'Part of me still can't believe it,' Jane said as she sat with Jess at the kitchen table, two mugs of hot chocolate in front of them and two big beaming smiles.

'But it is a good thing, isn't it?'

'Yes it is sweetheart. I'm sorry about earlier on, I was just being…'

'Hormonal! It's alright Mum, I get it. I know you're a little afraid, because of what happened with me and Alexander, but this time is different. Lovejoy is going to be so over the moon about this baby and we're going to be such an amazing family together. We'll need to think about moving soon though,' Jess replied happily.

'Yes we will, somewhere the four of us can live, feels strange to say it like that.'

'Well you'd better start believing it Mum, because it's happening. When are you going to tell him?' Jess asked as she took a sip from her hot chocolate and felt warm.

'Tell who?!'

'Lovejoy of course…who do you think I mea…ooooohhhh!' Jess replied, confused at first. 'Mum you really don't need to worry about Alexander anymore, he isn't going to be a problem, trust me,' she added as she cupped Jane's hand.

'I know you keep saying that, but it does worry me. It isn't about the money; to be honest, I couldn't care about any of that, this house or even about teaching Alexander a lesson, it's about me protecting you, as it always has been darling, and I guess I'm now protecting the little one growing inside me too,' she explained with a small smile of disbelief at her words.

'I know that you want to protect me Mum, but I'm going to protect you too, you and my baby brother of sister,' Jess replied, biting her lip at the thought of Alexander and his girlfriend and their baby. If Jane knew, maybe it'd make her feel more relaxed about her situation, but on the other hand it could distress her, and the last thing that Jess wanted to do was distress her mum, especially in her condition. 'Don't worry Mum, whatever happens, everything is going to be great,' she added, just as Lovejoy walked in.

'What is?' He asked as he trotted happily into the warmth of the kitchen, for the amount of time that he'd been spending at Felsham Hall lately, he really ought to have been living there.

'Oh Mum and I were just discussing the house…'

'It's absolutely perfect Lovejoy,' Jane added quickly. 'It's a fantastic size, great grounds and even an external studio for Jess and office for us…you could even use the other outhouse as a store for your antiques.'

He was touched that she'd thought about him in her's and Jess' decision, and slightly surprised. He knew that Jess would be at the top of her list of people she wanted to please with the decision, but he'd never considered that she'd think of them and their relationship as a key part.

'It sounds amazing; will you put an offer in on it?' He asked.

'I think we might do, but we'll see what the house tomorrow is like, and then make a proper decision after that. You should come with us, if you want to that is,' Jane suggested, feeling a little shy about asking him, fearing that she might be rushing him, especially after she had been the one who'd wanted to take their relationship very slowly.

'Well wouldn't that be fun?' He replied with a broad smile. 'I can then take you both out for lunch, my treat.'

'Great, I'm all excited now,' Jess said with a massive big smile as she then stood up. 'Right, I'm going to get started on some more of those drawings for the Dalrymples and I'll leave you two to it,' she added as she kissed Jane excitedly on the cheek and then gave Lovejoy a massive hug before adding, 'oh I'm so happy and excited.'

'What was that all about?' Lovejoy asked Jane once Jess had skipped out of the kitchen.

'Oh nothing really, she's just excited about Christmas in a couple of weeks and the new house and everything.'

'Well, she deserves to be happy and excited, it's great to see,' he beamed.

'Would you like some tea? I'm just about to make a fresh pot,' she said as she got up and put the kettle on, and whilst she stood waiting for it to boil, Lovejoy joined her, with his arms wrapped around her waist as he nuzzled her neck from behind, a gesture more poignant that he realised.

'Hmmm you smell good Janey; that's definitely a new perfume,' he hummed.

'It's one Jess bought me,' she replied in a dreamy tone, loving the sensation of being wrapped in his arms. After the day she'd had with her nerves and her sickness, she felt the need to be loved and cherished, and whenever she was with Lovejoy, she really did feel it; she just hoped that her news would be met with same enthusiasm.

'How are you feeling now? After that episode this morning I mean,' he whispered, still kissing and nuzzling her neck.

'A lot better than I did earlier. I'm sorry about all of that, I don't know what came over me,' she replied as she turned in his arms to face him.

'Well it's like I said, you've been working yourself far too hard, you haven't taken a proper break since you've had this stomach bug. You've got me worried Janey, I won't deny it, so I think you should let me take you out to dinner tonight and let Jess deal with the rest of the Dalrymple job, she's more than capable.'

'That does sound lovely, but maybe another night? I just feel like staying in tonight and resting up, I'm feeling rather tired. Perhaps we can order a pizza and watch a movie, Jess has been nagging me to death for a movie and pizza night for weeks, now seems like the perfect time. And we've nearly completed the Dalrymple's house, so I'll be able to take full holiday leave over Christmas and New Year, without leaving Jess to manage on her own.'

'Alright Janey, whatever you command I shall deliver,' Lovejoy replied lovingly, as he looked into her eyes and wondered what she was thinking about. He could tell there was something troubling her, and hoped that she would start to open up to him soon, but he didn't want to push her either. He kissed her gently, with true love, devotion and tenderness, which she not only reciprocated, but took comfort in. She was nervous about the possibility that he would react badly to their news, and may ruin what they had together.

That night the three of them sat together in the living room, popcorn between them and pizza still in the boxes on the coffee table, watching a comedy on TV. Jane nuzzled into Lovejoy's side, both covered by a blanket as she laid on the sofa, whilst Jess sat on the floor by the fire, surrounded by all three dogs, who were fast asleep. Jane had even taken pity on Ellie and told Jess to bring her inside out of the cold; so the (not so) little rabbit hopped around the living room, hiding behind the curtains and furniture and occasionally moving towards the sleeping dogs, who would open an eye at her, before quickly going back to sleep.

Jane was feeling a lot better, both with her morning sickness and about how she felt about the baby and their circumstances and Jess' reaction, but she was still nervous about telling Lovejoy.

'I know I'm probably being irrational,' she said to Jess the next morning as they wandered around the house with the estate agent.

'You are,' Jess replied.

'But you have to understand how I feel darling. I never thought for one second when I discovered I was pregnant with you that Alex would react the way he did, but there I was nine months later watching as a social worker drove off with you; I can't have that happen to me again,' Jane explained as she began to get a little teary, so Jess stopped in the living room of the house, grateful that the agent had allowed them to look around themselves, and sat her mum on the sofa.

'Mum, you really don't need to worry about this. Lovejoy loves you, more than I've ever seen someone love another, and he's going to be so over the moon when you tell him; but even if he isn't, you've got me, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you or our baby. This is going to be amazing for the three of us, you just have to have the courage to believe that,' Jess replied maturely, and then grimaced at the look on Jane's face. 'If you're going to throw up again can you give me fair warning please? Dirty nappies and late nights I'll cope with, but people being sick is quite something else,' she joked.

'No I'm not going to throw up again, well not yet anyway; it's just this room, I'm not very taken with it at all.'

'Yeah I know what you mean; it's nice and all, but it just doesn't have the same feel that yesterday's one has,' Jess agreed as she looked around the room properly.

'I don't like the fireplaces, or the kitchen, although the garden and grounds are nice…'

'Just not as nice as the other one is it?'

'Hmmm….do you think we've made a decision?'

'I'd say so,' Jess replied, as she then stood up and they walked outside together. They thanked the agent for showing them around, got into the range rover and then began the hour long journey home.

'I'll call Andrew the moment we get in, ask if we can have another viewing of that house as soon as possible and then Lovejoy can come with us,' Jane explained as she drove carefully round each twist and bend.

With her promise made Jane did exactly that, and a few days later all three of them were back looking at the first house they'd visited. Lovejoy had seen the photographs and had listened to their descriptions, but neither had done the house justice. It was stunning and perfect for the three of them, or so he thought. And just as Janey had suggested, the garage was perfect for him to store his antiques. Jess had excitedly taken him into the annex which would be given to her as her space for her art and sculpting, and she felt excited as she told him everything she'd do to it. As far as the girls were concerned, the house was already theirs, but all they needed to do now was make an offer. The house was on offer for an absolute steal as far as Jane was concerned and well under her budget, for a quick sale, which was great news for them, but problematic when they'd heard another couple had also put in an offer. It was an agonising week for them as they waited, somewhat impatiently, for the phone to ring, until finally it arrived just a week before Christmas.

'I'm so glad that job is finished,' Jane said as she pulled her car into the drive outside Felsham Hall, referring to the fact that she and Jess had just come from the Dalrymple's, having shown them round their beautifully decorated and furnished home, they'd had nothing but praise to give Jane, who had quickly directed them to Jess. 'Believe me when I say the work was all my daughter's. I guided her and assisted, but she did most of the hard work.'

'Well young lady, you've clearly got your mother's talent,' Yvonne Dalrymple had said.

'She's a great teacher and I've learnt a lot from working on your home,' Jess replied shyly.

Jane sang her praises all the way home, she was delighted and proud and repeated everything that they had said about Jess, making Jess blush as she replied, 'I know Mum, I was there.' She was rather embarrassed and proud at the same time and they talked happily once they got out at Felsham Hall, and just as Jane was putting her belongings down in the hallway, Mrs Cameron came rushing out of the study.

'Ma'am there's a telephone call for you, Mr Andrew Smyth from the estate agent,' she said with urgency, which made both Jess and Jane rush to the phone.

Jess listened to Jane's conversation intently, but since Jane only answered with "uh huh" and "yeah", Jess could only assume from her mother's beaming smile that it was good news.

'Thank you Andrew, thank you so very much!' Jane exclaimed with delight as she then placed the receiver onto its holder and turned to face her daughter. 'We got it! Our offer has been accepted!'

'Mum that's fantastic!' Jess squealed as she leapt up from the arm of the sofa.

'Wait until I tell Lovejoy, he's going to be over the moon!'

'It's going to be fantastic Mum, our own place, where we can create our own memories, with our new baby,' she said as she hugged Jane tightly, 'I don't think I could be any happier.'

Lovejoy was of course delighted by their news when he arrived later that evening, having spent the whole day trailing round the auctions with Eric and Tinker. He'd thought of nothing else all day though, and had even thought about how different Jane had been behaving in the last week. Perhaps her previous behaviour had been because of the stress of working for the Dalrymple's? Whatever it was though he was glad she was seeming more relaxed, although his concern still lingered after she'd mentioned that she still wasn't feeling well, but with only a couple of days left now until Christmas, maybe the joy of the festivities was all she needed.

'Have you told him yet?' Jess asked Jane in her bedroom the day before Christmas eve. They were both up early with a lot to do before the big day, especially since Lovejoy's daughter Vicki was due to arrive the next day. Jess was excited to meet her new stepsister, but apprehensive. She wasn't sure how she felt about meeting new people anymore, ever since her encounter with Livinia Felsham.

Jane grimaced at Jess' question, making her daughter raise her eyebrow at her as she disappeared into her dressing room, 'don't look at me like that sweetheart. There hasn't been an appropriate time to tell him, and what with Alexander's solicitor phoning yesterday, it just wrong footed me, that's all,' she said as she came out still trying to button her jeans, which was starting to get a little difficult. Jess stifled a laugh as she watched Jane struggling to do up the button. It was still exceptionally early days for her pregnancy, so she wasn't exactly showing yet, but she'd obviously put on just enough weight to make doing up her trousers just that little bit tougher.

'Someone's put on a little weight I see,' Jess mocked playfully.

'Are you trying to call me fat?' Jane joined in, placing her hand onto her hip.

'Mum, you're a skinny bloody rake, no-one could ever accuse you of being fat,' Jess laughed.

'Well, these jeans always were a little on the snug side anyway,' Jane replied as she disappeared in to the adjacent room again.

'You need to tell him Mum; we've known for two weeks, we've got the house now, we've got our business to sort out, we've got a lot to do, and your morning sickness has been horrific for you. He's worried sick you know, although typical man that he hasn't jumped to any conclusions yet about why you're so sick, but hey ho.'

'I know darling, I know; I want to tell him, but the opportunity never seems to arrive and I'm still…'

'Doubting yourself, our happiness and Lovejoy?' Jess filled in, being able to practically read her mother's mind.

'Quite. I know you must think it awful of me not to have told him yet.'

'I don't think you're awful Mum, I could never think that of you. I think you're afraid and it's understandable. But you need to tell him before Christmas day, so that we can have something the four of us can really celebrate.'

Jane thought a lot about Jess' words as they walked quietly downstairs together. Jess grabbed some toast, kissed Jane goodbye and then left, leaving Jane to her thoughts. She knew what she had to do, and she wanted it to be exceptionally special when she did it.

Jess was on her way to Lovejoy's workshop. She'd planned to spend the day with him before he came round to Felsham Hall to spend the next few days at theirs for Christmas with Vicki. Ever since working on the Dalrymple house, she'd not had much time to spend with just the two of them, so she was excited to get a few hours with him to herself. As she pulled up outside his cottage she saw Miriam in the driveway and a light on in the outbuilding he used.

'Knock, knock!' She said as she trotted inside.

'Hello darling,' he said with a beaming smile at her. He was covered in sawdust and wood shavings from the work he was creating for a repair on an old sideboard. 'What do you think?' He asked her as he put his arm around her and gave her a tight squeeze and kiss on her temple.

'It's looking great Lovejoy!' She said as she admired the craftsmanship of the wooden side panelling with its twists and twirls carved by hand, his hand, into it.

She jumped up onto the workbench and grabbed a hold of a very old cricket ball that he kept lying around, and as she sat watching him work, she playfully tossed it in the air. She was deep in thought though about Alexander and his baby and about the guilt Jane was feeling still; she thought about her mum's relationship with Lovejoy and prayed she'd tell him soon and that he'd take the news well. However, the whole Alexander thing was really troubling her. She didn't want that man ruining her mum's happiness again, but she didn't know what to do for the best.

'How's your mum?' He asked her after a few minutes of concentrated silence.

'Hmmm?' She responded.

'Is everything alright Titch?' He asked as he looked up at her, concerned by her tone.

'Yes everything's fine, it's just…well…if I tell you something, do you promise not to hit the roof?' She asked timidly, feeling nervous about revealing her secret.

'Are you in some sort of trouble Jess? You know you can always talk to me, about anything that's troubling you,' he said softly as he put down his tools and stood in front of her, building himself up for bad news.

'Well…I don't really know what to say…because maybe I shouldn't say anything at all, because sometimes it's better just to let things go isn't it?' she rambled.

'Jess, just slow down a minute; what's wrong?'

'Alright. Say you knew something about someone that relates to someone else, but if that someone else knew about it, it would really hurt them. However, if you were to tell that person about it, it would help them to relax about a situation they were facing. What would you do?' She explained cryptically.

'I'm not following.'

'It's about Alexander,' she replied slowly as she took a deep breath and blinked back tears. 'When we met him in his hotel a few weeks back and we were just getting ready to leave, you and Mum had your backs to the staircase when I saw him coming out of the restaurant where he met up with a dark haired woman. He kissed her when they met, she made a fuss about his face after Mum slapped him, but…' she paused.

'But what?' He replied, already sounding pissed.

'…but, when she walked away…well…she was pregnant,' she said finally, and then prepared herself for the inevitable fireworks.

'That bastard!' Lovejoy shouted. 'What kind of a ma…how…I…' for the moment he was lost for words.

'I haven't told Mum, I don't even know if she knows about this girl, but she was quite far a long from what I could tell, so he'd obviously been seeing her whilst he was married to Mum.'

'Oh she knows alright. He'd been having an affair for the best part of two years according to some friend of your mother's. But that two-timing hypocrite! Why the hell did he force you and Janey through so much pain and heartache, when he's now got some tart knocked-up?' He ranted as he paced the workshop floor. He was trying really hard not to completely lose it, since Jess had asked him not to.

'The problem is Lovejoy, Mum is absolutely terrified about him finding out about…well you and her, and that if he does he'll use it against her in court and she'll be left without anything and with her reputation in tatters. I know if I tell her she'll be devastated by it because of what he'd done to me and her, but if I do tell her she'll be able to see that he wouldn't have a leg to stand on in court and then she can enjoy her…well future…with you, and me and everything,' she rambled, trying desperately hard not to give away exactly what that "future" was.

Lovejoy went on another rant about Alexander and about everything that had transpired over the ten years he'd known Janey. He shouted about how Alexander was a self-absorbed, privileged, stuck-up aristocrat who never had any concern for his wife, he ranted about how Alexander had never loved his wife, and yet she'd stuck by him and defended him through so much; he then called Alexander every profanity he could think of, making Jess laugh and they both knew that if Jane was there she'd have given him one of her famous glares and scold him for using such language in front of her daughter. But eventually he was calm enough for Jess to speak to him properly, and to get the comfort she needed.

'So what do I do?' She asked meekly.

'Well you do nothing, but we will tell her together, but after Christmas. She isn't due to meet with her solicitor until the day before New Year's Eve, so we'll tell her then,' he replied responsibly, now that he was a lot calmer.

'Thanks Dad,' she said as she hopped off the workbench and gave him a hug and the words came from her so naturally. She hadn't meant to say it, but now he understood how Jane had felt the first time, and probably every time, Jess had called her mum. He felt very emotional as he hugged her tightly, feeling as protective and as much love towards her as if she really was his daughter, and he couldn't wait to introduce her to Vicki. 'Are you still coming over tonight?' She asked after a while.

'Would I be anywhere else?' He whispered as he still clung to her tightly.

'Good,' she replied.

That evening they sat down to dinner in the kitchen, rarely using the dining room these days, and chatted happily. Jess felt better that she'd shared what had been troubling her for weeks, but it still bothered her that, when they eventually talk to her mum about it, it would cause her pain, and since she was pregnant, Jess didn't want to cause her any unnecessary distress.

'Mmmm, Mum that was delicious,' she said as she patted her full stomach, feeling slightly like a beached whale.

'Well, I know lasagne is your favourite, and is relatively healthy in comparison to what we will be eating over the next week,' Jane joked as she collected their plates.

'I'll do that Mum. Why don't you guys go and sit down for a bit and I'll bring you both in a cup of tea,' Jess said as she grabbed the plates from her Mum and took them over to the sink.

Doing as they were told, and making the most of Jess' offer, Lovejoy and Jane did exactly as they'd been instructed, and walked into the living room hand in hand. They sat next to each other on the sofa, with Jane's legs tucked underneath her and his arm wrapped around her shoulders. He kissed her gently, thanking his lucky stars that she was his to love, hold and cherish. How could Alexander not have appreciated this?

'Did you have a nice afternoon with Jess?' She asked him sleepily.

'We sure did,' he replied. 'She called me dad today,' he added, making Jane lift her head slightly as she looked at him.

'Really?'

'Uh huh, took me by surprise, but I'm glad she feels relaxed enough to say it.'

As they sat and cuddled on the sofa being warmed by the fire, Jess came in with a tea tray and poured them all a cup and handed it round. On the tray beside the bowl of sugar was a large white envelope with "Lovejoy" written on the front and decorated with little holly leaves and berries.

'What's this?' He asked as he picked it up.

'Well before you open it I want to explain something to you,' Jess said with a tone of seriousness and concentration, trying not to cry. 'This is your Christmas present from me Lovejoy, but I wanted to give it to you tonight whilst it was still just the three of us. You can open it now if you want,' she said nervously as she watched him carefully tear it open, and carefully fold back the documents inside. 'You know my story and you know that I never got to benefit from having a dad, but ever since I returned, you've loved and fought for me as if I was your very own. For a long time now I haven't thought of you as a friend, but I think of you as my dad…' she explained as she became teary and had to break off, giving both Lovejoy and Jane a few moments to read the documents in his hand.

Jess had made an adoption certificate, which named Lovejoy as the adopter with a declaration written under his and Jess' names, which detailed what Jess expected of him as her father.

'…you can't adopt me legally because I'm over the age of eighteen, but it felt important to me to do something to formally, in my books, make you my dad, so I made these adoption papers for all three of us to sign…' she explained as she tried to control her tears, but Jane had long given up on trying to control her's, and even Lovejoy was looking teary eyed.

'I don't know what to say Jess,' he said hoarsely, sniffing and blinking furiously.

'Well a yes would be nice,' she joked timidly, slightly afraid that he'd refuse her request, but as he held out his arm to her and pulled her to him, he held her tighter than he'd ever held her before.

'You and your mum mean the world to me Jess, more than you can possibly understand. I love you both and can't imagine my life without either of you in it. Since the day you returned I knew there was something special about you. You brought Janey and I together, and I've fallen in love with your tenacity, your sense of humour, and your love of life. I feel as if I've been your father your whole life, but it'd be an honour and a privilege to become your father officially Jess,' he beamed as he held his daughter tightly, and Jane was completely speechless.

Jess passed him a pen and he signed on the dotted line beside his name, then Jane signed hers and finally Jess sealed the deal with her signature at the bottom. Although the law would never acknowledge him as her legal father, to them all what Jess had done was far more important.

'I think I'll frame that,' he said after a few moments of emotional silence, making all three of them laugh.

'Actually Lovejoy, I have something for you as well,' Jane said as she wiped her eyes and looked at Jess, who knew exactly what was coming next and her beaming smile became even larger than ever before.

'Do you want me to leave you alone Mum?' She asked, sensing that this should maybe be a moment just between the two of them.

'No darling, but I do want you to pass me that box behind the clock,' Jane replied with excitement, the time had never been more right than now.

Jess looked at her mother with confusion, but did as she was asked and took a silver wrapped box from behind the clock on the mantelpiece. It had a pink and blue bow on it, which Jane had thought was very apt for what laid inside.

'Are you sure you want me to open this now Janey?' He asked as he took it from Jess, expecting it to be a watch or something like that.

'I've been trying to find a way to do this for a couple of weeks, and no time has been better than now,' she replied and then watched as he carefully unwrapped it.

'I must say, I'm feeling very spoilt by you ladies,' he said as he placed the paper to one side, and then slowly took off the lid, however, it wasn't something silver or shiny inside, but long and white with a red cross in a tiny window. 'Janey?' He said with astonishment as he looked at the love of his life, who was now crying tears of overwhelming joy.

'You've given me the best Christmas present of all Lovejoy,' she whispered as she took his hand and placed it over their growing unborn baby.