Jack taking noah to the grocery store and he gets hit on and they say noahs really cute so noah goes “thanks i look just like my mommy” or its the reader with noah, you can choose. Cause i like the idea of noah snitching on one of them when they get back home like “daddy/mommy got asked on a date”
-🌎 anon
a/n: this request was a while ago, but i haven't seen my 🌎 anon in a minute... but noah is around three in this story! making jack and y/n 20/21! not very important to this particular story tho lol
***
You and Noah had been out all day long, having a bonding day. After the both of you had a long week with school- being that you were still only two years into your studies, and Noah was just mastering his alphabet- you both got dressed and took the stores.
After getting dressed in a black dress that coordinated Noah's matching sweats, you both had a breakfast at a tiny diner that you all loved to have breakfast at before Jack left for the studio.
Following that, you and Noah treated yourselves to a series of activities. From the zoo where he mimicked each animal with ease, to ice cream at a park where you just so happened to catch a live band. After dancing around the park and making yourselves look silly underneath a tree, you decided to head to the mall where Noah's favorite toy store was.
There was once a time when all you and Jack could do was frown sadly when Noah dug his heels in the floor in front of the store, but now you could walk inside proudly and buy him almost anything he wanted.
Now, with Jack's new singles slowly rising towards popularity, you guys had the ability to splurge more. It wasn't long ago that you all bought a new house- one that was probably bigger than you needed, but Jack was adamant about it- not budging on having enough kids to take up all the room.
You were happy to see that although Noah didn't have an understanding of how he had the new things he did, that he didn't seem significantly happier now than before. Which to you, was a win as a parent.
"Is this what you wanted, bubba?" you asked, reaching towards the giant dinosaur plush.
"Yes, please." he lisped politely, bouncing on his toes as if he could reach it from where he was.
It was just out of your grasp, and you realized just how often Jack was there to pull things that were out of reach down without you even having to think about it.
"Alright, let me get someone to help because-"
The long arm coming from behind you, startled you both, making Noah squeak out a 'hey' and you place a hand on his back instinctively. The man who held the dinosaur chuckled as he handed it to you.
He was obviously much older than you, and you certainly knew that you didn't look to be in his age range- which made the situation all the more uncomfortable when he smirked at you before leaning his head back towards Noah.
"How you doing, shorty?" you cringed at his delivery, and Noah giggled too, forcing a smile from you that the man mistakenly took as his own. "I noticed you couldn't reach it, so I had to come help you."
"Thank you, I was just about to get someone to help us, but..." you gestured out awkwardly and the he chuckled.
"So, who is little man you're with? Your nephew?"
"This is my mommy!" Noah frowned, and you rubbed his back.
"Yeah, he's my son. It's hard to tell because he looks just like his daddy, I know."
"He with you?" the man quirked an eyebrow, and you laughed. "What?"
"I think this is all very flattering, but I'm engaged." you tried to ease out of the exchange before Noah's fist balled up any tighter, but the man was seeing no way out.
"I don't see no ring. What? Your dude can't afford it?"
That line irritated you. You had heard it a thousand times in every variation, but it always came from someone who had no idea how amazing Jack was, or how much you loved each other.
"Actually, my 'dude' is the reason that I'm in this store right now, and I'm able to buy our son whatever the fuck he wants out of this store."
"Chill." he said, laughing as if he hadn't been in the wrong. "I'm just saying, I could buy your son whatever he wanted. And however many of these dresses you want because you look good."
"There is no way in hell I'd leave my man for your sorry ass." you scoffed, and Noah unballed his fist from the fabric of your dress.
"That's how you feel?"
"Was it not clear?" you raised an eyebrow and in the beat of silence, Noah gathered up his entire vocabulary.
"My mama loves my daddy, not you."
And without another word, you pulled Noah to your hip and grabbed his plush to head straight for the register.
The drive back to your home was short, but it was enough for Noah to giggle to himself several times. After stopping for one more treat to have for desert, you were both walking into your home to find Jack in the kitchen.
"Hey, baby, hey bubba!" he yelled out, setting down what he was using to cook to get to you both and kiss you respectively.
"Hey, shorty!" Noah yelled back, and your cheeks warmed before Jack laughed and looked down at the boy.
"What did you say?"
"Said, hey, shorty!" Noah let out another round of giggles that made Jack shake his head before looking at you.
"What have you been teaching our son?"
"I-"
"Mama didn't teach it, the man did?"
"The man?"
"Noah, baby-"
"Ah, ah, ah. Let me hear this." Jack picked up his son and set him on the counter, crossing his arms to hear.
To spare yourself from the imminent teasing, you tried to walk out of the kitchen, but Jack's arm wrapped around your waist to reel you back into him.
"When we were at the store, somebody said, 'hey, shorty' to my mama!"
"Oh, yeah?"
"Mmhmm. What'd Mama do?" Jack turned to look at you to find you rolling your eyes.
"She said bad words! A-and I said that Mama loves you, not him!"
"That's my man." Jack grabbed Noah's face to leave a loud kiss to his forehead. "Alright, you're free to go until dinner."
After Noah ran towards the living room, Jack turned back to you, pulling you against his chest and kissing your forehead. You assumed that he'd let it go, but with Noah being inclined to tell anyone everything, that was not very likely.
"So, you cussed someone out because they flirted with you? I knew you had a little crush on me, but damn."
"I really don't like you that much." you eased your way from his arms and went to the fridge to pull out a water bottle.
"Then, why, Mama?" Jack narrowed his eyes at you as you opened the water bottle. "Hm?"
"Because he was talking shit about you."
"He doesn't even know me, it doesn't matter."
"Either way, he has no business talking about you. It just irritated me." you shrugged it off and Jack frowned when he noticed how closed off you became.
"Is that all?"
"Yeah. I'm the only person allowed to talk about you." you teased him, and he chuckled before pulling you back into him.
"You know I don't care about what people say about me, right?" he told you, his voice low as he spoke into your neck.
"I know, but you're good to us. And I know it was stupid to go off on that guy, but I'm tired of hearing it. You work hard, and you love us."
"I love you more than anything."
"I love you, too." you told him, leaning up for a kiss.
"Oh, I know you love your man." You rolled your eyes and Jack laughed before letting you go. "Now, I really have to put a ring on that finger, so people know you're my girl."
"Yeah, that would save me a lot of trouble. I mean, look at me, I'm bound to get hit on." you turned slightly to give him the best angle of your butt and giggled when he blushed.
"Hey, that's mine!" Jack yelled behind you, as you ran out of the kitchen before he could grab you again.
could you do something where you and jack are teen parents i’m down bad for baby jack jack and dad!jack atm🥺
thank you for ur request! this is the angst blurb and the fluff one is already out. i hope u enjoy!
i will offer a cw for an unsupportive family (reader's), but it it's not anything heavy!
***
You and Jack met during your third year of elementary school. You two grew up close and usually ended up hanging around mutual friends or sharing classes, but never hung out together. The feelings sparked for the first time during your sophomore year when you two saw each other as more than friends. It wasn't until the summer before senior year that Jack worked up the courage to ask you out on your first date. It created a whirlwind summer- hands everywhere and your lips were hardly used for anything except childish grins and kissing. A few months into your senior year, right around Christmas, that Jack got a phone call at three in the morning. Through all of the huffing and racking sobs, he could make out three words he'd never forget.
"Jack, I'm pregnant."
Nobody gave you and Jack the impression that becoming parents at such a young age would be easy. As a matter of fact, your family iced you out for quite some time while you stayed with the Harlows. At a certain point, both of your families got together and had a sit down about conversation to establish a few things before assuring their support when they could offer it.
Luckily, you and Jack were able to graduate with just a couple months to spare before you welcomed your son, and fiind a source of decent money that would allow you two to get an apartment, have what you needed for your son, and room to foster Jack's rap career.
Now, with a one month old in your arms, you were walking into your very first apartment. With your and Jack's money together, the two of you could find a small two bedroom apartment that would work for a little while and you were in love with the space. It wasn't much, but it was home.
Your joy over the matter, however, didn't last for long though. On your first night totally alone with Noah, he seemed to not want to get used to the new home. He'd been crying for at least an hour without any remorse.
"Y/N, I have a long day tomorrow. Can't you try and feed him again?" Jack groaned while you paced around the couch, slightly bouncing him.
"He doesn't want the bottle, Jack. What do you want me to tell you?" you sighed in exasperation.
"Then why is he crying? There's nothing wrong."
"He's a baby. He doesn't need a reason to cry."
It seemed that Noah sensed your aggravation with Jack and cried louder. His tiny fists curled up against his cheeks while his mouth was wide in false agony.
"Hush, Noah." you cooed, pulling him up to your chest carefully. "What's the matter, baby? Huh? You miss Grandma, is that it?"
"Why can't we just call your mom?" Jack grumbled, running a hand through his loose, long curls and pulling off his glasses roughly.
"I'm not calling her. She already thinks we can't do this."
"Obviously, she's fucking right. He's been crying for nearly an hour. You don't know what the hell you're doing."
"Oh, and you do?" you scoffed.
"You don't want to hear it because you think you're super mom, but we're kids, Y/N. You need her fucking help. You can't do this on your own."
In frustration, you set Noah down in his floor rocker, earning much louder wails, and turned back to Jack.
"I'm not supposed to be doing this on my own. You're supposed to be helping instead of making me feel bad. I'm not sure if you remember your two or three minutes of heaven ten months ago, but I didn't make him on my own." you narrowed your eyes at him.
"I'm making you feel bad? For telling you to be fucking realistic? You can't be serious."
"Being realistic doesn't mean you can't just try and help? Telling me I don't know what I'm doing and saying my mother that was, and still is, ashamed of me and my son knows better than I do is the worst thing I could hear right now."
"Okay, I'm sorry, let me start over. Good job, Y/N, you're doing an amazing job. You're an amazing mother, Y/N, how do you keep him so quiet. You want me to feed you bullshit, I can do that. This is all bullshit."
"If being a dad is bullshit, if a late night or two is bullshit, you can get the hell out and stay out. I don't need you and as long as Noah has me, he won't either." your tone was cold and unwavering as you stared at Jack, feeling a heated resentment start to spark in your stomach.
"You're seriously getting this worked up over me telling you the truth?"
"I don't want you here right now, Jack."
"You were-"
"Out, Jack. Let me be a terrible mother in peace."
"Fine." he shrugged, walking into your shared bedroom as you returned to pick Noah up.
You sat with him cradled in your arms on the couch and kissed his forehead. His cries had become less passionate, and more like whines. You totally ignored Jack when he came over and pressed a kiss to the back of Noah's head. When he lingered for eye contact, you just turned your head against the back of the couch and let tears trickle down your face.
"I'll be at my mom's." he told you, and you didn't dignify him with a response. You just held Noah tighter and waited for the soft thud of the door before sobbing quietly in unison with your son.
"I'm so sorry, baby. Mama's got you." you whispered, kissing his cheek softly.
When Jack arrived at his childhood home, he was greeted with an angry expression. He knew better than to think he'd woken his mother up, so the grumble that came from her mouth was reprimanding.
"Please tell me you only forgot something." his mother sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as her son shuffled in. "Jackman."
"I can't sleep there. I have work tomorrow and a show after."
"You just left your kid and girlfriend. What the hell, Jack?"
"I'll go back tomorrow."
"That's if Y/N even takes your ass back. Didn't she kick you out?" Jack rolled his eyes as he flopped on the couch. "Jack, you're a father. Are you going to run away every time fatherhood doesn't go your way?"
"I'm too young for this." he shook his head and placed his face in his hands.
"You're right, Jack, but this is a decision that you agreed to. When Y/N told you and laid out all the options, you promised her you'd be there to support her. Are you going to take that back now? A month in?"
"Mom, I just need time."
"You don't get anymore time, Jack. It is time to grow up, son, whether you like it or not. I will tell you this, if you walk out of their lives, you will not walk back in here. That is not how your father and I raised you."
Jack looked up at her with troubled eyes and despite how much she wanted to knock some sense into him, she sat next to him and put a hand on his knee.
"I want to baby you, Jack, more than anything I do, but that's just not the case anymore. You and I have the same responsibilities now. You need to raise your son to be the man I want you to be, not the man sitting next to me right now. You have a family, Jack, you have a job."
Jack nodded and placed his hand over his mother's. He accepted the tender kiss to his hair before standing up. "Thank you, Ma."
The whole ride back home, guilt spread all over Jack's body. He couldn't imagine how what he said affected you. You made more sacrifices than he did from the start, so for him to treat you like that was disappointing to even Jack himself.
When he walked in, he didn't hear crying. At least not Noah's. Across the narrow hall, he looked into the half-done nursery. Clothes and diapers were everywhere except in the crib your little boy was now sleeping peacefully in. He would've stayed and admired, but the sound of your painfully quiet cries moved him back to your bedroom.
You were curled against the headboard, your phone thrown haphazardly at your feet and your hand over your mouth. Jack swallowed and licked his lips, shaking out his hands before setting his keys down to make you aware of his presence.
You snapped your head up and looked at him with red eyes. "I told you I didn't want you here."
"I'm sorry for everything."
"I don't want some lame-assed apology because your mother told you that you were wrong. I don't need you, Jack, I'll do all of this myself."
"Baby, please don't be like that."
"No, I will be like that. I'll be independent like I've always been because there's always been someone saying that I'm not good enough. I'm not going to let you get in my head like I let my mother. I'm going to be enough for Noah, that's all I need to be."
"Yiou shouldn't have to be independent, and I'm sorry that I've made you feel that way."
"Jack," you sniffled, standing from the bed and letting him take in your rawest form. "I got off the phone with my mother and she told me the same shit you did and you know how she's made me feel since she knew about Noah. You know that, but you told me anyway. I don't deserve that."
"You're right."
You were both silent for a moment, waiting for your next words.
"Jack, I gave up a lot of approval and hard work to raise a child with you because I had faith that you would be a good father and I still do think you are. I want my son to have a father more than anything, but if that's not you want, do us all the favor and walk out now. I know we're young, but we have to grow up. Don't string us along and leave us in the dust when it gets hard- because it's going to get harder."
You spoke much softer this time. The pain in your voice was impossible to miss, the subtle tremble in your voice, and emotional cracks between your words. You'd spoken your piece and you could only hope that Jack heard it because regardless of whether he did or didn't, you meant every word.
Jack took a step closer to you and immediately grabbed your hands before you could back away. "I love you and Noah more than I ever thought I could love anything. It's a totally different world, all of this shit is, and I know that I have to learn how to live in it. What I said tonight, was so uncalled for. I mean, fuck, Y/N, you're probably doing better than most people who are at the right age for babies and I shouldn't have you doing it alone. As much as I love you for your independence, you shouldn't need to be. Not when it comes to raising our son, at least. You both need me to grow up and I'm going to do that."
"You can't just say that, Jack." you pursed your lips in emotion and Jack squeezed your hands tighter.
"I'm making a promise to be a better boyfriend, a better father. I'm going to get better every day for you two and I will never walk out on you two like a dumbass again. I'll never even think about talking to you like that. You're the best mother for our son and you're giving him a life that I'm going to spend my own making even better for him. I swear to God."
You nodded before you spoke, throwing your arms around his neck and crying. "That hurt me, Jack."
"I know. I'm so sorry, Y/N." he gripped you tight, kissing the side of your head. "I wasn't ready for all this and I'm still not, but I'm going to work through it. I'm going to work my ass off to make this up to you. Everywhere you've ever wanted to go, I'm going to take you there."
"I know, Jack." you whispered, feeling relief settle in your heart at the reassurance in his words, the kind you had been aching forever. "I love you."
"I love you more. Even if I didn't show it tonight."
As you remained wrapped in Jack's warmth and love, you heard the feeble cries of your son across the hall. You began to break away, but Jack was quick to walk you closer to your bed.
"I got it, baby. You've been super mom and I was jealous. Let me try my hand at trying father."
You smiled at him as he tucked you into bed. When Jack kissed your forehead, you rubbed his back. No words were exchanged, but the soft hand against your cheek and the lazy smile on your face said it all. Jack went back to the undone nursery where Noah was crying with his eyes closed. He picked him up carefully and hesitantly responded to the boy's attempts at cuddling. He sat on the beanbag that was currently a poor excuse for a rocking chair.
"Hey, baby boy." he cooed, cradling him to see Noah's face. "I'm not your mama, but I'm going to get on her level soon for you."
Noah gurgled a bit and made an effort at snuggling against Jack's chest. As Jack began to hum, Noah calmed down and blinked slowly. Jack smiled softly and slipped his finger into his tiny fist, feeling all the confirmation of fatherhood he needed.
"I've got you." he whispered, letting his head fall back against the wall as he stretched out his legs.
i literally cannot sleep, so here's a drabble based on some upcoming noah!jack. it's not perfect or anything i planned on writing, but there is a little something something in there lol. hope y'all enjoy this is extremely mediocre piece :)
***
You sighed as you waddled to the phone, it seemed so much farther away than it did when you left it there. Of course, your reward was the relief that came with sinking into your plush sofa and taking the weight off your ankles.
Jack being the caller was an added bonus.
"Hi, baby." you both breathed into the phone at the same time, a smile creeping across your face.
"Hi, Jack." you giggled, leaning into the phone as you got comfortable on the couch. "How was it?"
"Baby, it was fucking electric. You have no idea, I wish you would've been here. It's the biggest crowd I've ever had. I mean, all these shows have been, but these ones knew lyrics I didn't even know."
You felt yourself grow emotional as you listened to your fiance talk on the other end. Pride swirled around you in a way that was almost unimaginable. These three months would be the longest you were apart since you met three and a half years ago and it was hard, but it was worth it. This was Jack's biggest tour yet, arenas and sold out festivals that you watched from a distance. Of course, you and Noah appeared at a couple of shows, but it was nothing like the smaller tours and it was a little more overwhelming which landed you back at home and awaiting your nightly phone calls.
"I wish I could say I'm surprised. You had all this coming, J. I'm so proud of you." you told him sincerely, resting a hand on your stomach. "So proud."
"Thank you, Y/N. I don't know, it's just... so different and I love it, but I'm always going to miss playing the intimate crowds. I'll always miss having you out there."
"Oh, you know I'll be back out there. Outrapping all your groupies."
"Shut up," Jack laughed dismissively and you could see his big smile and the way he was shaking his head without actually seeing it. "I'm not thinking about anyone else when I have the finest baby mama with a rock on her finger."
"Yeah, remember that when you're coming home to a meatball." you snorted, picking at a loose thread on your socks as Jack laughed loudly. "It wasn't that funny."
There was a beat of comfortable silence like there always was when the two of you talked, a moment where you two became so immersed in your love you forgot that you were even supposed to be talking.
"How are my boys?" he asked finally, his voice softer.
"They're amazing. Noah's getting so big and smart, he's got his alphabet down and he's starting to eat his veggies which is amazing."
"You're kidding!"
"Nope, today I put lima beans on his plate and he frowned a little, but he ate them and he liked them. He asked if he can have some tomorrow."
"Tell him I'm proud."
"I will, but he knows. I took a picture of him eating them and I meant to send it to you, but I fell asleep after dinner." your cheeks warmed and Jack gave you a tired chuckle.
"That tells me all I need to know about the other two, then."
"Sure does. They're the size of avocados."
"Really?"
"Mmhmm. Right now, it's like only being pregnant with one."
"According to you or doctors?"
"According to doctors who've never had to bear the Harlow bloodline." you scoffed, rubbing over your swollen stomach. "You know we can't keep calling them boys, right?"
"I'll be home the day we can find out. I'm putting money on them being boys. Twin boys, that's crazy." he exhaled.
"You were crazy about the idea of daughters."
"You never know." Jack murmured, and you nuzzled into the couch, placing the phone on your chest. "And how's my girl?"
"She's tired and hungry all the time and she misses you a lot."
"And somehow all of those things are my fault, right?"
"Yes, they are." you laughed, rubbing your eyes tiredly. "But I'll let you slide this time. Only because I really, really love you and you're doing really, really big things."
"I hate that I can't be there, Y/N. I hope you know when I'm not on that stage, I'm miserable."
"Hush, Jack. You deserve all of your success and you're working hard to take care of all of us, so enjoy it."
"I know, but you have Noah all on your own and everything else. You're tired all the time and you deserve a break, but I'm so far away all I can think about is you and Noah and the twins and what I'm missing. This is great, it's what I wanted, but I feel like it's shit timing."
"You'll be home soon enough, but for right now, just enjoy yourself. I know that there's nothing I can't call you for. And trust me, I will call."
Jack hummed gratefully and you pulled the throw blanket from the back of the couch. "I can hear the sleep in your voice, baby. Don't fall asleep on the couch."
"I won't. I'm just going to take a little nap."
"A little nap, okay." Jack said skeptically and you smiled. "I'll call you and Noah in the morning, baby. I love you."
Teen dad jack talking to his girlfriends baby bump?
thanks for your request! im writing this as a part of the noah storyline!
***
"You know, according to a bunch of websites, he can hear us now." you informed Jack who was sitting at the foot of the bed scribbling in his song book.
"For real? Couldn't he hear us all before?"
"No, his hearing wasn't fully developed back then. It is now, though. We should talk to him and try and get him used to our voices."
Jack hummed before dropping the notebook to the floor and crawling up the bed. He smiled when he settled between your legs and rested his chin against your stomach.
"He can hear me now?"
"Loud and clear." you affirmed and Jack scrunched his nose.
"I don't know, it feels weird. Anything I say and do can have an effect on him already."
"It's cool, isn't it?"
"It's fucking terrifying, baby." he breathed out and your face softened in understanding. "He can hear everyone say how hard it's going to be for us. How you're not going to finish school and my rap career won't take off. My son doesn't need to hear that."
"We'll never be able to protect him from all of that, Jack. We just have to start projecting positivity now, so he doesn't give a fuck about the negativity later."
"You're right." Jack agreed, kissing the hand you had over your bump. "Give us a minute, alright?"
"I'll listen to my podcast." you giggled, preparing to play it as Jack prepared to speak.
"Okay, son. It's just me and you now, I guess. Well, your mom is here, but we'll just have to get used to that." he looked at you to make sure you weren't listening and was satisfied when your eyes were shut.
"Anyway, me and your mom went to look for a new home and I can't wait to bring you home to it. You're going to love it. You'll have the biggest crib and marble countertops. Way more room than this belly."
Jack chuckled to himself and rubbed his hands against your belly. Your eyes fluttered open and Jack just shook his head to say that you could return to your half asleep state. He smiled softly when you ran a hand against his head before scooting down the bed for comfort.
"I have a lot to do before you get here, baby boy, and a lot to do after." Jack admitted softly as he drew little shapes on your stomach. "But I'm going to do it for you and your mama and all the little ones that come after you because I love my family more than anything, bubba."
There was a particularly hard thump against your stomach that Jack could even see. Your eyes flew open and Jack chuckled before rubbing your side.
"Go to bed."
"You're riling him up, J." you said softly and Jack smiled.
"Almost done." he promised and you nodded before shutting your eyes again. "You wanna play soccer like your daddy, don't you?"
In return there was another softer kick that made him grin.
"Yeah, I'll teach you. Soon as you can walk, we're going to get some New Balances on your feet and have you out in the yard. I'll make sure of it."
Jack stared at your bump for a moment before back up at you. He saw that you had a soft smile and your earbuds were out. "I know I'm not supposed to be listening."
"It's okay." Jack said before kissing your belly button and moving up the bed next to you.
You turned to face him and slowly slid his glasses off of his face to put on the nightstand. "If you want him to play soccer, you better hope he doesn't have your vision."
"Hater." he whispered and you kissed his nose. "I'm going to talk to him every night. Even after he's born, I can't wait to talk to him and hold him at the same time."
"Yeah? What about when he's too big to hold?" you mused and Jack pulled you into his arms.
"He'll never be too big for his dad. Because I'm always going to remember him like this- a little bump between you and me."
"You're going to be an amazing father, Jack. I know you're doubting yourself a little because of our situation, but he won't miss a thing."
"Thank you, baby." he took a deep breath and kissed the crown of your head. "You know tomorrow, I think I'm going to get some books so we can read to him. Or maybe I'll get headphones and have him listen to my songs. Not the ones about ass and all that, though. Shouldn't learn about that through my music. You know what I mean, Y/N?"
Upon looking down at you, your mouth was hung slightly open to signify the deep sleep you'd been waiting on. Usually, Jack would've woken you up, but instead he shifted down the bed and met with your stomach.
"Are you up, little man?" he felt around for a kick and smiled when he received it. "Okay, good. How about for tonight's story, we do the first time I met your goody-two-shoes mama?"
cw: teen pregnancy, very briefly implied smut, unhealthy family relationships (of readers, not descriptive)
***
Jack Harlow was the name around your all-girl's school. When he would hang out around the chain-link fence in the late afternoons, he would capture everyone’s attention. It was a known fact that every girl shipped to St. Mary’s had strict parents. Every boy from the high school down the street would make a lame attempt at getting a number or a pair of rosy cheeks, but none of them were as successful as Jack. His charm worked wonders on every single one of you, his words could even make one of the nuns blush.
The day you paid Jack some mind properly changed your life. You remembered how he was hanging out over the fence with his bookbag hanging off of one shoulder and a hoodie that read, ear X-tacsy on it. The guy who he was always with was standing across the street against a tree with a blunt hanging from his lips.
“Hey, pretty girl.” you heard, and you turned your head to find him leaning over the fence with a smirk. “Yeah, you. Come talk to me.”
“Isn’t that Jack?” you looked to your friend quickly and she looked mortified.
“Yes, which is why you better not talk to him.”
“Why? He’s cute.” you smoothed down your plaid skirt and Madeline shook her head.
“He’s cute now until he corrupts you!”
“Corrupts me? He looks like he puts rollers in his hair. Plus, he’s really tall.”
“Pretty girl?” Jack sang out again and you turned around.
“Y/N!” she reached out to grab your wrist, causing you to whine lowly. “He’s no good. He hangs out here every day.”
“This is my senior year and I’ve done everything my parents have asked of me, Maddie. I just want to talk to a boy once.”
“Fine.” she let you go and you walked over to Jack excitedly.
The closer you got, the taller he stood, pushing his hands into his hoodie. He had the prettiest smile and the most captivating eyes you’d seen. You smiled softly and hoped that he couldn’t read the nervousness written all over you.
“Hi, I’m Y/N.” you introduced yourself nervously and Jack smiled.
“I think I’ll still call you pretty girl.”
“Um, yeah. I guess I just wanted to thank you for your compliment. It was really nice of you.”
“It was nothing, gorgeous.” the two of you remained silent and you looked back over to Madeline who was waiting for you. “You good?”
“Mmhmm. I just really have to catch the bus.”
“Wait, do you want to catch a ride with me and my boy? His name’s Urban and I’m Jack.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. My parents are super strict.”
Jack chuckled softly and you could sense the joke coming. “I can tell.”
“I have to go get to my bus.” you shook your head with an amused smile before starting to walk off, butterflies coming to life in your stomach.
“Can I meet you here tomorrow?” he stopped you and you turned around quickly as you saw people begin to load the buses to get home.
“Of course.”
“Alright, then. Bye, pretty girl.”
“Bye, Jack.”
Over the next few weeks, you would skip the small talk with your friends to meet Jack underneath the oak tree and against the fence. You’d talk for a few minutes before he walked with you to your bus stop, leaving all of the other girls with hung jaws that after all the badgering he’d done, one of you had finally paid him some mind.
“Hi, pretty girl.” Jack said, walking along the fence with you. “How was your day?”
“It was good. Yours?”
“The best when I saw you.” he dropped a cheek-heating line and you smiled when you finally met him at the end of the fence.
“How does that offer of a ride home stand?” you asked nervously, playing with the hem of your skirt with a soft smile.
“Really? Someone messing with you on the bus? I’ll beat their ass.”
“No, you won’t.” you giggled, pushing at his chest slightly before shrugging. “I don’t know. I just think I’d like to hang out with you for a little longer.”
“I’d like that, too.” Jack answered sweetly and you reached out for his hand for him to take.
From that point forward, Jack would drive you home and have you home mere minutes before your bus would arrive. The little bit of time you spent with Jack became a whirlwind- bringing out the inexperience that had been expected of you all of your life.
"Was that bad?” Jack asked as you laid with him in his bed.
You pulled his navy blue covers over your body tightly. “No, it was good.”
“I mean, if it wasn’t, tell me because-”
“No, I was great. It’s just that I don’t want my parents to find out.” Jack furrowed his eyebrows as he tugged on his shirt.
“How would they find out?”
“I don’t know. They’ve always known when I’ve done something bad.”
“Y/N, you’re eighteen and you’re a goody-two-shoes. Sleeping with your boyfriend isn’t a big deal.”
“You don’t get it, Jack.”
“Then tell me.” he got closer to you in his bed and you tensed your shoulders. “Baby?”
“They’re just so strict about everything I do. They sent me to that school because they want me to focus on school and be some doctor or whatever. It’s so dumb.” you scoffed and Jack rubbed your thigh. “I wish I could enjoy what we have.”
“I wish you could, too, but it’s only a matter of time, right? A little while you can be all mine and we won’t have to worry about what they say.”
As much as you knew it wasn’t true, you indulged in Jack anyway. Your parents’ opinions would always play a heavier role in your life than it should, but Jack had a funny way of making you think otherwise about that kind of stuff. They’d tell you that he was just a teenage boy, but he’d show you that he was something more.
It was shortly after your first time with Jack that you knew something was wrong. Perhaps it was the misplaced shame or guilt from the act your parents had rebuked so fiercely through your teenage years, but you knew it was something more. While you sat in class, you thought back to that afternoon Jack took you to his favorite record store and a cute cinema before bringing you back to his empty house, but not as fondly as you once did.
That afternoon, when Jack spotted you walking with your head down to the bus he knew something was wrong. Since the first time you entertained him, you hadn’t missed a day of meeting at the chain-link fence and he knew that you knew he was standing there. Jack swallowed and raced down to meet you at the opening.
“Young man!” one of the teachers called out and he ignored her as he continued across the courtyard to grab you.
“Baby, what’s your issue?” he asked, holding you firmly. “Did your parents find out about us?”
“No. I’m just not feeling well.” you whispered, taking a small step back to break from his grasp.
“Then I’ll take you home. I’ll even stop you by the pharmacy.”
“It’s fine. I'll talk to you later, okay?” he huffed and kept his gaze trained on you as if he could stare the answer out of you. You got up on the tips of your toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Okay?”
“Yeah, okay. Just call me later.”
“Of course.”
You were on Jack’s mind for the rest of the evening. He was checking his phone for a call or text from you every few minutes. The number of texts he sent trying to figure out if you were feeling better or not was quite embarrassing. Even at the dinner table as he tried to focus on the chicken his mother made, he couldn’t shake you.
“Son, who is so important on that phone?” his mother laughed and he switched his phone off quickly.
“Nobody.” he mumbled, taking a large bite of the chicken.
“This girl from St. Mary’s.” Clay spoke up, earning a punch from Jack. “What? It’s supposed to be a secret?”
Jack hung his head as he felt his parents’ eyes bore into him. “St. Mary’s? She’s a good girl, huh?”
“Her name is Y/N, and yes, she’s really nice.”
“Not too nice if she’s dating Jack.”
“Clay.” Jack smirked at his brother’s reprimand before returning to the topic. “When will we get to meet her?”
“Um, I don’t know. Graduation, maybe?”
“Graduation? That’s months from now.”
“I know, but Y/N has really strict parents. She’s scared to even ask if she can have a boyfriend.”
His parents shared a look before nodding in understanding. “Well, we can live with that as long as you’re making the right choices and being a gentleman.”
“I am, Ma.” Jack promised before sending a sly kick to his brother’s leg.
Jack grew more worried after dinner when he still hadn’t heard from you. He ultimately decided to leave it alone, though, until the buzz from his phone went off on his nightstand. He sat up and looked at the text he just got, pulling his glasses onto his face to make out the words.
If you’re up, can you call? Please.
His mind raced as he waited for your lines to connect. “Y/N, what’s wrong?”
“J-Jack, I’m pregnant.” Jack shot up from his bed and nearly threw his glasses off and ran his fingers through his hair. His heart rate picked up double time as he tried to process the words you got out through sobs and pants. “Jack?”
“I’m here. I just- fuck, are you sure?”
“I took two tests and I’ve been feeling weird for a while.”
“A while? How long is-”
“At least a month.” you whispered, wiping your own eyes as you bounced your leg. “I’m sorry. I should’ve known earlier.”
“It’s not your fault. It was both of us, right?” you nodded even though he couldn’t see you before getting out of bed. “I’m going to come over, Y/N.”
“It’s two in the morning.”
“I don’t care. This is a lot of shit to handle on our own.”
You waited for Jack’s old car to come down the street from the door. It would be impossible to get away with pulling him through your window, so it was your best bet to try and sneak him in. You were jittery through every second that se, a hand absentmindedly drumming over your stomach.
You thought you hit the final stretch when Jack was running from his car in a track suit, the logo of his New Balances glinting from the lamp posts. You swung the door open when he got within a foot of you, ready to melt in his arms, when a light flicked on behind you.
“What on earth is going on? Y/N, have you lost your mind?” your heart pounded as you turned around with Jack’s hand in yours.
“Mom, I-”
“Don’t even try and explain. Tell this boy he needs to leave.” you turned around hesitantly to tell Jack to leave, but he shook his head and stepped into the house.
“Ma’am, with all due respect, I’m going to be with Y/N tonight and for a while. I know that I’m obviously not going to get off on the right foot with you, but that matters least to me right now.”
You wanted to bathe in Jack’s confidence, but with the scowl your mother delivered and the way Jack’s sweaty grip on your hand was like iron, you knew better than to let your guard down. As if protecting Jack from your mother’s wrath, you stepped in front of him and took a deep breath.
“Mom, I know you’re going to be very disappointed, but I-I'm pregnant.” you whispered and Jack pulled you into his chest carefully by the back of your shirt. “And before you say anything, I know the consequences and I accept the ones you-”
“Get the hell out of my house, Y/N.”
“Mom.” your voice quivered at her coldness and your hands began to shake. “I’m sorry.”
“I did everything in my power to keep you away from boys, away from this and you went and did it anyway. I don’t want to see you here for at least a week. I’ll call you when I’m ready.”
You didn’t realize you were crying until your vision crystalized at the sight of her walking away. Jack pulled you into his chest and tried to soothe you as best he could. You were both expecting a larger, angrier reaction, but for some reason her cold dismissal was even worse.
“Just pack some stuff up and I’ll bring you to my house, okay? Once I explain it to my parents, they’ll let you stay.”
“And what if they don’t?”
“Then I’ll figure it out.” You could sense Jack’s nervousness over it all, but you let yourself give in with a nod. “I’ll be outside.”
You packed your things up as fast as you could, bringing more than enough clothes and anything else that was especially important. By the time you made it to Jack’s home, you were exhausted and dreading the next few moments of your life more than the rest of your life.
“They’re awake.” Jack told you, carrying your bags up the porch.
“Were you this nervous coming to my house?”
“Probably worse.” he whispered, opening the front door to find both of his parents sitting on the couch.
“It’s pretty late, son.” his father informed, and your heart pounded. “And pretty late to be bringing ladies home.”
“Mom, Dad, this is Y/N.”
“Hello, Y/N.” Maggie smiled kindly and you felt like you were about to betray the moment of trust she bestowed upon you.
“I am so sorry for being here. I-I'm not trying to intrude.”
“It’s okay.” Jack whispered and his parents gave you concerned looks.
“I’ll get her some water.” Brian stood up and Jack sat you down on the couch.
“Y/N, sweetheart, we’re not at all upset with you. I’m sure Jack bought you here for a reason and we can discuss it in the morning if that’s better. Of course, you two will have to sleep separately.”
That, of course, made you cry harder and Maggie threw a confused look to her son who became antsy. “She’s pregnant.”
You looked back up at them and saw Brian drop a water bottle. You clutched Jack’s hand and Maggie let out a low whistle. “Jackman.”
“I know, Mom. I really do. It’s mostly my fault and if you can just give me some time, I'll have us a place before the baby is even born.”
“You have no idea what you’re signing up for. A child, at any age, is a huge responsibility, Jack.” Brian jumped in and stood next to his wife.
“I know.”
“You have no clue.” Maggie shook her head and your leg bounced.
“Mr. And Mrs. Harlow, I absolutely understand that Jack and I becoming parents isn’t something that any of us expected, and I know we’re underestimating what a baby will bring, but we will figure it out.”
“I’m sure that you two will. You seem like a very nice girl, and I’m sorry we had to meet you this way. We only just found out about you, but you have bought very noticeable joy to our son’s life.”
You smiled for the first time all day at their kindness and stood up next to Jack. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Now, I won’t separate you two since there’s nothing to prevent.” she sighed and Brian raised his eyebrows. “So, good night, you two. I’m sure we can have a more in-depth conversation in the morning.”
It took a few minutes following for Jack to get all of your things settled, but once he did, the first thing he did was lie in the bed next to you and kiss your forehead. “I know it’s scary, but I’m sure we can handle this.”
“I’m a little less sure, but I think we’ll manage.”
Jack nodded and set his hand on your stomach that hadn’t gone through any noticeable changes thus far. You rested your head against his shoulder and slid your hand over his. “I love you, Y/N.”
this is a little all over the place + my first time writing a birth (so be gentle pls), but i hope y'all enjoy!
"**
You were surprised when you were sitting in your empty apartment and trying to finish your schoolwork. After finding physically getting up and going to school in person to be a little overwhelming, you began to do school online. You and Jack were freshly moved into the new place with most of your furniture still being shipped. The only thing that was properly finished was the crib in the nursery that Jack was dedicated to fixing.
“Buddy, can you chill? I need to finish this.” you grimaced at the uncomfortable pain in your stomach. You’d gotten used to mild cramps, but this was different. Being just a few days past your eight month mark, everything that was minor felt like a big deal.
As you shifted uncomfortably for the umpteenth time, you felt a sharper cramp before that made you groan loudly. You took a deep breath and forced yourself up to the counter, holding the bottom of your stomach. As you tried to make your way to the fridge for a bottle of water, you felt a sensation that caught you completely off guard.
“Oh, fuck.” you whimpered, your hands shaking as you looked down to find the leggings you had on soaked. “No, no, no.”
You did your best to make your way to your bedroom where your phone was and get in touch with Jack. Tears were dampening your face as the phone rang. Everything in your mind and body was on fire, panic coursing through your body as you rubbed your stomach.
“Pick up, pick up,” you whispered to yourself and Jack picked up the phone. You could hear the sound of beats in the background and you immediately felt bad, but ultimately worse when you felt a hard thump. “Jack?”
“Y/N? What’s up, baby?”
“Um, my water just broke.” you informed him and it wasn’t a moment later that any sound of bustling came to a halt.
“What? Are you sure it’s not, like, Braxton-Hicks?”
“Your water doesn’t break during Braxton-Hicks.”
“You aren’t due for another... month. We did everything right, Y/N. Why is he coming so soon?” Jack voiced the worries you’d been suppressing and it made you feel a lot worse hearing it from the person you were depending on.
“Can we worry about that when you get here? Actually, not even then.” you sighed and Jack swallowed on the other end.
“You’re right. I’m going to come up to the apartment and get you. Do you think you can manage to have your bag ready?”
“Mmhmm.” you hummed, and you leaned back into the mattress that still had no bed frame.
“I’m on the way, alright? Think you can hang in there?”
“Maybe.”
“I know you can. Strongest woman in the world.” you smiled at Jack’s words even though you could hear the nervousness in his own voice. “I’m going to hang up, so I can focus on the road, but I love you.”
“I love you too, J.”
Jack made it back home within twenty minutes, just enough time for reality to set in for you. When he opened the door and stood before you with exhaustion while you had tears in your eyes. He frowned at the sight of you in a shirt of his that you were undoubtedly stretching out because of your belly and a pair of trackpants.
“I’m really starting to wish we got the couch ahead of time.” you exhaled, and Jack chuckled softly. “I called the doctor and she said we need to get there, but Jack, I’m so scared.”
“It’s so soon.” Jack admitted as he kneeled in front of you with your shoes in hand as he slid them on. “But we’re already deep as hell in shit we’re not prepared for and it's worked out alright, hasn’t it? We have a home that you’re going to make beautiful, I’m more motivated to make music, and we’re about to have the best baby in the world. We weren’t ready for that, and we sort of still aren’t, but we got this, baby.”
“How are you so sure, Jack?”
“I know when something is mine.” he reached his hand up to your cheek to brush it gently. You laced your fingers with his and kissed his palm. “Are you ready?”
“I am now, yes.” you felt a certain peace waft over you and Jack kissed your lips.
“Good. Now, obviously Little Harlow is eager to get out of there, so let’s get him out.”
With the boost of confidence that Jack provided, you were able to keep your anxious thoughts at bay. It seemed that Jack had everything in order by the time you got there. Just as soon as you were pulling to the front, there was a nurse who already had a wheelchair.
“I called.” Jack told you before you could question it as you waddled over to the chair.
“Hi, Ms. Y/L/N. We weren’t expecting you until-” the chipper nurse was interrupted by your quivering voice.
“Don’t remind me, please.” you exhaled, leaning your head back.
“It’s alright. You were doing so well on the way here, just keep it up.” Jack said, wiping a bead of sweat from your forehead as you nodded and allowed the nurse to wheel you into the cold hospital.
Jack was a few steps ahead of you the whole time. The nurse kept quiet, only apologizing quietly when she went over a hump or stumbled. You could tell that she was young, perhaps just a few years older than you, so you chalked it up to nervousness. Not to mention the contractions were way tougher to deal with.
“Okay, Y/N, you just go ahead and get set up here. Dr. Johnson will be right with you.” the nurse said, and you and Jack shared a look as he helped you onto the hospital bed.
“Excuse me,” Jack spoke up as you rubbed your stomach nervously. “We had Dr. Smith.”
“Oh,” she said, biting her lip nervously. “Well, were you never introduced to Dr. J?”
“Why would we have been?”
“Because he was meant to be your other doctor in a situation where Dr. Smith is unavailable.”
“Jack.” you whimpered, groaning when you were attacked by another contraction. “We can’t- I only know Dr. Smith.”
“I know. I know.” he turned around and scratched the top of his head in thought as he approached you. “But there’s nothing we can do and the most important thing is that we just get a doctor that knows what he’s doing, so we can take our son home.”
“I’ll go ring him.” the nurse said, slipping out of the room.
“How do you feel, Y/N?” Jack asked after the door shut, standing over you and massaging the crown of your head.
“I just wanted this to go as planned. Nothing has gone to plan in months, this is all I wanted to go my way.” you sobbed, not even making eye contact with Jack. “Everything I had planned for myself has gone to shit.”
“I feel like this goes a lot deeper than our doctor.” Jack accused softly, pursing his lips.
“No, it doesn’t. I-I'm just frustrated.”
“I’m frustrated, too, baby, but I’m frustrated about the fact that our kid is coming early and a stranger is who’s delivering him, but that’s not everything in my life going to shit. What’s this about?”
“Nothing, Jack.”
“Look,” he sighed, making you comfortable on the bed by pulling your legs down the bed and sitting next to your hip. “I know that teenage pregnancy was supposed to be some big-ass myth, and out of all people it happened to us. Happened to the good girl who wasn’t supposed to date until she’s married and the goof that wants to be a rapper, and I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry that I couldn’t keep my hands off you for a little while longer, and I’m sorry that you’re getting ready to give birth when you’re supposed to be packing up for the school halfway across the country where you want to be. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad, J. I know that it takes two.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t supposed to happen to one of us.” he chuckled humorlessly, rubbing his hands against his bottoms and shaking his head. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you and our son.”
“Jack.” you said, immediately feeling remorse for your words. “I don’t blame this on you. I don’t think that I have a terrible life. I’m grateful that I’m not... doing it all alone, I’m still lucky, Jack. It’s just that we both deserved to have this later. That was our plan.”
Jack grabbed your hand and squeezed it. “Okay, new plan.”
“Epidural?” you cringed and Jack smiled before bringing your joined hands to his lips.
“No, the plan is to never plan anything again.”
“That’s a dumb plan.” you giggled, causing Jack to roll his eyes. “We need a Plan B.” ‘
“I’ll be the Plan B.” your boyfriend volunteered.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Hell yeah. Whenever something goes sour, I’ll swoop in and make up for it.”
Behind Jack’s smile, you could tell that he was taking his new role seriously. He never let you know that he did struggle with the guilt of getting you pregnant and changing the course of your life so grandly and he was good at making sure you couldn’t tell.
“You’re good now?” he asked, leaning towards you to press a kiss to your neck.
“Yeah.” you smiled, wrapping your arm around his neck and kissing his cheek.
As the two of you shared an intimate hold, you were interrupted by a knock at the door. You and Jack turned to look and both of your hands went to your stomach.
“Hi, there. Harlow?” he asked, looking at the two of you. Jack gave you a slightly nervous smile before you nodded.
“Yes, hello. I assume you’re Dr. Johnson.”
“That’s right. Smith is out of town, and unfortunately, you and I weren’t properly introduced, but I’m all caught up and ready to help however I can.”
“That’s great, thank you.” Jack sighed, turning around to look at you. “I think all we need is-”
“Epidural. I just need epidural.” you nearly begged, clutching onto your stomach.
The reason you were actually in the hospital didn’t occur to you until you were chewing on ice cubes you sent Jack on three trips to get and nurses were looking under your paper gown. Still, your heart didn’t race and with the assurance from the doctors that your son would be okay, you found yourself more able to lean into Jack’s side while a basketball game played on the TV.
“I feel like, since I’m in the seventh hour of labor, I should choose what we watch.” you muttered, nudging Jack’s knee with your own.
“This doesn’t interest you?” he gestured towards the tall, uniformed men running around.
“Not at all.”
Jack groaned and passed the remote over to you, setting it on top of your bump. “What are we going to watch?”
“I don’t know. I just feel like you’re enjoying this way too much.”
You turned your head up from Jack’s side and smiled at him. He squeezed your shoulder and hummed. “I’m not enjoying much of anything besides all of these nurses calling you by my last name.”
“’Mrs. Harlow, do you mind if we look at your vagina and tell you if your baby’s head can fit through it’?” you mocked, rolling your eyes.
“The ‘Mrs. Harlow’ makes that sentence sound really nice, though.”
“What are you saying, Jack?”
“That I want you to be Mrs. Harlow, for real.”
“I’m going to be really upset if you propose to me right now.”
Jack laughed and pressed a kiss to your face. “I’m not. I’m just saying that it’s something to think about, you know?”
“Marrying you, right?”
“Yes, marrying me.” he blushed, ducking his head and adjusting his glasses. “If you want to.”
“You knocked me up, so I might as well marry you.”
“Might as well.” Jack shrugged jokingly and you leaned up to kiss his cheek.
You remained in labor for another four hours. Jack had accompanied you on a walk up and down the hospital halls and massaged you wherever you directed him, but still remained uncomfortable. Finally, when you called up a nurse and she checked you, she came back with two other nurses and your doctor.
“Fuck, are you ready? I-I mean, you don’t have a choice because he’s ready, but are you ready?” Jack asked as he got into his scrubs and watched nervously.
“No,” you shook your head, rubbing your stomach that wouldn’t be occupied by a baby, something you hadn’t wrapped your head around yet. “But I’m excited to become a mom, so please stop shaking because if you drop my baby when you get him-”
“I won’t drop our baby.” Jack smiled and you felt a sharp pain.
“Okay.” you nodded, looking at Dr. Johnson and sending Jack to where the medical team was waiting.
“Alright, Y/N, take a deep breath and get ready to push.”
You held the sides of your stomach and made eye contact with Jack who was swallowing nervously.
“Push!” you heard, and almost instinctually, you gritted your teeth and let out the biggest push that you could. Unfortunately, you weren’t rewarded with anything besides another urge.
“We’re just going to do three big pushes, Y/N! Just take a deep breath and give us those pushes. Can you do that?” Dr. Smith encouraged with Jack over his shoulder and watching everything
Suddenly, you felt extremely overwhelmed by the task at hand. Through all of the preparation you had done, you had wildly underestimated the strength it would take to bring your son into the world. You started to back out, as if you could come back to the hospital in a month like you were supposed to. It was right when you were opening your watery eyes that Jack came to stand next to your head and take your head.
“I can’t do it, Jack.” you whispered, looking up at him with shame.
“Yeah, you can.” he encouraged, squeezing your hand. “The doctors say that he’s fine for you to take a breather.”
“Jack, I can’t. I can’t do this.”
“Don’t tell me that, Y/N. Don’t lie to me and don’t lie to yourself. You’re more than capable of doing this.”
“It’s not just about pushing.”
“I know.” he said, clutching your hand and looking you in the eyes. “But you can fucking do this. You’re the best person for this job. You’re going to kill this mother shit- this right here? It’s light work to you, mama.”
“You’re too good at this.” you cried, smiling through your tears. “And I don’t think that I will be, but as long as you just keep being my Plan B, Jack.”
“I’ll always be your Plan B.” he leaned down to peck your lips and smile against them. “Are you ready to make us parents?”
“Yeah.” you giggled, looking forward to find the team of doctors hovering between your legs with smiles on their faces.
“Nah, I need you to say it like you mean it.”
“Oh, my God.” your cheeks warmed in embarrassment, but Jack just put his tongue in his cheek. “Yeah, I’m ready to make us parents.”
“I said,” he yelled loudly, backing up and puffing out his chest. “Are you ready to make us parents?”
“Yes, Jack, I’m ready!” you laughed loudly and hearing the low chuckles of the nurses and doctor. “I’m ready.”
“Then let’s do this shit.” Jack began a bunch of applause that made you hide your face as he pulled on a new pair of gloves and kissed your knee as he returned back between them. “Make me a daddy.”
Five pushes and a flurry of curse words later, your heart was pounding at the sudden feeling that followed being done pushing. Your ears rung as your mind tried to process a million things at once. Your son had entered the world, the day you planned to be buying dorm furniture, you were spending in the hospital. The boy you met a year ago was the father to your child, he was the one who was holding onto your knee while the scrubbed men and women rushed around in your blurry vision.
“Jack, I need you to-”
“Mr. Harlow, can you-”
“Okay, I just need the-”
“Dr. Smith?”
All the voices tied together and you tried to sit up, but felt an uncomfortable pressure. The movement earned Jack’s attention as he lifted his glasses up his face and looked back at you.
“Why isn’t he crying?” you whimpered, clutching the sheets next to you. “Jack, he’s supposed to be crying!”
“He’s fine. The cord.” Jack muttered to you distractedly, making you lean your head away from the scene.
You could already see your baby’s hair, the way his fists were balled into the air. Your lips quivered at the thought of things being worse than they already were. You threw your head back against the sheets and put a hand against your sweaty forehead.
“I’m not ready.” you sobbed to yourself as you cried tiredly. “I wasn’t ready.”
Finally, as if an airtight seal around heart had been released, you heard a strong, raspy cry. Before you could even sit up, Dr. Smith was lifting your baby to your chest and wiping his body off.
“Oh, my God.” you gasped, almost if you weren’t expecting the squirmy body on your chest. “Jack!”
“I’m right here.” he said from over your head, his large hand covering the entirety of your son’s back. Jack laughed and got closer to you. “I’m right here.”
His cries continued to be strong until you had him cradled against you properly. You smiled and pulled Jack to the bed next to the both of you.
“Hi, baby boy.” you cooed, slipping your pinky finger into his palm. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me and Mama are here to take good care of you.” Jack whispered, leaving a gentle kiss to his hair. “No Plan Bs necessary.”
summary: you learn that things never stay quite the same, a part of the noah!jack verse
***
You hadn't been yourself, that much anyone could tell. Perhaps your queasiness and bumbling was due to Jack being away on tour, but you weren't someone who was unable to adjust. That much wasn't an option as a teen mom.
You had just celebrated your twenty-first birthday, and Noah's third was soon to follow. Jack threw you a beautiful surprise party, renting out an entire club, so you and your friends could bring in your new trip around the sun just right.
He had you in his lap all night long, his lips sponging to your neck as his cologne practically imprinted on you, while his hands skirted up the tiny dress you were wearing. He made you feel like sex goddess all night- perhaps too much.
"Girl," Maddie chuckled, watching you as you came out of the store restroom for the third time in the past three hours you had been out. "How much water have you been drinking?"
"I don't know." you answered awkwardly, and kissed Noah's forehead when he smiled at you from the front of his buggy, his chubby cheeks becoming a rose tint when you opened up the sucker he wanted.
"I'm worried about you." she murmured, and you turned around with a furrowed expression.
"How come?"
"Well, because. We were supposed to get out and go shopping together forever ago, but you've been sick or tired."
"Mama don't feel good?" Noah looked up from his picture book with wide eyes and you ran your fingers through his hair to pacify him.
"No, I'm okay, baby."
"So?" Maddie nudged at you, and you rolled your eyes before looking at her.
"So, what? I just haven't been feeling... top notch lately. It's just a lot of change going on with Jack being on tour. Fuck, that feels weird to say."
"Yeah, but for two weeks? I hate to say it, but I think you got a problem."
"Mmhmm." you hummed, reaching up to put Noah's favorite cookies in the back of the cart. "What problem do you think that is?"
"Oh, you know." she raised her eyebrows, and smirked.
"No, I don't."
"Come on! I know it's crossed your mind." she stopped in the middle of the aisle and you threw your hands up, before she laughed loudly. "You're pregnant again."
"What?!" you exclaimed uncharacteristically loud.
Even Noah flinched and looked at you with concern. "Okay, Mama?"
"No, your Auntie Maddie is insane. I'm not- that's not- that couldn't happen." you stammered, and she looked at you with a skeptical look.
"I won't tell, I swear."
"Madison, I'm not." you whispered, clutching onto the buggy and feeling lightheaded. "I couldn't be."
"Y/N, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"What would make you think that?" you asked, feeling everything clam up and sweat bead on your forehead- because that was the last thing you were attributing to your latest symptoms.
"I-I don't know. The way you're always nauseous and having to pee. And don't tell Jack I said this, but your boobs look how they did when you were pregnant the first time." she said quietly, edging closer to you in the aisle as you stared at her. "I mean, it's totally possible you're not. It could just be... you know, Jack's tour."
"Maddie." you groaned, shaking your head and putting your head to your forehead. "What if I am?"
"Then it's okay! You and Jack are way better off than you were before, you know? You have your own place, y-you both have amazing jobs. I mean, you'll have your own classroom so soon." she attempted at soothing you, but you were still on the verge of a break down in the middle of a grocery store.
"A test can't hurt you."
After checking out, Noah had fallen asleep and left you and Maddie with enough time to sit in your bathroom and stare at each other while you hit the palm of your hand with the stick contemplatively.
"Was it worse taking the test with Noah?" she asked, snapping you out of your thoughts from her place on the bathroom counter.
"I mean, I didn't think I was actually pregnant. I just... I don't know, paranoid and now this could actually be happening."
"Should you wait for Jack to get back?"
"He doesn't have enough time to come home for three weeks. And Noah and I can't fly me and Noah out. We have to wait until he's close to us, so we can drive." you explained, sighing deeply and rubbing your forehead.
"Y/N, if you need to go see Jack, I'll look after Noah."
"I can't ask that of you, Mads." you sniffled, setting the test down and turning to look at her.
"You didn't ask. You're my best friend and you've done everything you can for me, so I will do everything I can to help you. Besides, I love watching Noah. He's my little friend." you smiled at her and gave her a tight hug before she hopped off the counter. "Take the test."
After you took the test, all you could do was sink to the floor and take a deep breath. You had gotten used to no longer thinking of where you imagined yourself being before you got pregnant, but you still hardly expected to be pregnant again so soon and at one of the worst possible times.
You weren't sure how you hadn't even suspected that you could be pregnant- which made considering how far along you could be even harder. Without even the confirmation of the test, you were already thinking of how another baby could change your life. You weren't even done with your college courses yet.
You felt so young and vulnerable on the floor as you stared up at Noah's hooded duck towel. It wasn't long ago, truly, that you were stepping out a bubbly bath and being carried out of the bathroom. Or even that long since you motherhood was a game, a game of play-pretend with baby dolls that whined until you discovered the off switch.
Your entire life seemed to be on a timer. One minute to have ice cream breakfast, another to play in the sandbox, and one to enjoy a moment before it slipped away if you were really lucky. Five minutes turned into five years before you realized. The same amount of time it took for you to stand to your feet and stare down at the test that- clear as day, showed two dark lines and a promise for change.
||
You didn't even tell Jack that you were coming because you could hardly promise yourself that you would follow through. It was Jack's biggest show yet, playing at a venue in a big city that he sold out. You were on the phone with him moments before, listening to him tell you how much he loved you and Noah before he went on.
You had just enough time to make it to his hotel room just before he did. As you came into town, your heart swelled with pride as you saw all the people pouring out into the streets. The Uber driver who retrieved you from the airport even seemed impressed.
"My niece is there. I'm not really into all the new rap, but that Jack guy's got something special."
"I agree." you smiled fondly.
Even the mention of his name seemed to take away some of the weight the pregnancy test in your hoodie pocket bought.
In the hotel room, you almost had the urge to clean up all the mess he'd managed to make in one night. His bed sheets were half-way on the floor and his suitcase that you so tediously packed was all over the place. You were his makeshift stylist, putting together outfits and scolding him when he put a part of one outfit together with another. Still, though, he looked amazing in all the pictures that Urban sent you.
It wasn't until you were pacing the big room that you realized how nervous you were to see Jack in person and then welcome him with such big news. You kept pulling out the test to make sure you had read it right, a part of you hoping that you did.
You were busy trying to bring your nerves back together when Jack threw open the hotel room and stared at you. His mouth dropped open as you smiled at him, taking in every bit of him. From his height to the tight wife beater, jeans, and his old New Balances.
"What are you doing here?" he finally asked, opening his arms to scoop you up from the chair you couldn't get yourself to get out of it. "Baby, I was just talking about you!"
With his arms tight around you, and the smell of his soap and you were so grateful that he took a shower before he returned to the hotel, you felt more grounded than you could convey.
When you tuned into his sweet nothings, about how hard tour was and how much he missed you and being home, you felt guilty. For putting something else on his plate and mind. Jack could hardly pull you away when you started to sob, your hand clutching his hair.
"I'm sorry." you cried out when you saw his face, eyebrows knitted in concern. "I'm so sorry."
"Baby, calm down. I'm- Where's Noah? Is that-" his hold on your arms got tighter as his panic grew and you shook your head.
"H-he's fine. He's with Maddie."
"Then what's the matter? What could you be sorry about, sweet girl?" he pulled you into his lap on the bed, trying to soothe your shaky cries, but it was no use. "I love you, no matter what. It doesn't matter what you did, I'm with you."
"But you already have so much to deal with. I-"
Before you could work yourself into more of a panic, he gripped your chin and pulled you towards him, kissing your lips that were salty with tears. He hugged you close and stuck his hand under your hoodie, knowing how it soothed you ever since you were pregnant with Noah.
With nothing else in your pocket, and all the jostling you did with the test, it fell out and onto his lap. Your world stopped when Jack took it into his hand, and you immediately hopped off his lap, waiting for the back end of his reaction.
"Please tell me that this isn't what you were apologizing to me about." he finally said, leaving you ring your hands.
"I'm sorry. I know-"
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because with everything going on, a baby is unfair to you. I mean, Noah's not in school yet and we're moving to Atlanta soon. It's just too much. We can't pretend like we were planning on a baby."
"Y/N, before we discuss this any further," he paused to set down the test and looking at it with wide eyes, before grabbing your hands to lure you forward. "Do you want another?"
"I do, but right now it seems impossible."
"If all this wasn't going on, would you want to have this baby?"
"Yes." you said, blinking quickly and without thinking. "But, Jack-"
"No, listen to me, if this is what you want, if you are willing to go through this, then we will do this. And I know that this is something we have to be very realistic about, but if it's with you, then it's a good thing. It's something we can figure out."
Crying softly and standing between Jack's long legs, you cupped his face that was growing a tint of red with his emotion. "Do you really want this, J? I mean, really?"
"Absolutely, Mama." he chuckled loudly wrapping his arms around your lower back and blinking his eyes. "I want everything with you- whether it's good or bad or if we think we can handle it or not. As long as it's with you, the love of my life, I'll do anything and everything. This life is ours."
His words made you cry even harder and at the sight of all your worry leaving your body, Jack let his own tears fall before laying back on the bed and pulling you up to his chest with him.
"How far along do you think?" Jack asked as you wiped away his tears and he kissed away yours.
"I think my birthday." you giggled softly, dropping your head to his chest with a shy laugh. "I think."
"Three weeks and the lines are that dark?" he pulled it up and stared at it, shaking his head.
"I know. I took a couple others, too, and they were that dark. I wonder what it means."
"Another chunky baby." he raised his eyebrows and flipped you underneath him suddenly, eliciting all of your giggles when he lifted up your shirt. "Fuck, I can't believe this."
"Do you think we'll ever have kids on purpose?" you mused and Jack kissed your belly before laughing out loudly.
"Probably not, but I don't know, I like these surprises."
"You're the most fearless person in the world." Jack shook his head, shutting his eyes for a moment as if he were contemplating.
"I am more afraid of anything when it comes to you and Noah, and now this one. I mean, the idea of anything bad happening in our little world scares the shit out of me. I worry all the time about my little family, I do. But the thing is, I have to be insanely lucky to have all of this in the first place. I can't dwell on things that haven't happened."
"We're your lucky charm." you smiled, bringing Jack back up to your face to kiss him gently, brushing your fingers through his hair as you thought about how good you had it.
"Mmhmm. And I love you. All three of you." he moved back down to rain kisses on your stomach, the beginnings of his beard making for a tickling sensation.
