The City (Joe Sugg/ ThatcherJoe Fanfiction)

Chapter 30

As we hop into the taxi Joe reaches for my hand.

After more than 24 hours of travel we have finally made it. Aotearoa. New Zealand. Home.

I give the driver my home address and we head off.

As much as I hate to admit it, in the matter of weeks that I've been away, I've missed Wellington. As familiar places flash by I reminisce.

"It's so different." Joe comments as we drive through the city.

I nod, gripping his hand tighter, afraid to let go. "Different good or bad?"

He smiles as he turns to look at me. "Good. Definitely good."

I smile, "There it is." I say, pointing out Joe's side window at the house I grew up in.

It is one of the smaller houses on the street yet still much larger than Joe's family home back in the UK.

The cabbie pulls up outside the gate and I pay him before we retrieve our bags from the boot.

I unlock the gate and we drag our suitcases up the steep driveway.

Both cars are in the driveway, indicating that my parents are in.

As I walk in the front door I hear my mum's pocket chihuahua yapping away.

"It's just me Ferby." I say to her as Joe follows me inside.

"Mum! Dad! We're here!" I yell down the hallway as I usher Joe into the small space.

I leave my suitcase in the entranceway and tell Joe to do the same before leading him to the library.

It's not really a decent library for general reading as it mostly contains law books from the family firm but it's the most likely place to find my parents. As expected they were in there, buried deep in case files and open books. A typical sight really.

"How was your flight dear?" My mother asks, not bothering to even lift her head from the book she is engrossed in.

"Good. I have someone for you to meet."

Both heads pop up at my last comment and mum is immediately out of her seat.

"Joseph, dear! It's a pleasure to finally meet you!" She exclaims, pulling him in for a hug.

God, she can put on a damn show. I told her about Joe a mere 48 hours ago when I informed her that we were coming. Always the perfect hostess. Certainly not the perfect mother.

My dad soon joins her side.

"I'm Phillip." He says, holding his hand out towards Joe. He politely shakes his hand and introduces himself.

Mum smiles, "You've had a long flight, you should head off to bed. Sleep off the jet lag." She says, more to Joe than me.

I drag Joe out of there without hesitation and we take the suitcases to my room.

"You can sleep if you want." I say, closing the door behind me.

Joe shrugs, "Aren't you going to sleep as well?"

I smile sheepishly at him. I am exhausted but I really have to go to the cemetery today.

"I have something I really have to do."

Joe pouts, "Come on! Can't it wait until tomorrow?" He practically begs.

I frown, as much as I would love to cuddle up to Joe and fall asleep right now I can't. I have to say goodbye and it has to be today.

"I really can't Joe. It has to be today. Tomorrow is too late." I say, getting a little worked up.

Joe frowns, "What is so important that you can't wait a day? Is there something that you aren't telling me?"

I gulp. I know I should tell him but- "You'll be mad at me."

Joe sighs, "You don't know that until you tell me, do you?"

I hop from foot to foot anxiously. Looking at Joe who is waiting for an explanation.

"I just- I don't want to fight. We're in a really good space right now. I just want this trip to be full of good memories. No bad."

Joe just stares at me. I know he isn't going to give up. He is stubborn as hell.

I sigh, "Do you promise not to kill me?" I ask him. If I wasn't so worked up I probably would've laughed at the unintentional pun.

Joe nods.

I take a deep breath. "I'm going to see him."

"Him?" He asks, confused.

"Jack. I'm going to the cemetery to see him. He- he died a year ago today."

Joe's face softens as he reaches out and grabs my wrist. Pulling me into him.

"You should've told me." He murmurs as I reach around him, getting as close as physically possible to him.

"I didn't want you to be mad."

He chuckles, "I'm not mad." Joe assures me. "You deserve closure. You should've just told me."

"If I'd known you were going to be so understanding I would've I just didn't want you to pull out of the trip."

Joe smiles, "I wouldn't have done that. Now, shall we get going then?"

"We?"

"Yes, we. I'm coming with you." He states. Letting me go and opening his suitcase.

"I- uh, you don't have to. I can go by myself."

Joe chuckles as he pulls out a clean t-shirt and shorts. "I want to. Really." He says. "Where's the bathroom?"

I point across the room, "You can use my bathroom."

He smiles, "Great. I'll just be a minute."

He heads off and I am left alone in the room.

What did I do to deserve him?

He is too good for me and it's only a matter of time before he realises. I better make the most of it then.



A/N
They're in New Zealand!!
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