Fear

Part 4

The beeping of an alarm wakes me up, it was still dark outside. I roll over, looking for Layla but her side of the bed was cold, not to cold but clod enough to show she has been out of bed awhile.

"Baby," I say sitting up looking at the dark room, "where are you?" I says as I get up out of bed seeing light under the bathroom door, I knock "Layla you in there?" I ask

"Yep, can you get Delilah for me so she can have a bath." She says

"Sure baby."

I walk over to Delilah's crib, finding her still asleep. I pick her up, the movement waking her up and take her into the bathroom, handing her to Layla who was in the bath. "Can you wake up Ivy as well please" Layla says as I walk out the door, I nod my head.

I walk over to where my eldest daughter is sleeping. "Ivy baby time to get up, we have to go soon." I tell her, pulling the blankets off her and rub her back, she just made a noise and rolled over. "Want some hot chocolate?" I question and she sits up and nods. I pull her into my arms and carry her to the kitchen placing her on the bench beside me.

"Daddy can I see my picture please?" Ivy asks

"Sure precious." I say pulling my shirt over my head she love seeing my tattoos, I love asking her to tell me what they mean. "what does this one mean?" I ask pointing to the moon

"That one is mama's one, daddy what's that one." She says pointing to the Delilah flower

"that one is Delilah's, what does this one mean" I ask pointing to the heart of ivy surrounding the moon and flower.

"That one is mine." She says happily resting her small hand on it, I place my hand over hers and lean down kissing her cheek before continuing making our hot chocolates

"hey mama, daddy got a new picture." Ivy says

"I know princess, you want to watch Delilah for me she is playing in the lounge room." Layla says getting her down of the bench and she runs off.

"You are so lucky that Ivy didn't notice this." Layla says walking over to me rubbing her hand along my stomach where I had a bruise from last night.

"Ouch that hurts you know." I say pulling away and putting my shirt back on just as Ivy comes back in Delilah right behind her.

"Mama, you told me to watch her and I wanted to see if my hot chocolate is done yet." Ivy says placing Delilah in her seat and walking over to where Layla and I were standing, and I hand her the cup before handing Layla one.

Once we finish our hot chocolate, the sun was starting to come up, "we better get going soon baby." I tell Layla "If we want no one to notice we're gone" I continue

Layla nods and picks up Delilah. I go to walk out the door when Ivy calls out to me, "daddy, can I have a piggyback please?"

"Sure precious." I say walking over to the table while she climbs on the chair before climbing on my back and we walk out to where Layla is packing a bag for both girls. "I will pack us a bag, baby" I tell Layla, swinging Ivy from my back into my arms before throwing her on the bed where Delilah is playing.

I start packing Layla and I's bag when I realize that Layla has no clothes here, unlike the girls that stayed here three nights a week to give Layla a break.

"Baby, you don't have any clothes here." I tell Layla

"That's alright I will just wear your clothes." She says finishing up with the girls' bags and moving to help Ivy get dressed.

"Can you grab your teddy from your bed then get Delilah's bunny from her bed please?" I heard Layla tell Ivy when she was done.

"okay mama." Ivy says before running off to her bed.

Five minutes later, the four of us were creeping downstairs. Layla holding Delilah and I was carrying Ivy in order to make as little noise as possible, I felt a tiny tug on my shirt sleeve, so I look down at Ivy.

"Daddy can I get down, I promise I will be real quite." She whispers in my ear

"okay but you have to be quiet, I have a special job for you." I tell her placing her on the ground, she nods and looks up at me, "I need you to sneak to the bottom of the stairs and see if anyone is down there." I tell her and she nods again before sneaking to the bottom of the stairs.

"Where is Ivy going?" Layla asks me

"she is smaller than me she will make a good look out." I tell Layla just as Ivy comes running back up the stairs.

"Auntie Zaria's boyfriend is down there with other boys and auntie Zaria." Ivy says hiding between my legs holding her hands up, I remember how scared she is of Jake and pick her up.

"Did they see you precious?" I question her and she nods

Just as Jake's voice sounds from the bottom of the stairs, "Ivy come down here we just want to talk to you."