-Mia-

"No!"

"Ow! April, stop it! Don't be a baby!" I snapped, slapping her leg while trying to put her clothes on.

"No! I don't want to go to school!"

"April Grace, you are going to school whether you like it or not. Reception isn't that bad!" I said, shoving her shoes on her foot.

"But I want to play at home!"

Your father really spoiled you. .

"April, no. Now stop crying and yelling, otherwise, you'll be getting another slap!"

Things had changed for us.
I moved out of the Rossi house days after being in the hospital. It was sad. Everyone had came to see me, to check on me and pass me their good wishes but I had to leave and the worst part was saying goodbye.

It was okay saying goodbye to everyone but I left the explaining as to why I was leaving to Vincenzo. Vincenzo. It was hard saying goodbye to him but also hard to explain to April why we were leaving. He found it hard to say goodbye to the kids but I promised him that I'd let him see them if he sorted himself out.

I moved next door to Cat. The money from the cleaning really helped out and I had loads of money in my bank. It was a large and beautiful home, great for the kids. There was lots of land and space but it was also cosy in a way. I redesigned some of it.

It was great living next door to Cat. She lived in her house with her two girls and River lived a door away but I was sure that they were going to move in together soon. River was a police officer but he wanted to change his career because he didn't agree with all the police said. He wanted to change and perhaps become a chef, he was great at cooking.

I did meet him and he was incredibly funny and also handsome - but of course, not as handsome as Vincenzo in my eyes.

Cat seemed to be settling fine and was moving on with her life, River was helping her with that.

April was fine and already had lots of friends in school and in the neighbourhood. She was a popular girl.

I officially named the baby Francisco. Something about the name stuck in my head and it reminded me of Vincenzo. He liked that name and although he gave me the chance to name the baby myself, I wanted his opinion and I liked it.

The baby was settling in fine and was five months already. He was adorable and funny and somehow always made me laugh even when he didn't realise it. He was beautiful with eyes just like his father's- hazel. It was gorgeous and I found myself staring at him a lot because of that.

April loved her new brother and would always ask to hold him - or to hold Lyric. She loved babies and asked me if I was going to have another one. I chuckled and told her 'not yet'. I still had time in my life but I did want more children in the future, just not in that time.

I finally got April settled and sat bed in the living room to watch some television after eating, so I could get her brother ready.

I fed him, burped him, bathed him and changed him into an adorable warm onesie that said 'mama's little boy' over the top. I slipped on his socks and shoes before grabbing his large and warm coat and putting it on him, it covered his whole body. It was like a onesie coat. I put on his hat and gloves before carrying him downstairs as he gurgled a little, and placed him into his pushchair.

I covered him with a light blanket underneath the large one that the pram had as he kicked a little in his stroller before I opened the hood and covered some of the pram with it.

I glanced outside.

Good thing it isn't snowing again. .

I grabbed my warm coat and quickly put it on, along with my scarf and gloves.

I looked inside the pram, underneath the large, thick blanket that the pram had to see Francisco wide awake, cooing to himself. I smiled before leaning down and kissing his cheek. He was so small when he was born but had been growing quickly.

I pushed the pram near the door before going into the living room and helping April put on her coat and we left the house, walking to school, the cold snow crunching beneath our feet.

It was ten minutes away and a good school. April held onto the bar of the pram, skipping along as she talked to me about what happened last week at school.

We got there not long after and kissed April's cheek, telling her to have a good day before hugging her and letting her go to her class with her friends. I smiled before leaning down and checking on Francisco to see that he was beginning to fall asleep. I kissed his cheek before standing up properly, about to leave when a voice stopped me.

"Aw, a baby, can I see?" I turned to see an old woman. I smiled, nodding, "yeah." She bent down, looking at Francisco before coming back up. "He's beautiful, is this your brother?"

I shook my head with a polite smile, "thank you but he's my son." She looked at me in surprise, "your son? Aren't you sixteen or something?"

"I'm not sixteen, I'm in my twenties but even if I was, there wouldn't be a problem."

Most parents around here were in their thirties or late twenties. I was one of the only youngest parents there and there weren't many. I didn't socialise that much with the parents. I talked a bit with April's friends' mothers because of play dates or just making conversation but I wasn't actually friends with any of them.

It's not that I didn't want to socialise or anything, I just found it harder as the parents were older and the school was one of the best and some of the parents there were really stuck up.

She gave me a slight disgusted look. "What, a one night stand, was it? God, teenagers these days, you try and teach them this, you try and teach them that!"

"Excuse me, ma'am," I said, offended. "Like I said, I'm not a teenager and how my children were conceived, is none of your business."

She scoffed a little, glancing at me from head to toe with attitude. "And rude too. Slutty tramp. I bet your kids are even worse."

"Listen here, grandma," I snapped, annoyed now. "You can call me whatever you want, but don't you dare try and insult my kids. I am not your daughter or something so don't you dare try and judge me. You don't even know me, and I'm not too young to have kids. At least I didn't leave it too late, you jealous hag."

I scoffed at her as she gave me a surprised look, rolling her eyes. I turned the pram, leaving the playground before she could say anything else.

"Hey," someone said, touching my arm. I turned to see a man who looked to around his mid thirties with pale skin and bright blue eyes. "I couldn't help but overhear what happened over there," he said, his bright eyes looking into mine. "I'm sorry about that."

"No, no," I said with a smile. "You don't even know the lady, plus it's not your fault." He smiled a little shyly. "I'm Dan, what's your name?"

"Mia, it's lovely to meet you," I said, shaking his hand.

"Look, I'm just going to come out and say it but I've seen you around and you're beautiful. I was wondering if I could take you on a -"

"Dan, honey?" I turned, my eyebrows furrowing to see a woman with blonde hair not far away from us with a little boy holding her hand. "Come on, we need to go or we'll be late."

I looked at him, raising my eyebrow as there was a sheepish look on his face. I glanced at his left hand. Married.

"You hear that, Dan, honey?" I asked, a little annoyed. "How could you do that when your wife was standing not far away?"

"Look, I'm planning on getting a divorce anyway-"

"No. It's a good thing you're getting a divorce because you don't don't deserve her. How dare you?" I angrily said, "you jerk!"

"Come on, Mia-"

"No," I harshly said, before shrugging a little and rolling my eyes. "You're too old for me anyway."

I flicked my hair over my shoulder before continuing to walk out the school area with my pram.

I came back home and took off my coat and scarf and gloves before sorting Francisco out and placing him in his Moses' basket, in the living room where he slept peacefully.

I went into the corridor to see Cat kissing River by the doorway of the kitchen.

"Cat!" I said, as she pulled away, looking at me in surprise, her bright blue eyes looking at me. River turned, facing me and scratching the back of his neck.

"Jeez, I gave you that spare key kindly, not for you to come in and snog," I playfully said as she blushed and River chuckled a little.

Damn, he looks hot in his uniform. .

Mia, what the hell? Hello? Have you forgotten about Vincenzo?

"Sorry, Mia. I just came back from work and was going to bake but I didn't have any sugar."

I shrugged a little, with a grin. "It's alright, just save me some food. You bake well."

His cheeks blushed a little and he smiled shyly, "thanks." Cat licked her lips and smiled, holding his hand. "This old lady was so rude to me because I was young and had children." I explained to them what happened and they kindly listened. "She's just jealous. You're young and hot, and everything she's not." I laughed a little at what Cat said.

The baby monitor listened to Francisco's crying and recorded it to me. I excused myself and went into the living room, cuddling Francisco. It wasn't for his feed and his nappy wasn't used so he must of just wanted a cuddle.

I hugged him and talked of him soothingly before placing him down once he stopped crying.

Hours passed on and I picked up April without any old woman harassing me. She was upstairs playing with Bambi and Bear while I cleaned the kitchen and Francisco slept in the living room.

"Mia! There's someone here to see you!" Cat yelled. I dried my hands and went to the front door but she wasn't there so I went into the living room and gasped.

There she was, sat on my couch, her hands clasped together. She looked cleaner that I last saw her and was wearing jeans and a blue blouse. Her hair was tied into a neat bun and she put the effort of putting makeup on.

She still looked the same but cleaner and put a sad smile on her face, a few wrinkles coming out.

I swallowed, "how did you find me, mum?"

"I-I saw you at the shopping centre once and -"

"Followed me?" I asked as Cat quietly excused herself and left the room. She nodded, and I folded my arms.

"I'm sorry but I really had to talk to you," she said, her voice teary like her eyes. "Mia, please listen to me." I couldn't help but feel sad and took a seat on the other couch, biting my lip, feeling awkward.

"Talk mom. Please do, because all you did was drink."

She licked her lips, rubbing her hands together nervously. "You're so beautiful. .you look gorgeous, Mia." I didn't reply and she seemed to notice my anger and annoyance.

"Was that your friend?"

I swear I was glaring at her.

"I'm sorry," she nervously said, "I'm so sorry for everything I've done and I promise Mia, I'm off the drugs and I found the money for rehab. I came out today and I'm clean, Mia. I swear I'm clean. I just want to make things right."

"Sorry isn't going to fix everything, mom," I said, tears coming into my eyes, "you ruined my life. You ruined yourself."

"I know, honey and I'm sorry for everything I've done. I know sorry isn't much but it's a start that I hope to end positively." I sniffed, blinking rapidly.

"I'm so sorry, Mia. I'm so sorry for what I put you through. I - I'm just sorry for everything I've done. I miss you and I want to fix us - please give me a chance. .I understand if you don't want to-"

"You need to prove to me that you've changed," I said, wiping my eyes. "I can't trust you."

"I know, honey and I'm sorry. So sorry. I miss you and I need you in my life."

"Y-"

"Mommy!" April yelled, coming downstairs and into the living room. She stopped, glancing between me and my mother. "S-orry," she awkwardly said for interrupting.

I sniffed, wiping my eyes. "No, no," I said, with a smile and took her hand, gently pulling her to me. "What's up, sweetie?"

"Mama. . I accidenta - accidentally broke my new toy. ."

"Oh, April. It's fine, don't worry. Just make sure you stay away from the broken pieces. I'll come clean it soon, okay?" She nodded and left the room.

I turned to my mother and she looked surprised yet happy with something else I couldn't decipher. "Is that your daughter?" I nodded, feeling a little awkward.

She smiled a little, "she's beautiful. I didn't realise you had a child."

"Children," I added, gesturing towards Francisco in his Moses basket that my mother didn't notice before.

Unexpectedly, he started crying and I sighed, standing and going over it him. Yet again, it wasn't time for his feed and his nappy wasn't used that much for it to be changed.

I picked him up carefully and placed him on my chest, holding him and bouncing him a little before going back to the couch and sitting down, cuddling him.

He stopped crying but I was sure that he didn't want to go back to his basket anytime soon. His eyes wandered around the living room curiously and his hands waved around in the air.

"Two? Aww, Mia, he's gorgeous." I smiled a little, "thanks. ."

"C-can I hold him?"

I hesitated a little. "Baby steps. .ma. ." She nodded, "I understand."

"So, you and Vincenzo started a family, huh?" I nodded, feeling awkward after hearing his name.

"Is he around? I'd love to-"

"He's not," I sharply said, "you can say 'I told you so' later, alright?"

"Mia. ."

"Look, mom, why are you really here? Are you sure it's not just to bribe me into giving you money for more drugs?"

"No, sweetie, no," she said with a sad look on her face. "I swear I want to make it up to you. I want to go start afresh - prove to you that I have changed. Please Mia, give me a chance," she pleaded as Francisco gurgled a little in my arms, wriggling bit. He started crying again and I leaned over and grabbed his dummy, putting it in his mouth.

He sucked on it, the dummy bouncing in his mouth as his eyes gazed at my mother.

I sighed before biting my lip and looking at her.

Is she telling the truth?

"Mum, I'm giving you one last chance. If you screw this up - we're done." She smiled widely, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Mia. I won't let you down."

I smiled a little, "River's making dinner. You staying?"

She hesitated, "Are you sure?" I nodded, smiling widely, "yeah. It gives you a chance to meet everyone."

"Okay then." My mother smiled, "I'll stay for dinner."

"Good," I replied, licking my lips before standing and placing Francisco into his Moses' basket, only for him to burst out into tears. "Oh, Francis," I sighed, picking him up and carrying him again and he immediately stopped crying.

"Mama's boy, huh?" Mum asked and I smiled at her, swaying a little. "Yeah. I must of been cuddling him too much because he clings onto me now and doesn't want to sleep by himself."

"You were just the same with me."

"I was?" I asked in surprise and she nodded. "Mia, you were the worst! God, all the time you'd be crying when I wouldn't hold you." I chuckled, shaking my head. "I did cling onto you a lot. I remember how homesick I'd get on school trips that involved sleeping over because I wanted you."

"I know. I had to talk to you through a teacher's phone to calm you down." I chuckled again, shaking my head. "You always knew how to calm me down."

"We were close, weren't we," she told me a little sadly. I nodded, adjusting Francisco. "Yeah, we were. We had to be. There was no one else for us."

She nodded before clearing her throat and smiling, changing the tension in the air. "What's his name?" She asked, looking at my baby.

"Francisco. My daughter's called April."

"Lovely. They're beautiful." I smiled, deciding not to tell her that April wasn't biologically mine but it didn't matter anyway. She was my daughter.

"Thanks, mum."

Bear came running in and April behind him. "Mama, Bear had an accident."

"April, I told you that Bear wasn't allowed in any of the bedrooms. Why did you let him in?"

"Because - because he's Bear."

I sighed, "guess we're going to have to keep training him and you April."

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