Hi, friends! Wow, thanks so much for the enthusiastic reception for my first piece Confirmation…it was such a brief piece, too! All the kudos, comments, reblogs and likes mean so much, especially since the last time I wrote any fanfiction was eight years ago.

Here is the sequel…more are planned in the series, fyi! Once again betaed by DrinkwaterDrinkwine, who is also responsible for the Antony and Cleopatra quotes that will appear in Chapter 2! :) Any remaining mistakes are mine. Characters are the property of Kerry Greenwood and Every Cloud Productions. No infringement intended!

(Oh, and Jack unexpectedly "took over" at a certain point in this chapter, and kept me up writing until 5:30 AM. See if you can guess where. :) )

Telling Jack, Part One of Two

Phryne paused in the doorway, enjoying the sight of Jack taking his ease in her parlor. Comfortably ensconced in an arm chair, he had removed his jacket and tie. With a book in his hand and an empty tumbler on a table at his side, he looked wonderfully relaxed, something that always gladdened her. She had wondered whether the new ease and intimacy their relationship had gained in Europe would revert somehow upon their return to Melbourne, whether that might retreat to his habitual restraint and propriety once they returned to their workaday lives. To Phryne's gratification, however, Jack had remained the giving, attentive lover and companion he'd been in Europe. She hoped it would always be so. Given what she had to tell him, however, she wondered whether anything would be the same after today.

Hating to shatter his peace, she nevertheless alerted him to her presence. "Jack."

He looked up, his gaze warming upon seeing her, a small smile tilting the corners of his mouth. "Why, hello there."

"I've kept you waiting. I'm sorry."

"Doesn't matter a bit. I've been rather making myself at home."

She smiled. "Yes, so I see." She crossed to the sideboard and poured some more whiskey into a clean tumbler, then went to offer it to him.

"Oh, I've already helped myself," he protested

"Trust me, Jack." She settled herself on the chaise opposite his chair. "You may find yourself needing another very shortly. I've got something to tell you."

"Oh?" He arched an eyebrow in inquiry, looking amused.

"Yes." She drew in a breath and then exhaled slowly, shutting her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she found his brow creased in concern. "It seems I'm expecting, Jack." He stared at her rather blankly, so she tried again. "A child. Pregnant."

"Yes." He took a healthy swallow of the whiskey, then cleared his throat. "Yes, I gathered. Sorry. It's just…that was the last thing I was expecting."

"I can imagine," she said wryly.

"I thought…we always…well, you know…" he trailed off, jerking his chin.

"It's not 100 percent foolproof, Jack, even when inserted properly. And we have been in rather a rush on occasion, haven't we? I suppose I've been lucky in that regard until now, really. But it's not as easy to be clear-headed when it's you," she confessed softly.

Something flared in his eyes for a moment, and then he spoke. "I…how long have you known?"

"Mac confirmed it a few days ago."

"And you're just telling me now?" he queried, his tone more perplexed than accusatory.

She blew out a breath, then admitted, "I needed some time to think."

"Ah." Abruptly, he stood, draining the last of the whiskey from the glass in his hand. She watched as he turned to face the mantel, reflexively rotating the glass before setting it down with an audible thunk. Bracing his hands, he said nothing for several long moments, although she could see his throat working. The clock in the hall suddenly seemed to tick with an new ferocity. Eventually, finally, he turned. His eyes were bright, although his face was otherwise impassive. "Phryne, I meant it during that first case, when I said I wished I could change the law for you," he husked. "If you want…if you feel you need to…I…I would understand."

Her heart broke a little at his words, at what it must have cost him to say them. Oh, the dear man. She crossed to him, reaching out for his hands. "My darling Jack. I do believe you mean that."

"I do."

"But could you forgive it? Forgive me?" she asked earnestly.

"Phryne, I…that's not…it wouldn't be-"

"Not forgive," she amended. "But could you honestly say you wouldn't regret it?"

"No. No, I couldn't say that. But I have many regrets."

"But this… wouldn't it be too much?"

"Phryne," he said firmly, bringing his hands up to cup her face. "Listen to me. I am a man who has regrets. The war. The breakdown of my marriage, and that it didn't break down sooner. The fact that I spent years almost sleepwalking through my life, hiding behind routine and duty and tradition. Yes, I've regretted never fathering a child. And yes, I would regret losing this one, by whatever means. But I've never regretted you, not for one infuriating, dazzling, downright distracting moment. Never. You turned my world upside-down, rearranged it like a kaleidoscope, and now I can't go back, and thank God for that." He ended on a rasp, and bent to kiss her forehead before leaning his own against it, the moisture in his eyes spilling over to mingle with that already steadily tracking its way down her cheeks.

"Yes, I would regret the loss of a child. Of course I would. But having to regret a dimming of your spirit, I don't think I could bear that. If you were to feel trapped, or burdened, or resentful…please, I can bear the loss of the child, if that's what you truly want, but please don't make me regret you, too."

"Oh, Jack." She smiled tremulously. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that."

"You want to terminate, then?"

"No. No, I think we should get married."

Wait, WHAT?!

Yes, I know. Trust me, I know. Fear not…all shall be explained, and in a manner that [hopefully] remains faithful to our favorite characters. Soon. ;)

Feedback is so appreciated…it would be such a morale boost at the moment…I'm away for dissertation-related meetings all week! :/

Thanks!