I'm so sorry it's taken so long for this chapter! Starting my exams so updates are slow! But here is the next chapter, Madeleine x
Chapter 23
Darcy had recovered from her vaccinations and at at 2 months old she was growing and developing every minute. Karen was enjoying the last few moments of peace before the rabble arrived home from school. Darcy was able to lie on her tummy and now lift her head up, Karen lay opposite her and gently tickled her cheek making a noise that had Darcy in stitches. Karen heard the keys in the door
"Is that daddy with Jess and Harry? Is it Darcy?" As Karen spoke to her, her little face almost formed an O shape coincidently. She picked up Darcy to greet them all.
"Oh hello you" he'd missed his little girl.
"How's my little squidge been?"
"She's been really good, haven't you Darcy?" Jess kissed her little sister's hand after taking her shoes off and putting her book bag on the banister and moved to the lounge. Harry slumped down on the step to take off his shoes and Karen noticed how tired he looked.
"So what did you do at school today?" Harry was in his own little world.
"He had pe last thing which is why he's so shattered" rob replied to Karen for him.
"Unlike you missy, your wide awake aren't you" rob tickled Darcy's belly.
"Bless him... Shall we watch a movie and snuggle in blankets aye Harry I think you've had a long day"
"I have" Harry replied sweetly. Karen set up his favourite film toy story 2 and he snuggled down on the sofa surrounded by all his toy story teddies. Jess was sat quietly colouring. With both children occupied Rob proposed his surprise.
Karen began to get the kids tea going so Rob followed her with Darcy into the kitchen.
"So I've got a little surprise"
"Oo care to enlighten me" Karen began to boil the spaghetti for Bolognese.
"Well my mum phoned me earlier, she's been down to see Sarah and the girls and she wanted to pop in and see these three"
"That sounds nice, but why just the kids?"
"Well she said she'd babysit"
Karen looked at Rob suspiciously.
"What have you planned Scotcher?"
"Well I just thought I'd treat my lovely lady to an evening free of sick, nappy changing, getting children ready for bed,making sure they stay in bed. We haven't been out just the two of us since Darcy was born, I want to treat you" Karen was very touched at the idea but apprehensive at the idea of leaving Darcy, she hadn't left her with anyone not even her mum.
Rob could tell she was apprehensive.
"I know this is a big deal for you, we don't have to go far or be out really late. Just, I think it would do us good some alone time" Karen smiled, rob was so in tune with how she'd be feeling.
"Ok tell your mum that would be lovely" Karen was still nervous but she knew that Darcy would be spoilt rotten by grandma. Darcy giggled
"I think she likes the sound of an evening with Grandma" rob tried to reassure Karen sweetly.
"I know she'll be fine, it's just"
"Called being a mummy" rob added in showing her that he understood and that he didn't want to push her, he just wanted to treat her for being an amazing mummy and partner.
Karen served up the kids tea and went to call them. Harry had fallen asleep on the sofa but Jess being so grown up as she had been lately had left him to it and went to sit and eat her tea. Karen stood by the door and admired little Harry, it didn't matter how big they got they were still her babies. She crouched down and gently brushed his hair away from his eyes until his eyes opened.
"You going to come and have some tea"
Harry nodded sweetly slightly baffled after falling asleep.
"Come on then we'll get you some tea and then you can have an early night" harry didn't object which showed how shattered he was. Rob was sat with Jess bouncing Darcy in his arms.
"Ok so mummy and Rob are going out for dinner, so Cathy's coming to look after you ok?" Karen explained to Jess and Harry.
"I didn't know you were going out?" Jess replied shocked.
"Neither did I, rob surprised me" Karen replied.
"You are very lovely rob" Jess replied so grown up!
"It's because I love her" rob said looking at Karen whose cheeks went that all so familiar shade of red.
"I love you to rob" Jess declared as she slurped up her spaghetti
"Well that's just as well as I love you lots too"
"Millions and trillions" Jess added in
"Squillions and thrillions" rob and Jess were getting quite carried away but it was very sweet.
"Alright you two" Karen told them to calm down so Jess could actually eat her dinner. Harry had barely touched his and his eyes were opening and shutting as he battled sleep.
"Oh Harry, why don't you have two more mouthfuls then I'll come and tuck you into bed" Harry was so tired that he broke down in tears.
"It's alright, don't worry about tea if you wake up I'll tell Cathy you can have some toast. Let's go get you to bed"
"Sorry" Harry whimpered sweetly.
"It's alright bud, you go have a nice sleep." Karen took Harry up to bed as the doorbell rang, Darcy wasn't interested in being held anymore so Rob moved her through to the lounge, "alright Darcy don't be a winge bag, will you just sit with her a minute Jess." She was such a good big sister, she lay down beside Darcy and she made the parts of her baby gym move, Darcy kicked out in excitement.
"Hi mum,come in. Thank you for this"
"It's alright, miss these monkeys"
"Karen's just putting Harry to bed he's so tired, couldn't even eat his dinner so if he wakes up hungry Karen said he could have some toast"
"Bless him, if he wakes up he shall have some toast. How are my girls?" Karen and rob loved that the Scotcher's had been so inclusive with their love for not only Darcy but Jess and Harry too!
"They are in the lounge" Cathy walked in to see them playing together sweetly.
"Both my special girls together" Jess looked up to see Cathy her face a beaming smile and she got up and gave her a big hug.
"I hope you've been being good"
"Oh Jess is always good. You're a good big sister aren't you" rob complimented sweetly, he now had Darcy so she could say hello to grandma.
"Oh hello darling, look at those smiley chops" Darcy was being spoilt with lots of cuddles.
"Cathy can I show you my pictures?" She'd sat down with Darcy on the sofa,
"You've painted more!"
"Yep!"
"Well in that case of course I want to see your beautiful pictures. You're a vey clever little artist Jess" they all sat down on the sofa looking through the artwork from school.
"I think Darcy's impressed too Jess. You're very clever!"
Rob took this opportunity to go get ready to go out he bumped into Karen on the way.
"My mums here and she's sat looking through Jess's artwork with the girls" Karen smiled.
"Did he go down ok?" Rob asked as hey both got ready.
"He couldn't even get into his pyjamas on his own bless him. He definitely needed to just go to bed."
Karen wore a gorgeous black satin midi skirt with a loose chiffon black blouse tucked in with her red patent heels whilst rob wore his smart jeans and her favourite shirt. Karen smiled at the sight of him knowing he'd have picked the shirt because he knew she liked it.
"Well you look beautiful! Is that a new skirt I spy?" He tucked his arms around her waist
"It may be." They shared a sweet kiss before making there way downstairs. They approached the lounge and found Jess having a cuddle with Darcy.
"Where's Cathy?"
"She's making us some hot cocoa" Jess said excitedly, looking forward to her cosy night in knowing she'd be able to stay up a little later since it was Friday and Cathy was babysitting.
"You're being spoilt missy!" Karen commented before giving her a kiss and a cuddle.
"I think we are going to make a move" Karen said bravely. She scooped up little Darcy.
"Now you be good for grandma Darcy, I love you lots cheeky chops. And you look after her for me and have a lovely evening with Cathy."
Rob had a cuddle with Jess and Darcy also.
"Now you, don't have too much chocolate you're sweet enough already! And don't give all your smiles away to grandma Darcy, you have to save those for daddy."
"You two go have a lovely evening, if you need to call just to know she's fine it will be right next to me all evening. You both deserve a night off" Cathy was amazing and Karen was looking forward to their meal if not missing Darcy already. Rob took hold of Karen's hand and they left leaving the girls and Cathy giggling away to each other.
Rob had booked a table at a new restaurant, the table was complete with candlelight which allowed for Karen's face to glow.
"Well this makes a change" Karen smiled taking Rob's hands in her own.
"Well you deserved a break"
"I'm glad you convinced me to come out"
"I'm glad you said yes. I thought it may have ended with Darcy at the end of the table with us"
"Well thats a tempting idea but don't think she's quite mastered her dinner conversation yet. But seriously Rob we needed some time just the two of us, we haven't had us time for a while."
Whilst Karen and Rob's romantic evening was going well Cathy, Jess and Darcy were having a lovely time, Harry was still sound asleep.
"I brought you something Jess, I thought you might like it" Cathy reached into her bag to pull out a soft strawberry shortcake doll.
"She's very pretty!" Jess commented sweetly, Cathy went to pass it to Jess but it would seem a little person was keeping a strong grasp of it.
"As much as I love you missy this is for Jess" Cathy teased it out of her hands but she immediately began to cry.
"It's ok Darcy obviously loves it, just like I love my Elsa teddy doll. Darcy can have her" Cathy was very touched at what a sweet big sister Jess was, Darcy's crying seized as soon as strawberry shortcake was in her hands.
"It's a tv programme Jess have you never seen it?"
"No"
"Liv and Em love it, let's see if we can find it." As Cathy scrowled through the the tv programmes Karen and Rob had finished their main.
"So whose for pudding, I've had my eye on the apple pie and custard" rob teased, Karen was beginning to want to just go home. Rob caught on to her silence and desperate need to make him happy despite missing their little girl.
"I'm sure she's missing us just as much, let's get home" Karen jumped in
"Rob Apple pie is your favourite and you know how awful I am at making custard!"
"Cuddles with my little squidge are worth a lot more, she'll probably still be awake if we leave now"
"I never thought I'd be hoping she was awake at this time of night" Karen and rob laughed.
Back at home Harry had woken up hungry and Cathy was seeing to some toast leaving Darcy snuggled up with her blanket having a hug with her big sister, Harry sat next to them in his dinosaur dressing gown whilst they all watched strawberry shortcake. The door keys jangled in the door as Cathy sat down with all the children, Harry eating his toast whilst leaning into Cathy, Jess and Darcy still enjoying their hug.
"You're all up!" Karen smiled.
"Yes sorry that would be my fault" Cathy felt guilty.
"Oh don't worry about it"
Rob scooped up his little girl,
"See I was right. Hugs with my little girl are much better than Apple pie" Karen smiled, rob really was such an amazing dad to all of them.
"What's that you've got Darcy?" Karen asked noticing the toy being tightly grasped.
"It's strawberry shortcake!" Jess declared.
"I bought it for Jess, Liv and em love it! But it seems that Darcy has grown an attachment to her" Cathy laughed.
"I let Darcy have her, strawberry shortcake's like my Elsa dolly and Darcy loves hers as much" Karen gave her eldest a hug and a kiss.
"Stop growing up you!" Jess really was becoming such a grown up little girl, the tantrums and snatching were behind her and she was a very caring big sister to Harry and Darcy.
"How's the toast bud, you feeling better now?"
"It's yummy!" Harry said through his yawn.
"Come on you eat up and then I'll tuck you both in" the pair of them gave Cathy a cuddle before mounting the stairs to bed.
"Thanks mum we really appreciated you watching the kids tonight"
"Oh honestly it was no trouble. I enjoyed myself, Jess and Darcy as going to be inseparable as they grow up and Harry slept until you got here. They were little angels" Karen smiled as she took Darcy into her arms and enjoyed the cuddle she'd been longing for.
"Mummy's missed you" she kissed her forehead before gently rocking her, her little hands still gripping strawberry shortcake. They saw off Cathy before getting Darcy to bed first, Jess could be heard reading Harry a bedtime story rather sweetly,
"seriously when did she get so grown up!" Rob added on to what Karen had been saying earlier.
Darcy had nodded off by the time they entered her room and her grip had loosened and strawberry shortcake fell to the floor. Karen placed Darcy into bed, the sound of her little girls deep breathing warmed her heart, she placed a gentle kiss upon her head
"Night night, sleep well Darcy."
Rob noticed the dropped teddy,
"I think you may have mistaken this missy" he placed the teddy in the top corner of her cot. They both looked down at their sleeping baby.
"I just want you to know Rob, though there are days where we are buried in sick, nappies, school runs, breakfast. I love you and value everything you do"
"I never doubted you for a second."