The Other Branning ~ Eastenders

Someone's pregnant

"Grace!" Lee called down the stairs. It was the evening and she was helping Linda out at the bar as Mick and Johnny were out. "Grace!" He called out again until she met him at the bottom of the stairs. "Is this yours?" He worried, he was panicking.

"Of course it's not. I'm on birth control." Grace chuckled at her husband. "Cool it, babe. We're not ready to be parents just yet." She assured him.

"I started to worry then." Lee sighed in relief, reaching out to hug his wife. "So if it's not us, who is it? Can't be Mum and Dad's." Lee wondered. "Johnny's gay and Nancy's in Italy or wherever it is with Tamwar. We're the only ones who could have a baby."

"I'm sure there's a logical explanation, don't you worry about it." Grace told him. "We'll find out soon enough." She kissed Lee and sent him on his way to continue procrastinating. She was aware how depressed he had been feeling lately and didn't want to pressure or worry him with a baby. "Don't worry about it, I'll sort it." She whispered, touching her flat stomach gently.

"You alright? Love?" Kinda grinned at her daughter-in-law as she went to get some crisps for a punter. "What's the matter?"

"Lee. He found a pregnancy test." She whispered, admitting to Linda. "He's so stressed and everything this would send him over the edge. I don't T know what to do, Linds." Grace sighed, following Linda through to the barrel store. "I love Lee but I love this little one inside of me too, two months I've known and it's still there, I check all the time. What, or who do I choose?" Grace needed Linda to give her a proper answer.

"It's not a choice, Grace. You're a wife and a mother now. Once you and my Lee got married I knew this would follow soon after. You just need to tell Lee in you're own time, that's all." Linda tried to encourage Grace.

"Yeah, you're right." Grace smiled thankfully at Linda. "I'm gonna pop round and see my Dad and Rox. If Lee asks just tell him I'll be back in a bit."

•

Grace put her key through the lock and opened the door to her Dad's house. "Grace!" She was met by her cousin, Lauren. They hugged, it had been so long since they'd seen each other. "This is my little boy, Louie." Lauren introduced them, "and my partner, Steven." Abi was there also.

"Good to see you!" Grace replied, bending down to meet little Louie. "He's adorable, congratulations. But, I thought you were with Peter?"

"Yeah...that didn't really work out. I'll tell you later, we'll catch up." Lauren promised.

"Is my Dad in?"

"Upstairs trying to put Amy to bed. Roxy's asleep, she's just about to pop she's so pregnant. He's been trying to get Amy to sleep since eight, it's been over two hours. We were all gonna watch a film but I doubt that'll happen now." Abi explained. Grace nodded, wandering upstairs to find Jack.

"Dad?" She walked into his room. Jack sat up.

"You alright, Gray?" He came out of his and Roxy's bedroom, they went to talk in Grace's old room. She shook her head. "Something happened? You and Lee ok?"

"Me and Lee are fine. I just don't think we will be once he finds out something. He'll leave me, it'll be too much for him to handle and he won't be able to cope with it all. I don't know what decision I'm supposed to make. My husband or my child?"

"You're pregnant? I'm gonna be a grandad??" Jack was ecstatic. "A baby and my first grandchild on the way. How much better can life get?" He grinned. "The best way is to just tell him, you'll never know what Lee's reaction will be unless you tell him. He'll probably just as happy, just as frightened, just as worried as you, but all new parents are. Trust me, by number five you'll only be excited."

Grace chuckled. "Dad you only have two of your daughters around and one is still inside your girlfriend. You can hardly say five."

"You, Penny, Amy, James and the baby are all my babies, I'm just fortunate that I at least have you, Amy and baby around me everyday. The fact that you and Lee have your life sorted, you're married and you have a strong relationship. That's what makes me so sure that you and Lee are going to be amazing parents. Whether that be now or in a couple of years." Jack put an arm around his daughters shoulders, letting Grace rest her head.

•

Grace rushed up the stairs as soon as she got back to the vic. Linda saw her and thought it best to leave Lee and Grace be. Grace found Lee making a cup of tea. "Hey, gorgeous. How was your Dad? Back late." He smiled. He seemed in a better, more upbeat mood as he pulled Grace into his arms and kissed her.

"Yeah I needed to ask him about a problem," she admitted to her husband, "I should've come to you first but I didn't know what you'd do."

"I know, babe." Lee confessed. "We're going to have a mini-me. My mum told me. You thought that I'd be angry? As if. It takes two and I'm happy that we get this chance. Even if it is a little earlier than we anticipated, we'll just have to travel the world bit by bit, with our beautiful boy or girl instead." Lee grinned excitedly.

"You're sure about this?" Grace was hesitant.

"No. I'm not sure. Of course we're gonna mess up, all parents to. God knows how many times mum and dad lost me or Nancy in the supermarket. What I'm sure of is right now, and that you and me are forever. I promised to stick by you whatever and that includes our baby." Lee held Grace close to him.