I hope you are enjoying the storyline! Just a bit of fun at the moment; I feel as though Mer and Derek have had enough drama for the time being; and I really love getting into their kids' characters; they are heaps of fun!!

"No Charlie!" I cried.

"Oh…please….please, please, pretty please mom!" Charlie begged as her eyes desperately pleaded with me to say yes.

"Charlie, why can't you and your friends just go out for dinner somewhere…I know you want a party…but I just don't want fifty sixteen and fifteen year olds in my house…" I sighed.

"But mom…I'm sixteen…technically legal for some things…" Charlie started.

"Whoa…watch it!" I warned.

"I just want a party mom! I think I deserve one…" Charlie sighed.

"Oh yeah, hmm let me see…cutting school, an F in English, smoking and underage drinking…yeah, you've been really good this year Charlie," I shook my head.

"Oh…okay, let me see…um, the separation…sneaky sex with dad and bad driving instructor…yeah, you really deserve parent of the year mom!" Charlie shot back in a tone I hadn't heard in a while.

"Charlie!" I cried. "Why do you have the urge to speak to me like that?"

"Comes naturally," Charlie answered cheekily.

"The answer is still no!" I told her.

She screamed in frustration and ran upstairs to her room, stomping on the stairs as loudly as her feet would carry her.

"You're infuriating! It's…" stomp "…not…" stomp "…fair…!"

I rolled my eyes and diverted my attention to the pasta on the stove top as I stirred it slightly, recalling the times when Charlie would sit on the bench and help stir the pasta for dinner; pleading desperately to set the table and help. Now it was a mission to even get her to the dinner table.

"Mom!" Mia ran into the kitchen.

"Honey, what did I say about running in the kitchen?" I asked as she ran straight into me.

"I know, I know…but Riley won't let me watch TV!" Mia cried.

I groaned and looked at her as I shook my head.

"Because she insists on watching Hannah Montana!" Riley shouted from the lounge room.

"Riley!" I called. "Come here please…"

Riley strolled into the kitchen and rested his hand on his hip.

"What?" he asked obnoxiously.

"Yes mom," I corrected him.

"Yes mom?" he repeated with a frown.

"Mate, you've been watching TV all afternoon," I sighed. "Do you think you could let Mia watch the last fifteen minutes of Hannah Montana?"

Riley groaned and slammed the remote down onto the table.

"Have your stupid, idiotic remote!" he said loudly as he shoved into her on his way past.

"Riley James!" I called after him. "Come back here please…"

Riley walked back into the kitchen and leaned on the counter top.

"What's wrong with you today mister?" I asked him as I ran my fingers through his dark hair.

"Mia won't leave me alone!" he cried. "I'm nearly twelve and I can't always be seen with my little sister!"

I chuckled slightly.

"And…it sucks, because I know that Charlie wants a party…but so do I!" he cried. "So if you won't let her have one, I can't have one!"

I sighed heavily and put my hand to his cheek.

"Sweetie, you know how dad and I feel about parties…." I sighed. "The last time you had a superhero party, your friend Jayden Haines used the trampoline as a rocket launch pad and nearly blew the whole house up…"

"But I'm not friends with Jayden anymore!" Riley protested.

"Honey…I just don't think it's a good idea…you and Charlie both have a lot of friends and your birthdays are one day apart…" I said to him. "That would mean a joint party…we don't have the room…"

"Whatever…" Riley grumbled.

I groaned heavily and hugged him tightly.

"Let me talk to your dad…" I told him. "Charlie!" I called.

Charlie walked down the stairs and stood staring at me, clearly still angry from my objection to her party.

"What?" she asked.

"Yes mom," I corrected her just as I had Riley moments earlier.

"Yes mom?" Charlie repeated sarcastically.

"I am going to ask your dad if you and Riley can have a party…" I told her.

"As in a joint party? Um…no!" Charlie cried.

"Joint party or no party Charlie," I warned.

"Uh…fine," Charlie sighed. She walked over to hug me. "Thanks mom…"

"Twenty people maximum for each of you…" I told them.

Riley and Charlie nodded.

"Now, both of you set the table for dinner and then take Mia to wash up!" I said.

"Hello?" came Derek's voice on the other end of the phone line.

"Hey," I said softly.

"Oh hey honey," he answered. "I've got a pretty big night tonight, I'm not sure what time I'll be home…but I'll be there as soon as I can…"

"Oh, it's okay," I replied. "But I need to ask you something…"

"What is it?"

"Riley and Charlie both want parties…" I told him.

Derek groaned.

"Charlie and parties are never a good combination…tequila…Jeremy Mitchell…?" he reminded me.

"I know…" I sighed.

"And let's not forget Riley's superhero party with Jayden Haines and the trampoline rocket launch…" Derek added.

"I know…but both kids assure me they will be responsible…" I said.

"Our kids…responsible?" Derek snorted.

"They're trying Derek…" I told him.

Derek groaned and went silent.

"Okay," he said.

"Great! They'll be really excited…so what time should I expect you honey?" I asked.

"As soon as I can," he replied.

"Okay…I'll let you go…I love you…"

"I love you too…"

I hung up the phone and wandered into the living room where Charlie was texting on her cell phone and Riley and Mia were playing cards.

They all turned around as I entered the room.

"Dad said yes…" I told them.

Charlie and Riley cheered and Mia groaned.

"I'm going crazy mom!" she cried.

"Mom! Where's Aunty Iz with the cakes?" Charlie cried. "Everyone will be here soon and I don't want anyone to see the cakes…if I can't, no one can!'

I groaned and remember her fifth birthday, with the Princess theme, I also remember it being the day I went into labour with Riley.

"She's nearly here babe, they're stuck in traffic!" I told her.

Cristina wandered into the room.

"Aunty Cris, can you help me?" Charlie begged.

"With what?" Cristina asked.

"Finding shoes…" Charlie replied.

"Charlie, you know I don't do fashion…" Cristina groaned.

Charlie didn't give her a chance to argue anymore and simply smiled at her and grabbed her arm dragging her up the stairs.

"Mom!" came Riley's voice.

I whipped around to see him fiddling with the buttons on a new smart shirt.

"Smell me…" he leaned forward.

I took a whiff and stepped back.

"Whoa…" I tried to conceal the feeling of scrunching my nose. "Um…lovely honey…what is it?"

"Calvin Klein!" Riley cried. "Clearly…"

"Oh," I tried to look knowing. "Oh, of course…"

He rushed off and I took a breath of clean air to stale the overpowering scent of Calvin.

I heard the door open and Jordin and Jacob run through the kitchen.

"Hey Aunty Mer!" Jacob said.

"Hey honey," I kissed his forehead. I turned to Jordin and did the same. "Hello beautiful,"

"Hi Aunty Mer!" Jordin answered.

"Where's your mom?" I asked them.

"Her and dad are getting the cakes out of the car!" Jordin answered.

"Okay…oh, Jordy, Mia is upstairs…can you two please not make too much of a mess?" I asked.

"Okay!" Jordin replied over her shoulder.

Jacob ran out to see Riley and I was then faced with Izzie and George carrying in two fabulous cakes.

"Wow, Iz…you've out done yourself this year!" I told her.

"I know!" she exclaimed as they set them down at the table. "Where's Charlie? I've got her present," she said.

"Upstairs with Cristina…" I told her as she carried a rather large parcel upstairs with her.

I turned to George.

"So…this is why Derek and I don't have parties…"

George laughed.

"Hey babe!" Izzie walked into Charlie's room and looked around. "Wow, love the new décor!"

Charlie nodded as Cristina looked up helplessly.

"So what do you think Aunty Iz…the black or red?" Charlie held up two pairs of shoes.

"Red, definitely…" Izzie answered. She walked over and gave her a hug. "I can't believe you're 16…" she handed her the present. "This is from all of us…"

Charlie smiled and opened it.

"Wow…" she breathed as she pulled out a beautiful cashmere Chanel sweater and a matching Chanel jewellery set. "Oh…Aunty Iz…it's beautiful…"

"We wanted to get you something nice…" Izzie said.

"Thank you…" Charlie said as she hugged Izzie.

"Happy birthday beautiful girl," Izzie said softly.

Cristina reached into her pocket and pulled out a small card wrapped present.

"This is from me…and Burke of course…"

Charlie opened it and gasped.

"Fashion Week?" she exclaimed. "Oh my god…when…?"

"In June…but you will have to take someone with you…that's why there are two tickets…now check inside the other part of the card…" Cristina instructed.

Charlie pulled out another two pieces of paper.

"Oh my god! Two tickets to New York?" she yelled.

"I'm sure your mom will take you…" Cristina answered.

Charlie threw her arms around Cristina.

"You'll fit right in with the Chanel," Cristina smiled at Izzie.

Izzie and Cristina walked downstairs to find Riley and give him his presents, but all his friends were arriving.

"Should we?" Izzie asked Cristina.

"And being the embarrassing aunties? Why not?" Cristina chuckled.

Riley looked up and smiled at them.

"Guys, these are my aunties…Izzie and Cristina," he pointed to them accordingly.

Izzie smiled and Cristina kind of looked them up and down.

"Here is your present, buddy," Izzie said as she handed him a parcel.

Riley opened it and smiled widely.

"Guitar Hero…?" he cried. "Wow! Thanks Aunty Iz!"

"Well, your Aunty Cristina and I piled our presents together…and got you something from everyone…" Izzie explained as Riley opened the bigger parcel and widened his eyes. "A Playstation3?" he cried. "Oh thank you, thank you!" he threw his arms around his aunts.

Putting the children to bed later, I looked in at Riley and smiled.

"Good night my favourite twelve year old…" I said softly.

Riley looked up and smiled.

"Thank you for my party mom…" he said.

"You're welcome honey," I answered. "I love you…"

"I love you too mom…" he blew me a kiss.

I smiled and closed the door.

I walked over to Charlie's bedroom door and knocked.

"Come in…"

"Hey," I smiled as I walked in and saw her flicking through the photos on her new digital camera.

"Hey mom," she smiled.

"Did you have a nice day?" I asked.

She nodded.

"I did…thank you so much," she replied.

I sighed heavily and put my arm around her as I picked up a photo of her, Derek and I when she was only four.

"I can't believe you are 16 already…" I sighed.

"A lot has changed…" she told me.

I looked at that sweet face for a moment.

"You'd be surprised as to how things haven't…" I told her.

I really love the kids bonding with their Aunts - it makes their family so real!

REVIEWS!!

PS: You will see Mer and Charlie heading to New York soon!!