Chapter 26 - Daddy

Laurens POV

It had been a week now since I'd been released from hospital and to tell you the truth I was getting a little bored. I'd been given time off work and so was in the flat all day with only a rabbit for company. My ribs were still slightly tender so I was limited to what I could actually do. Most days I'd watch rubbish TV and surf the net. I'd actually got quite into reading about pregnancy and twins, I was so excited but I think I'd also read a few to many horror stories of everything that could go wrong even when I knew there was like a 0.4% chance of them actually happening.

We'd been visited a couple of times by the police over the last few days ensuring me that Kyle was going to prison, apparently he had a criminal record, one that I didn't know of. He was extremely sorry, according to police and wouldn't have gone near me if he knew I was pregnant. I couldn't help but laugh as the police said that like it would act as some form of comfort to me. Of course I think he probably would have tried even harder to hurt me if he knew I was pregnant so I was glad he didn't.

Uncle Jack had been amazing, he'd kept me in the loop as to what would happen and how long Kyle would get, I was so grateful to him. He didn't have to help me and Joe out like he was but he did. He'd been picking Zoe up from Nursery if Joey had to work and Sharon had tried to reorganise his shifts so he worked days and only nights if necessary. They'd turned into surrogate parents for us really.

Talking of parents mine were of course going through yet another rough patch. Mum's drunken outburst had spoken some form of truth. Dad wasn't having an affair as such, an old flame had been in contact and Mum had flipped. According to Abi things had got pretty nasty and Mum had just vanished. I'd assumed that's when she turned up drunk at my front door. Neither of them knew about the twins yet, I didn't really know if I wanted to tell them to be honest. It wasn't exactly lf they'd be jumping with Joy; I knew Mum definitely wouldn't be, and also I simply hadn't found the opportunity. It wasn't a conversation you could have over the phone. Joey had pestered me over and over telling me I needed to tell them because according to him the twins were staring to make their presence known.

As the perfect son he was he'd told his Mum and sister as soon as we left the hospital. It was quite strange really that it known him 9 months nearly 10, I was living with him, having his children and his daughter was calling me Mum, yet I'd still not met his Mum. All I knew is her name was Pam and she was once married to my uncle Derek. Joey had said his Mum had wanted to meet me for ages but had a busy work life and he wasn't too sure how his sister would react. Unlike Joey, Alice had a blinded love for her Derek. In her eyes he was the perfect father and couldn't do anything wrong. I'd had to disagree on that straight away.

Anyway, I'd said to Joey that we needed to meet her soon and I think Zoe would appreciate seeing her Nana, It had been a while as we spent most weekends just the three of us and to be honest we liked it that way. Today was different though, it was Saturday and instead of going out I was cooped up in here why Zoe was out with Uncle Jack and Joey was away on business. I wasn't too impressed at his "away on business" excuse he'd been acting really shifty for the last few days and then he suddenly sprung an unexpected business trip on me. The phone rang from the other end of the room, it was the land line which was odd, no one ever called the land line, they always called my mobile. "Hello?" I answered

"Lauren It's your dad…I've been calling your phone all morning and it keeps going to voicemail" oops! I lifted my phone from my pocket to see no battery.

"Sorry Dad, it's got no battery" He laughed slightly "What?"

"Nothing…I was just worried that's all, Whit said you were off work and Abi's been all secretive" I sighed I guess It was now or never.

"Are at work?"

"Ye, why?"

"Is it really busy? Or do you have time to come over?" I bit my nails nervously as I waited for him to respond. I didn't know why I was so nervous, I guess it was the thought of being rejected again.

"No babe I can come over…do you need anything?" I could hear him fiddling about with things in his office obviously locking up as he spoke to me.

"Bar of chocolate please?" I was craving it, Joey had me on a complete health kick, not that I mined but today had driven me crazy and I needed some comfort- in the form of chocolate.

"No problem babe…I'll be over in 10."

"Thanks Dad"

"Lauren…you sure you're alright?" I should have known he'd guess I was lying; well I wasn't exactly lying, I just was leaving some information undisposed.

"I'm fine, I'll see you in a bit"

I opened the door to the flat and started on some drinks, I'd got some form of fruit tea Joey had brought, it wasn't exactly the most appetising looking thing but it actually tasted alright and it certainly didn't give me or the twins the jitters like coffee seemed to.

"Knock, knock" Dad pushed the door open and strode in nearly tripping over Bella as he went.

"Bells Move it bunny" I cautiously bent down and lifted her into my arms. "Silly bunny" I ruffled her fur and plonked her back on the floor nearer her hutch. Dad walked over to me and hugged me tight. I winced a little at the pain around my ribs but it didn't last long, the comforting feeling of being back in my Daddy's arms felt so amazing. We'd had some shit times in the past but I couldn't deny I was a Daddy's girl. He very rarely judged me unlike Mum, and 9 times out of ten would take my side in an argument. Over the last few years though, it had kind of been overshadowed by their arguing and my drinking.

"I've missed you babe." He said softly

"Missed you too Daddy" I ushered him to the sofa and handed him the drink I'd made, despite it being slightly cold now.

"So come on what's the matter… talk to me Lauren, have you had a row with Joey?" I shook my head clutching to the warm mug in my hands.

"Quite the opposite actually, me and Joe are perfect so is Zoe and…" I moved from the sofa and into the kitchen picking my scan up from the side and handing it over to dad. "So are these." I smiled. I watched as Dad's face went through a range of emotions…from confusion to shock when he finally realised what he was looking at.

"Is this…are you?" I nodded biting my lip, Dad's lips grew into a huge smile as he walked over to me and hugged me tight. I couldn't help the tears that fell. Damn hormones. "I'm so proud of you baby…My little girls all grown up"

"I'm not that grown up dad" I sniffled wiping my eyes across my sleeve.

"How far gone are you?" he asked

"They think about 10 weeks, they say their growing very well and that they aren't identical…I've got another scan in a few weeks so they'll be able to give me some more specifics" I looked at Dad to see that huge genuine smile still on his face. He looked so happy.

"You and Joey happy about this then?" I could tell he was nervous asking the question but I understood why it needed to be asked.

"Ye we are, It's all I've ever wanted and Joeys over the moon, he can wait. He's got me under house arrest and a diet suitable for Bella" Dad chuckled.

"I'm not sure you should be allowed the chocolate now..." He held the bar up to me, my mouth watering at just the sight of it.

"I need the chocolate Dad, I'm extremely hormonal, very bored and really craving chocolate…you do not want to mess with me" He held his hands up in surrender and handed me the bar of chocolate. We spent the next couple of hours just talking, he'd explained everything about him and Mum, they were currently on a break (as if that was ever going to end well) to give each other some space. I'd explained everything with Kyle, which, worked Dad right up in to a right frenzy but he'd vowed that he wasn't going anywhere and that from now on he was right there for me, and for the first time in a long time I honestly believed him.

The door swung open around half three and I guessed It would be uncle Jack bring Zoe home and I was right as she burst through the door and climbed straight onto my lap. After a quick hug and kiss I could see her staring at the chocolate on the table. "One piece and one piece only ok?" she nodded and broke two squares of quickly putting them into her mouth. "Oi I said one piece" I tickled her making her erupt into fits of giggles. "Did you behave for uncle Jack?" I looked to see jack smiling.

"She was golden as always, see you later…Bye Zo" Jack called

"Say bye Zoe" she waved at him and cuddled into my lap, I guessed she'd be tired. "Thanks Uncle Jack."

"Mummy… Max?" she frowned and pointed to Dad, she knew who he was from that disastrous meal and the Christmas party.

"Ye that's Mummy's Daddy…you have a Daddy and I have a Daddy" she nodded seemingly understanding.

"Call Granddad?" she asked so innocently, she'd obviously made the connection, quite cleverly I might add. I didn't know what to say though, if Dad was willing to let her, if Joey wanted her to.

"If Mummy and Daddy are ok with that you can call me Granddad" My heart double skipped as Zoe looked at me with big puppy dog eyes.

"Pease" she whispered, I rolled my eyes nodding. She started rubbing her eyes and toddled off to her room, reappearing a few seconds later with her blanket and Fuzz.

"You tired baby?" she nodded "Come on then…" I patted the sofa next to me and she quickly climbed up laying her head into my lap, fuzz in her embrace. I draped the blanket over her and started running my fingers through her hair.

"I'll leave you to it" Dad got up and kissed my head "I'm very proud of you Lauren"

"Thanks Daddy" I whispered

"Bye Granddad" she needed no encouragement in saying that.

"By pretty girl" Dad kissed her head too and left the flat, obviously bumping into joey on the way as I heard them exchange hello's .

"What was all that about?" He asked sitting next to me kissing me softly. "You've eaten chocolate…"

"Man, can you taste it on my lips?" He laughed and wiped my lips with his thumb

"No babe…the wrappers on the table; first rule of breaking the rules-always hide the evidence" I could feel myself blushing. "I'll let you off, can't deny you what you want can I?"

"No…I told Dad" Joey eyes widened his hand stopping its movement in my hair. "He's really happy for us and had a new friend in Zoe…she called him Granddad"

Joey smiled gently and kissed me "If she initiated it, she must want it and if your Dad's happy for her to, I don't see the harm, the twins will call him that so…"

"I guess so… how was your day?"

"Full of surprises baby…full of them" and that's exactly what I meant by being strange. "Wait and see just wait and see"

So Laurens got her Daddy back…but what's Joey got in store for her ? Thanks again for all the reviews, I reply to all I can so thanks to the guest reviewers too, I can't reply individually to you but I really appreciate all of them :) xxx