TITLE: Life Is a Rollercoaster
RATING: PG-13/ R in places
AUTHOR/S: Hannah
FIC DISCLAIMER: This story is for entertainment purposes only. Any link to real characters is purely fictional. Any reference to Take That or their families, and any event, location that may fit their real locations or connection between them and the fictional characters is purely coincidental. The copyright for this story and their own characters belong to the author. Please do not steal/copy or use them without express permission of the writer.
SETTING: Anywhere and everywhere
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Jason Orange (of Take That fame) is my true love and stories about him are one of the best types of story. I just hope you like it. This is the sequel to my story, Once Upon A Dream. I know this has been an extremely long time coming but I hope you like it :) What's even better is that I have another chapter ready and waiting to be typed so the next update shouldn't be too far away :)
Chapter 9 – Christmas Wishes
4 weeks later…
Now that things were back to normal with me and Jay, Christmas cheer was starting to creep up on all of us and it was evident everywhere you looked.
Jay was released from rehab about a week after my visit and we just continued on as though the break up had never happened. My bump continued to get bigger each and every day and I'd had my second scan. Me being me, I couldn't wait for the surprise when I gave birth and so we found out that we were going to be having a son. Needless to say Jay was over the moon as he'd wanted a boy from the start.
Anyway, it was the 2nd week of December and we were helping to decorate the penthouse for Christmas, along with Kelly, Howard, Markie and Emma. Gary and Dawn were spending time with Gary's family and Rob was back in LA with Ayda and her family.
"So, have you thought of any names yet?" Emma asked, handing me a bauble to place on the tree. I smiled softly and gave a quick glance to Jay before answering.
"Well, I know Jay hasn't, but I have," I said, not taking my eyes of my gorgeous fiancé. He surveyed me with a smile as I continued to speak. "I've always loved the name 'Dylan' so I was thinking Dylan Jason Orange. What do you guys reckon?" I asked, looking to all of my friends for their opinions. I saw a grin appear on Jay's face.
"I like it. It's got a nice ring to it," Kelly called from the balcony, where she and Howard were hanging some tinsel. I smiled as Markie added his thoughts.
"Dylan Jason Orange… Perfect! So, we've got Daniel Barlow, Elwood Owen and Dylan Orange… The start of mini Take That! All we need is a mini Donald and a mini Williams and we're all ready to go!" he said, and we all laughed as Emma kissed Mark sweetly on the cheek.
"I love it, babes," Jay said softly, placing his hands round my waist and kissing me softly. He pulled away smiling at me. He then glanced around the room and spoke again. "We'd better get cracking on this lot if we wanna have it ready for Christmas!" he said, pointing to the half decorated tree and the almost bare walls. We all smiled at each other and set to work.
"Your mum said she'd come, didn't she?" Gary asked me, and I nodded. We were finalising the list of people who would be at the penthouse for Christmas dinner.
"It's gonna be so magical," Kelly murmured, as she continued to wrap some of the presents for the kids. I simply grinned. If only she knew of what Howard had planned for her come Christmas Day. All of us, save for Kel, knew where he'd gone today. She just thought he'd gone to town with Jay to get some last minute presents for the lads, when in fact he'd gone to pick up an extra special gift for her…
"It really will be magical, Kel," Dawn said innocently, with a quick wink to me that went unnoticed by my best friend.
"What? Are you absolutely sure?" I whispered, and I took another look at the look on Kelly's face.
"Positive! Look…" she muttered back hurriedly, shoving the stick in front of my eyes. I glanced at it and smiled softly.
"Oh Kel! This is absolutely perfect! I squeaked excitedly. "How's gonna be made up love!" I stopped quickly as we heard movement outside the bathroom door. Kelly gave me a wraning look as we heard Dawn's voice.
"You two alright in there?" she asked, worry sounding in her every word.
"Yeah, Dawnie! We'll be out in a minute!" Kelly called back, and we heard the footsteps move away. Kelly looked to me as I grabbed a wad of toilet paper and wrapped up the stick. I would dispose of it in the en-suite in mine and Jay's room. It wouldn't look as conspicuous that way…
"Merry Christmas, my angel."
I felt Jay's warm breath wash over my skin and I smiled softly as I opened my eyes.
"And merry Christmas to you, my darling," I said, leaning up to kiss my fiancé. I could hear excited squealing all over the penthouse and I could tell the kids were all awake and they'd obviously opened their presents. I was smiling as the pair of us started to get out of bed, but I suddenly stopped dead and my hand flew to my stomach. My smile became more pronounced.
"Baby…" I whispered, reaching for Jay's hand and placing it on my bump. I saw a huge grin appear on Jay's face as the pair of us felt our son booting hell out of my stomach. Jay's face was a perfect picture of happiness. He looked lovingly into my eyes and leaned in to kiss me passionately.
"I love you with all my heart, Hannah," he breathed, cupping my cheek and smiling warmly at me. I returned his smile.
"Words really can't describe how much I love you, Jay. You're my whole world and much more besides, sweetheart," I said softly, looking into his gorgeous, blue eyes and melting at how perfect the moment was.
Jay and I spent the morning in Wythenshawe with his family. I was rather pleased with the gold necklace the family had bought me because I really hadn't been expecting anything.
"But you're family now, so it's all good!" Jenny had insisted and I just smiled at her. I really had been accepted as part of Jay's family and it made me feel so happy inside.
Anyway, when we got back to the penthouse, everyone else was already there.
"Happy Christmas, guys!" Rob called, as he spotted us coming in first. I smiled at him and then glanced over to Kelly and Howard, both of whom looked pretty nervous. Then again, they both had reason to be…
When the last crumbs of pudding had disappeared and the kids had vanished to go and play with their toys, it was time for our presents. I could see the nerves growing in both Howard and Kelly. I just smiled at them as I watched Gaz reach under the tree to pull out everyone's gifts.
My first gift was a Dolce and Gabana perfume set from Gary and Dawn. As I thanked them, I watched Rob open his present from Jay and I. I saw a grin light up his face as he pulled out a Stoke football shirt with his name emblazoned on the back of it.
"Thanks, guys!" he said, throwing us a warm smile. I returned his smile and watched as more presents were opened. I saw smile after smile appear on all of my friend's faces as the afternoon wore on. I could see the nerves growing in both Howard and Kelly's faces as the excitement bubbled in my stomach.
When Kelly had opened what she thought was the last present of the lot (a Chanel handbag from Howard). I saw Howard give me a quick glance and I simply nodded, a grin spread wide across my face. Howard looked a little green as he motioned to Gaz to get Kelly's extra special present from the very back of the tree.
"Ah! We missed one!" Gaz announced. "It's from you to Kel, Howard. Do you wanna give it to her, mate?" I watched Doug gulp as he took the tiny, ribboned box from Gaz, who winked at his friend. I looked to my best friend, eager to know what her last present was, blissfully unaware that it would change her life forever.
"Kel, love, you know you mean the entire world to me and the girls absolutely adore you," he said softly, taking Kelly's left hand in his own. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that all the kids, Lola and Grace at the front of the group, had come to watch. I watched Kelly's look swiftly change from confused to overjoyed as Howard got down on one knee in front of her. She clapped a hand to her mouth, her grin still extremely prominent, as Howard spoke again.
"Kelly Anne O'Brien, you are the greatest thing to happen to me since Gracey and Lola came into my life. I love you more than anything," he said, looking straight into Kelly's eyes, love etched on every feature of his face. "Will you be mine forever and do me the greatest honour of marrying me?" I saw a tear roll down Kelly's cheek as she contemplated her answer. She looked to me for guidance and I simply grinned at her as Jay held me tight, his hands resting on my bump.
"Oh this is the best Christmas present ever!" Kelly whispered. "This makes everything even more perfect. Yes, Howie! Yes, I'll marry you!"
I heard two excited squeals from Grace and Lola as we all started to grin. We watched as Howard jumped up and swept Kelly up into his arms. The pair kissed passionately, as Grace and Lola, still squealing with excitement, ran forward. How released Kelly and picked his eldest daughter, as Kelly picked up Lola in her arms. I smiled happily at them and realised this was the perfect opportunity for me to say a little something to them, something that Kelly and I had talked about earlier in the week.
"Aw. You guys are adorable. You really do look like a proper little family now," I said, smiling happily at my friends in front of me. I saw the look Kelly gave me before turning to face Howard.
"She's right you know, How," Kelly said softly, popping Lola back down. "We really do look like a proper family. But what if there was a new addition to the family…" Kelly trailed off, a coy smile playing about her lips. I saw everyone clap their hands to their mouths in shock. Howard almost dropped Grace as comprehension dawned on him. He put his daughter on the ground as he spoke.
"You mean… You're…?" he spluttered. I saw Kelly grin, before she was, once again, swept up into her fiancé's arms and a furious lip lock between the two started. After a few seconds, they broke apart and Howard placed a hand on Kelly's stomach.
"Yeah, I am," Kelly finally said breathlessly, in answer to Howard's question. I saw a couple of tears roll down Kelly's cheek, as Howard engulfed her again, this time pulling Grace and Lola into the hug as well. I could see Dawn about to explode with excitement and I grinned at her.
"Oh congratulations, guys!" she squealed, running forward to the family. She pulled Kelly into a tight squeeze as the rest of us saw our cue to get up and congratulate the family.
"Congrats mate!" Jay said, taking Howard's hand to shake. He leaned in to whisper a few things into Howard's ear. I couldn't tell what was being said, but Jay looked slightly solemn about it before a grin reappeared on his face just a second later. I had a feeling I knew what it had been about but I didn't let it trouble me because this moment was about two of my best friends in the whole world…
"I can't believe it! I really can't!" Kelly said excitedly a couple of hours later. It was just myself, Kel, Dawn, Emma and Ayda left together now, as the lads had disappeared for band meeting to discuss "tour ideas" but we knew they were up to something. We just didn't know what it was. The kids were in their rooms.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later, Kel. How's never been this happy with anyone. Besides, you two were made for each other," Emma said, a smile present on her face.
"Yeah! You two are perfect together!" Ayda agreed. We all smiled because everything really was starting to come together for all of us… Robbie was finally settled with his beautiful wife, Ayda, Gary and Dawn were still happily married after 11 years, Mark's problems were behind him and Emma had forgiven him completely, Kelly was overly happy with Howard as her fiancé and a baby on the way, and things were stronger than ever with Jay and I; I was happier than I'd ever been. Of course there was still that shadow hanging over us but I hoped it would be gone soon enough…