Chapter 6

Hoagie and Abby were cutting it a little close in Rachel's opinion. She had told Nigel to be home by 6:30 for dinner. They showed up at 6:15. Sure, Abby was hugely pregnant, but wouldn't that just be a reason to be earlier instead of later? Rachel needed to settle down. She took a couple breaths through her nose. Rachel didn't want to be so stressed out, but she just wanted so badly for everything to be perfect.

Kuki appeared at Rachel's side. "Everything's perfect, Rach. It'll be a great party," she told her blonde-haired friend, as if she were a mind reader.

"You think so?" Rachel glanced around at Abby and Fanny, needing their opinions as well.

Fanny placed her hands on her hips. "I would hope so. I wasted my entire Saturday here!"

Kuki started laughing first. She had a contagious laugh, like a peal of bells, and soon all four women were laughing.

"Where's the alcohol in this joint?" an Australian accented voice asked. Seconds later, this voice was joined in the kitchen by Wally, Patton, and Hoagie.

Laughter was still ringing thought the room as Wally's blue eyes landed on Abby. "Whoa, you're huge!" he crowed.

Kuki sucked in a breath. "Wally!"

Hoagie looked at his friend. "What the hell, man? Kuki was way bigger than this with that last one."

Wally opened and closed his mouth a few times. Comebacks had never been one of his finer areas. "Well…Kuki's going on five kids now. This is just Abby's second."

Patton grinned and slapped the blonde man on the back. "Nice try, Beatles," he comforted.

Before Kuki or Abby could state their opinions on the matter, Emi and Violet ran into the kitchen. On each of their faces was a massive smile. "Mama! We were watching the window like you said and Olivia is running over here right now! She is!" Emi's ponytail bobbed as she shook her head excitedly.

"I saw," Violet added, with the lisp most two-year olds seemed to have.

"Did you, Vi? You must be the best look-out girl in the whole world," Kuki gushed as she picked up the little girl. Violet giggled as her mom planted a kiss on her cheek

"Aren't we supposed to hide or something?" Patton asked.

Rachel suddenly had eight sets of eyes on her. "Oh right. Well, we can stay in here. Just turn off all the lights quickly. It'll confuse him."

Hoagie and Wally left to turn off the lights in the house. They came back a few seconds later with Augie, Kaida, and Max.

From the kitchen, they all heard the front door swing open. "Hello?" a little voice called. "Daddy, why are all the lights off?"

"Your mother probably stayed in bed all day watching Lifetime movies again," a British accented voice sighed.

The lights in front hall got flicked on. "I guess I'll just get started on dinner then. Palmer, why don't you run up and fetch your mom?" They could hear the patter of tiny footsteps on stairs. Nigel continued to talk. "I'm not going to complain because I know she's having a hard time with Palmer's issue. But, it is my birthday. You would think…" He turned on the lights in the kitchen.

"SURPRISE!" The seven adults and five children all smiled at Nigel

Nigel took a step back and placed a hand over his heart. Rachel smiled and approached her husband. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Are you surprised?"

Olivia jumped around excitedly. "Daddy, guess what? I knew! I knew the whole time that Auntie Kuki and everyone was coming over today! And I pretended I didn't! Mommy told me yesterday that I would have to try extra hard to keep it a secret, but she thought I could do it because I'm almost six, you know!"

"Surprised I didn't just have a heart attack!" Nigel said to his wife. He then picked up the hyper, almost 6-year old and kissed her head. "And, you, my dear, have a future as an actress for all that pretending you did!" After he placed Olivia back on the ground, she took off running with Emi and Kaida.

The 31 year old glanced around the kitchen finding all his friends present. Kuki and Wally, Abby and Hoagie, Fanny and Patton. And, of course, his gorgeous beyond belief wife. Nigel leaned down and gave Rachel a kiss. "I'm very surprised. Thank you so much."

"I'll have you know that doesn't make up for the Lifetime movie comment. You'll be paying for that later on." Rachel unhooked her arms from around him, not wanting to hog the 'birthday boy'.

Nigel grinned at his wife's retreating form. "I'm holding you to that," he replied. She winked at him over her shoulder.

Wally approached Nigel, beer in hand. It seemed he had finally found the alcohol. He patted Nigel on the shoulder. "Happy Birthday, old man. I'm gonna go watch the game now." Hoagie and Patton followed Wally out the kitchen door.

Nigel decided to stay and say hello to Abby, Fanny, and Kuki. It was the gentlemanly thing to do. He hugged Kuki briefly. Well, it was brief in Kuki's opinion, which meant she squeezed him until he couldnt breath for about a minute. "Thanks for taking up the whole driveway," Nigel said to Fanny.

The red-head smirked at him and ate a cheese cube. "My pleasure."

He sat down next to Abby at the kitchen table. "How are you doing, Abby?"

Abby smiled at her childhood best friend. "Abby's holding in there," she said.

"Looks like it wouldn't be too far off for me to share my birthday with the newest Gilligan," Nigel laughed. He was making a joke and he didn't notice the way Kuki's eyebrows shot up, disappearing beneath her bangs.

Abby watched Nigel wander towards the TV as she made slow circles on her belly. "Not too far off," she murmured.

Rachel had missed this entire encounter because she was setting the dining room table for dinner. She was happy. Nigel had been surprised; everyone was having a nice time. You did good, Rachel, she thought to herself. Nothing could ruin this party.