Chapter twenty.

First thing Monday morning Ayla watched the office owl fly off with her reply to Oliver. She'd spent the entire previous day debating what she should say and took the finished product in so she could send it off immediately. It had been one of the hardest things she had written, including History of Magic essays, she had always been the type to cling on to a grudge. She had also struggled to sound forgiving and not sarcastic. She was sorely tempted to write 'Forgiveness is for losers!' but wasn't sure how he'd take such a letter. Instead she opted for a short but simple 'Apology accepted, we're still friends. See you soon.' True it didn't have quite the same ring to it, but it would have to do.

Her day passed in the usual dull, crawling way, lightened only by Oliver's reply at lunchtime, delivered back by the office owl. 'Greta! I've got something pretty special lined up. Hopefully it'll all work out 'cos' I know you'll love it. Just got back from practice. See you in the week. Oliver.'

Ayla grinned, what on earth could he be organising that she'd love? While the idea of Oliver planning something for her made her stomach do somersaults she was also ever so slightly apprehensive. Still it might be fun. Maybe? And when would he let her know? Damn she hated surprises.

Tonight was yet another girl's night. New Year's had made them all realise how much they missed spending time together. It was to be the first of many, and as the one with the most interesting gossip, it fell to Ayla to host the night. And as a special treat she even got to finish work early. Her uncle had heard about the Bradford incident and was delighted that Ayla was so committed to her job. Making contacts with pro players such as Bradford and Wood, what dedication!

She stopped off on the way home to buy food and drink, for her cupboard was completely bare, pausing briefly at the muggle cleaning products. She was forever grateful that she was a witch, cleaning was always a hundred times faster with magic. By the time she got home there was only an hour to spare before the girls would start to arrive, and she still had to clean, find extra chairs and sort the food out. She threw as many scourgify's as she could, while attempting to cook and get ready at the same time. She knew her work robes were not going to impress her friends.

Sarah was of course the first to arrive, apparating in while Ayla was half dressed and dashing to the kitchen to check on the food.

"Good to see you're on top of things. Need a hand?"

"Great thanks could you check on the food?"

At Sarah's voice Ayla had turned back round and dashed back upstairs.

"Well I was hardly going to dress you now was I? I know I'm expecting but I don't need that kind of practice."

"Oh ha ha ha!" shouted Ayla from her bedroom. "I'm quite capable of dressing myself thank you. Ow!"

Sarah heard her crash into something and fall down the stairs.

"Trying to put your socks on while walking downstairs again?"

"Yup."

"Hurt yourself?"

"Not really."

"Gonna try it again?"

"Nope."

"Good at least you've learnt something valuable today."

"My god! You really are turning into a mother. I mean I know you're pregnant and stuff but you sounded exactly like my mum!"

"Ah a wise and responsible woman. I'll take that as a compliment."

"Wise? Responsible? My mother? She's a raving lunatic."

"I hear it's all part of the job description."

Ayla just rolled her eyes. In a little over a month her best friend was going to be a mother. Yet she still couldn't be serious about the whole thing.

"What's in the job description for cool godmothers?"

"Oh they're loonies too! Adds to the fun."

"Ah well at least it means I can be myself."

Sarah snorted, "Tell you what hun I can't wait 'til this little ones out of me. And then we can have so much fun. You're going to love babysitting!" Sarah grinned evilly.

"Who are you trying to kid? Babysitting is only fun when the child is quite and asleep. Which considering this is your child we're talking about is not gonna happen."

"What are you talking about Ayla? Can't you see Sarah's child being sweet natured and quiet and oh everything it's mother isn't?" Lenny said grinning as she pulled Penny out of the fireplace behind her.

"Hey girls." said Penny.

"Oh we aren't the first ones here! We were trying to be fashionably late." Lenny pouted now pretending to be upset.

"No Sarah's been here a while. Never fear." Ayla said laughing as the other girl visibly perked up.

"Ah old faithful. Always on time." Penny giggled as she teased Sarah.

"Oh don't pretend you aren't into it Clearwater. You went out with Punctuality Percy for long enough we could set our watches by you!" Sarah shot back.

The girls all burst out laughing.

"What's so funny? Hope you haven't started the festivities without us?"

Chloe, Terri, Kris and Scarlet struggled in through the door, all trying to get in at once.

"No you haven't missed anything. Just some Percy bashing." explained Penny.

"Oh but that's my favourite sport!" cried Kris. "How could you start without me?"

"I thought your favourite sport was watching Quidditch guys?" said a genuinely confused Ayla.

"Ah alas! It was, but now that I have Drew I have no need for buff boys on brooms."

The girls all gasped dramatically.

"Sat it ain't so Kris!" pleaded Scarlet. "He's corrupted you. Turned you against us. Next thing you know you'll be.." she paused. "Knitting!"

"No!" cried Chloe, throwing herself on the sofa in a fit of hysterics. "Not that, anything but that!"

"Yes Kris, darling come back to the dark side. Don't leave us old friend. Come back!" Lenny cried as she too collapsed on the sofa, over come with apparent emotion.

"You lot are all bloody nuts" declared Sarah. "I need a drink just to keep up with you."

She walked off to the kitchen as they all chorused: "Nothing stronger that orange juice!"

Sarah came back sniggering, "Oh very funny, very clever. What are you, my mothers?"

"Nope" answered Lenny. "There's only one mother in this room. And we all know who she is."

"The mother of all drinkers?" said Kris.

"The mother of all movers?" suggested Penny.

"The mother of all crushes!" shouted Scarlet.

"Exactly." said Lenny. "So come on Ayla, time to spill. What does Wood wear under his uniform?"

"Yeah come on Ayl' give us some gossip. Something we don't already know!" Chloe added.

Ayla blushed, "I don't know what he wears under his uniform. We're just friends."

"Oh thank Merlin for small mercies!" muttered Sarah. "Information like that would give me nightmares for months."

"Come off it! We know you sell robes in that place. You're telling me you've never been tempted to have a little sneaky peek in the dressing rooms while he's changing?"

"Yeah Ayl' you can tell us. Promise it won't go any further." Scarlet intoned innocently while crossing her fingers across her heart.

"I haven't. Honest"

"Come on, you have to give us some dirt. Else what's the point of us being here?"

"Uh because I'm wonderful and funny. And you couldn't live without me?"

"Yeah but other than that." insisted Terri. "It only has to be a little tiny thing. Nothing earth-shattering."

"Uh he taps the tune to 'Beat those Bludger's back boy's' when he's nervous." she offered.

"How do you know it's because he's nervous?" Terri asked looking perplexed.

"Well he always does it when we talk about upcoming matches."

"You talk?" said Scarlet.

"Together?" said Lenny.

"You talk together?" clarified Chloe.

"Yeah."

"Why did we not know this? Our Ayla's been holding out on us!" screeched Terri.

"You know what this means don't you Ayla?" asked Penny.

"No what?"

"We need a blow by blow account of every conversation you two have ever had." supplied Scarlet with an expressed that implied this was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh Merlin," muttered Sarah again. "Now I really need a drink."

"Sorry mummy-to-be, no can do. Now Ayla, I want you to start at the very beginning. Don't miss anything out. It might be very important. How did you two meet?" said Chloe speaking as if she were advising someone who was about to dismantle a bomb.

"Why would anything be important?" asked Ayla. She wasn't entirely sure where this conversation was going, but she was willing to bet it was no where good.

"Well we need to know what he said, how he said it and roughly what his expression was like at the time." supplied Lenny.

"Why?" both Ayla and Sarah asked, both completely mystified.

"Well to see if he loves you stupid!" said Terri shaking her head.

"No I was wrong earlier. Now I need a drink. You lot are all bloody crazy and it's a wonder any wizard can stick you. They are just friends! Besides Ayla's way too good for him." Sarah said through gritted teeth. "Ayla don't tell them anything. They'll only rip it into shreds and then wonder why you aren't married yet. I'm telling you that way madness lies. Honestly some witches!"

Ayla was torn, while she loved her friends dearly they did have a tendency to read too much into things.

"Well." she started. What the hell, she thought, you only live once. And the rest of the evening passed in ooh's and aah's and multiple rollings of Sarah's eyes.