Jayden was laying asleep in her bed with her head on Nick’s chest and her arms wrapped around his waist when she heard her door open. Her eyes slowly opened and she groaned softly. “Mum?” she groggily asked.
Eleanor’s face was less than pleased. “Nick” her voice was a low growl, “Get out of the bed. Now.”
Nick gulped and nodded, doing as he was told. Jayden sat up, pushing her hair out of her face. “Mum, it’s fine. We didn’t do anything.”
“Alex!” Eleanor was pissed. She set her glare on Nick. “What the hell do you think you were doing?”
“Nothing, I swear. We were studying and it got late so, I stayed the night.” Alexandra came from her and Eleanor’s room, hair unbrushed and sleep still obvious in her face. “What?” she called from the hall, hand running through her hair.
“Nick was sleeping in Jayden’s bed.” Eleanor crossed her arms, clearly not believing Nick.
Alexandra stepped into the room. “You were what?” Jayden got out of the bed and stood in front of Eleanor. “Mum, nothing happened. I swear. I haven’t even thought about at…Have I ever lied to you, Mum?” Alexandra turned to Eleanor. “If she says nothing happened I believe her.”
“Fine.” Eleanor turned and walked out the door, giving Alex a clearly unhappy look.
Alexandra sighed before following after Eleanor. “Eleanor.” she called after her. She turned her around. “Jayden has never lied to either of us. Or anyone for that matter. Why would she start now? Don’t you trust her?”
“I need to go train.” Eleanor headed towards the bedroom. “Don’t know when I’ll be back.”
Alexandra shook her head. “Uh-uh. At least answer my question. Do you or do you not trust our daughter?”
Eleanor did not respond, stepping into the bedroom and putting on her bullet vest. “Of course I trust our daughter. I do not trust that boy.” She sat down on the bed and reached for her military boots.
“I know and I understand that but if something happened she would tell us. And if it happens in the future she will tell us.” Alexandra sat next to Eleanor. “Eleanor.” she sighed. “If to me it seemed like you didn’t trust Jayden I can only imagine how she felt…”
Eleanor finished putting on her boots. “Right” she said, “Because you’re the expert.” She stood, clicked her fingers and teleported to Lucy. “I’m very angry and I need you to do something.”
Lucy turned towards Eleanor. “Why are you angry?”
“Because Nick was in Jayden’s bed!” Eleanor shook her head. “I don’t trust that boy.”
Lucy lifted an eyebrow. “And why aren’t you talking about this with Alex?”
“Bloody hell Lucy!” Eleanor pressed to hands to her face. “Because she’s always bloody right!”
Lucy smiled and chuckled softly. “Ah. The superpower. At least one person in every relationship has it…It’s not fun, is it?” Lucy moved Eleanor’s hands from her face to look her in the eyes. “Go talk to her.”
“Fine.” Eleanor pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you love.” She snapped her fingers and teleported back to in front of Alex, looking rather sheepish.
Alexandra did not look happy to see Eleanor. The exact opposite in fact. She turned away from Eleanor and headed towards the stairs.
“Love wait!” She grasped her arm. “I was a bloody idiot earlier. I was angry at Nick and I was rash. Jayden will always be my little girl, I just can’t stomach we growing up. Leaving us.” Tears welled in her eyes. “They’re just growing up so fast and I’m not ready.”
Alexandra felt tears well in her own eyes when she saw Eleanor’s tears but her face did not soften. “I get that. I do but you do not get to leave our conversations. I’ve dealt with that enough. All of my exes thought it was okay and I do not want you doing it too. And when it comes to our daughter do not bring up that whole ‘because you’re the expert’ shit. I know her and I know how things will affect her. She thinks you do not trust her, Eleanor and that is not okay.”
“I’ll talk to her now.” Eleanor pressed her lips to Alex’s forehead. “I’m sorry my love.” She turned and made her way back to Nick and Jayden, knocking on the door. “Hey kids, got enough time to talk?”
Jayden didn’t say or do anything and Nick timidly nodded.
“Nick.” Eleanor’s tone was soft, kind. “The moment Jayden was born I knew she was a angel.” Eleanor stepped closer. “You make her happy. And though I don’t want her to grow up, no mother ever does, I couldn’t think of anyone better for her. She wrapped her arms around Nick in a gentle hug. “Consider yourself part of the family.”
It took Nick a second but he smiled and hugged Eleanor back. “Thanks, Mrs. K.”
Eleanor smiled. “Miss K?” She laughed. “Call me Eleanor.” She turned to cup Jayden’s face in her hands. “I will always trust you my darling.”
Jayden chewed at her bottom lip, her eyes trained on her lap. “Well, it didn’t feel like it.”
Eleanor pulled her into a hug. “You are my smart, beautiful, baby girl. And I am so sorry I made you feel otherwise.”
Jayden nodded, feeling better as she hugged Eleanor back and buried her face in her shoulder. “I love you, Mum.”
“I love you too my darling.” She pulled back to ruffle Jayden’s hair playfully. “And to prove I trust you I have a gift.”
Jayden smiled and giggled as Eleanor ruffled her hair. She looked curious at the prospect of a gift. “What kind of a gift?” she asked.
From her pocket Eleanor took out a well worn piece of paper. "When I was a teenager in the 80’s I went to this place that projected stars everywhere. Very romantic.” Eleanor smiled. “I think it’s time you go now.” She held out the pass. “Say hi to Hans for me. It isn’t hard to miss him. He has a German accent. And he’s blue and has a tail. Tell him your my kid and you’ll get free ice cream.”
Jayden grinned and took the pass from Eleanor before pulling her into a hug. "Thanks, Mum." Nick smiled at Eleanor. "Yeah, thanks, Mrs. K." He paused for a moment. "Er, Eleanor." he corrected. "Means a lot that you trust us." Jayden pulled out of the hug. "We'll make sure to say hi to Hans."