Family

Chapter Six

Andrew wakes up to crying. He sits up confused and then remembers where he is. He stands up and walks over to the crib. He picks up the baby and shhhs her. "Hey, it's ok Maggie. Everything's going to be ok." He says rocking her back and forth.

"She wants Nikki's lullaby." He hears and turns to see Maddie sitting up. He looks over at Nicole and shakes his head.

"She needs to sleep." He says and looks back at the baby. "Maggie, it's ok. Nikki's just sleeping." He says, but she continues to cry.

"What ahr ya doin'?" He hears Nicole's tired voice. She sits up staring at him.

"Long story." He says and she opens her eyes. He places the baby in her arms.

"Maggie, hey, it's ok." She says and starts to hum a tone he doesn't know. "Everything's gonna be alright and you're gonna grow and grow. Your Mama and Daddy gonna be so proud when you shine above the rest." She sings and he watches as the baby begins to go back to sleep. Nicole gets up and brings her back to the crib. She then looks to Maddie and points to the bed. Maddie plops her head down and closes her eyes. Nicole then looks at him. She grabs his ear and pulls him out of her room.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." He says as she drags him outside the house.

"Explain." She says yawning and then crossing her arms.

"You should really go back to sleep, I explain things when you wake up." He says, she looks up at him with a very unamused expression.

"Do not test me raahyt now. Explain." She says with a full southern drawl.

"Max and I stopped by your work, you hadn't slept in like fifteen days and past out, so I brought you and the two little girls home. Maddie wanted me to stay for you, so I slept on the ground." He says shortening the whole thing.

"Well thank ya, ya kayn leave now." She says ready to walk back into her house.

"Nikki-"

"Ownlee maah family calls me Nikki, jus' because ya helped me once doesn't me wer all buddy buddy." She says glaring at him.

"I know that, but-"

"But nothin', leave." She says and he takes a breath.

"Ok, fine, I'm going." He says backing up. She nods her head and turns back around. She focuses on walking back to the house feeling herself begin to get dizzy. She sways and walks into her door. She grabs onto the handle holding herself steady. She then feels two warm hands on her sides. She goes to protest, but falls into the person. She let's her eyes close and then she's asleep again.

Andrew lifts her up and opens the door. He lays her back down and Maddie sits up. "She's not normally like this. She's happy most of the time." Maddie says sitting on her knees looking at Andrew.

"You don't have to worry, I won't leave her just because she's kinda cranky." He says and she smiles. "So, tell me more about Nikki." He says and Maddie's eyes light up.

**~**

Nicole wakes up to laughter. She sits up confused. She looks around her room and sees that Maddie's gone and so is Maggie. "Maddie, where ahr ya?" She yells panicked and jumps out of bed. She runs down the hall and then her feet stop. She looks in her living room confused. Max and Andrew are playing a game with Maddie on the floor and Andra is holding Maggie in her arms. Nicole wipes her eyes and still sees the same picture. "What?" She looks at them confused.

"You have cool friends," Maddie says and she smiles down at her.

"Can ya take Maggie into my room for jus' a lidl while?" She asks, but Maddie knows it wasn't a question. She nods her head and grabs the baby from Andra before quickly walking.