Elise Collins POV

Aria called Amelia and as soon as she picked up "Hey A, you good?" she smiled at something Amelia said "Look I'll text you an address. Meet me there I have a surprise for you, oh and bring your mom too." She sent them the address and set her phone aside.

"How do you think they'll react?" she asked me excitedly.

"I'm not so sure, I mean, I know they'll be happy but I'm also scared they'll be upset I hid Helena from them"

Zach looked up at me as he turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket. "Who are you talking about?"

"We've invited your sister and mother so they can meet Helena. I hope that's not an issue with you"

"Of course it's not. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my mother. She called your mom pretending to check on her and letting her know she was coming and asked her out for coffee when she did. She was going to interrogate her" he chuckled "But then she heard you speaking in the background and knew you were here."

"I'm glad she called" I leaned in and kissed his lips.

"Andrew will fly over the day of the show. But I don't think I can wait until then to tell him."

"Maybe we could facetime?"

"Yes sounds good"

Aria picked up Helena, and placed her on Zachary's lap "Time for a family photo" she grinned from ear to ear, she looked very excited about us being back together. She snapped a few pictures and wanted to take more when we heard Ella Walton's voice.

"Oh this place is amazingly beautiful dear Alara, I love it".

She smiled hugging my mom before pulling back to look at us. As soon as she did that her smile faded looking at Helena. She opened her mouth a few times but nothing came out. I glanced at Amelia and saw her staring at us with chock evident on her face. I bit my lower lip before standing up.

"Ella, Amelia, welcome. I really missed you two..."

I was going to say more but was stopped by Ella who held up her hand to silence me and I didn't dare say another word. She closed the distance between us and looked at Helena with arched eyebrows, she could see the resemblance, it was obvious she was Zach's daughter. She took in a deep breath and turned to me accusingly.

"Is this my granddaughter?"

I nodded still biting down my lower lip. She seemed upset. I couldn't detect one bit of happiness on her face and it downed me.

"I really don't know what to say. Me, Ella Walton, I'm out of words for the first time in my whole life." She paused and shook her head "I understand you would leave him after seeing him on the news day after another, but hide his daughter from him? How could you Elise? I'm very upset with you right now. I can't even express how I'm feeling."

She turned to my mom who was standing quietly beside me trying to be supportive.

"But most of all I'm disappointed in you Alara. We've been friends for years now, our boys went to the same university, our husbands worked together now and then. She's a kid but you're an adult! How did you allow that to happen?"

"Mother"

"Not now Zachary, what they did is unacceptable, I wonder how you can just sit here as if nothing happened"

"Mom" This time it was Amelia who spoke cutting off her mother and walking to where Zach was. She took Helena in her arms and smiled "I think he forgot it all when he saw her pretty face. Look mom, her eyes are the same green as yours" I knew what Amelia was doing and I was glad for it.

Ella's face softened as she looked at Helena and she smiled when she saw our baby girl trying to reach for her. In that moment I knew I was forgiven. For now at least. I knew I'd have to explain myself later, but for now they'll just enjoy the company of Zach and I's daughter.

"What's her name?" Ella asked us curiously but before we could answer Amelia jumped in giddily.

"Did you name your daughter after your favorite sister?" she asked Zach who only chuckled shaking his head no.

"I only met her last night, and her mom already chose her name. Maybe next time" he winked at her.

"Her name is Helena"

"Any reason for choosing this name?" Ella's question told me a lot. She didn't like the name. she hadn't forgiven me one bit. Her tone said it all.

"Helena means bright shining light. And that's exactly what this beautiful girl was to my daughter when she came into the world. She lit up our world Ella. That's the reason we chose that name." my mother crossed her arms in a defensive manner showing Ella she wouldn't let her bully me.

Zach and I, as well as Amelia and Aria laughed as we took Helena and left the two old friends to their bickering.

Amelia hugged me as soon as we were inside the house "I'm so glad you're back together, he was miserable without you. Kind of a dick to everyone. And that says a lot because he was never mean to me before." She laughed punching him lightly on his shoulder. "But don't worry I'm so happy to be an aunt now that I can't stay mad at you for too long". She reached for his cheek and pecked it lightly. "I think we should celebrate. We should leave our mothers here with Helena and go to some night club tonight".

"Oh I haven't been to a night club since forever"

"And you're not going. At least not tonight. You said you would go to Athens in the early morning to finish up everything. We have a week before we get back to New York" he said in a strict tone and we were all glaring at him.

"Buzz kill!" Amelia said sighing "Fine, we'll celebrate here. Ohhhh we need to tell Andrew!" she fished for her phone in her purse and dialed his number.

He picked up on the third ring and she switched it to a video call "Hey Andrew".

At first he could only see Amelia and Aria who was standing there awkwardly.

"what do you want Amy, I'm busy" he said in a very bored tone. But then he noticed Aria and straightened up "Aria, hi! How are you? You look radiant"

"Stop flirting with her, I thought you were busy? I have a surprise for you."

"What?" he snapped seeming annoyed with Amelia.

Without warning she turned the camera on us. Zach had an arm around me while I was holding Helena. We smiled at him and waved.

"Oh the golden couple is back together! How nice" he chuckled and then faked being hurt "I was hoping I'd find you before him and propose to you"

I laughed shaking my head "You haven't changed one bit. I feel like I last saw you yesterday"

He grinned "Joke aside; I'm really happy for you. Hey Zach, when are you bringing this beauty home?"

I noticed he hadn't asked about Helena. Maybe he thought it was a random baby? I smiled at the thought.

"I'm bringing both beauties on Wednesday, right after Amelia's show."

"What do you mean both beauties? You've got two girlfriends now" he smirked ignoring the glares he got from us girls.

"Are you stupid or just stupid?" Amelia turned the phone to face her brother "Haven't you seen who Elise is carrying?"

"A baby? And what's so special about... Oh yeah I'm just stupid" he laughed hard as he realized "Is that my niece?"

"Finally!" she smiled and gave the phone to Zachary who let him meet my daughter. Our daughter I thought with a smile.

"Helena, this is your uncle Andrew, don't you ever take him as an example" he chuckled along with Andrew.

We sat in the living room chatting with Andrew for a while until he had to get to a meeting. I saw my mom and Ella walking in still bickering a bit.

"Who's hungry?" my mom asked

"I'm cooking" Ella butted in and we all laughed at them.

I made my way to Ella and took her by surprise when I hugged her tightly but quietly not saying a word before I broke the embrace pulling away so I could face her.

"I'm sorry. One day I'll tell you everything. And as a mother I'm sure you'll understand and you'll forgive me. I really missed you, and it hurt me being away from all of you. I considered you like family since the first time I had dinner with you at your house. And I never wanted that to change. I just had to, due to things that happened in my past."

"Oh Elise, I could never stay mad at you sweetie, you are the one who tamed Zachary Walton after all" she wiggled her eyebrows and smiled "Plus, I'm a grandma now. I'm very excited about it and can't wait to tell Brandon he's a grandpa. Oh my, he'll feel old and go into a depression"

We all laughed at that and she hugged me again and whispered in my ear "I know you were faking all along. I'm Ella Walton, you cannot play me."

I pulled away surprised "Why didn't you say anything?" I asked her nervously very aware that everyone around us was chatting and weren't paying attention to us.

"Because I knew he was attracted to you. And I knew that what was fake would eventually become real. And I was right, you even have a daughter now. As a mother, I have nothing more to ask" she smiled warmly at me. "You're part of our family Elise, and I'm sure you'll be a great mom"

I felt like crying of happiness but quickly recovered. "Thank you Ella."

We all had lunch that was prepared by both my mom and Ella who refused to act like a guest as she constantly repeated that we were family now. After lunch, she called her husband Brandon Walton and surprised him like we did with Andrew before. Joy was written all over his face and he wasn't mad at me one bit, saying he knew his son could be a handful just like he was when he was his age. He even told us a story about him an Ella. They had been married for a couple weeks and she felt suffocated so she just ran away from him without telling him where she was. She had just left him a note saying she needed to breathe and would be back soon. I glanced at her and saw her sitting like a queen as he told us the story not caring he was talking about something that was supposed to be private and personal. Before the sunset Ella and Amelia wanted to head to their hotel but my mother wouldn't let them. She insisted they stayed with us for the week, the house was big and they could get to know Helena more and spend quality time with her. It was hard convincing Ella, but Amelia jumped on the opportunity wanting to spend as much time as she could with her niece.

Next morning I headed to Athens with Aria, leaving Helena in good hands. She was being pampered by the Walton's family as well as my mother. They even took her shopping wanting to buy her presents. It warmed my heart knowing my daughter had a family that really loved her and cared for her. We only stayed in Athens for one night as I handed the project to one of the designers I've been working with after the approval of our client. It all went smoothly.

The week went by in a blur, full of family dinners, lunches and brunches as my dad and Brandon as well as Andrew joined us. We even went clubbing a few times to please Amelia who was more than happy we were thinking of her. Andrew and Aria seemed to get closer with each passing day, but I wasn't sure it was the right thing. Zachary told me to stay out of it, it was not my place to tell her about Serena, but I felt like I was cheating on my best friend and I had to tell her sometime.

The big day was here, it was Amelia's show. She had asked that it happened on the beach and I even helped with the decoration. She was so nervous but as soon as her models started coming out on the catwalk and she heard the claps of the crowd she seemed to relax and couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. Saying the show was a success was an understatement. It had ended an hour ago and she was still talking with potential clients who wanted her brand in their stores. I was watching her from afar with Ella admiring how she could easily talk to them with so much confidence. It made me proud to know someone like her.

"Hey, can I steal you for a moment?"

I turned around and saw very handsome Zach wearing a very sexy black tux extending his hand out to me. I took it not questioning him. I would go to Mars with him if he asked me to. He guided me away from the crowd and we walked silently for about five minutes enjoying the warmth of the summer night. He had his arm wrapped around my waist as I was walking closely to him and leaning to his side every now and then. I soon realized he was taking me to my parent's cabin. I giggled thinking he was horny and couldn't wait us to go home. But once we reached the cabin I gasped as I saw many lit candles on the sand forming a heart shape, with red rose petals spread out in the heart in a way so they spelled 'marry me'. I let go of his hand still looking at my surroundings. He had set up a tent with white organza curtains; under it was a table with dinner and champagne.

I turned around to face him still unable to find my voice that seemed to have ditched me and that's when I saw him on one knee holding up a small wooden box in his hand.

"Since the day we decided to fake a relationship, I knew you'd change my life. And you have. You came into my world like a wrecking ball, a good one that pushed me into being a better man. As the day passed, I couldn't tell you how I really felt, scared I'd push you away. But trust me that I've never wanted to be with anyone as I wanted to share my life with you. Elise Collins, would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

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