(Bailey P.O.V)
Cody and I woke early the next morning and started getting the kids ready to go out. We'd decided to indeed head to the nearby park for the morning and as I was busy getting Jaeden and the twins dressed, Cody was in the kitchen packing up a picnic for us. Reed and Kimberlee were still asleep as far as I knew but I would go and wake them in a little while.
"There we go. Now you're all dressed for the park. Your mommy will be so happy to see you when she gets back today." I said to Jaeden as I finished dressing him he gurgled at me, almost laughing. I put him in his carrier and turned to Karlee who had fallen asleep again.
"Bails, they have no idea what you're saying." Cody said. I jumped, not realizing that he'd been there.
"You scared me, Codykins."
"Sorry." He said with a laugh.
"You should be."
"I've finished in the kitchen. Where are the other two?"
"Asleep still I think."
"Lazy. I'm sure I've always been awake early." I frowned at him.
"They're two, Cody. Leave them alone."
"Fine. I'll go get them ready and meet you in the garage in a bit." He disappeared and I heard him talking to Reed and Kimberlee who apparently were already awake. It didn't take long until we were piled into the cars and pulling out. In my car, I had Reed and Jaeden while Cody had Kimberlee, Karlee and Lachlan in his. The two toddlers hadn't wanted to go in separate cars but eventually we convinced them it was a good thing. We really could have walked to the park but with three new-borns and two toddlers to control, driving seemed like a better option.
At the park, Kimberlee and Reed made a be-line for the play equipment while Cody and I took turns taking things to the picnic table that we snagged. We waited a little while before calling Reed and Kimberlee over to eat. After eating, I convinced Cody to go and play with them for a while and I got some great photos of the three of them together. All too soon, it was mid-day and we needed to be getting back so that we'd be home when Zack and Maya got there so we began packing everything up and Cody called dibs on putting the twins and Jaeden in the cars so I was left with wrangling Reed and Kimberlee away from the play equipment. Both were upset but when I told Reed it was so we could see his mom, he joined me in coaxing Kimberlee to come.
Eventually we got home and I took Reed upstairs to get him changed out of his muddy clothes so that he would look nice when Maya got here. I didn't want her thinking couldn't look after her son. When he was cleaned, I did the same with Jaeden before finally jumping in the shower myself. I knew my hair wouldn't dry in time for me to do anything so I pulled it back into a fishtail braid and slipped on my black ankle boots to compliment the pretty purple dress I was wearing. Cody fastened the charm bracelet he'd given me around my wrist as he brushed his hair back off his face.
"You need a haircut Codykins." I said.
"I know. I'll get around to it eventually." I shook my head but left the bathroom anyway, going down to the home theatre and putting Frozen on for the kids to watch. While I'd been getting Reed and Jaeden clean, Cody had been doing the same with Kimberlee and the twins so by now, everyone was clean and presentable. Cody joined me downstairs and we watched part of the movie with the kids. We got up to the part where Elsa is building her castle before we heard the doorbell. Together, Cody and I went up to the front door.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Let's do this." He pulled the door open and found Maya standing there, slightly in front of a smiling Zack. I pulled my friend in for a hug, pushing Cody n aside.
"Oh it's so good to see you. I've missed you so much." I said to her.
"I know. I've missed you too." She replied, hugging me back. I could hear Cody and Zack laughing but I ignored them. Finally I pulled back and smiled at her.
"Are you ready to see your boys?"
"I think so."
(Maya P.O.V)
I could feel my heart beating hard as I followed Bailey down to the home theatre. At the door, she put a finger to her lips, gesturing for me to be quiet. I nodded and grinned. She opened the door and I saw the kids sitting on the couch watching the movie. Kimberlee was sort of singing along, trying to get Reed to join her.
"Reed, I've got a surprise for you." Bailey said, turning the movie off.
"Mommy! It was just getting to the good bit!" Kimberlee complained but Reed was completely silent, staring at me.
"Hey little man." I said.
"Mommy?"
"Yeah." His face split into a smile and I felt my heart swell. He jumped off the couch and ran across the room into my open arms, squealing in delight.
"Oh I've missed your cuddles." I said to him through my tears.
"I missed you too mommy." He said to me. And when I went to stand up, he wouldn't let go. I laughed but held on to him anyway. Zack came up to us and wrapped his arms around us both, kissing my forehead.
"We both missed you."
"I'm not leaving again anytime soon." He let go and Reed finally wriggled free and I set him on the ground so I could go to Jaeden. Picking him up, I instantly covered him in kisses. Unlike Reed, he didn't seem to have any reaction to my being there but I knew it was only because he was a baby.
"Maya, why don't we let the boys finish their movie before we go home? I'm sure there's lots to talk about upstairs." Zack interrupted me. Looking up I nodded and put Jaeden back on the floor, following him up to the living room where Cody and Bailey were already waiting.
"I'm sure you guys want to know what happened." I said to them, sitting down next to Zack.
"We do want to know but if you don't want to tell us, that's okay too." Cody told me but I shook my head.
"No, you guys have been affected by all of this almost as much as Zack has. You have a right to know."
"Take your time." Bailey said reassuringly.
"Well, you know about my sister and what happened to her but what you don't know is that when I retraced my steps, I went past that alleyway where she was found. As I did, I heard someone call out for help. I recognized my sister's voice but I chose to ignore it, not wanting to even consider that she was in trouble."
"Oh my god." Bailey interrupted me.
"I know. I feel horrible that I did that, knowing that I could have saved her or been there for her or something. When I told you guys the rest of the story, I deliberately kept that bit from you because I thought you'd hate me for it."
"We could never hate you Maya. What happened in your past has nothing to do with us. We love you for who you are now." Cody said and I sighed inwardly.
"Thanks guys. That means so much to me. I think I can start healing myself now."
"If you ever need anything, just call. Don't ever just leave again." Bailey told me and I laughed.
"I won't. It killed me being away from my boys for so long."
"What about me?" I raised my eyebrow at him and it took a second before he thought over what I'd said. "Oh."
"Right." We all laughed before slipping into natural conversation, as if we'd never been apart. Eventually, the movie ended and we heard Kimberlee yelling from downstairs. Sighing, we went down to the kids and Bailey turned off the TV.
"Kimmie, I want you and Reed to go and pack up his things. Uncle Zack and Aunty Maya want to go home."
"Yes mommy." The two disappeared up to Kimberlee's room and I bent to pick up Jaeden off the floor. He was already asleep so I carefully put him into his carrier and handed him to Zack who carried him up to the car. Reed came down the stairs slowly with his bag, followed closely by Kimberlee.
"I'm ready mommy." Smiling I picked him up and carried him to the car. I made sure he was secure before turning back to Cody and Bailey.
"I can never thank you guys enough for looking after them for me." I said as I hugged them both.
"Well, Zack's my brother so I kind of have to look after him." Cody joked.
"I know but you did so much more. You made sure he held on to hope."
"You're welcome. I just hope we don't have to do it again." Bailey said as I joined Zack in the car. I waved to them as we drove off before sighing and holding Zack's hand over the centre console.
"I love you Zack."
"I love you too Maya, more than you'll ever know."
Preview: Life moves on for the Martin families and with an addition to one of the families, everything looks good.
A/N: Finally, Maya is back home where she belongs and everyone is happy to see her. BUT...there's more to come. Don't think the trouble is over for anyone :)