Kiwi // H.S. // A.U.

Chapter Sixty-Eight

EMMA

Two Years Later

"Okay, I've put up all the emergency numbers on the fridge-"

"Emma, you've told us already." My mum says, scratching Daisies ear as she squats down to the dogs level.

Amy chuckles, "We'll be fine here. Don't forget we raised a few kids ourselves."

This was the first time since the twins were born that we would be gone for more than a few hours. Occasionally, we would have someone watch them while went out to dinner or the movies, but we were taking the whole weekend off. Both Harry and I had almost cancelled several times, not wanting to be away from the kids, but we really needed this. We needed some alone time to just be ourselves.

Violet was clinging to Harry as he tried to say goodbye, Grey handling this a lot better than his sister. He was sitting on the floor next to Toby, our oldest dog looking up at me like I was betraying him. I squat down, petting him, and then turn my attention to my son.

"Grey, you know we'll back, right?" I ask him softly.

He nods, standing up and walking over to hug me. My heart melts, and I pick him up in our hug. "When back?" He asks in his broken sentences.

"Three days." I answer holding up three fingers for him.

"Free days." He repeats.

I laugh, "You're going to have to look after your sister, okay? And do whatever your grandmas say. They're in charge."

He nods again, bringing his lips to my cheek. Greyson was one of the most affectionate kids I had ever met. He said "I love you" a billion times a day, loved to cuddle with us on the couch, and adored meeting new people. He was sometimes a little too friendly with strangers, so we were teaching him stranger danger as much as possible.

I returned his kiss on the cheek, blowing a raspberry onto his soft chubby cheek. He giggles and squirms away, and I hear Harry call, "Switch," over Violet's cries. I walk over to them, Grey already reaching for his dad, while I try and peel Violet away.

She was the definition of a daddy's girl, but she listened to me more - probably because Harry literally couldn't say no to her and her big green eyes. She was much shyer than her brother, taking time to warm up to people. But she was a big talker when she did feel comfortable with you. The conversations her and Lydia, Lu and Oliver's kid, have were quite entertaining.

When she looks at me, face red from crying, she immediately jumps into my arms. Her hug is surprisingly tight for such a little girl, and she continues to cry into my shoulder. I walk away into the living room, Toby following in my steps, and sit on the couch. He hops up, resting his head on my thigh, while I maneuver Violet onto the arm of the couch, facing me, my hand wide against her back to keep her from falling.

"Vi, what's going on? Why are you so sad?" I ask her, taking a tissue and holding it up to her nose so she can blow.

She hiccups once, and says, "Want you to stay."

"Oh, honey, I know, but we're just going away for a few days, and then we're coming back."

"But what if you don't come back?" She asks, eyes wide and watery.

My heart breaks under her stare, so I say softly, "Why wouldn't we come back? We love you guys way too much to leave forever."

"Anna and Elsa's mummy and daddy didn't come back."

Understanding crosses my face. Those damn Disney movies where the parents always die. We really need to start branching them out to new movies. There was a surge of pride that rushed through me, though, Violet able to understand and form bigger sentences like that at so young. She was a smart kid, and her doctor said that she was in the top percentile when it came to speech.