Chapter 21

Love me for me

"Was the movie good?" Gabriella said, moving Bella's toy bunny as she sat down next to Bella.

Bella nodded, turning to her Mom. "The bad man nearly took Santa's job but a little girl saved the Santa and made the ice man warm". She climbed onto her Mom's lap. "He looked a lot nicer as the ice man though" she said, grabbing the case and showing it to Gabriella.

"Sounds like a good movie then" Gabriella said, stroking her hair. Bella nodded.

"Can we talk about what Mommy and Daddy told you earlier?"

"About the baby?" Bella asked, scrunching up her face.

"How do you feel about me having a baby in my tummy?"

Bella shrugged, picking up her bunny and hugging it close.

"Lucy my Bunny is sad" she said, cradling it in her arms.

"Why's Lucy sad?"

"Because her mommy is having a baby too"

"Is she?" Gabriella said, playing with Bella's hair. "Why's she sad about that? She'll get to be the big sister right?"

"Mommies leave when they have a new baby".

Gabriella considered what Bella was saying to her. "Did Lucy's mommy have a baby before?"

Bella nodded, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "When her tummy got big she goed out because she wanted to be happy with a new baby. When Lucy's mommy had the new baby she didn't want Lucy anymore and leaved her with her daddy". Tears were now spilling down Bella's cheeks. Gabriella pulled her into a hug, Bella sobbing against her chest. She soothed Bella, rubbing her back gently.

"I'm not going anywhere baby B. Even when the new baby comes, I'll still be here with you and daddy, and the new baby. And even when the new baby comes, I'll love you just as much, daddy too". Bella, who's sobbing has now subsided into uneven sniffles looked at Gabriella.

"But I didn't come from you tummy" she said, touching it gently.

"Do you remember when we came to pick you up to bring you home with us?"

Bella nodded.

"I was sitting in your room with you while you were collecting your things and I told you how there is a special space in mine and daddy's heart which is specially for you?". Bella nodded again.

"When the new baby comes, it won't take your special place in our hearts; No-one else will ever fill it up. That space is just for you!"

"Do you have enough room in your heart for the new baby too then?" Bella said, her voice sounding livelier, more like her normal self.

"Of course. There's always space"

"You must have a really big heart then mommy cos you have lots people in yours. That lady that was here earlier, I could hear her crying and I looked and I saw you cuddled her. You stopped her feeling sad. You made her feel happy again. Is there a space in your heart for her? ". She was looking at Gabriella, a curious look on her face.

Gabriella nodded. "She's one of my best friends. I keep everyone I love in my heart".

Bella wiped her eyes and hugged her Mom tightly. "Did the baby really send me that present?"

"Uhuh" "And you're not going to leave when your tummy gets big?"

"I'm defiantly not. Mommies don't always leave when they have a new baby sweetie"

"My old mommy did" she said, the painful memories causing more tears to well in her eyes. Sometimes they just.. they get confused or maybe they make a bad choice"

"What if you do leave though.." she said, turning away from Gabriella.

"I won't Bella. Promise. Look at Reuben, Daisy's big brother. Sharpay didn't leave when she had Daisy.. and Taylor when she had Hannah and Frankie.. " she pulled Bella close, hugging her tight.

She relaxed into Gabriella's arms, snuggling into her chest.

"Promise you won't leave" she whispered.

"Promise"

"with all of your heart?" she said, looking at Gabriella, her eyes wide.

"With all of my heart".

A/N

Bit of fluff!!

I tried to put in a few Bella type words, 'comed', 'goed' and 'leaved' I felt so sorry for Bella in this chapter I want her to be happy! Ah well.

Hope you all liked. Thanks for your baby suggestions before. I know where I am going with that now but if you have something you want to see in the story, leave in your review.

Thank-you to those who are reading :D( and reviewing too). Hope everyone is enjoying it. Please R and R, new update coming soon,

Love and hugs to you all,

Hutton207

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