A/N: I was actually supposed to update my other story today but I had it in my head it was this story so that one will be uploaded tomorrow as I had already wrote this chapter by the time I realised.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Worrying News

Prudence giggled and wiggled her legs as she lay on her playmat. Ethel was sat on the floor next to her showing her toys and then picked her up to move her into a sitting position. She had been told to do this so Prue could get used to the position and her muscles could get strong enough to support herself.

"Gurrrg" Prue said happily as her mother hugged her tightly so she wouldn't topple back.

Today was a weekend and all the girls were at school so it was just Ethel, Prue, and Julie at home. Julie was in the kitchen making some quick lunch for herself and Ethel. She didn't expect Ethel to do it as she was busy with the baby. Julie felt fine leaving Ethel alone with Prue now as she was great at looking after her. The curly haired woman hummed to herself as she buttered some bread when the doorbell rang and she walked out of the kitchen.

"I will get it don't bother moving" Julie said as she saw Ethel was sitting the baby up and it was important this was done regularly. Julie walked to the door and opened it.

"Oh good morning" Julie said as she saw the girls social worker at the door. Julie stepped aside to let her in.

"Hello, sorry to turn up out of the blue like this" the social worker said as Julie led her into the sitting room. The woman sat down on the sofa.

"Hello Ethel, and little Prue, you are so cute" the social worker cooed over her. Ethel smiled a little awkwardly wondering why she was here.

"Can I get you anything?" Julie asked and the woman shook her head.

"No thank you Julie, don't worry nothing bad as happened in fact there has been a turn of events but they are good" the woman smiled as Ethel watched her curiously.

"Oh how so?" Julie asked sitting done and watching Ethel out of the corner of her eye.

"We have a court date set" the woman said happily and Julie gasped.

"Already? I was told it would take months!" Julie said shocked to hear that.

"Yes well there was a cancellation, it is in one month's time" the social worker told her smiling.

"Why do we have to go to court?" Ethel asked not liking the sound of that. As it affected Ethel the social worker turned around to smile at her.

"It is the hearing to remove your parents parental rights so we can start the adoption procedures" the woman told Ethel as she smiled.

"I suppose as we have a court date it means Mr and Mrs Hallow were not prepared to give up custody without a fight?" Julie asked as she knew if they agreed most of the time it could be settled out of court.

"Correct, they are still hoping to have the girls returned to their care" the social worker explained to Julie.

"They are crazy! After everything they have done do they really believe they will get them returned to them?" Julie asked unable to believe they could not see the fight was lost.

"Yes well they don't think they have done anything wrong" the social worker replied with a sigh.

"I don't want to go back to them" Ethel said as she picked up Prue who fell quiet seeming to understand this was an important conversation.

"I am sure that will not happen, your sisters and you are already settled here as is Prue, it would be tramatic for the baby to be moved somewhere else, I am positive Julie will gain custody" she told Ethel trying to reassure her.

"But what if she doesn't? My parents have money to pay people off!" Ethel said becoming worried.

"Try not to worry Ethel, they have not got a lot of chance because of everything they have done, I have been making a case with all the evidence and things that have happened to you and your sisters" the social worker told her.

"Will my sisters and I have to talk there?" Ethel asked not exactly sure how these things worked.

"As you and your sisters are older your opinion will be asked and you will be asked where you want to live, obviously as Prue can not talk yet you will be speaking for both of you" she told Ethel and seeing she was still worried touched her shoulder.

"Try not to worry, the judge is unlikely to remove you now you are settled here" she told Ethel before turning to Julie.

"I best go, I have an appointment, I just wanted to give you the date" she told Julie who nodded and went to see her out and when she returned she found Ethel holding Prue tightly and crying.

"Ethel?" Julie said rushing over worried.

"I can't go back there! I can't take Prue there, I can't!" she said to Julie crying more. Julie hugged her letting her cry on her shoulder. Prue started crying too as her mum was crying.

"I won't let you go back there, don't worry Ethel, everything will work out, you will see" Julie told her even if she was not sure about that herself but she would fight for them. They were her girls now and she would not give them up.

Giving the girls up would be horrible because they would all go back downhill. Esmie had stopped hurting herself and ate normally now and she had also stopped trying to read the entire collection of books in the bookshop in one go and giving herself a headache so she could maintain her perfect stance. Ethel's temper was much better and she no longer played cruel and nasty jokes on people and had matured so much and was brilliant with Prue. Sybil was still shy and clumsy but not as much as she once was, she was much happier now she didn't have the pressures that her parents put on her because she was a Hallow. They would go back to their old ways if they had to return home, so Julie knew she would have to do everything she could to make sure the girls remained at home with her.

When the others returned home Julie told them about the meeting with the social worker and that Ethel was upset because of it. Sybil said nothing and fell quiet but was clearly upset about the thought of having to go home. Esmie muttered something about the bathroom before proceeding to lock herself in the room for ten minutes. Julie was worried she was trying to injure herself so knocked on the door. She didn't want Esmie to pick up that bad habit again.

"Esmie, are you okay?" Julie asked not wanting to sound like she was accusing her of anything.

She let out a sob and Julie gasped thinking she was in pain and was preparing to break the door down when it opened and Julie saw the girl crying.

"Are you alright!?" Julie asked worried.

"No, I don't want to go home" Esmie said as tears fell down her face. Julie glanced behind her and saw no sign of anything amiss, no signs of blood and was relieved she had not hurt herself. She hugged the girl tightly. Trust Esmie to go to the bathroom to cry, still ever the shy about crying in front of others.

"Don't worry, you and your sisters will not be going home, I won't let them take you" Julie told Esmerelda.

"But my parents have power, they can get people to do whatever you want, and I am worried they will hurt you or Mildred or Prudie" Esmerelda said crying into Julie as she was so worried about everything.

"Don't worry about us, we will all be fine, this is your home now and no-one is going to make you leave it" she told Esmie stroking her hair as she let the girl cry. Sybil appeared in the doorway at that moment also crying and Julie put her arm out to her and she went to hug her too.

"We have to be brave yes? It will all be okay I know it will" Julie told the girls as Ethel walked in with her head down with a sigh not noticing them hugging.

"Come here Ethel" Julie said taking the last sister and hugging her too.

"You are all my girls now and you will stay here with me I promise" she said kissing each of their heads. They cuddled into Julie more with sad smiles, all of them worried Mr and Mrs Hallow would win.