With a purple balloon the size of my stomach, I tie the end off and throw it onto the ground. Angela walks into the room with a long pink 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' sign in hand. The amount of effort she's putting into London's birthday is terrifying, yet exciting. I'm expecting a mini circus in the backyard accompanied by a live music set, and a bar in the far corner.

"I was thinking about hanging the sign here." Angela points to the space behind the television. "It's the only clear space you can see directly as you walk into the lounge room."

"Yeah, looks good." I nod my head.

"Or should I have it here?' Angela looks over her shoulder to the space above the couch.

"The couch will look better for photos," I add.

"Good point, Ava." With a huff, Angela wizzes out of the room. I keep blowing up the balloons until I've finished the packet. The floor is slightly filled with balloons but not enough that you can't see the floor.

Since the balloon task is complete, I exit the room to find Angela. As I'm walking down the hallway, I hear voices coming from further up. As I walk into the kitchen, I find Angela and my mother. With the plastic shopping bags on the counter, it gives me the impression she just arrived.

"Hi." I smile. "The balloons are done. What should I do next?"

"I have a photo booth that needs to be set up," explains Angela.

"Really?"

"Yes, the children are going to love it!" Angela grins happily.

"Who did you invite?" I ask.

Angela looks through the shopping bags until she finds a packet of cardboard props. She hands them to me and laughs.

"I invited everyone." The comment makes me frown. I don't think Blake and I know enough people with children for a party.

"Okay." I nod. "Where should I set this up?"

"Just outside. I put Blake in charge of the photo booth," she mumbles. "I hope it's done."

"I'll make sure it gets done," I say.

With the packet in hand, I walk to the backyard. Blake is assembling a display against the side of the wall. There's a huge banner that reads 'LONDON'S FIRST BIRTHDAY' with glittery writing.

"Hey you," I say.

"Is there something wrong?" asks Blake.

"No, just checking on you, and oh." I hold up the bag of props. "These are for your booth."

"Ah, perfect." He smiles. "I was worried Mum expected me to make these too."

"No." I laugh. "I'd expect her to make you dress up as Elsa or something."

"What?" He frowns. "Why can't I be a cuddly bear?"

"You're my cuddly bear." I wink.

"Hmm." Blake wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my lips. "Do you want to take a picture?" He eyes off the camera clipped to the stand.

"Sure." I smile.

Blake opens the bag of props and hands me a crown.

"Ah, I get to be the princess." I giggle.

"No." Blake shakes his head. "A boy plays around for a princess, but a man seeks out his queen."

"Well said."

I let Blake mess around with the camera settings. He clicks a button and runs to me. He wraps an arm around my waist and kisses my cheek. I erupt with giggles as I hold the crown above my head. The camera flashes to take the picture. I wrap my arm around Blake's neck and kiss his lips. His palm clutches my cheek and his thumb strokes over the skin. Goosebumps run along my arms, sending tingles down my spine. The flash clicks again which makes me jump backwards.

"Did it just?" I frown.

"Ops." Blake cheekily laughs.

The sound of a car door slamming shut sends my train of thought spiralling. I look around the backyard to make sure everything looks perfect. Blake poke's my shoulder and I turn my attention to him.

"Hm?"

"Looks like someone's here," he explains. "I'm going to answer the door." Blake rushes past and into the house. As I got to follow inside, Angela and Blake return with an unfamiliar face. He's got a brown clipboard in hand, maybe he's the entertainment? Angela stands in the lounge room and throws her arms about as she explains something to the guy.

With a very serious expression, he nods his head and leaves the room. Blake opens the glass sliding door and steps back out.

"What up with him?"

"He's the bouncy castle man," explains Blake.

"Darn!" I grumble. "I'm sad I won't be able to play on it."

"When you've had the bub, I'll hire one out for you." He smiles. "Or just buy a trampoline. Preferable the one with the sides on it. I feel like you've got a better chance falling off than London."

"What, why?"

"You already fell down the stairs, falling off a trampoline seems like your next adventure."

"Gee." I pout. "Thanks for the confidence."

The man later returns around the side of the house with another person to set up the bright orange and yellow castle. Since the machine is noisy, I head inside to take cover. Mum and Angela are insistent that I rest while they cook. Thus, it leaves Blake and I couch bound with treats to eat.

Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rings. Blake jumps off the couch and springs to the door. By the time I haul my butt off the couch, I catch the glimpse of a small child running down the hallway. Blake slowly chases after her, then swoops London into his arms.

"Happy Birthday, princess." He kisses her check.

"Happy Birthday, Lo." I grin.

London places her arms out in sign of wanting to come to me. I take her off Blake and hold her to my side. Tori walks up the hallway with her parents strolling behind. The last time I'd met them, they weren't impressed. I feel awkward about seeing them again, however, Blake and Tori are on good terms, so there shouldn't be an issue.

"Hi," I great.

They mutter their hello's with pleasant smiles. Angela and my mother storm into the room like a tornado. London's is passed around the group as they cuddle and kiss her cheek. Eventually, Blake places her on the ground and she toddles off.

London is straight into the toys packed away in the corner which doesn't surprise me.

Next to arrive is Eden and her child, Charlotte, and Kyle. All three come baring gifs, and cuddles. Eden's daughter sits on the ground with London and plays with the building blocks. Kyle is the first person to crack open a beer and lounge on the couch. Eden wanders into the kitchen to offer help while we stay in the lounge room with Tori and her parents.

Things feel awkward until Blake puts on music and London becomes the centre of attention with her bobbing dance moves.

Blake takes Eden's daughter and London onto the bouncy castle. They both end up crawling around the bumpy plastic until London starts crying. Then Kyle runs outside with Charlotte to play on it. Jude later appears which ends up with four large adults taking over a children's bouncy castle.

The music fills the house along with laughter, happiness, and excitement. However, I still couldn't find the words to talk to my mother. I love her, but I don't know where to move forwards at this point. I feel like all we do is bump heads and I don't want that.

It's only when someone grabs my arm that I realise how quiet I've been. I look over my shoulder and find my mother smiling.

"Can we talk?" she mutters.

"Sure." I nod.

Mum and I walk outside and stand off to the side of the party where we've got not interruptions.

"I'm sorry," she starts. "I know you're doing an amazing job with London, and I know you'll do the same with the baby. It's just . . . it's hard seeing your little girl grow up so quickly. I want the best for you, and I'm sorry I haven't been that for you."

"It's okay." I nod.

"It's not." She shakes her head. "I love you and this baby so much. I always want to be in your lives. I think Blake is a wonderful man too. He'll take care of you both. I really am happy for you, but my worries took over that happiness."

"You're here now," I say. "To me, that counts the most. In an odd way, I'm glad you said what you said. And I'm even happier you're with me now."

"And I'm never leaving." I give my Mum a long tight high. It's been awhile since I've had the chance to do this. Despite Blake's ability to fix just about everything, there will always be something so special about a mother's hug. It's like you could fix the world with just one hug.

A flash pings and it startles me. Out the corner of my eye, I see Angela grinning like a mad woman.

"Don't mind me." Angela strolls off to snap more pictures.

"I wanted to visit you in the hospital but I never got the chance. I was afraid of stepping on Blake's toes. He was stressed enough. We got updates and it was barely enough. I'm sorry . . . I know I should have come, but." She bites her lip.

Shrugging my shoulders, I tug on a brave smile. "It's in the past and I want to keep it there," I admit.

"Okay, hun."

"Now we have the future and this baby to look forwards. This time, you don't get to miss the hospital. I need someone to hold my hand in case Blake passes out," I tease. Mum laughs at the joke.

"I could throw you a baby shower." She grins excitedly.

"No, thank you." I shake my head. "I don't need one of those."

"Please let me do this once nice thing for you."

"Changing a nappy is a nice thing, throwing a party feels extravagant." I've never been one of parties and the fact I don't have a lot of friends makes it daunting. Baby showers are generally for female which means I can't invite Kyle or Blake to come.

"It'll be fun." She insists, but I truly doubt that'll happen.

"No," I say.

"Please." She begs. Mum gives me those cute puppy eyes which softens my decision.

"Fine, throw the party. At least I'll know when to avoid your house." I giggle.

"Ava," she scolds.

"Okay then, I'll come." I'm going to be a mother and I'm still getting orders from my parents! A parent's job never ends. It's a life commitment, really.

"Photo and cake time," yells Blake.

The prospect of cake makes me happy. Angela's been talking about this beautiful cake she's ordered for London. Despite the fact she won't appreciate it, I know I will. Chocolate cake is amazing, it's also another great remedy for bad bays.

"The photo thing totally ruined it," I mutter. I don't understand how my selfies turn out amazing, but when someone else takes the picture, my ugly face somehow rears. What's with that?

"Why?" Mum asks. "You look beautiful."

"Ugh, because I'm starting to look like a beached whale." I glace at my stomach. Lord knows my stomach is never going to look amazing again.

"Come on, you can drown your sorrows in a virgin cocktail and a slice of cake."

"That sounds too tempting to pass up!" Mum and I walk inside the house. Everyone gathers around the lounge room while Blake and Tori kneel beside London at the coffee table. If I wasn't pregnant, I'd be there too.

Thomas dims the light as Angela brings out the cake. There's only one candle, so the dim lights don't offer much. Angel places the cake in front of London, which instantly earns an excited reaction from her.

The candle is placed to the side of the cake as it's decorated with icing flowers and her name scrolled across the top. Everyone starts to sing Happy Birthday, but before we get to the end, London puts her tiny fist into the cake. The room explodes with laughter as London giggles about it.

London places her hand in her mouth and smiles with delight. Before she can do it again, Angela takes the cake away from London and starts slicing it up. London is given a big bowl of her mushed piece. This doesn't seem to bother her as London uses her fingers to eat the food.

Tori sits with London and helps her eat. While everyone is busy eating cake, I take Blake and drag him off to the side to chat.

"You can smile now," I say.

"What are you talking about?" He nervously laughs.

"Mum and I made up. The drama is resolved."

"That makes me really happy."

"Same," I reply. "It's nice to just, hm." I smile as I look at everyone in the room.

"Photo time," shouts Angela. She disappears from the room to find my Dad and Thomas. When they return, we gather around the couch. Eden holds the camera as we all squeeze in for a family photo. Tori, Jude, Blake, London, and I squeeze onto the couch as all of our parents gather around. Kyle lays across the ground and smiles delightfully. Eden snaps a few different pictures.

As I look around the room, I enjoy the sense of family and the amazing vibes coming from them. In all honesty, we're a weird group of people strung together by the concept of family. It isn't blood that binds us, but the idea of something great, the idea of love. We might fight, yell, disagree, and say things we regret, but at the end of the day, we love each other and we always want the best for each other.

What are your thoughts on Ava and her mum? Do you think they've made up for good, or will they argue?