Bump

Promise.

"Yo" JJ says as he walks in the door of the chateau, carrying a few bags.

Pope and John B are playing cards on the couch. John B gives a salute.

"Hey J...." Pope looks up "....and kiara?"

"And Lilly" JJ adds on

"So we finally get to meet the tiny pogue then?" John B jumps up and walks up to kiara and Lilly wraps her tiny hand round his finger.

"So what's the deal?" JB asks gesturing to the bags JJ was carrying.

"They're crashing for a few days" JJ replies putting the bags down.

"Ok?" John B says surprised "you good?"

"Yeah..... " he hesitates " i mean yeah ... we're good, everything's fine" JJ replies

"JJ" Kie says softly getting his attention.

"I need to put her down for a nap"

"Shit we don't have a crib" JJ panics

"Actually that's not entirely true" John B pipes up.

"I think my old ones still hanging about here somewhere"

JJ raises an eyebrow

"What" John B shrugs "my dad was a hoarder what can I say"

JB digs around and assembles the crib in JJ's room.

Kie walks into the doorway holding Lilly.

"It's not much but..."

"It's great" she cuts him of "thank you"

John B nods

Kie lays Lilly down.

"You wanna join us?" John B gesture towards the front room.

"I mean... I don't want to intrude"

"not at all, your practically one of us now by default"

"Ok" she laughs

She joins the three boys in the lounge, sitting next to JJ on the sofa.

"You ok?" He mouths and she nods with a smile

"Beer?" Pope asks

"Definitely" she replies eagerly.

"So when are you coming back to school?"

"Pfff god knows, I've fallen so far behind already" she replies with a sad undertone, taking another swig of her beer.

"Don't tell me you miss it?" John B asks "I can't wait to leave"

Pope rolls his eyes.

"Maybe not school exactly, but I'd be lying if I said that wasn't things I miss"

"Hm" JB shrugs

"So ..." pope starts "are you two" he points between J and Kie "a thing now"

"What? Er no"  Kie says looking down.

"no man were not" JJ agrees

John B's sat back observing his friends reaction. He can read JJ like a book.

"Ok? So how on earth did this happen" pope asks

"Dude I think your smart enough to know how a baby's made" John B laughs, taking another drink.

"You know what I mean! Before this I'd never even seen you two speak a word to each other?"

J and Kie exchange a look.
"Well.... Kie begins but gets interrupted by Lilly's cries.

"Erm I should.... Go get that" she smiles getting up and walking of.

JJ kicks popes whose sat opposite him. "Dude what the hell did you do that for?"

"What?" Pope replies oblivious.

"Idiots the both of you" John B buts in

"What?" JJ asks confused

"I am the only one who sees what's going on here or what?"

"I .... I don't know what you mean" JJ says quietly looking away.

"Sure" John B rolls his eyes

"Does someone wanna fill me in or...." Pope says

"Why don't you just tell her how you feel J?" JB asks

"Shut up man she's in the next room!"

A few minutes later Kie re-enters the room.

"is she ok?" JJ asks

"Yeah she's fine" she smiles back "she's sleeping now"

"Speaking of, I need to go home, I've got a test tomorrow" pope  says getting up, he gives JJ and JB the pogue handshake and then waves bye at Kie before leaving.

"Yeah I'm gunna head to bed too .... I'll leave you two  ...alone" John B walks to his room and closes the door.

JJ rolls his eyes at his friend

"You can crash in my room"

"Thanks"

"I'll erm, take the floor"

"What? no, no way this is your room, take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor"

"Nope"

"JJ it's fine"

"Kie I'm not gunna argue about this"

"Then stop resisting, just get in the damn bed"

"Fine"

"Just stick to your side"

They both lay side by side, staring up at the ceiling.

"Do you wish things were different?" JJ breaks the silence.

"What'd you mean?"

"go back to how they were"

"Where's this coming from?" She asks softly

"Just something you said earlier"

"Oh" she sighs

"I just... can't help but feel guilty, I did this to you..."

"Well I think I also had something to do with it" she smirks

"And no, I don't, things were easier before .... But ..... I don't think I was happy"

"no?"

"no." She whispers

"And now?"

"Well I might not have chosen it like this ..... but ..... she's given me a purpose, and I already love her so much, I don't think I could even describe how much"

"I feel it too"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah"

"What about you? This can't have been part of your plan?"

"I've never really been much of a planner"

"So you wouldn't change anything?"

"no, you can't live life with regrets Kie"

"This is just crazy isn't it? A few weeks ago we barely even knew each other ...... and now ..... here I am laying in bed next to you with our baby , like what the hell?"

"Crazy yes. But good"

"Good?" She turns to look at him

"JJ I don't want you to feel that you have to pretend to like me or that you want to be with me because of the baby"

"What are you talking about? I'm not pretending"

"I just want us to always be honest with each other"

"Ok"

"Promise?"

"Promise"