Know I've started a few stories on here and never continued, but I'm really excited about this one so I'm definitely going to update regularly.
I want to focus on Connie as a Mum. I know on the show she doesn't have a sister, but in this I'm pretending she does. Also in this Grace is 11 and not 10.
It had been two weeks since the arrival of Connie's nieces following the death of Connie's sister and her husband.
They'd all struggled to start with, especially her nieces, but they were slowly starting to come to terms with it.
Connie's oldest niece was called Olivia and she was 15. Her youngest was called Rosie and she was 5.
Grace had always got on really well with her cousins, however she never used to see them that much so long term Connie didn't know how she was going to find it.
It was a Thursday morning during the summer holidays and Connie was downstairs packing her bag ready for work.
Connie hadn't been back to work since the death of her sister because she'd needed to be there for the girls, but she couldn't put off going back any longer.
Connie was about to go upstairs to put on her lipstick and spray some perfume when she heard little footsteps coming across the hallway.
She turned around and saw Rosie in her pyjamas, looking all sleepy.
"Good morning Rosie, did you sleep okay?"
"Yes thank you" Rosie said as she walked over to her Auntie
When she was close enough Connie picked her up and gave her a cuddle.
Rosie liked to have lots of cuddles and Connie didn't know if she was like it all the time or just now because of what had happened to her Mum and Dad.
Connie still had her arms around Rosie when Grace came into the kitchen in her dressing gown and pyjamas.
"What are you doing up?"
"I can go back to bed if you'd prefer"
"No that's not what I was saying, I was just expecting you all to have more of a lie in"
Grace had been in a bit of a mood last night and Connie hoped it wasn't going to continue today.
Grace helped herself to a glass of water and then sat down at the breakfast bar.
"Do you want to sit up there too Rosie and I'll make you both some breakfast"
"Okay"
Connie carefully placed Rosie down onto one of the chairs.
"What would you like for breakfast girls?"
"Please can we have pancakes" Rosie replied
"I'm afraid I don't have time for that this morning because I have to go to work"'
"Okay can I just have weetabix then please?"
"Coming right up, what about you Gracie?"
"I'm not hungry at the minute"
"Okay well you help yourself to something later or ask Tracy to do it"
Tracy had been Grace's childminder and Connie had been very glad she'd agreed to look after Rosie and Olivia too.
Obviously Olivia was old enough to look after Grace and Rosie but Connie didn't think it was fair on her. She wanted the girl to have a life too.
Connie had just put Rosie's weetabix in front of her when there was a knock at the door.
Connie guessed it was Tracy so went to answer it.
Tracy had been over a few times in the past week because Connie wanted Olivia and Rosie to start getting used to her.
Grace had bonded really well with her so she hoped that Rosie and Olivia would do the same.
It was soon time for Connie to leave for work so she left them all to it.
Connie had a really busy day back in the ED so was relieved when she walk d through the front door that evening and got to take off her high heels.
Rosie ran straight up to her Auntie at the sound of her voice as she came through the door.
Connie picked her up and gave her a big cuddle.
Grace had just been walking downstairs and started scowling at her mother as she walked through the door.
Grace sighed before walking into the kitchen, her Mum was too busy with Rosie to even say hello to her own daughter.
"Grace, aren't you going to say hi?" Connie asked as Grace turned away from her
"Hi" Grace said before going into the kitchen to make herself a drink
It quickly became apparent to Connie that Grace was yet to drop her little mood, so she thought she might need a little chat with Grace later.
Grace stayed in a mood with Connie for the whole night and wouldn't even let her Mum put her into bed like she normally did.
Connie went to bed that night feeling really quite worried about Grace, as since Grace had been back from America Connie had got to know her daughter well and could tell when there was something up with her.
Connie eventually got to sleep but was awoken in the middle of the night by Rosie's screams.
Rosie had been having a lot of nightmares since the death of her parents so Connie rushed in to try and soothe her.
Connie flicked on the light and went straight over to her niece to calm her down.
It took a while but eventually Rosie was okay again and Connie managed to get her to go back to sleep.
Connie was about to go back to her own room to go back to sleep, but she thought she heard noises coming from Grace's bedroom so went to investigate.
She opened the door slightly and was surprised to find Grace sat up in bed crying.
"Darling, what's wrong? What's happened?"
"Nothing" Grace sniffed
"Then why are you crying then?"
"I miss it being just you and me, I know you think I'm being selfish but I just do"
"Oh Gracie of course I don't. I know how big a change this is for you and it's hard for all of us but it doesn't mean I love you any less or that I'm going to spend less time with you"
"But whenever I want you it feels like you're always with Rosie or Liv"
"I'm sorry you feel like that darling, it's just they've just lost they're parents so they're so upset"'
"I know"
"I wish you'd come and told me how you were feeling sooner, but from now on I'll try and make sure you don't feel left out, I promise"
Grace snuggled up against her Mum and gave her a cuddle.
"I love you Mum"
"I love you too Grace, so so much"
Would love to hear what you think!