So with everything that has happened in the recent chapters of 2:1, I thought I would highlight the importance of Aaron's role.

Obviously the main thing is that he fights at that gym and Reck is his trainer. Sophie and Juliet are both going to hold a lot against Reck and Sophie doesn't trust him enough as it was before however, now that has been made worse.

Aaron knows Sophie is going to be worrying about him more than ever now. She lost her brother due to the fighting world, she isn't going to want to lose him too. Therefore, he is really going to need to provide her with a lot of reassurance.

If he decides to stay at the gym and train with Reck, that won't be easy. He's going to have to do a lot to make Sophie see that he won't get caught up in the dark side of fighting. He will really need to stand his ground and not let Reck come in between his relationship.

That means as much as training will be important, he might need to decide against some early morning training sessions and spend them with Sophie instead. She's his finacée now and that takes things to a whole new level.

Secondly, Aaron's role goes so much further than just being there for his girlfriend/fiancée, Juliet relies on him a lot too. When he got into a relationship with Sophie, he signed up for a girl who hadn't ever had much support from her own parents but also her younger sister.

Juliet looks up to Aaron like an older brother and he's going to need to provide her with the reassurance that everything will be fine too. Juliet didn't know Andrew as a fighter so she now probably feels like she doesn't know him at all. Aaron's going to need to show Juliet that just because he was a fighter, doesn't change the person she knew.

He needs to show her it's possible to do both. Andrew could have been a strong and fearful fighter when he needed to be but in his spare time he was the same soft and fun brother.

If Aaron can do both, it will help Juliet believe that her brother could too.

Aaron is very much stuck in the middle of all of this. He trusts Toni and even though he doesn't do the best things, he trusts Reck too. He trusts them to make him the best fighter and he'll always have a strong relationship with them. However, he also needs to consider Sophie and Juliet. He needs to make sure they feel reassured and that Sophie knows that his love for her means he will keep working to make sure he can do both. He can fight but he can also have a serious and real relationship with Sophie.

2:1 is back!!!! I'm very happy about it.

If you need a reminder on everything that has happened, you can find a sum up here!

You can also watch the trailer again below.

What to expect from the rest of the book?

We're going to finally meet Kieran and hear his side of the story. With this we will also see more of Matt and Juliet at counselling.

We will also see some flashbacks of Andrew to get to know him a little better.

Sophie and Aaron's relationship may be tested in regards to his fighting.

Juliet and Sophie's strong sisterhood will be shown and how much they rely on each other. But we'll also see how close Juliet is to Aaron too and how she looks up to him - plus the impact he has on the both of them.

Jess and Jack will be back!! 

We'll see more of how Jack's dad situation unfolds and what happens with Brooklyn.

We'll find out whats going on with Corey and Jess.

We will also get to see the trust Jack has found in Jess!

okay so Lucie managed to find this extra chapter (that was meant to be posted in bad desire as a flashback at some point but never got posted). Once again, she warned that it was written a long time ago with no edits etc... so be kind haha! But I think it reads great so!

Enjoy!  Remember, this isn't the full chapter, she only had part of it as she never got it finished.

“As if we’re married and I still don’t have your parent’s approval.” Matt chuckled as he leaned that little bit closer into me.

“No offense but I really don’t think you ever will.” Juliet teased while leaning on her tiptoes so she could press her lips to his nose. “But that’s not your fault.”

“Really?” Matt cocked his eyebrows up, awaiting on a winning explanation to ease his mind of this one.

Even though Matt had asked Juliet’s dad for her hand in marriage, it hadn’t exactly gone down as he expected. Dale’s instant answer had been a polite ‘it isn’t the right time’ before Matt’s persistence lead to him to bite back with a solid ‘no’.

He had warned Matt off the idea, knowing that he would likely go against his words anyway and that was exactly what had happened. Juliet’s parents had been given very little choice other than to accept their wishes and show up on the wedding day with forced smiles on their faces. That’s exactly what had happened today.

“Nope. They’re just too blind to see the softie you really are.” Juliet reached out and poked Matt’s chest, causing him to wrap his arms around her waist in response.

“I’m not soft.”

“Yes you are!”

Urging Juliet closer into his body, Matt pressed his lips to her forehead before pulling away once again and shaking his head.

“I’m tough, like really tough.”

“Oh yeah, of course!” Juliet laughed while watching her newly husband as he began flexing his muscles in a suit that tightly wrapped around his arms.

“Tough, strong, terrifying…” Matt continued to trail off before Juliet cut him short.

“Adorable…”

“When will you ever learn? I’m still that big scary gang member you met for the first time.”

“The big scary gang member who was really a softie who wanted everyone to think he was a big scary gang member?” Juliet questioned causing a frown to fall over Matt’s face. “He definitely turned my life upside down.”

“For the good, I hope.”

When Juliet and Matt first met, things hadn’t started off as one would expect a beautiful relationship to blossom. Instead, it began with a bet to try and get Matt to take love more seriously and for Juliet to open herself up to a whole new part of life.

Sophie had been fully involved in bringing the pair together yet none of them had been aware of how far things would go. No one had expected this unlikely couple to find some common ground and realise that even though they lived two completely different lives, they could bring each other so much happiness.

“It was definitely for the good. It’s just been crazy ever since we met, you know? I never imagined I’d be married with a baby at 21.”

“I never thought I’d be here and alive at 24, little lone married.” Matt laughed yet Juliet didn’t share his humour for something she saw as terrifying.

Matt’s life was full of risks. It always had been. That’s what came with being in a gang. However, until he met Juliet, he felt like there wasn’t a whole lot to live for and if the time come that he was to lose his life to a mess up in a job or a gunshot he wasn’t able to dodge, he’d accepted that.

He’d go out on business each day and never expect to come home. He’d take insane risks while on a job because he’d live for the thrill in that moment and didn’t care about the consequences.

But as soon as that timid blonde strolled into his life, everything seemed to change. He suddenly had something to live for and suddenly had some excitement and something to look forward to.

He no longer felt like he was living his days for nothing and instead had a girl who showed him what it felt like to feel something… to love something.

“I love you, Matt Russle.” Juliet muttered, as he squeezed her body so close to Matt’s, as if she was afraid to let him go, like she would lose him.

“I love you too, Juliet Russle… more than you’ll ever know.”

....

and here is the part 2 of the last chapter! Lucie said the same thing with this one saying it was written a long time ago so hasn't been edited and probably 'reads like shit' but I don't agree haha! 
Enjoy anyway!
...

"You really don't say much, do you?" Matt leaned across the island in the center of the kitchen.

Juliet's hands had been rested on there too however, the moment his almost reached her own, she pulled them back. Matt watched on with a smile across his face as he hadn't expected much else.

"I just don't have much to say." Juliet responded, trying everything to avoid his eye contact.

The previous night this had been a huge task and now he was forcing her into it once again. For some reason he didn't seem to have any experiences of awkwardness or he just enjoyed making her feel that way.

"Okay how about we start with, tell me about yourself. Until yesterday, I had never seen you around."

"Brighton is a big place."

"Yeah..." Matt trailed off, knowing this was not going to be easy. "So tell me your story."

Shuffling on her seat before taking a sip of the drink Sophie had placed in front of her earlier, Juliet tried to stall giving into this conversation for as long as possible. She didn't know why she was even here, why she had agreed to come once again. Last night had been just as awkward and uncomfortable but for some reason she felt the need to come back.

"Um... I have a brother, I live with my mum and dad. I've lived in Brighton my whole life. I don't know what else to tell you!"

Matt couldn't help but smile, as he tried to force back his laughter. He didn't know what he had expected her to say but that wasn't it.

It was in that moment that Juliet began to panic. She could tell she was probably boring this guy to death and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Although this whole exchange between them had been beyond awkward, she didn't completely hate his company. She didn't want to give in to his charming ways but he wasn't all that bad to look at either.

"What about you? I bet your story is a whole lot more interesting than mine." Juliet exasperated, hoping to switch and save this conversation before it became a lost cause.

"I thought you already knew what I did?"

"Well... I mean, Isabella has said stuff about Jaxon but I don't really know the full details."

"You won't want to know them either, babe. Trust me."

Juliet watched as Matt leaned back up from the island before making his way around and pulling up one of the stalls beside her. Her eyes remained on him as she watched his calm and cool nature and it was in that moment she wished she was more like that.

This guy didn't know her. He had only met her last night however, he was already acting as though he was as comfortable as he would be around his own friends. Juliet on the other hand was just consumed with nerves and was mentally battling with herself in case she said the wrong thing.

"I wanna know."

Juliet's words were spoke in almost a whisper. She wasn't sure if she should have said it out loud as she was afraid of his reaction.

"Really?" Matt asked with a sigh before earning a nodding head from Juliet, causing that smile to form across his face again.

It was very rare to meet girls that asked him about himself anymore. Most of those he met now just wanted one thing before rushing off to tell the story.

"Well maybe that can be a story for another day." Matt mumbled as he ran his hand down the length of Juliet's hand before connecting his hand with hers. "But for now, I'm going to make sure you have a good night!"

Matt noticed Juliet's body completely freeze at his words and it wasn't until she began tugging her hand out of his, that it hit him what was wrong.

"No, not like that. I just mean, what good is it sitting in here all night when there is good music and a room full of people out there?"

Relief finally filled Juliet at his words and she couldn't help but catch the contagious smile that was across his lips. Placing her hand back into his, Juliet allowed Matt to guide her out of the room and back into the crowds.

As they made their way into the center of everyone, it was then Juliet spotted Sophie in the distance. She glimpsed over at her with a huge grin on her face followed by a small wave. She looked like a proud mum and Juliet couldn't help but think that Sophie's eagerness for her to come tonight had been for this exact reason.

Lucie finally found the chapter! However, she warned that it was written a looooong time ago and therefore hasn't been edited and in her words 'is probably really shit to read' haha! But it's here and there is another which follows on from it which I can post soon!

Remember this is from when Sophie was 18, Matt 19 and Juliet 16. This was before Sophie and Elliot were together, before Juliet and Matt were and during the time when Isabella and George were together and Jess and Jack had been seeing each other for a little while!

Sitting back into the comfort of Matt's bed, Sophie watched as he shut his door before making his way over to her. The sounds of the guys downstairs could still be heard, no matter how much he tried to block it out. They were playing a game of cards and it seemed as though they couldn't even do that without getting tense in the competition.

"Are you coming tonight?" Matt asked as he rested himself in the spot next to Sophie and urged her into him.

"Probably not." She replied simply while Matt just looked at her in question, as though that was the most insane answer she had ever given. 

"Is it because Isabella and George are arguing? Because they do that all the fucking time. She'll be over it soon and then you'd have missed out on the best night."

"There is no such thing when it comes to you lot. You're all shit." Sophie remarked back, knowing how much it would bother Matt.

"And you're full of shit, so I guess we're pretty even."

Cocking his eyebrows up, he waited for her to challenge him on it but instead Sophie began pushing herself up from the bed as though she was going to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"Home." She bit and as she reached the door, Matt jumped up from the bed and began rushing over to her.

"I was fucking around. Come on, I didn't realise you were that damn sensitive." 

Running his hands around her waist, Matt pulled Sophie's back to his front.

"It was a joke, babe."

Pressing his lips to her neck, he watched Sophie tilt it to the side slightly, giving him more space. 

It wasn't until he had turned her whole body around so they were now face to face and he was just about to kiss her, that he realised the sly smile across her face.

"I know." Sophie muttered and watched as Matt pulled away and began shaking his head.

"Fucking hell Sophie! I thought you were seriously pissed off."

"Then clearly you still have a lot to learn about girls if you ever want to get it right." 

"I know everything I need to know." Matt mumbled before reaching out for Sophie's hand and pulling her towards him once again. "I managed to get you to sleep with me didn't I?"

"That's one thing." She nodded, giving him the satisfaction as their bodies stood close. "But that doesn't make you so special."

"Why? Because you can find someone better?" Matt challenged, trying to figure out if she was talking about anyone in particular.

"If I wanted to, I could."

"But you wouldn't want to."

Before Sophie had chance to say anything else, Matt ran his thumb across her bottom lip before closing the gap slightly so he could brush his lips over hers. Moving into his gesture, Sophie didn't allow him to tease it for a moment more as she made the move to kiss him. 

With her back pressed against his door, the pair were soaked up in the moment. The kiss grew heavy as they both began to fall short of breath and just as Matt was about to start walking them back to the bed, Sophie pressed her hands to his chest.

Pushing herself away, she walked over to his bedside table at the sound of her phone without even glimpsing back at him.

Matt stood there with his breath heaving, feeling utterly confused and lost at what had just happened while Sophie remained unfazed after quickly grasping her breath once again.

"Oh look, it's Juliet!" She grinned holding up her phone before pulling up the text.

The previous night, Sophie had persuaded Juliet into coming to a party the gang had held. Although she absolutely despised the idea and it took a lot of persuading, she had finally agreed.

Elliot hadn't been too pleased with any of it due to his sister's age of 16 however, she had managed to talk him out of his worries.

As much as Sophie's lifestyle wasn't exactly what Juliet was too keen on, she did appreciate having someone who acted like the older sister who kept her out of trouble while also sometimes getting her into it.

"Do you remember? You met her last night. Or were you too drunk?" Sophie asked Matt as she made his way back over to her and watched as she lifted her hand to run across the stubble on his chin.

"Yeah I remember. I bet she wants to come to the party again tonight. Who wouldn't?"

Matt had approached Sophie during the night and ended being left alone with Juliet while she wandered off elsewhere. She claimed she was going to find Isabella but she hadn't returned until everyone was going home. 

That meant, he had been left with this girl he didn't know who wasn't as forthcoming when it came to accepting the flirtatious remarks he was so naturally trying to make.

"Maybe." Sophie quipped before pulling open her messages.

Juliet: hey, are you going tonight? I'm not sure I really should. I know I said I would but Elliot was so mad when I got home late as he had to lie to our parents xx

Sophie: don't worry i'll speak to him! Come with me, you'll be fine 

Juliet: I'm not sure

Sophie: you'll love it again! 

Juliet: but Isabella said she wasn't going tonight so I don't really want to walk home on my own x

Sophie: I'll walk you home 

The previous night, Juliet had headed home with Isabella and George as Sophie had ended up staying longer than most. Although she insisted she was just going to help clear up, Juliet couldn't help but think maybe she was going to end up staying the night and that was exactly what she had done; with Matt.

Juliet: are you sure?

Sophie: of course! I promise xx

Juliet: okay okay... 

"She's coming tonight." Sophie commented the moment she placed her phone back down. "That means you can see her again!"

"Okay?" Matt questioned, trying to figure out what Sophie was suggesting here.

"You two got on well last time!"

"You left me with her and she spoke a maximum of five words. I ended up doing all of the talking and I'm not much of a talker." 

"I mean, that's debatable but she's just shy. You should just get to know her." Sophie continued to push something she knew was a massive risk.

If Elliot found out she was doing this right now, he would be fuming. However, Sophie felt the need to give the 16 year old a taste of a life outside of her current comfort bubble.

"Maybe you should even take her out on a date. She likes you." Sophie suggested with a grin over her face however, Matt looked taken back by her comment.

"Right firstly, I don't even know the girl and secondly, I don't do dates. You should know that." He fort back, aggravated at where she was trying to force this.

"Well you should try it sometime and she would be that perfect first!"

"You're so fucking annoying, do you know that?"

"If you take her on a date and it's shit, I'll give you £20, plus I'll sleep with you again and if it's great, then you can give me £20."

Looking at Sophie for a moment trying to debate this in his mind, Matt wasn't sure if the temptation was worth it or not. However, finally giving in, he was never shy of gambling a little especially when he knew his chances of winning were a lot higher.

"Make it £50 and you have a deal."

"Okay." Sophie sang with a smile, chuffed being an understatement of the expression that was on her face.

She didn't know if Juliet would ever agree to the crazy idea but she hoped with a bit of persuasion she would. She looked at her like a younger sister and although it was a little risky, it meant she couldn't help but lure her into a bit of deviant fun that she knew her brother and parents probably wouldn't approve of.

Sophie's parents had always been incredibly laid back, considering her mum worked a lot and her dad travelled with her. They were never really around to tell her what to do and what not to do therefore, she had always just made up her own rules.

"Oh look, it's you again." Harvey rolled his eyes teasingly as he passed the front door where his sister was just walking in.

"Shut up, I just forgot my makeup." She reached out and scruffed the top of his hair.

After spending a week at home due to her morning sickness, Ellie had returned back to her apartment with James earlier today. Although it had felt good to stay home for a while and be looked after by her mum and dad, she was also happy to be back with James. She had missed getting to wake up to him every morning and knew that he had likely felt the same way.

"Aren't you supposed to be seeing Lottie this week?" Ellie went onto ask as she watched her brother casually head to the kitchen while pulling down a box of cereals.

Taking a seat up the kitchen island, he poured an overwhelmingly amount of cereal inside his bowl before topping it up with double the amount of milk Ellie would even consider putting in her own.

"Yeah, I'm leaving in a minute." He replied simply as Ellie couldn't help but laugh at how laid back this 18 year old boy was.

Once a month he would set off 'early-ish' in the morning to Oxford where Lottie was studying. He would then spend a whole week with her just catching up and doing everything they could to make their relationship work.

It was crazy that they had still managed to stay together. They had survived her first semester of being over 2 hours away and were now onto the second.

Even his own friends and family were in awe at how maturely they had managed it. People Lottie knew at uni who had previously been in relationships had broken down in the first few weeks as the distance became too much for their immature minds to handle.

Either someone would find other interests or they would realise that what they thought was love, really wasn't that at all.

However, these two had remained strong and were doing everything they could to not let that happen to them. Alongside Harvey spending a week in Oxford, Lottie came home every other weekend to see him and her family which meant the distance didn't seem all that bad after all.

"Are things good with you both then? You're still alright?" Ellie asked curiously, as she had been most amazed by their relationship. 

She knew what her brother was like and if he took any tips from Kian, he would have been with a number of different girlfriends in the past few months. However, he surprised her.

"Yeah, we're good. We're still so fucking different but she's amazing."

"They always say opposites attract right?" 

"Just like you and James then." Harvey smirked causing Ellie to reach out and playfully shove his side. 

"I love him."

"I know, I never said you didn't." 

"But you make stupid comments all the time!" Ellie stressed and it wasn't a lie. 

Harvey had nothing against Ellie and James being together but he had just been shocked when it happened. He had never got to know James all that well before but had always seen his as quiet and reserved. In comparison, his sister was the biggest loud mouth he knew and he would have never matched the unusual pair together.

"Let's hope your baby turns out more like him. I'll get a headache if it's anything like you." Harvey teased while Ellie just stuck her middle finger up at him in return. 

Bursting into laughter at his own comment, Harvey couldn't help but annoy his sister whenever he got the chance. The pair were so similar that it was much easier to push her buttons.

"I'm kidding!" Harvey grinned as he took a large mouthful of the now soggy cereal in front of him. "When are you going to find out the gender?"

"Next week." Ellie's face lit up at the thought of it. "...and I'm desperately hoping it's a little girl."

"Or a boy and then you can name it Harvey Junior."

"God, you love yourself way too much!" 

************

"You got here so quick!" Lottie exasperated as soon as she opened her door to Harvey standing there with a grin on his face. "I really hope you didn't drive too fast!"

"I didn't." Harvey remarked however, the lie was evident on his face. "Come here, I missed you."

Although she wanted to lecture him on his driving, like she was sure his mum did constantly, she refrained. Instead, Lottie allowed herself to be enveloped into her boyfriends embrace and soaked up the comfort she got from being reunited with him.

Lottie absolutely loved Uni and Oxford too however, she couldn't help but intensely miss being at home in Brighton. She had cried every single day of her first few months being alone in this strange city and away from her family, friends and Harvey.

When she had imagined leaving home, she had just envisioned so much excitement due to experiencing newly adult life. That hadn't quite been the case and instead she had felt nothing but loneliness for the first few weeks.

Although Lottie had settled in much more now, she still got so excited leading up to the first week of every month when she knew Harvey would be arriving at her door. 

"I missed you too." Lottie muttered as they pulled apart before she leaned up and pressed her lips to his.

As her hand trailed up and around his neck, Harvey's found her waist as he urged her closer. There was always something about the way he held her that made Lottie go so weak. It made her mind feel at ease from any previous worries she may have been feeling and be replaced with a calmness that only he could bring her.

"I have something to show you." Lottie beamed as they eventually pulled apart. Taking his hand, she then began guiding him back into her room. 

Following after her, Harvey watched on as Lottie stirred about in her drawer and took out a carrier bag and passed it his way.

"What is it?" He asked while pulling open the bag and taking out something that caused him to suddenly freeze.

"It's for your sister!" Lottie instantly jumped in when she noticed his face pale.

"Thank fuck for that." He laughed as he felt composed once again and continued to take the few baby grows out fully.

"I just saw them when I was out and couldn't resist!"

Harvey couldn't help but smile as he watched the excitement fall over Lottie's face. Although he was looking forward to being an uncle, he wasn't as enthusiastic as she was to start buying gifts.

Lottie on the other hand was the complete opposite and it was definitely appreciated by Ellie.

"You're crazy, do you know that?" Harvey laughed as he looked across at his girlfriend standing there with her eyes set on him.

"Yeah, I guess I know that." She shrugged teasingly. 

"I'm just glad you're buying this for my sister and this isn't us last year."

Although Lottie's pregnancy scare had been a touchy subject at the time, it was something they could now easily joke about. It was insane to them to think that it was one mistaken night that had been the thing to bring them together.

It may have been the most stressful experience at the time but they were both incredibly grateful for it now.

"Oh gosh, me too!" Lottie grinned as she watched as Harvey dropped the bag onto the bed and made his way over to her.

Running his hand across her cheek, his lips soon made contact with hers once again as he appreciated the girl he had stood in front of him. Harvey was so glad that he had never listened to his friends and just gone with what felt right. He didn't speak to half of them now and had only kept in touch with the ones that really mattered.

As a result, he was still with the girl that had changed his mind set for the best and made him see that there was so much more to life than your reputation.

6 months later -

"So that's it, Sophie's officially gone." Jess let out a saddened sigh as she leaned across the table.

Herself and Juliet were sat in a coffee shop, having needed to meet up for a very particular reason however, their conversation had very quickly swayed to the Sophie and Aaron situation.

When Sophie had returned from New York, she had finally approached Aaron about Amie. It had caused some major guilt on Aaron's part and things had finally ended up in an expected break up.

Sophie had then spent the past year closing down her business in London, moving out of her house and then preparing to move to New York. After successfully completing everything in record time, she had taken that final plane the night before with a new mindset and plan in place.

"I actually can't believe it." Juliet added. "I'm not really surprised she left but I'm surprised at everything that happened."

"I think she'll be so much happier, I'm just going to miss her like crazy..."

Jess and Sophie had always been close. They were each other's rock through everything so being so far apart once again was never going to be easy. Jess felt like she had lost her best friend for good and that had been expressed in the many tears they shared the previous night.

"I think Aaron will too. It probably hasn't hit him yet, as although they broke up, she's still been around him this past year while she figured stuff out." 

"I kind of thought Aaron would go with her, even after everything that happened." Juliet mumbled, afraid of saying the wrong thing. "Did he not want to or?"

"He begged her to let him go... he felt guilty for what happened but Sophie wouldn't let him. I think she just wanted a fresh start and knew their relationship was doomed."

"Gosh, it's just crazy how these things happen. I know them two have always have a rocky relationship but I always thought they were for life."

Nodding her head, Jess had thought that too. She knew Sophie needed someone who was willing to put up with her intense ways, especially when it came to her job and she thought that was Aaron; Sophie believed that too but it hadn't worked out in the end.

"She's strong though. She's dealt with it all so amazingly." Jess added, wanting to throw that in and not just focus on the negatives. "She's going to kill it out there."

"Do you think the kids will struggle with it?" Juliet asked and Jess didn't say anything for a moment before shaking her head.

"If they do it right, then no. They've been brought up to be strong, this isn't new to them."

Sophie had tried to set out a plan so that the kids all finished their schooling in Brighton and then lived with her in New York during the holidays. That had been agreed by Aaron until Phoebe had kicked up the biggest fuss insisting she wanted to go with her mum. 

Therefore, they had decided it was better not to split the kids and instead, all 3 of them were going to be starting school in New York and then staying with their dad during the holidays. Although Aaron had been heartbroken to see them all go alongside Amiya who Sophie had already insisted was going with her, he had agreed, knowing it was what was best.

Therefore, although it was messy, the current set up was going to have to work out and they both promised that if it didn't, they would rethink. Aaron had even insisted that he would move to New York temporarily and get a place of his own if it meant the kids would be happier when the whole family was together.

"I saw Aaron with that Amie girl the other day, I guess that means they are together then?" Juliet asked with curiosity, considering she knew Jess was the one to hold all of the gossip.

With the men at Jack's garage not wanting to miss a single thing in each other's lives, news travelled very fast.

"I think so yeah... which I still don't get as he always used to say how crazy she drove him."

"and Sophie? I can't imagine she will have gone long without finding someone." Juliet began before noticing the look of shock on Jess' face at her comment. She instantly realised how bad that sounded and how much she needed to save herself. "No, I didn't mean it like that. I just mean she's strong and gorgeous, she's never had trouble before."

"Nice save." Jess laughed at the flustered state Juliet had suddenly got herself into. "But I think she is dating Todd, she just hadn't verbally confirmed it yet... and if that doesn't work out, I know Max is happy that she's back."

One of Jess' favourite things about Sophie was that she kept things interesting. Although it was heartbreaking to see her go through a breakup with Aaron or in any of her past relationships, Jess was always excited to see what she did next.

It was like reading some chick flick novel when watching Sophie and it was amazing to see how she so easily slid from one situation into another with such ease and composure.

...

"So..." Juliet sang as she diverted the topic with a look in her eyes. "I can't actually believe we are going to be grandparents this young!"

"Oh God, I know." Jess laughed. "I was hoping to at least be in my 50's."

"Me too! I knew James liked kids but I didn't think he'd be the first to have them."

Ellie and James were expecting a baby and it wasn't unplanned as most assumed. Instead, it had been something the pair of them had thought long and hard about before agreeing it was the best next step for them, even though they were only 18 and 20 years old.

After Ellie had decided not to return to University and James had decided he didn't want to go, they had both chosen different paths. James was working as a waiter in a restaurant in town while Ellie had been auditioning and getting parts in local performances while also helping to teach younger kids musical theatre at her old club.

Under the help of Jess' persuasion, Jack had agreed to help them both out in renting their own place. Ellie had insisted it would be a good challenge to see if their relationship would truly work when they were living together and therefore all parents had finally been in agreement, as long as they continued to pay Jack half to prove they could manage.

As the year passed, things had only gotten stronger between them and it had resulted in a conversation that lead them to where they were now.

"I think they'll make great parents. They are both very family orientated." Jess smiled at the thought of her own daughter becoming a mum. Although it was a crazy thought, she knew how much Ellie wanted this and how excited she truly was, so she couldn't do anything else but support her.

"How's Jack handling it all now?" Juliet asked with caution, already knowing the likely answer.

"Er... he's still mad and I think it will take a while for him to come to terms with it." Jess began, not wanting to load any guilt onto Juliet. "Just take everything with a pinch of salt. He's mad at James because in his eyes, it's all his fault but it's nobodies. It's what they both want."

When Jack had found out that Ellie was pregnant, his fatherly instincts had gone on overdrive as he was consumed with worry. It didn't matter that it was a decision both Ellie and James had agreed on together, he didn't see it that way.

Instead, he was mad at James and instantly put all blame on him for getting his daughter into that situation. Ellie was still his little baby girl in Jack's eyes and he still felt the need to protect her for absolutely everything.

"He just worries that she's done what him and I did... having a baby young, but this is different..."

"I understand, it's just difficult making James see it that way, you know?" 

Juliet had sat James down and tried to speak to him about the whole ordeal but she didn't think any of it had processed. He didn't understand why Ellie's dad was so mad at him when the decision made had been by both of them. 

"Ellie has spoken to him. She's eased some of his worry I think." Jess reassured yet she knew even if Jack had made Ellie believe that, inside he was probably screaming with panic. "He would just wrap her up in cotton wool if he could."

"Well if it helps, maybe we should all get together and talk about it." Juliet suggested yet she wasn't sure if Jess was going to agree by her reaction. "Me, you, Jack, Dylan... and Ellie and James. It might help."

"I guess we could try that but honestly, tell James not to worry too much. Jack will come around with him, even more so when the baby is born; it will change everything. He's a huge softie really."

To Jess, this all felt like a repeat of her own pregnancy with Ellie. Jack had freaked out to start with and been cold and distant however, as soon as he laid eyes on their daughter everything had changed. He had been a natural and not once shown any apprehension towards the whole thing. 

In this situation though, she knew how excited Jack was to have a grandchild and he would continue to show Ellie support throughout. However, he couldn't help but still feel anger towards the boy who had put her in such a vulnerable position and it just so happened James had been that person.

"I'll make sure he knows." Juliet said as she took a sip from the cup of tea sat before her. "How is Ellie doing?"

"She's doing good yeah. I think she's going back to their place tonight, the sickness was just scaring her a bit." Jess explained, knowing that Juliet had concerns that Ellie was second guessing her relationship with James, which wasn't the case. 

When the awful morning sickness had kicked in, Ellie had panicked. She had been consumed with so much fear that she had immediately turned to her mum for comfort who knew all about it. The 20 year old had decided that staying home for a few nights was the best decision as she was comforted by both Jess and Jack. Having their reassurance was what she needed as deep down, she was still a little girl trying to figure out this big new experience while not knowing what to expect. She still wanted her parents by her side even when she was trying to be grown up and deal with it like an adult.

"I bet! I remember crying so much and wishing it would all just end." Juliet mused back to her own pregnancies and remembered how truly difficult they could be.

"...and honestly, don't worry about the situation with James. Both Jack and I couldn't wish for this to happen with anyone better... even if Jack doesn't quite show it yet. We trust him as much as Ellie does." 

Jess felt the need to reassure Juliet as it was always so typical for the boy to be pinned as being the bad guy in things like this.

It was only natural for any parents of their pregnant daughter to be worried, especially in regards to the father at this age however, Jess knew Ellie had picked one of the good ones.

When it had been herself and Jack, there had been much bigger risks as both her and Jack hadn't been the most level headed or trustworthy beings. Therefore, she wanted Juliet to know that they trusted James would do a good job and there was nothing to suggest otherwise.