Lucy's POV:
As Keira headed off into Manchester with Charlie, I headed into the office where I had situated Ellie in the floor beside me, so I could keep an eye on her but also get some work done.
As I opened up my laptop I felt a pair of small hands grip onto my legs. I peeked down to see Ellie pulling herself into a standing position. I left her to it while she mumbled to herself, until she called out "Mumma play ?". I shook my head and explained gently "Mumma can't play baby girl, Mumma has to do some work". Ellie frowned and tried to climb onto my lap. I lifted her up and got her situated on my lap, so I could work on my laptop. Ellie remained in my lap until my lawyer called me. I picked up the phone and that's when Ellie started getting cranky. I spoke to my lawyer as I stood up with Ellie in my arms and walked around the house, trying to calm her down, with her favourite places, looking out into the garden, going up and down the stairs, swaying in mine and Keira's bedroom, until eventually she calmed down and settled herself. I managed to set up my laptop in the kitchen with my lawyer swapping to video call so I had my hands free to hold Ellie and make a snack for her to keep her occupied. I lifted her into her high chair and sat beside her while she ate her snack.
The call with my lawyer ended after 30 minutes or so and I decided it was best to put Ellie down for a nap. I went around the kitchen, making her bottle while she stayed in her high chair. Once the bottle was made I hid it as I lifted her up and walked up the stairs with her, to change her. Once she was changed I grabbed the bottle and settled her in my arms as I sat in the rocking chair in her room, rocking her as she drank her bottle, eyes slowly closing. I gently lifted her into her bed and turned the baby monitor on as I quietly snuck out the door.
While Ellie slept I managed to get a lot of work done. I printed lots of documents out for the court and also began the search of somewhere to live in Barcelona. An alarm I had set to wake Ellie went off, I quickly shut it off and quickly and quietly shuffled up the stairs and quietly snuck into Ellie's room where she was still fast asleep, cuddling her Narla teddy and Man City blanket. I smiled softly and as I walked over to her bed to wake her up I was stopped by my phone ringing. I quickly picked up and quickly escaped the room into the hallway.
Keira: Hey, me and Charlie on our way home, we had a little incident on our shopping trip but we're ok now
Me: What do you mean incident ?
Keira: We just got a little separated but some of the City girls were in town and they spotted Charlie and called me
Me: Is Charlie ok ?
Keira: Yeah, just a little clingy as you'd expect, I'll talk to you later we're at the car.
Me: Ok, I was just going to wake Ellie from her nap, I love you both.
Keira: Don't wake her, I want her after nap cuddles.
Me: Ok, but you better hurry up, drive safely.
Keira: Love you both, see you soon.
I hung up the phone and put it back in my pocket before turning on my heel and going back down the stairs. I headed into the kitchen to make myself some lunch.
As I sat down at the kitchen table, I heard a key turn in the front door. I peered around to see Keira coming in with Charlie following close behind her. Charlie rushed over once she saw me, and latched herself onto me like a koala. "Hey Charlie", I whispered into her hair. Charlie cuddled closer to me and I looked over to Keira who was leaning in the doorframe. "I'll get the shopping bags", Keira quietly said as I nodded and held Charlie tight in a hug. "You're safe now Charlie", I whispered, pressing kisses to her hair. "I thought I lost Kei Kei, Mum", Charlie whispered quietly back to me. "You'll never lose her or me or Ellie ever", I whispered back. I continued to hold Charlie, rocking her gently until I heard gentle footsteps and glanced up to see Keira slowly walking into the kitchen with Ellie lazily cuddling her. I lifted one of my hands up to gently rub Ellie's back gaining a small squirm. Keira chuckled and headed over to the kitchen counter to make some lunch. I glanced over to see Ellie watching me lazily, Man City blanket in her mouth, Narla teddy held close to her chest, as she cuddled close to Keira. "Mmm I love after nap cuddles", Keira mumbled as she walked back over to the kitchen table with a sandwich in her hand. I smiled up at her as Charlie gently peeled herself away from me, turning around in my lap and reaching over to grab half of Keira's sandwich. "Hey !", Keira called out as Charlie bit into her sandwich with a grin on her face. Keira huffed and picked up the other half before Charlie could take it.
As Keira and Charlie ate their half sandwich, Ellie slowly woke up. "Will we go for a big family walk ?", I perked up gaining an excited giggle from Ellie, who clambered off Keira's lap and went in search of her stroller. The rest of us laughed at her reaction as I called out "Ellie you need shoes". "Nooo !!", Ellie called back to me, as I listened for the sound of running feet, which I heard after a few seconds. "Mumma walk Narlie", Ellie tugged on my arm. I chuckled as Charlie hopped off my lap and raced off into the hallway, while I picked Ellie up, so Keira could slip on her shoes. Ellie huffed at the sight of the shoes on her feet. I carried her into the hallway where Charlie had Narla already on her leash. I strapped Ellie into her stroller and opened the front door, letting Charlie out first while I held the front of Ellie's stroller, while Keira pushed it, in order for me to gently lift it down the steps. Keira locked the door and handed me a hoodie. I threw it on and walked alongside Keira as she pushed the stroller. Charlie walked ahead of us, holding Narla's lead. "This is just what we all needed", Keira muttered just loud enough for me to hear. I held out my hand and Keira held onto it tightly as she pushed the stroller with our giggly chatty toddler while our 12 year old daughter walked ahead of us with Narla following by her heel.
