Oneshots- Joe and Dianne 💜❤️

Meet the parents: It's not goodbye, it's I'll see you at Christmas.

Dianne's POV:

Its no secret that today is going to be a difficult day. It always is, no matter where in the world we say goodbye, it never gets an easier leaving my parents but the slight grace in all of this is that I still have my Joseph to hold onto as they leave. Tossing over in the bed, I smack right into a sleepy Joe, who had clearly manoeuvred himself behind me to wrap me in his arms...even in his sleep he can sense my mood bless him. "Are you okay love, I know you aren't exactly happy about today but surely that's no need to headbutt me..." He mutters against my hair, pressing soft kisses along my hair line and holding me as close to him as possible, tracing a gentle pattern on my exposed skin along my waist. "I never can say goodbye Joe...it kills a little bit of me every time. I mean in theory it will be easier this time because I can come home in your arms, ive got my own little family and home over here with you, a second mum I can go to, a sister I can talk to when I don't want to chat to you but it doesn't change the fact that this afternoon, my parents will begin their journey back to the other side of the bloody world Joseph! I never realise how much I miss them until I spend the time with them again." and with that outburst, the tears start and I cant stop them flowing down my face. I vaguely hear Joe say something, probably some soothing words but he soon realises that i'm actually not listening at all and settles for just holding me, sitting up and pulling me up into his lap, holding my body as I sob. "Christ Dianne, i'm thirty years old and stropping like a toddler...i'm sorry, you don't want a girlfriend who is an emotional wreck, i'll sort myself out." I sigh bitterly, attempting to move from his grasp but he simply holds me tighter, burying my face in the crook of his neck and the tears start again..."I just need my mum Joe, why do I have to let them go."

I'm such a wreck and I haven't even made it out of bed yet, but I have settled more than earlier. As I begin to doze off again, I feel Joseph slip out from under me and disappear, leaving me cold and vulnerable to my overwhelming emotions once again and the tears fall gently this time. A few minutes later I hear the door open again and half expect Joe's arms to engulf me again but they don't; instead the bed dips and a soft hand begins running through my tangled locks and another rubs my back in a circular motion, "Oh Dot...I hate seeing you like this! Its bad when you're like this over a guy but over your old mum and dad? That's even worst! Come here my baby girl." mums lilting voice fills the room as she rolls me into her chest like a baby again, rocking me back and forth and wiping my tears from my messy cheeks. " Now stop these tears beautiful, get yourself ready and downstairs to that top class boyfriend of yours, who is making you breakfast as we lie here I might add, your father probably scaring the life out of him with the Daddy's little girl talk. So we need to go and save him. We are going to have an amazing morning, Zoe is going to drop us off and we aren't going to be sad because it isn't goodbye, its just " I'll see you at Christmas time." okay? I love you Dianne Claire Buswell, my beautiful thirty year old baby." Furiously, I bounce from mums arms and towards the wardrobe to dress, it is AMAZING how a mothers words can change absolutely everything and make even the worst days better. I hope I have that talent when I'm finally a mother, I hope that I am as amazing as my own mum.

Joe's POV:

I knew this morning wouldn't be easy but I never expected to be woken up by a very tearful Dianne headbutting me and then fully breaking down in my arms. I never have been good with emotions but seeing my little one so upset, so heartbroken, really hurts me because I feel so useless.

And then she says the hardest thing, " I just want my mum."

There is nothing I can do but hold her while the sobs wreck through her tiny body, her frame cuddled into my chest, my hand rubbing her back and the other playing with the ends of her hair. Eventually I feel her breathing even out once again, I slowly roll out from under her, leaving her buried in the pillows on my side of the bed, snuggled up with Americano, hopefully still asleep and I tiptoe downstairs, greeted by Mark and Rina who are both sitting at the island with a cup of coffee In hand. " Morning Joseph! Is Dot still asleep? It is early I suppose." Rina chirps, smiling up at me warmly, Mark offering a wave. " Hi Rina! Dot's having a bit of emotional morning, we've definitely had tears, cuddles and she been very hard on herself. I think I've got her back to sleep but i'm going to make her a coffee just in case she did wake up again when I left." I sigh, grabbing her favourite mug and begin preparing her coffee. "Could you maybe go up and check on her please Rina? The last thing she said to me before she fell asleep was that she wanted her mama, I know she's is struggling with the thought of saying goodbye later on." I suggest, hoping she be able to settle Dianne better than I ever could. If there is one thing Zoe taught me, it is that sometimes a girl just needs her mum.

As Rina disappears upstairs to comfort her daughter, Mark and I are left alone in the kitchen for the first time for this entire trip. Up until this moment, either Dianne hasn't left my side or Rina hasn't left his and that almost makes me nervous for this time we share on our final morning until Christmas. "So Joe, I think it is time we have a chat, man to man eh? Don't look so worried mate, I actually like you! I just want to know my baby girl is being looked after and maybe if you two have talked about the future, a more permanent plan?" Mark starts, looking up at me expectantly.

Oh shit.

Here we go.

"I...eh...um. Yeah. I can promise you now that I will always look after her. I don't know how much she tells you about this...us... but I am not very good at the whole relationship thing, I'm a total beginner with it all but she's an actual angel Di, I know that I love her very much and will do for the rest of my life. We have had a chat about the future and what it might hold for us, we've discussed marriage and the possibility of children, when we are both settled career wise and have a few more things sorted. But I do plan on marrying your daughter, if you will let me of course and not anytime soon unless the moment arises. But Mark, I love her, I love her so much and so do my family, she has always got a home here with me, with us. As do you and Rina, you always have a room here. If you ever want to come and visit, i'll happily fly you over, to see Dot whenever you want."I finish, finally remembering to breathe after spilling my soul to my girlfriend's dad. Mark just chuckles at me and places a friendly hand on my shoulder, " I knew you were a good'un Joseph. I'm happy to leave her here with you. Leaving her doesn't ever get easier but knowing shes happy and safe, makes it more bareable. So thank you Joe. I guess we will be seeing you at Christmas too! The whole family together at Christmas this year, no time difference and our dotty will be grinning ear to ear showing you off." He says, before heading over to the sofa as Dianne and Rina come into sight.

Dianne looks a lot happier now, linked with her mum as she skips into the kitchen, detaching herself and waltzing over to press a kiss against my lips, before slipping behind me, her arms still around my body. "Good morning my Joseph! I love you. Toast?" she sings as she moves around. As her parents migrate to the sofa, it leaves Dianne and I alone in the kitchen, I turn to her and pull her close to me," Are you feeling better? You look so much more content now. Your mum always helps huh?" I whisper, kissing her ear as I move away. She sighs softly but remains smiling, " Yeah, mum just reminded me that its not goodbye, its just a see you at Christmas and I suppose that makes it so much easier to think about. Now why did you look like you had shit your knickers before we walked in, we had been spying for about 10minutes but couldn't hear anything." She giggles, shuffling infront of me, stealing a kiss as she passes.

"I..your dad and I...uh yeah i'll tell you later Di, we can talk about it in bed at Zoe's tonight. Just promising him that I love you. And I do love you. Now get your arse to the sofa between your parents and i'll bring breakfast over. Zo will be here soon I reckon." Giving her another kiss, this time filled with emotion, the kind you never want to end; we break apart as Mark wolf whistles and I blush beet red as Di just laughs and dances towards her parents.

We really are one happy family now. Goodbyes are hard but I'll see you at Christmas is so much easier.