Why didn't you tell me?

Chapter 4

Jac was showered and dressed, she didn't have any clean clothes so had to borrow a pair of Fletch's joggers, along with the jumper she borrowed last night. Theo loved Jac, he hadn't left her alone since she woke up, Jac didn't mind in the slightest, she thought it was rather cute.

They were now stood at the kitchen counter making chocolate cupcakes, Fletch was in the living room with Ella watching a film, Evie and Mikey were at their friends house and Emma was a Jonny's.

'Can I put the cake in the cases please?' Theo asked Jac.

'Of course you can.' Jac responder ruffling Theo's hair.

Fletch was stood in the doorway watching, he had never seen this side to Jac before, a maternal side, but decided that he could defiantly get use to it.

'Stop staring.' laughed Jac.

'Sorry.' Fletch apologised still staring at Jac in awe. Jac just laughed at him, shook her head and turned away.

'Shall we tell Evie and Mikey when they come home?' Fletch asked.

'Might as well, Theo and Ella already know so it won't take long for them to tell them. And we can tell Emma when she comes back from Jonny's tomorrow.' Jac answered.

'Yeah, sounds good.' He walked over to Jac and kissed her forehead, Jac smiled and leaned into his touch.

'Jac will you help me?' Theo interrupted. Fletch laughed and stepped back, letting go of Jac.

'Of course sweetheart.' Jac smiled. Fletch was dumbfounded, never had he heard the word sweetheart leave Jac's mouth before.

Evie and Mikey returned home, they were surprised to see Jac in their house but quite enjoyed her company. Evie suspected something was going on between the pair as she knew how her dad felt about Jac.

'Daddy and Jac are boyfriend and girlfriend!' Shouted Ella as soon as she seen her older brother and sister.

'Ella..' Fletch groaned.

'Knew it!' Evie said, with a smug look on her face.

'I was gunna tell you both, but someone beat me to it.' Fletch looked accusingly at Ella. She just giggled and went back to playing with Theo.

'Evie you owe me a fiver.' Mikey announced.

'No, the bet was dad would never admit his feelings, I said he would, and he clearly has, so you owe me a fiver'

Fletch looked at his eldest children shocked.

'You bet on me, me telling Jac how I feel?' Fletch was completely shocked his children even knew he liked Jac.

'Dad, it has taken you forever to admit it. It was getting ridiculous, you've been pining after Jac for months!' Evie said in a self satisfied tone, with a raised eyebrow.

'Have not.' Fletch pouted

'Have too' Evie and Mikey said at the same time. Looking at each other amused.

Jac thought the whole situation was hilarious, but at the same time she admired how much his children clearly cared about him. They had noticed how he felt but not mentioned it to him as it was obvious he hadn't come to terms with the way he felt, or didn't want to talk about it. Suddenly a wave of guilt hit Jac, all the times she had laughed at Fletch about his parenting skill, turns out he was actually an amazing father, who was raising his children to respect others and their feelings. 

Jac didn't really expect his children to be so calm about her being with Fletch, she didn't want them to feel as if she was trying to take the place as their mother. But she could now tell they were just happy for their dad. 

All six of them were sat down on the living room carpet eating dinner, they had ordered a Chinese. Mikey and Evie had welcomed Jac into their home, and made sure Jac felt at home. Jac felt like this moment was almost perfect, the only thing missing was Emma. Jac thought about how Emma would love this, a big family with other children to play with, and Fletch. Emma loved Fletch. Another wave of emotions hit Jac, this time she felt sad, she would never be able to give Emma a family of her own, or raise Emma as well as Fletch had raised his children. She felt tears prick her eyes, feeling that she was letting Emma down everyday, yet not even realising it. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let the tears fall and rested her head in Fletch's shoulder.

'You okay?' Fletch spoke in a soft voice and stroked her check gently.

Jac kept her eyes closed and just nodded, worried that if she spoke her voice would crack, and she wouldn't be able to control her emotions. Fletch could tell something was wrong but didn't want to push the matter, so he decided he would talk to her about it later on.

Once they had all finished their dinner they took all the plates through and sat back on the floor with blankets to watch a movie. The decided on hotel transylvania. Fletch made his way back into the living room with two cups of tea, as he sat down he chucked a blanket over him and Jac, as Jac curled into his side.

Half way through the movie Jac had fallen asleep against Fletch, he was running his fingers through Jac's long ginger locks, thinking about how he didn't want Jac to go anywhere, he wanted to be with Jac for the rest of his life. He felt lucky. Lucky to have Jac, lucky to have his children, and lucky to be alive. Fletch has never really appreciated how fragile life was before the shooting, losing Raf and almost losing Jac, it terrified him, thinks about how easily everything can be taken away.  He just felt lucky that Jac was here with him, his children and asleep in his arms.