"Good morning" Stevie said as she noticed the girl standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Having heard her aunt speaking, Ellie walked further into the kitchen.
"I had to check your breathing, I was worried you were dead the amount of time you have been asleep for" Stevie replied.
"Sorry" Ellie said nervously as she self consciously crossed her arms across her chest.
"I'm only joking" Stevie said feeling bad. "You must have really needed that sleep".
Ellie nodded, she wasn't ready to say anything else to her aunt, or explain why she slept so well. Nervously she glanced at her hands squeezing them tightly before
"Good morning" Stevie said as she girl walked through to the kitchen.
"I had to check your breathing, I was worried you were dead the amount of time you slept for" Stevie muttered.
"Sorry" Ellie said.
"Oh, I'm only joking", Stevie said. "You must have been needing the sleep."
Ellie nodded before nervously sitting down beside her aunt. She didn't know what to say so self consciously crossed her arms across her chest. Stevie turned her head and smiled at her niece, she couldn't wait for a time when he niece wouldn't be so anxious.
"Shall we go shopping later once we are ready?" Stevie asked and Ellie nodded. That sounded good as she currently didn't have any clothes for today.
"Right, I'm going to have a shower, why don't you watch something on the TV?" Stevie asked handing the girl the remote. Ellie nodded and quietly sat down on the sofa.
"Would you prefer to go on my phone?" Stevie asked noticing that the girl hadn't picked up the remote. Ellie thought for a minute before nodding. Stevie handed her the phone.
"There are a few games and youtube. Go on whatever you want" Stevie said, and Ellie nodded.
"What's your password if it locks out?" She asked nervously.
"250685" Stevie said. "It was your mum's birthday."
Ellie bit her lip and then nodded. She hadn't spoken about her mum with Stevie yet. Stevie disappeared to get ready.
Stevie returned about half an hour later. She felt fresher after her shower and smiled as she noticed her niece sprawled out on the sofa watching a video on her phone. This was what was she looking for.
"Right you, I've got you a pair of leggings a sweatshirt. It'll have to do until we find you clothes of your own" Stevie said feeling bad for interrupting her as she did look so relaxed.
Ellie turned her back to look at her aunt and sighed before rolling back over and standing up.
"Come on" Stevie said as she supportively put her arm around her niece and let her to the bedroom.
Soon they were both ready and got into Stevie's car to go shopping.
"Right, we need to get you everything" Stevie said as she threw her bag over her shoulder as they arrived at the shopping centre. Ellie looked nervously at her aunt, this was going to cost a lot of money.
"I don't have enough money" Ellie whispered embarrassingly.
"You don't need to worry about money from now on. I have more than enough money to buy you clothes. Please don't even think about that" Stevie said putting her arms around her niece. Ellie smiled.
"Right, I love Zara's clothes so let's go there first. It's a bit more expensive but I think you'll like it" Stevie explained as she dragged the girl towards Zara.
"Let's go to Zara's kids first but I think you'll fit into an adult 4 or 6 as well. You are quite tall too" Stevie said looking at the girl who was already 5ft.
Stevie started looking through all the jeans. She was throwing multiple pairs of jeans over her shoulder.
"I'm thinking, 11-12 years because 13-14 years look too big at the waist. We'll go and get some adult jeans as well just in case 11-12 as too short" Stevie said, and Ellie nodded.
"These are so cute" Stevie said as she started grabbing the sweatshirts.
"Maybe, I can just try one for the size and then we can get the other ones" Ellie suggested not wanting to try too many on.
"Oh, that's a good idea" Stevie said putting some of them back. She was getting slightly too carried away.
"I'm a bit unsure about the crop tops, what do you think?" Stevie asked and Ellie shrugged.
"Maybe for the summer but I don't normally wear them" Ellie explained, and Stevie nodded. She went for the longer tops wanting the girl to feel comfortable.
"Look at these pyjamas. They look so comfy" Stevie said, and Ellie nodded.
"Stevie, if I buy all these new clothes then you need to tidy up the mess in your room. Where am I meant to keep all my clean new clothes?" Ellie said and Stevie laughed. Normally she'd be annoyed but she was ecstatic that the girl was thinking about the future with her.
"Oi bossy, I suppose I'll do that for you" Stevie said putting her arm around the girl.
"Now, let's go and try some of these on" Stevie said guiding them over to the changing rooms. Stevie found them a cubicle and they both squeezed in. Stevie sat on the stool and looked at her phone.
"Hurry up and try the clothes on. We are not having that conversation again" Stevie said keeping her head down. She wouldn't even let the girl complain about not wanting to get changed in front of her. Ellie rolled her eyes before turning around away from her aunt and started trying the clothes on.
They exited the cubicles and went to the checkout. 5 pairs of jeans, 1 pair of joggers, 8 tops, 3 sweatshirts, a hoodie, 2 pairs of leggings, 2 jackets and a pair of pyjamas, they were doing well.
"In here" Stevie said directing the girl into Marks and Spencer's. Ellie just followed her aunt as she took her directly to the back of the store.
"Stevie" Ellie blushed as the woman took her to the underwear section.
"Nope, come on" Stevie said, "pick some pants and drop it".
Ellie rolled her eyes again before looking through the underwear.
"I just like these" Ellie mumbled to her aunt, putting her hand on the black stretchy hipster shorts. Stevie nodded. She found the girl's size and then took a pack. They came in packs of 10 so she thought that one pack would be enough.
"Do you want a bra as well?" Stevie asked and Ellie blushed.
"Do you think that you need one?" Stevie asked when she didn't get a response from the girl.
"Do you think I do?" Ellie asked wanting it to be turned away from her.
"Well, I do know that you have started to develop so I would say that you are ready for a bra but only if you want one" Stevie said softly to the girl and Ellie thought about it for a minute before nodding.
"Good girl, when you are the age that you are, you are probably going to have to go bra shopping more often as you are still growing" Stevie explained, "When do you think you first noticed your breasts starting to grow?"
Stevie just wanted to try to get a slight indication. Ellie shrugged.
"Not too sure, to be honest. I think it probably started like almost a year ago. I kind of have been wanting to buy a bra for a while but I didn't have anyone to ask. I feel people were starting to notice a bit, you know at school and like the white shirts don't help" Ellie explained.
"Well, you have someone to speak to now and I hope that you know that" Stevie said and Ellie nodded.
"What type of bra are you thinking about?" Stevie asked as they walked over to the older girl's section. Ellie shrugged.
"Would you let me get something like this?" Ellie asked pointing to the soft padded bras.
"Yip" Stevie said nosing through the different sizes. "I think you'd be an A cup".
"Right, come and try them in the changing room" Stevie said directing the girl to the changing room. She opened the door allowing the girl to come in close behind her and then closed it behind her. Ellie knew better than to make a fuss about her aunt coming in with her. She quickly tried on the bra turning away from her aunt.
"Oi, let me check" Stevie said, "It's really bad for you if you are wearing the wrong size".
Ellie bit her lip but turned around and allowed her aunt to check that it was the correct size. Stevie was happy with the fit, she allowed the girl to change.
"Shall we have a nosy in Primark? I think you could do with some basic t-shirts and things" Stevie said showing the girl that she didn't have to act awkwardly now. Ellie nodded and allowed her aunt to led her to the next shop. It didn't take long for Ellie to relax back in her company.
They arrived back home, and Stevie moved some of her clothes allowing the girl to unpack it into a drawer. She smiled at the girl.
"Well, if I'm tidying, I think we should tidy your clothes. I'll even help you, though class it as child labour" Ellie huffed, and Stevie laughed. She loved having the feisty girl back.
"Oh, go on then" Stevie said as she started lifting everything off the floor onto the bed.
"Em, Stevie, if I get to live with you full time which is what I really want to do, will we have to share a bed forever?" Ellie asked.
"Well to be honest, I haven't really thought about it. Though I only rent this place so I can put in my notice, and I can afford two places for a month or so" Stevie started to explain. Ellie nodded.
"What if they don't let me stay with you?" Ellie asked nervously.
"I promise, I will fight for you" Stevie said before pulling the girl into her arms. Ellie nodded and relaxed. They stayed like this for a while before getting back to work. Stevie glanced at her niece and noticed just how hard working the girl was. She couldn't believe that the girl had basically had to raise herself.
"What are these?" Ellie asked holding up a box of tampons.
"Ah, come here" Stevie said putting her arm out and leaning back against the bed. Ellie crawled into her aunt's arms.
"So you know how when we thought you'd started your period and Faith gave you sanitary pads?" Stevie explained and Ellie nodded.
"Well, when you get a bit older, you might find pads a bit uncomfortable or annoying and tampons are something you can use instead" Stevie explained.
"How do you use them? What is the different?" Ellie asked curious.
"Well, you put it up your vagina" Stevie explained, and Ellie pulled a face.
"Urg, that is disgusting" Ellie complained, and Stevie shrugged.
"These ones have applicators" Stevie explained as she took it out of the package and showed the girl who watched on listening to her aunt's words.
"So, what does a period mean?" Ellie asked as she sat back on the bed. She had really relaxed into her aunt as she continued to bond with her.
"So, woman have eggs inside them and if they mix with sperm, they can create a baby. One egg is released as part of the menstrual cycle and a period is the part when you bleed from your vagina for 3-7 days. It happens once a month so every 28 days." Stevie explained and Ellie nodded.
"Will it feel like it did yesterday?" Ellie asked.
"No, that's different. You might get PMS which is when you can get bloating and cramp. You might also find you are moodier just before your period as well but you just need to let me know" Stevie explained and Ellie nodded.
"What would I say?" Ellie said worrying now.
"Just tell me that you notice that your bleeding or you need sanitary products, and I will help you straight away" Stevie explained trying to make Ellie feel better. Ellie nodded. Suddenly something came over her and Ellie launched a hold of Stevie's arm.
"You okay?" Stevie asked softly.
"I'm just so grateful that I have you now" Ellie said slightly embarrassed as she began to hide her face in her aunt's arm.
"Oh sweetie" Stevie said as she moved her arm to be around the girl. She just wished that she had known about the girl before. Why had Emma not told her about her?
"It's just me and you in our little family but I am here forever" Stevie said as she rested her chin on the top of the girl's head. Ellie drifted off to a gently sleep.
Stevie grabbed her phone and quickly called Faith.
"Hey, can I ask you or well Natalia or Ana a massive favour?" Stevie asked.
"Yeah, sure" Faith said.
"I'm working tomorrow, and I really don't want to leave Ellie on her own, not for the whole day" Stevie explained.
"Of course, that makes sense. Let me have a word with both of them" Faith said, and Stevie thanked her.
Stevie turned her phone off and watched another episode of a new TV series.
"Was that a nice sleep?" Stevie asked as she felt Ellie starting to stir. Ellie nodded and snuggled into her aunt again.
"Faith's two daughters, Ana and Natalia are going to look after you tomorrow whilst I'm at work. Is that okay?" Stevie asked and Ellie nodded but Stevie could tell something was on her mind.
"Wanna talk?" Stevie asked stroking the girl's hair.
"I'm scared of not being able to get in touch of you if I need you" Ellie admitted even though she spoke not louder than a whisper.
"Come on then, let's go to the shops and get you a phone" Stevie said as she stood up and Ellie smiled.
"You will always be able to get a hold of me. Ana and Natalia have my number as well" Stevie said wanting to girl to feel better. Ellie smiled.
"You always have me now. You are my number one and no one will take that place" Stevie said kissing the girl on the head.
Thank you for the reviews. Anyone have any ideas that they would like me to explore?