"we go see papa?" ruby asked quietly from the backseat, playing with the small grey kitten her father had sent her a few days ago.
"of course, babes! and you get to stay with him for a few days. you excited?" jenna grinned widely, looking back at the small girl. "papa's excited too! he even has some people who are pretty excited to meet you. you think you're up for that?"
she peeked her head back for a second, seeing the blonde girl grinning slightly. "friends?" ruby asked, eyes bright with excitement.
it'd always been hard for the toddler to make friends, especially with the major size difference between her and the other kids her age. two years old and if jenna had a dollar for every time ruby asked her what "midget" meant, she'd be a millionaire.
but she couldn't help but worry slightly for ruby. all she wanted was to be accepted by someone and it worried jenna that she'd be away from her for two weeks, not sure who tyler had in mind when it came to 'kids who want to be friends with ruby.'
"yes, pretty girl, you're gonna make friends." she laughed softly as she pulled up to the address tyler had given her. "you gonna take the cat too or can mama keep him for a bit?"
"s'okay, i keep him. he my baby friend." she giggled, looking out the window. "whoa, papa sleep here?"
"he lives here, babes, kind of how we live in the big room with mr. joe." jenna smiled softly, reaching over and taking ruby out of the car seat. "now, what are you gonna do with papa until i come back?"
"be good. ooh, and eat my food, even if it no tacos."
jenna laughed and kissed her over her face. "good. and if you feel yucky, what do you do?"
"tell papa and say call you." she smiled softly. "i a big girl, momma."
"but you're still my baby chicken." jenna laughed. "come on, let's go with papa." she opened the door, carefully stepping out while holding ruby's hand. grabbing her small suitcases out of the trunk, jenna sighed softly as ruby kept hugging her kitten.
"chicken, what are you going to name him?"
"well, he no chicken. that's me... he can be pig! piggles! mr. piggles!" ruby grinned, scratching the kitten behind his ears, earning small purrs. "see, he like it."
jenna laughed softly, taking the girl's free hand and leading her to the door. but the toddler felt a bit intimidated by the big house. bright eyes looked up at the door as jenna knocked on it, causing the smaller girl to hide behind her mom.
"you stay too?" she mumbled quietly, hiding behind the black coat. "you stay with me and papa?"
"oh, chicken, its gonna be okay. papa's gonna open the door and you'll be totally fi-"
suddenly, the door opened slowly as small hands struggled to pull it open. a boy, who looked to a bit bigger than ruby, peeked out at the two girls with blue eyes and long hair tied back into a slightly tilted man bun.
"hi, im jenna." jenna smiled at the small boy, trying to pull ruby from behind her. "and this is ruby. we're looking for tyler."
the boy looked up at her, silent as he blinked up at her. suddenly, he heard the small mew of ruby's kitten and he turned his attention to her, frowning slightly as she held the kitten tighter and tried to melt into her mom's leg.
"hi." he whispered quietly, giving a small wave to ruby as she peeked slightly over at him, still nervous of the stranger in front of her. "momma in shower but -"
