Ronnie was doing some cleaning up while Robbie stood still in the dooropening and watched her.
- 'Morning mum'Robbie said a little uneasy making her mum look up.
Ronnie, not having forgotten about the night before, gave Robbie a little smile and a morningcuddle like she did every other morning.
Whether Robbie was in trouble or not, she just did it, like their little ritual. Ronnie never forgot how her father could ignore her and Roxy for days, even a week if they had been bad when they were children.
She had always felt as if that was like torture.
To want his affection and not getting it.
She'd rather have him give her a smack as a punishment or warning, then a whole week of silence.
Especially if Roxy wasn't in trouble and did get his attention.
Archie had his ways of making clear who was in charge.
Ronnie never wanted Robbie to ever get the feeling her mum was ignoring her, or just to be ignored by anyone,she only ignored Robbie when she was nagging about something or pouting, like every child did at some point, but never as a punishment, not like the ones Archie did to her and Roxy.
- 'Morning babe 'Ronnie said 'sit yourself down, i'll make you some breakfast'.
- 'Mum ehm..can we talk then maybe, i mean while you make me breakfast?'Robbie said trying to make some effort.
- 'We can always talk love, you know that, i always tell you that if you wanna talk, you can talk to me'Ronnie said with one hand on her hips raising one of her eyebrows to Robbie.
Robbie sighed and started fidgetting a little with her hands.
- 'Where's ehm..Jack?'Robbie asked.
- 'In the livingroom with mum'Ronnie said 'so was Roxy up yet?'.
- 'Yeah she's also in the livingroom, so ehm..you think he's calmed down a bit, you know Jack, i mean after last night, he was kinda scary?'Robbie said not wanting to mention the thought of Archie.
- 'Yeah, he is'Ronnie said 'you gotta know he's very protective of you sweetie, you're still my 15 year old baby, and he feels the same, so having some boy, even if it is Peter Beale, together with you in the bedroom kinda drove us up the wall, i mean teenageboys have different hormones then girls you know, well most girls, Jack loves you very much Robbie, he just doesn't want you to get hurt'.
- 'I know, and i love Peter, so seeing him look so scared, cause of Jack pushing him against the wall, well...'Robbie said biting one of her nails 'never mind, it was just scary'.
Ronnie gave a little playfull slap on Robbie's hand "stop that' she said, trying to prevent Robbie from biting them all off.
- 'I'll go get him, we both wanna have a word with you'Ronnie said stroking through Robbie's hair.
- 'Great..'Robbie said knowing "the fun was only just starting".
When Ronnie wanted to walk out of the kitchen, she saw Jack coming out of the livingroom already.
Roxy probably had told him that Robbie was in the kitchen.
- 'Morning sweetheart'Jack said giving Robbie a kiss on the head.
- 'Morning'Robbie said not wanting to look into Jack's eyes, knowing he'd probably stil was angry about last night.
Ronnie and Jack both sat down across from Robbie at the table.
- 'Great that makes me feel really comfortable, having you sit there like i'm on trial here'Robbie said slouching a bit on her chair.
Ronnie and Jack looked at eachother and made some eyecontact, then moved a little closer to Robbie.
- 'There we go, thank you!'Robbie said cheeky.
- 'Could you tell us what you were thinking off last night, i mean sneaking off with Peter, taking your mums keys to my apartement?'Jack asked, looking at Ronnie for Robbie's cheeky behaviour already.
Ronnie sighed and scratched her forehead.
- 'I thought it was cool showing Peter the keys and then sneaking off with him, and then just go somewhere'Robbie said.
- 'To my apartement?'Jack asked.
- 'Well he didn't know the keys were to your flat at first, cause when he found out...'Robbie said.
- 'He what?'Ronnie asked.
- 'Well he told me i was crazy for having nicked the keys to Jacks flat'Robbie said.
- 'But you still went in anyway?'Jack said.
- 'I just wanted to be alone with him'Robbie said.
- 'To do what?'Ronnie asked serious.
- 'Well, to be together and talk, with noone around'Robbie said rolling her eyes like this conversation was a waste of time.
- 'Talk?'Ronnie asked.
- 'Yeah, i mean talk alone, not being interupted by anyone, or having someone keep an eye on us, like the whole time'Robbie said looking at Jack hoping he could take a hint.
- 'You also could have talked outside'Jack said.
- 'You know how cold it is out there'Robbie said'and to go outside we also had to sneak out of the house, you wouldn't have liked that'.
- 'Yeah you're right about that, cause we wouldn't want you out there either'Jack said strict 'i mean on the streets, at night, with or without Peter!'.
- 'Right, that's why i thought of getting mums keys to your flat, instead of staying outside in the cold'Robbie said smart.
- 'So you took your mums keys to my flat and sneaked out then'Jack asked.
- 'I just told you that, now look, just get to the point of what you really wanna ask me, i mean who am i talking to, my parents or the old bill?'Robbie then asked knowing they were just talking around what they'd really wanted to ask her.
- 'I don't think you're in a position to make the rules here Robbie, i told you that last night'Jack said looking serious.
- 'You remember the last time i wanted to have a talk with you, about you and Peter, when Jack caught you both outside Max's?'Ronnie said.
- 'Don't remind me, nothing happened mum, honest, we just have been laying there and talking a bit that's all' Robbie said.
- 'Did you have to go to my apartement just to talk, you think we're that thick Robbie?'Jack said.
- 'Why were you "laying"on the bed instead of sitting on the sofa then, i mean, to just "talk"Ronnie asked.
- 'If you know all the answers why do i have to sit here then, just tell me what my punishment is and get it over with ok'Robbie said getting annoyed and wanting to stand up.
Ronnie grabbed one of Robbie's ears 'Oi sit down, do you remember this talk we had about using these things here, thought i told you to stop giving us attitude the whole time Robin Branning Mitchell!Ronnie said sharp.
- 'Then stop...'Robbie said.
- 'Didn't you hear what your mum just said, drop the attitude Robbie!'Jack said'just sit your bum down untill we are finished talking to you'.
- 'After school you come straight to the club or the salon to help out, you can help with the cleaning, no pay, then we go home and have dinner, then it's homework and getting ready for bed'Ronnie said strict.
- 'What?'Robbie said'what if i don't have homework, go to bed same time as Ames?'
- 'Do not push your luck Robbie'Ronnie said.
- 'So you're doing everything to prevent me from spending time with Peter then, i only get to see him at school'Robbie said.
- 'Think you saw enough of him last night'Ronnie said strict' with that stupid action of yours you ruined it for yourself'.
- 'Can i please go now?'Robbie asked not seeing the point why she would have to sit there any longer.
- 'Did i give you that impression?'Ronnie asked 'i'm not done yet, i still have some questions about last night, you and Peter, i mean...i know you're getting older and want to explore and stuff, but..'Ronnie said.
- 'Mum, please, i'm really carefull, i promise, and ehm...well to be really honest with you...it was Peter who didn't wanna do anything, cause we've been drin...king, but just a little, and i just wanted to be with him, to let him hold me, the thought of really doing...well you know, i got nervous thinking about it'Robbie said.
- 'Just keep it for when you're really sure about it darling, don't feel like doing it cause people in school say it's cool or something, it may sound old fashioned but you know it when the time is right, maybe in a year or ten'Jack grinned looking at Robbie'i know that's wishfull thinking but just don't do it cause others want you to or say it's cool to do so ok, it's your decision, and for now i think you're still to young'.
- 'Jack is right, don't want you to do it because of others, and speaking of being too young, that also goes for you drinking alcohol, now if we do catch you again you'd better start running really fast, cause if i catch that bum of yours then, you won't be able to sit on it and forget what it was used for in the first place, is that clear?'Ronnie said serious waving a warning finger at Robbie.
- 'Yes'Robbie said'now what is my punishment for when i kill Jay?'
- 'Why was he so angry with you anyway, what was his problem?'Jack asked.
- 'Now he was really drunk, hope he got himself in a lot of trouble with Phil'Robbie said.
- 'He touched mums breast, by accident cause of being drunk ofcourse, but i think Phil also will have a word with him'Ronnie said.
- 'Mums breast, oh my days, what an idiot'Robbie said.
- 'Still doesn't explain what you have done to him to make him grass you and Pete up'Jack said.
- 'He tried to kiss me alright if you really wanna know, he put his filthy mouth on mine but i pushed him away and..'Robbie said.
- 'He kissed you?'Jack asked turning serious again.
- 'Yes daddy dearest, hope you'll finish him off'Robbie said smiling at Jack.
- 'Jay was out of order too'Ronnie said'still you were wrong in the first place alright, you should not have taken my keys to Jacks flat ok'.
- 'Yeah i know, so ehm, when are we moving there anyway?'Robbie asked taking a sip of her juice.
- 'Ah there she is the little troublemaker, dare to show your face then?'Glenda said as she walked into the kitchen, hands on her hips looking serious at Robbie.
- 'Soon, very soon darling'Ronnie said winking at Robbie.
Robbie got up while Roxy also walked into the kitchen.
- 'Thanks a lot ey sis, now what was the good word you put in for me then, that i come in handy being your skivvy at the salon?'Robbie snapped at her sister who had promised to put in a good word for her, still Robbie didn't really have the feeling that Roxy pulled that of.
- 'Oi, could you take that tone down, talking to your sister like that!'Glenda said looking not amused at Robbie.
- 'Mum it's alright'Roxy said rolling her eyes to Ronnie.
- 'No it's not, sneaking of to Jacks with Peter, god knows what they did there, and drinking again i heard'Glenda said looking strict at Robbie.
- 'Yeah some people just drive you to it, just ask Jay'Robbie said walking out of the kitchen.
Ronnie quickly ran after Robbie and grabbed her by her arm 'i know she can be a pain sometimes, but i'm not having this behaviour of you, now go apologise to her'Ronnie said.
- 'No i won't...'Robbie said.
- 'Robbie i'm warning you, go!'Ronnie said pushing Robbie back into the kitchen.
- 'Mum wants me to apologise to you'Robbie said very cheeky looking at Ronnie.
Ronnie sighed, then lead Robbie out of the kitchen without saying a word and walked her to the stairs.
- 'You stay up there untill you are ready to properly apologise to mum'Ronnie said.
- 'Who was just winking at me when you said we would be moving soon to Jacks apartement, that was also because of her right, and now you're sending me upstairs'Robbie said'i'm very dissapointed in you Veronica'.
Robbie gave Ronnie a dissapointed look and walked upstairs.
Ronnie bit on one of her nails again and walked back to the kitchen.
- 'Sorry mum'Ronnie said walking into Jack's arms.
- 'She's a teenager, i know, it's not the most wonderfull age'Glenda said forcing a smile.
- 'Oh is that why you lef... 'Roxy said.
- 'Roxy!'Ronnie hissed knowing what was ready to come out of her sisters mouth.
- 'So when are you moving next door then?'Glenda asked.
- 'We'll get it ready before the wedding, you know Robbie's room, and then, when we get back from a couple of romantic days together, the three of us move there' Ronnie said.
- 'I've been thinking about moving to the upstairsapartment with Amy and mum'Roxy said.
- 'What?'Glenda asked.
- 'Think about it mum, this house is too big for the three of us, and i can sell it and get some money back, it still doesn't come rolling back by itself you know'Roxy said.
- 'Makes sense'Ronnie said'and it would be like you're living upstairs, just with your own entrance'.
- 'I 'm going upstairs, take a shower so i can go and pick Amy up at Christians'Roxy said.
- 'Could you check on your sister please?'Ronnie said looking at Roxy.
- 'Don't i always?'Roxy said.