Can I come over????? A text from Laura reads, one Sunday morning.

Of course! I reply back, smiling down at my phone. Ever since we made up in the cafeteria at school, my phone seems to constantly be buzzing with messages from her, something that I have dearly missed.

Putting my phone down, I look out of the living room to see it's a typical November day. The clouds are a miserable shade of grey and the wind is hurling outside. The autumn leaves have already fallen to floor, sticking to your shoes whenever you venture outside. Everything looks damp and a dismal but inside everything is cosy and warm.

The clock hanging above the fireplace reds that it has just turned ten. This time last year I probably would have just been getting up at this time with my only priority being going out and having fun. Maybe schoolwork as well. Maybe.

Today though, I have been up since five, looking after Erin. Today has been a good day though. Once I fed her, she went back to sleep and didn't make a noise until I began to change her nappy. It's not normally that easy with her and I feel like I have actually accomplished something with her. When she behaves like this, it makes me want to socialise more and see my friends rather than spend the day inside screaming at a baby who is screaming at me.

Be there in 30mins xxx Laura replies back after a couple of minutes. That gives me enough time to get changed into something that isn't covered in baby sick, although I doubt that we will be going anywhere.

See you then xxx Walking into the kitchen, I text her back. Searching through the cupboards, I look for something to eat but nothing interests me. Pick up some chocolate on your way over? Xxx I cheekily ask message Laura, fully intending on paying her back.

I continue fumbling around the cupboards anyway, just for something to do while Erin sleeps and Cory is at work. They seem to mainly be filled with baby supplies with the odd packet of rice and pasta here and there. I finally reach the cupboard where we keep all the medicine and take the packet of anti-depressants into my hands.

I'm supposed to take them every day for my post-partum depression but it has been a few weeks since I last took one. No one knows that I have stopped and that's how I want to keep it. I was feeling better so I thought 'what is the point of taking them anymore'. Just like anyone, I have good days and I have bad days but it mainly depends on how Erin is acting as she highly affects my mood.

Flipping the packet over in my hands, I give it one last look before shoving it back into the cupboard, right in the back in the hopes that if no one else sees them then they will forget.

I tidy a few things before Laura comes over, just to give me something else to do. When I hear three knocks at the door, I know straight away that it is her.

"Hey, I've got you your chocolate just like you asked. Obviously I then had to get myself a bar at the same time," she squeals at me, holding a bar of Dairy Milk in her hands.

"Thank you so much. Do you want anything to drink?" I offer, nodding my head in the direction of the kitchen.

"I'm gasping for a tea, thanks love," she replies. The two of us walk into the kitchen and I set the kettle to boil while Laura gets the mugs out. We both know each other's houses as if they are our own so it's not uncommon for us to act as if we do own the place.

"Is Adam working today?" I ask, throwing a couple of tea bags over at Laura so she can put them in the mugs.

"He is. This is the fourth full weekend in a row that he has had to work. Other than at school, I feel like I never get to see him. Often after school, he'll help his parents out in their bar or have to look after his sister. I'd complain more but he needs the money... they all do," Laura murmured the last part, making me unsure of what I actually heard.

"Did you say that they all need the money?" I ask, picking up the kettle which has only just boiled.

For a minute, Laura's eyes widen before she quickly composes herself again. "Did I? I don't remember," she says, stirring her tea so she can avoid looking at me.

"Laura what is going on?"

After one sigh, she decides to tell me. "His family are dealing with money issues. They can barely afford to keep the bar open, hence why Adam has to do extra shifts. Although I'm not entirely sure how legal that is considering he is under eighteen. Anyway, if he wants to go out then he can't ask his parents for any money so he got a job. I think he does out a lot of it towards little Sammy, making sure she always gets everything she needs. I can't fault that. It just sucks not being able to spend time with him." She tells me everything and afterwards I am unsure of what I should say.

A few minutes later, I finally come up with, "why hasn't he told anyone?"

"Out of embarrassment maybe? Pride? I don't know. You and Cory have both had a lot to deal with over the last year so knowing Adam, he probably won't have wanted you stressing out over that."

"Well is there anything we can do to help?"

"I don't think so. Just don't let him know that you know. Anyway, where is the little cutie pie?"

"Erin is upstairs sleeping. Although she is due another feed soon. We are thinking of staring her on solid food soon. Well not solid food but you know that baby, mushy stuff that they eat,"

I lead Laura upstairs into the nursery where Erin is laid fast asleep. I gently take her into my arms, admiring how big she is getting now. Her eyes are wider now, compared to when she was first born and her little arms have small rolls of fat on them. Her head is faintly covered in hairs but she could easily still be described as a 'bald baby'.

"Do you want to feed her?" I ask Laura once the bottle is ready. She nods her head so I pass Erin over to her and then the bottle. As soon as it is near her mouth, Erin begins to suck away as if she hasn't been fed in days. "What do you want to do today?"

"I'm happy to just stay here, have a catch up and eat chocolate. How does that sound?" Laura replies.

I smile at her before saying, "That sounds great."

Laura stays for a few hours; the two of us sat nattering away about everything and nothing. She tells me about how her family haven't been away as much, deciding to work more locally rather than jetting off around the world.

"On one hand, it's nice to have them so near, you know? What if something bad ever happened to me and they were in Australia cuddling a koala? But on the other hand, they are driving me insane. It's like they are trying to control me," she rants at me, throwing her arms around to add an effect.

"It's probably only because they love you," I tell her but my voice fades out towards the end as I hear a knock at the door.

"Who's that?" Laura asks.

"The idea is you answer the door to find out, you Muppet," I throw a cushion at her before standing up to answer it. "Although, I have no idea who it could be. Both my mum and Cory have a key, unless they've lost it..." I tell her, edging closer to the door.

I open the door to see three figures standing before me.

"Kwisten!" Missy runs to me, wrapping her little, sticky fingers around my waist.

"Oh hi. What are you doing here?" I bend down so I am the same height as the little girl but don't take my eyes off of Cory's parents who are standing before me.

"Came to surprise Cory for his birthday. Now where is he?" his dad replies while his mother crosses her arms over chest.

"He's at work... where do you guys plan on staying?" I say, noticing that they were carrying a couple of suitcases.

"We thought you would be a generous host and allow us to stay here. After all, we are family," his mother smiles at me, her lips thinning as she does so.

"Come in, we'll sort something out," I say, lacking the energy to argue with them.

I take Missy by the hand, leading her into the living room where Laura is still sat, playing on her phone.

"Who was it... oh hi," Laura says, finally noticing the unexpected guests. "I think I should go," she begins collecting up her things, which funnily enough doesn't include the chocolate bar.

"Yeah, that could be for the best. I'll text you later," I say, giving her a hug before she goes.

"Do you want anything to drink?" I offer once Laura has left.

"Coffee, three sugars," his mother replies. It doesn't slip my notice that she doesn't say 'please' or 'thank you'.

"Sure, anything for you?" I ask his dad.

"I'm fine, thank you," he replies. At least he has some manners.

"Can I have a hot chocolate please?" Missy asks me, practically jumping up and down on the spot.

"I don't see why not-"

"- if she has a hot chocolate now then she'll never sleep later. She can have some milk," her mother interrupts me.

"Right, milk it is then. Do you want to come help me make the drinks?" I ask Missy who nods her head very enthusiastically at me.

I lead her into the kitchen, where I set the kettle to boil again. I watch as she begins searching through the bottom cupboards. She's grown since I last saw her. She must be at least a few inches taller and her dark hair seems to have grown in the same way. Her eyes are the same green as Cory's, a stand out feature on her face.

"What are you looking for?" I ask after a couple of minutes, amused by her actions.

"The baby," she says ever so casually.

"And you think I keep the baby in a kitchen cupboard?" I ask, trying to keep a straight face when all I really want to do is laugh.

"Yup," is all she replies, still looking through the cupboards.

"You see that door over there, next to the fridge? You'll have better luck finding her through there," I direct Missy, who for a minute narrows her eyes at me (looking very much like her mother) before she decides to take my advice.

I prop the door which leads to the back room open so I can keep my eye on the two of them while I make the drinks. I take a look at my phone to see that it has just gone four in the afternoon. Cory should have finished by now so I decide to phone him.

"You alright Kris?" he asks as soon as he picks up.

"Not really. Your parents are here,"

"What? What do you mean that they are here?"

"I mean, they are sat in my living room, probably judging something while Missy is in the back room staring at Erin. That is what I mean Cory,"

"Huh, any idea why they are here?"

"For your birthday. Anyway I need to go. Just get home as soon as you can?" I say just before I hang up on him.

I finish making the two drinks and bring them into the living where the two adults are sat. I go back for Missy who is still just staring at Erin who is fast asleep in a fold-a-way cot that we got her.

"Lets go back into the living room," I say to her, taking her hand once again.

"What about the baby?" she asks, obviously not wanting to leave Erin's side.

"If you go in now, then I will bring her in with us, okay?" she nods her head at me before running back through the kitchen and into the living room. "Come here you," I say, bending down to pick Erin up. Her eyes flutter open for a brief moment but decide to close again as she nuzzles her head into the crook of my neck.

When I walk into the room, I see that Missy I sat up straight, banging her legs against the sofa. As soon as she sees me with Erin in my arms, her legs begin to bang even harder.

"Can I hold her?" she asks which gets the attention of her parents. Both their heads turn around to where I am stood. Her dad has a smile on his face when he sees Erin but her mother's face stays as cold as ever.

"Of course," I tell her the best way to hold her, helping her get her arms in the right position. As soon as Erin is in her arms, a wide smile spreads across her face, one of pure happiness.

The next few minutes go by in awkward silence. Mrs Stevens studies her nails, tutting loudly every now and then while Mr Stevens keeps opening his mouth as if he is going to say something but then quickly closes it again. I dig my phone out of my pocket and text her, to let her know what is going on.

Thankfully the silence is broken by the sound of the front door opening. Missy's head perks up and she looks like she wants to stand up so I take Erin out of her arms and watch as eh runs straight to the door. Her mother doesn't seem to be that far behind her, then her father follows strolling down the hallway. I stay where I am with Erin, who is now becoming more awake.

I hear the sounds of Missy squealing at Cory, followed by him asking how she is, the same conversation following once he sees his parents. It takes him a couple of minutes before he eventually reaches the living room. His eyes widen as if to say 'what the hell' so all I can do is shrug my shoulders in response.

Cory sits down on the sofa, next to Erin and I. Missy soon sits in the spot next to him, practically sitting on his lap.

"So why are you here?" he asks, once everyone has seated themselves down.

"We wanted to visit our son on his seventeenth birthday. That is not a crime, is it?" his mother asks.

"Of course not but some warning would have been nice. My birthday isn't for a few days yet anyway," he replies, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"It's been about four months since we last saw you. We wanted to spend more than a day together. You can also look at it as another few pairs of hands to help with Erin. Our granddaughter we haven't seen since the week she was born." She replies to him, a smug look appearing on her face.

"It's great seeing you, I just don't know where you are going to sleep but I'm sure we will figure something out," he says.

I really hope he is right because I can just tell that this week is going to be a long one.