"Emily?" I call, gently tapping my knuckles against the bathroom door. "You've been in there a while, are you okay?"

This hasn't changed. I was always the first one to be ready. Parties, celebration dinners, random nights out that were usually so poorly organised by Cook. I was always first to be changed and raring to go. It used to be a rough half hour to forty five minutes before Emily caught up but tonight has surpassed that. It had been over an hour. I'd been playing games with Olivia to keep her occupied for an hour. I definitely didn't expect the bathroom door to be locked shut for this long. What the hell was she doing in there?

"Uh huh," she replies, continuing, "I'm just finishing getting ready, I'll be out in a second,"

"Okay," I briefly glance at the watch on my wrist. "It's just my Mum & Kieran will be here soon,"

"I know. Naoms, do me a favour and pass through the other dress that's on the bed,"

"What's wrong with the one you have?"

"I dunno," she sighs so loudly I hear it. "It just doesn't look right, I don't look right,"

"What you talking about? You'll look beautiful, you always look beautiful,"

"You would say that. Can you just get the other dress please?"

"Okay," I reluctantly agree, picking up on the slight distress that laces her usually sweet, happy pick me up tone but instead of walking to our bedroom to pick up this other dress, I stay in front of the bathroom door. "Aren't you going to let me be the judge? You've been in there so long I'm almost getting withdrawals,"

There's slight movement then the door clicks open, out she steps, slowly at first then quicker until she's in full view. I breathe inwards, almost forgetting to exhale. She is bloody beautiful.

"Well?" She questions unsurely, chewing her bottom lip.

"Woah,"

"Really?" She nervously giggles at my open mouthed expression. "I'm not quite sure,"

"You look, I mean, you're... Wow,"

"Naomi," her cheeks blush. It's so cute. "I get butterflies when you look at me like that,"

"I know, I remember. Can I just ask, what were you unsure of?"

"I haven't worn many dresses since I had Liv, I've never really had reason to, that & I've never been totally comfortable,"

"You look stunning," I tell her, very matter of factly, gently tugging her body towards mine to envelope her in an embrace which settles when I nuzzle into her neck. "Utterly, utterly stunning,"

"You aren't looking half bad yourself, Campbell," she remarks cheekily, I giggle, bringing my lips dangerously close to hers. "Uh, we better get a move on, our guests will be here soon,"

"Hmm, later then yeah?"

"Maybe," she winks, breaking away from my embrace. "Maybe not. I'm not promising anything,"

"Mummy, you look very pretty tonight," Olivia comments from the sofa, being totally adorable as always. Her cute face pops out from behind the pillow she's cuddled into. I wink in Emily's direction, giving her my best 'I told you so' look.

"Aww thank you munchkin,"

"Can I stay up later tonight, please? I promise I'll be really good,"

"Olivia Fitch you are a right little chancer, you know that?" I laugh aloud, ruffling her hair with my fingers as I sit myself down next to her. "Compliments will get you nowhere,"

"What does that mean?" Confusion washes over her face, I giggle, so does Emily before Olivia speaks up again. "Can I Mummy?"

"For a while," Emily agrees with a nod. "Then we'll get you up to bed with one of your DVDs, okay?"

"You're such a pushover Em,"

"Says you,"

She was right, I couldn't say much in the way of defence. Olivia wrapped me round her little finger pretty much from day one then there was Emily herself. I was definitely exploring more of my softer side since being here. It was like their presence zapped it out of me like a magnet. Olivia is changed and Emily has set then reset the dining table when I notice how near to 7:30pm it is, barely seconds later the doorbell ring filters around the front room, my Mum was very much always on time for everything, much unlike myself. I certainly didn't get my time keeping skills from my Mum.

"Hi love," she beams, planting her usual kiss on my cheek as I welcome them both inside. I click the door shut behind them, barely turning when I'm handed a rather beautiful looking bouquet of flowers. I must have unknowingly raised my eyebrow in surprise because my Mum felt need to explain. "They're for Emily,"

"Oh," I guessed. I was never much of the flowers type. Emily knew, so never bought them before and there was only one other time I did receive them, not that I was very thankful then. "She will love them. You look nice Mum, you both do,"

A brief chat in the hallway, led to the three of us taking the short few steps to towards the dining area but before making it there, Emily appeared into view.

"Emily," my Mum's genuine expression of sheer delight and fondness said it all. She always loved Emily, pretty much right from the first day I invited her back home and introduced her as a friend from school. I'm not sure my Mum bought it then. "Bleedin' christ look at you, you look fantastic,"

"Hello Gina," Emily grins happily, enveloping my Mum in a warm welcoming long overdue hug. "Hi Kieran, it's so lovely to see you both, I'm really happy you could make it,"

"We wouldn't have missed it,"

"Oh definitely not Emily," Kieran agrees, receiving the same sort of hug my Mum just did previously. "It is so lovely to see you again,"

"Likewise," Emily replies, signalling on through towards the dining area. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. Would you both like a drink, wine, red, white?"

"Oh white for me please Emily,"

"Kieran?"

"Just the white for me too, that'll be grand,"

Emily disappears into the kitchen to fetch the wine and I shuffle over to sit myself down next to Olivia, who, had fallen into a shy silence. Much like she did, first time she met me. She leans against me, her hand resting on top of my arm, I notice her eyes flicker between my Mum and Kieran. My Mum notices too, crouching down to her level.

"Hi darlin', it's nice to see you again,"

"You remember my Mum from earlier, don't you?" I ask, she nods simply in response, flashing her little trademark heart melting smile afterwards. "And this is Kieran,"

"Hello,"

"Are you Naomi's Dad?"

"Er," he hesitates.

"Sort of," I take over, Olivia now waiting for me to continue. "You see, when I was little it was just me and my Mum, I didn't really have a Dad, not until Kieran,"

"Oh, okay,"

Emily reappears with the wine not long after, handing glasses to both my Mum and Kieran. They have completely gave their full attention to Olivia who is, as expected, already making an impression. After listening for a moment, Emily asks me to help with dinner. I knew that meant something else. I couldn't cook, so the fact she asked me for help seemed a bit ridiculous. I walk to the kitchen anyway, Emily turns to me straight away.

"I feel really nervous,"

"Why?" I almost laugh at her confession, I reach for her hand, lifting it into mine. "Don't be nervous. It's Mum and Kieran, they bloody love you, you know that,"

"Yeah," she sighs, smiling, "Yeah, I'm being silly,"

"Yes, you are. Did you hear Liv tell Kieran he talks funny?"

"God, that girl," she giggles, we both do. "Thank you for looking after her today, I really appreciate it,"

"It's okay, anytime, we had fun,"

"So I heard," she grins at me. "Liv told me all about it,"

"Thought she might, you know, it's crazy but I really felt like a parent today,"

"Well, that's because you are, silly,"

"Someone at the beach referred to me as her Mum and I didn't correct them,"

"I wouldn't want you to," she whispers, her lips peppering lingering kisses along my cheekbone. "I wasn't going to show you this until later but it seems like the perfect time now," she wriggles from my grasp, reaching into her bag before continuing. "She had to do this family portrait for school, the teacher handed it to me when I picked her up," she explains, handing me the brightly coloured sheet of paper.

I stare at it for a few moments, looking at the contents, three figures, on the beach, the sun in the corner, the water at our feet. It wasn't just any three people either. It was quite clearly Olivia with Emily and myself.

"She did this?" I feel my eyelids fill with tears, I feel such a sense of pride like I've never experienced before.

"Two Mum's, that's what she thinks she has," Emily's thumb running across my cheek, coupled with her words, break my focus from the picture I'm still holding. "You see, when one of her friends was round the other day, talking about her Dad, Olivia spoke about you. She sees you as a Parent, so I'd never want you to correct anyone, neither would she,"

"Sorry, it's just overwhelming," I laugh, apologising for the tear or two that slips down my cheek, Emily successfully catches them with her thumb that continuously runs across my skin. I lean forward, resting my forehead gently on hers as her free hand takes back Olivia's drawing. I wonder why for a brief second or two but no sooner as my thoughts properly registered, Emily has slipped from my grasp.

"There," she grins, proudly fixing the newly drawn picture to the fridge. "Think it's only right our first family picture goes on show, don't you?"

"Hmm," I send her the same goofy smile back as she makes her way back into my arms. "Your Mum's going to love that. Katie told me they're visiting soon,"

"Oh. Sorry I didn't say anything, I was going to tell you," she explains, stroking my lower back with her fingers. "It's just we've been so great, getting back to being us, the mention of them, well my Mum in particular, it would have ruined that,"

"Em, it's alright," I reassure her, pushing the hair from her face with my finger. "And, she isn't going to ruin anything,"

"You do remember my Mum don't you?"

"Unfortunately," I laugh but I notice she doesn't, not even a little. "Hey, we'll tackle that bridge when we come to it, yeah?"

"Okay," she manages a smile, albeit a brief one. "It's just going to be a long, long bumpy bridge,"

"So I'll hold on with everything I've got," I gently press my lips to her cheek, the brief smile she flashed seconds before, grows wider. "Speaking of Mother's, we should probably get back to mine,"