Part 14

     Lianna had managed to get her homework done from her first class of the day, so it would give her more time to spend with Danielle when she got home later. Lianna had actually missed doing the dishes and kitchen clean up the night before, all because she wasn’t spending time with Danielle. Lianna had managed to take some photos of Danielle on her phone, so she spent the rest of her time in the library waiting for the end of lesson bell to sound, looking at them on her phone. She liked one photo more than the rest. It was one where Danielle looked like a young child on Christmas morning with a big grin, as she was playing around doing something in her bedroom on the Sunday night after they got back from the salon. Lianna was going to have a word with her Aunty Amber, and see if she could turn it into a picture she could place in her locket, just like the one Danielle now had.

    Carl and Mandy had given all the girls one last Christmas, just like the one they’d given Danielle the night before while they were in the pool room.

*****

    Danielle made her way back behind the screen to get dressed again with some help from Mandy, once Prue had finished prodding poking and sticking her with needles to remove a couple of pints of blood, or that’s what it felt like, and her new nana removed other fluids which Danielle didn’t feel right producing while her parents were in the room, never mind doing it in front of her new nana that she’d only just met an hour ago.

     “Do you have any idea what’s happening to her Pr... Mother?” Carl asked as he only just remembered to correct himself at the last minute.

    Prue had a little smirk on her face as she looked at Carl, she liked the fact that even someone with Carl’s character and power, was still worried about upsetting the mother-in-law.

     “I’m ninety nine point nine percent sure Danielle in intersexed.” Prue said as she carried on adding labels to all the different tubes of blood she had lined up ready to send off for testing.

     “You mean a Hermaphrodite?” Carl asked.

     “Yes, but that is a very old term for it Carl.” Prue pointed out, not liking that word at all. “Intersex covers a group of discrepancies where the internal and external genitals, or testes and ovaries for want of a better word. Don’t match the way the person is developing. I’m just shocked that Danielle wasn’t taken to see a doctor before now if they thought she was a boy still.” Prue explained.

     “I’m beginning to think that Danielle got caught up in a child welfare system that saw her to be too much trouble to deal with, so she just kept getting passed from pillar to post.” Carl frowned angrily. “She’s only fifteen and has been in the foster care system since she was six, and has been moved to no less than twenty nine different foster homes in that time.” Carl added with pain in his voice for all the suffering Danielle had been through in her short life.

    Prue put her hand to her mouth in shock on hearing how many different places Danielle had stopped. “It’s no wonder the poor child reacted the way she did when you came into my office.” Prue said as a tear ran down her cheek.

    Danielle was still getting dressed with Mandy helping her. She could hear what her nana Prue was saying to her daddy, but she wasn’t ready for the bone crushing hug she got from her mother when she heard about the twenty nine foster homes she’d stopped at.

     “You’re my daughter now Danielle and I won’t let anybody take you away or hurt you ever again.” Mandy said as she hugged the girl.

    Danielle didn’t know what to say to that, so she just let out a sigh and smiled as she let her mummy hug her like she never wanted to let go.

    Mandy did finally stop hugging Danielle long enough to let her finish getting dressed, and then they joined Prue and Carl again as they all walked back to Prue’s office to sort out some other tests Prue wanted Danielle to have.

     “How you feeling now my baby girl?” Carl asked as he patted his knee for Danielle to go and sit on it while they talked.

     “Much better now daddy.” Danielle grinned as she jumped on Carl’s knee and cuddled into him. “If you know what’s wrong with me nana, then does that mean I can be fixed?” Danielle asked as she turned her head to look at Prue while staying cuddled into her father’s chest.

     “Not that I agree with the term, fix you my child, as I don’t deem you to be broken.” Prue said with a grin. “But yes I believe we can fix you, but I need to have some more test, or more scan’s and x-rays taken to confirm what I already believe to be the case.” Prue added as she started to form a mental list of things she needed to sort out. Prue didn’t want to go saying too much until she was sure.

     “Can we take her today and get them done?” Carl asked. “I think she’s spent long enough wondering what’s different about her.” Carl added, not wanting to say the word ‘wrong’.

     “You could, but it would have to be done through private hospitals.” Prue pointed out, not realising who she was talking to. Prue had to smirk when she saw the raised eyebrow look Carl was giving her that said ‘are you kidding me’ “I’ll just go and make some calls and get you some appointments.” Prue added as she got up and went over to her desk.

    Becky had gone to chat with Kim while Prue did the tests on Danielle, but she knocked on the door and entered again once she knew Prue was done and on the phone to different people about getting Danielle sorted out with some tests.

     “How’s she doing?” Becky asked in a whisper when she saw that Danielle was drifting off to sleep still cuddled into Carl’s chest. “I take it mum had some idea about what’s happening with her body then?” Becky asked as she looked over and saw Prue chatting on the phone sorting out with someone about getting an ultrasound and x-rays done on Danielle.

    Mandy went and sat with Becky on another sofa so she could explain about the intersexed thing. Becky already knew a little about the condition from reading up on it all when they found out that Andrew wanted to be a girl just like Chrissy. Becky could understand the need for the x-rays and ultrasound now.

    Prue got all the appointments sorted out to be done at the one place later in the afternoon. Mandy and Carl were going to take Danielle, so Becky could go home, but she said she’d go and help out at the shop and then take Chrissy and Amy home for Mandy.

    Danielle woke up and smiled when she realised that it wasn’t a dream, and her new parents were going to help her get to the bottom of what had gone wrong with her body. She gave her Aunty Becky a hug before watching her leave to go and help her Aunty Chrissy and Aunty Amy at the shop they all ran together.

     “Do you feel up to coming out and having some lunch with your mum and dad?” Carl asked Danielle with a grin.

     “Yes please!” Danielle said looking excited to be going out and doing something with her new parents.

     “Do you and Kim want to join us?” Carl asked as he looked at Prue.

     “I’d love to Carl, but I need to sort out getting these samples off to the lab for testing, and I also want to look up a couple of things ready for the scan results being sent to me.” Prue explained her reason for shying away from a lunch date with her daughter, son in law and new granddaughter.

    Carl got his phone out and made a call to Dale at the hotel and got him to have a basket of food sent over to the surgery so Prue and Kim didn’t go hungry while they worked.

     “You’ll make Kim very happy doing that Carl.” Prue smiled as she thought how much Kim loved the food from the hotel.

     “Like I’ve told you before mother, you only need to give Dale a call and he’ll have a basket sent over every day of the week.” Carl pointed out.

     “I know that, but I just worry about Kim putting Dale on speed dial.” Prue giggled in a whisper. “But thank you for sorting out lunch for us.” Prue added with a smile. She loved her son in law like he was her own son. Prue knew that Mandy couldn’t have found a kinder, more caring person to marry if she looked for a thousand years.

     “Well we better see about getting off if we plan to feed this little monster.” Carl said as he started to tickle Danielle, which soon had her squealing and giggling as she tried to get away from her father.

    “It will be a day or two before I get the test results back, then we can sit down again and discuss what I’ve found out.” Prue said to Mandy as they watched Carl Chasing Danielle out the room. By the time they got out into the reception area, they found Danielle hiding behind Kim giggling still as Kim now had Carl wrapped in a bear hug.

     “I surrender, I surrender!” Carl said as he held his hands in the air.

     “Do you think I should let him go or not?” Kim asked Danielle as she looked over her shoulder at the girl still giggling behind her.

    Danielle nodded her head up and down as she stood grinning now. “Thank you for protecting me Aunty Kim.” Danielle said. “It is okay to call you Aunty I hope?” Danielle quickly added.

     “You better young lady, or I won’t be happy with you.” Kim said as she quickly turned and snatched up Danielle in a hug. Danielle’s feet were just hanging in mid air as she found herself nose to nose with her newest Aunty. “You look a lot happier than you did when I first got to meet you. I hope the mean old doctor didn’t hurt you.” Kim added the last bid in a mock whisper knowing that Prue was stood right behind her now with Mandy.

     “Who are you calling old?” Prue asked as she playfully slapped Kim on the arm as she spun around and held out Danielle as some form of shield. “Any more cheek from you missy, and you won’t get any of the food Carl’s having delivered to us for lunch.” Prue added, knowing the real way to keep her little helper in line.

     “Do you mean a hotel food basket?” Kim asked grinning like a small child now.

     “Yes, but this mean old doctor may just feed you bread and water for that last remark.” Prue said trying to look mean, but she was soon giggling and screaming for Kim to put her down as she was being hugged and lifted off the ground.

    Kim did finally put Prue back down so they could say a proper goodbye to Mandy, Carl and Danielle. Kim was hoping to find out a little more about Danielle, but Prue said she’d fill her in while they ate lunch when it arrived, but she needed Kim to sort out for the lab to come and collect the samples she’d taken from Danielle as soon as she could.

    Carl told Mandy the name of the restaurant he wanted to take Danielle to and then he got in his car while Danielle went with Mandy to hers. Mandy followed Carl all the way, but he wasn’t sure if they might get split up in traffic on the way.

*****

    Lianna left the library when the bell sounded to tell all the students and teachers that it was lunchtime. Lianna made her way down the hallway to the dining room where she said she’d meet up with Lauren and the others. She’d not gone far when she felt someone put a hand on her shoulder, Lianna let out a sigh when she saw Simon grinning at her with Ian at his side looking just as happy.

     “Well good day little lady.” Simon said as he started doing a silly walk like he was a cowboy or something like that.

     “Have you been watching them old John Wayne movies with your granddad again?” Lianna giggled.

     “You can’t beat the classics.” Simon said, which meant yes for him. “Did our little plan work yesterday then? No press waiting for you when you got home?” Simon asked as him and Ian fell in either side of her just like they use to when she was still dressed as a boy called Andrew.

     “Yes ‘your’ plan worked perfectly Simon.” Lianna pointed out. “Thanks again for doing all that.” Lianna added with a smile.

     “That’s what friends are for, and I did get a date with your sister out of it.” Simon added with a grin. “Do you think she’ll follow through with it or not?” Simon asked as he looked Lianna in the eyes. He was still finding it hard to believe he never noticed just how much like a girl his best friend had been even when he was still dressing as a boy.

     “We told our parents what you did for me, and they wanted to buy you something, so we had to tell them about the date.” Lianna explained. “Our mother won’t let Lauren back out now, even if she wanted to.” Lianna added.

     “So your sister wants to go out on a date with me?” Simon asked grinning even more.

     “I never said that Si!” Lianna said as she tried to cover what she’d just let slip.

     “You didn’t deny it either.” Simon said as he got a little over excited and wrapped an arm around Lianna and pulled her close in a manly one armed hug.

     “Si! We can’t do shit like this anymore, not without people talking.” Lianna said as she pushed Simon away and then placed Ian between the two of them as she started walking again.

     “Sorry Lianna, I wasn’t thinking.” Simon said looking worried as he saw some of the other kids trying not to start laughing as they walked past.

     “Look Si, if you do anything to upset my sister, you’ll be in dresses for a whole different reason than playing a prank on some reporters.” Lianna warned.

     “I’d never do that to your sister, and I’d never do that to you either.” Simon said with his hand on his heart.

     “Well I hope you own a nice suit Si, because I have a feeling my mother will have a lot to do with the date you and my sister will be going on.” Lianna said with a smirk.

     “A suit? I thought it would just be a burger and a movie.” Simon said looking worried now.

     “You don’t know my mother.” Lianna giggled.

     “Which one are we talking about? The blond or the brunette?” Simon asked.

     “The blond one will be planning the date, while the brunette will be the one with the shot gun ready to shoot you if you don’t treat my sister with respect.” Lianna said as she referred to Chrissy being the Blond parent, while Becky was the brunette.

    Lianna couldn’t help but grin when she heard her former best friend try to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat. She thought a good dose of fear would help keep him on his best behaviour when he did finally take Lauren out on their date.

    Lauren was stood just outside the dining room with her two friends from earlier as well as Jessica, Jennifer, Peter and some of their friends. Lauren couldn’t help but smile when she saw that Lianna was walking with Simon.

     “Hi sis! I hope you didn’t have any trouble in the library during your last period or on your way here to the dining room?” Lauren asked trying not to look to eager to talk with Simon.

     “Just the normal trouble, but I can cope with that.” Lianna grinned as she looked over at Simon just before she knocked him with her shoulder.

    Simon was about to push Lianna back, but stopped when he looked in her direction and remembered that it wasn’t his same old friend stood next to him anymore. “I wasn’t trouble yesterday when I came to your rescue.” He quickly said trying to cover the pause.

    Lianna didn’t miss the sudden pause though, and she had to wonder just how strange this sudden change in Simon and Ian’s best friend was for the two of them. She wasn’t about to ask them though, but she would when they were away from all the other students. Lianna wanted them to feel like they could still come to her and talk, just like they did when she was still Dru. Everyone had called Andrew, Dru, even before he started dressing as a girl. That was one of the reasons she wanted a new name that couldn’t sound anything but girlie.

     “Hi Simon, Ian. Thanks for everything you did for Lianna yesterday.” Lauren smiled as she slipped between Simon and Lianna, so she could wrap an arm through Lianna’s and walk with her into the dining room.

    Simon, not one to pass up a chance to be close to Lauren, was only too happy to let her walk between them. “No need to thank me Lauren.” Simon smiled back. “Lianna is still one of my best friends, and always will be.” Simon added with pride.

    Lauren started grinning when she heard Simon say that, and she was soon wrapping her other arm through his as she formed a threesome with her in the middle. “You are both true friends to my sweet sister here.” Lauren giggled, getting all excited as she first looked at Ian, and then turned to look Simon in the eyes.

    Simon smiled back as he looked Lauren in the eyes. He’d never seen anyone look so beautiful when they giggled as Lauren looked right now. The look only lasted a second or two, and then they were all walking into the dining room and joining the cue with all the other students waiting to get their lunch.

    Once they all had their lunch they all found a table large enough to seat them all, and then they sat eating while chatting about the prank they’d played on the reporters the day before. They joked about some of the boys looking a little to comfortable in girls clothes, but they changed the subject when they saw that Lianna didn’t look very happy, thinking it was what they were talking about making her look that way. Lauren knew the real reason though. She knew that Lianna was thinking about Danielle and wondering what she was doing at this very minute.

*****

    Danielle had been quiet as she sat in the passenger seat next to Mandy as she drove them to the restaurant Carl had told her they’d be going to, but she’d soon cheered up once they got there and Carl had ordered her a burger and fries.

     “Is something still bothering you Danielle sweetie?” Mandy asked while they were waiting for the food to arrive.

     “I’m scared about what the others will say when they find out about my secret.” Danielle whispered as she looked around to make sure no one could hear what she was saying.

     “I don’t know why sweetie. They may all want to hug you to death, but that will be the worst of it.” Mandy giggled as she took hold of Danielle’s hand in hers. “They may tease you for keeping secrets, but it will only be in fun, and not to hurt you.” Mandy added with a smile as she kept hold of Danielle’s hand to let her know everything would be fine where the other family was concerned. “Your Aunty Chrissy and Amy wanted to come with me to see what was wrong, and why your Aunty Becky had taken you to see Nana Prue. I was also supposed to give you a great big hug from them both as well.” Mandy remembered all of a sudden.

    Danielle was just about to speak when she was suddenly distracted as she saw a waiter walk past with the most amazing looking dish of ice cream she’d ever seen in her life. The look didn’t go unnoticed on Carl or Mandy either. Danielle followed the waiter as he took it to a young boy on another table. She thought it was for a group to share looking at the size of it, but it was just the boy that grabbed a spoon and started attacking it with a grin on his face. Danielle was soon turning back to her own table when a waiter put a massive burger down in front of her with a large side order of fries.

     “Thank you.” Danielle smiled up at the waiter.

    The waiter looked a little shocked to see such manners in a child now days, so he smiled back at her as he did a bow and said. “Glad to be of service my lady.” Then he winked at her just before he went to get the rest of their order.

    Danielle giggled as she thought the waiter looked funny as he bowed at her, but she was soon enjoying her burger and fries. Danielle thought it was the best burger she’d ever tasted in her life, not that she had much of a history to draw on in the first place.

    Mandy and Carl both had chicken salads due to them both needing to watch what they ate to keep an eye on their figures these days. They both envied Danielle being so young and able to eat pretty much what she wanted. Prue had said Danielle was way too skinny for her age and needed to eat plenty to get some meat back on her bones.

    Even though Mandy and Carl were trying to watch what they ate, it still didn’t stop them from helping Danielle eat her fries. Danielle just giggled as she was happy to share them with her new parents.

    Danielle cleared her plate with a lot of help from Carl and Mandy, but she still had room for desert when Carl asked if she did.

     “I’ll just pop to the little boy’s room, and then we’ll sort you out with a small dish of ice cream.” Carl said as he got up from the table.

    Danielle wanted to ask if she could have the ice cream that the boy had on the other table, but then stopped herself when she thought it would be rude of her to expect something like that after the big burger she’d already eaten. Danielle found herself wishing she’d brought some of the money Aunty Jane and the others at the salon had given her now, then she could have brought her own desert.

    Carl returned to the table and gave Mandy a little wink to let her know he’d just done something to make Danielle feel a little special. Danielle had missed it due to her looking over at the boy on the other table finishing off the large ice cream desert.

    Danielle was soon looking around the restaurant though, when she heard all the waiters and waitresses start singing Happy Birthday to someone. She saw them walking in their direction and the waiter that had served there table was carrying an ice cream desert just like the one the boy on the other table had just finished eating. The only difference being this one had a sparkler in it. Danielle looked around as she tried to work out which person was having a birthday today, but that became clear when the waiters all sang her name, or some other girl in the restaurant with the same name as her. The Waiter put the desert down right in front of Danielle, which proved it was for her. Danielle looked at her mum and dad thinking it was a mistake, but as soon as she saw them both grinning at her, she knew it wasn’t.

    The waiter stood and waited for the sparkler to run down, which to Danielle’s eager hands seemed to be taking way to long. It finally did though, and Danielle was sat ready with her spoon in hand. The waiter removed the remains of the sparkler using a special glove before wishing her a very happy birthday.

     “Thank you.” Danielle said to all the staff that had just sang happy birthday to her. She had to wipe away a tear as she did. She’d never had anyone sing happy birthday to her since she lived with her grandmother. She got a hug off a couple of the female staff members before they all ran off to carry on serving the other customers.

    Danielle was soon trying to work out where to start on this monster of a desert. She picked a spot and got stuck in as she sat grinning while shovelling in spoon after spoon of chocolate sauce, Maltesers, Marshmallows, little bits of nuts and masses of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream.

     “Will they take it off me if they knew it wasn’t really my birthday?” Danielle asked in a whisper as she wrapped an arm around her desert bowl, while she kept sticking a spoon in it with the other as she looked around for any danger from approaching staff.

     “Don’t worry Danielle. I told them you were ill when you had your birthday, so this was a special treat now you were better.” Carl chuckled at the protective way his new daughter had an arm around her desert bowl while still managing to eat from it.

     “Thank you daddy.” Danielle said with a grin just before she put another spoon full in. “And thank you mummy as well.” Danielle added as she looked over at Mandy sat on the other side of the table.

     “You’re welcome sweetie.” Mandy smiled back as she enjoyed watching Danielle eat her desert. “It does look rather yummy.” Mandy added as she scooped up some ice cream and sauce that was running down the side of the bowl and put it in her mouth.

     “I won’t be able to finish it all on my own mummy, so please feel free to help me.” Danielle said as she picked up the desert spoon from just in front of her mother and handed it to her so she could help. “You can help to daddy.” Danielle added as she looked at her new father with a chocolate coated smile. Mandy and Carl were soon helping a grinning Danielle to finish off the large desert.

    Once they were finished, Carl paid the bill and also left a healthy tip as a thank you for making Danielle feel extra special while they ate. They got back in their cars and Mandy followed Carl back to the hotel, where he sorted out with a member of the staff to drive Mandy’s car home for them, so she could go with Danielle in the back of Carl’s car to get the scans and x-rays done. Mandy sat in the back to keep Danielle company, and also help to keep her calm.

    Carl was soon pulling into a large private hospital. Mandy felt Danielle grip her hand even tighter than she’d been holding it already. She looked over and saw the look of fear on Danielle’s face, so she unclipped her seatbelt and slid over to give her new daughter a hug to help her feel safe.

     “I won’t let anyone hurt you my dear sweet daughter.” Mandy cooed as she hugged Danielle to her.

    Danielle felt better for some reason when Mandy said that to her, and she relaxed a little bit as Mandy unclipped her seatbelt for her while Carl opened the passenger door and then helped Danielle to get out while Mandy slipped out the other side and walked round the car to join them. With a parent each side of her, Danielle let them lead her into the hospital to have the x-ray and scan’s done.

*****

    Chrissy and Amy had locked the front door to the shop after helping Linda get all the changing service orders taken out to her van, and she’d left them with a basket of food. Chrissy was just about to give Mandy a call and see if she would be back in time to have some lunch with then when there was a knock at the back door to the shop. Amy ran over to it and opened it while keeping the chain on just in case it was someone they didn’t know, but she was soon looking worried and closing the door so she could remove the chain and let the person in when she saw it was Becky stood there.

     “What’s happening Becky? Is there something wrong with Danielle?” Amy asked looking even more worried now she’d let Becky into the shop.

     “Both of you calm down and take a seat so I can explain what I know so far.” Becky said as she led Amy over to the table where Chrissy had been dishing up their lunch. “Mandy won’t be back today, so I said I’d come and help out, so do you mind if I join you for lunch as well?” Becky asked Chrissy with a grin.

    Seeing Becky grin helped to relax Chrissy and Amy, so Chrissy grabbed the plate that Mandy would normally use, and she started dishing up the food again. “Sure you can baby, but we want all the details about your trip to see mother at the surgery.” Chrissy ordered.

     “I plan to do just that my little princess.” Becky said as she walked around the table and gave her wife a kiss and a cuddle before helping her to serve up their lunch.

    Becky was soon explaining about walking in on Danielle and the discovery of the secret between her legs. Then Becky explained what Prue had said after she’d taken Danielle to see her. Becky then went on to explain why Mandy wouldn’t be back and that she was taking Danielle to have some scans and x-rays taken to find out all they could.

     “Danielle is intersexed?” Chrissy said at the end of Becky’s explanation. “The poor thing must have been so confused growing up thinking you should be a boy, just to start developing as a girl and feeling like a girl as well.” Chrissy added as she tried to get her head around the news she’d just been told.

     “How was she doing when you left her Becky?” Amy asked as she also tried to wrap her head around how anyone could see Danielle as anything but a girl.

     “She was scared, but Mandy and Carl were making progress with getting her calmed down just before I left.” Becky sighed. “Danielle has met with strong rejection in the past when her secret has been discovered, so she thinks the same will happen now.” Becky explained.

     “Even after finding out about Lianna?” Chrissy asked.

     “Yes, even knowing that baby.” Becky said as she held Chrissy’s hands in hers when she saw that Chrissy was ready to cry for the poor child and the life she’s had to live up until now. “Danielle thought she was like Lianna, but when she found out that Lianna would need hormones to look more like a girl and grow breasts, she realised that she was even more different than her.” Becky added as she saw a tear run down Chrissy’s cheek and she had to pull her sobbing wife closer for a hug while she got it out her system.

     “Don’t cry sis, we can make sure she never feels that way again.” Amy said as she sat the other side of Chrissy and joined in the hug.

    Chrissy finally stopped crying and pulled herself back together again. Amy sorted out the dirty dishes with some help from Becky, while Chrissy went up stairs and fixed her makeup before joining them again back down in the shop.

    Becky helped Amy sort out the internet orders, while Chrissy sorted out replacing their sold stock and dealing with customers walking in off the street. Kara called in with a couple of special customers from the changing service that wanted a corset each, so Becky and Amy filled her in on what they had discovered about Danielle, while Chrissy took good care of Kara’s new friends. Both girls left the shop with lighter purses and a couple of very beautiful corsets each.

    Kara said she’d let Cathy and Jayden know when she got back to the hotel, and then she left to take her two friends to a clothes shop that was very friendly towards crossdressers.

    Chrissy, Amy and Becky got everything sorted out and ready to leave by the time the carrier company arrived to collect it all. Becky was getting a little angry with the way her wife was flirting with the guy, but she also knew it was all part of Chrissy’s cover to stop people finding out she was a lesbian.

     “I’m sure you do that just to upset me.” Becky said as she pulled Chrissy closer to her after the guy had left the shop with the last of the packages.

     “Do what?” Chrissy pouted as she tried not to start grinning.

     “Flirting with all the delivery guys.” Becky growled in Chrissy’s ear.

     “You call that flirting? This is flirting.” Chrissy said just before she made Becky let out a little squeal

     “You can be such a bad girl.” Becky said as she managed to get Chrissy to remove her hand from where she’d just placed it.

     “Does that mean you’re going to punish me later?” Chrissy asked in a sexy voice, just before she started grinning.

     “We’ll see baby.” Becky purred as she did something to Chrissy that made her squeal this time as she ran off to help Amy get the shop locked up, so they could go home and see how Danielle got on at the hospital.

*****

    Lianna had never been so glad to hear the last bell of the day. She wanted to get home and spend some time with Danielle before dinner. She’d only got one bit of homework to do now, thanks to her doing the other lot while she was sat in the library before lunchtime. Lianna was hoping that Danielle would join her in her bedroom and chat while she did her homework. Lauren smiled when she saw Simon stood outside the classroom waiting to walk them to the minibus and their Uncle Brad.

     “Hi girls!” Simon said with a smile. “I have to say I miss your brother being in some of my classes.” He added with a sigh as he looked at the two sisters.

     “No one to cheat off anymore Si?” Lianna asked with a grin as they started walking with Simon at Lauren’s side.

     “Yes, but I just miss having him to mess around with in the boring lessons.” Simon sighed.

     “I’m sorry Si, but I just can’t be him anymore.” Lianna said with some pain in her voice.

     “I’m not asking you to be, Lianna. I was just saying I miss him in some of my lessons, but I also have to say you look much happier and more relaxed.” Simon explained. “Dru was always concentrating on something, or he looked to be a million miles away most the time.” He added with a chuckle.

     “And what do you think of my new sister then Simon?” Lauren asked with a little touch of anger in her voice, which wasn’t missed by Simon.

     “Lianna looks much happier, I just wish She’d felt safe enough to trust me with her secret.” Simon said as he looked around Lauren at a sheepish looking Lianna.

    They had walked all the way out to the parking lot outside the main building as they spoke. Brad was stood waiting for them, as Lauren and Lianna were the last two.

     “Come on you two. We need to get home fast.” Brad said as he frowned at Lauren and Lianna.

     “Why Uncle Brad, what’s going on?” Lauren asked.

     “Family meeting.” Brad said as an explanation. Lauren and Lianna knew that a family meeting meant something had happened and everyone needed to know about it.

     “Is Danielle alright Uncle Brad?” Lianna asked looking worried as she just had a feeling the family meeting involved something to do with her.

     “The sooner you get your butts in the minibus the sooner you’ll find out.” Brad said as he avoided giving Lianna an answer.

    Lianna noticed the way her Uncle had side stepped her question, so she was quickly shoving Lauren on the minibus so they could get home and find out what was wrong.

     “Sis! What’s the big hurry all of a sudden?” Lauren whined as she was pushed up into the minibus and then forced to take a seat.

     “We need to get home. I feel that something has happened to do with Danielle.” Lianna said looking worriedly at her sister sat next to her.

    Lauren looked at her Uncle Brad for an answer as to whether or not this was true, but he wouldn’t make eye contact with her or any of the others. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow Simon.” Lauren shouted just before Brad closed the door and walked around to get behind the wheel.

    Simon looked worried as he watched the large muscular man Lauren and Lianna had just called Uncle Brad walk past him. Simon knew that this man was Jennifer’s father, but thankfully Jennifer took after her mother. He stood and waved as he watched the minibus pull off and head down the drive and out into the road.

    Lianna and the others all tried a number of times on the trip home to get Brad to tell them what the big family meeting was about. Brad lost his cool in the end and told them all to be quiet and everything would be explained when they got home. Brad was even taking Peter back to their home, so it really was a big family meeting. Lianna was getting more and more worked up the closer they got to home, she was convinced that Danielle was going to be gone when she got there, never to be seen again by any of them.

 

To Be Continued Next friday  

 

Story by SaraUK

 

Edited and Posted by SamanthaK

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Child and Parent guide:

Parents	Children
Chrissy & Becky	Andrew/Lianna, Lauren (Twins)
Amy & Amber	Jessica
Ann & brad	Jennifer
Sara & Cathy	Peter
Mandy & Carl/Carla	Craig, Danielle (Adopted)
Jayden & Callum	Richard, Nicola (Twins)
Dan & Faith	Penny, Christopher

    EDITORS NOTE: Please Comment and/or leave Kudos and let Sara know you like her work please, Any comments on spelling, grammar or the layout of the story please PM me “Samanthak” not Sara. Thank you