When I woke up I could hear the bustle of town starting up, the sunlight coming in through the cracks in our walls and the gaps in the boards on the windows. The sounds of the seagulls squawking in the sunlight, I yawn bed sitting up and having a stretch my back and shoulders clicking and cracking my spine felt like it was popping in and out of place as I moved I got up getting my clothes on and going out seeing the triplets in their chairs and Eliza making tea
"Morning" she smiled as she spotted me over her shoulder
"Morning Eliza" I smiled rubbing my eye going and giving each of the triplets a kiss on their little heads
"Ohh Be careful Alaki, Markus has a little bit of a fever," she says bring me a cup of tea in the half-broken mug it was so weak you could barely taste the tea but it was warm at least
"Let me look" I smiled going to pick him up but she stopped me
"No, I can handle a baby with a toddler, We can't afford for you to be sick Mr" she warns taking Markus and cuddling him and of course he nuzzled into her happily almost going to sleep on her,
"Alright, I'll see you all later" I smiled grabbing my jacket
"Don't be late" she warns
"I won't Eliza" I laughed "Have a good day at work" I smiled going out the door
"You too Alaki, And ask about your Wages!"
"I will" I laughed shutting the door behind me heading out to the orange glow of the early morning.
My day began as it normally did, helping load boxes onto one of the boats heading off to god only knows where. Helping them load up boxes and barrels onto the ship until about eleven when the ship would leave, as soon as everyone began gathering their things I went to our Boss
"Go on Alaki Get back to the little ones," He says walking off towards the boat
"Uhh, sir if I could just-"
"what is it Alaki I'm very busy," he says
"Please, sir!" I yelled stopping him before he walked on board
"Well, what the devil is it a boy?" He said in shock rather annoyed at me
"Please sir, I haven't seen a penny in weeks..." I began
"Well such is the way of money at the moment dear boy" he laughed turning away
"No please!" I yelled "Our rent is coming due, I haven't eaten in weeks neither have the children... and We think Markus Might be getting sick sir"
He sighed turning back to me
"I pity you, dear boy, I do," He said "But... Your Mistakes are your own son and you must reap what you sow" He said "Can't afford your home, can't afford your children, Perhaps you should have thought about that before knocking up that pretty little whore of yours"
I snapped pushing him to the hard wooden floor of the boat "Eliza isn't a whore!" I screamed he got up with help from a few other men working on the boat
"don't you dare touch me boy" He warned "Here as your so desperate" He said taking money from his pocket "Three weeks, is what you're owed, and take it as your final payment," He says counting out the money, I knew it was losing my job but hell he had enough in his hand to last me and Eliza a month he offered it to me I went to take it but he snatched it away "Go swim for it scramp" He yelled throwing the money into the water and before I could react he pushed me off the plank and into the water bellow I quickly surfaced grabbing onto the boat's rope to keep myself up as I gasped for air they all laughed and bored.
I did my best to gather up the few bits of the money I could most of it sunk into the water or floated away to far for me to reach but I got a few pounds which were better than nothing.
I quickly got out and ran across town knowing I was already late for my other job bursting into the pub it busy with people and girls in their little dresses,
"where the Hell have you been!" Herb yelled as he stood at the bar "And why are you all wet!"
"I'm sorry herb Its been a long day" I sighed going to start my work
"Ohh no way in hell Alaki," He warns "Firstly your soaking wet your not working in my pub"
"Well, I can dry off before I-" I began
"No, No You're late, You're soaking wet... I've had it Alaki" He sighed "You're fired get lost"
"Herb no please!" I begged
"Here, take your pay and get going," He says handing me some money "Go on"
So I sighed taking the money and going out to the street.
I put the money for rent away in my pocket, and counted what I had left, it wasn't much but we could get some food and maybe some medicine for Markus if we need to, as soon as the sunset I headed home walking though the empty cobblestone streets till I got to the house and opened the door seeing Eliza stood boiling water on the stove
"Your Late Alaki" she laughs
"where are the triplets?" I asked
"In there, cot waiting for there big brother to help them have their baths," she smiled "How was your day?" I shut the door going up to her wrapping my arms around her waist nuzzling into her neck, I held her so tightly she felt so soft and cosy Her smell was almost comforting after the rough day I've had almost crying onto her shoulder "Alaki what's the matter?" she asks
"I lost my jobs today, Eliza"
"Ohh Alaki, It's okay We'll be alright," she says hugging me "Hey We'll be okay"
"Yeah, at least for a couple of days. I got my last pay from both places so we have enough for rent and we can go out tomorrow and get some food" I told her
"Well thats amazing Alaki, we'll just have to stretch it," she says "Now don't think you're getting out of your bath Mr"
"I Know Eliza" I smiled "Who's going first?" I asked
"You do Markus and Astrix while I feed Kiki" she smiled going off to the triplets' room so I rolled the bath out from the cupboard filling it halfway with the hot water as Eliza came back putting kiki in her highchair and handing me Astrix and she gave Markus a little cuddle, I got Astrix undressed having him giggle and want to play so I sat him in the bottom of the bath I rolled up my sleeves taking Marks from Her and sitting him inside the bath with Astrix I Kneeled on the floor carefully washing them both getting them as clean as I could "Room for a small one?" Eliza asked as she brought Kiki over undressed already
"Course" I smiled taking her from her sitting Kiki in the bath with her brothers Kiki sitting with me to help wash Kiki "How was your day Eliza?"
"It was alright, work was fine" she smiled "Come On Astrix, time to get dry," she says getting the towel and picking him up and wrapping him tight in the towel as she got up taking Astrix with her, when she started dressing him she handed me back the towel so I picked up Markus wrapping him up in the towel even if he was sneezing a little so I felt the water and noticed it starting to go cold so I took Markus to Eliza and quickly got Kiki out and wrapped her out in the towel as Eliza took Markus and Astrix to bed in there cot,
"You dry up Kiki, I'll get the rest of the water going," I said passing kiki to Eliza
"Alright, Don't make it too hot," she says drying off Kiki and taking her to bed while I boiled the last water we had the head from the coals slowly dying so I made as much as I could and poured it into the bath filling it almost to the top and testing the water, It was barely warm and as darkness grew it wouldn't stay warm for long
"I'm not sure how long this is going to last Eliza" I warned
"We got any more coal?"
"No, We're running on ash as it is" I admit "You take a bath tonight, I'll have mine next week, I got a dip in the sea today anyway"
"Alaki, You need a bath as badly as I do, Besides you had a dip in the sea you don't wash up your hair will fall out from the salt"
"You have a job, I can go without one for this week Eliza"
she sighed putting her hand in feeling the water already starting to cool
"We are sharing," she says I was about to object but "and don't bother with your dam excuses Alaki, we will share. Now quick before it goes cold" I blushed hard getting my clothes off and getting into the water what was now tepid at best I shut my eyes trying to not get caught looking at Eliza as she climbed in and laid next to me with the little space we had trying not to touch each other "Hi"
"Hi" I blushed
"Come on before we catch a cold," she says I smiled a little opening my eyes to see her sweet face Picking up a little water in my hand and washing it over her shoulder she did the same for me till we managed to get a little of the dirt and grime off each other and climbed out wrapping ourselves up in the one little towel
"Eliza?"
"what is it Alaki?" she laughs
"Do you really think we'll be okay?"
"We've lasted this long" she smiled kissing my cheek "Come on, we need to get to bed before It gets too cold," she says taking the towel and heading off to our room, I smiled a little getting some clothes on and going to bed myself getting tucked up tight in our bedsheets as I could as Eliza got sorted and came to bed laying facing me cuddling tight into my chest so I held her as close as I could "whatever happens... As long as we're all together We'll be okay"
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