"Katia are you back to modeling yet?" I heard my mom ask her as I was getting juice from the kitchen.

"Oh yes Mrs. Collins, I got back to it as soon as I dumped Stan" she said proudly. She had always loved modeling, but her last boyfriend Stan hated it and was a very jealous bastard who forbade her from doing what she loved.

"I'm happy to hear that Katia. Modeling suits you"

"I think I was the happiest when she kicked him out. That guy is a controlling ass" Paul retorted earning a glare from my mother.

"Language young man"

"Sorry Mrs. C, it won't happen again"

We all laughed at his reaction, he looked like a little boy who had just been grounded.

"What about you Lydia? Are you still that party girl you used to be?"

"Mom, give them a break" I whispered as I sat next to her.

Lydia wasn't offended though, she knew my mother loved her and wasn't judging her. "No Mrs. Collins, I'm not". She smiled "My job wouldn't let me even if I wanted to. I've become a senior partner in the law firm"

"Good for you! Now that's great news. I knew you had potential" she looked at my friends smiling "You all have and I'm very proud of you all. But there's one of you missing? The hot guy Nathan where is he?"

Paul faked being hurt "Am I not enough?" he wiggled his eyebrows at my mother who laughed waving him off.

"Nathan is on his way" Aria said while taking a seat "he just texted and he has a surprise for you" she said looking at me.

"For me? Awww I wonder what it is"

"He better come soon, I'm hungry and wouldn't be able to wait for long"

"Stop whining Paul, he'll be here" just as I finished my sentence I heard the doorbell and grinned making my way to the door. I missed him, it had been a few months since I last saw him but we talked on the phone pretty much every day.

I opened the door and was met with Veronica, not Nathan. I quickly his my disappointment and hugged her then hugged Serena "Come in, we haven't started yet" I smiled at them and noticed Nathan's car pull in.

Veronica was still shy around my friends, she had met them once since we came back but I wanted her to get to know them. Now that Andrew acknowledged his daughter she will be in our lives and I wanted her to feel comfortable around everyone.

"Nathan!" I pulled him into a hug "I missed you you dork!"

He chuckled hugging me back "I missed you too" he then looked at Veronica and smiled. He hadn't met her yet but I had told him all about her. "Good morning" he said politely as he extended his hand to shake hers.

"Good morning" she smiled back at him.

"And you little princess must be Serena?"

"Yes" she said shyly and hid behind her mother making us all chuckle.

"Come on, let's eat breakfast before Paul devour us" I said leading them inside but when I looked back I saw Nathan running to his car.

Everyone greeted Veronica and Serena went to play with Helena. She seemed to like being around her even thought she was about four years older.

Nathan came back holding a box and put it on the floor "Hey Elise, come chek it out".

"What is it?" I went to open the lid curiously and saw Grumpy. I giggled picking my old grumpy cat in my arms "You are amazing Nate!"

"I know I am. I took care of it while you were away but now that you're back"

"Thank you" I pecked his cheek and let Grumpy down. "Come on my mother was asking about you"

"Good morning everyone"

They all greeted him and my mom smiled widely "Good morning handsome, what's up with the tan?"

"Oh Lady Alara Collins, I have missed you" he took her hand to his lips and kissed it making her laugh.

"You are such a sweet talker. I have missed you too Nathan"

We sat through breakfast as Nathan told us about his vacation; he had visited Bali, Bora Bora and even went to India. I noticed how he kept glancing at veronica and smiled knowing they were a perfect match. They were both gorgeous and fun to be around.

I looked at my phone expecting a message from my soon to be husband Zachary but found none. Maybe he was still sulking I thought as I remembered how he grumpily went to work today after founding out everyone was going to be here today.

Amelia and Ella were supposed to be with us but they had an emergency with their dresses. Amelia had already designed mine and worked fast on it as we were running out of time.

I was happy, and felt complete with everyone back into my life. And most importantly being with Zach again meant being on an adventure every day.

They were all talking about the wedding and how excited they were and I know I should have been stressing about it but I was very relaxed and couldn't wait. We decided on a small wedding with just family and friends and would be leaving just after for our short honeymoon Hawaii. We were going to stay there for just a week since we were leaving Helena with my mother, and we both thought we wouldn't be able to stay away for a whole month without seeing our little peach.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as I saw Aria going outside making me frown. Since she learned about Serena being Andrew's daughter she felt weird all the time. I followed her to check on her.

"Aria? Is everything ok?"

She looked back at me and shrugged "I hate liars"

"I know baby"

We sat on the swing in silence. I didn't want to push it; she'll tell me what she is thinking when she's ready.

A few minutes later she leaned her head on my shoulder "I really like him Elise, he's fun, nice and he's very attractive"

"So what is the problem then?"

"He's got a four year old kid he never mentioned!"

"Shhh we don't want Veronica hearing you now do we." I nudged her shoulder "But having a kid doesn't change the fact that he's smitten with you, yesterday after he told you everything he kept calling me every minute to check on you. I had to block his number" I smiled and she laughed.

"He was worried I would leave him after he told me everything. Hell I thought I would leave."

"But you didn't, that must say something" she nodded looking back inside where Serena was playing.

"What if he decides he wants to live with her and Veronica? I'd be so in love by then I'd be broken"

"He won't. Andrew and Veronica were both drunk, they never even tried being together, if he wanted to be with her he would have done so years ago." She seemed to relax and let out a sigh.

"Aria, just give him a chance. I know you won't regret it, and if he ever hurts you he'll have to face me. I promise"

She hugged me tightly "You are the best friend anyone could have" she whispered before pulling away.

"I know right?" I said to make her laugh and it did. "Come on let's get back to the others, it was rude of us to leave them".

We spent the rest of the day all together in my house. By mid afternoon we were joined by Zach, Andrew, Ella and Amelia. We all had late lunch cooked by Ella who actually locked herself in the kitchen so no one would help. Zach and I sneaked upstairs for a quickie as soon as he got home. It didn't go unnoticed as Paul and Nathan started teasing us once we came back down.

Paul, Nathan and the girls along with Veronica left by nine pm, just as my dad and Brandon came home. We fixed everyone drinks and lounged about in the garden under the starry night.

By midnight, the Walton's took Zachary home with them leaving me, my parents and Aria. We stayed up for another hour talking and laughing before my mom realized how late it was.

"It's late! It's your big day tomorrow, go to bed and have some rest. I'll wake you up early so we can get to the hotel. We'll have our spa and get you ready after. Amelia will be there along with the makeup artist and the hair dresser. Don't panic, everything will be great, Aria made sure of that"

I chuckled "Mom, I'm not panicking, you are"

We all laughed to that and retreated to our bedrooms. I felt weird sleeping without Zachary, even Helena was with my mom tonight. I couldn't sleep and tossed myself around the bed trying different positions. I gave up and called Zachary who wasn't sleeping yet.

"I couldn't sleep. First you're not here with me, and second this isn't my bed"

"Yes me too. The bed feels so big and cold without you"

He requested a video call that I eagerly accepted. We kept talking until we both drifted to sleep with the line still open.