All-inclusive

The last weeks of the last term of the year passed by and summer break had arrived. Freeing up time in all their schedules and allowing them to spend more time with each other and less in classrooms and with their noses in books. During those last weeks Jenny had reached out to Julia and had a heart to heart with her about the way things had been going lately and apologizing for making her feel left out. Jenny also brought Elizabeth and Sophia up to speed to what was going on with Julia, making them contact her as well. Julia in her turn apologized for not coming out with her feelings and keeping them locked away instead. She had done so in order to not add to the burdens of Elizabeth and Jenny and because she didn't want to spoil this special phase in their lives. She understood full well that pregnancy was an all consuming thing and that aside from classes, their own partners and families, it would be hard to have any room left over for other matters. In such a simple way, something that had been going on for weeks, was resolved.

With their troubles talked over, they finally met up with the entire gang. Wanting to go on a vacation with just the couples before four out of eight members would be busy with taking care of a new-born, they set out for a trip. This time they didn't go to the Westwood vacation home but they visited an all-inclusive hotel instead. They would be staying there for two weeks, with the parents joining in on their fun for the first seven days. Jason would be join the group later, as he still had a few business matters to take care of before he could be missed for a longer period of time. Especially with his father being away as well during these days, there were a few matters he couldn't leave unattended. After wrapping things up, he would join them for the remaining days. Making sure he would be joining in on the days with and without the parents there.

By Jason heading there during the following weekend and managing the family business during the weekdays, Stephen could join Susan and the others without any worries. Jason had become a proper VP of Westwood International and had proven himself to be worthy of the position. Learning the tricks of the trade faster than anyone he had ever seen. Including himself. Therefore Stephen trusted fully that the company would be doing just fine in the hands of the president and their young, capable VP. With just the weekend where only the president alone would be trusted to handle matters, should any problems arise.

The group chose this type of vacation because they didn't want to worry about preparing dinner or grocery shopping. Though they could hire someone to take care of those matters, they felt that this was best. This way they would have multiple dishes to chose from during each meal and they wouldn't have to think about matters like making up the bed. The hotel belonged to the Westwood family as well. With the entire top floor, including the adjacent pool, rented out for them, there wouldn't be much change between them staying at the vacation home or at this particular hotel. This way they would have a change of scenery and they could make use of the multiple facilities of the hotel. Including their spa!

This trip was perfect to give the friends a bit of bonding time to make up for seeing each other so little during the academic year, and gave them plenty of activities and opportunities to spend some quality time with their significant other as well. By including the parents, they would allow them to spend some time with their children that they didn't nearly see enough and were growing up fast. After they had started their own families, it would become increasingly difficult to spend time with each other like this. Like they had seen with the arrival of little Henry.

He would be alternately staying at his great aunt and uncle's place, at Sophia's brother's house with his wife and children, and the remaining days Sophia's mother would be looking after him after her return. This many people needed to be involved in order to allow both parents and children to go on a vacation together. Partially because George and Sophia didn't want their child to be with a nanny for such a long period of time. Preferring Henry to be spending that time with family instead. But since the friends all shared that sentiment, having spent too much time under the care of such people while growing up themselves or having been pampered into never having to experience a day away from their parents at all, they imagined that their future situation wouldn't be any different should they want to undergo another trip like this.

Currently they were all gathered at the airport, ready to embark on said trip. They would be taking the larger, long range jet belonging to the Westwood family. With a capacity of 58 people, they would all fit in easily and would be able to arrive and leave at their destination at the same time. Plus, that way the fun could start during the flight, as they were the only passengers, instead of when everyone had arrived and unpacked. Though Jenny was a bit bummed out that Jason wouldn't be there for the first days, this gave her time to hang out alone with her mother. Who, had decided to return to the Netherlands after their trip. Though she would be returning after a month, now that Jenny had gotten used to having her around again every day, she was sure that she would be missing her mom quite a lot in those weeks that she would be back with her brothers. And even more so after she would move back to her own home after the birth of her grandchild.