Emily and Paige are sleeping and it started to rain with lighting, it was loud but they kept sleeping. Harley and Austin got scared because of the sound of lighting. They ran towards Paige and Emily's bed and started to shake their mothers. Austin used his small fingers to open Emily's eyes and she started to rub her eyes.
''Paige, are you up?'' Emily asked.
''Mhmm,'' Paige said in a sleepy voice.
''They are scared. We need a bigger place.'' Emily said.
Emily made space for them to lay in bed with them. Now Harley and Austin in the middle and she held them. Avery started to cry and Paige fully woke up and yawned.
''Don't worry, I will get up,'' Paige said and looked at the time.
''Please make breakfast, I'm in the mood for waffles,'' Emily said.
Emily is lying on her back, Harley is laying on the right side and Austin on the left. Paige started to change Avery's diaper and make the bottle then she will cook breakfast.
Paige and Emily live in Iowa with their three kids. But they live in a small studio apartment, their bed and the kids' beds take half of the space plus Avery's crib. They have been saving money to buy their first house together, that's why they still live in the studio apartment. They take turns working over time because they don't want to waste money by hiring a babysitter. It's not easy picking a house because Emily is really picky and she wants the right house for them to live in forever as a family.
Paige put Avery in the high chair and gave her the bottle then started to cook. Emily couldn't help but smile, she is really happy where she is now. Avery is six months old, Harley is five years old and Austin is three years old. Paige is done cooking breakfast and they all eat in bed together, Paige got up and put Avery closer to them. They don't have a table because had to make little more space in the apartment so they sold the table.
After they ate together and Paige went to work and today she is working overtime. Emily notice in the letter that there is lease is almost up, they don't have a house to move into. She doesn't want to renew the lease for many reasons, and she starts to think of what to do. Now she giving a bath to Avery while Harley and Austin with their toys in the living room.
''What was that?!" Emily yelled.
Emily wrapped Avery in a towel and carried her to the living room. Emily sees the vase that her mother gave is broken.
''What happened here?'' Emily asked.
''He did it,'' Harley said.
''No.'' Austin said.
''Harley and Austin, put your toys away now and no more play time,'' Emily said.
Emily dressed Avery and put her in the crib for now, then she started to clean the mess.
''I said put your toys away now,'' Emily said with a firm voice.
Emily watch them put their toys away. She gave them snacks and Emily went on her laptop to look for a house and so far nothing.
''Mommy! Austin took my apple.'' Harley yelled.
Austin shakes his head no and his mouth is full.
''Austin, stop taking her food and eat your food,'' Emily said.
The kids are watching a movie and Emily found the perfect house and quickly called the agent. An hour later Paige came home but Emily didn't tell her about the house just yet. Harley and Austin ran towards Paige, she picked them up and gave Emily a peck on the lips.
''They broke the vase that my mom gave us,'' Emily said.
''I never really liked that vase, I was just being nice,'' Paige said.
''I couldn't take them to the park and play. And our lease is almost up and I think we should move out. This place is becoming too small for our family.'' Emily said.
''We don't have a house and we will waste money in a motel for every night. Plus you are so picky of picking a house.'' Paige said.
''No I'm not,'' Emily said.
''Yes, you are. Every time we look at a house you notice every little problem with it then say no to the house. Like that house we saw two weeks ago, you said it was ugly once we got out of the car.'' Paige said.
''Well, I want the right house for us and I don't want just any house. And I was right, the house was uglier on the inside. So, how about tonight we have pizza for dinner?'' Emily said.
''Pizza!'' Harley and Austin yelled.
Emily picked up Avery.
''Don't yell and yes let's have pizza,'' Paige said.
Emily ordered the pizza and Paige play with the kids. Emily sits down and she watches Paige play together, Harley and Austin try to build a tower of blocks. Paige is making Avery laugh and Emily is lost in her thoughts. She knows that she has been through a lot with Paige, but she knows that she is happy with where she is right now.
The pizza came and they all sit together and start to eat. But Paige is feeding baby food to Avery and she makes a mess.
-Week later-
Their lease to the studio apartment is up and Emily convinced Paige to pack everything. Today Emily will show the house to Paige hopefully, she won't get mad because she knows that Paige won't like it. Paige came back to the apartment angry and she glares at Emily.
''What's wrong?'' Emily asked.
''Well, I went to the bank to try to get cash. And guess what happened?'' Paige said.
''Umm…'' Emily said.
''The money is gone! I asked the agent what happened to the money. And I got a copy of the monthly statement and you used it to buy a house.'' Paige said.
''Well, not all the money is gone, trust me. I wanted to surprise you and I found us the perfect house.'' Emily said and Paige sigh.
''Go on,'' Paige said.
''I saw this house online and it's perfect for us. So, I called the agent and we got the house at a good price. Don't worry, we have money left for us to survive.'' Emily said and Paige sigh again.
''Show me the house, I want to see the perfect house,'' Paige said and she is unhappy.
''Well, I didn't see in person but I feel it in my gut that it's perfect,'' Emily said.
''Oh my god!'' Paige yelled and Emily just smiled.
Emily and Paige put everything in the van, the kids are sitting the in back and Emily started to drive.
It took a while to get to the house but they finally made it. They get out of the car and Emily is holding Avery.
''This is a joke, right?'' Paige said.
''No, it's not a joke,'' Emily said.
''It's ugly,'' Harley said.
The house style is a craftsman and it is a mess and the front yard looks like a jungle, the door is broken and they go inside the house. Inside the house it's semi-dirty, there are ugly wallpapers, and the kitchen is a mess and much more.
''Em, this house is so ugly,'' Paige said.
''I know, it's ugly now but we will fix it. We will live in a good neighborhood and the school for them isn't far.'' Emily said and Paige laughed.
''We will fix it?'' Paige asked.
''Yes, us. Well, except for the water pipes, plumbing, and the roof. I know this is house crap but it's right for us. We will fix it of how we want it to be.'' Emily said.
''Em, the kids can get lost in the grass and come out with beards,'' Paige said and Emily laughed.
Paige looks around.
''Can't believe I will say this but okay. You do know, that we fell into the lesbian stereotype.'' Paige said smiling.
''Yeah, I know. Lesbians, with tools and fixing a house, oh my god the insanity.'' Emily said laughing.
Austin started to scream and ran towards his parents.
''Austin, what's wrong?'' Emily asked.
''Ugly cat…'' Austin couldn't finish the sentence because he hides behind Paige.
Austin showed them where he saw the ugly cat and it's inside the kitchen cabinet.
''Oh, that's not a cat,'' Paige said.
The possum hissed at them. Paige picked up Austin and Harley, they got out of the house. Emily called animal control and waited for them to arrive. Couple minutes later animal control workers came and they checked the house to make sure, there aren't any more possums.
''We can't live in the house with the kids,'' Paige said.
''For a couple days we could stay in a motel, then move into the house. We would get the supplies clean the rooms then we work on the house. Plus, you did work with Toby doing construction that one summer when I went away.'' Emily said.
''I remember. You do know, this won't be easy.'' Paige said.
''I know, but the house will be finished before Christmas,'' Emily said smiling.
The animal control fixed the problem then Paige called the bug exterminator because she saw a spider in the living room. Later they went to Home Depot, to buy the supplies they will need. They went back home and before they clean the house, Emily put dust mask respirator on kids then started to clean the house.
-Next day-
They went to the house early and they start to look around the house. The house has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a basement with a half bathroom and a room. In the backyard looks like a jungle and they have a pool, and it's very dirty.
''Em, this is a lot of work to do,'' Paige said.
''I know, but at the end will be worth it,'' Emily said and kissed Paige.
''I will take your word for it. Kids, do not go to the backyard without us.'' Paige said.
''Why?'' Harley asked.
''Because you will get lost in the jungle,'' Paige said and Emily rolled her eyes.
''Let's get started. And you look hot.'' Emily said.
''Don't butter me up, right now,'' Paige said and Emily just winked.
Paige is wearing baggy jeans and a loose shirt that is a size bigger on her. Emily is wearing sweatpants and a tank top.
In the living room, there was a wall that blocked the dining room and living room. So Emily wanted that wall to come down. Paige and Emily put safety goggles and hard helmets on Austin and Harley, Paige puts on dust mask respirator. Then they picked up the sledge hammer and started to hit the wall. Harley and Austin wanted to break something, they grabbed their toy hammer and started to hit the wall. Avery is in her chair rocker by the window.
Emily's phone started to ring and she stopped, picked up the call. Paige doesn't stop working and Emily moved away. Emily couldn't hear what Spencer was saying so Emily went back to Paige.
''I'm on the phone.'' Emily mouthed to Paige.
Emily walked away and Paige kept making noise. Emily looked back, she sees Paige through the wall and Paige bats her eyes.
''We want to break the wall,'' Harley said.
''Okay, come over here and I will show you,'' Paige said and they smiled.
Paige put down the sledge hammer and picked up a hammer. Paige showed them how to hold a hammer, Paige is still holding their hand and showed them how to hit. They take turns hitting the wall and Emily came back.
''The whole kitchen needs to be remodeled,'' Emily said.
''The whole house needs to be remodeled,'' Paige said.
''I know. But first we will work in the living room and kitchen, then the bedrooms. Since we already cleaned the rooms and threw out some stuff, now we will move into the house.'' Emily said.
''Long as the rooms are safe then we will move in. Because we can't spend money on the motel every night.'' Paige said and Emily nods.
Emily went to check the bathrooms and she called for a plumber. The plumber came over to the house and started to work, Avery started to cry and Paige picked her up. The wall came down now Emily started to clean and throw out the pieces. Anything that was old in the house they threw it out. Harley and Austin are playing around the house then Paige started to feed Avery.
The past couple days they have been cleaning and taking everything down. They have been sleeping in the house but the kids sleep in their room together. They were scared to sleep alone and soon they will paint the kids' room. Now they will clean the backyard it's a lot of work, they had to throw out so much trash.
''Em, this is so much work,'' Paige said.
''And it's only been a week. We have a lot more to do. It's worth it because this where we will our lives together.'' Emily said and sat down on Paige's lap.
Paige holds Emily and lay her head on Emily's chest and rest for a little bit.
They get back to work now they clean the basement. Emily went to change Avery's diaper while Paige is cleaning the basement, Harley and Austin won't go downstairs. Paige started to hear something but she couldn't make out the sound, she kept looking around for the source of the sound.
''Em, are you still upstairs?!'' Paige yelled.
''Yes! I'm making lunch now!'' Emily yelled back.
Paige kept looking around and she found the source of the sound.
''Oh, wow,'' Paige said.
Paige got on her knees and there are two puppies and a cat in the bathroom. The animals are harmless and they let Paige pet them, she notices they haven't been eating properly. There is a Siamese cat, Border collie, and a beagle, she picked them up and went upstairs.
''I found new family members, don't worry they are harmless,'' Paige said.
Austin and Harley ran towards Paige so they can pet the animals.
''Where did you find them?'' Emily asked.
''In the bathroom. I think we should keep them, look how they are with the kids.'' Paige said.
''They are cute. Okay, we will keep them and I will go buy them food for now then we take them to vet.'' Emily said and Paige had a big smile on her face.
Emily went to the store to buy food and shampoos. Paige stayed home with the kids.
''What should name them? The cat is a girl, the puppy with black and white fur is a boy and this one is a girl.'' Paige said.
''Her name is star,'' Harley said and she is petting the cat.
''Rhino,'' Austin said and he points at the puppy with black and white fur.
''Good names. The puppy beagle her name will be pebbles.'' Paige said.
Emily came home and the kids told them about pets' names, and Emily started to feed the pets.
The next day they went to the store to buy power tools, cleaning supplies, floor tiles and so much more. Now they have to decide what color to paint the house and the inside. For the first time, they notice there are many shades of blue and more colors they never saw before.
''What color will the house be?'' Paige asked.
''Pink,'' Harley said.
''Not pink,'' Emily said and kept looking at the colors.
''How about a dark color?'' Paige asked.
''I don't want a dark color, how about light gray?'' Emily said and Paige looks at the color.
''I'm leaning towards the dark color. I'm not really sure about the light gray.'' Paige said.
Harley and Austin started to fight over a piece paper and Paige takes it away from them.
''How about this color?'' Paige asked.
Paige hand over the paper to Emily and it has the color dark blue. Emily kept looking at the house before she answered to Paige.
''Okay, I'm liking this color but I will pick the color for inside. And you can't complain about it.'' Emily said.
''Long as the color isn't ugly,'' Paige said.
They stood in the paint section for an hour and their kids started to get cranky. Emily started to pick the colors for the inside of the house. After they paid for everything then Paige took Emily to work then went home.
All day Paige couldn't finish the work she started because she was busy taking care of the kids. And Emily will work all day until ten pm, they didn't want to spend money on a babysitter because they wanted to save up on the money. They don't have any furniture in the house because are not done fixing the house.
Paige is eating McDonald's on the floor with the kids then she starts to feed Avery. An hour later Emily came home and the kids ran to her and Paige is feeding the animals.
''How was work?'' Paige asked.
''Tough. So got any work done?'' Emily said.
''Nope, I couldn't leave the kids alone while I worked in the basement. Tomorrow we should start remodeling the floors.'' Paige said.
Emily took off her shoes and sat down next to Paige and the kids. Austin started to feed Emily and she smiled at him then he smiled back.
''Em, why don't we just hire a team to do this?'' Paige asked.
''I want us to do it. To be honest I had a dream of us doing this and I wanted the dream to become real. I know some stuff we can't fix and we will need to hire a real professional to do it. These memories will be with us even when the kids are adults and I want us to be in the house until we are really old, and their kids come to visit.'' Emily said.
Paige kissed Emily on the lips.
''I totally get it. Plus we live in a nice neighborhood, so that's good plus and our house was the only one wasn't fixed. I really thought you bought the house in a bad neighborhood.'' Paige said.
''I would never want our family to live in a bad neighborhood. Let's not get stressed about it.'' Emily said and kissed Paige again.
The past two weeks they have been arguing a lot and every day, of how to fix and decorate the house. They are feeling the pressure, even more, every day and they are feeling everything is out of control. Their kids hated when they argue, Paige tries to control her anger but can't and Emily just snap and start to yell. They argue of how to fix the house, color, decorating anything and money.
Next day, Paige and Emily woke up early morning and started to remodel the floors, through the kitchen and living room. They have been doing that all morning. Later the kids woke up now they are outside painting the house in dark blue. Paige and Austin are on the left side painting, Emily, and Harley on the right side. By mistake, Austin started to paint on Paige's legs and he starts to giggle, Paige looks at her legs and laughed.
''It looks good on you,'' Emily said laughing.
''Come here, let me hug you,'' Paige said.
''Don't you dare cover me in paint,'' Emily said.
''Kids, let's give her big hug,'' Paige said and she is holding the paint brush.
Emily tried to get away but Paige quickly gave her a bear hug. Austin starts to paint on Emily's legs and Harley does the same thing.
For the first time, Avery started to walk and she started to walk outside of the house. Paige and Emily have the biggest smile on their face, Emily quickly took out the phone and started to record. Avery kept walking but she fell down, Avery tried to get up on her own.
''Our baby girl learned how to walk on her own,'' Emily said smiling.
''Best day ever,'' Paige said and smiled.
Later they cleaned up and didn't finish painting the house. Emily started to make lunch with the kids while Paige is outside with the animals, she trying to cut the plants then take out the weeds. Austin came outside and started to copy Paige, he tries to take out the weeds but he can't.
Then Paige sent a group text to Spencer, Hanna, and Aria.
Paige: Don't tell Emily.
Spencer: I won't. But what do you want?
Paige: I need your help to pick a ring for Emily. I'm not good at picking out jewelry and Aria knows it.
Aria: That is very true and she has bad taste
Hanna: I can't wait! When will you ask her?
Paige: Not sure yet. First I want to get the ring, then tell Emily's parents then ask Emily to marry me.
Spencer: Ok, we will help. We will come visit soon.
Hanna: Yeah, I will love to help :)
Aria: Just let us know when to come ahead of time.
Paige: Don't tell anyone. And I will text you guys later of when to come and help me
Paige puts her phone away. And she showed Austin how to put the weeds out, but he started to play with the dirt with Harley. Paige looks around and they are not half way done with the house. They haven't cleaned out the basement, car garage, pool and the attic. The kitchen floors are only done, the kitchen needs more work.