Only you (A ThatcherJoe/ Youtuber fanfic)

Chapter 33

2 weeks later:

"You're going to meet Joe today baby Liv. What shall we dress you in little princess?" I asked rhetorically, still in awe of my 2 week old daughter. I'd told my parents not that they cared much and pretty much everyone had met her. We got a lot of gifts when she was born and everyone helped me get a journalism job writing for a magazine from home to earn money while Liv is growing. I finally settled on a cute little onesie with 'Mommy's number 1' on and dressed her, checking her diaper bag before walking towards the door with her to put her in her pushchair.

"Cas, we're heading out. I'll be back in an hour or so." I said. "Okay, good luck!" He laughed. I'd only been out with Liv once other than returning from the hospital and that was almost disastrous, but Tan and Jim helped me through. I'd spent so much time with them since they always seemed to be free and willing to help with Liv, clearly they adored her and it was good practice for them. I finally got out of the building with Liv and started to walk to the coffee shop I was meeting Joe at. It was only a few minutes from the apartment and I arrived first so I took a seat and ordered a hot chocolate while I waited, I was now starting to get more nervous about seeing him for the first time in so long, since the last time we'd seen each other was at the airport. I looked up and he started to walk towards me. "Hi Charlotte, you're looking good." He smiled  and sat down opposite me. "Thank you, so do you." I respond. "Is this little Olivia?" He asked and I nodded, turning her pushchair so he could see her. "Oh wow, she's gorgeous. Spitting image of her mom." Joe smiled. He ordered himself a drink and I exhaled, getting ready to talk. "I know this was months ago, but I really want to forgive you and have you in my life again." I sigh. "I'd like that." He agreed. "Okay, how about we don't talk about the first time we tried, and just move past it? Motherhood has made me realise that there's really no point in holding a grudge over a mistake." I admitted. "Thank you. I'd really like that." Joe replied. "Okay so tell me what's been going on with you." I genuinely smile and he begins as Liv starts to get fussy, I take her from the pushchair and calm her as he talks.

"You really are amazing." Joe stated. "Thanks, yeah she took a while adjusting too, but Tan, Jim and Cas have probably been my rocks through most of this. Alfie moved out over a month ago and he's only seen her once since. Your sister is amazing with her too. Everyone except my parents have been amazing and spent so much time with her." I explain. "Do you want to hold her?" I ask and he looks nervous. "I'm not sure I should." He responded. "You'll be fine." I laugh and move to pass Liv to him, his eyes light up as he looks down at her. "She should have been a twin." I admitted. "I lost her brother a few months back and nearly lost her, luckily she's incredibly strong and pulled through." I continued, tears brimming. "I'm so sorry Charlotte, I wish I could have been there for you. She gets her strength from you, definitely. How is everyone?" He asks, trying to change the subject as Liv starts to wriggle in his arms, I think she's going to start crying, but instead settles more into his arms and opens her eyes to look at Joe. "Blue eyes." He laughed lightly, looking down at the infant. "I'm really sorry I lied to you at the airport. I didn't want to complicate things and wanted to avoid confirming the pregnancy for as long as possible, because I thought it'd be yours. However when I went to the doctor, it broke my heart to find out it wasn't." I explained. "Is she the guy in Chicago's?" He asked and I shook my head. "No, she's someone else's. Wow that makes me sound like such a slut. Would you come back to mine and I'll explain everything?" I ask and he nods. I take Liv from him and put her back into the pushchair. Joe pays for our drinks and we exit the coffee shop.

"Hi Cas, Joe came back with us so he and I can talk, do you mind?" I ask and he nods as he stands up. "Ill be editing in my room." He smiles and greets Joe before leaving. I take Olivia out of her pushchair and remove her coat before taking a seat beside Joe on the sofa. "Shes actually so small!" Joe laughed admiring her. "She is." I agree and sit back. "She has a nursery and so many clothes. She had Alfie's room once he moved out Caspar, Jim and Tan surprised me by decorating and furnishing it for me." I smiled. "Wanna see it?" I ask and he nods, so I lead him to Liv's bedroom. "It's beautiful. It must have all been Tan's designing." He laughed. We admired it for a while before going back to the living room, Liv started to get fussy again and I realised it was her feeding time. "Sorry, she needs feeding do you mind?" I ask grabbing a blanket. Joe shakes his head. "Carry on." He adds and I fix Liv up. We sit in an awkward silence for a minute or two before I break it. "Okay so back to the dad. I never told you but I moved to London to escape a fucked up, rapist ex. He had basically kidnapped me, and when I got away I felt I had to get far away, so I spoke to my parents and moved here. I haven't seen him since my car accident." I explained. "I'm so sorry, and I'm sorry I hurt you too after that." Joe sighed as I removed Liv. "Hey that's all in the past now, we're moving on. Plus I got a gorgeous baby out of it." I smiled trying to make the best of the situation. "You're right." He smiled as we continued talking late into the evening.