Here we go Lauren x

woohoo. its gonna returneth!

thankyou hun

i will post the story when i get home which should be about midnight

i'm happy now

yay its back (im not asking why it went, just happy its back!)

hey does anyone know how much text you can put in the reply box at any one time? cos i have 48 pages of Word document for this story, will it all fit in at once?

no i dont think it will lauren i would do it in bits if i were you hun

Lol, that would be a whole load of reading in one go lol

ok i will do it a chapter at a time thankyou geordiesarahraine

and i think most people have read most of it tam lol, so its only new peeps who would have to read that much heehee. But i don't reckon ill get many new readers now cos its daunting to have to read so much

cant wairt for the repost! x

lauren sorry have been able to comment u story is fab listen 2 someone who knws what they are talking about someone who got a B in her english it is fab and I know we all appericate

OMG Lauren you stole my name for geordiesarahraine! How could you? and what happened to the old lola? glad it's back though!

lol sorry jen

and thankyou daisy

It was criminal that this great fic got deleted! I look forward to future updates once you have reposted Lauren! xx

Chapter One

“Lola, come on now sweetheart, you have to be going to school!” Hannah shouted up the stairs towards her daughter.
“I’m coming mummy!” The little voice shouted back.
“You’re going to be late” Hannah said softly. She felt like she was forever rushing her little girl. From the moment she was born, Hannah had been desperate for her to grow up so she could take her shopping, buy her pretty clothes and watch her get boyfriends. But now she was nearly five, she wished she was still a baby. Time flies by you so fast that one moment you are looking into the eyes of your newborn baby, the next you are packing them up for their first day at school. Lola was nearly five. Born in early September, she had just missed the earlier year of school and had to wait another year to go. She would be one of the oldest in her year group, Hannah had thought at the time, that surely had it’s advantages. The first to turn sixteen, the first to drive, the first to…oh god, it didn’t bear thinking about what she would be the first to do.
Hannah walked back into the kitchen rubbing her temples wearily, stress induced headaches were the most painful.
“I’m going now darling, I’ll pop into the supermarket on the way home to get something for tea.” Hannah smiled at Paul, he had been so good to her, so accepting of the situation and he was only twenty six. With Hannah giving birth to Lola shortly before her nineteenth birthday, she was still only twenty two. It had been difficult, extremely so, but it helped that Hannah had met Paul nearly three years ago. He had cared for her in her darkest hours and cared for Lola too, as if she was his own. But he understood that she wasn’t and would never come between her and her real father.
Paul kissed Hannah lightly on the lips, “I love you.”
“I love you too” She said to him as he walked towards the door.
“And you want to get yourself something for that headache!” He shouted as he walked out.
Walking to the medicine cabinet, Hannah took out a packet of strong headache tablets. These were becoming a lifeline for her. The stress of working whilst trying to raise and protect a young child at twenty two was so difficult and Hannah still hadn’t quite managed to get into the flow of things. Hannah popped two of the tablets and drank them down with a glass of water.

John Paul pulled his car up outside the little terraced house. He could see Hannah through the kitchen window. He turned the engine off and made his way to the door. Hannah opened it quickly, “Quick, she’ll be down in a minute and you don’t want to miss seeing her in her new uniform for the first time do you?”
John Paul jogged the rest of the way and entered the kitchen. Hannah always kept her house neat and tidy but today it looked like a bomb had gone off.
“What’s happened in here?” He asked shocked, taking in the mess around him.
Hannah hurried past him to get Lola’s lunchbox, “Oh don’t ask!! Lola decided to start some new paintings this morning, at the crack of dawn and I haven’t stopped. It isn’t easy you know!”
“I’m not trying to have a go at you Hannah, you just normally keep it so tidy that’s all.”
“Daddy!!” He heard his daughters little footsteps running towards him and he turned to see her stood in the doorway in a little blue uniform. Her blonde hair had been tied into little pigtails and her deep blue eyes shone with happiness. She was small for her age and looked swamped by the blue jumper she wore. Her legs were covered by the jeans he had bought her last weekend and she had a minute pair of pink shoes on her feet.
“Lola you look beautiful!” He beamed at her. From the moment she was born he had been so fiercely protective of her and so proud. And at this moment his heart was fit to burst.
Hannah reached into the nearest drawer and pulled out a camera, “Smile sweetheart” she called to Lola, who did as she was told. She had John Paul’s smile and Hannah’s eyes. Her personality was a definite mixture of the two. You couldn’t have
wished to meet a more kind hearted, angelic little girl.
“Now go grab your coat baby, you don’t want to be keeping daddy waiting.” Lola ran off to get her coat.
Hannah turned to John Paul. “Thank you for offering to take her. I hate to have to miss her walking in there for the first time but I have to go to work. They’re getting less and less sympathetic with me, and to be honest we need the money. John Paul smiled at her, “You know it’s fine Han. Listen, I was thinking of taking her over to my mum’s tomorrow night if that’s okay? She hasn’t seen her for a while now and wants to give her her birthday presents.”
“That’s fine, as long as you have her back early though, now that she’s going to school the late nights have to stop.”
“Of course, oh there you are Lola, come on or we’ll be late.” He said as Lola walked back into the kitchen.
She walked to Hannah first, wrapping her little arms around her mummy’s neck and planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek, “Bye mummy, I love you.”
“I love you too sweetheart, have a wonderful day. Don’t forget your lunch.” Hannah put her daughter down and passed the lunchbox to her.
“Come on then monkey, we better go. See you later Hannah” John Paul smiled at her as they left the house.
Hannah watched from the window sadly, she hated to miss anything that was a first for her daughter, but knew she had to keep hold of this job in order to keep paying the bills. Her life was lived for Lola now.

After opening the rear door of the car, John Paul lifted Lola up into the booster seat.
“Daddy?” She asked in her little voice. John Paul was well used to this tone of voice, it was only ever used with him. That being either when she wanted something or when she was being cheeky.
“Yes?” He replied, leaning over her to fasten the seat belt.
“When we go to grandma’s tomorrow, can I go to see auntie Jacqui and uncle Tony?” Her tiny face looked up at his, her eyes were pleading with him.
“If we have time sweetheart. Why do you want to go see them tomorrow, we’re going at the weekend.” John Paul shut the door and made his was round to the driver’s side. They were forever having conversations in this way, so Lola waited to answer until he was sat down.
She grinned at him when he turned to look at her, “Because she is my favouritist auntie.”
John Paul smiled and set off towards the school. Lola never ceased to amaze him, she was bright and bubbly but not too outgoing and she had the most fantastic sense of humour for such a young girl. He put it down to being brought up by two young parents, who had failed in the ways of normal parents by often swearing in front of her, or making silly jokes that she should be too young to understand. She did understand though, but that was one of the best things about his daughter, she would take everything in but would never be cheeky to anyone other than him and Hannah.
He glanced at her through the mirror, “I thought auntie Carmel was your favourite?”
John Paul had to suppress a laugh when he saw her roll her eyes, “She isn’t my favouritist any more. Auntie Jacqui is.”
“Why?”
“Because she told me she is having a baby.” Lola turned away after saying this as something outside of the window caught her eye.
John Paul smiled to himself, so Jacqui was having a baby. That would be good for her and Tony, a way to finally cement their marriage. His thoughts were cut short as they arrived at the school.
“Come on then Lola, here we are.”

Hannah made her way into Evissa. She worked there now part time, it had been hard for her, moving a little way out of Hollyoaks, and away from her family so she had decided to make the short trip back every day to work in the shop she had visited regularly as she had got older.
“Hiya Hannah, you okay today?” The shrill voice of Carmel tore through her head, the pain of the headache hadn’t even slightly gone since she took the tablets earlier.
“Hi Carmel, yeah fine thanks, are you?” Hannah made her way into the back to hang her coat up.
“I’m absolutely fantastic, Aleksander cooked me the most amazing meal last night before whisking me off to bed, ooooh he’s so amazing!”
“That’s nice.” Hannah really wasn’t in the mood as she poured herself a strong cup of coffee. She headed over to the sofa and sat down, letting out a large sigh as she did so.
“Oh Hannah I’m so sorry, I had totally forgotten it was Lola’s first day, you must feel awful!” Carmel came to sit down next to her, “I’m sure she will be full of little stories to tell you when she gets home” she said, trying to console Hannah.
“There’s only one first day of school though Carmel isn’t there, and yet again I had to miss it!”
“We can’t help it that the boss is so mean.” Carmel cried, she hated working there now. Since Louise and Warren had eloped to Spain and got married, Evissa had been taken over by a large company that specialised in beauty treatments and had become part of a conglomerate of little shops all over the country. Carmel and Hannah were now paid exactly the same as everyone else in the chain, which was very little, and the boss hardly ever made an appearance. It was up to Hannah and Carmel to keep the shop going, keep the clients coming and keep the boss happy. Hannah couldn’t have afforded any more time off work.
“I know we can’t” Hannah felt resigned to the fact that there was nothing they could do to change the situation, “I just really wish I could have been there for Lola, she needs me.”
Carmel wrapped her arms around Hannah and hugged her, “Lola loves you Hannah, she’s only five. She isn’t going to resent you for this when she gets bigger.”
“I hope not.”

Lola waved at her dad as she ran up to the door. “Bye daddy!” She shouted.
“Bye sweetheart have a good day!” John Paul waved back at her, watched her safely into the building and then went back to the car.
Following the directions of the teacher, Lola put her coat on her hook and stood her lunchbox underneath it. She felt scared. Everything around her was so big and there were more children than she had ever seen before.
The teacher ushered all the children into the nearest classroom and told them to sit in a circle on the floor. Lola sat in between two other girls and twiddled with one of her pigtails nervously. The teacher joined the circle after she had closed the door and written her name on the board.
“Hello everyone, I am Miss Peterson. I will be your teacher for the next year.” She smiled at all the little faces surrounding her, they all looked so terrified of her that she took an immediate liking to each and every one of them. “To start off with we are going to go around the circle, and you are all going to tell everyone one else a little bit about yourselves so that we can all get to know each other. So we will start with you.”
Miss Peterson pointed at Lola and smiled encouragingly.
Lola felt her eyes filling with tears but she tried to hold them in. Mummy and Daddy had always told her that as long as you are nice to people, people are nice to you back. Her face turned a pale shade of pink as she started to speak.
“My name is Lola Freya McQueen and I live with my mummy and her boyfriend in Chester.”
“And what about your daddy Lola? Do you see him?”
Lola straightened herself up a bit before she spoke, even though she was only five she wasn’t unaware of the situation and felt a certain level of child like proudness when she spoke about her father, “Yes, my daddy lives in Chester too, with his boyfriend.” Lola smiled sweetly at the Miss Peterson and the other children in the room.
“What do you mean your daddy’s boyfriend?” One little boy piped up.
“My daddy lives with his boyfriend, doesn’t your daddy?” Lola repeated, turning her self to face the boy.
“My daddy lives with my mummy.” The little boy said to her before finding an interesting looking stone in his shoe.
“Okay Lola, thank you, you may sit down now.”
Lola sat back down and looked at the old carpet beneath her, she wished her daddy lived with her mummy still. She didn’t know why that little boy’s daddy didn’t have a boyfriend. A little tear escaped from the corner of her eye and she wiped it away gently with her sleeve. She knew that when she got home she would have to ask her mummy why daddy wasn’t there anymore and why he had a boyfriend.
Miss Peterson looked at the adorable little girl in front of her, she looked so sweet and so innocent. Such a fragile little girl could be broken so easily by the taunts of other people, people less open minded. She just hoped to god that Lola was different and could rise above it all.

After the little episode in the classroom that morning, Lola, in her own way had kept her mouth shut, only speaking when she was spoken to and not letting slip more than she needed to. The rest of the day had gone without a hitch though, and by the time it was time to go home, she was really enjoying herself. When the bell rang though at the end of the day she ran straight out of the door and into the open arms of her mummy.
Hannah smiled down at her, her eyes full of pride at her little girl, “Did you have a good day sweetheart?” She asked as she scooped her up into her arms and gave her the biggest hug she could manage.
“It was brilliant!” Lola squealed as Hannah spun her round before letting her stand up again. “We did drawings, and paintings and we did some numbers and some words and we played in the sand and I made a castle out of bricks and…”
“Lola, calm down, you can show me these lovely pictures and tell me all about your day when we get home okay?” Hannah laughed towards Lola. Lola giggled back.
“Okay then mummy.”

Back at home Lola showed Hannah all of the pictures she had drawn.
“Can you put this one up on the wall mummy?” She asked as she handed one of them to Hannah. Hannah looked at the drawing and smiled. Lola had drawn herself in the middle of the picture with her mum and dad holding one of her hands each. Holding Hannah’s other hand was Paul, and holding John Paul’s other hand was Ben. What a dysfunctional little family, Hannah thought to herself as she stuck it up on the wall, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There you go darling,” she said aloud, “Does it look okay there?”
Lola clapped, “That looks good.”
Hannah immediately felt better, in an instant her headache was gone. She sat down next to her daughter and laughed as Lola chatted animatedly about her day at school. She watched with fascination as Lola talked about every single little thing she had done, picking up a picture now and then, and smiling broadly as she talked about her new friends. It made her heart swell with pride looking at her now. No matter what had happened to her in her short life, Lola had always come out on top.
“And then Kyle asked me why my daddy had a boyfriend.”
Hannah’s ears pricked up and the smile dropped from her face. “And what did you say?”
Lola smiled proudly, “I asked him why his daddy didn’t.”
Hannah smiled, “That’s a good girl.”

Chapter Two: It’s off to grandma’s we go

John Paul pulled his car up outside his mum’s house and lifted Lola down from the car. Hannah always made sure she looked her best for her visits to Myra’s house and today was no exception. Dressed in a white summer dress that reached her knees, little white ankle socks and some ballerina style pumps, and with her hair falling in natural loose curls to her shoulders, Lola looked delicate and pretty. She bounced up the path, fuelled by a childish excitement at seeing her grandma. John Paul watched with a smile on his face as she reached halfway up the door - as far as she could - and rang the bell. Myra had insisted on putting the bell at that height so that Lola could ring it all by herself. Lola soon got bored of waiting and started twirling in her dress back down the path towards him.
“Oi cheeky, turn back round, grandma’s there now!” He joked at her. With a huge smile on her face, Lola let her dress drop back down and ran back up the path towards Myra. Myra smothered her with hugs and kisses until John Paul reached the door.
“Hi love, glad you could make it.” Myra looked lovingly at her granddaughter, “She gets more and more beautiful every time I see her.”
“Takes after Hannah” John Paul stated as he greeted his mother with a kiss.
“She’s a perfect mixture of the both of you love.” Myra insisted before catching up with Lola in the kitchen.
“Grandma, when is auntie Jacqui’s…” Lola began before being interrupted by John Paul.
“Lola, why don’t you tell grandma about school?” John Paul insisted. Luckily she got the hint and once again went into wonderful detail about the day.
John Paul meanwhile made his excuses and went into his old room where he pulled out his mobile and rang Jacqui.
“Hey little bro, how are you? I haven’t heard from you in a while!” Jacqui answered cheerfully.
“I’m fine Jac, listen, Lola has been talking non stop about you having a baby, is it true?”
“I’m sorry for not telling you myself, but I don’t really want anyone to know just yet, we were so scared after the miscarriage last time and wanted to wait until we knew for definite that everything was okay.” Jacqui answered, a hint of sadness in her voice. After getting married Jacqui and Tony had tried on numerous occasions to have a baby but had so far failed. Last year they had announced the news that they were expecting to the family only for Jacqui to suffer a miscarriage a few weeks later.
John Paul sighed, it was a difficult time for them all, “Well I’m so happy for you and I hope that it all works out this time. But Lola! Why on earth did you tell Lola? She will be telling everyone if I don’t manage to stop her.”
Jacqui laughed on the other end of the phone. “She’s my favouritist niece, that’s why.” They both laughed and then hung up. Lola’s little colloquialisms were used now between the different members of the family and never failed to raise a smile.
Lola was sat at the table when John Paul came downstairs, happily making some buns with Myra.
“I’m going to stick some of them little flowers on mine grandma.” She stated. They both watched as her face became a picture of concentration, her little pink tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth slightly as she worked on the buns.
“She will do just fine John Paul.” Myra said out of nowhere.
John Paul turned to her and smiled, “I know she will. She’s a little star in the making.”
“I didn’t mean that. She told me about the little episode in the classroom the other day.”
“Oh that.” John Paul answered back, feeling more than a little put out at the way Lola had been treated on her first day at school.
“She’s a good girl, and even though she’s still so young, she has a good head on her shoulders. So don’t worry yourself love, she will be fine, I promise.” Myra looked between her son and her granddaughter. They were very similar in temperament and looks, with Lola inheriting the best of both his and Hannah’s features. Lola would always hold a special place in her heart, as she was the only grandchild her son would ever give her.
“Oh Lola, that reminds me princess, I have some birthday presents for you. From me and from your aunties.” Myra disappeared into the pantry and pulled out a big bag of presents.
“WOW!” Lola shouted as she ran over to Myra, “Can I open them?”
“Well you should really wait until next week but I suppose it won’t hurt to open one.”
Lola looked at Myra sadly but soon remembered what her mummy and daddy had taught her, so politely she answered, “Okay then grandma, if I can open just one now then I will save the rest for my birthday.”
Excitedly, Lola ripped the wrapping paper off the present Myra handed her.
“Oh grandma it’s really pretty!” Lola exclaimed as she held the fairy outfit against herself, “I can wear it for my birthday now can’t I?”
“Yes you can, then you can be a real fairy princess at your party.”
John Paul thanked Myra with a hug and then told Lola it was time to go home.
Lola ran to Myra and hugged her again, “Thank you for my present grandma!”
“Your welcome my love, don’t forget to wear it at your party.”
“I’ll make sure she does mum,” John Paul said as he picked his daughter up and walked to the door, “She’s going to have the best party ever, right Lola?”
Lola beamed at him, “The bestest party in the wholest world!”
Hannah sat back on her chair at the desk. She had allsorts of fun things planned for the weekend with the intention of making Lola’s birthday celebrations last almost a week. After designing some colourful posters on the computer with ‘Happy 5th Birthday Lola’ written on them she had posted a mail order with a company that specialised in children’s parties. It had tired her out though very quickly after a long day at work mixed with the medication she was taking, so she thought she would rest for a moment.
Lola was still out with John Paul and Paul was working late. It gave her the perfect opportunity to get a well-deserved sleep. As she made her way upstairs towards the bedroom there was a knock at the door. “Oh great” she said to herself as she made to answer it.
Sarah stood there with a big grin on her face. Hannah screamed with excitement and hugged her friend with all her might.
“Oh my god Sarah! I haven’t seen you for so long!”
“I know Han, I’m sorry. But I have never had the chance to come home until now.” Hannah ushered her friend inside and sat her down at the dining table.
“You have to tell me all about it, everything, then I’ll fill you in on what’s been happening here.” Hannah proceeded to make some drinks as Sarah spoke.
“Well once I had got to America I was run off my feet. The courses over there aren’t like they are here. You actually have to work” Sarah laughed as she recalled walking into her first lecture, only to discover the work was harder than she could have ever imagined. It had been almost five years since she had left, and even though there had been a lot of phone calls and letters at first, that had soon drifted away, leaving Sarah stuck at NYU alone, and Hannah stuck in Chester with a newborn baby and no prospects.
“So tell me what’s been happening here Han, I haven’t been home yet and have literally just got off the plane.” Sarah had been determined to visit Hannah on the way home; she had missed her best friend the most out of anyone.
“Well,” Hannah began, putting the drinks down on the table and then sitting down to join Sarah, “what do you want to know first?”
“How’s about you tell me how that beautiful little girl is that I haven’t seen since she was born.” Sarah smiled at the pictures on the walls and the photos of Lola stood on the shelves.
“Oh she’s absolutely perfect Sarah, I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
“And have you found anyone else since, you know?”
Hannah emanated happiness as she answered Sarah’s question, “Yes actually I have, we have been together for three years and his name is Paul.”
Sarah suppressed a laugh, “Paul? As in the same name as a certain someone?”
Hannah hit her playfully in the arm, “Don’t be so silly, I’m not that desperate! It was just a coincidence that’s all!”
“Yeah right, very funny coincidence.”
The front door swung open with a bang and Lola ran through it, closely followed by John Paul.
“Hey sweetheart!” Hannah exclaimed as Lola hugged her before turning and looking with interest at Sarah. “Did you have a good time at grandma’s?”
“Yes. She buyed me a fairy outfit to wear at my party.”
John Paul took his shoes off without noticing Sarah sitting at the table, when he got up a large smile spread across his face and he ran to her, grabbing her in a big hug.
“Oh my god!!!” He yelled as he put her down, “I can’t believe your back!” John Paul looked towards Lola who was stood next to a grinning Hannah, a look of confusion on her little face.
“Lola this is mummy’s best friend in the whole world. And she’s one of my best friends too.”
Sarah walked towards Lola and crouched down in front of her, “Hi beautiful, I’m Sarah, I bet you don’t remember me do you?”
“No” Lola replied. She liked the look of the lady knelt in front of her and had heard her mummy and daddy talking about Sarah before. As a gesture of kindness Lola held out her hands and Sarah pulled her into a massive hug.
“Oh Lola, my little sweetheart, I’ve missed you so much.”
Sarah was so happy holding Lola in her arms, It had broken her heart to leave the little baby only days after she had been born. But now she was home, she could make up for all that lost time, with Hannah, John Paul and Lola. Craig would also be coming home soon she smiled to herself, then the five of us can all be together again.

Chapter 3: A weekend with daddy

The next morning after dropping Lola at school, Hannah walked through the door to Evissa to find the usually happy Carmel looking glum at the reception desk.
“What’s wrong Carmel? You and Alex haven’t had a fall out have you?”
“Oh no Hannah it’s nothing like that but your going to be so upset, I know you were planning on doing a lot with Lola this weekend but I’m afraid it can’t happen!”
Hannah threw her coat and bag down onto the sofa, “You’ve got to be joking, what are they wanting us to do this time?”
Carmel sighed, “Business meeting in Liverpool.”
“Liverpool!” Hannah put her head in her hands. That meant she wouldn’t see Lola for the whole weekend, “I’ll be back in a minute Carmel, just got to ring John Paul and see if he can have Lola for me.”

John Paul picked up the phone in the office, “John Paul McQueen”.
“Hi John Paul it’s me, I’m sorry to ring you at work but I need to ask a favour, a business meeting has been arranged at the last minute so I have to go to Liverpool this weekend.” Hannah sounded upset on the other end of the phone. John Paul knew how much she had planned for Lola this weekend and knew it was breaking her heart to let her little girl down.
“I’ll take her for you. Ben and I we’re planning on taking a trip to the science museum anyway, I’m sure Lola will enjoy that.”
Hannah smiled gratefully even though John Paul couldn’t see her, “Thank you, I’m sure she’ll love it.”
John Paul smiled sadly at his desk, “I know you hate to leave her Han, but I promise she’ll be okay for one weekend.”
“I know she will John Paul, I’ll drop her off after school.”
“Bye Hannah”
“Bye John Paul.”
Hannah let a few tears fall, she panicked when her plans were changed so suddenly as she knew she had to cling onto every precious moment she had with her daughter. She didn’t know how many more birthday’s she would see.

“You’re staying with daddy and uncle Ben this weekend Lola, mummy has to work now.”
Lola clung onto Hannah’s hand tightly as they crossed the road, “Does that mean I can’t go to the science museum with you?”
The science museum was especially for children and was holding a special workshop this weekend where the children could build go-karts. Lola had seen it advertised a few weeks ago and had begged Hannah to take her, so Hannah had agreed that she could go seeing as how it was her birthday a few days later.
“Daddy and uncle Ben are going to take you instead sweetheart, so you can still go.”
Lola stopped on the pavement and hugged her mum’s legs, “Thank you mummy, this is going to be the bestest birthday ever!”
“Come on now, let’s get home so we can get you all ready for daddy’s house.” Hannah held Lola’s little hand in hers once again and they made their way home.

After spending an hour getting her things together it looked like Lola was going away for a week instead of two days. Hannah had bundled all of it into the boot of her small car and driven the journey to John Paul’s house. Whenever she pulled up outside it she was always amazed by the beauty of the place. A little way outside of Chester, John Paul and Ben’s house was an old barn that they had converted, causing it to be at least four times the size of Hannah’s. It was beautifully done out, with modern furniture and decoration, and a long sweeping driveway from the main road. The gardens were always immaculately presented, as was the house itself. It was a product of John Paul’s early success in his career. The business was now owned by him so he could afford the little luxuries that she couldn’t. Her eyes always bulged when she saw the house, or his newest car, or the latest appliance he had bought. She didn’t feel any envy for his lifestyle though, that was why she had the main custody of Lola. John Paul simply wouldn’t have the time to look after her properly. But he paid his way with her, giving Hannah a hefty lump of money every month in maintenance. They had never gone through the courts to get custody as neither of them ever had any bitterness towards the other. It was simply the best option for Hannah to have her in the complicated little lives they all led.
John Paul saw Hannah and Lola arrive and ran out to help them get Lola’s things. Between them the managed to get everything inside in record time. Lola ran over to Holly as soon as she walked through the door. The Labrador wagged her tail excitedly at Lola’s sudden attention. Hannah stood in the doorway with John Paul.
“How are you feeling? You’re looking better.” John Paul asked her gently.
“I felt off a few days ago but yes, I’m perking up a bit now.”
“That’s good,” John Paul hugged her carefully; “Just take it easy this weekend though okay.”
“I will do.”
Hannah made her way over to Lola and hugged her close, “Bye my love.”
“Bye bye mummy.”
John Paul watched Hannah hug her daughter. He hated the goodbyes. With Hannah’s illness taking it’s toll all the time, he wondered each time whether this would be the final one.

“Uncle Ben!” Lola shouted as she spotted him in the conservatory. She ran into his open arms. Swinging her round he laughed at the little girl he had grown to love as his own. John Paul looked on from the doorway.
“We’re taking her to the science museum tomorrow babe.” He said as Ben put her down gently.
“Ok, do you want to go on that ride that takes you through space Lola?” Ben asked her as she plonked herself down on one of the wicker chairs.
“Yes please!”
Ben and John Paul sat down with her as she yet again told the story of her first day at school to a wide-eyed Ben before excitedly telling him the plans for her birthday party. When she had finished and gone upstairs to her room Ben took John Paul in his arms.
“I’ve had an idea.”
“Oh, what’s that then?” John Paul asked as he looked into Ben’s eyes.
“I thought we could treat Hannah, Lola and Paul to a holiday this summer. It would be nice for them seeing as how they don’t earn enough and haven’t had a proper holiday for years.”
John Paul smiled gratefully at Ben. He was a good person, kind hearted and always thinking of ways to enrich Lola’s life. “Okay then, I’ll talk it over with Hannah on Sunday and see what she thinks.”

Ben, John Paul and Lola had got up early on the Saturday for Lola’s day out. She was so excited that she talked non-stop on
the way there, her face a picture of joy and happiness. Lola was desperate to build the biggest and best go-kart she could, and of course John Paul and Ben would help her do that. John Paul pulled the car to a halt outside the museum and they all got out and made their way inside.
Lola made a dash for the big statue of a dinosaur in front of them whilst John Paul and Ben strolled behind her. “Hannah trusts me for one weekend and knowing my luck I’ll lose her.” John Paul joked as he carefully watched Lola dart in and out of the crowds until she stopped and stared wide-eyed at the model.
“You don’t have to worry about her trusting you, I know she does whole heartedly, she just doesn’t want to miss a moment of Lola.” Ben replied linking his fingers in with John Paul’s.
It still annoyed John Paul that as they made their way towards Lola, people still stood and stared at the two men holding hands. It’s the twenty first century; we were supposed to be living in a politically correct society. What annoyed him the most though when they all went out together was that people looked at Lola sympathetically. It was as if she had been brought into the world selfishly. When they reached her, John Paul picked her up and hugged her. Mainly to let her know that it didn’t matter what other people were thinking when they stared at her with a hatred in their eyes, but also because if ever the worst came to the worst, she had to know that he loved her more than life itself and would never allow any harm to come to her.
Lola sensed his frustration and hugged him back, and as she looked over his shoulder at the small crowd that had gathered to stare at them she stuck her tongue out and giggled.

The science museum had been a lot of fun for Lola and John Paul couldn’t have felt prouder than when she won the first prize in the go-kart competition, much to the disgust of the rest of the parents in the room. Ben had treated the three of them to a McDonalds on the way home with the rest of the night spent playing games and watching movies. It had taken Lola hours to get to sleep after the excitement of her day so she had slept through to lunch time on the Sunday morning.
At three o’clock her bags were packed and the three of them sat painting pictures on the dining room table as they waited for Hannah to return from Liverpool. Picture after picture was painted and hung above the radiator to dry, and the clock ticked on. Lola was getting restless and beginning to worry, both John Paul and Ben could tell that much. After an hour John Paul got up and walked to the window. His hands felt clammy and his chest constricted but no matter how hard he looked, the car didn’t drive up the driveway.
Another hour passed and Lola was curled up into a tiny ball on John Paul’s knee. Watching her mummy take tablets every single day since she was born, Lola knew something wasn’t right. And now as she waited and waited for her mummy to come home, her little heart pounded with worry and her eyes filled with tears.
“It’s okay sweetheart.” John Paul tried to console her as she shook in his arms, “Mummy will be here soon.”
Lola didn’t answer, instead she just stared into space and cried.
The door finally burst open at six o’clock and a tired looking Hannah ran through to where they were all sitting, wide eyed and pale. “I’m so sorry baby.” She cried as Lola ran into her arms, her little face streaked with tears.
John Paul felt a weight lifted off him and sighed with relief. “You could of called Hannah.” He said gently, trying to calm his nerves.
Ben nodded in agreement, “We were worried sick.” He told her carefully.
“I’m so sorry” she repeated, looking at all three of them in turn whilst trying to calm Lola down. “There was a crash on the motorway and we were held up, the battery has gone on my phone so I couldn’t call, I’m so so sorry.”
Lola held onto her mummy as Hannah smothered her in kisses, stroking her hair as she did so. “I’m so sorry baby, I’ll never leave you again.” She whispered into Lola’s hair.
Lola turned her face to Hannah