This seems to be quickly turning into an on going fic, I'm not really sure when or how that happened...
"Jack, Mummy and Daddy are here" the childminder told him after letting Rita and Iain into her house, "he's done his homework and he had a banana and a slice of toast after school" she said as she retrieved Jack's school bag, coat and shoes from the collection in the hallway.
"Mummy, Daddy" Jack beamed as he raced out of the living room, wrapping his arms around Rita who'd crouched down to greet him.
"Hello Monkey" Rita smiled as Iain ruffled Jack's hair, "have you had a good day?"
"Yep" Jack grinned, beginning to tell Rita all about his day as she helped him slip his arms into his jacket. He said goodbye to the childminder and began the short walk home, holding Rita's hand as Iain walked beside them carrying Jack's little backpack, "did you see my teacher today?"
"We did" Rita smiled, it had been Jack's first parent's evening, a few weeks after the school year started, a chance to find out how he'd been settling in to 'big school'. Both she and Iain made sure they were free to attend and both parents were proud, but not surprised by what Jack's teacher had to say about him.
"Did she tell you I've been good?" Jack asked.
Rita looked at Iain and smiled before nodding, "she told us you've been very good, that you're friendly and helpful. She told us that you like literacy and art and you're getting very good at counting and adding."
"Did she? Did she really?" Jack beamed.
"She did" Iain confirmed, "and me and Mummy both have a day off work at the weekend, so, we thought that because you've been so good, we'd take you to the seaside for the day as a treat."
Jack's face lit up, "really?"
Iain smiled and nodded "really."
"Can I build a sandcastle?"
Rita laughed at her son's enthusiasm, "of course. You can build as many as you'd like."
Jack spent the rest of the week counting down the sleeps until Saturday, so excited that Rita and Iain didn't think he'd ever fall to sleep on Friday night. He woke a little after 5 on Saturday morning, heading straight into Rita and Iain's room, "is it time to go to the beach yet?" he asked Iain who'd woken as Jack climbed over him to get into the bed, Rita sprawled out on her own side of the mattress.
Iain glanced at the clock and yawned, "not yet buddy, the beach won't be open yet, it's too early" he said quietly as he pulled Jack to lay down with him, "why don't you close your eyes and try and sleep a bit more?"
"I can't" Jack sighed, "I'm too excited."
"I know you're excited, but you don't want to be so tired you need a nap this afternoon do you? Now, come on, get comfy and I'll tell you a story." Jack nodded and curled up against Iain, his back against his Daddy's chest, Iain's arm wrapped around him, gently stroking circles on his stomach, something he knew always settled the boy, "comfy?"
"Yeah" Jack nodded.
"Okay" Iain kissed his forehead, "now close your eyes" Jack did as he was told and Iain quietly began telling him a story, "once upon a time, in a house in the woods, lived three bears, Mummy Bear, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear…" it didn't take long, Goldilocks hadn't even tried the first bowl of porridge before Iain felt Jack relax against him, the boy's grip on his hand loosening as he fell back to sleep, "sweet dreams" he whispered, kissing Jack's head again before closing his own eyes, hoping to get a few more hours sleep himself before Jack woke again.
When Jack woke again it was a little after 8 and Rita's arms were now wrapped around his middle, "hello sleepyhead" she smiled softly as she kissed his forehead.
Jack yawned, "Mummy" he smiled sleepily, stretching slightly before asking, "where's Daddy gone? To work?"
Rita smiled and shook her head, "no sweetheart, he's downstairs making breakfast, we thought there might be a little boy who needs pancakes to give him lots and lots of energy for his day out at the seaside."
Jack's face lit up, "me?"
"Yeah you" Rita laughed.
Jack jumped out of bed ready to run downstairs, pausing in the doorway and turning to face Rita, "oh and Mummy, I go to school now, I'm a big boy, not a little boy"
Rita smiled, rolling onto her back as Jack ran out of the room looking for Iain. She found herself gently stroking her flat stomach, excited at the prospect of having another child, Jack made her so happy and as far as Rita was concerned, another baby would just add to that happiness. It had been almost 3 weeks since she and Iain had had 'the talk', a fortnight since she'd had her implant taken out, the doctor telling her that there could be a chance she fell pregnant straight away and she should take a test 4 weeks after her implant was removed if there was a 'chance' she could be pregnant. There certainly had been plenty of opportunities for them to make a baby, she and Iain had always been active in the bedroom but she still wasn't going to get her hopes up, it had taken her six months to conceive Jack, she wasn't going to put any pressure on herself, 'it will happen when it happens' she kept telling herself.
"Hey" Iain smiled as he sat on the edge of the bed, Rita didn't realise how long she'd been lost in her thoughts, "you alright?"
"Yeah" she smiled back, sitting up so she could kiss his lips, "you?"
"Yeah, just wondered if you were coming down for breakfast, before Jack eats all the pancakes?"
Rita nodded, "is he okay?"
"Yeah, pancakes, strawberries, banana, raspberries, blueberries and honey, he's in his element."
"I bet he is" Rita smiled as Iain leaned down to brush his lips against hers again, "are you going to let me get up then?"
"I think I'm going to have to" he sighed, "but don't think I wouldn't keep you in my bed all day if I could."
Rita laughed and playfully hit Iain's chest, "mind out of the gutter you! Now, I'm going to go eat breakfast with my son, you can either join us or you can go take a cold shower" she pecked his lips, "it's your choice."
Iain laughed as he pulled Rita to her feet, "come on, let's go get some pancakes before Jack eats them all."
"They'll be cold now" Rita frowned, "can't you make new ones?" she pouted cutely.
Iain laughed, "seeing as you asked so nicely…" he pecked her lips again, "now go, before Jack complains about how long we're taking."
"Did you fall asleep again Mummy?" Jack asked when Rita finally arrived in the kitchen, closely followed by Iain, "Daddy thought you were getting dressed but you're still in your pyjamas."
"I did fall asleep" Rita nodded thinking that was easier than explaining that she lost track of time daydreaming about having another baby, "but Daddy woke me up."
Jack grinned cheekily, "did he wake you up with kisses?"
"Just like this" Rita leaned over and began covering Jack's face in kisses.
"No" he squirmed and giggled, "Mummy stop"
Rita laughed and gave Jack one final kiss, "go on then, finish your pancakes so we can get dressed and go to the beach."
"Can I have some more orange juice?" Jack asked as Iain went back to the oven to cook Rita some fresh pancakes.
"Of course" Rita smiled, filling up the bright yellow Bob the Builder cup with juice from the fridge, "do you want to take a picnic to the beach or do you want to get fish and chips when we get there?"
Jack gasped, "can I have fish and chips?"
"Of course you can, this is your treat, you can have whatever you like within reason." Rita thanked Iain as he kissed her cheek and set down a plate of pancakes in front of her.
"What does that mean?" Jack frowned, "within reason?"
"It means you still have to be a little bit sensible" Rita tried to explain.
"Yeah, like, if you want one ice cream after your dinner then that's fine. If you want six ice creams instead of your dinner then we'll say no." Iain told him.
"Oh" Jack nodded as he ate the last piece of his pancake, "that's okay, so can I pick my own clothes?"
Rita laughed, "sure, can you manage on your own or do you need help?"
"I'll try on my own but shout you if I need help."
"Okay" Rita leaned over and kissed his cheek, "you go and get dressed if you can, when we're done eating Daddy and I will come up and help you if you need it."
"And then can we go?" Jack asked as he hopped down from the table.
Rita nodded, "as soon as Daddy and I are dressed we can go."
"Okay, eat fast please" he grinned before racing up the stairs, eager to get ready to go.
"Do you think he's excited?" Iain laughed once Jack had left.
Rita laughed and nodded, "nearly as excited as he gets about Christmas."