Saving Lotte Sullivan | Collingwood/Carlton

21: The Little Daicos

'Explain, Ginnivan' Ashlyn ordered, as she folded her arms and stood outside of Lotte's apartment door. Jack sighed as he glanced at her.

'I just spoke to her on the phone. She's leaving work early. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. With me and Nick? Wait, does Nick even know?' Jack asked, wide eyed as he held the dropped items in his hands.

'No, he doesn't know. And I intend on keeping it that way until I can tell him tonight. I wanted to tell Lotte first. God, this can't be happening. You cannot seriously be the first person to know' Ashlyn said, panicking as she aged a million years in front of Jack, who looked down at the small medical device again, and raised his eyebrows.

'I guess congratulations are in order' he said, as she glared at him.

'No, congratulations are most certainly not in order. Not yet anyway. This can't be happening again - this seriously cannot be happening again. And not during this whole saga of what he did, what she did, what they've done-'

'Hello' Josh said, suddenly entering the apartment complex as Ashlyn jumped in fright and turned around. She suddenly shoved her exercise book, the one Jack was holding, up to hide her other belongings he had.

'Hey' she said back, tiredness clearly showing. Josh quickly studied her face. Red, puffy eyes from crying. No makeup. Hair thrown up in the messiest ponytail. She looked a far cry from normal.

'Is everything okay?' He asked, as his son suddenly burst through the door. 'ASH!' He excitedly screamed, running over and diving on her legs. She sadly laughed. 'Hey Cass. Are you keeping your dad in line?' She asked sarcastically, as Josh rolled his eyes. 'Yes, my daddy is the best daddy! I missed you!' Cass shouted, nearly squealing his head off as Ivy entered the complex, Josh finally closing the stairwell door.

'AND GINNI'S HERE TOO! THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!' Cassius screamed, suddenly switching lanes and hugging Jack's legs too as he jumped up to give him a high five.

'Hi. I thought I'd take the quickest route and beat her here. We had a conversation earlier that desperately needs finishing' Ella said, stepping up into the complex as Josh looked back in panic. Ashlyn sighed.

'My apartment, now. Go' Jack said, passing her the key as she gratefully nodded and disappeared through his door. Josh looked over, thankful too.

'Is everything okay with her? She looks kind of sad' Ella said, feeling somewhat guilty. While she'd always hate Ashlyn, maybe it wasn't fair, what she did with Nick. But if Lewis did it back to her, she wouldn't have cared. There's plenty more where he came from.

'It's called a broken down relationship and being cheated on, genius. Honestly, how on earth are you related to one of the smartest people on our side?' Jack asked, shaking his head in disgust as he opened his apartment door again. 'Tell Lotte I'm waiting for her' he added.

Ella awkwardly looked up at Josh as she glanced down at his daughter. She was always so standoffish and never wanted to be close to her dad. Never really spoke much and if she did, it just only to complain. Both his kids definitely looked like him, Cassius technically his twin in 4 year old form. Ivy a natural blonde with brown eyes, not much personality at all.

'Your son seems very happy to be with you' Ella noted, as Cassius looked up and smiled while reaching up for a hug from dad. Josh nodded while picking him up.

'It's more than likely he was just extremely happy to be having Macca's for breakfast and then he got to spend the day outdoing my brother at footy. He snubbed me completely and forgot about us the second he saw Nick' He explained, as Cassius tiredly leaned his head on dad's shoulder, yawning and sucking his thumb. He was getting tired.