Harrys POV
"How strange is this? Everyone reunited." Jed says as he looks to everyone smiling. Susan and my Mum share a smile to each other.

"I don't know why we let each other drift apart." Mum says as she looks to Susan.

"I know, it's such a shame but here we are now." Susan says and my Mum nods with in her agreement. It must feel weird two friends who went to school together then had had kids round a similar age group, to be reunited again after a long time apart.

"Why did we all drift away?" Gemma asks as she looks to Mum and we all look at her and Susan.

"We moved, and back then we didn't use mobiles like you kids do today. We relied more on house phones. I lost my contact book and I couldn't remember Susan's number and she didn't know our new home number." Anne says as she looks to Gemma and then to me. "Obviously we moved to the house we were at for about a year then we moved to our current house. So there wasn't any contact between us."

"But you could have just gone round to Susan's?" I ask as I look at Mum and she nods looking away from me.

"We were going through a rough patch, your Dad and I. I didn't have the time to think about getting in contact as I was more confused about what was happening to our family." Mum says as she looks at Susan. "I am sorry."

"Anne. You went through a divorce, don't be silly. We got in contact in the end," Susan smiles and Ryan looks at Mum with a genuine pleased look.

"So how did that happen? You getting in contact again?" Stephanie asks as she looks to Susan then to Mum.

"I wrote a letter to your Mum about three years ago, we started talking again and we just went from there." Mum says as she looks at Stephanie.

"Wait a minute, so you've been in contact for three years and we never knew about it?" Jed asks as he looks at my parents.

"We thought you guys had grown up and made your own friends. We didn't think it was worth mentioning it." Susan says as she looks at Jed.

"What? We were all good friends. We spent so much time together to all of sudden never seeing them again? How can you say it wasn't worth it?" Stephanie snaps as she looks at her Mum. I look at her and try to get her attention but she purposely avoids me.

"Steph, your Mum and Anne didn't do that to upset you, they tried to put your best interests at heart. All of yours." Ryan says and Stephanie shakes her head in disbelief, I look away as I understand why Stephanie is getting so upset.

"Well, at least you finally got us together. For whatever reasons." Gemma says as she always sees the mature way on these sort of things. My Mum nudges me and I look at her.

"I'm sorry if it upset you." Mum whispers and I nod. I don't bother kicking off as I don't want to ruin tonight. Even though many words are spinning around in my head right now, I bite my tongue.

I know I would I have done anything to have been introduced into Stephanie's life sooner than now, but unfortunately life didn't go the way I wanted it too. And I am a little pissed off with my Mum for not telling us, but we can't turn back time I guess.

"Stephanie, please don't stay angry at us, we appreciate how close you all were, you and Harry in particular, but we really tried to keep everything as simple as we could." Susan says and I look up at Stephanie who just nods. She looks away and I can tell she's thinking something about their actions.

"Anyway, this is Jed's last night before he's a London boy.." Gemma smirks as she looks at Jed. They've always been close, they hung out so much when we were younger. I remember Gemma getting so mad at me when I accused her of fancying Jed, she threatened to hit me. Luckily Mum came in just in time before a fight broke out. But they've always had flirty banter but they've never tried to be anything more.

"Yes, congratulations Jed." Mum says as she raises her glass wine to him and takes a sip. I smile to him.

"Thanks Anne." Jed says as he toasts his lager and sips it.

"Excuse me." Stephanie says as she stands up and walks towards the toilets. I watch her and I debate whether I should try and speak to her. Susan goes to stand up.

"Let me.." Mum offers as she stands up and Susan sits back down and nods. She mouths thank you to her and my Mum smiles as she walks in the direction towards the toilets. I watch her enter and then I look at Gemma who smiles reassuringly. I take a sip of my beer.

---

Stephanie's POV
I look at my reflection and I can't believe what I've just heard from Mum and Anne. I may be over reacting but Harry's friendship to me was so special they don't understand how much time we lost being apart.

"Stephanie.." The door opens and Anne steps in and closes it behind her. I glance at her and I look away. "I'm sorry for letting you down, I know how much Harry meant to you," she adds and I look at her. "I mean it. I'm sorry." She repeats.

"He was my best friend." I sigh as I look at her and she smiles sympathetically to me. I know she's not the type of person to deliberately make anyone upset or angry. I remember she used to be so kind and gentle, she was such a warm person. I loved going over to her house, she looked after us as if we were her own.

"I know," she smiles, "I haven't forgot the times you stayed over ours and you two would be playing for hours." She adds and she reaches towards me and tucks my hair behind my ear. "I can't believe how you've grown into this beautiful young woman." She says as she steps back from me. "Please don't be angry at your Mum." She adds.

"It just sucks I wish we never had those years apart." I say as I look at her and she nods. "I've never really bonded with anyone after Harry left me. I mean I met a girl called Amy who is now my best friend, but she never completely got me like he did. And now after all this time, we've had to learn each other again.

"I understand completely. It's the same with your Mum and I. She was my best friend through school and when you guys were little. She helped me through so many issues that I could never forget. I never wanted to lose her. But it happened and I lost a part of me when I lost her and now I've got her back, I'm learning her all again." She smiles and shakes her head, "I mean her kids were these two little creative people who had crazy imaginations about saving the world or hosting their own television show. And now they're all grown up and they're choosing their own path and becoming who they want to be." She adds and I smile in appreciation to her words.

"I never thought about how you two felt.." I say as I made everything all about me and I know how selfish that can be. Getting caught up in so many emotions didn't help me realise there were other people suffering not just me.

"We don't expect you too. We were the ones who made the decision, so don't worry we know exactly where we went wrong." Anne says and I nod.

"I'm sorry I took it the way I did. I'm glad you and Gemma are here." I say and Anne opens her arms out and I hug her. It felt good to get that off my chest, she is so good to talk to and it felt good for her to tell me how she felt.

"Right, let's go and enjoy our meal shall we?" Anne asks and I nod as we let go of each other. She opens the door and I follow her out. Gemma and Jed are in stitches, my parents and Harry are smiling. Harry's eyes meet mine and I smile, he smiles back and nods as if to ask me if I'm alright. I nod back.

"Just in time." Ryan says as the waiter brings our food over. I take a seat and my Mum looks at me and I smile, she smiles relieved and I look away as our food is placed down in front of us.

---

After my reaction to discovering Mum and Anne had been in contact for three years without us not knowing, I didn't think i'd be able to enjoy the meal. But I did, and things turned out to go really well. Everyone was laughing and reminiscing about the past, some were embarrassing and some were funny. Jed's currently on a story and he looks at me smirking, oh god.

"You were climbing that bloody tree house because you thought the bird was crying because it was stuck." Jed says and he shakes his head.

"No she thought it was homeless. She thought the bird was lost and that it was trying to build a house with sticks because it couldn't remember where it lived." Harry corrected Jed and they laughed.

"That's it, then she got stuck and all we could hear was her shouting for help." Jed laughs and I roll my eyes, this isn't a funny story they just want to tease me.

"But it was so cute that she cared so much for that bird, she wasn't asking for help for her, it was for the bird. I think that's so sweet." Gemma says as she looks at me and smiles, I shake my head smiling as they continue to tease me.

"Then You cried because it flew off and you thought he would get lost again" Harry says and I just shrug as there is nothing I can say to them. "It's how you climbed onto the tree house roof and then managed to get stuck. I never understood how you managed it." He adds as he looks at me.

"I cared for that bird okay? Because I am a nice and caring person. Even if it did mean Dad had to help me back down." I say as it's something any child is capable of doing, getting stuck in a tree at a young age in my opinion, is not uncommon!

"Okay enough on your sister Jed. I remember when you were chasing Gemma and she ran through the glass doors and shut them, you were running so fast and you ran straight into them and went flying backwards." Dad says and everyone including Jed laughs.

"The glass smashed and gave me a bloody scar." Jed laughs as he finds stupid things so funny.

"I actually remember that." Gemma laughs and Jed shakes his head as he mentally relives the moment. I look over to my Dad who is sorting the bill out with Anne and my Mum.

"No, we will get it." Dad says and Anne shakes her head. My dad passes the waiter his card and Anne starts to thank him. I smile and glance back to Harry who is talking to his sister. "Thank you" Dad says as he puts his card back into his wallet. "Right then, we all set to go ?" He asks. Everyone nods as we all start to put our coats on and gather our stuff together.

"Well thank you for a lovely evening. Jed, good luck." Anne says as we head outside as she hugs him. She turns to me, "Stephanie, we will see you soon." She smiles as she hugs me. I hug her back.

"Definitely." I say as I let go of her.

"Take care Steph." Gemma says as she hugs me. "Make sure you come and stay with us soon!" She adds and she turns to Jed. "Good luck you" she adds as she hugs him. I look to Harry as he hugs Anne.

---

Harry's POV
"I'm so proud of you Harry, just seeing you tonight I've seen such a difference." Mum whispers into my ear as she hugs me tightly.

"Thanks Mum." I say back as I hug her just as tight. "I'll see you soon" I add.

"You can come back anytime Harry" Mum says as she starts to get a little emotional. I smile and I wrap my arm around her.

"I'd love too but I'm sort of learning quite a few things here," I glance at Steph and I look back at my Mum. "Especially in the studio, I love it." I add and my Mum's face lights up.

"That's good to hear Harry. Just remember you can call me anytime okay?" She says and I nod. She hugs me one more time and she turns to Susan and Ryan.

"See you soon Harry." Gemma says as she gives me a hug.

"Will do" I say and I let go of her. Stephanie stands beside me as I watch my Mum and Sister climb in to their car.

"Love you!" Mum mouths to me behind the glass window. I mouth it back to her and she smiles and begins to start the engine.

"You alright?" Stephanie asks as we wave them off and we make our way to the taxi that has turned up.

"Yeah." I say as I smile. It was good to see them and I think it made me feel a little more at ease knowing they are okay. It was just a shame I didn't get to see my dad, maybe I can see him soon.

---

When we arrived home, We all helped Jed get his boxes ready downstairs for tomorrow morning. Susan and Ryan were quite sad knowing their only son was about to live on his own in a different city. I felt a little out of place surrounded by their love and emotion for Jed.

"Who wants some hot chocolate?" Susan asks as we finish and I head towards the stairs.

"I'm okay thanks, think I'll get an early night. Thank you for the meal" I say as I smile to them both. They both smile and wish me good night and I head upstairs. Tonight has definitely gone differently to how I expected.

I walk into my room and I turn on the TV, hopefully there is something I can watch in bed as I feel a little drained. I start to strip down to my boxers when my phone vibrates. I swipe the screen and I read the facebook message, it's from Amy:

Really pleased you managed to tell Stephanie how you feel.
I'm very proud of you, just don't hurt her please :)
Amy xxx

That was a little out of the blue, but as it's Stephanie's best friend I reply:

Cheers, I got there in the end!
Harry x

I continue to strip down and I place my phone on my bedside table. I jump at the knock on my door.

"Come in." I say as I know it's probably Stephanie, I sit down and look up to see Jed. "Oh, hey." I say a little shocked.

"Hey, sorry to just come in and disturb you," Jed smiles as he glances at my Tv then to me.

"No worries, what's up?" I ask as he sits down next to me. I look at him as he starts to speak,

"Harry, you're a mate of mine who I really do approve of living here. But I know you and Stephanie have something that is more than friends. I see the way you two look at each other, it's not changed since we were kids," he stops and I look down as I listen to him. "So now I'm not going to be here and you are for a while, can you look out for Stephanie? She's too nice for her own good and with you around I know she's happier than she's been in awhile." He adds.

"I've never stopped looking out for her, so yeah. I'll do that." I say as I look up at him as he smiles.

"Cool. Cheers." He says as he stands up. "I know something is going on between you two, but you take things as slowly as you like, but just to let you know, she is fond of you mate, really fond." He says as he opens my door. I nod as I understand what he's saying and he smiles. "Cheers Harry."

"Good luck mate." I say and he does a salute Impression as he leaves and he closes the door behind me. I look down at the floor as Jed's words linger in my head, he cares for his sister and I know if it was the other way around and I was looking out for Gemma, I'd be the exact same.

"Harry.." My door opens slowly and I look up to see Stephanie walking in. "I did knock.." She adds confused to why I never answered.

"Sorry, I was in my own little world" I smile as she sits next to me. She looks at my TV for a couple of seconds before looking to me.

"What are you watching?" She asks and I look at the TV and shrug,

"I was going to watch something in bed. Come on.." I say as I open the covers and I climb in, Steph smiles as she climbs in fully dressed and wraps her arms around me as I begin to flick through the channels. My phone goes again and I land on some chat show which Stephanie seems to be interested in, I look at the message. It's Amy again:

We all take our time but it's better late than never!
You should come for a drink again, Mother seems fond of you haha.
Plus it was nice getting to know you especially because you're dating my best mate ;)
Treat her good!
Amy xxx

Wouldn't that be a little odd me going for a drink with her? I mean where I live girls tend to ask you out for a drink because they like you? Maybe she's just asking because she wants a friendship with me for Stephanie's sake. I reply:

Yeah maybe, your parents pub is lovely.
I will do, don't worry.
Harry x

Notes

Thank you to everyone who is reading this story and has subscribed and voted!
I hope you are enjoying the story so far!
coming up:
Harry considers whether he should put effort in becoming friends with Amy for Stephanie, but there's one problem, sometimes friendships aren't always easy..

if you haven't already then please read this amazing story Dreaming Of You :)