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Jack got back in the car ready to drive off when he noticed Jays bag was still in the footwell. He grabbed it and took it back to her. She was grateful considering it had her purse in it. 

'Im not gonna lie, I was just happy I had an excuse to see ya again' he said handing it over.

'Honestly, you two are just the sweetest' said Anna, who was standing in the hallway.

*****

Jay pulled into the services at Gretna.

'Come on, I'll buy us all a gold plated Burger King' she offered.

At the counter she ordered their meals and went into her bag for her purse to pay the almost £40 bill. As she rummaged she almost pulled out the pregnancy test box by accident. Dammit, she was supposed to have given that back to Nadia, she was starting a memory box for the baby and wanted to keep it.

As her and Olly carried the trays back to the table Jay immediate said 'shotgun you're driving the rest of the way Josh' smugly.

'You two will never grow up, will you?' laughed Anna.

'Never' they said in unison.

*****

Jack had one last day of training before him and Tasha were due to head back to his Mum's. Tasha had planned to go early by herself but she knew she wouldn't be able to keep the news of the split to herself.

They loaded up the car the night before, and she'd headed to the Etihad to pick him up straight after training so they'd have as much time with their families as possible. Just before the big Asda a car pulled out right in front of her.

'Shit!' She said, slamming on the brakes just in time. The shock of the near miss had shaken her so badly that she pulled in for a second to collect herself. That's when she noticed it in the passenger footwell. A positive pregnancy test. It must have been under the seat and the emergency stop had sent it flying forward.

She picked it up, barely believing it. No wonder Jack was so keen to move things on with Jay if she was pregnant. Tears began to fall from Tasha's eyes. This was always something that she'd imagined would happen for her and Jack together. She used to picture him running around their garden with at least two little ones, kicking a ball of course. Everyone always said he'd make an amazing Dad, and she'd agreed, they'd just never been ready. As much as it was a mutual split, she still felt that pang of 'what it?'

Her phone rang, taking her by surprise, Jack was calling her.

'Hello?' She said, trying to pull herself together more than ever.

'Ya still coming for me? I'm standing outside like a right dickhead' he asked.

'On my way' she said, restarting the engine. She took one last look at the test and shoved it in the glove compartment, telling herself that she needed to respect the fact he wasn't ready to tell her yet.

*****

Finally after some well dodgy driving from Josh they arrived back at their parents house in Edinburgh. It was cold and dark since it was after midnight, but their Mum and Dad were waiting with a whisky for Josh and a Baileys for Jay and Anna. They didn't know yet that she couldn't have it.

'Actually Mum, Anna can't drink' said Josh happily.

'Surprise, I'm pregnant!' Said Anna.

There was much hullabaloo and excitement. Their Dad even cried, saying how grateful he was to the NHS looking after him after his heart attack so that he'd be here to see the baby. That had set everyone else off too. It was just such a beautiful moment for them to share

'So, when are you moving back up here then Jay?' Asked her Mum.

'I'm not' said Jay. She'd prepared herself for this. 'Actually I've been looking at places to buy in Manchester. My job there is going so well'

'And she's got a boyfriend' said Olly, landing her in it.

'A boyfriend? You kept that one to yourself! So who is he?' Asked her Dad.

'It's early days, and he's just someone from work' she said, playing it down.

'Well, I hope it's not one of those footballers' started her Dad. 'You see them all over the papers all the time, all the sleaze and scandal, the way they treat their women it's just not right'

'Hmm' said Jay, humouring him.

'It is, isn't it?' Said her Mum, busting her instantly. 'Which one?' She'd never taken Jay as the WAG type.

'Jack Grealish' said Olly, yet again landing her in it.

'Oh Jay, no, anyone but him. He's been dipping his wick in all of those Love Island girls. I saw it in my magazine. Oh and he's got a girlfriend' said her Mum in the most disapproving tone Jay had ever heard.

'Of all the men in Manchester' sighed her Dad.

'He's a really nice guy actually, treats Jay well and he's been amazing with Olly. You need to give him a chance' said Josh, sticking up for her.

'We'll see' said her Mum.

*****

Tasha bounded into the Grealish's.

'Merry Christmas' she squealed excitedly.

Jack's Mum Karen didn't have the reputation as being Mrs Christmas for nothing. There were decorations everywhere. The front garden resembled a winter wonderland with all the lights and she'd even hired a snow machine for the back garden. The tree was surrounded by Santa sacks and Selfridges bags as far as he could see.

'Looks unreal Mum' said Jack, her golden boy, leaning over and kissing the top of her head.

'Well, I thought I'd go all out this year, make it real special' she said giving him a wink.

'I got all us girls matching satin Christmas pj's with our names on' Tasha told his sisters, Hollie and Keira.

'I'm gutted she couldn't find any pink ones in my size' laughed Jack.

'Welcome home Bro' said Kevan.

'Good to be back late, now where's the beers?' Laughed Jack. Pep had given the players permission to indulge slightly, but had also reminded them of their game on Boxing Day at the same time.

Jack shook his head as his Mum handed him a bottle with a Santa label on it.

'I thought it was cure' she explained, then she handed Tasha a glass of wine in a glass that looked like Santa's tunic. She really had gone all out.

The pair gave each other a look as they sipped their drinks. It was a silent agreement that they'd say nothing until after Christmas dinner. They couldn't do that to Karen. She was already telling them the details of the caterers she'd booked for the day, and how she'd told them about Jack's micros.

'Macros Mum' he'd corrected her with a smirk.

'Don't you smirk at me boy' she said playfully. There was nothing that she loved more than having the whole family back at home.

Jack text Jay quickly to let her know he was thinking of her and she'd replied telling him that her parents now knew all about him. That was the first hurdle out the way. His family was the next.

Tasha knew he was texting Jay. She wondered if they were talking about her being pregnant, she also wondered when he was going to tell his family. It would be awkward if he did it whilst she was there.

'This Christmas is going to be the best' said Hollie.

It was certainly going to be dramatic.

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