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I blinked twice before opening my eyes completely and sat up with a yawn. A smile made its way onto my face, just by looking at the snowy window.

Without wasting a second, I ran down to see Theo and Noel near our coffee table.

"It's the last day of this wonderful year!" I yelled and opened my arms for a hug.

"Happy Birthday!" They both shouted with a huge smile and I sighed, smiling.

"New year comes first, you know."

"Happy birthday, Ivy!" Theo gave me a big card and I smiled brightly at it.

Happy birthday, Ivy.
We love you so much.

Noel's messy handwriting showed up, followed by a picture of a cake and three figures standing near it. I guess it's us.

I love their handmade birthday cards. I've managed to collect all of them and keep it safe. To me, they're more valuable than some regular greeting cards.

"Thank you so much," I placed a kiss on their cheeks and asked them to open their new year presents. But they both shoved one into my arms and asked me to do first.

"Aw, these are gorgeous. Thank you," I smiled at them and Theo jumped onto me.

"The scarf is from Noel and this is from me!" He said, pointing to a white beanie.

"Did you like it?" Noel asked expectantly and I chuckled.

"Are you kidding me? I love it!" I couldn't stop smiling at them. They seemed so happy and that was the greatest present I could ever receive.

"Hey, wait. When did you buy these?" I asked, pointing to my brand new scarf and beanie. I don't remember taking them out.

"It's a secret." Theo whispered and Noel smacked him. "It's not."

"Is that so?" I asked with a smirk and knelt down to grab Theo's shoulder.

"We went with Maria and bought these. She gave us money." Noel said quickly and Theo shot a confused look at him.

"Thanks, my heroes. You didn't have to buy them, though. I'm in love with your cards and that's all what I want."

"Our card is your favourite?"

"Of course, it is." I smiled, ruffling his smooth hair and he smiled widely.

"Oh, we made you breakfast, too."

"You did?"

"Yes!" They both said, beaming.

Before having my birthday breakfast, made by my brothers, I made sure none of them had a burnt finger or anything. Noel sure knew how to cook a frozen waffle and to decorate it like a pro. But I wasn't sure about Theo, though. He could burn down the house and smile innocently.

"Are we going to Zack's home?" Noel asked, "His mom invited us."

"Yes, for dinner."

Since we had Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas with Maria every year, Scarlett made me promise we'll be there for new year celebrations.

"But don't tell them about my birthday, okay?" I looked at Theo, who in turn gave me a confused look.

I was a person who never said about birthdays to anyone. Dad always used to tease me about it. He said I was too good that I didn't want others to think my birthday was important.

"Why?" Theo asked and I shrugged.

"Because I'm a secret agent." I smirked, pinching his scrunched up nose and opened the door, expecting Maria.

But what I got was a smiling Zack.

"Birthday wishes, partner." He whispered, giving me a quick hug and I felt his lips on my cheek.

"Thanks," I smiled at the beautiful bouquet of flowers he gave me and let him in. "But how did you know?"

"Don't insult me like that," he gave a fake gasp and turned, "I'm a boyfriend, I know these things."

"Zack!" Both of them ran to him and he greeted them with a fist bump.

"She loves my beanie." Theo tried to whisper, which horribly failed and Noel grinned sheepishly.

Now I know who took them out. Little traitors. The three of them winked at the same time and that was quite a funny sight to watch.

Together, we had breakfast, then they made lunch and I sat there watching them struggle. It was cute and funny to watch them frantically move around my kitchen. And I must say the lunch turned out to be pretty great.

"Eureka, boys!" Zack grinned triumphantly, scooping them up when I admitted it to be delicious.

"Meet your twenty-year-old sister, fellas." He tickled them, rolling over and I smiled.

Twenty. Technically, I'm not a teenager anymore.

"Get ready, partner. We're going out."

"Going out? But-"

"Nuh-uh, we totally missed your birthday last year." He cut me off, shaking his head. "But that's because you didn't tell and we were new to know."

True, we were just friends at that time. I knew him as Sasha's brother, as the guy who defended me.

I grabbed my coat, scarf and my beanie, which they both were curious to know if I'd wear, and got into Zack's car.

"Hey, you wanna skate?" He asked casually and I'm sure my gulp was audible.

"You're kidding." I sighed and he laughed hard.

"Okay, so what about having an ice-cream in this chilling weather?"

"I love that idea." I smiled, agreeing and we enjoyed our ice-cream, sitting on top of his car. I struggled a bit to climb up, but as Sophie always said, my saviour scooped me up and placed right next to him. More like on him

"This is a great place to eat ice-cream,"

"Me or my car?" He asked, his breath tickling my ears and I beautified his sharp nose with ice-cream.

After spending a bit more time there than planned, Zack pulled me down and smiled.

"Home?"

"Nope. Somewhere else." He said, giving me a smile.

When he said somewhere, I didn't expect it to be a rehab. The one where my mom is being treated.

And when she appeared like a walking ghost, all the bitterness towards her vanished. I could only see a helpless woman, my mother, looking at me with teary eyes.

"I don't know what to say," she broke the silence, looking down. Her pale face and puffy eyes made me believe she was regretting it.

"Me too," I gave her a nod and zack placed his hand on mine.

"I don't know if this would help anything, but I really am sorry. They showed me a tape and I saw how brutal I was on the first few days," she mumbled and a few tears escaped her eyes. "That's only what I can say. If I could go back and mend it, I sure would have. But knowing this, I'm afraid I might have done something really terrible to you."

Yes, you did. But I didn't tell her. She knew she had done something terrible.

"I can't believe that I-... I.. drugs.." she stuttered, making my eyes blurry. "I'm sorry for everything. So sorry, I shouldn't have gone to her house that day, I should've stayed." She broke into a sob.

And after four years, I saw my real mom.

"It's okay," my hand slipped from Zack's and held hers.

In the last few months, I've thought about this moment a lot and had decided to forgive her, only if she had any tint of regret. Now, watching her break down, I could only say those words.

It's okay.

After saying sorry for almost a million times, she wiped the tears off her cheeks and smiled at Zack.

"Thank you," she whispered to him and he came closer, standing next to me.

"I missed so many things, didn't I?" She asked, looking at our hands and I gave her a small smile. "How's Theo and Noel?"

"They're good. Theo's five and Noel is eleven."

"Four years," she whispered to herself, with pure regret in her eyes.

"But you can make up for it." Zack said. "Just think Mrs Ridge, you can still be a loving mother to your three wonderful kids."

I smiled, looking at him. I think I'm going to marry him, Noel was right.

"Thanks..." She trailed off, slightly smiling at him and I gave her the missing piece.

"Zack."

"Zack." She nodded, "Thanks, Zack."

"Please don't." He smiled, glancing at his watch. "I think we should leave now, they've got a time limit. Get well soon, ma'am."

"Shirley, you can call me Shirley." She smiled, which seemed genuine and it lit up my whole world.

"See you soon," he shook her hands with a smile and she turned to me.

"I don't think I deserve to, but I want to." She said, making me frown.

"Happy birthday, Ivy." She whispered, placing a hand on my cheek. My eyes focused on her watery ones and I smiled despite the emotions whirling inside me.

"Thank you,"

"I'm sorry."

"I know." I mumbled, nodding. But the moment I stepped out, my mind was happy.

"It took them a lot of time to detox her, she wasn't exactly friendly then." Zack said while walking to his car. "A few more therapy sessions and I think she's ready to be released. That's what they said."

"I'm... happy and kind of sad too, is that normal?" I asked, leaning onto the car and he smiled.

"I don't know. But it's alright, nothing that you can't handle." He shrugged, smiling.

"Thank-"

"Don't.thank.me." he shook his head, pulling me close and gave me a box.
"Happy birthday, girlfriend."

I opened the box with a smile to find a beautiful pendant with a double ring locket and my smile grew wider at the way they were entangled.

"It's beautiful," I said, taking it in my hands. "Thank you, boyfriend."

Without asking, he snatched it from me with a smile, slowly unwrapped the scarf and then, pushed me around.

"There you go," he breathed out as he clasped it around my neck and asked me to take a look.

It was stunning.

"I love it." I said, my fingers roaming around those rings and with a smile, he wrapped the scarf perfectly around my neck.

"But I love Noel's scarf more than that." He said.

And that was the last thing needed for me to go on my tippy toes and press my mouth against his. He kissed me back and I was completely wrapped up in it, not wanting to stop.

Right there, it was only us. Everything else appeared blurry to me.

"As much as I'd love to continue this.." he breathed out, pouting. "We need to go somewhere."

I followed his gaze to see the time and shook my head. "Where?"

"Somewhere."

"But I have to get home in an hour." I said, biting my lip.

"Sure." He said with a groan. "But don't bite your lip for that, we're running out of time." He gave me one of his charming smile and I returned one. But when I saw him driving through a very familiar way, I frowned.

"Are we heading to-"

"Home." He completed my question with a nod.

"But we had to go somewhere, right? I just need to be there in an hour. We can go to the place you said."

"Nah, it's okay. Why an hour? Is anyone coming?" This time, he frowned and I shook my head.

"No, no one. Maria will come with my homemade birthday cake. That's how we celebrate every year and I don't want to change it." I said the last part watching him and he smiled with a nod.

"And that's the thing I love about you the most."

I don't know what made him say that or why, but I did watch him with a smile, till we reached home.

"I've told them a million times to lock the door." I mumbled, seeing that it wasn't.

"Chill, no one's going to harm you people anymore." Zack chuckled and I shot a glare at him.

"Doesn't matter. They must lock the door."

"You're right, they must." He smiled, nodding and gestured me to open the door.

"Happy birthday, Ivy." He whispered so close to my ear that it sent tingling sensation all over me.

But it was then, I saw a lot of people standing inside with a huge smile.

"Surprise!" Many voices chimed in and I blinked to check again.

My eyes first caught Maria, standing next to Will and Rachel. My smile went brighter as my gaze moved from Marissa to Scarlett, Alex and then to Jake who was surrounded by....

Liam, Justin, Dean, Caleb and Seth!

They're here! All five of them waved at me and I was smiling like a fool.

Right next to them, I saw my Noel and Theo excitedly jumping with Brandon. Then there was Cassy and Will, standing next to Aaron and Sasha. My eyes moved from Sasha to a smiling Sophie.

Sophie?

I haven't seen her in years!

"Happy birthday!" Caleb shouted, engulfing me in a group hug.

"I don't miss you anymore!" Justin said, smiling and I said a thank you to each of them.

Zack and Jake pushed me towards Maria and I walked a few steps before she hugged me.

"This is going to be one of your favourite birthdays." She said, smiling.

Without doubts.

"Happy birthday, dear." Scarlett smiled, giving me a present.

And then, I was literally showered with presents.

"Granny! Happy twenty." Sophie caught me in a hug and I realised how much I've missed her. "Also, your boy is h-ooo-t."

"Shut up." I whispered, making sure no one heard her.

"It's true! I'm a bit jealous but I can manage since his friends are-"

"Ookkaay! I know what you mean," I stopped her with a knowing smile and Sasha joined us, giving me a hug.

"Happy birthday, I'm sorry I didn't wish you earlier but I was kinda busy managing this."

But before I could thank her, Will and Cassy wished me. Right after then, Jake pulled me by my beanie.

"I won't get a second to wish you? That's cruel." He muttered.

But I didn't know what to say. Every single person who loved and helped me in many ways, every person who's important to me was right here, in this room, together.

From my guardian angel, Maria to Caleb, Dean and other boys, who made me feel a lot better every time they opened their mouth. Scarlett, Alex, Will and Rachel, who saw us as their own kids.

My Jake and Marissa. My best friend whom I haven't seen in years, another one who's always with me. Will, my favourite. Aaron, who literally saved my life and Zack, who's always by my side.

And finally, my little brothers, who meant everything to me.

Each of them was here, happy and smiling, together. Maybe this was the best surprise ever. As each of them came to me, I felt happier and happier. And to see all of them bond with each other was blissful.

Only people missing were mom and dad. But I saw mom today and knowing that she'll be back soon was a huge relief. Now, It's only my dad who I missed the most.

"Come here, baby girl. Let's officially start your twenty's." Alex called me, pointing to the cake.

"Time to wish, Eve." Seth said as everyone stood around me. I smiled at Maria's cake.

Nothing's changed... yet everything's changed.

At this fine moment, everything was perfect.

And for once, I wasn't afraid of it.

Maybe it will be ruined tomorrow, maybe a storm's about to hit me. But as of now, I have a strong grip that'd help me stay in place, even if the storm tries to sweep me away. I have these people who'd try to make me feel better every time I fail, and that was enough for me.

Maybe this time, something perfect wasn't a bad omen.

I closed my eyes and wished for everyone in this room to stay happy forever.

I love you, dad. I whispered underneath my breath before blowing out the candle.

After the birthday celebration, we watched a movie together, played many games and ate a mouthful of tasty homemade cookies made by Marissa. And when Dean announced that they were going to play in the snow, I went to Noel.

"I saw mom today." I said and his eyes widened.

But I told him everything, said she was okay now and that she's slowly returning to our old mom.

"Really?" His smile spoke louder than his voice and I nodded. "So, she will not hit us again."

"She won't."

"She won't throw things?" He asked curiously and I nodded again.

"And she'll be home."

"Really?" Those eyes lit up and I smiled.

I'll have to make him understand that she might need time. And also, I need to stuff this information into Theo's tiny brain, in a very simpler way. But I know he too, will be very happy.

I watched him with a smile as he ran outside, beaming with joy.

Everyone was busy enjoying, Alex and Will discussing something over a cup of coffee. All the boys were watching Theo, Noel and Brandon play with the snow. Girls were busy talking about something, probably about those handsome boys standing next to them.

"Staring at who?" A voice, which I know was Zack's, tingled my ears.

"Searching for you?" I smiled without turning back and heard him sigh.

"Right. That was very evident." He mumbled, making me chuckle.

"This was a great surprise." I said. If I knew they were planning something, I probably would've guessed about everyone else except his friends, Sophie and Will.

I was overwhelmed to know that his friends came from New York just to celebrate my birthday and that Zack handled Sophie's travel expenses, which held her back from visiting me for last four years.

"Knew you'd love it." He said, placing his chin on my shoulder and I could feel the smirk in his voice. "We should call these people often and enjoy like this. It's pretty great."

It really is.

"A perfect New year's eve." He said, tightening his arms around me and I leaned back onto him.

It indeed is a perfect eve.

"What are you two doing there?" Justin yelled with a frown which suddenly turned into a teasing smile.
"Am I interrupting something?"

"No, not at all." I said, moving away from Zack and heard him chuckle.

"Zack, buddy, you're our judge. Whose snowman is better? Ours or theirs?" He asked, pointing to two handsome snowmen. A messy one and a neat one.

"What's there to judge? Of course, it's the right one." Zack said quickly, making them groan while Noel, Theo and Brandon danced in joy.

"No, it's the other one." I shook my head and Seth blew me a kiss.

"We both won!" Caleb yelled and I saw my boys jumping along with Justin and Seth.

"You're not a good judge. Clearly, Noel's team had a cute snowman." Zack said with a nod and I shrugged crossing my arms.

"No, it was messy. You are not a good judge."

"Fine, but it worked." He smiled, looking at them and I nodded in agreement.

"We must do this all the time so that no one gets mad and punch me." He said with a smirk and I smiled, shaking my head.

"I can see you getting a punch." I shrugged and heard him chuckle.

"Stick with me, will you?" He asked, draping an arm over my shoulder.

"I will. Like a piece of stupid gum." I said with a smile.

"Piece of gum?" He frowned with a chuckle and I grinned, resting my head on his shoulder.

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And that's it.💕