SIX - SHOPPING
Bit of a long one, sorry :) Thank you to everyone who's let me know they're reading this, I'll keep updating as normal :) x
Grace woke up around 2 hours later, she couldn't hear anyone or anything so lay there for a moment before climbing out of bed. She walked to the twins round, thinking maybe they'd gone for a sleep too, seen as she couldn't see hear them. She walked in to their bedroom to see no one there. The beds were made and their teddy's sat on the pillow. All of a sudden she heard shrieks of laughter, but it sounded muffled, like it was outside. She went to the window and looked out of it, seeing Jack spinning Harry around and Poppy on the floor with Rose playing with chalk. She stood watching for what seemed like forever. Rose felt like someone was watching her and looked around, she looked up at the house and saw Grace stood there, staring outside. Noticing Rose had spotted her, she took a step back. She went to get changed for the day before going back downstairs.
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"Grace!" Poppy grinned and ran over to her as Grace came in to the garden too "hey" she smiled and lifted Poppy up, Harry ran after Poppy and hugged Grace's legs "are you both OK?" She asked the twins, to which they both nodded and smiled "yes" "good" she kissed their heads as she put them down.
"Should we go in to the kitchen and make a list of stuff we need from the shops? We want to get stuff you like!" Rose smiled. The children just looked at Jack and Rose… no response, causing Jack and Rose to look at one another "hey, come on… we can get chocolate if you like" "erm… OK" Grace forced a smile and held her hands out for the twins, walking ahead in to the kitchen. The 5 of them sat at the table "now, of course we need grilled cheese!" Jack smiled "but what else do you like? Pasta? Mac and Cheese? Chicken? Pizza? Fruit? Chocolate?" Jack asked, hoping he'd get some type of response "they'll eat all of those things" Grace nodded, gesturing to the twins "OK… will you? or do you want some other things?" "I'll eat them" she smiled a little "right! let's get coats on and we'll head to the shop" Jack smiled.
Grace helped the twins put their coats on and the 5 of them left the house.
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Jack spoke first as they arrived at the store and grabbed a trolley "shall we start at the fruit?" to which the children nodded. Once they'd finished the grocery part of the shop, they made it to the toy isle "would you like to pick some toys out each?" Rose asked "we get toys?" Harry frowned at Rose confused "yes darling… you can have 2 each, then another day we'll come back for some more" she smiled gently. Jack and Rose already had some toys at the house before the children arrived, they bought them for when the evacuee children arrived, so they didn't think they needed more than 2 each at that moment in time. Poppy chose out a doll and a book, Harry chose a new football and building blocks and Grace got an art set and a book. "You draw?" Jack asked Grace, gesturing to the art set. She nodded "yes-" "Grace draws the best!" Harry smiled. Jack smiled at Harry then turned his attention back to Grace "me too" "oh, that's cool" Grace smiled a little. It was obvious she wanted to ask questions but she stopped herself.
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Once they'd checked out, they went for a walk and stopped off at the park before heading home.
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"What would you all like for dinner? Pasta, Pizza, Mac and cheese? We can have whatever you like" Rose said. Harry and Poppy looked almost frightening to say and looked up at Grace, who bent down to their level "which would you like?" "Can we have pasta please?" Poppy said, almost a whisper "of course you can" Rose smiled "is that OK with you Harry? Grace?" Harry nodded but Grace just had a blank expression "oh, I'm not hungry, Harry and Poppy can just eat" she smiled slightly "you need to eat" Jack tried to persuade her "I'm fine, honestly" "OK…" Rose sighed, looked at Jack concerned then turned the stove on.
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The twins, Rose and Jack finished up eating - after continuously trying to get Grace to eat, to no avail. "Why don't you go and play for half an hour and then it's bath and bedtime, OK?" Rose smiled softly. The twins nodded and ran off in to the living room, Grace following them.
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Around 15 minutes later, Jack and Rose could hear water running from upstairs "what's that?" Jack frowned at Rose "I have absolutely no idea…" she said confused. They walked past the living room to see the twins still in there so went upstairs towards the bathroom. The door was open and so Rose and Jack walked in, finding Grace running a bath "Grace? What are you doing?" "Running Harry and Poppy their bath…" "you don't have to do that… we'll do it" Jack said. Rose just looked at Grace… there was so much to this child that she didn't understand and she didn't know how to find out. "No, I'm their sister, I'll do it" she sighed, frustrated and walked past them "Poppy! Harry! Bath time!" Grace shouted down the stairs and the twins came up upon hearing her. "I'll get them to come and say night before I put them to bed" Grace shrugged a little. Jack and Rose sighed quietly. There was no use in trying to argue with her, especially in front of the twins, so they nodded and walked away.
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A little while later Rose went and knocked on Grace's bedroom door before going in. Harry was sat on the bed whilst Grace brushed through Poppy's hair, tying it in a loose pony tail.
"It's bedtime now" Rose smiled softly at the twins. They nodded and Harry climbed off the bed. Jack and Rose held out a hand each, expecting one twin each to take hold of them, but before they could, Grace took hold of the their hands and walked in to their bedroom. "What story would you like?" Jack asked "I make up and tell them a story, thanks. You can go, I'll put them to bed" "that's not your job" Rose said, trying to remain calm, but it appeared Grace would never let Jack and Rose take care of the 3 of them "yes it is. Poppy, Harry, say goodnight" Poppy and Harry hugged both Jack and Rose quickly then climbed in to their beds. "Goodnight" Rose and Jack smiled softly to them. "Grace, come downstairs when you've finished their bedtime please" Grace ignored her and they quietly left the room.