A New Life

43.

(Six months later...)

(Brittany's POV)

"How's he doing?" My path crosses with Jess in the hospital Jax was transferred to, not long after his initial admission after that awful night. "He's having a good day today." she says as we look out in the garden where he is re-potting various plants. "These new tablets seem to be working." I say, remembering how disastrous the first batch were. "Yeah, they have definitely evened him out. He has been asking about Ella, he really misses her." Jess says with sadness in her eyes. Last time I bought Ella to see him, he flipped. He had an episode and freaked out, Ella is still super young but her mind is like a sponge, I didn't want to bring her around anymore until I was sure he was more stable. "I bought him some pictures, I think he'll like them." I say, holding up a photo album Mateo helped me put together for Jax. "Are you going to tell him today?" Jess asks me. "Yeah, I think it's time...it is time, right?" I ask for reassurance. "I don't think there is ever a perfect time in this situation, but he's stronger now. He will be okay." Jess gives me a warm smile and squeezes my arm. "I'll leave you to it. See you tomorrow at the dinner?" she asks, confirming plans. "See you tomorrow." I smile and wave bye to Jess as I walk out into the Garden to join Jax.

"Hey Britt!" Jax jumps to his feet, wiping off the soil from his hands as he opens his arms to hug me. "Hey, you look good today!" I say, this is the healthiest I have seen him in a long time. "Thanks, nothing like a bit of gardening to soothe the soul right!" He says looking down at his little gardening patch. "What you growing this month?" I ask him as we kneel down to get a closer look. "I got potatoes, me and Mick are having a competition to see who can grow the largest potato!" we look behind us at the 50 year old man who has about three teeth in his entire head, but he has become Jax's buddy and seems to keep him on the straight and narrow in here. "We have also got peppers, tomatoes and chilli's! I thought Santana could have the chilli's for when she does taco night with the kids?" he says with a joyful smile. "She would love that, thank you." I say, standing back to my feet.

"So you wanna grab a coffee?" he asks as he throws down his trowel on the floor. "Coffee sounds good."

---

(One hour later)

"My god! She is so big now." Jax beams as we go through the photo album of Ella. "I know, she's even started saying Dada now." I smile back. "I bet she doesn't even really know who her Dad is." Jax says with an sad but un-resentful smile. "She know's who her Daddy is, I show her photos and videos every day. I want you to be a part of her life Jax. I won't take that away from you." he slides his hand across to mine and gives it a tight squeeze, the tears in his eyes threatening to spill over. "...this one here, is when Mateo and Sofia decided to build a fort but Ella refused to move so they could put their blankets down, so they built it around her." I laugh at the memory. "She looks so much like you Britt, she has your eyes!" he says examining closely at the picture and then looking into mine. I cough to clear my throat and break the moment. 

"This is when Santana was left alone with all 4 of the kids and she thought making brownies would be a good idea." I say pointing to a picture of Ella sat in her high chair, faced covered in chocolate brownie mix. "Please tell Santana thank you, thank you for helping raise my little girl whilst I...get better." he says, looking away in embarrassment. "Ella can't go wrong." he adds. "She know's your grateful don't worry." I say rubbing his arm. "Talking of Santana, there is something I want to talk to you about." I say, pushing the photo album to one side. "Okay" he says, turning to face me, resting his head on his hand which is balanced on the back of his chair. "Santana proposed to me. A-And I said yes." I take my left hand out of my sleeve where I have had it strategically hidden all day to reveal the giant rock on my finger. "I see" Jax's face remains passive.