A Siblings Advice

Gifts: "A beautiful necklace for a beautiful lady."

Zoe's POV:

As if my little brother is preparing to perform in the O2 Arena in London! How did little, scrawny Joseph get to this point in his life, a finalist of strictly come dancing 2018?!

Its...surreal.

"Alfie, have you got the tickets? Mum? Mum? Where are the mums? We need to go in now if we want to avoid the crowds and so we can settle down before the curtain rises." Definitely beginning to stress a little, I scan the room for my own mother and Alf's mum, reaching behind me to try and grab Alfie in the process.

"Little one...look at me. Take a deep breath in, from down here yeah?" His soothing tone fills my ears, drowning out the deafening roar of a panic attack waiting to happen, his warm hand pressing gently on the bottom of my diaphragm, encouraging me to breathe with him and ground myself.

Cor, i've landed myself a good'un...Alfie Deyes is my bloody rock and I really should tell him that more. Leaning into his embrace and inhaling his all-to-familiar scent, I relax and allow my breathing to return to normal as Mum comes up behind me and places her hand on my back.

There is something about a mother's touch...no matter how old you get, it always makes you feel slightly better.

"You okay Zoe love? Ready to go in or do you need a minute? I've bought you and Alfie a programme and the tickets are right here when you are ready. Amanda and I will head on in and take our seats or do you need me here with you?" Mum mutters softly, leaning closer to me so that our conversation remains semi- private in this very public area.

"I'm fine now Mum, thank you though. Let's go in and see our Joseph shake his thing! And hopefully not drop that gorgeous girlfriend of his on her head this time." I giggle, feeling better about this whole situation now.

Five minutes before the half-time break, the four of us sneak out of the main arena and are met by a runner, who Joe has organised to take us backstage so we can meet everyone and say hello to him and Dianne, who we haven't seen since the treehouse getaway. Scurrying along the back passages of the arena, a gentle hush washes over us, a hush which is broken the very second we appear backstage. Honestly, walking through that door is like wonderland, the previous silence has become a hive of activity with dancers and celebrities and different departments all running around, doing a hundred and one things at once and making sure everything is going as it sound. " Hello Joe! Gosh look at you! You've been fantastic! I'm so proud! My little Joseph, all grown up! Oh Amanda, this is his lovely girlfriend I've been telling you about, isn't she just a picture of beauty!" Mum gushes, pressing kisses to cheeks and squeezing Joe's face like a child's. " Alright Broseph! You've not dropped her yet, i'm proud too!" I tease, winking at Dianne before reaching out for her and closing her in a tight hug. In such a short period of time, the woman before me had become like the sister I never had, she's not just brought Joe under her wing but she's become a true friend to me too.

"Ah look! My favourite Sugg! Zoeeee! I've missed you! Hey Alfie, how are things with you two? All good? How's little Nala?" Dianne rambles, dragging me away from the rest to introduce me to the rest of the female pros. After doing the rounds, we find ourselves in a rare moment together, alone for once and I ask the question i've been dying to know. "So Di, how's he treating you? You still happy with him? He is an idiot but i've never seen him like this...never this confident! You are truly a miracle worker." I smirk, nudging her side gently as she blushes deeply, smiling to herself. "Oh Zoe he is practically perfect in every way. Bless him, he has spent all day worrying about me, massaging my neck and back and applying arnica every time he gets the chance. I...I love him more and more everyday Zo...I can't explain it, he just makes me so..."

"So happy? Like nothing bad can happen right?" I grin, looking fondly at the woman beside me, who is currently lost in her own thoughts. Glancing up at me, she nods, "Yeah...Is that how you and Alfie are?" her cheeks returning to the normal colour now, its my turn to blush, "yeah...yeah it is. Although it's kind of nice that you and Joe have gotten together now...the pressure is kind of off Alf and me to get married and have kids because the excitement in on you now."