Here's my new story featuring Jess, Dan and of course Callum. I hope you enjoy it, and I would appreciate it if you would leave me a review. Thanks!
It was early Saturday morning when PC Jessica Waite changed into her civilian clothes and made her way sleepily out the station to her car. She had worked at Sun Hill police station for just under six months now, and she loved it. Before, she had worked in Cornwall with the Cornwall and Devon Police, so to go from that to the Met was a big shock, but a welcome one. Her and her husband Dan had decided to move to London so that they could further their careers, and they didn't have a single regret so far.
*
Jess had just worked the Friday night shift, one where she was constantly on her feet and brining new prisoners into the station. She had been paired with Tony for the night, and she enjoyed hearing about him complain about how things were different in his day. She unlocked her car, waving to Sally as she too left. She couldn't wait to get home to see her son. That was probably the one thing she hated about her job; it meant she couldn't see her son as much as she wanted.
*
Jess unlocked the door quietly. She hoped that Luke had been good for Dan; she knew Dan would be grumpy if Luke had kept him up. She placed her red bag on the table, putting her keys in the dish by the door. She sat on the chair, taking off her boots, rubbing her sore feet. What she needed was a nice hot bath with some chilled music playing and some candles lit. Or maybe just a cuddle with her son. She smiled to herself, getting up and climbing the stairs. She paused as she passed her bedroom, seeing Dan asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief and carried on to the end of the corridor where Luke's room was. She unhooked the catch at the top of the door which Dan had put on a few weeks ago. They had decided to put it on as Luke woke up early, so it stopped him getting out his room and falling down the stairs. Her fingers wrapped around the handle and she slowly turned it, hoping it wouldn't creak. Thankfully it gave way and she stepped into Luke's green bedroom. And there he was, sleeping peacefully in his big boy bed. He was laying on his back, one arm flung above his head and one arm resting on his chest. Jess sat on the edge of his bed, pushing back his dark brown hair. She lay down next to him, placing one arm protectively over his chest, the other holding his hand that was above his head. Jess' breathing soon slowed down so that it matched the rise and fall of Luke's chest, and before she knew it, she was asleep.
*
An hour later, Dan woke up, his arm searching Jess' side of the bed. All he could feel was the duvet, and her pillow which was cold. He looked at the clock, seeing that Jess should have been home. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and stretched. His grey eyes searched the room for any sign that Jess was home, but he saw none. He sighed, knowing that she had probably been caught up at work, but he wished that she would tell him when she would be late. He pulled back the dark blue covers, swinging his legs over the side of the bed as they landed on the plush carpet. He walked out their bedroom, about to head down the stairs when he saw Luke's door was open. He frowned, knowing that he had shut it and put the catch on. He crept down the corridor, pushing the door open. He smiled as he saw his wife on the bed, her arms wrapped protectively around their son. Her blonde hair was fanned out on the pillow, a contrast to Luke's dark hair, so much like his own. He leaned against the door frame, watching them sleep.
*
Jess was awoken to someone licking her face. She brought her hand up, trying to distinguish what it was. She felt the soft hair of her son, and she laughed. He was trying to kiss her, not lick her. She opened her eyes, and smiled when she saw her own eyes looking back at her. Luke may have got Dan's hair, and most of Dan's facial features, but the eyes were all hers. Bright green eyes sparkling with fun and mischief.
"Morning honey. Did you sleep ok?" Jess asked, sitting up and hugging Luke as he climbed onto her lap. Luke nodded, tucking himself into her lap. "Good. Shall we go and see if daddy is awake? We'll all have breakfast together. Does that sound good?" She felt Luke nodding under her chin, so scooped him up in her arms and carried him out of his room and down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and smiled when she saw Dan standing there, pouring her out a coffee. On the table was breakfast and a drink for Luke. Jess walked over to Dan, kissing him on the cheek.
"Morning." Jess said, looking into those grey eyes that she loved so much.
"Good morning. Good night at work?" Dan asked, placing Jess' coffee on the table and taking Luke from her arms, giving him a quick kiss.
"Yeah, really busy though. I am so read for sleep." Jess mumbled as she drank her coffee.
"Well you can go up back to bed in a minute, just eat something first." Dan said sternly. She didn't eat enough as it was, and it made him angry when she didn't look after herself.
Jess laughed, "What would I do without you, eh?" she said, placing her hand on his cheek.
"God only knows." Dan replied, placing Luke in his special chair and handing him his breakfast. "What do you say?"
"Thank you daddy." Luke said, his fingers already shoving pieces of toast in his mouth.
"People would think we didn't feed him!" Jess said, watching her son.
Dan ruffled Luke's hair, "He just has a good appetite like me! Something you could learn!"
"It's not my fault I don't eat that much!" Jess said, finishing off her toast and washing her plate and mug up. "Right then, I'm going up to bed. Wake me up an hour before you're due in ok?" Jess kissed Dan slowly on the lips as she walked past.
"Will do. Sleep well honey." Dan called after her.
"Mummy sleep." Luke said nodding.
"That's right, mummy's gone to bed because she works too hard doesn't she. She doesn't spend enough time with us does she." Dan said quietly, sighing.
*
If you told an 11 year old Jessica Hunter that in ten years she would have a son and be engaged, she would have laughed at you and told you where to go. Jess had never envisioned her life being like this. She had always seen herself as an independent woman, someone who didn't listen to anyone else and didn't have time for anyone else. But that changed when at 18 she met Daniel Waite. She had just started her police training and was on a night out with the girls when they met. At 23, he was five years older than her, but Jess had always liked an older man. Jess loved the way his dark hair fell just in front of his eyes, how his grey eyes sparkled with laughter at something his friend had said to him. She had loved the way his hands roamed her body when they were dancing, and she had loved the way he walked her home, making sure he was ok. The following day she got a text from him, asking her out on another date. She agreed, and soon they were a couple. At first her parents had been against it, as she was supposed to be concentrating on her career and he was five years older than her, but then they saw how Dan looked at her, looked at her like he truly loved her. They couldn't fight love, and Jess wouldn't have listened to them anyway, so they let her do what she wanted, which involved Dan. A few months after Jess had qualified as a police officer, Dan had finished his law degree and decided to work within the police as a CPS lawyer. Soon enough they had enough money to buy their own flat, and they moved in as soon as possible. Neither had been so happy, nor had they felt so lucky. But that changed when they were out and some guy was trying to chat up Jess. Dan had just seen red, punching the man so hard he fell to the floor, blood streaming out his nose. Jess had been disgusted, not believing that the gentle, kind man she had fallen in love with was capable of being so violent. Jess had stormed back home, not letting him in the flat. She knew then that she didn't want to be with someone who could be that violent, who wouldn't even wait for an explanation. She packed her bag and was about to walk out the flat when she tripped over something. She flicked on the living room light which shone out into the hall, and Jess realised she had tripped over Dan. He had been lying there, waiting for her to come out. He had apologised, and apologised, and apologised. He had begged for her not to go, to say with him. He told her it was a one off, that he had never done that before and didn't intend to do it again. Jess had caved in, because she loved him, and that was that.
*
Jess was 20, Dan 25, when they got engaged. They had just found out that they were having a baby, and Dan had spontaneously proposed to her. Of course she had accepted, because she loved him and wanted to be with him forever. They had gone out for dinner to celebrate to a beautiful little Spanish style restaurant. Jess had gone up to the bar to order some drinks and had got chatting with the bar man who she used to know. They were talking and laughing for ten minutes by the time she realised that she was supposed to be getting drinks so that her and Dan could celebrate properly. She had returned to the table with her non alcoholic cocktail and Dan's beer when he said he wanted to leave. Jess couldn't understand his sudden change of mood but just went along with it. They got home and Jess had just pulled the chain across on the door and turned to walk through to the living room when Dan hit her. Her hand quickly covered the place where he had hit her, and as she looked up at him through teary eyes, she couldn't believe that he would hit her. They were engaged, they were having a baby, and he had hit her. Dan moved towards her, his eyes filled with apologies, but Jess recoiled from him. That was the first time Dan hit her, but not the last.
*
Jess was pulled back to the present by Dan whispering in her ear.
"Jess, come on, wake up." Dan whispered, stroking her hair. He bent down, kissing her lips.
"Why can't you wake me up like this every day?" Jess asked quietly, her eyes still shut but a smile on her face.
"Because then it wouldn't have such a big impact would it." he said, kissing her again.
"Mummy!" Luke's voice came from the door, and then she heard a pattering of feet against the carpet, and then a soft weight fell on her stomach. She opened her eyes to see her husband tickling her son. Today was a good day.