Cheers for all the reviews, they mean a lot

After dinner Rachel put Rebecca to bed after she chose the longest story in her collection to read. Eddie decided he needed to talk to Isabella on his own, he walked to her door and knocked waiting on an answer, when he didn't get on he walked in. He was shocked by the site in front of him. Isabella wasn't in her room; he rushed into the bath room to find she wasn't there either.

"Isabella" he called

There was no reply

"This isn't funny, I'm getting angry now, stop hiding" he shouted

"What's all this shouting, I'm trying to get Rebecca to sleep" Rachel said coming out of the youngest girl's room.

"Bella isn't in her room and I can't find her"

"She'll be hiding, she seemed pretty upset when I was up, you read to Rebecca and I'll go look" Rachel said as Michael came upstairs.

"The front door is opened" he said whilst pointing downstairs

"I'll drive round and look for her and make a call to the station" Eddie said "Phil, why don't I drop you home on the way"

Phil left with Eddie whilst Rachel went to finish putting Rebecca to bed.

"Rach, I know I'm grounded, but can I go out to look for Bella, I can check the park and places Dad can't get with a car"

"All right, but only for an hour, I don't want you out when it starts to get dark"

Bella didn't know where to go; she was even more upset now. She had gone downstairs during dinner to apologise, and she was a little hungry, but all she heard was how Rebecca wanted to call Eddie Daddy. She already had one, and now she wanted to steal hers too. She could accept Eddie being Bella's step dad and Rachel being her own step mum, but not for Eddie to actually be her Dad.

She found her way to the park and sat on one of the swings; she couldn't help but let the tears fall. It started to rain, as summer shower she knew it wouldn't last long but the rain fell heavily.

"Bella" she heard a familiar voice call.

"What are you doing here" she replied

"Looking for my little sister, see she is all upset and I don't want her to be. My face is fine; Dad and Rachel just made a big deal out of it. Although I would really love it if you didn't do it again" he said as he took his jacket off and placed it round his little sister.

"I won't, I'm so sorry I don't know what came over me. I thought you would hate me and never want to see me again"

"Don't be daft, you're my little sister, you might get on my nerves but, I love you. Just don't tell anyone I said that. No how about we get home. You might want to get up the road before Dad; he is out looking for you in the car"

Bella knew he was right, so they got up and started the walk home.

"Michael, are you OK with Becca calling our Dad her Dad?" Bella asked

"Yeah, she is just a little kid, and I guess we are going to be one big happy family"

"Yeah, I guess, I just don't like it. He is my Dad and your Dad. Max is her Dad"

"Well, if Max was my Dad I think I would want another one" Michael said joking, "Besides, so what if we share our Dad with her, she shared her Mum with us"

"I know, but its not like Rachel is really my Mum, I don't call her Mum. I know she isn't she's just Rachel"

"Bella, if you want to call Rachel mum you should. You know, Mum wouldn't be angry. You're still a little girl and Mum would want you to have a chance at having a mum who you can talk to. It couldn't have been easy all those years without one"

"Do you really think Mum would be OK with it?" Bella asked

"I don't think, I know she would"

The finally reached the house, Michael opened the door to find Rachel pacing the hall.

"Oh Thank God, you found her" she said as she pulled Bella into a hug

"You had us worried sick, don't ever do that again"

"I'm sorry, I can't really explain, but I am really sorry and I want you all to forgive me. I don't want everyone hating me"

"Oh Sweetheart, no one hates you" Rachel said softly

"I know, I just got angry. It's not fair"

Rachel led Bella over to the couch and sat her down; she sat next to her and placed an arm around her shoulder.

"What's not fair?" Rachel asked

"I want a Mum" she replied timidly

"Oh, Darling, I know you must really miss you Mum. It must have been so hard growing up without her"

"It was, but now Becca has my Dad and I want a Mum. Rachel, can you be my Mum"

"Of course I can, if that's what you want. You know I love you and Michael as if you were my own"

Bella nodded and gave her a hug. "I love you too Mum" she said.

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