The Other Branning ~ Eastenders

Grace's Plan

Grace walked downstairs after a heavy night of drinking, her head banging, and though she usually looked amazing, she was dreary eyed and felt sick. Jack laughed at his daughter as she walked through to the kitchen; he knew she hadn't discovered her drinking limit yet and he loved to be able to look after his little girl once in a while.

Jack sat his daughter down on the sofa in the living room, giving her a glass of water and bacon buttie. She thanked him and fell back on the sofa as Jack went to wake Amy up to get her ready for school.

"Grace!!! Can you take me to school today? Pleaseeeee!" Amy begged her older sister, not helping Grace's headache. She groaned.

"Fine. Let me go and get dressed." Grace sighed, agreeing to her little sister. She sloped into the kitchen, grabbing an aspirin and going back up to her room. She quickly showered and dried herself off. Grace pulled on a pair of dark blue Jack Wills tracksuit trousers and a white crop top, putting on her white converse as well. She applied a small amount of concealer and tying her hair up in a messy ponytail.

Grace ran back downstairs, feeling surprisingly better than she did half an hour ago. "You ready to go, Ames?" She found her little sister just finishing her breakfast. Grace pulled on be leather jacket, as Amy put her shoes and coat on. Grace grabbed her little sisters hand as they left the house, making their way down the market street.

"Oi! You! You bitch!" A voice screamed from behind them, it was Whitney. Grace smirked, turning around to face her. "You've taken him! He just suddenly doesn't want me!" Whitney growled at her love rival.

"Look, I've gotta get Amy to school, so piss off." Grace chuckled, skipping off with Amy.

"Why doesn't Whitney like you anymore, Gray?" Amy looked up innocently at her big sister, the big sister she cherished and worshipped. "If only everyone knew you like I do, then they would all love you. Because your the bestest big sister in the whole world."

"Ames, your too cute." Grace gently poked the tip of her little sisters nose. "And she basically hates me because she says I 'stole' her boyfriend." Grace shrugged.

"Mummy always steals Auntie Ronnie's boyfriends. Daddy, Charlie too." Amy giggled.

"If want a guy, you go get him. Don't wait around. Life's too short to wait for everyone else to start doing things for you. Grab life while you can. If you ever learn anything from your big sis, always remember that." Grace told Amy as they reached the school gates.

"I will." Amy held her arms up for a hug from Grace. Grace picked Amy up, spinning her round in her arms, causing Amy to giggle cutely.

"Right have a good day at school, love you lots Munchkin!" Grace waved her off. She sighed, making her way back to the square. "Alright?" She smirked again as she saw Whitney. "Stopped having a temper tantrum yet?"

"You've literally brainwashed Lee." Whitney stated, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was saying herself.

"Lee's a big boy." Grace teased her, shrugging her shoulders and walking to the other side of the square, knocking gently on Roxy's apartment door.

"Oh, you alright, Gracie?" Roxy was surprised to see her, she hadn't been expecting Grace to come over, not that she minded. Her and Grace had had some laughs throughout the time they'd known each other.

"Just dropped Amy of at school." Grace walked into Roxy's kitchen, Roxy following her.

"I just wanna know when you and Daddy dearest are finally going to get your act together and start being together proper, like an actual couple." Grace chuckled. "God knows it's taking you long enough." She put the kettle on to boil and putting tea bags into cups.

"Me and your Dad?" Roxy faked a smile as if she was amused by the suggestion. "Don't be silly..." She looked away from Grace.

"Whatever, Rox. I know perfectly well that you two are going to end up together in the end. Why not sooner rather than later, eh? Who knows me and Ames might finally get a baby bro." Grace teased.

"As if I'd have any more." Roxy joked. "Anyway, what's going on with you and this Lee Carter? I've heard some stories." Roxy wiggled her eyebrows knowingly.

"Oi oi don't change the subject." Grace laughed, pouring tea into their cups.

"Alright! Yes you know I've always liked your Dad, Gray." Roxy admitted. "Ok ok, you devious little miss. I'm gonna go over and talk to Jack in a bit, I need to talk to him about Amy stuff anyway."

"Great!" Grace clapped her hands in triumph. "Anyway, I've gotta go and catch up with Lee." She grinned, dashing out the door after hugging Roxy goodbye. "Oh, I do love it wen a plan comes together." She smirked to herself as she made her way across to the Vic.

Entering the Vic, Lee jumped up from where he was sat, seeing Grace walk in. "'Ello stranger." He couldn't hide the smile popping onto his face.

"I saw you last night, you idiot." Grace gently chuckled at him. Her hard personality seemed to soften around the young Carter. "What're you up to tonight? I think we need a little catch up."

"No time like the present." Lee was eager to spend some more time with her. "Come upstairs?"

"Sure." Grace shrugged, nodding and smiling. "I've gotta pick Amy up at three though." She bit her lip. "And I definitely cannot be late for her." Lee nodded, leading her upstairs. They put some daytime TV show on and got some ice cream from the fridge.

"Mick! Mick is that you? Ollie's done an explosive nappy." Linda walked into the living room with a now clean Ollie as well as a dirty nappy. "Oh!" She gasped seeing Lee and Grace sat there.

"Hi, Mrs Carter." Grace smiled, almost a little shyly.

"So are you and Whitney over then?" Linda asked her son. Lee nodded, giving his mum a 'shut up while Grace is here' look. "Oh good. Never liked that bloody girl anyway." Linda laughed. "Lovely to meet you, Grace."