"Eve darling please don't" Nikki moved the toddler's hands away from the hair that had just been brushed.

"Mumma no" the almost three year old whined, "no pigtails" she said as she successfully pulled one of the bobbles from her dark locks.

"What do you want then?" Nikki picked up the hairbrush, "we haven't got a lot of time."

"Want like Mumma" Eve reached out to stroke Nikki's hair that hung lose by her chin.

"Eve" Nikki tried to reason with her, "you don't like having your hair down, you don't like it getting in your face."

"P'ease Mumma"

Nikki couldn't resist the look on her daughter's face, and she grabbed a handful of hair grips, pulling the front of her own hair back from her face, "what about like this?" she asked, fixing it back. Eve nodded and allowed Nikki to do the same to her much shorter hair, Eve happy to be like her Mumma, Nikki satisfied that Eve wouldn't throw a tantrum because her hair was in her face, "come on then" Nikki picked up her handbag and a small blue Cinderella rucksack, holding it out for Eve to slip her arms through the straps, "let's go."

"Where go Mumma?" Eve asked as she waited patiently for Nikki to lock the door even though she wasn't sure why she bothered, anything more than the slightest of shoves would have the rickety wood hanging off it's hinges.

"Mumma's got to go to work, do you remember Darling? We get on the big bus and you go to nursery to play like you did the other week, and then Mumma will come and get you later."

"No Mumma" Eve frowned, her and held tightly in her mother's as they walked down the road towards the bus stop, "no go, stay with Mumma."

"Mumma has to go to work darling, you're going to have lots of fun playing with the other boys and girls at nursery."

"Mumma" Eve's bottom lip began to wobble as her eyes filled with tears.

"Evie" Nikki lifted the toddler to her hip and wiped at her cheeks, "you'll be okay sweetheart and it won't be long until Mumma picks you up again."

"Just Mumma take me home?"

Nikki nodded, now understanding why her daughter was so reluctant to leave, "yeah, just Mumma" she said softly, kissing Eve's forehead as she saw the bus coming over the hill, "it's just me and you now Darling."

"Mumma no hurt?"

Nikki sat Eve on her knee once she was on the bus, "no one's going to hurt me Eve, no one's going to hurt you either, I promise you Evie, the grown ups at the nursery will only let me take you home, they'll look after you."

"'ove you Mumma."

"I love you too Darling" Nikki smiled, kissing Eve's head as the toddler knelt up to look out of the window, her worries forgotten.

"Look Mumma a b'oo car" Eve giggled, "and a cat".

"That's right, aren't you a clever girl?" Nikki asked, Eve happily drawing lines in the condensation on the windows.

Nikki made sure Eve was settled at nursery, giving her an extra long hug as she left, promising to be back later for her. It was just a short bus ride from Eve's nursery to the school where she now had her first teaching position and she stood in the car park looking up at the building for a while before jumping as she felt a hand on her arm, "sorry" she apologised as she turned to find a blonde woman stood beside her.

"I said you look a bit overwhelmed can I help you?" the Scottish woman smiled

"Erm, yeah, Nikki Boston, I'm an NQT, English."

"Ah, Christine Mulgrew, your mentor, nice to meet you" the woman held her hand out for Nikki to shake, "let's get inside, get you a cuppa before you have to face the rabble."

Nikki's day seemed to drag on, it was the longest she'd been without Eve for a while and she was worried about how her daughter would be coping on her own. She stayed behind after the last class to help Christine with some marking before catching the bus back to the nursery. She was glad to hear that Eve had settled fine, she'd eaten all her dinner and just had one accident when she'd been too busy playing outside to go to the toilet.

Nikki walked into the brightly coloured room to find her daughter in the 'quiet corner' sat on a red beanbag with a dark haired boy who looked to be a similar age, both of them looking at an oversized picture book, "they sat together at snack time, they've been inseparable ever since" one of the nursery workers told Nikki as she saw her watching Eve, "I'll tell her you're here" she smiled before walking over to Eve, "Mummy's here Eve."

"Mumma" Eve's face lit up and she ran across the room, Nikki bending down just in time to wrap Eve in her arms.

"Have you had a good day Darling?"

Eve nodded and took hold of Nikki's hand, walking her over to the beanbag, "Mumma, Nonna my fwend"

"Is he now?" Nikki smiled, "have you two been having fun?" The boy nodded shyly as Eve began excitedly telling Nikki about her day, "I'm glad you had a good day" Nikki said sincerely before frowning as she heard a familiar voice.

"Are you ready to go home Connor?"

Nikki stood up with Eve on her hip, "Christine"

"Nikki" Christine gasped, "hi."

"Hi"

"Mummy" Connor grinned up at Christine, "I play with Evie."

"Have you now?" Christine ran her fingers through his messy hair before looking at Nikki, "If I'd have known I'd have given you a lift."

"I erm, I didn't know you'd be coming here."

"Where do you live? I can give you a lift home if you want."

"No it's okay, I need to get some shopping on the way home anyway." Nikki said quickly, not wanting Christine to know where she lived.

"Okay" Christine nodded, "I usually drop Connor off at about 7.40, if you want to wait for me in the morning I'll drive you to school."

"Thanks" Nikki smiled, "that would be good."

"Are you going to say bye to Evie?" Christine asked Connor, "you'll see her again tomorrow."

Connor waved, "bye Evie" he grinned.

Eve giggled, "Bye Nonna" she waved as Nikki carried her into the cloakroom to put on her shoes and coat and Christine took Connor into the bathroom.

Eve chatted happily to Nikki as they walked the short distance from the nursery the bus stop, the toddler chatting happily about her day, Nikki finding out every small detail about what her daughter and been doing whilst she'd been at work, Eve had obviously enjoyed her day which put Nikki's mind at ease as she'd been worrying since she accepted the job about how Eve would cope with being left.

Nikki checked her purse as she waited for the bus, "do you want fish and chips for tea?"

Eve's face lit up, "and sweeties?"

Nikki smiled and nodded, "I'm sure I can get you some sweeties too."