panicatcasualty123: Thank you :-)

Is-there-somewhere-x: You'll soon see!

CBloom2: It won't unfortunately and who knows how Lily and Ethan will react.

InfinityAndOne: It feels like it's time now. I don't think he will but Ethan and Lily will still worry.

Chapter Thirty Five

"We need to call the police," Lily panicked as she paced up and down the kitchen. She chewed on her nails, biting right down to the skin and grabbed hold of the phone that was sitting on the kitchen table. As she grabbed it, Ethan clamped a hand over hers. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"We can't call the police on my brother," Ethan said. "We don't even know if it was him."

"Of course it was him!" Lily snapped. "Do you see any broken windows or doors? He is the only one who has a key to our house!"

"Not the only one," Ethan whispered. "What about Connie and Alicia?"

"They wouldn't take our children," Lily half cried. "They would have rang me if they were stopping by. Ethan, our babies are missing and I am one hundred per cent sure that they are with Cal! You may not want to believe it but it's true!"

"He wouldn't hurt them though," Ethan said. "I know he wouldn't. I'd rather just sort it out, talk to him first before we get the police involved. I don't want to ring the police unless we really have to."

Lily was silent, her hand remaining on the phone.

"I'll ring him," Ethan said, slowly taking the phone from her. Lily stepped back and folded her arms across her chest as Ethan dialled and held the phone to his ear. "He isn't answering," he said when the phone had gone to voicemail.

"Then leave a message," Lily hissed.

"Hi Cal," Ethan sighed. "It's Ethan. Look, um...Ava and Zack have gone missing. We're not mad but...If you have them then please contact us, we just want to know if they're safe. Bye." And he hung up the phone and threw it down on the table.

"Have you any idea where he could have gone?" Lily asked and Ethan shook his head, running his hands down his face. "I'm going to ring Connie and Alicia, see if they can come round for a bit."

"Hey," Ethan comforted and gave her arm a rub. "We'll find them and we'll get them back. I promise."

"Cup of tea," Connie said as she handed a mug over to Lily, before sitting down next to her. Lily was sat on the sofa holding one of Zack's baby toys whilst Alicia sat on the other side. "So we're going to have to search the streets for any sign of Cal and the kids then."

"What if he comes back here though?" Lily asked. "And no one's home."

Ethan had his doubts that that would happen but he didn't want to say out loud in front of Lily.

"Well I can stay here if you want me to," Alicia said. "I don't mind."

"Thank you," Lily whispered.

"Well I'm coming with you and Ethan," Connie said and had a sip of her own drink. "You two need someone with you for a bit, I don't want to leave you alone not when something like this has happened."

"Could you give Dora some food?" Lily asked Alicia. "Ava would want her to be well looked after and fed."

"Of course I will," Alicia said. "I love rabbits. I'll text you if I hear anything."

"Come on," Connie said and gave her shoulder a rub. "I'll drive you both."

The drive was awkward and silent. Alicia had stayed home, Connie sat behind the wheel, Lily sat in the passenger seat and Ethan sat behind her. No one spoke, too busy focusing on where Ava and Zack could be. Were they even with Cal? Tears pricked Lily's eyes as she clutched Zack's toy, thousands of horrible thoughts running through her mind. Ethan felt close to tears himself but he leaned over and rub Lily's shoulder, knowing that he had to try and stay strong for his wife.

"I hate to talk about it because I know you're both upset," Connie said. "But do you have any idea where Cal might be? We need to start trying some places."

"I don't know," Ethan sighed and gave a solemn shrug.

"You're his brother!" Lily shouted at him.

"I know!" Ethan shouted back. "But I don't know where he could be! I'm sorry but...I just don't!"

"Can we stop shouting?" Connie asked calmly. "It isn't going to help Ava and Zack."

"I know," Lily sobbed. "I just want my little girl and my baby boy back though. I've been such a crap mother, they're probably better off with Cal."

"Don't you dare say that," Ethan said.

"It's true!" She yelled in tears.

"Lily, it isn't true," Connie whispered in a soothing voice.

"He's ruined our life, Ethan," Lily whispered. "Why did he even have to move back here? We were so happy, just the two of us with our little girl and our own place. Why couldn't he have just stayed in Bournemouth?"

"That's it!" Ethan yelled.

"What's it?" Lily sighed, biting on her nails, again biting down to the skin so it ended up bleeding this time.

"Bournemouth," Ethan said. "Cal loved it there and so did Matilda. I bet that's where they've gone, back home."

"Do you really think so?" Lily asked and Ethan nodded. "Connie, can we go there? Please?"

"Course," Connie agreed with a smile. "It's a good thing I filled the car up with petrol. Do you know where he used to live, Ethan?"

"I think so," Ethan said. "Just drive. I'll know when we get there."