AnnaBeth was racing around her apartment feeling like a chicken with its head cut off. She had been to the butchers and the florist as well as the salon to get her hair done. She was on a roll, but she felt a little out of practice when it came to entertaining guests.
She had just finished putting her dress on and checking the oven when there was a knock at the door. Peter was stood at the door with a bottle of wine.
"Thank you so much" She said stepping to the side "Come on in"
"Thanks for inviting me" He said with a smile "Didn't want to be alone with the couples?"
"It really started as a thank you to my friends which includes you and then just kind of evolved to a welcome getting to know Britney dinner" She replied.
"And you've been dying to throw a dinner party" He said
"You have no idea how much I miss a town fair or a black-tie event" She admitted "Beers at Molly's is great but sometimes a change is nice"
Before she could shut the door, Gabby and Matt stepped out of the elevator with Kelly and Britney.
"Are you sure you're not an interior designer?" Gabby asked giving her a hug as she stepped inside "How is this the same apartment from a week ago"
"Oh, you know" She replied "A lick of paint, a few throw pillows and some flowers"
"Matt and Kelly were scared you wouldn't have any beer" Gabby said as Matt lifted the 6 pack he was holding.
"I have beer and wine paired with the meal but whatever you want to drink is fine" She replied taking the case "I'll just put these in the refrigerator, there's mini quiches and cocktails so please help yourself, unless anyone would like a beer"
"I'll try one of these" Britney said picking up one of the martini glasses "Your place is incredible AnnaBeth"
"Thank you" She said "I'm really glad you could make it"
AnnaBeth walked through into the kitchen and put away the beers taking three cold ones out. She set the bottle of wine down on the countertop.
"Do you need a hand with anything?" Gabby asked following her through "This cocktail is amazing by the way"
"I called Wade for a recipe" She replied "He's not the best at a lot of things but getting into trouble and mixing a mean martini he's got it down to an art form, I've got it all covered"
"It's kind of nice to have a night away from the apartment and not at Molly's" Gabby admitted.
"No Jonah making comments about getting over my ex" She agreed.
"I think you secretly like it" Gabby said leaning on the countertop.
"Well it is nice that someone wants to flirt with me I guess" She admitted as the walked back through to the living room.
"Who wants to flirt with you?" Kelly asked as she handed him a beer.
"The hot doctor" Gabby said taking a seat next to Matt on the sofa.
"We're just friends" She said shaking her head "He's Lemon's cousin so we grew up together, he'd flirt with his own reflection…probably does, but enough about Jonah, Britney how was your first week in Chicago?"
"It's been great" Britney replied sitting on Kelly's lap "I haven't done a lot of site seeing yet, but we went for a run down by the water and I found this amazing burger place down the street"
"Well I'm sure you two have a lot planned for Kelly's days off shift but if you ever need a girlfriend to hang out with we usually try and go to lunch or shopping once a week you're welcome to join us, I'm joining a Zumba class as well but Gabby won't come to that one" She said.
"That's really nice of you" Britney said "I'll keep that in mind"
"Do you have any more of these?" Matt asked eating another mini quiche.
"I do" She nodded "Actually I should start serving, is everyone ok with medium rare?"
AnnaBeth left them talking amongst themselves. She set down another plate of mini quiches and went to finish cooking the sirloins and plating up. She would have worried about them ruining their appetites, but she had seen the amount they could put away at the firehouse.
She had lit the candles at the table and arranged her hydrangeas centerpiece. She set out the side dishes on the table for everyone to help themselves. She had made Sirloin steaks with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and creamed spinach. She had opened the bottle of wine and had a beer option.
"This looks incredible" Peter said sitting down next to her at the table "Thanks AB"
"Well from what I've heard about your skills in the kitchen I should be getting tips from you" She said.
"I am pretty good" He nodded with a smirk making her laugh.
The conversation went from talking about the Vegas wedding to the latest hockey match and then right back round to work talk. They had been on a crazy call to a helicopter crash, so many people had been injured. It had been her first big accident scene and it had been a little overwhelming. She had saved a sketchy guy who had tried to pull a gun on her. Life in Chicago was a long way from Bluebell.
"I don't know how you all do it" Britney said as Kelly squeezed her hand.
"Neither do I" AnnaBeth admitted "But I wouldn't do anything else"
"Weren't you thinking about going back to nursing school?" Peter asked.
"You know" She replied "Right now I think 51 is where I want to be"
"Good" Gabby said "You can't leave me with these guys who knows who they'd replace you with"
"Well you're stuck with me" She said.
"At least you talking my ear off makes the day go by fast" Peter teased her.
"You would be lost without me to brighten your day" She retorted "And who would put Connie in a good mood when one of you upsets her"
"Connie likes me" Kelly said with a smirk.
"Oh, it's not the same level" Gabby said "You should see them two it's like they've got their own little club"
"We do" She said "Her book club has wine; I go when I can"
"Aren't you a little young for a book club?" Matt asked.
"Book club isn't about reading" She replied "It's about wine and gossip and the occasional trashy romance novel"
"Did you do that with your friends back home?" Peter asked.
"Oh no" She replied laughing " The belle's love pink and God, there's certain things they won't talk about, Lemon has loosened up a bit, but I think fifty shades traumatized her and just left her very confused."
Matt choked on his drink and Gabby tried to cover up a laugh.
"Are you ok baby?" Gabby asked rubbing his back.
"Fine" He coughed "So Mills, are you still hoping to get back on squad?"
"I've got some more tests in a few weeks to see if things are improving" He replied "So I hope so"
"I will be sad to have you leave me on ambo" She said "But I know you'll get back to squad"
Peter helped her clear the table and she got out a knife and a jug of hot water to start plating the cheesecake.
"Is it ok If I grab some more beers?" Kelly asked.
"Of course," She replied "Help yourself"
"Thanks for making Britney feel so welcome" He said opening the refrigerator "How many weeks do you have us down for in the pool?"
"I'm not putting bets on your marriage" She said shaking her head "I want you to be happy, I did it the traditional way and look how that turned out"
Kelly just smiled at her as he walked back out with two beers in hand.
"You're a good friend you know that" Peter told her wiping the edge of the plate she had just done.
"Thanks Sous Chef" She replied "You're not so bad yourself.
The rest of the night was just fun. They moved into the living room after dinner and learnt more about Britney. She'd asked questions about Kelly. Matt and Gabby had known him the longest so were full of teasing stories.
"Ok" She said raising a glass "I would like to toast to the happy couple, I wish you a happy and successful marriage"
"Too the happy couple" Matt echoed with a smile.
It was obvious that despite their difference Matt and Kelly were best friends and he was genuinely happy for his best friend. She knew that Gabby and Matt had been worried about him for a long time, but he hadn't stopped smiling since he came back from Vegas.
"Thank you AnnaBeth" Britney said pulling her into a hug "It was really nice to get to spend time with you all, Kelly talks about you a lot and I hope we can be friends"
"What I've learnt is this place is a family" She said "And it doesn't just stop at who works at 51 so that includes you"
"Thanks AB" Kelly said with a smile.
AnnaBeth left them to talk while she finished clearing the table and loading the dishwasher.
"You should think about doing this on the side" Gabby suggested taking a seat in the kitchen.
"Catering?" She said shaking her head "Maybe for people in house, I enjoy it, but I don't think I could put my all into a business alone, I had Lemon before"
"If me and Matt make it down the aisle, I'll hire you then" Gabby said, "So you're on the same page as Matt you don't thing this whole marriage thing weird?"
"Oh, it's bananas" She replied "But they deserve to be happy so I'm wishing for the best whatever that is"
"You really like him huh" Gabby sighed.
"I'd wish the best for all my friends" She retorted.
"I forgot to tell you I have set you up on a date" Gabby said excitedly.
"With who?" She asked surprised her voice going a little higher.
"His name is Jay" Gabby told her "He's a detective who works with my brother"
"I think I've seen him before, he was at a bar where there was a shooting a few weeks back, I followed up on the girl" She replied "Don't tell anyone, I know the don't get involved rule"
"So, what do you think?" Gabby asked.
"He's cute" She replied thoughtfully
"Don't you dare say you don't know" Gabby warned her "I'm telling Matt it's a double date and we're going"
"Well what the heck, why not" She said with a smile.
"Did you really just say heck?" Gabby laughed "Oh, I love you AB"
AnnaBeth just rolled her eyes as they walked out of the kitchen. She gave them each a bag of homemade truffles to take home with them. Kelly and Britney were the first to leave. Gabby seemed less keen to head straight home. Apparently sharing an apartment with newlyweds was a bit awkward. Eventually they left with Peter. They all had to be back on shift the next day and AnnaBeth needed to get some sleep. It had been nice having friends over, it was feeling more like home every day.