This started out as a challenge on tumblr referring to an edit I did. It suggested that as a couple, Jac and Zosia would have dinner with Guy. Turns out that was the prompt I needed to commit to a longer Jasia story. I'm hoping this will end up being a relatively realistic portrayal of what it could be like if they actually dated (rating may go up later on). I'd really appreciate some feedback on this so I can keep improving the story as we go along. I'm also considering flashbacks to show how they got together in the first place cause this is set one month into their relationship. Let me know your thoughts on that! :)
Enjoy :)

Chapter 1: Committed

"Your father needs a final answer about dinner." Jac Naylor sighed looking up from her phone.
"Do we really have to?" Zosia March asked and Jac shrugged.
"Well, he is your father." She commented as she put her phone away.
"Yes. Exactly." The junior doctor retorted sounding uneasy. The clutched a stack of patient notes to her chest and looked at her girlfriend who was sat at the desk in front of her.
"Look, Zosia, whatever you want to do is fine." The consultant replied with considerable understanding in her voice which was very much out off character for her. They had been dating for almost a month now and Zosia had started to see a different side to the supposedly cold-hearted bitch she had fallen for. What had started out as a bit of fun had turned more serious and so family commitments such as dinner with her father couldn't be avoided for much longer. The stakes grew consistently the more Zosia allowed herself to get invested in their relationship. Jac waited for a response that didn't come but doubt and worry were painted all over the junior's face. "Let's go to my office and get a coffee." She suggested and Zosia shook her head.
"We can't disappear into your office all the time, Jac. We're at work, it's unprofessional."
"Yes and right now one of my juniors is clearly distressed over a personal matter." Jac responded having returned fully to her consultant persona. "Also, I'd rather not discuss personal things in front of other people." She added clearly referring to Oliver Valentine and Henrik Hanssen who were stood by the desk as well.
"Very well then." Zosia managed a small smile and followed her girlfriend to her office.
"What's wrong Zosia, it's just dinner." Jac said as the door had closed behind them.
"It's just going to be really awkward, just because of the whole situation." The junior explained reluctantly.
"Well, he's been civil so far, hasn't he?"
"I guess so…" Zosia took a deep breath. "I just get anxious sometimes."
"That's perfectly fine." Jac replied and took her face in her hands gently. "And I promise it'll be okay. There is really nothing for you to worry about, I will be with you that whole time." She kissed her softly and Zosia melted into the kiss.
"I know I'm just overthinking it. I just have this horrible image in my head of you two having a shouting match in the middle of a restaurant…" She confessed to Jac's apparent amusement.
"I promise I will be nice. As much as it pains me that he of all people is your father, he IS your father so I will make an effort, for you." Zosia couldn't help but smile. Coming from Jac Naylor, that was possibly one of the sweetest things she'd ever heard. "Come on now, it's not like I'm meeting your father for the first time. There will be no awkward silences. I promise I will be able to hold a civil conversation with him. After all, I do know him quite well."
"Maybe that's the problem…" The junior said without thinking.
"Oh, well, that's a low blow." Jac retorted realising what she had to be referring to.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't meant to be." She apologised quickly and sincerely.
"You know I wish I could take it back but I can't." The consultant replied thinking back with regret to her short lived affair with Guy.
"I know." Zosia nodded and she took her girlfriend's hand to show that she meant it.
"Obviously I couldn't have known this was going to happen." Jac gave a weak smile squeezing her hand.
"Yeah well, I doubt anyone could have. I'm still trying to figure out what this is." Zosia chuckled.
"You are?" Zosia's heart sank at the look on Jac's face when she realised what she had said. The consultant let go of her hand. "I was under the impression we're in a committed relationship or did I get that wrong?" The vulnerability that had been there a moment ago was quickly replaced by anger. It was her way of putting up walls and Zosia felt like she had been punched in the gut.
"No, of course we are. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply…"
"Imply what?"
"That I'm not committed to us because I am, Jac. I really am." There was a brief moment of silence as Zosia looked at her pleadingly and Jac just seemed to stare through her.
"What shall I tell your father?" The consultant asked at last.
"We'll go, of course." Zosia replied quickly hoping to make up for her poor choice of words. "Please will you come and have dinner with me and my dad?" She added trying to be firm and show how much she wanted her with her.
"Right. Well, I've got an early finish today so I'll pick you up at seven then? If you can commit to that?"

"You don't look so good Zosia…" Dominic Copeland observed when Zosia stepped out of her room.
"Oh thanks." She replied sarcastically as she walked through their living room.
"No, I don't mean you don't look great, because you do, stunning, but you look worried." Dom explained sipping his cup of tea. She did in fact look amazing. They were going to a very fancy restaurant and her father had made it clear black tie attire was not optional. It only added to the pressure. She was wearing a long dark blue dress, she knew Jac liked the colour on her.
"Is it that obvious?" She asked and he shrugged.
"I don't know why you're doing this to yourself."
"It's a natural step to take, at some point you have to introduce your partner to your family."
"Well, no introduction needed, they're were very closely acquainted for a time." Dom reminded her with a bit of a chuckle.
"Can you just drop it. That's in the past and it doesn't matter. There is no way Jac would ever have any involvement with my dad ever again. It'll be hard enough for them to sit across from each other for the duration of a meal." She retorted.
"Exactly, so why are you insisting on this."
"Because I have to prove to Jac that I'm serious. This is a serious relationship thing." She explained.
"You really are serious about her, aren't you?" He leaned forward looking slightly surprised as if he had only just come to that realisation.
"Yes, I really am." She nodded in determination.
"Well then, good luck to you." He raised his mug to her. "I mean when you started dating her I thought it was a bit…"
"Strange?" She tried to finish his sentence.
"Suicidal. I mean the woman is a nightmare…"
"She's really not a nightmare, Dom, you don't know her." Zosia retorted but not too convincingly. He wasn't completely wrong. Jac was not the easiest person to get along with. Their fight earlier had been a good example, there was plenty of friction between them but she certainly preferred an open argument to bottling feelings up as she had done in the past. There was no lack of communication with Jac and so far they'd always been able to resolve their issues and come out stronger.
"I know and I'm glad you always go to hers because the thought of sitting across from Jac Naylor at breakfast gives me the creeps." Dom said interrupting her stream of thought.
"You know you will have to try and get to know her at some point, I'm in it for the long haul." She replied. "So how do I actually look?"
"Could do with a necklace and earrings?" He suggested sensing she was done talking about her relationship.
"I knew I forgot something…" She hurried back into her room just as the doorbell rang. "Can you get that?" She shouted and Dom rolled his eyes but got to his feet to open the door.
"Ms Naylor." He greeted Jac with a somewhat forced smile. The consultant made him feel as uneasy as ever, it didn't actually happen all that often that he met her out of work but it was always an awkward experience. He couldn't imagine ever getting used to his friend dating her.
"Dr Copeland." She replied just as formally but surprisingly her smile was more genuinely.
"Please come in." He said stepping aside. "You look lovely." He observed not sure what else to say. He was right of course, Jac wore a very well tailored red dress. She was also holding a bunch of flowers and Dominic couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. It was terrible being single with both of his roommates all loved up. Fortunately he didn't have to try and make conversation because Zosia stepped back out off her room.
"Jac." She greeted her with a smile and looked at her in surprise. She'd never given her flowers before.
"I wanted to apologise for earlier." Jac announced clearing her throat somewhat embarrassed at the fact Dom was witnessing the exchange. Apologising wasn't something that came natural to her.
"I thought you didn't do flowers." Zosia observed but took them off her nonetheless with a soft smile.
"I do under certain circumstances. I'm sorry I overreacted earlier."
"It's fine, it was all my fault but thank you." Zosia felt her heart beat a little fast as she kissed her softly. At least at that moment, all her worries had blown away.
"Right, that's it, I've seen enough of this lovey dovey nonsense, some of us are single and bitter. Please go." Dom sighed gesturing towards the door.
"No-one asked you to watch Dr Copeland." Jac retorted.
"It's fine Dom, we're already gone." Zosia stepped in. "Also, you know you should really start calling my friends by their first names." She added looking at her girlfriend.
"I don't think we're there yet." The consultant replied with hardly any hesitation.
"Me neither." Dom agreed and Zosia only sighed.
"Alright then, fine. Can you put these in water for me Dom? We need to head off."
"If it'll make you go." He took the flowers off her and wandered to the cupboard to fetch a vase.
"You look beautiful by the way." Jac made Zosia blush when she complimented her in a low tone of voice and took her hand in hers.
"So do you." The junior replied with a smile.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Dominic commented in the background and they left without another word.