Chapter 11:

The on screen stuff is going to be in bold and the other stuff will be regular.

Aubree looked over at Mike, Riley and Cody as they sat there chatting. She could feel herself falling for Mike and the thought scared the hell out of her. She had loved him the entire time they were in college and the night of graduation, she had acted on it. It had taken them both by surprise when she kissed him and ordinarily she wouldn't have. It was the alcohol she guessed. When the morning light came and she lay there wrapped in Mike's arms, she hadn't regretted it at all. The smile on his face spoke volumes. Neither did he. That should have been that. They should have been together from them on but he was headed to the Real World and she was headed to an internship with one of the many newspapers she worked for before landing the job with creative. She was broken out of her thoughts when she felt Mike touch her elbow.

"Huh?"

"Riley was asking you if you were going to plan her baby shower. You okay?"

"We have plenty of time to plan your baby shower Rilez. We need to focus on planning a birthday party for the AWESOME one here. You know his birthday is in two days." Mike looked over at her.

"You don't have anything planned?"

"Maybe I do, Maybe I don't. Guess you'll just have to wait two days and see." She smiled looking over at Cody and Riley who knew her plans. They were going to go back to Aubree's house in Georgia and have a surprise party at the lakehouse."

"Do I even get a hint?"

"You have to be ready to go home with me in a few days."

"So we're going to spend my birthday in Georgia?"

"Maybe. Maybe not." Cody laughed as Mike sighed exasperated.

"You have always been a little difficult. Alright, we will play it your way for now."

A few days later, they were in the car headed to Georgia. Mike smiled over at her as she sang along with every song that came on the radio. He had forgotten how much he loved this girl. They pulled up in front of her house and saw that Riley, Cody, Adam, Lizzie and Dave were there a head of them.

"Hey guys." Mike greeted as they got out of the rental car and headed toward the house.

"This is going to be a great party." Lizzie commented as she switched Briley to the other arm. Adam wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the head. Aubree smiled as she watched the interaction between her friend and her husband. It was sweet. Something she desperately wanted for herself. She looked over at Mike and the thought crossed her mind that maybe he could give her everything she wanted. Adam caught her gaze and pulled away from his wife for a moment.

"How about you guys get things settled. Dave, you start the grill. Cody, you take care of the girls and Mike, you just chill. It's your birthday. Bree Bree and I are gunna head to the store to finish a few last minute things." Before she could protest, he grabbed her arm and lead her over to the car. He slid in the driver's side and opened the door from the inside for her to get in. She did so and he started the car and drove off toward a nearby store. The car ride was silent for a little while and then Adam finally spoke.

"You love him don't you?" She turned and looked over at him wondering how in all the time he had known her, he could read her like a book.

"I really honestly do." She sighed. "I just don't know how to tell him."

"I have an idea. It was how I proposed to Lizzie. This lake house has special meaning to you guys right?"

Aubree nodded. "So take him there and just hang out. Just the two of you for the night. When the moment is right, you will know how to tell him." She smiled at him as they pulled into the store parking lot and they parked.

"How did you get to be so smart Adam Copeland?"

"I'm awesome." Aubree laughed as they walked into the store and bought a few things and then headed back. Later that night, Aubree and Mike were sitting out in the hammock looking up at the stars.

"You know what I wanna do?" she asked turning slightly to look at him.

"What?" he said running a finger down her cheek slightly.

"I wanna go to the lake house. We haven't been there since the night of graduation. It would be fun to just sit back and hang out. Talk about the good old days."

"Let's go." He said getting up and heading over to the car. They drove off without saying a word to anyone. Adam was standing by the window in the kitchen holding Briley who was sleeping soundly.

"Go get your man Bree Bree."