Reaching for Happiness

Chapter 44

It was soon June. Summer was here, and the weather was wonderful for a change. I was 7 months pregnant now, and huge. My legs and feet were swollen, my back always ached, my bum was massive. The baby was due in two months, but as the doctor said it could be up to 2 months premature, it could be here any day, and I STILL hadn't told Aston. The dream I had a few weeks back had only made me more nervous to tell him.. I know his reaction wouldn't be anything like it was in the dream, but I was still terrified of telling him. Marvin was the only other person that knew.

We were currently getting ready to go to Jackson's house, Marvin's brother. It was his birthday, and since me and Marvin were as close as siblings, I was pretty close to Jackson. The whole group of JLS boys were going. Marvin was bringing Nikki, Oritsé was bringing Jaanvi and JB was bringing along someone he'd met recently, who he'd said he really liked. I couldn't quite remember her name, but I think it was something like Ellie. I was kinda dreading the party as I couldn't dance or drink, with me being pregnant. Aston had agreed not to drink however, which was really sweet of him. Jackson had told us to dress casual, so I was wearing pastel pink jeans and a white blouse with pastel pale pink flowers on it. Aston was wearing drop crotch jeans, a low cut purple T-Shirt and a green snapback.. His favourite hat.

'Are you ready babe?' he asked, after he'd spritzed himself with aftershave. 

'Yeah' I smiled, standing at the doorway watching him. I grabbed Jackson's card and present and made my way out to the car, Aston hot on my trail. We'd gotten Jackson a collage full of photos of my family and the Humes family through the years, along with a bottle of champagne. I wanted to get him something simple, but something that meant a lot. I'd made it myself, and I was quite proud of it.

We eventually pulled up outside his house. I'd only seen him twice since I got back from California in October, because he'd been really busy with work. He'd gotten a promotion, and he'd been overloaded with work, bless him. Me and Aston climbed out of the car, Aston taking my hand and walking to the door. We rung the doorbell and waited for a few minutes before Jackson swung the door open.

'CHLOE!' he yelled excitedly, pulling me in for a tight hug and lifting me up off the ground slightly.

'Woah, Jackson, be careful, I'm delicate you know' I smiled, placing my hand on my bump once he'd set me back down.

'Whoops, sorry. You okay Ast?' he asked, shaking Aston's hand.

'Yeah, thanks bruv. Happy birthday' Aston smiled back. I handed Jackson his presents, while he escorted us into his kitchen, which was full of guests, alcohol and nibbles.

'I'll open these later when everyone is here' he said, placing the presents on the kitchen side. 'So, how is the baby?' he asked.

'The baby is great, thanks!' I lied. 

'Any kicks?'

'Yeah, all the time now' I smiled.

'Can I?' he asked, reaching out to my bump with his hands.

'Sure' I nodded. He gently placed his hands on my bump, stoking it slightly with his thumb. I felt a gentle bump against my stomach.

'Woah, was that a kick?' he gasped.

'Sure was. Guess the baby likes uncle Jackson' I winked.

A few hours later, after Jackson had opened all his presents, everyone was really drunk. I'd met JB's date. She was called Elana, and she was really sweet. I'd also had a really good catch up with Jaavi.. She could walk without crutches or a walking stick now, which was great news! She was still a little off balance, but she said she should be fine in a few weeks.

Me and Aston were sat curled up in Jackson's living room. I had a terrible stomach ache. I'd been getting them all the time since I was pregnant, but recently they'd been getting a lot worse. 

'Are you feeling any better baby?' Aston asked, kissing my neck softly.

'A little.. AH!' I yelped as my stomach twinged again. A tear slowly rolled down my cheek. I was in so much pain I'd resorted to crying.

'Right, we're going home. Come on' Aston decided, helping me up. We said our goodbyes to everyone, before heading off home.

Once we were home, I changed into my pyjamas straight away, ready for bed. I did what I needed to do in the bathroom before lowering myself down onto our bed. I sighed, glancing down at my bump. I stroked my hands over it softly. My hands were soon joined by another pair of hands; Aston's.

'Our baby is going to be perfect' he grinned, kissing my bump softly.

'I know' I smiled, stroking Aston's cheek with my thumb. He kissed my lips softly, before heading off into the bathroom. I climbed off the bed and stood facing our full length mirror. I turned to the side and pulled up my top slightly, leaving my bump on full view. I surprisingly had no stretch marks, which I was very pleased about. I felt two arms slip around my waist, and a gently pair of lips against my right shoulder.

'Are you coming to bed baby?' he asked.

'Yeah' I smiled, gently laying myself down beside Aston.

'Night, gorgeous' he whispered once he'd flicked off the bedside lamp.

'Night' I yawned.

'Night night little one' he whispered, kissing my bump.