Only You- Jade and Leigh-Anne

Leigh 1.8

September, Laila 4 years old, Hazel 2 years old

It had been a nice few weeks away from life, work and the girls. I had my time to bond with Hazel and make her feel more at home. Now it was time to start working on stuff for the upcoming tour. Jade had invited us over for a little get together with her girls before that, so maybe Hazel could make a new friend.

"Mummy is Jadey ever gonna answer her door?" Laila asked, pounding her fist against the door for the fourth time.

"Ding dong!" Hazel mumbled, hiding behind my leg. Every once and a while she would come out of her shell but for now her preferred place was behind my legs.

"Sorry, just cleaning up a bit, its been a hectic morning" Jade apologized, opening the door. "Hi there Hazel." She cooed softly, bending down to Hazel's level.

"Can you say hi?" I asked Hazel. "Thats Jadey, she's the one in the picture that you're obsessed with."

"I've seen lots of pictures of you, you're very pretty. I have a little girl your age too, I'm sure she'd love to play if you'd like." Jade smiled.

"You would like that wouldn't you?" I asked.

"Hand?" Hazel whispered, holding a hand out for Jade to take.

"Well of course I'd love to take your hand, come in now, don't be shy." She replied taking Hazel's hand and walking her into the living room. "Sorry again about the mess, just haven't had time to clean"

"Seriously you're fine, its hardly a mess." I sighed.

"Haven, Aaliyah! Leigh's here with Laila and Hazel!" Jade yelled up the stairs.

"Leigh Leigh?" Haven squealed running down the stairs and grabbing a hold of both of my legs. "Leigh Leigh i missed you!" she giggled.

"I missed you too Haven." I grinned picking her up. 

"Where Hazel? I be best friend." Haven wondered. 

"Haven, this is Hazel, can you say hi?" Jade asked, her hand still holding Hazel's.

"Hi Hazel, I like bambi." Haven squeaked out, wanting out of my arms. "I hug cause I love you."

"Hazel can you say-"

"Haven love you too." Hazel replied, a smile breaking on her face.

"Oh my god-" Jade whispered. "They're going to make me cry."

"They just-" I stuttered, watching them hug each other and not let go. "She's so shy and-"

"I like hugs." Haven giggled.

"hugs." Hazel repeated.

"Mammy say Leigh Leigh you mammy." Haven announced. "That my mammy she pretty."

"Love mummy, mummy pretty hair." Hazel stuttered. She had been a bit behind verbally, so I was super impressed with her use of vocabulary today.

"Mammy, Hazel an I play now." Haven said, taking Hazels hand and running with her down the stairs to their playroom.

"Okay, have fun." Jade laughed, watching Hazel and Haven nearly trip as they ran.

"They almost made me cry- they were just bang- friends." I smiled. "I totally want to listen in on them."

"Me too." Jade grinned. "Come on then." She nodded peeping over the stairs.

"I born in England, mammy say that why i have different voice." Haven explained, pulling dolls out of a box and throwing them on the floor beside her.

"Jamaica" Hazel giggled.

"You pretty I like you hair lots and lots." Haven replied, reaching for her curls. "My hair not pretty."

"Like hair, pretty." Hazel replied, reaching for Haven's straight locks.

"Well our toddlers are bonding over hair- who would have thought-" I said, continuing to watch the scene unfold in front of me.

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"Laila! Hazel, dinner time" I called out. I waited for the patters of their feet but heard nothing. Not a single peep. "Laila! Hazel!" I repeated. Nothing. "Laila Louise!" I yelled peeking down the stairs for any sign of either girl. "Hazel Nydia?" I yelled. 

"Hush or mummy is gonna find us!" I heard Laila giggle. 

"I hungry Laila." Hazel replied. I could hear one of them fidgeting from the playroom closet. It was probably Hazel, trying her absolute best to follow Laila's demands but also wanting to eat.
"Girls, dinner is ready!" I laughed.

"Please?" Hazel whispered not so quietly. 

"No cause she gotta find us!" Laila replied.

"Fine, I guess we won't be visiting Haven and Aaliyah later on." I sighed, walking towards the closet. 

"Mummy I here! I here mummy!" Hazel screamed pulling the closet door open. She anxiously reached up for me wanting to make up for hiding. 

"It's dinner time, not hide n seek time." I smiled, picking her up and placing her on my hip. "Come on miss Laila, Mac and cheese is waiting for you."

"Mummy I wanna story about me" she replied, following me up the stairs. 

"What about?" I asked, walking past the entry way and through to the kitchen. 

"About baby Laila"

"Baby Laila?"

"Uh huh!"

"Baby Laila was a very naughty baby, you cried and cried and you caused mummy lots of stress." I laughed. "Baby Laila was a nightmare."

"How?" She asked, her mouth now full of food.

"You never slept and you cried and cried and nothing I did would work but the second you were in your daddy's arms you were relaxed." I laughed, remembering those awful nights I'd spend crying over her. The other girls had their babies attached to their hip and mine wouldn't quiet down until she was near Jordan. "Normally babies want their mummy, but you only wanted your daddy."

"I love daddy." Laila giggled, scooping another spoonful of noodles into her mouth.

"Food good Hazel?" I asked, checking in on the quiet little girl.

"Uh huh, yummy." Hazel nodded. "Love mummy"

"I love you too." I replied, kissing her head. Lately thats her go to phrase. "Love you" was said after everything.

"Hazel wanna play princesses after dinner?" Laila wondered.

"Uh huh please." Replying Hazel giggled and dropped her fork. "oopsies"

"Thats alright you can have a new fork." I assured her, watching her eyes start to water. "Its just a fork, you're alright."

"Hazel no cry, it kay." Laila smiled. "Have mine, I like spoons." She continued, handing Hazel her fork. "All better." Laila was made to be a big sister. I had always known it. She was proving me right more and more everyday. She loved Hazel and was super protective of her. They were best buddies after only a few weeks together. I could only imagine what the future held.