Laura sat outside in the walled garden with Jules a mug of tea between them and a plate of chocolate biscuits.

'So tell me what happened then on Sunday?'

'Right well of course Charlie woke up early. So there's Jake on top of me snogging my face off and Charlie stands at the door cool as you like asking Jake to make him pancakes.'

Jules let out a roar of laughter. 'That kid cracks me up. I don't think mine say stuff like that. In fact wait until he is a teenager then lets talk again.'

'I was bloody mortified Jules. I was naked in that bed.'

'Hmmmm I should bloody think so if I had that Jake Harrison in my bed I wouldn't be wearing my winceyette nightie thats for sure.'

Laura laughed and rubbed her temples she felt a bit off today putting it down to the weekend she tried to focus on Jules and what she was saying. Jules saw her turn green and jumped up before she even realised what was going to happen. Jules had her up and over to the bushes holding her hair back as Laura vomited.

'You finished?' Jules rubbed her back as Laura tried to stand up. 'You had better sit down kiddo.' Laura let Jules help her back to the bench and sat down. Looking across at Jules bemused face she let out a sigh .'Okay tell me what you are thinking?'

'Oh Laura if you don't know. You're pregnant my friend. No doubt about it. No one pukes like that unless they have morning sickness.'

'Noooo, no I cant be I'm on the pill we used protection this weekend.'

'Right but what about the wedding its like what five or six weeks ago now. Have you had a period Laura?'

'Laura dropped her head into her hands. 'Oh my God I cant be, can I?' She looked up at Jules imploring her to give the answer she wanted. Jules spoke quickly. 'Did Jake use protection the night of the wedding?'

Laura nodded then shook her head. 'I don't know I was pretty overwhelmed by it all. I know he asked me if I was on the pill I thought it would be fine. It cant be true.'

'Only one way to find out. You stay here I am off to the chemists.

An hour later and eight pregnancy test sticks sat in front of them all with a blue cross. Laura despite feeling queasy was now as white as a sheet. Talking nonsense as she tried to get her head around the fairly concrete evidence laid out on the desk before them.

'Laura calm down this is not a bad thing. You said he was great with Charlie so thats good yes, means he likes kids?'

'Being good with someone else's child and then finding out that someone you slept with a couple of times is pregnant is another thing Jules. Does that even make sense?'

Jules shook her head. 'Listen don't panic give him some credit will you. I think you just tell him. Jake I love you and I'm pregnant you are my baby daddy.'

'Not helpful Jules, not helpful at all.'

'This cant be happening to me. It should be the happiest day of my life I want children of my own one day but not like this. He will think I am trying to trap him or something.'

'Okay this is not Eastenders or some crummy soap on TV. This is real life he wont think that Laura. But, you do need to tell him. Or if you cant face him just post the sticks to him either one will do to be honest probably get the same reaction.'

Laura looked across at Jules. 'This is not funny and this is your fault, you moved his room you engineered for us to be in the same wing of the hotel. None of this would be happening if you had just stayed out of it.' She pushed the sticks out of the way her head falling into her arms on the desk.

Jules stood up. 'Right I am going. I am going to let you off with those comments Laura Jones. I know what your hormones are like during pregnancy. But, don't ever blame me for what happened. So I manipulated the situation a little it was always going to happen and you were probably going to get pregnant.'

Jules turned to go and stopped at the door. Laura raised her head tears filling her eyes. 'Jules, please don't fall out with me I need you more than ever.'

'I'm here but make it tomorrow right now I'm a bit pissed with you so I'm going home to see my stroppy husband and kids.'

Jules left the office and closed the door behind her. Laura laid her head back onto her arms. Tears falling as the realisation of what was happening hit her.

Its at time like this you needed your Mum she thought. If only she had one to guide and give assurance right now. Her mother had left Emma and her with social services when they were kids. She had never seen her again and doubted she ever would. She blamed a lot of that abandonment on Emma spiralling out of control all through her life. Life had dealt them too many blows along the way.

'Why me, someone please tell me why bloody me?' She wiped the tears away and gathered the pregnancy sticks sweeping them into the desk drawer.

Right now somewhere in the world a woman was telling her husband, partner the good news and they would celebrate the occasion making plans for the future thinking of names and hoping for a healthy child. She could only think that Jake would think she had trapped him and he would probably run out the door.

Lying in bed the next morning after a sleepless night she placed her hands on her stomach. Somewhere in there was their child her's and Jakes. She didn't know how he would take it but, she realised she couldn't worry about that. She needed to look after this baby regardless of what happened with them. A gift of a life was too precious and this could be her only chance at motherhood. Who knew what might happen in the future?

Jake was not due down for another couple of days he had a trip to Paris for some media company he was buying. He had sent a picture of him standing in front of the Eiffel Tower with the tag line 'all alone in Paris.' He had adopted his most sad pose as he looked into the camera and she had laughed thinking of him trying to do something sweet for her whilst he was so busy. If only he knew what was about to happen she had thought to herself.

After dropping Charlie to school she had stopped at M&S to get the Italian chocolates Jules liked. She needed to make peace quickly the one thing she could not afford right now was falling out with Jules.

She arrived into the hotel stopping to chat to some guests who were leaving after a week long stay. Meandering down to her office she held her hand over her stomach. She had often wondered why women did that thinking seriously we all know you're pregnant but she realised today it was because you couldn't quite believe something so wonderful was happening to you. Walking into her office with a bright smile on her face she froze as she looked at Jake sat behind her desk and the eight pregnancy sticks laid out in front of him. His face one of shock and horror as he looked up at her.

'Morning Laura I think we have something to discuss.'

Laura sank into the chair across the desk staring at Jakes hands placed on either side of the pregnancy sticks. She couldn't look at him but she could feel his eyes boring into her at that moment.

'How did you get here Jake? I thought you were in Paris for another couple of days.' She looked up at him his face unreadable as he continued to stare at her.

'My meetings concluded last night and I chartered a plane flew over early this morning I thought I would surprise you but I didn't expect this?' His hand swept over the sticks. 'How long have you known and is it mine?' His voice was cold and detached as he spoke this was not the Jake from the weekend and she felt her eyes fill with tears and so it had started.

Her head flew up a look of hurt and pain across her face as she tried to gauge what he was thinking. 'I found out yesterday when I took all those tests, I couldn't tell you whilst you were in Paris I haven't even got my head around it myself and yes Jake its yours.'

'Right yes of course sorry I shouldn't have said that. So it's the night after the wedding so that would be about six weeks or so.'

She nodded her head had dropped down again she couldn't look at him his face full of distrust and disgust at her.

'Have you seen a doctor?' She shook her head. 'So these could be wrong then all a mistake.'

Speaking quietly and looking at him with eyes full of tears Laura said. 'Jake these are 100% accurate, I did eight I think there is conclusive proof. I'm pregnant its yours. But don't worry you don't need to be involved I know this is not what you want so its fine. I'm fine we'll be fine we don't need anything from you.'

She tried to smile but her face was too hurt to muster one. She stood up feeling shaky as she did so. Her hand reaching for the desk as she wobbled. He was up in a flash and round to catch her.

'I'm fine Jake please just leave me alone.'

'You're not fine though. Is this morning sickness? Have you eaten anything? I don't think you should be eating those chocolates if you aren't feeling well.'

'Stop, okay yes it's a touch of morning sickness. I guess it will pass at some stage today. The chocs are for Jules we had a row yesterday and I.' Laura stopped talking and looked at him. He was sitting on the edge of the desk starring intently at her.

'What? I'm not in the mood Jake. I didn't sleep very well and I need to see Jules and then.'

'Laura just take a breath. Sit, I will fetch Jules and.' He passed the waste paper bin from beside her desk. 'Just in case.'

Jake left the room in search of Jules and Laura sat back in the chair. Her head swimming and feeling that any second she was about to throw up. She was still sat with the bin on her lap when Jake returned with Jules. He had a tray of food and insisted she have some dry toast to try and settle her stomach. Jules nodded in agreement when he reiterated it for the third time and despite her protests she took a few mouthfuls to appease them both.

'Laura I am taking you home you cant stay here you need rest. She didn't sleep last night Jules.'

'Really, well she should definitely go home then.'

'Excuse me I am still in the room.' Laura stood up indignant at the conversation going on around her. 'I have a lot on today and will be fine once it passes. I'm just pregnant I can still function like a normal person Jake.'

She walked around to her desk chair and sat down still holding the bin and seconds later vomiting into it. She looked up as Jules and Jake stared back at her. Jake looked horrified whilst Jules looked sympathetic and slightly bemused.

'Laura go home, get some sleep hopefully later you will fell better and then come back okay.' Jules walked around to her and took the bin from her. 'I will sort this out. Jake over to you.'

Jake walked Laura out of the hotel and helped her into his car. He said nothing on the way to her house and said little as he walked her into the house and helped her into bed. She reached for his hand as he turned to walk away and pulled him back towards her.

'Don't be mad with me Jake, I'm as shocked as you.'

He sat on the edge of the bed his spare hand brushing her hair back from her face. 'Oh Laura I'm not mad its just I didn't expect a baby, I'm not prepared for it. We have only known each other a few weeks and now this.'

As she fell asleep she said softly 'Hmmmm don't worry I will look after you.'

x

Jake walked downstairs and flopped onto the sofa. Ellie was in the kitchen cleaning he had tried to get her to take the rest of the day off but she wouldn't go. He called out to her he would be back later and walked out to his car. He needed to be on his own think everything through.

He set off down the road with no clear route in his head and drove aimlessly around the local area before pulling into the car park of a pub. He leaned back in his seat and took a deep breath speed dialling his Mother on his phone.

She answered on the first ring. 'Jake where is my grandson? Lauren tells me you had him in London last weekend and you kept him away from me. Why?'

'Mum, please I need to talk to you. Can you just listen?'

'Jake I want some answers.'

'Mum, please.'

'Of course sorry dear carry on.'

He closed his eyes and spoke. 'Laura is pregnant and its mine. I don't know what I'm supposed to feel or do I think I'm in shock.'

There was silence on the other end of the phone and then Anna Harrison spoke. 'Jake this is marvellous news now you can marry her and we will get two grandchildren. Two Harrison's this is so much more than I could have hoped for.'

'Mum I told you before I can't get married to someone just because you want me to. We can sort the whole Charlie/Will thing out.'

'Can we Jake? So you've told her then? Told her your connection to Charlie? Told her why you wanted to get to know her? I didn't expect you to sleep with her so soon but I guess you are your fathers son after all. You have to marry her Jake thats all there is to it.'

Jake opened his eyes and gazed out at his surroundings. People were going about their daily business with thoughts to the crazy eyed man sitting in his car. He took a deep breath and spoke quietly. He hadn't told her of course, he had said nothing frightened if he did she would go and he would lose both of them.

'Okay so what do we do to arrange this then?'

'Jake just leave everything to me. I will arrange a quiet wedding maybe 200 no lets say 150 guests. So much to do now do you want The Ritz or The Dorchester. Now I prefer The Ritz but really it's your choice.'

'Mum not quite what I meant. It will be quiet like 3 or 4 of us and yes you can come. I was actually asking how I go about a registry office I thought you would've guessed that.'

'Jake no please you are my only son this is the only wedding I will have.'

'Sorry Mum if we make it to five years you can throw the biggest party going you have carte blanch okay.'

He heard his Mother sign in disgust on the other end of the phone. 'Well, that wont happen will it? Fine what do you want to do?'

'Well, there must be somewhere around here to get married and we can have a lunch or something at the hotel. Charlie will be holiday from school I guess as it's coming up to Easter so we can go to Regina for the, the shit the honeymoon.'

'Jake no swearing, I know you are upset but really this is all for the best. Kill two birds with one stone and all that.'

'Mum gotta go need some fresh air, talk later okay.' Jake rung off and opened the door of the car, climbing out he leaned against it gulping in great breath's of air as he tried to comprehend how his life had changed in a matter of minutes.

He had only been looking for a postie note wanting to tell her to come to the office he was using. That he was back early. His shock at seeing all the pregnancy sticks had only been compounded when she had walked in and he could see she was not well.

Now she was fast asleep carrying his child, there was no ignoring this. No running away from it. He reached into the car for his phone best sort this out and there was only one person who could get a wedding organised in 24 hours.

'Lauren, are you sitting down? Good, have you got any alcohol nearby grab it you are going to need it.'