This is not what I planned to have happen when I sat down to write this chapter, but apparently I can't control my characters and they just do what they like!
Rachel woke with a jump as she felt something hit her stomach. She'd been a little restless after speaking about her fathers with Shelby and she'd woken several times in the night, but, despite never actually waking herself, Shelby had always seemed to sense when Rachel needed her, pulling her close and holding her tightly to let the girl know she was safe now.
Rachel's eyes shot open in fear but she quickly relaxed when she realised that, at some point in the night, Lily had crawled into bed with them, the girl fast asleep with one arm draped across Shelby's face and her foot lodged firmly in Rachel's stomach. She smiled and watched her cousin for a minute or two before yawning loudly and gathering her blanket and her bear so she could go and sleep in Lily's bed until she was ready to get up.
"Morning Pretty Girl" Rachel wasn't expecting to see her Aunt in the hallway, "you're up early."
"Lily got in with us…"
"Ah, let me guess, her wriggles are keeping you awake? Do you want me to move her back to her own bed?"
Rachel shook her head, "it's okay, she's made herself comfortable and I'm awake anyway" she buried her face in her blanket as she failed to hold back another yawn, Amy smiling at how young and innocent Rachel looked, "I'm gonna sleep in Lily's bed til everyone gets up."
Amy said nothing but held out her hand, leading Rachel towards her own bedroom, "Jim's gone for a run, I didn't ask questions, I just think he's a maniac, I only got up to get a glass of water, you can get in with me if you want?"
Rachel looked unsure, "what if Uncle Jim comes back."
"He will come back but he won't want to get back in bed. Once he's up for the day then he's up, and anyway, who says I want him getting back in bed? I offered to give him a workout myself this morning but he told me I'd probably fall asleep on him and damage his ego. He made his decision, he can deal with the consequences" Amy winked to show Rachel she was joking before frowning and telling her, "don't tell your Mom I told you that. Anyway, it's your choice Pretty Girl" she gestured to the bed, "do you want to get in or do you want me to tuck you into Lily's bed?" Rachel didn't need to think about her answer as she walked over to the bed, "I'm just going to use the bathroom" Amy smiled, "you get comfy and I'll be out in a minute."
Rachel climbed into the bed, nuzzling her face into the pillow when she was instantly enveloped in the familiar scent of her Aunt, she couldn't identify it, something sweet with a hint of lavender, but whatever it was, it was enough to relax her to the point where she was struggling to keep her eyes open when she felt the bed dip beside her.
Amy smiled when she saw Rachel laid on her side of the bed, crossing the room to get in beside her, "you're okay" she stroked Rachel's cheek when she saw her stir slightly, "it's just me". Without Rachel saying anything, Amy straightened Rachel's blanket to lay just how she liked it before kissing her forehead and laying down, "sweet dreams" she whispered.
Rachel shuffled closer, allowing herself to cuddle into Amy, her fingers instinctively curling around the hem of the tank top Amy was wearing, "is this okay?" Rachel mumbled sleepily, not wanting to make her Aunt uncomfortable.
"Absolutely fine Pretty Girl. You close your eyes and get some sleep" she said softly before beginning to hum quietly as she held Rachel close.
When Jimmy returned from his run he quietly made his way into the bedroom, assuming Amy had gone back to sleep after he'd left and not wanting to wake her. The two of them hadn't gone straight to sleep after putting Lily and Max to bed, they'd sat up for a while talking about things, Jimmy wanting to make sure his wife was okay after telling Rachel about what her vocal coach had done to her. He couldn't help but smile when he saw Rachel had joined Amy and the two were curled up together, fast asleep. He grabbed some long swimshorts and a tshirt before leaving the room again, he'd shower in the bathroom Lily and Max were sharing so he didn't wake his wife or his niece.
He checked in on his kids on the way to the bathroom, smiling as he saw Max sprawled out and upside down in the bed, the boy snoring quietly as he slept. Jim felt his heart stop for a second when he moved into the next room and saw Lily's bed was empty, but quickly allowed himself to breathe again when he chanced a look through the open door of Shelby's room and found that, like Rachel, Lily was fast asleep in the arms of her Aunt. Satisfied that his family were all safe, Jim headed for the shower, wanting to have breakfast ready by the time everyone else woke up.
Max was the first to wake, padding sleepily into the living area with a book in his hand, "Daddy" he beamed when he saw Jimmy sat out on the decking enjoying the early morning sun, "you said you'd read me another story when I waked up and I'm 'wake now."
"You're right, I did say that, how about I go get us both some juice and then we can read?"
Max nodded as he made himself comfortable, "okay Daddy" he grinned, "be quick though!"
Shelby and Lily were the next to wake, Shelby getting Lily some juice before carrying her out to the deck where Max and Jim were now working together on a children's sudoku puzzle, "no, it can't be a 4 can it Buddy, because there's already a 4 on that line" Jim didn't notice Shelby at first but he smiled at her as she joined him and Max, "morning" he smiled to her before tickling Lily's stomach, "morning Little Legs".
Lily guzzled her juice before smiling sleepily, "I s'eep in Auntie Lelly's bed."
"Yeah, I seem to have lost my daughter in the night and gained yours" Shelby laughed.
"I think it might have been this morning, not in the night. I left for a run just before seven and when I came back, Rach was in with Amy and she definitely wasn't there when I went out."
"You could have woken me if you wanted her moving, I'd have…"
Jimmy shook his head, "it's fine, honestly, once I'm up I'm up. I only went in to get some clothes so I could shower."
"Okay" Shelby nodded, "but if it happens again and you want me to."
"Shelby it's fine" Jimmy smiled, "I promise."
"Daddy" Lily interrupted the conversation, "what's for brea'fast?"
"Pancakes" Max didn't look up from where he was concentrating on his puzzle, "they're yummy… Daddy, I think this one's a 2."
Jimmy ruffled his son's hair as he stood up, "I think so too Bud. I'm just going to go grab breakfast for Lil yeah, I'll be back in a minute."
"I can…" Jimmy didn't let Shelby finish her sentence.
"Don't worry about it, they're keeping warm in the oven, it'll only take me two minutes" he smiled before heading into the villa.
Rachel woke as Jimmy was preparing breakfast for Lily and Shelby but she didn't move, didn't even open her eyes, simply allowed herself to take in the moment. She remembered getting into bed with her Aunt, and she'd woken to an arm draped across her waist, to gentle breaths ghosting across the top of her head. She'd woken to love and comfort even though Amy was still asleep. She nuzzled closer to her aunt and, almost instinctively, Amy tightened her hold on her niece.
It didn't take long for Rachel's mind to begin to wander. She felt a little conflicted about what Amy had told her the night before. Obviously she was heartbroken to hear that her Aunt had been assaulted by someone she was meant to be able to trust, but, at the same time, she took hope from the story. If Amy could get past something that, in Rachel's mind, was far worse than what she'd been through, then, eventually, she'd be able to move on from her life with her fathers.
Rachel laid with her Aunt for a while until she began to get hungry, she carefully brushed Amy's curls back from her face so she could kiss her cheek, biting her lip as she reached out her hand, holding it above Amy's stomach before allowing herself to let her hand rest gently on Amy's slight bump, "you're going to be so lucky" she whispered to her unborn cousin. "You're going to grow up always knowing just how loved you are, and your Mom and Dad, I know they'd never hurt you, they'd never let anyone else hurt you" she whispered, her hand lingering on Amy's stomach for another moment before she slipped from the bed.
"Morning baby" Shelby smiled when she saw Rachel coming out to join them, "did you sleep well?"
Rachel nodded and yawned as Shelby gently pulled the teen to sit on her lap, "Lily's wriggles woke me" she mumbled sleepily, "I was going to get in her bed but Aunt Amy was up and she said I could get in with her for a while."
"That's okay" Shelby kissed Rachel's forehead, "but if it happens again, wake me up and I'll put Lily back in her own bed for you."
"Auntie Lelly" Max spoke before Rachel could respond, "why do you call Rachel baby? She's not a baby, she'd a big girl!"
Shelby chuckled and tightened her hold on her daughter, "she's my baby though, she'll always be my baby, just like you'll always be Mommy and Daddy's baby and me and Mommy, and Uncle Matt and Uncle Luke are all Nana and Grampy's babies."
"Did Rachel grow in your tummy like Mommy's got a baby in her tummy?"
"Yeah" Shelby nodded, "she did."
"I made pancakes if you're hungry Rach" Jim interrupted before Max could ask any more questions. "Want me to go grab them for you?"
Rachel shook her head and stood up, "I'll get them."
"Okay" he smiled, "they're keeping warm in the oven, they're all for you, don't worry about leaving any for Amy."
"Won't she want some?" Rachel frowned.
"She still feels a bit queasy some mornings so I didn't make her any" Jim explained, "if she wants pancakes then it won't take me long to make her some, but if she doesn't want to eat, or she just wants something bland, they won't go to waste."
Rachel nodded, that made sense, "oh, okay" she smiled before heading back inside to get her pancakes.
"Morning Pretty Girl" Rachel was pouring syrup onto her pancakes when Amy joined her in the kitchen, "did you sleep well?"
"I did thank you" Rachel nodded, "I didn't wake you did I?"
"No" Amy lied, "I woke when I needed to use the bathroom" she said as she opened the refrigerator, not wanting Rachel to know that it had been the kiss to her cheek that had woken her, that she'd heard everything the teen had said to her baby.
"Uncle Jimmy made pancakes" Rachel gestured to her plate, "he said he'd make some for you if you wanted some."
Amy shook her head as she poured out juice for herself and Rachel, "I feel a bit nauseous right now" she gestured to her stomach, "I'll just get some toast."
"Okay" Rachel smiled, deciding to wait for her Aunt before she went back outside.
She was surprised to find Amy wrapping her in a hug once she'd dropped two slices of bread into the toaster but she didn't complain, she'd never say no to just being held. "I love you" Amy whispered as she kissed Rachel's hair.
Rachel smiled, "I love you too"
Amy began swaying gently with Rachel in her arms, "no matter what happens, no matter how many babies of my own, I want you to know I'll always have time for you, you can always come to me, you can call me in the middle of the night, come round whenever you want, you know that right?"
Rachel nodded, "I do, thank you."
"Good" Amy kissed Rachel's hair again as her toast popped up, "go eat your pancakes, I'll be out in a minute" she smiled as she passed her a glass of juice and shooed her in the direction of the patio doors.
"Morning Babe" Jimmy smiled when he saw his wife, still only dressed in the tank top and panties she'd slept in, "morning Baby" he kissed at her stomach, kissing Amy once she'd sat beside him, "I'd have made pancakes if you want."
Amy shook her head, "Rachel said, but I'm okay with this thanks."
"Feeling sick?"
"Mhm" she pouted, Jim laughing and kissing her pout.
"It'll pass soon" he promised, "and if there's anything I can do…"
"I know" Amy took a bite of toast, "are we still going to the mall this morning?"
Jimmy nodded, "Shelby said there's a couple of things she forgot, so I thought we could all go, I'll take the kids to get groceries and you three can do whatever you…"
"Erm, Daddy" Lily interrupted, "I wanna go with Mommy and Rachie and Auntie Lelly, not you."
"Oh, well" Jimmy poked his tongue out at his daughter, "looks like me and Max are in charge of groceries then."
"Yes!" Max punched his fist in the air, "we're going to get so much pizza!"
Amy laughed and shook her head, "I don't doubt that for a second."
Everyone went to get ready once Rachel and Amy had finished eating, Rachel dressing in a knee length floral sun dress that she'd 'borrowed' from her Aunt. Amy had told Rachel that most of her summer clothes didn't fit her at the moment so she was welcome to raid her closet for things to take on vacation and Rachel had taken full advantage of that offer, despite Shelby telling Rachel she'd buy her whatever she needed, most of the clothes Rachel had brought with her were Amy's.
They all piled in the car for the short drive to the mall, and, after agreeing to meet Jimmy and Max by the grocery store, Shelby, Rachel, Lily and Amy headed for a department store they'd seen "Right you" Amy took Lily's hand as they walked into the store, the girl having been walking with Rachel, "we need to do some top secret shopping while Auntie Lelly and Rachie go and buy boring things!" she didn't want Rachel to be embarrassed so she'd come up with a plan to get Lily away for a little while.
"But Mommy…"
"But Mommy nothing, come on" Amy told her, "we've got a secret mission to do, just me and you" she bent down and whispered something in the toddler's ear.
Lily's face lit up, "bye Aunt Lelly, bye Rachie" she waved, "we see you soon."
Amy and Shelby made arrangements to meet up at the front of the store and they went their separate ways, Amy taking Lily towards the cosmetic department after telling her daughter she needed her help choosing a special surprise for Rachel.
It wasn't long before everyone was back together in the grocery store, Shelby going back for a second cart when, everyone, even Rachel, began throwing things into the cart Jimmy was pushing.
"Rachie" Lily raced over to her once the food had been put away back at the villa, "this for you!" she said as she handed over a bag from the department store. Rachel looked up, glancing over towards her Mom and Aunt, Shelby shrugged slightly and Amy winked and smiled at her niece, "open it Rachie, open it please!"
"Okay" Rachel smiled, "thank you." She frowned as she pulled out a set of makeup brushes followed by a, clearly full, makeup bag. "Oh" she gasped, tears pricking at her eyes as she saw the bag really was filled with makeup.
"Oh no! We got the wrong thing Mommy" Lily gasped as she wrapped her arms around her cousin, "we made her sad."
Rachel bent to hug Lily properly, "I'm not sad, I'm really happy, I'm just a little surprised, that's all."
"You're not sad?"
"I'm not sad" Rachel promised, lifting Lily to sit on the counter beside the make up bag, "why don't you show me what you chose?"
"Is it okay?" Amy asked, walking over with Shelby and putting her hand on Rachel's back. "I spoke to your Mom and we agreed it was time you had your own makeup so you don't have to use ours."
"It's amazing thank you" Rachel hugged her Aunt tightly before turning to Shelby, "you knew?"
"I did" Shelby too found herself wrapped in a hug from her daughter, "I told you I'd teach you how to do your makeup, I can't do that if you don't have any makeup can I?"
"Will you help me do it tonight? Before we go out for dinner?" Rachel asked hopefully.
Shelby nodded and kissed Rachel's hair, "of course I will baby, but just so you know, I think you're beautiful exactly how you are."