It's in the little things: One-shots x2

Milestones: Obviously

Joe's POV:

Waking up the same way as always, Dianne tucked into my side, with her mop of red hair sprawled out around her, one hand rested on my heart and dribbling a little as always; I can't help but smirk to myself. Go on Joseph!! With your gorgeous girlfriend and morning snuggles...god I've got soft. Pulling her closer to me as I reach across, I place a soft kiss on her forehead, hoping to lull her back to sleep so she can get a little bit more rest. I swear, I have never met another woman who works as hard as Dot does; from Strictly come dancing 2018, to strictly live tour, first leg of Here Come the Girls, pro-tour, second leg of Here Come the Girls, the strictly tour and now back to Strictly come dancing 2019...she never stops! So while we have a rare day off between rehearsals, I plan to let her rest as much as she will allow me to. Seen as she has now rolled over, landing with one arm wrapped over my waist and her head buried in the crook of my neck, i'm stuck here for a while and so I reach for my phone and aimlessly scroll through twitter for a bit to pass the time.

Why is my mentions filled with the same picture? Like there are HUNDREDS of this picture...what have we done? Going through, it hits me...yesterday was the 16th of September...makes sense now.

Ten months.

How on earth have we been in a public relationship for ten months.

Looking back down at my very own, now stirring girlfriend with a moment of contentment. "I can feel you staring Joseph, stoooop." She mutters, groggily before nuzzling ever-so closer to my extremely long, apparently attractive neck. "I AM staring at you, you're beautiful and i'm lucky...and I love you. But you know that anyway. No the fans have just reminded me that we have been together, publicly, for 10months now! How have you put up with me for that long?" I wonder, tracing her spine gently as she wakes up a little bit more, sitting up a little straighter than before. "Ten whole months Joseph! Ten! I know it has actually been longer but you know what I mean...ten months since we finished strictly...what are you thinking?

What am I thinking? I'm thinking about the moment when I realise just how deeply I had fallen for her. Those very early days of strictly come dancing, when she was just the most beautiful thing I had ever seen but she couldn't be mine just yet. She reminded me of a song, a song which had been looped in my brain since I had first heard Byron sing it, following the launch party.

*Cuz obviously, she's out of my league, i'm wasting my time, she'll never be mine...I never will be good enough for her.*

Those first few days after my birthday, the attraction was undeniable and quite frankly, I knew I was punching.

*Cuz she had a boyfriend, he drives her round the bend...he's 33, built like a machine, he'd kill me*

Watching her heart break during the fights, tearful phone calls and the inevitable breakup...its something I never wish to see again. But holding her, rocking her and comforting her was the most selfish, yet pleasing part of getting to know the woman who is now MY girlfriend.

And here we are, ten months later, cuddled up in OUR bed, in OUR house.

I can't believe my luck.

Dianne's POV:

Oh bless him! It's official that my boyfriend is the soppiest, softest man I could ever love and i'm so blessed! As he explains what he was thinking of and then serenades me with a beautiful rendition of that McFly song, I can't help but blush, knowing how he felt about me, even back when I was with my ex.

Ten whole months I've had this kind of love and affection, the daily reminders of how special our relationship is and just how lucky I truly am. If Joe is reminiscing this morning, then I guess I will too...From the floppy haired boy who first walked into our training room, after the awkward "Come in if you're good looking!", I knew there was something there. Our first two weeks of training consisted of nothing but giggles, jive kicks and almond butter on toast, life couldn't get much better. Until my boyfriend of the time, started noticing how close we had got and despite how many times I promised him, we were just dance partners, friends even, our relationship failed for a number of reason and of course, Joseph being the man he is, was there to pick up the pieces and hold me together while I fell apart. I did love him, there is no denying I loved him but the world clearly had other plans for us.

*All I've seen, since 18hours ago, is blue eyes and freckles and your smile, in the back of my mind, making me feel like...*

Since my mini breakdown to my poor Joseph in training during week two, I knew something had changed between us, our gaze lingered just a second longer, touches held and eventually training days, became training nights which became dinner dates and nights on the couch...

*Cause all I know is we said hello,

your eyes look like coming home

all I know is a simple thing

and everything has changed*

And now, ten months later, here I am, cuddled up in my boyfriends bed, OUR bed...after he so lovingly asked me to move in with him. I genuinely can't imagine my life any other way now, minus my Joseph and living anywhere else. This last year, nevermind the last ten months, have truly changed so much within me. If you had told 22year old Dianne, that she would be settled and happy in London, the place where I call home, having finally found someone who loves me, for me...quirks and all. Most importantly, never did I ever think I would have someone who is as supportive of me, who can work through my issues with food and now own a youtube cooking channel, where I can help other young people who might also face difficulties. I always wished for someone to look up to when I was younger and now, to have the opportunity to do that for others is amazing! All of this, stems from my boyfriend directly and I can never, ever thank him for it.

*All I know is you held the door,

you'll be mine and i'll be yours,

All I know since yesterday is,

everything has changed.*