janey_long-journey-2

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LONG JOURNEY by Janey      (Sequel for Relationships and What's behind)           <<< Part 1

PART 2

Jen managed to sleep until almost 8.30 a.m., which she was quite happy with. Richey was still in the same position that he had curled into when James had undressed him. Jen smiled and snuggled next to him. The next time she checked the clock it was lunchtime. Richey had turned onto his stomach and had kicked much of the bedding off himself and onto Jen. No wonder she was sweating madly. She swung her legs out of the bed; no nausea, ‘that’s good’ she thought making her way to the shower.

After showering she put on a pair of jogging bottoms (Richey’s) and a t-shirt (also Richey’s) and went downstairs. No sign of Nicky so evidently he had made his way to join James. Jen then went to the supermarket to collect the Sunday newspapers, aware that the newsagents would now be closed, and also got in a few groceries, knowing she had extra mouths to feed. Although it hadn’t been arranged for James and Nicky to stay overnight, she had made up all three of the guestrooms expecting someone to be stopping over after escorting Richey home.

Jen put the papers out on the dining table and then put the groceries away and switched the kettle on to boil, putting some instant coffee in a cup. Halfway through reading the first paper she heard footsteps descending the stairs.
“Morning sweetheart”, moaned James, rubbing his head.
“Afternoon,” Jen replied jauntily with a grin. “Help yourself to coffee. I assume your other half managed to join you?”
“Yeah he did. He tried making advances then collapsed into a drunken stupor, the mad fool!”
“Ahh, he loves you. Even when he’s completely and utterly ratted he still wants to play – how cute!”
“A drunken, slobbering Nicky is not cute,” James grimaced filling the kettle with water and switching it on to boil. “Anyway, you seem much better.”
“I just needed to get some rest James. Apart from being tired I don’t actually feel that bad you know?”
“So maybe it was the nerves after all huh?”
“I think so. Having you lot here distracted me and so I don’t feel ill.”
“About us ending up crashing here, I’m sorry, it’s just that well, to be honest, the others were in a worse state than Nicky so I really didn’t feel comfortable entrusting Red to anyone else when Nicky just collapsed so… well…”
“James,” Jen snickered, “you don’t have to apologise, all of you are always welcome and you know that; as it was the beds were all made up anyway.” Tenderly she stroked his arm and goosebumps sprang up. “So, what happened to Graham and Sean, never mind poor Mitch, Martin, Philip, Nick, Patrick, Dave… and who have I missed?”
“Too many to mention! Graham went home around midnight; he couldn’t handle the Tequila Slammers and Seany was also practically comatose so we put them in a taxi,” James placed right hand over Jen’s as it continued to stroke his arm and then put them up to his lips and kissed her fingertips. “He’s a mighty lucky man Jen. You and Richey are going to be so happy together, I know it. Wait till we’re all celebrating your Golden Wedding Anniversary with your kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. You know how much I care for you but you guys belong, you know. You compliment one another perfectly. If ever a couple was destined to be together it’s you; I love you both so much.”

“James, that’s so lovely of you, thanks. You know that we would never have worked, don’t you?”
“Yeah, and for what it’s worth, I genuinely do love Nicky you know, the mad bastard that he is.”
“Things could have been so different.”
“Don’t even go there. My life, without Nicky, is beyond my contemplation, just like it’s hard to imagine you without Richey. It’s all worked out exactly as it was supposed to.”
“All we need now is for Sean and Catherine to set a date and it’ll be a full house, but she won’t until after the baby is born, so it could well be this time next year.”
“Yeah that’s what Seany said too, of course, he’d marry her tomorrow.” James made his coffee, grabbed one of the papers off the pile and began reading it.
Suddenly they heard swearing from upstairs; “Nicky!” they both chimed in unison. There then very quickly followed Richey, very uncharacteristically shouting ‘Fuck off!’ When they went to investigate, a still stupefied Nicky had climbed into bed with Richey, after he’d visited the bathroom; needless to say Richey was non-too impressed, especially as Nicky had made advances on him.
“He just can’t hold his booze,” laughed James.
“I don’t know why you’re laughing,” said Richey furiously, still naked and with hands on hips, pouting wonderfully camply. “He’s pinched my bed! My bed note, and when I was still in it!”
Jenny went and gave Richey a hug at the same time as James attempted to rouse the still drunk Wire.
“Staying another night?” she giggled to James.
“Ahh Jamesy!” Nicky sighed enthusiastically; pulling James down for a kiss as James tried to rouse him. “I really, really want you.”
Despite his throbbing head Richey could still see the humour in the situation and started sniggering; “Well you ain’t gonna be doing it in our bed Nick!”
“C’mon babe,” continued Nicky, oblivious to the audience. “I’m in the mood for a really good fuck.”
“Romantic shit ain’t he?” said an embarrassed James to Richey and Jen before saying to Nicky; “come on honey, let’s get you back to your own bed huh? Richey doesn’t want to share.”
“Don’t wanna disturb Rich and Jen, oh no!” Nicky spluttered staggering to his feet with James tugging him up, and then guiding him back to the bedroom he’d come from.

Jen and Richey enjoyed a brief kiss and a cuddle on the bed, Richey reluctantly accepting that his sleep was now broken, so to help him wake up a little more, he had a shower and then joined Jen downstairs as she continued to read the papers.
“James still with Nicky?” he asked on noticing his bandmates and friend’s absence.
“I’m surprised you didn’t hear Nicky yelling. Whatever James was doing to him, he liked.”
“I don’t even want to think of what that may have been. Though the state Nicky’s in I’m surprised he knows what’s happening.”
“Anyway, how are you? You don’t seem too bad I must say.”
“Surprisingly good really. I should ring dad and see how he is.”
“Ah yes, James told me about the Tequila Slammers.”
“Don’t suppose he told you that we spiked a couple of his pints with vodka did he?” Jen shook her head at him. “That’s why he hit the slammers; he was already pissed. Mum’s gonna go ballistic, I know it.”
“Richey you deserve everything you get; that was irresponsible.”
“I know that now but at the time I wasn’t exactly in control of my faculties you know.” He flashed her his wonderfully charming smile, and he could see Jen’s resolve collapsing before him.
“You can still apologise,” she winked.
“For what? What have I done?” came a very shaky voice from behind them.
“Ah Wire! How the hell are you my dear chap?” Richey boomed in an exaggerated voice.
“Shush,” Nicky groaned, James who followed behind him couldn’t stop grinning. “My head hurts and I feel as sick as a dog.” He slumped into the nearest chair.
“Not to ill for a bit of passion though,” teased Richey.
Nicky gave a coy smile; “Well you know how it is when you have the sexiest man on the planet in your bed.”
“Indeed I do!” laughed Jen.

James and Nicky both ended up staying for something to eat and it was 11pm when they finally made their way home, Nicky still looking somewhat grey. Richey called home during the evening and did suffer a stinging rebuke from his mum; Graham was still being violently ill. Nicky and James also suffered the wrath of Sherry, and had to grovel lots and lots.

On the Monday Jen and Catherine went shopping together for some last minute bits and pieces. Catherine was very kindly hiding Jen’s wedding dress away from Richey and also from Sean because they were worried that Sean would let slip to Richey what it was like.
Richey was going to his parents’ home on Wednesday so that he and Jen could spend the night prior to the wedding separately. The first time they would see each other on their wedding day would be at the church. Jen hadn’t told Catherine about the sickness, convinced that it was nothing more that tiredness, excitement and lack of food.
“I still can’t get over him wanting to spend Wednesday night separate to you,” Catherine grinned brightly. “Never had him down as a stickler for tradition.”
“I know what you mean, it’s kinda sweet though.”
“He’s a sweet guy and you’re a great couple. You’ve always made me feel so welcome, both of you.”
“You and Sean, well I think it was destiny,” Jen mused. “The really shitty thing is that you lost your sister even though you found your soulmate. I can’t begin to imagine what that must have been like for you.”
“Sometimes Sean and me sit and talk about her, just remembering. We both remember her fondly and it helps knowing that she wanted us to be together and be happy.”
“Do you think you’ll get married next year then?”
“Yeah, once I’ve lost the weight from the pregnancy, so about this time next year. I will have had six months to shift it by then.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t had much morning sickness,” Jen said as casually as she could.
“Morning sickness is a funny beast you know,” laughed Catherine ironically. “Some days I’d be fine and others I’d spend all day and all night being ill. No rhyme or reason to it really. That’s why at first I didn’t realise that I was pregnant,” Catherine explained. “I still had my periods and because the sickness was intermittent, I just thought I’d picked up some stomach bug or something, and couldn’t get rid of it. Then my body felt different and that’s when I really suspected.”
“Are you ok? Because of the bleeding I mean.”
“They keep a check on it but so far all’s well,” beamed Catherine. “We’ve got the 20 week scan next week and Sean is so overwhelmed at the thought of seeing our baby. He’s a real softy.”
“Strange isn’t it,” observed Jen, “they have this image of being angst ridden and difficult but actually they’re all pussycats.” The two ladies laughed raucously, finished their coffees and then proceeded on their shopping expedition.

“Richey can I at least have some idea of where we’re going so I know what to pack?”
“Nope.”
“So what type of clothes do I need?”
“A little bit of everything but not very much of anything.”
“That doesn’t help.”
Richey merely giggled impishly, enjoying goading Jen. “As far as I’m concerned,” he grinned facetiously, “it’s our honeymoon, ergo, clothes are superfluous to our requirements. All you need is an outfit for going there in and one for the return trip.”
“Planning on tying me to the bed the whole week?” Jen queried. “We do need to eat and drink you know.”
“Ha ha!” he laughed, covering the brief distance between them, and lazily nuzzling on Jen’s neck with his lips. “Now, whilst I’m not averse to a bit of bondage I would hope that you would stay there of your own free will, and, to be incredibly corny for a moment, who needs food and drink when we have each other and love?”
Jen crumpled into him, sniggering softly. “I love you, you mad romantic fool,” she spluttered through her laughter.
“I should hope so or we wouldn’t be doing this would we, huh?”
“Richey!” Jen attempted swatting Richey’s hands away but he was too strong and determined, and was able to remove her clothes without too much effort or trouble, and to be fair, Jen’s efforts became more and more half-hearted once he’d removed Jen’s blouse and bra.

After making love they enjoyed a nice bath together. Richey had put essential oils in it and covered almost every available space with candles, making it very romantic. Whilst they towelled of the phone rang and Richey walked through to the bedroom to answer it. Unusually for him, he was very abrupt in his manner; “No, no idea. Wrong number.” SLAM.
“That was a bit harsh honey,” Jen said, dropping the towel to the floor and proceeding to apply some body lotion to her skin.
“Was it?” he asked, spinning around, seeming a little flustered, his cheeks flushed with a tinge of pink.
“Red are you ok baby? You don’t look too good.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m fine,” he replied just a little too quickly.
Jen tried shrugging of the nagging doubts that were rising within her, and to try and reassure him that she believed him smiled and continued applying the body lotion.
For the rest of the evening Richey was slightly distracted and on edge, leaving Jen to ponder what the telephone call may really have been about.

On Tuesday lunchtime Richey went to see Sean, James, Nicky, Philip, Martin and Mitch for a barbecue, a few drinks and a run through of what they were all expected to do. In the case of James and Nicky it was explained as ‘do not keep molesting each other!’ to which they had then started to snog the faces off one another – just to wind Richey up.
“I don’t know why I’m here,” chipped in Philip. “I’m giving the gorgeous bride away.”
“Precisely,” proclaimed Richey. “I need you to be as persuasive as you can be if she gets hit by an attack of nerves and can’t go through with it.” Try as he might to keep an air of joviality in his voice Richey failed, and his demeanour was also betraying his anxiety.
“Richey,” Philip sighed heavily, putting his arms around the nervous and now trembling Richey. “Nothing will stop her from saying ‘I do’, she loves you way too much.”
“It’s true,” piped martin.
“Fuck knows why ‘cos she’s a sensible girl,” added Philip, getting a playful wallop in his ribs for his troubles.

Sean and Mitch kept Richey chatting in the garden as James, Nick, Martin and Philip discussed Richey in the kitchen, keeping half an eye on him in case he started walking back to them.
“This is more than pre wedding jitters,” moaned Martin. “Plus he looks fucking ill.”
“He sure as hell looks worse than he did on Sunday, that’s a definite,” added James, “and that was the day after he’s had an absolute skinful, which, let’s not forget, he isn’t used to anymore.”
“Well I’m jiggered if I know what it is,” Nicky said somewhat feebly. “He’s eating ok but his eyes are all sunken and dull.”
“Now this may seem like something of a radical idea,” grinned Philip sarcastically, “but we could try asking him what’s wrong.”
“You seriously think he’s going to tell us?” James quipped, surprised at the suggestion.
“I don’t know but it may just give us a chance to gauge his reaction and possibly deduce what is going on for him.”
“Go on my son!” winked James, patting Philip on his back.
“Cowards!” Philip shook his head at them all. “He doesn’t bite.”
“Actually he does!” sniggered Nicky raucously, “but that’s a whole other topic of conversation.”
“I am not even going to THINK about that,” Philip sighed, going into the garden to call Richey.
“How would you know about that anyway?” inquired James, more than a tad perplexed. Nicky merely grinned mischievously at him and then proceeded to give him a deep, rough kiss.

Initially Richey tried to laugh off their concerns and attempted desperately to convince them that everything was fine, save for some last minute nerves, because he found it difficult to believe that such a wonderful woman really wanted to marry him; he just couldn’t believe his luck. However, the guys knew when they were being played and kept on at him to tell the truth.
That did it; his mask of composure dropped and Richey began sobbing so heavily that he could barely breath.
“Fuck Richey, what the hell is it?” James had to admit he was more than a little scared.
Several stuttering starts later, Richey had recovered enough composure to be able to start speaking, albeit with lots of choked sobs and stammering. The phone call the night before was from a woman claiming to be the mother of a three year old boy – his child.

“Is it possible?” Nicky being the first one to finally ask the question the others were all too afraid to ask.
With a furrowed brow, and dull lifeless eyes, Richey nodded; “I was still getting smashed regularly 3 ½ to 4 years ago, so yeah it’s possible that she was one of the nameless groupies I kicked out of my bed.”
“Whoa! Wait on a minute here,” interjected Martin. “Are you seriously saying that you were still sleeping with groupies…regularly?”
“Yep.”
“Does Jen know?”
“Nope.” Richey rocked on his heels. The last thing he had expected was a right hook from Sean – a bloody good one at that!
“You two faced bastard!” Sean spat furiously, struggling not to lose his temper even further. “A little over 18 months ago you had the nerve to accuse me of sleeping with Jen. You nearly fucking wrecked everything, for all of us, and now you say you screwed around on her and could have a child. Richey, she’ll be devastated. She’s always believed that you’ve been faithful; always been angry with the press when they’ve claimed you’ve been with someone else and THIS is how you repay her. How many others?”
Richey couldn’t look him in the eye he was so ashamed. “I don’t know,” he answered sheepishly. “Not many.”
“Not many? Fuck Richey there shouldn’t be ANY!” screamed Martin.
“In my defence, and I know that this is feeble, but it was when I was still drinking too much. I know I never cheated on her once I started to sober up.”
“You want a medal?” snapped Nicky. “She never badgered you about your eating, lectured you on your cutting or got angry about your drinking. All she has ever asked from the day when things got serious was that you stopped shagging the groupies and you promised. In front of all of us… you promised!”

Richey was like a rabbit mesmerised by car headlights – he was stunned and couldn’t move, but inside he wanted to run and never stop. One thing prevented him…Jen; he couldn’t bear to lose her at least not without a fight but he was still quite realistic. His jaw hurt like hell – Damn Sean!
“I guess the wedding is off,” he mused, laughing bizarrely. “The press have been proved right again; I’m a fuck up.” Tears started streaming onto his cheeks again, his eyes red raw, clearly showing his devastation. “I knew it was too fucking good to be true.”
“Let’s not get too carried away,” said Philip remarkably calmly. “Did this woman give any indication of when and where this happened?”
“Erm the autumn tour in Leeds was all, why?”
“Let’s not lose sight of the fact that your wedding has been highly publicised and that in your time you have pissed off a lot of groupies by kicking them straight out of your bed, toilet cubicle, store room and every other blasted place that you cavorted with them.”
“You think it’s a sting?” asked Martin.
“It’s possible,” Philip agreed. “The problem we have is that when you and Jen got serious and you made your promise to her, we all stopped watching out for you. I guess that was when we should have been at our most vigilant.”
“Hang on a minute,” Sean said somewhat confused and bewildered. “Are you saying he shouldn’t tell Jen?”
“Tell Jen what exactly?” Philip threw back at him. “Tell her that he slept around on her sometimes for the first 6 months or so? I’m sure she’ll forgive him that. Like Red said, he was still getting hammered pretty often.”

“Don’t you think that she has a right to know that Richey may well be a daddy?”
“Why ruin their married life before it even starts over due to something that we have no idea of its validity?”
“Validity? Fucking hell Philip we’re talking about a child not a football result.”
“Ok, ok tempers are obviously frayed, understandably, but lets all calm down here because this isn’t helping,” pleaded Martin. “Come on guys, let’s talk about it in a reasonably adult manner ok?”
Richey and James both lit cigarettes defying Sean to say anything about them smoking in his home.
“Hang on,” said Nicky, his arms wrapped around James’ waist. “Philip does have a point.”
“Hallelujah!” Philip declared with relief.
“Nick?” said James suspiciously.
“We don’t know that there is a child or that it is Richey’s.   I mean, don’t you find it odd that she has only just come forward? It’s not as though we haven’t been in the public eye is it now?”
James glanced back at Nick and conceded, “no it’s not. She could have come forward at anytime,” before adding; “smart arse,” and kissing Nicky warmly on the mouth, making Nicky grimace when some smoke wafted straight up his nose.
“I really should make you quit smoking.”
“Honey you love to castigate me about it too much.” Nicky giggled in response and captured James’ mouth once more.
“You two are worse than me and Jen,” noted Richey wryly.
An uneasy silence hung in the air until Philip broke it; “Right, so the wedding is going ahead and Richey keeps quiet.”
Reluctantly they all agreed.
“Woe betide you if this goes pearshaped,” moaned Sean.
“I think we all need to pray that this turns out ok,” said Philip firmly. “If it blows up and the boy is Richey’s, we are all going to have to do some major adjusting.”

Jen was still worried about Richey when he arrived back home in the early evening. He was cheerful enough, but his eyes weren’t lit up and sparkling with enthusiasm like she had anticipated. That night she cuddled up to him in bed and it didn’t escape her attention that he flinched slight under her caress, or that he avoided eye contact.
“Right,” Jen said, sitting up in the bed and putting the lamps on so they could see each other clearly. “What’s wrong Red, and don’t tell me nothing because I won’t believe you. You won’t make love to me, you flinch when I touch you and you can scarcely look at me. What is it?”
“I’m just worried,” he eventually muttered. “I want everything to be special, perfect and unforgettable but the closer we get, the more petrified I am that I have forgotten something.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“Oh baby,” she sighed in relief, leaning her head onto his chest. “As long as we are there, nothing else matters. We can manage without the rings; if you’ve forgotten the cars someone will drive us. We’ll find a way because the important thing is that we’re there, saying ‘I do’.”
“You sure you don’t want to change your mind?” he enquired. “I mean, my past…”
“Is your past Richey. You are not the same person you were back then.”
“I’ve done plenty of stuff I’m not exactly proud of.”
“Haven’t we all,” she whispered, bestowing brief, light kisses on his chest. “What happened back then doesn’t matter Richey. I knew what you were like and still fell in love you. I doubt there’s much that would shock me.”
“Maybe there is,” he said thickly.
“Let go of it Richey, please. We’re starting a new chapter in our life together; that’s what matters. That and the fact that I love you like I never dreamt it possible to love anyone. I am so happy and it’s thanks to you.” Jen allowed a hand to roam down to his groin and began caressing him, but Richey didn’t respond.
“Sorry Jen.”
“Don’t worry about it honey,” Jen whispered, stroking his face. “We have plenty of time for making love.”
“I do love you Jen,” he smiled shakily, kissing her forehead tenderly.
They hugged for a short while, Richey stroking her hair and Jen breathing in the scent of him, and adoring the way he felt in her arms. It was Richey who turned off the lamps; keeping Jenny cuddled up close to him as she fell asleep. Richey spent the whole night awake, afraid of what surprises the new day may have in store.

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