Chapter 4 – Sometimes You Just Have To Take A Leap

Jacks eyes flickered open as the sun rose. He squinted while rubbing his neck as he sat up talking to him-self. "Never again am I gunna sleep in this bloody car." Jack slowly readjusted his seat and started the engine, turning on the blowers in order to remove the steam from the car windows.

Jack jumped as the steam faded, allowing him to see Max standing in front of the car staring. Max walked round to the car door as Jack switched off the engine and stepped out the car. "I'm not in the mood Max."

"Come inside. I don't want my brother dying, no matter how much I hate you right now", Max stated.

"You're not the only one that hates me", Jack said quietly as he followed his brother inside.

"You still like milk, two sugars", Max asked as they entered the house.

"Yeah, thanks", Jack replied as they parted. Max went into the kitchen while Jack entered the front room, exploring, picking up numerous photos and examining them.

A few moments later Max entered the room handing Jack a cup of tea. "Who's this?", Jack asked pointing at one of the photos.

"That's dad", Max replied while sitting down. "And the woman is Dot. She lives a few doors down. Dad's wife."

"He remarried", Jack said sounding shocked while taking a seat.

"Don't say you expected him to just wait around for mum to turn up", Max exclaimed.

"Not dad's style, she looks to good for him."

"He's a changed man", Max explained. "He comes home tomorrow."

"Doubt I'll be here", Jack said as he took a drink.

"How come?"

"I have no-where to stop. No-one wants me here. I might as well go back up to Manchester", Jack answered.

"You can stop here for a bit, better than you staying in that car."

"Yesterday you wanted me gone."

"Tanya's good at persuading me round and I heard about what happened to you yesterday."

"News travels fast", Jack replied.

"Well it is Walford Jack. Bunch of nosey buggars", Max spoke. "But getting hit by Roxy doesn't explain why you were in the car."

"Steve invited me round for dinner at his."

"Ah!", Max said softly. "Get a shock."

Jack nodded. "Of all people."

"It's no secret why she's with him", Max replied as Jack looked on blank. "Libby!"

"So she's his", Jack asked.

"I've had my doubts", Max explained. "But then they had a DNA test. Ronnie showed me the papers."

All of a sudden Jack felt this heart sink and went silent, staring down at his cup. Noticing Jack's actions Max quietly left the room, leaving his brother on his own.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Roxy walked in the front room of the Vic, waking Ronnie who was sleeping on the sofa. Ronnie slowly sat up allowing her sister to take a seat next to her. "I took Libby to school."

"She go okay?"

"Without a fuss, for once", Roxy replied as Ronnie let out a small smile. "So you gunna tell me what happened?"

"Jack happened", Ronnie confessed. "Steve invited him round."

"And he found out the truth so what."

"Steve and Jack have been in touch since the day he left. He knew Steve had a daughter."

"Oh Ron", Roxy said holding her sister. Several seconds later Roxy broke from the hug noticing a long black man's coat. "Whose is that?"

"Jack's. He left it.", Ronnie spoke.

"You still have feelings for him don't you", Roxy asked letting Ronnie let out a small smile. "What you going to do about it?"

"Talk to him", Ronnie said standing up. "If it's not too late that is. For all I know he could have gone back to Manchester."

"Jack comes back. See's you and Libby. Has a bust up with Steve and leaves his coat on purpose. Yeah, he's really gone back to Manchester", Roxy said.

"Well I'm going to get dressed", Ronnie said while running her hands through her hair.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The market was at its busiest as dinner time arrived. Jack stepped out The Cafe eating his bacon sandwich as he saw Ronnie disappear round the corner. He stood debating with himself for several seconds before following Ronnie's tracks, but once he got to the end of the road Ronnie was no-where in sight. Eating his sandwich and taking a look round, Jack's attention was caught by the multi-coloured wall, with R&R written in big letters. He put his sandwich in the bin, whipped the crumbs of his lips and put his hand on the door handle, pressing it down gently before making his way inside hearing Ronnie's voice.

"I don't care if he's taken bad. I need my supplies or I can't run a business ... well just send someone else."

Ronnie let out a loud sigh as she hung up the phone. Hearing footsteps she sprung round, jumping at the sign of Jack. "What do you want?"

"Just wanted to say sorry for last night, I overreacted."

"You just reacted the same way everyone else would Jack."

"Yeah", he replied repelling the room into an awkward silence.

"You wanna drink?", Ronnie asked.

"Bit early", Jack replied. "But I'll have a small one."

Ronnie poured out a straight whiskey while Jack took a seat, watching her reach up and stretch her body as she put the bottle back into place.

"This reminds me of our first drink together. When you asked me to be your partner", Jack said as Ronnie handed over the glass and took a seat opposite him.

"And we all know how that ended", Ronnie replied as a smile emerged on Jack's lower face.

"They were the good times", Jack said cheerfully.

"Remember that game of spin the bottle", Ronnie laughed.

"How could I forget, was the first night I actually got to kiss you properly", Jack replied as Ronnie's eyes locked with his.

"Yeah ... that was a long time ago", Ronnie said looking down.

"Feels like yesterday", Jack replied.

"Why did you come back Jack?", Ronnie asked raising her head as Jack fiddled with his glass.

"My dad!"

"Oh!", Ronnie said quietly. "How'd you find out?"

"I'm in the police. I know people who know people."

"So your one of those coppers", Ronnie replied. "You always were one of the bad boys."

"That's what made me so irresistible", Jack replied making Ronnie laugh.

"Don't flatter yourself Jack."

Jack lifted his glass and swallowed the rest of his whiskey. "Finest whiskey in the world this."

"You don't even know what kind it is", Ronnie smiled.

"Of course I do. I saw you pour it out of the bottle", Jack raised prompting Ronnie to shake her head while letting out a small laugh. "So you and Steve, you love him."

Ronnie's smile faded and her eyes lowered. "Me and Steve; its complicated Jack."

"You didn't answer my question", Jack pried.

"Jack if this is about me and you, it's never gunna happen", Ronnie explained.

"Just answer my question Ronnie."

"Yes I love him. I've grown to love him", Ronnie shouted. "I moved on with my life and so should you."

"I moved on, went away but still all I can ever think about is you", Jack yelled.

"Then you've wasted 10 years of your life."

"Anything do to with you is not a waste of time", Jack replied moving closer to Ronnie.

"Jack don't do this", Ronnie said as Jack raised his hand, stroking her delicate skin.

"I know you still have feelings for me ... I can sense it", Jack said softly as he moved his face closer. Ronnie shuddered as she felt Jack's breath upon her skin, unable to control her-self she closed her eyes and got lost in the moment as Jack's lips met her hers tenderly. Ronnie pulled away after several seconds, opening her eyes and removing Jack's hand from her face.

"This was a mistake", she said.

"But it felt right", Jack replied.

Ronnie placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back. "I think you should go."

"Is that what you really want?"

"It is", Ronnie replied softly prompting Jack to back off.

"Sometimes you have to take a leap Ronnie. Just bare that in mind", Jack said before leaving the club, and leaving Ronnie on her own.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ronnie walked into the Queen Victoria followed by Libby dressed in her school uniform. "I want to go home and get changed", Libby announced.

"You can later Libby, but for now I need you to be a good girl and stay here with Aunty Roxy", Ronnie responded.

"Babysitter at the ready", Roxy said happily as Ronnie and Libby reached the back of the bar.

"You don't mind do you", Ronnie asked.

"Course not", Roxy answered.

"I'm going upstairs", Libby expressed leaving the two sisters alone.

"Wish me luck", Ronnie said.

"With Steve or Jack", Roxy smiled.

"The father of my child Roxy", Ronnie replied prompting Roxy to look at her questioningly. "I've got to go."

"Good luck", Roxy shouted as Ronnie raced out the pub.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ronnie stuck the key in the front door, twisting it round until it unlocked. She put her small bag on the floor and took her black coat off, placing it on the banister. Smelling something from the kitchen, she walked down the hall and opened the door. A smile emerged on her face as she was greeted by a candle lit dinner.

She walked forward pulling the single rose of her plate and smelling it intensely. "I'm sorry for last night", Steve said from behind her.

"I think this makes up for it", Ronnie said as she turned round planting a small kiss on Steve's cheek.

"Shall we", Steve said as he walked past Ronnie and pulled out her seat.

Ronnie smiled as she sat down. "So what's on the menu for today?"

Steve bent down beside the stove and opened the oven door, taking out two pizzas. Ronnie laughed as he placed them down on the table. "What?!", Steve questioned while Ronnie continued laughing.

"Come here", Ronnie said pulling Steve's tie, and kissing him softly.

"Ronnie's there is something important I have to ask", Steve said kneeling down and searching in his pocket. He pulled out a little black box as shock covered Ronnie's face. "Yesterday when you said it was the man's job to propose, it felt right. I love you Ronnie Mitchell. Will you marry me?"

Ronnie remained opened mouthed as Steve opened the small black box, revealing an elegant diamond ring. "So what do you say?"

"You're a fool", Ronnie said tearfully. "But a love fool ... of course I will marry you."

Steve smiled with delight as he stood up and kissed Ronnie with passionately. Ronnie broke the kiss and held out her hand, allowing Steve to place the ring on her finger. "How about we take this upstairs?" Leaving the untouched food on the table, Ronnie grabbed Steve and led the way upstairs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"This is so boring", Libby said to herself as she sat in the Vic alone. She jumped up out of her seat and walked down the stairs. As she reached the bottom of them she took a packet of crisps and opened them, sticking them in her mouth and crunching them loudly.

Hearing all the punters laughing, ranting and raving, Libby walked through to the bar, noticing the man sitting in the corner. Very carefully she took a seat next to him. "Hi"

"You're a bit young to be in here aren't you", Jack said before taking a drink of his pint.

"Mum and dad don't mind", Libby responded placing the empty crisp packet on the table. "Why do my mum and dad not like you?"

Jack let out a laugh. "Who said that?"

"Well as soon as you left last night they argued over you. I was supposed to be upstairs but I listened in. Dad shouted lots."

"I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding", Jack replied.

"I don't think so. Mum made us come here", Libby told him.

"Sometimes grownups fight and need space", Jack explained while Libby bit the side of her lip.

"I have your coat upstairs", Libby said. "Dad was gunna bin it, but mum took it and said she was gunna give it to you today, but she's probably been too busy."

"Libby isn't it", Jack asked.

"Yeah!"

"You don't mind me asking when your birthday is", Jack spoke as Libby looked at him confused. "So I can buy you a little present."

"It's on the 4th August", Libby answered. "But how can you get me a present if you don't live round here?"

"Because I'm thinking about sticking around for a while", Jack said making Libby smile.

"I love extra birthday presents", Libby said happily.

"Great", Jack sighed as he saw Ronnie and Steve enter. "Looks like your mum and dad have come to pick you up."

Before Libby could get out her seat Steve was straight over closely followed by Ronnie. "What have I told you about talking to strangers?", Steve said angrily.

"He's not a stranger, Jack's your friend", Libby spoke.

"He was my friend", Steve replied. "Now go home with mummy."

Jack turned his head and smiled at Ronnie, who glanced down. She looked up again as Libby took her mother's hand and left the Vic.

"You go near my daughter again and I will rip your head off", Steve warned Jack making him laugh. "I'm serious Jack. Stay away from Libby and my fiancée."

"Fiancée", Jack repeated.

"Yes fiancée. I proposed a couple of hours back and she said yes. I think a summer wedding sounds nice, don't you Jack", Steve said finishing the conversation.