Guarded heart

Chapter 32 Battle grounds

LISA'S POV

While everyone else was doing breakfasts. I was plaiting Emma's and Skylar hair like mine since they loved mine.

Then Emma wanted make up just like me but I said she could have lip balm after breakfast and that was her limit.

Since it was already hot out being summer time we ended up eating breakfast outside on the patio.

Katy and her family left first while Michelle stayed back since Robert had to go to work.

Hahley and her family stayed since they planned some theatre thing with Summer and Sean tonight. They asked if I wanted to join them but I declined since I really want my own home and bed tonight.

Me, Chris and Emma left around half ten to go see Steve Chris's dad.

We pulled up outside a house not far from the fire station around eleven.

"Ready?" Chris says facing me.

"Yeah" I say smiling.

"I'm ready to" Emma says unbuckling her seat belt. "Wow there little tiger slow down. You know better than to just up and leave this car. Don't make me have you ride with the bodyguards on the way home" I say.

"I know mummy, I wasn't going to get out the car just yet" Emma says

"Looks like my dad see us pull up" Chris says as he looks past me towards the house. And I wave hi to Steve as i open the passenger door.

"Would you like me to get Emma out for you?" Steve asks.

"You wouldn't mind?" I ask.

"No trust me I remember what it's like to have a little one around, it only seems like yesterday Chris was in nappys" Steve says.

"Okay thankyou" I say smiling.

"Emma you can go on in with Steve" I say

"Yay" Emma says as the back door gets opened.

"Well hello to you to. Do you like cake because I have a big cake indoors I can't eat it all myself" Steve says greeting Emma as I go to stand up out the car but I suddenly see Chris stood there shaking his head.

"Yeah, I love cake" Emma says as Chris holds his hands out to me.

"You know it's easier if you let me help you" Chris says and I just smile sweetly as I hold my hands out for Chris to help me up out the car. As I stand up Chris wraps his arm around my waist bringing me closer to him as he turns us slightly to grab my crutches from the car he sneakily kisses my cheek. "You smell as good as you look" Chris whispers in my ear as he passes me the crutches.

"Thanks" I say

"Mummy did you hear that Steve said there's a tire swing in the garden and a climbing frame with a tree house. Can I go have a look?" Emma asks.

"If it's okay with Steve then yeah sure honey" I say.

"Take your time Lisa, I can show Emma the way" Steve says.

"Thanks" I say as I make my way up the garden path with Chris walking next to me.

"I remember when I was eighteen, I offered to give the garden a make over and make it more adult friendly over kid friendly. My dad said and I quote 'you dare and I will chop them fingers off son. One day grandchildren shall fill this garden again' and I just rolled my eyes at him then. But now I can see he was right" Chris says.

"That's funny" I say.

"Looking back it's funny at the time I was not impressed. Being eighteen I wanted a mini bar and hot tub party's" Chris says.

"The party's or the women?" I ask as we enter the house.

"Both I suppose. Then around the age of twenty I wasn't interested in women. I just wanted to focus on my career" Chris says.

"So you have been single since you were twenty?" I ask as I take in the bright walls with the odd family photos hung up.

"No i dabbled here and there but not much. No one really caught my eye" Chris says.

"I see" I say wondering if this is just dribbling or dabbling whatever he he just called it going on with us.

"I never brought anyone here to see my dad. Let alone have a chance to see photos of my mum hung on the walls though" Chris says stopping I front of one photo where a women who has mossy blonde with a hint of reddish hair appears in a photo holding a much younger version of Chris around the age of five in her arms.

"See was beautiful" I say.

"See was even when she lost her hair and became frail she was still beautiful" Chris says. I my arm up slightly to hold onto Chris wrist to give him support but also myself support to stay standing up.

"I didn't think I'd ever find a women as beautiful as I saw my mum, let alone match her good soul and heart. That was until set my eyes upon you and started to learn about you" Chris says turning to look at me and wraps his arms around my waist.

"Maybe you should get your eyes tested then" I say

"I don't need my eyes tested I can see perfectly well what's in front of me and that's you looking damn hot in this outfit" Chris says before he kisses me forehead.

"Stop doing that" I say.

"Doing what?" Chris asks looking down at me.

"Kissing my forehead when you want to actually kiss me. I don't want a relationship where you feel you need to hold back such a simple effection as a kiss" I say and Chris smiles at me as he raises a eyebrow before he claims my lips in a sweet gentle kiss.

"I'm going to kiss you all the time" Chris whispers in my ear before he let's me go.

And I just smile as Chris then says "Let's go see what Emma and my dad is up to".

CHRIS POV

I was surpised by Lisa telling me I can kiss her and when I please. But I told Lisa she runs this show and she does. Just glad she is warming up to me slowly. But I ment every word I said to Lisa I think to myself as we walk Into the garden and spot my dad and Emma in the tree house looking out the little windows.

"Hey" I say before I dart out the way to stand in front of Lisa as nurf guns bullets get shot at us.

"what's all this about?" Lisa asks

"Clearly my dad has been planning for grandchildren to come along for a long time or he went shopping for nurf guns this morning" I say laughing

"We why are you stood there. Are you not suppose to the cop? Let's find our own nurf guns and take cover" Lisa says.

"Yes, my little fire cracker" I say picking Lisa up and running over to the patio table before sitting is on the ground. Then I flip the table as our cover area while Lisa is laughing

"Your find your own nurf guns and bullets in the kitchen" My dad shouts.

"Stay here and shout if they get out the tree house" I say to Lisa as I run back to the house to get our own nurf guns. And I remember my dad doing crazy stuff like this when I was younger. I use to love it.

I see the guns and bullets on the kitchen side and I quickly grab them before running back to Lisa.

As I ran across the garden to the table I left Lisa nurf bullets were flying in my direction while I could hear Emma laughing and Lisa shouting "Quick run faster" a through her own laughter.

"Here take this" I say as I hand Lisa a nurf gun the second I sit down next to her. I then throw the bullets on the floor between us.

"Now I see where you get your kid fun side from" Lisa says.

"Where's that?" I ask looking over the table getti g ready to take an aim.

"Your dad" Lisa says as she shoots a nurf bullet towards the tree house.

"Haha you missed mummy" Emma shouts

"Yeah now it's father against son with daughter against mother" I say laughing.

"That's true. Since it seems that way should you be with Emmas team?" Lisa says

"I'm good here hiding away with you. I'm sure Emma is good up there no doubt with the cake and other goodies" Chris says.

"Since you put it that way let's take them down and get us some cake" Lisa says.

"Don't worry if they eat it all we can get our own and eat it on the sly. I know where the treat are kept" I say as more nurf bullets fly our way.

"I can't believe you stood in front of me from nurf bullets" Lisa says laughing as she shoots some more.

"It could of startled you and sent you flying plus isn't that the gentleman things to do" I say.

"I'm use to these things I'm a mum. But yes it is a gentleman thing to do" alisa says as she briefly looks at me to smile before she shoots some more bullets up at the tree house and we hear "Ow" and I know that's my dad.

"High five" I say laughing.

"Who did that one?" my dad shouts.

"I'd love to say it was me but instead it was my little fire cracker partner" I shout back.

"Good shot" my dad shouts.

"Thanks. Now give up the cake or your get it again" Lisa shouts and I can't help laughing how she would fit in well as cop but then I don't like that idea. No she can mine and I can be the cop who looks after her I think to myself as Lisa high fives me.

"It's not over until the fat lady sings" my dad says.

"who's the fat lady?" we hear Emma ask.

"Oh, no one it's just a figure of speach" I hear my dad say.

"What's that mean?" Emma asks and I take my chance and fire a bullet at my dad through the tree house door.

"Who did that?" my dad asks.

"That would be me" I shout as lisa laughs.

Then I get hit back on top of my head ad I go to peak out.

"Oi" I shout.

"That was me" Emma says very proudly of herself.

"Did I forget to mention that we regularly have big nurf gun fights at Summers and that Sean and Ryan taught Emma and Skylar a very good aim. There currently still training Dennis though" Lisa says.

"That would of been good to know sooner" I say smiling at Lisa.

"Well do far I haven't been hit" Lisa says laughing.

"It can be arranged" I say laughing

"You wouldn't do that your ment to be on my team" Lisa says

"I won't if I can steal a kiss" I say.

"You drive a hard bargain" Lisa says

"Maybe, but what's your answer?" I say leaning in towards Lisa.

"I think you already made that choice" Lisa says as she wraps one arm around my neck and I seal the deal with a quick kiss.

"Don't worry, I will protect you from any nurf bullets" I say.

"Aww my hero" Lisa says in a damiesl in distress voice smiling at me.

"Are you mocking me?" I say smiling at Lisa.

"Who me? Noooo I'd never do that" Lisa says in a innocent put on voice

"Now I know you are" I say laughing.

"What I have a fun side as well" Lisa says.

"I can see that" I say shaking me head slightly as I laugh. But really I'm enjoying this teasing fun side of Lisa.

"Okay, I will play nicely after all I heard police officers don't like being teased and I don't fancy being arrested" Lisa says.

I will arrest you to my bed, way later down the line when your ready for such fun things I think to myself. But instead I bite my tongue while I just look at Lisa with amusement. And for once I think I'm speechless

"Cat got your tongue?" Lisa asks taking a quick glance at me before she looks back up at the tree house and shoots a nurf bullet that just misses the window.

"If you the cat you can have my tongue" I say as I lean in and claim her mouth with mine as I kiss Lisa deeply and quickly. Before I pull away and quickly take my turn in shoot up a nurf bullet. I then look back at Lisa who has gone quiet and use her own words against her.

"What's wrong love? Cat got your tongue?".

"Well played" Lisa says laughing.

LISA'S POV

A hour later and i was ready to surrender as cramp was really setting in on my leg not having a cushion under it.

"Okay you win Emma and Steve. Keep the cake. I'm done" I say.

"Yes!" Emma shouts.

"Chris I need off this floor, my leg is cramping so bad and I think I need my painkillers today. I left my bag in the car" I say.

"Dad your against Emma now while I take Lisa inside" Chris says lifting me into his arms as he stands up and carry me inside.

"I will join you and make some drinks" Steve says

"Thanks" I say to Chris as he walks us across the lawn.

"Mummy you have good timing I need the toilet" Emma says as I look over and see Steve helping her down the tree house.

"The bathroom is top of the stairs Emma." Chris says just as reach the back doors and go inside.

"I will get you comfortable on the sofa then grab your bag" Chris says

"Thanks" I say resting my head against Chris body.

"I should of thought and grabbed you a cushion. I feel bad" Chris says.

"Don't feel bad, I had fun. I hope it helped cheer your dad and you up as well" I say.

"You brighten my day with your smile and I'm sure it cheered my dad up" Chris says as we enter the front room and it's a cosy looking front room with grey and white wall paper and cream carpets. Grey sofas and the standard TV and coffee tables.

"You say the sweetest things but I can't see how my smile can brighten up your day" I say as Chris sits me on the sofa.

"It's true" Chris says before he kisses my cheeks then grabs a cushion placing it on the sofa for my leg.

"Maybe" I say.

"Defiently, I will be back in a minute" Chris says as my phone starts to ring.

I check to see it's Cafe land-line.

"Hello" I say answering the call as I watch Chris was out the room.

"Hi Lisa it's Cindy" Cindy says

"You okay Cindy?" I ask.

"Not really there is a women here claiming to be Simone aunty wanting to see you as she wants to meet Emma" Cindy say.

"How many more of these people are going to crawl out the wood works. Cindy how long has she been there?" I say.

"Um two hours she refuses to leave until she has seen you" Cindy asks.

"Don't worry I will sort it" I say then I hang up the phone annoyed.

Why now. If Sean finds out he won't let the security team go I think to myself.

Then an idea comes to mind and I make a phone call.

RING RING RING RING RING

"Hello" Summer answers

"I need a favour" I say

"What do you need" Summer says

"Nick. But don't tell Sean I need his help dealing with a issue. Apperently the thing has a aunty who now wants to speak with me at the cafe refusing to go. I don't want Sean to stop me getting rid of the security team so I'm begging you to lend me Nick and allow me to deal with this" I say.

"I will do one better. I will come with nick and we can deal with it together where the boys don't need to know. Does Chris know?" Summer asks.

"No, I don't want to tell him either because I'm not some weak women who needs protecting I can handle it myself" I say.

"Handle what?" Chris asks and I look up to see him in the door way.

"Well looks like you have to tell him now" Summer says.

"I uh, um need a favour" I say as Chris walks towards me.

"What's that?" Chris says.

"You need to watch Emma and just keep her safe until I get back" I say

"Where are you going?" Chris asks.

"The cafe the girls have a crisis I need to deal with" I say half telling the truth half lieing.

"Just tell him the truth" Summer says.

"What's the crisis?" Chris asks.

"I will tell you later. But please just look after Emma I will leave Kelly outside while I take Beth with me" I say.

"What's the crisis?" Chris asks again.

"I can't tell you right now. I need to go deal with it first" I say going to stand up.

"I will meet you there" Summer says hanging up.

"Lisa don't lie to me. I'm a police officer I can figure out when someone is lieing why would you be a damiesl in distress?" Chris asks standing in front of me.

"Mummy what are you lieing about?" Emma asks and I turn my head to see Emma stood in the door way.

"Excaulty why Emma will be fine here" I whisper to Chris before turning to look at Emma and saying "Nothing sweetie, your going to stay with Chris and Steve until I come back. Mummy has to go to work quickly" I say.

"Okay mummy" Emma says.

"Emma my dad has sweets in the kitchen go say I said you can have some" Chris say and Emma runs off to the kitchen.

"Why wouldn't Emma be safe?" Chris asks.

"Just please look after Emma for me. I promise I will be back soon" I say.

"Dad, your be alright with Emma for a while yeah?" Chris shouts out.

"Don't do that" I whisper.

"Yeah" Steve shouts back.

"Okay, but I'm not happy about this" Chris says

"I'm sorry" I say feeling guilty but for once I just want to deal with something myself I think to myself. And I really want my independence back I think to myself as I hobble out.

Kelly opens the door getting out one side while Beth gets out the other side seeing me.

"Kelly your to stay here with Emma. You look after her understood" I say

"Is everything okay?" Beth asks.

"Your coming with me to the cafe, I've something to deal with. But I mean it Kelly you make sure Emma is safe if they go out your to stick with Emma like glue" I say

"Don't worry, you know I will protect that little girl with my life" Kelly says as I get into the car and she walks towards the house to stand guard.

"What's going on?" Beth asks as we get into the car.

"That thing has some relative that's crawled out the wood works again. This isn't to get back to Sean understood" I say.

"Don't you think we should take others with us?" Beth asks.

"I've asked Summer for nick she said she will come as well" I say.

"Okay, but if things go wrong I'm not going to lie to Sean" Beth says

"Fair enough, but it's about time I dealt with this myself" I say.

"Okay" Beth says and that's all the words spoken as we made our way to the cafe. I quickly rang the cafe and had some one close it in hope customer would start piling out before I left.

As I made my way inside the cafe I see nick stood at the door waiting for me.

"What's the plan?" Nick asks as he opens the door for me.

"Follow my lead and make sure she stays two feet away from me" I say.

"Done" Nick says then I look around the cafe and to my surprise I see Summer, Hahley, Katy and Michelle stood around the cafe smiling at me.

"Sheena get all the staff together your all done for the day" I say

"Okay" Sheena says.

I see there are around four customers left still eating and one women is glaring at me as if she wants to kill me. This must be the women I think to myself as I head towards Summer and the other girls head in my direction to.

"What are you all doing here?" I say

"We are all for keeping it from the men but we ain't letting you do this alone not when it comes to that crazy family" Katy says

"I just want my independence back so that's why I'm doing this" I say

"We know that's why we all lied to the fellas" Summer says.

"what lie did you all come up with?" I ask.

"Said it was a hair emergency and just left without explain" Katy says

"I'm lucky Robert is still at the hospital" Michelle says

"I told Sean I had a hair emergency to" Summer says laughing.

"What did you tell Chris?" Katy asks.

"Nothing. I want to this alone. I want my independence back and I didn't need a bloke to save me before after they ruined me I don't need a bloke saving me now" I say

"Tevhinally men saved you from the parents" Hahley says

"Yeah not men I planned on being with though. I don't want to be seen as some weak women!" I say.

"Okay so what's the plan?" Michelle asks.

"I don't know yet. I'm winging it for my independence" I say.

"Then we have your back. Like hell are we letti g that crazy within reach of a strand of your hair" Summer says.

"She looks easy enough to take down" Hahley says

"I don't want to fight my foot is killing me after nurf gun fun with Chris Emma and Steve" I says.

"Go take your tablets. And don't worry you ain't fighting anyone. That's what nick is for" Summer says.

"Sod off I want to beat her myself" Beth says and we all look at Beth shocked to see her stood there.

"What you don't think I didn't see you suffer like hell. Damn I've never hated a family mlr ein my life than that family" Beth says.

And everyone agrees with nods and "True" or "Agreed" comments.

"Okay let's get drinks while we wait" I say as we head behind the counter.

"Okay we are going now" Cindy says poking her head around from the back.

"Okay make sure the door is closed behind you all" I say

"Will do" Cindy says then she walks away.

"Sorry lady's we are on clean up duty today" I say

"Its fine" Katy says shrugging her shoulders while not taking her eyes off the damn women who keeps glaring at me.

"You noticed the same one as me then" I say

"She was gobbling off to Cindy when we arrived so we already figured it out" Hahley says

I take my tablets while Michelle makes us all drinks and we wait for the cafe to empty out. As the last person leaves I glare at the women who is glaring at me.

"Where is Emma?" The women says

"Safetly away from Your crazy family" I say

"She is my family. If anything she is with the wrong family since your deluded with your crazy thoughts" the women says in disgust.

"You want to know about deluded how about that nephew of yours. You know the one who raped me and got me pregnant with Emma that's deluded. Then dont get me started on the his parents who wanted me dead after they tried to snatch Emma out of my womb after beating the areas of my body that wasn't the stomach. It's because of them I don't have photos of me holding my daughter the day she was born because I was so black and blue" I shout

"you deserved that for being a lair about being raped. You wanted it then decided you didn't after you begged him for it" the women shouts back.

And I throw a cup across the room making everyone startled.

"Now let me tell you. Your all deluded come within one hundred feet of me or my daughter again I will have a injunction taken out on you. Now get the f**k out of my cafe!" I scream

"With pleasure but one day Emma will find out what kind of person you are and leave you for us. Just you wait and see!" the women says

"I believe the lady asked you to leave. So I suggest you leave with in the next minute before I have you in a holding cell down at the station with my friends" I hear Chris say from behind me. I turn to face him shell shocked and see he is stood there holding up his police badge to the women.

"Your all useless paid off with money no doubt" the women says getting up.

"Your wrong now get out" Chris says

"Nick make sure she is far away from here before we leave" I say not taking my eyes off Chris.

"Already a step ahead of you" Nick says.

"Don't worry, I'm not hanging around but we warned one day your lose Emma to us" The women says.

"Only over my dead body will any of you even come near my daughter. Yes that's right my daughter not that monsters" I say turning to face the women again. As she walks out the cafe laughing.

The second the door shuts I pick up a cup and throw it across the room

"Who do they think they are!" I shout through frustration.

"I don't know but she has some balls coming in here like that" Summer says

"Now I know where her daughter gets it from" Nick says

"Her daughter?" I ask.

"Yeah and her sister she is the latest in line to come by. Usually we pick up on them as your around but you have not been here as of late so she slipped through the net" Nick says.

"Well don't tell Sean about it. I'm not letting any of them stop my independence anymore" I say as look at my hands that are shaking.

"That's why you didn't tell me?" Chris asks

"Partly and also the fact I ain't no damsel in distress" I say as Chris walks over to me.

"I know that already. But didn't anyone ever tell you a relationship works where you have each others back no matter what?" Chris ask raising his eyebrows at me.

"I tried to tell Lisa but she wasn't quite ready to get that part" Summer says

"Yeah come on Lisa is trying way more than you realise" Katy says

"Okay well I felt bad which is why I said sorry. But I still wanted to do this myself otherwise Sean will make me keep the security guards" I say really fast as I feel my stress levels come over and tears building in my eyes.

"Next time you tell me" Chris says as he hugs me tightly and then my tears fall.

"Okay let's get this cleaned up girls. Chris you take Lisa with you. Beth you follow them make sure no one follows them" Hahley says.

"No there is more of you and I actually have Nathan sat out the back. He will follow us Beth goes with you" Chris says as he stands back and wipes my tears away.

"Lisa what do you want to do?" Summer asks.

"I'm okay. I'm just angry she wants Emma" I say pulling myself together.

"She won't get her!" Hahley says

"Nope. I won't low it either" Chris says

"That will be it for around around a year now" Nick says.