TEN YEARS LATER.

Percival Shores, California couldn't have seen a more beautiful afternoon than it did on this particular day. The waves crashed, the skies were blue, and the strong aroma of mouthwatering food filled the air with a sucker punch to the nostrils. Outside of a beach front home, older party guests mingled amongst each other while holding a range of refreshments. The younger guests, who were no older than four years old, played off to the side.

Two intricately designed cakes sat at the center of a table, one blue and one yellow each with a candle in the shape of the number three sat on the middle of the confection. Nicely wrapped presents surrounded the deserts, in addition to framed photographs of two adorable toddlers. Music filtered from the speakers, and off to the side, fiddling around with the iPod, was none other than Luke Hemmings. After successfully changing the song from a classic One Direction tune - as per Ari's request - to a classic Green Day song, Luke returned to his party guests.

"Hey! You finally made it!" Luke whooped excitedly, bringing his dear friend into a manly hug.

"I would've been here sooner but you know women," Calum shook his head in disapproval, "they can be so--"

"--so what?!" A stunning woman with smooth, dark skin waltzed right up to the two men with a warning expression upon her face. She held the hand of a tiny 3-year-old, who gazed up at the bickering adults.

"So, um, wonderfully dressed," Calum nervously chuckled, "my girls look beautiful."

Calum took no hesitation in leaning forward to kiss his wife on the cheek, before bending down to pick up the toddler. He kissed the tiny girl several times, all over her face, causing his dark-haired daughter to giggle in expense.

"Mmhm, I'm letting you off the hook this time," the woman wagged her finger in Calum's face before turning her attention to Luke with a grin on her face, "hi there Luke. How are you?"

"Hey Aurora, I'm doing great," Luke answered with a laugh, "amazing actually, now that this party is happening. Ari's been stressed out trying to plan this whole thing."

"Speaking of... where is your beautiful wife?" Aurora questioned, darting her eyes around the backyard.

"Upstairs getting the twins dressed," Luke answered, head nodding to the home behind him.

"Shouldn't you be helping Ari?" Aurora raised a brow, "you do have two kids turning three today."

"Oh trust me, I've tried to help her," Luke held his hands up in defense, his eyes wide with slight fear, "but Ari just scolded me," he turned to Calum and with a whisper he added, "I think it's monster week."

Calum shuddered at the mere statement and immediately understood Luke's dilemma.

"Well then, I'll talk to you boys later, I just saw Mia and Lexy by the mini quiches," Aurora's eyes averted from Ashton and Michael's wives, back to the 3-year-old in Calum's arms, "want to come with mommy?"

"No," the little girl shook her head, "I wanna stay with my daddy."

"Aw," Aurora pouted, "okay, but behave sweetheart."

With that, Aurora walked away from the men and proceeded to make a b-line straight for her friends and the plate of mini quiches. Right as Luke and Calum were to delve right back into a conversation, they were approached by two more members of their Percival Shores High crew.

"Well look who decided to show up," Luke grinned, upon seeing Ashton and Michael.

"Of course we'd be here," Ashton responded happily, "Mia, the kids and I are tired but we're here."

"How was the drive from San Diego?" Luke asked.

"Not bad at all. The kids were a bit fussy but nothing a little classic rock couldn't fix!" Ashton whooped.

"Well, I still live down the block so of course I'm here," Michael expressed. "Besides, if Mrs. Quiroz is cooking, then obviously I'd be here."

"Also, our god children are turning three years old today," Ashton added, "we wouldn't miss this party."

"Oh yea! Ari would murder us all if we missed today," Michael hinted, "and trust me, I fear my life every day at home."

"How is it at home with a pregnant wife?" Luke laughed.

"It feels like all your hopes and dreams have crashed into the pits of hell," Michael replied, before chuckling, "but to be honest, I'm so fücking excited to be a father. I see all the baby clothes at the store and I get this funny feeling in my tummy. And I also think about money and how expensive everything is going to be."

"Don't worry about the money part Clifford," Luke assured, "our business has been booming and has been for the last few years, you know that. HeartStrings Inc is flourishing into something real big!"

"So glad I went to business school," Michael quipped proudly.

"Yeah, in New York. Who the fùck does that!?" Ashton exclaimed, but with a supporting pat on the back. "But we're all proud of you. And I'm sure your baby will be too."

"Aww, our Mikey's growing up," Calum cooed, pinching Michael's cheeks in amusement and causing the little girl in Calum's arms to squeal in glee.

Slapping Calum's wrists away, Michael opened his mouth to yell a few expletives in his best friend's direction, however stopped himself the moment, he noticed that the surrounding chatter faded into quietness. At the sliding glass door was Ari, but it wasn't the beautiful 28-year-old who captured the attention of the guests. It was the two toddlers on either sides of the woman.

Coming in at the right time, Luke was suddenly beside his family, quickly scooping up the little girl in pigtails. Following her husband's lead, Ari picked up the little boy whose dark hair was in a nicely combed quiff, similar to the one Luke was sporting. The happy couple smiled at one another, and before Ari could even utter a single word, Luke leaned over to give his wife a peck on the cheek.

"Ugh, you guys are still so cute it's disgusting," Reese chuckled from the side, taking a swig of his beer. Since his Lotus Cove University days, he ditched his tech nerd glasses- working for Google had its perks in lasic optometry.

"Rude," Luke shot up his middle finger in Reese's direction, who only laughed at the crude gesture.

"Daddy, don't do that," the little girl in Luke's arms scolded, her tiny voice ringing in his ears.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Daddy showed his bad finger," the little boy pointed at his father, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Lucas," Ari warned, who also shook her head in the same manner as her son. "What did I tell you about bad fingers?"

"Funny babe, you never seemed to complain about my fingers before," Luke's snarky, inappropriate comment immediately made Ari blush, and for the boys to rile in rowdiness.

"Oh my gosh, I'm done with this conversation," Ari scurried away, embarrassment glowing from her body with like a neon-colored aura. With her son in her arms, Ari made her way to the other ladies, "come on Brayson, mommy is annoyed with daddy."

Luke just shrugged, still very pleased with his comment. His eyes trailed down to the little girl in his arms and smiled at the adorable toddler.

"Do you want a cupcake Elle?" Luke asked.

"Yea daddy," she nodded, "can I have ten?"

"How about I give you one plus the frosting on mine and we'll see how you feel then," Luke laughed at his daughter, who was the spitting image of her mother- except for her eyes, they were as light as Luke's.

The father dropped his daughter down to her tiny feet, grasping onto her hand as the two walked over to the desert table. Luke picked up Elle again and sat her on the edge of the table, where he handed her a cupcake. As the father-daughter duo enjoyed the sweet confection, they were interrupted by a woman he hadn't seen in a year.

"Mummy!" Luke excitedly shrieked, his voice similar to one of a child. As his mother approached his son with open arms, she happily reciprocated the excitement, "my son! And my grand baby. But where's the other one?"

"Brayson is with his mummy. But my mummy is here!" Luke was beyond joyous and wasted not another moment in locking his mother into a tight hug. Once their embrace was broken, the aging woman then picked up her grandchild into her arms.

"How's Elle doing? How old are you again?" Mrs. Hemmings questioned, an ear to ear grin spread across her face.

"I'm tree mama! I'm tree!" Elle held up three of her tiny fingers in her grandmother's face, before going back to devouring her cupcake.

"When did you get in?" Luke asked. "I would've picked you up from the airport myself?"

"I got in last night," Mrs. Hemmings informed, "but it was a surprise. Ari came to pick me up and dropped me off at her mother's house."

"Ah, so that's where she was when she disappeared for a few hours last night," Luke finally realizing where his wife went off to. "I thought she had been at the grocery story vacillating between ice cream flavors. She's been doing that often."

Mrs. Hemmings looked at her son with confusion on her face and upon seeing that puzzlement, Luke quickly explained, "monster week."

"Ah, I see," Mrs. Hemmings nodded her head, "I also see that your little girl is enjoying these cupcakes. Are these homemade?"

"I don't know if I told you but Jasey Lopes has now expanded her baking business from her personal kitchen to a spot by the pier," Luke promoted.

"Has she really?" Mrs. Hemmings was clearly intrigued. "I'm so proud of that girl. She really turned her life around. Who knew baking would be such therapy for her?"

"I know, it's great! Jasey offered to make the cakes and all the deserts for free." Luke gushed. "A lot has happened since you moved back to Sydney, mum."

"Yea son it has," Mrs. Hemmings gazed at her son with pride in her eyes, delighted to see the wonderful man he has grown up to be, "it really has."

The birthday party continued on without any mishaps. The guests were thoroughly happy and the twins made no fuss. With Calum and Ashton out of Percival Shores living their own lives, there weren't many times when the crazy quartet could derp around together. But it was this party that became the perfect reunion for the four boys. It was like they were in high school again: goofing off, dancing horribly, and starting mini food fights with the kids- much to their wives' dismay. The endless smiles and laughter put joy into Luke and Ari's own hearts and knew that their party had been a success. However, while there were no disasters during the soiree, there was one more surprise hiding up Ari's sleeve.

Towards the end of the evening, as the grown ups sipped on wine and the kids were sipping on juice boxes, Ari stepped before the large crowd. Turning down the music, and grabbing the microphone out of her Uncle's hand before he belted out another karaoke classic, the lovely woman captured the attention of friends and family alike.

"Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming over today. It means the world to both Luke and I to know we're special enough that you'd spend your Saturday with us," Ari spoke into the mic with such eloquence, something the honed while studying at Newcoast.

"Um, who said we're here for you? I'm here for the twins!" Ashton shouted over the crowd, causing everyone to chuckle at his snarky yet honest statement.

"Speak for yourself Irwin!" Michael chimed in, "I'm here for the free food!"

"Wait! The food is free?!" Reese playfully gasped and the childish banter between the three adults prompted more roars of laughter to fill the air.

Ari was pleased to see the childlike commotion take place before her very eyes. In the ten years since her last year of high school, not much has changed. Yes, they all had steady jobs, traveled the world, and are all parents to adorable children, but the friendship established so many years ago, was still a friendship that remained strong.

"Can I have my mother and mother-in-law grab the kids and come up here please?" Ari continued, looking at the two elder woman, who have become best friends over the years. "And can I have my hot husband come up here too?"

"Hot husband?" Luke threw a hand to his heart and theatrically expressed ache. "Are you married to Liam Payne too?"

Ari giggled into the mic, shaking her head and pointed straight at Luke. She gestured for the blue-eyed man to join her at the mic and when he did, she surprised him with a simple kiss on the cheek. Luke blushed ten years ago whenever Ari would show her affection, and till this day, he still blushed at the gesture.

Once the twins, each being held by Mrs. Hemmings and Mrs. Quiroz, joined their kids, did Ari hold the mic up to her lips again. She smiled and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Today we celebrate a lot of things. Today is my late father's death day anniversary and although it's been twelve years since his passing, he's still very much alive in my life- in my whole family's life," Ari turned to look at her mother who already had tears in her eyes.

She then glanced over to look at her older sister Mia, whose head rested against Ashton's shoulder. Mia mouthed an "I love you" to her family before looking down at her own kids who grasped onto their father's legs.

"Today, we also celebrate the birthday of a little man who shares the same name as my own son," Ari paused for a moment, as she felt her own voice crack.

Ari looked off to the crowd to see Gail and Norman Cole. Next to the couple was a young girl and next to the young girl was a belly- a very large one belonging to her mother Gail that carried a baby boy inside.

"Three years ago today, Luke and I welcomed the birth of our twins, Brayson Zachary and Brielle Aliyah," the happy couple lovingly looked at their children, like they were the sun and moon. "But in addition to celebrating my dad, celebrating Brayson Cole, and celebrating our kids, we have one more thing to celebrate." Ari took Luke by the hand, as he gazed at his wife like she were the only thing in the room. They had made it so far together, and he was a proud man knowing that he had nabbed one of the most beautiful, intelligent, and most kind hearted womnn on this Earth.

"Baby thank you for being so patient with me," Ari began, biting her bottom lip in nervousness. "I know I've been driving you crazy with all this party planning; for making you buy me all the flavors of ice cream because I couldn't decide; for those late night drives to L.A. because I was craving Milk; and for yelling at you for no reason."

"Did you buy me a brand you car as a peace offering?" Luke hopefully asked, a dimpled grin on his face.

Ari rolled her eyes and shook her head, "if you seriously think that, you must be drunk."

"Drunk words are sober thoughts. I'm sure you're familiar with that concept," Luke winked at Ari, sharing a quick laugh as they were the only ones who knew of their inside joke.

"Continuing on... There's been a reason for a mood swings, and it's not because of what you think," Ari hinted, causing her husband to be even more confused that before.

"What are you saying?" Luke narrowed in his eyebrows, puzzlement dripping from his face.

"Luke," Ari chuckled, "I'm pregnant!"

A roar of loud applause, cheers and gasps surrounded the couple. Luke's eyes were wide, his jaw dropped, and for a second he was speechless. But the moment he saw the tears of joy and bright smile on Ari's face, he grabbed onto his wife and pulled her into a hug. Luke picked up Ari's petit body and spun her around as her giggles filled his ears- a sound he'd never get used to.

As the guests around them continued to yell out of excitement, spreading high-fives and hugs, Luke placed Ari back on her feet. He held her close, before filling in the inches of space between them for a kiss brimming with love. Slow, sweet, and tender, the lip to lip contact lasted only for a few seconds, but it was in those few seconds that spoke volumes of complete devotion for one another. When Luke and Ari separated, their arms still clutching onto each other, they both looked at one another in the eyes with utter fondness. And like the declaration they made so long ago, the couple reiterated those same three, endearing words:

"I adore you."

//

fin.

That officially completes "Drunk Words, Sober Thoughts." Thank you to each and every one of you who has read this story; who has commented and who has voted. But especially to those who cried with the characters, who laughed with them, who felt their anger, and felt their happiness.

Thank you to those who have personally messaged me about this story, and to those who told me that I've inspired them to write. You know how warm and fuzzy that made me feel? You are all wonderful readers and I can't thank you enough for supporting this story and for supporting me. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. I never thought this story would make it to 650K reads and 14K votes!! That's crazy to me, but I'm thoroughly blessed!!

For those of you who are wondering about a sequel: no sequel! However, I am thinking about a spin-off that follows Calum's personal journey right after graduating high school. Aurora from the Epilogue? Yup, she would be the female protagonist in this spin-off. I will let you know once I get the ball rolling on that.

If you are a fan of my writing style, I do have other works of fiction. Just check out my profile and you'll see that I have quite a few 5SOS stories there. Punk Calum? Check out "Run Baby Run." Ice Hockey Ashton? Check out "Slapshot." Michael with an adorable 3-year-old daughter? Check out "Michael's Melody.

Once again, THANK YOU, for reading this story. You all kept motivating me to keep writing; to keep keep the story going instead of abandoning it!! Thank you again and PARTY TIME?!

xo, Audrey Eve