Jay's POV
"So I'll see you in a bit," I told Dexter as I was getting ready to leave the Arches after a day's work to go home to my beautiful and gorgeous girlfriend and daughter. Considering that the date was the 22nd March 2015, it was mine and Abs' four year anniversary and I wanted to make this anniversary special and a one that we would never forget; Dexter and Lola had kindly offered to bring Lexi with them to the bungalow so they can look after Lexi and Paris whilst I take Abi out for dinner.
"Yeah, in a bit," Dexter nodded at me. "You get home to my cousin whereas I have to stay here and finish this engine- Phil's orders!"
"Unlucky son," I smirked. "See you later!"
I turned on my heel as I began to make my way home when Lola bumped into me as she was about to enter the alleyway with Lexi tucked up in her pink pushchair.
"You alright Jay," she smiled.
"Yeah good thanks, you're still okay for tonight right? I mean, Dexter says its fine!"
"Yeah of course it is, she's my god daughter aint she! It's yours and Abi's night tonight, never mind about Paris. What time do you want me and Dex there?" Lola inquired.
"Bout 6ish," I shrugged.
"Alright, has Dexter finished?"
"No, he's been kept behind for another half an hour," I indicated behind me, where the Arches was located.
Lola huffed loudly in frustration, "I swear Phil Mitchell can be a right arsehole at times- even if he is Lexi's grandfather! Anyway I'll see you later."
I laughed at Lola's comment, "See you later," I say as I watch her walk away pushing the pushchair forcefully towards the Arches.
I sighed heavily as I continued my walk back home. It didn't take me long until the bungalow was standing ahead of me. Butterflies started to erupt within my stomach. Yes, I may be a man but Abi has always given me butterflies, ever since the day I brought her chips. You're probably thinking that only girls get butterflies don't ya? Well, sorry to burst your bubble but…you're wrong. If you're madly in love with someone and completely besotted about them then yes, the cells in your body will perform the character of Zepedi from the Magic Roundabout.
I smiled as I entered the bungalow.
"Abi," I called out. "Babe!" I entered the living room to find Paris sitting in her hot pink bouncer seat with Cbeebies on the television. I grinned as I walked over to the bouncer seat and knelt down beside it. "Ello cheeky!"
Paris beamed at me as she started talking to me in her baby language. She's a proper daddy's girl, my little angel. When Abi's trying to comfort her through her crying and I decide to take over, very soon after she stops crying. Abi always says that I have the magic touch! Five months ago, she said her first word. Her first word was 'Dadda'. That was a very precious moment that will remain close to my heart.
Paris didn't take any notice of Cbeebies, she just focused on me. She was mine and Abi's pride and joy. Paris was born with strawberry blonde hair as you already know but throughout the past ten months, Paris had inherited Abi's blonde hair. Surprisingly, she had a lot of hair. Although, Paris still had my green eyes. I moved my index finger towards Paris. Paris grinned as she grabbed hold of my index finger.
"Ow," I groaned playfully. Paris made some sort of bubbly baby noise as she was about to insert my finger into her mouth to try and eat it. She was still teething, bless her. But only two more teeth needed to pop up.
My head looked upwards as a smile formed on my face as I saw the most beautiful woman waltz into the room. Abigail Katie Branning- the love of my life, my world, my everything. Her bouncy blonde hair wasn't so bouncy, it was straightened and laid neatly on her shoulders. Her makeup consisted of a light brown glistening eye shadow with a thin liquid eye line on her top eye lids. A thick coating of mascara was added with a thin pencil line on the inner rim of her eyes.
"Alright sweetcheeks," I smiled as I walked over to her. I was about to touch her to kiss her cheek but she flinched away. I looked at her confused.
"I've just done my nails," Abi hissed as she started blowing her nails. I stared at her nails which were baby pink.
"You look beautiful," I complimented. Abi raised her eyebrow at me, "Thanks," Abi forced a smile. Then, she started pacing around the living room. "What time's Lola and Dexter coming?"
"In about an hour."
Abi started to panic, breathing heavily, "Oh my god, I've got to wait for these nails to dry and I have to put my dress on and make the finishing touches." Abi turned to look right at me when I was caught in the act as I was preventing myself from laughing. "This isn't funny," Abi snapped.
I walked towards Abi, running my hand through her soft stunning hair. "You look beautiful as you are."
Abi frowned, "You always say that."
"Yes, cos it's true," I backfired.
Abi smiled a bit, looking down. I watched her every movement. Abi looked back up at me, "You should get changed."
"No one would ever know that I was arranging this date," I joked.
"I'm a girl Jay," Abi argued. "I've always panicked when I go on dates with you, even when we first started dating!"
I gasped, "Am I meant to take that as an offence or a joke?"
Abi shrugged, grinning. "You tell me." Abi kissed my cheek. "Do you want to feed Paris in a bit while I go and get my outfit on considering you never take long to get yourself ready?"
"Yeah sure, do you want me to warm her bottle up now?"
"Can do," Abi smiled at me whilst striding over to Paris to check on her. She grabbed her cloth and wiped around Paris' mouth before standing up and heading back into our bedroom. I watched Abi depart the living room with a smile not being erased from my lips. Abi Branning was such a stunningly beautiful and attractive woman. She was all mine.
…
I was sitting on the sofa dressed up in black trousers and a blue short sleeved shirt with a black hoody covering the rest of my arms when Abi flounced into the living room wearing a knee high baby blue dress with a few silver sequins splattered along the neck line. A black leather jacket was covering her shoulders and arms to prevent her from getting cold and to top it all off, she was wearing black heels. I gaped at her.
"You look amazing!"
"Well, I do like to try my best to look good," Abi smirked.
"You look incredible," I pointed out as I strolled over to my beautiful girlfriend of four years and kissed her on the lips, I wasn't really bothered if I got her glistening pink lip gloss printed on my lips. I felt her smile beneath the kiss.
"Lola and Dexter should be here soon," she reminded me as she looked at the clock which was sitting on the mantel piece above the fireplace. I looked over at the clock to recognise that the time was 6 'o' clock. They should be here any minute now. I quietly walked over to Paris' bouncer to find that Paris was drifting off to sleep as her small and delicate eyelids were fluttering open and shut constantly as she sucked on her lilac dummy determinedly. Lexi will be slightly disappointed that she won't be able to play with her for an hour.
Just at that moment, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," I insisted as I walked through the hallway and opened the front door. I welcomed Dexter and Lola before inviting them in with Lola pushing Lexi's pushchair. Lexi was looking eagerly around the place, more alert than anything.
"Hiya," Abi smiled at our two friends as they entered the living room after Lola had taken Lexi out of her buggy, letting her dance into the living room. She started to waddle over to Paris' bouncer determinedly before I stopped her by kneeling in front of her and telling her softly, "Paris is tired and wants to go to sleep, you won't be able to play with her today Lex."
I watched Lexi frown before she waddled back over to her mum. I stood upright as I walked over to Abi, draping my arm round her shoulders. Abi shifted closer to me, curling her arm round my waist.
"Jay fed Paris half an hour ago, she's already drifting off to sleep. When she's asleep, just put her in her cot," Abi informed them. "Don't worry if she wakes up when you pick her up, she won't be that alert, she'll soon drop back off when you put her in her cot."
Lola nodded, "Fair play, where will her nappies and that be?"
"Oh, I left some out on top of a drawer in her nursery, you won't be able to miss her changing mat. The toys that she is fond of are on the shelf on top of the drawer." She responded.
"Oh and Paris won't be able to settle properly without Boris the beagle," I reminded them.
Dexter looked at me like I had two heads, "Boris the beagle?"
"The medium sized dog that's a beagle that's in Paris' pushchair most of the time?" Lola prompted her boyfriend.
A look of realization overcame Dexter's face, "Oh!"
Abs and I exchanged grins at Dexter and Lola's moment after Lola had decided to roll her eyes at him as she looked away.
"Anyway, you two get going," Lola urged. "Have a nice night!"
"What time will you be back? Cos y'know, I wanna get back to my sweet mum and play Call of Duty," Dexter joked. Lola retaliated by elbowing him in the stomach, which made Abi burst out laughing.
"It's a legendary game," I gasped, stating a point. Lola and Abi rolled their eyes at one another.
"So you leave Abi looking after Paris while you play this shitty fighting game?" Lola shrieked.
Dexter gasped, "It's not shit, its mint!"
"For the record, I only play COD when Abi's doing something and when Paris is asleep most of the time, when I play COD when Paris isn't asleep, Paris actually finds the graphics fascinating," I pointed out, nodding my head proudly.
"That's cos she's a 10 month old baby," Abi argued. "I can't wait until she starts speaking!"
Lola giggled. "I feel sorry for you Abs!"
"Yeah and when Paris is asleep and Jay's on the head set," Abi continued. "I have to either shut her bedroom door if she's sleeping in her cot and put the baby monitor in the kitchen or move her into her nursery and shut the door leaving the baby monitor in the kitchen. It's terrible!" Abi shook her head in disgust.
Lola glared at me whereas Dexter just laughed saying how much of a legend I am.
"Anyway, piss off you two," Dexter joked, winking. I laughed whilst Abi grabbed her small bag from the sofa balancing it on her shoulder.
"See you later," Abi and I chorused as we headed out of the bungalow together.
…
Abs and I took a slow walk over to the allocated restaurant, considering that I booked us in at half 6 and I knew that it wouldn't take us long to get to Fargo's. Fargo's used to be popular for Walford residents a few years back but nowadays, residents attended Scarlett's and the Arjee Bharjee, along with the Vic.
We arrived at Fargo's. A waiter who was dressed in a white shirt, black trousers and a black bow tie with a navy blue waist apron with the Fargo's logo sewed onto it.
"Brown," I reported as the waiter checked the booking board stand at the front of the restaurant.
"If you would like to follow me," The waiter instructed as he led me and Abi over to a table for two which was located in the middle of the restaurant. I strolled over to Abi as I glided her leather jacket off of her body, wrapping around her chair. Abi smiled at me, "I'm just going to go to the toilet," She informed me as she kissed my lips. I smiled as her sweet kiss was planted onto my lips, before she went off to the toilets. I gave the waiter Abi's leather jacket, then I took off my black jacket and gave that to him too.
"I believe that your booking required us to do something," the waiter said to me quietly.
I smiled as I digged into my trouser pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. I handed the box over to the waiter. "Put it on her saucer when you serve us coffee after the meal."
The waiter nodded as he held up the box in his hand smiling, "The ring is safe with me!"
I returned the smile before watching the waiter walk away. Before I knew it, Abi returned from the toilets beaming at me. I smiled at her before pulling her chair out, waiting for her to sit down. She sat down elegantly on the chair before I tucked the chair in planting a kiss on her neck.
She squirmed, "Jay Brown, save it till later." I could sense that she was smirking.
"Will do," I winked at my precious beauty before occupating the seat opposite her.
…
We had been in the restaurant for over an hour when Abi and I had finished our dinner. We leaned back in our chairs as the waiter collected our empty plates up. The food here is actually amazing! I watched as Abi sipped on the pink champagne in which I had ordered specially for this occasion. Plus, I know that Abi loves pink champagne.
"Would you like coffee?" The waiter offered.
"Yes please," I smiled politely at him.
I watched the waiter walk off as I started to become slightly nervous. This moment will cause a big impact on mine and Abi's life, this could either go good or bad. However, me and Abi have been together for four years now, it's not like we've been together for only half a year. Half a year to four years, hmm…big difference don't you think?
"You alright?" Abi dragged me away from my thoughts. "You look on edge a bit."
I shifted a little, "I'm fine," I smiled reassuringly.
Just at that moment, the waiter presented us the coffee on a black tray. I took a deep breath. This was it. I thanked the waiter as he presented my cup and saucer in front of me. I watched as the waiter placed Abi's cup and saucer in front of Abi, the engagement ring was glistening in the light. The engagement ring was silver platinum with a round silver diamond planted in the middle which laid on a silver band with miniature diamonds. I watched Abi's movement as Abi stared at the welcoming engagement ring on her saucer. She slapped her hand over her mouth as she looked up at me. I smiled at her slightly, picking up the engagement ring after the waiter backed off. He stood by the bar watching. I dropped down to one knee in front of Abi. I felt other customers watching me, engrossed in this magical moment. Abi's eyes connected with mine. Her hand didn't move away from her mouth. She seemed overwhelmed. I took a deep breath. I heard Westlife's You Raise Me Up playing in the background.
"Abi, we've been through one hell of a lot haven't we eh?" I stifled a laugh before continuing, "Even though, we've had our ups and downs, these past four years have been a blast and the best years of my life. I love you so much, you're absolutely amazing, and you're so beautiful even if you do deny it but in my eyes, you're the most incredible and stunningly beautiful woman in the universe. You're everything to me. Without you, I'd be nothing. You've made me a better person. You make my life worthwhile! You've given me a beautiful daughter. We've had good times and bad. I love you, endlessly." I could hear other customers going 'awe' in the background as well as noticing that Abi's eyes were starting to water. "I have so much more love to give you Abs, I don't want anyone else. All I need is right in front of me. You're my life. I want more of those great years with you. In fact, I want a lifetime. A lifetime of pure love and happiness with you. So, Abi Branning, will you do me the greatest honour and be my wife? Will you marry me?"