Lost in the Middle

Boiling Point

The young couple had left the hospital after their lunch and had strolled into the city center to get to Nikki's father's house, it had been a very long time since she had been in the area and in a way, it haunted her being so close to her fathers home again.

Jack had been the calming voice at the moment Nikki had panicked about telling her Dad, they were only a street away when her feet froze to the floor and she almost broke down in tears. "Just breathe, I'm with you... he can't hurt you," Jack speaks softly as he squeezes his girlfriend's hand.

Nikki closes her eyes and turns the corner with Jack and they make their way up the driveway. Jack steps forwards as they come to the front door and knocks it loudly, the couple stands waiting, "Come on he's not in..." Nikki announces but just as she speaks the front door opens.

"Niks!" Victor announces his tone sounded surprised, but then again he thought he would never see his daughter once again.
"Hi" She breathes attempting to keep her cool.

Victor looks at his daughter before looking at Jack stood beside her holding her hand, "You two still together then?" He quizzes.
"Erm... yeah" Jack chuckles.
"God... what do you see in her, anyway come in," Victor smiles as he opens the door wider.

Jack and Nikki step inside the house and make their way into the lounge where they sit down and Victor follows them in, "Drink?" He asks.
"No thank you, Dad, it's just a flying visit," Nikki responds as she messes with her hands.

The young couple sits in silence as Victor heads into the kitchen to make himself a drink, Jack had never been this far into the house before and had noticed a few photos of Nikki on the mantelpiece, one was with a woman who he gathered was her mother by the similarity. "So what brings you here?" Victor quizzes.

Nikki takes a moment to respond she didn't know how he would take it but either way, Victor will have to find out. "We have something to tell you," Nikki breathes.
Victor raises an eyebrow waiting for the teenagers to speak but soon jumps in when they're too silent for too long, "Well out with it then? I'm not getting any younger."

She hesitates and feels Jack slightly nudge her as pauses, "You see... the thing is..." She stutters.
"Out with it Nicola. You're just like your Mother, never come out with it" Victor huffs.
"I'm pregnant," She responds quickly.

That was when both teenagers sat watching Victor's facial expression change, "What?" He asks.
"Jack and I... are having a baby," Nikki says.

Once again Victor processes her words and stands up, he begins to pace the room. "Niks... you're seventeen... what processed you?" He snaps his anger rising just by the obvious tone.
Jack grabs hold of Nikki's hand and squeezes it to give her reassurance, "We're happy... I'm going to be there for her," Jack smiles.

Victor looks at Jack, "You are the problem here, you got my little girl pregnant. You're both too young for this not to mention this baby will be a bastard, You're not married!" He hisses his anger still obviously rising.

"Dad, times are changing. It's socially acceptable now," She replies.
"You're not dragging down the Alexander name... not while I'm still breathing, you're nothing more than a slut!" Victor hisses angrily.

Jack stands up and frowns at Victor, "Don't you ever call Nikki that! She won't be bringing down the Alexander name... because she is a Hodgson! we will get married and prove you wrong!" Jack snaps his fists clenching the bile boiling in his stomach.

He grits his teeth using every ounce of willpower not to knock Victor clean out, "Let's go, Jack," Nikki speaks as she grabs her bag and touches Jack's elbow.
"Yeah, coming..." Jack speaks as he guides Nikki out the way.

"Don't come crawling back to me when Jack doesn't want you nor the baby... Just remember Nikki once you've had a child men see less of you, they don't care you get fat and they will move on," Victor fires.

That was it as quick as Victor spoke the quicker Jack spun around and threw a punch at Victor, completely flooring the older man. "Bad mouth my girlfriend again, I will kill you," He hisses as he flexes his knuckles and then walks out the house to join Nikki.

"What did you do Jack?" Nikki quizzes.
"Nothing... now come on," He responds and ushers his girlfriend away from the house.