At that particular moment, baby Ava screamed.

"Stop lip-locking and shut your baby up! Your kid, now care for it properly!"

Joy smiled, laughing quietly at Victor's rage. Jasper and Trudy broke apart and Jasper stuck a finger up at Victor while Trudy ran to sort out the baby. Joy giggled as she ran from the hall. She heard Victor call something very not repeatable. She was glad that Trudy hadn't been there to see or hear that exchange. The poor baby would have to hear and see that as she grew up, along with her mother's stern telling-offs.

"JOY!"

Joy jumped and ran into the hall.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you run off?"

Joy tried to keep a straight face as she stared at Jasper.

"I'm just boiling the kettle. Want a drink?"

"That's OK. Are you OK? Have you had enough sleep? Our Ava has the tendency to keep us all up."

"Yeah. I sleep like a log. Ava will grow out of it."

"I hope to God she does. Poor Trudy's been sleepless ever since she had the baby. Even when Ava's been asleep, Trudy's been sat beside the cradle, watching her."

Joy laughed.

"Has she? Maybe we should try to convince her that she needs to sleep too."

"Tried. She just sits there and she cries if I try to move her. She can be so cute. So she ends up not sleeping at all. And she never sits down unless she's feeding Ava."

"Wow. Now that is dedicated motherhood."

"I'll say. She never leaves her alone. She'd sit there with her night and day, without even getting food or water or a bathroom trip if she didn't need it."

"OK, yikes. She is one seriously dedicated mum. What does she do to keep herself awake?"

"Well, she makes sure that Ava and I are warm, then opens all of the windows and she sits there, in shorts and a T-shirt. I think that's all she does, so far."

"All who does so far?"

Trudy stood smiling, baby Ava in her arms.

"The little madam only wanted someone to pick her up."

The baby just looked about, her dark eyes shining.

"Well, that's not surprising. She's always being held or watched. She's not used to loneliness."

"And she never will be!"

"Oh, please God, no!"

They all heard Victor's voice as he quietly yelled. He came down the stairs, glaring at Trudy. She immediately shrank into a corner, protectively clutching her baby.

"After these past few nights, I am getting very sick of this, Trudy. Do something about your little brat."

"My Ava is not a brat! If you're sick of this, then fine. I'll go tonight. I am not going to try to stop my child from using her only means of communication."

She stormed into her room. Ten minutes later, she was back, suitcase in hand.

"Right. Jasper, are you coming or staying?"

"I'm coming. I'll get my stuff. We can move into my flat."

"OK. Joy, sweetie. Are you going to come?"

Joy just didn't want to live in a big, spooky house with a big, spooky caretaker and his raven. And then again, she didn't want to clutter up the flat. Jasper came back in while she was dithering.

"Trudes, is Joy coming with us?"

"I'm still waiting on her answer."

"It'd be amazing if she did come. Our little baby would have a role model."

"Yes, she would. Joy, sweetheart?"

"OK. Can I have a few minutes to get my things?"

"Of course, darling."

Joy ran to her room to pack. She was so happy. She had finally found a family who wanted her.

OK, another chapter! The one to thank is Musicrox14 for their review. And thank you to Joanna for their review as well. Hope you enjoyed. R&R, Random Dizzy. :D