In the moment

In laws

Soph had been back at work just over a month now, but she'd decided to work shorter hours so she doesn't overexert herself. She's reached her 3rd trimester but was still under regular monitoring despite their baby growing completely healthy.

Her and jack had viewed multiple houses in the passed couple of weeks but could only agree on one. It was perfect, 6 bedroom, a grande hallway, indoor pool, surrounded by 12 acres of land and an annex for Ada should she decide to move with them. Soph had found it really hard to fall in love with any of the properties, she was indecisive as it was and she kept finding fault with each one they visited. She could tell it annoyed jack but it was potentially their forever home, where they'll raise their children. She wanted it to be perfect.

The documents for maes adoption had been processed and she will officially be mae elizabeth grealish after Soph and jacks wedding. Jack wanted to marry Soph before they had Bennett but Soph was adamant that she won't be pregnant in her wedding photos no matter how much she loved him, she didn't want it to look like a shotgun wedding. She also wanted to have both children in their wedding photos and although jack understood, he just wanted to be her husband. He'd get married down the registry office in a heartbeat.

Sophs bump was now particularly large, she was starting to waddle and struggled to get up off the sofa. 'Oh for fuck sake' she shouts as she drops the milk lid on the floor, struggling to bend down and pick it up. Jack laughing covering maes ears at breakfast table.

'Steady!' He shouts as he gets up to help pick it up 'sit down I'll bring your cuppa over' he nods over to the direction of mae. 'Biscuits?' He asks as he settles her cup down. She glares at him, did he even need to ask at this point? 'Of course' he laughs as goes back for the biscuit barrel.

'Have you packed for the weekend?' She asks him knowing full well he hadn't. They were heading to jacks parents for the weekend for his sister birthday. Even though they'd been together just shy of a year, she still hadn't met his family. She was nervous to say the least.

His big brown eyes look up at her as he sips his fresh orange. 'Erm, we'll yes and no?' She shakes her head at him in disappointment 'we don't leave for another 2 hours, loads of time that' he shrugs as he tucks in to a bowl of coco pops.

'He's a nightmare isn't he mae' she chunters to mae who's smashing her own coco pops around the highchair table.

'It's a waste that yknow mae' he points his spoon in the direction of the table tray before shovelling another spoonful in his own mouth. Mae launches her bowl off the tray in response 'how does she unstick that bowl? Even I can't unstick it!'

Soph laughs almost chocking on her biscuit 'it's suppose to be child proof, so that explains a lot!'

Jack places his bowl in the dish washer before collecting mae out of her highchair 'right little lady are we going to get you cleaned up?' Maes hands are stroking his stubble. 'Say bye to mammy' But maes to invested in jacks beard.

'Da da' jacks looks at Soph who shots a look straight back at him. Maes hands still rubbing his beard she babbles again 'da da da da'

'Did she just?'

Soph can't contain her smile even though she was slightly gutted it wasn't mama. 'She definitely did' Soph says responding to his question. Although Jack had adopted mae, they hadn't actually spoke about whether he wanted her to call him dad as she was still so little. And even though mae was just babbling, it felt like a natural progression. He squeezed her tight, feeling proud to be her dad. 'Right break it up you two, someone's got a bag to pack!'
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Mae slept most of the way to Birmingham, where as Soph had to have at least 3 service station stops for a wee. When they finally arrived at jacks parents they were already outside waiting for them. His mum was the first to come over opening sophs door for her and holding her hand out to help her. 'Oh Sophie you look radiant!' She beams at her. Soph dressed in a fitted white ribbed dress complimenting her tanned skin.

'It's Soph mom' jack rolls his eyes as he opens the back door to remove mae fast asleep in her car seat

Jacks dad reaching in before him 'let me son' he pulls out the car seat and holds it up admiring mae 'she's a beaut ain't she'

'Just like her mom' jack grins at Soph who's now stood next to him and puts his arm round her pulling her in.

'Let get yous inside. Are you hungry Soph, did you stop for food on the way down?' Karen asks as they make there way through the front door

'We stopped mom but she's always hungry, don't let her tell you other wise' jack laughs, sometime he can't believe how much she started to eat since being pregnant. She definitely eats more than him and that's saying something.

As they enter the kitchen the island is laid out with an array of buffet food. 'You know we didn't get to make the engagement, jack told us every last minute' she shots jack a mum look, the type were you instantly knew you were in trouble 'so we thought we would have our own little celebration. And to celebrate your pregnancy too, I know things haven't been easy for you sweet heart.' She walks over and embraces Soph.

Jacks looks over at his dad, who now has mae out of her car seat and cradled in his arms she still fast asleep. 'How'd you keep her asleep?' Jack scratching his head 'she's the worlds lightest sleeper'

Sophs now laughing because every time jacks try's to move mae anywhere she instantly wakes up. 'Plenty of practice son, you'll pick it up in no time' he winks at him.

Soph sits back at the island picking at the buffet as she watches jack with his family. They were all kinds of perfect, something she'd always hoped her family would be. She knew jack was a great dad to mae because of the way he'd been brought up himself. And she loved how they made her feel so at home, like she'd always been apart of their family too.
'So when's the party starting?' Jack asks his mum with a raised eyebrow.

'Well it's actually not here' she shuffles about pretending to wipe the side 'we've actually hired O'Neill's, Kevan and Kiera are actually down there now. Don't be mad' she looks up at jack

'Why would we be mad?' Soph questions as she looks between jack and his mum

'I don't know mum why would we be mad?' He raises an eye brow at her 'well let's get mae changed and freshen up and we'll head down' he says nothing more as he head over to his dad and scoops mae out of his arms

Soph gets up from her stool 'I could actually do with the toilet, where do I head?' She asks Karen politely

'Follow me, I'll show ya' jack gestures his head towards the hallway before heading upstairs.

As the reach the landing and jack shows her the where the bathroom is and she stands in the door way looking at jack 'babe, what's the issue with the pub?'

He sighs loudly as he stands rocking mae 'nothing, it'll be fine I promise' he walks over and kisses the top of her head 'now go to the toilet before you piss yourself please'

She laughs as she shuts the door, but as she sits on the toilet she can't help but have this feeling that something wasn't right, like jack was keeping something from her.