Author's note: Okey guys, this is nauseating happy, but we need a little happiness, don't we? Thanks for the reviews! Please keep them coming, they mean a lot.
xxx
At the age of 26, Hannah Ashworth was actually a bit chubby, and all of her friends loved it – they all remembered her walking around as a living dead all those years ago and they were never going to forget it either. The sweet roundness was back in her face and her eyes were finally sparkling again. The road back to a normal life had been like hell, but she'd done it. She was a survivor. One of the people who had helped her the most was John Paul. When Craig came back into his life he found the strength to help her, refusing to remove from her side even when she was yelling terrible things to the man. He knew that everyone blamed him for her anorexia and yet he stood by. They became the best of friends. If John Paul's sexual orientation was any different, he would probably have married her. The other person who had stood by was her husband Gilly Roach. Having almost lost Hannah to an eating disorder, Gilly was forced to realize that his feelings for her were so much more than just friendly, her being his best mate's little sister. But no one caused a row, not even Rhys. Together, the two men led Hannah back where she belonged.
This Friday, Hannah and Gilly had their two years anniversary and he was looking forward to go away with her for a while – it would just be the sun and the ocean and the waves and the two of them.
"I'm sorry, pumpkin," he said to baby Rose while changing her diaper. "You know that Gilly loves you, but he needs to be with mummy alone as well."
Hannah stepped into the bathroom. "All packed!" she said and took Rose in her arms. "Oh, mummy's gonna miss you, baby girl," she whispered. She looked at Gilly. "But you're right. It'll be great with some alone time."
"Yeah, it's been a while," he said and kissed her cheek before going to put their trunks in the car.
Hannah remained standing in the bathroom looking at herself and her daughter in the mirror.
"Ah, you're so perfect, Rose," she said. "No one is ever gonna convince you otherwise. " Hannah tickled her and the baby giggled. She already looked a lot like her mother, but no one could say that the little girl's intense blue eyes came from any other than her father, John Paul.
When little Rose Ashworth McQueen was born nine months earlier, Hannah was relieved to get the child out of her body. It may sound terrible, but having Gilly, John Paul and Craig watch over her growing stomach 24/7 for almost nine months had almost been too much. It had been devastating when Gilly found out that he couldn't have children, but like every other obstacle, they got through it. They were considering adoption when Hannah remembered another couple who couldn't breed.
Then the four of them had gotten together. And the rest was history.
Rose was lying wrapped up in her arms; her eyes wide open with wonder, when the tree men barged into the room. Hannah almost wept when she saw the look on their faces seeing their daughter for the very first time: John Paul looked more proud than ever, Gilly had something tender in his eyes and Craig actually wept with a huge smile and said "She's perfect Han." And then Hannah lost the little she had left of doubt about the whole 'agreement.' Rose having four parents, was nothing but a good thing – she would have double up with love and care for the rest of her life.
"Yes you will!" she said to Rose, smiling at the memory before Gilly called her name and she took the baby outside in the car. They didn't really have to drive, taking the house was only 500 meters down the street, but since they were going directly to the airport after dropping Rose off, they all buckled up for the 30 seconds drive.
The house that Jake, Craig, Nancy and John Paul had bought together was a huge, tree-storey one with a huge backyard. Hannah smiled at the sign hanging at the front door: Welcome to Jake and Nancy, Charlie, Becca, John Paul and Craig and Rose. It was barely room for the last name, and she wondered what they were going to do if or when the next child came around (and considering the size of the house there would probably be several children in the future).
"My God, Han, it's like an all American family!" Gilly laughed and knocked.
"Rosie!"Craig said when he'd opened the door, reaching out for her. Gilly laughed and handed the little body over to him.
"Well, hello to you too!" Hannah said, pretending to be offended.
Craig was finally able to tear his eyes from his daughter. "Sorry Han," he said and kissed her on the cheek. "You're the second most beautiful woman in this room. Isn't she Rosie? Yes! Isn't she?"
"That child is going to be so spoiled," John Paul said, entering the room. "You ready to go, sweetheart?" he asked and put an arm around Hannah.
"Oh, I'm gonna miss her!" Hannah said.
"Relax – we'll take good care of her," John Paul reassured her, and then turned to Craig who was still all wrapped up in Rose. "Hi angel! Oh, excuse me, but have you grown? Yes, I think you have!"
"My God man, you saw her the day before yesterday!" Gilly said.
"Hey, pack it in you," Craig said, laughing, but not taking his eyes from the baby. "You're always like that when we've had her for only a couple of hours!"
"She's like a little laughing puppet!" John Paul said in his baby voice. "When you tickle her on the tummy, she giggles! Hey Gil, watch this!"
And Hannah watched while the tree men stood there with her daughter, Craig in the middle with Gilly and John Paul on each side, all looking amazed at Rose's giggling – you would think neither of them had ever seen a laughing baby before – and she felt a complete happiness running through her veins.
"Craig, for God's sake, put the poor baby down!" John Paul looked strictly on his boyfriend. "Give her a break!"
Craig rolled his eyes and placed Rosie back on her carpet. Then he sat down beside John Paul in the sofa and together they watched her.
"I just love her so much, you know?" Craig said.
John Paul put his arms around him. "I know. Me too. How can you not? Just look at that beautiful little thing!"
"You know what I think is most beautiful about her?" Craig asked and looked at John Paul with his dark brown eyes.
"Tell me."
"She's got your eyes."
John Paul looked at the baby who had now rolled over on her stomach. "Yes, she does, doesn't she?"
He met Craig's eyes, and they kissed deeply. "I love you, John Paul."
John Paul kissed him again. "Tell you what; tonight when we've put Rosie to bed, I'll let you show me how much."
The wonderful silence that had filled the huge house was suddenly interrupted when the Dean-Hayton clan came back from their little trip. Loud voices and laughter cut through the air and the men on the couch finished the snogging as the ten year old Charlie Dean walked into the living room, arguing with Becca.
"Give it, Charlie! Give it!" the little girl called.
"It's MINE Becca!" Charlie shouted. "You already ate yours!"
"Hey kids! Keep it quiet, will ya?" John Paul cast a worried glance at Rose. "Rosie's here and we don't want her hearing to be damaged, will we?"
"Oh, who's being the overprotective mother-hen now?" Craig teased. "I think she'll survive, you know."
Charlie and Becca knelt beside Rose's blanket and tickled her.
"Awwww! She is so CUTE!" Nancy said, standing behind the sofa. "She really has your eyes, John Paul."
Jake came from the hall and snuggled his arms around her. "You wanna make another one, Mrs. Hayton?"
"God, no," Nancy said. "We can just borrow Rose whenever we want, can't we guys?"
John Paul laughed. "If Craig will let you! He seems to sometimes think that no one but Rosie's parents can take care of her."
"Well, it's a good thing you've got Hannah and Gilly then," Nancy said, rolling her eyes. "Because with only two, that would've been pretty exhausting!"
"I don't know," Craig said, rubbing the back of his head, a habit he had kept from his teens. "I'm just so worried something's gonna happen to her, you know?"
"Nah, it's all right baby brother," Jake said, patting Craig's shoulder. "I was like that with Charlie. Believe me - when number two come along it all looks a bit different. Been there, done that!"
"Jake!" Nancy said, slapping his arm.
"It doesn't mean you don't love them as much!" Jake exclaimed.
"Well, anyway," John Paul said. "I think there will be some time before we have another one."
It was bedtime and Craig had crawled under the sheets in the bed. He rubbed his eyes, feeling exhausted but content. Having Rose in the house always left him with that feeling.
"Hey, Craig!" John Paul was standing in the doorway, whispering. "Come and see this!"
Craig got up and followed his boyfriend across the hall. Rosie had a beautiful room. All of her aunties - Steph, Debbie, Nancy, Zoë, Carmel, Tina, Mercedes, Jacqui and Michaela - had been able to forget about their differences and gotten together and painted it pink. It had been finished in about five minutes with all those women cooperating and was filled with big, fluffy pillows and stuffed animals. Rose's room was definitely the most feminine and beautiful room in the whole village. But the most beautiful thing was the little baby girl lying in her tiny bed.
John Paul led Craig to the bed and embraced him tightly as they watched their daughter.
"She's sucking on her thumb!" John Paul said in admiration. "Look at that little miracle!"
Craig felt an overwhelming love rush through his heart, watching the sleeping girl while feeling the arms of John Paul around him.
"She's perfect," he said and carefully stroke her head. Then he looked at the blonde man beside him and said seductively: "Let's get to bed."
John Paul was wearing nothing but boxer shorts and even though he really was exhausted, Craig had to have him before sleeping.
He was still gorgeous, Craig thought. Actually, the years seemed to do him nothing but good. Inside their own room, he quickly embraced his lover from behind and whispered hotly in his ear: "God, I want you so much." Craig felt John Paul shiver as he eased his hand inside his boxers and started to stroke him gently, while kissing his neck.
John Paul let out a low moan. Craig's touch still put him instantly on fire after all these years. But he didn't want love-making tonight. He wanted the brown haired man to fuck him, fast, hard and merciless. He turned in Craig's grip and kissed him hungrily, pushing his tongue deep into his mouth while grabbing his cock. Then he pulled back and removed his boxers.
John Paul felt happy that the sight of his naked body still amazed Craig, just like when they were teenagers. His brown eyes were filled with desire and he looked John Paul up and down with lust.
John Paul lent in close and placed a kiss on his lips before whispering into his ear.
Being family men now, they couldn't allow them self to go just as crazy as they did before and he had to ruin the spontaneity a bit by reminding Craig about a simple fact: "We'll have to keep it quiet, Craig, but…" John Paul pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "I want you to fuck me."
Craig raised one of his eyebrows. "Oh, really?" he said teasing, but couldn't hide the effect those words had on his body.
Their sex life had so many aspects. Sometimes they made love, slowly and tenderly. Sometimes blowjobs and touching was enough. And then again, there were times when they enjoyed a quick fuck.
Craig looked at those blue eyes, heavy with lust and couldn't hold himself any longer. He turned John Paul roughly around while removing his own boxers. No time for the oil, spit would do, and John Paul bent over and Craig did as he was told, hard, fast and merciless.
Jake was standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, struggling to get his tie right. It wasn't easy with just one arm and finally he gave up.
"Nancy!" he called in frustration.
"She's downstairs preparing breakfast," Craig said, entering the bathroom with a yawn. "What's up?"
"I can't get this bloody tie right!" Jake threw it angrily on the floor. "I have an important meeting today and I can't show without a tie, can I?"
Craig yawned one more time. "Wait a minute," he said tired. "JOHN PAUL!"
"Dam it, I'm only down the hall," they heard John Paul saying grumpily before arriving. His blonde hair pointed out in every direction and his spectacles weren't right. Baby Rose slumbered on his shoulder. "Thank God, Rosie doesn't have a bad temper. It would have been non stop crying, you idiot!"
Craig looked guilty. "Sorry," he mumbled.
"So where's the fire, then?"
Jake tried not to laugh at the two tired men. "Sorry, JP - can you give me a hand with my tie?"
"Oh, for crying out loud!" John Paul rolled his eyes before handing the baby to Craig. "You know, I grew up surrounded by nothing but women, and even I had to learn how to put on a tie!" He quickly did what Jake had been unable to do for the last fifteen minutes.
"Hey, I only got one arm!" Jake said offended.
"Yeah, because Nancy never does it for you when you have two, does she?" John Paul chuckled. "Now get out - I'll have to take a shower."
Jake made his way downstairs where Nancy greeted him with a kiss. He laughed.
"You know, Craig and JP really are no good in the mornings!"
"Honey, in this house, you're the only morning person," Nancy answered tired.
Jake looked at her and Charlie and Becca and realized she was right. Both of the children practically slumbered in their cereals and Nancy barely managed to drink her coffee.
When the little family from upstairs made it to the kitchen, things speeded up a little. John Paul even told a joke. Jake was set at the head of the table and took a minute to just watch his family. It made him proud. Nancy was reading something from the newspaper and explaining it to Becca, Craig was nursing the baby with John Paul's arm around his shoulders while he again talked to Charlie about a fieldtrip they were going on next week. They looked happy, Jake thought. All of them.
They finished their breakfast and Jake realized he was in a hurry. He quickly gave Nancy and the children a kiss before he ran towards the door. After opening it, he suddenly froze in the doorway. There was a young, pretty and brown haired lady standing in front of him. She obviously had been reading their sign and hadn't knocked yet. They looked at each other in astonishment.
"Sarah!"