New York Surprises (Tayvin - AU)

Part 2

TAYLOR POV

"Are you sure it's okay to look after them today Karlie?" I asked for the thousandth time as Karlie came through our door.

"Yeah, totally fine Tay! Me and the munchkins are going to pick up some naking ingredients and make cookies. Then we might watch a movie. It will be great! Stop worrying!!" Karlie replied, smiling at me and patting me on the shoulder.

"Thank you so much! I don't know what's going on at work but...." I said, shrugging my shoulders as if to say that when they needed me I had to be there, "Eliana? James? Karlie is here!" I called back into the apartment, hearing squeals and feet running down the short hallway in response.

Suddenly there were two strawberry blond kids wrapped around Karlie's waist making her laugh.

"How about you two get your jackets and boots on and we'll head out...ok?" Karlie asked then, prompting them to run to the little coat cupboard and start getting ready to go out.

"I'll pick them up by 4 at the latest. I packed a couple of books and stuff in their backpacks...." I told Karlie, who just waved as the kids dragged her towards the staircase.

I quickly rushed off to get all my stuff ready for work.

KARLIE POV

"Okay guys, slow down!" I exclaimed as the twins dragged me down the street, "We have to go to the supermarket first before we go back to my house...ok? We are going to make cookies but need the ingredients."

"Cookies?" Lia asked, starting to bounce up and down while making her eyes super wide, while Jay just smiled sweetly.

"Yeah little ones.... cookies!" I replied, already realising that maybe giving them sugar was not the best idea.

We got into the supermarket and I got a small trolley, instructing the twins to hold onto either side so they didn't get lost. They insisted on pushing it and standing right next to each other- they were literally attached at the hip- which led to them whispering to each other the whole time. I turned to the side to look at the different packs of chocolate chips that were available.

"Hey kids, what kind of chocolate do you...." I said turning back to find the trolley but no kids.

Panic set in immediately. They were only 5 years old and I had just let them out of my sights in a huge supermarket. I grabbed the cart and started down the aisle to find them.

ADAM POV

I was wandering around the supermarket trying to think of the flavours I wanted in my dish. I would mainly just start out throwing things together and later refine it into a dish that could be made in the restaurant and served to people. I was just walking around the corner onto the aisle with all the spices to get inspiration when I felt something thump into my legs. I looked down to find a small boy sitting on the ground, having just bashed into me coming from the opposite direction. A little girl ran up to him and knelt down next to him.

"Jay? Are you OK?" She asked him.

I crouched down to their level.

"Are you guys ok?" I asked them hesitantly.

"Look what you did mister. You hurt my brother!" The little girl said putting her hands on her hips.

"Lia, we aren't supposed to talk to strangers, mommy said so!" The little boy said quietly to his sister.

"But he hurt you. He needs to say sorry!" She replied, glaring at me.

"Um...I'm sorry little man.... ummm... should we try and find your parents?" I asked as they both stood up.

"We are here with our..." The little girl started to say, before she was cut off.

"Oh, thank goodness! You two shouldn't run off like that!" A tall woman rushed over and wrapped her arms around the two kids.

"Karlie?" I asked, recognising the woman as the photographer who had worked for the restaurant.

"Oh! Hi Calvin...." She replied, noticing who I was.

"Auntie Karlie, this man hurt Jay!" The little girl told Karlie.

"He didn't hurt me, I just ran into his legs and fell down..." The little boy said quietly, hiding slightly behind Karlie.

"So I guess you've already met the two troublesome twins then.... Kids, this is my friend Calvin...he is a chef.... Calvin, these are my friend's kids James and Eliana. I'm babysitting for her today and we were buying things to bake cookies when they ran off." Karlie said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it, you guys have a fun day with your aunt Karlie. Um, I'll see you around. Remember you still have a meal on the house at the restaurant whenever you want- you can bring the little squirts and their parents too; we have an awesome kid's menu." I told her, smiling at them and ruffling the kids hair as we parted ways.

I was distracted by the images I had in my head of the two kids. They looked so familiar, especially their eyes, but I had no idea where from.