Hey everyone! Thanks to the reviewers of chapter one. I'm glad you liked the start and the idea! Sorry it's taken me so long to get Chapter 2 up - that's the downside of writing so many stories at once!

This chapters from Bella's POV because in the next few chapters, it will mostly be Rikki, Cleo, Lewis & Zane centred during Zoe's disappearance. In the aftermath you might get more of Bella or Will. Might, we'll see how we go. The drama increases as of the next chapter as this is chapter is still showing the differences between where H2o ended and my story, 5 years later.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter and I would greatly appreciate a review from you.

Chapter 2: Changes In Time

Bella's POV

As I stepped out of the car door, I stretched my legs as far as they could go. Driving for so long was uncomfortable enough, but on top of that my back was sore from the constant twisting around to either rock Matt, put his dummy in his mouth or settle him.

We'd spilt the 13 hour drive over two days and stayed in a town halfway between The Gold Coast and Sydney. Cleo & Lewis, Rikki & Zane and Will & I had all started off together, but we had to have several stops for me to feed Matt, so the others continued on. Then when I'd texted Cleo last night, she said that they stopped at a park for Zoe to have a run around because she was getting ratty and grumpy in the car, but Rikki & Zane had gone ahead too.

Despite that, we'd all arrived at the holiday house within half an hour of each other.

When I got out, the first thing I did was look at Will. He nodded and I understood what he meant, even though no words were spoken. That little 'thing' was our way of communicating about which one of us would get Matt out of the car.

As Will got Matt out, I thought about it's funny how times change.

This time, 5 years ago, I would've been a carefree teenager. The first thing I would've checked out was the beach or house, the first thing I would unpack would be my camera, beach towel or phone. Now I was a mother & wife, looking at my husband to see who'd be unpacking our son. Never would a 17 year old me have thought this would be my life at age 22! Yet, saying that, I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Cleo & Lewis got married young & engaged even younger, with Lewis proposing just days after Cleo turned 18, although their actual wedding was 2 years later when Lewis returned from America with his degree. Zoe was born when they were only 20 and I don't know how they coped & juggled with having her so young, Lewis' burgeoning career and being newlyweds.

Rikki & Zane continued with their on-again, off-again relationship for about a year after graduation, when all of a sudden, they both seemed to grow up. It was really bizarre, but hey, whatever happened worked because they've been together since.

As for Will & I, we'd stayed together ever since the beach party and we'd gotten married about 4 months before Rikki and Zane did. We've only been married for just over a year, and already we have a son. We'd been married for barely half a year when I found out I was pregnant, and trust me it was a big shock, but we managed, and we still are.

We were the last to arrive at the house, with the tell-tale signs of the Bennett's & McCartney's cars parked out front of the two-storey holiday house already.

I was getting some of the important stuff out of the car like my handbag, Will's wallet, our phones and the keys and Will was a few steps ahead of me as we walked up to the front door.

With his free hand Will knocked and seconds later Zane opened the door welcoming us in.

"Hey, happy anniversary for yesterday mate" Will said as he passed Zane.

"Thanks. Wow! Matt's grown so much in the last 4 days even!" Zane replied, peering over to the little boy in my husband's arms.

"Tell me about it!"

"Hi Bella" Zane said as I walked past him, into the nautical-themed holiday house.

"Hey."

We walked through the passage, passing several doors into the lounge room where the others were sitting and talking.

Cleo & Lewis were cuddling on the couch, laughing at Zoe who was forcing Rikki to hold her doll. They turned around and saw us, getting up and coming over to us.

"Hey guys! How was your trip?" they all said different variations of, at the same time.

"Long, but we're here now."

5 minutes later, Will & I finally managed to sit down and the group of us sat there talking about the trip, right when Zoe announced "Aunty Rikki have baby!"

Awkwardly, all eyes turned to Rikki who was going horrendously red.

I was the first to speak, excitedly asking "Are you pregnant!"

"No! Before you got here, we were talking about how Zane & I have been THINKING about having a baby now that we've been married for a year and the cafe's going well. I tell ya, you have to watch out what you say around toddlers!"

After a few seconds of more awkward silence, we all started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I seriously thought you might've been pregnant!"

Rikki gasped. "Me? Pregnant! Seriously, can you imagine me pregnant? Besides, I would be the most self-absorbed, grumbling, whingeing pregnant woman ever. Zane would shoot me before I'd have a chance to give birth the kid!"

"Not true" Zane added from the other side of the room where the boys had now separated into a little group, and were in an ever-so-manly-way, cooing over Zoe and Matt.

"Haha. Anyway, what were you two planning on doing for dinner? I can't be bothered cooking tonight after driving for so long" Rikki asked Cleo & I.

"I was just going to pick something quick and easy up for Will & I. You, Cleo?"

"Yeah same."

"Why don't we go out for tea?" Zane added again.

I glanced over at 'the boys corner' again and now saw Zane holding my baby boy, Will over-protectively instructing him how to hold Matt right, Zoe sitting on Lewis' lap and she was leaning over and gently patting Matt's head.

I noticed how much our lives had changed in the few years.

This time 5 years ago, us girls would've been chatting about Mako, the tentacle, our tails or our boyfriends. Now we were Mothers & Wives talking about what we were doing for dinner!

I'm not exactly sure what the guys would've been talking about, but I know for certain, it definitely wouldn't have been about how to hold a baby!

The difference was almost laughable!

"Hey! Hey? Earth to Bella" Rikki said waving her hand in front of my face.

"What? Huh?"

"Matt not been letting you two get enough sleep hey?" Cleo asked.

"No, no, it's not that, I was just thinking how our lives have changed in the last five years. I mean, there's no way in hell that Zane would've been holding a baby, Lewis wouldn't have been holding a toddler and neither would Will be teaching Zane how to hold a baby properly."

"That's funny, but so damn true!"

"I agree!" Cleo said as the group of us 3 started laughing.

"What's going on over here?" Lewis asked as he walked over and passed Zoe to Cleo.

"Don't you wanna know!" Rikki teased.

"Yeah... that's why I asked. By the way, she's got a dirty nappy Cleo."

"You're her Dad, why don't you change it?" Rikki asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Um, gross!"

"He's a total princess, trust me!" Cleo added as she stood up and started walking upstairs to her family's room.

"I should've gotten you that tiara instead of Zoe!" Rikki said as she poked Lewis' shoulder.

"Hey! I'm innocent!"

"So your an innocent princess hey?"

"Not what I meant!"

The rest of us were laughing at the two who were still constantly bickering. I guess one thing hadn't changed in those 5 years!

Later on, we went to a restaurant together in town.

It was a small restaurant, but was family-friendly and the location was great, overlooking the water. Our table was outside with only a road and 2 footpaths separating us from the water.

I watched & listened to my close friends discussing the menu and what they were ordering. Rikki was currently commentating on the entire menu, giving her opinions on every meal and criticizing the strange names, but no-one seemed to be listening. Zane, Will & Lewis were chatting, but I couldn't hear about what and Cleo was asking Zoe what she wanted for tea.

I looked down at the sleeping baby boy in my arms and realized, yep, our lives were perfect.

In this moment anyway.

If only our lives had stayed like this, we wouldn't have had to go through the pain & torment in the coming days.

If only.

So finally there's the next chapter!

Next chapter will be the beginning of the storm where Rikki & Zane babysit Zoe. If you want to read it, then review this chapter! I'll assume you don't if I don't get many reviews. I really appreciate reviews and they take next to no time compared to how long it takes me to write a chapter. Moral of the story, reviews are easy and I love them. Lecture over! Haha

Have a good day :) xx