A/N: Motivation, that's all it takes, and encouragement helps to.
Chapter two.
When I woke up I went in Amy's room to find her smiling up at the roof, her eyes large with excitement when she spotted me. I laughed as I changed her nappy and she babbled away before carrying her down stairs. I put her in a high chair and got out a yoghurt, noticing it was seven from the clock up on the wall, before I began feeding her. When I had finished and cleaned her face from any yoghurt that would dry up the boys were in the kitchen and I grabbed them some cereal and had them sit at the bench as they ate and talked about seeing Claire today. I made some toast for myself and took random bites as I got Amy's baby bag ready and the boy's back packs. I was searching around for Amy's baby bottles, trying to remember where Sarah had said they were when the boys cheered.
"Yay Paul's awake before lunch time, it's a miracle" Riley said as Paul stood in the door way, his hair ruffled from sleep and in pair of grey track suit pants and a dark blue shirt.
"Praise the lord" Alex said, his hands together and I laughed as Amy clapped her hands together at her big brothers and their excitement. Paul shook his head, smiling at his siblings before walking in further and grabbing a juice out of the fridge and drinking out of the carton. I continued to look around and noticed Paul watching me with a raised eyebrow.
"Any idea where Amy's bottle are" I asked and he nodded. "Wanna tell me so I don't look silly searching" I said as the twins giggled.
"Above the microwave" He said and I turned and of course as I went to grab two I pushed them even further back into the cupboard, out of my reach. I sighed annoyed as I went on my tip toes and felt blindly around. Before I could climb on the stupid bench a warm body pressed up against the back of mine and grabbed the bottles before bringing them down to my eye level. I stared at them for a second, shocked maybe at the closeness of his body, the warmth pulling me into him before I took them out of his hands and he stepped back. I turned but didn't meet his eyes.
"Uh thanks" I said and stored them in the bag.
"No problem, Emily's having a dinner tonight, you going" He asked as I took away the boys finished bowls and replaced them with cups of juice before washing those dishes.
"Your mum never mentioned anything, I guess if I'm invited" I shrugged and he nodded.
"I'm gunna go have a shower, need to know where anything is, the guys should know" He said before walking off and I rolled my eyes at the teasing in his voice.
"How are we getting to Emily's" Alex questioned as he put his cup in the sink.
"I'm driving, why" I ask and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "What's wrong Alex" I asked, crouching down to his level.
"Well, Riley doesn't need a chair in the car anymore but I still like to have my car seat, do you have one" He asked and I ruffled his hair.
"Well no I don't, do you have one here" I asked and he shook his head but his eyes lit up behind his glasses.
"Paul has one in his car, maybe he'll let us borrow it" He said and I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, okay well I'll ask him when he comes back down, why don't you and Riley go watch some TV while I get us ready to go to Emily's" I replied and he nodded excitedly before running off, Riley at his heels. Ten minutes later Paul came back down stairs and Amy squealed in excitement, her hands clenching and unclenching at him, asking to be picked up. He swooped her up and gave her a squeeze which had her giggling. I smiled at the sound and the sight before slinging her baby bag over my shoulder.
"All set" He asked as he eyed the bag and I nodded.
"Were gunna head off but Alex said he normally uses a car seat, since I don't have one I was wondering if we could use yours, just until I can get his one out of your mums car" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm heading out now to so I'll lock up for you, you got a key" He asked and I dangled it in my hand. "Sweet, come on guys, out to the car, turn the TV off" He called as I followed him outside. The boys ran out and tackled each other on the grass as Paul locked up and then he headed over to his car as I strapped Amy into the car seat that Sarah had put in the smorning. I gave her a dummy and a toy to play with and buckled Riley in the middle seat before Paul put in Alex's seat and put him in.
"I'm sorry for making you late Paul" Alex said, a sad look on his face.
"It's okay little man, I'll see you at Emily's tonight okay" He said, ruffling both the boy's hair and brushing Amy's hand before shutting the door. He opened my door for me and I slid in. "Enjoy your day Rach" He smiled before closing the door and going over to his black Ute. I waited till he drove off and then I reversed before making my way to Emily's. A five minute drive and I pulled into her driveway. Emily and I had been friends when we were younger and we've kept in contact over the years, I hadn't seen her for almost three years and when I came back she had the whole side of her face clawed and scarred, apparently a bear had attacked her. She walked out with a little Claire holding her hand and the boys jumped out and raced excitedly up to her. I grabbed Amy and put her on my hip before slinging her bag over my shoulder as Emily came out to greet me in a hug.
"Who's a big girl" She cooed happily at Amy as she took her from my arms. "How's nanny duty going" She asked as Amy played with her necklace.
"So far so good, no injuries, no screamers, no 'I want mummy's'" I said and Emily laughed as we headed inside, the three kids already playing on the floor with toys.
"They're a great bunch of kids" She smiled as she placed Amy down and handed her a soft doll.
"Yeah, I think I'm going to enjoy being a part of their lives" I said as she poured some coffee and we sat at the table, chatting and watching the kids play. We were there for about two, three hours then decided to go shopping which lasted about an hour or two before the kids got bored then we headed to the park for some lunch and then back to Emily's for an hour or two before it hit three o'clock and I decided to get the kids home so they can be there to greet Sarah.
"I expect to see you tonight, I may even need your cooking expertise" She said as she stood at my car door, watching as I buckled all of them up.
"I think you'll manage, feeding all those boys when they come around, but I'd be happy to give you a hand" I smiled and she rolled her eyes.
"You sure haven't changed Rachel Black" She said and it was my turn to roll my eyes.
"See you in a few hours" I said and drove off. We got home just as Sarah pulled up and the boys jumped out, shouting a happy greeting to their mother and giving her a play by play of what they had done today and how much fun they had. Sarah looked overly happy as she came and took Amy out of my hands, giving her a big motherly hug and kiss.
"Looks like you've earned some brownie points today Rach, definitely passed my test although you had me from when I first met you, I hope you had a good a day as the kids" She said as I helped grab groceries out of her car.
"Yeah, it was good catching up with Emily, Oh and Alex didn't have his car seat so we borrowed Paul's" I said and her eyes widened.
"I'm so sorry, I was in such a hurry the smorning, it must have slipped my mind, I'll have to buy one to go in your car" She said as she ushered the boys inside.
"Hey it's fine, Paul seemed fine with it to, how was work" I asked as she set Amy in her play pen.
"It was fine, exhausting, but good, I feel much better now" She beamed as I helped her out away the food and supplies.
"The dinner at Emily's tonight, she invited me to tag along, I was wondering if you planned on taking the kids or would you rather me stay here with them" I asked as I stored cereal in the cupboard.
"Rachel, I would never imagine leaving you here with the kids while I went out, of course your going and your going as family, not baby sitter" She said, offended by the idea I thought.
"Thank you" I smiled and she waved a hand dismissively.
"Now, I was planning on making a potato bake for Emily's, lend me a hand" She questioned and I nodded as we got to work. We ended up making three batches and then got ready before heading back to Emily's.
When we pulled up the house was lit up and lively as we made our way down the side of the house where there was a small fire and people scattered around talking. Making our way into the kitchen we set the potato bake down and then made the rounds to greet everyone. Once that was done I went inside and helped Emily before she demanded Jacob to come in to get me and force a beer into my hand.
"Big sis, I'm not normally the one for demanding but you got to relax and socialise, now, before Emily bites my balls off" He ordered.
"I heard that Jacob Black" Emily's voice called from inside and I laughed as the frightened look fell on his face.
"Rachel, Rachel, come meet Kim" Riley and Alex came running up to me, grabbing one of my hands each and dragging me over to Jared and Paul who were standing with a pretty girl.
"Kim this is Rachel, the best girl in the world" Riley introduced before Alex elbowed him in the side.
"You forgot to say prettiest, girls like being called pretty" Alex murmured.
"No they like being called beautiful, isn't that right Paul" Riley said, making both boys look up to their big brother who was drinking his beer. He crouched down next to the boys.
"Looks guy, rule number one you don't call one girl pretty and not the other and they like being called both beautiful and pretty, stop being knuckleheads and go find Claire" He said before they ran off. I sipped my beer and eyed him as he stood up, smooth.
"Rachel this is my girlfriend Kim, Kim this is Rachel Black, Jacob's sister" Jared introduced and she smiled at me shyly as I shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you, so you're hooked like Emily huh" I said and she blushed, very quiet.
"She sure as hell is" Jared said, nipping at her ear.
"She chose the wrong best friend, clearly" Paul said and Jared scowled over at him.
"In your dreams man, Kim is way out of your league" Jared said and Kim rolled her eyes over at me.
"Let's take it out of the loop, Rachel who would you chose, this ugly headed kid or yours truly" Paul asked, turning his green eyes on me. I'd chose Paul, Jared is good looking but compared to Paul.
"Hmm, I'd have to say Jared" I said and as Jared cheered, Paul's mouth fell open.
"What, why" He asked and I smiled at the annoyance on his face.
"He has better hair, clearly" I said and Kim giggled.
"Wound to the ego Rachel" He muttered before snagging my drink out of my hand and finishing it off.
"Hey, I was gunna drink that" I frowned. He raised an eyebrow at me as he swallowed.
"Really, congratulations" He said before tossing the bottle in the empty box with his other one.
"You're not bugging my big sister here are you Paul" Jake said as his arm went around my shoulders, he was supposed to be my little brother and he stood a head or more taller than me.
"Please Black, she was coming on to me" He said and my mouth fell open as Jake glared over at Paul.
"I was not, he's lying" I said defensively and Paul and Jared laughed.
"Defensive hey Rach" He mused, an amused expression on his face.
"I'm gunna go see if Emily needs a hand serving and Paul you owe me a beer" I said and walked off.
"Oh yeah, she wants me" I heard Paul say teasingly to Jacob before they started wrestling. I walked into the kitchen to find Emily almost finished setting up food on the long table. I grabbed the last two plates off the bench and put them down when she grinned over at me.
"Thanks, do you wanna grab some food for the kids before I call in the pigs" She asked and I laughed as I put some things on plates for the boys and Claire. I took it to the kitchen and began chopping it up and sorting it out onto three separate plates when I heard Emily call everyone in for food. I'd never seen so many guys move so quickly and soon the dining room was filled with people piling up their plates.
"Alex, Riley, Claire, I've got yours in here" I called to the kids that were looking around worried. They smiled and raced in, sitting at the little plastic table Emily had set up for them earlier and began digging in. I was waiting for the rush to go when Paul walked in with two plates piled high and placed one next to me on the bench and when I say piled high I mean piled high.
"You can't expect me to eat all that, I'll burst" I said and I smirked down at me from the other side of the counter.
"Of course not, I'll eat what you don't" He winked before digging into his own food. I began picking at the food and helping the kids when they needed it and Paul really did eat what I didn't. Emily came in after everyone had cleared out and stopped short when she saw Paul.
"I saw you getting two plates, I figured you were hungry, I was planning on yelling at you" She said and Paul shot his charming grin at her.
"Babysitter has to eat to, since you can keep her company I'm off to be a man" he said before walking out, my half eaten plate still in his hand.
"Happy mood, he must be looking forward to the date he has tonight, or maybe he's got his eyes on you" She said once he had disappeared.
"I'm betting on number one" I said and she laughed.
"You remember Jessica Stanley" She asked and I nodded and then my eyes widened.
"Him and her, she was the biggest slut we knew" I whispered so the kids couldn't hear and Emily just laughed.
"Paul isn't exactly Mr innocent and he likes girls, there's no stopping him" She shrugged and then the front door slammed. Both mine and Emily's head shot towards the noise, Emily's in curiosity whereas mine was in a pang of fear, had he found me. Next thing I see is Leah Clearwater storm in with a snarl on her face, she walks into the kitchen, nods at Emily then her eyes fall on me and they widened. Next thing I know I'm in the most lung crushing hug of my life and Leah's heads dug into my shoulder.
"Your back, you're really back, I thought Jake was lying but your here" She said as she gripped on. Leah and I had been best friends since we were little and when I went off to college it had killed her. She had come and visited me for two weeks when the whole Sam and her thing ended and he started with Emily, she was heartbroken and I held her while she cried for two weeks straight before she went home to face life.
"I'm really here Lee" I said and she breathed happily.
"Weight off my damn shoulders" She grinned as she pulled back. The rest of the night I sat with her and we caught up on everything, you could only say so much over a phone call and when I had first arrived she was in Seattle with her cousin so that killed my surprise, I decided to wait till she came back.
It was about one when we went home and I said my goodbyes before Paul and I strapped the kids in my car and then Sarah and I drove home with Paul on our tail.
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