Finding Bailey

When Brax and Bodie came home Bailey didn't even acknowledge them. She was still in her dada's arms and nothing anyone did or said would change that. "Hey sweetheart. I hear you took some steps today" Brax spoke to his sister who still had her head on dada's chest. "Backs" Bailey whispered before waving her hand. "Can I have a cuddle?" Brax asked his sister. "No" Bailey firmly said causing Bodie and Blair to burst out laughing. Brax frowned but nodded in understanding.

"Can you show us how you walk Bay?" Bodie asked. He had started calling her Bay after she named all of them. Bailey shook her head no, she just wanted to cuddle with Dada to make sure he didn't leave again. Nelson sighed, he knew his boys wanted to see Bailey walking as they had missed it while at work. Nelson hugged Bailey close to his chest and stood up. "Ok princess I'm going to put you here and then you can walk to dada" Nelson stated attempting to put Bailey down. Bailey lifted her legs so her feet didn't touch the ground and looked at dads with her big doe eyes.

Nelson smiled at Bailey in reassurance. "I'm not going anywhere princess. We are just going to practice walking ok?" Nelson asked and attempted to put Bailey down again. Bailey again lifted her legs so they wouldn't touch the floor causing all the others to laugh. "Listen here cheeky monkey, how about you show your brothers how you walk and then you can have a shower with dada?" Nelson asked.

Bailey liked showers with Dada because she liked skin to skin. It made her feel safe. She liked the way the water felt on her back. They had discovered her love of showers in the first week due to the poo explosions she had from finally getting regular meals. Brax's friend, the doctor had confirmed it was all normal even though Nelson had assured his sons it was. Bailey would often fall asleep on whoever jumped in the shower with her, usually it was Nelson but a few times Blair and even Pa did when Nelson wasn't home.

Bailey smiled at Nelson when she heard the word shower. Nelson attempted to put her down again and this time Bailey let herself be placed on the ground standing. She steadied herself on her feet by bending her knees which stuck her little bottom out. She still had a hold of Dada though. "Ok cheeky monkey, you have to let go and I'll be just next to Brax" Nelson told Bailey who was watching him intently.

Bailey eventually let go of dada after every one reassured her he wasn't going to leave again. Everyone had there phones ready to record Bailey walking. Nelson was only about a meter from where Bailey was standing. "Come on princess, come to dada" Nelson cooed at Bailey. Bailey almost stumbled but was determined to get her shower with dada.

Bailey took a few steps and stopped to balance herself. Nelson was cooing at Bailey encouraging her to keep walking to him. Bailey smiled and didn't realise that Nelson took a step back to make her walk further. "Come on princess keep going" Nelson called out. Bailey began to walk towards him again watching her feet as she walked. When Bailey looked up Nelson seemed to be further away and she was getting frustrated. Bailey lost concentration and began to fall. Brax quickly scooped his sister up into his arms smothering her in kisses causing her to giggle. "I'm so proud of you sweetheart" Brax stated.

Bailey looked up at Nelson who was smiling while she was now being tickled by Brax and reached her hands out squealing "dada" as if to say save me. Bodie jumped out and grabbed Bailey out of Brax's arms dashing away from Brax. Bailey rested her head on Bodie's shoulder but was still laughing as Bodie ran around the sitting room. Blair joined in pretending to chase Bailey and Bodie. Bailey was very excited she was swinging her legs as if she too was running and squealing.

Nelson was laughing at his kids being silly. He knew it was a perfect way to spend a Friday night. Seeing the joy on all of his sons faces and on his daughters face was priceless. Yes he considered Bailey his daughter and she always would be. He didn't need a piece of paper to make that happen. In his heart and in hers, Nelson was her dada.

Harry watched it all unfold in the sitting room and couldn't help laugh and his grand children. He missed his wife since her passing but Bailey was the fresh air he needed. She turned up at the right time, just like his Rose had sent her when he was at his lowest. He would have to speak to Nelson about how the appointment went because he wouldn't allow that little girl out of his life ever again.

After 20 more minutes of chasing in the house Nelson knew he would have to stop the game. Bailey was way over stimulated and wouldn't settle for bed tonight if they weren't careful. They needed to be up early as tomorrow she would be getting the first lot of catch up immunisations. "Ok ok that's enough all of you. Time to settle down" Nelson stated alerting all of his kids to the fact they had to stop. All four children pouted together and Nelson and Harry couldn't help but burst out laughing at them all. They all looked so similar it was comical not to mention three grown men were pouting like a baby.

Harry snapped a picture of the siblings shocking the three boys out of their pouts. "Ah grandpa, you need to delete that" Brax stated. "Oh no my grandbabies are so cute pouting like that. This is going to be my screen saver" Harry teased causing Nelson to laugh even more. "Send it to me dad, it can be the Christmas photo this year" Nelson added to the teasing. "Dad" Bodie whined making Nelson and Harry laugh even more. "Children it's time for showers and bed. So do you want daddy and pa to read you a bed time story and tuck you in?" Nelson laughed out causing all three boys to go red. Bailey was clapping her hands now she liked bed time stories.

"Come on princess we will shower" Nelson stated taking his daughter from Bodie and exiting the room. He too enjoyed this time with Bailey. He always showered with boxers on but he loved having his little girl falling asleep on his chest. "I love you cheeky monkey" Nelson told Bailey who giggled and snuggled closer to his chest sighing in contentment. She was a daddies girl through and through as long as that daddy was Nelson.