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Chapter Thirty-Eight

Thursday 26th December – 6.30am

"Chloe, finally, it feels like it's been a week since I heard the sound of your voice," Pierce exclaimed with relief.

"It's been a little while," Chloe replied, before yawning.

Pierce didn't take any notice, "I didn't get any sleep last night at all. I know Aaron called me to say he'd found Hendrix at my place but I was still so worried about everything."

"I know the feeling," Chloe told him, yawning again, "The not getting any sleep part."

On account of being awake almost all night up and down tending to Elly and the peanut…how would I even begin to explain that?

"Chloe, what happened yesterday? Hendrix texted me when Aaron dragged him back to his place to say that it was all his fault for not reminding you about his flight. It's the one thing I asked of you before I left, Chloe, to get him to Sydney on this flight," Pierce pointed out.

I fell more and more in love with Elly yesterday and I'm starting to fall completely in love with her son…probably not the answer you're looking for…

"I just forgot about Hendrix, I sent him back to your place to pack for the trip and I just…forgot about him. I'm sorry, I messed up okay. I'm still getting used to this teenage boy relying on me…thing," Chloe replied, unable to resist finally biting into her toast, hoping Pierce wouldn't think it was rude to be eating whilst talking to her.

Why do I already feel more used to the peanut relying on me after one day together when I've known Hendrix for months?

"What do you mean back to my place? Haven't you been staying at mine with Hendrix, you haven't been leaving him there alone during the evenings?" Pierce accused.

Chloe sighed as she purposely took another bite of toast, "This thing came up a few days ago and I…felt a bit comfier at home in the aftermath. Hendrix has been chilling on our couch the last few nights. Aaron and David have been entertaining him as aside from sharing some meals with Hendrix…I haven't quite felt up to it."

"Why didn't you tell me about the kidnapping? Chloe, I could've been there to help you, I'd have flown back home, I still could," Pierce offered.

Don't do that…

"It wasn't a big deal. Just a little incident. I'm fine. Spent a couple hours in hospital for dehydration, that's all. Nothing worth you getting on multiple flights for twenty-odd hours. Just needed to curl up at home, felt a bit safer…or um…comfier at home. Hendrix has been cool with staying there. I think Aaron was happy to have me there too, he got quite worried about me," Chloe explained vaguely.

"Well, yeah, why wouldn't Aaron be worried about you? I was so terrified yesterday when you didn't answer your phone…I thought you'd been kidnapped. Imagine how I'd feel had I known that Finn had taken you," Pierce commented.

Chloe yawned into the phone again, "Sorry, I am just really tired right now. Sorry about my phone…yesterday. I'd…visited Elly and the peanut and switched my phone to silent without vibrate as I didn't want to wake the lil guy after Elly had gone to a lot of effort to get him asleep. Guess I forgot to switch it back."

"I suppose that…makes sense," Pierce whispered back, feeling uncomfortable with his girlfriend spending time with her ex, "You're back staying at our place with Hendrix, right?"

No, I'm not sleeping in your bed ever again…what do you mean 'our place'? Ugh I don't even want to bother wasting time arguing that with you now, Pierce…I need sleep! And Elly…

"I guess…" Chloe replied without confidence, yawning again, this time closing her eyes.

"Babe, I know we missed Christmas together but everything that's happened the last few days…Chloe, how do you feel if I book you on a flight to New York for tomorrow so you can be here for New Years'? Mark told me Terese has given you a couple weeks off work in case you have PTSD over the kidnapping and since he also said Finn hasn't been arrested yet…I just don't want you in danger. I think you should come to New York to be with me for the week," Pierce offered.

"I'm fine here, I don't want to go anywhere. I like it here at...I like it here. I'm not going to New York with you," Chloe mumbled, yawning again.

I've got my Elly and my peanut here…and that's all I need.

"I feel like I should be there for you. I love you, Chloe," Pierce told her.

Pierce chewed on his lip as Chloe didn't respond to him, "Chloe, did you hear me?"

Silence continued from Chloe's side of the call, "Chloe, are you there? Did I lose you?"

Pierce shook his head in frustration as he finally realized, yet asked rhetorically, "Chloe, have you fallen asleep?"

Half an hour later, Elly wondered out from her bedroom to find Chloe sitting on one of the stools at the kitchen island.

Elly grinned as she watched the blonde before wandering over to her, wrapping her arm around Chloe's shoulder and kissing her cheek, "Good morning, beautiful! I know I've seen you about a dozen times this morning already but I can still say...Chloe, are you-?"

"Huh?" Chloe's eyes snapped open.

Elly giggled at her, "Baby, did you fall asleep eating breakfast? I tired you out last night didn't-"

Chloe blinked her eyes but immediately shot her hand up to cover Elly's mouth. Elly frowned at her as she noticed Chloe had her phone tucked against her ear as she then fumbled with it in her left hand to unlock the phone to the home screen before she let out a sigh of relief, "He hung up, thank Lord."

Elly narrowed her eyes once more until Chloe removed her hand from her mouth.

"Sorry about that," Chloe apologized, "I was on the phone to Pierce...I must've fallen asleep. If he had of been there on the line still that would've been...awkward."

Elly chewed on her lip, "Right...cause me calling you beautiful and baby and insinuating I...tired you out last night...?"

"'Baby' I could try and explain away that you were talking to the peanut. Tiring me out last night...that sounds a lot dirtier than the reality and I don't know how I'd...you called me 'beautiful'?" Chloe found herself gushing.

Elly leaned down to kiss Chloe's cheek once more, "I plan to everyday because you are, Chlo. How did...your call with Pierce go?"

Chloe smiled at Elly for not being afraid to discuss Pierce, "I fell asleep on the phone to him it seems as I don't remember saying good bye and obviously still had the phone to my ear...not great for him. Another thing I'll need to make up for...or not since I shouldn't have to since I won't be his girlfriend for much longer. I apologized for messing up yesterday and forgetting to take Hendrix to the airport for his flight. There was another thing I messed up but didn't tell you about. I kinda didn't tell Pierce about the kidnapping. He found out after getting onto Mark about Hendrix not making the flight."

Elly squeezed Chloe's shoulder, "Because you didn't want Pierce rushing back here on the next flight when...you knew you were going to end it with him and we are...going to work on things between us."

"Yeah," Chloe answered, "He offered to come home but I told him not to. I think he was suggesting that he book me on a flight to New York tomorrow to join him for New Years'."

Elly sighed, "How'd Pierce take your rejection to that?"

"Annoyed I think...I know I said I didn't want to go anywhere...didn't want to go with him to New York then I think I fell asleep. I suppose I should message him to apologize," Chloe pondered, "Anyway, enough about Pierce. How's the peanut?"

Elly smiled at Chloe's need to check on her son as she gently removed herself from her embrace with the blonde and walked around to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, "He's good, baby, he's sleeping. Hasn't woken up since you put him down half an hour ago. You're so good with him. Do you want a tea?"

Chloe reached out to take a sip of her coffee, then bit into her toast, attempting to put a smile on her face, "I'm good, I've got a...room temperature coffee and stone cold toast here."

"I'll make you some more coffee and breakfast," Elly offered.

Chloe bit into her toast again, "No, it's fine, really. I was chatting to Karl when he got up. We need to get used to a life of cold meals and lukewarm beverages cause when the peanut needs us, we put these things on hold for him. Every day we have the peanut in our lives."

"I'd say a lifetime of cold meals and lukewarm beverages sounds bleak and dreary but the fact that you say 'we' and 'us' when you talk about putting things on hold for my son every day for the rest of our lives makes me incredibly happy," Elly admitted.

"Me too," Chloe blushed before yawning again.

"Go sleep, baby, you're exhausted from helping me all night long with Elliot. I can manage him for the next few hours on my own. Suze and Bea will be up soon to help me. Why don't you sleep on my bed as it's comfier than the couch? I can bring Elliot out here to leave you in peace," Elly insisted.

Chloe found herself yawning again, "Maybe an hour would do me some good. I'll be fine sleeping on the couch. Too tempting to sleep on your bed and want to cuddle you. Then I'd want to kiss you and never let you go. Wake me in an hour as I need to call Mark too. He's working today so I said I'd call him before he headed to the station. I'll need a shower before I Skype Mark. I'll have to go home for that. I have clothes with me but I forgot to bring across my bathroom things."

Elly left the kitchen and walked back around to Chloe, wrapping her arm around Chloe's waist as she helped her off the stool and began leading her to the couch, "You can have a shower here, Chlo. You can use the bathroom I share with Bea. All my stuff is on the left-hand side of the bathroom sink and my shampoo and conditioner are on the left-hand side of the shower rack. I'll get you a fresh towel and leave it on the bathroom counter."

"Okay, that'd be nice," Chloe agreed, "If the peanut needs me, wake me anyway."

Elly giggled at Chloe, "It's just an hour, Chlo. Elliot won't need you."

"What if he does?" Chloe pouted.

"Then he'll be putting up with me for an hour until his favourite...ah until his Chloe wakes up from her nap," Elly stumbled over initially wanting to call Chloe Elliot's mum but panicked at the pressure she might put her under.

"I'll be his favourite cause I'm the cool fun one, you'll be the one grounding him for getting into trouble cause you like giving orders and people listening to you," Chloe teased.

"Does that mean you should be the one in trouble as you're ignoring my 'Dump him' orders about Pierce and stopping me from kissing your perfect lips?" Elly cheekily replied.

Chloe blushed at the thought as they reached the couch and Chloe pulled the blanket back and laid down.

Chloe smiled up at Elly when she took the blanket and tucked it in around her then kissed her forehead, "You'll be able to kiss me soon enough, Elly."

"Not soon enough to my liking," Elly pouted as she reached out and turned the baby monitor's volume down, "I'll see you in an hour. I'll let the rest of the family know to let you be so you can sleep. Okay, baby?"

Elly then smiled as she realized Chloe had already fallen asleep, feeling much more acceptance that Chloe had fallen asleep on her than Pierce did when she'd done the same to him.

Elly left Chloe alone to her nap, heading back to check on her son.