No matter what

You're one of the strongest people i've met

2 days later
(Christmas Day)

Tabitha slowly got out of bed, she opened her eyes hoping the light wouldn't be too bright. She stood up noticing the stocking at the end of her bed, she had no idea what to do with it so she picked it up and went to Perrie and Alex's room. As soon as she walked in Perrie sat up, "happy Christmas princess" she smiled, "happy Christmas" Tabitha said back, "mummy? What is this for?" She asked holding the stocking up. "It's for you sweetheart" Perrie giggled, "for me?" Tabitha questioned, "yes baby, shall we wake daddy up so you can open your presents" Perrie smiled, Tabitha nodded in reply before Perrie turned over and placed a kiss on Alex's jaw, "wakey wakey babe" she mumbled against his face, "merry christmas" she whispered. A few seconds later Alex sat up, "happy Christmas girls" he smiled. "Go on baby" Perrie smiled motioning for Tabitha to open the small gifts in her stocking.

Once the stocking had been empty Tabitha crawled up the bed and sat between Perrie and Alex. "You okay boo?" Alex asked, she nodded her head, "thank you for my presents" she smiled. "How about you go downstairs and look under the Christmas tree?" Perrie smiled. They all got up and walked down the stairs, "woah!" Tabitha whispered, "are these all for you?" She asked Perrie and Alex, "some of them are baba, the rest are for you or the dogs" Perrie said. Tabitha stared in shock, she'd never had presents like this from the care home, or from her parents.

"Thank you so much" Tabitha smiled once she had opened all of her presents. She got up and walked over to Perrie and Alex, "come here baba" Alex said holding his arms out towards her, she stood in front of him and he lifted her onto his knee. "We're so so proud of you teej" Perrie smiled, "thank you" Tabitha replied.

4 hours later

Both Perrie and Alex's families were now at the house, they were all in the lounge watching Christmas movies and talking. Alex was in the kitchen cooking the Christmas dinner whilst Perrie was laying everything out on the table with hatchi running round her legs constantly.
Tabitha was sat watching the films when she suddenly started biting the inside of her cheeks and staring blankly at the wall, Leo's ears perked up an he barked twice before placing his head on Tabithas leg. Caitlin noticed that Tabitha seemed spaced out so she shouted Perrie. "Pez!", "yeh?" Perrie replied, "come here quick!" Caitlin yelled running over to Tabitha as she started to shake.

Perrie ran into the lounge "shit" she whispered as she went over to caitlin and Tabitha, "Alex!" She shouted, hopefully loud enough for him to hear. By this point everyone knew what was going on, Debbie had turned off the tv so it wasn't too noisy but no one knew what to do. Perrie lay a still shaking Tabitha down, she placed a cushion under her head and sat by her side holding her little girls hand and tracing small circles on it. Soon enough Alex cane in, "fuck" he whispered. He walked over and sat down with Perrie and Tabitha. "Guys, do you mind, erm going into the cinema room or dining room or something?" Alex asked, they all nodded their heads and made their way out of the room.

Perrie leant back onto Alex chest, "this is what she's scared of" Perrie whispered, obviously with tears falling down her face. Alex wrapped his arms around Perrie, "she'll be ok" he replied, "but Alex, she's scared, she's scared of this happening. And I just don't want her to feel like that" she cried. Alex kissed her temple and hugged her tighter. "Shhh, pez, babe. She's gonna come round soon" he whispered. Perrie shut her eyes for a second, rubbed them with force and dried her tears. Only a minute later Tabitha had stopped shaking and was beginning to come round, "hi baby" Perrie whispered. Tabitha opened her eyes and looked around her, "where is everyone?" She asked, "they're in the other room teej" Alex smiled. She sat up slowly, with the help of Perrie and Alex, she brushed her hair back from her face and turned to them. Her eyes filled with tears which were soon falling down her face, "oh baby, come here" Perrie cooed as she lifted Tabitha onto her knee. "I'm gonna get back to the dinner, get some rest and make sure she does too, do you want me to send everyone back in?" Alex said, "no, I'll go and get them when we're sorted" Perrie replied softly. "What's wrong baba?" Perrie asked Tabitha, "I-i don't know. It's just sc-scary and I don't like it" she cried into perries arms. "I know baby, I know it's scary. But you're so so brave, you know you are" Perrie said softly. She held Tabitha close and placed a kiss on her head, she closed her eyes but reopened the when she heard a creak. "Only me" perries mam whispered, she walked over to the chair near Perrie and Tabitha who were still on the floor. "Hi mam" Perrie smiled, "you okay baba?" Debbie questioned Tabitha, she looked up at her nana and gave her a small smile whilst nodding her head. She leant back into perries chest and cuddled up as close as she could. "Can I go to bed?" Tabitha whispered, "of course baby, I'll wake you up in time for dinner okay" Perrie smiled, Tabitha nodded slowly standing up from perries knee and walking upstairs.