You're On Your Own Kid

It's Nice To Have A Friend

01/04/2023

[Taylor's pov]

"YOU HAVE KIDS?" I hear Gracie yell through the phone as I mix the sauce into the pasta for the girl's dinner. I've learned very fast that the girls are very routine oriented, so I give them their food at the same time every night, I put them to bed at the same time every night, we do everything at the same time everyday.

"Yeah, I guess I do." I say with a little chuckle as I turn off the tv in the living room. "C'mon let's go sit down and eat guys." I whisper to the girls as I hear Gracie saying something about how cute they are and how she needs to meet them. "You can come over tomorrow and meet them if you want, but right now I have to go. It's dinner time for them and they yell at me when I don't sit with them." I say as I get death stares just from not sitting down at the same time as them.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then. Does lunch time work?" I hear right before Lottie starts crying because I walked too far away.

"Uh, yeah. Gotta go, bye." She manages in a quick 'Bye' before I hang up and sit down next to Lottie with our food finally set in front of us so we can eat. "So girls, I'm gonna have a friend over around lunch time to meet you both tomorrow. Her name is Gracie and you are going to love her, I promise." I say, smiling at the girls while they stuff their faces, like its the first time they have ever seen food before.

"She play Barbies with me?" Lottie questions with hope as she sits up a little taller in her seat.

"I'm sure if you asked, she would love to Lots." I say, looking at Ette, who hasn't said anything for the past couple of hours. "You okay Ette?" She looks up at me with eyes full of tears.

"Is she gonna hurt us?" She says, barley above a whisper, but I'm able to hear it. I jump out of my seat and rush to her side. I bend down and look her in the eyes, cupping her face in my hand and smiling at her.

"No one, will ever ever ever hurt you again, my love." I say as she rests her head on my hand and the warm tears fall down my wrist. "She won't hurt you, okay?" She nods and closes her eyes. "What do we say about an early bed time tonight?" She immediately perks up.

"Yes please" She says after she practically flys out of her chair and up the stairs to go get ready for bed.

"I don't wanna go to leep." Lottie says in a very strong voice, shaking her head. Great.

"Okay, you finish up dinner and I'll go put Ette down to bed. Movie night?" She sits up straight, nods, and starts to finish her bowl. I walk up the stairs to find a still, very upset girl sat on the bed. Now wearing pjs and her bed sitting on the floor next to Willow as she swings her left leg while waiting for me with a book in her hand. "What happen Ette? Do I need to do something?" I say as I sit next to her, grabbing the book out of her hand.

"Mrs.Kents friends used to hurt me and Lottie. They would come over to hang out and if we got in the way, they would push or hit us to make us leave. I don't want to get hurt anymore." She finishes as she wipes her tears on the corner of the blanket sat in her lap. I pull her into my lap and start to comb my fingers through her hair.

"None of my friends will hurt you or Lottie, I promise. My friends are very kind and love to sing, and, dance ,and, do coloring pages. My friends are going to love you almost as much as I do. Promise." I say, sticking out my pinky and watching her wrap her tiny one around it, both of us kissing the tips of our thumbs before she lays down to bed. One book later, she is curled up on the bed almost asleep, me rubbing her head to calm her down a bit.

"Am I gonna have friends like you?" She barley gets out before I hear soft snores fall out of her mouth and then hear a door open.

"You said movie Taylah." Of course. We walk down the stairs, hand in hand, go to the kitchen to grab some popcorn and finally sit down on the couch. We decide on Bambi to watch. "M gonna stay wake the whole time, I can do it." She whispers as she curls into my side and I pull the blanket over the both of us.

"Sure love, I am sure you will." I breathe out knowing she won't last more than 30 minutes into the movie. I was very right, she lasted 15 minutes before I hear soft snores and have to carry her to the bed, and watch her cuddle into her sister before I sneak out the room.

-

01/05/2023

[Colette's pov]

"Lottie we have to wear clothes when people come over!" Taylor yells as she chases Lottie around the living room, trying to get her to put the purple dress on. Its her favorite but for some reason she never wants to put clothes on. I'm watching the cookies in the oven rise with Willow while we wait for Gracie. Taylor said that Gracie is bringing food over for lunch, we're gonna eat and play games after we meet Gracie.

"NO CLOTHES TAYLAH." Lottie yells as she hides under the table in the dining room.

"You can have ice-cream if you put the dress on, and let me put your hair up." Taylor finally gives in because Gracie is gonna be here soon. I knew that was gonna happen.

"Cookie dough?" Lots says as she pops her head out from under the table.

"Fine." It's almost like this had been Lottie's plan since the beginning because she stands up and puts her arms up in victory, smiling as Taylor slips the dress over her head. Then I hear the door bell ring, I get up and grab Willows harness before walking to the door and wait for Taylor, who is now carrying a little girl who all of a sudden has become very shy. Taylor motions for me to open the door, I grab the handle and turn it, shaking just a little bit.

"Hi Ette, I'm Gracie. Can I come in?" The brown haired girl asks me as she smiles at Taylor. I nod and let her pass me before she walks in and hugs Taylor, handing her a bouquet of red roses, heading to the table to set the food down. We then sit down and start eating the food Gracie brought as her and Taylor converse, I try and say a few things but nothing comes out when I open my mouth. I try and get Taylor's attention when my hands start shaking but nothing comes out. I stand up and run to my room, Willow following behind me. I hear Taylor and Gracie stop talking but I don't really care. I sit in my room and wait for what feels like 200 years, then I hear footsteps come up the stairs. I expect Taylor to walk through the door, coming to hold me while I cry and whisper how much she loves me in my ears, but someone else walks in. "Hey honey, can we talk?" Gracie says as she opens the door. I want so badly to say no, to tell her to get away from me, to tell her not to hurt me. But I can't.

"Yea" I whisper as she come in and sits on the chair next to my bed.

"Taylor was telling me about Mrs.Kent's friends. They don't seem very nice, huh?" I shake my head and look down as I play with my fingers. "I don't hurt people Ette, I promise I never lay my hands on anyone, because I wouldn't want anyone to lay their hands on me." I sit up a little higher against the pillows and look her in the eyes. Their pretty, not as pretty as Taylors but still pretty. They look like coffee, I don't really like coffee but I like coffee ice-cream. She reaches her hand out, grabbing mine and smiling at me. I smile back, standing up and grabbing the bar of Willows harness, then turning around and grabbing Gracie's hand.

"Did you know I only have one leg?" I ask her, showing her my fake foot and looking at her smile.

"I did know that, I think its pretty cool." She says while she walks down the stairs.

"Will you be my friend Gracie? I think you're pretty cool." I ask before we get close enough to the table for Lottie to hear, I don't want her to be jealous.

"I would love you be your friend Ette." She whispers after bending down and pulling me into a big hug.

-

A/N 

I LOVE LOTTIE SO MUCH OMG!!!