Many apologies for the delay once again but since I'm on holiday next week an update should surely come quicker.
Thanks for the reviews and a Pre-Happy Easter
"When did…." Claire started to ask, daring to query an explanation for the scientific side of it. Not a detailed one though, being that Jack was her Brother.
"It doesn't matter." Kate persisted, keeping it at that and undoubtedly arousing concern in Claire's mind.
"Kate, you have to tell him?" Claire stressed.
"I don't have to tell him anything Claire." Kate replied with a hint of hatred in her tone, already predicting his reaction, not to mention Kathy's.
There was only one time this baby could have been conceived and he conveyed his regrets towards that night quite clearly. So what were the odds he would feel any different about this baby.
"So, what you're just gonna raise this baby on your own?" Claire questioned, receiving a silent yet telling reply from Kate.
However Claire wasn't okay with it and as a result was far from done.
"Kate's pregnant?" Jack questioned it merely in an attempt to get past the shock, which steadily increased in amount when Tom failed to deny it.
"What's it to you?" Tom challenged, deliberately playing dumb to hopefully throw Jack off, but all it accomplished was anger.
"That's none of your business."
"Yeah, well I'm making it my business because she means a lot to me." Tom defended, his tone as fierce as Jack's.
"A quality you CLEARLY can't relate to." Tom added. His tantalising statement earning him a solid punch in the face and Tom barely got the chance to recover before Jack had him by the collar.
"You wanna repeat that again?" Jack growled, tightening his grip around Tom's collar to make sure he'd gotten the extent of his threat. Much to the expense of his anger, Tom only added fuel to it by being persistent, turning what started out as a verbal confrontation into a full blown tussle.
"Hey! Get off him!" one of the waitresses shouted and whilst a majority of the customers in the Diner simply looked on in shock at the scene, a few jumped in to stop it before it could escalate any further.
With some considerable effort, in the form of three guys, Jack was finally hurled off of a bruised and bloody Tom.
Putting his hands up in submission, the three men finally released him and with that Jack cast one final glare at Tom before walking out of the Diner, slamming the door behind him.
Once outside he finally allowed himself to process the news; "Kate's pregnant."
If the timing was as he assumed then there was no denying the paternity, but that was all he had at this point, assumption.
And hope his heart already felt thanks to the love he still felt for Kate. There was only one way to find out for sure.
"He has a life Claire and I can't intrude on it anymore than I already have." Kate explained. "I WON'T." she firmly added.
"You really haven't a clue do you." Claire exclaimed earning a confused expression from Kate.
"The only life Jack's led for the past 4 months is wanting to be with you."
"You don't have to do this Claire." Kate assured. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better."
"Would I ever lie to you, especially about something like this?" Claire firmly argued leaving Kate to finally invest in believing it. God knows she had secretly longed for it ever since that night, but unfortunately there were obstacles to consider.
Speaking of….
"What about Kathy?" Kate inquired.
Sighing to herself Claire then went onto explain what had happened between Jack and Kathy up until this point. Taking note to edit a few bits because she knew Kathy wasn't the same person she was 4 months ago, and more importantly she didn't want Kate to resent Kathy for yet another reason.
By the end of it Kate was speechless and feeling guilty. The latter winning out due to the blatancy of the break-up and as a result felt she didn't deserve to have Jack.
However what she wanted didn't matter anymore. She had her baby's welfare to consider now; their baby.
"So?"
"So? What so?" Kate repeated, still playing dumb towards the opportunity and that both frustrated and amused Claire at the same time.
"Now where have I met a person that stubborn and clueless before?"
"Excuse me." Kate exclaimed.
"You heard me." Claire scolded. "You're just as bad as he is." She added, rolling her eyes when Kate simply snickered in response.
"Look, even if you're right….."
"I am." Claire firmly cut her off, making Kate smile again and then continue with her original train of thought.
"Even IF you're right, how do you think he's gonna react to this." Kate stated, casting a glance at her 4 month baby bump to convey her implication.
"Well how did he react when he first found out you were pregnant with Lilly?" Claire asked, reluctant in bringing up the painful subject, but it was the only way she could make her point.
"It's not the same Claire." Kate sadly admitted, rubbing her hands across her slightly extended tummy in a gesture of comfort for both her and her baby.
"How is it not?"
"Because what happened that night 4 months ago shouldn't have." Kate explained in a whisper due to her spilling emotions, knowing what she'd just said was a lie deep down.
Manoeuvring Gabriella securely within the grip of her right arm, Claire used the other arm to bring a sobbing Kate into an embrace.
"He loves you and nothing has or will ever change that." Claire assured, trying to comfort and contain her own tears at seeing and hearing her best friend so emotionally distraught.
"Besides he's a mess without you." Claire revealed, "Mismatched socks and all" she joked, rousing a chuckle out of Kate.
All he could think about on the way there was the baby. Granted there was the initial shock but he shared no fear or regrets cause what happened that night was one of the best moments of his life. The only regret he did have was shutting her out and denying it after.
"I have to fix this", he mentally affirmed, not just for Kate but also for his baby.
"My baby; I'm gonna be a Father again", he marvelled with a small smile, silently thanking the fates for giving him a second chance.
His newfound belief also blocking out any doubts of otherwise.
The Police and Ambulance arrived shortly after Jack left and surprisingly Tom didn't choose to press charges, but thanks to his adamant friend and a handful of witnesses he was then forced to reconsider, especially with taking Kate's welfare into account.
Something had to be done or it could happen again.
"Maybe I should call him instead?" Kate suggested, knowing it was the fear talking and so did Claire.
"And say what, "how are things and by the way you're gonna be a Father."
"Alright, but I don't know what my Mom's gonna say." Kate stated.
"Well the last time I checked you were an adult and if she truly cares about you then she'll support this." Claire argued.
"Yeah, trying telling her that." Kate muttered, still loud enough for Claire to hear and naturally question.
"She blames Jack for the accident." Kate revealed.
"Do you?" Claire asked, curious as to what Kate thought and felt about the subject.
Sighing to herself, Kate decided to then come out with the truth, "I was angry with him Claire but I never did and still don't blame him. I was the one behind that wheel, not him."
"Yeah but you still had every right to be mad at him. Unfortunately my Brother can be a jackass sometimes." Claire sympathisingly joked making Kate smile once again.
"Look, I can talk to your Mom but I think it's better if you did." Claire suggested. "It all depends though." She cryptically added rousing question in Kate's mind.
"On what?"
"On whether you're willing to fight for Jack." Claire simply put it.
Pulling up alongside Diane's house, he vacated his rental car, took a deep breath and made his way towards the front door.
Mentally going over what he was going to say and at the same time hoping that Diane wasn't home, but much to his dismay, barely two knocks later, she answered the door with a less than welcoming attitude.
"You leave or I'm calling the Police." Diane warned.
"I wanna see her." Jack stood equally persistent with his side of the argument and in the end one of them finally received their wish.
"Jack?" Kate exclaimed more in shock rather than question. The latter reigning through when approaching Police sirens could suddenly be heard just outside the house.
TBC
Next Chapter: Kate makes a choice that not everyone might like…
The next chapter is already in the process of being proof read by moi but since it's been a while since I updated I'm thinking whether I should hold off posting until you guys familiarize yourselves with this fic again. Either way let me know.