risk// 5SOS

12

Calum

"Dinner is served! Mike and I are going to get the beds down, will you guys be okay down here? You can get some juice, and Gia can show you where everything is. There's yoghurts in the fridge too,"

"Thank you, I love sweet potato,"

"So I have heard,"

I gave them all a nod and headed upstairs to where Michael was up in the loft getting the extra bed. The drug was out of their system now, they were both just hungry and tired, so I felt it was safe enough to leave them. He passed the box down to me, then a duvet and pillows, climbing out. Since Sage had the spare room to themselves, we could keep the double bed.

They'd told me Rider and them shared a bed back home, so I thought it would be important for them to have their privacy. They could have their own space to express emotions, to decorate, and be a teenager. My job was to be the parent now.

"So, this is a big change from this morning,"

"Bigger than big,"

"That's certainly one way to put it," he laughed,
"Bless her, I bet Gia is so excited,"

"Like you wouldn't believe. How quick do you reckon we could build this?"

"I'd say within an hour, probably. I bet they're so exhausted,"

"They will definitely sleep well, thank you for this,"

"You're gonna need all the help you can get man, it's no problem,"

We unpacked the bed and then got the tools out, sorting out the pieces. Neither of us were handymen, so it took our focus, but we figured it out in the end.

The good news was that it matched Gia's bed, so it fit the room. As it started to come together, I became rather excited at the fact that Rider would be sleeping here tonight, Sage too. Not just tonight, every night.

And they would be able to sleep peacefully without worrying they might be hurt. With blankets and a clean, safe home.

"Is this my bed?"

"Is it," I said, turning to Rider who stood at the door, "We are almost done, we need to put your cover on,"

"Can I stay here?"

"Maybe you could watch some tv, or have a shower?"

"I don't... I don't know how. Sage gives me baths,"

"Oh, okay,"

"I'll ask Sage,"

"I can show you how to shower, sweetheart, if you give me a second,"

But he had already ran away, so I sighed and got the duvet out. We put the cover on and fluffed the pillows, setting the bed. Upon hearing the news, Mike had gone to the store and picked up both kids a toy, so I set the bear on the bed and smiled.

"Done,"

"Shall I order us some food?"

"I wouldn't oppose,"

"I'll get on it,"

"Thank you, I'll pay you back,"

"Don't worry about it, go and check on them,"

I nodded and went downstairs, seeing them all sat at the table still. Gia was tucking into a yoghurt, but Rider and Sage were still eating, and I could see it was hard for them.

"Do you want to heat your food up again?"

"I am full," Rider said.

"Well that's okay, you don't have to finish it if you are full,"

Both of them dropped their cutlery on the plate, so I picked them up and took them to the dishwasher.

"Does anyone want a drink?"

"I don't, thanks dad," Gia said, followed by silence from the other two.

"Why don't I show you round the house? We came in and ate pretty quickly,"

"Okay," Sage said, "Rider, stay with me,"

"I wanna walk with Gia," he whined, "She is my sibling too,"

"Oh, okay,"

Starting with the living room, I showed them the tv and all our dvds, as well as the space we had for their school photos and artworks. Then I showed them the kitchen and all the food they could have, as well as the downstairs bathroom. Then, they peeked at our garden and our swing set, Rider giggling a little.

"That's so cool,"

"Yeah, you can play on it whenever you want,"

"Can I see my room more?"

"Come on,"

He ran ahead with Gia, but Sage walked behind me as we went upstairs. The little ones went into their room and immediately started to play, so I nodded towards Sage's room and opened the door.

"You can decorate it however you want, so have a think. This bathroom links into my room, so you can share this one with me, or the other bathroom with Sage and Gia,"

"Okay,"

"I hope this is okay. We can wash all your clothes tonight and get some more tomorrow,"

"Like, shopping?"

"Like shopping,"

"Thank you, for giving Rider this safe home,"

"This is your safe home too. You don't have to be like a parent anymore,"

They nodded and looked around, sitting on the end of their bed; I sat beside them and held my hand out, waiting for them to take it. They didn't, but I respected that.

We were in silence for a little, hearing Gia and Rider giggle between themselves, Michael downstairs. I heard the hoover come on and chuckled, Sage looking at me, a small smile creeping onto their face.

"Does he live here?"

"No, and he never hoovers, so I don't know what's going on,"

"At home I did most of the cleaning,"

"Here we kind of clean as we go, and I do all the dirty work. Feel free to help but while you settle in, I don't want you to worry about chores. This week we are gonna focus on making sure you and Rider have everything you need, and make sure we communicate with each other, okay?"

"Don't hit him, or Gia. Hit me,"

"Sage, nobody is getting hit. No voices are being raised, nothing is being smashed, nobody is touched in any way that could be uncomfortable or hurtful,"

"But if they do something bad, punish me,"

"No, darling. You're a kid too, you get to be responsible for yourself now, and can let me look after Rider a bit more,"

"But I can help,"

"I'm sure you can help me understand his needs, but I'm gonna need you to let me do the hard work to make sure you get what you need too,"

"I don't need things,"

"You need time for school work, time to hang out with friends, privacy, a good night of uninterrupted sleep, and a chance to relax. And you can get all of that whilst still being an amazing big sibling, but letting me take the pressure off you. He will have the same routine as Gia anyway,"

"I can do it,"

"Hey, your gut told you to come here. Let me help, or give it a try at least. I really think you are going to enjoy being a teenager,"