A/N: Hello wonderful readers of mine! I'm really sorry it's been so long, but with my AP World final coming soon and the huge workload I have constantly thrown at me every day, it's hard to sit down and just write. You guys have been wonderfully patient and very supportive, though. I even had a very sweet fan say that I was now one of her top two favorite writers and that all of my followers/fans should call themselves #chocolatiers! That is the coolest thing ever and I absolutely love it, so please comment here if you believe yourself to be a chocolatier! It's also been amazing to see this book reach 50K reads and 126 on the What's Hot list. That's insane to me, so seriously guys thank you so much!!! To all you wonderful new and old readers alike, here is the next chapter! Enjoy!

**For an early update: 40 votes, 50 comments**

Collin's POV

Living the life of a pop star means I'm so used to waking up early that it's like second nature to me by now. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't feel like complete and utter heaven when I get to stay in and sleep late. It's even better when I get to do the aforementioned late sleeping on my birthday.

It's been about a week since Stacy and Carrie were abducted, and thankfully Steph has lost the anxiety that creeped up in her for a few days after the abduction. She's back to being my carefree bambi, and I couldn't be happier. Although, she'll probably be angry at me tomorrow for not telling her my birthday is today. I'll risk it, though, because I've never liked a big fuss on my birthday. All I want is to spend the day with my girlfriend (since it's thankfully a Saturday), and have a game night with Noah later on. No fancy parties or big messes. Heaven.

I finally trudge put of bed at noon, and after taking a shower and changing, I go downstairs in Noah's house after smelling something heavenly coming from the kitchen. I enter to see Jenna cooking up a storm with a messy bun on her head and flour and chocolate smudges all over her apron. Sam sits on one of the stools next to the kitchen table plaing with little toy trucks and making adorable whizzing noises as he passes them by. I smile and go over to hug him from behind.

"Hey bud," I tell him. He looks up at me with a big smile that showcases the missing front tooth that fell out recently. I suddenly remember his birthday is next week. Time flies way too fast. I mean I remember when he was nothing but a little baby, and now he's already turning seven.

I sit on one of the stools and smile in his direction.

"Are you excited to turn seven next week?" I ask. His eyes widen into huge, sparkling blue orbs, and he bobs his head up and down excitedly.

"Yeah, 'cause I'm going to turn seven and momma says I get to have a Spiderman cake and all my friends are coming, and we're going to have pizza and, I'm finally going to be the same age as Haley!"

I laugh at his genuine excitement and ruffle his hair before I lose his attention to his toy trucks again. Getting up from the table, I walk over to Jenna who hums peacefully to herself as she takes out two pans of her famous mouthwatering chocolate chip muffins and another of biscuits made from scratch out of the oven. My stomach lets out a loud growl at the smell causing Jenna to look behind her and laugh at my burning red cheeks.

"Are you hungry birthday boy?" I nod exaggeratedly and she smiles mischievously.

"Well, you're going to have to help me put all this stuff on the dining room table before you can eat."

My eyes widen at hearing what is have to do to get a taste of Nirvana, and I rush to put all the food on the big dining room table. The smell of the food begins to permeate throughout the house, and the shuffling of feet is heard from the stairs as Noah and his dad follow their noses downstairs.

"Oh thank the heavens!" Noah exclaims, slumping into one of the chairs at the table and rubbing his hands together. "Food has come to the rescue!" I give him a flat look and wait impatiently for everyone to sit down so I can start shoveling food in my mouth.

"You're an idiot," I tell him, keeping a watchful eye on Jenna's progress to the table with a plate full of bacon, egg, and cheese mixture. Noah pouts.

"Mommy, Collin called me a bad name."

"Well maybe Collin wouldn't call you an idiot if you stopped acting like one." Jenna tells him as she, finally, sits down. Noah scowls, and we all laugh as we dig into the amazing meal (with me eating most of the muffins, obviously).

When we finish, Jenna forces Noah to put all the dishes in the dishwasher.

"But moooom," he whines as she drags him to the kitchen. "Why can't Collin do it?"

"Because Collin is the birthday boy. Now get to it or I'll have you wash the table and the bathroom also."

It's almost too comical to watch the speed in which Noah races to get to the dishes once he hears that. Jenna smiles and gives me a kiss on the forehead before telling me to have fun today, but not too much fun.

And cue the flush rising from my neck.

Jenna laughs on her way up the stairs to wash Sammy, and I shake my head as I walk over to a pouting Noah rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher. He looks over at me and a big smirk comes on his face.

"So, how's it feel to finally be eighteen?"

"Boring. For now, anyways." I smirk, and Noah looks at me knowingly.

"Oh, I see, you're going to spend the day with the Mrs."

"The what?"

"The Mrs. You know, 'cause you too are so darn sweet and in love that you might as well be married." I give him a blank look.

"Funny. Anyways, I have to go and pick up Steph to spend the day with her. Remember not to spill that it's my birthday, or she'll feel responsible to do something extravagant and I really don't want that." Noah rolls his eyes.

"Yes, I know. You want to just spend the day with the Mrs with no interruptions and no presents. Completely crazy, in my opinion, but whatever."

I nod, satisfied that I'd drilled it into his head enough, and turn to walk out of the kitchen to get ready for my date with Steph today. Noah calls out my name, though, just as I'm about to leave. I turn back to him, raising an eyebrow, and he smiles a big, genuine smile.

"Happy 18th birthday, Coll."

I smile big and give him a quick thanks before rushing upstairs to get ready.

****

Driving to Steph's house isn't as intimidating anymore as it one was. She moved back here a few days ago, a little teary eyed at the prospect of leaving Amy's family, and she seems to be acclimating well to being back in her home. At first I thought the idea might back fire one her, but her dad seems to be filling the gap between them more and more each day, and from what I've heard, the same is happening with Stacy and Carrie.

My car finally gets to the end of the long driveway, and get out to knock on the big front door. Matt opens it and greets me with his usual huge smile, but there's something different in it today. Almost secretive and the I-know-something-you-don't type. A trickle of awareness runs through me as I walk into the house, but I squash it when I see my Bambi rushing down the stairs looking as radiant as ever.

She walks over and gives me a big hug, then gives me a mischievous smile.

"Have I ever told you about the pool we have on the property?" She asks. I shake my head, completely bewildered. Maybe she wants to spend the day at the pool?

"No, and while I'd love to experience it today, I didn't exactly come prepared."

"Oh no worries, we'll just check it out so you can be a little more familiar with the house, then we can leave on our date."

I accept reluctantly, not really knowing why we have to go see the pool today, but I shake it off and let myself be dragged towards the backyard, past the koi pond and the tennis court, where a big, glistening pool lies in the shape of a kidney with a white diving board and a few lawn chairs spread around the vicinity. A big, spacious pool house, the size of a regular two bedroom home, lays a few feet away.

"Wow, this is really nice." I tell her. She smiles again, but it's the same smile that I saw on Matt earlier. The one that tells me there's an inside joke going on that I'm not privy to.

Steph sashays over to me when she sees me narrow my eyes in concentration, and links her arms around my head keeping her lips just slightly out of reach of mine.

"I was thinking we could go over to Dominic's today, then come back here and watch a movie in the basement. It's really cool and has this huge TV that's so awesome to watch movies in. What do you think?" She asks me, blinking those big, innocent blue eyes that have no idea what they're doing to my self control.

Due to my inner struggle, I decide to go with a simple nod and Steph drags me outside to my car. We get in and swing over to Dominic's where there's a full house and a lively atmosphere full of succulent smells and joyful Italian music in the background.

We end up having to wait a little for a free booth table to open up, and when it does, the hostess leads us to the comfy booth and gives us the menus. Once our orders are in, Steph and I engage in a debate on which type of pizza is the best until we hear the, now very familiar, booming laugh coming from behind. I turn to see the big form of Dom with an even bigger smile on his face and with his arms around two unfamiliar guys both of whom look to be in their mid-twenties. Steph, though, immediately smiles bigger at the sight of them and gives them both a hug when they reach us.

"Is that Estefania, Papa?" Asks the one on the right with just as much of a heavy Italian accent as, apparently, his father. Dominic's smile somehow gets bigger.

"Yes, Alonzo, this is my bella ragazza!"

"Papa, no! You didn't tell us that Ella è cresciuta fino a essere così bello (She grew up to be so beautiful)!" Exclaims the one on the right now. Steph blushes that bright red I love so much, and my hands clench when the hear the guy, who I know is the type girls find attractive, tell her she's so beautiful. Yes, I know quite a bit of Italian from all the years I've had Max as one of my best friends.

"Well, how would I tell you when all you two can ever do is stick your noses in books or do esercizio! I tell you so many times, go out, enjoy the world, but nothing! Avete un cranio spesso!"

"Papa, we're in college! We have to study a lot, you know that!"

"So? It doesn't mean you can't find time to go out and find a nice girl to marry and make me a nonno!"

They start to argue in the middle of the restaurant without a care in world, with Steph and I look between them like it's a tennis match, until our pizza slices and lasagna come out. The food manages to stop Dom and his sons from fighting, and they turn on us with smiles.

"Estefania, it was so great to see you again." Alonzo tells Steph, kissing her hands. His brother pushes him away and takes Alonzo's place to give her a hug.

"Truly, Estefania, it's so bene to see you after so long. You tell Amelia to come visit me soon, okay?" He tells her. Steph smiles.

"Of course, Alessandro!"

The guys smile and wave before leaving with Dom and disappearing into the kitchen. I look over at Steph and laugh at the fact that in the split second I looked away she already started stuffing food in her mouth, and two noodle pieces dangle out to of her mouth when she looks at me.

Laughing, we both finish our scrumptious meal and decide to forego dessert. After another goodbye to Dom and his sons where Steph whispers something secretive into their ears, we get into my car again and head toward Steph's house. We enter the foyer and head into the direction of the pool again.

"Why are we going to the pool again? I thought you'd wanted to see a movie, Bambi." Steph looks at me coyly.

"Don't worry. I just have something else I wanted to show you."

"Does this something have anything to do with why you wanted to take the scenic route here, also known as the really long way to get here?"

"Maybe."

I furrow my eyebrows, trying to figure out what she's up to, until we finally cross the last bend to reach the pool. Just as I notice the decorations around it, a whole bunch of my friends and people I know from Steph come out of the pool house.

"Surprise!"

Completely gobsmacked, I look around to see a whole bunch of balloons, a banner saying happy birthday, a table being wheeled out of the pool house by Matt full of delicious snacks, and a big cake with my name on it being brought by Dom with a big ol' smirk on his face. Noah comes out with Amy's hand firmly held in his, both of them in bathing suits.

"Happy birthday, Collin." Steph tells me with a hug, followed by the same sentiment from Amy.

"Thanks baby, but how did you know?" I ask. She smirks and I look at Noah accusingly.

"I didn't say anything, she found out all on her own." He tells me with his hands held up in surrender. I look at Steph again and she shakes her head at me.

"There's something called the internet Collin. You refused to tell me, so I looked it up. And can I just say, I was this close to smacking you upside the head for not telling me your birthday was coming. Then I figured, why don't I just keep quiet and work on a surprise party that he won't see coming at all. So, do you like it?"

I look at her with a small smile, wondering what on earth I ever did to be able to deserve her. Then I look around at the wonderful people who've taken me into their fold, and wonder what I did to deserve any of them.

"Bambi, I absolutely love this. Thank you."

She sighs with relief, and brings me over to the cake.

"I made it this morning before you came over. It's a triple layered chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and fudge frosting."

I look at the chocolaty deliciousness that is Steph's cake, and my salivary glands immediately start overproducing at the heavenly smell of pure bliss.

"So when can I eat it?" I ask. Everyone laughs, and Steph shakes her head at me telling me I can't eat a piece until much later when the party's finishing and we've eaten all the snacks. Darn.

A few minutes later, the party is in full swing. Two speakers on each side of the pool house are blasting this year's latest hits and everyone has eaten a few snacks before slowly trickling into the pool. My friends bring a big volleyball net and attach it to either side of the pool, and then start entering to begin playing.

"Bambi, I don't have a swimsuit."

Steph looks over at me, smiling, and drags me to the pool house. She brings me over to a room and opens one of the wooden cabinets where blue and black checkered swimsuit pants await. Pressing it into my hand, she points me toward the bathroom and tells me to get dressed and then join them outside again for the game.

I get dressed quickly and then walk outside where my friends have started the game of volleyball in the water. Just as I'm about to get in, a commotion comes from the other side of the snack table and I look to see mom greeting Noah's parents and Dom. She catches my eye and excuses herself to come over and give me a hug.

"Happy birthday honey!"

Tears prickle at my eyes when she hugs me, and I take her tightly into my arms, loving the smell of her perfume because it reminds me of my childhood with her and dad. She rubs my back a little, like she always did when I was little and sick, then pulls back and gives me a soft smile.

"How are you kiddo?" She asks, looking deep into me with those sharp hunter green eyes. I sigh blissfully.

"I'm good mom; I've honestly never been better." She looks at me again, as if to see if I'm lying, then nods assuredly at what she sees.

"You've found a really good girl there, kiddo. She was so excited when she called and asked me to come over for a surprise party." She looks over at Steph for a minute, who's playing in the pool with the rest of our friends, then looks back at me with soft eyes. "She really, truly loves you in a way I've only ever seen a handful of times before. It's just... Special."

I take that in for a moment, then exhale and close my eyes, relieved beyond belief. Mom not only approved of Steph, but she believes we had something really special. It was something I've hoped for, but haven't really held my breath for because I know mom can be really hard core and she's not one to trust easily.

Steph looks over right at that moment and I see her smile excitedly at my mom. Then, when she looks over at me, her eyes widen at my six pack that's glistening with sweat from the brutal San Diego sun. I smirk as I watch her ogle me from afar then blush a beautiful strawberry red when she sees I've caught her staring. She excuses herself from the game, and then it's my turn to ogle her when she comes over to greet my mom in her little pastel blue bikini.

"My eyes are up here, stud Muffin." I give her a big wink and hug her close, seeing my mom leaving from my peripheral vision.

"Well, when my girlfriend is this hot, I like to take in everything." She blushes again, and I lean in to kiss her but I'm interrupted by a wack on the back of my head with a rolled up newspaper by Steph's dad as he passes by.

"Watch those hands, boy!"

Everyone laughs, and I blush bright red again with embarrassment. The things I go through for my girl.

****

The party starts winding down around eight at night, once everyone's eaten cake, all the snacks have been devoured, and the pool has gotten too cold to play in anymore.

I get hugs from all the guests as they leave, and Steph and I thank them all for coming while my friends watch the cleaning crew Steph's dad ordered get everything organized quickly. Once everyone has left, including the cleaning crew, my friends and I sit on the couches in Steph's living room. Even Stacy and James were cuddled together on the love seat. They've been going strong ever since Stacy agreed to be James' girlfriend the day after she was freed from her stepfather.

"So can someone think of something to do, 'cause I'm booored!" Noah exclaims, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over us and making us all laugh.

"I vote for ripping open all of Collin's gifts." Jess says, carefully scrutinizing the mountain of gifts on the living room table.

"Sorry guys, but I'm opening those tomorrow with Steph." I tell everyone apologetically. It's always been a tradition for me to open my gifts the day after my birthday, and I decided to share it with Steph this year.

"Ooh, I know!" Amy squeals from Noah's lap as he looks on indulgently. "Let's play truth or dare!"

Steph groans next to me, but everyone else cheers on the idea. I look at her for confirmation, because I could honestly care less about what everyone else wants. Only her.

She rolls her eyes at Amy, Jess, and even Stacy's pleading eyes, but finally gives in and the girls bring us all outside excitedly. Then, they sit us down at a clearing next to the glistening koi pond that's just big enough for all of us to fit in. Of course there's a little extra space since all of us guys decide to put our girls on our laps.

"Okay, so, who wants to go first?" Amy asks. Jess shrugs.

"I'll go." Amy grins.

"Okay, truth or dare?" Jess contemplates for a second then answers, "dare."

"I dare you to lick the koi pond."

We all laugh at Jess' groan and complaints that the water was probably dirty, and when we see her bravely take a lick of the water we cheer her back. Jess grimaces into Blake's chest.

"That. Was. Disgusting."

We crack up and then keep the game going with lively dares and questions for truths. When it's my turn to give something to Steph and she chooses truth quickly after a horrific dare from Jess had her crushing a beetle under her naked palm. And Steph is terrified of insects.

"Hmmm. Alright, when you first started hanging out with me as my friend, did you want to want to be more or were you content as just a friend?"

Steph gets a dazed look in her eye for a second, then she looks back at me with a small smile.

"Honestly, I think I was okay being your friend at the very beginning, but then when we started hanging out more, I fell for you and just didn't want to admit that to myself."

Satisfied with her answer, I nod and bring her back into my chest to cuddle. I take a big whiff of her neck as the game goes on around me, loving the scent of strawberries and something abundantly sweet that lingers on her skin. It's an incredibly intoxicating smell, and I find myself wondering what she showers with that smells so good.

The game goes on for a few more rounds, until we all find ourselves struggling to remain awake and we decide to head back into Steph's house where we'll all be sleeping tonight in the vast basement. We open up the many sleeping bags and get comfortable while Steph grabs some hot chocolate Dom kindly left us on the stove to heat up when we were going to bed. When she gets back, Steph explains that it's a rich mix of Belgian, Swiss, and Italian chocolate with half whole milk and half evaporated milk that slips over your tongue like silk and leaves you with the wonderful taste of the variety of spices Dom mixes in it that he keeps a secret from everyone.

We settle in to watch Rio until everyone but Steph an I are asleep. Shutting the television off, I wrap my arms around her and we settle into the sleeping bag together. I kiss her forehead softly, then both of her cheeks, her nose, and finally settle on her soft as a rose petal lips. They mold perfectly to mine, and I hold her tighter to me, scared that I'll wake up any second and realize she's just a figment of my imagination. But then I realize, no, she has to be real, because there's no way my subconscious could come up with someone as perfect as her.

"I love you so much, Bambi." I whisper into her ear just as we're about to e lulled into the welcoming sleep wanting to embrace us into its arms.

"I love you too, stud muffin."

*****

A/N: So? How was it? Was it yea or nay? Please do let me know, and please vote, comment, share, and follow because each one literally means the world to me! Thank you guys!

بدرود (pronounced bedrood, means goodbye in farsi)