The Other Branning ~ Eastenders

The Awkward Morning

"Dad, me and Amy made breakfast." Grace openly wandered into her Dad's bedroom. They were staying at Max's old house, seeing as no one used it anymore. "Ames is waiting downstairs-oh." Grace gasped when she saw the bleach blonde woman in her Dad's bed.

"Grace, go and wait downstairs with Amy." Jack ordered his eldest daughter.

"Ok." Grace held up her hands in mock salute, "hi Roxy." She smirked before making her way back downstairs. "Ames we need to make some extra." She told her little sister.

"Why?" Amy asked.

"I have a little feeling that Mummy might be coming for breakfast today." Grace put more bacon in the pan as Jack and Roxy entered the room. Roxy was wearing Jack's shirt from the night before, and Jack was wearing a t-shirt and boxers. "See, I was right." Grace smiled at her little sister, picking her up for a cuddle.

"Y'alright Amy?" Roxy awkwardly greeted her daughter.

"Why are you wearing Daddy's shirt, Mummy?" Amy asked Roxy, looking at her confused.

"Er," Jack thought for an answer, "Mummy just had a little sleepover last night, that's all." He attempted to explain.

"What about Auntie Ronnie?" Amy asked again.

"Let's not worry about that, hey?" Grace told her little sister, not wanting Amy's questions to ruin the moment. "Ames get some bread out for me." She told her little sister. Amy nodded, getting down from Grace's hold. She skipped over to the bread bin, reaching up and finally grabbing some bread, handing it to Grace.

Jack and Roxy had sat down at the table by now, letting Grace wait on them hand and foot for once, instead of the other way round. Jack laughed unexpectedly. "What?" Roxy grinned at him.

"Just, seeing my girls together. Never realised how much I love seeing them together, happy, until you stop to look." Jack responded.

"Dad stop being soppy." Grace laughed, as the door bell rang. "I've got it." She stalked over to the door, opening it. She grinned at she saw Ronnie standing at the for with her son, Matthew. "I think you'll find your not welcome here anymore." Grace smirked at her.

"Shut up, Grace. Your not going to split me and your Dad up, so stop trying." Ronnie spat at her. "Where is he?" She pushed past Grace into the house. Grace happily let her, knowing what she would find when she found Jack.

"Ron..." Roxy started as Ronnie stormed in.

"What the hell is going on? Have you slept together?!" Ronnie shouted. "Your my sister! You had SEX with my partner!"

"Ronnie! Not around the kids." Jack gave her a disgruntled look.

"Really? Really, Jack?" Ronnie shouted. "Grace is eighteen, she is the worst behaved 'kid' I've ever met! And Amy, the poor thing, her parents keep messing her about!" She screamed at her sister and her supposed fiancé.

"Just get out of my house." Jack coldly told her.

"What?" Ronnie looked offended. "Look, Jack I'm your fiancée, she's not!" Ronnie pointed at Roxy. "Me, and you, and Matthew. That's how it's supposed to be!"

"Right? And what about my kids. My daughters. The girls that mean the absolute world to me?" Jack said back.

"Amy's got Roxy and Grace can get back to where she and from!" Ronnie seemed to have it all planned out. "We are meant to be together!"

"Amy, go and play upstairs please babe." Roxy told her daughter.

"Ron this was never going to work. You can't get over James, and well I've got my girls to think about. I need to look after them now." Jack decided.

"What, and that's with Roxy?" Ronnie suddenly seemed upset.

"Me and Roxy have been having a bit of fun, I don't know what may occur after this. But my priorities," Jack stood up, "are to this little girl," he picked up Amy, "and this one," he put his other arm around Grace. "I'd appreciate it if you stopped talking bad about my daughters."

"So that's it?" Ronnie cried out. "We're just over? Just like that?"

"Seems that way." Grace smirked. Ronnie gave them all a defeated look, before stalking out, leaving the four of them standing there in disbelief, not knowing what to do.

"I should probably get going." Roxy said. "Come on Amy, gather your things up."

"Mummy I want to stay here with Daddy and Grace." Amy told Roxy. "Please I want to stay." Amy pleaded.

"Ok, yeah that's fine. I'll see you later then?" Roxy replied. Amy nodded, and Roxy went upstairs to get dressed before leaving Jack's house.

"Oh my god, it's one already. Right girls, what shall we do today?" Jack asked them.

"Actually, Dad. I was gonna go and see the sights, see what's around. I'll be back later, see ya in a bit Ames." Grace gave her little sister a hug before leaving. She was dressed in skinny black jeans, heeled Chelsea boots and a black crop top.

Grace made her way through the village, there wasn't much to look at, it was a bit drab. However, it was the place she had to call home now, she had to somehow start to like it. She found a local pub called The Vic and went inside, propping herself up at the bar. "Can I have a lemonade please?" She asked the barman.

"You new around here?" He asked, handing Grace the lemonade.

"Yeah, Grace Branning." She replied.

"Mick Carter. Any relation to Max?" He asked.

"He's my Uncle, unfortunately." Grace sighed.

"What about Jack?"

"Yeah, he's my Dad." Grace said more happily. It was safe to say she was a Daddy's girl.

"Ah really, well I'm the landlord, Jack's a good mate of mine, on the house." Mick grinned. "Nice to finally meet you, heard a lot about you."

"Just stop having a go at me all the time!" A voice shouted at his girlfriend.

"Lee! Stop shouting." Mick told his son, grabbing his arm.

"She won't let me have a drink, Dad." Lee said annoyed.

"I'll buy you one." Grace chipped in.