When We're Together (Damon Albarn)

Chapter Three

Friday 30th June 2006

Taken the kids for a walk, be back soon.

We love you! Xxx

I re-read the note before smiling, I had awoken to an empty room, a piece of paper on the pillow where Damon should be. The clock told me it had just gone 8, so god knows what time the kids had woken Damon up. I was impressed I hadn't woken up with all the noise which I'm sure would have occurred, especially with us all being cramped together in the same hotel room.

Deciding to make the most of the peace, I ran myself a bath, enjoying being able to relax without someone knocking at the door or sharing my bath with an entire family of rubber ducks. The past few weeks had been busy, Damon and I had both forgotten just how difficult touring with young children was, but we were now coming to the end of it and I think we were both more than excited to return home.

We had decided to make the most of being in Blackpool by taking the kids to the sea life aquarium that they had on the pier and then maybe on some of the rides afterwards, though that just depended on how well the aquarium went. Jamie had Rocky and Denholm with him so we were going to be well and truly outnumbered, five kids to three adults was a scary ratio.

I knew that there was only so long Damon could walk the kids for, so I didn't spend too long in the bath as it would be all hands on deck once they were home. I got out of the bath, drying my hair, getting dressed and quickly putting on a quick bit of makeup. I never, ever, usually bothered but I just knew we'd be caught by the press today and I wanted to look like I made some form of effort. It would be one less thing for the journalist to drag me about after all.

I packed a rucksack for us all, making sure I had all the essentials, mainly snacks and spare clothes. As Primrose was toilet trained but sometimes, especially when she was with the older kids, she got so worried about missing out on something that she would forget to tell us she needed to go to the toilet, until it was too late.

Three excited voices drew my attention to the door and it wasn't long before Damon had opened it, the children following behind him. A smile grew on my face as the children ran towards me, jumping onto me and the bed.

"Mummy, Daddy got us hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows and squirty cream" Fox exclaimed, jumping on the bed before wrapping his arms around me, his laughter spilling into my ears.

"Foxton!" Missy exclaimed, tutting as she spoke with a roll of her eyes.

"Fox mate" Damon laughed, he too shaking his head "We agreed that we wouldn't tell Mummy about the hot chocolates!"

I laughed at Damon's response, shaking my head as he spoke. We did try and limit their sugar intake, but life's too short to not have marshmallows and cream on your hot chocolate! Fox gasped, laughing as he covered his mouth with his hand.

"Sorry mummy, I wanted marshmallows and cream but Daddy said no" He told me, shaking his head, his giggles were a complete giveaway but at least he had tried to stick up for his dad.

"I had pineapple Mama" Primrose told me as she climbed down from my lap, Damon looked at her and frowned, tilting his head to the side as he looked at her.

"I really like pineapple" She mumbled to herself, walking over to the bag to pull out her teddy.

"She's had no pineapple today, not sure what that's about" He whispered to me, placing a quick kiss onto my cheek before sitting down next to me, I laughed as he spoke. Pineapple really was a random choice.

"I got you a coffee and a pain au chocolat" He told me proudly holding them up in the air, I took them from his hands, thanking him before starting to eat. I felt absolutely starving.