4.31 Daddy

 Kaity was humming to herself while she tidied the kitchen as Shaena padded down the stairs.
"Morning drunky, how you feeling today?" She grinned, pouring a cup of coffee for her friend. It was far from morning by now, and nearly time to start making the kids some dinner.
"Awful." Shaena replied quietly, leaning against the counter and taking the offered mug with a nod of the head.
"What time did you get in?" Kaity asked, throwing the dirty rag in her hand onto a pile of laundry in the corner. Shaena shrugged as she sipped the hot, brown liquid. "That early, eh?" Kaity teased, leaning against the counter herself with her own mug.

"Did you have a good night?" Shaena didn't seem like she was up to talking, but Kaity remembered times when she'd been a lot worse and her 'friend' would tease her about it.
"It was alright." She didn't seem so sure.
"What happened?" Kaity asked, worried.
"Nothing." Shaena shook her head as she replied. There was a slight pause before she continued. "It's just Leighton-"
"Leighton?! What did he do? I warned him, honest, if he's up in your room I swear to God-"
"You warned him?" Shaena raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

Kaity sighed and ran her fingers through her hair nervously. Why did she always drop herself in it?
"You were really drunk, and I didn't want you to do something you'd regret..." She muttered, half hoping she wouldn't hear and would just leave it.
"How old do you think I am?" Shaena sounded angry, she wasn't shouting, but that was likely only because of her hangover. "You don't need to look out for me, Kaity." She placed her coffee cup down on the side, and Kaity followed suit.
"Yeah, I know, but... But Leighton isn't the relationship type, and it wouldn't have worked out. I just didn't want to see you hurt again after all you've been through."

"Maybe I don't want a relationship." Shaena countered. "You saw how my last one worked out, maybe I just want something simple for a bit?" Kaity didn't know what to say.
"But..." It wasn't often she was speechless.
"Exactly. You don't need to baby me and look out for me all the time. It's sweet that you want to, but honestly, I can look after myself."
"Sorry." Kaity mumbled, and Shaena dismissed her apology with a wave of the hand and shake of the head.

"So, what did Leighton do?" Kaity asked after a short pause.
"Someone else." Shaena mumbled.
"Someone else?" Kaity questioned.
"Yes. I sat up on the podium with him until the end of the night, then, as the lights came on and we headed to the after party, some random girl came up to him and tagged along with us. She was hanging off his neck by the time we got there, and so I just said I'd go, but he begged me to stay. So, I stayed for an hour or so, and watched them all over each other before I just walked out and came home."
"Well, I'll talk to him. That's just ridiculous." Kaity was angry, but didn't shout out of respect for her cousins pounding head.

"Don't, Kait. What's the point? I only wanted a little fun, and so did he, it just didn't work out how I'd hoped."
"Ok." Kaity lied. Shaena knew she'd ring Leighton as soon as she could, but didn't argue.
"Ok. Well, I'm going to soak in the tub, then probably head back to bed." Kaity nodded, and Shaena moved to the bathroom. Kaity quickly patted herself down. Phone, phone, phone... Where is it? She thought back. She'd not seen it today. The last time she'd had it was in Autumns room the night before, so she headed upstairs to look.

She found it on the changing station, where she'd left it.
Twenty-eight missed calls, four voicemails and ten texts?! What's going on? She asked herself, shocked. One text and one missed call from Leighton: 'Lost Shae, sorry baby K! xx' Kaity snorted, and didn't bother replying. If he was worrying, which he likely wasn't, he could keep worrying in her opinion, and she'd ring him and tell him off like he needed soon anyway. One text from Shaena 'Mis u alredy bbz! xxxxxxxxx' - that was sent just after one in the morning, hours after she'd left.

The rest were Winter. Oops. She thought as she read through the various messages, mainly variations of 'Call me! xxx', 'Answer the phone already! xxx' and 'Are you ok? xxx'. One in particular made her laugh: 'If you're dead... Well, then there's no point me sending this. Please ring me asap Kaity xxxxx' Onto the voicemails.
"Are you kidding, Kaity? Answer your phone, I've only got five minutes!"
"Kaity!! Call me back please."
"I hope you're just asleep, but I know you can't sleep through your phone ringing. That thing is attached to you like your own hand, so I can't imagine you don't know I'm ringing. Would you please just answer? We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
"Kaity. It's eleven at night here. I've been trying to get hold of you for fifteen hours. I need to go to sleep now, but I'll keep my phone on loud if you decide you want to talk to me. Reverse the charges if that's the problem, I don't care. ... I just want to talk to you. I miss you."
Kaity just stared at her phone after the messages were all heard.This... This is too real. What do I even say if I do ring him? I said what he wanted-what I wanted to say, what is there to talk about? After a few moments of staring at the screen, she decided to send a text.
'Sorry, left fne in Tums rm. Call u later <3 xxxxx' That would buy her some time. She felt like she was forgetting to do something, but headed off to entertain the kids anyway. Whatever it was would come back to her.

_____

 "No, because look, the one we saw earlier then Arnold had pie for dinner. Remember? He made a big deal about it-"
"Yeah, whatever Soph, I'm sure you're right." Jaydean sighed at her sister. She honestly didn't care if they'd watched this one earlier or not. "When will Winter be back?" She yawned.
"Mummy said about eleven, but it's after midnight now." Sophie looked over to her mother and brother, they'd been asleep for a few hours now.
"Wouldn't he ring if the plane was late?" Just as Jaydean asked, there was a knock at the door. Both girls jumped to their feet and rushed to the front door giggling.

Winter barely had time to lock the door again before the girls jumped all over him.
"You're back!"
"Did you have fun?"
"Why are you late?"
"Did you miss us?"
"Did you get us presents?"
"Yeah, what did you get us?" Winter laughed at their excited questions.
"Why are you still up?" He asked.

"Mummy said!"
"Yeah, she said we could wait up to see you, but she fell asleep ages ago."
"And Tummy did, he fell asleep even before it got dark, but he's just a baby."
"Can we have our presents now?"
"If you get into bed, then I'll bring your presents up. Deal?"
"Deal!" Both girls replied in unison, before quickly pecking him on the cheek and running up the stairs.

The first thing Kaity knew of Winter's return, was him gently kissing her awake. His cold hands stroking her hair and her arm, his cool breath on her cheek.
"Winter?" She muttered, slowly opening her eyes. "You're back!"
"I'm back." He smiled, as Kaity carefully sat herself up and gently lay Autumn on the sofa beside her.

She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him close. "I missed you so much." She whispered as she crashed her lips to his. They weren't sure how much time passed before a little voice spoke up.

"Mummy I awake." Kaity felt Autumn tugging on her arm, and groaned against Winters lips. Winter smiled and rested a hand on his son, trying to calm him as he tried to pull away from Kaity. "Mummy!" Autumn shouted, pulling on her tshirt.

"Yes, baby." Kaity sighed, turning to look at her son.
"I want a egg."
"You can't have an egg now, Tum, it's bedtime."
"Daddy make me egg?"
"No, daddy won't make you an egg either. Maybe in the morning."
"Yes in the morning." Autumn replied, nodding his head. Winter smiled at his sons insistance, before tickling him gently, causing Autumn to scream.
"Winter!" Kaity scolded. "How am I supposed to get him to sleep if you're waking him up?!"
"Daddy, mummy always grumpy when you not here."
"Autumn." Kaity sighed, picking him up and standing. "Lets get you into bed."

"Daddy do it." Autumn demanded. "Daddy don't hate me."
"Mummy doesn't hate you either." Winter reassured him, stroking his face.
"Yeah, I don't hate you, Tum. Besides, you told me a whole story about daddy hating you. What happened to that?"
"I lied." Autumn replied, making both his parents laugh. Kaity gave him a quick kiss before handing him over to Winter.

"Mummy said she will buy me a dog and a horse tomorrow." Autumn said as soon as he'd left Kaity's grip.
"No I didn't, Autumn. You're lying. Do you remember what happens to liars?"
"Liars grow big and strong." Autumn told Winter.
"Autumn." Kaity warned. She knew he knew this one. "You're lying again, so what will happen?"
"I won't get a dog." Kaity sighed. She gave up.
"I'm going to bed." She announced, walking towards the door. "Don't be too long." She whispered in Winters ear as she passed.





Umm... Yeah, if you're 18+ then you may go here for more. Just a silly little bonus scene. That's all. Of course, I expect you to comment here first, silly! ;)
Also. AUTUMN IS TOO DAMN CUTE! <3

The Hills Have Ears! #7

KRAZY'S BACK!

KAITY Mattell was seen blowing off steam in style last night at the 'Summer Shindig' event hosted by local club, The Grind. Mattell and a friend were VIP guests of top DJ, 'Lazy' Leighton Sekemoto, whose real relationship with Mattell has been under scrutiny for years. The night started off well, with revellers enjoying the half price drinks offers and good music, while our Kaity spent most of the evening switching between the DJ's podium and the dancefloor. We thought she really had turned over a new leaf, as her squeeze Winter Snow mentioned at the press release earlier this week, who was surprisingly absent last night. Is there trouble in paradise?
That's the conclusion we drew when Mattell dragged her friend towards the pole in the far corner of the bar. It wasn't long before the girls attracted unwanted attention, and Krazy Kaity came back with a bang! We couldn't hear the exchange over the music, but one gentleman approached her friend, causing Kaity to go krazy and push him away. The mans friend stepped in to try and break the fight up before she took it too far yet again, and she hit him around the face. We felt that from across the dancefloor!
She wrapped the altercation up by pulling her friend back to the VIP area, and appeared to be shouting at Mr. Sekemoto before she pulled him into a long embrace. And we mean a long embrace.
So, why was Mr. Snow not out with his beau after only admitting to their relationship days before? Just what is going on with Krazy and Lazy? Will this mystery man sue? And is Krazy Kaity back to stay?

4.30 Clarity

Warning: Long. Very long. About 2.5 chapters of my usual length kinda long...

 

"I won't take no for an answer." Leightons voice demanded as Kaity answered the phone.
"As an answer to what? And by the way, most people say 'hello' or 'hi' when they answer the phone." Kaity rolled her eyes.
"Hi"
"Hi. Now, what do you want from me? Or rather, what are you about to force me to do?"
"I'd never force you to do anything... Ok, maybe I am forcing you. I got you three VIP passes for Saturday nights 'Summer Shindig' at the Grind. It's basically in Winter's honour, to celebrate the season naming thing."
"This Saturday?"
"That's what I said."
"Winter is away." Kaity stated, a bit annoyed that Leighton wouldn't even think to ask after they'd only spoken about this a week or so ago.
"What? No way!" He sighed. "Well, you and Shae still come, and if you can find a third then bring them, if not then don't worry. But let me know so I can put their name down."
"What if I don't want to come?" Kaity teased.
"Then you're a terrible friend and I'll have a very lonely night on the decks." Kaity laughed, and agreed they'd be there before hanging up.
_____

"I don't think she should go." Jaydean mused as she pushed her toy away.
"To the party? Why not?" Sophie asked, looking at her sister.
"Just because of Leighton, really." Jaydean shrugged.
"Oh, because of that kiss?" Sophie realised where her sister was going. "Do you think she'd do that again?" Jaydean shrugged. "I thought you said she loved Winter?"
"I thought she did, but I don't think she's told him. I don't think he told her either. He told me like, immediately after meeting me, but I think all the stuff with Autumn and then Bonnie and finally Leighton... Do you think he doesn't love her anymore? That he's only around for Autumn?" Jaydean asked, wide-eyed.
"Nah!" Jaydean and Sophie answered together, smiling.
"He definately loves her." Sophie assured her. "But I don't think he knows how to tell her."
The girls fell silent for a bit, contemplating their next move.

"Do you think we did this?" Jaydean asked quietly. "Do you think we pushed them apart by trying to pull them together?"
"No way." Her sister responded. "He saved her life, even if she didn't love him then she owes him."
"Can we not talk about that night." Jaydean pleaded.
"Sorry." Sophie apologised. "I just think you sometimes forget what he's done for us."
"He has done a lot. I wish he was our dad." They fell silent again. They didn't often think about their real dad. They'd known the story of their conception for as long as they could remember, and didn't particularly want a flaky father like that, but just one meeting would have been nice. There was always going to be that 'what if'.
"Lets go see what's for dinner." Sophie broke the silence after a while, and the girls headed to the kitchen.

"Salad?!" They moaned together.
"Yes!" Kaity repeated. "I give you too much crap from a packet, so get some leaves down you."
"But I want pizza." Jaydean moaned.
"Yeah, and ice cream." Sophie added.
"Tough, you're having salad." Kaity said, dishing up three plates and handing the girls one each.

"Do you trust yourself?" Sophie asked of her mother once they were settled at the table.
"To do what?" Kaity answered with a question of her own.
"To go out drinking without Winter?" Kaity choked on her meal as she gasped. "Sorry if I offended you mummy, I was just wondering." She added quickly, realising that maybe that comment was a step too far.
"Yes, Sophie. I'm an adult, I have self control." Her mother gasped out.
"Does he know you're going?"
"Yes. What's with the constant twenty questions games?"
"We're just trying to look out for your best interests. We know you didn't mean to kiss Leighton that-"
"How do you know about that?" Kaity interrupted her daughter, putting down her fork as her appetite suddenly shrank.

"Someone at school showed us the paper." Jaydean said, standing up for her sister. Kaity thought she was going to cry. She'd never even imagined that there might be papers at school that her kids could see.
"Look. We don't talk about that, ok? Mummy was stupid, and didn't think things through. And you know that not everything you read in the paper is true, don't you?"
"Yes, mummy." Sophie nodded. "We just really like Winter, and we don't want anything to happen that would make him leave."
"I really like him too, Soph." Kaity smiled. As much as her daughters were winding her up recently, probably just in an awkward phase pre-puberty, she did love them. Moments like this when they pointed things out with such innocence and clarity reminded her of that fact. "I love you two, you know that? No matter what happens I will always love you and support you. You'll always be my babies."
"Puke!" Sophie shouted, making the three of them laugh.

_____

When Kaity and Shaena arrived at The Grind, the place was packed. This really was the party to be at. They looked at the queue for the bar, and decided it was best to just go straight to Leighton. He could get drinks bought over to them, and they'd probably be free, too.

Leighton looked up and grinned when he saw them approaching, and greeted them as he changed song.
"Ah, it's Kaity and Shae-na-nana-na-nana-na!" He sang along with the music, the girls giggled.
"How long you been waiting to do that one?" Shaena asked, rolling her eyes.
"I've had that song lined up to go since I started. So... A couple hours." Shaena shook her head, smiling at the silliness still.
"Lay, get us drinks." Kaity demanded.
"What am I? Your servant?"
"No, you're the guy who forced us to abandon our children for a night." Kaity stuck her tongue out.
"Fine." Leighton stuck his tongue out back, before waving a hand towards a barmaid. "You can sit, by the way." he gestured towards a single seat behind him.
"There's only one seat." Kaity pointed out.
"Yeah, ladies first." He grinned, gently pulling Shaena by the arm and directing her to sit.
"You!" Kaity laughed, and Shaena giggled as she stood back up.

The barmaid arrived at the podium, and took their drinks orders, returning quickly with the drinks.
Kaity stood, sipping a cocktail, looking out at the mass of writing bodies on the dancefloor. Shaena was stood a little back, talking and laughing with Leighton. She didn't recognise anyone on the dancefloor, and she thought back to when the twins were little, younger than Autumn even, when she'd be here several times a week and know everyone. Not necessarily their names, but their faces, at least. She smiled at the memory of all the fun times she'd had in these four concrete walls.

 Something new happened as her eyes scanned the room and stopped at the pole. A vision she'd had ten years earlier flashed before her: Shaena was being forced to dance by Alex, and she was wearing Kaity's dress. Kaity smoothed down the silken material of her dress as she fought away the chills. She'd never wear this dress again, but was happy when she realised there was no way Alex could force her best friend to dance that pole tonight.

 "Shae, lets go dance, leave Mr. DJ to do his job." Shaena nodded, and then laughed at something Leighton said to her as she moved towards Kaity. "What did he say about me?" Shaena bit back a giggle and Leighton winked at her. "What?!" Leighton shook his head and shooed them with a wave of the hand, before turning on his mic and announcing to the crowd:
"Are you ready to mix things up?!" The crowd cheered. "I can't hear you!" They cheered louder, and Leighton started on a fresh mix of tracks as Shaena pulled an annoyed Kaity onto the dancefloor.

"What did he say, Shae?" Kaity shouted over the music as they started dancing. Shae shook her head, whatever it was, she wasn't going to share either. Kaity gave up and the pair danced a while, occasionally heading back up to Leighton to get more drinks. Shaena had way too many. Or maybe it was that Kaity had done this a lot more in her lifetime, and so had a higher tolerance.

"Kait! A pole! Lets go make believe we're high-class strippers!" Shaena giggled during one of their many trips back up to Leighton in the booth.
"K, maybe you should think about getting her home?" Leighton laughed.
"No!" Shaena protested. "You invited us for the night, we'll stay for the night." She pouted, and Leighton copied her expression mockingly.
"She has a point, Lay. 'Sides, maybe pole dancing will make her sweat out some of that alcohol." Kaity shrugged, not apposed to the idea herself. "Plus, would give you something to watch." She winked at Leighton.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Leighton gasped, in mock shock.
"Come on, you think I'm blind? You keep whispering in Shae's ear, and touching her arm, making her giggle at secret things you can't tell me? I know your moves. Or did you forget all about those years?" Kaity said proudly, she felt like she had the upper-hand knowing how he worked. She was sure they would have blushed, if Leighton had his own blood, and Shaena wasn't so drunk that she didn't care. "C'mon, Shae." Kaity took her friends arm and led her towards the pole, glancing over her shoulder at Leighton to check he was watching.

Kaity felt silly dancing on the pole. She was only just tipsy, and she had a boyfriend. As soon as her mind drifted to Winter, she was hit by a vision.

 She was in a room. She didn't know where, perhaps a hotel. She was playing with her hair. She looked happy, judging by her expression in the mirrored wall.

Her hair fixed, she spun a little to check out the back of her dress. She felt a thin film of some sort of fabric graze her shoulder.
A veil. She was wearing a veil.

 She turned back, scrutinising her face and hair in the mirror.
A bouquet. She had a veil and a bouquet.

She started pacing the short length of the room, her lips moved as though she were talking, but as usual her vision was silent.

She suddenly jerked her head to the side, as if someone had called her name, before taking a deep breath, smiling and exiting the room.

 What's happening to me? She wondered as she stepped away from the pole, letting Shaena continue writhing her body around to her hearts content. What was that? I know what I think it was... She sighed, and leaned against the wall, watching Shaena before turning to face the crowd. What does this mean? I was clearly really happy about it. Maybe I do love him. How do I work out if I do? I'm not telling him until I'm sure, that- Her thoughts were interrupted.

 "'Scuse me, ma'am." A man next to her tapped her shoulder and pointed to Leighton who was waving and mouthing something.
'Shaena', was that what he was mouthing? She turned her head.

What the..? Where did he come from?! Kaity asked herself as she swiftly pulled away from the wall and pushed the man away from her intoxicated friend.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!" She screamed at the man. Shaena stood back in shock and hit her head against the pole.
"Just meeting a pretty lady. Sorry, were you jealous? I have room enough for two."
"No, thank you very much. You keep your dirty hands to yourself, you can tell she's too drunk to know what's going on, you're just a predator."

 The man opened his mouth to argue back, but before she knew it a complete stranger had spun her around, captured her in his arms, and lifted her off the floor so she couldn't escape.
"Hello, princess. Don't worry, you can have me while our friends are busy." Kaity's mouth fell open in shock, and it took a second for her body to respond and kick him in the shins, hard. He quickly dropped her after that.

"You messed with the wrong girl." She growled, before raising her arm and slapping him hard across the face. She felt like everyone was watching her, but in reality the only one outside the actual fight who saw was Leighton, still watching over the girls from his little podium.

"Come on, Shae." Kaity shouted over the music as she started to walk off, holding her hand behind her to help pull her drunken friend through the crowd and back to Leighton.
"Kait, that was awesome!" She grinned.
"Someone has to keep an eye on you." Kaity returned, smiling a little now that was over. What would I have told Winter if that guy had took me home? Well, I guess I don't do that anymore, so I don't need to worry.

 "What the hell just happened?!" Leighton asked when they'd reached the safety of the podium.
"What happened is that you were too busy plying Shae with free drinks to think about the concequences." Kaity accused angrily.
"K! I thought you were looking out for her!"
"I was but I don't have eyes on the back of my head, do I?! If you weren't so concerned with what's hidden below your zipper, then none of this would have happened."
"Are you kidding me?! Little Miss Daydreaming-about-her-boyfriend over there? You agreed to go to that pole with her, I'm working. You're just lucky I looked up when I did."
"Looked up? You've not took your eyes off her all night, Lay. She's not an object for you to stare at, taking mental pictures for later, were we?"

"Guys, stop." Shaena called from the chair behind Kaity. "I'm nearly 30. I can handle myself, there's no point arguing over who should have been babysitting me, I should have been looking out for myself."
"Fine. Lets get home, Shae, I don't feel like partying anymore." And I don't want anymore visions in public. She added in her head.
"Well I do. I'm gunna stick around. There's supposed to be an afterparty, and I wanted to go to that." Kaity sighed and looked at Shaena. She was right, she was old enough to look after herself, and some of that alcohol seemed to have been scared out of her. Plus, Leighton wouldn't let anything happen to her.
"Ok. Do you need cash for a taxi?" Shaena shook her head. "Ok. See you at home."

She pulled Leighton into a hug.
"Sorry for the argument, and thanks for inviting us!" She shouted, before gritting her teeth and muttering into his ear. "Leighton. I don't care how much she thinks she wants you tonight, you are not to take advantage of my best friend. Do you understand? You get her home safely, ride the taxi with her, and then go back to your own house alone. You know she's still going through therapy, and the whole Alex thing hasn't blown over properly yet. She thought Winter was hitting me the other day. But anyway, if you do anything with her, I'll personally see that you can't do anything like that again." Leighton laughed quietly.
"Baby K, don't worry. You know I wouldn't do anything like that. She's too wasted to know what she wants, so, as hot as she is and as much as I'd love to tick her off my list, she'd want a relationship and I can't do that to her."
"Thank you." Kaity muttered again before pulling away and giving Shaena a quick hug, a peck on the cheek and telling her to 'be good'.

_____

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.
It was just after midnight when she got back. She dismissed Michael the babysitter, and checked on the kids in turn, loitering in Autumns room. His hair was a massive reminder of his temporarily absent father, and that was all that was on her mind as she hit 'call' on her phone.

"Kaity? I can't talk now, I'm about to get on stage. Can I call you-"
"I love you too." Kaity blurted out before she lost her nerve, and hung up. She did. She really truly did love him, and if it had taken a few drinks, two visions and an over-friendly stranger to make her realise that, then the night was a success.




Thank you to Misty and Sunny for lending me Daniel and Buck. They made great creepy club stalkers!

4.29 The 'L' Word

 "I love you." He looked so serious. Like he'd wanted to say it for a while. She felt sick.
"No." She whispered, closing her eyes and turning her head away.
"Yes. I wanted you to know before I went away."
"Just... Just don't do this, Winter." Her voice barely audible as she pushed him off her and slipped off the bed.
"Kaity..."
"No." A tear rolled down her cheek, and she marched to the ensuite, slamming and locking the door behind her.

Winter followed her to the door and stood outside listening to her sobs for a moment, wondering how he'd misjudged her reaction so badly. He'd ran this through in his head over and over for weeks, and although most of the scenarios didn't include her saying it back, none of them ended with her locked in the bathroom crying.
"Kaity? I'm sorry. I won't say it again. Just come out and we'll go to sleep."
"Go away." Was the muffled reply. A knock at the bedroom door drew Winters attention, and Shaena's voice called through.

"Everything alright in there?" She sounded worried, Winter walked around the bed and opened the door to avoid Kaity hearing them talking.
"We're fine." He sighed. "Just a misunderstanding, that's all."
"Ok." Shaena looked sceptical and peered over his shoulder, looking for Kaity. "It's just, I heard a scream and then a door slammed or something hit the wall..." She sighed a shakey breath. "Sorry. I know you wouldn't... I just assumed..."
"It's ok." Winter rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and Shaena nodded.

"What have you done to our mummy?" Sophies voice demanded from just down the hall, and Winter turned to see the twins glaring at him.
"Jay, Soph, go back to bed. Your mummy is just overreacting, you know what she's like." Shaena smiled at the girls to show everything was fine.
"We want to see her." Jaydean announced.
"You can see her in the morning." Shaena turned and herded them back to their room, mouthing 'good luck' over her shoulder to Winter, who forced a smile before shutting the door again and returning to his post by the bathroom.

"Are you ok?" He asked to the door. There was a silence broken only by a few sniffles before Kaity responded.
"What do you want me to say? 'I love you too'? I can't do it, Winter. I'm sorry. Why would you put me in this position?"
"I don't want you to say anything. I just wanted you to know how I felt about you before I went away. I thought maybe you wouldn't worry as much if you knew." Winter sat himself on the floor, realising he'd probably be there a while.

"I know you're not ready to say it back." He continued. "I don't mind. You'll get there one day."
"How long?" Kaitys voice asked back.
"How long until what?"
"How long have you loved me?" She whispered.

"I don't know." He hesitated, thinking over his answer. "I didn't realise I loved you until after the conference, but I must've fallen in love while we were there." There was no reply, so he continued. "I'm not saying it was love at first sight, I know you'll tell me off if I say something that 'cheesy'." Kaity couldn't help but smile a little, that was exactly something she'd have done.
"You're exactly the kind of idiot to believe in love at first sight." Winter could hear the smile in her voice, and breathed an inward sigh of relief. "Why, though?"

"Why am I an idiot?" Winter asked. "I don't know, you'll have to answer that one."
"No! You just proved why you're an idiot, because that wasn't even what I was asking." Winter breathed a laugh and the annoyance in her voice. "Why do you love me?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"That's a rubbish answer. You need to work on that for next time."

"Why don't you come out of there and I can start working on it now?"
"I'm not coming out yet. I can't look at you."
"Why not?" Winter asked, confused.
"I just can't, ok?" Kaity snapped. She was trying not to cry, and trying to work out what to say and how she felt. I really like him... But love him? I don't know. How does anyone know? Everyone says 'you just know', but how? Is there something I'm supposed to look for? Some moment when everything changes? 

"Do you want me to go?" Winter's voice broke her thoughts.
"No."
"Do you want me to sleep on the couch?"
"No."
"Do you want me to come in there?"
"No."
"I can put a mask on so you don't have to look at me?"
"No." Kaity giggled. "Just... Just wait."

There was silence both sides of the door for a few minutes. Winter listened to Shaena talking to the twins, maybe reading them a story, or maybe trying to convince them not to come barging into their mothers room.
"Are you still there?" Kaity's voice was quiet and unsure.
"Of course I am." He replied. "Are you ok?"

Without answering, Kaity took a deep breath and launched into a speech. "I'm not gunna sit here and tell you that my knees go weak whenever I see you, or that I have to stop myself from giggling like a child when your name comes up on my phone." She paused, and Winter was unsure whether he was supposed to respond. "How am I meant to tell you that my heart literally aches at the thought that I won't see you for a whole week? I'm not the kind of girl who can sit there and talk soppy mush all night, and I'm not the kind of girl who even knows what to say in these situations." There was a longer pause than before so Winter started to speak.
"But-"
"No, don't interrupt me, please."

"I enjoy spending time with you. And I know the kids love having you around... You've been a massive help, raising them, I mean. Hopefully none of them will have got my temper because I don't think I could handle that the way you do." Another pause. "I know that most of the time I'm clumsy and stupid and do and say all the wrong things, and never think things through before I do them... And I know that sometimes you must just want to hit me for being so stupid, but you don't. Some how you look past all the stupid things I do, and all the hurtful things I say. Some how you don't care that I call you names, and you always know exactly what to say to calm me down when I get angry." Winter was smiling now, but still didn't respond when she paused again.

"For whatever reason, all it seems to take to calm me down is for you to put your arm around me, or hold my hand, or even just say my name." She stopped and sighed. "I don't really know what I'm saying here, so I'll just stop talking before you fall asleep." Winter heard the door unlock and stood up as Kaity opened the door.

"Thank you." He said, pulling her to him.
"For what?" Was the strained reply. "Winter! I can't breathe!"
"For saying that." He loosened his grip.
"I was just rambling..."
"It was a very beautiful ramble." He muttered before lifting her head and kissing her.

 "Winter, stop." Kaity moaned, pulling out of the kiss and attempting to push him away. "This is too fast." Winter couldn't help but laugh, and he stroked her cheek to attempt to erase the angry expression forming. "Why are you laughing at me?!"
"I'm not. Well, I am, sorry. Do you remember what you said a few months ago? You told me we weren't going fast enough, and now this is too fast?"
"Yes." Kaity mumbled, while wriggling her way out of his grip.

"Where are you going?" Winter asked, taking her chin in his hand and caressing her face.
"Just stop, Winter." Kaity sighed. "Stop trying to touch me and cling onto me. I won't float away if you let go."
"Kaity." He leaned to kiss her but she turned her head. "Kaity. I'll be gone in the morning and you can have all the space you want. Can't I just hold you one last night?" Kaity turned back to look at him and studied his face for a while.
"Ok." She sighed after some thought. "But-" She was cut off as he sat himself down, and pulled her into his lap to kiss her.

"Let me talk!" Kaity mumbled into his lips.
"Nope." He replied, before pulling her onto the bed.

"You do far too much of that. Sleep. Talk later, after you've had your space." Kaity complied, and fell asleep in his arms for the last time for a week, feeling a little giddy.

_____

"Daddy!" Autumn shrieked.
"Autumn! Stop!" Kaity winced. How could one little boy scream so loud? "I've already told-"
"Daddy!!!" He screamed again, she could have sworn it was somehow louder.
"AUTUMN!" She shouted. She didn't really want to, but it was the only way he'd listen at this stage. It worked, and he instantly stopped squirming and just sat in her arms whimpering and sniffing. "I already told you that daddy isn't here. Remember? He's gone to China."

"'Coz he hate me." Autumn whined before burying his head in Kaitys hair.
"Tummy!" Kaity said surprised, before snuggling him. "You know he doesn't hate you. You overreact so much sometimes..." She trailed off as she realised she did exactly the same thing constantly.
"You only one what love me." He mumbled gloomily.
"Don't be silly! Lots of people love you, you know that. What's wrong?"
"I want daddy time."
"Well daddy isn't here, but you can have mummy time."

"No." Autumn protested.
"No what?"
"No more mummy time. I go play now."
"But you're my baby Tummy!" Kaity gasped, fake upset. "How can I manage if my baby Tummy won't play with me?" Autumn giggled at her, before kicking his legs around wanting to be let down. "Fine. I guess mummy will just be lonely." Kaity kissed him before setting him down.

Autumn walked shakily over to the changing station.
"Mummy sit here. I tell you story."

Kaity sat. Really she should have been getting herself and Autumn ready for work, but she was well aware that time would fly before Autumn was at school and didn't want 'mummy time' anymore.
"What's the story about?" She asked.
"One apon a time there was a crincess called mummy." He began, and Kaity smiled.

"She spended all day poliss pwetty stones, and having a meeting. Then one day she get on a motorbike and was like 'brum brum brum' and then she buyed a house. And then she have two big sister crincesses who was pwetty like her and they went to school like big girls. But they wasn't very good at school because they is naughty sisters. And then she telled them off and they magicked a China who given her a King what she call Tummy." Kaity burst out laughing.

"No laughing mummy, this is very serious."
"Sorry." Kaity apologised, but couldn't keep the grin from her face.
"Then the King made a parcel and the mummy crincess ate it and she said she loved the King more than anything in the world. And then they got married."
"Autumn, mummy's can't marry their babies."
"Yeah! Sophie says that mummys marry boys what are the ones they love the mostest, and you telled me that you loved me the mostest out of all the boys."

 I should have known the twins would get him in on this too... Kaity thought.
"I do love you the mostest, but mummies can only marry daddies." ...What did I just say? She asked herself, shocked.
"You marry daddy then? Ok. And then the King said to the crincess that she will marry the China..."
"Wait... Daddy is the China? Why?"
"'Coz you said! And then the China and the crincess and the big sister crincesses and the King all lived in the house and was happy ever after. The end. And they get a dog. The end." Kaity sat in silence, trying to work out what just happened. "You no like my story?"

"Yaaaay!" Kaity clapped, "I loved your story, of course! I just didn't know it was finished."
"I said the end."
"Sorry, baby. Shall we get changed?"
"But we didn't get a dog."
"Maybe another day. When you're a bit older." Kaity laughed.

This is gonna be a loooong week... She thought as she picked her son up.




'Crincess' is princess, incase you couldn't work it out. That's how I used to say it when I was learning to talk still.