I know it's been a while but I'm back with another update! I have no idea where I'm going with this story, I might just do little snippets, I don't know we'll see I guess. Thank you so much for sticking with this story though and I'm so glad you're all enjoying it still, even if I am rubbish at keeping up to date with it. I hope you like this update though :)


A new week at the Lyell and Nikki and Jack were another week closer to meeting their new child. Nikki felt as though she was growing day by day and she had a scary thought that she wouldn't be able to walk by the end of the nine months.

Conor had seemed to be making good progress with his treatment and he was starting to look somewhat livelier and more himself as the days went by. Either that or he was pretending that he was getting better for the sake of not stressing his son and daughter in law out. Better still, it had meant that Jack had become more relaxed in the past few weeks, taking the time to wait on Nikki hand and foot. Making sure that she wasn't doing too much. Although Nikki had to remind that she would rather do everything now whilst she still could. Before they have a screaming baby demanding every second of their life.

Jack and Nikki's hands parted as they walked round to sit at their respective desks. They both logged into their computers and set about getting themselves ready for the day ahead.

A couple of hours into their shift and a word had barely been passed between them, both too busy concentrating on the various bits of paperwork they were having to catch up on. The email notification caused Jack to flip his head up, his eyes scanning over the summary. He groaned as he took the words in, grabbing Nikki's attention.

"Everything okay?" She asked, smiling to herself as she watched Jack's face screw up.

Jack ran his hand over his hair, "I didn't realise I'd reached that age yet," he scoffed.

"What?" Now Nikki really was confused.

"The age where I get invited to a school reunion," he sighed, the thought of having to step foot in that place again terrifying him.

"A school reunion?" Nikki raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like it could be fun."

"You don't know my school," he retorted. "I can't go anyway, I want to stay here in case something happens with Da."

"How long do you think you'll be gone for?" She pushed, typical of Jack to back out something that would require him to actually socialise. Although she was fully aware that he hadn't been back to Ireland in over twenty years so no doubt returning back to his old haunts was going to bring back a lot of memories. But it could also do him a world of good, and it would give him a chance to get away from this place for a bit.

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. By the time we arrange flights and somewhere to stay, a couple of days probably."

"Well, I doubt anything is going to happen in a couple of days," she offered. "Besides, I'll be here so you won't have to worry about anything. It really would be a shame to miss this opportunity to meet up with all your old friends."

Jack chuckled, "Nikki you do realise that if I'm going then you're coming with me?"

"Are you sure you'd want me there?" She never even thought for a second that she would be joining him. She thought that this would be something he'd want to do on his own. "You don't think I'd be in the way?"

"What? Of course not!" He exclaimed, standing up and walking around to perch himself on the edge of her desk. He picked up her hand, his thumb running over the gold band that now resided on her finger. "You're my wife Nikki and unfortunately for you, if I'm getting invited to these sorts of things then you're obligated to go."

She rolled her eyes at him, "Well, I would love to go. And I think it would help if I was around to keep an eye on you. Make sure no old flames are rekindled," she winked, a smirk on her face.

"Didn't have you down as the jealous type Mrs Hodgson," he leaned in closer to her.

"I'm not," she teased, finding herself leaning in to close that gap between them. "I just know that absence can make the heart grow fonder." She could feel her breathing getting shallow and her heart was racing, Jack's face inches away from hers. They had been married for a little over four months and she was carrying their child, yet he still managed to make her feel like this. She could feel herself falling in love with him even more as each day passed.

Jack pulled back, putting that distance between them again and smiling as he watched her face drop, "Well there's no chance of that because I happen to have a very beautiful wife who may also be carrying our child. So I think I'm quite happy with what I've got thank you."

"Good," she breathed. She pushed back on her chair and stood up, moving so she could stand between his legs. "I should hope so."

Jack's hands landed on her waist. He felt his heart flutter as Nikki rested her hand on top of his, looking him in the eye as they both felt it. The tears welled up in his eyes as he felt his baby move against his palm, he almost forgot how to breathe he was that taken aback. It didn't feel real and in a way it freaked him out.

"I've never had that before," Nikki broke the silence, her eyes connecting with Jacks as she continued to feel the baby move inside of her. An odd sensation but an almost comforting one at the same time. "I've had the flutters but nothing as strong as that."

"She knows her dads around that's why," Jack grinned, his hands not moving as he felt another kick against his hand.

"She?" Nikki pulled a face at him.

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "Just feels right." They eventually closed that gap between them, Jack capturing Nikki's lips with his. He smiled to himself as he thought about what everyone was going to say to him when he rocked up with his beginnings of a new little family. That he, Jack Hodgson, the boy who would crumble in front of all the girls, now had an insanely stunning and intelligent wife. And a little baby who was getting bigger day after day. If only his mother could see him now, she would be so proud.


A week had passed since Jack had got that email and now him and Nikki were stood outside his old school. Ever since touching down on home ground, Jack had felt on edge. This was his first time back since he left after Uni, after his mother had died. He hadn't been back, couldn't face the memories. And sure enough they were hitting him in the face now. He wanted to feel happy, to show Nikki around all the sights whilst they had an opportunity. But it was just so weird being back.

Nikki glanced over at Jack, the nervousness written all over his face. She slipped her hand into his giving him a reassuring squeeze that she was going to be there with him all the way. She had known that feeling all too well, she'd felt it every time she would go back to South Africa, but she was used to it now. She forced herself to face up to it and now whenever she went back there, it was much as her home now than it was before. It was a place where she could relish in the memory of her mother.

Hopefully Jack would feel that soon but he had a stubborn streak and she had a feeling that this was going to be their one and only trip to Ireland. Which was a shame really because she would love to know more about the place, she had never been before. Never had a reason to but now she felt she had to, for the sake of their child. They should get to know where they come from at least. But, maybe this trip would be the turning point for Jack and they'll return again in the future, on his terms of course.

"You ready?" She asked.

"As I'll ever be," he remarked, taking a deep breath.

Jack squeezed Nikki's hand back as they made their way through the entrance and walked down various hallways before eventually reaching the main hall. They had done it up pretty well but it didn't look any different from the last time Jack was here and that really said a lot about the place. It even had the same smell. Jack felt a shiver crawl up his spine, it was strange. Being back here and having the memories whiz around his brain all in one go.

Nikki dropped Jack's hand, noticing the table full of drinks. Her eyes scanned over them, wondering if any of them were non-alcoholic, she couldn't really tell so thought it would be best to ask as she spotted a small old woman stood behind the table.

"Sorry, excuse me," she piped up, grabbing the older woman's attention. "Do you have anything non-alcoholic?" Her hand came to rest on her ever-growing stomach.

"Of course we do darlin'," the woman chimed. "I won't be a minute." And with that she disappeared.

Nikki turned back to face Jack as he surveyed the room. She could see that he was trying to find anyone he knew. He breathed a sigh of relief as there was no one he recognised just yet. He looked over at Nikki, feeling his heart skipping a beat as he caught her eye. He slowly made his way over to her again, picking up one of the drinks from the table behind her.

"I don't really think it's fair if you get to drink whilst I'm not allowed," she remarked. "Given that you were the one who got me into this mess in the first place." She quickly glanced down at her stomach before looking back up at him, a smile on her face.

"It takes two to tango," he raised an eyebrow at her. "But it's a fair point. I'll only have the one glass because I've already started it. But no more after this one, I promise."

"I'm only winding you up," she joked. She raised a hand to fix his shirt but she was interrupted by the woman approaching her, a glass of orange juice in her hand.

"Here you go my love," she handed the glass over to Nikki who accepted it gratefully.

"Mary?" Jack spoke, an incredulous look on his face as he took in the pint sized woman.

"Jack? Jack Hodgson? Is that really you," Mary exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Jack's neck and engulfing him into her arms. Nikki stifled a chuckle at the sight of Jack having to practically fold himself in half just so the woman could give him a hug. She eventually let him go again but she kept her hands on his cheeks. "I can't believe it. You have not changed a bit. Well, you might be a bit taller than the last time I remember you but you've still got that handsome face of yours."

She dropped her hands, remembering the blonde woman that was watching them closely, trying to decipher just how this other woman knew Jack. "And this is?"

"This is Nikki," he grinned. "My wife."

The woman was now pulling Nikki into a hug, squeezing her tightly before pulling back again, "Oh if your mother could see you now. And with a baby on the way! Do you know what it is yet?"

Jack shook his head, his arm snaking behind Nikki's waist, bringing a kiss to her temple before dropping his arm again, "No, we've got another couple of weeks to go yet."

"Well congratulations the both of you," she beamed at them. "Your Ma would be so proud. We'll have to have a proper catch up soon and not when I'm serving food and drinks to you ungrateful lot again," she chuckled.

"Come on now I was always grateful," Jack chimed in, giving her a wink.

"That you were son, that you were," she patted Jack on the back before moving to stand behind the table once again. "Give my love to your father, yeah?"

Jack nodded, not finding the heart to tell her there and then that his father was seriously ill and could only be alive for the next couple of months. He was doing fine at the minute but Jack knew how these things worked, you could be on top of the world one day and the next you're on your death bed.

Picking up on Jack's sudden shift in mood at the mention of his father, Nikki hand came to rest in the back pocket of his jeans as she leaned in closer to him. She smiled as she felt him wrap his arm around her shoulder.

"I'm disappointed," she sighed.

"Why?" Jack's brows furrowed as he looked down at her.

"Because we've been here for ten minutes and I have yet to see a picture of you," she teased him.

"But you've seen loads of pictures of me from when I was younger," Jack made to move more towards the centre of the hall, his arm dropping from around her. He had spotted a few pictures that he recognised dotted around the place so he reluctantly guided her towards them.

Nikki carried on her point as they did so, "But there's something about school photos that bring out the worst in people," she giggled watching his face drop as he feigned offence.

She had a point though, he had always hated school photos for that exact reason. The awkward way they used to make you sit and the stupid smile they'd make you do. You always came out looking different in each one. He was glad that his mother never wanted them and would much rather take her own pictures of him. At least then he had some nice pictures of him to look back on.

Nikki moved away from Jack as she noticed a few photos from what looked like various different sports teams, but she was having a hard time trying to find him. She knew what he looked like but he didn't seem to be in any of these photos so far. Which she was quite surprised at really, he'd always struck her as an athletic person, being at the gym all the time in the nine years that they had known each other. But then, for all she knew that could be something he'd gotten into as he got older.

Her eyes continued scanning over the photos trying to find him whilst her mind was still busy wondering who that woman had been. Whoever she was, she clearly had meant a lot to Jack to know about his mother. More than just someone who worked in his old school, "Who was that woman?" She piped up, not taking her eyes off the photos.

"Oh her," Jack started, knowing exactly who Nikki was talking about. "That was Mary, she worked in the school canteen but she was a close family friend. She was like my second mother and she always used to give me extra chips on a Friday," he grinned as he reminisced. She'd give him a wink and chuck an extra handful on his plate while no one else was looking. He was sure they all knew she did it but with everything that he had been through with his aunt at the time, he supposed they didn't mind that much.

"She seemed lovely," Nikki shot a smile at him before looking back at the photos. She had moved on to the one with the whole year and her eyes widened as she found him. He looked so small, nothing like how he is today. "Look at you." She pointed him out.

Jack just let out a sigh as he leaned in closer and sure enough she had spotted him. He opened his mouth to speak but he was interrupted by someone calling his name. A voice he would recognise anywhere but not one he had heard in twenty years.

"Jack Hodgson it is you," the man almost ran over to him and pulled him into a hug, patting each other on the back. Jack beamed, this was probably the only person he had been excited to see, although he did recognise the woman that was following behind him.

He pulled back from the man, "Mark Blake, I don't believe it. You haven't changed a bit," Nikki's ears pricked up, noticing Jack's accent getting stronger. She can't say she was surprised, this always happened when he was with his Dad, but being back on home turf was making it even stronger this time around. Jack looked at the woman who had now caught up to the pair. "Wait, are you two?" He gestured between them.

Mark flashed his left hand to Jack, "Been about fifteen years now hasn't it?"

Jack laughed at them, pointing at the woman, "I knew it. I knew you two would end up together. Come here," he pulled the brown haired woman into a hug.

Nikki watched the interaction between the three people fondly although somewhat awkwardly. It was always weird when this happened, it was usually Nikki who was the one introducing everyone to Jack and the one who was making conversation whilst Jack followed her around like a lost lamb. Now she was the one doing the following and waiting on Jack to remember that she was there so she could be introduced.

She stepped closer to Jack, making herself known a bit more to the small group as she laid a hand on his arm.

"Ah Nikki," he glanced at her. "This was my best friend from school Mark and his wife Louise."

"Lovely to meet you," Nikki held her hand out to shake both of their hands, the polite smile on her face.

"So tell us," Mark began, his eyes switching between the pair. "What you up to these days? Where do you work? Where do you live? Because it's certainly not around these parts. Not with your accent," he shot at Nikki.

She always hated this bit, having to tell people her job. She was so proud of it and loved it with every inch of her but people always made a face and asked her how she could stomach a job like that. She let Jack do the talking instead.

"I'm a Forensic Scientist," Jack explained. "I moved down to London a few years, met this one and the rest is history."

Nikki rolled her eyes, if it were only that simple.

"What do you do then Nikki?" Louise asked, noticing that the woman had gone quiet.

And there it was, maybe she couldn't get away with letting Jack speak for her, "I'm a pathologist, Jack and I work alongside each other. It's how we met."

"A pathologist?" Mark screwed his face up. "Isn't that cutting up dead bodies?"

Nikki did her best to swallow her remark, "Well I like to see it as a sort of crime scene really. Much like Jack I investigate little details, things that don't add up or make sense. A little bit more than just cutting up a dead body," she wasn't as blunt as she would've liked to have been. These were Jack's friends after all so she had to make a good impression. Besides, she could blame her sharp tone on her hormones after all.

The thought of the baby brought her hand up to rest on her stomach again and she could feel the little one moving around in there. Her lips twitched. But her gesture hadn't gone unnoticed by the others.

"How far gone are you?" Louise questioned, gesturing with her head.

"About twenty weeks or so," Jack said proudly. His hands were on her lower back again as his thumb stroked her spine.

"And is this your first?" Louise pushed to which Nikki nodded. "Well, take my advice, just have the one. Kids are a pain in the arse. We've managed to palm them off to my mother for a couple of days but they are a handful. But we love them all the same."

Nikki didn't take much notice of what the woman was saying to her. She was about to say something back but she was cut off by Jack pressing his lips to the side of her head and saying that he wouldn't be a moment. She watched as he walked away in the direction of a woman who looked not too dissimilar to herself. Her brows furrowed as he tapped her on the shoulder, there was a scream and she was throwing herself into Jack's arms. A pang of jealousy hit her, she didn't know why. She wasn't a jealous person but she couldn't help it as she watched the interaction. Louise had obviously picked up on this and moved to stand next to Nikki.

"Who's that?" Nikki asked, surprising herself by managing to keep her voice steady.

"That is May," Mark answered, oblivious to Nikki's change in mood. "They were always really close in school, everyone thought they were going to end up getting married. Even had bets on it. But then all that stuff happened with," he paused, looking over at Louise. "What was her name again?"

"Katie," Louise spoke.

"That's it!" He exclaimed. "They grew apart after that but that doesn't seem to be phasing them now."

Nikki didn't know what had come over her, Jack had visibly become much happier in a matter of seconds and she couldn't help but feel hurt by that. She knew she was being silly, they were now married and had a child on the way after all. And it was hardly like he was going to run off with another woman right in front of her. She shook the thoughts away, her hormones really weren't helping the situation.

"You've got nothing to worry about though," Louise chimed in. "All that is in the past trust me. He loves you very much I can tell. And don't let those hormones cloud your vision either, they had me accusing Mark of all sorts. Nothing turned out to be true though, so don't worry."

Nikki nodded, taking it in. The woman had a point, she had no reason to be jealous. She felt her heart sink as he looked around the room and his connected with hers as he gestured for her to join them. This was going to be awkward, she thought to herself as she began the walk over to her husband.

"This is my wife Nikki," Jack announced as he placed his hand on her lower back once again. "Nikki, this is my good friend May."

Nikki tentatively shook hands with the fellow woman, keeping that polite smile she always had on her face in these situations.

"Congratulations," May looked down at Nikki's bump. "My partner and I are about to start the planning for us to have kids. When are you due?"

"Four months from now," Nikki answered, her hand running across her stomach briefly. "Partner?"

"Oh yes, she's around here somewhere," the woman eyes scanned around the room.

She, now Nikki felt really stupid. She tried not to make the fact she was now feeling much more relaxed so obvious.

"I better go find her actually," she looked back at the pair, her face seemingly worried. "She's probably somewhere causing hassle. I'll catch you later, yeah?"

Although, she didn't give Jack much time to answer before she was walking away from them and disappearing into the small crowd of people. Jack turned to Nikki, his hand running up and down her back. She leaned into him, the feeling soothing her back that was now starting to hurt.

"You okay?" He asked.

Nikki nodded, looking up at him. There was a sparkle in his eye and she knew that he was about to start winding her up. He had seen it a mile off, from the moment he had left her to say hello to May, he could feel her eyes boring into him. It was very unlike Nikki, she usually kept calm and fairly stoic, not letting things like that get to her. But this clearly had and Jack was going to have fun lapping that up.

"Tell me to piss off," Jack grinned. "But were you jealous back there Dr Alexander?"

Nikki bit her lip, lifting a finger up at him, "One, we're not in work so it's Mrs Hodgson thank you," she raised an eyebrow. "And two, no I wasn't."

"Okay," he leaned in closer, stealing a kiss. "Only if you're sure. Fancy a walk?"

Nikki just shrugged her shoulders as she let Jack guide her out of the hall and down some corridors. They eventually reached a room that looked like a science lab from the outside and as Jack opened the door, Nikki's suspicions were confirmed. The numerous Bunsen burners and sinks dotted around the place.

Jack felt like he was fifteen again as he walked in, the same burnt wood smell hitting him in the face. Now he felt like he was home. In the one place that led him to where he was now.

"This is where it all started," Jack breathed as he walked around. Making his way over to his old desk, a smile spreading across his face as his fingers ran over his name he had scratched into the wood. Nikki joined him, chuckling as she seen what he was pointing at.

"Jack Hodgson," she laughed. "I never had you down as a vandal."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me," he winked.

"Oh really?" She threw back at him, a smirk on her face. "Well enlighten me Mr Hodgson."

Jack edged closer to her, backing her against the desk. He closed the gap between them, capturing her lips with his. Nikki's hand came to rest at the back of his head, her fingers running through his hair. The kiss deepened as Jack's arms snaked around her waist but they were suddenly interrupted by a coughing coming from the other end of the room. Jack jumped back from Nikki and turned around, his face bright red as he seen who was standing there.

"Jack Hodgson, you may not be a pupil at this school anymore but I can still find a way to give you a detention," the old man grinned, a twinkle in his eye. "Although I never had a reason to give you a detention back in the day. You always seemed to behave for me."

"Mr Shaw," Jack made his way over, holding his hand out. "Nikki, this is the man who started it all."

"Stop it," the man waved him off with his hand before going to shake Nikki's. "Richard Shaw. Chemistry."

"Nikki Hodgson, pathologist," she spoke, still not quite used to introducing herself with her full name yet. "Although I am still Dr Alexander at work." She eyed Jack briefly.

"A pathologist?" The man slowly nodded. "That must be an exciting job. Is it where you two met? I'm assuming you kept at the forensics, Jack."

"I sure did," Jack replied, perching himself on the desk. "Best decision I ever made."

"So where are you from Nikki?" He glanced over at her. "That's not an Irish accent I hear."

"Do you want the long answer or the short answer?" She joked. Much like the older woman, Mary, she had met earlier, this man had an ability to make her feel at ease. A warmness to his tone. She wasn't feeling awkward as she had with Jack's friends. "I moved to London when I was a teenager but I was born in South Africa. The accent dropped pretty quickly."

"South Africa? Woah, I've always wanted to go there," he smiled. "So you're down making it big in London, ey? Good! I'm glad you're making a name yourself," he turned to Nikki again. "Do you know, in all my years of teaching, he's still my best student. I've never had someone go the efforts that he did. Sometimes I just wanted to sit back and let him take the class."

"Not much has changed then," Nikki winked at Jack, her hand running over the top of his head.

"That baby is going to be one bright spark," the man pointed out. "With the two of you as parents. Their first words will probably be something from the periodic table."

That made them laugh, knowing that there was some truth in that. And no doubt it would be Jack's fault. The man moved past them, heading to his desk at the front of the class and pulling something out of the draw.

"Well I best be off," he announced. "It was lovely seeing you again Jack and meeting you Nikki. We'll have to meet up soon. I hope everything goes well with the baby." And with that he was gone.

Jack reached out to grab Nikki's hand as he pulled her closer to him. She was now standing in front of him, in between his legs, "I'm done," he sighed, resting his forehead on her stomach. As he did so he could hear her stomach rumbling. He chuckled to himself before looking back up at her again. "I think someone's hungry."

"I think we both are."

"Right, come on then Mrs Hodgson," he stood, his hand still holding hers as they made their way out of the classroom. "Enough bad memories for one day, don't you think?"