Chapter 6

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Jade

I shifted the laptop a little, moving to stand as I saw my oldest friends face pop back up on screen.

"Sorry, just had to sort Eoran... man he's fast now"

"I know the feeling" I responded, looking over at where Miah was almost running towards Donnie's lab as he closed the door, half smacking it and falling backwards.

I bit my lip, waiting for the tantrum, instead I heard crazy giggles come from her, making me laugh a little.

"What was that?"

"She's just being a klutz like mummy" I told her, finally moving to start cleaning the room I was in.

"So... nothing new there" I heard her say as I started to pick up toys, putting them in the box in the corner. I heard Miah get herself up, starting to wander around the room like she did when I cleaned.

"So... did you see what Serah wants to start selling at the dojo?"

Amanda scoffed "Yes, but it's not gonna happen. I mean... who would read that book of smut about... well, what it's like with..."

"Yeah, I know... say no more"

The five of us had opened a kind of womens self defense academy, which also had a child minding center attached to it, so we could bring the kids with us if the guys were busy. It was growing slowly, and we had hired a couple of staff, but it was mostly the five of us. We were open four of the five days of the week, which now kept us all busy. Surprisingly, the guys came to help from time to time as well.

But for today, we were all home with our families. Donnie and I usually shared the house cleaning duties, as well as Miah minding. Today was my day to clean up, and he was going to work on some kind of contraption he had been talking about with Ithiell, who would be coming around later today to have a... well, a boys play date. Both of them were extremely excited about whatever it was.

"So.. what do we tell her?" Amanda asked, and I looked over to see she wasn't on screen again. I was about to reply when I heard the familiar beep come from the computer.

"Hang on, Kristina's finally decided to join us" I told her, moving to tap away on the screen, all the while keeping an eye on my curious daughter as she half ran past me, carrying one of her bigger teddy bears with her. Soon, the screen split, and Kristiana's face popped up beside Amanda.

"Hey there"

"Hey" Amanda and I both replied, feeling someone run into my leg and looking down at the familiar set of bright green eyes.

"Mum, teddy" She handed me her bear, then ran off giggling as I turned back to the girls.

"So who else is getting over the terrible twos?" She started, rolling her eyes as we heard Cassie scream in the background, Mikey probably telling her no to something.

"Yep"

"Uh huh" I said at the same time Amanda replied, watching as Miah plopped down on the floor next to one of her little wooden puzzle toys, going to play with that.

"Anyway... we need to... Mikey don't you give into her!" Kristiana leaned back, calling out to him, hearing a faint reply.

"Yeah, we who's running Monday and Tuesdays classes this week?" I asked, continuing to do my usual tidy of the room.

"I reckon-" Amanda was cut off as the wails on Kristiana's side got louder, and she rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, be back in a bit" She got up, storming off. We heard faint yelling between her and Mikey, and Cassie still screaming due to the fact she couldn't get what she wanted. Slowly, the screaming died down...

"Loooud" Miah muttered from the floor, her eyes still trained on her task. She loved puzzles, and was good at working things out, even at her age. She really was the cutest little thing...

"I know bub, you just keep doing what you're doing" I told her, picking up some little metal pieces that I thought was Donnie's from the table.

"Kay" She said, and Amanda made a funny sound.

"She's so cute"

"They all are" I responded, suddenly finding some other little metal bits and pieces right under the couch.

"Hey Miah, what do you say we have a toy box for daddy too? He keeps leaving his toys around" I told her, hearing Amanda giggle at it.

"Yeah, daddy box!" She responded excitedly, looking at me and clapping her hands a little.

"Well they are just big kids" Amanda added as Miah got up to head towards her toy box, probably to pull out everything I had just put away. Typical kid...

"Oh, Rachel's here"

"Can you get that?" I asked her, looking to find something to put all the small metal bits into, hoping he hadn't left something dangerous that Miah could find out here.

"Sure thing"

The screen split again, and then suddenly...

"What the hell is this?!" Rachel snapped, and I looked to see she was holding the draft of Serah's book. She'd given each of us a copy to look at, and from what I could tell.. none of us were impressed.

"A book of smut... and mind your language" Amanda told her "Kids are nearby"

"This is absolutely f...flipping disgusting!" Rachel saved herself, and I looked back at the screen just as Kristiana came back, looking annoyed to say the least.

"So... we should say no to the book then I take it?" Amanda asked.

"Definitely not!"

"Yeah... I wouldn't want to try selling it to a group of ladies learning to defend themselves" Kristiana agreed, rubbing her temple.

"I wonder if she's even told Leo about some of... the content"

"Probably not" Rachel shook her head, still looking steamed.

"She should really talk to Leo before she even thinks of getting this published" Kristiana scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed "She probably should have told Leo before showing us, really"

"Agreed" I added in.

There was a short silence, before any of us spoke up again.

"So... who's going to- Eoran!" Amanda took off, hearing a yelp from him, then crying.

"Not me"

"Not me"

"Not... oh da-ngit" Rachel huffed.

"Looks like you're it" I went back to the laptop, moving it and sitting on the lounge for a moment.

"What about Aman- oh never mind" She rolled her eyes, and I couldn't help but smile.

"MAAAAAAAAAAA" I heard, and suddenly Rachel was gone, shrieking. I saw a part of a little shell, unable to hold in laughter when I realised what had happened.

Little Jake had just crash tackled Rachel. Kid was absolutely fearless...

I heard Kristiana laughing as well, both of us starting to tear up at the hilarity of it all.

Something warm on my knee made me jump a little, looking down to see Miah had come up to me, smiling as she went to hand me something.

"Daddy box" She said as I took it. It was a part off one of her toys, which from what I could tell, she'd taken the part off and put something inside of it.

"What's-" I stopped when I pulled out a small contraption of Donnie's that I know I'd seen broken on the kitchen table earlier, he was muttering about fixing it later... but from what I could see, both pieces had been locked back into place perfectly.

I looked down at her sweetly smiling face, which reminded me so much of Donnie.

"You smart little ninja you" Was all I could get out, also wondering how she'd managed to get this without either of us noticing.

She was definitely going to be a smart kid.

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"Miah, time for your bath" I called out, starting to turn the taps of the bath on.

"Nooooo" Came the wail in response, and I sighed inwardly. Usually she would love a bath, but lately she had been... difficult, to say the least.

"Come on little miss... you know Mister Octo hates having to have a bath on his own" I moved to head out into the lounge room, seeing she'd run towards the lab door, thumping into it and starting to sulk.

"Daddy isn't going to save you... now come on, have your bath and then we can watch aaall your shows" I managed to sweep her up in my arms, but she fought me, kicking and punching me as hard as she could.

"Need some help babe?" I heard Donnie call from the other room, and I could tell he was half focused on whatever he was doing.

"I'll... let you kno-ow!" I had to give her a small smack on the side, which started the high pitched screaming I hated.

"Miah, you hurt mummy again you'll be going in the time out corner" I warned her.

"No baf" She protested, but her hands and feet stopped pummeling me at least.

"You gotta, you need a hair wash" I told her, watching as she pouted, starting to sulk as I moved over to the bathroom, opening the door.

"Maaaaa" She squirmed again, but I refused, knowing Phoebe used to get like this when she was little as well. So lucky with me I had experience with the tempter tantrums.

I shut the bathroom door, setting her down on the floor and turned to shut the taps off, checking the water temperature.

I heard a strange 'shloop' sound behind me, turning around and seeing...

"Oh no" I slapped my forehead, cursing Donnie for teaching her that trick a few days ago, seeing my daughter had sucked her whole body into her little shell.

"Miah"

I heard a mumble, and I moved to pick up her shell, half shaking her a little.

"Miah, come out bubba" I tried to coax her, but inside I was trying not to scream. This was getting ridiculous and I just wanted her to have a bath!

I really hoped the terrible twos would be over quickly... after all, the last two years had flown by...

"No!"

"Miah, last warning" My voice turned more authoritative, hating have to be the bad one, but she had to learn some way or another. And I wasn't going to risk dumping her in the water when she was tucked into her shell... I could very well drown her.

"Nuh uh" Was the response I got, and I sighed, feeling a lump in my throat. I was half stuck between screaming like a banshee and bursting into tears. Miah was an angel most times for me, but now...

Doing this part alone was just getting to me.

So... I made a decision.

I put my arm under her as best I could, sticking her against my left shoulder and moving towards Donnie's lab. I knocked on it, hearing him unlock and open the door, looking at me and then his face dropping as he saw what I was holding.

"What-"

"She won't listen to me... and she won't come out of her shell to have a bath, and I just..." I felt tears spring to my eyes as I walked in, putting her on a clean bench and turning to look up at him. He was frowning as he cupped my head in his hands.

"Whoa whoa, slow down Jade" I finally felt myself give in, seeing Donnie's face go blurry as he put his arms around me, pulling me close and giving me a hug.

"You... need to help me...cause... I don't know what to do any more" I told him honestly, pushing away from him and feeling frustration come back as I turned, moving to head towards the door.

"Hey Jade, wait-"

"I... I can't..." Was all I could get out as I walked out, a pain in my chest as I moved to sit myself on the couch. I put my head in my hands, suddenly feeling like a failure as a mother. I couldn't even get Miah to have a bath... how was I going to-

I heard Donnie talking, looking up and realising he was talking to Miah. I heard what I thought was a "No" in response.

If only he hadn't taught her that trick... although it made he squeal with laughter when she did it... and it surprised me too... I'd never seen him do it...

And now, she had taken after him and hid in her shell to get out of doing something so simple. How was I going to get her to go to school or do anything I asked if she could now do that?

"Miah" Donnie's authoritative voice shook me out of my thoughts, and I got up, moving quietly over to stand near the open door, just listening.

"Don't make me come in there and get you" He told her, then I heard her giggling a little.

"Come on Miah, you need to come out now" He said, and there was a short silence, before I heard "There you are, my little girl"

"Uh huh" Came her response, and I finally decided to chance peeking around the door.

Miah was sitting on the bench, her little legs dangling off the edge, and Donnie was sitting in front of her, his hands on either side of her, probably so she wouldn't fall. She was pouting up at him.

"Now that wasn't very nice what you did to your mum, was it?"

She shook her head, sticking her thumb in her mouth.

"You need to be a good girl and have a bath, for both of us, okay?"

She shook her head again, but I noticed she didn't start screaming at the word 'bath'.

Instantly his hands went up, tickling her sides and making her squeal with laughter. I noticed Donnie smiled at the reaction.

"From now on, every time you go into your shell I'll tickle you" He said, this time earning him a cute giggle from her.

"No daddy no tickel"

"Then no hiding unless mummy or daddy tell you" He moved forward, putting his nose against hers, and instantly her hands were grabbing his face, patting it a little.

"Kay daddy" She swung her legs a little, and he moved to kiss her forehead.

The sweet sight made me tear up a little, and I sniffled without meaning to, making them both look over at the doorway.

Donnie smiled a little at me, then turned back to Miah, moving to pick her up with ease.

"Now you have to say sorry to mummy, you made her cry"

"Donnie" Was all I could say as he came up to me, Miah almost throwing herself into my arms and half yelling "Sorry mama"

"It's okay baby" I got out, feeling Donnie kiss my forehead this time.

"Love mama" She almost strangled me, and I looked up at Donnie, mouthing a 'thank you'.

"Now, you little miss... are going to have a bath"

She made an upset sound, digging her head into my shoulder a little, but I knew she would.

"I have an idea"

I looked up at Donnie, who cupped my head in his hand, winking at me from behind those glasses.

"What do you have in mind"

"How about we all have a bath together"

"What... really?" I blinked, looking up at him "I don't know if we'll all fit. I mean, you and I barely fit, but-"

"Ya!" Miah threw her hands up, almost hitting me in the face, and I sighed, looking from her to Donnie.

"This is such a bad idea" I muttered, letting him take Miah from my arms, grabbing me with his free hand and pulling me along.

She was such a daddy's girl.

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Hope you guys are enjoying, please let me know if you are! :D

Constructive Criticism appreciated!