It was Thursday and Stevie was working so Ellie had gone to Faith's afterschool. Natalia had been home and let the girl into the house. She had kept an eye on her and helped her with her homework. This was what happened most nights as they felt it was better than Ellie going home and being on her own.
Natalia and Ana both enjoyed having Ellie with them. She was still young and they enjoyed acting as the older sister and giving her advice. She was also still at the age that she would play with Luca for a bit as well. It kept all three of Faith's children happy.
It was getting later now and having finished her homework, Ellie was resting in the living room with Natalia.
"My mum has just messaged. She's on her way home. She says that your aunt has been held up a bit so she'll make us all tea when she gets in." Natalia explained and Ellie nodded.
"I'll be right back", she said nervously as she stood up and walked to the bathroom.
Her heart was racing. She couldn't breathe properly.
"What's wrong?" Natalia asked as Ellie returned to the living room. She sat down on the sofa with tears streaming down her face.
"Hey, you are okay" Natalia said putting her hand on the young girl's shoulder. She supposed that the young girl was very much like her cousin already even though it has been less than a week since she met the girl.
"Hello, I'm home" Faith said entering the house.
"In the living room" Natalia called, and Faith popped her head through the door. She noticed her daughter's face begging her for help.
"Oh Ellie, what's the matter?" Faith asked entering the room. Ellie still hadn't said anything and was sitting in silence letting the tears stream down her face. Faith went to sit beside the girl but noticed her flinch slightly. She tried not to highlight it but didn't want to push the girl too far.
"How can we help you?" Faith asked.
"I just want Stevie" Ellie admitted, and Faith nodded.
"She's not going to be too much longer. She was just finishing off with a patient. I think she'll be an hour tops" Faith explained. "I'll text her and ask her to be quick".
Ellie nodded. She wanted Stevie to come quickly. Faith quickly messaged the woman though she knew that Stevie would be trying to finish quickly.
Faith debated what to do before deciding to start making the tea. She could see that although still upset, her presence was making it more difficult for Ellie. She was sitting slightly more relaxed next to Natalia as the girl continued to rub her arm supportively.
Natalia stood up and walked to the kitchen to check in with her mother.
"When did she start crying?" Faith asked and Natalia shrugged.
"I told her that you were on your way home and then she went to the toilet and came back crying" Natalia explained, and Faith nodded. She had no idea as to what may have set the girl off.
"Can you go back through and sit with her?" Faith asked and Natalia nodded returning to the girl who looked like she was sitting in a trance.
Half an hour later, Stevie stormed through the door and straight into the living room. Ellie instantly stood up and flopped into her aunt's arms.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Stevie asked softly and Ellie just snuggled closer to her aunt. Stevie sighed not knowing what to do. She knew that she wouldn't be able to get through to the girl properly unless they were alone.
"I just want to go home" Ellie sobbed into her aunt's chest. Stevie nodded before looking at her friend who had entered the room hearing Stevie arrive.
"I'm sorry but I'm going to have to go" Stevie explained, and Faith nodded.
"Hopefully, you tell your auntie whatever it is that has upset you, huh" Faith said before stroking the girl's hair. The girl didn't even move. Stevie headed out the door and only then did Ellie slightly look up.
They got into the car and the whole journey back to the house was slightly. It worried Stevie as the girl hadn't been like this before. The tears were still slipping down her face, but she made no effort to speak to Stevie.
They arrived at the flat and without speaking Ellie exited the car and went up the stairs to the flat. She leant against the door waiting for her aunt to catch up and unlock the door.
As soon as she entered the flat, Stevie could see that the girl was hunting and looking for a place to hide.
"Do you want to go into the bedroom for 10-15 minutes to calm down?" Stevie asked and Ellie nodded. She was so relieved. It was just what she needed. She was glad that her aunt had noticed this.
"You call me if you need me though?" Stevie said and Ellie nodded before heading to the bedroom and closing the door. As soon as the door was closed, she fell onto the bed and just lay there.
Meanwhile, Stevie started on dinner. She quickly boiled some pasta and started making a pasta sauce to go along with it. Once the pasta was ready, she mixed in the sauce before turning the heat off and going to check on Ellie.
"Are you ready to chat?" Stevie asked as she walked into the room. Ellie was now sitting up against the headboard with a pillow tight against her stomach. She had her arms wrapped tightly around the pillow.
"I'm fine now" Ellie said, and Stevie shook her head.
"Nope, you're not. You don't get that upset for no reason" Stevie explained.
"Honestly, I'm okay" Ellie said, and Stevie shook her head.
"We need to talk about it so it doesn't happen again" Stevie said "Or you have another way to deal with it when it does happen."
Ellie just looked down. She didn't want to speak. She wasn't ready to speak. She didn't know how.
"What made you start crying?" Stevie asked as she moved the pillow from the girl's arms and replaced the pillow with herself. She allowed the girl to cling to her.
"Hmm?" Stevie said again when the girl hadn't replied. Ellie shrugged.
"Because Nat told me that Faith was coming back home" Ellie admitted.
"And how did that make you cry?" Stevie asked confused.
"I was scared to see Faith again" Ellie admitted embarrassed.
"Why?" Stevie asked "That doesn't make sense.
"I was embarrassed. She knows what John did to me, she saw me naked. She helped me change, she like even helped me when I thought I'd started my period but I hadn't. I embarrassed myself so much in front of her" Ellie ranted off.
"No, not at all" Stevie said pulling the girl into her arms.
"Obviously, Faith hasn't forgotten what has happened to you but she wants to help you through that. However, all the getting changed and seeing your naked and helping you – she's forgotten about that. We help so many people that it doesn't even cross our minds when we change people" Stevie explained, and Ellie shrugged.
"Is that the reason you got so upset?" Stevie asked and Ellie nodded.
"Right, come on. Put your shoes on now" Stevie said, and Ellie looked at her confused. What was her aunt on about? She did what she was told anyway. Ellie followed her aunt without a single question until they got in the car. Stevie started the car and only then did Ellie question her.
"Where are we going?" Ellie asked.
"To Faith's" Stevie replied.
"What? No, no, don't" Ellie started crying again.
"Faith is my best friend; she'll be like a second aunt to you. She will be someone I rely on for childcare, you need to get used to her" Stevie explained and Ellie shook her head ferociously crying even harder.
Stevie closed her eyes for a quick second. She hated it when the girl cried, it really pulled on her heart. They arrived outside of Faith's house.
"Come on" Stevie said as she got out of the car. She was expecting the girl to get out of the car as well, but she didn't.
"Oh, come on Ellie" Stevie said walking around the side of the car and opening the door. The girl had her arms crossed and still had tears streaming down her face. Stevie put her hands over her face. She was shattered after her shift and just wanted to the girl to be okay.
Stevie walked over to the front door and pressed the doorbell.
"Stevie, I wasn't expecting you back. How is Ellie?" Faith asked as she answered the door.
"Can you come and help me?" Stevie begged, "She's embarrassed and scared because you dealt with her at the hospital. She doesn't understand".
Faith nodded. She would always help her friend and now the young girl as well. She walked over to the car where she noticed Ellie shaking in the car.
"Ellie, come on into the house" Faith said supportively. "Everything is okay, look I'm here now. You have absolutely nothing to worry about".
Ellie side eyed Faith, trying to decide what to do. She was nervous and scared. She didn't like it when she couldn't full comprehend her emotions.
"Up you get" Faith said as she reached over to undo the girl's seatbelt and then helped the girl move her legs. She was firm and forceful with the girl but caring and kind at the same time. Ellie did exactly as Faith asked and they gradually made their way to the living room. Stevie followed behind. She was always amazed by her friend's ability to mother anyone.
"Come on and talk to us" Faith said as they sat down on the sofa. Ellie was in between Faith and Stevie.
"Can you tell Faith what you told me?" Stevie encouraged softly taking a hold of the girl's hands.
"I don't like that you helped me change and saw me naked" Ellie explained.
"I was helping you and I don't even remember it now. I probably change about 10 to 15 people during a shift" Faith explained, and Ellie nodded.
"You did the examination though" Ellie explained.
"I know, and I only did it because I thought that it would help you feel more relaxed. I didn't want to add another person into the mix and make you nervous. I'm sorry if me doing it has made you nervous now though" Faith said, and Ellie thought for a moment.
"That makes sense. Thank you for thinking of me" Ellie said relaxing. She instantly felt better. Ellie smiled and pulled Faith into her arms.
"I'm happy now" Ellie mumbled into Faith's shoulder. It made sense now, Ellie finally understood that they were all protecting her.
"We are always protecting you, Ellie. You might not think it at the time, but we just want what is best for you" Faith said, and Stevie agreed.
"I want you to realise that I am like an aunt to you. I will be there for you when you've had a fall out with Stevie, or you need a break from her. As you become a teenager, you will disagree with Stevie, and I want you to know that you can always come to me" Faith explained, and Ellie nodded.
"Though no ganging up on me. I mean it" Stevie said, and Ellie smiled.
"Do you want to stay here for dinner?" Faith asked hoping they would agree.
"That would be nice" Stevie said, and Ellie agreed.
"How was school today?" Faith asked turning to the girl.
"It was fine" Ellie said "I don't like school that much. I'm just seen as the child in care".
"Do you think it might help if you moved school?" Stevie asked as it was quite a trek in the morning to Ellie's school. Ellie thought for a moment before nodding.
"I'd actually like a new start. I'm so much happier in my new life, I want to start again" Ellie said and Stevie nodded.
"I can definitely get that sorted. We can have a look at some prospects and online" Stevie explained, and Ellie smiled.
"I really like how you always do what you say you are going to do" Ellie admitted, and Stevie smiled.
"I would never let you down" She explained, and Ellie nodded.
Thank you for the reviews! Please let me know any future ideas that people have :)