I am so sorry for the amount of time it has been since I last updated. I can't quite remember the order in which things happened as this story is set back in, I think it was January so I'm gonna pretend that the Lovedays as well as Ben and possibly other characters were there before Peri's pregnancy storyline was introduced. I'm going to write as if Ben is already dating Sienna and she is working in Price Slice, although Sienna does not yet know about Carly (Ben's daughter). If I have confused anyone, feel free to PM me and I will try to clear things up better.
"Lie down then." She lies down and I adjust the covers so they're up to her chin. I kiss her forehead and brush her hair out of her face. "Sleep tight baby. I love you. Come get me if you need me okay?"
"Otay Mummy, I love you too."
"Night, night." I stand and knock the light off before leaving the room and closing the door.
Emma's P.O.V
When Mummy shuts the door I get out of bed, pull the rocking chair under the light switch, and turn the light on. I can't go to sleep yet because I haven't got a pull-up on, and I don't want Mummy to get mad if I wet the bed through night. I don't want to tell her I still need them at night, I don't want her to think I'm a baby. Nicole and some of the other kids called me a baby for still needing them and sometimes they were mean to me because of it. I just want Mummy to like me and if she knows I wear the pull-ups she might be mean like Nicole and send me back to Jake because he says only babies wear them. I can't remember where my bag is, so I can't go get one. I'll have to stay up all night again like when Jake forgot to buy some. I climb off the rocking chair and get my picture back out so I can finish it for Mummy.
Leela's P.O.V (The next morning)
"Lee, where's Peri? She's not in her room." Cameron asks coming into the kitchen.
"She's stayed with Nico last night, Sienna texted me after I put Emma to bed last night. I was gonna tell you but I fell asleep before you got back."
"What about school?"
"I'm gonna ring Sienna now, get her to send her home, Peri's phone must be either off or dead 'cause it's going straight to voicemail. Will you go wake Emma for me, please?"
"Yeah of course." I grab my phone just as there is a knock at the door so I head over before unlocking, and opening it. Standing there is Peri, Nico and Sienna, so I move back and let them in. "Hey, why didn't you use your key Pez?"
"Forgot it."
"Right. Thanks for bringing her back Sienna, you guys wanna wait 'til she's ready?"
"Actually, I am meeting Ben for breakfast at the 'bean' before his shift starts, so I have to go. But Nico was hoping to wait, if that's alright?"
"Of course. Have fun with Ben."
"Thanks Leela, see you later Nico. Bye Peri."
"Bye Mum."
"Bye." I walk Sienna out and as I turn to face Peri and Nico I see them already on their way up stairs. I sigh walking into the kitchen and decide to talk to her when she gets back from school. A few seconds later, Cameron walks down the stairs and into the kitchen carrying Emma, who has her head resting on his shoulder and one hand clutching her blanket with her thumb in her mouth. He whispers something to her and her head shoots up to look at me. Immediately she reaches out for me to take her and I pull her to me with no hesitation. "Morning baby."
"Morning Mummy. Pewi back now?"
"Yeah, she's upstairs Em."
"I go pway wif her?"
"Not right now, she's gotta get ready for school."
"I go school too?"
"Not yet, but you will soon."
"Can I help Pewi get ready?"
"She'll be down soon, she's with her friend."
"Who's her fwend cawled?"
"Nico, she's Sienna's little girl."
"I pway wif her?"
"No baba, she has to go to school too."
"Oh. Do you and Daddy have to go to school Mummy?"
"Grown-ups don't need to go to school baby, they go to work instead."
"Are you going to werwk?"
"Daddy is but I'm not. I'm looking after you."
"Mummy?" She's only quiet for a minute or two before she speaks again.
"Mhmm?"
"I hungwy."
"What do you want to eat baby?"
"Powwidge."
"I don't think we have any porridge, toast or cereal?"
"Toast pwease."
"Okay, why don't you run upstairs and ask Peri and Nico if they've had any breakfast for me?"
"Tay." I place her on the floor and she runs off up the stairs so I turn, grab the bread and put four slices in the toaster. Then I get the butter, jam and philadelphia and put them on the table. "Cam, do you want some toast?"
"No thanks, I've gotta go to work."
"Again?"
"Yeah, sorry babe."
"It's fine. What time do you finish?"
"Seven…"
"Are you serious?"
"I would have only been in 'til three but Ste told Diane he's still ill."
"Oh, um, I'm gonna go get Emma. You can say bye to her."
"Okay." I turn and head upstairs in the direction of Peri's room. I push open the door and look around to see only Peri and Nico in the room. "Peri, where's Emma?"
"How should I know?"
"Because she came up to ask if you wanted anything to eat."
"Yeah, I told her no and then she left."
"Oh, well you need to hurry up. You're gonna be late."
"Okay." I leave Peri's room and head towards Emma's room. I push open the door and walk straight into her. "Sorry baby, I didn't see you there." She just smiles and holds her arms behind her back.
"Close your eyes Mummy!" She squeals, excitedly. I kneel down in front of her and close my eyes while she giggles. "Hold out your hands."
"Okay, this better not be something slimy or disgusting." I say opening one eye to look at her.
"Mummy! Eyes closed!"
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry."
"Ready?"
"Yep."
"Otay… Tada! Do you like it?" I open my eyes to see what I assume is the drawing she wouldn't let me see last night. "I love it, its beautiful baby!"
"Weally?"
"Of course! Why don't we go put this on the fridge huh?"
"Yeah!"
"Come on then Em." I take her hand and lead her downstairs into the kitchen and over to the fridge.
"Right where abouts do you want it?"
"I don't know."
"How about near the top? That way everyone can see it?"
"Otay." She nods shyly. I grab a magnet and stick the picture at the top of the fridge and then step back to take a look. I swing Emma up into my arms so she can see it better as well. "What do you think?" I ask her and she nods again shyly but this time also showing pride in her picture.
"Good. Now go say bye to Daddy okay?"
"Why?"
"He has to go to work Em."
"Nooo!" She whines wriggling down and running over to the couch where he's sitting.
"Hey princess, what's up?" He holds his arms out for her but she stands in front of him with her arms crossed and a pout on her face. "No."
"No what?"
"You no go ta werwk."
"Sorry Emma, but I have to."
"Noooo." She whines as I walk over and pick her up.
"What if we go see Daddy in his break, is that okay?" She buries her face into my neck and nods. "Good girl, say bye then." Cam stands up and reaches out for her and she happily wraps her arms around his neck. "Bye, bye daddy!"
"See you later princess." I take her back just as Peri and Nico walk downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Bye Pez. I'm going to work now."
"Kay, bye Dad." After that Cameron kisses my cheek and Emma's forehead and leaves the house, so I walk over to the kitchen and grab the toast. Then I set Emma up with some on a plate at the table. "What do you want on your toast Em?"
"Butter pwease."
"Okay." I spread it for her and then walk back into the kitchen to see Peri and Nico looking at something on Peri's phone so I clear my throat to draw their attention. They look up and Peri looks at me confused. "What?"
"You're gonna be late Peri. You need to go."
"Right, are you working today?"
"I don't think so."
"Okay bye."
"Bye Pez, bye Nico." Nico mumbles a goodbye as they head towards the door.
"Pewi! Whewe you go?"
"School."
"I come too?"
"No. Bye." And they walk out the door.
"Mummy I finished."
"Let's get you ready then."
"Why?"
"We need to go buy you some more clothes baby."
"Oh."
"Come on, you need a bath." I say picking her up from her chair and heading upstairs with her.
"I no need a bath Mummy, I clean!"
"Really? When's the last time you had one then?"
"Uh, when you camed ta da home."
"See you are definitely not clean. Let's go." With that I head upstairs into the bathroom with Emma.
I walk into yet another shop with Emma in the pushchair, she wasn't happy about it but I managed to convince her that it was a good idea after around twenty minutes of her complaints. "Mummy? We go see Daddy now?"
"Not yet babe, we aren't done shopping. We still need to get you some more shoes and a few other things, okay?"
"Otay." I pick up a few things and head towards the checkout to pay before leaving the shop and heading towards Starbucks. "Do you want a drink baby?"
"Yesth pwease."
"What do you want?"
"I have a hot chocolate pwease?"
"Of course."
After ordering our drinks and sitting down with them, we sit in a comfortable silence until my phone starts ringing. I don't bother checking who it is, I just bring it straight to my ear.
(Phonecall)
Leela: Hello?
Work: Hey Leela, sorry to interrupt your day, but we need you here.
Leela: Is there no one else that can come in?
Work: You do understand what 'on-call' means right?
Leela: Of course, it's just, there's some things going on right now.
Work: I know what you mean, life can be tough but we really need you and it's urgent.
Leela: Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible.
(End of phonecall)
"Who dat Mummy?" I sigh, running my hand through my hair and standing up.
"I'm really sorry baby, but I have to go to work." I reply as I strap her into her pushchair again, then I walk over to the counter with the drinks before asking for them to be transferred into to-go cups. I thank the waitress and turn to head back to Emma only to see her trying to get out of the pushchair. "Emma, sit still. Here's your hot chocolate, careful though, it's still hot."
"No want you ta go ta werwk." She whines as we leave the shop.
"I don't want to go either baby, but I have to."
"Why?"
"So we can have more days like this, and so I can buy things for you and Peri."
"And Daddy?"
"Yeah, Daddy too." We head back to the car in silence and it stays that way until we are both seated in the car and I pull out of the carpark.
"Mummy?"
"Yeah baba?"
"Whewe I go when you go ta werwk?"
"I'm not sure yet Em."
"I stay wif Daddy?"
"I don't know, he's still at work too."
"Pewi?"
"She's at school baby."
"Can I stay wif Auntie Si Si?"(Said Cece)
"Who?"
"Auntie 'enna, from the park."
"Sienna?"
"Yes Mummy! That's what I said!"
"Sorry Emmy. We'll see okay?"
"Otay."
By the time we get back, Emma is fast asleep in her car seat, so I get out set up the pushchair and carefully lift her into it. I cover her with her blanket so the change in temperature doesn't wake her up and then I lock the car. It only takes just over five minutes to get to The Hutch and when we go inside I can't see Cameron anywhere. That is until he moves over to the center of the kitchen so I can see him through the hatch. He turns around, smiling when he sees us, and then he leaves the kitchen and comes over. "Hey, you're early. My break doesn't start for another forty-five minutes, but I can I get you something to eat while you wait if you want?"
"Hey babe, I know we are, but I just got a call and I have to go to work. I was hoping you maybe wouldn't be that busy and you could watch her?" I ask motioning to my sleeping daughter.
"I'm sorry Lee, I can't. We've got a huge party this afternoon and Tony needs me."
"It's fine Cam, I could ask Sienna maybe."
"I'm not sure about that Lee. I'm sure Lockie's free, I can just phone him and he can pick her up?"
"What exactly does Lockie know about kids?"
"Well, he'll probably be with Porsche and you know how many McQueens there are, she's bound to have experience with kids."
"No."
"What?"
"I said no."
"Why?"
"I don't want her round at that house right now. Reenie's usually drunk, they're always fighting and we both know what Porsche and Lockie are doing the majority of the time. Besides, what's wrong with taking her to Sienna's?"
"I suppose that's fair enough and there's nothing necessarily wrong with taking her to Sienna's, it's just, her history with kids isn't the greatest from what I've heard…" He trails off.
"So? That was months ago and she's my friend. Emma likes her already, and she only met her yesterday."
"What if something happens?"
"Nothing's going to happen Cameron. I'm going to ask Sienna. Can you keep an eye on Emma for ten minutes while I go and grab some stuff for her to take to Sienna's please?"
"What about-"
"I'm asking Sienna, Cameron. Can you watch her or not?" I question and he sighs deeply.
"Of course."
"Thank you I'll see you soon."
"Bye." I turn and leave The Hutch and quickly head home whilst pulling out my phone and calling Sienna. She answers straight away.
(Phonecall)
Sienna: Hey, what's up?
Leela: Hey Sienna, I was just wondering if you could do me a favor? I know you were with Ben, so it's okay if you can't.
Sienna: What's the favor?
Leela: Well Cameron's at work and I've just been called in as well, so I was hoping you'd be able to watch Emma? I would have asked Tegan but she's at work, and Peri's at school, and Cameron suggested Lockie but you know what the McQueen's are like and that's where he will most likely be, and-
Sienna: Leela.
Leela: Yeah?
Sienna: You're rambling. Of course I'll watch her.
Leela: You will?
Sienna: Yeah.
Leela: Great, thank you so much. I can drop her off in like ten minutes?
Sienna: Okay, I'm still at The Bean with Ben.
Leela: Do you want me to find someone else? I don't want to interrupt.
Sienna: You're not, besides I already said I would. Just bring her here.
Leela: Okay, thank you again Sienna. I'll see you soon, bye.
Sienna: Bye.
(End of phonecall)
Once inside the house I grab Emma's backpack and empty it out on to the couch to see what's in it that she might need while she's with Sienna, I throw in a hoody, some extra clothes just in case, one of the fruit shoots that Tegan bought for Rose, some crisps, two of the dolls I bought her and some of her colouring stuff. I put the rest of her stuff beside her other bag and then leave the house.
When I get back to The Hutch, Cameron is standing outside trying to calm a crying Emma. He shoots me a helpless look so I run over and take her from him. "Hey, what's wrong baby? Why're you crying Emmy? Huh?"
"Want my b-bwanket!"
"Where is it? Is it in your pushchair?"
"N-no, want it M-mummy!"
"Okay, just calm down for me and we'll find it okay baby?"
"O-tay." It takes a good few minutes before she calms down properly and in this time, Cameron went to get her pushchair from inside and brought it back out to us. "What happened Cam?" I ask him whilst slowly rocking Emma.
"She woke up and then she just... panicked. First because you weren't there and then because she didn't have her blanket. I'm sorry Lee, I just couldn't calm her down."
"It's not your fault babe. I should have checked she had the blanket, it must still be in the car. I'll go and get it before I take her to Sienna."
"Are you sure that's still a good idea?"
"I have to Cam, I've got no choice. She'll be okay. What time do you finish?"
"Around six."
"I should be back before the hopefully. I'll see you later though, I gotta go before they call again."
"Okay, bye Lee, I love you."
"I love you too."
"Bye Emma, be good okay?"
"Tay Daddy, bye bye." She says much calmer.
"Bye Cam, see you later." I kiss him quickly before heading back to the car with the pushchair.
Sure enough, when I get back to the car Emma's blanket is lying on the back seat next to her car seat; so I quickly grab it and hand it to her. "Happy now Em?" She nods smiling hugging the blanket close to her. "Right, we need to get you to Sienna because I need to go to work." I tell her heading quickly towards The Bean.
"I staying wif Auntie Si Si?" (Said Cece)
"Yeah, that's okay right Emma?"
"Yesth, you're coming back for me though, wight Mummy?"
"Of course baby. I'll see you when I finish work."
"Tay." We enter The Bean and I make my way over to where Sienna and Ben are sitting.
"Hey, sorry I'm late, I left her blanket in the car and she had a bit of a... Meltdown."
"It's fine it doesn't matter."
"Right, um, I need to go. Anything that she might need should be in this bag... I think. Anyway, thank you so much for this Sienna, I owe you."
"It's not a problem, really. What time do you finish?"
"I'm not sure, if it's going to be quite a while I'll send someone to come and get her. It could be Tegan or it could be Peri, I'm not sure who but I'll let you know."
"Okay, I'll see you later." I bounce Emma on my hip a little bit to keep her awake, and she raises her head to look at me. "Em I have to go to work now, you're gonna stay with Sienna for a bit remember?" She nods. "If it's not me that picks you up it will be Peri or Auntie Tegan, okay?"
"Rose's Mummy?"
"Yeah babe, I gotta go I'll see you later. Have fun." I pass her over to Sienna and put her bag in her pushchair. "Bye bye Mummy."
"Bye baby, thanks again Sienna. Bye Ben." After they both say goodbye I turn and leave The Bean to go to work.
