(Sorry for lack of updates over the past few days! I haven't been very well so looking at a computer screen was out of the question... I'll try and make up for it!)
"Um, mum?" Nick said, as he peered around the corner. "Is it okay if someone stays the night?"
"Depends who." Jess heard her grandmothers voice and then saw her head appear around the door. "Jess!" She ran up and hugged her.
"Hey Grandma." Jess said.
"What brings you here?" Her grandmother asked pulling out of the hug.
"She ran off." Nick said. "Came here alone by train."
"You did?" Jess's grandmother asked, shocked. "Does Zoe know?"
"Yes, Jess is staying the night, if you don't mind." Nick ran his hand through her hair.
"Thats fine!" She replied.
"Granny Jordan?" Jess asked.
"Yes love?"
"Do you have any biscuits?" Jess asked, and Mrs Jordan laughed.
"Yes of course I do." She said. "Would you like some?"
"Yes please." Jess smiled politely.
"Jess, how much did you spend to get here?" Nick asked, taking out his wallet.
"Maybe seventy quid?" Jess said as Mrs Jordan came in with the tea and biscuits. "Thank you."
"Your welcome Darling." She said and went into the kitchen.
"Here." Nick said, handing over £80.
"What? No." Jess said.
"You were saving up Jess." Nick said. "Take it."
"This was what I wanted more than what I was saving up for." Jess said. "I don't need your money."
"Take it please." Nick said. "I won't rest until you take it."
"Why?"
"I made you come here." Nick said. "Please Jess." He put the money on her lap.
"You really want me to have it?"
"Yes." Nick said, looking at her, and she shrugged. She put the money in her purse and helped herself to tea and biscuits.
The next morning, Jess got up after having a good night sleep, knowing her dad was only meters away. She didn't know what was going to happen. Where was Jess going to stay? How close to home would Nick be from now on? He wasn't to give his job away at Holby so that was a good sign.
She walked downstairs to find her dad and her grandma at the table.
"Morning." Her grandmother said.
"Did you sleep well?" Nick asked.
"Yeah I did." She yawned and sat next to her dad. He put his arm around her as her grandma bought her a cooked breakfast. "Thank you."
"No problem hun." She smiled and walked off to the kitchen, and Jess got eating.
That afternoon, the doorbell went and Jess sighed. She knew it would be her mother. She would have travelled by train.
"Zoe." Nick answered the door and let her in.
"Nick." Zoe said, not bringing herself to look into his eyes. She walked into the living room and Jess was there. "Oh Jess." She said, walking up to give her a hug. "You made me to worried and-"
"Get off me." Jess said, pushing her off.
"Jess." Nick said as Zoe sat next to her instead.
"What?" Jess replied, and Nick looked towards Zoe. Jess sighed. "Im sorry for running off."
"Why did you?" Zoe asked.
"I thought Dad was going and I thought I'd never see him." Jess said.
"I told her thats not true. She will see me." Nick told Zoe. "And often."
"I agree." Zoe nodded still not bringing herself to look at him.
"Im finding a place near Holby." Nick said. "I'll be staying there."
"Okay." Zoe said. "How often do you want her?"
"I was thinking we swap over each week." Nick suggested. "Then there isn't so much moving around." He ignored Jess's gasp of protest.
"Yeah that sounds good." Zoe said, and looked at Jess.
"No." Jess shook her head.
"Jess-" Nick tried to begin.
"No." Jess said again. "I want to stay with you."
"I can't keep you all the time at mine." Nick shook his head.
"Why not?"
"There won't be anyone in the house." Nick said. "I work worse shifts."
"It was fine before." Jess said.
"Because your mother was there." Nick said.
"It was fine before because you were both together!" Jess shouted.
"Jess. This is how it is now." Nick said.
"Well it could have been different." She said, eyes filling with tears. "It could have been better." Zoe looked down.
"This is just how it is." Nick said. "I can't change it."
They sat in silence for a little while. Jess tried to hold it together, but then Zoe spoke.
"We had better get going." She said and Jess ran up to her dad and hugged him.
"I don't want to leave." She sobbed as Nick held her. He looked over Jess at Zoe who looked incredibly guilty.
"I know you don't." Nick said. "But you have to. Ill come and visit you soon."
"I don't want to go!" She said louder. "Please don't make me go."
"You have school Jess."
"Its the weekend." Jess said, seeing that now it was saturday.
"It might well be the weekend but you live in Holby. Not Wales."
"You do too!" Jess said. "Please."
"You need to go with your mother." Nick said, looking at Zoe who had tearful eyes.
"You need me to." Jess said. "But I don't want to."
"Come on." Nick said, standing up. "You got everything?" Jess nodded.
"Lets go Jess." Zoe said, putting her hand on her daughters shoulder. Jess shrugged it off.
"Im going." She said, giving her dad a last hug. She let the tears fall this time.
"Don't cry." Nick said. "Ill see you again soon."
"Okay." Jess said. "When?"
"Soon." Nick said, and Jess walked away. She walked with her mother until they were out of sight.
