Chapter: Sticking together.

Kim handed Erin a tissue and she wiped her eyes.

"You alright Er."Kim asked

"Yeah it was just a lot of emotions I didn't realise were buried so deep surfacing at once,I'm just worried about how it's going to affect Ellie." replied Erin.

"I'm sure she's alright, kids are more resilient than you think,plus she looked very excited at the thought of getting ice cream before lunch!" replied Kim.

Erin smilied.

"He's so good with her,his kids are sweet to her as well ,they all get one pretty well,I mean they've been in each other's lives for almost three years."Erin replied.

"How did you meet?"asked Kim

"I went back to work when Ellie was a year old and I left her with a child minder that a colleague at work had recommended and Ians kids also went to the same childminder after school." Erin explained.

"Sit down,I'll make us some lunch." said Kim pointing to the chair to encourage Erin to sit down.

"There's barely anything in the fridge. I need to do a food shop!"laughed Erin.

"You've clearly never seen my ability to rustle up a meal from nothing!"laughed Kim as she walked over to the fridge and freezer to find something for them to eat.

Thirty minutes later Kim returned back with two plates each with two mini pizzas,some chopped tomatoes and carrots sticks and hummus.

Erin laughed "This looks like something you would serve at a kids party!."

"Look, it's not my fault I had limited supplies to work with."Said Kim laughing.

Erin smiled as she realised it was one of the first times she had Kim smile and laugh.

Later that afternoon,Ellie and Ian came back with Freya and Lily swinging Ellie between them with Raife walking along behind them listening to music .Ellie skipped around the house as though the events of the morning had not happened.

"Come on momma,come on Kim,Ian says we are all going for dinner."she exclaimed

"Ellie,calm down,It's only four o'clock I said later at 6 o'clock."replied Ian.

Ellie smirked.

"Well I haven't learnt how to tell the time yet at pre-school yet you silly banana,we are still doing shapes." she giggled

"Who are you calling a silly Banana."said Ian

"You."Ellie said as she ran at Ian.

Ian grabbed the girl and picked her up and swung her by her giggled as he carried her and dumped her on the sofa.

"Right guys bottoms on the sofa,we will let Erin and her friend get ready and then we can decide where to go to eat." said Ian.

Erin rolled her eyes.

"Ian this is typical of you,giving me an hour and a half to get ready and sort Ellie out as well." she laughed.

"I'm not expecting you to get dressed like you're going to a Vogue fashion shoot,you can even stay in that if you want." said Ian.

"So you would be happy for me to walk into a restaurant wearing these sweatpants,Oh Ian have some standards at least!"Erin smirked

Ian shot her a look as if to say 'you know exactly what I mean,'

At five forty five they were all ready to go out and get had been much debate about where to eat they had finally settled with teppanyaki.

They sat down at the table and the chef began to cook the food in front of them,the kids were mesmerized by the chef and his tricks with the food and utensils.

They burst into laughter trying to catch the shrimp that the chef threw at them in their mouths.

Erin refused to do it and and all at once they all the kids and Ian picked up a shrimp and pelted them at her and this caused everyone to burst into laughter.

Kim smiled and she loved to see Erin happy.

They spent the rest of the evening eating food and laughing.