Bella's POV:

It's been four weeks since Jex and I got engaged. I'm now five months pregnant with our baby. In just four short months we'll welcome our baby boy and we're both so excited.

Standing in the bathroom I finish adjusting my curls, making sure each one is perfect. At this point my makeup is already done and I'm dressed in a pretty red dress, Jex's favourite.

"Are you ready to go beautiful?" Jex questions from the doorway of the bathroom. He is dressed in ripped black skinny jeans, a dress shirt and shoes, with his dark hair slicked back.

"You look handsome," I smile and then turn off the curler, placing it on the cooling towel and make my way over to him.

"Handsome? Are we at that old married stage already?" He grins.

"Mmm, okay; you look hot as fuck and I can't wait to ride you tonight," I purr in his ear.

"Well fuck that escalated quickly," he grins.

I giggle loudly and swat his arm. "We should go or we're going to be late."

Tonight Alyssa is holding a small engagement party for us. It's small because Jex doesn't have any family; and because most of my mine still isn't talking to me, but amongst those we have coming it'll be enough. At the end of the day we only want people there who support us. It's all about the quality, not quantity.

Pulling up to the restaurant, Jex parks the car and jumps out quickly. He then makes his way over to my side and helps me out of the car, which is relatively low to the ground.

"Oof, this is getting tricky," I giggle softly.

"Looks like you'll need to buy a Mum car huh sis?"

I turn quickly and come face to face with my brother Abel. He's dressed much the same as Jex and has a wrapped gift in his hand. The sheer sight of him (for the first time in months) brings tears to my eyes.

"A-Abel, what are you doing here?"

"Mum invited me. I hope you don't mind."

"No, of course not, you were invited I just didn't think you'd want to come."

"I didn't know if I should or not. Ruby told me not to, but here I am."

"You and Ruby are on again?"

"She's moved in, we're working on it. But it's hard when we share different views on you though."

"Well Abel my only advice is to do what makes you happy. If being a part of my life is going to ruin you and Ruby, and she's all you want in life, I get it. Only you can make that choice."

"I'm here now," He says softly, a smile spreading across his face. "And I was hoping, that ... well, maybe I could stay."

"Well in that case, Abel this is my fiancé and baby daddy Jex. Jex this is Abel my little brother, who likes to think he's bigger than me," I giggle softly.

"Nice to meet you man," Jex smiles.

"Yeah, you too," he gives a small, awkward smile back.

"Let's head inside."

We make our way inside and up the stairs to the top level of the building, which has been rented out by Alyssa and Malcolm, who are holding the dinner for us.

When we make our way in there is a large table in the middle of the room, and the glass sliding door to the balcony (over looking the ocean) is open, with some of our friends standing out there talking.

Everything is decorated beautifully, in soft pinks (my favourite colour) and greys (Jex's favourite colour).

"You're here," Alyssa makes her way over with a smile.

"Lyss this looks so, so beautiful," I say as I wrap my arms around her.

"Only the best for my best friend," she smiles and pulls back from the hug. "I have a cake table and a present table set up as well," she points.

"Oh wow, I don't even know what to say, thank you," I smile.

"You're so welcome," she smiles back, before peering over my shoulder, her eye catching Abel's. "Who's the hottie?"

"Oh, Alyssa this is my brother Abel. Abel This is my best friend Alyssa," I introduce.

"Nice to meet you," she smiles.

"You too," Abel replies awkwardly.

"I can see mom, Marni and Millie outside, you can go and say hi to them," I tell Abel.

"Good idea," he makes his way over to them quickly.

"You didn't mention your brother was so hot," Alyssa giggles.

"Hey, don't be talking like that; Malcolm will get hurt feelings," I giggle softly. "It's a lot for him to be here though. I'm really, really surprised he made it."

"Yeah it would have to be awkward coming to hang out with the enemy," she looks around. "Do you think your father will show?"

"No, definitely not," I shake my head. "If he was going to he would've come with mom."

Feeling arms wrap around me, I turn and smile up at Jex, who had gotten caught up talking to the boys on the way in. "I was just about to go and see mom and the girls, say hi an all."

"I'll come with you," he smiles.

We make our way over to the small group gathered on the balcony; Amelia, Riv, mom, Abel and Marni, who are all standing around with a drink.

"Hey," I smile softly.

"My baby, look at you," Mom gushes, as she pulls me in for a hug. "You look so cute," she places her hand on my growing stomach. "Look at my grandson getting big," she giggles.

I giggle at her and shake my head. She's so excited for the baby, it's sweet. "I take it Dad's not coming?"

"He said he'll try and make it, but I wouldn't hold your breath sweetheart."

"I understand," I nod, I don't know why I expected differently.

"But don't feel too down about it. He did speak to the rest of crew and we have a few extras coming tonight."

"Really? What, he lifted my ban from the family?"

"Well, in a way, yes. In a way, I also, may have been the one to speak to them all," she shrugs her shoulders. "Logan and Aria are coming, as are Soph, Mia, Enzo, Zarah."

"R-really? Even Logan?"

"Even Logan," she nods in confirmation.

"Wow," I breathe out.

I finish saying hello to everyone, thanking them from coming. A few moments later the rest of the family make their way in and over to us.

"Bella," I hear from behind me.

I turn and come face to face with Aria, who I haven't seen in months. "Aria," I smile.

"Woah. Holy hell, you're so big," she giggles softly, as she gives me a hug, shocked as it's been so long since she last saw me.

I pull back from the hug and look up at Logan and I understand this must be very hard for him. "Hey Logs."

"Hey Bella," he gives me a small smile.

"Uh, Aria and Logan this is my fiancé Jex. Jex this is Aria my cousin and Logan is her boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you both," Jex says softly.

"Uh, actually man can I talk to you?" Logan questions.

"Uh yeah, sure," Jex nods. "Bar?"

"Sounds good."

I watch as the two of them walk away and I turn to Aria. "Should I be worried?"

"No not at all, Logan wants to clear the air. I've been so surprised at how mature he's thinking is recently. In all honesty, I think I've fallen even more in love with him."

"Aww," I giggle softly.

I look over at Marni who isn't drinking, and with Aria next to me, we make our way over to her.

"You're not drinking?" I question.

"Not tonight. Ace is working and I just ... I have a bad feeling."

"Aw honey, I'm sure he'll be okay," I rub her arm gently.

"Yeah I know, I'm just being silly," she attempts to shrug it off. "He should be here in an hour or so."

Jex's POV:

"I uh, I don't know if you know who I am. But Jackson is my father," Logan begins. "At first I didn't know if could come here and play happy families with you man. I won't even lie, your father is the reason mine is dead," he takes a breath. "But then I did some thinking and my father is also the reason your father is dead. At the end of the day neither you or I had a choice in what happened to either of them. We merely grew up in this world they created and it's wrong of me to hate you over something you didn't do."

"I really appreciate that," I nod slowly. "You're right though. We didn't have a choice in anything that's happened. But yet somehow we still seem to be blamed for what others have done before us, it sucks, but that's always how it's been."

"I see that now man and I'm glad that I'm here tonight. Sara has been telling us about you guys and the baby, how happy and in love you are. I guess, I just look at Aria the same way and if someone told me I couldn't be with her, I'd do the same as Bella. I'd readily give up the family who don't support us and do what makes me happy."

"Trust me, if I didn't love her as much as I do. If I didn't want to be with her so badly, I wouldn't have ever let her walk away from her family, or rather be asked to leave," I take a breath. "And for what it's worth man, I am really sorry about your father."

"I'm sorry about yours as well," he holds out his hand.

Taking his hand in mine I shake it for a moment and pull back. I look over at Bella, who is talking with all of the girls. Alyssa has joined her now as well, meeting everyone and I spot a few girls I've never seen before, who I'm assuming are Bella's Cobra friends and cousins.

"Should we get back to the girls?" Logan questions.

"Yeah man, let's go for it," I smile.

I make my way over to Bella and Logan to his girl Aria. No sooner do we reach them, three gun shots ring out through the restaurant. I grab Bella and pull her behind me protectively, knowing that if anyone is coming in it won't be from behind us, as it's only the wall. Just as soon as the gunshots have disturbed the peace, everything goes eerily quiet.

At the same time, everyone glances around them. Marni peers over the rail of the balcony to the sidewalk below and almost instantly lets out a bloodcurdling scream (unlike any I have heard before) then immediately runs toward the door.

The rest of us then head quickly to the balcony and peer over.

"Oh my god," Amelia places her hand over her mouth.

It's there we see Ace laying on the ground, face up, with three gun shot wounds to the chest.

Bella wriggles out of my arms and bolts toward the door.

"Bella," I yell frantically, as I take off after her.

She reaches the sidewalk quickly and runs toward Marni and Ace.

"Ace, baby please the ambulance is on its way," Marni begs him, as she looks down upon him with tear filled eyes.

"It's too late Marns," he struggles out. "I love you, look after our girl."

"Ace!" She screams as she holds him, now covered in his blood. "Please I can't do this without you," she sobs. "I love you, please stay with me. Please."

Bella makes her way over and places her hand on Marni's back.

"The ambulance is coming. Just hold on" she cries.

"Bells," he breathes out. "Look after her," a small grin appears on his face. "And I still think Ace wins as your baby name," he takes in a painful, shallow breath.

Using the last of his strength, Ace raises his left hand and cups the side of Marni's face. "I love you," he tells Marni once more. "Look after our girl," Ace says as he takes his final breath' his arm going lip and dropping lifelessly back by his side.

"Ace!" Marni screams through her guttural sobs. "Ace wake up, please, please, please."

The ambulance pulls up to the sidewalk and I turn looking behind me. The entire group is now here behind us, all of them in pure shock.

I look back to Marni who is whaling like nothing I've ever heard before. You can hear how heartbroken she is, you can tell she is in so much pain. I don't know how she is still able to cry or breathe.

As I look at the group once more, my eyes lock with Logan's for a moment and I look away hanging my head. This is my fault; another Cobra is dead and it's on me.

"Don't even do that to yourself," I feel Logan's hand upon my shoulder. "This isn't your fault man."

"Then why does it feel like it is?"