Carter's POV:
'Ha, I win. I finished first!' Rose exclaimed while wiping her mouth.
'What? That's not fair. You're bigger. I'm done.' I whined.
'You still have a pancake left.' She pointed out.
'I'm full. My tummy hurts. So I finished first since I'm done.' I complained.
'Nuh uh. You're not done because you've got chocolate on your face.' She smiled pointing to the side of my mouth.
'No I don't.' I told her, hoping she wasn't right.
'Yes, you do silly. It's right here.' She said bringing her finger to my cheek in an attempt to touch it, but I turned my head away.
'I'll get it for you.' She suggested while trying to wipe it off but I wasn't gonna let her win that easy so I kept moving.
'Stop moving Silly. I can't wipe your face if you don't stay still.' She smiled. I smiled back cheekily and continued moving before she sighed and dropped her hands. I stopped and looked at her smiling at my success so far. Then she set the napkin down and put her hands on either side of my face smooshing it ever so slightly. She smiled, giggling softly.
'Now, you look funny.' She giggled. I reached my hands up and copied her actions smooshing her face a little.
I smiled laughing a little too, 'You do too.'
She smooshed my face a little more making me do fish lips and laughed making me giggle. Then, she made funny faces at me and I couldn't help the fit of laughter it threw me into. When I calmed down slightly, she pretended to bite my hand and I squealed pulling my hands away before we made eye contact, and we both laughed, causing her to drop her hands.
We didn't even notice dad getting up to take all the dishes to the sink, and Scarly making her way around the table. I could faintly hear a 'looks like we've got some giggle monsters this morning' from one of them.
Rose and I recovered from our laughter a little just kind of smiling at each other hoping it wouldn't send us back into our giggles. That was until I felt a gentle hand lifting my chin so my head was facing up. I met the eyes of a smirking Scarlett, and sighed having my final moments of my laughter fade away.
'You do have chocolate on your face, baby.' She said a reached for a napkin before gently wiping my face. I couldn't help but stare at her. Loving how soft she was with me, but also somewhere in the back of my mind wondering why.
'There, all better.' She announced smiling at me. I smiled back and she leaned down to kiss my nose. It kinda tickled so I moved my nose to fight the feeling.
'Hey, she does the nose scrunch like Aunt Lizzie!' Rose exclaimed. Who?
'She does doesn't she?' Scarly said, looking back at me with a smile. I tilted my head in confusing, furrowing my brows.
'And she does the head tilt like Dodger!' Rose squealed.
'Yeah, she's just too cute.' Scarly said, cooing at me with a small pout. She ran her hand through some of my hair, tracing my face slightly. It felt really nice. Almost comforting to be there with her. To have her attention. It felt as if everything would be ok. And it was in the moment. A moment I secretly hoped would last forever. A family. I had a family. Well, I hope I do. The moment was interrupted by none other than my father.
'Alright monkeys, we need to have a little family meeting.' He said while sitting in his seat. Scarlett smiled at me before walking around the table and taking her own seat. I found myself staring at her as she walked and could hear the millions of thoughts rushing through my mind.
What was that? Why did it feel weird? Why is she so nice? Does she care about me? Why do I feel the need to be around her? Did he say family meeting? She feels different. Better. I want her to stay. I need her to stay. I need her.
'Ooh, about what?' Rose asked excited.
'Well now that we've finished breakfast, we need to decide what we're doing today so we can get ready? Dad and I have come to the conclusion that a day out sounds like a great idea.' Scarly explained and looked my way for a second smiling and blowing a kiss. I could feel my brows knit together but something about this was nice.
'Ooh! Can we go to the zoo?! Please! Please! Please!' Rose exclaimed.
'Rose, you went to the zoo a couple weeks ago with Kate and her kids. Shouldn't we let Colin and Carter pick?' Scarlett told her.
'No no no. Actually that's a great idea. I've been meaning to take Carter since she's never been. Well as far as she remembers.' Dad defended Rose.
'Then I guess it's up to Carter.' Scarlett said looking at me.
'I don't know.' I said shrugging. I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do as long as we were all together.
'Then it's settled. This family is going to the zoo today!' Dad announced in a funny way making everyone laugh but I was still a little caught in my head.
I didn't even realize but somehow when I snapped out of my daydream I was sitting on the bed in Scarly and dad's room. Dad was in the bathroom and it sounded like he was shaving. Scarly walked out of the closet dressed in shorts and a shirt and she was carrying a jacket on her arm. She looked up and we finally made eye contact.
'Alright, lovey. It's your turn.' She says walking towards me. She picks me up and walks back to the closet where we find my bag and she pulls out a few items. She shows them to me asking what I want to wear and I point to one of the outfits she picked. It was a pink shirt with some simple black shorts. She sets me down and helped me change.
I am proud to say I only struggled a little, having to hold onto her as I stepped into my shorts. That is a major improvement from what happens at dad's house. I mean home. That was weird. But normally I have to sit down when I'm putting my pants on and do a little scoot and hop method to get them fully on. What can I say? Being small is not easier. All the time at least.
Anyways, after I finished changing Scarlett helped me onto the chair at her makeup table and brushed my hair. I was scared at first because normally it hurts when I brush my hair but it didn't hurt at all. She then pulled my hair back into a small loose bun. And she put Rosie's hair into a pony. It was pretty.
Rosie took me downstairs while dad and Scarly finished getting ready and we watched some tv. Dad came down and sat with us a bit before we were told to put our shoes on. I saw Scarly walking down the stairs with some jackets on her arm.
'Really Scar. It's like seventy out.' Dad asked.
'What? It can get chilly. We can leave them in the car, but I'd rather bring them than wish we had them.' She explained. I wondered if this is what mommy's were like. You know. Always thinking ahead and wanting to be prepared.
Dad sighed and shook his head with a little laugh. 'Ok, well I'm gonna get these two monsters in the car if you wanna get anything else. It's about an hour there.'
Scarlett agreed and Rosie and I followed dad out to our car. He stopped by the garage to grab one of Rosie's booster seats which I'm not gonna lie I was a little jealous of. I mean how come she gets to sit in a chair with more freedom.
'Don't worry, sissy. You'll get to sit in a big girl seat soon too. Plus your seat is comfier to sleep in.' Rose told me taking notice of my pout as dad buckled me in. She even got to buckle herself in! At least dad checked hers. I wanted to be mad at her but I quickly realized once our drive started that she was right. It was kinda comfy.
I don't really remember what happened on the drive because I fell asleep before we even left the neighborhood. But I think I could hear Scarly singing to the radio.
Time skip to when they arrive at the zoo.
I wake up to the clips of my car seat being undone. I feel big hands lifting me from my seat and open my eyes slightly to see daddy. I whine as I pulled from the shaded state of the car and it's replaced with the bright sun. Daddy pulls me into him and I wrap my arms around his neck opting to hide in his neck.
I feel him rub my back and start walking. After a couple moments, I hear a crowd of voices getting louder and louder until he stops moving. Confused I move my head, adjusting my eyesight and looking over his shoulder. I see lines of people and some kids running around. After looking around a little, I meet Scarly's eyesight. She's standing behind Daddy and Rose is between them.
'Hi love. You have a good nap?' She smiled at me, brushing back the loose hairs around my hair. I nod laying my head on daddy's shoulder.
'Aren't you excited to see all the animals, sissy?' Rosie asks. I smile at her, nodding my head as I finally begin to wake up more, feeling energetic with my newfound excitement for the zoo.
'What do you want to see most, honey?' Scarly questions me. I think for a moment, searching my brain for all the animals I know.
'The raffe's and el'phants!' I say, happily.
Rosie laughs, 'You mean giraffes and Elephants, and they're pretty cool. I think you'll love them. We can even feed the giraffes!'
'Really?!' I ask even more excited.
'Uh huh. It's really cool!' She tells me. I smile happy to have someone to guide me today. I guess Rosie is a pretty great big sissy. I sit up more in Daddy's arms, looking around at the entrance of the zoo, not even noticing us moving, until we're passing through the front gates and my excitement seems to grow even more at the jungle like decor to the whole place. We walk for a while before we get towards a group of people looking over a railing at something.
'It's the ostriches and emus!!' Rose exclaims, although I can't see anything. Daddy puts me on the ground and I look up at him confused.
'Can I take Carter to see?' Rosie asks daddy and Scarly.
'Yeah sweetheart, go with Rose. She's gonna show you the animals. Mama and I can see from here.' He suggests.
'But there's so many of them.' I whisper leaning into him.
'I know honey, but Rosie will be right with you. She won't let anything happen. Plus you're here to see the animals.' He consoles.
'Come on, Carter. I've got you. I promise you'll love it once you see them.' Rosie tells me while grabbing my hand and pulling me closer to her. I look up as daddy nods his head encouraging me and I turn walking with Rose. As we get closer to everyone I lean into her side and she smiles at me letting me.
When we get to the railing she finds us a free spot and tries to point out the animals. I look seeing the big birds and squeal at how cool they look. I smile at her and she returns it pointing some of them out. After looking for a little bit we walk back to our parents.
'So?' Daddy asks.
'There were big birds and they were like the size of you. They were huge!' I explain. He just nods and suggests we move on. I happily agree and walk ahead with Rosie as she tells me all about the next animal we'll see.
A/N: Ok, normally I would never post a chapter I don't like. But I kind of hated the middle of this chapter but have no idea on how to change it so I'm just gonna stick with it. The end and beginning of this I loved so we're gonna leave it. Anyways I hoped you enjoyed seeing the beginning of this family and we'll see you in the next one.
Side note. I'm really sorry this is so late. I was really busy with school work and completely forgot to post, but please enjoy and I'll see you next Monday(if I remember, seriously someone remind me).
Love,
EJ <3