Thank you to Imperfect Being, AdamaGirl, walkerdude1, ozzlover, Berenakiss2 and the guest for reviewing, it's been a hectic week, but your reviews helped me get this chapter finished today!
Chapter rating: T
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
All mistakes are my own. I hope you enjoy :)
5th February
Laura finished her last account reconciliation and sat down in the living room, with Katie in her lap. "You are a good girl, yes you are, you were very good today" Laura said as she bounced a giggling Katie while peppering her face with kisses. She'd started working from the bookstore again on Monday and Thursday's, taking Katie and all her belongings with her. While Laura was doing paperwork at the office, Katie was either asleep in her pram or playing on her activity mat, and if Laura was required to supervise things out front, Katie was placed in the sling.
"What do I have here?" Laura asked Katie, pulling out the soft interactive book they'd gotten her for Christmas.
"EEeeaaa" Katie babbled excitedly, smashing her hands against the front cover of the book.
"Yes it's a lion" Laura said enthusiastically before opening the book to reveal a monkey with soft plush ears, and an elephant with a crinkly trunk. Katie's hands immediately gravitated towards the material, and she pulled the book towards her mouth, grinning up at Laura as she placed the elephant trunk in her mouth.
"Does that taste good?" Laura asked laughing, and tickling Katie's sides.
"Hey sweetheart" Bill said walking into the living room carrying two full plastic bags and kissing both Laura and Katie hello, "how was your day?"
"It was really good, we went for a run, got some errands taken care of, played together and had a nap. Did you get everything for tomorrow?" Laura asked Bill. It was Lee's 10th Birthday tomorrow and they had hired out the local laser tag facility for the afternoon. At Lee's request the party would be Caprica Buccaneers themed and although Laura had picked up the cake today, the party store was a lot closer to Bill's office, so she had designated him to collect the plates, cups, streamers and happy birthday sign.
"Yes, they had it all there ready for me to pick up" Bill told Laura placing the bags in front of her and lifting Katie from her lap.
"Great, thank you honey. How did it go with Carolanne's lawyer today?" she asked coming to sit beside him on the couch. At her hearing last week the judge had deemed Carolanne a flight risk due to her disappearance before rehab and had denied her bail. They hadn't told the boys about her arrest, not wanting to upset them or get their hopes up, but Bill was keeping in touch with her lawyer, in order to keep tabs on the progress of the trial. She had been charged drug possession and supply, with a two year maximum jail sentence on the table.
"Okay, Carolanne's not cooperating at the moment, she's having withdrawal symptoms and behaving erratically. The lawyer thinks he can make a deal with the prosecutor to get her a minimum jail term if she agrees to attend a rehab facility for three months" Bill said slightly disconcerted.
"Well that's good, maybe she can change things around" Laura replied, rubbing a hand up and down his arm.
"I know it's a possibility, but I've seen this self-destructive pattern of hers for years, and I don't want the boy's exposed to that anymore. Plus I don't want it second handily effecting Katie either" Bill said, looking down at Katie as the young girl snuggled against him, a smile on her face and her big eyes shining up at him.
"I know honey, we'll figure it out" Laura replied wrapping an arm around him, and kissing his cheek softly.
6th February
"It's my birthday" Lee told Laura and Bill, running excitedly into their room, to find the pair already out of bed in anticipation of his arrival.
"Happy Birthday buddy, ten years old, you're a big boy now" Laura said smiling at the boy and giving him a hug.
"Happy birthday buddy" Bill said grabbing Lee in a tight hug, and hauling him over his shoulder.
"Daddy" Lee cried out in surprise, looking over at Laura with wide eyes "put me down".
"We've got some presents for you downstairs, how about we go see if your brother is awake?" Bill asked, carrying Lee out the door. Laura chuckled and picked Katie up out of her cot, before following them out of the room to where Bill had placed Lee down in front of Zak's room.
"Come on Zak, it's my birthday and its present time" Lee said knocking on Zak's door.
"I'm up" the group heard, as Zak scrambled from his bed and opened his door excitedly.
They arrived at the laser tag venue forty five minutes early, to begin setting up the decorations and to make sure everything was ready for the party. Luckily Evelyn and Joseph had also arrived early, so while Bill and Laura set up the place for twenty exuberant nine/ten year olds, the grandparents kept an eye on the children and ensured no one was distracted from their task.
"What do you think?" Laura asked Lee hopefully.
"It's great, thank you Mom" Lee replied hugging her tightly, before turning towards the entrance at the sound of footsteps.
"Happy birthday Lee" Galen said running into the room, a large present in his hands, his mother following closely behind.
"Thank you" Lee replied grinning and running over to greet his friend with a hug.
Karl, Cally and Sam were the next to arrive, all running excitedly into the room and over to Lee. Bill smiled at the sight and wrapped an arm around Laura's waist.
"I'm glad he's having fun" Bill said looking down at Laura.
"Me too, it's nice to see him enjoying being the centre of attention, especially seeing as Zak's the more outgoing one of the pair" Laura replied leaning into Bill.
Once everybody had arrived, including Kara to ensure Zak didn't feel left out, Bill rounded all the children up and smiled at the attendant, letting her know they were ready to begin.
"Okay everybody, are you ready to play?" the attendant asked as she brought them into the dark room, ultraviolet light room.
"Yes" the children screamed excitedly, all looking around in fascination as any white on their clothing glowed in the dark.
"Lee, you're the birthday boy, so which colour team do you want to be on, red, blue or green?"
"Green" Lee said quickly, a large grin on his face.
"Okay, green it is then. For the rest of you, I'll randomly select the teams. Are any of the adults going to play?" the attendant asked the parents.
"Yes Daddy" Lee said turning to his father with pleading eyes.
Sighing, but knowing he wouldn't let his son down, Bill replied "sure, I'll do it too".
"What about you Mum?"
"Please Mummy" Zak said, looking around at her with a mischievous grin.
"I'll join in too" Laura replied giving Katie a quick kiss and handing her over to Evelyn.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Lee, happy birthday to you" the group sang, as Laura placed the Lego inspired cake in front of a beaming Lee.
"Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray" Zak shouted, before Lee blew the candles.
"Did you have a good time today?" Bill asked Lee, from where the family was snuggled under the covers, Lee and Zak in the middle, and Katie in Laura's arms.
"Yep, it was so much fun" Lee replied, before hugging his father and leaning over his brother to give Laura a quick hug too.
"I had fun too" Zak said smiling up at Laura, as she pulled him into her side and kissed the top of his head.
"I'm glad you both did, my little boys are growing up" Laura replied.
"We're not little anymore, only Katie is, but I think she had fun too, she was smiling a lot" Zak told the group, aligning his face with Katie's and kissing her cheek, before playing peak a boo.
Bill chuckled at his youngest son, before grabbing Lee into a bear hug and tickling his sides. Laura looked over at her family, and grinned at the sight of four smiling faces, she really loved them all.
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