CHAPTER 12

Cleo finally arrived at the day-care, panting and sweating, to find the usual mayhem that came with the job she had once had. She looked around at the familiar children whose eyes were widening as they saw who it was, smiles breaking onto their little faces. But Cleo was only interested in finding the faces of three people: Pippa, Oskar and Mary. She found the third one's brother first.

"John!" She said, relieved as the young boy turned to look at her, red curls bouncing around his head as he did so, he smiled when he saw Cleo.

"Cleo! You're ok! You just disappeared; we all thought you'd poofed! The kids haven't stopped talking about you, and Pippa! Oh…Pippa, she's not been herself. At all."

"Oh John, no, I was, err…kidnapped? Anyway I'm ok now, I just need to find my little sister, do you know where she is? She's ok isn't she? And Oskar, Oskar too." John nodded and beckoned for Cleo to follow him. He turned to talk to her as they walked.

"They've both been staying here with us. Pippa's got friends here and Oskar…he won't go anywhere else, he's just looking for you, getting all excited when someone comes to the door. He keeps howling at night as well, it's horrible, he looks so sad. Pippa too, she's always snivelling in her sleep. And she won't leave Mary alone, she's never more than a metre away from her. So naturally Oskar isn't either." They stopped at a side door which John opened to reveal Mary sitting on the doorstep of, cleaning some reusable nappies. Also with her were…

"PIPPA!" Cleo cried and Pippa spun round, eyes widening when she saw her long-lost sister. She ran over to Cleo and wrapped her little arms around her waist; tears of relief running down her face, Cleo found tears filling her eyes as well. Keen to join in the hug, the girls' beautiful duck tolling retriever jumped up at them, tail wagging 100mph, barking excitedly. Cleo crouched down and pulled them both to her, Oskar licking her face which she normally wouldn't have allowed but now made her laugh between sobs of relief. Finally Cleo pulled away and wiped her eyes, turning to Mary.

"Thank you so, so much for keeping my babies safe." She said and engulfed her best friend in the FAYZ in a big hug. Mary felt smaller than usual and Cleo decided it must have been from all the running around after the children. A smile appeared on Mary's strained face.

"Oh Cleo I'm just glad you're back, what happened?" Cleo shook her head.

"It's a long story, but Mary, I have to go. You need to talk to Sam, there's going to be a battle!" Mary's eyes widened.

"But…the children!"

"I know, I wish I could stay here and help you but, captain's orders, I'm sorry." She hugged her friend one more time. "Stay safe, won't you? See you soon." And then she smiled at John and, picking up Pippa, she left the day-care, Oskar at her heel.

She'd wanted to go back to the safety and familiarity of their family home, but it looked out onto the plaza where the battle would most definitely take place, so she decided they'd be safer as far away as possible. So instead of crossing over to San Pablo Avenue, they walked down Alameda Avenue until they came to Eastern Avenue, and the house where their grandma used to live.

"Nana!" Pippa said happily as she saw the house, but Cleo shook her head.

"No nana's not in today Pips." She lifted the plant pot in front of the house and opened the front door with the spare key she had retrieved from underneath. The three of them entered the hallway and breathed in the familiar smell of Nana Etta. Pippa immediately ran into the living room and came back to Cleo clutching a DVD. Cleo smiled and took it from her sister. It was 'The Gruffalo'.

"Come on then." Cleo laughed and followed Pippa back into the living room, putting the film on. She closed the curtains and they all cuddled up on the old sofa, watching The Gruffalo, just like old times. And with the rest of the world blocked out, Cleo could still pretend it was still the old times. She looked round at the pictures on the wall that Nana Etta had painted herself and the school photos of Pippa and Cleo on the mantelpiece and smiled. Soon Oskar was snoring gently, his head resting on Cleo's lap, and Pippa was too, leaning against Cleo's side, and Cleo put her arms around both of them, vowing never to let them out of her sight again.