Robbie kept starring at the paper "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".
Ronnie looked at Robbie and wondered what was holding her back to sign her name on the dotted line.
She looked at Jack and raised her eyebrows.
- 'Are you alright darling?'Jack asked putting his hand on Robbie's back.
Robbie just kept starring at the papers and didn't say anything, it was like she wasn't there, but dreaming, like in a trance.
Ronnie softly stroked her hand on Robbie's head.
- 'Baby are you ok, i mean you are alright with Jack adopting you right sweetie?'Ronnie said looking at both Jack and Ritchie.
Robbie snapped out of it, and just looked at the three people looking at her with questioning faces obviously not understanding.
- 'I'm ehm, i don't know it's just...'Robbie then said standing up'it's not right, i ehm, something is not...i can't'.
Robbie walked from the table and walked out of the room where Glenda just stepped in, coming from outside.
- 'You're off to bed then darling?'Glenda asked taking her coat off while following her youngest daughter walking up the stairs.
Robbie kept on walking and just didn't say anything.
- 'Robin.., what's with her?'Glenda asked Ronnie as she walked into the livingroom, then seeing Ritchie sitting at the table 'oh ehm hello, Glenda Mitchell' she introduced herself.
- 'This is my mother Ritchie, mum this is Ritchie Scott, our lawyer'Ronnie said.
The women both shook hands.
- 'I'm gonna see what's going on with her alright'Ronnie said to Jack not wanting to tell her mum what was going on, what she herself didn't understand yet, obviously Robbie was upset about something.
- 'Yeah, i'm here if you need me'Jack said.
Ronnie left the livingroom and walked up the stairs straight to Robbie's room, only Robbie wasn't in there.
- 'Babes where are you?'Ronnie called walking out of the room looking around the landing, then she noticed the little light was on in Roxy's room.
She walked over and slowly opened the door and saw Robbie sitting on Roxy's bed starring at Amy sleeping in her bed.
- 'Sweetie what's going on, why are you sitting here, and why didn't you sign the papers, i mean if you think it's all going a bit to fast, Jack and i understand alright, we don't wanna push you in to anything you don't want to, i mean if you're not ready for it yet it's ok!' Ronnie said whispering a bit while sitting down on her knees in front of Robbie so she could see her face.
Robbie looked up and starred at Ronnie's face 'Mum stop, could you stop talking so fast, i'm alright and ít's not too fast for me mum, it's all i ever wanted for so long, it's just that..it doesn't feel right, i mean...Rox.. she's not here with me, the three of us has always been so close, and this is really a big thing for me, even if it's just signing some papers for now, i just want her there, i want Roxy here with me'Robbie said'you understand that right?'
Ronnie smiled and stroked Robbie's cheeks 'you doughnut, ofcourse i understand that, i just thought, well, i didn't really think of that i guess'.
- 'So can i call her, i mean she's with Christian, i want her to have a good time tonight also'Robbie said.
- 'She'd better get herself over here, and she will don't worry, you want me to give her a call then maybe?'Ronnie asked.
- 'Yes please'Robbie said putting her arms around Ronnie, while Ronnie stood up.
- 'Oh you big baby, come here'Ronnie said carrying Robbie, who was putting her legs around her mums waist, out of the room.
- 'Mum, don't call me a baby all the time please'Robbie said'i just want a cuddle alright'.
- 'Well i cán call you baby, cause you always will be my baby, alright, end off!'Ronnie said smiling then walking over to Ronnie's own bedroom where they had a housephone.
They both sat down on the bed and Ronnie started dialing.
In the meantime Roxy had met up with Christian at the tubestation to get some money at the cashpoint first before they were going over to the club.
- 'So how was the "farewell Peggy Mitchell party dinner"? Christian asked putting his arms around his best friend,while Roxy was looking at the screen.
- 'I just can't believe she's gonna leave us, and that she's not gonna be at Ronnie's wed...what the.., how can this be..'Roxy then said.
- 'What babe?'Christian asked.
- 'Thís..'Roxy pointed at the screen 'this is what supposed to be left of all my money on my account, how can this be?'
Roxy started walking nervously around.
- 'You must have pushed some other button or something darling, how can all this money be gone, i mean, you do know how to spend it but then again, are you sure?'Christian asked.
- 'It's gone Christian, i did push the right buttons, i might be blond but not stupid'Roxy said annoyed, while getting her phone out of her pocket 'not now Ron i'm busy'Roxy said loud while pushing the "ignore"button on her mobile.
- 'Voicemail'Ronnie said looking at Robbie 'she must have turned it off cause she's at R&R or something'.
- 'Could you try again mum, i'm not signing without Rox here'Robbie said laying herself down on the bed.
- 'Ofcourse, don't worry babes, we'll wait untill Roxy is here'Ronnie said sighing at the fact that Roxy always had that phone on her ear and now with this important thing to Robbie she didn't seem to wanna answer it.
Ronnie dialed again.
Roxy and Christian were walking through Bridgestreet.
- 'You wanna come over to my place then' Christian asked as they were standing in front of his apartement.
- 'No, i'm sorry babe but i really need to sort this one out, cause i don't understand it'Roxy said'i can't just sit down with you, my head is with this now, aahh i can't believe it'.
- 'Alright alright Rox, there's probably some stupid reason for it, maybe the bank itself has computerproblems, you know they sometimes do, just let me know yeah'Christian said'and if you need me with anything, i'm here darling alright'.
- 'Thanks, i know babe'Roxy said as they gave eachother a big hug when Roxy's phone went off again.
- 'See you later babes'Roxy said walking away looking at her phone.
- 'Ron, what?'she anwered a bit annoyed .
- 'Well hello to you too sis'Ronnie said on the other end'ehm, where are you, it sounds so quiet, you at the club?'
- 'No i'm on my way home'Roxy said then sighed.
- 'Home, already, what's going on, i thought you were going out with Christian'Ronnie said.
- 'Yeah well, no more, i'll tell you when i get home yeah'Roxy said.
- 'Alright, i'll see you in a minute babe'Ronnie said hanging up her phone looking at Robbie'she's on her way but it sounded as if something is wrong, let's go downstairs sweetie and wait for her ok?'
- 'Yeah alright'Robbie said as they both got up and walked downstairs.
Just as they got down, Roxy walked through the frontdoor.
Roxy looked a bit upset.
- 'What's going on babe?'Ronnie asked putting her arms around Roxy.
- 'Christian wanted a girlsnight out with Syed instead of you'Robbie joked, but Roxy wasn't laughing but gave her little sister more of an annoyed look.
- 'Oi shuss you!'Ronnie saidlooking serious at robbie then turning to Roxy again 'what's going on Rox, tell me?'
- 'My money, it's all gone'Roxy said softly.
- 'Yeah right'Ronnie grinned'now tell me seriously'.
- 'I am serious Ron, it's true, it's all gone'Roxy said 'i gotta look upstairs, i've got some stashed cash upstairs'.
- 'What?'Ronnie then asked a bit shocked 'how can all that money be gone Roxy, that's impossible?'
- 'Mum have you seen her closet, the salon, the car, the house, the club, need i to go on?'Robbie said.
- 'Livingroom now!'Ronnie said to Robbie pushing her towards the livingroomdoor.
- 'Oh yeah right, it's not like i spend it, i wish'Robbie said walking into the livingroom where Jack, Glenda and Ritchie were still sitting at the diningroom table.
- 'You alright darling?'Jack asked as he stood up and walked over to Robbie.
- 'Yeah, i ehm, i just want Roxy there when i sign, that's it, don't worry Jack i still want you to be my dad'Robbie said putting her arms around Jack who didn't expected it.
He put his arms firmly around Robbie and kissed the top of her head.
- 'So where's Ron then?' Jack asked.
- 'Ehm, she's with Roxy upstairs, apparantely Rox thinks all her money is gone, i think she already had a bottle of Vodka in there if you ask me'Robbie said pretending to be drunk.
- 'What?'Glenda said'Roxy's money..gone, you must have misunderstood little one?'
- 'No i didn't, i'm not stupid and don't treat me like i'm Amy's age alright!'Robbie said raising her voice to Glenda.
Glenda gave Robbie a strict dissaproving look.
- 'Hey!'Jack said to Robbie 'tone it down alright!'
- 'I'm going upstairs'Glenda said walking out of the room.
- 'Mum will sort it out i'm sure'Robbie shouted at Glenda, looking at Jack 'she can't have lost all that money right Jack, i mean you know how much she has, how can that be gone already'.
Upstairs Roxy was looking through her room but had to do it carefully to not wake up little Amy.
She took a little pile of papermoney from under a piece of carpet.
Ronnie sighed and put her hand on her forehead.
- 'Have you really been hiding your money here Roxy, are you serious?'Ronnie asked'i can't believe this'.
- '' Yeah, some of it, i don't understand Ron, i mean, what the...no no no not again, it's gone'Roxy said almost waking Amy up who started to mumble and move a bit.
- 'What are you on about?'Ronnie whispered annoyed about the stupidness of her younger sister.
- 'I had the biggest pile in here'Roxy said pointing at a loose floorboard 'ít's gone'.
Roxy sat down on the bed when Glenda walked in.
- 'What's going on, Robin was babbling on you having lost all your money, now i'm sure she was making something up to wind us up or something right?'Glenda said trying to whisper.
- 'I wish she was mum'Roxy said'god i wish she was'.
- 'How can that money that you hid overthere be gone, did someone know you had it there, did you ever talk about it when you were...i don't know, drunk maybe and at the club or the Vic?"Ronnie asked raising the old eyebrow.
- 'Pff i don't know anymore Ron alright,i it's gone, i mean if you walk a couple of times over it you know it, i mean it's how i found it there, it's cracks a little, i hid it there thinking noone else would, how stupid was i'Roxy said putting her head in her hands.
- 'Come here sweetie'Ronnie said putting her arms around her sister and soothed her back.
- 'What are we gonna do Ron, i don't have enough money to let us stay here maybe'Roxy said.
- 'We'll figure something out babes' Ronnie said.
- 'Well maybe we should look a little harder'Glenda said.
- 'Eh excuse me mum'Ronnie said 'Roxy's money is gone, well in a way i'm glad'.
- 'What?'Roxy said sitting up.
- 'Not in the way you think Rox, what i mean is that it was all dad's money, like he still had a little control with that you know, and now that it's gone, well maybe we can have a life of our own now, not with him always around, if you know what i mean'Ronnie said looking at Roxy then looking at Glenda.
- 'What are we going to do Ron, your wedding, Robbie's surpriseparty, i wanted to pay for all of that'Roxy said 'Oh my god i really always screw things up for you both ey'.
- 'No hé did that Rox, with giving only you that money, he knew that'Ronnie said 'Now, ehm, let's go downstairs cause there's someone who wants to ask you something'.
- 'Hmm, what, who, what are you talking about?'Roxy asked.
- 'Common'Ronnie said taking her sisters hand and walking out of the room 'come on mum'.
The three walked down the stairs and into the livingroom.
Jack and Robbie starred at Roxy,Ronnie and Glenda walked back into the livingroom.
- 'So what is..'Robbie asked.
- 'I don't wanna talk about it anymore alright'Roxy said then looking at Ritchie who was still at nr 27 'Ritchie, are you here for me?'
- 'No'Ronnie smiled 'Robbie what did you wanted to ask Roxy?'
Robbie sat next to Roxy on the sofa and just snuggled up to comfort her big sister 'i wanted you to be here, we ehm, well we have the papers for the adoptionthing and all but ehm, well i don't want to sign them without my big sis here with me'.
Roxy looked at Ronnie who winked at Roxy, then Roxy looked back at Robbie.
She then put her arms around Robbie.
- 'I will be here with you ofcourse silly, oh and so that you know that eventhough Jack is now gonna be adopting you also, and you'll be having a proper set of parentsnow, that i'm always gonna be your big sis is that understood, i refuse to let you call me auntie Roxy alright!'Roxy said smiling a little.
- 'I wouldn't want it to be any different then that big sis, i love you'Robbie said jumping on her sisters lab and giving her a kiss 'Oh and mum, i know it might be a little uncomfortable maybe for you but i also want you there alright'.
Robbie looked at Glenda 'You know, everyone that is the closest to me'.
- 'I'll be here with you darling'Glenda said sitting down on the armrest of the sofa next to Roxy and Robbie, giving her a kiss 'thank you'.
Then they sat down at the table and watched Robbie sign the papers.
Ronnie gave Jack a kiss, as they were still standing behind Robbie holding eachother.
After the signing Ritchie told them, that she would bring the papers in the next day and that they had to wait untill it got finalised, to really make it official.
After a toast to the signing Roxy took Robbie upstairs, Roxy had a splitting headache from thinking about missing her money, not understanding where it could have gone too.
Robbie decided to crawl into bed with her sister for comfort, something Roxy needed tonight.