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3.x

As soon as Seb stepped out of the way Arlo and Elenor all but sprinted into the house to catch up with the other children in there. Walking into the house ourselves Seb gave me a small hug and kiss on the head while him and Kimi opted for a bro-hug situation. Making my way straight to the kitchen I'm greeted with Hanna moving about it, walking next to her she finally noticed and rushed to give me a hug almost squeezing the life out of me squealing as she did.

"Oh, Lani it's been too long! I've missed you so much. You have no idea what it's been like stuck in this house with the girls and Seb." She dramatically stated, putting a hand to her forehead. I broke out in a smile and nodded. "Believe me I know the feeling, it feels great to talk to someone who has a bigger mental capacity of a six year old no?" Both of us giggling when we heard two throats clearing. Turning around we're met with the sight of our husbands mirroring each other with unamused faces.

"I'm just kidding boys, you know we love you." I say walking up to them, throwing my arms around Kimi who still has a frown on his face, Hanna doing the same with her respective husband. Leaning up I peck his lips, hoping to get a reaction out of him. Luckily enough I do, just when I start to pull away he brings me back and continues to peck at my lips until we get side tracked with four little groans at the doorway.

Leaning back the four adults see the four miniature versions of themselves except they all have frowns on their faces. Laughing to ourselves Hanna tells us that lunch is ready leading to the boys taking the kids to the table and settling them, leaving me and Hanna to grab all of the food and bringing it out and of course I grab a beer for Kimi. I held it out to him and just as he was about to grab it I pull back and lean in, pointing to my cheek he reaches up and places a small kiss there. Ruffling his hair and hearing him grumble I place his beer in his hand and sit down next to him, his hand resting on my leg as soon as I'm settled.

• • •
Lunch went smoothly as all of us kept the conversation flowing, as the kids went upstairs to play Arlo hung around the boys who were on dish duty, kimi trying to argue that since I didn't help make lunch I could help clean up but Hanna, ever the angel came to my defense and said that since I have to put up with him day in and day out I didn't have to, needless to say he walked away grumbling with his tail tucked between his legs and seb patting his shoulder giggling like a school girl.

Hanna took us outside to the gazebo that was about six yards away from the house with some Rośe for herself and a glass of water for me, settling down she gets right into it.

"So how have you been?"

I swear that has been the topic of every conversation for the past five years,
'how are you?'
'Are you okay?'
'Are you taking care of yourself?'
Or the occasional
'You sure moved on fast.'
'I can't believe your husband stayed with you.'
'You deserve it.'
Truth is every time someone says that I just want to bitch slap them, but Hanna is my friend and I know she just wants the best for me so instead of choosing violence I answer calmly.
"I'm good, you know the kids are keeping me busy and now that it's the off season me and Kimi are staying strong. I still wake up in the middle of the night sometimes but it's good." Hanna gives me an almost pity smile but it didn't bother me, Hanna is one of those people where I could tell her anything and she wouldn't judge me for it. Other than kimi she is like my unofficial partner, I mean just a few weeks ago when the boys were on there way home from travelling kimi and seb found us cuddled up with each other on the couch while dirty dancing was playing.

"As long as you take time for you, I mean it, I'm sure kimi wouldn't mind if he had to take the kids by himself for a weekend." I open my mouth to express something but she beat me to it and silenced me with her hand. "OR me and seb could take the kids and kimi just to make sure none of them get in trouble."
Smiling at her I let out a sigh "I appreciate that but I'm okay, it just gets a little much but that's why we make these play dates so I don't accidentally kill kimi." Spitting out a laugh we take a moment to calm down, it's silent for a while before it's broken.