A/N: Little bit of cute, but next chapter be warned, will be back to a bit of angst.
Will was halfway through his study when his phone started buzzing in his pocket. Straightening up, he pulled it out, frowning when he saw JJ's brother's name as the caller ID.
"Jason?" he queried as he answered.
"Yeah. You and I need to talk"
Will took a deep breath, sitting back in his chair. "Jason... I-"
"No, you listen here, Will. JJ's a wreck. I always thought I could trust you not to hurt her, but it looks like I was wrong. What kind of person sees someone who's visibly struggling and thinks, yeah, I'll just compound this even further by breaking up with her? What the fuck Will?"
"I didn't break up with her, I just... I broke off the engagement because I needed space"
"Well from how I hear it, you haven't spoken to her since she got out of the hospital-"
"Because I'm fuckin' pissed off at her Jason, did she happen to mention why?" Will snapped. "Or did she just tell you that I'm a horrible person who won't talk to her?"
"She told me what happened in LA, Will-"
"Did she tell you that the reason I'm so mad is because I found her moments away from fuckin' another guy?"
There was a click, indicating Jason had hung up. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Will turned away from the desk, tossing his phone onto the bed and slumping forward as he buried his head in his hands. Suddenly he felt like his head was throbbing, pounding with the effort of trying to sort through his own pain. Of course Jason would jump to his sister's defence... he wouldn't have expected otherwise. But somehow, it still hurt hearing the scathing anger in his ex future brother-in-law's voice.
His phone began to buzz again, and he lifted his face, expecting it to be Jason calling him back to give him another earful. But he was pleasantly surprised to see the crazy face of his niece requesting a video call.
Mustering up a smile, he picked it up again, answering the call and holding the phone up so Bailey-Rose could see him.
"Hi hi hi Uncle Will! Hi!"
Will chuckled. "Hey crazy cakes! Whatcha doin'?"
"I'm doin' my homework"
A voice sounded out in the background. "Bailey-Rose! Are you usin' that iPad for homework or video calls?"
"I'm just talkin' to Uncle Will!"
Will chuckled as his brother's head popped into the frame. "Hey Sam"
"Hey little bro, how's things up there in the freezin' cold north?"
"Yeah... not too bad"
"Uncle Will, my momma said Aunt JJ is real sad, why is she sad?"
"We... we had a fight, B-Rose... so we're both a lil' upset," Will explained softly.
"Well you should kiss and make up!"
Will chuckled, a lump rising in his throat as he tried to keep a light persona for his niece. Sam, however, noticed Will's subtle change in expression, and spoke up to redirect his daughter. "B-Rose, let's talk to Uncle Will about somethin' else, ok? Why don't you ask him if he knows the answers to your homework?"
"Yeah!" Bailey-Rose cheered, making Will laugh as he settled back in his chair. As he sat there listening to her jabbering away, a little of the ache in his chest seemed to lessen. The innocence of a child could always work wonders.
|flipflyonodi|
Gotta say, I lost a lot of respect for JJ after the Golden Globes. Like damn girl, grieving ain't an excuse for cheating on your fiancé
|jareaumanar|
Ok but keep in mind the only perspective we've seen/heard so far is a media perspective, and they love to sensationalise. Not saying JJ or Will owe anyone an explanation for what happened, but until we potentially hear it from their perspective, I don't think we can really pass judgement
|komovassilver|
You're so blinded by how much you love JJ that you're willing to overlook cheating? I'm with flipflyonodi, grieving isn't an excuse! You're also conveniently forgetting that there's video footage of Will breaking down that door and finding her underneath another dude. I'm not having it. Write her off. Biles 2016 Olympic all-around champion for me, it should've been her gold medal anyway
|tkatchevmeifyoucan|
Idk, I mean... JJ hasn't been herself for months, and this behaviour... it's not like her at all. I'm with jareaumanar, I think JJ just needs some support right now tbh.
|flipflyonodi|
Lmao fuck off with your holier than thou shit. 'It's not like her' you act like you know her personally. Just because she posts cute selfies and paints this perfect picture of her relationship with Will doesn't mean she wasn't already dicking down other dudes. If anything, this has just shown her true colours.
|jareaumanar|
Wow. That's... wow. How would you feel if you were struggling and people made comments about you like that online?
|flipflyonodi|
I wouldn't know or care because if I was struggling, I'd be getting the help I needed, not sitting on social media.
|catalinaponors|
Ok, I think everyone needs to take a breath. You can feel how you want about JJ's situation, but don't duke it out in public, you've gotta remember she and other gymnasts have social media and could easily see these comments.
|flipflyonodi|
Care factor zero, maybe it'll teach her how much of a disgrace she is.
|beam-illusion|
ANYONE WHO HATES ON JJ CAN EAT A DICK, Y'ALL BE TRIPPIN
JJ was halfway through a strength workout while Nick busied himself with a training plan for the level nines, when the quiet gym was interrupted by the sound of the front entry door banging against the frame. They both looked up, a frown crossing JJ's face; they still had two more hours before any other kids were due to show up.
However, moments later, a familiar face poked their head around the frame from the break room.
"Knock knock!" Tash called. "I've come to do what I do best and interrupt practice!"
Nick laughed, sliding off of the block he was sitting on and beckoning Tash over. JJ watched from the floor as her head bobbed around the edge of the trampolines, before she came into full view as she reached the edge of the floor. And when she did, JJ's jaw dropped.
"You had the baby?!" she shrieked excitedly, jumping to her feet as Nick and Tash both laughed, Tash's arms securely wrapped around a tiny pink bundle. Nick thrust his arms out in an expression of grandeur, his face completely lit up with joy.
"See what I made? A real person!" he exclaimed, prompting Tash to whack him in the ribs. "Ow! Ok, well, I helped!"
"Why didn't you say anything? Nick, you should be at home getting all the baby cuddles in!" JJ said in disbelief as she reached Tash and peered at the cute little face nestled within the blankets.
"I've cut down my hours, but I couldn't leave altogether, even for a couple of weeks, we just don't have the staff," Nick said with a smile, leaning over Tash's shoulder and running a finger gently down his daughter's nose. "But we wanted to keep her arrival a secret for a little while... except from you. I know you've had a rough time recently, and we thought little Olivia here might help bring a smile to your face"
"Do you want to hold her?" Tash offered. JJ nodded, the smile across her face bright and genuine as she reached out and allowed Tash to place the little baby into her arms. Olivia stirred momentarily, her tiny face screwing up in a moment of discontent, but she just as quickly settled back down as JJ gently bounced her from side to side.
"She's pretty cute, hey?" Nick said proudly. "Only a week old and she's been a dream"
"Don't get too excited, you've got teething, the terrible twos, potty training, and then everything that comes after that," JJ teased.
"Surely not too long and you'll have one of these, hey JJ?" Tash said warmly. JJ's expression fell, an ache tearing through her chest, but she forced herself to keep her eyes fixed on the tiny being in her arms.
"JJ's not allowed near boys!" Nick said. "And neither is Olivia"
Relaxing, JJ looked up at Nick, an amused smile on her face as she rolled her eyes. "Just you wait, Nick, she'll start dating and you won't have a say in it"
"Exactly right Nicky boy," Tash laughed, poking her husband in the side. "She's already got you wrapped around her little finger"
Nick looked back at JJ, his face positively melting into an adoring smile. "I can't believe I'm a dad to such a perfect little thing. Isn't she just the cutest?"
JJ chuckled, slipping a finger into Olivia's tiny hand and gently rocking her from side to side. "She really is"