A Promise Broken (World's Apart Sequel)

Arrival

She paced back and forth anxiously. Every now and then she glanced up at the clock hanging above the doorframe. It's now twelve-thirty, he said midday. She sighed exasperated.

"Ali dear, he'll get here when he gets here," Mrs Dawes wipes her hands on her apron before she rests them on Ali's shoulders.

"Come and have a cup of tea, it'll make the wait easier,"

Ali rolls her eyes but reluctantly takes a seat at the small round table.

"Well I for one hope he never arrives," Mr Dawes guffaws from behind his broadsheet newspaper.

Ali scowls at him "Father stop it! I thought you liked him?"

The broadsheet lowers and Mr Dawes eyes meet Ali. "That was before he was interested in courting my daughter,"

Ali's cheeks redden "Nobody says courting anymore!" She exclaims in embarrassment. "Besides we're just friends,"

Mr Dawes arches his brow "Hmm yes, well I'll make sure he knows it," he lifts the newspaper back up.

"Here you go dear," Mrs Dawes places a hot cup of tea in front of her causing the delicate China to rattle on the slightly uneven table.

Ali smiled at her mother and sips the tea idly, her mind elsewhere.

Maybe he wasn't coming?

Maybe he'd forgot?

She took another gulp and burnt her tongue in the process.

"Ahh!" she exclaimed.

"Careful love," Mrs Dawes scolds lightly.

Ali stands in frustration. Her father doesn't look up, instead he flips the page on the broadsheet and continues with his business.

"I'm going out," she announces "I'm tired of waiting around here, he's almost an hour late!"

Mrs Dawes tries to fuss with Ali's hair and dress but Ali swats her away.

"That's enough mother, I'm fine," Ali smooths out her dress and turns on her heels. She storms determinedly to the front door and with a mighty inhale she pulls the handle.

The door swings open.

And there he is, with flowers in hand...

Jack.

"I'm sorry I'm so late, it's been a hectic morning," he smiles his sheepish smile as he extends the beautiful yellow flowers towards her.

"For you," he leans forward and kisses her lightly on the cheek.

_

She stood momentarily frozen in the doorway. He gazed up at her from beneath a mop of slightly damp hair. His beard was longer than she'd seen before and it held a gingery reddish tint to it.

He clears his throat breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry I'm so late," he starts to say "It's been a hectic-"

"Few years," she cuts him off.

He nods once biting his lip nervously.

Ali steps to the side of the doorway. "You should come in, he's waiting for you,"

Jack hoists his duffle bag over his shoulder and steps up into the big house. He hesitates as he passes Ali before leaning down and planting a soft kiss onto her cheek. Her skin buzzes lightly under his touch and she smiles instinctively at him.

Jack walks through along the large spacious hallway and turns right into one of the living areas.

"Daddy!" He's barely inside the room before a bundle of energy careers into his legs.

Jack immediately discards the duffel bag from his shoulder, bends down and lifts the boy off the ground with ease. There's a brief moment where their eyes meet and his heart swells. The blue of his sons eyes, so like his own. Jack pulls the boy towards him and holds him in a tight hug for a long time. He can feel a small hand patting and rubbing his shoulder. Jack continues to hug his son, one hand holding him against himself, the other cradling the boys head. Jack inhales as the boy nestles his head into the crook of his neck. Butter mints and freshly mown grass, the smell of somebody who had spent the morning rolling around in a newly cut meadow.

TJ pulls back and stares at Jack. He places his two small hands either side of Jack's face and bristles his beard.

"Why are you crying daddy?"

He hadn't even realised he was. Jack moves the boy to one arm and with his free hand swipes the moisture quickly from his eyes.

"I'm okay Thomas, just happy to see you," Jack forces a smile.

His son shakes his head ferociously "It's not Thomas, it's TJ!" He leans backwards in frustration.

Jack leans down and lowers him to the ground "TJ, I like it. You're a big boy now,"

Jack regards the boy in front of him. Gone is the chubby blonde toddler he'd left over two years ago. Now theres a lean little boy, who's hair is longer and darker. A boy with his own thoughts and one who can speak his own mind.

"I'm five in September," TJ announces proudly.

Jack's eyes widen in amazement "Wow, I wish I was five again,"

This pleases TJ who grins brightly at Jack. "Will you come and play airplanes with me?" He tugs at Jack's shirt.

"TJ let your father settle in first, go and play outside for a while and I'm sure your dad will be out later,"

Jack, still crouched down, nods at the boy "I'll be out later, go have fun,"

TJ turns on his heels and hurries through the house towards the back garden.

Jack watches the doorway the boy had just disappeared through. Disbelief obvious on his face.

"He's different to how you remember him isn't he?" Ali registering the look on Jack's face.

He stands slowly and nods "He's a proper little boy now,"

Ali smiles proudly "He's the best,"

Jack smiles awkwardly "That's all you, I haven't done- well I've not been around have I?"

Ali's smile fades but she reaches out a hand and touches Jack's arm.

"But you're here now and we are so glad to have you back,"

"We?"

"Yes we," she rolls her eyes playfully.

"Whatever problems existed between us, no matter how you felt or how I felt, I still love you Jack and I'm glad you're safe,"

A warm tingle courses through his body and he steps towards Ali. She wraps her arms around his neck, reaches up and kisses him tenderly. Jack leans into the kiss when suddenly she pulls away sharply.

"But this..." She gestures at his beard "This has to go,"

Jack has a playful glint in his eye "Oh you mean the beard? I thought you'd like it!"

Suddenly he's grabbing ahold of her and planting rough scratchy kisses all over her face. She squeals under his touch.

"Jack! Jack stop!" Ali is breathless and laughing.

He stops, his own breathing erratic. He reaches down and kisses the top of her head. Pulling his duffel bag off the floor, he turns to leave the room and head upstairs.

"Oh," he hesitates at the doorway "I love you too,"