Page 61 of Festive Flings

~ Tim ~

After the debacle with Lauren’s parents, I want to wrap her in cotton wool. No one will ever hurt her again if I have anything to do with it. I am furious about her mother; she is so vile and hateful. She is the opposite of my Lauren. I want to hate them both for hurting my delicate flower and for making her doubt herself.

I have always taken sanctuary in my family. My father passed away when I was a young man and my mother died just before Celeste was born. Felicity and I have each other and that is important. I look after her and she looks after me. Lauren has never had that, but she will now. My love will have a family with me, and we will cherish her and love her and eventually, she will learn to love herself.

“I want to move in together and set a date for our wedding, Flower.” She rests her head on my shoulder and agrees that is what she wants, too. “Where shall we live? I quite like your apartment.”

“I’d love to stay in my apartment, at least for now, Tim. Will you move in with me, please?” I kiss her as I agree, and inside I’m really happy that she asked me this time. My Lauren is becoming more secure and vocal in our relationship, and I love it. I want her to know this is what love looks and feels like. I wholly love her without limitation and not based on stupid conditions.

We are staying at my sister's house for the holidays. It's Christmas Eve, and Fliss is in slow labour. She is determined to wait until Christmas morning before she goes to hospital because she wants to see the children opening their presents. I am giddy in anticipation of becoming an uncle again and it has me thinking of the future.

“I want a baby,” I tell Lauren bluntly, and she flashes her dimples at me as she smiles. She told me last night that she wants a baby and it completely threw me.

“Are you sure? You seemed scared shitless last night, Tim,” she teases me as I kiss down her neck to her clavicle. “You know it could take a while, with my condition.”

She explained to me last night that she has Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and that we may have trouble conceiving, but I just told her that we will have a lot more sex to double our chances. On a more serious note, I added that we would face every obstacle together and if she wants to start trying, I am ready for that, too.

My silly sister ends up giving birth at home in the early hours of Christmas morning. I see things no man should see until his wife is giving him his own child. There is blood and guts and gore and a lot of crying… and that is just me!

On the bathroom floor, while holding onto her partner's hand and with her future sister-in-law helping to guide her baby’s head into the world, my sister blessed me with another niece who she named Ivy.

Lauren and I are in awe of her, the tiny, little bundle of joy who yawns and falls into a deep slumber soon after being born. “I really want one now, Flower. She is so cute. I can just imagine our very own little one with gorgeous green eyes and big dimples just like her mummy.”

When she looks back at me, still covered in blood and other strange fluids, her eyes blaze with passion and love. “I’m so glad we’re going to try. You’ll be an amazing dad, Tim.”

“Merry Christmas, Lauren. Here is to many more, and who knows, this time next year that could be our baby you hold in your arms.”

The midwife and paramedics arrive and after checking over mother and baby, they declare them both fit and well. They stay until the sun rises again to take some observations, but they then leave us to celebrate Christmas as a family.

We all drag our presents into Fliss and Marie’s bedroom, and while Fliss nurses her newborn daughter in the middle of the bed, we all open our presents and toast with mimosas.

Lyndon looks crest-fallen when he realises he has another sister. “I’m stuck in a house with four girls now, Uncle Tim.” But I assure him that as the only male, he is technically the man of the house and that seems to cheer him up somewhat.

I shower Lauren with presents. I love to treat her, but I am particularly looking forward to giving her the last present. It is a framed photo of us kissing at Tables & Fables and etched into the frame are the words: ‘Our Only Christmas as an Unmarried Couple’.

“Thank you, Tim. It's perfect; everything is perfect.”

~ Owen ~

I am not looking forward to going to Carl’s wedding, but I want to support Jamie through this. I think this will be the ideal time for her to demonstrate that she has moved on and is happy.

I never expected the day to go as it does. Jamie obviously already told me about her strained relationship with her stepmother and from the few times she mentioned her father, I know she feels disappointed and let down by him. What actually happens at the wedding is far better and much more satisfying than I anticipated.

Seeing her stand up to her father and stepmother fills me with immense pride. My feisty and strong Jamie is back, firing on all cylinders, and she won’t take any shit. It is such a turn on seeing her defending herself and paying tribute to Billie and Jonty. The way she keeps her temper, the heat rising on her cheeks, and her eloquence and grace leave me astounded.

I have loved her for a long time, even when I didn't know I did and now she is finally mine.

We all leave the Alexander Palace together and as soon as we hit the pavement, we all look at each other and burst out laughing.

“Did you see the look on Marceline’s face? She looked like she’d swallowed a wasp,” Jamie says, which sets off another round of laughter.

“The best part was when Billie told her to do us all a favour and fuck off. Her head wobbled. I nearly choked trying not to laugh,” Jonty adds as he kisses his wife with pride. “Thank you for what you said in there, Jamie. It’s been a pleasure being your pseudo-dad. We’re going to miss you so much when you go to New York, but we are already planning a visit out very soon.”

We part ways, getting into separate taxis after Jamie reassures them we will be at their house tonight. We are just going back to mine to collect our stuff. Billie raises her eyebrows at us. “What is it with you young ones and your euphemisms? You’re running back to the privacy of your bedroom because that was totally hot, let’s get it right!”

I don’t disagree with her, but Jamie groans and covers her face that is red from blushing so much, which has us all laughing again.

When we get back to my apartment, I tell Jamie how proud of her I am, and she bursts into tears. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? You did amazing; you told him and his wife exactly what you thought of them, but you kept your dignity and grace. You showed everyone that you still have fight and fire inside you. Plus, I heard the whispers, everyone was saying how beautiful you looked. They’re not wrong, Jamie, you are the most magnificent woman I have ever met.”

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