Serena

"Why are we doing this again?" Arya asked, as she carried a wedding dress in her hands carefully and I held the set of veils.

I glanced at her, seeing the annoyance on her face.

"Because she is a customer," I stated, as if wasn't obvious already.

"We've never taken a dress to the customer before," Arya whined.

She could be like this when we're doing something out of our usual jobs. If the store had to be kept open longer or we had to work a weekend, she was not the more cheerful person to be around.

"Yes, we have. You insisted it last time," I reminded her and she looked at me, as if I was completely making this up.

There was a pause, before she nodded slowly, her mouth opening slightly.

"Only because she said she had a eleven cats," Arya replied. "I wanted to see for myself."

This was one the most interesting clients we've had. She was quite a character and clearly loved her cats a lot. She even told us all of their names - in alphabetical order.

Whilst I just thought it was interesting and left it at that, Arya was more invested in this customer and couldn't believe it to be true - until she saw it with her own eyes.

I don't think I've ever seen that many cats together, at the same time, all in one house. Thankfully, there were no fights in-between them, we came out unscathed and weren't there too long either.

"Are we even sure she was getting married?" Arya then asked.

"Yes," I let out a chuckle. "We met her fiance too."

Arya didn't say anything, but just shrugged and hummed in response, as if she didn't really believe it.

I let out a sigh. "Look, if I can do that for you, you can at least come to Tiff's for me," I said.

She let out a slight groan. "Fine."

We both then caught a cab to head to Tiff's, making sure that everything was carefully placed and no creases were made.

Arya then turned towards me. "What about-"

"Allison is going to meet us there," I answered her question, before she asked.

She smiled at me and shook her head gently. We had become close enough friends for me to know what she was going to ask - especially when Arya sometimes liked to ask the obvious.

"Oh, before I forget to tell you, Elias is coming back this week. Please, be nice to him," I asked her.

The shop next to our bridal boutique was finally ready, after a lot of hassle and stress. I'd made the decision to make it into a small bakery, mainly because I love the easy access to cake and it seemed like a great idea.

Thankfully, Will knew someone that was an amazing baker, who at the time was fresh out of this fancy, French culinary school. He needed an opportunity to present his skills and I was in need of a baker.

Elias was indeed an amazing baker. My first meeting with him, he came with samples of his cakes and they were amazing. I hired him straightaway and together, we developed the empty shop into one that was now called, 'A Piece of Cake'.

He was a good enough baker that people just came into the shop to buy a cake or cupcakes with no reason, apart from just the look of it.

Whilst I thought Elias was great, Arya seemed to have some sort of issue with him.

"Fine," Arya huffed and I chuckled at her lack of enthusiasm.

A short while later, we reached the large, stately home Tiff and her family were staying at.

They were quite well-off and were staying here till the wedding was over - especially since the ceremony and reception was going to take place there too. The place was big enough for it anyway.

Arya and I walked toward the reception hall, only to find our seamstress, Allison, waiting there for us.

"Hi, Allison." I smiled. "Thank you for doing this on your day off."

She shook her head gently. "That's okay," she said. "Although, I do have a lunch that I have to rush off too."

"That's perfectly fine," I told her. "We'll get Tiff to try the dress on and you can work your magic and then head off. No worries."

She let out a sigh in relief and smiled. I didn't like calling people to work on their days off - but when needed it just had to be done and Allison was a magician with dresses.

We all then led to Tiff's room and made our way through the grand place.

"Thank you so much," Tiff said, as soon as she opened the door and pulled me into a tight hug, practically squeezing the air out of my lungs whilst hugging me.

"It's no problem Tiff. Honestly," I winced.

She then let me go, thankfully, and moved to hug Arya. I nearly laughed when I saw the uncomfortable look on her face.

Tiff was quite a hugger - something that Allison must have realised too, as she was hugged tightly as well.

"I'm really sorry if I messed up your day," Tiff said, as we walked into the room. "I have so much going on with the wedding and I planned it all so poorly. I really didn't mean to be an inconvenience."

I shook my head. "It's really no trouble."

"I'm still sorry and for making you guys do this," Tiff repeated.

"You didn't make me do anything," I told her.

I had inherited my stubbornness from my mother. My decisions, were my own, I did the things that I wanted to. Hence, why I've made some really dumb decisions in my life.

Tiff finally nodded at my words, hopefully getting the message that this wasn't on her.

"Okay, so we have the dressed, veils and Allison. Let's do this fitting," I said.

"I love it," Tiff squealed, staring at herself in the mirror with the widest grin on her face. She looked so happy, it was quite adorable.

"You look amazing," I told her.

Tiff turned towards me, with a sly smile on her face. "I bet you say that to everyone," she said.

Before I could reply, Arya did.

"We do," she said and I nudged her ribs with my elbow.

It's lucky Tiff likes Arya and her humour, otherwise sometimes it's not really understood by everyone, which then causes a problem for myself.

"You truly look beautiful," I told Tiff.

She blushed. "Thank you," she curtsied and then turned back towards the mirror.

Allison then looked at me. "Serena, I have to-"

"Oh, that's perfectly fine," I smiled, knowing that she had to leave. "Thank you for doing this."

"It's no problem," she replied.

Allison then said her goodbyes and grabbed her bag, leaving the room.

Tiff was still quite enthralled with her dress and didn't seem like she wanted to get out of it right now - it was probably going to be a struggle to get her to change out of it.

Arya and I looked at one another, before I showed her my hand. She understood I meant five more minutes and nodded.

As we waited, I suddenly heard something.

I turned towards Arya. "What?"

"What?" She asked, looking at me confused.

"Did you say something?" I asked her, knowing that I definitely heard something or someone.

Her face scrunched up a little. "No, I didn't."

I frowned and shrugged. I could've sworn I heard something, like someone yelling. I really hoped I wasn't imagining things.

Then suddenly, the door bursts open, startling all three of us.

"Aunt Tiff!"

I looked at the tiny person, who had just ran into the room, recognising her as Bea.

She immediately spotted Tiff and made her way towards her, quite fast, practically crashing into her.

"Hello, beautiful," Tiff smiled, lowering down to kiss the top of her head.

"Bea?" I said her name, a little confused. What was she doing here?

Her head whipped towards me at a lightening speed, I was a worried about her neck.

"Serena!"

Bea clearly wasn't worried about any kind of injury, since the next thing I knew, she ran towards me.

I crouched down and she jumped into my arms.

"Buzz buzz," she grinned, her little button nose wrinkling adorably.

"Hi, my little bumblebee. How did you get here?" I asked her.

"In a car," she replied.

Whilst I smiled at her innocent reply, taking my question in a very literally sense, I could hear Arya snort in amusement.

I turned towards her.

"Bea, this is Arya," I gestured. "Arya, this is Bea."

"I like your hair," Bea told Arya, her gaze fixed on the blue streaks of Arya's hair - she liked to change up the colour every now and then.

Arya smiled at her. "You have good taste."

Bea then turned her attention towards Tiff again, but circling her arms around my neck securely.

"You look like a Princess, Aunt Tiff," she said.

"Thank you, my sweet," Tiff blushed. "It's thanks to Serena and Arya, really. This dress is everything," she gushed.

Bea gasped and looked at me. "Do you own a Princess dress store?"

I could tell her the truth that it's just a bridal boutique, but the way Bea looked at me with excitement in her eyes, I could just dim that.

"Yes, I do," I told her.

Her eyes seemed to widened. "Do you know any princesses?"

I smiled and nodded. "A few."

Bea let out a squeal and hugged me. I think I just became her favourite person.

I turned my attention towards Arya.

"Arya, can you help Tiff? I'm going to find this little ones' father," I said.

She nodded and I walked out the room with Bea, hoping that Liam was somewhere nearby. Why would he even let Bea away from himself like this?

As soon as I walked out the room and took a few steps down the long corridor, I spotted Liam walking towards us.

Bea noticed him too and yelled. "Daddy!"

She began to squirm in my arms and I set her down on her feet, after which she dashed towards him.

He caught her effortlessly, swinging her around, before holding her.

Liam walked towards me. "Hey."

I smiled politely. "Hi."

After our last conversation, I believed we'd reached a point of being civil with each other at least. I understood his points, I think he understood mine too. Hopefully, we wouldn't be having another argument anytime soon.

"You found her," Liam commented, looking down at Bea.

I smiled. "This one found me, really."

"I tell her not to run, but she still does. As soon as we got off the lift, she took off," he playfully glared at her and she giggled.

He then looked at me. "How have you been?"

"I'm good. Just a little busy, so nothing unusual there," I replied.

He let out an amused breath.

Just as Liam opened his mouth to reply, Bea interrupted.

"Do you want to come to my birthday, Serena?" She asked me eagerly and I smiled back.

"Your birthday? And how old will you be?" I asked, despite knowing the answer.

"Four!" She replied excitedly, but holding up five fingers and Liam gently put one of her fingers down to correct her.

I looked at Bea with an exaggerated look of disbelief.

"Four? Such a big girl," I noted and she nodded her head.

"Will you come? I'm going to have a red cake," she said, with a lot of enthusiasm.

I looked at her confused. "Red cake?"

"Red velvet," Liam corrected. I looked at him, a little surprised.

Those were the cupcakes he'd buy me. Mama Macy's was the places we'd always go and I'd gorge on so many of them.

"That's my favourite cake!" I told Bea.

She gasped. "Mine too!"

I looked at Liam and I swear I saw the corner of his lips turn upwards. Only slightly, but it happened. Has he really forgotten how to smile or just stopped since...?

"See? How could we not be best friends? We like the same cake," I told her and she giggled.

Bea then looked at me, her green eyes looking bigger than before. "So you will come? You can help Daddy plan it," she said.

I looked at Liam, who now seemed a little uncomfortable, much like myself.

"Uh, I'm not sure-"

"Please? Will you help?" Bea had this pleading expression on her face, making it so hard for me to say no to her.

Instead, I looked at Liam, hoping he could say no instead.

He seemed to have understood my expression and looked at her.

"Bea, I don't-" he began to say, but Bea tugged at the collar of his coat.

"Please?" She asked him.

The way she looked at him, he was more than obvious that he wouldn't be able to resist.

"Fine," Liam relented, not shocked at all. He was clearly wrapped around her finger.

"Are you sure it is?" I asked and he nodded.

"Serena?" I turned around and saw Arya walking towards us and she stopped by my side.

I saw the way she looked at Liam completely confused.

"Oh right. Arya, this is Liam Hunter, Bea's Dad. We're friends from a very long time ago," said.

I wasn't even entirely sure if we were friends right now.

"Liam, this is Arya. Co-manager of my bridal store," I introduced them.

They smiled and nodded at one another before Liam looked at me.

"We should probably get going now," I said, realising we still had to get back to the store and I had lunch plans with Will.

"It was nice bumping into you. I'll give you a call for Bea's party plans," Liam said.

I was more than shocked that he voluntarily said he'd call me, but tried to not let it show on my face.

"Right. Okay. It was lovely seeing you, sweetheart," I smiled at Bea and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Bye, bye."

"Bye, Liam," I smiled.

He nodded. "Bye, Liam."

After that, he walked away with Bea, and I trudged along with Arya, taking one of the carriers from her.

"He's hot," Arya commented.

I looked at her completely shocked and she just shrugged, as if she hadn't just made the most random comment ever.

"What? I'm just saying," she said.

I shook my head. "You're insane."

"I have eyes," Arya replied.

I scoffed as we stepped down the stairs. "You also have a boyfriend. Plus, he's Liam."

It was weird hearing something like that about Liam, especially now.

"And?" Arya asked.

"And...nothing," I answered, shaking my head.