Requested: no
Warnings: none
Y/n was awoken by a loud crash coming from downstairs. Her eyes shit open, the sun coming in through the window almost blinding her. "What the fuck?" The blinds and curtains where never open this early. Y/n reached over to her bedside table and turned on her phone. 7:29. Her alarm was set to go off any sec-
Beep, Beep
Beep, Beep
Beep, Beep
She turned it off and turned to where she expected to see her boyfriend but instead saw empty sheets. "Jack?" She called. Nothing. "Jack?" She repeated but again, nothing. "Jack Peter Grealish are you there?" After that last call, she heard giggles coming from downstairs. Macey is awake. Wait. Macey is here? Macey was her 4 year old daughter, one she had from a previous relationship. Y/n and her ex didn't break up on bad terms and decided to just share custody of Macey, him having her for one week and Y/n the next. It gave both of them some breathing time, since both had very busy schedules. They were lucky in that sense.
Y/n hopped out of bed and walked quickly downstairs, following the sounds of laughing and giggling. "Jack?" Y/n called, turning the corner into the kitchen. She gasped at the sight before her. Both Jack and Macey froze on the spot. It was as if a bomb had just gone off. Flour everywhere. On the bench, floor, ceiling- how did it get on the ceiling?! "Hi mum!" Macey beamed, waving her messy hands at a distressed looking Y/n. "Hi darling. What on earth happened?" As Macey looked to get down, Jack helped her off the chair. "Jack was helping make pancakes to surprise you!" She said, running towards her mother with her arms stretched out wide. "Oh was he now? What's with the mess?" Jack walked closer. "We just got carried away and kind of messed them up." He paused to peck Y/n on the lips. "But we gave it a go, didn't we missus?" Jack smiled, giving Macey a little tickle under her chin, earning a high pitched giggle. "Right, how about you go to the table and I'll sort the pancakes then." Y/n kissed her daughters head and let her down, watching as she ran to the dining room just beside the kitchen.
"What's Macey doing here so early?" Y/n asked, crossing her silk dressing gown over her chest and folding her arms. "Her dad dropped her off early this morning. Something about an early shift at work?" Y/n rubbed the bridge of her nose and nodded. "What time did he come around?" She asked. "Like Forty minutes ago, I think."
"And he didn't look for me to hand her over?" Jack nodded. "He did but I said you had a late night." Y/n's eyebrows knotted. "I didn't have work-" She stopped herself upon seeing Jack's cocky grin. "Don't." Jack threw his arms up in defence. "I didn't say anything." She slapped his chest playfully. "You didn't have to, I can read you like a book." Y/n walked over to the slop that was left in a bowl, slop that she could only assume to be Jack's attempt at pancake batter. She felt his fingers tracing her curves as she let out a shake breath but reached for an egg. "I think Macey would like a little brother or sister." He whispered wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. She smiled, putting her hand back to run her fingers through his hair. "We can work on that some other time but Macey is here now, so relax yourself." She whispered. Jack let out a groan. "I suppose nothing for the next week then?" Y/n turned to face him. "I didn't say that. School starts today." Jack peppered her face in kisses, making her laugh and wrap her arms around his neck. "Oh dear, right here on the kitchen island. You really can't resist." Jack mumbled into the kiss. "I can't? Keep it in your trousers Grealish." She let go and returned to the batter, leaving Jack to pout. "But I know you'd want to as well." He kissed her yet again. "Nope. Last time you were late to training, you got a bollocking from Pep and I got strange looks now go get ready for training." Jack let go and walked, each step he took his groan of disapproval only getting louder.
As Y/n promised, she made the pancakes and let Macey eat them while Y/n prepped her for school. "Mum, you're hurting me." Macey whined. "I'm sorry, love, but I have to get your hair up." Jack was walking by, a cup of tea in hand and his phone in the other. "Jack?" His attention was taken from his phone and to the little figure calling for him. "Can you hold my hand please?" Jack smiled and shoved his phone in his pocket. "Course I can." Jack pulled up a chair and sat down, letting the 4 year old grip onto his hands as her mum braided her hair. "You excited for your first day?" Jack asked, trying to take her mind off her hair. "Yeah. I'm gonna make so many friends." Jack laughed. "I wouldn't doubt that. You're like a little ball of sunshine, you are." Macey's toothy grin showed, making Jack smile even more. "Do you reckon youll be painting today?" Macey shrugged her shoulders. "Well, do me a favour, whenever you are painting, save me one, yeah?" He said. "I want to put it up on the fridge." Macey let go of Jack's hand and turned to her mum. "You look gorgeous."
Y/n walked towards the front door to take some photos of Macey. Jack stood behind her, watching as she posed with her abnormally small uniform and huge backpack. "Okay, perfect. Ready to go?" She took her hand and began walking but Macey wouldn't budge. "Wait!" Y/n turned to look down at her daughter. "Is Jack coming too?" She asked excitedly. Jack looked up to his girlfriend, giving him an equally surprised look. "You want me to drop you off? Are you sure?" He asked. Macey nodded her head vigorously. "Yes! It's my first day ever!" Jack had never smiled so much. "I'd love to pet. Only if your mum's okay with it though." Macey looked up to her mother with pleading eyes. "Oh pretty please?" Y/n didn't need much convincing to give in. "Of course he can. I'm pretty sure Daddy is gonna be there as well anyway." Macey grabbed Jack's hand and her mother's hand and out the door they went. Y/n walked towards her car and opened the back door, only for Jack to push by gently and grab the car seat. "Jack, what are you-"
"My car. I can drop you off to work on the way to training." He explained. He helped Macey up the steps of his Mercedes G Wagon and buckled her in. "You getting in, sweetheart?" Y/n smiled softly at him and went around to the passenger side, hopping in and looking back at Macey whi was picking at her nails out of nervousness. "Don't pick your nails." Y/n warned. "I wasn't, I promise." She replied cutely. Jack began to drive and in all honesty, he didn't know if he was excited or nervous. He was excited that he would be there to drop Macey off but nervous because he might feel so out of place. It's something that has bugged him since he started going out with Y/n about two years ago. He fancied her like crazy but she never let him make a move and he found out why. He found out she had tried to get close to guys before and when they found out she had a kid, they would slowly but surely lose contact. So, she would just not give anybody the time of day. Jack however, took his time with her and didn't rush into things like he did last time he had a girlfriend.
"Next right and we should be there." Y/n said, making Jack snap out of his daze and indicated to pull in. As Jack drive up the school avenue, his anxiety only grew. He felt so much pressure for nothing. Suddenly, he felt calmer as the soft touch of his girlfriend rested on his hand. He looked over to her reassuring smile and smiled back. "Ready to go?" Y/n asked Macey. As the two looked back to the child, they saw her gripping onto her backpack for dear life. "Macey? You alright?" Jack asked. She didn't reply. She just looked out the window with a worrying look on her face. "How about I go get Dad and you stay here until he comes? Yeah?" Macey nodded slightly and Y/n left.
Jack sat awkwardly tapping the steering wheel, glancing back at Macey every so often through the rear view mirror. "Jack?" She suddenly asked. "Mmh?" He hummed back in response. "Do you ever get scared before matches?" She asked. Jack let out a sigh. "All the time. You've no idea." She nodded and returned to looking out the window. "Are you scared to go in?" He asked. Jack felt like it was his responsibility to try convince her to be brave and go on in but at the same time, didn't exactly want to step over any boundaries. "Listen, Macey." Jack turned around fully to the child as she looked at him captivated. "I'm always afraid. I'm scared of everything."
"Really?"
"Absolutely! I'm afraid of bugs, I'm afraid of clowns and I'm especially afraid on matchdays. I just don't show it." Macey's grip on her schoolbag loosened a bit. "It's just one of these things you have to do. You can either stay afraid or just go for it." Jack received a small smile from Macey to which he returned one. "Now, put on a brave face and let's get you to school with Mum, yeah?" Macey nodded and took her seat belt off and waited for Jack to open the door. All eyes were on the Mercedes as Jack stepped out, now the centre of attention. He reached out for Macey's hand only for her to not let go. "Macey? Me and Dad are bringing you now, say goodbye to Jack." Y/n said, reaching for her daughter. "No, I want Jack to come too!" She cried. Y/n looked at her frustrated. "One second." Jack muttered. He went onto his knees, just about taller than her and held onto her shoulders. "Macey, listen. Your dad took time off work to come here, so you're gonna have to go with him."
"But I want you to come with me." She whined. "Remember what I told you about the brave face? Nows the time to do it so come on, show me it." Macey took a deep breath and put on a cutesy little serious face. "There we go! You're a natural. Now give us a hug and off with you." Jack smiled. Macey wasted no time hugging him. "Promise you'll pick me up after?" Jack grinned, hugging back. "I wouldn't miss it. Now come on. You're gonna be very late." Jack stood up as Macey ran over towards her Mum and Dad, holding both of their hands and walking into the school with them as Jack retired to the car to wait. He typed away on his phone and scrolled through instagram. He was so captivated by his phone, he almost missed Y/n getting back into the car. "I don't know what you did or said to convince her to go in but I'll tell you something, she listened." Y/n said, doing up her seat belt. "I just told her she needs to not be afraid, it worked, job done." Y/n leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "You're a gem, you are." She smiled. Jack only smiled back and nodded. "I know I am. I'm just that amazing. Now let's get you to work before you're late as well."
With his missus dropped off, Jack raced towards the training grounds to excitedly tell everyone about his new step in how they described it, "parent life" to which he didn't shut up about it for a single second.