"Aunt Ruth?" the voice is soft, barely above a whisper.
"Hmm?" she inquires, fingers fighting with the zip of the bright purple coat. Teeth biting her bottom lip, Ruth yanks at the caught fabric, cursing 'Thing' as the coat rips. Turning it sideways, she examines the rip, happy to see it's not as major as she initially thought. Lying the metal against the coat, she smiles brightly at the girl, reaching down to pick up the bright green, knit hat. Setting it on the messy pony tail she had managed to scrape Marguerite's hair into earlier, she grins as the little one is finally together. "There!"
"Aunt Ruth?" Margo tries again, fidgeting and gripping the bottom of the coat.
"What's wrong sweetie?" Ruth asks, seeing the girl's nervousness. Whatever it is, it's okay. I promise." With this, she squeezes the small hands holding the hem and lifts them in her own.
"I has to go loo." Brown eyes wide, the little girl waits for her aunt to yell.
"Oh," Ruth says with a soft sigh, grabbing the knit cap to pull it free. Unzipping the coat, she helps the four year old pull it off, setting it on her knee as the girl scampers away. Lying it on the floor, she turns to the infant she's sat in the carry cot. "Guess it's your turn to get ready."
Standing in the front garden of a large, Victorian house, Harry shoves his hands in his trouser pockets and waits. It's colder than previous days, a northern wind making it downright chilly outside, and he's about to take Scarlett and wait in the house when he spots the motely troupe making its way down the street. Gripping the lead tightly, he crosses to the gate and opens it, grinning as Margo skips down the pavement, her tiny hand gripped in her older brother's bigger one.
Behind them, Ruth is pushing a pram, watching the two older ones as she struggles to juggle a diaper bag, her purse, and a bag of snacks, her attention fully on them and thus not seeing him. But Margo does and she quickly releases Markus' hand, running towards him with a happy cry.
"Mr. Harry!" Sliding to a stop by his side, she spots the dog and squeals, jumping up and down as she reaches out to pet the dogs head. "A doggy!"
Squatting down, Harry runs his own hand over the dogs head, ruffling her fur as he reaches out with his free hand to grip Margo's. "Her name's Scarlett."
"Hi Scarlett!"
Laughing, Harry watches a moment as the two get acquainted before pushing up from the ground, grunting as he stands in front of Ruth.
"Hi," he says, sliding his hand back in his trouser pocket.
"Hi," she says back, hand lifting to brush a strand of hair from her face. "Sorry we're late. Getting three kids together in the morning takes a lot longer than I thought it would. First we got out coats on, then Margo had to use the loo, than Matthew did a number two in his diaper and I needed to change him. Then we had to put everyone's coats back on. And by then, we had missed the bus and had to take the tube..."
"Ruth," Harry says softly, his hand reaching up to cup her cheek softly, "breathe. You're not that late, and even if you were, so what. You're here now."
"We are, aren't we?" She looks down a moment, blushing at the softness in his voice and the feeling of his hand on her cheek, before lifting her gaze back to him. "But where is here?"
Harry smiles, reaching down to take her hand in his before turn back to the house. Squeezing it, he stares at the building for a moment, glancing at the two children who have run into the yard, playing together in the crisp, morning air.
"Your new house."
AN: Hope you enjoyed. The house'll be explained tomorrow in another short chapter. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews and the great ideas you've had for what you'd like to see. I promise to try and work as many of them in as I can. If you've a moment and can leave another review, it would my night/day.