That weekend the house buzzed with the excited chatter of four ten year old girls as they tried to decide what pizza to order. They were all sat on the couch in the living room, the phone on the table next to them as they went through the pizza menu. Addison and Pete were in the kitchen and couldn't help but smile at the fact that Abigail looked happy with her friends.
"I didn't think she would make friends so quickly," Pete spoke quietly as they watched them.
"Nor me," Addison whispered. "I'm glad she has, though. It'll do her the world of good."
"It will." Pete nodded and smiled softly.
"They all seem like nice girls as well."
"They really do," he agreed. "I'm just glad she's enjoying herself."
"I think it's safe to say that tomorrow Abi won't be doing much." Addison smiled softly and looked at Pete.
"Probably." He smiled back at her.
"I hate to go in and disturb them from their chatter. I've never realised how noisy and excited they can be," Addison admitted and watched the girls again. "It's nice, though. It gives more of a homely feel to the place."
"We're going to have a few more kids and it'll be like this all the time." Pete smiled.
"I hope so. I don't want Abi to be an only child her whole life." She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
"She won't be," he promised and kissed her back softly.
"Good." Addison smiled happily. Pete smiled back and placed another kiss on her lips. "How much longer do you think it'll take them to decide on a pizza?"
Later that night with an empty pizza box sitting on the coffee table next to them, the four girls had each found a comfortable place on the couch and futon in the living room as they watched movies. Addison made her way down the stairs and smiled softly at the girls as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Do you think your mum would mind if we had a hot chocolate each?" One of the girls looked at Abigail.
"No." Abigail shook her head. "She's probably gone to make her and dad one to share."
"Call and ask her?" Lisa smiled sweetly.
"Erm…sure…" Abigail hesitated and glanced into the kitchen.
"M-mum," she called, quietly. Addison hadn't heard her call and Lisa nudged her friend to call again. "Erm, mum?" Abigail called louder.
Addison looked up slightly shocked and looked back into the living room. "Yes?"
"Would you mind making us some hot chocolate as well?" Abigail looked at her.
Addison raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Cheeky. Did you all want a mug each?"
"Please." Abigail smiled.
"Come and help me then." Addison turned back into the kitchen and pulled out four more mugs. Abigail nodded and put the bowl of popcorn aside before she got up and walked into the kitchen. "Enjoying your night?" Addison asked as the kettle clicked to signal that the water had boiled.
"Yeah." Abigail nodded again and gave a smile.
"Good, I'm glad." Addison smiled as well. Abigail smiled back and opened the cupboard to get marshmallows out. "I'm really happy for you, Abi."
"Happy for me?" Abigail turned to look at her.
"Yes." Addison nodded as she poured the hot water into the mugs. "You've settled in here so easily and made some great friends."
"I wouldn't have settled in if it wasn't for you and dad," she spoke quietly as she added marshmallows into the cups. Addison grinned and wrapped her arms tightly around the ten year old and hugged her close. Abigail smiled surprised, and hugged Addison back. Addison kissed the top of Abigail's head before she pulled back and finished making the drinks.
"Thank you." Abigail smiled softly as she put the cups on a tray so she could carry them inside. Addison smiled as she watched Abigail walk back in before she picked up her large mug of hot chocolate to share with Pete and made her way back upstairs.
"There you go." Abigail smiled as she put the tray down on the coffee table.
"Marshmallows too." Jenny grinned and reached for a mug.
"We always put them in." Abigail smiled and took her own mug before sitting back down
"My mum never does." Lisa sighed and took a sip.
"It's better with marshmallows."
"I wish my mum was like yours," Rachel, whined.
"Why?" Abigail looked at her friend.
"Because your mum lets you have sleepovers, she takes you shopping, she makes you hot chocolate with marshmallows, lets you order pizza and rent films to watch."
"Oh." Abigail smiled softly. "Yeah, she's pretty awesome."
"Can we swap mums?" Rachel asked, hopefully.
"No." She shook her head.
"Okay." Rachel sighed again.
"I don't even know your mum," Abigail pointed out. "Plus, I want to keep mine."
"Can we at least share her?"
"How would we share my mum?"
Rachel shrugged and sipped on her hot drink as she thought about it. Abigail smiled and picked a marshmallow out of her cup before eating it.
"My parents are going on holiday in a few weeks time and I have to spend the week at my grandparents," Lisa grumbled.
"Why aren't you going with them?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
"I'd love to go on holiday somewhere," Jenny sighed.
"If only we were old enough to go alone," Rachel whined.
"I feel like last summer is ages ago," Lisa agreed with them. "I want to go away again."
Abigail listened to her friends and wished that she could talk about a time where she had been on holiday. Anna had never thought much to take Abigail anywhere.
"Do you have plans for the summer with your parents?" Lisa looked at her.
"Erm, I don't know." Abigail shrugged.
"We're going to Europe." Jenny grinned.
"Oh my god, I'm so jealous!" Rachel looked at her friend, shocked. "That's so not fair." Abigail sat and sipped on her hot chocolate as she watched them.
"I really want to go on holiday now." Lisa sighed.
"Shall we watch another movie?" Abigail turned back to the TV. The girls agreed and they all settled on another movie.
Later that night when the girls decided to call it a night Abigail quietly sneaked upstairs to say goodnight to Addison and Pete. Pete was already asleep and snoring loudly while Addison was curled next to him with a book in her hands.
The then year old quietly pushed open the door and peeked inside. "Hey," she whispered quietly.
"Hey." Addison looked up and smiled.
"We're going to sleep." Abigail walked into the room.
"That's okay. Everyone comfortable down there? Don't need any extra blankets or anything?" Addison closed her book and placed it on her nightstand.
"No, we're fine." She shook her head.
"Good." Addison smiled softly.
"Just wanted to say goodnight." She gave a smile and walked closer to the bed.
"That's okay. I'd quite like a goodnight seeing as your dad fell asleep about two hours ago and has been snoring since."
Abigail looked at Pete and giggled softly.
"It's alright; I'll kick him in a minute." Addison grinned, wickedly.
The ten year old giggled again and watched her dad before turning back to Addison. "Poor him."
"It's what he gets for snoring." Addison turned her head to look at Pete and kicked him. "Pete, wake up."
"Huh? What?" He sat up slightly and blinked around him confused.
"Abi has come to say goodnight to us and you're laying there snoring away." Addison raised an eyebrow at him.
"I fell asleep." Pete ran a hand over his face tiredly.
"I know. I had to listen to your snores for the past two hours."
"Sorry," he mumbled as he sat up further and looked at them.
"Night, dad." Abigail smiled softly.
"Night, sweetie." Pete gave a smile before he held his hands out. "Give me a hug." The ten year old climbed over the bed and fell into Pete's arms. "You're good down there?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around his daughter. Abigail nodded and snuggled into him. "Good." Pete smiled softly and placed a kiss on her hair.
"Night, dad." Abigail smiled as well and sat up. "Don't snore too loudly," she laughed.
"I'll try not to." He smiled back.
"Good." She grinned and climbed off the bed. Abigail slipped into her slippers before she turned to hug Addison as well.
"Night, Abi." Addison gently kissed the girl's head.
"Night, mum," the ten year old whispered quietly and buried her face into Addison's neck. Addison smiled widely and hugged the girl close. Abigail tightened her arms around her before she pulled back slowly.
"We're right up here if you need us."
"I know." Abigail nodded and smiled softly as she made her way to the door. "Night."
"Sleep well." Addison and Pete smiled softly as they watched her.
"Did she just call you mum?" Pete smiled and pulled Addison closer once Abigail had closed the door behind her.
"Yes." She grinned and turned over to face him. Pete smiled and looked down at his fiancée. Addison snuggled into his side and kissed him, lovingly.
"I love you," he breathed and placed a hand on her cheek as he kissed her back.
"And I love you, so much," she whispered. Pete smiled and held her close to him. "I am so happy."
"You have no idea how happy that makes me."
Addison smiled and happily kissed him again.
Pete closed his eyes and kissed her back lovingly. "I can't believe she calls you mum."
"Neither can I."
"She's settled in so well." He smiled.
"She really has." Addison nodded.
Pete smiled softly and looked down into Addison's eyes. "I can never thank you enough for doing this with me in the first place."
"You don't have to thank me." She shook her head.
"You're the most amazing woman I have ever met." He pecked her lips.
"I know." Addison grinned. Pete smirked and rolled his eyes at her. "Now, no more snoring now, please." She pecked his lips again.
"You'll kick me awake anyway."
"Oh, I will." She nodded and snuggled into him as she gave a yawn.
Pete smiled and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Night, Addi. Love you."
"Night, I love you."
Ah, so it was just a little bit of fluff really for you guys :) More bonding between Addison and Abigail. Can't resist that now! As always, reviews are much love.