Raura's Daughter

two.

Ross' POV

"Can she quit crying?" Courtney asked in anger as she slammed down her mug of coffee onto the dining table. I was sat across from her with Isabella in my arms who hadn't stopped gurgling or winging since I'd taken her away from Laura. "That's all she's done since she got here! I don't know why you bother looking after her, Ross. Laura is clearly doing okay on her own."

I was about to answer Courtney when Rydel entered the kitchen, a sour look on her face. "It's his daughter too, Courtney. He can't just leave her with Laura because it's the easiest option. She probably just needs some milk."

Rydel scooped Isabella up into her arms and began to gently tickle her as she warmed some milk up inside of Isabella's bottle. As soon as Rydel began to feed her, Bella quieted down and I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Thanks Delly." I murmured. I was seriously grateful.

"No problem." My older sister murmured back as she carefully placed Isabella back into my warm embrace with a bottle sticking out of her mouth. She turned back to Courtney with her arms crossed. "You don't even have to be here. If her crying bothers you that much then just go home."

"I can't go home, dummy." Courtney scowled as she snapped her head in my direction. "Tell her why Ross."

I sighed. I knew why Courtney couldn't go home. It wasn't exactly a valid reason to stay here but I suppose it covered her enough to be here for the time being. Rydel was staring at me with intrigued eyes. "Her Mom is dating this new guy and well... Courtney reckons-"

"I don't reckon!" Courtney muttered as she slurped loudly from her mug of coffee. "I know."

"Anyway..." I said with a sigh of defeat as I propped Isabella up onto my lap. "She knows that her Mom's new boyfriend is into her, not just her Mom. She feels creeped out by him."

Rydel frowned. "So? Why don't you just tell your Mom?"

"Don't you think I've tried, Rydel?" Courtney asked with a quick shake of her head. I watched her roll her eyes as Isabella waved to her excitedly from across the table. Courtney lamely lifted her arm up and waved back, although I think anyone could tell that she'd rather not. "How long is she staying with us this time?" Courtney asked, pointing her finger in Isabella's direction.

To say that I was fed up of Courtney's shit would be an understatement. She had hated Isabella since the day she was born and she'd desperately tried to get me to neglect her, but I already knew that I wanted to be involved in my daughters life; no-one, not even my girlfriend could stop me from doing that.

"The weekend." I said calmly as I handed Rydel Isabella's bottle of half drunken milk. "Can you warm that back up for her for later please?"

Rydel smiled and nodded her head at me. "Sure bro."

Courtney's phone began to ring and in a temper she stood up to answer it. "Mom, forget it! I'm not coming home!"

Courtney left the room and Rydel sat in her place, a worried expression on her face. "What's up?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Rydel pointed her index finger to the kitchen door that Courtney had left wide open. "She needs to leave, Ross. I don't care what family problems she has going on. This is your weekend to bond with your daughter and she's always here to mess it up!"

"I know that." I murmured with a smile as Isabella wrapped her hands around mine. "Shouldn't you be heading back to Ratliff's?"

I was desperately trying to change the subject. I hated discussing the relationship Courtney and I shared. It was a conversation that I struggled to keep up with, especially when Rydel was the one questioning my every move. "Yeah I am soon. I wanted to spend some time with my niece first though."