You Are My Sunshine

Chapter Eleven: Don't Rush Yourself

Gabriella slowly followed Joe into his home, she was a little nervous about meeting his parents and she hoped that this was all okay; she didn't want them to think that she was some sort gold-digger like the papers said she was. 

Gabriella wanted to make a good first impression even after everything that had happened, she didn't want any trouble and she hoped that they weren't going to cause any problems. 

Joe stepped into the living room and smiled at his parents, Gabriella had nothing to worry about and he was sure that everything was going to be fine; he wanted everyone to get along before his daughter was born. 

"Mum. Dad... this is Gabriella," Joe said introducing the woman that was going to be the mother of his first child to his parents, he knew that this meeting was long overdue but he hadn't wanted to cause more problems after what had happened with Georgina. 

Gabriella smiled nervously at the two, she had no idea what she was going to say to them and she knew that things weren't going to be simple; they were bound to have questions about what had happened. 

Louise smiled getting to her feet and moving to hug Gabriella, she didn't blame her for being worried; the media had been far from kind about her and Louise doubted any of it was true. 

"It's wonderful to finally meet you," Louise gushed, she was looking forward to this and she was sure that the woman before her wasn't anything like the one that Georgina had talked about in her interview. 

Gabriella blinked a little surprised, she looked at Joe who only smiled at her before he sat down on the couch; she hadn't been sure what to expect and she was surprised how welcoming Joe's parents were being about all of this. 

Gabriella felt responsible for Joe breaking off his engagement, she knew he would have happily gotten married to Georgina if she hadn't come into his life.

***

"So do you both know what you are having?" Louise asked curiously as she served some lunch, she was pleased to see that Gabriella had put the baby weight back on and she knew that Joe would be looking out for her. 

Gabriella blinked turning to look at Joe, she had thought that he would have shared the news with his own parents since Gabriella had shared it with hers; she wasn't entirely sure what he wanted to do. 

"We're having a little girl," Joe revealed smiling, he had meant to tell his parents sooner but it had slipped his mind; he couldn't wait to hold his daughter for the first time. 

Louise grinned, she couldn't believe that she was going to have a granddaughter and she was sure that Joe would be the perfect father; she had been worried that he would never get the chance since Georgina hated children. 

"Congratulations," Charles said thrilled for his son, he remembered what it was like when Chloe had been born and he knew that it would be a special moment for Joe. 

Gabriella nodded her head, she rested a hand on her bump and she knew that things were working out well; she wanted nothing more than to focus on that for now, she didn't want any more drama. 

Joe grinned, he still couldn't believe how lucky he was and he knew that he had come so close to missing out; he would have lost out on the most important thing in his life. 

Louise watched her son, there was something about him and she knew that it was all linked to Gabriella; he seemed so much happier and she hoped that he would find what he was really looking for instead of just settling down. 

Louise wanted nothing more than for her little boy to be happy, he might be an adult now and was going to be a father himself but she wanted him to have what she had with his father.

***

Louise smiled watching Joe fuss over Gabriella, she had never seen him like this and she couldn't believe that he couldn't see it; she washed the dishes knowing that he would be a perfect father when the time came. 

Joe wandered over to help his mother with the dishes while Gabriella went to the bathroom, he had a goofy smile on his face that warmed Louise's heart; she had never seen him like this with Georgina and she knew that he hadn't realised it yet. 

"You like her," Louise stated smiling at her son, she had seen it from the word go and Joe seemed so protective of Gabriella now; it wasn't going to be easy but Louise doubted that it ever would be in this situation. 

Joe stared at his mother, he opened and closed his mouth not entirely sure what to make of Louise's words; he stood silent trying to figure out what to say to her. "What?" Joe spluttered wondering where his mother had gotten that idea, he and Gabriella was just friends and they were going to have a baby together. 

Joe didn't want anything to cause trouble, he had a baby on the way and he doubted that it mattered if he did like Gabriella in anyway; nothing was born important than his unborn little girl. 

"Gabriella... you like her," Louise teased smiling at her son, he looked adorable blushing and she couldn't believe that she hadn't seen it before; he had been living with Gabriella for over a month now and things were clearly starting to develop. 

Joe opened his mouth to deny what his mother was saying when Gabriella appeared rubbing her bump, he hurried over to her side to make sure that she was okay. 

Louise watched her son and shook her head, she wondered how long it would take him to realise that she was right; she watched him with Gabriella and the way he acted just gave it away.

Louise just hoped that Joe wouldn't rush into this, he had not long ended things with Georgina and there was a baby on the way; there was no denying that it was going to be strange for the both of them for a while. 

"He looks happy," Charles commented moving to help his wife, he looked over at his son and he knew that this would be good for him; he had never been like this with Georgina and he was sure that this was a good sign. 

Louise nodded her head, a smile on her lips while she watched him with Gabriella and she wondered how her son hadn't realised what was really happening to him; things were changing and she prayed that he would be able to deal with that. 

"He looks like he's falling in love," Louise replied knowing that he would never make the mistake that he had made when he had gotten together with Georgina; this was different and she prayed he wouldn't mess this up. 

Charles smiled knowing that his wife was right, Joe had the look on his face that every man that was slowly falling in love had; he just didn't realise it yet and Charles guessed that it was a good thing. 

Charles had no idea what was going to happen, Joe had so much going on in his life and the media were always going to be there; Gabriella and the baby were going to be a big part of his life.

"I wonder how long it will take him to figure it out for himself?" Louise whispered smiling to herself, she had pointed out that he liked Gabriella but she wasn't going to tell him anything else. 

Joe would take his time on this and Louise was sure that when the time was right that he would realise just how much he cared for Gabriella.