𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐬𝐢𝐱 ─── dog walks

Central Park, 27th May 2008

𝔖tepping out of the car, Ellie soothed her bump as she opened the boot for Cai. The German Shepherd was getting a lot bigger now, nearly mid-thigh, but was still just as gentle as a pup with her.

"Come on, Cai, let's go see the girls!" The dog leant into her side, as Ellie pulled her shades down over her eyes, hiding them from the glaring sun, and locked her car, taking off into the busy park with her dog.

She was meeting her friends to tell them about the whole babies thing, because she'd been really unsure of how to break the news. Ever since that meeting with her mother, Ellie hadn't felt truly right about being pregnant. It had put a dampener on her happiness, knowing that she couldn't even stand up to her. But, both Ethan and Luke had encouraged her to tell her friends, so that Ellie could feel happy about being pregnant once more. 

Turning left towards one of the cafes in Central Park, she pulled Luke's lighter hoodie so that it sat better over her bump and didn't give it away immediately. Cai trotted by her side, sniffing at the plants and other people as they meandered along.

"Bella!" Looking up, Ellie grinned at the sight of Emily, who was waving her over enthusiastically. "I'm so glad you could make it, and is this Cai? Oh my god, he's so cute!"

Emily ignored hugging Ellie so that she could go straight in and cuddle the dog, though Cai didn't seem to mind, adoring the attention that the brunette woman was giving him. Ellie laughed at her friend's antics.

"Oh, you're so cute. Yes you are. You are," She snorted at Emily's words, as the girl looked at her. "What? Why are you wearing a hoodie in May?"

"Shall we go and see the others?" This saved her from having to answer the other question.

"Sure, sure." Emily sighed, releasing Cai from her grip so that the pair could join the others at the table that was a little further away.

Beth sat at one end, stirring her green tea slowly, as she listened carefully to the others. In typical Beth fashion, her blonde hair was pulled up on top of her head using a pen, and Ellie still didn't know how that worked, even if she had been friends with the blonde for near to four years now.

Opposite her sat Minji, who looked impeccably put together. So much so, that Ellie felt slightly awkward in her husband's hoodie, maternity jeans and sneakers that she'd stolen from Ethan (he didn't know that bit thought). Whilst Minji often looked like she was about to yell at someone, she was actually a lot of fun and the most laid back of the group. The only reason her resting bitch face was so good was because, in her words, 'she wanted to terrify boys so much that they ran away from her in fear'. 

The final member of their little group, was Britney, who unlike the other four, was not a New York native. No, she came from the South, Texas to be specific, and was the voice of reason for the four other girls, stopping them from accidentally breaking the law. In fact, Ellie was pretty sure that Britney was the only reason she hadn't stepped in front of a car whilst sleep deprived.

"Bella," Minji was on her feet in an instance, pressing her lips to the smaller girl's cheek, as Britney followed suit. Beth blew her a kiss from her place, not bothering to wheel herself over to the other girls.

"Hey!" Ellie hurried over to lean down and press a kiss to Beth's cheek, sitting down beside her.

"We ordered you a smoothie." The blond girl patted her hand, her brown eyes sparkling as Ellie sat down into her seat and pulled the drink towards her. She licked her lips, sipping on it slowly as Cai settled under the table.

"We were just catching up on plans for the summer." Britney asked, leaning back in her chair as she watched the smaller girl with a slight grin. "Minji says that she's travelling to Korea to stay with the family."

"That should be fun." Emily commented as Minji nodded, a grin on her face.

"I have missed seeing all of them," She replied, grinning. "But it won't be the same as being here in New York, with you guys."

"No more late night pizza visits," Ellie replied, sipping on her coffee. "You've got to admit those were fun."

"What about you, Beth?" Minji called, as the blonde girl tilted her head, thinking.

"Well, I have been offered a job, so chances are, I'm going to be staying in New York," Something clicked in Ellie's mind as she turned to look at the girl. One part of her excitement over being pregnant sparked back up again.

"Speaking of jobs, I was wondering whether you could paint a mural for me?" She raised an eyebrow, as the other girls narrowed their eyes at her. "It's for one of the rooms at my new house. I need to finally get around to decorating part of it. It's been a stressful few weeks."

"Of course, text me when you're free and I'll come over." Ellie grinned, before turning back around as Britney raised an eyebrow at her.

"You're hiding something," She mused, her grin growing as Ellie sipped at her drink. "Yeah, you are way too happy about something and you're practically glowing."

"That might be the pregnancy." She tried her best to be nonchalant about it all, but a grin overtook her face. "Surprise!"

"Oh my god!" There was a chorus of loud exclamations as the girls were back up onto their feet, hugging the young nurse tightly as she laughed and grinned. Luke had been right, this was quite exciting.

"When?" Minji cried, as Ellie pulled her hoodie off to reveal the ever growing baby bump. The girls cooed and awed. 

"Uh a couple of months back actually. It's twins." There was more little cheers, as Ellie grinned and blushed at the attention. "Luke and I found out, and told my family, but I've been waiting to tell you guys once I was out of the more stressful stage."

"Ellie..." Beth cooed. "Please tell me the murals for their nursery."

"It's for their nursery." Ellie chuckled quietly. "I don't know if we're having boys, girls, a mix of both, so I want it to be neutral and you were the first person that I could think of."

Britney smiled.

"I'm so happy for you." She pouted, before sharing a look with Minji. "We can finally be the cool wine aunts of our dreams."

"Absolutely, and with kids that aren't ours!" Minji grinned. "We can spoil them, give them a sugar high and then hand them back to Bella! It's a perfect situation!"

"Thanks." Ellie rolled her eyes, as Emily wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I'm excited that you guys are excited."

"Course we are." Emily nodded. "As long as you're happy, and this is what you want."

"I mean, they were kind of a happy accident, but I did want kids and they look adorable." Ellie beamed. "I'm so excited for them to meet their aunts."

"God, Bella. You're going to make me cry." Minji waved at her eyes. "I spent twenty minutes on this eyeliner, so don't do that to me!"

They all laughed, the serious moment broken as Ellie chuckled.

"I was also thinking, maybe some time in July, you guys can come round to the new house and we can have a barbecue or something, a date for the diaries before Minji heads home?" Ellie proposed, shrugging her shoulders. "I really want you guys to meet Ethan, and get to know Luke better, and we can watch Mamma Mia and hang out together."

"Absolutely," Beth called, as Britney's brain began to whir.

"Does that mean we can plan you a baby shower?" Ellie nodded, as the girls cheered again. "That means that you can't find out the gender until the baby shower, you got it?"

"I know. I want it to be a surprise," Ellie replied, as Cai leant further into her side. 

∘☽༓☾∘

Hiya,

This is the first of two updates tonight. Minji is a mood, Britney is a tired mum at this point, Emily is a human golden retriever and Beth is just chefs kiss, as is Cai, as is Ellie. Also, I'm really excited for the baby shower and this bbq thing to come with all of the gang together.

Finally, without further ado, here are all of the face claims of those I didn't give faceclaims for.

Iris

Ava

Beth

Britney

Emily

Minji

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx