It's in the little things: One-shots x2

A Parents perspective: Facetime calls mean everything

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of updates recently but I do have two massive courseworks due and my uni dissertation, so it is all a bit crazy! I have also been working on a separate book, with a slightly darker theme- would anyone be interested in reading this? Let me know in the comments! Love always, FB x

Rina's POV:

"G'day Dotty! How's things? You definitely look...happy!" Smiling at the picture across my screen, I can't help but feel a sense of relief as I watch my only daughter curls up on her boyfriends lap. "Hi Mummy! Yeah i'm good, it's our last day off together so i'm a bit reluctant to let this one move too far from me." She sighs, diverting her attention to the scruffy blond sitting behind her and reaching out to stroke his face, momentarily getting lost in his eyes. "Um..Dot, your mum..." he blushes furiously, nudging her back round gently and back into focus of the camera. "So! What has been going on with you two? Done anything exciting recently...you both look very...glowy! How's the UK?" Watching my girl nattering away animatedly, she reminds me so much of that young girl I raised, who used to squeal with excitement on her way to dance; who would bounce when we went on road trips and who cried leaving home for the first time because she didn't want to go. That, amongst other memories will forever be engrained in my mind, memories which suddenly became easier to deal with, seeing her safe like this.

* Flashback 1*

"M...mu...mum I can't leave, I need to stay here. Please mum! I don't want to go anymore!" she sobs, almost hysterical as I place the last box in Andrew's car. Lifting my daughter off the floor, it is nearly impossible not to break down as she cried into my chest. Drawing a deep breath, I do what mother's do best. "Dianne Claire Buswell. You listen and you listen now. You are going to Perth and you're gonna love it! You are an insanely talented dancer and the world deserves to see that. There are great things out there, just waiting for you, amazing places to see, things to do and people to meet, you've just got to dry those tears and go already! Home will still be here and waiting for you, whenever you want to visit! Now go. I love you but go."

Holding her tight just one last time, I push her off me and into Andrew's waiting car, blinking back my own tears as I watch them drive off, my last two home-birds flying the nest. I miss them already but at least they are only two hours away...plenty of time for visits.

*Flashback 2*

Dot has been travelling around the USA and Europe for a few years now, coming home for Christmas and whenever else she can but I can't help but miss her. She has a serious boyfriend now and I don't know too much about him...she doesn't willingly chat about him much so I don't know how to deal with this. Recently Dianne has become quieter, more reserved and she has lost that famous dimple that I love so much. Being so far away from her and just wanting to hold her close, it really does break me on days like this. A knock on the door drags me from these thoughts, forcing me to push Dot to the back of my mind as I move on to the rest of the day. Opening the door, I nearly crash to the floor when I see my baby stood in the doorway, sobbing her eyes out and looking so weak and innocent. "Mu...mum I need you. I've left him now...he wasn't goo...good to me. Can I co...can I come home?" Once again, I lift my daughter off the floor and cradle her to my chest, rocking side to side like a baby. She weighs nearly nothing, all slight and pale and this time I know my actions won't be enough, this time we need more help. But i'll start with what I know she needs...

"Of course you can come home baby. You ARE home baby."

*Flashback 3*

"Mum! MUM! Where are you? Mum! I got the job! I've been offered a place on Strictly Come Dancing UK! I'm going to London again!" She bounces excitedly around the room, gripping her phone in her hand and doing a little celebratory dance. For the first time in months, I've got my Dot back, dimple and all! It's the first time I've seen her genuinely happy over the thought of dancing, especially on the other side of the world.

The happiness and excitement lasted, right until the very moment she went to leave through security. "I'll miss you Mum. I promise i'll do you proud and not go back to those old ways, i'll keep myself right this time and look after me for once. And i'll be home as soon as I can." She whispers tearfully against my shoulder as we share a last goodbye. "This is the most amazing opportunity for you Dotty! You love London and you love dance so go! Have fun! Now go, before you miss your flight. Go on!" Pushing her away from me and towards security, I give her one last, watery smile as that shiny redhead disappears from sight and off on her new adventures.

Each of these memories brings back a different emotion in not only Dot's life, but in mine too. Watching her grow from that timid, home-loving girl, to heading off across the world but falling into the wrong hands and punishing herself as a result and finally moving her entire life to the UK, landing a solid dance carer- i'm so incredibly proud of her! Watching her interact so easily with her Joseph, whilst chatting to me and now her doting father who has come to join us, now smiling down the phone at his only girl, engulfed in the arms of the man we have all come to love, the one to treat her like the princess she is. It brings back one last, much happier memory this time, a memory which I will treasure forever.

* Final Flashback*

"G'day Dotty! How are...wait...WHERE are you? How come you stayed in a hotel last night and didn't go home? I thought you were back from Blackpool?" Confused not only as to why she was still in bed at 10am UK time, but why she was in a bed with bright white sheets, with an unfamiliar headboard and an unrecognisable bedroom. "I...um...hold up mum, Joe is being sick again." And with that, she disappeared, leaving the facetime call to go and tend to her "dance partner". Seemingly unaware that she hadn't ended the call, I couldn't help but eaves drop into the snippets of conversation I could hear. "That's it little one, get it all out, I know it's horrible but hopefully this will be the last of it. Come here sweetheart, oh Joseph my love, oh my little one. Let's get you up and back to bed." She coo's, I can only assume as she comforts him.

"Don't Di, you'll get sick too and that's the last thing we need, don't kiss me, honestly Dianne." Joe whimpers in the background but that does confirm two things: 1) Dianne is at Joe's house and 2) They are, in fact MORE than "dance partners" and knowing my daughter, she will have ignored him anyway and kissed him regardless. Hearing the sheets shuffle near the phone, I cough loudly, drawing the attention back to the phone and myself. "Oh shit! Um...Mum...I can explain..."she trails off sheepishly, glancing to her right, obviously looking at Joseph. Smiling widely, I just nod at her knowingly. "Dianne, I have seen you with a number of boys in your time and I can see the sparkle in your eye when you talk about him. And from what I can see, he is a true gentleman, even when he is sick." I wink as my only girl blushes as deeply as her hair "I'll leave you two be, Joe? Get better soon and get back to training! Love you my Dot! Bye!"*

From that day, I could tell that she had fallen and fallen hard for her floppy haired dance partner. Over time, it became more and more evident just how pure their love was, how devoted they were to each other and how supportive they are towards each other. Watching this time of love blossom is so rare and so special...they hold the kind of love from fairytales. Now, in the present day, that love is just as clear, highlighted as Joseph strokes her hair gently, whilst she teases her dad and chats about how their home is coming along with the new paintings she bought for Joseph. All I can do is absorb everything around me. Suddenly, I have a realisation- I know my daughter is safe and loved, My daughter has now found her home and even though it is not here in Oz, I accept that she is now happy, content and so incredibly loved.

Facetime calls mean everything.