"Surprise!" six voices rang out, as Kris silently slipped back in through the front door.
"Holy Merlin on a stick you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Ayla yelled.
"Well it would hardly be a surprise party if we didn't." Sarah said pulling Ayla into a hug. "Hello my darling. How are you feeling? Is Kris looking after you?"
"Of course I am Sarah!" Kris shouted.
"Just checking."
"Ok why are you throwing me a surprise party? It's not my birthday." Ayla asked.
"Well what Sarah should have said," Penny started. "Is that this is a surprise baby shower."
"Just from us." Lenny added.
"All girls together." Chloe joined in.
"Yup, no men. No mention of them from here on out." Terri finished.
"Uh thanks guys."
"No problem," Scarlet said. "Now we all chipped in. Sarah got all the boring stuff, me and Terri got all the fun stuff."
"Yeah, there's a shed load of stuff for the baby. You know bottles, nappies and all that junk. And there's stuff for you." Lenny chimed in.
"Yeah like we got you a really nice pair of completely impractical shoes that you won't be able to wear until the baby's in it's twenties." Terri explained.
"And a matching bag." Chloe added.
"Which I want to steal." Lenny admitted interrupting her friend.
"Wow thanks guys." Ayla said, overwhelmed by her friends' thoughtfulness.
"No problem hon'. A little bird may have mentioned that you were a bit down in the dumps. So we all wanted to do something about it." Penny said grinning.
"Sorry." Kris said, blushing slightly. "If it's too much we can always do this another day."
"No, this is great, thanks. Marcus has just been round and I need something to distract me." Ayla said.
The room went silent.
"Uh Ayla, no men remember?" Sarah said, eyeing the others meaningfully.
"But she brought him up!" Scarlet protested. "Surely that means we can talk about him?"
"Yeah it is Ayla's party." Chloe agreed. "She should be allowed to talk about what she wants!"
"But we agreed-" Kris began saying.
"We agreed that if Ayla didn't bring him up, we wouldn't" Penny said as if it settled the matter.
"And she did, so we get to ask now." Terri said, joining in.
"Told you they were desperate to know." Kris said looking at Ayla.
"Yes we said all that but Ayla wasn't aware of the deal. You guys didn't give me chance to tell her yet." Sarah said.
"Oh but-"
"No." Sarah and Kris said in unison.
"Guys, it's ok. I'm a big girl." Ayla said, sensing an argument was about to erupt.
"Yes!" Scarlet said, high fiving Lenny.
"Which means," Ayla continued. "That I'm more than capable of telling this lot that I don't want to talk about it. I will tell you, I promise. Just not right now ok?"
"Oh ok." Terri said, pouting slightly.
"I guess if Ayla says she doesn't want to then we won't. But you're sure?" Chloe asked.
"Positive." Ayla answered, nodding.
"Damn." whispered Lenny and Penny.
Sarah smiled at her friend, a silent 'well done' was shining in her eyes.
"So what are we going to talk about? Kris has filled you in on everything, and nothing else has happened since this morning." Terri said.
"And we're not allowed to talk about you know what." Penny confirmed.
"The weather?" Chloe offered.
Everyone dissolved into a fit of giggles.
"What? It was a good suggestion!"
Ayla hadn't realised how much she had missed her friends. She has felt cut off from them, but that was probably due to the fact that she had cut herself off from them. There were certain things a person needed to survive, she realised. Food, water, the obvious, and good friends and good times. She knew she'd be nothing without those girls, the thought cheered her immensely. She spent the rest of the night enjoying her friends company. Just being young and stupid, not worrying about the baby or what tomorrow would bring.
True to his word Marcus arrived at Ayla's doorstep a day later. She had made up her mind, she just hoped she was making the right decision.
"So," he asked. "Thought about?"
"Yup." Ayla said with a nod.
"And?"
"Marcus, it was insanely sweet of you to suggest it. And you have no idea who grateful I am. But I'm saying no. I still don't think it's fair on you. It's too much to ask."
"Too much to ask? I'm offering!"
"I know but I can't let you."
"Let me?"
"You know what I mean."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Give me one good reason why you don't want to do this?"
"Because I don't need to. It's a good idea, I'm saying it's not. But I don't need you to do this for me, I just don't."
"Why don't you?"
"Because I've got my friends. They'll help me out. And I don't care about Skeeter anymore. Let her write her fiction. That's all it is now anyway."
"And what am I?" Marcus said quietly, the change was startling as his voice had been steadily getting louder.
"What?" Ayla asked, mystified by the question and his temper.
"You said you've got your friends. You don't need me now? After all I've done for you? You really are an ungrateful-"
"Hey! I'm grateful. I told you I was. I just don't think we need to do this. If my parents don't support me, my friends' will. And when I say friends' that includes you. Merlin what is your problem? Any normal bloke would be happy to be off the hook."
"You know what? Just forget I said anything ok?"
He left before she could answer, slamming the door behind him.
"Well that could have gone better." Ayla said to herself.
This was stupid. He was overreacting. She'd be fine. And who did he think he was, to talk to her like that? She really didn't need it right now. And she was going to tell him so. She headed for the floo. She'd no doubt get to his home before him, but that just gave her time to get really mad.
And sick. In her anger she'd forgotten how much she didn't like using the floo network whilst pregnant. She raced to the kitchen, and promptly lost her breakfast down the plughole of Marcus's sink.
"Oh this is how you say thanks is it? Puking in my kitchen sink. Nice."
"Ugh I don't feel good."
"Why are you here?"
"Marcus I really don't feel good. Something doesn't feel right."
"Shit. What's wrong?"
"I don't know. This is... just not right, I'm scared. I really don't feel right."
"Ok I'll get you to Saint Mungo's just relax ok?"
"I don't want to floo."
"You don't have to."
"Or apparate. Not even side along."
"You don't have to do that either. Look, it's dark, there won't be many muggles out. You up to flying?"
"Think so."
"Ok just sit down. Here have some water. I'll go get my broom."
She sat down at the kitchen table and put the cool glass Marcus had handed her to her forehead. She'd never felt this bad before. Not even when taking her anti-morning sickness potion.
"Are you ok to go now or do you want to leave it a little longer?" he asked coming back into the kitchen.
"No, now." Ayla said weakly.
"Ok. Come on, I'll get on first and hold her steady. You get on in front. I'll keep you safe, don't worry."
"Don't go too fast."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Ayla shut her eyes as they rose off the ground. She had never been good with heights. She could feel Marcus wrap his cloak around her from behind, to protect her from the cold.
"You ok?" he asked.
She nodded.
It wasn't long before they were outside Saint Mungo's, and Marcus hurriedly ushered her inside.
"We need a Healer. She's pregnant. Something's wrong, she's been sick and doesn't feel right."
"Ok go in the third room on the right down that corridor. I'll summon someone down from the sixth floor to come down and see you."
Marcus raced back to where he had left Ayla sitting in the reception. Her eyes were closed and her skin was pale and sweaty. He picked her up.
"What's going on?" she mumbled.
"Shh beautiful, it's ok. Let me carry you, you look worn out."
"But it's six floors up."
"They're calling someone down. Don't you worry about me."
He laid her on the pristine hospital bed and began to pace. What was taking them so long? Summoning people never took this long.
"Right then dears, what do we have here?" Healer Wilks said shuffling in. "Oh, it's you two."
"She's been sick. She says something's not right."
"What's your name deary?"
"Her names Ayla." Marcus asnwered.
"I wasn't asking you dear."
"Ayla dear, how many months are you?"
"She's five and a half." he said again.
"It might be best if she answered."
"Now then Ayla, what happened before you were ill?"
"Floo'd." Ayla said, all her energy was focused on not panicking and not throwing up again.
"Ah that'll be it. You really shouldn't floo after five months. Plays havoc with the stomach. Now I'll just check on the little one, just to be sure." She said waving her wand over Ayla's stomach. "Yes, yes everything's in order. Right then, you lie here until you feel a bit better. There's no need to keep you in, you've got a nice healthy baby. Just no more flooing from now on, or you could be in trouble."
"Thanks." Ayla said weakly.
"Yes thank you." Marcus added, shaking the woman's hand. Relief was coursing through him.
"Mmhhm you're welcome. You take care of her, you here me?"
"Yes, I will."
"Well goodnight."
"Night, and thanks again."
"Just doing my job deary."
Marcus sat on the edge of the bed, next to Ayla.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked.
"Better. I guess I just panicked." she said sighing. "I think maybe you were right. I can't do this on my own."
"I never said that."
"But it's true," she whispered, a tear slid down her cheek. "I was so scared. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there."
"Don't cry. It's partly my fault anyway. If I hadn't been such an arse, you wouldn't have floo'd to mine."
"Did you mean it?"
"Which part?"
"When you said we could pretend to be a couple."
"Of course, but it doesn't matter. You've made your mind up, right?"
"Can I change it?"
"Yes. But why would you? If I hadn't been there then one of your friends would have."
"But they won't be. Kris has her job and so do the others. They've all got things to do. Sarah's got her own baby to think of. And I think I need someone around. You said yourself, you've got nothing better to do,"
"We don't have to pretend to be a couple though. I'll do it as your friend if you prefer."
"I think I was lying to myself when I said I didn't care what people think. This isn't going to go away. They'll keep saying things. Maybe it's best if we pretend. To keep them off our backs."
"If that's what you want."
"And like you said, it won't be forever."
"For as long as you want. I just want to make things easier for you."
"Marcus, you're sure?"
"Positive."
"Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. Are you ready to go home?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Ok beautiful, let's get you out of here." he said as he helped her up. He wrapped and arm around her waist, letting her lean on him as they walked back to the reception.
Well I've had a good day. And I'm happy for the first time in ages. For those who know my nan's getting better, for those who don't - my nan was really ill but now shes not so much. So yay. Celebratory post!
