Our Fight (Book Two)

Chapter 1 - Maddie

Hey guys!  Thank you so much for choosing my book to read, I really appreciate it and hope that you enjoy reading it!  Just one thing before you begin, if you haven't already noticed this book is the sequel to my first book 'Our Life', so if you haven't read that one already then just pop over to my profile and you will find it there!  Without it you won't really understand what is happening!  Anyway, please enjoy and don't be afraid to leave any comments and criticisms, I really appreciate them!  Thanks guys!  :)        Sophie xx

Chapter One

Maddie

It's strange having to look after someone other than me not to mention a baby!  I usually just believe in me, myself and I but now it's me, myself and Violet.  Don't get me wrong looking after my precious little Violet is great and I love her already after only having her for a few hours.  It's just strange because before this I couldn't stand children, if any came near me they would kindly be told to step the hell away or I would do something I would maybe regret later on.  Things are going to be so different from now on and from what Lea tells me, the town doesn't look too great either.  I look down at Violet all snuggled up in her car seat, I can't help but feel love for this baby.  Poor baby, she's lost her mother way before she even got the chance to know her, to recognise her, to remember her.  I will tell her of her mother as I'm sure Alex will too, she deserves to know where she came from even if it's not where she will continue her life.  I look back up as Elsie lets out a big yawn.

"Are you alright baby girl?"  I ask her quietly, she glances at me in her rear view mirror and smiles.

"Yeah I'm ok, just feeling a bit tired that's all."  I give her a sympathetic look, the car journey home from Chelsea's has been a quiet one apart from the odd snore from Alex in the front. 

"How much longer have we got until we are home?"  Elsie looks at the time on the dashboard.

"About another twenty minutes, so not long."  She takes a quick glance at Alex before concentrating back on the road.  "He is going to be ok isn't he?"  Elsie says with a worried expression on her face. 

"You were when your mum died and he's just as strong as you baby girl, he will be fine."  Elsie nods her head but her face still shows uncertainty.  The car falls silent once again, I place my little finger into the palm of Violet's hand, she curls her tiny fingers around it, I close my eyes and wish to be home soon. 

We pull up outside of the newest house in Kings, the garden is ruined; the flowers are pulled up and the grass has burn marks all over it.  Thankfully no windows are broken and the door is still intact.  Elsie stops the car and pulls up the handbrake, Chelsea pulls up beside us, she looks exhausted.  I step out of the car, open the boot and pull out my bag, there is just one more thing that I need...Violet.  I walk around the side of the car and open the door next to Violet, I notice Alex watching me.  I reach in and carefully unclip her from her car seat, I lift her gently into my arms trying my hardest not to hit her head on the roof of the car.  My eye catches with Alex's, I glance down at Violet then back up to Alex.  "Did you want to hold her quickly before we go home?"  Alex seems to be thinking about it, he walks over to me and peers into Violet's hood.  He leans down and kisses her forehead.

"Goodnight sweetheart, I'll see you tomorrow if it's ok with your mummy."  He looks up at me with teary eyes I smile at him.

"You can see her whenever you want to Alex, you will see her tomorrow I will come over first thing."  Alex nods his head before turning on his heel and walking away, I look at Elsie she is looking at Alex with a worried expression.  "Goodnight baby girl, we will see you tomorrow."  I blow her a kiss with my free hand and shuffle my bag more comfortably onto my shoulder, Elsie waves me goodbye and I set off on my walk home.  I look around what used to be a beautiful city, the trees are burnt, the pavements are cracked and the houses seem vacant.  I walk past Wynter's house and peer into the window, he is sitting on a chair in the centre of the room.  I knock on the window trying to get his attention, he slowly turns his head to face me.  I step back letting a gasp escape my lips, his eyes are red and his face is empty of emotions.  He stands up straight facing his body towards the window, I clutch Violet tighter to my chest as I watch the scene.  His face turns to a grimace and he runs full speed into the window making me jump back and scream, he is clawing at the glass and snapping his teeth.  I glance at the door afraid that he might come out of it, he follows my glance and I realise I have just put Violet and me in danger.  He runs towards the door, I turn and run as fast as possible towards safety, it's hard with a baby in your arms.  I brave a glance behind me but see nothing, I come to a stop and wonder why he isn't following me.  I'm not going to stay here to find out, I jog the two blocks that I need to follow to reach my house and let out a sigh of relief as I reach my door.  I fumble in my bag for my keys cautiously looking around me for anyone trying to sneak up on me.  I ram the key into the lock and push open the door, within a second it is shut again locked tight.  I slump onto the sofa breathing heavily, Violet is surprisingly still asleep.  I unzip her coat and slowly pull her arms and legs out of their assigned pockets, her eyes flutter for a second before opening wide.  I smile down at her as I lay her on my thighs, her head is resting on my knees.  She peers up at me with an unsure expression, it's going to take time for her to recognise me as her 'mum'.  I watch as her face slowly turns into a smile showing her glistening gums, I can't help but laugh and pull her into a hug.  I look around my living room, the cream coloured walls are stain free and perfect, the paintings on the walls of birds and flowers are perfectly straight.  The white leather sofa I am sitting on hasn't got a single mark or scuff and the laminate flooring is sparkling clean.  I place my bag on the glass coffee table that is placed in the centre of the room, there are some white lilies in a clear vase on the table.  I let out a sigh as I look at how clean and tidy my house is, it isn't going to be like this for much longer now that I have Violet.  I stand up and slip off my black boots, I place them neatly next to the sofa and head into the kitchen.  I step onto the cold white marble floor and wriggle my toes happily as the coolness chills my socks.  I peer up at the night stars through the glass roof and notice Violet doing the same.  I walk over to the built in cream coloured fridge and take out a ready sterilised bottle for violet that has been generously set up by Lea I suspect.  I open cupboard after cupboard searching for some formula when I realise it is on one of my wooden sides.  I fill up the kettle and flick it on, I spoon five spoonfuls of formula into the bottle and shake it until it is all mixed in.  Violet begins to moan in my arms, I rock her gently praying that the kettle will hurry up already.  The button pops back up and I pour some boiling water into a jug, I place the bottle into the water and wait for a little bit.  I take out the bottle and pop open the lid, I test the temperature of the milk on my wrist, I don't even know what the right temperature is.  It doesn't feel cold and it doesn't feel boiling so I would say it's about right.  I walk through another door leading from my kitchen and I walk up the wooden stairs, I turn left at the top and see a white door with Violet's name written beautifully on the door.  I turn the handle and let the door swing open, I gasp as my eyes take in the room, the walls are a violet colour to match my baby's name.  There are white flowers and swirls painted around the room, a chandelier of white petals flutters and casts beautiful shadows onto the walls.  I walk up to the nursing chair in the corner of the room and I take a seat, I notice a pale purple blanket resting on a white chest of drawers, I wrap Violet up in it and I rest her in my arms.  I place the bottle into her mouth and smile as she happily begins to drink, I rest my head against the back of the chair and I close my eyes.  The last few days have been hard, stressful and very emotional and I know the following days are going to be much, much worse. 

I peer sleepily down at Violet and see that she is fast asleep, she has milk covering her lips and little bit has dribbled down her chin.  I wipe it away and I gently lift myself up out of the chair, I place her onto the changing mat and realise I should have done this before I fed her.  I pull off her tights and dress and unbutton her vest, I open the top drawer and find clean vests of all colours, I take out a purple one.  I open the next drawer and find baby grows, I am amazed to see one that has her name sewn into it I pull that out too.  I have only ever seen someone change a nappy but I guess I have to learn sometime. 

After struggling to change a baby for the first time ever, I finally button up the last button on Violet's baby grow all without waking her up, I feel proud of myself.  I place her carefully into her cot and pull the blanket up a little to keep her warm.  I turn on the night light beside the cot and look up in awe as it casts pictures of Alex, me and Diana onto the ceiling.  I step out of the room and let out a sigh of relief, this is going to be hard but I accept the challenge!  I can feel my eyes beginning to close, I walk across the landing and push open my bedroom door, I flop down onto my black satin sheets and close my eyes.  Tomorrow will be better right?  I pull off my clothes and curl up under the quilt, I reach over and turn on the baby monitor placing it right next to my head.  I close my eyes again and instantly feel myself drifting into a needed sleep.