Soon everyone was up and sitting outside. Jac looked around her and wondered what was going to happen once they left Elliot's house.
Fletch noticed Jac suddenly becoming quiet.
"Hey kids why don't you make the most of having s stream and a wood at the end of the garden whilst you still can. Me and Jac will clear up"
The kids ran off
"Emma fits right in doesn't she" Fletch stated
"I guess so. Yes"Jac said collecting plates
"Ok Naylor" he said taking the plates off her and putting them on the table "What's up?"
"Nothing" she replied
Fletch laughed "wow, you do know that this is me you're trying to fool. Me Jac" he grabbed her shoulders gently "not gonna work. Now tell me what is wrong"
"Shit. You're bloody annoying Fletch. Nobody else on this earth would question me when I say nothing's wrong" almost against her will Jac smiled
"Are you....." Fletch lifted her chin "are you smiling" he laughed
"No" she laughed back "I hate you Fletcher"
"Hate you too Naylor "
"Come on babe, tell me"
Jac sighed and let out a breath "ok, here's the thing "
They sat down and Fletch looked at her expectantly
"First of all, I have no regrets about coming to see you on that night shift. Never forget that"
"ok" he said warily
"So if that was the 'official' start of us I don't think I would have met your kids or essentially been living with them after a couple of days had it not been for Abigail"
"Go on" encouraged Fletch
"So our relationship has moved very much quicker than we would have expected, kids are involved with me and Emma is involved with them"
"Do you want us to slow it down?"
"That's just it Fletch I don't, I love it. Being thrown together like this we feel like a family but I'm worried it's too soon or that the circumstances are making all of us act in ways which we might not when things get back to normal"
"Ok - I get it, in an ideal world we would have taken the family thing much slower but we can't pretend the past few days haven't happened. I got home to find you sharing a bed with my eldest daughter"
"She was just scared Fletch"
"Nevertheless she felt comfortable enough to come to you. I can't see that changing"
"So we're going to leave here tomorrow.Then what?"
"It's up to you Jac, stay at mine, go back to yours. I don't mind as long as I've got you. After all this time I just need to know that I 've got you. We can sort the details out at a later date but for now just go with the flow of being part of a family however it came about. And stop worrying so much" he kissed her forehead
Jac was overwhelmed by how much she cared for this man " I just need to chill a bit - that's what you're going with?"
He grinned " That's what I'm going with "
Jac laughed. She was coming to the realisation that she could be heading towards the opinion that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him and his family and did it matter if that began now or in a year!s time
