I DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR THE CHARACTERS BLAR BLAR BLAR...IT'S ALL THE PROPERTY OF ITV.
Thanks for the reviews.
XXX
Donna was in the café, Brenda was making a fuss of April, "Awwwww...I'm going to miss making a fuss of you"
Bob agreed from where he stood by them, "Yeah...it don't seem right you living all the way down there in London, you should be up here with us..."
Donna finished her coffee and waved her hand, "Ohhh it's okay, anyway I'm seeing Kelly and Elliot while I'm down there and it's good to finally catch up with them"
"But you won't re-consider moving back here...for good?"
Donna had that non-committed look, "I don't know Bob, I really don't...not at the moment anyway"
She went to the counter and went to pay up, Bob held his hands up, "No no...it's on the house"
"Thanks"
"Look, love...I know you've got things on your mind, but remember I said I wanted a chat with ya...about...", he looked to her tummy and raised his eyebrows.
"You want to know who the dad is"
"Well...I was sort of wondering...to be honest with ya, we ALL were...is he the reason why you have moved away because if it is I'm sure we can sort it all out"
Donna tilted her head, "it's part of the reason...but I saw him yesterday...and well...he's just needs time for all of it to sink in that's all..."
Ross walked in at that moment, almost instantly both he and Donna made eye contact, Bob detected what was going on. Ross retracted and was out of the door, Donna tried to shrug off a laugh.
"It's HIM isn't it"
"Don't be daft!"
Bob raised his eyebrows at her.
Donna knew she was beaten...she nodded.
XXX
Outside Ross was hanging around like a spare part. He looked back every time somebody came out of the café, and when Donna finally appeared he made a beeline for her.
"Hey...I wanted to speak to you in there but I wasn't exactly sure what you've said to them...", he said trying to sound confident.
Donna walked with him up the street, "Bob knows, he guessed...he had that face...you know...what was I thinking of, but...I think he'll be okay with it when he gets used to it and it sinks in"
Ross stopped her and she turned, "I've been thinking about what you said everything and...well...I will try to be...", he was looking to the bump as he spoke and then to her, "...you know...a good dad if you let me"
Donna smiled at him, "even if it's weekend dad? Ross I'm not sure if I can move back up here..."
Ross grabbed her hands, but she wriggled out of them, "Ross don't...I shouldn't have come back...this is only making things so much worse for both of us..."
Ross was getting agitated as he walked after her, "and why is that exactly? Is it because you think I'd be a total let down, is that it? That I'm not good enough to be a dad...I'll tell you something for free shall I, I'll make a better dad than my own dad and that's a promise"
Donna stopped and turned, she looked at him, "Ross...if I was to stay...then EVERYBODY will have to know...do you know how many people will be on our side...they'll all hate us..."
"They'll hate ME you mean...there's no reason for them to hate you"
Donna was trying to make her point to him clear, "But they WILL...they'll see it as me betraying Laurel won't they? What you did to her, she hasn't forgotten you know"
Ross was practically giving up, "Oh well, then that's it, then...that's the end of us...because the way I see it is, is that it's YOU who's ashamed of us...not me... and after ALL what you said and done...all the lies and the fake promises...I've forgiven you...and you know what? If you were anyone else I'd be dragging you across hot coals because I'd be bitter and would want to get my own back on you..."
Donna looked to the ground, "you want me to come clean to Marlon and Laurel..."
Ross laughed, "yeah...but that's NOT gonna happen is it...you only told Bob because he guessed...I was wrong wasn't I...I thought that you felt the same about me like I do you...but you don't...I'm just some scumbag lowlife you happened to use and then fertilise my beans..."
Donna looked at him, "that's not true..."
Ross shrugged at her, "Isn't it...?", he then turned around and walked off with a, "...have a safe trip back...I know when I'm being given the brush off", he began to walk abit further then he paused and turned back to her, "...I really thought that I could persuade you to stay this weekend...that you and me and the baby could be a family...but that's not going to happen is it...", he sniffed back the tears, "...for you to do that...you'd have to love me and you don't...you don't Donna, not really, because if you did...", he found it hard to get anything else out, "...oh what's the point", and he walked off.
Donna wanted to call out, but Laurel and Marlon were on their way over to her with April, they had just collected her from Bob and Brenda.
"Hiya...coming back for a brew before you go...", Laurel sung.
Donna looked sad, she looked after Ross who was disappearing into the pub and then she slowly shook her head and tagged on behind them.
XXX
Ross was nursed his pint up at the bar, James was then leaning in front of him so their faces were looking at each other dead on over the bar.
"So what's with the face for?"
Ross narrowed his eyes at him, "seeing YOUR ugly mug in it for a start", he growled.
James smiled, "I was expecting that...but apart from that?"
Ross just didn't have the fight in him, he stared into his pint looking all glum, "Just finally coming to realise what a complete waste of space I really am...or that I should never of met HER and then none of all this would ever have happened..."
James frowned back at him, "What happened? Ross?"
Ross looked up at him, "I don't expect YOU to believe me...but I'm going to be a dad...and I can't even get that right because I don't even know where to start and do YOU know why I don't...because I never had one to learn from, did I"
James swallowed, "Come on, son...lets go into the back shall we..."
XXX
Donna packed up her weekend bag and turned to April had the bedroom door, she had a really sad look on her face.
"Heyy what's with the sad face? We're going home soon"
April pushed out her bottom lip, so she looked miserable, "I don't want to go home...I want to stay here with daddy and Laurel and granddad"
Donna sat on the bed and patted it, April climbed up beside her, "Heyyyy...what's all this about...I thought you liked your new school in London"
April looked up at her and shook her head, "I don't like my teacher...and I don't like Patsy Palmer in my class because she has a big mouth"
*Marlon was at the door and smiled at his daughters words*
Donna pulled her into a cuddle, "Awwwwww, I didn't know that, you never said anything"
"and when you have the new baby you are going to love it more than me..."
"Ooooooo I'll love you both the same...I promise you..."
"is it going to be a boy or a girl?"
Donna nestled into her shoulder and closed her eyes, "I don't know yet darling..."
"I hope it's a girl then...she can play with my dollies if she wants to"
"that will be really nice of you"
"Will daddy like the baby too?"
Donna looked at her, "darling daddy is not...I mean...the new baby will have a different daddy"
*Marlon edged a tad nearer...he knew it was rude to listen in, but he couldn't help it*
"What's the new baby's dads name..."
Donna stood and took the sunflower out of the vase and turned to her with a smile, "It's our little secret if I tell you"
"Little finger"
Donna smiled and linked her little finger with April's
"He gave me this flower...it's gorgerous isn't it...his name's Ross...and he lives in the village..."
Marlon's hands were to his face in shock, he stumbled back to the hallway wall.
Ross...Ross was the baby's father...
His heart raced, that would teach him for listening into things he didn't want to hear...
XXX
Ross was in the backroom of the pub, James had his arms crossed leaning back on the counter.
"So...you've really floored me with this one, son...I never thought it would be you telling me that first..."
Ross looked at him sharply, "Oh that'll be right...you thought it would have been good old Pete...good old boring Pete...trouble is there...he'd have a job to tell you on the account he doesn't have a girlfriend"
"Nor do you"
"Donna was! We split up...because...well...there was stuff that went off...", he looked to the floor to collect his thoughts for a few minutes, then looked up at him again, "...she doesn't even love me, so I wouldn't get too excited about this kid...infact you are more likely to never see it ever be born"
"Do you WANT to see it be born?"
Ross met his fathers gaze, "COURSE I DO!"
James came nearer and placed a hand over his son's shoulder, "then you best not give up on her or the baby..."
"she won't listen"
"if you MEAN IT, Ross...she will..."
XXX
Donna was at the top of the stairs with her bags. Marlon looked up at her, his face mirrored someone who had betrayed him.
"Come on April...it's time to go", Donna sang.
Marlon snatched hold of her arm, his eyes bored into hers, "YOU BEST DO SOME EXPLAINING!", he hissed at her.
Laurel was at the doorway. She could sense something was brewing.
"Marlon, what's going on?"
Marlon looked at her, he still had held of Donna's arm, he nodded at her, "Maybe you should ask her that...remember when you said when I hear things it's in one ear and out the other..."
Laurel shook her head.
"not this time...I know exactly who the father of Donna's baby is...", he glared at Donna, "don't I..."
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