"Mummy, you're still here" Louisa shouted as she ran through the door after spotting her Mothers car in the driveway behind Peters.

Alicia picked her youngest daughter up and gave her a tight cuddle "Yes I am, did you have a good time with Grace?" Alicia asked

"Uh-hu, she let me have strawberry and vanilla with sprinkles and raspberry sauce" Louisa stated as Grace came in behind her youngest sister.

"Dad, Mum I'm sorry I lost Claudia" Grace said walking up to her parents

"It's not your fault, she ran off to the park" Peter said as he opened his arms for Grace to hug him.

"I should have kept a closer eye"

"Grace, listen to me, it's not your fault, she could have done it if she was with your Father or me just as easily" Alicia responded as she took her turn hugging her eldest daughter.

"Now, I'm going to make dinner, do either of you want to help" Alicia said

"I'm going to go do homework if that's OK" Grace said to which both parents nodded, and Grace walked to the stairs.

"Grace, before you go, do you have any idea where your brother might be"

"Is he not upstairs?" Grace asked

"No, he went out, see you're not the only one who can loose a kid"

"I have no idea sorry, but if I find out I will let you know" Grace said before going upstairs. Louisa and Alicia made their way to the kitchen to start making dinner whilst Peter went into his home office to start working on a few things.

….

"So you snuck out, didn't know you had it in you Zachary" Becca said as Zach got off his bike outside her house. "And Cycling without a helmet, what the rebel you are"

"I just had to get out, they treat me like a child" Zach responded before kissing his girlfriend.

"Parents tend to do that, they don't want you to grow up, or be happy" Becca said as she tossed her blonde hair to the side and brought Zach into her house. Becca lived in a house with 3 other college girls, it was a large house, big enough for a family home, and each girl had her own large room, this was where Zach and Becca were headed.

…

"How could you do that, I was so scared" Grace said as she stormed into her sisters room and took a seat on the foot of her bed.

"Sorry Grace, I just had to go, Ryan text me and asked me to go on a date with him"

"A date, you're 13 for God Sakes, do you want to get a reputation"

"Oh don't be so dramatic, we just went roller-skating in the park, until Mum came and took me home, I don't know how she found out"

"Dad has his ways, you should know that by now. Why didn't you just tell me you were going to the Park, I would have covered for you, or taken you there myself"

"Yeah, because nothing says cool like your big sister being your chaperone, and having an annoying little sister spying on you"

"Well surely it would have been cooler than your Mummy coming to pick you up" Grace responded as she got up from the bed and walked out of the room to her own room.

….

"This smells wonderful" Peter said as he walked into his kitchen, Alicia was making a Roast Chicken, just like old times when the entire family would sit down on a Sunday evening to a roast.

"I made the mashed potatoes Daddy" Louisa proudly told her father

"And I bet they are the best mashed potato I have ever eaten" he said as he tickled his youngest daughter who was starting to set the kitchen table.

"Why don't we eat this in the dining room tonight, since its such a wonderful meal" Peter said smiling, he knew that tomorrow things would go back to normal, the kids would go with Alicia, and he would have an empty house again.

Louisa followed her Dad's instructions and took the cutlery into the dining room leaving Peter and Alicia alone. Peter snaked his arms around Alicia's waist.

"This is lovely"

"It is" Alicia responded as she turned round placing her arms around Peters neck, they kissed again, with the same fever that they had earlier in the day.

"I can't stop thinking about earlier" Peter said

"No, neither can I, it was amazing, it was like before"

"I know, I just hope we can be like that again one day"

"We will, I've been thinking, maybe we should think about our living arrangements, I miss this house, I miss you, I miss us and I miss the whole family being together"

"Are you wanting to move back in?" Peter asked excitedly

"No, I mean not right now, the apartment is closer to work, School is in between both so not a problem, I think maybe we should spend weekends here from now on, and not just the kids, all of us"

"I wouldn't say no to that, and maybe we can have dinner through the week, I'd like that"

"I would too, and we are still on for Dinner here on Tuesday to meet Conner" Alicia responded before Peter took her mouth in his again.

"Ewww that's gross" Louisa said screwing her face up as she came through to get glasses for the table "do we have flowers for the middle of the table, I want to make it look pretty"

"No, no flowers" Peter said

"Mummy has flowers in her house"

"Well, how about every weekend when we come to stay at Daddys we bring some flowers to make it pretty" Alicia said

"We, are you coming too?" Louisa asked

"Yes, Daddy and I are going to start spending some more time together, does that sound nice?" Alicia asked.

"Yes, Can we maybe all go to DisneyLand together?" Louisa asked

"I don't know about that, we will need to look at Daddys work schedule and mines, but maybe we will go somewhere during the school holidays" Alicia said

"Its Thanksgiving soon, can we have it here please, all together?" Louisa asked excitedly. Alicia looked at Peter and they both smiled.

"Yes we can"

"And Grandma Jackie and Grandma Veronica will they both come?"

"We'll see, now dinners nearly ready, why don't you finish off setting the table and then go get washed up for dinner" Alicia said to her youngest daughter who grabbed some glasses and took them to the dining room. "Peter, can you tell Grace and Claudia to wash up for dinner please?"

….

"So, do you want to go out for dinner?" Becca asked Zach as they lay in her bed naked after sex. "I know I have worked up an appetite" she added

"Where do you want to go?" he asked

"What about Papa Tonys in Town, I fancy some Italian" Becca responded.

"Sounds good" Zach replied as he got out of bed and got ready "Do you mind if I stay here tonight, there is no way I want to go home"

"Sure, but your going to need stuff, you came with no clothes on a kids bike, no phone and nothing for school tomorrow, what do you propose"

"Can I borrow your phone?" Zach asked, Becca handed him her phone and he text Grace.

"Its me Zach, can you bring some clothes and my school bag to school tomorrow, I'm not coming home tonight"

Graces phone beeped during dinner, the family had just sat at the table for their meal. She took the phone from her pocket and quickly opened the text, she was about to reply when Peter spoke.

"No phones at the table Grace" he said. This rule was totally unfair, but it was her Dads rule for them, when they were at home with Alicia she didn't enforce it as much, mainly because her phone didn't stop ringing, and she felt it hypocritical to enforce it when she didn't. Peter on the other hand had no problem with it, he was a grown up, and if his phone rang then it was usually something which had to be dealt with, unlike his teenage kids calls and texts.

"Sorry" she replied putting it back into her pocked.

"So Claudia, you had an eventful day?" Peter said

"Um, not really" she responded

"Well, it's the most eventful you are going to have for a month, from now on, it's school and home, nothing else"

"But, that's not fair" Claudia whined as she threw her fork onto the plate and pushed it back away from her, she looked up at her Mother who's eyes were narrowed in on her.

"Claudia, please eat your dinner, Peter can we discuss this after dinner, I would like a nice civilised family meal"

"Mummy is going to stay with us at Daddys at the weekend from now on" Louisa said

"Really, that's great" Grace replied happily smiling

"Claudia are you happy?" Peter asked

"Yes, its what I always wanted" she replied

"Well, maybe you might want to smile about it" he said, Claudia put a fake smile on her face, she was happy they were going to spend more time together, but now she just had to get them to actually live together during the week, so they could be a normal family.

Suddenly Graces phone beeped again, it was Zach again, this time asking for Money, and some CD's

"What did I say about phones Grace" Peter said

"Sorry, it's Zach"

"Did he say where he was?" Alicia asked

"No, but he wants me to take his stuff to school, clothes and his school books" Grace said

"Who's phone is he using?" Peter asked

"Becca's"

"Maybe I should visit Becca's house again" Peter replied

"No, we know he is safe, just leave him, he won't stay there forever, he'll come back. Grace, you can take his school work and clothes to him but nothing else, and do not give him any money. Peter, can you cancel his bank and credit card"

"Alicia, are you sure, I thought you would go a drag him home" Peter said

"I want nothing more than Zach here with us, but he is 18 I won't force him, if he doesn't want to abide by our rules and move out then that's down to him, but he won't get any money from us until he sees sense. He will be begging to come back in a day or two. You said it yourself earlier, if he wants to be treated like an adult then he moves out and gets a job."

"OK, so I can take his clothes and his school books, he wants his ipod too"

"No, I'll pack a bag for him, and you can tell him if he wants' anything else then he comes home" Alicia said, Grace looked from her Mother to her Father for agreement.

Usually Peter was the tough parent, but in recent years that role had fallen to Alicia, she had to be everything for the children, and now sharing that with Peter was more difficult.

"Your Mother is right, if Zach wants to be treated like a grown up, then we will. Take the bag your Mother packs and nothing else"

"OK" Grace responded.

"Daddy, can we watch a film after dinner?" Louisa asked

"I don't see why not" Peter said

"After you have a bath, we need to wash your hair as well" Alicia said

"I don't want to" Louisa said

"You need to, but once we have done that we can watch a film" Alicia compromised

"OK" Louisa said.

The family soon finished their main course and Alicia brought some cheesecake out of the fridge, she gave a small slice to Louisa and put the rest in the middle of the table for everyone to serve themselves.

"Mum, why do I just have a little bit?" Louisa asked

"Because, you had ice cream earlier on"

"So did Grace and Claudia" she replied

"Well if they take a slice I think is too big, I will tell them, now eat your cake" Alicia said to a pout from Louisa.

After dinner, Alicia took Louisa upstairs for a bath, and Peter took Claudia aside.

"Are you happy, that your Mother and I are going to be spending more time together?" he asked

"Yes, it's what I have always wanted; I just wish we all lived together all of the time"

"We are taking things slowly, who knows what will happen in the future"

"Dad, I didn't mean to worry you today, I know I shouldn't have run off, I just acted on impulse"

"I'm glad you know it was wrong, so you know why you are being punished"

"Yes, please don't lecture me again"

"OK, but you are still grounded" Peter agreed, but he knew Alicia was going to talk to her about Ryan, it was important that Alicia had this conversation with their daughter.

"OK, I guess that's fair" Claudia said.

"It's more than fair, so promise me you will be on your best behaviour, because you may not believe it, but your Mum and I do not like punishing you, and I'm sure you don't like it either" Claudia smiled at her father before leaning into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you Daddy"

"I love you too Sweet pea" Peter said placing a kiss on the top of her head. "Now you go up and get ready for bed then we can watch a film with your sisters, and can you tell Grace to come down" Peter said, he had talked to Louisa with Alicia, and he had talk to Claudia about their new living arrangement, he wanted to make sure Grace was happy with the arrangement.

….

Grace had went upstairs and out onto her Balcony, she dialled Becca's number.

"Hi, is Zach there" she said when Becca picked up

"We are out for dinner just now, can't it wait"

"OK, just tell him that Mum is packing a bag for him, and I am not allowed to give him any money"

"Oh Grace, don't be such a goody, did you actually tell your parents where Zach was"

"No, look they are worried about him, I'll try and get him some money, but Dad is cancelling his bank and credit card until he comes home"

"Do you think he needs to worry about money, he has me, I will look after Zach" she said and hung up. Grace came back into her room, the air outside was getting chilly, she put a sweater on and took out her algebra homework.

…..

Claudia ran upstairs, to her sisters room "Dad wants you" she said before slamming the door shut and going into her own room to get dressed. Grace got up, and walked downstairs to the living room where her father was sitting with a few DVD's on the table

"You wanted to see me?" she asked as she walked into the room and sat on the sofa next to him.

"I did" he said as he looked to Grace, he still couldn't believe his little girl was 16 years old, she had turned into a confident and beautiful young woman, and although they had their ups and downs he was immensely proud of his eldest daughter and the woman she was becoming. "I just wanted to make sure that you were OK with the changes between your Mother and I"

"I am, so long as you don't hurt her again. I don't think she could go through that again." Grace responded

"I promise, I will never ever hurt your Mother, or you kids ever again. I don't think I could bear to loose you all again" Peter hugged his eldest daughter and held her tight for a moment.

"What's going on" Alicia asked as she witnessed the exchange between Father and Daughter.

"Nothing, we were just talking" Peter said as Louisa jumped up on the couch next to his father.

"Can we watch Frozen?" Louisa asked

"I thought we might watch something else, how about Brave?" Peter said, Louisa agreed and settled on the couch next to her Dad, she had her head resting on the bottom of his chest with his arm around her shoulder. Alicia was on Peters other side with Peters other arm around her shoulder and Grace was settled on the other sofa as the movie started.

"Dad, can Claudia come down" Louisa asked a few moments into the movie.

"No Sweetie, I'm going upstairs to talk to Claudia, you watch the film with Daddy and Grace" Alicia replied as she left the comfort of her husbands arm "And then I need to go home, I don't have clothes here" she added much to disgust from her youngest daughter. "But, I'll see you tomorrow after school, so no tears OK" Louisa nodded as Alicia went upstairs to Claudia's room.

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