The next morning Robbie woke up as someone was pinching her nose softly. Slowly she started opening her eyes and saw Jack and Ronnie sitting on each side of the bed with breakfast on a tray.
- 'Morning sweetheart, happy birthday!l' Jack said planting a kiss on Robbie's forehead.
- 'Thanks daddy' Robbie said as she stretched out and smiled, putting her arms around Jack giving him a big cuddle. She loved these little familymoments, eversince Jack had became her dad she had felt more at ease. She didn't have much to explain anymore to people she met or from school, now she just had a mum and a dad, to love and to complain about like any regular kid. The whole story behind it she didn't have to explain anymore unless people got closer.
- 'You alright babe?' Ronnie asked.
- 'Yes I'm 16, finally' Robbie said sitting up.
'Happy birthday my little heart' Ronnie put her arms around Robbie and gave her a cuddle and a kiss 'can't believe my baby is 16'.
- 'Mum you already said it last night' Robbie said yawning.
- 'Yeah well I just can't believe it alright, one day I'm changing nappies, reading you stories, walking you around on my hip all day and that's all gone, so gonna say it a couple of times probably' Ronnie said.
- 'Yeah well that changed long before I turned 16 mum, get over it, and by the way besides all that you always tell me I'm still a handful so don't worry I'll keep you busy!' Robbie smiled, gave Ronnie a kiss and rolled her eyes at Jack who was smiling.
Then the 3 looked up from some noise they heard. Then Roxy, Amy and Glenda walked in, still in their nightwear, singing 'Happy Birthday Robbie!'
Robbie, Ronnie and Jack started grinning, as the three also sat down on the bed.
- 'Morning babysis, happy sweet 16' Roxy said as she dove in on Robbie, gave her kisses all over her face and started tickling her which made Amy started tojump, getting all excited and also wanted to tickle Robbie.
- 'Excuse me but can I congratulate my youngest child please' Glenda said as Roxy got Amy off Robbie who was still laughing.
Glenda put her arms around Robbie and gave her a kiss on the cheek 'Happy birthday my little one'.
- 'Mum you're not crying are you, I already went through that with mum' Robbie said 'I'm not a baby anymore'.
- 'No she's 16' Roxy said 'but you're always gonna be the little baby Pixie never forget'.
- 'Come on let's have this breakfast in the kitchen, have you had any breakfast mum?' Ronnie asked standing up from the bed picking up the tray of the bed.
- 'No, I woke up Roxy and we came downstairs right away' Glenda said drying her eyes with the end of her sleeve.
- 'Woke her up, how did you manage that? ' Robbie asked grinning at Roxy a gave her a little nudge.
Xxx
A little later Robbie was getting her schoolstuff together while Ronnie, Jack, Roxy and Glenda were still drinking coffee in the kitchen.
- 'So did you make reservations at the Argee Barghee then?' Roxy asked while putting a straw into a little package of juice, for Amy.
- Ýes I want you all there at 5, I have everyone coming to the club at 7, so if we come a little later then that it's alright' Ronnie said a little more quiet, afraid Robbie would walk back in any minute 'so what are you doing with Amy then, did you ask Pat?'
- 'You did right, cause Dot is gonna come over for a little visit for Robbie, since she's one of her grandchildren now' Jack said.
- Yeah Pat was glad to take care of her' Roxy said.
- 'Alright, I really got to get dressed, Carol's opening up but I don't wanna be late since I'm leaving early already today' Glenda said.
- 'Alright I'm off to school, last day finally then a two week ly-in' Robbie said as she came walking back into the kitchen 'so dinner at the Arghee Barghee right, I'll come home straight after school yeah so I can get dressed right, and then afterdinner we go to the Vic'.
- 'Yes my sweet lovey, Arghee Barghee and the Vic, and then you get your present alright, can you hold your patience for a couple of hours babe?' Ronnie asked padding Robbie on her back.
- 'Been waiting 16 years to get 16 so I guess I don't mind mummy' Robbie grinned 'but I am curious what you got me?'
- 'Oh I know what you're getting little sis' Roxy said teasing.
- 'Yeah just go sweetie before she opens that big gob of hers' Ronnie smiled at Roxy giving Robbie a kiss on the cheek 'have a good day babe'.
As Robbie walked out the door she looked at Abi and Lauren coming out of their house, then she looked over to nr 55 where a little shouting came from. She saw Phil standing there with a grin on his face, Billy standing there obviously begging Phil for something, that's probably why he was grinning anyway. Phil liked being in control of everybody. She also saw Julie holding back the young blond girl she saw quickly the other day at the café, maybe some family of Julie maybe. She looked across the street seeing Peter coming out of his house waving at her. Her face lit up as she started crossing the street.
- 'Robbie, hey wait' She heard Lauren call her. Robbie stopped and looked at Lauren and Abi walking up.
- 'You alright bub?' Lauren asked as soon as she stopped at Robbie.
- 'Yeah' Robbie said giving Lauren a quick hug 'thank you for yesterday Laur, but can we just forget about it please?'
- 'Robbie?' Lauren said not understanding.
- 'Please Laur, I really just wanna forget about the whole thing' Robbie asked looking at her cousin.
- 'Alright, well, ehm, happy birthday then right' Lauren said giving her a kiss on the cheek.
- 'Hi girls, Robbie, birthdaygirl of mine' Peter said putting his arms around Robbie.
- 'Hi' Robbie said receiving Peter's kiss.
- 'I will give you your present tonight yes, at ehm…. The Vic' Peter said almost wanted to mention the club. Lauren and Abi gave him a look for almost spoiling the secret.
Then Whitney came out and the group headed to school to attend their last day before the Christmas-holidays.
Xxx
Jack had gotten dressed after breakfast and told Ronnie he was going out to look for Michael and have a little chat with him. He had asked Ronnie to come with him, but she said she had to run some errands still for Robbie's birthday.
Jack crossed the park and noticed Michael standing outside the café talking to the old man and Carol. Jack immediately walked over.
- 'Oi Michael, can I have a word with you!' he spoke directly to Michael, ignoring his older sister and the man she was talking to, Michael,who from a slick smile turned serious, then blinked a little with his eyes.
- 'Jack, everything alright, meet Michaels father Eddie' Carol said glancing from her younger brother to Eddie who was looking at Carol also.
- 'Hi, Jack Branning ' Jack said looking serious 'come on!'Jack pushed Michael away into the café 'sit down overthere'.
Jack pointed out to the booth in the back of the café.
- 'Pardon my younger brother, don't know what's going on with him' Carol excused herself for Jack's little bit of rude behavior.
- 'That's alright, so you're free for a drink then Carol?' Eddie asked.
- 'Well not today really, ehm, have to get back to work, just out to get some coffee, and tonight it's my niece's sweet 16 birthday party at the R&R, Jack's daughter but ehm maybe some other time this weekend?' Carol said not wanting to explain right away what the whole story on Jack's daughter and her niece was, that she was really adopted by Jack.
Meanwhile inside the café, Michael and Jack had sat down.
- 'Jack, what is going on?' Michael asked as he crossed his leg over the other pretending to be calm and absolutely not aware of why Jack was acting so rude.
- 'You tell me, I think it's you that is what's going on' Jack said looking straight into Michael's eyes' you intimidating my daughter yesterday, explain to me what was that all about Michael?'
- 'What?" Michael sat up again' I don't know what you're talking about mate'.
- 'Did you talk to Robbie yesterday?' Jack asked 'about Phil's window? '
- 'Oh I see, yes, I might have mentioned it, why, what's the problem?' Michael asked.
- 'You threatening her Michael!' Jack said a it loud making people look up.
- 'Woh, what, hold on Jack, I don't know what the little bugger told you but I just mentioned it, what are you talking about, me threatening her, seriously Jack, come on?' Michael said leaning over to Jack's face.
- 'You asked her if anyone knew about the window yet, Phil for instance?' Jack said 'how does that not sound threatening to a teenager, she's just a kid Michael, you should have come to me , 'mate'!'
Michael rolled his eyes, then took a breath.
- 'I'm … ehm well sorry Jack, didn't mean to scare her off really, didn't know she was that sensitive' Michael said moving a bit uncomfortably.
- 'Yeah wellyou did scare her off and you better not try that anymore or you're mine, you hear me, if you have a problem you come to me alright, and you better keep your mouth shut about that window or I will find you!' Jack said standing up, giving Michael an angry look then walking out of the café. Because of some people looking at what was going on Michael put on a fake smile to pretend everything was fine, then his face turned back dark again.
Xxx
In the afternoon, after school had finished, Robbie, Lauren, Whitney and Peter were sitting at the parkbench. Then Jay came walking over with Ben and the blond girl again.
- 'Where's Abs Jay?' Lauren asked immediately suspicious of the blond girl walking next to him.
- 'She went home' Jay said 'don't know'.
- 'This is Lola' Ben said trying to introduce the blond to the rest of the group.
- 'Lola who?' Robbie asked 'are you related to Julie or something, saw you with her this morning and the other day at the café right'.
- 'Oh yeah, you're the stuck up cow that didn't have time for my pops' Lola said with some arrogance.
- 'Oi who do you think you're calling a stuck up cow ey?' Robbie said jumping of the bench.
Jay and Ben jumped in between the girls who were giving eachother fierce looks.
Lauren, Whitney and Peter also stood up.
- 'Girls calm down alright' Jay said grinning a bit.
- 'This is Lola, Billy and Julie's gránddaughter' Ben said introducing Lola to Robbie and the rest.
- 'Billy's granddaughter, how did that happen?' Robbie asked grinning a bit.
- 'Your mummy never told you about the birds and the bee's?' Lola said sarcastic, smiling at Jay, a bit too full of herself.
- 'See Billy and Julie had a son, he died and their son happened to be Lola's dad so' Jay said 'Lola lived in care at a home and they hope she can stay with Bills and Jules'.
- 'Not with that mouth you will' Lauren said.
- 'Another Mitchell then ey?' Peter said.
- 'Robbie is your, hmm, what would that make you Robbie, I mean if you are dad's cousin and Billy's…?' Ben asked his cousin.
- 'Don't tell me we're also related?' Lola said to Ben but looked at Robbie.
- 'Afraid so, could imagine some nicer gifts on my birthday then this' Robbie said 'Sooo Lola ey?'
- 'Yeah, problem?' Lola asked.
- 'You better not be!' Robbie said 'alright peeps I gotta go home and get ready for my dinner at the Arghee Barghee, see yous tonight at the Vic yeah, celebrate it all together'.
- 'I thought it was…' Lola said.
- 'At 8' Jay said saving Lola for talking her mouth off.
- 'Yeah half 7or 8 is fine' Whitney said giving Lola a look, knowing Lola said it on purpose, on the way she was grinning a little at Jay.
Robbie gave Peter a kiss 'I see you tonight mister'.
- 'Oh please can I get a bucket please, don't tell me you two are together' Lola said pretending to be gagging.
- 'Dry your eyes little Lolagirl, he's mine but there's plenty of fish in the sea' Robbie said winking at Lola, making the others grin, and walked out of the park.