"Ellie," Steve said.
"No I don't want to go in there," Ellie protested as she started to cry. "I don't like it there. I wanna stay with you," she pleaded through her tears.
Steve looked at Kate helplessly. He had no idea how to placate his daughter as he wanted what she did. Kate however didn't jump to his aid. It was one of the hardest things she had ever done but Steve had to learn how to deal with tough situations like this on his own.
Undoing Ellie's car seat straps he climbed in to the back seat with her before pulling the little girl on to his lap and giving her a hug as she cried some more. "You can't come and stay with me just yet, Ellie," he murmured gently to her as he rubbed one of her legs, trying to comfort her. "Social services have got to say it's ok, first,".
"When will that be?" Ellie hiccupped, as she tried to stop crying.
"Soon," Steve reassured her. "They've been to see my flat. I'm just waiting to see what they say,".
"Well they need to hurry up," Ellie declared.
"I know they do," Steve agreed. "In the meantime you've got your new seahorse toy. If you get sad just hug him and pretend he's me," Steve suggested. "Do you think you can do that?".
Ellie nodded her head as she rubbed her eyes to dry them.
"Good girl," Steve said. "Shall we go in?".
"OK," Ellie agreed reluctantly.
"Say good bye to Kate," Steve instructed.
"Bye bye, Kate," Ellie said as she got out of the car with Steve.
"Bye Ellie," Kate said. "See you soon," she promised.
"Can you carry me some more?" Ellie asked. "My feet are still tired,".
"C'mere," Steve replied as he hoisted Ellie on to his hip before walking up to the Children's Home front door. Ellie rested her cheek on his shoulder as he did so. It wouldn't be long before she was fast asleep again.
"Did you have a good day?" Pat asked Ellie excitedly as she answered the door. Steve was a little surprised to see Russ standing beside Pat. Ellie just nodded before Pat caught sight of her tears and gave a questioning glance to Steve.
"We're a bit sad that it's all over," Steve explained to the two adults who nodded in understanding.
"Is that a new toy?" Pat asked Ellie, trying to cheer her up.
"Yes," replied Ellie. "It's a seahorse," she informed Pat. "Daddy seahorses look after the babies just like me and Steve,".
"That's right, Ellie," Pat agreed. "You're very clever,".
"I've got something to cheer you up," Russ said. "Would you like to hear it?". Ellie nodded. "Steve has passed all the tests," he informed both the people in front of him. "How would you like to go and live with him in one week?".
"Really?" asked Steve excitedly. The news had come as a surprise to him as well as Ellie.
"Yep," Russ replied. "You're all good to go,".
"One week Ellie!" Steve said to his daughter excitedly. "We can survive that can't we?".
"How long is a week?" Ellie asked.
"Six sleeps," Steve informed her.
"And then I get to go home with you?".
"Yes you do," Steve replied happily.
"I think that's everything," Pat said as she helped Steve put the last of Ellie's belongings in the boot of his car one week later.
"Thanks Pat," Steve said, as he looked at the small number of bags that contained all his daughter's belongings. He vowed to himself that from now on, she would be much better looked after. "Hey Ellie," Steve said as he closed the boot. Ellie was hopping about with excitement nearby. She stopped and looked at Steve. "Say good bye and thank you to Pat," he instructed.
Ellie went up and hugged Pat who had crouched down to say good bye to her favourite resident. "Good bye my little darling," Pat said as she hugged Ellie tightly. She was sad to see her go but also happy for her that she had found her father.
"Bye bye Pat," Ellie said.
"Thanks so much for looking after Ellie," Steve said as he hugged Pat after Ellie.
"You enjoy her," Pat told Steve.
"I will," Steve promised.
"We'll check in next week," Russ said. He had been standing nearby and had wanted to see Ellie off on her new life. He and Mandy would be keeping in contact with Steve and Ellie over the coming weeks just in case there were any teething problems.
"Thanks, mate," said Steve as he shook the social workers hand. "Right you," he said to Ellie, "let's get you in your car seat,".
Ellie didn't have to be asked twice and was opening the car door and seating herself in her seat. All Steve had to do was buckle her in before they drove off with a toot of the car horn and a wave from each of Steve and Ellie.
"This is your new home," Steve told Ellie as they stood on the pavement in front of Steve's apartment block. She was in front of her father whilst Steve rested his hands on her shoulders.
"Wow!" Ellie exclaimed as she studied the big building in front of her. "It's massive!".
"It's not the whole building," Steve clarified, realising Ellie thought the whole building was his house. "We've got one of the flat's inside,". Taking Ellie's hand, Steve led her through the entrance door and up to Apartment number 5. "This is the one," he said as he put his key in the lock. "I'll let you push the door open," he told her.
Ellie pushed and the front door opened to reveal a little welcoming party had gathered. Kate had decorated the flat with lots of balloons and bunting but she wasn't the only guest at the party. Steve's parents had travelled up from London. They had been a little shocked when Steve had informed them that they were grandparents to a four year old girl but once they had met Ellie they soon adapted to the role. Steve's mum in particular couldn't wait to have some grandma- granddaughter days and was busy planning ideas for what they could do together.
Fortunately, Ellie was just as pleased to have some loving grandparents. From it being just her mum and brother to being by herself, her family was slowly getting bigger again. She was not used to such a fuss being made over her however, and she was a little hesitant to enter Steve's flat so she looked up to her father for guidance.
"Don't you want to go in and join your party?" Steve asked her.
"But it's not my birthday," Ellie pointed out. That was the only reason for a party that she knew about.
"This is a welcome home party," Steve explained, "and you're the star guest,".
"Oh!" Exclaimed Ellie. "I've never had one of these before," she continued before she smiled and entered the room.
After a few hugs Ellie was shown around her new home with all the guests in tow. Steve started with the kitchen and then the bathroom before he came to a closed white door that had the letters ELLIE on it. "And this is your new room," Steve said.
"Just mine?" Ellie asked and Steve nodded. "I've never had my own room before," she continued. "I had to share with Nathan and then lots of people in the Children's home,".
"Well this one is just for you," Steve reiterated. "Do you want to see?".
Ellie nodded excitedly before Steve opened the door. Ellie gasped in amazement before she ran in to the middle of the room. "This is all for me?" she asked the adults as she walked around the room admiring all her new toys and belongings.
"Yep," replied Steve. "Do you like it?".
"I love it," Ellie said.
"Well you better say thank you to Kate because she did it all," Steve told his daughter.
"Thanks you!" Ellie said as she ran up to Kate and hugged her around her legs.
"You're welcome," Kate said as she hugged Ellie back. "Just promise me you're gonna have a lot of fun in this room,".
"I will!" Ellie promised.
With the tour complete, everyone headed back to the living room where there was some party food to eat. Ellie was having a fantastic time and talking very animatedly to her guests. Eventually however it came time for the guests to leave. Steve's parents went first with Kate not too far behind.
"I guess I'll see you in a couple of weeks," Kate said to Steve as she prepared to leave. Like every new father, Steve had been given two weeks paternity leave so that he and Ellie could get used to living together.
"Yeah," said Steve as he gave his mate a hug.
"Give me a call if you need anything," she told Steve before releasing him from his embrace. "Bye Ellie. See you soon,".
"Bye, Kate," Ellie said.
Steve and Ellie waved Kate off from their front door. When she was out of sight Steve closed the door. "Right then," Steve said as he looked at his daughter. "What do we do now?".