"Mommy, food pease" Hope walked quite confidently into the kitchen where Harry was sitting in his high chair. At 2 just over two Hope was a ball of energy and Harry wasn't far behind. The 6 month old was now more vocal and was just mirror of Joey.

"Hope you've only just finished"

"hunggie" she pouted and gave puppy eyes to Lauren

"One minute then baby, hey Mr no throwing" Lauren laughed as Harry proceeded to throw grapes from the high chair.

"Mommy" Hope tugged on Laurens leg, in one swift movement Lauren scooped up Hope and began tickling her.

"Right Mrs, that's it" Hope giggled loudly as Lauren continued tickling her and then put her onto her feet "What food we having then boo ?"

"nanna pease" Lauren rolled her eyes and handed her the banana.

"Is that all your going to have?" Hope nodded and climbed onto the chair by Harry

"Where Daddy?" Lauren looked at the clock

"He'll be home in a minuet baby, H look at the mess" Harry giggled and lifted his hands up showing Lauren the baby food on his hands.

"Oh oh Harry" Hope said putting her hand to her head obviously copying what Lauren had done.

"I think you need a bath son" Lauren wiped his hands and then his mouth, when the front door clicked open. Hope shot off the chair running to the hall.

"carful baby" Joey lifted her up as she crashed into his legs.

"Harry messy" She pointed to the kitchen when Lauren appeared a big smile on her face, Joey strode towards her and dropped hope down. He kissed her softly on the lips feeling her smile against them.

"Hi" he said smiling as he pulled away "See you had fun today" he looked around the kitchen to see their tea ready for the oven and Harry smiling.

"Sure did, we made tea didn't we Hope and then went to the park with Auntie Al, who I'm sure by the way has a secret boyfriend she's staying at a "Mates" again tonight"

Joey raised his eyebrow "Hmm house to ourselves then?"

"not quite" she said nodding in the direction of the Kids, Joey groaned and kissed her quickly again.

"Right then Hope shall me and You clean up why Mommy Baths Harry?" Joey started moving some of the things around in the kitchen but Hope ran to Lauren and held her hand.

"No, I stay with Mommy" her arms clung to Lauren tightly, both parents exchanged a confused look, it wasn't like Hope to be clingy.

"That's ok baby you can help Mommy with H" She moved Harry onto her hip so she could take Hopes and led them out of the kitchen.

An hour later and Lauren still hadn't come back down, Joey had cleaned the kitchen up and tidied the lounge and had put the dinner in the oven. He made his way upstairs and pushed open Hope's bedroom door, there was no sign of her in her cot so, he next tried his and Laurens room and found, Lauren sitting in the chair in the corner cradling Hope tight to her body.

"Is she ok?" Joey bent down near the side of the chair his hand brushing gently over Hope's head. Her eyes were tightly shut but Joey could tell she had been crying, her cheeks were red and small red mark were around her eyes.

"Half hour she cried for, I put H down and he dropped of straight away, she just screamed when I put her in her room. She clung to me really tightly, it was really strange, she cried herself out eventually"

"Has she been like it all day?" Joey asked as Lauren cautiously vacated the chair. She gently placed hope into her own room and left leaving the door slightly open.

Sitting at the table eating Lauren had explained how whit had took Hope to play group and then she was clingy when she came back, and whit had mentioned something about Hope running over to her. Deciding she couldn't rest until she knew what the problem was Lauren called whit. Joey saw her face pale just before she hung up.

"Babe?" He reached for her hand as Lauren remained dazed staring at the clock on the wall

"Hannah… she was at Play Group whit described her and everything, she said she was trying to talk to hope… what if she tries to take her Joe? What if she tries to take our baby?"

"Hey listen, nothing's going to happen I promise you!" Lauren nodded weakly; as much as she wanted to believe Joey she knew what Hannah was capable of.