"Come in!" Heather invited as she opened her front door to see Helen waiting there. "The others are all here,".
It was March and Sam's wedding was in just over a week's time. Heather, Helen, Lucy, Linda and Tasha were having their bridesmaid's dresses fitted at Heather's house. Lucy, Linda and Tasha's dresses fitted OK but Helen and Heather needed adjustments due to their pregnancies.
"I really like these dresses," Tasha said. "Where did you get them?".
"Over in New York last summer," Lucy informed her. "You were at Marat's match that day,".
"Sam called me last night," Linda told the others as she poured herself a glass of juice. "She's planned her hen night for Saturday. She says we're going to The Vibe by limo, then she has a surprise for us afterwards,".
"A surprise?" Heather said. "I wonder what that could be,".
"A stripper maybe?" Lucy laughed.
Tasha was flicking through a sports magazine. "I hope Marat can make the wedding," she said. "He's at a tennis tournament in Europe so if he gets through to the next round he won't be able to come,".
"Has anyone seen Sam's dress yet?" Helen asked the others.
"I have," Linda replied. "It's really nice,".
"What else did Sam say on the phone last night?" Helen asked.
"Not much else," Linda continued. "Oh yeah, she said that a1 are singing at the reception,".
"That was my idea," Heather told them.
Helen's face fell. "So I have to see Paul again..." she said softly. She remembered the look in his eyes when he had caught her with Duncan. She hadn't seen him since and didn't know if she could face him.
Sam's hen night arrived and the girls were at The Vibe dancing and having a laugh. "What's this surprise you have in store for us?" Tasha asked Sam as they sat at the bar.
"You'll have to wait and see," Sam winked.
"What's Russell doing for his stag night?" Heather asked.
"He's out with Colin, Pete and John, what a boring night that will be,".
"What are they doing, playing chess?!" Heather joked.
"This is your last night of freedom!" Sophie said to Sam, handing her a Vodka. "Make the most of it!".
Sam noticed a fit guy on the dance floor who was eying her up. "Go and snog him," Linda suggested.
Sam made her way over to him. "Hi there," she said in her sexiest voice.
"Is your dad a thief?" the guy said. "Because he stole the stars from the sky and used them for your eyes,".
Sam rolled her eyes, that was the cheesiest chat up line she'd ever heard. But despite that, she lent forwards and gave him a big smooch.
The girls cheered her on. "Let's see how long it can last!" Lucy said, looking at her watch. "Three minutes!".
Come, it's time for the surprise now," Sam said after the kiss finally ended. "Follow me,".
Sam led them to a private room at the back of the club. Inside, it was dark apart from a few sparkly gold lights strung across the ceiling. They sat on black leather sofas as music played from speakers by the wall.
There was a loud knock at the door. Sam opened it and in walked a cute looking man wearing a suit and tie, holding a briefcase.
"Are you in the right place love?" Heather asked. "This is a club,".
"This is Sam's hen party, right?" he asked with a sly smile. "I'm Darren. They call me Darren the Devil,". With that, he whipped off his jacket and started undoing his tie.
"I told you she's hire a stripper!" Lucy grinned, as the song 'You Sexy Thing' started up.
The girls watched noisily and excitedly as Darren performed his routine. They were all shrieking and laughing, except for Heather. She was feeling queasy and had a bad stomach ache.
"You OK?" Linda asked her as Darren was leaving the room.
"I think so, I'm just feeling a little... AGH!".
Everyone shut up and looked around as Heather began to shout out in pain.
"What's going on?" Lucy asked.
"I think she's going into labour!" Sam cried.
Everyone crowded around while Sophie phoned for an ambulance.
"Push!" Linda exclaimed as Sam tried to calm Heather down. She was in so much pain.
"Ugh, I can't watch this," Tasha said, feeling faint. "I hate the sight of blood!". She went off to see if there was any first aid people at the club who could help.
"It's coming, I can see it's head!" Lucy cried excitedly.
"Oh God," Heather breathed, feeling weak. She tried to shut out the pain and concentrate on the music, her favourite Artful Dodger song '24/7' was playing.
"Hold on Heather!" Sam said with a grin. "It's on it's way!".
By the time the ambulance arrived, Sam and Linda had delivered the baby. "It's a girl!" Sam told Heather.
"Is it all over now?" Heather asked, feeling light-headed as she almost passed out.
"Yep, that's it," Sam said reassuringly. "The ambulance crew are here now,".
Heather woke up and found herself laying in a hospital bed. She could hear a baby crying.
She opened her eyes and saw a nurse holing a bundle in a blanket.
"This is your baby daughter," the nurse smiled, leaning over so Heather could see her child.
"Awww, she's pretty," Heather cooed. The baby looked more like Ben than herself, with dark hair and bright blue eyes.
"Heather!".
She looked over and saw Ben rushing to her side. "I just got here, are you OK?".
"Yeah, I'm OK now, but the birth hurt like hell,".
Ben noticed the nurse who was holding the baby. "Oh can I hold her?" he pleaded. He looked at his daughter and cradled her in his arms. "She's beautiful," she smiled. "What are we going to call her?".
"Nicole Louise," Heather told him.
"Nicole Louise Adams," Ben sighed as he rocked her in his arms.
.