Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter! Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Please REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! I enjoy hearing your thoughts. God Bless. :)

-Vegter999

Note: Any non-English words in this chapter will be in Norwegian.

Chapter 2

Ruth's POV:

That afternoon we piled into the car and headed towards Oslo to Skandar and Brita's house for dinner. We let Naomi know by phone that we were coming to pick her up and take her with us a few minutes ago. She visited us at least once a week and was a wonderful grandmother to the kids, who all adored her. We pulled up in front of the apartment and she waved to us. Maryam dashed out of the car and towards her, practically jumping into her open arms.

"Bestemor!" (Grandma!) she exclaimed.

"Hi sweetheart! How are you?!"

"Good thank you."

I stepped out of the car and went over to greet Naomi, smiling joyfully at seeing the two of them together.

"Hi Mother" I kissed her on the cheek.

"Hello my daughter and how are you?"

Maryam stepped up to my side and I put an arm around her and then gazed back at Naomi.

"There's never a dull moment in our house."

"I'll bet"

Erik leaned out the window and called good naturedly: "Don't mean to rush you ladies but our dinner will get cold if we aren't there on time."

"Then let's not waste another second" Naomi said. Maryam and I squeezed into the back of the van while Naomi took the front seat beside Erik. Annalise, Katarina, and Jakob shared the seat behind Maryam and I and we set off for Oslo.

Erik's POV:

"So how have you been?" Naomi asked, as I drove along down the road.

"Fine. Nothing but the usual has happened really. Oh, I have an asylum case that I've taken on but, other than that nothing out of the ordinary."

"I hear from Ruth that your little ones have been keeping you very busy."

"Yes, Jakob in particular. He has so much energy that he hasn't quite learned how to control yet."

"Give him time. He is only a child, he'll learn."

"It seems like just yesterday he was born and now he's nine years old."

"They all grow up so fast."

"Yes."

We lapsed into silence for a moment, Naomi no doubt lost in memories of her own sons.

Finally, she spoke up.

"If there is anything I can do to help let me know."

"You already help us so much Naomi. Your a wonderful example for them. Thank you."

She smiled and turned to gaze out the window as we continued on our way.

Ruth's POV:

When we arrived at Skandar and Brita's Jakob bounded out of the car and to the door, rapping on it. Skandar opened the door and exclaimed: "Jakob! Come give your grandfather a hug!" Jakob threw his arms around Skandar and Skandar embraced him back.

I carried Annalise on my hip and the rest of the kids and Erik and Naomi followed us inside. Once we were all inside, hugs and kisses were passed around.

Torsten came wheeling into the living room.

"Did I hear my favorite nephew has arrived?"

"I'm your only nephew Uncle Torsten."

"Exactly, now get over here" Torsten held his arms open and Jakob hugged him. Annalise slowly made her way over, her finger in her mouth.

"Annaliser se hvor høy du blir!" (Annalise look how tall your getting!) Torsten exclaimed, smiling.

Annalise turned and ran back and hid behind me.

"She can be shy Torsten. Don't take it personally" I said, making my way over to him with Annalise at my side.

"Annalise say hello to Uncle Torsten" I said.

She pulled her finger out of her mouth and whispered a quiet hello before putting her finger back in her mouth. She then raced over to join her brother and sisters.

I gazed after her for a moment before turning back to Torsten.

"We're working on it with her. She just needs time and patience."

"I'm sure with your help, she'll bloom the most beautiful of them all."

"Don't let Maryam or Katarina hear you say that. They may think your picking favorites" I joked.

Torsten mocked being offended, placing a hand over his heart.

"Madam how could you ever think me capable of such a thing?"

I giggled, leaning down and giving him a brotherly kiss on the cheek.

I then gazed at him seriously.

"How have you been?"

"I have no complaints. Nothing much has changed since you saw me two weeks ago."

We came to visit Torsten, Skandar, and Brita as often as we could. Brita had confided to me that Torsten had been suffering from a case of loneliness, though Torsten himself would never admit it. On the outside he remained his usual cheerful self.

Erik padded over to us.

"Hey you two, dinner is ready."

"Good, I'm starving" Torsten replied.

We all gathered around the dinner table, with Skandar and Brita sitting at the head of the table, Torsten, Erik, and I sitting on the left, and the kids sitting on the right.

Skandar led the family in prayer and then we all tucked into the food, which consisted of chicken, an assortment of vegetables, and bread.

"So Erik I hear you've taken on an asylum case" Skandar remarked.

"Yes, they're an afghan family. Ruth, I'll need your help with interpreting if you don't mind" he said, turning to me.

"Of course" I replied.

When I had studied law in Iran, I had worked with several Afghan refugees and had a chance to act as an interpreter there.

"Remind me again how many languages you speak Ruth?" Skandar asked, smiling.

"Arabic, Kurdish, Persian, and English. Plus my Norwegian is coming along." I smiled back proudly.

"You have a very accomplished wife my son" Skandar remarked to Erik.

"Yes I do" Erik smiled at me and placed a hand over mine, for which I returned the smile and squeezed his hand affectionately.

Erik glanced over and noticed Jakob pushing a piece of carrot around his plate.

"Ikke lek med maten Jakob" (Don't play with your food Jakob.)

"Jeg liker ikke gulrøtter pappa" (I don't like carrots Papa.)

"Spis dem uansett." (Eat them anyway.)

"Hvorfor?!" (Why?!) Jakob threw down his fork, crossing his arms.

"Jeg skal ikke krangle med deg Jakob. Spis dem." (I'm not going to argue with you Jakob. Eat them.)

Jakob sighed in exasperation and practically stabbed the carrot with his fork, reluctantly placing it in his mouth.

"I finished before you Jakob" Maryam boasted, gesturing to her empty plate.

Jakob stuck out his tongue at her.

"Alright you two knock it off" I said.

"Who wants dessert?" Brita asked.

"Me!" all the kids practically shouted at once.

I laughed playfully at their eagerness as Brita went to get the ice cream.