Abby slammed hard on the brakes and quickly exited the car. She ran around to see Liana picking herself up from the pavement. In the streetlight she could see Liana's head was grazed and bleeding. Abby just stood in astonishment as Liana shook her hands together and rubbed herself down.

"What were you doing, you could have killed yourself!" Abby's voice came out high pitched and sounded absolutely petrified.

Liana giggled sheepishly and lifted her index finger up to her forehead. Her brow furrowed slightly as her finger touched the warm moist blood trickling down the side of her face.

"I'm fine mum" she stuttered, a little worried about her bleeding forehead. Abby refrained herself from yelling again realising it was not her fault. She approached Liana and lifted her chin to allow the streetlamp to illuminate her forehead. She sighed and guided her back over to the car.

"Dammit!" Abby slammed the phone down and rested her forehead on the palm of her hand.

"Are you still here?" Susan asked emerging with a cup of coffee from the lounge.

"I need to go pick up Liana and take her to Alex's birthday party, but I can't seem to get shot of this place."

"Can't Mandy drop her off?" Susan asked yawning.

"No in fact I'm meant to be there right now, she's going out this evening." Susan stood beside her unsure of what to say, "Um you could always ask someone else to take her." Susan replied unhelpfully. Abby glanced down thoughtfully.

"Hey you know who's off this evening"

"Who?" Abby asked even though she knew the answer.

"Carter" Susan said with a wink.

Abby sighed and picked up the phone, she hated asking people for favours. The phone rang a couple of times before his voice picked up.

"Hey Carter, its Abby…I was just wondering if you could do me a favour"

"STRIKE" Abby heard his voice before she even saw him. She witnessed Carter running along the line of children slapping high fives with each of them. Abby giggled as Carter performed a little victory dance at the end of the line. She walked over to Sam and a group of mums who were sorting out the food and drink.

"I thought this was a children's party?" Abby yelled over the music. Sam looked up from the plates of hot dogs and burgers and laughed.

"I know him and Luka have been competing all night, they're the biggest kids here!" Abby's eyes wondered over all the alleys searching for Liana. She eventually saw her standing in a lane with Luka. Her nose was scrunched up as she was concentrating hard while Luka was showing her how to hold the ball. His big frame was bent down to her level and together they rolled the ball down the alley. Liana jumped excitedly up and down when nearly all her pins were knocked over.

"How's she been?" asked Abby. Sam followed her gaze and her face lit up.

"Good as gold, you've got a great kid there Abby!" Abby proudly smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Thanks…you too" she replied watching Alex and two other boys of his age fighting over an arcade machine. Carter saw that Abby had arrived and he darted over with a huge grin on his face.

"Hey there" he said almost out of breath.

"Oh I see you're letting someone else have a shot," Abby replied with a wry smile. Carter turned his head and laughed sheepishly.

"What can I say? I'm a pro at bowling!"

"Thanks for bringing her here…I really appreciate it."

"Hey no probs. Do you want a shot?" Carter gestured towards the alley.

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to cramp your style". He grinned at her and tilted his head almost daring her to have a shot. Abby could see a lane was free as a lot of kids had dispersed into the arcade.

"Ok then" she said accepting his challenge. She put on the bowling shoes under her slacks and rolled up her sleeves choosing carefully a bowling ball.

"Hey Abby, I can ask that man over there to put up the bumpers for you?" Carter said cheekily. Abby turned her head round and gave him an evil glance. He laughed and stepped back to watch her.

Abby took a deep breath lifted her arm and let the ball go. It thundered down the alley, knocking all the pins over at the end. Carter's face dropped as she raised her arms in victory and laughed out loud.

"What can I say? I'm a pro at bowling" she said innocently.

"Mummmmmy" Liana shrieked running across to where she was standing and wrapped her arms around Abby's legs. Abby grinned down at Liana; she looked absolutely adorable in her denim skirt and light blue Ugg boots. Her dark curls were pulled back into a pink ribbon to match her pink top. Abby bent down and returned the hug.

"Are you having fun?" Liana nodded enthusiastically and took Abby's hand into hers.

"Did Mandy give you your medication?" Abby asked quietly. Liana continued to nod and Abby realised she was just hyper, not manic. Sam's voice announced that they were cutting Alex's cake and all the kids rushed over to where the adults were standing. Alex pushed his way to the front and stood beside his mother and Luka proudly showing off his enormous soccer themed cake to the boys and girls.

Liana stood on her tiptoes, and tried to look past. Her face fell when she realised that she was going to miss the cutting of the cake. Carter lifted her up from under her arms, surprising her slightly. He perched her on his shoulders and she squealed in delight.

Slightly worried Abby took her hand anxious she was going to fall off. Liana however started to giggle when cheekily covering Carter's eyes so he was unable to see.

"Carter be careful!" Abby hissed as he stumbled backwards.

"What! It's not me" Carter laughed in defence.

Alex blew out all his candles after everyone had sung happy birthday. Sam draped her arms over his front and thanked everyone for coming. The kids and adults began to disperse after saying their thank you's to Sam and Alex and receiving their pieces of cake. Eventually only Sam, Luka, Alex, Abby, Carter and Liana remained.

"Miss, you've still got the bowling alley for another half an hour." Said a young guy, wearing a cap backwards and popping his chewing gum.

"Oh no it's okay I'm too tired" said Sam resting her head against Luka's chest.

"Mum please let's just have one more game," Alex tugged excitedly on her arm.

"Alex are you not bored from this?"

"We might as well get our money's worth," Luka mused kissing her softly on her forehead. Alex jutted his index finger in the direction of Abby, Carter and Liana.

"Those three against us," he said proudly gesturing towards his mum and Luka in reference to the 'us'. Abby smirked in the direction of Carter as he brought Liana down from his shoulders.

"You're on" Carter said with a grin on his face.