A small Authors Note at the bottom of the chapter, please have a read :) 

[EDITED CHAPTER ON 17.04.2020]

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: GROWN-UP

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Lily's P.O.V

"Aria stop running! You're going to fall and hurt yourself!"

I screamed as she ran away from the car that was parked on the main road. I was breathless from running in heels it drowned my energy quick. Soon quickly, I found myself coming to a halt. I placed my hands on my knees as I watched her continue to run down the road. 

God damn it had been forever since I ran like this. A laugh escaped her lips, her hair cascading down her back. She stopped running for a second and turned to face me. She jumped on the spot for a second as she taunted me, 

"Mummy you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread girl!"

I let out a shaky breath, a chuckle leaving my lips. My heart pumped the built up adrenaline through my veins. I note that Xavier was stood by me as he watched my sufferings. I look to my side seeing him lean against a car like nothing major was happening,

"Xavier go get your sister, I have no more energy for her"

Xavier kept his eyes on me before he flashed a cheeky smile. Acting like a bad boy, he pushed himself of the car and walked his way to me. He placed a kiss on my lips before he sprinted off down the road. The road now filled with his laughter and screams,

"Ari!!"

After regaining my breath, I stand using the back of my hand to wipe the cold sweat that tricked down the side of my forehead. I look back at the black car before flaring my hands out to the sides, mumbling to myself in distress,

"Out of all times, you have to break down now didn't you?"

"UNCLE J!"

I hear Aria scream. I look back to her direction, seeing her already in Joshua's arms being spun around in circles. Xavier came to a slow jog until he stopped completely, watching them both as they both spun on the spot. Xavier turned to look at me as he pointed at them. 

Now forgetting about the broken down car, I begin to walk to them all. One house ahead, I catch Callum poke his head out, his confused face now turned into a wide smile as his eyes fell on his grandchildren.

As I reach them all at the scene, Joshua and Aria already inside. Xavier stood near the front door. Callum tried his hardest to coax him inside but he refused to enter. Now being an ear length away, I picked up their conversation,

"Come on son, let's go inside"

"I can't... not without mummy"

"But Aria went in, why don't you?"

Now fully understanding the conversation, I approach them both. I was centimetres away from placing my hand on top of his head before he spoke shyly, 

"I can't leave mummy alone"

Callum gives me a glance and I take the chance to make my presence known by placing a hand on top of his hair. He raises his head up, looking up to me. I give him a smile before he turned to back Callum once more. 

Callum got on one knee and gave a proud smile. He placed a hand on his shoulder as he spoke emotionally,  

"That's my son. Let's go inside now since mummy's here. I'm sure Aria is-"

"Xavy! Xavy come quick! Come inside! It's so big!!!"

Callum got interrupted by an excited Aria. I look into the driveway seeing Aria stood at the door, Joshua running closely behind her. He wailed out, 

"I'm going to catch you Ari!"

She looked over her shoulder before she screamed at the top of her voice. She stepped out the door and ran out on the grass with Joshua hot on her tail. Since they they were both outside, she took the opportunity to run back inside. 

Joshua stood still for a second as he dropped his hands on his knees, breathing deeply. He turned my way, giving me a smirk. He raised an eyebrow as he spoke to me, 

"You never told me that she ran like an Olympic player"

I folded my arms over my chest as I spoke, 

"You never asked"

He chuckled deeply before he sucked in an audible breath before he ran back inside. I find myself chuckling as I spoke to Xavier, 

"Come on baby, let's join them"

I extend my hand, waiting for him to hold on, he does. Callum led us inside until we reached the back garden. I skim the area before I smiled, finding Mia and Zoe sat around a table, sipping on wine. Joshua continued to chase Aria, her screams filling the air again. 

I look down at Xavier as he brought himself closer to me. I crouched down and faced Xavier. He too faced me with innocent eyes. He wanted to join but didn't know if he should. I give a side glance to Aria, hearing her happy screams. 

I look back to Xavier and smirked. I give him a wink making his once innocent eyes become crescents. Understanding my wink, he lets go of my hand and makes a beeline to Aria and Joshua. 

He quickly grabs onto Aria's hand making her look down. He let out a hearty laugh before he mustered his courage and ran around in circles, following lead with the wild goose chase that Joshua put up.

Callum walks so that he stood besides me. He placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it an extra squeeze. I chuckled at his silent playfulness. I turn to face him, copying his smile before he spoke softly, 

"Thank you for coming over with the kids, Zoe cooked a feast for like thirty blocks because she couldn't keep her excitement in, and Joshua... boy I don't want to even start with him"

I shake my head as we both took a step outside. Both Zoe and Mia noticed our presence and faced us. Zoe stood up and walked over, pulling me instantly into a hug. The three of us walked until we reached the table. 

"Can I just say that it's been a while since mum had smiled so much to the point where her cheeks hurt? And that only happened simply because of you Lil"

Mia spoke playfully. I pulled Mia into a tight hug, the smiles on everyone's face never leaving. I pulled back as I waved my hand in the air in denial, not wanting to accept it. Zoe looks at Mia as she then turned to me, giving a motherly look as she pattered my hair,

"Thank you for coming sweetheart. It really does mean a lot. I mean it"

I parted my lips to speak but was cut off,

"Hey Lily!"

Joshua screams from behind. I turn on the spot seeing Joshua stand. He waved his hand in the air before he was attacked by my two monkeys. The impact alone from the twins made him fall flat on the floor, a groan leaving his mouth. I roll my eyes before I spoke back,

"King don't corrupt my kids or I'll skin you alive!"

He lifts his head, his face horrified,

"NEVER!"

Not one second later, he was back to laughing. Xavier and Aria also tuning in. All of us; Callum, Zoe, Mia and myself all sat around oak table. Mia spoke up, each of us taking a seat. Mia speaks up grabbing my attention,

"I love what you're wearing, it suits you so much"

I look down at my white dress that stopped mid-calf. It was embroidered in lace, the straps thin that matched with my simple necklace that Aria fiddled with back home when she was uneasy.

"Thank you, Xavier chose it actually"

I say as I flattened out the material on my lap,

"Really?"

Zoe said shocked. I nodded in response, my eyes falling on the twins as they played with a football that Joshua pulled out from somewhere. We spoke lightly amongst each other before I heard another set of feet from inside. 

I turn to look at the door that led back inside the house, only to see a very familiar face pop out; only this time, the person was grown-up. She stops in her track, her eyes locking with mine. I smile softly to myself as I began to stand, facing her fully.

Instantly, her eyes became watery as she dropped a reading book that she held in her hands. She ran up to me, engulfing me in a hug around my waist. Stumbling a little, I wrap my arms around her already feeling her break down, her body shaking against mine.

I rub her back continuously for what felt like hours on the years we missed. From behind, I hear the laughter come to an end. I turn my head a little seeing Aria, Xavier as well as Joshua stare at us both. Joshua looked down at her before he made ways towards us both.

"Cupcake,"

I breathed out, she loosened her hands around my waist, her hands still interlocked. She looks up to meet my eyes, making a tear fall. I lifted a hand and wiped the stray tear. She spoke in a broken tone,

"Where- where did you for so long? I- I waited every day for you to come but y- you never came"

I blink away the tears as they surfaced from her broken tone. Instead of speaking straight away, I lean down and kiss her forehead. My lips linger for a second before replying,

"I'm sorry cupcake, I really am"

She drops her head in defeat as the tears fall freely. I pull her close to me as I pat her hair down. I throw my head back, blinking away the unplanned tears,

"Mummy..."

Aria speaks softly, I follow her voice seeing her watch us. Wendy also picks up the Aria's voice and turns to face her. Aria gives one look before her eyes begin to water, her lips shaking a little. Wendy pulls back, now realising the two additional people or should I say kids in the garden.

Grabbing the chance, Aria runs up to me burying her head in between my legs not showing her face anymore,

"Cupcake meet my two cheeky babies, Aria and Xavier. Their twins..."

She turns her head to face Xavier who stood frozen on the grass, ball in hand before she looked at Aria who was buried hidden. I continue,

"They're your cousins"

Wendy looks at me with her mouth dropped open,

"Really?"

I nod a few times before I turned to Xavier calling him over. He listens and comes up to me,

"Xavy, Ari say hi to Wendy. She's your cousin"

Xavier was first to wave before he stuck himself to me. Aria also made an effort to look at Wendy. She waved also, before she hid her face. I give them both a look before I spoke as a matter of fact, 

"You monkeys aren't like this, only with adults. What's wrong huh?"

"Lily don't worry, I'm sure they need a little time"

Mia speaks. Wendy walks up to her mum and sits on her lap, her eyes never leaving the three of us. Quickly soon the tension dies, I move back so that I was sat down. It didn't take long for the twins to interact with Wendy who then all eventually played with Joshua. 

Meanwhile around the table, another conversation flowed nicely before Aria approached us. She walked up the stairs one by one until she stood in front of me, her presence making everyone face her. Her eyes skimmed everyone as she realised that all attention was on her. 

I gave her smile, taking in her stance. She hid her hands behind her back as she spun around on the spot, her dress moving in sync, 

"What's wrong baby?"

I asked her. She pouted, her eyes roaming around before it landed on me. She pouted again before she questioned, 

"Where's daddy? I wanna see him"

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Hey guys! Hope you're all keeping safe during the pandemic. I just wanted to say that I am planning to re-edit my work for The CEO's Safe Haven as it has been a while since I've written and edited the chapters. 

Nothing major will change other than spelling, punctuation and sentences overall. The plot will remain the same! There may be a slight delay in publishing new chapters for His Safe Haven Reset, but I will try my best to give you new chapters :) 

Just a final note to say, please remember to let me know if you see any mistakes along the way for for His Safe Haven Reset! It really does mean a lot to me <3 I'll change them as soon as they have been spotted :) 

Love you all! My superstars