31: Family/Friend Pictures: Noah and Katie

January 1, 2013: the start of a new year, and a new beginning, for Noah and Katie. In other words, a massive hangover and having no idea how she ended up sleeping half on/half off the couch. Katie looked around her boyfriend's mansion and tried to piece together the events that led to her sprawled out on the couch. Well, the house was still intact, so that was a good sign. Noah was curled up around her; at least she knew where he was. The rest of her friends, also known as the cast of "Total Drama", were likely scattered around the house.

It was Katie's idea to throw this party. Originally, he was going to spend New Year's with her family, but she suggested they do something a bit more fun. She missed her friends from the show and a party was the perfect excuse to catch up. Noah's parents were still gone, so he agreed and they arranged for everyone to meet at his place for the last day of 2012.

Now, Katie rubbed her tired eyes, pulled up the sleeve on her tank top, and wondered where everyone was. She heard movement in the kitchen and untangled herself from Noah to see who was conscious. She found it was Gwen making herself a pot of coffee. Because of the pregnancy, she hadn't risked a drink but nursed tea that night, meaning she was fully aware of everyone's activities the entire time. Although Katie had never been particularly close with Gwen, she still liked the girl and was happy for her. Gwen deserved to be happy with Duncan.

"Hey," she whispered the greeting. Gwen, wearing Duncan's sweater and her jeans from the night before, turned and waved a greeting.

"How you feeling?"

Katie groaned. "Awful. Figures I become legal and get wasted," she chuckled bitterly. The older girl handed her a cup of coffee.

"This should help, and some aspirin. Noah still asleep?"

"Yeah, he was just as bad as me last night."

The goth girl chuckled. "Duncan's the same. I can't get him to move off the basement floor till he has a cup, so I dragged my butt up here."

Katie sat on the counter, her shoeless feet bumping against the cabinet lightly, and glanced at Gwen's stomach. She certainly didn't look pregnant. Then again, she wasn't that far along.

"How's everything going with the baby? You feeling okay?"

Gwen nodded. "Oh yeah, besides the morning sickness, I actually don't feel any different, not that you could tell my mom that. She calls twice a day to make sure I'm taking my vitamins and stuff. God people worry too much," she chuckled.

"We just want to look after you I guess. I mean, remember how everyone was once Leshawna found out she was having a baby? It was the exact same way."

"True," Gwen nodded. "It's scary, but to be honest, I can't wait. Duncan's gonna be a great dad," she smiled affectionately.

Katie placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "And you'll be a great mom."

Gwen surprised the younger girl with a tight hug. "Thanks Katie, that means a lot."

She would have replied, but she heard movement upstairs and someone coming up from the basement. It seemed people were stirring.

"Katie," Noah groaned helplessly. The girl rolled her eyes and slid off the counter.

"Seems I'm needed. Don't leave before we all have breakfast, okay?"

Gwen agreed and Katie disappeared to see what her distressed boyfriend needed. Sure, he was capable of living on his own for college, but he turned into a baby as soon as he was at home. Figures.

Later that day, after everyone had gone home, caught their flights, or headed back to their hotel rooms, Katie pulled out her laptop and went on Facebook to see if anyone put pictures from the previous night up. Once she took a nap, had a shower, and drank more coffee, she was feeling fine, unlike Noah who was passed out beside her with his head on her shoulder. He hadn't gotten sick thankfully, but he had a wicked headache that he kept groaning about. The dancing student logged on a giggled when she saw a picture from last night.

'Oh God did my hair really look that bad?' Katie and Sadie were clinging to one of Justin's arms, each giving him a peck on the cheek. Katie's hair was sticking up on end and it was obvious all three were too wasted to care what they looked like.

Another one popped up from Heather's profile. She put up one of Alejandro with a rose between his teeth and a party hat on his head. Katie had never seen him look so silly before, but she supposed that was what love did to him. It opened him up to a world of fun and adventure, with Heather no less.

Katie scrolled down to see more pictures. Bridgette getting a piggy back from Geoff, Lindsay and Tyler singing karaoke, Owen and Izzy doing the chicken dance, Cody finally kissing Sierra (at midnight no less), Beth dipping DJ as they danced, the list went on. Katie sighed happily at the memories that came back. She really did have amazing friends. Despite the truck load of stuff they went through on the show, things turned out for the better.

The young lady came to a picture of Courtney hugging Gwen and stopped to stare at it. She read the caption, uploaded by Courtney, and nearly started to cry.

No matter what, I've got your back. God, how things changed! At one time Courtney hated Gwen. Now? 'Now they're friends. Finally!'

"Never thought that would happen at my party," Noah muttered against her shoulder.

"Certainly not. I thought when Gwen and Duncan came in the door we were about to witness World War three," she chuckled. And who could blame her for thinking like that? After all, Trent, Duncan, and their girlfriends didn't exactly have the best relationship with each other. Too much of an intertwined past. Katie was just glad they moved beyond it and all four were happy.

The last photo put up was of the entire cast all together in front of the fireplace. They out Gwen's camera on a stand and everyone squeezed in, cheesy smiles on their faces. Everyone embraced and when the flash went off, you had a picture of a family. As the caption read, maybe we're not related by blood, but I can honestly say you all are a part of my heart.

Katie wiped a tear from her eye and sighed. Noah shook his head then kissed her cheek. "Women, so emotional." She lightly shoved him and laughed when he fell off the couch.

What a way to start off the New Year.