Hiya guys I'm semi-back !
I will not be updating this as frequently as I was, as it, and many other factors, lead to me being not okay. Hope you understand! :))

3 years.

Not much changed. Married life entailed not many differences.

It seems the previous years' tendencies to leave you with whiplash from the sheer amount of drama has settled. Here the two of you are; in some kind of marital purgatory. You kiss. You cuddle. You sleep together. You visit the beach. It seems none of it has changed.

Nowadays, getting older, the most exciting thing to you is a new haircut; or getting new beach towels. Harry seems to be loving life. While this was perfection 3 years ago; there's a question in the back of your mind.

Is this all there is for us?

Kiss; cuddle; sex; beach.

That's it?

Not even your friends can help here. Tony and Paige are off doing their own thing. You meet up with your best friend occasionally, but all you truly have to comment on is how tired you are; or how this week is dragging; or how the weather is so terrible at the minute.

It seems everyone has grown up all of a sudden. Shrignold and Colin got their own place; they spend their time looking after poorly baby pigeons. It's the most random thing; but you see how happy they are.

Why does it feel like something's missing?

The house feels far too big for just 2 people to be living inside. There seems to be space for another person to grow; walk; learn. There's walls ready to mark heights. There's an empty bedroom ready for someone to sleep in it. And yet there's nobody there to fill it.

The doctors said there wouldn't ever be. Not one of your own, anyway. Maybe that's what's missing.

Oh, well, you think to yourself after another night resting in Harry's arms. Life goes on.

That is, until he speaks.

"We have other options, you know. Even if IVF isn't gonna work, we could use a surrogate. Or adopt."

You nod and cuddle closer. "You're right."

And a small glimpse of hope ignites itself. And you begin researching immediately: applying for adoption agencies; hoping and praying for your own baby.

No news comes at first. There's a complete evaluation 0f your house, which is confirmed to be suitable for a child. You finally cleared out the guest room, which has been collecting dust for 3 years, and began renovations to transition into becoming a 3-person household.

But 6 months passes. Absolutely nothing.

Paige brings out the birthday cake. Juno is 5 years old.

You sing happy birthday and you hope next year you can sing it to your own child.

"What do you wish for, Juno?"

"For new friends!" She says. Tony laughs.

"New friends! Now, I think mum is wishing for some cake." He pats Paige's shoulder. She's gazing wistfully at the cake, but she snaps back to reality and laughs.

"New friends!" She repeats. "All the new friends."

She cuts some cake slices. You take one.

"So, Juno, how are you enjoying school?" Harry asks.

"They say mum is weird." She says, matter-of-factly.

"The kids?"

"No, the teachers." Juno takes a big bite of cake. "Mum isn't weird, she's just got sch... schi... the voices thing."

She's very well spoken and educated for a 5 year old. You imagine Paige and Tony ensured she always knew what was going on.

"Well, they're not very nice then."

"Uncle Harry, why dont you be my new teacher?"

"I'd love to." He smiles. "Unfortunately, I don't have the qualifications."

"Oh." She looks as if she's thinking for a minute. "You should have your own baby so you have another kid to be nice to."

He nods. "I should. Shouldn't I?"

That evening, you arrive home.

You're just about to sit down, when the phone rings.