Eve grinned up at Nikki as she sat at the battered old table to eat her tea, ketchup all round her mouth and a chip in her hand, "'ove Mumma" she beamed before eating the chip.

"Mumma loves you too" Nikki smiled softly as she ate her share of the chips.

"Mumma want some?" Eve stabbed some of her fishcake with her fork and held it out to Nikki.

"No thank you darling, you eat it." Nikki waited until Eve had finished before letting her go off to play with a tube of smarties, knowing that the toddler would entertain herself just long enough for her mother to make dinner for the next day. Almost right on cue Nikki had just put her sandwiches in the fridge when Eve walked over, a dolly in her arms.

"Baby cry" she told Nikki.

Nikki smiled, "do you think Baby's ready for bed?"

Eve nodded, "tired Mumma."

Nikki nodded knowing Eve wasn't just talking about her doll, "shall I help you put Baby's pyjamas on?"

Eve nodded, "and my j'jamas and Mumma j'jamas?"

"Yeah, we can all put ourr pyjamas on" she said softly, walking over to the small toy box in the corner of the room and pulled out some pyjamas for the doll, changing her before passing her to Eve, "did you leave your pyjamas in bed this morning?" Eve nodded, climbing onto the double bed and crawling up to the pillows where she pulled out her favourite pyjamas and a tatty old bear, handing the pyjamas to Nikki before tucking her dolly and bear under the duvet on the side of the bed closest to the wall, "come on then Beautiful, let's get you ready for bed" Nikki said as she undressed Eve before helping her first into a pull up and then into her pyjamas, "what do we need to do before you go to sleep?"

"My teefs" Eve pretended to bite something, showing Nikki her perfect white teeth.

"That's right baby girl, we need to clean your teeth." A quick trip to the bathroom later and Eve was settled on her side of the double bed she shared with her Mother, Nikki laid beside her quietly reading a story, "and they all lived happily ever after" Nikki smiled, kissing Eve's head as she closed the book.

"Mumma" Eve whispered tiredly, "we live 'appy ever after?"

Nikki nodded and kissed Eve's nose, "I hope so baby I really do."

Nikki sat with Eve until she fell asleep before kissing her again and pulling the sheets up to her daughter's chin and moving to the dining table so she could make a start on her paperwork, hoping she'd be able to keep on top of it so she didn't have to do everything at the last minute.

Nikki was exhausted by the time her alarm sounded the next morning, a nightmare had woken Eve a little after 2 and she'd spent most of the night alternating between sobbing and clinging to her mother and although they shared a bed Eve had only managed to fall asleep once Nikki let her lay on top of her, Eve's fists clutching to Nikki's pyjama top, Nikki's arms around her daughter.

She somehow managed to untangle herself, letting Eve snuggle into her pillow, before flicking on the basic white kettle and pouring a generous amount of cheap, instant coffee powder into her cracked mug, opening the fridge and sighing when she realised she barely had enough milk for Eve's breakfast, it was a good job she didn't mind her coffee black. She stood leaning against the kitchen side as she stirred the murky brown liquid, debating whether or not to shower, whilst she knew she really should have a quick shower she didn't want to stray too far from her sleeping daughter just in case she woke up again.

Eventually the need to be clean won and Nikki took a quick shower, reminiscent of her time in the army and for once she was glad for the lack of hot water, feeling more refreshed after her cool shower than she had before. She made herself some toast and drank her second mug of coffee before getting dressed, and then with the skill only a mother could possess she managed to dress Eve without waking her, deciding not to change her pull up until the child was actually awake. She sat watching Eve sleep for almost fifteen minutes before kissing her cheek, "it's time to wake up Darling" she said, lifting Eve onto her lap.

"No want to Mumma" Eve mumbled, snuggling into her.

"Come on sweetheart, you're already dressed, you just need to have some breakfast and then Mumma will take your buggy to nursery so you can sleep on the way."

"No, want stay with Mumma."

"You have to go to nursery darling so I can go to work, you can have a nap and then play with Connor."

Eve nodded as Nikki carried her to the table, "like Nonna."

"I know you do sweetheart" Nikki sat Eve in the kitchen chair that housed her plastic booster seat, "do you want jam or chocolate spread?"

"Jam" Eve mumbled before yawning and laying her head down on the table.

Nikki let Eve rest whilst she scraped the last of the jam from the jar and spread it over a slice of toast, pouring the last of the milk into a pink sippy cup, "come on darling, you just need to eat this then you can go back to sleep" she said softly, placing a bib around her neck to protect her clean tshirt. She helped her daughter into her jacket once she was done before picking up her handbag, Eve's small rucksack, the buggy and finally Eve, "come on sweetheart" she cooed softly, juggling all the items so she could lock her door and carrying everything down three flights of stairs before she unfolded the buggy, hung both bags from the handles and strapped Eve into the seat.

"S'eep now?" Eve yawned.

"Yes Darling, you can sleep now" Nikki kissed Eve's head gently before beginning to push the buggy towards the bus stop.

Eve was still fast asleep when Nikki arrived at the nursery, she explained what had happened to Eve's nursery worker who already knew some of their background. Nikki told the nursery worker that Eve was still in her pull up and there were spares in her bag before lifting her from her buggy and laying her on the cushioned floor in the nap area of the room, covering her with one of the blankets before stepping out of the room to speak to the nursery manager.

Christine smiled at Nikki as she walked into the building holding Connor's hand, taking him into the cloakroom to take off his shoes and coat before walking into the toddler room, "Mummy" Connor smiled, "Evie sad" he whispered as he saw Eve sat up sobbing into her blanket.

Christine kissed Connor's head, "you go and play darling, I'll take Evie out to her Mummy."

Connor nodded, happy with that idea, "okay Mummy, love you."

"I love you too" Christine smiled before walking across the room and crouching down in front of Eve, "Evie" she said softly, not wanting to scare the small child, "I'm Connor's Mummy, do you want me to take you to your Mummy?"

Eve nodded, "nasty man get me, Mumma owie" she sobbed.

"Your Mummy's fine" Christine reassured as she lifted Eve into her arms, "she's just talking to someone."

"Nasty man get Mumma" Eve whispered, clinging tightly to Christine.

"No one's going to get you or your Mummy" Christine said softly, rubbing Eve's back assuming she'd had a nightmare. "Nikki" she said as she walked into the reception area of the nursery, "I think Evie's had a nightmare."

"Oh Eve" Nikki sighed softly, taking her from Christine and holding her close, "you're okay sweetheart, you're okay, you're safe now" she whispered, "no one's going to get you."

It took almost 20 minutes for Nikki to calm Eve down enough so she could leave, "you could have gone" she said softly as she walked to Christine's car, "there's no point us both being late."

"Don't worry about it" Christine smiled softly, "we're not teaching until later, I was just going to go through some planning stuff with you."

Nikki nodded, "thanks" she whispered, getting into the car, silently staring out of the window for the journey to the school.

"Are you okay?" Christine asked softly as she pulled into the car park and noticed the tears Nikki had silently let fall.

Nikki quickly wiped at her cheeks as she realised the car had stopped, "sorry."

"It's okay" Christine put her hand on Nikki's knee, "let's go inside, I'll make you a coffee."