Finding Them

"Ok now Darcy and Dakota, you both need a bath seeing you didn't have one last night" Daniel told the twins after they had finished cuddling with everyone. The twins had been passed around to each person for a cuddle after they had cuddled with Hunter. The problem was both the twins were almost falling asleep as they hadn't slept the night before. Daniel couldn't blame them, they had only managed about 6 hours sleep. He had had to have several strong coffees to feel human. However, the twins could sleep in the car on the way to Bill's house.

"How about a shower for them Dad? It's quicker" Jamie asked his father who nodded his head yes. Jamie and Hunter took the twins into the bathroom to help them get ready for a shower while Mitchell grabbed some clothes. Eddie and Daniel went to pack food for Dakota and Darcy in case they didn't want to eat at Uncle Bill's place. They were supposed to leave in 5 minutes but they weren't nearly ready. Once the snacks were done, Daniel got the car organised. They would have to take two cars as they didn't have a big enough car for everyone to fit in. It wasn't very often that everyone was together before the twins came along. Now that the twins were here, the family was often together and Daniel wondered if he should buy a car big enough for them all.

Hunter and Jamie helped the twins shower, washing Darcy and Dakota's hair as there was still a lot of snot in the hair and they both seemed to have sweated a lot. The twins loved showers and dancing around which sometimes made it difficult to get the twins cleaned but they managed and it was time for the twins to get out. Mitchell had laid the clothes out in the lounge room and was waiting for the twins to be carried out of the bathroom so he could do Darcy's hair. He had gotten good at ponytails and had started to try plaiting and braiding hair. Darcy never minded someone playing with her hair, she liked it and it relaxed her.

Jamie and Hunter carried the twins out and helped to dry them off. Today they wouldn't have time to use the hair drier on Darcy's hair because both Darcy and Dakota hated the noise of it and it would take a good hour to get it done little by little. Instead, Jamie and Hunter used the towels to towel dry the twin's hair. Dakota really could use a haircut but he freaked out when someone went to touch his hair except for Darcy so it really would be an issue. No one wanted to traumatise Dakota any more. He would go with the other boys to watch them getting haircuts until he was comfortable to try a haircut himself. From the cuts that Dakota had on his head in the hospital, it was clear that someone had forcibly cut his hair previously and Daniel didn't want him to have to go through that again.

Once the twins were dressed, Mitchell got Darcy to help him brush Dakota's hair. This seemed to help with the anxiety Dakota had about people touching his head. Dakota smiled at his sister as she helped Mitchell brush through his hair before Darcy kissed Dakota on the cheek. "Pwetty" Darcy told her brother once they were done. "No dwier" she continued to which Dakota smiled and nodded his head. He didn't want the hair drier. Mitchell then sat Darcy between his legs and brushed through her hair softly. Darcy smiled, she liked her hair being brushed especially seeing when she went to the hospital it was a mattered mess. As long as no one pulled on her hair and there wasn't a hair drier in sight she would happily sit still.

Mitchell parted Darcy's hair and plated both lots of hair effortlessly. "All done princess" Mitchell told his sister kissing her on the forehead. "Bootiful" Dakota called out to his sister while smiling. Darcy blushed bright red, she wasn't used to getting compliments at all. Daniel walked in seeing Darcy bright red with Mitchell chuckling and Dakota giggling at his sister and knew that someone had complimented her. Even Darcy's little ears were red.

"Are we all ready to go?" Daniel asked everyone. The boys all nodded including Dakota but Darcy shook her head no. "Shoe," Darcy said pointing to her foot. She hadn't worn her shoes since she was sick but she really wanted to wear her red shoes now. Dakota glared at his feet, he didn't want shoes on. "Oh you don't have your shoes" Jamie stated earning a smile and a nod yes from Darcy and a glare from Dakota. Hunter grabbed the twin's shoes and brought them back in. Hunter helped Darcy with her shoes and handed Jamie Dakota's shoes.

Darcy started twirling around once her shoes were on "Look Addy red shoe" Darcy called to her father. "Very pretty" Daniel told his daughter who again blushed. Dakota wouldn't allow his shoes to be put on. He was holding his feet and throwing his shoes. He didn't like shoes at all. "Hey bud look Darcy has red shoes on" Daniel told his youngest son pointing to Darcy who was blushing again due to the compliment from Addy. "Do you want to be like Darcy?" Daniel asked his son. Dakota sighed, he groaned and Jamie and Daniel would have sworn he rolled his eyes too. But finally, Dakota agreed to put red shoes on like his sister. He wanted to be like Darcy but he didn't like things on his feet, it felt funny to him.

Daniel and Mitchell would be driving in separate cars. Daniel would take the twins and Jamie, along with Red, Ellie, Woody and the snacks. It had been a struggle to get the twins in the car as at first no one bothered to get the red ball, then Darcy called for Ellie so Jamie had to rush back into the house to get that and then Dakota had wanted Woody so Jamie had to go back again. Mitchell had already left with Hunter and Eddie by the time Daniel had pulled out of the driveway. It was a 45-minute drive and the twins were asleep before they got to the end of the street which Daniel was thankful for.