Young Love

23

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Ariana wakes up on an unusually hard surface and groans loudly, blinking her delicate eyes open. What even happened last night?

When the young woman finally comes to her senses she almost jumps out of her skin when a small female child tugs on her dressing gown and stares up at her with big hazel eyes.

That's when Ariana remembers the events of the night before: Justin's mom and the situation with babysitting.

"Where's daddy?" The little girl wails, her sandy hair knotted and messy, her eyes red raw from crying and her long lashes brimming with salty liquid.

"Oh Bella," The brunette woman's heart melts as she hooks her hands under Bella's armpits, sitting down on the couch and placing the girl on her lap. "Shh."

The young mother and the little girl just sit there for a few minutes, Bella sobbing against Ariana's chest while Ariana tries to soothe her. She's had plenty of experience with Liam, but never with anyone else's child before.

"Your daddy's just gone to visit your grandma for a few days," The woman smiles kindly, rocking Bella back and forth. "He'll be back before you know it."

Bella stares up at Ariana with wide eyes, her bottom lip still trembling but feeling less unsure now.

"B-But he always takes me to see nana too." Justin's daughter pouts, looking as if she will burst into tears again.

Ariana has to think on her feet. What can she say that won't upset Bella or make her ask any more difficult questions.

"I know he does, but don't you think that your daddy deserves some alone time with nana? Imagine if you had to share your daddy with someone, you wouldn't like that would you?"

Bella furrows her eyebrows, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"I guess."

Ariana giggles, lifting Bella up onto her hip like she's seen Justin do so many times before. She thinks that maybe it will comfort her just a little bit more.

"Well," The raven-haired woman readjusts the child against her waist and begins to walk towards her son's room. "Do you want to surprise Liam? He'll be happy to see you."

Bella's entire face lights up with joy and she claps her hands, seemingly forgetting about why she was so upset only mere minutes before.

"LiLi! Where is he?" The small girl looks so delighted to be seeing her friend and it's honestly the cutest thing Ariana has ever seen.

The mother absolutely adores her son, but she has always wanted a daughter too. Someone she could play dress-up with or test out hairstyles on. It's always been her dream to have a large family, but once her boyfriend was sent to jail, she lost all hope.

"He's still sleeping I'm afraid." Ariana chuckles, pushing the door to her baby boy's room open. She leans down to whisper in Bella's ear. "He's a bit lazy sometimes."

The little copy of Justin lets out a cute giggle, struggling to get out of Ariana's grip.

Bella finally manages to get down and runs over to Liam's bed, which is located just under the window sill. Light is pouring in through the blinds and Ariana wonders how her son actually slept through everything.

The boy looks peaceful; his tufty raven hair spread out on the pillows, his brown eyes shut and snuffly noises escaping his mouth every time he breathes in and out.

"LiLi?" The sandy-haired girl taps her friend's shoulder lightly, waiting for him to wake up. Ariana half expected her to jump on top of him and force him awake, but she is surprisingly calm.