"Daddy, daddy wake up daddy!"

I was woken by a bouncing on my chest. David laughed in the background as Wren started poking my face.

I groggily sat up, how long was I asleep?

"Hey baby, how are you?"

"Good but papa say we late"

"Huh"

I sit up and look at david who nods. He hands me my phone and I groan seeing that in fact, we are 15 minutes late.

"Fix your hair, I'll drop you two around"

I took Wren off my lap and swung my legs off the bed, cracking my neck.

"Thanks honey"

He leaves and I bring Wren, who was fully dressed, into the bathroom with me while I fixed myself up.

Wren swung his legs on the bathroom counter, giggling as he mimicked my movements. I caught on and laughed and Wren pretended to brush his hair. He knocked out some clips and whined as they dropped to the floor.

I affixed them back to hid hair, taking and bouncing him on my hip.

"Thank woo daddy"

"You're welcome little bug"

David was in hallway when we left the bedroom

"Wrens bag is in his room, I'll get the stroller into the car"

I headed off to the nursery, immediately spotting the bag sat on the armchair. I double checked what was inside. Colouring book, snacks, juice, stuffie, blanket, changes david seems to have covered it all. I opened the side pocket to find a pair a pale yellow mittens. I took them out.

"Show me your hands Baby bear"

Wren held up his hands, whining once I slipped on the mittens. I kissed his forehead and swung the bag over my shoulder.

"It's just a precaution honey"

He sucked on his pacifier, huffing with his arms crossed. I chuckled at his pout as carried him out.

We passed by the spare room, where louis was on a call. I waved as we went by and he waved back. Wren noticed him and leaned over my shoulder

"Bai uncle lou!"

I heard Louis laugh as we walked out to the car.

I put Wren in his car seat with much fuss and joined David in the front. He started the car.

"The usual?"

"Yup, Cafe Medley here we come!"

After a short car ride we pulled up outside the bustling cafe. Wren was zoned out in the back so I rubbed his leg, alerting him that we were there.

I jumped out the passenger side, opening the boot and pulling out the stroller, kicking it to set it up. David took Wren out of his seat bouncing him on his hip.

"Do you want me to pick you two up?"

"No it's fine, someone will give me a lift"

I took Wren off him, bending over and fastening him into the stroller. David handed me the baby bag.

"Call me if you need anything"

"Course my love"

He gave me a quick and kiss and keeled down to kiss wrens cheek. He giggled and made mittened grabby hands. David nuzzled his face

"I'll see you later princess, you be good for daddy alright"

Wren whined lowly

"Papaaa"

He dragged out the "a" gurgling behind his pacifier.

"Love you bubba. Bye bye"

David waved as he stepped back towards the car. Wren was obviously sad that David was leaving so I comforted.

"Say bye bye to papa"

Wren waved his mittened hand

"Bai papa!"

David drove away and wrens lip quivered. I immediately pulled out his blanket. Whispering sweet nothings and covered him. I gave him his stuffie too, which he gladly accepted. A bundle of blanket in one hand and stuffie in the other, Wren seemed ready.

"You alright baby bear?"

"Nervous-"

Wren eyed the busy cafe

"-Lotta people"

"Itll be ok little bug, we always sit out the back and theres never alot of people out the back"

"Oki daddy"

Wren gave me a nervous smile and I kissed his nose. Standing I wheeled him in. As soon as we entered Alison, the owner of the cafe greeted us.

"RICKY!"

She threw up the counter top and snaked around tables to run over.

"Its been far too long, they're all waiting outside."

She gasped loudly and sunk onto her hunkers

"Who's his little one, hi there"

Wren whimpered and buried his head in his blanket.

"Sorry, he's very shy"

"Its completely ok, he's adorable. Now you better get out there, they'll kill you if you make em wait any longer. I'll be out in a bit to get your orders"

"Thanks Ali"

I guided the stroller through the cafe, people apologising and pulling in their chairs. Reaching the glass doors I already saw Donna, Emma and Kai laughing their asses off on the nearly deserted patio.

Opening the doors was met with profanity I should've expected but definitely didnt want Wren hearing.

"OH YOU LITTLE BI-"

They stopped at me frantically covering wrens ears and him giggling at me but as soon as the attention was on us Wren squeaked and hid once again.

"D-cay, E-quation, K-pop, cool it, smol baby alert"

They cheered together.

Donna scrambled to her feet, nearly falling out of her chair, cursing herself, much to my dismay.

She skidded to a stop in front of the stroller, leaned in and squealed, making incoherent noises as Emma stifled her laugh

"Guys the kid, Oh my gods it's too much, too cute I cant take it. This where I die. Cute kid but he's killed me."

She mimed being shot and fell back against the table, Kai steadying the glasses of water. Wren remained silent, figiting around. Donna huffed

"Tough crowd"

She sat back down and I joined the table as Kai pulled out a chair for me.

"Sorry, he gets quite nervous around new people"

Met with a chorus of awes, I sat, bringing the stroller in next to me. I unbuckled and pulled put Wren, who was only seen for a split second before he was hiding in my shirt. Emma gushed none the less.

"Oh Ricky, he's gorgeous oh my God, that dress looks beautiful, can I see?"

"Wren can emma see your pretty dress?"

Wren sniffles held onto me tighter.

"Come on baby bear-"

I ran my fingers through his hair and ignored Donna's repeated squeals at the cute nickname

"Its ok, just turn around. I got you"

Everyone held their breath as Wren slowly scooted around. Finally fully revealing himself. Wren tried to scratch his arms but couldn't because of the mittens, small success there. Donna nearly died again but covered her mouth to stop from spooking wren. Emma started.

"Oh I love your hair clips! Your whole outfit is so pretty"

"Wren picked it out himself, didnt you Wren"

Wren nodded, seeming slightly more confident at all the compliments he was receiving but still uncomfortable at the attention. I rubbed his shoulder to reassure him.

Kai tried his hand at an introduction to Wren.

"Hey little guy, I'm Kai-"

He pointed to Emma

"That's Emma"

Emma saluted then Kai then pointed to Donna

"And that's Donna"

Donna waved enthusiastically. Wren said something but it was barely audible.

"I'm sorry baby bear, what were you trying to say?"

Wren climbed up to my ear and whispered

"Donna have hair wike wainbow dash"

I chuckled

"Donna, you have hair like rainbowdash"

Donna beamed

"Aw thank you lil guy, I'm a hair dresser, maybe I can do your mop sometime"

"You do need a haircut little bug"

Wren blew a strand of hair out of his eyes. Kai chuckled.

"Ugh god he's too perfect Ricky, how have you and david been doing"

Wren was quite happy the focus was mostly off of him now, happily curling up in my lap, messing with his pacifier clip.

"A bit chaotic since this little tyke arrived but very good! How are you guys doing, I'm in need of some good gossip so dish"

"Well sharon-"

"OH I forgot"

I cut off emma who crossed her arms in fake upset "rude"

I pulled the tin of cookies out of the bag and threw them down.

"Feast you monsters"

Kai whooped and emma hollered as donna opened the tin revealing the sweet goods.

◇□◇□◇□◇□◇□◇□◇□◇□◇□◇□◇

"David we gotta talk, now"

Louis came into the kitchen and sat at the table. I joined him.

"What do we know?"

"We have limited time before she figures out what's happening. So we do it tomorrow night"

"What?!"

"It works out perfect. Her security on staff for tomorrow nights shift are all with us. Plus it gives us more of an element of surprise"

I leaned back in my chair

"I- ok, hows it going down?"

"Since you seem hell bent on ending this one yourself, were accommodating to you. To put it lightly you're rusty little brother"

I gritted my teeth "so what"

"You will wait in the car -"

"Fuck no!"

"Fuck yes, until shes weak then you get the final blow."

"What do you mean?"

"You're such an idiot, were gonna poison her, keep her on brink of the end. You come in finish the job. Shes dead, you get your revenge. Happy endings all around"

I sighed

"This feels to easy"

"It tends to but it'll be fine. Soon she'll be gone, you Ricky, the kid and whatever damned friends you have can be happy. I'll be out of your hair"

I laughed

"You really think you're escaping us"

"What?"

"You cant just dip a toe into this mess of a family, you're uncle lou. Our hitman uncle. Expect way too many invitations to parties and play dates to be clogging up your phone"

He chuckled

"You've got it pretty good you know, just look at your family, you guys do so well even with the fucked up shit in the background. You've got a well paying job, chaotic house husband and a small bean child. The majority of people would be kill to be where you are"

I sighed "sure, but it's really cool to have you here. I miss back home and usually I just hear your voice."

"I'll try make some of those parties then. Some one has to teach Wren a proper chokehold"

"Dont you even dare. Ricky would throw us both out in heartbeat"

We both laughed. This is what I missed.

"But seriously... it goes down tomorrow night. Are you completely sure that you wanna come, that this is what you want?"

"100 percent"

*************************

Daddy was still talking with his friends. It was boring. All I got was apparently sharon's husband is doing something with all different women at Sharon's office I dont know what that means but Daddy felt a need to cover my ears. Didnt do much though. I still heard it

The nice lady that everyone called Ali came back. She took drink orders off of everyone. Daddy got some fancy ice drink thingy while he got me just a cup of ice that he put in with my juice. It was so cold and nice. She also brought out really nice sandwiches.

She said they were on the house, which confused me cause I thought they were on a plate but they tasted super good.

But even nice sandwiches and cold juice couldn't stop me from getting bored.

I started wiggling in his grasp, kicking out my legs and whining. This definitely caught daddy's attention.

"What's wrong baby bear?"

I didnt wanna say this was boring in front of his friends, cause they were nice and I didnt wanna hurt their feelings. So I just whined.

"Wren you gotta tell me what's wrong"

Papa was whispering in my ear and it made me forget his friends were even there. I whispered back.

"Bowed"

Daddy chuckled

"That's alright little bug, you wanna colour?"

I nodded, my pacifier falling out but quickly put back in by daddy. Before daddy lowered me to my stroller, he stuck a finger in my diaper making me squeak. Hopefully he did discreetly, it certainly didnt feel discreet.

He deamed me not in need of a change, I could barely tell when I was wet anymore. I was sat in the stroller, not buckled but the tray that came around kept me in place. He put my bottle of icy juice in the cup groove and reached into he ban, pulling out the colouring book uncle Lou got me and a small pack of crayons.

He opened them up and spilled them onto the tray for me, as well as opening the book to a picture of a butterfly.

"Thankies Daddy"

I forgot the rest of them were there but immediately remembered as they all awed and Kai cooed at me. I blushed madly and tried to get on with my colouring.

But I couldn't grip the crayons. The stupid mittens Daddy put on me won't let me. I couldn't even pick one up. It was really frustrating. I whined and cried. I pushed a crayon off the tray , only to realise it was favourite yellow colour and I started to cry more.

Daddy leaned in and asked me what was wrong. I held up my hands to him.

"Off daddy"

"Baby bear, you know why you have the mittens on. It's for your own good"

"Listen to your Daddy wren"

Kai chimed in. I don't like kai anymore

"Can' colour tho"

I tried to demonstrate that I couldn't pick up the crayons. Daddy understood.

"I'm sorry baby, here"

He took off one mitten.

"But if you scratch they're staying on, ok"

"Oki daddy"

"Hey kiddo"

Suddenly donna was right beside me, making me me jump

"I think you dropped this"

She held out her hand, where she held my yellow crayon. Donna was definitely my favourite.

I nodded "thankies"

She pretended to fall back, kai catching her. "Christ ricky the kid is too much."

I giggled this time. Laughter is infectious and soon everyone was laughing.

I happily coloured in the butterfly while the grown ups kept up the boring conversation. The butterfly I drew was really colourful. Kinda like donna. I decided that I was gonna give it to Donna but I didnt know how to write her name. Papa taught me how to write my name so I crudely wrote Wren in the corner.

There was some blank space above it so I drew donna there. Now shell definitely know it's for her!

Then I realised, it'd be mean to only give a drawing to Donna. What about emma and Kai (even if he was a melanie) oh and of course alison. Shes nice and makes tasty sandwiches!

Daddy gave me some crackers from the bag, that I munched on in between drawing.

I coloured a puppy for Kai, a kitty for emma and a fishy for Ali. Signing my name in the corner of each and drawing them above it. Graciously using my best colours on them.

The pages of the book could be easily torn out so I ripped out the four pages

"Whatcha doing there Wren?"

Emma seemed to have noticed the ripping and suddenly all the attention was on me again. I fumbled with the papers, holding them close. I didnt want to ruin the surprise. Daddy had a different idea as he picked me out of the stroller. I still clutched the drawings.

"Lemme see baby bear"

Before showing him i whispered in his ear.

"They fo your fweinds cause dey weally nice"

I carefully showed them to Daddy so the surprise wouldn't be ruined. He smiled and kissed my cheek.

"They're beautiful baby bear, were going soon so do you wanna give them now?"

I nodded and turned to the group. I shuffled through the pages and handed Kai his drawing. Daddy helped me give emma and donna their drawings cause they were too far away.

They stayed silent for a moment and I thought they didnt like them. I hung my head and my lip quivered. Daddy held up my head I saw they were all smiling.

"Awwwwww this is adorable!"

"*gasp* Is this me? "

" oh I love it!"

I clapped my hands, not making much noise with still one gloved hand. The compliments made me feel giddy. Daddy spoke in my ear.

"That was a very nice thing for you to do baby bear. I'm very proud"

He hugged me all tight and I giggled softly.

"Ricky do you two need a lift home?"

"If it's not too much trouble there Donna"

"Ah sure it's no problem, were heading the same way anyway."

Everyone gave money to Kai and he went to pay. Emma made Daddy swear to respond to her calls, telling him off for ignoring their texts as well. Meanwhile donna made silly faces at me making me giggle.

Donna reminded me of alex. I miss alex . I hadn't seen her in ages but Daddy said her and aunty Alex were very busy. Hopefully I can see her for my birthday. That'd be really cool.

Kai returned and everyone got ready to head.

"Wren say bye bye to Kai and emma"

I think he just meant for me to wave and say bye but I had other ideas. I wriggled in Daddys hold.

"Down daddy"

Daddy was a bit confused but he did as I asked. I steadied myself on my feet and quickly waddling over to emma. Hugging her, I only could reach her waist as I stood on my trippy toes. I quickly switched to Kai, hugging him in the same way before scampering back to Daddy. Jumping into his arms to avoid the awes. Donna crossed her in an overdramatic way.

"Why don't I get a hug, little monster"

I made little huffy and whiney sounds burrowing into Daddy, which just made them all laugh.

On the way out Daddy stopped at the counter in front of Ali.

"Baby bear do you have something for alison"

"Oh" she curiously looked at me

I held out the final page and once saw I swear she melted.

"Thank you sweetie. I know where this should go"

She grabbed a pin and stuck my drawing to a board behind her. It was covered in Polaroid photos. One I recognised as Daddy but he had bright blue hair. I giggled. Daddy laughed

"Oh christ you still have that awful photo of me? God I cant remember the last time I died my hair"

Ali snorted

"I will never take a photo off that wall. You know that, now go on and get"

She pointed out the door and we saw Donna leaning out a small car window.

"Our ride awaits m'boy"