A/N: Here's part 2 of Jac's birthday! I must warn you about the angst in this chapter, I usually write mostly fluff but it felt necessary for them to move forward. Not sure when I'll upload next because I haven't written the next part yet and I'm away all weekend, but shouldn't be too long! Hope you enjoy, please review or drop me a message with any comments as always x
As she reached the end of Jac's road, Jasmine exhaled shakily. She wasn't sure why her nerves were so out of control today, given that she'd been to Jac's house a couple of times now, but this felt different. Perhaps it was the unexpected nature of her visit or the occasion itself – in the back of her mind was a niggling worry that Jac would turn her away, refuse to let her in, especially if she wasn't prepared to see her. But she also knew that if she'd tried to broach the subject of birthdays prior to the day itself the redhead would have shot down the conversation in an instant, so going about it this way seemed like the best option.
Jasmine had almost messaged Jonny to warn him of her plan, but ultimately decided it would be best to keep him in the dark too. Not only did she not want to get him into trouble with Jac, but she also still didn't feel like she knew him well enough to contact him without her sister present, afraid of being too annoying (a habit she was well aware she possessed) and overstepping the boundaries. No, she had to follow her instincts, and turning up on Jac's doorstep to wish her happy birthday was the only way to go about it. There was no turning back now.
Chill, Jas, she told herself. You're here now, there's no point in stressing. Hopefully she'll be happy to see you.
Steeling herself, the blonde marched up to the front door and knocked determinedly. After a moment she heard the rattling of keys, and as the door swung open she was relieved to see Jonny standing there.
"Oh, it's you." Jonny shot her a curious yet welcoming smile, before elaborating. "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude. It's just, Jac didn't say you were coming!"
Jasmine blushed nervously. "That would be because I didn't tell her."
"Ah," he pulled a face, beginning to understand. His eyes flickered over the gift bag clasped tightly in the blonde's hand. "I take it you know what day it is, then?"
"Yep," she replied. "And I know she doesn't like people making a fuss, but I just wanted to do something to show her I care."
Jonny smiled understandingly. "Well, that's lovely of you," he replied. "Why don't you come in? Jac's just getting ready, but Emma's through there if you want to wait for her." He ushered Jasmine down the hallway, unable to resist grinning at the way his daughter's face lit up as she spotted her auntie.
"Auntie Jas!" The little girl hurtled across the room and threw herself into Jasmine's arms, the excitable expression on her face mirroring that of the blonde herself.
"I'll just go and get Jac for you," Jonny chuckled. "I'm sure Emma will keep you occupied in the meantime." Jasmine laughed as Emma shoved a doll in her face, demanding that she play with her.
"Oh, I'm sure she will."
Jonny pushed open the door to find Jac sat on the edge of the bed, straightening her hair. She jumped at his entrance, turning around with a grimace on her face.
"Jesus, can you warn me next time? I just almost burned myself on these thanks to you," she brandished the tongs like a weapon, pointing them accusatively at Jonny. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"Sorry, your highness, next time I'll announce my presence before I enter the room," he replied sarcastically.
"Good," Jac tutted. "For all you know I could've been undressed when you waltzed in here."
"And?" Jonny queried. "It's not like I haven't seen it before."
"That's not the point!" The redhead exclaimed. She moved to face away from him again, returning to the task at hand as he wondered how best to proceed. Somehow, he thought he knew exactly what her reaction to Jasmine's sudden appearance would be, and despite what he'd told the girl he was sure it wouldn't be a positive one.
"What are you still loitering for, anyway?" Jac asked, mildly irritated by his hovering presence. "If you want us to get off on time, then I need to get ready." She had a feeling there was something Jonny wanted to talk to her about, and she already knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say.
Jonny decided to take the plunge before she became even more annoyed. "You have a visitor," he broached the subject gently. With a frustrated sigh, Jac put the tongs down and hauled herself off the bed.
"If it's Sacha or Mo, tell them I'm not interested," she groaned. "They know today is just a normal day to me."
As she made to walk past him, Jonny reached out and placed an arm on her shoulders.
"It's not them," he continued. "It's Jasmine." He felt Jac stiffen underneath his touch.
"What?" She was momentarily caught off-guard. "It can't be, she doesn't even know it's my birthday. I didn't tell her."
"There are other ways of knowing, Jac," Jonny reminded her, as she shrugged his hands off. A sudden realisation hit her, and she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"This is Maureen's doing," the redhead grumbled. "I knew they were up to something yesterday! I can't believe she'd go behind my back like this, today of all days. I thought she knew how I felt about it." She massaged her neck angrily, preparing to go and face her sister.
"Look, you at least need to talk to Jasmine and let her explain. She's come all this way, Jac, it's not fair to just turn her away."
"I didn't ask her to come," Jac retorted. Despite her protestations, she knew she had no choice but to face her sister, but she wasn't happy about it.
"Jac," Jonny said gently, pulling her into his embrace. "You know it's the right thing to do. She doesn't know why your birthday holds such bad memories, she just wants to see her sister. Don't take it out on her."
She allowed herself to melt into his embrace briefly, reluctantly accepting his words. "Fine," she sighed. "I'll see her. But I'm not promising anything."
"All I ask is that you hear her out," Jonny kissed the side of her head softly, before releasing her. Nodding, Jac made her way downstairs, willing the conflicted emotions stirring inside her to stay hidden. She didn't want Jasmine to know just why she hated birthdays so much, but now she had no choice but to confront her.
Jac walked into the living room to find her sister and daughter sprawled in the middle of the floor, having an in-depth conversation through the dolls clutched in their hands. As she approached, Jasmine sat up eagerly, clambering to her feet until she stood meters away from her sister.
"What are you doing here?" Jac spoke more bluntly than she'd intended to, brushing away the pang of regret that hit her at the disappointed expression that passed across the young woman's face despite her best attempt to conceal it.
"I, er, brought you a present. Happy birthday!" Jasmine smiled nervously, stretching her arm out to offer Jac the gift. However, the redhead ignored her.
"I don't do birthdays. Mo knows that. She had no right to tell you." Being confronted by her sister on a day of such turbulent memories had caused the Naylor defence mechanisms to spring straight back up, in a way they hadn't since the two had started growing closer. Jasmine stepped back, affronted by the hard note in Jac's voice.
"Mo? She didn't tell me, I already knew. I've known for years, Jac! I asked her to help me with what to get you, but that's all," she replied confusedly.
"Well in that case, you have no right to be here. My birthday is nothing to do with you," the older woman continued to lash out, momentarily forgetting that Emma was in the room too until a little voice spoke up.
"Mummy, why are you being mean to Auntie Jas?"
Jac's grasp on her emotions was slipping fast. All she could think about was that she needed to get Emma out of the way before she lost it completely in front of her daughter. Turning away from Jasmine, she gestured for Emma to leave the room.
"Emma, go and play upstairs please." The little girl didn't move, causing Jac to raise her eyebrows at her.
"Now."
Emma seemed to understand that when Mummy raised her voice, she wasn't to argue back and at this she fled, leaving the two women alone. Jasmine was beginning to lose her cool by this point too – what business did Jac have treating her so badly over a simple gesture of goodwill?
"I don't get it," she shook her head. "Why are you making such a big deal of this? I just wanted to bring you a birthday present, seeing as this is the first time I've actually been in your life for it. I don't see what's so awful about that."
"I already told you," Jac growled, "I don't do birthdays." Jasmine flung her hands up in frustration.
"But why, Jac?" she exclaimed. "Why can't you just be normal, and be happy that your sister wants to celebrate with you?"
It was this that tipped Jac over the edge, any composure she'd managed to retain slipping swiftly out of her grasp.
"Oh, I don't know, Jasmine. How about the fact that not once in the twelve years I was with Paula did I ever get a proper birthday present, because she'd rather spend the money on god knows what? How about the fact I spent every birthday until I was 13 alone, because nobody cared enough to even acknowledge my existence? How about the fact that on this very day nine years ago, the mother who'd abandoned me twenty years earlier wormed her way back into my life, and convinced me she regretted giving me up? The same women who told me she was dying, convinced me to give her my kidney, and then ran off again the same day without so much as a goodbye because she still didn't care even a tiny bit about me? Tell me, Jasmine, exactly how am I supposed to be happy about my birthday when all I can think about is the years of pain and loneliness I suffered through because of her?"
As she continued ranting, Jac's voice had become progressively louder and angrier, to the point where Jasmine had moved away from her in fear. The look of sympathy and pity mingled with rejection on her face was almost too much for the redhead to bear.
"I'm sorry, Jac," Jasmine's voice quivered as she spoke. "I didn't know any of that. I just-"
"Of course you didn't!" Jac roared. "Because you don't know anything about me, Jasmine! No matter how much you try to convince yourself, you'll never get it!"
Tears pooled in the blonde's eyes. "I should never have come here," she whispered angrily.
"No, you shouldn't," the older woman snapped. "So why don't you just-"
"That is enough."
The two had been so caught up in their argument they hadn't noticed Jonny appear in the doorway until then. His eyes fixed angrily on Jac, daring her to continue.
"Our little girl is upstairs trying to understand why her mum and auntie are having a slanging match, and I'm not having it. This ends now."
As the words left his mouth, he could see the anger draining from Jac's body, replaced with despair and regret. Jasmine, on the other hand, was shaking with barely suppressed sobs, evidently shaken by the unexpected fury she'd been on the receiving end of. She opened her mouth to speak, but Jonny held up his hand.
"Not now, Jasmine," he told her gently. "Why don't you go and make us all a nice cup of tea while I talk to Jac? Nobody is going anywhere until this is sorted."
Jasmine continued to sniffle but took his advice and left the living room, shooting one last sorrowful glance at her sister. Satisfied that she would be okay, Jonny turned to the redhead, not expecting to be met with the sight he got. Silent tears were running down Jac's face as she met his gaze sorrowfully, causing his heart to clench. As much as he disagreed with her actions, he understood why she'd exploded so furiously and it broke his heart to see her so upset.
"Jac," he breathed sadly. "Come here. I think we need to talk, don't you?"
She gave no indication that she'd even heard him, but allowed herself to be led up the stairs, leaving Jasmine alone in the kitchen with her thoughts. All she'd wanted was to do something nice for Jac, but it seemed she couldn't even do that without messing up.
Why is this so hard? she thought to herself. This is all my fault, I've ruined her birthday again. Just like Paula used to.
With this, a fresh wave of tears washed over her. As the kettle boiled, masking her sobs, she allowed herself to let it all out. She hated this, not knowing where she stood or how they'd ever be able to move past the destruction Paula had brought about so many years previously. She just wanted to be the kind of sister Jac deserved.