Connor and Eve played happily together until Nikki called them for dinner, she'd found some fish fingers in the back of the almost empty freezer and cut up a potato into chips, "we go park Mumma?" Eve asked once she'd finished the yoghurt Nikki had given her for pudding.
"Yeah, let's get you two mucky pups cleaned up first though." Nikki laughed, wiping a mixture of tomato sauce and strawberry yoghurt of the faces of both Connor and Eve.
Nikki sat on a bench at the park, smiling as she watched Connor and Eve chase each other over and around the climbing frame, only shouting her when they wanted lifting onto the swings and then for Nikki to push them both. They returned to Nikki's home just after three to wait for Christine and unsurprisingly after running around for almost two solid hours Eve and Connor fell asleep on the bed just minutes after kicking their shoes off by the door.
Nikki had already packed most of their belongings into a few small bags but used the remaining time to pack up Eve's few toys, most had been second hand when she'd bought them but Eve knew no different, she loved them as if they'd cost all the money in the world.
She'd just finished putting her bags together when there was a tap on the door, startling Nikki slightly before she realised it would just be Christine, "have they been okay?" Christine asked as she walked into the room before frowning, "where are they?"
Nikki pointed to the duvet scrunched up on the bed, "we went to the park" she explained, "I think it wore them both out" she said as she carefully pulled back the duvet to reveal Connor and Eve snuggled into one another, Eve's bear tucked under her arm.
"Has he been okay for you?" Christine smiled at the sight of her son sleeping.
"He's been fine" Nikki nodded, "I think having him here took Eve's mind off things too."
"That's good then" Christine smiled, "are you ready?"
"Yeah, everything's there" Nikki pointed to the bags, "we haven't got much."
"It doesn't matter" Christine smiled softly, "do you want me to take it down to the car while you stay here with Connor and Eve?"
"I can take it down if you like, I'm used to running up and down the stairs."
Christine nodded and passed Nikki her car keys, "okay then, has Eve got a jacket or something? I'll get these two ready."
Nikki pushed the keys into her pocket before passing over both Connor and Eve's jackets and pulling on her own, "I'll take Connor's bag down with me, their shoes are by the door" she said as she loaded herself up with the bags, managing to pick up everything but Eve's buggy, "I won't be long."
Christine had both Connor and Eve ready to go by the time Nikki returned, Connor was half asleep on Christine's knee and Eve was still asleep on the bed, "are you ready?" Christine asked as she kissed Connor's forehead.
"Yeah" Nikki smiled, passing Christine her car keys back before lifting Eve into her arms and making sure she had her bear, dolly and from in the bed, "I think we are."
"Do you need a hand?" Christine asked as she watched Nikki juggle Eve, her buggy and the toys from the bed as she tried to lock the door.
Nikki nodded, "can you lock that please?"
Christine nodded and locked the door for Nikki before carrying Connor down to her car, she strapped Connor into his car seat and put Eve's buggy in the boot of the car, "is she okay?" she asked, watching as Eve began to fight against the straps on the car seat Christine had borrowed from her mother.
"No, no take me" Eve cried, struggling against Nikki.
Nikki bit her lip, "I don't think she's been in a car sinceā¦" she stroked Eve's stomach, "it's just me Darling you're okay, nobody's going to hurt you."
"Mumma" Eve whimpered.
"I'm here baby, I'm here."
"No want go."
"I'm coming too" Nikki tried to reassure her, "Connor's here, we're going to his house, nobody's going to hurt you darling, it's just me, you, Connor and Connor's Mummy, Connor's sat in his seat just like this one."
Eve glanced over at Connor and he smiled and waved, instantly reassuring the agitated toddler, "you come too?" she asked Nikki, her bottom lip still trembling.
"Yeah, I'll be right there" she pointed to the passenger seat, "I'm not going to leave you." Eve nodded and relaxed, allowing Nikki to strap her in, "good girl" she kissed her daughter's head and passed her her bear before wiping her tears, "I love you."
"Love you too Mumma" Eve smiled, swinging her legs gently in the seat, her hand finding Connor's in the space between their car seats.
Nikki couldn't help but smile as she heard Connor and Eve chatting together in the back of the car, "I was worried she wouldn't make friends" she confessed to Christine, not really sure why her usual walls seemed to fall down around the older woman.
"Connor's a chatty little thing, he wouldn't have left Eve sit on her own for long."
"He's a good kid"
"Thanks" Christine smiled, "I know I'm biased but I'm pretty proud of him" she laughed as she pulled onto her drive, "here we go."
"Mumma, I play Evie?"
"Of course" Christine tickled Connor as she got him out of the car, smiling as Nikki did the same with Eve, "I've got a bottle of red if you fancy it while we get you sorted?"
Nikki nodded, "I'd like that."
"Go on then" Christine said to Connor as she opened the door, "shoes off and take Eve to play in your bedroom."
"Mumma no go" Eve mumbled holding her bear close.
Nikki shook her head, "I'm not going anywhere sweetheart, you go and play with Connor and I'll be up in a minute."
"P'omise?"
Nikki nodded and kissed Eve's forehead, "I promise I wont be going anywhere without you sweeheart."
"Come on Evie" Connor called from the top of the stairs, "I show you my twains."
Eve looked at Nikki, "Go on darling, I'm not going anywhere, I'll either be upstairs with Connor's Mummy or I'll be down here."
"Okay" Eve nodded, "Love Mumma"
"Mumma loves you too" Nikki kissed Eve's head, "now go and have fun with Connor, I won't be going anywhere without you."
Nikki stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching as Eve took Connor's hand once she'd climbed the stairs and waited a moment more, smiling softly as she heard Connor and Eve laugh before following Christine through to the kitchen where she'd already poured out two glasses of wine, "let's have this before we go upstairs" she smiled, picking up her glass and the bottle and making her way into the living room. "Make yourself at home" she smiled as she put the bottle on the coffee table and sat on the sofa, her legs curled underneath herself.
Nikki sat on the edge of the sofa, "I really appreciate this" she told Christine, "and I'll pay my way, just let me know how much you want for the rent and bills and stuff."
"Nikki" Christine laughed slightly, "just relax, we'll sort everything out when you and Evie are settled there's no rush" she said as she sipped at her wine.
Nikki nodded, nervously sipping at her wine, "I don't want you to think I'm just freeloading."
"I don't. I invited you here, you and Eve are our guests"
"I'm still greatful."
Christine nodded, "I know." They sat in silence until their glasses were empty and Christine glanced over at Nikki, watching as the younger woman stared blankly into her empty glass, running her index finger around the rim, "do you want me to show you to your room?"
Nikki nodded, "please" she said quietly, "am I okay to have Eve in with me? At least until she's settled, then maybe she could share with Connor if she wants to."
"Of course" Christine smiled as she helped Nikki carry her bags upstairs, "she can sleep wherever you want her too, there's plenty of room for another bed in Connor's room if or when she's ready to move."
Nikki followed Christine down the hall and into a bedroom that was larger than she'd expected, "thank you."
"You don't have to keep thanking me" Christine smiled softly, "I'll get you some sheets for the bed, I won't be a minute."
