"So I guess all of the sisters have had their go with good old Darren Miller now," Lauren smirked.
"Lauren!" Abi exclaimed turning away in embarrassment.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jay asked, getting suspicious.
"Jay, before Abi started seeing you, Abi had a massive crush on him, like she was obsessed with him!" Lauren started laughing.
"Oh Lauren, shut up, I was young," Abi spat, her cheeks blushing a bright red.
All the memories came flooding back of the stuff Abi did when she fancied Darren. She was so jealous of Jodie that she thought she hated her (in the end, Jodie was the one that helped her get ready for her first proper date with Jay!) she used to doodle Darren's name in her notebooks, she used to ask him random questions, she hugged him, clinging onto him for ages and used her cousin Billie's death as an excuse. The bullet went too far when Abi tried to kiss Darren, but pushed her away and letting her down gently by saying that she was too young and how in love he was with Jodie and proposed to her right in front of him! That was the last straw.
"Everyone use to have them crazy crushes, it's part of growing up innit? I mean I use to have the hots for Roxy and Sam Mitchell," Jay shrugged it off.
"I don't know Sam, but Roxy?" Dexter smirked, "Ok!"
Jay glanced over at Dexter before turning towards the scene. His eyes wandered to George, who was smiling shyly at everyone. George looked at Jay smiling cutely. He had hazel brown eyes and scruffy brown hair with a few light curls, just like Heather did, but George's hair wasn't that curly, it just had a bit of a wave. George gave a small cute smile at Jay, a smile like Heather's. Jay's world seemed to be going in slow motion. The conversation in the café was being drained out as his mind to him back to the memory of that awful night on Ben's 16th birthday. The night that ruined everything, the night that changed his life forever. Jay's eyes squinted shut as the sound of the photo frame smashing across Heather's skull ringed in his ears. He opened his eyes again. The current conversation was being heard clearly. Jay continued to stare at George.
"You two kissed when Darren was due to marry Jodie, his ex!" Darcy proclaimed, astonished as her eye contact was shared between Darren and Lauren.
"It was a one off," Lauren tried to convince her. "To be honest I don't really know how it started, we were pretty out of it," she frowned to herself.
"It was a mistake," Darren spoke. "The kiss me and Lauren shared just proved how much I wasn't in love with Jodie than I thought I was, how I was taking the plunge too quickly, it was rushed."
Darcy started to feel at ease. She looked at Lauren sternly, "The kiss with Darren was a one off, you got that? You two won't be drinking alone together. Darren and I are solid- have been for over a year and I don't want sudden relatives to change that."
Lauren chuckled, "Darcy, funny enough, I have better standards! I mean, I have Joey! He's the only man I've truly loved so there, it's sorted, so you can stop having your hissy fit now!"
"Jay, everything okay?" Abi asked unsure as she caught Jay staring at George. She knew why he was, but she didn't want to make a big thing of it.
Jay turned to Abi, "Yeah I'm fine. Look, I'll see you at home yeah?" Jay shot out of his seat and quickly pecked Abi on the cheek and kissed Paris' forehead before rushing out of the café.
"What's wrong with him?" Darcy frowned as her eyes lingered on Jay.
"He's fine," Abi tried to sound convincing, forcing a smile across her lips. She turned towards Lauren and widened her eyes, gritting her teeth under her lips to indicate for her to not say anything.
…
Jay was sitting on the tube, dazed in a daydream. Thoughts were taking over his mind. Some were good memories and some were bad.
Jay used to sit on tubes until he arrived back in Walford before the court trial. There were times where he needed to be alone and on the tube, no one knows you or will check up on you. Jay liked the idea of having a bit of freedom. He use to ride on trains for hours but he couldn't always do it, and it wasn't just because he had to spend money. It was because most of the time, he needed support from his loved ones. The people that really cared about him and wouldn't judge him. Mainly, that was Abi.
…
"Jay!" Abi called from the hallway as she arrived home an hour later. She frowned when there was no response.
"Jay," her voice lingered throughout the bungalow as she called her husband-to-be again, walking into different rooms of the bungalow. Abi sighed sadly. He wasn't there. Abi jolted from her moping when her mobile started ringing in her bag, which was located in the hallway.
"Phone! Phone!" Paris called from her pushchair, in an excited tone. She was always intrigued by the different melodies that was played on mobile phones.
Abi rushed into the hallway, smiling at her daughter in the meantime before scrambling into her bag before she missed the call, hoping it was Jay. Abi's eyes saddened when she looked at the caller ID to discover that Dexter was calling her. Abi let out a sigh as she answered the phone, "Dexter, where's Jay? Is he at the Arches?"
"No he's not, that's the reason I rang you, to see whether he was at your place," Dexter answered.
Abi sighed, she was starting to get worried. "Shall we go looking for him?" She suggested.
"I'm afraid that I can't, sorry cuz, this motor has to be finished by half 5," the scratching of Dexter's neck could be heard through the phone.
"I'll look for him myself then," Abi spoke abruptly and hung up with force. She dropped her phone in her bag before letting out a breath of release to talk gently to Paris: "Come on sweetie, let's go on an adventure to find your daddy!"
Abi opened the front door as she heard Paris go "Yay!" in a happy tone. Abi smiled sadly. If only this could be a game.
First, she took a visit to Phil's house considering that him and Jay go back and that Phil is Jay's boss. She took a deep breath, allowing her knuckle to rattle against the back door. Paris was in her own world as she sat in her pushchair.
The door swung open and Phil frowned at Abi. He had to do a double take. It wasn't every day that you saw Abi Branning on the doorstep of the Mitchell household; only if she was with Jay and Jay rarely came.
"Abi? What you doing here?" Phil spoke in a husky voice.
"Erm sorry to interrupt," Abi began. She felt awkward as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "But have you seen Jay in the past hour? I mean, he's not at home and he's not in the Arches."
"He should be at work," Phil said annoyed. He hated when his employees started to slack.
"I don't know what's going through his head, I have a vague idea, but the thing is…" Abi stuttered.
"Just spit it out Abi," Phil spat in frustration.
"Darren's back and George is with him. Jay must have felt on edge," Abi spoke rather hurriedly.
"Well maybe he's gone for some time alone?" Phil suggested. He shifted a little, "I mean, I'm on edge now."
"Sorry," Abi smiled sadly. "I'm really worried."
"Jay loves you, he'll come back when he's around. He just needs some space probably, time to think," Phil reassured his employee's fiancée.
"But I can't just wait around for him and not do anything," Abi pleaded.
"Well what do you expect me to do? I have my own stuff to deal with!" Phil spoke rudely before slamming the door in her face. Abi gaped at the blank door. To be honest she wasn't surprised due to his foul behaviour most of the time. She just thought that he would have more consideration considering that Phil was involved in the cover up of Heather's murder. Jay told her this out of trust when they were having a heart to heart the night they returned home with Paris from the hospital, the day after she was born.
Abi turned to Paris' direction as she heard her start grizzling. She sighed knowing that Paris was tired but she needed to try and find Jay. They were to be wed in three weeks time. Abi went into the baby bag and pulled out Paris' baby pink blanket with the character Roo from Winnie the Pooh at the front. Abi wrapped it over the front of Paris, tucking her in and placing a light kiss on her forehead.
"Try and sleep sweetheart," Abi whispered, stroking Paris' cheek. "I know you're tired."
Paris started to settle as Abi watched her eyes drift open and closed and sucking away on her dummy. Abi smiled before pushing the pushchair forcefully with her away from the Mitchell house. Her eyesight had caught Denise standing outside the Minute Mart and then walking back in.
Abi frowned as she thought of an ideal suspect, allowing herself to enter the Minute Mart.
"You alright Abi," Denise smiled, peering over the counter to look at Paris who was almost asleep in her pushchair. "Awe, she's beautiful isn't she!" She cooed.
Abi chuckled slightly, "She's a little madam! Anyway, do you know where Patrick is? It's just…Jay's missing, been gone for an hour. I think…well I know it's something to do with Darren Miller returning with George. I guess it brings it all back," Abi tried to explain, frowning to herself.
Denise gasped, "Little George is here! Awe bless, I wonder if he remembers Heather." She thought to herself before realising that Abi was standing across the counter, worried out of her mind. "I understand how you're feeling Abi, it was a very tense time for Jay. Patricks in the B&B, if I see Jay, I'll give you or Patrick a ring."
"Thanks Denise," Abi smiled gratefully before wheeling Paris out of the Minute Mart, heading for the B&B. It was an open house so she just let herself in to find Patrick in the living room with Bert, having a drink together. She left Paris in the hallway.
"Ello Abi!" Bert smiled. "Where's Jay?"
"That's exactly what I want to know," Abi sighed. "Darren came back with George and its put him on edge. He's been missing for the past hour. I'm not gonna ring him or text him as he told me that he'll see me at home; but he's not at home."
"See him at home," Patrick told her, genuinely. "He'll come back, I promise. He loves you. He just needs some space, think things through." He then spoke in a rough and rummy voice which sprung a bounce in his tone of voice: "He'll come back when he's ready and wants some loving!"
Abi tried not to laugh. "Okay, I'll be waiting for him at home. Thanks!"
With that, Abi turned on her heel, grabbed Paris' pushchair before departing the B&B and heading home to wait for her dearly beloved.
…
It was 10pm and Abi was lounging on the sofa in her nightwear, waiting on Jay. Spaghetti Bolognese was waiting for Jay on the kitchen work top. She was starting to get worried. She was so tired. She almost nodded off until the front door suddenly open, making her jolt in alert.
"Jay!" Hope was in Abi's voice as she got up from the sofa just as Jay entered the living room.
"Sorry I was long, I just needed some time to myself," Jay spoke apologetically.
Abi smiled genuinely with relief flooding her face as she went over to Jay and held him tightly. Jay relaxed in her embrace, holding onto her. When they pulled away, Jay ran his fingers through her hair. "You look tired babe, go to bed. I'll be with you once I've had something to eat- I'm famished!"
Abi prodded him playfully, "Lucky for you, I saved you some Spaghetti Bolognese, it's on a plate on the kitchen worktop. All you have to do is microwave it!"
"You're a life saver," Jay smiled warmly and pecked her on the lips. "Go on babe, go to bed. I'll be in there soon!"
Abi smiled at Jay before turning on her heel and heading towards the bedroom, leaving Jay's eyes lingering on her in awe and passion. Jay knew that he would be forever in love with Abi. Abi is for life. Abi is his life.
…
It wasn't until twenty minutes later that Jay entered his and Abi's bedroom. Jay shut the bedroom door, slowly but quietly as he watched Abi slowly fade into a deep sleep. However, Abi's body jolted to alert when she heard the bedroom door close. She looked at Jay, smiling. Jay smiled warmly as he stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed with Abi. Abi turned over, facing Jay's side.
"So where did you go?" Abi asked softly.
Jay was laying on his back; his head rotated in Abi's direction. He shuffled onto his side facing Abi. "I just went on the tube." Jay watched Abi's facial expression. Abi frowned, not knowing what to think. Her eyes looked saddened. To Jay, it implied that Abi thought that Jay was going to abandon her and Paris. "Don't worry, I was gonna come back. I was only intending to be away for a few hours, I never intended to be away for this long. I would never leave you and Paris, you two are my world!"
Abi smiled sadly, "Did you go anywhere? Like to a destination?"
"Just stayed on the tube. That's what I used to do when it all came out, I even used to when I had to cover up Ben's horrible shame," Jay wrinkled his nose in disgust.
Abi ran her hand down Jay' chest line, in between the nipples, causing them both to lock eyes with one another. "It's okay," she reassured. "I understand."
Jay stifled a laugh, "You're the only one that does seem to get me. To be honest, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Likewise," Abi smiled. "You were bound to be on edge about seeing George again. To be honest, he does look a bit like Heather. You can see Heather in him."
"Exactly," Jay sighed. "Every time I look at him, it just reminds me of that night, the night Ben killed his mum. The night Heather died."
Abi smiled sadly and ran her hand down Jay's side, "It will get better, I promise. I'm here."
Jay smiled and pushed Abi's head closer and kissing her forehead tenderly. "I love you. I'd have no idea what I'd do without you."
"I love you too. I'll always be with you so you're stuck with me," Abi grinned, making Jay chuckle.
…
The next morning, Max, Lauren, Oscar, Cora, Darcy, Darren and George were gathered in the kitchen for breakfast over at the Branning household. Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door.
"I'll get that," Lauren volunteered, getting up off her seat before walking down the hallway to open the front door. "Darren, Shirley's here! Come through Shirley."
The family heard the front door close, allowing Shirley's clunking black heeled boots to ring in their ear drums. Lauren was following behind Shirley. Shirley's face was filled with happiness as she came face to face with George. George had a face of recognition.
"Hello George," Shirley beamed happily. She knelt down to his level, "Do you remember me?" She asked softly.
It took a moment for George to recognise her until he said: "You're Shirley!"
Shirley was so happy at that point in time that it seemed like she was going to cry tears of happiness. She looked up at everyone, "He remembers me." She choked, tears streaming down her face.
"Why are you sad?" George frowned.
"I'm happy, really happy," Shirley quickly wiped away her tears and pulled George in a tight hug. She inhaled his scent. The scent that reminded her of Heather. She pulled away and gazed at George happily.
"George, would you like to spend the day with Shirley?" Darren asked his son, smiling at him.
George nodded, pulling his traditional shy smile. It made Shirley even more happier.
"Shall we go then?" Shirley quickly turned to Darren, "Does he need anything?"
"I'll go and get his jacket, he could get cold!" Darren went into the living room with Shirley and George following. After Shirley and George left, Darren went back into the kitchen, taking a sip of his coffee.
"That's what I was meant to ask," Darcy suddenly remembered something. "Why did Jay leave the café yesterday? He seemed all funny. I caught him looking at George and then he just vanished."
"Probably reminds him of the death of Heather, I read it in the newspaper about what really happened that night, I actually feel sorry for the lad," Darren scratched the back of his neck.
"I keep thinking that Phil was involved, you should have seen how Phil treated Jay before it all came out," Max sighed taking a sip of his coffee. "Jay was staying with us for a week! It was destroying him."
"Yet Abi saw the good in him and went back to him," Lauren commented.
"Jay is a good lad," Max concluded.
"I'm confused," Darcy frowned. "What's Jay got to do with Heather's death?"
"He was there when Heather died," Cora explained. "He was the one that cracked in the end after five months of keeping it hidden, he got charged for perverting the course of justice and got community service."
Darcy gaped at her new family and stormed out of the kitchen.
"Darcy, where are you going darling?!" Darren called out.
"I'm not having my sister marry a criminal. Especially one that's been charged with that," Darcy spat. "I'm going round there!"
Then the front door slammed. Darcy charged over to Jay and Abi's place and banged on the door. Jay opened the front door with a cup of coffee.
"Oh alright Darcy," Jay greeted.
"Move," Darcy spat and barged past him making Jay's coffee spill down Jay's top.
"Thanks for spilling coffee down me," Jay spoke abruptly giving out a sigh of frustration, just as Darren rushed into the bungalow. "Sorry about this Jay!"
Jay frowned in confusion as to what was going on. He closed the door behind him and entered the living room to find Abi walking in happily.
"Oh hey Darcy," Abi smiled, then she turned to Darren. "Darren."
"Pack your stuff," Darcy ordered. "You're moving back into number 5."
"What? Why would I do that?" Abi frowned.
"I know that your darling fiancée got charged for perverting the course of justice," Darcy screeched. "You're not marrying a criminal, I won't allow it!"
Abi gasped horrified. "Excuse me but Jay is not a criminal. You don't know what went on! And who the hell do you think you are…"
"Your sister," Darcy interrupted Abi's rant.
"Who I've only known for two weeks," Abi spoke harshly. "I love Jay and in three weeks time, I am going to marry him and there's nothing that you can do to stop me. Who do you think you are coming here out of the blue, claiming to be my sister and then you tell me who I can and can't marry!?"
"She has a point Darce," Darren frowned, "Let's just go!"
Darcy didn't take any notice.
"What if he lies to you? What if he lies about something more serious?" Darcy challenged folding her arms across her chest.
"I will always be straight with Abi," Jay reassured.
"I wasn't talking to you," Darcy growled.
"Don't talk to Jay like that," Abi snapped. "Jay's right, he would never lie to me! Yes, you're my sister but Jay and Paris come first in my life, I'd be lost without them. You've been in my life for two weeks…yes, I know Jay did wrong back then but he's a better person now, I always saw the good in him and if you can't accept me and Jay being together then don't bother coming to our wedding. In fact, you can go back to where you came from for all I care!"
Abi looked over at Jay and snuggled into him. Jay kissed the top of Abi's head lightly, holding her in an embrace. Darcy watched them. She knew that true love was standing right in front of her. Maybe fairytales can exist. What Darcy did know was that Jay and Abi were inseparable. Darcy had a flood of realisation.
"Alright, I'm sorry," Darcy spoke gently. "I was out of order and I guess it just came as a shock to me. I know you're happy and I wouldn't let you ruin what you two have for anyone's sake. I'm sorry. I would love to come to your wedding! But I don't want to be a bridesmaid, Lauren told me the colour of the dresses, I hate purple with a passion," Darcy shuddered, making Abi giggle.
"Don't worry," Abi said. "It came as a shock to me too, I slammed the door in his face!"
Darcy giggled then turned to Jay.
"I will accept you as my brother in law, but if you hurt her, I will kill you," Darcy warned. "Even if me and Abi have only known each other for two weeks."
"If I hurt her, I'll kill myself," Jay sounded promising. That's the third time he has gone by that quote now.
Darcy didn't really know how to respond to that. "Anyway, I best get going…see you later!"
With that, Darcy left the bungalow, leaving Darren with the happy couple.
"Sorry…I'll buy you a drink when you're next in the Vic," Darren suggested before rushing after Darcy, hearing the front door close.
Jay turned to Abi smirking, "So the bridesmaids' dresses are purple are they?"
…
Woah! That was the longest chapter I've ever written. I wonder if one of the wedding chapters will be this big? Hmmm…
Anyway, for the people that are reading 'Two Star-Crossed Lovers', you may have noticed that I haven't updated lately. I will do when I've finished Mirrors as it's almost finished :( but of course, there will be a sequel;)
By the way, 'rough and rummy' that was used to describe Patrick Trueman's happy voice, NuttyMeg97 suggested it, as I didn't know how to describe it. So if it happens to be the wrong words, don't blame me;) aha!