2.62

Two months with no sign of Lex. I know I told him to leave, but I had never told him to never return.

What little things he had left lying around the caravan had all left whilst I'd taken Izzy for her six-month check-up with Ty a week ago.

According to Holly, in one of her daily visits, he never left the laboratory just pining away whilst he worked. Do I have to be the one to reach out and apologise first? Should I apologise?

Relationships were messy, complicated, and too much drama. Why did I even bother?

"All I need is you," I prodded the tip of Izzy's nose as I lay on the floor in front of her. She lay on her tummy, having tummy time, I was hoping she'd crawl soon. She certainly enjoyed having a good wriggly attempting it.

"Now come on watch Mommy." I mimicked the actions I wanted her to take to crawl, then watched her mimic them with great enthusiasm. "What a clever girl," nothing could stop the smile on my face as I watched her wriggle like a little worm, completely failing at her task, but looking adorable whilst she did it.

"Am I putting you in the sling too much?" I mused. Paranoid and scared of her getting hurt she did spend a lot of time in there. I never once bothered with the pram gifted to me.

"No, you're doing great love," Noah spoke from behind, startling me. He stood leaning against the hallway wall, watching us both with a smile on his face.

"When, no how, no why are you here?" Like a frightened rabbit, I scampered to my feet, glancing around the room and then at the windows. Though it was late at night, the living area curtains were open, and anyone with intent could see into where Izzy and I were playing. With a shiver down my spine, I quickly paced to close all the curtains.

"A while now, you should really lock your bedroom window, and…" he sighed, avoiding my eye contact, "I missed you both."

"What if-"

"I'm not that stupid," he chuckled walking forward to kneel in front of Izzy, "come on show your momma what you can do."

Izzy excitedly called out "Daaa," and then did a cute army crawl until her head reached her father's hands. The sight made my knees weak.

Child, this was your third time meeting him in this life, what do you mean by calling him before your own mother?

"Go grab a shower, I'll sort food," he turned to the kitchenette, making things appear on the bench to cook with.

I stood speechless, glancing between him and Izzy who had now rolled onto her back and seemed to be doing a weird, messed-up version of sit-ups.

"Go, I can see her from here and this won't take me long," he tilted his head in the direction of the hallway, urging me to do as I was told. Should I?

When had I last had a worry-free shower?

"O-okay," I stuttered and felt in a daze, walking to the shower room.

Two months ago I was playing happy families with Lex and Izzy. One short argument was all it took for those months to mean nothing to him as he hid away in his laboratory that I had no access to.

Was he ever going to come back?

If he saw Noah here would he ever forgive me?

Why did I have to get myself caught between these two great big buddhas?

Returning, feeling refreshed, I collapsed into the bench that was in a U shape around the table, opposite the L-shaped kitchen area.

Izzy sat in her high chair picking at cooked baby carrots and broccoli.

"Can she even eat that?" So far I'd been relying on age ranges labelled on the jar of food I had stashed in my space.

"Don't worry love, she can have a try of anything now but honey now, though soft things are best," he explained whilst placing the dishes on the table.

"Oh, and she had no allergies, before…" His voice turned quiet as he gazed at the bright-eyed babe stuffing broccoli into her face. Suddenly he sat up straight making two wine glasses appear. "Drink?" He opened the wine bottle he made appear in his hands, tempting me.

"No," I shook my head, "She had a late nap…"

He chuckled, pouring it into his glass and leaving me with just water.

"Does her sleep pattern get any better?" I groaned, rubbing my temples.

"Should do, just make sure you feed her around about now with solids," he replied.

He always had an answer for everything regarding her. Only making it halfway through my meal I put the rest of it in my space for when I was woken at stupid o'clock by the little madame and hungry.

"Are you alright?" Noah asked, he'd barely touched his food, just leaned his elbow on the table, resting his chin in his palm watching me.

"No," I decided to just be blunt and honest. Except for the few brief talks I'd had with Holly alone I was forever maintaining this mask of Hannah. I did not realise how much I missed the time alone with Lex where I could just be me, whoever that was…

"Do you want me to take over for a night?" Noah asked, not moving an inch except to swirl the wine in his glass.

"No," my hand clasped my mouth in shock at how loud I'd refused, neither Noah nor Izzy reacted, yet an embarrassed blush crept across my cheeks.

"Grandfather thinks I'm scouting," he shrugged setting the now empty wine glass down, "so if you're not bothered by it I could stay in the spare room, help out a day or two maybe?"

"Say yes," System butted in before I could think never mind speaking a reply.

"Why?" I asked internally, holding a finger up to Noah to wait.

"I'm very, very close to being able to create actual living things on our baby, I just need a tiny bit more energy," System whined, "ask him for help."

I groaned, my System was a parasite that always begged me for more, more, more.

"You said it could have effects on the Host body…"

"All the better to do it now whilst you have someone to look after Izzy," System continued to use a whiney tone.

"Do you have any nuclei?" I asked Noah, contemplating System's request.

"No," Noah replied, seeming caught off guard, "why? I can get you some?"

"My System is hounding me for energy to do something, but that something might make me unable to completely care for Izzy…"

Noah leaned over the table to touch my hand, "let me in."

I blinked rapidly, staring at his hand, my heart beating rapidly. I don't recall giving System permission, yet I could feel the buzz of them connecting. Shortly afterward, Noah pulled his hand away looking amused but also conflicted.

"What did you say?" I asked internally.

"I simply asked his System if they could help you," System replied.

The way it spoke made me wonder just how the Systems communicated with each other without me hearing a word. I didn't like the idea of my scheming System keeping secrets.

It tsked in response.

"And how would he help me?"

"This will benefit you, imagine being able to use your powers no matter your location by pulling plants out of your-"

"Just tell me, what it is you asked him to do that it's put that look on his face?"

"A few pints of blood would do it or…" System put on an innocent, childish tone.

"I want a new System," I groaned out loud, "I'm going to bed, do as you please, but the second you take Izzy through any door, or window…"

"I-I won't," Noah looked up, still in a slight daze, "go, rest, I'll check in on you once she's asleep."

"Night princess," I kissed the black fuzz on her head and disappeared to the warm, cozy bed that was calling my name like a Siren at sea.