Hey guys! So thankyou so much for all the nice messages and reviews, as well as a few new favourites! Okay so Erin and Rick had just found Tee previously and they were on their way home! Arietta's slightly worried Rick and Erin will hate her due to the accidental reveal of Erin's pregnancy to the school and in this chapter they finally meet!
Erin was on top of the world. Together, her and Rick had found Tee and they could return to The Dumping Ground! The night before, just after Erin found her, she'd run almost screaming into her room and woken Rick. Half asleep, Rick stumbled out the door to his room still unaware of what was actually happening. His eyes had set on Tee and his face lit up, they'd really found her.
That morning Erin had excitedly rung Kitty informing her of the good news. Naturally, Kitty, Frank and Tyler had gone mad and Erin was assuming they'd told the rest of the house who should also be over the moon. Tee had been slightly worried about seeing Johnny after the way she left it with him however Erin and Rick had been reassuring her whole train journey home and as it pulled up in the station they had just about calmed the panicking girl down.
"But what if he still hates me?!" Tee asked pacing up and down the pavement as the group waited for Mike. Erin stood up and held the young girl by the shoulders, looking down into her eyes, "Tee, just listen, Johnny doesn't hate you, he never hated you before, and he was only worried!" Erin had wondered whether to tell Tee about Johnny's near suicide attempt however she had decided against her judgement. If Johnny wanted Tee to know he should be able to tell her himself and if he didn't want her to know then that was fair to him.
"Too right," Rick said, nodding, "Everyone was so worried Tee, honestly we all just wanted you home." Tee continued pacing but stopped with the constant bombardment of questions which calmed Erin a little. Only a few moments later, a familiar white minivan pulled up next to the pavement.
Mike jumped out the van, barely remembering to lock it only to be shortly crushed by the three young people hugging him. Mike realised just how much he'd missed the group that had left. Rick had been like the son he'd never had, Tee was just the peacekeeper of many Dumping Ground arguments and Erin had kept the kids in line and looked after a lot of them through difficult times, which there was a lot of.
"Hey Mike, we missed you," Erin said, a tear running down her cheek. "Hey kids, you do know how stupid it was to run after Tee guys, and Tee how silly it was to run off in the first place?" Mike asked, suddenly serious. The three of them stared at Mike before he broke into a smile, "All of that aside, it's great to have you back, we all really missed you lot. After the group had stood in the middle of the pavements for several minutes Mike broke away, "Well what are we waiting for, let's get back!" They piled into the minivan and began the short trip back to Elmtree where everyone was ready, anticipating their arrival
(Back at The Dumping Ground)
Many of the children in the house were extremely excited and nervous. Johnny had not stopped walking around all day and Kitty had been keeping a close eye on her boyfriend. "Johnny please calm down, Tee will be fine with you, she's probably as nervous to see you so you don't want to make it any worse," Kitty pleaded in an attempt to calm the agitated boy.
"I can't keep calm knowing she's so close to me again, I messed up last time and I'm just so scared of doing the same thing again!" Johnny almost cried. Kitty squeezed his hand, "Remember what we talked about last time, just apologise and work from there, I'm pretty sure she's ready to forgive you."
"They'll hate me, they'll hate me, they'll all hate me," Arietta mumbled angrily, slightly banging her head against her bedroom door. "They won't Ari honestly," Sam called out from where she was sprawled across the bed flicking through a magazine. "I've already told you what they're like and I know what they're like it's nothing like you imagine," Sam attempted to comfort the girl. "Thanks, I'd probably go mad without you," Arietta said, hugging the girl. Sam went red at the compliment and she was glad she couldn't be seen as she hugged back.
Tyler was sat outside playing cards with Frank and watching Harry and Mo run around in the garden. He knew he had left the whole Erin situation on a bad note by not supporting the pregnancy but like he'd said it was because he cared and he hoped Erin understood that as they were the closest and best friends he'd ever had. As for Tee, Tyler missed her like crazy. Although they were only young, Tyler had a connection with the girl that he'd had with no one else. He knew that she'd be in no position for a relationship as soon as she returned so he'd give her time but eventually he hoped to reconcile whatever they had before she left.
As Harry ran round being chased by Mo all he could think was happy thoughts. Tee was always so nice to him and he'd missed her a lot. Rick was like a father figure to him and as for Erin, she'd looked after him when no one else would, played games with him when everyone else got bored, he couldn't wait to see her.
Frank thought as he dealt cards between Tyler and himself. Although he and Faith had become a little closer recently he had still missed his old mates deeply. Erin and Frank had helped each other through a lot and to be honest Rick hadn't been his favourite person to begin with, the pair hadn't always seen eye to eye but he was glad they had been able to put their differences behind them for the sake of friendship. Surprisingly, Frank had always had a really close, friendly relationship with Tee. He wasn't quite sure what it was about the girl, perhaps they had bonded over the fact that they were two people that were often made to feel smaller than they usually were and their views sometimes ignored. Regardless of how they'd become friends, Frank was glad they were all returning.
Kitty walked down the stairs with Johnny close by her side. As they reached the middle of the stairway she saw the minivan pull up outside the house. Her whole face lit up as she pointed out the window. "They're home!" she exclaimed. Johnny's face was stuck between happy and scared, Kitty squeezed his hand reassuringly once more, "It'll be fine." She whispered as the door they could see down from them began to open.
Kitty screamed loudly and happily launching herself towards Erin being wary of the baby but still hugging her tightly. "It's been far too long!" Kitty said gripping onto the girl in front of her. "I defiantly agree with you on that one," Erin said, a few tears escaping from her eyes, "I've missed you so much." Kitty nodded, hugging harder, "Me too." Rick cut in, "Hey I've missed you as well Kitty cat, come here," he said as Kitty ran into his outstretched arms.
Watching the scene unfold in front of him made Johnny more nervous, he could see Tee behind the three staring down at the floor. Kitty dragged Tee forward hugging her at the same time, "I've missed you loads seriously, so had he!" the excited girl exclaimed, leaving Tee stood directly in front of Johnny.
Tee ran into her brother at full force wrapping her small arms around his waist, Kitty saw Johnny's face turn from terror to relief and happiness. "I'm so sorry Tee, you have no idea how worried I was I'm so glad you're back safely." He said , kissing her hair, "You know I never meant the hit I just get angry sometimes, I'm so sorry I'd never treat you like that monster did," Johnny finished almost in tears as he referred to their stepdad who Kitty had once compared him to in her rage.
"I know, I know and I'm sorry for making you worry so much Johnny, I forgive you, I forgave you the second it happened, I'm so so sorry," Tee cried into her brothers' shoulder. Erin smiled at the scene and linked hands with Rick, "Thank god," Kitty whispered to the pair, "Johnny's been so het up about this all day, I'm glad they're okay now." Erin and Rick both nodded in agreement, "Tee was the exact same, I think they just needed to see each other, it's been a while.
"Right, let's go see the others; they're all dying to see you!" Kitty exclaimed taking Erin's hand and dragging them through the house. Johnny, Rick and Tee followed the pair whilst Mike went off to find Gina and Tracy. (Note: Tracy stayed, she never left and is now a full time care worker at Elm Tree)
As they reached the kitchen door, Kitty flung it open and walked out into the garden to be met by Frank, Tyler, Mo and Harry. All four boys jumped up from the positions they were sat in with the largest grins on their faces. "Erinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!" the small boy holding his stuffed giraffe yelled. Erin picked him up and spun him around, "Harry!" she cried, tears fully running down her face now, "You have no idea how much I've missed you and Jeff." Harry hugged the older girl tightly, wrapping his little arms around her neck, "Me and Jeff have missed you loads and your story telling.
Meanwhile Frank was high-fiving and hugging Rick, "Not bad seeing you again mate," Frank remarked smirking, "Oh yeah, missed you a little," Rick laughed back patting one of his best friends on the back, "Nice to be back though." Frank nodded, "You lot have missed too much, glad to have you back." Rick nodded, slightly confused at what they'd have missed but he decided to question Frank about it later, "Glad to be back."
Tyler and Tee had been hugging for a few minutes, "Missed you loads!" Tee exclaimed, "I'm sorry about how I left it, I didn't want it to be like that you know," she said, hugging him more. "I know, I understand honestly but I know you've got loads going on right now and to be fair to you we're good as close friends for now, at least until we've all got this sorted out." Tyler explained. Tee nodded in agreement, "That's for the best so you're right, still love you though, and you're a great friend."
Frank had been talking to Rick and Erin for several minutes now whilst Harry clung onto Erin and Mo just lingered around being hugged by several people in the group although he was generally happy being himself. As Tyler left Tee, Frank made a move over to the girl, "Hey there, missed me?" Frank asked, laughing. Tee's face lit up as she hugged the boy, "Only loads," she exclaimed grinning.
Tyler slowly made his way over to Rick and Erin. He expected to be greeted angrily however Erin's smiling face calmed him slightly, "Hey stranger!" Erin exclaimed, hugging the boy. Tyler let out the breath he had been holding in, "I'm so sorry," Tyler said, hugging back. "For what?" the girl asked. "For not supporting the whole pregnancy thing, I wasn't thinking straight, only went and lost the best mates I've had," Tyler sighed.
Erin took Tyler by the hand, "Tyler listen it's fine, you had your reasons, everyone did, I get that, I moved on, I still love you seriously, I missed you so much!" Rick nodded, high fiving the smaller boy, "I agree with everything she said, long time no see bro!"
Johnny approached the pair as they reconciled with Tyler, he knew the boy had been as worried as seeing them as he had been about seeing Tee so he was glad to see it had worked out. Rick looked up to see Johnny, "Hey I just wanted to thankyou you two so much, finding Tee like that, I don't know what other type of people would do that and I won't ever be able to repay you but thankyou."
Erin grabbed Johnny and kissed his cheek, "You deserved it don't worry, everyone makes mistakes it's normal but don't make it again because she's a special girl and you don't wanna lose her." Rick nodded, "It's honestly no problem mate; as if we were gonna let her get lost, but yeah it was nothing!"
Kitty watched her friends, they were all so happy as was she but she also knew someone had to break the news to Erin and it would be easier to do it sooner rather than later. "Erin…" Kitty started. "Yeah?" Erin asked, coming over to where the girl stood. "There's something you should know," she paused looking at Frank; he nodded telling her it was the right thing to do. "Someone revealed your pregnancy to the whole school and a lot of people have been saying stuff…" Kitty trailed off as she saw Rick's face harden. Erin wasn't even that angry, just shocked, she wasn't sure what to say.
"Who was it?!" Rick exclaimed angrily. "Rick hun, calm down," Erin squeezed his hand. As Kitty opened her mouth Arietta and Sam walked out the kitchen door…