"Shane, you idiot. You'll break the fucking table if you do that," Derek smacks the back of Shane's head.

"Alright, I think you two are done. I just asked you guys to help move everything in. I can finish setting up the table myself," I breathe out, my hand resting on my forehead.

"I got it. I'm almost finished," Shane scoffs. Derek gives me a look with a subtle shake of his head, and my lips press together.

"I'm just going to sit here and watch these two try to figure this out," Ali mocks, resting against the white island, picking at some of the chips we ordered. Hannah laughs, resting back as well while watching the two struggle.

"I'm going back to the flat real quick to make sure everything is out of there. Finn is coming back with me as well, so please make sure nothing small is left on the floor when I get back," I beg, grabbing my car keys.

"Hurry back. I'm excited," Hannah grins, and my stomach knots up a little. Trusting them to finish one of the last things left to do may be a mistake.

I hope I can trust them to do it, anyway.

The drive back to Louis' flat isn't long. My heart is heavy as I walk through the door one last time, Finn barking as usual. "Hi," I greet him softly with a little smile, my voice echoing in the living room. I shut the door, and my eyes scan over everything.

Empty. Not one thing left here besides Finn and a couple of his things. That beautiful marble flooring, with the large windows that bring in all this natural light, makes everything feel even more open. Even more empty.

"Sad to see it all go," Jace notes as he comes from the direction of the bedrooms.

"Yeah," I sigh, this nauseating feeling residing in my stomach. I spent a year in New York, which ended up being more fun than I could have imagined, yet still so lonely without everyone. I spent another year living here with Louis, Jace and Mia, even though Louis had every intention on leaving after a couple of months when he first moved in.

I love this place.

My original safe haven.

My home until we ended up buying an actual home. Isabella wasn't the biggest fan of me moving in before marriage, but she got over it. She warmed up a lot to him. I don't think Jason even trusts anyone else to be with me at this point.

"God, I think I'm about to get sick again," I groan, my hand resting on my forehead.

"Actually?" Jace looks worried. I let out a small laugh, but I breathe through it.

"It's these damn nerves. I'm fine," I clear my throat, or I'm trying to be fine anyways. I make my way towards the bedroom, and I hear some shuffling from Jace's room. Mia's still here too. My eyes skim over the bedroom, even though I know I already triple-checked that everything was gone. Everything is just bare. Memories that I will cherish spent with him.

"We're all cleared out too," Mia is heard behind me, her voice thin. She was crying all week, and I admit, I may have too. We've been a crying mess that Jace had to deal with alone while Louis had been on the road. Poor Jace. It's hard, moving on and leaving everything behind. I'm finally leaving London behind entirely. I'll no longer be near the campus where I had so many memories. I'll no longer be able just to walk around and reminisce on all of the little things. "This is sad."

"Yeah," I nod, my voice small. I clear my throat and straighten up a little. "I'll grab Finn's stuff, and we should be good," I smile weakly. "There's pizza and chips at the house, also. It just got there a little bit ago. Should still be fresh by the time you guys get there."

"Good, I'm starved," Jace grins. I take the keycard out of my back pocket and hand it over to him. "When will Louis get there?"

"Hopefully, he'll be there when we get back. He can get the rest of the house together now that he's no longer on the road, travelling and playing football. I can finally kick back and relax," I blow out a raspberry, earning a laugh from the two. I go to bend to grab Finn's bag, but Jace beats me to it and hands it to me. I thank him softly, and he goes to put Finn on the leash for me.

One last look around, and I let out a heavy sigh. That first night I ever came here, during that storm, comes to mind. The way I was so amazed by this place and how badly I just wanted to kiss him on the couch that was here in the living room.

I have to force myself out of this daze. I clear my throat and straighten a little. "I'll see you two back at the house."

"Drive safe," Jace nods. I leave with Finn on the leash and the bag over my shoulder. We get into the lift, and the moment the doors close, I rest back against the wall and gaze at the engagement ring on my finger. One of the most beautiful diamond rings I have ever laid my eyes on. Soon enough, a wedding band will be resting on my finger as well. Two weeks. It still feels so surreal to me.

We get outside, and I start for my car when someone suddenly calls out my name. I turn, confused, half expecting to find Jace coming after me, but it's not. The all too familiar brown hair and brown eyes that I haven't laid eyes on in years. The same wave of nausea hits me. He looks surprised, approaching me with some brunette at his side, petite and almost stuck up looking with high heels and her head held high. She gives me a dirty look like I'm the one that called out to him. She doesn't look nearly as timid around him as I used to.

"It's been so long," Josh starts as if this is something casual. I never once ran into him after that party. I'm still very tense, just seeing him. I can't even smile back. I"You got a dog," he starts, attempting to pet Finn. Finn snarls and Josh retracts his hand almost instantly, brown eyes slightly widening. "Not a fan of strangers?" he tries to laugh.

"He's fine with strangers," I start, despite him not being so at one point in time. His face falters and then drops even more, when his eyes fall on my hand.

"You're married," he spells out slowly, and that brunette shoots daggers his way with her brown eyes. She is pissed.

"Engaged," I mutter. He looks off in a daze as he stares at my hand as if he isn't holding hands with this girl beside him.

"Is everything alright over here?" Jace's lovely voice is heard. Josh turns, and Mia stares straight at Josh, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Jace briefly saw him once. Mia, on the other hand, actually knows him from that ball. She must have mentioned who he was, given Jace's intense gaze set on Josh.

"Just leaving," I smile tightly before opening my back door to let Finn in. Josh breathes out heavily as I shut the door behind Finn. "Bye, Josh," I murmur before entering the driver's seat and closing the door. My muscles are still tense, and this nausea is still wreaking havoc on my insides, but Jace is still there, waiting until I pull off before he goes. I love Jace and Mia. Truly, I do.

I pull off, back onto the road, and I let out a long sigh. "Good boy, Finn."

Not much longer, and I am back at this two-story, white home. I fell in love with this place instantly. A balcony overlooks the large backyard from the master-bedroom, which I thought would be perfect for reading on, and there are two other bedrooms. It's spacious and comfortable. Most of all, it feels homey here.

I get out of the car, and Finn comes out with me. Relief washes over me, seeing Louis' black car is already here. I close the door behind me and lock it, Jace and Mia pulling up onto the street moments after. I start into the house, leaving the door unlocked for the two to come in behind, and Finn instantly takes off to investigate this new place.

I drop his bag and leash down beside the door and start back towards the dining room area, where laughter is heard. "She just had to buy the most complicated shit to build," Louis is heard, and my eyebrows shoot up instantly.

"You weren't even here for the entertainment centre," Shane snorts back. I make my way into the dining room, finding Louis now on the floor, attempting to fix the leg of the wooden table, not even noticing my presence. His muscles flex beneath his white shirt, and his tattooed arms are even more enticing. Ali looks up, and her lips waver as she tries not to laugh.

"Welcome back to you too," I call him out when he finishes. He looks back, and I can't even be mad at him for that little remark. I just burst into a huge smile as he stands, wiping off his hands. All of this excitement courses through me, and I'm instantly throwing my arms around his neck, my lips finding his. I still get that heart-racing feeling with each little touch and kiss, except this one is cut short by Shane cooing at us. I immediately let go and grab some random papers off the countertop, throwing it at him.

He snorts into laughter, and my eyes roll. "You're going to get us kicked out," Derek chuckles before helping him flip the table, right side up.

"This place looks great," Louis starts.

"Thanks," Shane beams. I sigh and go to grab the papers from the floor that I had thrown all over the place.

"I'll get it," Mia waves me off. My nose scrunches as she quickly goes to gather everything.

"It did come together nicely while you were gone," Jace flashes a teasing grin, Louis' way. Louis gives him a little glare because he hasn't been too thrilled that everything was left to me. He wanted to wait to move in until he got back today. I didn't, so I got all the help I could get.

"Pizza is nice and hot," Hannah points out, tapping at the box on the counter.

"I'll grab the beers from the fridge," Shane starts, eagerly heading to the silver fridge.

"Thank you all for your help, honestly," I smile softly.

"This kind of stuff is fun," Ali grins with a shoo of her hand.

Louis' hand is on my lower back, and I want to curl close to him. Enjoy his warm embrace now that he's home. If it weren't for them all being here, I'd be hopping at the chance to be all over him. But I need to hold back for now.

Shane starts to pass the beers to Jace, Mia and Louis before going to hand me a bottle as well. "She can't have that," Mia and Hannah burst out simultaneously. Shane steps back, confused, and I can feel myself shrinking a little. Louis' grip on my hip tightens, almost in a protective hold.

"What? Why? Oh my god," Ali instantly starts. "Wait, why would they know before you told me? Stop. Are you-"

"Oh my god," Derek's face falls instantly. Shane just holds a stare. Shock spelt over his features.

"I'm sorry," Hannah cracks, hand on her forehead. Mia's face is different shades of red, filled with embarrassment as Jace wraps his arm around her with a shake of his head.

"Is this real? Are you pregnant?" Ali asks, her words rushed. I nod my head squeamishly, wanting to hide away. "Wait, how did Mia find out before me? No offence, I just-"

"Because Mia and Jace dealt with me vomiting non-stop for the last month in our flat. Jace didn't even think I was pregnant at first. He just assumed I was dying," I stop her before she gets offended by Mia knowing first. Mia starts to laugh, and for the first time, Jace's cheeks turn a little red. "Hannah, well, I had to tell her first, before Louis even. I didn't want anyone to know until Louis was around," I admit, with a sheepish laugh.

"Sorry," Hannah apologises, looking at Louis with a shy smile.

"That's why you kept running to the loo. I thought you just had the runs," Shane starts, and I fight the urge to throw something else at him. Louis starts to laugh at his remark, and I elbow him lightly in the stomach to shut him up.

"I'm going to be an Aunt," Ali squeals, hands clasping over her mouth.

"To two," Louis finalises, and I swear I've never seen everyone's faces drop at once until now.

"Two?" Hannah freaks.

"You didn't tell us that," Mia shrieks just as much. My cheeks are red hot as I move in closer to Louis.

"Twins?" Jace even looks baffled.

"He had to know something that no one else did," I giggle softly. He leaves a comforting kiss on the top of my head, and I can feel myself bursting with excitement. "Oh my god, but you guys seriously can't tell anyone—especially not my parents or Jason. I want them to think that they're honeymoon babies and not out of wedlock. Not that I have a problem with people having babies out of wedlock, but Isabella and Jason will go nuts."

"I won't say a word. I'll just avoid them like the plague," Ali fans herself.

"You idiot! You shouldn't have been lifting anything with us. You could have hurt my nephews or nieces," Shane suddenly throws his hand up.

"Don't yell at a pregnant woman," Derek hits his arm with a scoff. I can't help but laugh.

Watching them bicker, being in Louis' hold and being surrounded by our closest friends in this beautiful home I can call ours makes me emotional. Happy. I can't help but think of Josh. What would life have become if I stayed with him and I never found Louis in the first place? Would we have kids? Would I be scared for them, or would he have changed for the better? I've found a romance I have longed for, for so long.

I no longer hate my life like I once had. I no longer have to worry about an unstable, miserable future.

I'm happy. I cried before I left for that vacation because of the way Josh had reacted. I didn't think I would be happy on that beach, but I met the person who would matter most to me.

I was terrified after meeting paths with Louis again. I was so scared that Josh would have found out about that night on the beach. I could have ended up with a heart attack from all of that stress. Little did I know that meeting him again would change my life forever. He ended up being one of my greatest mistakes.

Josh may have been my first love, and I don't think I will ever let go of the part that still loves him. It's something I can't explain and never would want to explain.

But I thank Josh for what he did to me. Without him, I would have never found the person who put this ring on my finger. I wouldn't be as happy as I am now, moving in with my best friend. I wouldn't have ended up with the perfect life.

Because of Josh, I fell hard for this person with his arm around me. The universe doesn't feel like it is out to get me anymore. Everything played out just right, and I couldn't be happier.

Because of Josh, I found Louis.

I found my everything.