Chapter four: Return of the Snow Queen

Hey everyone thanks for waiting, sorry it's been a while- It's exam season, most of you know how it is! Any way here's the next chapter- enjoy! xxxx

The flat was unusually quiet when Jac finally, broke out of her deep slumber. Automatically she reached out to place her arms around Joseph's lean body as her morning hello, but was surprised to find the other side of the bed distinctly empty and a scrawled note weighted down by a Kit Kat and a mug of now cold coffee placed carefully on the bedside table. He was probably asleep on the sofa with Harry she figured, "Joe?" she mumbled blearily, "Joseph?" There was so answer, so she heaved herself slowly out of bed so as not to make herself too dizzy. She wandered into the open plan living room/kitchen, expecting to see her man and his son sprawled out on the sofa, but instead, all that greeted her was an empty flat. She shoved the mug in the micro-wave, un-wrapped the Kit Kat and began to read the note. It read:

Jac,

Sorry I couldn't get you to wake up. Faye's in England for the day, so I've taken Harry to meet her in London. I'm sorry, I only got her text this morning and I've got to let Harry see his mother. I'll be back in a few hours and my phone's on so call me if you need me. I'll see you soon,

All my love

Joe xxx

Jac sighed, it was no secret that she and Faye hated each other, but at the end of the day Harry was Faye's son and stopping her from seeing him altogether would just cause more trouble. So Jac fetched her laptop and began to indulge in her latest favourite pass time, shopping for baby accessories on the internet.

Several hours later, Jac had successfully purchased a fancy looking mobile, a pink car seat and a number of girly looking baby grows when the door bell rang. Confused, Jac went to the door, wondering why Joseph was back so early. However she was more than surprised when she opened the door to find Faye's doll-like face staring back at her.

The two women stood glaring at each other, years of utter hatred bubbling up between them. "So he got you up the duff too did he?" growled Faye, malice glittering in her eyes.

"What do you want Faye?" Jac asked, keeping her voice steady.

"You, the supreme bitch- allowed a man to get close enough to you to get you pregnant! And not only that, you took on a man with a child and tried to play happy families." She continued.

"I'll ask you again Faye, what do you want?" Jac repeated flatly.

"He doesn't love you, you know. He only has eyes for Harry, one day he'll see you for what you are and he'll be gone." As the pair of them were stood face to face, with Faye's back towards the three flights of stairs, Jac was abruptly reminded of the scene a year earlier were the scene was in reverse and for a moment she thought Faye might actually push her down the stairs of Kings Cross station. For a spilt second Jac wondered what might happen if she pushed Faye at this very moment, she was certainly asking for it but would her problems be over? Or would they escalate?

However it was Faye who was the first to move, as she raised her scar ravaged hand and struck Jac across the face, making her gasp sharply and recoil in shock.

"If you think, you can just swan, sorry waddle, your way in to my son's life and try and replace me, you've got another thing coming" Faye roared in anguish, whilst Jac's hand rushed to her face in horror.

"Faye that was never my intention. I love Joseph and he and Harry come as a package now, so I guess I love him too, but I won't ever pretend to be his mother. I'm not one for telling lies anymore." Jac whispered in shock.

With a scream of fury, Faye raised her fist to Jac again, but this time Jac caught it before it made contact. "What you going to do Faye?" She asked "Attack a pregnant woman? And lose all rights to your son? Stay away from me and my baby ok!" She snarled forcefully, pushing Faye back out of the doorway and slamming the door as hard as she could and slumping against it. Through the door she could hear a footsteps as Faye walked away sobbing in anguish and confusion.

Jac was in shock, she knew Faye was a mess, but she had no idea that she would've sunk that low. Absently she rubbed her stinging cheek before deciding to treat the wound with some ice. As she stood up, she felt an intense pain in her abdomen causing her to gasp for breath, when it subsided Jac realised the elasticised trousers she was wearing were wet. She didn't need to be a doctor to work out what was happening, her baby was a few weeks early, but she was coming now. She grabbed the phone and dialled Joseph's mobile number. "Hello?" Joseph answered.

"Joseph, I need you to get home now," she urged.

"Ok, what's wrong?"

"Well either I've suddenly developed incontinence and wet myself, or your daughter is on her way to meet you." Jac announced.