Chapter 41

Another day, another chapter ;) Hope this isn't boring anyone with the length of it all! Let me know in a review or message if it is! Brightening this up a little, I know it's been shall we say a little emotional ;) If anyone's got any ideas for future chapters pleeaseeeee message me, could do with it right now - having a massive block! :O Thank yoou x

The morning after the wedding and some people were suffering more than others. Rita was lying on one of the sun loungers out in the sun while Iain slept off the hangover. Ethan and Alicia were in much the same position a little further along while everyone else bar Jacob and Robyn sat at the table.

Connie wandered down the stairs in her dressing gown to see everyone outside. Rather than going out she moved into the kitchen and stood there for a few moments. Her eyes fell to the diamond that now sat comfortably on her finger.

"Surreal isn't it?" She looked up to see Elliot walking towards her. She held onto her left hand before letting it drop and forcing a smile to him. "Connie what's bothering you?" She shook her head trying to brush him off but he wouldn't leave her.

"It's nothing really, I'm just being stupid…" He didn't move his gaze from her and she was first to give in. "It's just, talking about everything that happened yesterday has bought it all back up-" "Connie, you don't realise just how many people are around for you, who love and care for you. To begin with you've got the man asleep upstairs who put that ring on your finger. Then you've got me and Charlie, and you always will do." She smiled before stopping in front of him, moving her arms around his neck sniffing slightly trying not to cry yet again. "Thank you-" "Anytime. Come on."

Elisha was closest to her when she got outside. As soon as she noticed Connie she took her by complete surprise and pulled her into a tight hug. Connie was unsure of how to react so let her arms go gently around the other woman. "You've made our Jay so happy, thank you for that." Connie stood up from her smiling. "You're part of the family now, always will be too so if he annoys you, you tell us." She laughed as Elisha sat back at the table beside Brianna.

Rather than sitting down Connie put some things together before returning inside to the kitchen. She emerged again with a tray and put the food onto it taking it upstairs to Jacob. Connie never had been one for eating first thing in the morning, it was only when Jacob was around her that she did.

The bedroom door opened to reveal Jacob still sleeping with the bed sheets loosely draped across him. Connie leant against the door smiling taking in the sight before stepping forwards. She put the tray down on the table beside the bed before leaning over the bed and pressing her lips to his.

Jacob woke up responding immediately to her. He moved a hand to her wrist and the other to her waist pulling her onto the bed with him. Connie lay beside him as he pushed up on the bed. "Good morning to you too Mrs M-" "Oh great you've thought of something already-" "Best of both worlds really." He winked before kissing her again then smelling the food she'd bought up. "You made me breakfast?"

"I wouldn't really say made, but bought it up yes." He pulled her hand so that she could sit up beside him before he began eating while they talked. "I really am sorry-" "Don't… You don't need to say anything." He smiled warmly before they went quiet again.

By lunch time they were all down on the beach. The girls were out in the sea while all the adults sat together. Iain, Rita, Ethan, Robyn and Lofty had decided to walk up the beach to the shop where they bought some drinks.

Connie lay on the warm sand in a simple black bikini when Alicia sat down next to her. Connie raised her head slightly and looked over the top of her glasses towards the younger doctor. Without saying anything Connie put her head back down as Alicia seemed to sit next to her quietly.

Charlie, Elliot, Tess and Elisha sat under some parasols behind the girls talking about Connie and Jacob. Elisha found it interesting to hear about the couple and how things seemed to have happened with them.

"Could I ask you something?" When Alicia didn't speak again Connie sat herself up and pushed her glasses on top of her head. She looked towards her yet she still didn't speak. "Dr Munro, what is it?" Connie snapped before placing a hand on her arm gently causing her to smile and look across at her.

"How do you do it?" Connie's face showed confusion before she made it clear what she was saying. "Carry on when you know some people are waiting for you to fall?" Alicia looked towards Ethan before her eyes went back to staring off into the distance. Connie wasn't sure what this was about and didn't feel like opening up to someone she barely knew.

She got on with Alicia, which is more than she could say for a lot of the people here. "There's always going to be people who want you to fail. Just waiting for you to make a wrong move, you've just got to find the ones who are there to help you." This time Connie watched as both their eyes moved to Ethan. "He's one of those so don't mistake that." Alicia smiled before facing Connie.

"Something else which helps me is knowing that when you get to where you want to be, and you've proved all of them wrong you can laugh at them and boss them around because you're better than them… Well at least that's what I do." Alicia laughed as a small but warm smile was on Connie's face while she leant back putting her glasses back over her eyes. "Thank you-" "You don't need to thank me."

Ethan had sat the other side of Alicia who just smiled and moved closer to him. Connie's eyes fell to her daughter out in the water. It was then that she realised where Jacob had been this whole time.

"Grace you know he's like your Dad now right?" She shrugged "Step-Dad yeah-" "Aren't they all boring though?" Jacob waded into the water with Isabella smiling. "Boring? I'll show you boring!" He reached forwards picking Grace up with ease as she laughed.

He tickled her before falling backwards into the water with her. They all swam about laughing and throwing water at each other. Brianna joined in with Anya and Jessica, and soon enough a full blown fight had erupted between them all.

Connie watched with a smile as her daughter played with Jacob. She lay back down and closed her eyes for a few moments drifting off slowly. She jolted upwards when a bucket of ice cold water was poured across her chest. Connie sat up with a scream as she watched Jacob move back to the sea with Grace on his back.

She pushed herself off the sand and ran after them into the water. Grace had got down and swam over to Isabella and Brianna while Jacob waited for Connie to catch up. He walked backwards smiling before he caught Connie's wrist pulling her closer to him.

He quickly admired how beautiful she looked in a bikini with her hair thrown up messily and no make-up on, hence the sun glasses earlier. "You're beautiful-" "Flattery won't work after that…" She smiled as they were waist deep in the water. Jacob seemed to let himself fall into the water so it was up to his shoulders.

Jacob's hands went to Connie's waist as they moved further out into the water. She waited for just the right moment. When they were deep enough Connie leant forwards pushing her lips to his before she pushed down on Jacob's shoulders so that he was completely submerged into the water. She had started to swim away when he came back up but he grabbed her ankle pulling her back and under the water with him.

As they came up from the water his lips collided with hers causing her to smile. "Egh Mum!" Connie turned to face Grace before her and Jacob seemed to have the same idea. They chased after Grace before the water fight continued between them all, soon involving most of the others too.