Chapter Sixteen

A few weeks had passed since the assembly and it actually felt really good to be at school. People actually talked to us, in way they hadn't before, I was still wary, of course, I think we all were, but we finally felt some form of being accepted. Well today was a very special day, today was June 1st. Darcy was turning three today. I woke up to one of my favourite sights, Noah asleep, I know it sounds silly, but when he's asleep he is at peace, and it certainly helps that he looks amazing.

"Good morning beautiful," he mumbled, kissing my lips gently.
"Good morning," I said. "So shall we go and wake the birthday girl,"
"I guess, come on," he said. I got out of bed and put a robe around my night dress, not because of Darcy, but because we may be getting visitors, and well it was not appropriate. I walked into her room and saw her already awake, smiling happily. "Happy Birthday sweetie," I said.
"Happy Birthday gorgeous," said Noah. "Now then what does our special girl want for breakfast,"

"Pancakes," she said.
"Then she will have pancakes," he said. "Rach go and make them," I tapped him on the shoulder, he knew that he was the best at them.
"Daddy, mommy can't make pancakes," said Darcy.
"I can make them," I said. "But your daddy is better,"
"Yeah I guess we don't want them to land on the ceiling," said Noah. I threw a pillow at him this time, laughing. We all walked downstairs and he began making them, there was a knock at the door, so I walked over to answer it.

"If only I could be greeted like this every morning," said Mike earning a very big slap from Brit.
"Hey guys," I said. "Come on in, you're just in time for breakfast," They sat down and we all began eating the pancakes already on the table, that was when Darcy came running in, hiding behind me giggling.
"What have you done sweetie," I said.
"Daddy has a pancake on his head," she said giggling even more.
"What," I said, but then I saw it Noah came in with a pancake on his head. "How did it end up on your head," Everyone had already started laughing,
"He was showing off," said Darcy.

"That I can believe," said Finn. "Shit Rach watch out,"
"What," I said turning around getting a face covered in whipped cream in the process. "Oh you want to play that one," I walked into the kitchen and got a water gun and filled it with flour, and water, and then came back in. "Girls go and fill up, we need to teach them a lesson,"
"Shit what's in that Rach," said Quinn.
"The Berry Potion," said Noah. "Flour and water, we better run guys," And they did and we ran after them.

After about half an hour we were covered in a sticky white pasty mess, but it had been so much fun that we really couldn't care less. "Okay so there are showers in the block over there, we are going to go and get ready for the pool ok," I said. "Come on Darcy," I took her hand and we walked upstairs myself and Darcy got showered first and then Noah did. I got into a black and gold bikini and Darcy in a gorgeous lilac one. Noah looked flawless in his shorts and we made our way back downstairs, to find our friends had brought a birthday cake with them.

"Oh my god you didn't have to do that," I said.
"We wanted to," said Tina. "Come on Darcy, come and make a wish," We sang to her and then she blew out the candles.
"I get first piece," she said. "But not yet,"
"So Darcy how about we go and get your presents," I said.
"I have presents," she said.
"Of course," myself and Noah said.

I went and got the sack containing her presents and put them by her. She opened them all, she'd got some really pretty dresses, a really cute Barbie set with a dog and cat. I'd also got her a CD which had children themes on it. She was happy with everything. "Shall we put on your CD Darcy," I said.
"Yeah we need music," she said. I put it on and the first song that came on was Barbie Girl. "OH my god no," groaned Quinn.
"Is it really bad to still know the words," I said.
"Yeah," everyone said.

Darcy began singing it though and I joined in, it was infectious though because soon we were all singing it. We burst out laughing afterwards, and the next song was even better, it was the Monkey song from the Jungle Book. "Oh my god, I love this film," I said.
"It is pretty cool," said Noah.
"Oh please you watched this all the time when you were little," I said. "You used to try and swing in the trees," giggling at a sudden memory.
"What did he do," said Quinn.

"He fell out," I said. "Into stinging nettles,"
"Ouch bet that was painful," said Artie.
"It was, but Rach kissed them better," he said.
"You two are so sweet," said San. "It makes us all believe love is actually out there,"
"Of course it is, you just have to find it," I said.

"So who wants to have a swimming contest," I said. We played games all afternoon, which was really fun, the doorbell rang again, and I got out of the pool to go answer it. "Hey Rach," said Emma. "You look like you're having fun,"
"We are, come on in," I said. "You too Will and what do I call you..."
"Call me coach," said Coach Sylvester. "I decided I wanted to have some time off from polishing my trophies,"
"It's no problem coach," I said. "You're more than welcome here,"

"We're all outside come on," I said. "Noah's cooking and it will disappear before you know it, Hey guys we have guests,"
"Hey Will, Emma, Coach Sylvester," said Noah. "How you doin,"
"Did you seriously try to do Joey from Friends," I said.
"No," he said. "I leave that to you,"
"Okay stop turning each other on, let's eat," said Kurt.
"We can do impressions later," Noah whispered in my ear.

We ate burgers, chicken breasts and salad. Followed of course by birthday cake, I was very full afterwards. "I think a toast is in order," said Will. "To Darcy of course and her parents who make us all feel good about ourselves, they have been through so much but are still so fun and easy going, We wish you every happiness in the future,"
"Thank you Will," I said. The rest of the night was spent with us chilling by the pool, and it was one of the most wonderful days I'd had in a while, and something happened that made it even more better...

Everyone had gone now, it was just me and Noah sitting there on the hammock at the back of the garden. A couple of shooting stars skimmed across the sky, birds were settling into the trees to roost. It was a really relaxing atmosphere. "I'm going to get my night dress on, I'll be back,"
"Okay, take your time," I rand brush through my hair, and put on a simple black lace number, I put my robe over it and walked back downstairs. I was stunned into silence.

Noah had put floating candles on top of the pool, which was magical. "I was thinking," he said. "How about a midnight swim, on this very special day,"
"I think that would be lovely," I said. Removing my clothes and walking into the pool, he joined me a few minutes later, and we had very passionate sex. I felt very happy after, "I love you so much," I said.
"I love you too," he said. "So much so that there is a rose on that table just for you,"
"I love roses," I said. I climbed out of the pool, and picked up the rose touching the delicate petals, and that was when I saw it.

A sparkle so bright that I'm sure you could see it from space. I felt arms going around me and turned around to face him, tears of love and adoration in my eyes. "So will you," he said.
"Will I what," I said, shakily. Could he really be doing this?
"Will you marry me," he said. "Become Mrs Puckerman,"
"Yes, Yes, Yes," I said squealing he smiled the biggest smile I'd seen on him in a long time and then he took the ring from the centre of the rose and placed it on my finger kissing me .

It was a very simple ring, white gold with two small diamonds with a huge one in the middle. It fit perfectly of course, and because I was so happy, it demanded another round of love making in the pool, I couldn't wait for the next day, to see our friends faces, but for now I was happy here in the arms of Noah. My fiancé I beamed with delight.