Finding Them

Darcy and Dakota were playing with the blue ball while the red ball was being held protectively by Daniel with strict instructions not to hurt it. He made a big fuss pretending he was holding his grand baby which his sons including Dakota laughed at but Darcy gave him a kiss and cuddle which shut the boys up quick smart. Dakota even glared at Daniel as it was his Cc and he was the one she should be kissing and cuddling with, no one else. Darcy constantly came to check on the red ball to make sure it was safe. She had dolls she didn't play with but a little red ball was clearly her prized possession.

Just before lunchtime, Daniel called all his children to come inside. He had placed the red ball on Darcy's booster seat so it was safe. It was almost time for his brother to arrive so he wanted the twins to have a drink as they were both hot and have something little to eat as they didn't really eat when new people were around. Darcy ran straight to her ball embracing the ball and kissing it before taking a drink from her red cup. Dakota took a big drink and then went to cuddle with Cc, he was tired from all the running and kicking he did. "Kota sleep" he asked. "Sure bud, let's do a wee and you can rest on the couch with Darcy" Daniel replied seeing them both looking exhausted. They had been running for about 2 hours outside which was a lot for the twins.

Mitchell helped the twins to the bathroom and then took them to the lounge room. The twins usually slept there during the day and at night, they would sleep with Daniel mainly but also Mitchel and Hunter. Dakota lay on the lounge with Woody and Darcy lay with her head on his chest holding on to the red ball and Ellie. She was uncomfortable and kept moving around getting annoyed the ball wouldn't mould to her body so she could lie down properly. "Hey sweetheart, did you want me to watch Red or place it next to you so you can sleep?" Asked Hunter earning a little nod from Darcy. Hunter placed the ball in the corner of the lounge so Darcy could see the ball from where she lay and headed back to the other couch so the twins could get some rest. When the twins slept they liked someone to keep watch so it became a habit that one of the boys or Daniel sat with them while they slept. They never woke up alone otherwise they would freak out as sleeping left the twins vulnerable.

Bill arrived about half an hour after the twins went to sleep. He gushed over how cute they were and couldn't wait for them to wake up. Daniel took his brother to the kitchen so when the twins woke up he wasn't right in their face. He knew the twins only slept about an hour during the day if they slept before lunch. They usually woke hungry and seeing they didn't eat before going to sleep, he had made sure there were plates of food ready for when they did wake up.

Darcy and Dakota started to wake and the first thing Darcy did was look at the red ball. She smiled knowing that no one would take it from her. Both twins would become possessive over certain things, Dakota was mainly possessive over his sister and her things but also over chocolate, he had tasted it and now any chocolate he saw was automatically his. Darcy was possessive over certain toys because the twins never had toys before. She was frightened they were going to be taken away from her.

"Hey princess, hey bud," Daniel said quietly entering the room as Darcy woke Dakota up with small kisses on his cheeks and nose. That was the only way to wake Dakota up without causing a fuss. "Kota hot" Dakota whispered as he woke up, he was very hot and didn't feel well at all. Daniel reached his hand out to touch Dakota's very red face. Dakota flinched slightly causing Darcy to frown at Daniel. "I just need to see if you have a temperature bud, I won't hurt you," Daniel told his youngest son who slightly nodded. By now all the boys were in the room watching. Daniel touched Dakota's head and knew immediately he had a fever. "Ok mate you have a temperature. Someone get me the kid's panadol and a wet washer" Daniel instructed his older sons.

Daniel picked up Dakota who groaned, he didn't want to be touched at all, he just wanted to go back to sleep. Darcy was worried and had tears in her eyes. She didn't like to see Dakota like this at all. Mitchell came back with the kid's panadol and gave it to his dad. Jamie walked in with the wet cloth putting it on Dakota's neck causing him to whimper. Darcy was watching on silently crying but the only person to notice was Eddie. "Hey baby it's ok, Dakota is sick and they are trying to help him," Eddie told his sister sitting next to her. Darcy was scared, she didn't want Kota to be sick, she remembered when the bad man told her the dog was sick and he never came back, she didn't want that to happen to Kota.

Dakota took the Panadol without much of a fuss and was soon falling back to sleep on Daniel. Eddie had picked Darcy up trying to comfort her but she was starting to cry and getting louder. Bill had come in to meet the twins but saw what was happening and kept quiet the entire time just observing the family.

Daniel was looking at Eddie trying to comfort his princess and was worried, she had only ever acted like this on the plane and was inconsolable for hours. "Mitch hold Dakota, I need to calm Darcy down before she makes herself sick" Daniel told his eldest son who picked up Dakota who was out like a light. Daniel took Darcy and held her to his chest which she always liked to do when she was upset but it wasn't helping this time. "Princess tell Addy what's wrong" Daniel whispered to his daughter. "Kota sick like doggy, bad man take doggy and not come back" she wailed out getting louder and louder. "Oh princess, no one will take Kota from you, he has a temperature and just needs to rest for a bit. He isn't going anywhere" Daniel assured his daughter who was now watching his face to make sure he wasn't lying. Daniel wiped Darcy's face of tears and kissed her on the forehead assuring her that she could stay with Kota all she liked even when he was sleeping. He didn't want to upset her anymore by trying to keep them apart even though Dakota was unwell and she wasn't.