Some like to sleep, We like to play

Things start to get heated and Gerard is starting to unbutton my shirt when we hear a little giggle. We break apart and both our gazes snap to the doorway to see Riley standing there with his blanket. Once he has our attention he crosses the room towards us so we sit up and straighten out our clothes before Gerard leans forward and picks Riley up sitting him on his lap, wrapping his blanket around him. "What are you doing up mister?" Gerard asks, poking Riley in the stomach lightly and Riley giggles again before saying "Wanna pway." I glance over at the clock and see it had been forty five minutes since I put them down for a nap and decide he just mustn't have been that tired.
"We can play Ry but do you want some juice first?" I ask and he says "Juice pwease mommy." I smile and lean over to kiss his forehead saying "Good boy for using your manners" before getting up and grabbing his sippy cup from the fridge and taking it back into the living room. While Riley sits on Gerard's lap and drinks his juice, enjoying the cuddles he's getting from his daddy I go to check on Bandit.
When I walk into the kids room the blanket on her bed moves and I hear a little "hee" come from under the blankets before a little head pops out from under them before darting back in real quick. " Oh no where did Bandit go? I can't see her anywhere in here she must have run away" I say dramatically and I hear a little giggle right before the blankets fly back and she sits up screaming "Boo." I clutch at my chest and pretend she scared me and she continues giggling as she says "Scared you mommy." "You did, I'm gonna have to get you for that now" I say as I make my way towards her wiggling my fingers getting ready to tickle. She jumps out of bed and takes off running toward the living room screaming and giggling before jumping on the couch next to Gerard and Riley and trying to wedge herself inbetween Gerard's back and the couch. "Hewp daddy, mommys gon get me" she shrieks and Gerard starts to laugh and says "How do you know I won't help her get you?" Bandits eyes widen before she jumps off the couch and runs to the other side of the room hiding behind the arm chair there. Gerard chuckles and shakes his head as I make my way back into the room and sit beside my two favourite men in the whole world. Gerard slides one arm out behind my back pulling me into his side so I pull my legs up and lean over cuddling into his side before calling out "B you coming over here for cuddles?" Bandit crawls out from behind the arm chair and comes running over. I reach down and help her climb into my lap where she lays against my chest and we all cuddle together for a few moments just enjoying the peace and quiet before Bandit spots Riley's cup of juice and asking for her own. I nod and stand up sliding her off my lap onto the couch and going to get her cup from the fridge.

A week later we are back in Jersey staying with Donna and Mikey while we look for a house. Our savings are almost empty but we have my trust find still so Gerard is also looking for work. Bandit and Riley are excited by the change in scenery and Donna spoils them rotten. Bandit has adapted better than Riley though and while she's excited all the time Riley gets upset easily and is really clingy. I worry about him and how up and down his mood can be and wonder if I should have him checked out but Donna tells me that it's ok and I should wait to see if it's just a phase. I feel reassured after the talk with her and just give Riley extra cuddles when he needs them.
Mikey ends up finding Gerard a job in a comic book store and a week later he starts his first day. Bandit and Riley are excited and the amount of noise they make at breakfast is deafening. When it's time for Gerard to leave for work they follow him to the door saying "Good luck daddy" and he smiles down at them, leaning down to kiss their heads before kissing me and leaving. That afternoon I get a call from our realtor who has a rental house available and can show it to me in an hour. I agree to meet her even though I'd rather be doing this with Gerard and when I hang up I start getting the kids ready. Just as we are about to leave Mikey comes home and asks where we're going. I tell him and he offers to come along and help keep an eye on Riley and Bandit. I thank him before we set off in his car. On the drive there I tell Riley and Bandit how important it is that they behave and do exactly what I say, not touching anything. "Ok mommy" Bandit says and I pray that she behaves as she is the child I'm most concerned about.
When we get to the house the realtor lets us in and Riley and Bandit look around the massive living room with wide eyes while holding onto Mikey's hands. I make my way through the bottom level of the house checking out the kitchen, laundry and small bathroom. I come to the stairs and I start to go upstairs when I hear a little voice calling out "Mommy" in a frightened tone and when I turn around Riley is in the hallway looking upset. "What's up Ry?" I ask as I walk over to him and pick him up. "Losed you" he says softly before wrapping his arms around my neck and burying his face in my shoulder. "It's ok Ry baby I'm right here" I say soothingly as I kiss his head. "Wanna see upstairs with me?" I ask and he pulls his head back to nod, smiling again.
We get upstairs and I am surprised to see that the house has three bedrooms when we were only looking for two but when I look at the information sheet the realtor gave us it is well within the price range we set ourselves. We wander through the upstairs checking out all three bedrooms and the massive bathroom before we go back downstairs and into the hallway. There are two doorways along the hall so I open the first and see a linen closet. When I open the second it is very dark so I take a step onto the first stair and Riley tightens his hold on me and says "No mommy." I reach out and find the light switch on the wall turning it on so we can see and stroking Riley's back saying "It's just the basement baby, it's ok." We take a quick look around and by the time we come back upstairs I am sold. The house is perfect. I sign the paperwork and the realtor tells me that we can organise payment and the collection of the keys within the next two days. I thank her and Mikey helps me put the kids back in the car.
Its gotten late and by the time we leave to go back to Donnas it's time for Gerard's shift to be over so we drive over there and pick him up. He is surprised to see us and before I can even tell him why we are here Bandit and Riley burst out yelling to him about the new house. When we get back to Donnas Gerard wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest thanking me again for agreeing to move back here and telling me that he loves his new job and he's excited to see the new house. I smile and tell him I know he will like it before filling him in on the details.

Notes