They Belong Together

Chapter 4

Waking up like this was certainly new to her, a tiny foot threatening to rearrange her organs, though Eda knew it would hardly hurt even the slightest.

Ellie was snuggled into Eda's arms, wearing one of her shirts even though Eda bought her plenty of clothes. 

The sun again interrupted her somewhat tranquil experience in bed because, truth be told, this was the best she'd slept all month. 

She glanced down at Ellie, her pigtails messy and her thumb in her mouth. 

She never expected the sight of a sleeping toddler who's conquered her bed and half of her t-shirts to make her smile, but it did.

"Wake up, Ellie" Eda muttered, shaking her gently. 

Ellie whined before opening her doughy  Hazel eyes, before grabbing at Eda's shirt and making various noises.

Eda chuckled before sitting up to check her phone, very unsurprised and slightly irritated to see Raine texted her just now.

Raine
10:08
Good morning Calamity ❤

Eda rolled her eyes with a scoff.

Edalyn
10:09
Hey, what is it?

Raine
10:10
Just wanted to wish you a good morning ml❤

Raine
10:11
And see if we're still good for lunch this afternoon, say 1:30?

Eda's eyes widened once she remembered that she agreed to have lunch with them. 

Ellie climbed on Eda's lap, looking over at her phone screen curiously, though she couldn't read, so there was no need to worry.

Edalyn
11:14
I'll be there and cut out the pet names, seriously.

Raine
11:15
I'll see you then Ice Queen

Eda glared at the last message, wondering if they were calling her mean or making a stupid frozen reference.  

Still, she put her phone down to look down at Ellie. "Well. Uh, guess I have to take you with me," she sighed.

There was no escaping this girl she decided to take in. Eda couldn't leave the room without Ellie bursting into tears and terror-filled screams.

Eda still remembers the way her body froze, hearing that for the first time.   She never wanted to hear Ellie cry like that again. 

Ellie suddenly made a louder noise, pulling at Eda's hair.

"Ow!" Eda yelped, pulling away. "Ellie, don't pull my hair," she scolded before patting her head. "I've gotta teach you how to talk," she said to herself

Suddenly, she heard someone knocking on her door; Eda Frowned as she wasn't expecting any kind of company. 

"Stay in here," Eda said to Ellie as she got up to answer her front door.

She didn't expect to see a silly-looking man wearing a brown suit and yellow tie. "Hey, good morning," he said in a dashing tone. His clipboard in hand, hiding behind his back.

"Can I help you?"  Eda asked In an Aprehesive tone. She had her hand on the door, ready to slam it if needed.

"Yes, you can! I'm with child protection services. Lilith Clawthorne sent me to help out a new caretaker.