It's Just Us {Waterloo Road}

Seventeen

Max woke and saw Hannah asleep. He smirked and gently pushed himself in. Hannah woke up.
"Nice way to wake me up Maxy," Hannah said. Max chuckled and kissed her. Hannah kissed back.

She pulled away and smiled at him.
"I can't believe our Autumn is one today," she said.
"I know. It's crazy. She looks more and more like you every day," Max told her. Hannah grinned.
"That's good. She'll be attracting all the boys," she said.

"No boy is allowed near her," Max told Hannah. He kissed her neck.

***
While they were having sex, Hannah heard a cooing over the baby monitor. "Get out."
"What?"
Hannah grinned. "Birthday girl is awake," she said.
Max pulled out and smiled at Hannah as she got out of bed.

They went into the nursery and Autumn grinned up at them.
"Hello," she said to Autumn. Autumn giggled and clapped her hands. Max lifted her up.

Hannah took Autumn and smiled. "Come on birthday girl. You got some presents to open," she said.
"Ooo."

They went downstairs and Max opened the curtains. "Max, I don't think the neighbours want to see you in those tight black boxers," Hannah said as she sat Autumn on the floor.
"No one will see."

Max pulled the curtains back but kept the blinds closed. Autumn seen all the pink wrapping paper.
"Ahh!" she squealed.

Hannah carried her over to the presents. Autumn grabbed one of them and giggled. Hannah sat down with Autumn and so did Max. They helped her unwrap them.

Autumn giggled and started smacking the wrapping paper. Hannah laughed. "Wow. She just wants the paper."
Max nodded. "She's a very happy child."

Hannah went to get ready for work. Max sat with Autumn. "You're the birthday girl and daddy won't let anyone upset you."

***
They went into work. Hannah carried Autumn. Tom walked over. "Hello birthday girl," he said.
Autumn hid her head in Hannah's neck. "Muma," she mumbled.
"It's okay baby," she said. Autumn looked at Tom. Tom handed her a gift bag.
"That's some presents and a card for Autumn," he told her.
"Thank you so much."

Hannah carried Autumn inside. Autumn had gripped a princess dress that Max and Hannah bought her so much that Hannah had let her wear it to the school.
"She's beautiful," Tom said.
"She loved the dress as soon as we helped her unwrap it," Hannah told him.
Tom laughed. "She's like her mummy. Likes clothes," he said.
Hannah grinned. "She's got fashion sense."

***
Max carried Autumn into the office. Karen looked up. "Is she here again?"
"Yes. Do you have a problem?" Max spat.
Karen rolled her eyes. "This is an office. It's not a day care," she said.
"She's my daughter. She stays with me," Max hissed at her. Karen stormed out.

Autumn looked at Max. Max smiled.
"We don't like her do we baby?" Max asked. Autumn shook her head. Max smiled again and kissed her head.

***
Hannah went to the staffroom and made herself a coffee.
The door opened and Aimee walked in. "Hey."
"Hey."
Hannah smiled as Aimee handed her a giftbag. "A little something for the birthday girl," she said.
"Aw thank you."

Autumn was sitting on Max's lap. She held his hand and started rubbing his hand as she dozed off. The door opened and Hannah walked in. "Hey!"
Autumn woke again and started screaming.

Max showed Autumn Hannah. She stopped screaming and reached her arms out for Hannah.

Hannah walked over and grabbed her. She held her tightly.
"My pretty princess," Hannah said. Autumn giggled and nuzzled her head into Hannah's neck.
Hannah rubbed Autumn's back. "Mummy and daddy love you."
Autumn giggled. She loved her mummy and daddy.

Hannah went back to teaching. Autumn began squealing. Max let her crawl around.

Max went to stand in the outer office. Autumn was playing on her playmat while Karen was in there. Autumn pouted. She crawled over to Karen and stood up against her legs.

Karen stood up and Autumn fell down onto her butt. She started screaming. Max ran in. He seen what Karen did.
"You... bitch," Max said. Max ran to Autumn and held her. "You are just a bitch who upsets small children because she's fed up with her life!"

Karen stormed out. Max kissed Autumn's cheek.
"Shh. Daddy has you," he said. Autumn whimpered and gripped onto Max's suit jacket.

Hannah walked in. She saw Autumn with tears. "What happened?"
"Karen."

Hannah didn't need to know anymore. She turned and walked off. Max knew what would happen. "Janeece! Keep an eye on Autumn."

Max ran after Hannah. "Calm down."
"No! She upset my daughter and no one gets away with it," she spat.
"If you hurt Karen, she has ammunition to fire you."
"I don't care. She's upset my little girl! No one upsets my little girl!" Hannah yelled. She began to cry. Max held her tightly.
"Shhh," Max said.
"I want Autumn safe."

Hannah calmed down and went to see Autumn. Autumn was in Janeece's arms.
"Hey baby girl," Hannah said.

Autumn looked at Hannah and giggled. Hannah took her from Janeece. "Tell Max I've taken her home."

Hannah got Autumn's pushchair from the boot and walked home. Autumn babbled.

Hannah got into the house. She let Autumn out the pushchair. Autumn crawled off to the kitchen. "Where you going?" Hannah asked.
Autumn giggled and carried onto the kitchen.
Autumn found the washing basket and pulled out all the washing.
"Naughty girl," she said. Autumn giggled.

Hannah sat down with Autumn. Autumn dropped the washing and crawled into Hannah's lap.
"Muma," Autumn mumbled.
"Mummy's here," Hannah told her and helped her onto her lap.
Max went to find Tom. He found Aimee instead. "Could you tell Tom that I've gone home. I'm spending the day with my fiancé and our daughter."
"Sure. Give Autumn my love."

Hannah and Autumn were sitting in the pop up tent that Hannah bought for her birthday. Autumn giggled. "Hannah?"

Hannah looked at Autumn. "Who's that?" She asked.
"Dada!" Autumn squealed.
"Are you sure?" Hannah asked. Autumn giggled and squealed.

Hannah lifted the pop up tent door and Max attempted to squeeze in. He got in and Autumn grinned at him.
"Hello you," he said. Autumn bounced up and down on Hannah's lap clapping her hands.
Hannah smiled. "She's been in the washing basket."
"Again?"
Hannah nodded. "Yeah. I think she likes it."

Autumn got out of the tent and crawled off. Hannah followed her quickly. Autumn was standing against the sofa. "Baby, are you going to walk for mummy?" Hannah asked.
"Ba!"

Hannah held Autumn's hands to help her stand up. Max sat on the other side of the room.
"Come to daddy baby," Max said. Autumn giggled and tried to walk.

Hannah and Max smiled as Autumn walked with the help of Hannah. She fell on her bum at Max's knees and giggled. Max kissed her head.
"That's my girl," he said. Autumn grinned at both of her parents.

Hannah looked at Max. "I'm going to make her some lunch. She looks peckish."
"Alright."

Hannah walked to the kitchen. Max sat with Autumn. "Daddy thinks you should have a little sibling."
"Baba?"
Max nodded. He gave Autumn one of her toys. Autumn giggled.
Autumn began to cuddle the pink teddy. Max smiled.
"I think you'd like a little sibling," Max told her as he stroked her soft hair.

Hannah was in the kitchen making lunch but she heard what Max had said. She had been thinking about it too and wanted to talk a bit more with Max about it.
"Lunch will be ready soon," Hannah called.
"No problem babe."

Hannah watched Max with Autumn and sighed. She knew how things had been after Hannah had aborted the baby. But she couldn't help but wonder if things would be different with another baby.