Pretty Little Lives - Chapter 1

NICHOLE's POV:

I got in a cab and told the driver where to go; I had just gotten off the plane at Philly. Mike and I had decided to take separate taxis because he was going to the cabin his parents had stayed at for the past month, he was visiting them until for a few days to catch up with them and the rest of the Montgomerys/Fitz's lives.

The car pulled up right outside my doorstep, I grabbed my bags and knocked on the door that I hadn't even touched for 2 years, Toby answered and took my bags inside. When he had taken my bags up to my room he came downstairs and gave me a big, long hug. When he finally let go, he smiled at me and we went into the kitchen where he started to brew some coffee. I went upstairs to unpack and my phone buzzed in my pocket, I took it out and there was a message, from Mike.

MIKE: Hey beautiful, I just arrived at the cabin, missing you so much Nic. X

NICHOLE: Hi handsome, I'm at home with Toby, I'm missing you too. XX'

MIKE: Tell him I said hi. X

NICHOLE: Tell your parents and the others I said hi, got to go, love you. X

I smiled whilst typing away, then I heard a knock on my door and it was my dad, who had just got back from work. I got up instantly off my bed and hugged him. He went to get changed, and said that we were all going for a meal at 'The Grille' I got changed from my jeans and Mike's hoodie to a dress with some heels and did my hair into a bun.

Toby smiled when I came down and passed me a little box. I unwrapped the bow that tied the top and bottom together and it revealed a little pendant with 'NAC' engraved on the front and on the back it said my full name; Nichole Anne. Cavanaugh

MIKE's POV:

I put my phone down on the bed that I was going to sleeping in for the next few days, without Nichole, and fell back. I eventually got up and changed into a pair of blue skinnys and a tartan print shirt, and then went to go see Aria and Ezra. Aria graduated with her English masters degree, Ezra was now a published author and taught English at Rosewood Day part - time. They also had a recently born daughter, Penny, she was the spitting image of Ezra but had Aria's brown hair. My father was teaching at Hollis still and my mother was teaching art in the local middle school.

I knocked on the door of their bedroom and saw Aria putting my niece (god it feels weird saying that) to sleep. I smiled at Aria and then she saw me, but she hadn't known I had gotten back until then, she ran over and gave me a hug and then we went downstairs to the family room. We talked about me and Nic and how we were doing, how it felt to now be a college graduate, what I would be doing in my new job and other small talk. Then just on cue as the conversation had ended, Penny started to cry. I got up and went to the kitchen whilst Aria was going to feed Penny. I grabbed a bottle of beer from the refrigerator, Ezra then came down the stairs and came over to me and also grabbed a beer. We started to chat and then he asked me how I was doing with Nichole. My sister and Ezra had recently gotten married and he asked for mine and my fathers permission for Aria's hand in marriage, when the time came I obviously planned to do the same. I just stood there daydreaming about (hopefully what will soon be) my future life with Nic my proposal, the wedding, our children, our grandchildren and lastly our retirement life together.

Later that evening Ella made us all some chicken pot pie, Aria and Ezra washed up, so I went upstairs and facetimed Nichole, she answered on the second ring and had big smile on her face when she answered I smiled back and asked why she was so happy, she said that whilst we were away, Spencer and Toby got engaged just last week, and that they were trying for a baby. I told her all about my niece and she couldn't wait to meet her, she said that she had been looking for apartments in Rosewood and that she had booked viewings for 3 on Saturday, they were all 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom and within our budget.

**2 DAYS LATER**

MIKE's POV:

I was woken up by the sun beaming brightly through my window, today was Saturday and I got to see Nic later today; it was around 7am and I was leaving at 9. I got up and put on my sweats with a hoodie that no doubtably Nichole would end up stealing sooner or later. I started to pack up my things and carried my suitcases out to Ezra's car, he said myself and him will go in the smaller car and my parents, Aria and Penny in Byron's car.

We ate breakfast and drove back, I took my suitcases and left home in the foyer and then got changed into a shirt and black skinnys then went to go and get Nic. We arrived at the first flat 15 minutes before so we went to 'The Brew' across the road and got a coffee, Emily still worked there part time while she got her PE science degree. She served us quickly and spoke about her and Paige whilst she was doing our orders, she was going to propose to Paige on their anniversary next week. With everyone getting engaged, even Hanna and Caleb, it made me think that maybe I should propose to Nic. We went back across the street to the apartment and the realtor was outside waiting. I took Nic's hand and we walked up. The apartment was absolutely amazing, it was actually a 3 bedroom with a very large reception room and it was slightly old school, just as we like it, Nicky was looking around staring into space and talking to herself and putting the paint samples up to the wall, clearly she already saw it as our own.

At around 6pm, we arrived at my house and I went to go check on Penny and Nichole went to speak to Aria, I'm guessing about the houses. We're going to discuss it later but I think we both liked the first apartment but we may start to look at a few 2 story houses too.

After we ate out Chinese leftovers from lunch, we decided to go to bed early and went to go to bed.

**SUNDAY MORNING**

NICHOLE's POV:

I woke up at 10am and looked to my left to see Mike sound asleep. I went downstairs to brew some coffee and Ella was just comic through the door, she must have been cleaning the car. She smiled when she saw me on the kitchen and came to drop off some bags into the trash then washed her hands. I poured the coffee into the cups and took them upstairs with some bagels after saying goodby to Ella. Mike was still asleep so I put the coffee down on his dresser and decided to wrestle him on the bed to wake him up. I jumped on Mike and then he woke up and started to tickle me until I could hardly breathe. He pinched my ass and pulled me in for a kiss. We sat there for quite a while taking regular breaks, we would have taken it one step further but his father was next door and his mother was downstairs and god damn I can't keep quiet.

We decided to get up, a mike went to get a shower before me, I was just going to get one later at home, I put on a pair of leggings, a white tank top and a hoodie that was at the end of Mike's bed. I put my hair into a pony tail and put on my shoes, Mike came out of the shower and gave me a kiss before I left to go and get some more samples.

MIKE's POV:

After Nichole left, I drove over to Ezra's new apartment to pick up Aria. She was helping me choose a ring for Nichole, I know it sounds cheesy but it's our anniversary next month so I decided that I would ask the girl that I love for her hand in marriage, it had been 6 years after all.

I was going round this afternoon to ask Mr. Cavanaugh, I had asked Emily and Hanna to keep her busy at the mall. I had chosen her a 9 karat gold frame with 1 medium sized diamond on. It was the best I could do, I knew she would appreciate a sharpie ring, but I have some class.