It had been three weeks and Abi had been staying with Jay at the B&B, which wasn't exactly convenient with how small his room was, but they were making it work. Tanya had gone back to sort things out in Exeter, and Abi still hadn't made up with Max. Not for the lack of trying on her father's part; he'd calmed down and was apologetic, but everytime he tried to put things right, he would end up making it worse. So Abi had decided to just avoid him at all costs, and Jay simply didn't argue.

Abi was starting to show now, and everyone knew about the pregnancy. It was a lot easier not having to keep it a secret, but it didn't help when she felt everyone was judging her. Jay told her it didn't matter what anyone else thought, and deep down she knew he was right, but she couldn't help the way she felt. She didn't like feeling as if people were looking at her, talking about her, taking pity on her. Everyone told her not to worry about it, but she did wonder what they were saying when she wasn't around. Call her paranoid, but she was seventeen and pregnant. It was hardly a stretch to wonder if people were talking about her. Jay didn't care what other people thought; he thought it was the best thing in the world, so why should he give a toss about anyone else? It was just another reason why she loved him so much.

He was in work now, leaving her sat alone and bored in his room. She hadn't gone into sixth form today, since she'd woke up nauseous and exhausted. The idea of going and sitting in a room full of people who were judging her, and listening to a teacher - who was probably also judging her - made her head spin. She couldn't face it, so she'd taken the morning off. Again. She'd promised Jay she'd go in this afternoon, since she was supposed to be trying not to miss too much, but it was one o'clock and she was still sat in her pyjamas. So it didn't look as if she was going to be learning anything today, did it?

It said in the books (yes, plural on books) that Jay bought that morning sickness usually started to improve between 14 and 16 weeks - and, since she was now 16 weeks herself, she was hoping she'd start to see that sooner rather than later. Because this vomiting thing wasn't much fun. She loved and wanted this baby, but pregnancy really wasn't working out for her. But she kept telling herself that it would all be worth it in the end. She was just glad that she had Jay by her side.

Jay sighed as he scribbled over the ad in the newspaper, shaking his head. He was sat in the cafe on his lunch break, and at the moment he was trying to find a flat for him and Abi. Only problem was, there was no way they could afford anything. Like, literally, anything. It was next to impossible to find somewhere that was within their price range. A price range that was next to non-existent, mind you. He had a bit of cash after working all these years at the Arches and she had her wages from waitressing for Ian at the restaurant, but it was still hard. He wanted the perfect place for them to raise their child. Tanya had said they could go stay with her in Exeter until they were more settled. So, whilst they could just do that, Jay wanted them to have a place of their own. They wouldn't be able to stay in Tanya's house forever, and he thought it would be best to get somewhere before the baby was born, if they could. Just so the child could settle where he or she was from the day they were born, with no fuss with moving around afterwards. He'd been looking around for a relatively cheap flat, but 'cheap' and 'two bedrooms in London' weren't words that belonged in the same sentence. So, he hadn't told Abi that he'd been looking. He just didn't want to make any empty promises. When he found them a place, then he would bring it up.

He looked up when he heard someone sitting down opposite him. Phil. Jay frowned, leaning back in his seat. Neither of them said anything for a few moments, and Jay was just about to ask what it was that the older man wanted when he finally spoke up. "You going somewhere?"

Jay didn't reply straight away, instead eyeing his boss suspiciously. "Hopefully. B&B's no place for a baby, so…"

"Can't you live with Abi's lot?" Phil asked. "Max don't seem the type to chuck his precious Princess out over a bun in the oven."

"Well they're still not talking, so.." Jay sighed. "Though that's more Abi than it is Max. She's, uh, pretty stubborn when she wants to be."

Phil just laughed and there was a comfortable silence for a few seconds. "You know, if you need help with anything…"

"Like what?"

"Like...money or-"

"I don't need money."

"- Or a place to stay, then I can help. Wouldn't it be easier if you didn't have to pay rent every month?"

Jay looked up at him in confusion, prompting Phil to go on. "Come back to stay with me. Just to save you some money until the baby's born."

"No, I don't think that's a good idea," Jay eventually answered.

"Okay...Fair enough. Extra shifts at the Arches then?" Phil offered, continuing before Jay could turn him down. "You're gonna be a Dad, Jay. Ain't no room to be proud. Just think about it."

With that, Phil stood up and walked out of the cafe, leaving Jay alone to think about what had just happened.

"Lola, are you okay?"

Abi had eventually got too bored for her own good and had gone over to her Nan's. She was only there for a few minutes until Cora had left to go meet Patrick, which was a little insulting, but whatever. Luckily, at the same time, she received a text message from Lola. The other girl had just finished a shift at the salon, and wanted to see her. With the morning sickness playing up, Abi decided not to risk another walk across the Square, so Lola had come to Cora's. It was just the two of them, and little Lexi of course, so it was nice. Abi couldn't help but feel like something was off with her best friend though. She was unusually quiet, but it was as if there was something she wanted to say but wasn't sure how to.

"What? Yeah, yeah I'm great," she gushed, before suddenly breaking out into a fit of giggles. Abi looked at her in surprise, laughing herself.

"Okay, that's it...what's going on?" She asked, shaking her head. When Lola shrugged coyly, and looked down at her hands, Abi gasped. "It's a boy, isn't it?"

"A boy? What? Pfffft, no," Lola scoffed, very clearly lying through her teeth.

"Is it Peter?!" Abi asked, sitting more upright and studying her friend's reaction. When the other blonde just laughed again, a pink blush creeping upon her cheeks, Abi knew the answer. "Lola!"

"Fine, fine," Lola sighed in sarcastic defeat. "Yes, we're together."

"Oh my God…" Abi breathed. "When did this happen?"

"Last night," Lola replied. "We slept together and I thought maybe that was all he wanted, but...But I saw him earlier and he wants to be with me, Ab. Like proper be with me."

"That's great, Lo," she smiled. "So you really like him, huh?"

"He's…" Lola started, shaking her head as she looked for the words. "Peter's kind, and smart, and funny, and gentle….And, I mean, have you seen his abs? Crazy."

They both laughed but they were interrupted when Lauren appeared in the doorway.

"Lauren.." Abi breathed. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, um, Nan said you were here…" Lauren explained, awkwardly. "But you're busy, so I'll catch you later."

Abi protested for a moment but her sister was out of the door in a flash. Lola confusedly turne to look at her. "What's her problem?"

"I think she overheard you."

"So?"

"So her and Peter used to date, it was probably just an awkward thing to walk in on," Abi shrugged, as Lola's face dropped. "Wait, I thought you knew? Peter didn't mention it?"

"No...No, he didn't," Lola replied, standing up from the couch and picking Lexi up from the floor. "I'll talk to you later, Abs."

Abi entered their room at the B&B, smiling when she saw Jay sat on the bed.

"Hey you," she greeted, putting her back down and going to sit next to him.

"Hey," he replied, leaning over to give her a kiss on the lips. "You'll never guess what happened to me today."

"You'll never guess what happened to me today," Abi echoed with a smirk. "But you go first."

"...Okay, Phil offered me money."

"What?!"

"Then he offered for me to move back in rent free. Then he offered more shifts at the Arches."

"...Wow, you win. What did you say?"

"Well, I said no, but he told me to think about it," Jay sighed, running a hand over his face. "With the baby coming, I don't know if I can afford to say no. I was hoping you'd be able to tell me."

"I think that it's totally up to you, but…" Abi paused for a moment, reaching for his hand. "If you're comfortable working with Phil, would a few more hours really hurt? It's not as if it would be charity or anything, you'd be working for it."

"Yeah…" he breathed, idly rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand. "Yeah, maybe you're right. What happened with you then?"

"Lola and Peter are together-"

"-What?! I knew it."

"I know, I know," Abi laughed before going quiet. "Well, they were. Lauren walked in on Lola talking about him and got all weird, so I said about how her and Peter used to date and...well, Lola didn't know. I thought I'd told her, or that Peter would have, but apparently not."

"...Oh."

"Yeah. Oh," Abi repeated before sighing and cuddling into his side, Jay wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "I mean it's been months, how did she not know that? She didn't seem too happy about it either. Hopefully her and Peter will work it out though. I think they're good together."

Jay smiled as she rambled on, distractedly playing with her hair. All of this stuff was going on, but none of it even mattered. Their money troubles, their living situation, Abi's arguing with Max...definitely not Lola/Peter/Lauren's love life. None of it really mattered because they had each other. They could sit there, her wrapped into his side and him playing with her hair, just listening to her talk about silly little things as if their lives weren't about to be turned upside down and inside out in just a few months. That was one of the many reasons why he loved her. She may have been a worrier when there was no need to worry, but she also had the ability to stop him from worrying. They were living in a tiny room in a B&B, she was three and a half months pregnant, and they were sat here debating their friends' relationship problems.

It was half hour later and they were still talking about it.

"You really think Lauren still has feelings for Peter? Weren't they like 12 when they dated?" Jay questioned. "And what about Joey? Or that new bloke you said she was seeing?"

"My best friend's new boyfriend, my blood-related biological first cousin, or a man she met at alcoholics counselling.." Abi sighed, as if she was thinking about the options. "She really knows how to pick 'em, my sister."

"Yeah, clearly." Jay laughed, shaking his head.

"She's obviously not got such a good taste in men as I have," Abi smirked, leaning up to kiss him.

"Oh, you've got the best taste," he replied, continuing to kiss her as she laughed against his lips.

Bit of a filler chapter, but I promise it's all leading somewhere. And I promise I'll try to update more regularly from now on! Please drop me a review if you have a chance, it's nice to know if people are still reading this (and enjoying it!). Thank you!

Coming up: Will Lola and Peter make it work, or is it Lauren that he really wants? Will Abi listen to Cora's advice? And will she discover Jay's secret?