Chapter Two
She's Got That Look In Her Eye

I see that look in her face, she's got that look in her eye
She's thinking how did I get here and wondering why
~22, Lily Allen

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Huh?"

I stared at Theo, who did not look impressed as he raised an eyebrow, his arms folded across his chest.

"You know what? I'll take that as a no."

"Oh Theo, I'm sorry," I groaned. "I just . . . I didn't get enough sleep last night."

"Too much information!" he cried. I slapped his arm.

"Theo, shut up," I hissed, grinning sheepishly at the people that had begun to stare. "Come on, lets catch Sweeney and Anna up."

Anna was holding Robyn so she would have a good view of the lions while Sweeney stood slightly apart from them, simply staring at the captive animals. I briefly wondered if, for some odd reason, he could relate.

"I had a nightmare," I said as we walked. "A really bad one."

"What about?"

I didn't answer.

"Niamh." Theo stopped, and made me stop with him. "What's wrong?"

"I had a nightmare about Sweeney . . . " I hesitated before continuing. "Well, it was more about Robyn. Sweeney and I . . . died, Theo, and she was all on her own. It was so vivid and I can't get it out of my head."

"Oh Niamh."

Theo wrapped an arm around my shoulders and hugged me as we walked.

"One, you are not going to die. Ever. You're going to be one of those really annoying old couples that live forever."

I laughed.

"And two, if, God forbid, something awful did happen to you and Sweeney, Robyn would not be alone. She'd have Anna and I, not to mention your family. So stop worrying."

"Yes Mum," I said softly, snuggling into him and remembering a time when I fantasised about him being straight.

Once we'd reached Anna, a huge grin spread across my face as I saw Robyn. Reaching out, I took her from my friend and balanced her on my hip.

"Hey you," I said cheerily. "Have you been looking at the big scary lions?"

Robyn laughed and clapped her hands. Also laughing, I kissed the top of her head.

Since my nightmare last night, I hated being seperated from Robyn. I was so scared that something awful would happen.

My grin widened as Sweeney walked over and kissed me, gently stroking Robyn's hair as he gazed down at her with total love and adoration.

How did we come so far?

After everything . . . Sweeney and I were married. We had a daughter. We were a family.

Finally.

"Hey, why don't we go to the petting zoo?" Theo suggested. "I'm sure Robyn would love it."

The petting zoo. A small, indoors enclosure filled with child-friendly animals that were just waiting to be cuddled and stroked.

"Go for it," I said, handing Robyn to Theo, who put her down in her pram. "We'll meet you there."

"Sure. Come on, Anna."

Both smiling brightly, my best friends walked in the direction of the petting zoo. Theo pushed the pram while Anna walked next to him, her arm looped through his, and they looked like the perfect family.

I laughed.

"Is something funny?" Sweeney asked as I weaved my hand into his.

"Not really," I admitted. "It's just my silly imagination."

Sweeney merely looked at me before walking. I, of course, walked with him.

"What?"

He shook his head.

"Sweeney," I moaned. He didn't respond. "I hate it when you do this," I grumbled.

"Do what?"

"This!" I threw my arm out. "Look at me in that annoying way you do and then refuse why you looked at me like that."

Pouting, I refused to look at him again after my outburst.

"Niamh."

"I'm not talking to you," I muttered.

Unfortunately, my plan to ignore him didn't work; he simply turned me around and kissed me.

Of course, it immediately made my stomach flutter and my knees turn weak. Because that's what happened when Sweeney kissed me. Or touched me. Or even looked at me.

It was incredibly frustrating.

"Why am I in so much damn love with you?" I grumbled.

"I don't know," he said softly, playing with a strand of my hair. "But I am thankful that you are." He tucked the strand behind my ear, kissed me again and gave me that crooked smile of his.

Oh damn.

I always had a thing for the bad boy, and when Sweeney grinned like that, he looked as if he could get away with murder.

Which he already had.

I bit my lip.

Way to ruin the mood, Niamh.

"Hey," I said, realising that Sweeney was still grinning at me. "Lets catch Theo and Anna up, ok? I want to see the animals."

I was more excited by the animals than Robyn was. While she stared at them and occasionally tried to pet them, I was rushing from one exhibit to the other, gushing over the cute animals.

"Aw," I cried when I reached the rabbits. Seeing me, the assistant grinned and picked one up, handing it to me. "Aw!"

"It's just an animal," Sweeney muttered, obviously not sharing my love of all things small and fluffy.

"It's not just an animal, it's a fluffy animal that's really cute and has big ears!"

I hugged the rabbit and looked up at Sweeney hopefully, batting my eyelashes.

"No," he said flatly.

"Oh, but Sweeney," I whined.

"Niamh, we are not getting a rabbit," he insisted. I pouted.

"But they're so cute."

"No."

When Theo, Anna and Sweeney decided to go, I clung on to the rabbit as if my life depended on it.

"Niamh, come on," Anna moaned.

"Just five more minutes."

"Niamh, if you don't put that rabbit down right now, we are leaving you here," Theo threatened.

"Fine by me."

"We'll take your car."

"What? No way!"

Thrusting the rabbit into the assistant's arms, I jumped up.

"No one drives my car," I said. "No one even touches my car without my permission."

"Then lets go," Theo said, rolling his eyes.

Glaring at him, I stormed past him and out of the building.

"You need to wash your hands."

Still glaring at him, I stormed back in and washed my hands at the large sink provided. I then snatched Robyn's buggy from him and stormed out again.

"I'm going to get something for Robyn," I announced when we walked into the gift shop that was stragetically placed; one would have to walk through it in order to exit the zoo. It was packed with parents and their kids whining for toys.

"Yeah, just Robyn," Anna muttered.

"Anna, are you suggesting that I am going to buy myself something?" I asked.

"No, of course not."

"Good."

Grinning, I walked forwards, carrying Robyn. Anna took the pram and said she'd wait outside for us; Theo volunteered to wait with her.

"What are you planning on getting her?" Sweeney asked as I wandered in the direction of the stuffed toys.

"I don't know," I lied, casually stopping by the toy animals.

Shaking his head, Sweeney walked away while I looked at the toys, trying to choose one for Robyn. In the end, I got her a toy tiger; the moment she got her hands on it, she refused to let go. I also brought Theo a toy meerkat - they reminded him of Gok Wan, apparently - and Anna a toy seal.

Before I paid, I picked up a toy skunk. It would be perfect for Sweeney.

Sweeney was waiting with Theo and Anna when I left the shop, both of whom were delighted with their presents, and already carrying a plastic bag.

"What's in the bag?" I asked as we crossed the car park.

"What's in your bag?" he countered.

I handed it to him. "It's for you."

Opening it, he rolled his eyes at the toy. I knew he liked it secretly.

"Is that for me?" I asked hopefully when we reached the car, putting Robyn in her seat.

"Yes," he reluctantly admitted, handing me the bag.

Feeling like a kid on Christmas, I excitedly opened it and laughed.

It was a toy wombat.

After dropping Anna and Theo off, the car was quiet; Robyn had fallen asleep and neither of us wanted to put the radio on.

"Please don't say that the wombat reminded you of me," I said, breaking the silence. "Because that's the only reason I got you the toy skunk."

"I remind you of a small mammal infamous for the smell it secretes when threatened?"

"No," I laughed. "Your hair used to be black and white. The skunk is black and white. I thought it would make you laugh."

"Oh."

"So, the wombat. Explain."

"It was the only one on the shelf," Sweeney told me. "I knew that if you saw it, you'd take pity and buy it, so I saved you the trouble."

"You know me so well," I teased. I paused. "Thank you for today. It's been amazing."

I pulled up at the shop and cut the engine.

"Yes," Sweeney agreed. "It has."

Grinning, I leaned forwards and kissed him.

Thank you CadyD, Comfortably Plump, babyvfan and ToddLover13 for reviewing.