I'm back and wanna wish everyone who reads What If a very happy new year, may all good come to you!
Robbie walked through Bridgestreet and then crossed the little park and walked over to her house and got in.
It all sounded quiet inside.
She walked straight over to the kitchen and got herself a little bag of crisps out of the cupboard then walked over to the livingroom and saw Glenda sitting on the sofa reading through some magazine.
- 'Hey Mum, ehm..you're home early?'Robbie said sitting next to Glenda and giving her a little kiss on the cheek.
- 'Yeah i was done for today, it was a bit quiet at the bookies'Glenda said'and how are you my little one, how was school, you had any problems, Lauren?'Glenda put her arms around Robbie, and just kept them around her youngest daughter.
- 'No Lauren actually kept her gob shut today, even at detention she didn't say anything'Robbie said'i mean the teacher walked out for a cup of coffee or something and she just did homework, i don't know, she's becoming a weird one really i tell ya'.
- 'Just ignore her darling and get on with your life alright'Glenda said'why don't you go get some homework done, Phil organised some little dinnerthingy at Fargo's for your auntie Peggy and so we'll be there tonight'.
- 'Me too?'Robbie asked, not sure if she was allowed to go or not.
- 'Yeah ofcourse, it's probably one of the last times you'll see you're auntie, i mean ofcourse you will see her again, but maybe not anytime soon'Glenda said, as she heard the frontdoor open.
Ronnie, Roxy and Amy just got home.
- 'Well hello'Ronnie said greeting her mum and then waving her hand through Robbie's hair to greet her daughter.
- 'Mum, are we gonna eat at Fargo's tonight, for auntie Peggy's farewell-dinner i mean?'Robbie asked a little hesitating if Ronnie would let her come along.
- 'Yes we will, and therefor i wanna have a little word with you upstairs, come on, oh and take your bag upstairs with you please lovey'Ronnie said, putting her arm around Robbie and leading her out of the livingroom.
- 'Ohhhh trouble again babysis'Roxy said teasing her little sister.
Robbie looked at her sister and just gave her a forced smile, she wanted to say something to wind her sister up again ofcourse but she was already in too much trouble with Ronnie and simply just didn't want to have more trouble with her.
As Ronnie and Robbie got upstairs, they walked over to Robbie's room.
- 'Come here and sit next to me'Ronnie said making Robbie sigh already.
Ronnie raised one of her eyebrows and Robbie walked over and sat down next to her mum.
- 'Now what happened this morning, with you and that obnoxious behaviour of yours..'Ronnie started, looking serious.
- 'Mum that wasn't...'Robbie interupted her mum, but Ronnie put her hand on Robbie's mouth so she would let her talk.
- 'Shuss, i will talk and you will listen to me for a change alright!'Ronnie said calm but strict.
Robbie nodded and Ronnie took her hand slowly of Robbie's mouth.
- 'You were way out of line this morning, and you know it, i'm not having it anymore alright, i know you're having these problems with that horrible teacher, Lauren, your nightmares, but we're the ones that love you alright, i won't let you mouth us off like that all the time, it's not how i raised you, now did i'Ronnie said looking at Robbie who was trying to not leave Ronnie's eyes.
- 'Now i know you're a teenager and dealing with puberty and all ofcourse, and your sister isn't the easiest one either, i know she can wind you up, but you can easily do the same to her, hmm, i know it's not always Roxy who starts this hmm, oh and that pinching her neck wasn't in order either, Jack used that when he was still with the old bill, it can be very dangerous, anyways, like i said, you were way out of line this morning, and i'm not having it, is that understood Robbie?'Ronnie asked.
- 'Yes but...'Robbie sighed again, as Ronnie gave her the look to keep her mouth shut a little longer.
She looked around the room getting a bit bored from Ronnie's lecture, she'd been there before so many times and they weren't the shortest ones to pay attention to.
- 'Ehm excuse me but i'm not finished with you yet babes, listen to me, now about you slapping me this morning, thát better not happen again alright or you'll have another thing coming, you got that!'Ronnie said making Robbie facing her mother again with her finger under Robbie's chin 'now tonight we're having this little dinner at Fargo's for auntie Peggy and if this dinner wasn't for her, we wouldn't even be going so i want you on your best behaviour alright, you'll be sitting next to me and Jack and we will be home before half 9 cause that is really on!'
Robbie didn't say anything since she didn't wanna interupt Ronnie again.
She had hoped Ronnie wasn't gonna mention the "half 9 to bed-curfue", hoping she might had forgotten about that or was gonna go soft on her again, but knowing Ronnie and knowing she really had been misbehaving badly she knew this wás really gonna be on this time.
- 'I love you lots my sweet, you know that right'Ronnie said, looking at Robbie, then putting her arm around her.
- 'Yeah'Robbie said' you're little heart blablabla'.
Ronnie looked serious at Robbie again 'oi are you trying to take the mick out of me, don't start with me you hear!'
- 'I'm not'Robbie said looking at Ronnie'mum, really, i wouldn't dare'.
- 'I doubt that'Ronnie said'anyways, am i clear?'
- 'Yes mum'Robbie said.
- 'Come here you doughnut'Ronnie said giving Robbie a cuddle.
Robbie hesitated at first but then let herself get cuddled by her mum.
- 'Mum?'Robbie then said.
Ronnie let go of Robbie and looked at what Robbie was gonna ask her.
- 'What is it sweetie?'Ronnie asked stroking Robbie's cheeks.
- 'Have you heard anything from that Ritchie?'Robbie asked 'You know, about the adoption papers?'
- 'No, not yet'Ronnie said'I hope soon, cause i want that done first before marrying Jack'.
- 'Really, why?'Robbie asked curious.
- 'Well, then you can see your mum ánd your dad getting married'Ronnie said smiling.
- 'Hmm'Robbie said then leaning against her mum'you're so sentimental mum'.
- 'Yeah i know'Ronnie said 'you're feeling a little warm babe, come here let me feel your forehead'.
Ronnie put her hand on Robbie's forehead, then her neck'hope you're not coming down with something, you're feeling alright then?'
- 'Mum, i'm alright ok stop fussing'Robbie said standing up'now i need to get some homework done Veronica'.
- 'Alright, i'll be downstairs, you'll do that homework and take of that schoolgear, don't want you at Fargo's dressed like that'Ronnie said smiling.
- 'Well i had some shirts stagged in my closet before, guess i'm stuck with these now'Robbie said refering to Roxy's shirts, smiling a bit cheeky.
- 'Not funny'Ronnie said, but had to smile too'you got some new shirts couple weeks ago remember, your sister ánd mum bought them for you'.
A couple hours later, all of Peggy's close family that lived around the square, were sitting at a table at Fargo's.
Peggy, at first not wanting any fuss for her leaving Walford, was having a good time.
She kept looking round the table to see what she would be missing when she was gonna be gone.
- 'Oh aunty Peg, i can't believe you will be leaving us in 2 days'Roxy said pouting a bit.
- 'Don't worry darling, don't see it as goodbye or an ending, see it as a new beginning'Peggy said'and you can always visit me in Portugal remember'.
- 'Yeah but not the whole of you lot together alright'Sam said immediately.
- 'Afraid you'll have to be sharing your room, don't worry Samantha we would take it over, right babysis?'Roxy said winking at Robbie who smiled at her sisters remark, ofcourse she wanted to give Sam an earfull too, knowing Roxy would always have her back and the other way around, but she promised Ronnie to behave and not get herself in trouble again, and so she did, it was hard though, especially since it probably would be one of the last chances to take the mick out of her cousin.
- 'I wish you just could have stayed untill the wedding, it would've been so nice to see you there too Peggy'Ronnie said smiling at her aunt, although she was sad about her auntie leaving she put on a happy face."
- "Yeah but not the whole of you lot together alright"Robbie couldn't resist, smiling cheeky at her cousin Sam, who wasn't amused, then at Roxy laughing, Jack trying not to laugh, and then again at a serious Ronnie and Peggy.
Peggy had done a lot for the girls since they arrived at the square, she had been a mum to them when Glenda was not in the picture yet.
They shared a little bond, a bond that Ronnie, Roxy and Robbie were still developing with Glenda.
- 'You'd better take good care of these girls Glenda!'Peggy said seriously looking at Glenda, who just took a zip from her drink and raised her eyebrow at her and gave Peggy a cheeky smile.
- 'Don't you worry you're little head about that Peggy, i'm back, and finally close to my girls and i don't have any plans to leave them, i have a lovely son in law so, i'm not complaining'Glenda said winking at the girls and Jack.
- 'You've got that right, we don't wanna hear any complaining about us mum'Roxy said winking at Ronnie who both started to laugh a little.
- 'You still have a lot of years to make up for Glenda, it's not all good now that you been back here for 5 minutes, you have to deserve it'Peggy said.
- 'But she's working on it and doing her best alright, now can we go back to your farewelldinner auntie Peg, i'm gonna miss your familydinners so much, there's hardly anyone that comes close to your cooking'Robbie then said to end what was starting to look like a Peggy vs Glenda dinner.
Both, Peggy and Glenda smiled at Robbie for different reasons, Glenda cause she was touched by Robbie's words, that her youngest, who missed out on a whole life of having Glenda around as her mum, defended her against Peggy who made a little forced smile to Glenda gloating at her, and Peggy for being complimented and appreciated on what she did best, her familydinners and trying to keep them all together.
Ronnie smiled at Jack, who winked back at Ronnie.
- Alright, ehm, desert anyone?'Phil then asked.
- 'Thought you would never ask'Jay said smiling'you're up for desert then Robbie?'.
- 'Can we still stay to have desert mum?'Robbie asked looking at Ronnie.
- 'Yeah sure sweetie, take whatever you want'Ronnie said 'we'll go after desert then'.
Ronnie looked at Jack again, who nodded back at Ronnie that that was okay ofcourse.
- 'Could you take Ames with you Jack, i wanna go over to Christians after this'Roxy said.
- 'Yeah ofcourse'Jack said.
- 'So how was detention with Lauren then?'Jay asked again, getting the attention from ZsaZsa also.
- 'Quiet, to be honest, didn't say a word, actually boring i must say'Robbie smiled.
- 'Maybe she realised she doesn't make friends with that whole new attitude of hers'ZsaZsa said.
- 'Yeah well we will see how it goes'Robbie said.
Then Ronnie's phone went off and she got up and took it with her to have a moment of privacy.
- 'Who was that Jack?'Robbie asked Jack.
- 'Don't know darling, think she'll be back in a minute, don't worry, it 's way to loud here anyway to talk on the phone'Jack said.
- 'Well she hates it of i pick up the phone at dinner, must be really important then'Robbie said rolling her eyes.
- 'Yeah, must be'Jack said winking at Robbie.
- 'Darling, please tell this man what you want for desert, he hasn't got all day you know'Glenda said, as a waiter was waiting on Robbie, to let him know what she wanted to order for desert.
- 'Ehm, alright alright, i'll have the strawberry-chocolate icecream with a lot of whipped cream on it alright'Robbie said as the waiter nodded.
Then Ronnie returned to the table and was trying to hide a smile.
Jack picked up on it, and as Ronnie sat down he reached over to her behind Robbie's back.
- 'Oi you're not gonna whisper behind my back Jack'Robbie said'and mum, i thought you had the "no phones at dinner-rule", what was this all about?'.
They both put their arms around Robbie so she was in on their conversation.
Then Ronnie whispered softly to Robbie and Jack 'That was Ritchie on the phone, she's coming over with the papers tonight, she's coming by as soon as we're home and i will give her a call, she wants to get it over really quick, she said there's not gonna be a problem, just keep quiet for now yeah Robbie'.
- 'Oi what is that all about, tell me babysis'Roxy then said watching her sisters and Jack heads together and whispering.
- 'I didn't hear it Rox, it's too loud in here'Robbie said looking down on her plate not to let her sister know that she knew ofcourse what Ronnie had just said to her and Jack.
- 'Ron, what's going on?'Roxy, being nosy asked again.
- 'It's nothing Rox, i just said that it's a nice dinner and that i'm gonna miss aunty Peg only more, realising it's her last night with us all together'Ronnie just made up.
- 'Oh yeah right'Roxy said not convinced about her sisters answer but dropped it for the moment.
- 'So what time will you be leaving then Thursday Peggy?'Shirley asked.
- 'Sam and i will take a taxi round noon and then we'll be off, i don't want no drama on the airport'Peggy said.
- 'My offer still stands to drive you mum'Phil said.
- 'I know darling, i just wanna make it easier for all of us'Peggy said.
- 'To auntie Peg!'Ronnie then said standing up, raising her glass to Peggy and everyone followed.
Peggy's eyes filled with emotion but she tried to stay as calm as she could be.
Then later, after desert, Ronnie, Jack and Robbie were the first ones to leave.
They said there goodbyes to Peggy and left Fargo's drying some tears.
Glenda had decided to drive back to the square with Roxy a little later on, since Jacks car was gonna be full with Ronnie, Robbie and Amy in her carseat also in there.
When they got home Ronnie took Amy upstairs to get her changed and to put her to bed.
In the car she already had called Ritchie, so by the time Ronnie came back downstairs again Ritchie had arrived with the papers.
They all sat round the table and looked at the papers that Ritchie had put together.
- 'Alright, i want you all to sign there, on the dotted line, where your name is printed'Ritchie said.
First Jack read and then signed the papers.
Then Ronnie, and at last Robbie had to sign them.
She looked at the papers and just read what it said at the bottom:
"I, Robin Mitchell, born December 17, 1994 as Robin Riley Evangeline Mitchell, biological daughter of Archibald Lionel Mitchell and Glenda Mitchell,
adopted by, as daughter of Veronica Elisabeth Mitchell, who's also my legal guardian, will agree to be adopted by Jack Branning.
To have him legally become my adoptive father, followed by changing the surname into Robin Riley Evangeline Branning-Mitchell, to be called Robin Branning'.
"To have him legally become my adoptive father", father, Jack was really gonna be her father now, it was there on the paper, no Archie anymore, maybe now she could try to forget all about him and move on, being blessed with a mum who loved her to dead and now a dad, who already meant more to her then Archie ever did.