( 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗐𝗈 — 𝗂 𝗍𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝗈 )

It hadn't been long since Charlotte had finished her shift at the hospital that morning before she received an urgent message from Ben, telling her to come down to the bar.

"Hey there, Ben. You do realise I just finished my shift not that long ago, right?" The brown-haired girl pointed out, reminding Ben who stood behind the bar with Emma seated on the countertop. "But apart from that, is everything okay?"

"Yeah she's fine." Ben responded. "Though I should remind you, complete stranger, that we're not a daycare center." He sighed at Charlotte's baffled expression before leaning down to whisper. "I'm five minutes away from getting fired if anyone finds out she's really my baby. I've been telling my boss the mom's outside smoking for the last hour."

"I do have my own brother-child to look after, you know?" Charlotte reminded before looking down in front of her. "And double margarita, rocks. Really? So, apparently, I'm a bad mom with a drinking problem."

Charlotte sighed. "Oh, what the hell. It's been a long shift." She shrugged her shoulders before taking the glass of margarita and putting it to her mouth.

"I know, I'm sorry." Ben sighed. "I just have to get this right. Don't worry, Emma. Daddy will figure this out."

"Don't worry, Ben." Charlotte began to say as the boy turned to face her. "I know you can do this, you just have to believe you can. Remember, I was in your position when Tommy was born and look at me, now."

The Wheeler boy smiled. "Thank you, Charlie—"

Ben cut himself off when a brown-haired girl who he recognised, smiled at him as she walked through the door. "And I'll be right back. Can you watch Emma for a sec?"

"Wow. Wouldn't have pegged her for a parenting expert." The Wright girl said sarcastically upon noticing Ben's action who grinned instantly, leaning closer to her, explaining. "Please. Her name's Chloe. She comes in every Saturday for crab cakes. And if you've ever had ours, you'd know that's not why she's really here."

The Wheeler boy turned towards the door, just in time to see Riley come in with his mother following behind her, and immediately, he threw a small cloth over the baby.

"Hey, Benji." Bonnie greeted her son as Riley slipped onto the stool beside Charlotte. "Has anyone seen Emma?" She gasped, looking down at the carrier, lifting the cloth off as she spoke with sarcasm. "Oh, there she is. Oh, wow, you're right. She really is a good hider."

"Mom." Ben called out to the woman who went on, continuing. "I guess I missed out on the part of the plan where she hangs out with the bar snacks. Oh, no, there's a baby in my beer nuts."

"Something came up, okay?" Ben mentioned to his mother who sat beside Riley. "But like any good plan, I had a plan B, also known as Charlie."

Charlotte looked towards the two blondes with a sarcastic smile. "Words just every girl lives to hear."

Ben looked at his mother, saying. "So as you can see, we've got this all under control. Did you want something?"

"Yeah, I actually wanted to talk about that sweet little angel's future. I was thinking redoing my will— you know, setting up a college savings account." Bonnie explained.

"You know, you really can't be too proactive." The short-haired blonde piped up from beside them before turning to Bonnie. "Actually I've been taking this estate planning class—"

"Oh my god." Bonnie lifted her hands in the air before slapping them down on the counter, cutting Riley off who pulled a look of disbelief, stuffing the napkin into her mouth. "I just had an amazing idea."

"That Riley should help you with your estate planning, thus saving you money and giving her some real world experience?" Ben chuckled awkwardly as he suggested to his mother. "Why don't you two discuss that while I go on break?"

Bonnie turned to Riley as Ben walked away from them, heading towards Chloe's table. "I actually was gonna say, 'why don't we order some fried things?' but I like his idea better." Bonnie glanced at the glass in Charlotte's hand. "Charlie, you gonna finish that?"

The brunette hummed, briefly nodding her head as she picked up the glass and put it to her mouth to finish the drink before eventually taking Emma back to the apartment.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"Please, guys? I'll be quick." Ben pleaded to his friends as they stood in the lobby in front of the elevator, trying to convince at least one of them to look after Emma while he goes to see Chloe at her apartment. "Well, not that quick."

"Benjamin, please adapt your vocabulary as there is a child right beside me." Charlotte calmly told him, gesturing to her four-year old brother who was playing games with Brodie.

"Well, if someone hadn't already committed me to a fun-filled evening of helping his mother with her will..." Riley smiled sarcastically, swinging her arm in front of her.

"Sorry about that." Ben apologised, smiling awkwardly at the blonde. "So probably not a good time to ask for another favour. But if you could try to wedge in a word or two about how great I'm doing with Emma, you know, how responsible I am?"

"So you want her to lie?" Charlotte raised her brows in question, this making Ben sigh as he turned his gaze to the girl, reminding her about their conversation earlier. "Charlie, you're right. I said I'll figure this out and I will. I promise."

"Good man." Charlotte grinned, ruffling his hair before calling out. "Come on, Tommy." The four-year old boy smiled before taking his sister's hand and followed her and his Aunt Riley into the elevator, leaving Ben with his two brothers and Tucker who were not able to make their escape.

Charlotte smiled down at her little brother. "So, Tommy, what would you like for dinner?"

"Chicken nuggets!" The sandy-blonde haired boy grinned brightly at his answer making both Riley and Charlotte smile in return.

The Perrin girl chuckled. "You two are definitely related."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"Looking for someone?" Bonnie questioned her son, referring to the baby she held in her arms as she walked into the apartment with Riley and Charlotte — Tommy being watched by Brodie for that moment.

The panicked expression on Ben's face instantly changed into more of a relieved one at the sight of his daughter in his mother's arms, running forward to take the baby into his own. "Emma. Thank god you're okay. I am so so sorry."

Bonnie, Charlotte and Riley stayed silent as they watched him with Emma, continuing to choke out his words through his teary eyes. "I thought I might never see you again. I never want you out of my sight, ever. Okay? I'm the worst father in the world." The Wheeler boy finally set his eyes on his mother and seeing her facial expression, he sighed. "Char, Riley, can you take Emma?"

Charlotte was first to take Emma out of the boy's hands before walking away with Riley following behind, allowing the mother and son to have a moment alone.

"I'm ready. Let me have it." Ben finally said to his mother who shut the door behind her, continuing to stare at her son with a certain look in her eyes that Ben assumed was disappointment. "But just know that nothing you can say to me can be any worse than what I'm already saying to myself."

"Actually, Ben." Bonnie began to say with tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "All I wanted to say is that I'm proud of you."

Ben sniffled. "Did you miss the part where my baby got left alone?"

"I once left Danny at a Walmart when he was two." Bonnie confessed.

"What happened?" Riley looked towards Bonnie with a frown, her question making Charlotte furrow her brows as Bonnie glanced towards the blonde's way with a deadpan. "He was never seen again."

Just as Bonnie was about to continue her speech for Ben, the door opened revealing Brodie and Tommy, the former calling out to the older Wright sibling. "Hey Charlie, Tommy wants you to—"

"Brodie, not now!" Brodie widened his eyes for a moment at the reply coming from both his mother and Charlotte, responding to them by raising his arms up in defence as he shut the door behind him before following Tommy who ran over to his sister, wanting to play with Emma.

"My point— I made mistakes." Bonnie turned to Ben, continuing. "But that feeling? That gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, if anything happens to my child- I think I will die feeling— what you just had— that? That is what let's you know that you're a parent. And, honey, I guarantee that you will do anything to make sure that you never feel that again. So congratulations, now you're a dad. And I think you're gonna be a pretty great one."

At the sound of someone crying, they all turned towards Charlotte who was fanning her face with tears running down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" Brodie questioned, both amused and concerned by her action when the Wright girl responded with a stammer. "I-I'm sorry. T-That was just so emotional!"

Ben shook his head at Charlotte, a small smile at his lips as he watched Tommy try to comfort his sister upon seeing her crying.

"But I don't know what I'm doing." Ben piped up, responding to his mother's speech. "I know I said I got this, but I just so don't got this."

"Emma!" Danny called out as the door opened once again with him and Tucker running in and heading straight towards Emma, relieved to see that she was okay after they both accidentally left her alone in the apartment.

"Well, if it isn't—" Bonnie cut herself off when the two boys ignored her. "me standing here, talking to myself."

"Is she alright?" Danny was crouched down in front of Riley who now held Emma in her arms, the Perrin girl sharing a look with Charlotte before responding. "She's got multiple boys fawning over her. Works for most girls."

"Guys, it's alright. We all make mistakes. But I think we could definitely use some help." Ben interjected in the boys' apology to Emma before walking over to his mother, engulfing her into a hug. "I need you, mom."

"Wait for it..." Riley trailed off, looking between the group before Bonnie finally told Ben. "I told you so."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

megan speaks !

i hope you all enjoyed this chapter! what do you guys think of tommy? 🥰

don't forget to comment if you would like! i love reading them and they inspire me to keep on writing!

thanks for reading, i love you all!! <33