"So many birthdays," I grumbled down the phone.

"I'm sorry babe, I completely forgot about it. I wouldn't ask you this if I didn't really need your help."

"I know, I'll get it for you gorgeous," I assured her, "don't you worry."

"Thanks, Laura," Lilly made a kissing noise into the phone, "you're the best."

"I know," I smirked and hung up.

I was going shopping to find a present for Tara. She was going to be thirteen. She was at that stage where I was unsure whether to buy kids stuff, or presents for a teenager. Lilly had told me to pick up something she'd ordered, which she couldn't do herself as she had to go to university. I had work too, but I didn't mind. I didn't have a class third anyway.

Sandra picked me up and took me to school.

I really had to find myself a new car now the insurance people had given me the money. Then again, with a broken wrist it was a little pointless. Although I was hoping the cast would come off soon, I was getting sick of it. It was nothing but a nuisance.

***

"So how's my baby girl?" I asked, wrapping my arm around my cute little girlfriends shoulder.

"She's good," Lilly hugged my torso, "how about you?"

"Better now," I tapped her nose.

"Laura!" A young voice half shouted with excitement, just seconds before someone barrelled into me. "Lilly said you'd come!"

"Of course," I stroked her black hair, "couldn't miss out on seeing such a cutie grow into an oldie."

"I'm not old!" Tara protested, and I chucked her chin.

"You'll be needing a hearing aid soon," her mouth opened but I continued, "or perhaps glasses considering you can't see you're cute."

She glared and stomped away, "you're mean!"

I chuckled to myself, and took Lilly's hand in mine.

"She's still such a kid," she observed, and I had to agree. "I like it more that way I think," she continued thoughtfully. "She's not as scarred as the rest of us."

I kissed the top of her head, unable to say anything. She knew I understood though.

"Are you coming?" Tara stuck her head around the doorway, and Lilly nodded.

"In a minute," she pulled me up the stairs to her bedroom and locked the door.

"You want me that badly?" I smirked, and she rolled her eyes.

"You got her present?"

"Oh, yes," I pulled it out my pocket, having forgotten it was there.

She took it from me and wrapped it in bright, cheerful paper. She wrapped a ribbon around and with a few deft movements tied a bow to finish it off.

"I should get a reward for getting this for you," I said as the thought struck me.

Lilly continued writing in the card, and replied, "sure, I'll give you it later."

"I can hardly wait," I said, bouncing like a little kid on Christmas.

"Be careful with that," she warned, and I calmed myself down, not wanting to wreck Tara's present before she could even open it.

"It's funny how you're the adult now."

The blonde stuck her tongue out at me. "That's only because you're such a kid."

"But it's fun. Plus it's only with you. Everywhere else I have to be responsible," I made a disgusted face, and she laughed then pushed me out the door.

"They'll be wondering where we are."

"I want to know what your mum's thinking," I laughed to myself as she swatted at me.

I then grabbed her around the waist and nuzzled my nose into her neck. Her hands ran through my hair, then down my back. I shivered, remembering how her nails had dug into that skin the night before.

As soon as that thought was out it opened the floodgate, and my mind was swamped with everything we had done.

I could still barely believe the sex was this good. I had not been expecting that. I was her first, and she should have been fumbled and awkward like everyone else is. But not Lilly. She knew exactly what to do. Must have been because she had such a good teacher.

I smirked and kissed her neck quickly. Then I pulled back and tugged her down the hall. It would probably be good if we actually made it to the living room some time today.

"Lilly," Tara bounced over to her, "look what I got!"

Lilly told her that it was awesome and kissed the top of her head.

As I looked at them, Tara hugging Lilly tightly, and Lilly whispering something to her, I realised two things.

One, was that Tara missed Harry. It was obvious in the way she sought comfort in her family.

And two, Lilly would make a great mum someday.

I knew she didn't want children, but I was hoping she would change her mind. Not that I wanted kids with her, if course. I just... I don't know, I didn't want her to miss out. or something.

"You wanna see what I got you?" My girlfriend asked, and I came back to earth with a start.

Lilly had now released her sister and was standing beside me, while said sister smiled up at us both.

"Yes!" The young girl said eagerly, flicking a lock of hair out her eyes.

Lilly handed her the present, and she unwrapped it eagerly.

She pulled out a t-shirt, slightly crumpled from being in my pocket. There were four guys on the front, from a band I think, and Tara's eyes widened with delight.

"Thank you!" She pulled it over her head, over the shirt she was already wearing. "I love it!"

"Good," Lilly glanced over at me, her expression happy.

"I'm going to show mum," Tara bounced across the room.

We watched as she spoke with her mother. My hand found hers and she squeezed slightly, without looking at me.

She was thinking about Harry. I could tell.

"How's Anne?" I asked the first thing that came to mind.

"Uh, she's uh," Lilly was caught off guard, having to think for a moment, "she's better than before."

"Do you think they'll try again?"

"I think it's a bit too early for that, she's not said anything about it."

"Do you think she'll want to try again?"

"She always wanted kids," Lilly said, not really answering the question.

We sat down on the sofa, me wrapping my arms around her and cuddling her close to me.

"I miss him," she whispered, and I kissed her head.

"I know baby," I stroked her blonde hair soothingly, "but I'm sure he'd want you to be cheerful today," when she didn't reply I added, "for your sister?"

"Okay," she kissed me quickly, "I'll pretend to be happier."

"Only for now," I whispered, "tonight you can be as sad as you want, and then I'll be able to cheer you up."

She groaned and hit me playfully, making me wink and lean in to kiss her pouting lips.

"It's the sexy teacher!" A man said loudly, his deep voice echoing across the room, "how are you Miss?"

I pulled back from Lilly with a sigh, and turned my gaze to her older brother.

"I'm fine." I replied shortly, an annoyed edge to my voice. I didn't like being stopped from kissing those delicious lips.

"Well you're in a grump today," he smirked.

"Shut up, Tom," Lilly glared at him, and his eyebrows shot up.

"You too?" Tom grinned and came over to us. "Got up on the wrong side of bed, huh?" He ruffled Lilly's hair. She slapped his hands away and ran her fingertips through the messed up hair.

"You're an asshole!"

"I was only teasing little sis," he smiled and beckoned his wife over. She was tall and beautiful, with long curly blonde hair and bright green eyes. "We've got some news."

Lilly looked confused but I knew, I could see the small bump of Sarah's tummy.

"We don't want to have to tell people this way," Sarah said, her voice soft and musical, "but with Anne still not being so good, we think it's better."

"You're pregnant, aren't you?" Lilly asked, and Sarah nodded, her hand resting protectively on her slightly swollen stomach.

Tom beamed at his wife, his face full of such happiness it made me want to smile too. Such joy was infectious.

"How far along?" I asked.

"Two months," Sarah said, with a smile.

"All that time and you never said anything," Lilly marvelled.

"We were going to, but after what happened with Anne, we didn't want to cause anymore unsettlement," Tom explained, "it was difficult, but necessary."

"It wasn't necessary," Lilly interjected, "but it was the kinder thing to do."

"We have the first scan if you'd li-"

"Hey Laura!" Anne said, breezing over and wrapping me in her arms. "How've you been?"

"I've been good. How about you? How've you been holding up?"

"It's easier with family around, and Eric has been amazing," her brown eyes flicked over to her fiancé.

"Well that's good," I smiled.

"Yup. So what're you guys talking about? Over here all secretively. Come on, spill. I want to know."

The four of us stood there saying nothing. The other threes faces were pictures of guilt and I guessed mine must look the same.

Anne frowned, "what is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Tom quickly spoke, covering the awkward silence, "we were just talking about Lilly's sexy teacher, and how much fun they've been having."

She looked between the four of us, furrowing her brow.

"Really?"

We all nodded.

"Cool," she moved away and we let out a collective sigh of relief.

Then Lilly's sense, dulled by guilt and panic, returned and she hit Tom across the back of his head.

"How much fun we've been having! Why the hell did you say that?" She snapped, trying to keep it quiet but still express her annoyance.

"I couldn't think, it was all I could come up with, I'm sorry, sorry!" He yelped as she hit him again, then he tackled her into the sofa, making her scream and kick at him.

"Stop being an idiot!" Lilly yelled, but laughter was taking over.

Soon she went limp, not up for continuing this 'fight'.

"Leave her alone," Sarah said softly.

Tom instantly leaped up, and the blonde grinned triumphantly.

"Cute, she got you wrapped around her little finger," she teased and Tom shrugged.

"It's kind of fun," he smirked, and she hit him again.

"Don't talk about your wife like that!"

"Why not?" He wriggled his eyebrows, "she likes it."

"No! No," Lilly hid her face in a cushion, "ew!"

Tom and Sarah laughed, even I couldn't hold back a grin.

"How can that disturb you, after all the things we've done," I pulled her up, and chuckled as she hid her face in my neck.

"You're so embarrassing," she mumbled, "I hate you."

"No you don't, you love me," I whispered, "you just haven't realised yet."

She drew back, her blue eyes searching mine. I winked, breaking off our staring contest and turned back to Tom and Sarah only to find they'd left us. Shit! Now she'd question me about that stupid slip up.

"Let's get some water," I suggested, and she nodded meekly.

As we made our way into the kitchen I was startled to realise everyone was following us.

"What the hell?" I whispered to Lilly.

"The cake," she breathed back.

We followed her older siblings lead, and gathered around the table.

Tara stood at the head with a huge grin on her face. She was still wearing the t-shirt Lilly bought, and it looked adorable on her, being slightly too big.

Lilly's mum turned off the lights, now all that lit the kitchen were the candle flames.

Lilly's mum held the cake while we sang Happy Birthday, then, once the song was over, she held the cake in front of Tara to blow out the candles.

Everyone cheered, and I wrapped my arm around Lilly's waist, a smile on my face.

I'd never realised how fun it must be to have a big family. Especially one that got along so well, despite their teasing. They all loved each other very much, and it made me happy. If only my experience of family hadn't been so full of pain.

I sighed, and stopped my thoughts. There was no sadden myself right now. I, like Lilly, could leave that until later.

The lights had been turned back on, and Mrs. Daniels was dishing out the slices of cake.

When I bit into mine my eyes nearly rolled back into my head.

"Holy shit, did your mum make this?"

Lilly shook her head no, "bought it. Good though isn't it?"

I nodded, and ate some more.

Lilly had already finished her piece and was eyeing mine.

"Want some?" I laughed and she shrugged. "Here," I put the cake in front of her mouth and whispered seductively, "open wide."

She did as I said and I popped the cake into her mouth.

"Thanks," she gave me a quick kiss once she'd finished it. I leaned in for another.

"Oh, Laura, dear, I've been meaning to ask you, but it completely slipped my mind before now." Mrs Daniels said, and I pulled back from Lilly again. "We've had this holiday booked for months, but now that Jarrod's gone to America there's a spare room, so perhaps you'd like to come with us? It'll all be paid of course, we've already done that, so all you'd need is your luggage."

I agreed, I could just take the days off school, and any opportunity to spend more time with Lilly, especially if it involved her in a bikini.

"I'm glad you're coming," Lilly grinned happily, and I stroked her cheek, smiling at her joy.

"What would you say if I told you I'm only doing it for the sex?"

She rolled her eyes at me, and I laughed, pressing my lips to hers.