Of Rubber Ducks and Bath Time Fun

Building Blocks, Barbie Dolls and Book Corner.

This could not be happening, looking at my little girl in her Winnie the Pooh bed I couldn't believe that the day had arrived. My baby girl was going to start at nursery, Chloe hadn't wanted to go back to work really but there was no denying that her business called for her to return.

She snuffled in her sleep and my hand ran automatically through her blonde curls, where had the time gone? I remembered holding her tiny 6lb 3oz body in my arms on the day she was born and now, now Aeryn was a rough and tumble toddler who dazzled me with her smile. This beautiful little girl held my heart in her small perfectly formed hands from the moment she had taken her first breath.

I watched her sleep as the hands on the clock slowly turned to tell me the time was six in the morning. The house was in silence when I had heard the small whimper come over the monitor into our room and I had made my way into the nursery. Pulling the rocking chair to the side of her bed I watched her sleep... my little girl had all my attention and I would watch over her for the rest of her life. No one would ever love her as much as I did, well apart from Chloe obviously. Aeryn North was worshipped by both of us and at barely two, she knew it too. With one look, my daughter could get any and everything she wanted whether it was a new toy or simple cuddles. I knew, that I was wrapped around her little finger and I didn't care.

It took all my strength to walk out that room and let her sleep. Making my way into the wet room I showered before creeping back into my bedroom where my girlfriend was sleeping soundly - the two women in my life were dreaming the morning away and I wouldn't change them for anything. I was dressed casually, today was an important day for the three of us and I relished the opportunity to feel like Lucas the Daddy rather that Lucas North, the man sitting in Thames House stopping some radical from destroying this country. In jeans and a new blue t-shirt baring the famous Ted Baker logo, I made my way downstairs to prepare breakfast for my girls.

* * *

A little after seven, Chloe came downstairs carrying a sleepy Peppa Pig clad Aeryn who on seeing me sprawled on the large sofa started yelling for me. Her babble was incoherent for the most part but the 'Dada' and 'Ryn Ryn' were clear. The Daddy' girl wanted her Daddy, and who was I to not oblige her wish to be cuddled?

'Gorgeous girl, coffee is done... and breakfast is in the oven keeping warm.'

I liked my thank you from Chloe, a kiss on the lips that nearly took my breath away - damn she was good.

Breakfast as always was a light time - Chloe ate whilst I fed Aeryn porridge and left her to destroy the toast she had demanded by pointing at my own. Time was on our side as I took Aeryn upstairs to wash and dress her... giggles filtering around the house as I tickled her tummy and growled at her after telling her the story of Goldilocks. This was our morning routine when work at Section D allowed it, I would dress my little girl and tell her a story every morning before taking her out for a walk whilst Chloe caught up with work. I was going to miss Aeryn when she was at nursery, I had become used to being able to call Chloe at home or on her mobile to talk to Aeryn and I wouldn't be able to do that when she was in nursery.

* * *

Making my way into the study with Aeryn in my arms I called Harry, he was going to laugh when I told him what Chloe had asked me the night before.

'Morning Harry... yes, she's all ready. Yes, in the outfit you bought her - you all spoil her you know? I think she owes more clothes than all of us put together.'

Harry laughed, he like the rest of the team I worked with on the grid adored Aeryn, and I was constantly bringing home bags from various designer stores for her. She had everything a little girl could ever want and would ever need.

'So, you're not going to believe what Chloe asked me last night, she wanted to know if I had run background checks on the staff. I swear, the woman knows me better than myself, but I told her the truth I hadn't - maybe I should? Can't have some no mark near my Princess.'

There was a nervous cough in reply to my speech followed by a small chuckle.

'Lucas, I already did it... I er, also got a list of the parents whose children will be in the same group as Aeryn and ran them as well. Got to look after the youngest and no doubt smartest, member of the grid haven't I?'

I laughed out loud, startling Aeryn who had begun to doze in my arms, swearing to myself for my carelessness I pictured the sheepish smile on Harry Pearce' face as he'd instructed Tariq to run background checks on these people. Tariq of course, on realising who these people would have done it eagerly and thoroughly.

Placing the phone in the cradle I turned to find a vision before me. Chloe.

'What was that all about blue eyes?'

I chuckled as I told her what Harry had done, Chloe shook her head smiling softly. Aeryn had very protective Aunts and Uncles, did we really expect anything less than what Harry had done. I didn't dare tell Chloe that I had also secured someone to watch over Aeryn whilst she was at the nursery, I wasn't taking any chances were my baby girl was concerned. However, I know Chloe would have me telling them to stand down with one look if she found out. She had accepted the life we had but wanted Aeryn to have a normal childhood, I was sceptical - normality was something that just didn't happen to me. To have Chloe love me and to have been blessed with Aeryn was a miracle. I had lost too much, and I sure as Hell wasn't going to risk either of them.

* * *

The nursery of choice was a fifteen minute drive from the house, we had been out to visit the week before and had watched Aeryn come entranced by the large amount of brightly coloured toys and interacted with the children around her. I had felt the protective Daddy in me rise it's head when I had spotted her with a little boy who looked to be a older than her judging by the size of him. God help me, I had had to fight every instinct in me to not whisk Aeryn up in my arms and take her home.

Chloe had laughed and stroked my arm, noticing my alarmed face. The thoughts rushing through my head at a million to one... My little girl was growing up, from here it would be big school, secondary school, boys... a soft growl escaped me at the thought of a boy near her... university, marriage. God help me, in the space of a few minutes I had taken my baby girl from being eighteen months to a grown woman.

Walking through the door, I saw a scowl cross my gorgeous girl' face. I knew that look, though it was one I never understood. She was jealous. I looked around the room after adjusting Aeryn in my arms, my little girl clinging to my shirt as she took in the bright room once more. Smiling to myself, I pulled the lady who owned my heart close to me before kissing her softly.

'I love you... crazy head.'

I knew the comment would earn me a punch in the shoulder but it would be worth it.

Lowering my princess to the floor, I handed over the bag filled with spare clothes, nappies and her Iggle Piggle doll that never left her side. Double checking that her large selection of dummies were in the side pocket I followed Chloe into the office next to the room Aeryn would be spend four mornings a week in. We had to fill out standard forms about Aeryns' next of kin, allergies etcetera, before creeping quietly out the door.

My baby girl was starting to grow up...