Hello :P It is Wednesday and I am back with a new Christmassey chapter. Like the last one, this is a little more just set in Winter rather than being festive. And I didn't write it for this month. I just wrote it in general and thought I might as well upload it now. I hope you enjoy it. It's a little more of an introduction to Georgina (James' aunt and surrogate mother) and Jonah (Georgina's future partner and James' future uncle). :3
Ages:
Jonah: 27
Georgina: 19
James: 6 Months inside Georgina
Disclaimer: I own the story and Jonah and Georgina!
My nose twitched as I fell closer to dreamland and my cheek rested against the shoulder of Jonah. I was surprised I was drifting off so fast with the smell of dried paint on his fingers keeping me in the present. But as soon as he began gently snoring on the sofa too, I was away. And I could see things. Wonderful things. I always knew he was a sensitive and kind hearted man. But the vision that I began to see made my heart feel even fonder for his.
It was a cold January day and I could see a street view from above. The air was crisp but the view below looked even chillier. Street corners were frosted with ice. Puddles looked closer to solid than they were liquid. And every time someone breathed, it created a cloud of mist in front of their mouths. It was definitely winter. But it wasn't bleak.
What couldn't be further from being bleak in that quiet town in Kanto was a familiar flash of strawberry blonde crossing the street. I could hear 90s music sounding from a car in the distance, but my senses were honed in on the sight rather than my hearing. I knew that orange-yellow was familiar. And when the person seemed to look up to exactly where I would've been, I knew I knew those soft, green orbs.
It was young Jonah. And he looked sweet clad in his grey beanie hat and layers of denim shirt and denim jacket over the top. The fashion made it even clearer to me what era I was seeing.
The shivering male did an awkward little run as the car let him cross the street and he held his hand up as he moved as a gesture of gratitude. He then began walking past all the shops on the right hand side, his eyes scanning the area. I didn't know if he was looking for someone. I didn't know if he was looking for something. His eyes seemed to be searching for nothing in particular.
He briefly looked behind him to the shops on the left hand side of the street and the building which he had just come out of. It didn't look like much but I assumed he came from the flat above it. Perhaps it was his? It wasn't clear to me.
I continued watching as he continued walking. He paused for some time outside a bakery before absentmindedly patting his flat stomach and moving along. He did the same for the patisserie and the chocolatier. But like before, he kept on moving.
I couldn't help but smile in my sleep at what I was seeing and wrinkle my nose in fondness. That was behaviour I was very familiar with. Ash always stopped outside every shop when we were walking for a little nosey in the window. He'd often get a free treat just for being so friendly. I always figured that Jonah reminded me more of his nephew, James, but watching him eye every single food shop, I was no longer so sure.
All of a sudden, my eyes zoomed closer to where Jonah was standing and I could see right next to him rather than above him. I wondered why. But all would be revealed soon. As he walked past a restaurant – nothing too simple and nothing to fancy, just a nice and quiet place to eat – he suddenly stopped once again.
But this time, his green eyes brightened even more than when he was looking in the food windows. And I understood why before I even saw for myself. I had seen him look that way at someone in the present. I knew he had spotted Georgina.
After he was absolutely certain it was her, he took his fingers out of his winter gloves to knock on the window a few times. She was absorbed in the menu herself and didn't hear him at first. He was about to give up, I knew it. But I believe I saw him mutter to himself to give it just one more go. And he did just that. And she looked up.
I saw her own face brighten when she saw the strawberry blonde male right away after the initial blinking and disbelief that she was seeing him. She didn't hesitate to carefully climb out of her chair. When she moved away from the table, I saw her rather large baby bump. Oh oh. She was pregnant with James.
She moved over to the window to mouth at Jonah when she saw him continuing to knock playfully and give her a shy smile in between using his other hand to wave. She continued smiling at him. He mouthed to her through the window before she could speak, his breath making a light cloud on the glass.
"Just wanted to say hi." Was all he said to her, rather loud from his side but she could only hear it as only a whisper from inside the restaurant. After doing that, he almost turned on his heel to go. She didn't hesitate to stop him, knocking her fist against the glass back.
"Hey hey hey!" she said back to him and I didn't know if she was greeting him or offended that he was leaving so soon. She continued smiling though and judging by the looks from the other people in the restaurant, she was half yelling so he could hear her.
Jonah jumped but only gently and he shyly turned back on his heel to face her. She shook her head fondly at him and used one hand to wipe the mist off the glass with her sweater sleeve and the other was rubbing her baby bump. It felt weird to me knowing that ex-rocketeer James was in there.
"Why don't you come inside?" Georgina asked her brother's best friend and when he shrugged and looked around sheepishly, she tilted her head on one side and raised an eyebrow. "You know you want to. Just for a little bit."
I knew that Jonah definitely wanted to and was wondering why he wasn't obeying right away. I knew him as not the most stubborn fellow. But I shrugged in my sleep. I didn't know what he was fully like as a twenty seven year old. I'd have to wait and see.
After Georgina folding her arms over between her growing chest and belly and giving Jonah a mock eye narrow if she didn't obey him, Jonah finally pretended to sigh before making his way into the restaurant. Her table was right by the door so he could dash off if he felt the need to. I knew he wouldn't.
Jonah's face got hit by the fire of inside the little food place and after the red headed young woman seated herself back down in her chair, his mood couldn't help but warm up too. He smirked slightly at her.
"So is this what pregnant ladies do now? Eat in restaurants all on their own-some?" he smirked and I saw him creeping closer to her rather than the door as he had been before. His hand rested casually on the spare chair.
Georgina briefly and playfully stuck her tongue out at him before her eyes went back to scanning the menu like they had been doing prior to spotting Jonah. She shrugged.
"Pregnant ladies do whatever pregnant ladies want to do seeing as they are growing humans inside of them." She responded, causing Jonah to tilt his head in agreement. She continued after smiling up at him. "What brings you to this end of town?"
I couldn't help but smile with satisfaction in my sleep. She was asking the questions that I wanted asking. Perfect.
The orange-yellow haired male let out an airy sigh and shrug but didn't hesitate to answer her, his smile showing off his dimples as he casually took the spare chair out and sat on it the wrong way. He took his beanie hat off, letting his long bob tumble out.
"Oh, you know how it is." He began, looking at her briefly before glancing down at his fingers as he picked the paint off them. Nothing much had changed then. "Just this end trying to secure an art deal for Charlie. It's pretty hellish."
Georgina nodded her head in the past and I did in the present as I snoozed. I had heard about how Jonah and partnered with James' father, Charlie, in business as young adults after they both finished university. Jonah was an artist and Charlie was an art dealer. But he was also a scammer. And I wondered why Jonah went along with it.
The green orbed male felt his best friend's little sisters eyes lingering on him and felt like she was judging him for the things I was remembering. He quickly changed the subject.
"What's good here?" he asked, giving her another smile as his fingers began playing instead with the wool of his beanie rather than the crusty paint under his nails. His eyes glanced around. "I haven't been here."
Georgina's own green orbs had been focused on him before, wondering herself why he was in business with her unlikable brother, but she soon found herself smirking. She openly laughed at him.
"I find it very hard to believe that you haven't eaten here." She shook her head, one hand still on her bump and her other fingers playing with the untouched knife. She was collected and bold like Josie and didn't hesitate to ask. "I don't know what's good here. So maybe you should stay and eat with me and find out."
Jonah was a shy male at the best of times but at the way Georgina was asking him to eat with her sounded a lot like a date to him. He opened his mouth and tried not to stutter.
"Me? Now? Really?" he began, shaking his head at himself when he seemingly failed at not making a fool out of himself. He pretended to glance at the clock on the wall instead. "I'm not sure I have the time."
Luckily, Georgina was quick to respond.
"Nonsense." She shook her head at him and looked at him seriously before being unable to stop herself smiling. She did that a lot when he was around. "Look at you, you've already sat down. Stay and eat and make a pregnant lady happy."
After she said that, it didn't take much persuading. And soon enough, Georgina called the waiter to ask for another menu for Jonah and he sat on the chair properly, pulling it nearer to the table. When they were both seated and given their drinks, they continued looking at the food menu together even after they had ordered.
As the red headed young adult saw the older male licking his lips subtly at all the choices in front of him, she couldn't help but shake her head fondly. She put the menu down and rested her head on one hand. She looked right at him.
"Really, Jonah, how do you manage to stay slim now when you still look at a food list like it's everything you've been searching for in life?"
The strawberry blonde male was often blushing in her presence anyway but he especially did so at her reminding him that he used to be larger until he got into university. When he just shrugged and kept quiet, she pulled an apologetic face. She briefly touched his hand and made his eyes meet hers.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled sincerely before smiling at him to show that it was all light-hearted. He soon smiled back and she relaxed that she hadn't offended him. That was the last thing she wanted to do. "But seriously. You love your food as much as I do."
Jonah got a slight twinkle in his eye at her pointing out similarities between them – or was it perhaps that he liked a girl who liked her food? Either way, his eyes lit up. And they sparkled more when he pretended to put his menu away and shrug aloofly.
"Well seeing as you've invited me on this date and all." He began to tease her but I knew his heart rate sped up with hope that she wouldn't correct him. She didn't and he was forced to continue almost shakily. He hid it well. "I think we should act like total proper stranger on a date. So that means you don't know me. And you don't know that I was a fattie."
Georgina let out a slight coo at him sending himself up and I felt his stomach flip from sleeping next to him. I think he was hoping she didn't think of him as an adorable little pet. He definitely wanted something more. But she soon nodded and smiled, her hand right next to his.
"You got yourself a deal." She nodded her head, her fingers absentmindedly moving nearer to his. He expected to have to make all the effort but she was just as into it as he was. She pretended to look at him coyly. "So tell me about your childhood."
Jonah's eyes couldn't help but notice her thumb almost touching his but he focused on her words, unable to resist digging her. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
"If this is your idea of sexy talk then it is not working." He mumbled with a straight mouth before it quirked into a smile again. He let out a few amusing laughs after her finger jabbed him to keep him serious. "Okay, okay."
He was about to start right from the very beginning but Georgina took a chance. One hand of hers rubbed her belly when James kicked while her other fingers lingered on Jonah's wrist.
"Tell me about your mother. Were you close with her?"
I almost held my breath in my sleep upon hearing this. Talking about Jonah's mother was risky business for him and everyone around him. He'd either well up like a fountain and be unable to talk or tearfully gush for hours. There was no in between.
Jonah swallowed, his eyes flicking between her fingers on his skin and her eyes. But somehow, their game made him brave. Just like the game allowed her to ask that question, he felt able to answer it. Them being in their own world made it safe.
"My mommy died when I was seven." He began, confirming what I'd heard. James and Misty whisperingly told me but I had never heard it from his mouth. I listened attentively in my sleep. "It was a car crash and my father heavily blamed himself because he was a cop. He didn't do it or anything but he couldn't find who did it. That's when he went more haywire, I think. He's no more too."
It was strange for me hearing an emotional guy like Jonah being so straightforward and honest and it was that way for Georgina too. She nodded her head and listened. I wondered if she regretted asking about a painful subject during their game. But then I saw that him being so open with her and only her made her drawn to him even more.
"So you're an orphan?" she asked bluntly but gently, her fingers absentmindedly stroking up his forearm. That definitely wasn't a part of the game.
But for once, Jonah didn't blush. He nodded his head.
"I am. But it's okay." He muttered with a shrug but by the way his eyes flickered and briefly went between hers and his glass of water, proved that it wasn't okay. But still, he continued. "I'm close I guess with my best friends family. They're my dad's best friends family too." He found himself growing bold. He smirked playfully but his eyes met hers, proving to her that he meant it. "I guess I quite like my best friend's little sister."
This time, it was Georgina's turn to feel her cheeks going rosy but she tried to hide this by ducking her head briefly. She was about to smirk and retort after composing herself but she suddenly winced, causing Jonah to reach out with concern. She smiled lovingly at his sincere worry.
"It's okay. My brother's baby just kicked inside me." She announced for amusement just for him but they both noticed everyone eating in the restaurant went quiet and turned their heads towards their table. I agreed, that did sound very odd. But this didn't deter Georgina. And Jonah still looked concerned. She laughed fondly.
"Really. It's okay. It's just been a while since we've both eaten food so he's probably wondering what the hell's going on. He'll settle down soon."
The strawberry blonde male blinked his eyes a few times before he couldn't help but soften, nodding his head. His eyes seemed to latch even more onto Georgina's upon hearing her talking as if she really did know that baby. Well, she did. And that's why it was so devastating for her to give him up.
He found his fingers reaching to play with her fingers as they continued stroking his arm and his own other arm rested on the table. His hand cupped his own chin as he looked across at her.
"That's just so damn cool." He mumbled before continuing sheepishly but sincerely when he found her eyes meeting his. "You're not even twenty yet and you're carrying a baby and for your brother no less. You don't get many people like that."
Georgina shrugged and, for once, she found it hard to accept that compliment. Her eyes hesitantly broke away from Jonah's to look down at her bump. She was just so connected with the baby she didn't think she was amazing but she thought he was. She knew it was her duty. She looked back at him.
"You don't get many people like my brother." She said with an airy smirk as her pinkie casually locked around his. I knew that he felt it. "I think he could be a great dad. He really wanted this baby so I'm giving it to him. It's the mother I'm a little worried about."
Jonah pulled a face but before he could speak with agreement, it was obvious that baby James inside Georgina gave her another hearty kick. She winced through her smirk.
"Alright, alright, I'll try and ask a waiter how long it'll take if one goes past." She tried to speak soothingly to her bump and stroke it but he didn't stop. She sighed. "Your mash will get here soon. But maybe your Uncle Jonah can distract you first."
I noticed the strawberry blonde male's cheeks blush heavily upon hearing this and I understood. Georgina was going to be James' aunt. By calling Jonah his uncle, it made them seem like an item. And after their little date, he definitely wanted that more and more. But he pushed his longing out the way and clumsily reached his bare hands out to Georgina's bump when she moved closer on the chair so he could try and soothe the kicking.
He bit his lip shyly but was soon his own sweet self.
"I know you're really hungry in there and I am too, out here. But that's no reason to kick your Auntie, okay? So be a good little thing and let's try settling down, huh?"
And in that moment, as if by magic, the little baby James' kicking settled down. I didn't even need to look twice to know. Georgina was beaming at the no longer pain but she was glowing more at how sweet and gentle Jonah was.
She was about to open her mouth and tell him how much of a natural he was when she suddenly stopped herself, not wanting to put herself on the line too much. She cleared her throat and when the food arrived, had the opportunity to act like she wanted to say that all along. She smirked but Jonah had almost noticed her letting her guard down.
"Well if you stopping the baby kicking wasn't a miracle, the food arriving now definitely was." She said, causing Jonah to look a little disappointed that she didn't say what he was hoping for. But he focused on being delighted at the fact it was dinner time. At least he didn't have to fake that smile.
Georgina didn't have to fake hers back as she watched his eyes light more and more up with each plate that the waiter added to the table. She carefully stood up, making sure not to bash the bump on the table.
"Well this looks great. But I hope you'll excuse me because I need to wash my hands before I can dig into all this."
She said with a nod of her head and after Jonah nodded his back, she disappeared into the ladies room past the bar. My eyes focused on the strawberry blonde male now that it was only him. His eyes twinkled.
His tongue trailed along his bottom lip. He knew the polite thing to do would be to wait for Georgina but it all looked so good. He glanced around for her. She had only just left. His stomach growled. The food was looking even more appetising the longer he looked at it and as each minute passed.
Even the mash potato that Georgina had ordered to satisfy the baby was making his mouth water. He picked up his fork. He only just had to take a spoonful. Just a mouthful of that cheesy mash potato. And then he'd wait for her to get back.
He leaned closer to the food, his fork poised in his hand. He was about to delve in when Georgina suddenly darted back to his side, surprisingly nimble for a heavily pregnant woman. He yelped.
"I was not eating!" he cried out, dropping his fork on the floor with a crash. But for once, he didn't see the disapproving stares. He was too busy smiling sheepishly up at her. But she didn't care. She ruffled his hair. She babbled and you could almost hear his stomach dropping.
"You? Eating? I don't care if you do. Eat it all." She rambled, her cheeks flushed and her hand on her belly. "I just walked past the best looking person in the bar. He chatted me up even though I'm pregnant and offered to buy me a non-alcoholic drink. Can you believe that?"
My own stomach dropped for him. It took him a few minutes to process this. His mouth hung open like a goldfish. He was about to speak slowly when she continued burbling.
"You don't mind me going with him, do you? I know we said this was a date but it was only a joke, right? I know you're left with all the food but you'll probably eat it all, right? I'm so excited?"
Jonah's neck was flushing with sadness and his shoulders were inwardly slumping with each sentence. But when he heard that she was excited, he forced himself to be happy for her. He nodded his head while she fumbled in her purse.
"Of course I'll eat it all. And I will have a great time." He told her and nodded but she was barely even listening to him. After she glanced back to see if the gentleman at the bar was still waiting for her, she tried to hand Jonah money. He shook his head and insisted even though he'd be the only one eating. "No, I got this. A treat for a pregnant lady."
Georgina was still looking back into the other room for her new date but her head snapped upon hearing his words. Even she wasn't that oblivious. She smiled at him with gratitude.
"Really? Are you sure? Because I really don't mind paying for some. I did come here first after all."
She tried to give him notes but despite everything, Jonah stopped her. He tried to keep it together as his hand went on her fist as he pushed the notes back towards her.
"Truly. It's on me. Have a great time." He told her, causing her to almost let out a squeal of excitement. She sure felt bigged up that she had been hit on while pregnant. She was so grateful to Jonah that she gave him a lingering kiss on the cheek. He tried not to listen to his heart breaking.
"Well… Wish me luck!" she called to him and before he could even wave back, she headed into the bar room for her second date. He had lifted his hand to wave at her but didn't make it all the way so it just lingered where she had kissed. He let out a sad sigh.
For once, he didn't care that he was in a room full of people who had been watching. For once, he didn't care that he had two meals to himself. He buried his hands and he breathed out. After that, he looked up at the ceiling and almost tugged at his hair.
"I know, mom, okay? I know." He breathed out, shaking his head at himself and his hands going to his lap for comfort. "I should just tell her how I feel. But it doesn't matter." He murmured shakily, his jaw clenching helplessly. He whispered. "Why would she go for someone like me?"
I felt my heart clenching in my sleep and, as Jonah continued talking to his mother in heaven in the past, the dream faded away. But as I nuzzled him in the process of waking up, I was touched by reassurance.
They became united in the end. Jonah was Georgina's brother's best friend. Georgina was Jonah's best friend's sister. Jonah didn't think he was worthy of someone so amazing. She was strong and independent and she carried a baby for someone else. How could he compete? He really felt as though he couldn't.
But as Georgina went on more and more dates, she too felt something. She felt like something was wrong. She knew something was missing. And when she turned to Jonah, she found it in him instead. It took them forever, but they finally got together. The time wasting was stupid but in the end, it didn't really matter. They would love each other for eternity. And in the present, their eternity was only just beginning.
The End.
There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 So yeah, Georgina can get pretty caught up in the moment and be clueless sometimes. She gets that from Josie. I feel bad for poor Jonah but both of them are just not ready to admit that they have feelings for each other. Even though they both clearly have such a good bond. Thanks again for reading and I will be back next Wednesday with another Christmassey chapter so see you then!
AmyBieberKetchum signing out :3