For All Eternity

Okay?

A hand rubbing her back softly pulled Connie from a wonderful sleep she was having. Because it was such a wonderful sleep she decided the person rubbing her back could wait- she needed to explore this sleep and her dream more.

"Connie, wake up, Mia and Billy are here!" An excited voice said, which made her roll onto her back and open her eyes wide.

"Really actulally? Here nowd?" She asked stretching her arms tall to the white ceiling.

"Yeah, want me to carry you?" Her Mummy asked, as Connie scrambled to sit up.

"Nope," Connie wriggled out of bed and did a circle around the woman, waiting for her to move.

"Do you want to put some clothes on first Squish?" Dianne suggested, holding a summer dress up. It was gone 11 am but Connie had been napping after waking up at 3am again. Joe was hoping that having some other children to interact with today might wear her out enough that she would sleep through to 5 am the next day.

"I 'pose so." She was already halfway undressed spinning in a circle, as Dianne fetched some knickers.

"Want some shorts tiny? So you don't show your knickers if its windy?" Dianne asked, as Connie pulled the dress on at lightning speed.

"Fine," she held onto Dianne's shoulders as she stepped into them.

"We'll tackle your hair later kay?" Dianne said, opening the bedroom door.

Connie nodded and raced out, slowing down when she saw someone who looked both familiar and unfamiliar. Suddenly her tummy felt bubbly and she looked back at her Mummy for some support, biting her lip.

"Want picking up?" Dianne whispered, crouching next to her. Connie nodded, sucking her thumb- something she didn't do very often anymore. As Dianne picked her up she nuzzled into her neck, hiding.

"So Connie, this is my brother Brendan," Dianne pointed to him, swaying with Connie.

"Brendan."

"Yeah or Bren, it's very nice to meet you, I've heard you're a very special little girl," Brendan waved, smiling at the sight in front of him. This was the first time he had seen his sister with the little girl in person and so far it was everything he had imagined it would be.

"Yep."

Dianne chuckled, kissing her cheek, "and this is Annie."

"Hi Annie," Connie sounded a little more confident.

"Hello Connie. Mia and Billy are playing in the garden if you want to play."

Connie looked at Dianne, feeling unsure again. "I'll come and sit with you. Let's get suncream and a sun hat on first."

"Where Daddy?" She asked, as Dianne put her on the couch.

"He's just on the phone at the moment. He'll be done soon. How was your nap, fo you feel better now?" She asked Connie, as she put some blue suncream in her hand.

Connie nodded, "no more sore tummy. I fought I was sickie."

"I think you might have just been tired and a bit excited. Eyes closed."

"Good nap Mummy? Wiv Dada?"

"I did, I feel less stuffy. Hopefully I'm not getting a cold eh Connie-Lou."

"I had dream," Connie told Dianne, shivering when it got sprayed on her shoulders.

"What about," Dianne asked, seeing Annie holding her hands to herchest.

'So cute,' she mouthed, as Connie explained her dream where she brought a Quokka home to London, called it Jason and slept with it every night.

"Right, all done, come on let's go and get Bill and Mia!" Dianne said throwing Connie onto her hip, slipping her little hat on her head.