Fic: Different Kind Of Love: Chapter Five
Title: Different Kind Of Love
Author: Jayne Leigh
Summary: She had moved on and she told him to do the same. Matt has met someone else and Harriet now understands how he felt about Darren Wells and Luke Scott... has she missed her chance with him?
Rating: R
Characters or Pairing: Matt/Harriet, Matt/Jessica, Danny/Jordan
Disclaimer: I don't own them!
Hey, thanks for all the reviews!! Please keep them coming!!
Different Kind Of Love: Chapter One
Different Kind Of Love: Chapter Two
Different Kind Of Love: Chapter Three
Different Kind Of Love: Chapter Four
Different Kind Of Love: Chapter Five
Jessica walked down the corridors towards Matt's office, smiling at people politely who looked at her. She never thought things would turn out like this. When she first saw Matt in that bar, she only went up to him because she had quite a bit to drink and was lonely after splitting up with her boyfriend. She was sure the next morning, she'd wake up and find that he was gone but he was still there. They had both agreed not to get into a serious relationship but the more time they spent together, the more serious they got and neither of them stopped it.
She knocked quietly on the office door before entering, seeing Matt sat with his head on his desk.
“Hey, is this a bad time?” She asked.
He looked up quickly. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I brought you dinner.” She held up a bag as he walked towards her. “I know you said you had to work late but can you take a break?”
He smiled, reached out and took the bag, slipping his arm around her waist and leading her towards the couch. “For you, I can.”
She smiled up at him. “You work too hard.”
“It's Wednesday and we don't have anything for the show on Friday.” He replied, pulling her down gently next to him on the couch. “It's your fault.”
“Mine?” She looked over to him quickly.
“Yeah, every time I try to write I keep thinking about you.” He told her. “You distract me.”
“Hey, it's not my fault you have a short attention span.” She replied.
He laughed slightly and kissed her cheek before pulling some containers out of a bag. “This looks great by the way.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“But you shouldn't have gone to so much trouble.” He told her.
“Well, like I said, you've been working hard lately.” She shrugged.
“I'm meant to be the one looking after you.” He stated.
She rolled her eyes. “I'm pregnant, not ill...I can look after myself.”
“But you like it when I look after you, don't you?” He asked.
She looked at him for a moment, pretending to think about it but she couldn't help but smile after a few seconds.
“I love it.”
He grinned and kissed the side of her head. “Good.”
“Okay, now be quiet and eat up.” She ordered.
“Yes, ma'am.” He grinned again.
An hour later, Matt had gone back to his desk to try and write again.
“I thought you were going to sleep.” He said when Jess stood up and walked towards him.
“I can't...” She replied, moving behind him. “How's it going?”
“Badly.” He sighed, moaning quietly when she started to massage his shoulders.
“What's going on, Matt?” She asked.
“It's called writers block.” He told her.
“Yeah, but what's brought it on?” She questioned. “I know something has happened, something that you're not telling me.”
“Jess...”
“Come on, you can tell me...” She told him. “You can tell me anything.”
He turned his chair around to face her. “I know that.”
“So, what is it?”
“It's nothing really... the other day, Harriet and I had an argument.”
“Oh...” She replied. “Why didn't you tell me?”
“I don't want to worry you.” He told her.
“Why would I worry?”
“Because she's my ex-girlfriend.” He replied.
“Should I be worried?”
“What? No?”
“Really?”
“Yes, really, I promise you.” He assured her. “It was just something stupid and we both overreacted.”
“So, if it was something stupid why is it stopping you from working?” She asked.
“Because it was in front of everyone and things have been a little tense around here since.”
“Have you talked to her about it?”
“Not yet...”
“Why not?”
“I don't know...” He shrugged. “Maybe its better this way.”
“Matt, it’s almost midnight and you're still working because of this argument. You need to sort it out.”
He sighed. “I'm just sick of all the fighting. I mean we're not even together any more and we still fight.”
“Maybe she's jealous.” Jessica suggested.
“What? Why would she jealous”?
“Because she still has feeling for you.”
“She doesn't.” He shook his head.
“How do you know?”
“Because she broke up with me... she told me to move on... she's dating Luke Scott.” He told her. “Besides she's not the one for me.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“Because you're the one for me.”
She smiled slightly at his answer. “You really believe that?”
“Yeah.” He stood up, circling his arms around her loosely. “You're the most important thing in my life.”
She went to lean into kiss him when she felt the baby kick. “Wow.”
“What?”
“Nothing, just your daughter kicking me.”
He laughed slightly and leaned down to kiss her stomach. “I think she's worried we forgot about her.”
When he stood back up straight, he noticed she had tears in her eyes.
“What's wrong?” He asked softly, frowning slightly.
“Nothing...” She smiled. “I'm just happy.”
“Really?” He asked and she nodded. “Me too.”
He slowly leaned in and kissed her softly, pulling her closer to him before pulling back and resting his forehead against hers.
“You should try and get some sleep.”
“Only if you do too.” She replied.
“Babe, I wish I could but need to get some work done...”
“Please, I can't get comfortable without you next to me.”
“That's so corny.” He told her and pulled her back towards the couch. “How about I lie with you until you fall asleep.”
“Okay, fine.” She agreed.
He lay down and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hand on her stomach. After a few minutes, she turned in his arms slowly to look at him and smiled when she saw he had fallen asleep. She carefully stood up, hoping not to stir him. She grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair and covered him with it before silently leaving the office.
She headed downstairs, hoping that Harriet was still there. She turned the corner and saw Tom and Simon stood by the coffee machine.
“Hey, Jess...How are you?” Tom asked.
“I'm fine thank you.” She smiled. “You two?”
“Tried.” Simon replied.
“Why don't you go home?” She asked.
“We’re working on something to show Matt.” Tom explained. “I think, he's in his office if you're looking for him.”
“Yeah, I was up there.” She told him. “I was actually looking for Harriet.”
“Oh right... well, she's in her dressing room.”
“Oh good. Thank you.” She smiled at them again before walking towards Harriet's room.
“Come in.” Harriet called when there was a knock on her door; she looked up and saw Jess. “Oh, hi... if you're looking for Matthew, he's not here.”
“No, I know...I wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh, okay.” Harriet replied, slowly. “What about?”
“Matt told me about the argument you guys had.” She said.
“Um, well yeah I think I said some things that were out of line.” She replied. “I didn't mean them, I guess I was just having a bad day.”
“Well, the reason I'm down here is because I know that even though he's trying to act like he doesn't care, he misses you.”
“What?”
“It's okay...I understand that you guys are probably always going to have some sort of feelings for each other but I trust him. I know he wouldn't hurt me.” She told her. “And I also know that you guys have known each for a long time and when you were together, you were good friends.”
Harriet nodded slightly. “Yeah, we were.”
“Don't throw that friendship away because of me.”
“Because of you?” Harriet repeated.
“Matt means so much to me, I don't want to come in between him and someone he's known for a long time.” She stated. “And everyone talks about you a lot...I mean, when we've been out with Danny and Jordan, I hear all these stories about you. It would be really great if we could be friends too.”
Harriet smiled slightly; she couldn't believe that Jess was saying all of this. She couldn't believe how understanding and nice she actually was.
“I would like that too.”
“Really?” Jess smiled.
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Maybe one night after you both have had the babies, me, you and Jordan could get together and have a girls' night out.”
“That would be great.” She replied. “We could leave Matt and Danny to babysit.”
Harriet smiled again. A few months ago she would never thought she'd hear someone say that sentence.
“How is the baby?” She inquired.
“Well, she likes moving around.” Jess told her, automatically placing her hand on her stomach. “She's quite restless...”
“I guess she gets that from her Father.” Harriet stated. “Have you decided on any names?”
“We've picked a few.” She nodded. “Every other day we change our minds... at the moment, we're agreeing on Grace May.”
“Grace May Albie.... That's really cute.”
“Yeah, Matt chose it.” She smiled. “Speaking of Matt, I better get back up there, I left him sleeping.”
“Well, it was nice to talk to you.”
“Yeah, you too.” She replied.
“I'll talk to Matthew later, we'll sort everything out.” She told her.
“Good.” She smiled at her one more time before leaving.
She quietly let herself back into Matt's office and was glad to see he was still asleep. She carefully lay back down next to him. He moved and wrapped his arms around her when she did.
“Where'd you go?” He mumbled sleepily.
“No where.” She whispered, placing a small kiss on his lips.
“Baby Gracie okay?” He asked, instantly moving his hand back down to her stomach.
“She's fine.” She assured him. “I just went down to talk to Harriet.”
He forced his eyes open to look at her. “What?”
“I just told her that I know you guys have been good friends for a long time and that I want you to sort things out...”
“But...”
“I also said I want her and I to become friends.” She continued. “Once the baby is here, we're going out with Jordan for a girls' night.”
“Really?” He asked.
“Yeah, you and Danny are babysitting.”
“Oh are we, now.”
“Yes.” She smiled, sweetly at him and kissed him again.
“Okay.” He agreed.
“What you doing?” She asked, when he started to sit up.
“I got to get some work done...” He told her. “I wasn't meant to fall asleep, you tricked me.”
“Sorry...” She replied but pulled him back down. “But you need sleep.”
“I’ve got to write something.”
“Simon and Tom are working on something.” She told him. “Let someone else worry about it for once.”
He sighed slightly. “I really should....”
“Please...” She grabbed his hand, putting it on her bump again. “Gracie wants her Daddy to stay here.”
“Okay, fine.” He gave in. “But you won't always be able to use Gracie to get me to do what you want.”
“Baby, we both know that I will.” She smiled and kissed his cheek.
He sighed again. “Danny was right, she's going to have me wrapped around her little finger, isn't she.”
Jess laughed slightly. “Oh yes.”
He kissed her forehead. “Okay, lets get some rest.”
“Okay.” She agreed, moving closer to him, causing him to tighten his arms around her and it wasn't long until they both were asleep.
XxXxX
“Hi, can I talk to you for a minute?” Harriet asked, when she saw Matt in the corridor the next day.
“Uh, yeah sure... come into my office.” He told her.
She nodded and silently followed him. Once he had closed the door behind her, she turned to face him.
“I'm sorry for the way I've been acting.” She said. “I was a bitch.”
“No, it's okay...” He told her. “I'm sorry too.”
“I really am happy for you.” She stated. “Its just weird seeing you with someone else.
“Yeah, I know...” He looked down.
“I guess that's how you felt about Darren and Luke.”
“A little.” He agreed.
“But it’s okay now... I spoke to Jess last night and she's perfect for you.”
“You really think that?” He asked.
“Yeah, before I wasn't sure... I didn't really know her...I didn't get a chance to know her.”
“Well, I'm glad you like her.”
“Yeah...” She nodded. “It's still a little weird though.”
“What is?”
“Just how after everything we can still be friends... how I want to be friends with your new girlfriend.”
“I guess you're right.” He replied. “But it'll be okay.”
“Yeah, I know.” She nodded. “I'd better go.”
“Okay and thanks for coming to talk.”
“No problem, thanks for listening.”
They smiled at each other before she turned to leave.
XxXxX
A few weeks later, everything was going great for everyone. Jordan had only 5 weeks left of her pregnancy whilst Jess had 12. Both Danny and Matt were excited about it and would always go out and then come back with some new baby clothes or some toys. Everything had turned back to normal in the studio. Everyone was getting along for once. Since their talk Harriet and Jess had become good friends and even though she knew how happy Matt and Jess were, Harriet still felt jealous. She still had strong feelings for him and she didn't know how to get rid of them.
“Hey, Tom mentioned you were having a problem with the 'married couple' sketch...” Matt said as he walked into Harriet’s dressing room.
“It's just this one bit when they are talking and then she suddenly starts shouting at him.”
“What wrong with it?”
“I don't know how to make it funny.”
“Oh, well...umm, maybe when they're talking, you can move closer and closer to Tom, as if you're going to kiss him... then start shouting...”
“I don't know.”
“Well, try it on me, see if it works.” He suggested.
“Okay.” She said and started reading her lines, moving closer to closer to him until their faces were almost touching, like he had said but then she stopped talking. They both just stared into each other’s eyes.
“What you doing?” He asked, quietly when she leaned in closer but he still didn't move away.
“I uh...um… sorry.” She stuttered and she didn't move away either. They just kept looking at each other until Harriet leaned inwards again and this time he didn't stop her.
When her lips touched his, she slowly put her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He moaned quietly and kissed back, turning the kiss more passionate. Harriet walked backwards until she fell down onto the couch, pulling him down with her but still didn't break the kiss. He jumped when he felt her hands slid up his shirt and stood up quickly, not realising his cell phone dropping onto the floor.
“I'm sorry, this isn't right...” He stuttered, straightening his shirt out, avoiding looking at her as she just lay on the couch, watching him. “I’ve got to go.”
She didn't say anything as he rushed out of the dressing room, not stopping to look back at her.
XxXxX
Harriet sighed as she messed up her line once again. She was rehearing the 'married couple' sketch with Tom later that day but she couldn't get it right.
“I'm sorry.” She said to him.
“It's okay, want to take a break?” He asked.
Harriet glanced at the stands where Matt, Andy, Lucy, Darius, Simon and Cal were sat watching them. Although, she had noticed that Matt had looked up from his laptop since she got onto the stage.
“No, I'll get it this time...”
“How's it going in here?” Danny asked as he walked in.
“Slow.” Simon replied causing Harriet to glare at him.
“Right...well um, Cal... do you think you can cope on your own for a little while?”
“Well, sure... I guess... But it's Wednesday, we need to get to get this sketch right.”
“Andy will help you.”
“Why? What's going on?” Simon asked.
“Nothing, me and Matt need to go for a walk.” Danny said.
“I don't want to for a walk.” Matt mumbled still not looking up.
“Matt, just come with me.”
“Why?”
“Matt.”
“Where we going?”
“The hospital.”
“I don't want to”
He was not in the mood for Danny's little games. Every now and then they'd race to the hospital to try and find the fast way of getting there for when the girls went into labour.
“Matt...” He sighed but still didn't look up. “Matt, Jess has a had fall.”
That gained his attention. “What?”
“She's okay, she just slipped on a wet floor.” He told him.
“Why didn't you say something?”
“I didn't want to tell you in front of everyone and freak you out.”
“But she's okay?” He asked.
“Well...”
“Well, what?” Matt asked. “What is it?”
Danny glanced at everyone watching them and sighed. “She's gone into labour, Matt.”
“No.”
“Matt...”
“No, you're wrong.” He told her. “It's too early.... she's got 12 weeks left.”
“I know but... but the baby's coming now.”
There was silence; no one knew what to say. They all just watched, Matt trying to get his head around it all.
“Matt, we need to...” Danny started but stopped when Matt suddenly jumped up and ran out.
“I'll call you.” Danny shouted back to Cal as he ran after his friend.
XxXxX
Danny paced around the waiting room. He had been there for two hours, as soon as they arrived a nurse took Matt into Jess' room and he hadn't seen him since. He had asked someone what was going on and they had said, they tried to delay the labour but they couldn't for very long and they had taken Jess to have a C-section. He had called the studio to see how they were getting on and told them what was happening. Cal assured him they were getting things done slowly and asked him to let Matt know they were all thinking of him, Jess and the baby.
“Hey, what's going on?” He said when he saw Matt walking towards him.
“I...uh...I... I have a daughter.” He stuttered.
“IS everything okay?” He asked.
“She's tiny...” He replied. “They have to take her to the ICU... because she's so early...”
“But she's going to be okay?”
“They said there might be some complications.” Matt told him. “But she's strong...”
“Of course she is.” Danny smiled. “She'll be fine.”
“Yeah, they're just going to look after her for a while.” He nodded.
“What about Jess?”
“They said she's going to be okay she just needs some rest.”
“That's great!”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?” He asked.
“Uh-huh... I'm a father, Dan..... I actually have a little girl.”
“I know.” Danny smiled.
“You want to see her?”
“Of course!”
“Okay, come on.” He smiled and led him to where his daughter was being looked after.
“Oh, I'm sorry but only family are allowed in here.” A nurse stopped Danny at the door.
“He is family.” Matt told her. “He's her uncle.”
The nurse glanced back at the doctor who was looking after the baby and he nodded that it was okay.
They stood side by side next to the incubator and looked down at the little girl.
“Wow.” Danny whispered, he couldn't believe how tiny she was and he was a little surprised at the amount of machines that were surrounding her.
“She has a long way to go yet but she's a tough little girl.” The Doctor told them. “I've done some test and I'll be able to tell you more when we get the results.”
“Okay, thank you.” Matt whispered, his eyes never leaving his baby girl.
“Does she have a name yet?” He asked.
“Grace May.” Matt replied.
“Okay.” The doctor smiled. “I'll leave you alone with her... if there is anything you need just have someone page me.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Matt said as he left the room.
Danny leaned down closer to the incubator. “Hey, Gracie May.... I'm Danny... I'll be around for you any time your Mom and Dad are driving you crazy, okay?”
Matt smiled, looking at her with tears in his eyes. They stayed there for 45 minute before they were told they had to take her for some tests and would come and find them again when they were done.
“You should go back to the studio.” Matt told Danny as they walked down the corridor.
“Cal can cope.”
“Dan, we got a live show to put on in two days, one of us needs to be there.” Matt told him.
“You going to be okay?” He asked.
“Yeah, I got to make some phone calls...then I'll sit with Jess.”
“Well, if you're sure.”
“Yeah, I'll be fine.”
“Okay, well call me if you need anything.”
“I will...” He replied. “And thanks for being here with me.”
“I wouldn't have been anywhere else.”
XxXxX
The next morning, Andy, Lucy and Darius were sitting around the table in the writer’s room when the door opened.
“Matt, what are you doing here?” Andy asked.
“Have you written anything else?” He asked, ignoring his question.
“We’ve been working on this.” Lucy said, slowly handing him a few pieces of paper. “Shouldn't you be at the hospital.”
“The live show is tomorrow.” He mumbled reading what they had come up with.
“How's the baby?” Andy asked, glancing at the other two.
“Small...” He replied. “This is quite good... but needs some work. Go and get Simon and Tom to help... bring them to my office.”
“Matt, should you be here?”
“Please, just do as I ask.” He replied, leaving the room before anyone could say any more.
They did what he said and went to find Tom and Simon. When Harriet found out, Matt had turned up; she went with them to his office to find out what was going on.
“Matthew, what are you doing here?” She asked, as they walked into the room.
“If one more person asks, me that...” He started before taking a deep breath to calm himself. “This is my show... and we need to get it done.”
They all looked at each other questionable but no one knew what was going on.
“Right, okay read this...” Matt handed the sketch the writers had written to Simon. “What do you think?”
“Matt?” Danny and Jordan walked in.
“Don't ask.” Matt cut him off.
“What's going on?”
“We're working...”
“You shouldn't be here.” He told him.
“We need to get the show done.” Matt replied.
Everyone stepped back and stayed silent... they all knew something was going on and that Danny would be the only one who Matt would talk to.
“Has something happened to Gracie.”
“She's fine!” Matt claimed.
“What about Jess?” He asked but Matt didn't answer. “Matt?”
“Sim, do you think you can work on that with....” Matt started, ignoring Danny.
“What's happened to Jess, Matt?” Danny asked, interpreting.
“Danny, don't.” He whispered.
“Matt, talk to me.” He said softly.
Matt closed his eyes tightly; hoping it would stop the tears but it didn't work as a couple escaped his eyes and rolled down his cheek.
“Matt...” Danny said again, stepping closer to him.
“She dead, Danny.” He whispered, his voice raking with emotion as he opened his eyes and more tears fell. “She died.”
“What?”
“She... there... they said there was a bleed or something... she lost too much blood... they couldn't do anything...” He explained, his head dropping into his hand as he broke down. “She's gone.”
Danny quickly wrapped his arms around him and held him tightly as he cried.