Ella's POV

Half an hour after Leo left, Max came over. But this time he brought an extra visitor.

"Milly," I said hugging his now almost adult sister as she came to the door, "I wasn't expecting you."

"Max said you were in need of some cheering up," she replied. "And since he is self-aware and knows he is a miserable old git, he got me to come too."

I laughed as Max rolled his eyes, "Remember when she was a sweet little girl, Ells?"

"And now look at you," I said taking her hands, "So grown up and tall."

She smiled down at me and laughed.

She was a few inches taller than me and had the most elegant figure, despite only being 17. Her eyes were large, dark and round and her hair, thick long locks of chocolate brown. She really was beautiful.

"Yeh and she has all the boys swooning over her," Max grumbled. "I'm having to fight one in particular off the doorstep almost every day."

"Oooh Milly," I teased, "Looks like you have a secret admirer."

"His name is Otis and he's just a friend," Milly responded, "Or at least he would be if Max didn't scare him off every time. I haven't seen him since school ended for summer."

"Maximus," I scolded.

"I know the look in his eyes when he sees you," Max replied, "He wants to be more than friends."

"And so what?" Milly replied, "...he's cute."

"He's also not your mate," Max replied.

I smiled and rolled my eyes, "Will you two stop bickering and come inside. The kids will be delighted to see you Milly."

I let Milly come through the door at which point Lili, Marie and Francesca realised she was here and bombarded her with cuddles. I then stepped in front of Max, blocking his entry.

"You better get the fuck off her back," I hissed.

He laughed, "Who are you to tell me what to do? Did you raise her? Are you her guardian until she's 18?"

"She's 17. If she wants to date, let her," I added.

"Or what?" he asked, pushing past me and into the house, where Mathias jumped into his arms.

I sighed and went through into the living room where my daughters were already plaiting Milly's hair.

"Oh, girls be careful with your cousin's hair. Don't pull too hard," I said with a laugh as Milly winced.

"Can we try out our new hairstyle on you, Milly?" Marie asked, "Mommy's hair isn't long enough."

"Of course you can, Marie," Milly replied. "Just listen to your Mom and be gentle."

I smiled and then turned to Max who was already holding Mathias upside down as Cato and Silas attacked a leg each, chanting 'slay the beast'.

They all screamed in delight as Max pretended to be overwhelmed and dropped to his knees before Cato quickly climbed onto his shoulders and screamed "victory!".

"Never," Max roared before standing up, still holding Mathias and now with Cato on his shoulders.

Cato could hardly contain his excitement as Max swooped down and hauled Silas into his arms too.

"I will not be defeated by three small humans!" he continued.

I laughed and tried to bury my anxiety about the height Cato had ended up at. I trusted Max not to drop him but I couldn't help but wince when he put his little hands over Max's eyes.

The trouble with Cato was he had absolutely no fear. Ten metres up a tree? Not a problem. Jumping off a high rock into a deep lake? Not a problem. Sitting 6ft high on his cousin's shoulders, who is also holding two other squirming children and then covering his eyes in a house with many obstacles? Definitely not a problem.

'Careful Cato' was said by both me and Leo at least ten times a day each along with 'No Cato', 'Sit still Cato' and 'Stop Cato'.

Eventually, the slaying the beast game came to an end and I took a deep breath before we managed to get all six of the older ones settled in front of Shrek and Stefano and Zacharias quietly down for a nap.

Max sat buried by them on the sofa as Milly and I stood in the kitchen.

"So..." I began. "Tell me about this Otis."

She smiled and looked over to Max who either was too engrossed in Shrek to listen or was pretending not to listen.

"He's just a boy that leaves in our village and I sit next to him in Math class," she said.copy right hot novel pub