Both Mum and Noah had sent me messages to let me know my Boy's were sleeping soundly in their Cot's.
The Farm yard around us was pitch black when Blayze finally parked the Ute out the front of our two storey Home.
The large front window's of the house were uncovered and I could see that the TV was on, along with a few lamp's.
"I enjoyed our little City escape.... but I am glad to be Home."
I informed Blayze, stretching my arm's over my head.
"Couldn't agree more."
He replied, reaching forward to cut the engine.
Now it was time to mosey on inside.
And see Noah and Codie's reaction's when they found out I'd sprained my ankle!
A big part of me had wanted to let people back home know about it, but time had slipped away from me while we'd been trying to find our ring's.
Of course, I'd had a six hour car drive where I could've made phone calls.
But Blayze and I had used that time to talk.
Laugh.
Sing along to music!
"You ready?"
Blayze asked, right hand poised on the driver's side door handle.
"Oh yeah!"
I quickly unbuckled my seat belt.
"Do you want me to carry you in, or do you want to show off your crutches?"
He asked.
"I want to burn those fucking crutches!"
I growled.
My arms were killing me.
I was pretty sure I had chaffing across my under arms, if not bruising.
The crutches could go to hell.
Blayze laughed!
"C'mon!"
I urged, impatient to get inside.
I wanted to see my Babies, even if they were asleep.
And our Dog's.
And sit on my couch with a hot cup of tea...
"Righto."
Blayze pushed the driver's side door open and climbed out of the car.
Because we're pretty good at teamwork, I twisted the door handle and pushed the large front door open while Blayze carried me Princess style.
A pack of overly excited Canine's barely let us get through the doorway, more than one Dog whining in sheer excitement.
"Get back!"
Blayze ordered the pesky group.
Bandit threw his head back, gave a woof and scampered back a step.
I couldn't help but laugh!
Zuke rose onto his hind legs, sniffing loudly as he tried to reach me.
"Hey my boy!"
I greeted my Dog, stretching my arm out to pat his blocky head.
The door closed behind us with a gentle thud.
"So the night away went well then!"
Codie remarked, half twisting around from where he sat on our leather lounge.
Noah, sitting beside Codie, twisted around also.
"Hey!"
She greeted, grinning.
"Hey."
I offered the couple a wave.
"You guys are cute!"
Noah remarked, her blue eyes twinkling.
"She can hardly walk."
Blayze replied.
Codie crowed!
"So the night away was that good eh?"
A fierce blush engulfed my cheeks, but I pushed through it and poked my tongue out at the Guy who looked like a man, but was definitely a child trapped inside a man's body.
Blayze helped me down to the wooden floor and I hopped a couple of times, grabbing onto his arm as I tried to find my balance.
"Are you okay?!"
I looked to the couch to see Noah was now half hanging over the back of the furniture.
"I sprained my ankle."
I explained, blushing even more.
"No!"
Noah gasped, her eyes going wide.
Grimacing, I nodded.
"Bro, what did you do?"
Codie asked, looking thoroughly amused.
"It wasn't him!"
I rolled my eyes.
"I landed badly when I jumped off the mechanical Bull at the Woolshed."
Codie threw his head back, laughing!
"No way..."
Noah denied.
But it was entirely obvious that she, unlike her Fiancé, was at least trying to hide her amusement.
"Way."
I admitted.
Movement at the stair's caught my attention and I swivelled around to see a figure coming down from the second floor.
A familiar figure, I realised when the person was half way down.
"What are you doing here?"
I asked Heath.
"Nice to see you too."
Blayze's Brother retorted, stepping off the last step.
I rolled my eyes.
"You know what I mean!"
"There's ummm... kind of a... problem..."
Curious and albeit a little worried, I turned my gaze from Heath who was now making his way towards the non Doggy armchair, to Noah.
"Yeah, welcome back guys!"
Codie chimed in, his smile noticeably forced.
"What's goin' on?"
Blayze asked, sounding less than amused.
"Peyton said she's not going to be a Bridesmaid anymore. And we had a massive fight."
Heath stated, snatching a beer stubby off the coffee table before sitting down in the armchair.
Ummm.
Say.
What?
I looked from Heath, to Noah, to Codie and each one of their faces gave away that this was indeed no joke.
Heath wore a frown, but I could see the troubled storm in his blue eyes.
Noah looked worried, chewing on her bottom lip.
Codie wore a serious face and stayed quiet.
Still holding onto Blayze's arm for balance, I hobbled around to be able to look up at his face.
We're away for one day and shit goes wrong?
He met my gaze, then turned his eyes onto his little Brother.
"You alright mate?"
He asked.
I was reeling.
Since when did Peyton not want to be in the Bridal Party?
"I just can't wrap my head around the fact that she's actually such a self absorbed fuck-wit!"
Heath gritted, obvious rage ringing in his words, although he kept his voice down.
"I can't deal with this..."
I let go of Blayze's arm and half hopped, half limped my way towards the hallway.
Luka was unsurprisingly sprawled out on his stomach, shirtless like he had been all the summer night's.
While he had my blue eyes, our Toddler took after his Daddy a lot more than he did me.
Not only did his favourite sleeping position suggest it, but he often ran warm, sweating under a jumper throughout April and even so far during May, when I was feeling comfortable in one.
Right now, his lightweight Thomas The Tank Engine blanket was strung around his hips and his naked torso laid free.
He'd lost his white and blue dummy during his sleep, because I could see it sitting on the mattress maybe six inches away from Luna's gorgeous little face.
"I can't wait to talk to you about all the fun you've had with your Grandma, GeeGee and your Uncle's and Aunties tomorrow."
I whispered into the peacefully quiet bedroom.
"I missed you more than you'll possibly ever know while I was away with your Daddy."
I stared and touched my fingertips to my lips, then blew my first born a kiss.
"I love you little man."
I informed his sleeping ear's.
Now to check on the Twin's....
I half shuffled, half hobbled my way out of Luka's bedroom and turned to the right to go to Brodie and Dale's room.
The Twin's slept soundly in their cot, Brodie's right hand joined with Dale's left one as they so often were during sleep.
Brodie had a blue dummy in his mouth and Dale a green one.
Brodie was wearing his light blue pyjamas onesie which had 'Brodie' printed all over it in dark blue lettering.
Dale's suit was light green with 'Dale' written in dark green lettering.
I'd thought the suits were a bloody adorable idea and I'd made sure to buy them in an assortment of sizes so the Twin's hopefully wouldn't grow out of them too quickly.
"I can't wait to cuddle the heck out of the both of you tomorrow."
I informed the sleeping little Beauties.
I placed three fingers against my lips, kissed the fingertips and then blew a kiss down to my youngest Son's.
"I love you both."
I told them and turned away from the Infant Cot to hobble back out of the bedroom and make my way to Blayze and I's room.
The clicking of Dog claw's on the floorboard's made me pause just outside of Brodie and Dale's room.
Looking over my shoulder, I found Zuke walking down the hallway.
"Come for a cuddle with your injured Mummy?"
I asked my second offical Fur Child.
Phoenix was the first Pet I'd come to think of as any Fur Child.
Zuke wagged his tail and quickened his pace to catch up with me.
It felt amazing to sit on our bed.
The Hotel bed had been awesome, but this was our bed.
Blayze would swear at me when he either walked in to find Zuke on our bed, or later spotted the Dog's hair's on the quilt.
But Zuke was nearly snoring with his head resting on my thigh's and my hand running over his eyes and ear's.
Zuke suddenly lifted his head off my legs and looked towards the closed bedroom door.
"There's a good chance that we're about to be in trouble."
I whispered, taking Zuke's alert state to mean he could hear movement in the hallway.
My Dog wagged his tail.
A soft, three strike knock sounded on the wood.
Zuke whined.
We were safe for a little bit longer.
Blayze doesn't knock on any of the door's of this house.
Well, not our bedroom, or our Sons' bedroom's, or another room which he knows that I'm in.
He shows a little more caution around the House since Codie, Noah and Knox moved in.
"Come in."
I stated, having a feeling it was Noah on the other side.
I was pretty sure Codie had never knocked on a door to speak to me and I was confident Heath would probably be speaking with Blayze by now.
Blayze and I's door eased open and Noah poked her head into the room.
"Feel like company?"
She asked, voice quiet.
"Sure."
I nodded.
Noah opened the door a bit further and slipped into the room before shutting the door behind her back.
"How are you?"
I asked, glancing towards her belly which so far held no evidence of pregnancy.
"I'm doing okay."
She told me, easing into the bottom end of the bed.
"Bit sick still, particularly in the early hour's of the morning."
She shrugged.
"Has Codie worked it out yet?"
I asked, absently patting Zuke's head again now that he was back to using my thigh's as his pillow.
"Thankfully he was gone early for work again today."
She stated, wriggling back to lean against the wooden foot of the bed.
"So I didn't have to really try and keep anything from him."
"Here."
I shuffled myself over to Blayze's side of the bed and snatched one of my pillow's to throw to Noah.
The wooden foot of the bed would not be comfortable to lean for very long.
"Awe thanks!"
She chirped, catching the pillow.
Smiling, I shook my head.
"Hopefully the parcel with the t-shirt will arrive tomorrow."
She explained.
"Then I'll be able to tell him."
"I can't wait to see his reaction."
I mused, patting Zuke's head again as he once again got comfortable.
"So... about Peyton..."
Noah said, watching me.
I lifted my right hand from Zuke's head and covered my face with both my hands.
"I cannot believe we're two week's out from the Wedding and one of the Bridesmaids has quit!"
I exclaimed.
As if I didn't have enough problems, being I still actually didn't even have a dress?
"Not trying to be a Bitch... but didn't you only really ask her coz she was Heath's partner and you kinda needed to match number's with the Groomsmen? Kinda like with Kristen?"
She had a point.
Though I like Kristen, I really only have anything to do with her because she's Married to Joel.
I've known Peyton for around two year's, but never actually felt overly close to her.
I care about Heath though, so I'd tried to include and accept his Girlfriend.
Wait...
I let my hands down from my face and eyed Noah.
"I thought they had a fight? Do you actually think they're over?"
"From what Heath says, I'm pretty sure they're done."
Noah explained.
Well shit...
I'd have to speak to Heath.
It wasn't just about the relationship between him and Peyton.
They have a Daughter.
"I think there's more to their fight, but I know he's mad at her because a couple of week's out from the Wedding she decided to state that she's too fat to wear the dress and she doesn't want photos of her in it."
Noah explained.
I let my head rest back against the wooden headboard and closed my eyes.
Now we had a decision to make.
Either we had to cut one of the Groomsmen from the bridal party to level number's back out again, or we had to find a replacement Bridesmaid.
But who the hell was I supposed to ask?
My Little Sister's are the Flower Girl's.
Mum's my Maid Of Honour.
"Oh! Hayley's calling!"
I popped my eyes open to see that Noah had her phone in her hand.
She tapped at the screen and then she shifted onto her hand's and knee's and crawled up the bed to join me at the top end.
When she was sitting beside me and I could see her phone screen, I realised that Hayley was on video call.
"Well hello there!"
I greeted my other best friend.
"Heyyyy!"
Hayley replied.
"How are you?"
"Trying not to freak the hell out."
I informed her.
"How are you?"
"I'm okay."
She nodded.
"Missing Keegan, but cuddles with little Summer Bear helps."
She smiled.
Naww.
"I need cuddles with Summer!"
I told her.
"If she wasn't sleeping soundly, like a big girl, in her cot, I'd bring her around for you."
"Soon then!"
I insisted.
Hayley nodded.
"For sure."
"So... there's a bit of a thing."
Noah butted in.
Excellent.
She wants to get down to the heavy stuff.
"Uh oh!"
Hayley's grey eyes widened.
"What's up?"
"Blayze and I got home to find out Peyton's apparently quit as a Bridesmaid."
I informed her.
Hayley squealed a sound which indicated alarm.
"You're kidding me?!"
"Nope."
Noah and I both shook our head's.
"When did this happen?!"
Hayley demanded.
"Last night."
Noah told her.
"Argh!"
Hayley covered her face with her hands.
"Any suggestion's about what we do from here, Oh Wise One?"
I asked, rubbing Zuke's ear's.
Noah giggled.
Hayley dropped her hands so we could see her face again.
"What do you mean?"
She asked.
"As it stands, there are five Groomsmen and now four Bridesmaids."
Noah explained.
Grimacing, I nodded.
"Oh!"
Hayley's eyes widened once again.
"Right."
She whispered.
"So do I tell Blayze he's gonna have to boot one Groomsman, or do we hire a Bridesmaid?"
I asked, trying not to wince.
Noah rolled her eyes.
"I don't think you'll have to hire a Bridesmaid."
Hayley giggled.
"Well I don't see either of you coming up with anything!"
I retorted.
"I have an idea."
Hayley suggested, holding up a hand like she was in a classroom.
"And what's that?"
I asked, raising a brow.
"You can say no."
Hayley promised.
"But... what about... Yvette?"
Hayley's next younger Sister.
Yvette was thirteen, turning fourteen in a few months.
I'd known her for her entire life.
She'd been born at Home, on Hayley's parents' lounge room floor and at just six year's old, I'd been allowed to hold her when she was just one day old.
"Do you think she'd be up for it?"
I asked, tipping my head to the side.
"Dude!"
Hayley rolled her eyes dramatically.
"She lives for dressing up."
Smiling, I shook my head.
Yvette Jackson was and always had been a Girly Girl.
Even more so than Hayley and Hayley was more Girly than Noah or I.
"That would actually be really great."
I mused.
"But we'd have to ask her if she's okay with it. And see if Heath's okay for his bridesmaid partner to be a Teenager."
I couldn't help but giggle.
Hayley giggled too!
"I think that might be the issue here, if there even is one."
Noah shook her head.
"I don't think Heath will mind. He's only concerned about Bailey and Blayze's day going smoothly. And it's not like they'll have to do anything besides pose for some photos and have a dance or two."
"We'll still ask him."
I insisted.
"But you're probably right. He's Heath, not a lot seems to bother him too much."
"Except his so called Girlfriend pulling a complete one eighty."
Noah muttered.
I winced.
Yes.
My soon to be Brother In Law definitely seemed angered by Peyton at the moment.
I made my second mental note to talk to him.
Heath and I were pretty close before He became a Father for the first time and I got absorbed in Wedding Planning.
I stood at the Kitchen sink, a warm mug of coffee clutched between my hand's, staring out at the Working Horse Paddock as the morning sunshine brought a warm glow across the Farm yard.
I'd enjoyed a half hour to myself to have my first coffee and wake up properly.
For the second half hour, I'd been waiting rather impatiently for one or all of my Son's to wake up.
I wanted them to hurry up and wake up, because I only had really the morning to spend with them before it was time to have my Hen's Party.
Next weekend was Blayze's Buck's Show.
The following weekend was dedicated to the Wedding.
Busy was what our lives currently were.
And being away for most of Thursday, Thursday night and all day Friday, I was missing my Babies.
I heard the stairs creak.
I turned around, fully expecting to find Noah coming down with Knox.
She'd told me last night that Codie had a 5AM wake up today for his shift with the SES, so I'd thankfully been dead to the world when He'd started his day.
I'd convinced Blayze to have a sleep in this morning seeing as He would be having Luka, Brodie and Dale on his own this afternoon and tonight.
Well, he'd have Codie's help seeing as Codie was recruited to looking after Knox.
And it looked like there was a chance Heath would be hanging around.
Unless he planned to take himself to the Pub for a night of liver punishment.
It was Blayze's Brother that was now coming down the last of the stairs.
"Morning."
I greeted.
"Morning."
Heath muttered, lifting his left hand to rub his face and then mess up his hair further.
"Want me to make ya a Cuppa?"
I offered as He made his way through the lounge room, dodging the furniture.
"I wouldn't say no..."
He replied, smiling just slightly.
"Okay."
I set my own half empty mug onto the bench and turned around to flick the kettle on again.
"What're you doing up so early?"
I asked, my back to the rest of the House.
Sunday used to be the Farm's only somewhat 'lazy day'.
But with the Drought stock number's had diminished and so the workload had also dropped off, which meant generally speaking the hands tended to have later starts, but on weekends they could basically mosey out of bed when they were ready.
Well, to a certain extent.
If it was Saturday and you weren't seen doing something useful by 10AM, Grandpa would certainly have something to say to you when he did track you down.
"Couldn't sleep. Didn't really sleep all that well overnight either."
Heath explained, his voice sounding closer.
I looked over my shoulder to find him standing between the Kitchen and Dining Room, elbow's propped on the top portion of the bench.
"You and I need to have a chat."
I told him, crossing over to the same bench he was leaning on, to open one of the cupboards and grab a mug.
"I'm good."
He shook his head.
"I spoke to Blayze last night."
Too bad for him, I knew that by 'spoke to Blayze' he meant they'd had a beer or two and probably just barely skirted around the topic of issue.
"Well that's great, but I'd like to talk to you too."
I stated, dumping a spoonful of Coffee into the mug.
Heath groaned.
I grabbed the sugar container and dropped three spoonful's in, because I was aware that although he was now twenty one, Heath's sweet tooth hadn't gone anywhere.
"Take a seat."
I nodded towards the dining table.
"There's nothing to talk about!"
He protested.
I set the tea spoon down and stared at him, although I admittedly had to look up to do so.
Even slumped forward on my bench, my soon to be Brother In Law was more than a foot taller than me.
He'd grown since he'd arrived in Town, but he hadn't caught up to Blayze.
Of course Blayze was more than smug about that...
Heath averted his gaze and sighed heavily.
"Fine."
He muttered, turning on his heel to go to the table.
I joined Heath at the large dining table, placed his coffee in front of him and took a seat adjacent to him, holding my own half full cup.
"So, before we get down to the heavy stuff, I wanted to run something by you."
I informed him.
He lifted his mug, took a seemingly long sip of its contents and set the cup back down onto the table.
"Shoot."
He told me.
I couldn't help but smile.
That was typical Heath.
He'd been eager to lend a hand since the day Blayze had picked him up on the road and dragged him back to the Farm.
"How would you feel about Yvette being your replacement Bridesmaid?"
I asked, lifting my cup.
Heath looked the picture of confused, with one eyebrow raised and his head tilted to the side.
"Yvette?"
He queried.
He doesn't know who I'm talking about?
"Hayley's Sister..."
I prompted.
Heath's expression was an almost perfect 'oh, right'.
"Aren't Hayley's Sibling's Kid's, apart from ummm what's his name? Tristan?"
I tried so hard not to laugh.
He'd been living with us for a little over two years and he was still confused.
"Yvette is thirteen. She'll be fourteen in a few months."
I informed him.
"You've found someone to replace the Bitch?"
Heath asked, his face almost expressionless.
Was that a trick question?
Was he annoyed that we had a possible fix for the issue, or was he relieved?
"Ummm... Hayley had the idea last night... when Noah and I spoke to her..."
I explained.
Heath slumped in his chair, relief evident in his expression and his posture.
"I couldn't care less who you wanted to partner me with, just as long as the day isn't fucked for you two."
He declared.
I just wanted to hug him!
So I set my coffee (which had only maybe half a mouthful in the bottom of the mug) onto the table, hopped up out of my chair and hobbled around the corner of the table to wrap my soon to be Brother In Law into a hug.
Like I'd anticipated, Heath locked up under my arms.
I don't think this guy was hugged enough as a Child.
"Seriously? This is one of those moments?"
He asked, an audible note of strain in his voice.
"It absolutely is."
I informed him, resting my cheek against the top of his head.
"Can we stop now?"
Heath asked, almost sounding apprehensive.
"Nope."
I denied.
He made a half groaning, half strangled whine sound.
"Look Luka! You can join in!"
I lifted my head off Heath's hair, but kept my arm's firmly locked around his shoulder's and turned my head to see Blayze and Luka approaching us, Luka propped up in Blayze's arm.
"Hi Baby!"
I greeted, grinning.
"Hello."
Blayze answered, his blue-green eyes twinkling.
"This is torture."
Heath croaked.
"Complete and utter fucking torture."
I couldn't help but giggle.
"You guys are having sickly talk right in front of me!"
Heath snapped.
"My greeting was for Luka. Blayze was just being a smart ass."
I informed him.
Grinning, my eldest Son stretched his arms out towards me and leaned in my direction.
Blayze arranged his hands around Luka's waist to be able to hold him suspended in the air and then he lifted the Toddler over my head to deposit him onto Heath's lap.
"Pile up!"
He declared.
Luka laughed!
"Heaf!"
My little boy exclaimed.
"Hey mate."
His Uncle greeted him.
I released Heath and hobbled around to face Luka.
"Hey honey!"
I greeted him and leaned down to kiss him.
"Mummy!"
He crowed, wrapping his arms around my neck.
I'd given the Boy's their daily bath in the morning today, a little while after their breakfast.
Though the routine was normally for their bath after their Dinner, I wouldn't be here tonight and neither would Noah.
I would have to be a fly on the wall if Blayze tried to wrangle Bath Time on his own!
"So we've done it all a bit backwards, haven't we!"
I stated in an upbeat voice, trying to help Brodie get rid of his serious face.
My Boy's were all seriously taking after Blayze way more than they were Me.
Not that I really had any complaints about that.
Although Blayze is mostly over his water phobia now, it seemed that Brodie had inherited some innate fear of the liquid.
He'd cried in the first ever bath I'd given him at the Hospital.
Nowadays, he'll still cry, but sometimes you can keep his adorable little face at just an obviously not happy one, rather than a traumatised flow of tear's.
"But Mummy's not giving in, because you still have to be clean!"
I informed the four month old, giving his naked tummy a tickle.
His blue-green eyes lit up, a grin stretched his lips and he giggled!
"You're too cute!"
I exclaimed.
My little Boy just grinned back at me.
I leaned down, placed my lips against his warm, soft skinned tummy and blew a gentle raspberry.
Brodie kicked his arm's and leg's and his giggle came louder than before!
Grinning, I lifted my head to watch the amusement on my Baby's face.
I turned my focus to Dale who was lying patiently beside Brodie, also naked aside from a clean Nappy.
"Dale's turn?"
I asked the adventurous water Baby.
I could sort of understand why Brodie usually cried in the bath, considering he was already apprehensive of the situation and then his Brother went along and started splashing water everywhere.
And it wasn't even the Big Brother!
Dale just watched me with blinking blue-green eyes.
"I'll fix that serious face!"
I teasingly warned the Baby, shaking a finger at him.
He continued to stare back at me, expression blank.
"The serious Baby, aren't you..."
I crooned, slowly leaning in.
His dear little serious face didn't change in the slightest.
But when my lips brushed lightly against his soft tummy skin, the Baby jumped like he'd suffered a shock.
It was my turn to giggle!
I leaned in again, placed my lips to the soft, warm skin of Dale's belly and blew a gentle raspberry.
The poor kid bawled!
I sat up quickly and stared wide eyed at my now scrunched up faced Baby, who had tear's streaming from his clenched eyes.
Crap!
Brodie just stared at his crying Brother.
"What did you do?"
I twisted around to find that Blayze and Luka we're back, Luka dressed in stone wash jeans and a black Bullzye t-shirt, a pair of brown boot's on his dear little feet and trailing behind his Daddy.
"I blew a raspberry on Brodie's belly and he laughed!"
I explained.
"I did the same to Dale and he started to cry!"
"Well how about we see what your reaction might be?"
Blayze suggested, his blue-green eyes twinkling.
"What the heck are you talking about?"
I asked, more than confused.
Blayze got down onto his knees, joining the Twin's and I on the lounge room floor.
A grin brightened Luka's dear little face and he hurried to join us and copy his Dad's kneeling position.
"Lay down."
Blayze urged.
I blinked at him.
"Ummm.... what?"
"You know... on your back, on the floor?"
He asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Why do you want me to lay down?"
I asked, slowly easing myself down onto my back.
"Shirt up."
Blayze ordered.
Has he lost his marbles, or what?
I grabbed the hem of my t-shirt and eased it up to expose a good portion of my belly.
Blayze shifted forward so that he was knelt by my right thigh and was effectively between the Twin's and I.
He placed his right arm over the other side of my hips and his intention hit me like a tonne of bricks's.
"No!"
I exclaimed, eyes going wide.
His shit eating grin grew to maybe twice the size his amused smile had been and the sparkle in his eyes intensified.
"Yep."
He retorted.
"Luka?"
I appealed to our Toddler.
"Get Daddy."
The little Boy, grinning in a way that was nearly a replica of his Father's current smile, looked between Blayze and I.
Blayze started to lean down, my exposed tummy his obvious goal.
"No!"
I pushed my t-shirt back down, but He moved too fast and pushed my hand and the fabric out of his way.
My damn Fiancé moved in such a torturously slow way, that I was laying on the floor, stiff as a board, waiting in dreaded anticipation for the tickling sensation on my stomach.
"Don't worry Dale."
Blayze told the Baby, his lips poised less than six inches above my exposed skin.
"I'll show Mummy how mean it was."
I tried to pull my shirt down again, but he effortlessly blocked me, so I tried for splaying my hands over my stomach in an attempt to block his access that way.
He used one hand to grab both my wrists and pulled my hands out of the way.
"Blayyyyyyze! Don't!"
I begged, squirming on the lounge room floor.
His lips descended upon the tender skin of my tummy and he blew like he had a huge breath to let out.
"Aaaaaaargh!"
I couldn't laugh.
It was absolute fucking torture and he apparently had no intentions of stopping any time soon!
I began kicking my legs, while trying to squirm out from under the relentless attack.
"P-p-please!"
I struggled, tear's streaming out of the outside corner's of my eyes.
Finally he pulled back.
The skin across my stomach quite literally tingled!
Blayze released my wrists and I slapped my hands over my stomach and gave the tingling area a rapid rub, trying to get the queer feeling to go away.
"That's terrible!"
I snapped, shooting him a glare.
His smile was smug.
"And now you know how Dale felt."
"I didn't torture him that bad!"
I exclaimed, yanking my t-shirt down to cover my belly and quickly sitting up.
Blayze shrugged
"Well he cried, so it must have been bad enough."
"You're an asshole!"
I accused.
He just grinned.
"Code red!"
I dropped my knife onto the cutting board and whipped around to find Noah rushing towards me.
"What's wrong?!"
I yelped.
"Codie just called!"
Noah explained, practically skidding to a stop at the entrance to the Kitchen.
"He's not broken down, or working a double shift, right?"
I asked.
That would be bad...
Because we only had a few hour's left before Noah and I had to leave for the Hen's party.
Codie was on Knox duty tonight.
"No!"
Noah waved her hands, looking like a crazy lady slashing her way through a swarm of bee's.
"The parcel arrived. And Codie's got it!"
She exclaimed, her blue eyes widening.
Oh.
The parcel arrived.
That mean's she can finally tell Codie the news!
But wait...
I felt my own eyes widen.
"Did you tell him he can't look?!"
"Of course I did! But now he's telling me he's gonna open it!"
She explained.
"Well tell him he can't!"
I retorted.
"I'm trying to!"
She replied.
"But he's-"
She broke off and pulled her phone out of the kangaroo pouch pocket of her hoodie.
Or, it rather looked like one of Codie's jumper's, being about five sizes too big for her.
She slid her finger across the screen and lifted the phone to her ear.
"What?"
She asked.
"Leave the fucking parcel alone!"
She ordered.
I couldn't hear Codie's reply, but my bet was that he was amused as hell, being Codie, judging by hair how frustrated Noah was.
"Does it say Codie Bentley, or Noah Zannox on the label?"
Noah asked.
"Then leave it the fuck alone because it's mine!"
She all but screeched.
"Stop fucking laughing at me!"
She fumed, stomping a foot like a petulant Toddler.
"I don't care is my reaction's are amusing! You're not allowed to see it until I decide you are!"
Smiling, I shook my head and turned back to fixing Luka's Lunch.
"The fact that it's a surprise makes you want to look even more? Well guess what? If you so much as poke a hole in that packaging, I'll never have any kind of Sex with you again, for the rest of our lives."
Noah threatened.
Now I had to try really hard to contain my laughter.
"I think I just walked in at the wrong time."
I looked up from Luka's sandwich to find that Blayze and Heath had clearly just walked through the door.
"You're tellin' me."
Heath grumbled, easing the front door closed.
"That's a bit harsh?"
Noah asked into her phone, ignoring Blayze and Heath's comments.
"Then leave my fucking parcel alone!"
She all but shouted.
By now I could hear Codie's laughter.
Noah pulled her phone from her ear and ended the call, then tossed the Samsung onto the kitchen bench.
"Men!"
She exclaimed.
I couldn't help but giggle.
"Just because you thought it was a good idea to fall in love with Codie Bentley doesn't mean you can put the rest of us into the same basket!"
Blayze exclaimed, eyes wide.
I dropped my knife, grabbed onto the kitchen bench and laughed!
"Shut up Blayze!"
Noah retorted, setting her hands on her hips.
"You don't even know what's going on!"
I shook my head.
"We don't have to know the details to know that you're bat crap crazy."
Heath declared.
Uh oh...
I risked a sideways glance at Noah.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yes really!"
Heath retorted.
"You fly off the handle faster than this guy!"
He hooked a thumb to gesture to Blayze who was still standing beside him near the door.
Blayze shot his little Brother a glare.
I couldn't help but giggle.
"I'm allowed to be a little bit emotional!"
Noah retorted.
Blayze raised a questioning eyebrow.
I stared at him and willed him to receive my telepathic message to keep his mouth shut.
"A little bit emotional, yes."
Heath agreed.
"Not bat crap crazy!"
Oh dear...
I shook my head.
"Good one."
Blayze muttered, just barely loud enough for me to hear.
"If Codie opens that parcel, what's inside is gonna tell him that I'm pregnant!"
Noah retorted.
Both the guys standing across the room seemed to instantly blank.
Oh no!
I whipped my head around to look at Noah.
Wasn't she keeping it on the down low until she told Codie?
"You're pregnant again?"
Heath asked.
"Yes."
Noah grimaced and closed her eyes.
She inhaled deeply and let the breath out before opening her eyes.
"But you can't say anything to Codie, because he doesn't know yet."
"My lips are sealed."
Blayze promised, making his way towards the Kitchen bench.
I stood at the bottom of the stone path that led to the Cottage that used to be Blayze's home, but was now Home to Heath, Peyton and Tatum Rose.
I'd heard thing's from Heath's point of view earlier in the day, but it was time to talk to Peyton.
At the very least, she owed me an explanation for acting like a Friend and wanting to be a part of my Bridal Party, then one day just randomly changing her mind.
I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
It was now or never.
I squared my shoulder's and made my way up the stone pathway, climbed up the three step's, walked across the stone patio, pulled the screen door aside and knocked on the closed wooden door.
I could hear the drone of the TV from inside the Cottage and finally the patter of footsteps approaching the door.
Eventually the door swung open, revealing Peyton.
I don't take pride in other people's suffering, but it was impossible not to notice that the other Girl looked like shit.
Her brunette hair was a greasy mop bundled up on top of her head.
Her eyes didn't just have bag's, but were basically a luggage rack.
And it was Saturday afternoon and she was in a pair of purple flannel pyjamas with pink heart's scattered all over them.
It took me a while to realise I'd been standing on the doorstep for quite some time and neither of us had said a word.
"Can we talk?"
I asked, lacing my finger's together.
Peyton averted her gaze and blinked quickly a few times.
"I-I guess."
She finally croaked, taking a step back to give me some room to enter the little house.
What I noticed when I first stepped into the house I'd once been very familiar with, was that the place looked like a bomb had gone off inside of it.
It wasn't just that thing's hadn't been put away in a while.
I could literally see that the wooden floor needed a vacuuming and that the cupboard surfaces and coffee table needed wiping down.
It had been an undeniable bachelor pad when Blayze had lived here and even when Heath had moved in, but it had never been legitimately messy.
My initial plan had been to reserve judgement, but my first impression was that I had to agree with Heath.
What the heck was Peyton doing all day?
"Is Tatum asleep?"
I asked, not noticing the Baby anywhere in the lounge room.
"Yeah."
Peyton agreed, making her way over to sit on the couch.
Tentatively, I joined her.
"I get that it should have been me to talk to you... but I'm assuming you already know."
Peyton piped up.
I turned to watch the other Girl.
"If you mean do I know that you've quit being a Bridesmaid... then yeah, I know."
Peyton's eyes filled with a fresh round of tear's.
"T-too m-much is h-happening."
She managed.
"A-and it's n-not right f-for me t-to be p-part of s-such a s-special day f-for you."
She put her head into her hands.
"I just... I don't understand... what changed..."
I admitted.
"Nothing changed."
Peyton informed me, her head still cradled in her hands.
"I'm just sick and tired of trying to play the game."
Ouch.
"So being my Friend was a game?"
I asked, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.
"No."
Peyton lifted her head and let her hand's fall into her lap, her eyes glassy with unshed tear's.
"M-my life's j-just such a m-mess."
She croaked.
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm n-not over X-Xalan."
Peyton explained.
I felt sucker punched, on Heath's behalf.
But...
He didn't tell me that part.
Does that mean he doesn't know?
Peyton tipped her head back to stare at the ceiling, tear's streaming out of her eyes.
"I c-can't try a-and pretend a-anymore."
She explained.
"It's n-not fair t-to Xalan, o-or Heath, o-or Me."
Was it bad that the one I felt the most sorry for, was Heath?
Probably.
"M-my Visa i-is up i-in less th-than a m-month."
Peyton all but whispered.
Visa...?
I felt my eyes widen.
"Like... a bank card, or the Visa that lets you live here?"
I whispered.
Peyton slumped against the couch cushion's and nodded her head.
"That one."
Shit.
"So... are you... getting another one? Or are you... going back... to America?"
"I have to go back, before I can get another one."
She explained.
Holy crap...
"And Tatum was born here... and Heath's Australian... so she's automatically an Australian Citizen."
Peyton all but whispered.
Wait a minute...
"So you won't be taking Tatum back to America?"
"I can't."
Peyton shook her head, her expression a pain crumpled one.
"There's no way to get her a passport in the time I've got."
Something else was bothering more.
Tatum Rose Riley is quite literally the brightest light in Heath's life.
"Taking her to another Country from her Father doesn't factor in at all?"
I asked, twisting around to lean backwards against the arm rest of the lounge.
Peyton met my gaze, her eyes filled with tear's.
"I'd feel guilty, of course I would, but I'd take her if I could. She's my Baby."
She whispered.
"But I forgot about when my end date was and now I can't get a passport done in time, so there'll be no choice but for me to leave her with H-Heath..."
She broke in to sobs by the end.
I'd definitely not wandered down here expecting the conversation to go this way.
"Y-you no doubt h-hate me and I-I can't blame y-you for that."
Peyton struggled, blinking quickly against her tear's.
"I don't hate you."
I shook my head.
"I just think you shouldn't have used Heath. You should be dealing with your grief for Xalan."
"I've fucked up everything, I know."
She whispered.
As I approached my House, I was greeted by the Dog's that were stretching their leg's in the yard.
And Luka, who was having a ball chasing them!
Blayze and Heath were sitting on the porch steps, Brodie sitting on Blayze's lap, leaning back against his Dad's chest and Dale doing the same but in their Uncle's arm's.
"What are you all doing out here?"
I asked, leaning down to ruffle Zuke and Zeus' ear's.
"Codie's Home."
Blayze explained.
"Noah kicked us out."
I looked towards the lounge room window's and couldn't help but smile.
If she'd kicked Blayze and Heath out, then it must mean she was telling Codie the new's.
"So how much of a victim did she try and paint herself as?"
I dragged my gaze from the house, to look at Heath.
"I definitely don't think she's innocent."
I informed him.
"But I think she's beating herself up a fair bit."
"So she should."
He grumbled, glaring out towards the Working Horse Paddock.
"You didn't... tell me about her Visa almost being up..."
I pointed out.
Blayze's eyes widened just enough to be noticeable.
"Yep."
Heath nodded.
"I thought she'd had a long term thing arranged, coz she'd been here with old mate."
"When's she gotta go?"
Blayze asked, his gaze bouncing between Heath and I.
"Bit under a month."
Heath muttered.
"So she's taking Tatum to America?!"
Blayze demanded.
Heath dropped his gaze to the dirt and sparsely grass covered ground.
Peyton didn't tell him she can't take their Daughter with her?
Which of us was she bullshitting to then?
I folded my arms under my chest.
"Well she told me that she can't take Tatum, because the Baby is an Australian Citizen because of Heath and she can't get a passport for her before she has to be out."
Heath's head snapped up.
"So Tatum stays?"
Blayze asked.
"That's What Peyton told me..."
I turned my gaze to Heath, to gauge his reaction.
"I haven't asked."
He explained.
"I guess I just assumed I'd be losing her..."
He all but whispered.
"No fucken way."
Blayze shook his head.
"I'm callin' Jax."
He shifted and slipped his phone out of his pocket.
"What... for?"
I asked wearily.
"He knows good Lawyer's."
Blayze explained, tapping at his phone screen.
Heath shot his Brother a glare.
"I can't afford Lawyer's, let alone good ones."
My heart clenched for him.
Blayze shot him a sly smile.
"Then get used to workin' your arse off for your favourite Brother."
"I don't particularly want to go back to Mantilla..."
It took me a moment to see the curve to Heath's lips and the twinkle in his eyes to realise he was teasing.
"Want me to hang up the phone?"
Blayze asked, raising a questioning eyebrow, his phone against his right ear.
These boys!
I rolled my eyes.
"No thanks."
Heath shook his head.
"Jax!"
Blayze suddenly greeted.
He rolled his eyes.
"Wake the fuck up!"
Heath grinned!
I couldn't help but giggle.
"Mummy?"
I looked down at the sound of Luka's sweet little voice and him pulling on my jeans covered leg.
"Hey honey."
I leaned down and scooped the Toddler up off the floor.
"I need some of your best Australian Lawyers' contact details."
Blayze explained into the phone.
Silence ensued from our end while Jax clearly answered.
"Yeah man."
Blayze nodded.
"Bail's has sent me packin' and wants to take me to the cleaner's."
Heath shook his head, his shoulder's shaking as he laughed.
"He's full of it Jax!"
I called out.
Blayze laughed!
"Nah man."
He shook his head.
"Heath's got shit goin' down."
He explained.
"I just gotta make sure he's not gonna loose his Daughter."
We all waited quietly while Jax answered.
"Thank you."
Blayze nodded.
"I'm aware you're getting back next week. But we got this. I just need your contact's, not your pretty face."
"Daddy's in a very teasing mood today."
I whispered to Luka and kissed his cheek.
"Cheers man."
Blayze stated.
"Yep. We'll see ya Thursday. Righto. Catch ya."
He pulled the phone from his ear.
The front door swung open and Codie spilled out onto the porch, a six pack of beer's in his hand.
"Oi you lot!"
Blayze and Heath both twisted around to face the house.
"We need to celebrate!"
Codie declared, pulling one of the stubby's from the packet and extending it to Blayze.
"What're we celebratin'?"
Blayze asked, accepting the drink
Codie handed Heath a beer bottle too and told him to pass it on to me.
Heath climbed to his feet, popped the top for me and offered me the drink.
I wasn't really keen to have a drink, seeing as I had to leave for the Hen's Party soon, but I couldn't exactly refuse without making it look suspicious.
Codie handed Heath another beer stubby.
""We're celebrating Kid Number Two cooking!"
Codie declared, raising his own beer stubby.
"Woohoo!"
I raised my own drink.
"Congrats Mate!"
Blayze raised his bottle too.
"Congrats!"
Heath added, lifting his beer.
Noah made her way through the front door, Knox propped on her left hip.
She walked up to Codie's side and wrapped her right arm around his back.
He wound his left arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
I leaned down to set my beer on the floor and quickly grabbed my phone from my back pocket.
I didn't get my camera activated in time to capture the adorable head kiss, but I did manage to snap a shot of the darling little Family together and the love filled gaze between Noah and Codie.
"Do the head kiss thing again."
Blayze instructed.
"Noah will want that one for her next profile pic."
I couldn't help but smile.
Grinning, Noah rolled her eyes.
"What're you on about?"
Codie asked, pulling his gaze from Noah, to look down at Blayze.
"Bail's is takin' photos."
Blayze explained.
"But she missed the bit they'll declare is the cutest."
"Touché."
I agreed, waiting with my phone poised to take more pictures.
Codie turned his focus back to a lightly blushing Noah.
"Really?"
He asked her, raising a brow.
She lifted her chin.
"Of course."
Codie leaned down and pressed his lips to the top of her head a second time.
I quickly tapped for a couple of pictures.
Then I altered the angle of my phone and snapped a picture of Blayze and Brodie, Heath and Dale all sitting on the porch steps.
"Now one for you and Me, Luka!"
I informed the Toddler, tapping on the function to switch to take a selfie.
I angled the phone to get Luka and I's faces properly into the screen.
"Say cheese!"
I urged.
He pulled his attentive gaze off my face and focused on the phone screen.
"Cheese!"
He declared, his toothy grin wide and his blue-green eyes sparkling.
I snapped a couple of pictures, hoping at least one of them was perfect.
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