A/N- buckle up... it's going to be a hell of a ride.
Lizzie's POV
The drive back is really quiet, Rose as usual when travelling has fallen asleep and Alexa has fallen asleep next to her. "Do you think she'll be cleared to start school on Monday?" Scarlett asks me looking back at our sleeping daughters.
"I think so, she might have to take it easy, but She should be good to go." I reply. As much as I love having her with me at all times, I know it'll probably be good for her to make some friends and get to experience high school properly.
"At least it's only 4 weeks, it'll ease you both into it" Scarlett says with her signature smirk, I roll my eyes chuckling softly "Is it that obvious?" I question, scrunching my face up. "To me it is, you forget how well I know you lizzybear." Scarlett teases me with a nickname I haven't heard in forever.
"Also, I hated when Rose started pre school. Even though it's only 2 days a week, I miss her when she's not with me." Scar continues and she's right, I will miss her being with me. Part of me, a very selfish part of me, wishes she didn't want to go to school and I could just keep her in our little safe bubble but that wouldn't be fair.
"I'm just glad she'll have Keen looking out for her, he's a good kid and I know if anything happened he'd tell Mark or me." I say, mostly reassuring myself once again thankful for the people I have in my life, we fall back into a comfortable silence as I keep driving.
We get closer to my apartment, needing to pick up a couple of things and to drop Scarlett off for her car. I notice Scarlett's leg bouncing up and down slightly as she gazes out the window.
"Are you okay?" I ask trying to get her attention, she's completely focused on the world outside she doesn't respond, I put my hand on top of her leg. "Scar?" I say again giving her a slight squeeze. "Yeah what? Sorry I didn't realise you were talking to me." She says briefly looking at me not making eye contact.
"What's on your mind?" I ask softly, Scarlett takes a breath and glances over at me again. "I don't know what to do Lizzie" she whispers, I instantly know she's talking about Colin. I guess it's dawned on her that she'll be heading home to see him within the hour.
"What can I do to help?" I ask her sincerely, I hate seeing her upset. "Can I just let my thoughts out and have you just listen?" She asks and of course I agree, she hasn't wanted to talk about the whole situation and I can only imagine it's eating her up inside.
"I... didn't think about him once yesterday, I left home after another argument that he insisted on having in front of my 4 year old 2 days ago, we haven't spoke since, he hasn't checked in and neither have I." She admits, I'm a bit shocked I've never known Colin to not send even a text to make sure she's okay.
"I just have so many things going through my head, what happened to us? We've never been in a situation like this, it's the same arguments over and over, I won't change who I am as a friend or a just as a person to please him. At this point what am I fighting for? Is there even a marriage left to save?"
She looks at me with her eyes glossed over she's holding back the tears as she always does. "I love him, but I don't think I'm in love with him anymore Lizzie. When I used to think about our future I imagined us having another baby, taking family vacations all of it. I don't see that in our future anymore. I don't see him in my future." She whispers towards the end, wiping a tear from her cheek as I park the car.
I didn't realise things were as bad as they are, she never made it known. I feel ridiculously selfish for making the past few days about me when she's had all of this going on. I thought they'd work it out, I thought it was just a blip and they'd need a day to themselves to realise they've been overreacting...
"Can you say something now." She whispers once again looking away from me. What do I even say. "Only you know how you feel deep down, but I know you very well too Scar and this isn't you. You are so good with communication anything that bothers you in any aspect of life you resolve through honesty." I finally reply.
"I think you've made your mind up, you just have to do what's right for you and for Rose." I state not wanting to tell her what to do, this decision needs to be completely her own and not influenced by anyone else's opinion. "I can't put it off any longer can I?" She asks wiping a stray tear from her cheek. I shake my head no and take her hand.
"I'm here, whatever you need. Don't worry about Rose between Chris, Alexa and me we've got her looked after. If you need to take some time for yourself just let me know, I can sort out taking her to her dads or keeping her with me okay?" I reassure her knowing that her daughter is her main priority always, but she needs time for herself too.
"I don't have the words to thank you Lizzie" she says leaning over to hug me. I hold her as she finally lets out her sobs, still keeping them quiet as not to wake the girls. I kiss her cheek softly. "You'll always have me, just like I know I've always got you. You are my best friend and I won't let you go through this alone"
After a couple of minutes I pull away and wipe her tears "Call me if you need me okay?" I say as she picks up her purse, she nods and takes a breath as she gets out of my car and into her. I watch as she pulls away heading the short distance to her house.
"Mom?" Alexa's voice cuts me from my thoughts. "Yeah sweetheart?" I reply turning to her, I tap the front seat for her to climb over and sit with me. "Is Aunt Scarlett okay?" She asks, making me realise she must've been awake for a little while "I woke up when she got out of the car, she looked upset." She continues.
"She will be, I think we'll probably have Rose with us for a few days though." I say not wanting to tell her too much of what's going on. "Okay Mom, do you want me to go and grab the box of things we need?" Alexa asks, I'm glad I was quite organised and set the few bits we need to take aside. "Yes please" I reply kissing her head and passing her the key.
~~
Alexa doesn't take long to grab our things, she also comes back with an oddly shaped box that I've never seen before she places everything but the box on the back seat and returns to the front seat. "What's that?" I ask. "It's just a little something I'll show you when we get home." She replies with a giddy smile, making me laugh.
By the time we reach our house, Rose has awoken from her nap. Thankfully she didn't really ask much about her moms whereabouts. "I still can't believe we live here!" Alexa squeals as I pull into the driveway, I look up at our house and it is beautiful it still takes me by surprise when I look at it.
We unpack the car and head inside, there's boxes and furniture everywhere thankfully our living room is pretty much completed, just needing a few final 'homey' touches. "Here Mom you can open this now!" Alexa says passing me the weirdly shaped box.
I open it slowly and remove the bubble wrap and gasp "Sweetheart! This... How... it's beautiful!" I stumble over my words almost speechless at the beautiful framed collage in front of me. It's a white heart shaped frame with 5 pictures of Alexa and I together.
There's one from the first night she stayed for dinner that we both have on our phone lock screens, another of us from the first time we went to the beach, the third is of us cuddled up asleep on the couch. The fourth is of us sat together laughing, I'd never seen this before, we must be on set as I have Wanda's wig on.
The final picture warms my heart it's Alexa, Harry, Rose, Scarlett, Chris and I all together from yesterday. "Alexa this is beautiful when did this even get made?" I ask seeing as though I've been with her constantly and one picture was literally taken yesterday.
"I may have had help from Uncle Chris and Scott. I sent him the pictures and he added in the last one and dropped it off while we were out this morning." She says her face showing a beaming smile, I hug her in gratitude and know immediately where this is going up.
"AHHHHH" a high pitch squeal comes from the kitchen, Alexa and I bolt to see what's going on knowing Rose must've wandered in there. "ITS A SPIDER! Lexa help!" Rose screams once we reach her, I look to where she's pointing and see a little spider crawling on the floor.
Before I can do anything Alexa takes Rose's hand and walks closer. "It's okay it's just a little one it won't hurt you" she says softly as she places her hand on the floor and scoops it up. "I'll take it outside so it can find it's family yeah?" Alexa says calming her down.
"Thank god one of us won't mind catching the bugs, because I would have definitely squashed that with a shoe!" I say laughing as Alexa comes back inside, she scowls at me making me laugh even more. "Come on let's go and figure out what we need to do and start putting all this furniture together!" I say ushering the girls out the kitchen.
I look at my watch and know Scarlett will have arrived by now, I hope she's okay.
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Scarlett!!😫 I know what you guys are thinking, just be patient things aren't going to be smooth sailing. Thank god she has such a good friend like Lizzie to support her hey?
PSA- I love colin! I adore them together... just not in this! So absolutely no hate towards RL Colin.
We've got so much coming up I just keep writing so many thoughts: Lizzie's interview, Alexa's school, Lizzie will be going back to work soon, WERE FINALLY MOVING HOUSE!! Stay with me on this because we've not even scratched the surface!
I hope you are all well, we're finally out of this god forsaken retrograde! My new mantra is wether or not it's a bones day (If you know you know) so take it easy listen to your body and look after yourselves!
You know the drill drink plenty of water, eat a little something get some rest.
I love you all dearly xxx