Rachel had just come out of an after school meeting. It had felt like a very long day and she couldn't wait to get home.

She was packing up her things as quickly as she could, when she checked her phone and noticed a text from Eddie's Mum.

Rachel sighed when she read the message saying that Ivy hadn't turned up to her house after school like she was meant to.

Ivy was in a lot of trouble at the moment for both her behaviour at school and at home. She was currently grounded.

Rachel could feel herself getting angry again, but the last thing she wanted was another night arguing with her daughter.

As expected, when Rachel rang Ivy she didn't answer her phone.

Eddie came in and noticed straight away Rachel was stressed.

"Calm down, what's up with you"

"Ivy, she hasn't bloody turned up to your Mum's house"

"That girl, I don't know what we can do with her"

"Me neither, she's acting so out of character. I'm praying it's just a stupid teenage phase that she's going through"

"Yeah, me too"

"Do you want to go and pick the kids up from your Mum's and I'll go home and see if Ivy's there"

"Yeah okay"

Rachel and Eddie went their separate ways.

Although she wasn't surprised, when Rachel got home and realised Ivy wasn't there she felt very disappointed.

A few hours had passed and Ivy still hadn't come home.

Rachel had just come down from putting the kids to bed and was starting to get really worried now.

"Oh Eddie where is she? Do you think we should phone the police"

"Not yet Rach. It's not the first time this month she's been home late is it?"

"Home late? She shouldn't have been out at all, she's grounded"

"I know, come on come and sit down I'll get you a glass of wine"

"Thanks" Rachel smiled before going and getting comfy in the lounge

She picked up an iPad and instantly started looking at holidays.

Eddie and Rachel had been debating for a few days about whether to book a last minute holiday somewhere in the Easter holidays.

They both really wanted to, but at the same time they didn't want to take Ivy away when she was behaving the way she was. She would probably end up ruining it for the whole family.

Rachel continued to look though, it was managing to take her mind off things a little bit.

She would so love to get away, a bit of sun.

Rachel came across a really good deal to Tenerife. She was starting to get excited now, so decided to FaceTime Taylor to see if she would like to come.

Taylor answered and was sat at her desk doing some uni work.

"Are you busy?"

"I've got lots to do as usual, but I can stop and speak to you for a bit"

"Don't suppose you've spoken to Ivy this afternoon, have you?"

"No, why?"

"Well she's grounded yet she's still not come home"

"No sorry I haven't spoken to her since we went to the gym at the weekend"

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll come home soon. Anyway the reason I was ringing, do you fancy going on holiday in the Easter holidays?"

"Do you even need to ask?"

"Well I thought you probably would but I didn't know if you'd made any other plans"

"I definitely want to come"

"Okay well the kids don't break up until the day before Good Friday, but I've found a really good deal flying on Good Friday"

"To where?"

"Tenerife"

"Nice, I haven't been to Tenerife for ages"

"No I think you were probably in year 10 the last time we went like Ivy is now"

"Yeah you're right, it was October half term"

"We're still not definitely decided on going yet, but I'll let you know if we do book it"

Rachel and Eddie talked to Taylor for a while.

It was about an hour later when they heard someone out in the hallway.

They immediately went out and saw Ivy there.

Ivy had tried to come in as quietly as she could, she wasn't in the mood for speaking to anyone just now.

"Where the hell have you been?" Rachel asked

"Out"

"You can drop the attitude right now young lady" Eddie said

Ivy just ran up to her room and slammed the door behind her.

Eddie was about to go up after her but Rachel grabbed his arm.

"Just leave her for a bit Eddie"

Rachel and Eddie went and sat down for a bit.

When Rachel went up to Ivy's room a bit later, she found her lying on her bed in a right state.

As angry as Rachel was feeling, she couldn't help but soften when she saw how upset Ivy looked. She hated to see any child cry, but especially her own.

Ivy hadn't even realised anyone had come into her room as she had her head in her pillow.

"Ivy" Rachel called

Ivy turned around and saw her Mum.

"I'm really not in the mood for you to shout at me tonight Mum. Can we just talk about it tomorrow?"

Rachel noticed at once that Ivy's mood had changed. It was the nicest she'd been when speaking to Rachel in weeks.

"No, I'd rather speak tonight" Rachel said before going and sitting next to Ivy on her bed

"I hope you realise how much trouble you are in"

"I didn't think I could be in any more trouble than I was already in"

"Neither did I, but you've proved me wrong. But before we talk about that I want to know why you're crying"

"I don't want to talk about it"

"Please Ivy"

"But I feel so stupid"

"Whatever it is that you've done, I'm here for you. You can tell me."

"It really doesn't matter that much"

"Your face tells me otherwise sweetheart, you don't cry this much over little things that don't really matter do you?"

"I thought he liked me Mum"

"Who did you think liked you?"

"Luke"

"Of course he likes you, how could he not?"

"If he liked me why was he kissing Abi today?" Ivy said before bursting into a fresh flood of tears

Rachel did feel sorry for Ivy. She knew how much she was probably hurting.

Rachel brought Ivy into her chest and started running her fingers through her hair.

"I know you probably think I'm getting stupid over nothing and we weren't in a serious relationship but I thought he really cared about me"

"Of course I'm not. I have been your age before, I know at the time how much you can like a boy even if when you look back on it you realise it was nothing serious"

"The worst thing is it was my best friend that he cheated on me with and apparently it wasn't the first time it's happened"

"It's a horrible feeling isn't it? When I was a few years older than you, I think I was 16 I'd been with this boy for months and I saw him one day in town kissing another girl. At the time I was heartbroken, but I soon realised I was better off without him and there were other boys and men out there much better than he was"

"I suppose"

"It's their fault I've been so naughty lately"

"How do you mean?"

"I was fed up of everyone thinking I was the baby of the group. They're all allowed to stay out so much later than I am and do stuff that I'm not allowed to do. So I started trying to prove them all wrong. I thought they were my friends, but really they were just making fun of me" Ivy said in tears

Rachel and Ivy talked for a while and Rachel did manage to make Ivy feel a bit better.

"Can you see why I was getting so fed up of your behaviour?"

"Yes and I'm so sorry Mum. I can't believe I was trying to be more like them, I don't know why I would ever have done that. I feel so bad now"

"I have to say, I never have been the biggest fan of that friendship group"

"No wonder, the girls are all bitches and the boys just try and get with as many girls as they can"

"Hey, I know you're upset but there's no need to go around saying things like that"

"Sorry. I'm so sorry about everything. I promise I'll be on my best behaviour from now on"

"Good, that's what I like to hear. I think you need to apologise to Dad too"

"Yeah I will"

"Have you had any tea?"

"No, I've just been walking around for ages on my own"

"Okay, we had curry for tea and there's some left so I'll heat it up for you"

"Thanks Mum"

"That's okay. I think you've got off very lightly here, but I can see how sorry you are and I believe you when you say you aren't going to carry on with this behaviour. So you are still grounded, but no more lectures from me"

"Thank you so much Mum" Ivy said wrapping her arms around her Mum

"Is it okay if I jump in the shower before I eat?"

"yeah course, and once you've apologised to Dad we've got a little surprise for you"

"What? Surely I don't deserve a surprise"

"No you don't really, but I'll make the exception just this once"

Ivy got in the shower so Rachel went back downstairs.

Her only doubt about booking the holiday was Ivy, but there was nothing holding her back now.

"Let's do it Eddie, let's book the holiday"

"Even if Ivy's still acting up?"

"I think we've turned a corner with her Eddie, I really do. She's realised how in the wrong she was and she'd apologised to me, so once she's apologised to you too I think we can put it all behind us"

"What on earth did you say to her to put her out of that mood?"

"I didn't, it was all down to her. Anyway, let's get this sodding holiday booked. I'm desperate for some time away"

Eddie booked the holiday whilst Rachel went and sorted out some food for Ivy.

"Take it into the lounge, and have a word with Dad" Rachel said when Ivy came down

Rachel gave them five minutes whilst she took some washing out of the machine that she'd put on earlier.

It was so nice to see Ivy back to her usual self.

"Can I have the surprise now?"

"Well, we've just booked a holiday to Tenerife"

"When?"

"We fly on the first day of the Easter holidays"

Ivy was so excited after hearing her Mum say that.

"Please can we go shopping?"

"Urmm you're still grounded remember"

Oh please Mum, I really need some new holiday clothes and I definitely need some new bikinis"

"Well as long as you go with me I guess I could allow it"

"Don't worry I'm not going with my friends, not that they're my friends anymore. Are we staying in a hotel?"

"Yes all inclusive, come and have a look"

Ivy was even more excited after seeing the pictures of the hotel.

Rachel and Eddie had the nicest evening that they'd had with Ivy in a very long time, it was so nice to have Ivy back to normal.

Ivy was about to go up to bed, when they heard crying coming from the top of the stairs.

Rachel went up and saw Daisy stood there.

"What's wrong darling?" Rachel asked her daughter

"I feel poorly Mummy"

Daisy had been a bit under the weather all week.

Rachel could hear how blocked up she sounded.

"Let's get you back into bed and I'll stay with you until you go back to sleep"

"I need a wee first"

Daisy went to the loo.

Rachel was waiting for her when Ivy came upstairs.

"I'm going to bed now Mum"

"Okay love, I'll come and say goodnight once I've got Daisy back to sleep"

"Can she not sleep?"

"She's not feeling very well"

"Oh right"

Ivy went into her room and Daisy still hadn't come out.

"Daisy are you okay in there? Do you have a tummy ache too?"

"Yes"

"Can I come in?"

"I'm coming out now"

Daisy opened the door and came out, feeling quite sorry for herself.

"Let's get you back into bed sweetheart"

Rachel tried to get Daisy back into bed as quietly as she could, so she didn't wake Emma.

Daisy was tossing and turning and just wouldn't seem to settle.

After half an hour, Rachel decided she would just bring Daisy in with her.

Both Daisy and Emma loved staying in Rachel and Eddie's bed, but Rachel tried to avoid it whenever possible. Usually when one of them were poorly, they did tend to come in.

Rachel and Daisy came out of the girls bedroom just as Eddie was going up to bed.

"I'm feeling poorly Daddy"

"Are you darling? That's not very good"

"You go and get back into bed with Daddy and I'm going to go and get you some calpol"

"You're not sleeping in our bed are you?" Eddie said and Daisy nodded

Eddie rolled his eyes at Rachel, knowing he wasn't going to get a very good night's sleep now.

Once Rachel had got the calpol, she gave it to Daisy and then got ready for bed.

Once she'd washed her face and brushed her teeth Rachel got into bed next to Daisy.

The three of them ended up having a really bad sleep and when Jack came into their bedroom in the morning, Rachel was nowhere near ready to wake up.

Rachel looked at the time and realised she did need to get up soon though so sat up in bed.

She got out with and went with Jack to try and keep Daisy asleep for a bit longer.

Daisy had been quite poorly through the night, so Rachel wasn't planning on sending her to school.

Emma was on her way into her parents room too, so Rachel took them both downstairs into the play room.

Rachel sat down and had a coffee and when Eddie came down she went and got in the shower.

She'd just got out of the shower and had wrapped a towel around her body when Daisy came in.

"Morning darling, how are you feeling"

"Poorly" Daisy said, she did look quite peaky

"No school today for you then, I'll give Grandma and Grandad a ring in a minute and see if you can go there for the day"

"Can't I stay at home with you?"

"It's a work day for Mummy I'm afraid"

"I need the toilet"

"Okay sweetheart"

Rachel went and got dressed before getting Daisy back into bed and then going to wake up Ivy.

Ivy was feeling a little bit nervous about going to school today as she didn't want to see any of her friends.

"Time to wake up Ivy"

"I'm not feeling very well Mum"

"Don't tell me, time of the month again?" Rachel said as Ivy had been saying this a lot recently to get a day off school

"No, I'm feeling really achy and I've got a headache"

"Well go to school and see how you feel. You might feel better once you're up and about"

"It's Friday today though, can I not just have a day off"

"I don't care if it's Friday or not, it's still a school day"

"I really don't feel very well"

"Come on love, be a good girl and go to school for me. You said you were going to be a good girl from now on didn't you?"

"Fine" Ivy sighed

"Are you feeling a bit worried about going into school?"

Ivy nodded.

"Oh sweetheart, why did you not tell me rather than lying about being poorly?"

"I just need today off Mum and then I'll be ready to face them on Monday after the weekend"

"Trust me darling, you'll be much better going in today and getting it over and done with. I know what you're like, you're just going to spend the whole weekend worrying about Monday otherwise"

"I guess"

"Just ignore them today, sit with other people in your year. You're a popular girl Ivy, you're not going to end up with any friends"

"Okay, I'd better get ready for school then"

"Good girl"

Ivy went to the bathroom so Rachel went back to do her hair and makeup.

It was soon breakfast time.

Rachel brought Daisy down for some breakfast too, as she wanted to tell the kids about going on holiday.

Once they were all sat down having breakfast Rachel broke the news to the little ones, who were all extremely excited.

"Are we going today Mummy?" Jack asked excitedly

"No still another couple of weeks to go I'm afraid love"

"Ivy hurry up, come and have your breakfast" Rachel shouted upstairs to her

"I won't be long"

"What do you want for breakfast?"

"I'll have Weetabix please"

Rachel made some Weetabix for Ivy and luckily she was soon downstairs.

After breakfast Eddie went to work and Ivy went up to do her hair and finish getting ready. Eddie's Mum soon arrived, as she was looking after Daisy at their house.

It was nearly time to go so Ivy went to brush her teeth.

She suddenly started to feel unwell and quickly had to dash to the toilet.

Ivy had an upset stomach so the last thing she wanted to do was go into school. There was no way Rachel was going to believe her though.

"Ivy time to go"

When Ivy didn't come down Rachel went upstairs to find her.

Ivy was just coming out of her room.

"Mum I'm not lying, I really don't feel very well"

"Oh Ivy, I haven't got time for this for god's sake"

"I know I was lying before but I'm really not now"

"Come on Ivy get in the car we need to go"

Ivy's eyes filled with tears. Her stomach was feeling really dodgy so she didn't want to go to school, but she didn't exactly have a choice.

Ivy went and got in the car with Rachel. They dropped the little ones at their primary school before taking the familiar route to Waterloo Road.

Ivy's stomach was feeling really unsettled and she was starting to panic, she really needed the loo.

"Mum can you hurry up please? I really need the toilet"

"I'm going as fast as I can"

Rachel glanced over at her and realised she did look desperate.

"Are you feeling poorly?"

"Yes"

"What's wrong?"

"Bad stomach"

This time Rachel did believe her and she was starting to feel bad.

As soon as Rachel stopped the car Ivy jumped out and ran to the toilets. She was relieved that no-one else was in there.

Rachel went to look for her daughter and found her in the French toilets washing her hands.

"How are you feeling now?"

"A bit better, but not great"

"I'm so sorry darling, for not believing you"

"It's my fault, I was lying about feeling ill when I was in bed but I was telling the truth before we left for school"

"I'm sorry sweetheart, do you want me to take you home?"

"Yes please, I really don't want to stay in school feeling like this"

"That's understandable"

"I'll drop you home with Daisy and Grandma. We need to be quick though because I've got a meeting with a parent at 9:30"

"Okay"

Rachel dropped Ivy home before returning to the school. She was so ready for the weekend!