"I can't breathe!"

They all continue laughing hysterically, not even bothering to help.

We all fall silent, looking at each other, before doubling over in laughter again.

"I was only five!" Axel defends himself.

After clearing things up between ourselves, the men made themselves comfortable around me. We were all in a sort of circle on the bed so we can all see everyone clearly. They thought it was a good time to tease and embarrass each other in front of me.

So Ian began with the story of how Axel thought he was going to be a dad.

Apparently Axel thought a girl was really cute in kindergarten so he held her hand and kissed her cheek. When his parents came to pick him up from school, he introduced his 'wife' and said she was pregnant and they were going to be a mum and dad. He thought babies were made from kissing.

"Needless to say, I cried for a week when they told me that she's not pregnant and I shouldn't go around kissing girls," Axel adds.

I'm so immature sometimes. This story should not be this funny. But it is. We're all laughing so hard, I almost miss the ringing sound. Where is my phone?

"It's my phone. Sorry, I've got to take this," Dante says, excusing himself from the room, glaring at the screen.

"Is he ok?" I ask Ian and Axel, also noticing their change in behaviour.

"Just some business he has to attend to," Axel replies, anger lacing through his face.

"And welcome back to Ian's 24/7 podcast. I will be telling a nice, soothing story for my audience today in my lovely voice," Ian jokes, breaking the tension. But the uneasiness in his eyes is hard to miss. They're all worried about something.

"What's going on?" They both look at each other, communicating silently. They're not going to tell me anything.

"We will tell you if you promise to tell all of us why you moved from Australia," Ian negotiates. Is it worth the risk? What if it's something work related? If it was something really important, I'm sure they would all have to go.

"On second thoughts," I begin, "we should watch a movie or something." I hop off the bed and head out of the room. I don't plan on telling them my story any time soon. The later they know, the better.

Realising I don't know where I'm going, I wait for Ian or Axel to lead the way. Instead, they pick me up carefully and carry me somewhere. "I can walk perfectly fine," I pout.

"We know, love."

"We like carrying you, babygirl. It's our way of getting to know you better. Plus, we can stay close to you and no one will even think about hurting you."

They're just so adorable. They walk through the house and place me on a comfortable, grey sofa in front of a massive T.V. They're so lucky. Why would they even go to the cinemas when they have this?

"What do you want to watch, love?" I'll never get over the way he says love. It's just. So. Attractive!

"I don't know. You choose."

"Ok then we'll watch Axel's favourite movies."

"No, Ian. Don't even think about telling her. I will personally have you sleep on the couch for the rest of your life."

Now I'm curious. "Please tell me. I won't judge. I'll say mine at the same time as you since mine is pretty embarrassing as well," I say.

Ian counts us in. "3... 2... 1... Go!"

"Barbie."

"Barbie."

Nothing stops the shocked expression on both of our faces. I finally found someone who has the same special connection as me. Am I dreaming?

"Axel?"

"Yes, babygirl."

"I think you're my soulmate."

Ian begins to protest and try to explain himself. "I like Barbie too. I've watched all of them. My favourite is Barbie and the Power of the Rangers. The way that Barbie is pink and everything is peaceful at the end and all that stuff. I also love Barbie Zootopia. It's a really good movie. With Barbie. And that police animal thingy."

Axel and I just howl in laughter at Ian's attempt to fit in.

Thump! Stopping to investigate the sound, I see Axel on the floor now, rolling around, clutching his stomach and laughing his head off. Did he just fall off the sofa? With tears in my eyes and an aching stomach, I try to breathe and stop my laughter, but it only comes out stronger.

This could not get any better. The last time I cried of laughter was way too long ago for me to remember.

I could get used to this. Being around the men that I love, laughing, not a care in the world.

"Ian! I left the papers at the hotel!" I panic. There's no such thing as no care in the world. I have a job. They have a job. And here I am being selfish and taking away their job hours. "And you guys should be working! I'm so sorry."

"Relax. In case you didn't realise yet, all three of us own a company of many things. So we don't even have to work. And we take over each other's jobs all the time. Our only job is to sign partnerships and sort that out," Axel explains.

"Plus, you don't have to work. We have enough to provide you and us for a thousand lifetimes. What am I saying, you're not going to work. You deserve a break and we are more than happy to make sure you never struggle again in your life," Ian continues.

Yeah right, because I'm going to let them pay for my life. "I want to work. You've already done enough and I can't pay you back."

"Enough of that talk. You don't owe us anything and you never will. You won't be working. Fine. We'll think about it in a month's time, ok? Just take some time to rest and enjoy yourself," Ian says, ending the conversation.

They are actually impossible to argue with. Axel grabs the remote and searches for a barbie movie, making sure to rub it in that Ian's plan backfired. Childish men. More like boys.

The boys argue back and forth about who my favourite one is, talking themselves up. This gives me enough time to snatch the remote off Axel and put on my favourite Barbie movie. Barbie as the 12 Dancing Princesses. To be honest, I have so many favourite ones, but this one always makes me feel like dancing afterwards. It helps me escape reality sometimes and I love it, even if I know it's not real.

I blast the volume up to get the full cinema experience. The boys get up and close all the curtains, leaving the room in darkness. As soon as the movie starts, I remember two important things. I quickly pause the movie and inform the boys of the problem.

"I kind of forgot my glasses in the hotel," I say quickly, "and we forgot the chips and popcorn. Let me just go for a quick shopping spree. I'll be back." I stand up as a sharp pain shoots through my lower regions. "Ow."

Tears brim my eyes as I swallow the pain and sit back down, clutching my lower stomach. I clench my jaw and keep my eyes shut which helps ease the pain.

Both sides of me are filled by the boys as they help me lie down. "It's ok, love, it's ok. Just breathe." One of them rubs soothing circles over the pain while the other places gentle kisses on my forehead repeatedly.

"It will be alright. Just breathe, babygirl, breathe. I know it hurts, I know. But trust me, you will get better soon. We mixed some medicine with your food earlier so you don't feel pain. Do you want us to get you some more?"

"I'll be fine," I whimper, trying not to sound like I'm in pain but fail miserably. I relish their touches and kisses with my eyes closed.

"I was waiting," I say quietly, hoping they know what I was referring to.

"Waiting for what?" Axel asks.

"Axel!" Ian hisses. They both fall silent, allowing me to continue.

"I wasn't allowed to date until a few years ago and by then I didn't even want to date. I was too... scared? I didn't trust the whole relationship process. So I wanted to wait for the perfect relationship to give them everything. But, uh, that didn't go to plan. Now all my future partners will think lowly of me because..." I'm unable to finish, my voice catching in my throat.

"Because that bastard couldn't keep his hands to himself," Ian completes my sentence.

"With us as your future partners, we won't think any less of you. It will still be special. We will still love you the same. If it helps, Dante and Ian haven't fu- slept with anyone. And I've only been with one girl who I was in a relationship with for three years. But we decided to break it up since we were better as friends. We weren't meant to be and now I see why. The love I feel for you is a different type of love than for my friend. We will all learn together and we'll get through this."

They don't seem like the type of people to wait. I'd have thought they would have girls running to them left, right and centre. In a way, I'm relieved that if we do end up together, I don't have to worry about them cheating. I guess they have their morals straight.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen yesterday. I really did try but he wouldn't move," I cry, finally opening my eyes to look at them. Concern and anger is etched all over their faces. But not anger for me. I know they're angry at that guy, whoever he is.

They respond with light kisses all over me, causing giggles to erupt from me.

"We'll still love you no matter what." The way they look at me gives off a weird vibe. Is there something that I'm forgetting? "No matter what the future holds. Whether we like it or not. We'll always respect your decision, love."

Why are they being so weird? They're making it as if they know what's going to happen in the future.

I'm sure I look really confused because they both sigh and continue placing small kisses everywhere. "The movie," I remind them.

"Give me half an hour to go get your stuff from the hotel since you're staying here from now on. Then we can continue watching, ok love?" I nod in understanding as he kisses my forehead and walks off.

The more I hang out with them, the more I think I love them. How could I not? They're everything I've ever wanted and if they live up to their word, I'll finally have people who accept me for me, good and bad.

I think I'll have to address the issue of honesty soon. I don't mind the concept of keeping things hidden for a good reason, but I certainly don't want a relationship based on lies. That goes both ways. I know pretty soon I'll have to be honest about my past. And I'm scared. So scared. Maybe if I tell it one last time then it will be out of my system and it won't affect me as much as it does now.

The way they were looking at each other, as if they knew something that I didn't. We were talking about what happened last night, then Axel explained their 'experience' status, then they said they'll always be with me no matter what. So it must be a result of- oh.

I think they meant if I get pregnant. That would explain a lot. They fear me getting pregnant. Especially because it's not any of their own.

"Axel?"

"Yes, babygirl?"

"Can I have a hug?"

"Of course." He leans forward to pick me up and pulls me against his chest. I wrap my arms around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder and my legs on either side of his waist. He wraps one arm around me and the other around my shoulder, almost in a protective way.

He mimics me by placing his head on my shoulder and we stay there. In complete silence.

But I understand it. And I'm grateful for it.

"Axel?"

"Yes?"

"Would you mistreat the child? If I do fall pregnant?"

He only sighs, as if the thought alone is too much.

"No, none of us would. We would be upset because of the situation that they came from, but no, we would never mistreat the child. They don't make the choice to be here, so we should prove to them that they deserve the world."

"I'm sorry if that's going to be the case."

"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. We told you already and we'll tell you again, we will always love you no matter what, babygirl. No matter what."

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