Chapter 1
Thought it was time for me to start a new story, as I'm beginning to run out of ideas for my other ones but still going to try to update them as well as this. So it's a bit different Rachel doesn't have kids at the moment however she's going to adopt 2 girls- lily who's just turned 4 and Rosie who's 11. Rachel has a husband-joe and they've been together 10 years now. Please read and tell me what you think.
It was a Saturday evening and Rachel was going round her house frantically trying to tidy. Not that it actually needed cleaning, she'd already done that at least 5 times already that same day however she was determined for everything to be perfect for when the girls got there. She felt liked she'd been waiting for this day for so long and now it was finally here, all the meetings, endless hours on the phone, paperwork and at last she was getting to meet them.
"Rach you going to come down and have a cuppa before the girls get here?" Joe asked "the house is tidy enough"
Rachel was about to protest but then nodded her head, a cuppa was exactly what she needed at the moment.
The two of them went down and Rachel sat on her sofa while joe made her coffee for her, she felt really nervous and had butterflies in her stomach she just prayed they'd get through there first few hours together and everything would go okay.
Joe could see how nervous his wife looked so came and sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her.
"It's going to be fine you know"
"What of they don't like me though? What of they think I'm horrible or too strict or ..."
"Rach calm, there going to love you, you're great with kids" joe said "you're really are going to make an amazing mum you know"
"I hope so, it's the one thing I've always wanted so badly"
It was true both joe and Rachel had been desperate for kids however unfortunately things just hadn't worked out that way.
They drank their coffee and chatted however after about 10 minutes or so there was a knock at the door.
Rachel immediately jumped up and went straight over to open the door.
She saw the social worker stood there Rosie was next to her, she was a very pretty girl Rachel thought to herself however she looked a lot younger than 11, Rachel tried to spot lily but not coed she was hiding behind her social workers skirt obviously very scared.
"Hello all of you, come on in" Rachel said smiling.
Rosie stepped in first, she took her shoes off but didn't know where to put them down.
Rachel took them off her and put them down, giving Rosie another one of her smiles.
Rosie suddenly started to warm to Rachel, after all it wasn't very often people smiled at her.
Rosie stared around at Rachel's house, it really was massive, she couldn't believe she was going to live here now, but the thought of it seemed really exciting to her.
Lily was still stood behind Claire holding, not wanting to have to say anything yet.
"Come on dear don't be silly" Claire said sounding a bit impatient
"Why don't we go through to the kitchen" Rachel suggested both Claire and Rosie went through and Rachel followed them but realised lily still standing at the door, looking terrified.
"I'll just be two minutes joe will make us some coffee and the girls whatever they fancy"
Rachel turned back round and closed the kitchen door behind her.
Lily looked up and saw her coming towards her and immediately stepped back. This was the first time Rachel got to have a proper look at her, like her sister she was very pretty and she looked so cute but also looked a lot younger than 4.
Rachel crouched down beside her so she was on her level
"You want to come through to the kitchen with the others"
Lily didn't say anything just shook her head
"Well that's okay, I wouldn't want to sit with a bunch of boring adults too if i were you" Rachel said
Lily was surprised to hear her voice, it sounded so gentle and kind which was so unlike what she was used to.
"Are you feeling a bit frightened?" Rachel asked
Lily nodded her head this time but then stared at the floor
"That's okay, you know what? So am I, I've been so excited to meet you and your sister"
Lily still stayed silent but pulled her head up and looked at Rachel, her warm hazel eyes somehow made her feel a little more relaxed.
"I'm sure you already know this, but my names Rachel and my husbands joe, and your lily yes?"
Lily thought about just nodding her head again but then said "yes"
"Well that's a lovely name" Rachel said "so are you sure you don't want to come through with everyone, you don't have to talk much not if you don't want to"
"Okay" lily said
Rachel have her a warm smile before leading her through.
When she walked in she saw Claire and joe talking but Rosie was looking quite uncomfortable
"Girls you two go outside a moment i need to have a word with joe and Rachel" Claire said
"If you go Into the hall and to the right the living rooms in there out the tv on or whatever you fancy" joe said
The girls went out and found the living room.
"How are you two feeling? Still wanting to go ahead with everything"
"Of course, they both seem so lovely" Rachel said "I hope they'll be happy here, they both seem so frightened"
"Well you know what a bad past they've had, they've met very few adults they can trust. I'm just so happy they've got you, I mean finding people willing to take on two kids is rare enough let alone when they've got a past like they have"
"Those poor girls, neither of them have had much of a childhood have they?" Joe said
"No all they've known all there life is abuse, both physically and emotionally"
"What I can't understand is how anyone could ever treat them the way there parents did, I mean Lily's only been 4 a couple of weeks she's only a baby really" Rachel said
"It's all a horrible story so far for them, but what they've got now is an opportunity to turn that round"
"Well I hope we can help them do that" Rachel said "do you have any advice on how to make sure they feel at home here, I know these first few days will be hard when we're all getting to know one another but I just want to make sure they feel relaxed"
"Best advice I could give would be to make sure you try and make things as normal as possible, get into the routine of things straight away, but I know that'll be hard especially with little lily, they'll be times when she gets really upset, but don't push her into talking about things too much, just show her you're there if she does want to talk and ... Sorry this must sound so patronising"
"No not at all" joe said, after all both he and Rachel needed all the help they could possibly get.
"The main thing they need though, is love and I know you two can give that to them"
The three of them talked for quite a while and then Claire said her goodbyes and left them to it.
"You ready?" Joe asked
"Yeah, let's go and see them"
The two of them walked into the living room and saw the two of them sat on the sofa, lily was resting against her big sister, Rachel saw she was sucking her thumb however she pulled it out of her mouth as soon as she saw the two adults there so they both pretended they hadn't noticed.
"Hey you two" Rachel said going over and sitting on the edge of the sofa next to them and joe sat on one of the chairs
"Hi Rachel" Rosie said still sounding nervous
"you two okay"
"Yeah" Rosie answered
"I do understand how you both must be feeling, it must be really scary being somewhere new especially when you don't know anyone, but I really want you to make yourself at home here okay? So I thought me and joe could show you round a bit, just so you know where everything is, then we can have some hot chocolate and a chat"
Both Rosie and lily got up off the sofa and followed Rachel out.
"Do you want to grab your stuff and we can get rooms sorted so you can both get unpacked"
Rachel was surprised when she saw how little the bag was with there stuff in, she'd have expected them both to have suitcases but instead they just had a few little carrier bags, but she decided not to comment on this.
Rachel and joe showed them all downstairs and then went up to the first floor, both girls were amazed by just how big the house was.
"We've got quite a few spare rooms, there's two on this floor, and then two on the next floor up, mine and joes rooms on this floor just through there" Rachel said pointing "so we're never very fair away"
Rachel finished showing them round upstairs
"Rachel please can I sleep on the top floor" Rosie asked, she'd seen the room up there with it's own little bathroom and the big double bed and thought it would be really cool to be up there.
"Course you can Rosie" Rachel said "what about you Lily which room do you fancy?"
"The one near yours please" lily mumbled feeling all frightened again, but she thought if anyone tried to get her maybe if she was near Rachel and joe they'd stop them hurting her. Lily had never had a room of her own before she'd always shared a bed with Rosie and she was feeling a bit nervous about having to go to sleep all by herself.
"Okay then, that's that sorted then, right joe go and help Rosie unpack her stuff I'll help lily"
Rachel then walked into the room with lily, she couldn't believe that she was going to have this room all to herself, it was so pretty and it was massive, she looked at the double bed with the while quilt cover and rosebuds all over it and suddenly she started feeling really sleepy.
"I know it's a bit boring at the moment but we can soon make it all pretty girly"
"I don't want to change it" lily mumbled, it was the first thing she'd said without being asked something first.
"Well then that's what we'll do for now " Rachel Said
She turned her attention to the little bag and started taking out all her stuff, but the she realised how little she actually had.
"Do you not have any pyjamas love?"
Lily shook her little head again before saying "daddy never used to let me get them, he said they were a waste of money"
"Oh right okay, well I'm going to nip out and get you some now, it can get quite cold sometimes my house on a nighttime"
"I don't mind"
"Well I do, I'd rather not have you freezing cold"
Rachel continued to put away her stuff for her, while lily sat on the bed. Rachel knew how scared she must be, at 4 she was still really young so all this must seem so strange for her.
"How are you feeling love? You still a bit scared?"
Lily nodded her head
"Well there's no need to be scared you know, things are going to be strange to start with but before long everything will be fine, it'll seem like you've been here forever"
"I don't want to go home"
"You don't ever have to go back again"
"What if I'm naughty?"
"That doesn't matter sweetheart" Rachel said gently "no one here going to hurt you in anyway I promise"
"Really?"
"Yeah trust me"
Lily began to feel a bit more relaxed, but she still felt really scared and didn't know what to say.
"Right I'm going to nip to tesco, it's quite big and there's quite a lot of clothes there so we'll try and get you sorted with a few things, though we'll have to do a proper shop round town tomorrow for the pair of you" Rachel said, she hadn't seen what Rosie had packed but she thought it would probably be similar to her sister.
"You fancy a trip out with me or do you want to stay here with joe"
"Come with you"
"Okay well just give me 10 minutes, then we'll get going"
Lily stared around the room again but suddenly she felt tears form in her eyes, she didn't know why she just felt like everything was so strange.
She brushed them away before Rachel saw them, not wanting to get in trouble with her, she still felt really uncomfortable as she didn't know what to do or where to go, she felt really thirsty but she didn't want to ask for a drink.
"Have you had any tea yet love" Rachel asked
Lily shook her head, but at the moment she didn't feel hungry because she felt a bit sick
"Okay well we'll get something at tesco for us all to have, it'll be nice to have a chat with the two of you over dinner"
Rachel finished putting her stuff away before leaving, as soon as she left lily laid on her bed and tears started to pour down her face.
a few minutes later her door opened, at first she thought it was Rachel again, so she sat up and brushed her tears away but then she realised it was actually her sister.
when she saw lily crying, rosie rushed over to her and out her on her knee, shes always been like a mum to lily, despite still being so young herself.
"its okay lily"
"I'm scared"
"why? it seems so nice here, joes really funny he was making me laugh and Rachel seems so nice"
"I know"
"so why are you scared then?"
lily shrugged her shoulders not knowing how to explain properly
The two girls stayed together for a bit before deciding to go down.
They saw the two adults sat in the living room so went in.
"Hey you two, Rosie me and lily are going to head off to tesco for some stuff, do you fancy coming with us?"
"Yes please"
Once Rachel had finished her cup of coffee she got up and put her cup in the kitchen.
Lily was still really thirsty but she still didn't want to say, but she also needed to go to the toilet bur she didn't want to say this either, however in the end she realised she'd need to go or else she'd have an accident.
She got up and went through to the kitchen where Rachel was putting some things in the dishwasher however she stopped when she saw lily walk in.
"Hey love, you okay?"
"Please can I go to your toilet" lily asked sounding a bit scared
"Course you can, that's one thing you really don't need to ask permission for" Rachel said "do you remember where it was"
Lily nodded her head, before walking off.
Once she was done she came back into the kitchen
"Did you find it okay?"
Lily nodded her head
"Is there anything else you need"
"Please can I have a glass of water I'm really thirsty"
"I'll get you one now"
Rachel got a glass out and gave her some cold water, and lily gulped it down straight away.
"You must have been thirsty"
"I was"
"You should have said, honestly if you need anything you just come straight to me okay"
When lily had finished her drink the three of them got in the car, hoe decided to stay home as he didn't want the girl to feel overwhelmed by the two of them being there all the time and thought it would be nice for Rachel to get some time alone with them.
"Rachel is it true, that we can stay with you forever?" Rosie asked
"If that's what the two of you both want"
"It is" Rosie said smiling
"Good, like I said to lily, I know the first days will be strange but once you've both settled in I think we'll be really happy together"
They stayed quiet for a bit and they were all in there own little worlds for a while.
"So why don't the two of you tell me a bit about yourselves, the more we know about each other the better I think"i
"I like dancing" Rosie said
"Do you? Did you go to lessons"
"No" Rosie said going quiet again, she didn't really want to explain that they used to be really poor so couldn't afford anything like that
"Well I have a friend who runs a dance group maybe I could get you in there"
"Really, that'd be so good" Rosie said feeling really excited now
Lily stayed looking out the window, she hoped she wouldn't get asked anything because the sick feeling in her tummy had started to come back again and she didn't feel up to talking much.
Rachel glanced at lily in her mirror and realised she looked a bit upset again so decided to just leave her be.
"Gosh it's getting late" Rachel Said after looking at her watch and realising it was already 6:30 "what's your usual bedtime girls"
"I normally put lily to bed about 7:30"
"Okay well it's been a busy day for you both so when we get in, we'll have tea then I'll do you a bath lily before bedtime"
Rachel then parked the car up and her and the girls got out.
She took hold of Lily's small hand as they crossed the road, Rachel already felt so protective over her after all she was still so small.
Rachel went round and got some stuff for tea, as well as a few other bits and pieces before getting to the clothing isles.
"Right the pair of you need some pyjamas"
"Rachel we don't have any money" Rosie said feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Love I don't expect you to pay for stuff you know" Rachel said causing Rosie to smile.
The three of them picked out some quite nice things in the end, so Rachel went over and paid for everything before heading back to the car, she could tell lily was starting to get really tired now though, so she wanted to get home and get tea on as soon as possible.
Once they were home, Rachel immediately made a start on tea while joe started chatting to the girls.
As soon as tea was ready Rachel called them all through.
"There's quite a lot so just leave what you don't want".
Both girls tucked in straight away and the two of them finished up eating everything on there plate.
"You two must have been hungry" joe said laughing
The two girls got down from the table and put the plates by the dishwasher
"Should we go and get your bath run lily" Rachel said
Lily nodded so the two of them went upstairs and Rachel ran a bath and out loads of bubbles in it.
As soon as it was ready Rachel turned to lily expecting her to be ready to get in but she wasn't.
"Take your stuff off then love"
Lily reluctantly started to get undressed, it was only then Rachel saw all the scratches and bruises all over her body, Rachel had been given some background on the girls, and she knew about the abuse however it still nearly brought tears to her eyes when she saw, she couldn't imagine how anyone could do that to such a small child, it was no wonder lily was as scared as she was Rachel thought, she just wanted to wrap her arms round lily and keep her protected.
Rachel could sense how scared lily was that She was going to mention the marks.
"In you get then my love" Rachel said steadily
Lily climbed into the bath and the hot water relaxed her.
Rachel have her a few minutes just to relax before massaging shampoo into her head and then washing her body.
"You feeling sleepy?"
"Yes" lily Said, she was feeling very tired but she was also scared to go to sleep, it would be her first night by herself which was scary enough, but especially when she was in a new house where everything seemed so alien to her.
Rachel got her out the bath and wrapped a warm towel round her before going into her room and drying her hair off.
She then went and brushed her teeth and went to the toilet.
"Right come on then let's get you Into your pyjamas"
She then helped the little girl into the new pyjamas and lily then got into bed and Rachel leant on the headboard on the other side of the bed
"So do you reckon you'll be okay in here"
"Yes"
"Good, you look really tired so I'd imagine you'll go to sleep straight away, but if you can't just come down and give me or joe a shout and we'll come and sit with you until you can" Rachel said
"Okay"
"And remember my rooms just next door so if you need me at all during the night all you need to do is go through, it doesn't matter how late it is, just come and get me even if you just wake up feeling a bit upset" Rachel said knowing night times could sometimes be the times when you felt most alone and scared "I'll leave the landing light on and the bathroom light so of you need to go to the loo just get up and go don't feel you need to come and ask me or anything"
"Rachel I ..." Lily began but then she stopped herself
"What is it love?"
"Nothing it doesn't matter"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Okay well night, night then remember you need anything at all you come and get me don't feel scared"
"Thanks" lily said before turning over on her side.
Almost as soon as Rachel left lily started to cry again, she hated feeling like this, she was terrified that her dad was going to come in any second and hurt her again.
Rachel went downstairs and saw joe and Rosie chatting, she smiled when she saw the two of them
"Hey Rach" joe said
"Hiya, I've just out your sister to bed Rosie, she seemed a bit scared, do you think she'll be okay"
"I think so, she's nervous about sleeping on her own though, normally we share"
"Oh dear, well I told her any problems she should come and see me"
"I think she'll be fine she's probably too tired to worry much"
"I hope so, so how are you doing?"
"I'm okay, I like it here"
"Good because I really want the two of you to be happy" Rachel said
"So if there is anything you need just find one of us" joe added
"Thanks...you know for all this"
"It's okay sweetheart" Rachel said "do you fancy maybe putting a film on""
Rosie nodded so they went through to the living room and selected the film to watch.
The three of them sat on the sofa.
Rachel smiled this was something she'd wanted ever since her and joe got married, a proper family, it was perfect her sat watching movies with Rosie while lily was sound asleep upstairs-or so she thought, lily hadn't gone to sleep yet and was just tossing and turning.
They want he'd to the end of the film and then Rosie started to feel tired so she decided to go up to bed.
"I'll come up in a few minutes love" Rachel said
Once she was upstairs, Rachel wrapped her arms around joe
"This is perfect Rach"
"I know the two of them seem so lovely, I know they haven't had the best start, but I really feel we can give them everything they need"
"You're going to be such an amazing mum to them, they've taken to you so well already"
"I hope so, lily seems so upset and shy still"
"She'll soon settle in i promise"
Rachel and joe had another cup of coffee before heading upstairs.
"Should we check on the girls" joe asked
"Yeah I said I was going to come in and see Rosie but I forgot, come on let's go up"
The two of them went up to Rosie's bedroom and found her sitting up on her bed.
"It's about time you were going to sleep I think love, it's getting late" Rachel said "you are going to be alright up here aren't you? I feel bad leaving you on this floor by yourself"
"It's fine I like it" Rosie said
"Okay, well I'll get some stuff for your en suite tomorrow when we go to town"
"It's so cool having my own bathroom"
Rachel smiled at her "well I'm glad you like it, anyway come on it's time for sleep now"
"Night Rachel and joe" she said
The two of them then so as goodnight before going out.
"I'm just going to check Lily's gone to sleep okay, you go to bed I'll be a couple of minutes"
Rachel walked I to Lily's room.
When Rachel walked In lily tried to pretend to be asleep, however this was hard as she was still crying.
"Lily" Rachel said gently, as she was sure she'd heard crying
When she didn't get a response she edged closer to her and saw that her pillow was wet from all her tears and they were still pouring from her eyes.
"Hey" Rachel said "lily it's okay, sit up sweetheart"
Lily opened her eyes and sat up, and Rachel flicked on the light, but then lily just started crying even harder.
Rachel out her on her knee and rocked her "it's okay my love, you have a good cry if that's what you need"
Lily continued to cry into Rachel, it felt so strange especially since she hardly knew her but she couldn't seem to be able to help it.
Rachel rubbed her back and this seemed to help and eventually lily stopped her crying
Rachel stayed cuddling her for a bit and then Said "do you want to tell me what's upsetting you so much"
Lily shook her head
"Is it just because everything's all new and you're feeling a bit unsettled"
"Yes, sort of" lily said "I just got scared because I'm by myself"
"Do you not like being by yourself very much"
"No"
"You should have told me earlier, I don't like making you do things you don't like sweetheart, so what frightens you about being on your own"
"I'm scared people are going to come and get me"
"I promise you, here you're totally safe, nobody is going to harm you in anyway okay"
"Am I going to get hit for staying up late" lily sobbed terror evident in her voice
"No sweetheart, we don't hit anyone here okay, me and joe will never hurt you no matter what you do"
"Really?"
"Yes love I promise, I'll tell you what I can make you up a little bed In my room if you want, that's if you can put up with me and joe snoring" Rachel joked "but then you know you've got someone there"
Rachel didn't know what she was going to do in the long run about lily not being able to sleep on her own, but for now this seemed like a good solution.
Rachel got a load of blankets and cushions and got them on the floor in her room, there was enough room in her bed for lily to sleep in there, but she thought she might feel a bit uncomfortable in there.
She finished making her up a bed, though she didn't know how comfy it would be.
"What's wrong lily?" Joe asked feeling worried
"She's just a bit upset, she felt a bit scared being on her own"
"Oh dear, you're fine though no ones going to hurt you"
"I've said that to her, haven't I love?"
"Yes"
"Do you want to come in for a cuddle for a bit, before you go to sleep"
Lily nodded so got in beside Rachel.
Lily looked round the room, it was so big and pretty, then she saw a photo of a little baby on the wall.
"Who's that baby" lily asked
Rachel and joe exchanged glances
"That's my daughter love" Rachel said "when she was in my tummy she got very poorly, but when she came out they made her better, but then she got poorly again and she went up to heaven" she explained, she felt tears forming in her eyes like they always did when she talked about it,
Lily wrapped her arms round Rachel.
Rachel was really touched by this and cuddled her back.
"How long ago was it"
"It was 2 years ago love"
"What was her name"
"Do you know something? We were going to call her lily"
Lily continued to cuddle up to Rachel and Rachel stroked her hair, and just a few minutes later she fell asleep so Rachel lifted her down and put her on the made up bed, pleased to see her finally relaxed.
Please review would love to know what you think xxxxx