Thanks to Lilypad1 for giving me the idea for this chapter :)
"Did Erin tell you she had a boyfriend?" Nikki said one evening as she and Harry curled up on the sofa together.
"Yes," Harry nodded "I nearly crashed the car,"
Nikki chuckled "I think it's sweet,"
"You would," Harry muttered, "I've seen your stack of Mills and Boon books,"
"I'm looking after them for a friend," Nikki said defensively
"Sure," Harry rolled his eyes
"Don't you think she's too young?" Harry questioned stroking Nikki's hair
Nikki shrugged "I was only thirteen when I had my first boyfriend,"
"I was in my twenties," Harry sighed and Nikki flinched when she realised he was remembering the time when Penny turned up at the mortuary.
"She'll be fine," Nikki assured him
"I worry about her," Harry said "After all she's been through,"
Nikki smiled up at her husband "I would save the protective parent act until Alice is older,"
"She's never having a boyfriend," Harry said looking horrified
"Harry!" Nikki squeaked
"Okay, when she's thirty maybe," Harry reasoned "But I will castrate him if he even remotely hurts her feelings,"
"You and me both," Nikki nodded "But don't you think we're just being slightly overprotective?"
"No," Harry said "If she's going to be anything like her mother then we'll have boys cueing up outside,"
"I'm not sure whether that's a compliment or not," Nikki frowned
"Definitely a compliment," Harry said leaning over to kiss Nikki.
"Hmm, I'm not so sure?" she said
Harry kissed her again "How about now?" he asked
"I think I need one more just to be sure," Nikki said lying down next to Harry, curling up in his protective arms.
…..
Erin was lying on her bed staring blankly at the ceiling. Leo and Janet had gone out for an evening walk but she knew it was just Leo's ploy to give her some space to think. It wasn't that she didn't like Janet but Erin wasn't sure whether she wanted another mother. Her own one had been bad enough and she struggled to let Nikki into her life, another woman was going to be too much. She sighed and rolled over, knocking her book on the floor, groaning she stood up and fished the book off the floor.
The doorbell rang.
Erin froze. She knew that Leo had taken his key, he had told her so. She'd seen him pocket the key of course he might have lost it but Leo wasn't so careless and anyway Janet had her own set now.
The doorbell rang again.
Erin tried to reason; it could be Harry or Nikki. They might be coming over to come to get a file off Leo. However, wouldn't they phone, or just wait for tomorrow? Erin was sure that Harry and Nikki were having a quiet night in anyway.
Someone was hammering on the door now.
Erin took a deep breath to steady herself. Her heart was racing as she crept down the stairs. The night was drawing in quickly and there was shadows creeping in all around her. She either could stay in the suffocating darkness or open the door. Doing a rough calculation in her head, she was sure that behind the door it would be Harry, Nikki or Leo or Janet. She refused to consider the chance it wasn't. She was on the last stair now and she could see a shadow looming by the front door. Gingerly she opened the door and stared out into the darkness, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom.
"Hello Erin." a rasping voice croaked.
Erin froze to the spot. On the doorstep was Nora looking worse for wear. Her lank hair was stuck to her face and was dirtied with cigarette ash. She had no make-up on her face apart from bright red lipstick on her face which only functioned to make her look even more dreary. She was dressed in a fake fur coat to shield her from the cold evening.
"You're not allowed anywhere near me, Erin squeaked
"I'm an innocent woman,"
"You still have a restraining order,"
"Who's going to enforce it," Nora said taking a step towards Erin
"I'll scream," Erin threatened
"Remember what happened last time," Nora said noticing the slight limp Erin had "Poor broken Erin,"
"Get away from here," Erin said feeling a pain shooting up her leg.
"Erin?" she heard a voice call and she looked up to see Leo walking towards the front door.
She heard Nora growl at the sight of him.
"If you take one step closer to Erin I will call the police," Leo said squaring up to Nora.
"I'll go away forever if you help me," Nora said and Erin was sure she saw a flicker of fear go across Nora's face.
"One last warning," Leo said ushering Janet into the house.
"Two thousand is al I'm asking,"
"No," Leo said looking disgusted
"I'm in trouble;" Nora was looking scared, "Families are meant to pull together in times of crisis. I need that money,"
"Family," Leo "I hardly think you were acting as Erin's family when you beat her,"
"I need that money. I'll change, I'll go away forever and never come back," Nora begged
"Even if I had the money I wouldn't give it to you," Leo said angrily "You've lied and manipulated those around you. Erin's part of my family now, she's where she belongs now and I am determined that she will remain around those who love her,"
Leo put his arm around Erin and shut the door behind him, closing them off to Nora's shouts and curses.
"Erin?" Leo called as she shook herself free of him and walked slowly up the stairs.
"It's been a long day, I just want to sleep," she mumbled as she stepped into her room and shut the door behind her.
…...
Erin punched a string of familiar digits into her phone and listened whilst the phone connected her.
"Hello?" a voice echoed in her ear
"It's me Nate," she said quietly
"I gathered," she could hear the laughter in his voice "I've got caller ID."
Erin didn't answer and Nate picked up on this straight away.
"Is everything okay?"
"I just wanted to hear your voice," Erin sniffed away a stray tear
"You don't sound okay," Nate said sounding concerned
"I am," Erin said forcing brightness into her voice.
Nate was about to reply when Erin heard his mother calling to him in the background.
"I have to go," he sounded apologetic "Hang in there Erin,"
"I told you I'm fine," she assured him
"Sure you are," he sighed, "But just hang in there regardless,"
Erin let out a small sob as they finished their phone call. She fell asleep soon afterwards clutching the phone to her chest as she slept with Nate's words echoing in her ears.
Author's note: Sorry for the serious lack of updates, I've had exams and revision really took over my life. I'm getting back to writing now.
