Yeah I never understood that question. How is it supposed to feel to be a year older?" I added. My friends nodded in agreement

"Are you guys coming to my party in a few weeks?" Abbey asked as we walked into the classroom."I am!" Me and and Collin yelled in unison

"Jinx! You owe me a soda!" He said sticking his tongue at me. I rolled my eyes and took a seat at our table. At lunch Abbeys mom came and gave cupcakes to the whole class and we sang happy birthday.

When I got home I smiled widely when I realized that Dad, Alex, Hayden were home. They had been working so much lately and as much as I love Drew, Beau and Grey, I missed the other 3

"DAD!" I yelled running to him. I may or may not have been somewhat on a sugar high from lunch but either way I had a lot of energy

"Hey munchkin!" he said scooping me up "How was school?" Dad set me down at the kitchen table preparing for my story of the day. "Today was Abbey's birthday and we go cupcakes at lunch!" I said excitedly.

Dads smile dipped "Thea when's your birthday?" He asked with a small frown

"Umm October 7th." I replied after thinking for a second. "Thee that's next week!" Hayden exclaimed as he walked into the kitchen

"Is it? I didn't notice..." I muttered quietly. My birthday was never really a big thing and I even forgot about it last year.

"What do you want for your special day?" Dad asked with a returning smile. I gave him a questioning look "What do you mean what do I want?"

Dad and Hayden exchanged glances. "Well ya know, like what do you want for a gift?" I scrunch my eyebrows together in confusion

"Why would I get a gift?" I looked back at Dad who looked unmistakably sad. "Because it's your birthday Thea. And we want to celebrate the day you came into the world." He said solemnly

"Oh...I didn't know. I'm sorry." I murmured cursing myself for letting my inexperience with normal kid things show once again. "Don't be sorry baby. You didn't do anything wrong." Dad soothed. I gave him a sad smile

"We're gonna make this the best birthday ever." Dad mumbled kissing my temple.

After we discussed my birthday the other day, everyone seemed to be acting off. Like they were hiding something.

A few times Dad or Alex asked me questions like what my favorite dessert was or what my favorite color was (the answers were vanilla cake and yellow if you were wondering. Who am I kidding, of course you were wondering)

I woke up this morning to Grey shaking me awake

"C'mon pretty girl you gotta wake up." He mumbled interrupting my beloved sleep. I whined and rolled over "Nuh uh little. It's time to get up." Before I could put up much of a fight, I was swooped up into Greys arms and being bounced down the stairs.

My eyes widened at the sight of balloons and streamers lining the kitchen. And I gasped when I saw my Dad and the rest of my brothers wearing party hats and unmatched grins

"Happy birthday Thea!" they all yelled in unison.

Well actually Beau was a little off which resulted in Drew smacking him in the back of the head for 'ruining the moment'

"Is this all for me?" I asked incredulously looking around the room at all the sweets and presents. Dad pulled me into a hug

"Of course it is honey. You are the best daughter a Dad could ask for. I am so proud you're mine." A tear leaked from my eye at his kind words

"Well are you gonna stand there or are you gonna open some presents?" Alex asked after our little moment was over. I smiled so wide I thought my face would burst.

With each and every gift i opened my heart swelled more and more.

The twins had gotten me a necklace that said my name in pretty letters, Drew got me new colored pencils and new coloring books, Hayden got me a chalkboard to hang in my room, Alex got me a small Polaroid camera since I always took his phone to take pictures and Dad got me the best gift of all. A yellow bicycle with white handlebars and a white seat.

It was perfect except for one thing "I don't know how to ride a bike." I admitted sadly

"Don't worry babe, we'll teach you." Alex assured with a smile

"We have one last surprise for you." Hayden said sitting beside me

"We're all taking the day off of school and work so we can go to the beach." My heart skipped a beat.

I've dreamed of going to the beach for years now and I finally am getting the chance!

After I had eaten cupcakes for breakfast and we had taken a million pictures with both my new camera and the boys phones Dad gave me a new swimsuit and told me to go change

"Hayden!" I yelled when I made my way back down the stairs

"What's up birthday princess?" He asked leaning down to my level

"I don't know how to swim." I had missed so many parts of being a kid like riding a bike and it made me sad.

Hayden must have felt the same way because he pulled me into a tight hug

"I wish you had grown up here." He mumbled sounding as upset as I felt

"I wish I did too." I agreed. We stayed like that for a while just enjoying each others company but naturally as everyone else came downstairs we were whisked into the car and off on our way to my dream.

The beach was exactly as I'd imagined it. Thankfully where we lived it was still warm in October and the perfect beach weather

"C'mon c'mon c'mon!" I yelled to my family as they slowly got out of the car

"Hold on princess we're coming." Dad chuckled.

The sand felt odd under my toes but not a bad odd "C'mon Thee, let's put sunscreen on then we can go swim!" Grey exclaimed pulling me along. As we approached the water I clung to Hayden's arm

"Stay with me baby. I've got you." He assures as the water goes above my waist. Hayden held me close to him as we went deeper and I did feel safe in his arms

"See the water isn't scary Thee." Beau said when we joined them.

The water was almost over my head but for my brothers they could still easily stand up. The whole time we were swimming I was passed from boy to boy and at one point me and the twins had a splash fight.

I had never had so much fun in my life and I was just so happy. When we were done swimming we ate lunch that Dad had packed and just hung out on the sand talking and laughing.

It was crazy that one year ago I was living almost in an alternate universe of pain and sadness and now here I was laying on the beach with a loving family happy as can be.

It's crazy how fast my life changed.

In a matter of 2 months I had gone from that scared girl I came here as and now I was the complete opposite.

I smiled as I snuggled closer to Alex laying on the blanket.

I really was where I'm meant to be.