Chapter 1: Fall 1996
Chapter Text
Fall 1996
Being raised in care, meant she knew how to rely on herself. She didn’t distrust people, but she didn’t need them.
She’d never had a long-term foster carer, most of her life she’d been in a shared house with key workers.
And actually, she preferred the shared house. Because the other kids and the staff both understood the arrangement. Foster parents were the weak link. That is how things get messy. That is how heart's break. Georgie wanted to be adopted when she was younger. But she grew tired of getting her hopes up.
As she approached her eighteenth birthday, there were butterflies in her stomach. Of course she is now scared of what comes next. But she refused to feel weak.
Her key worker gives her a lot of serious talks about adult responsibilities. She means well. One of the topics that she always stresses is do not get pregnant too young.
“Fall in love,” her key worker says. “Have fun. But be responsible. Think of your future.”
Georgie nods attentively. She knows how to listen and respond to these lectures.
“A baby is forever,” the key worker continues. “Too much responsibility.”
And suddenly it clicks together in her heart and her head.
Instead of warning her off getting pregnant, Georgie has a new goal.
Forever Love.
Chapter 2: New Year’s Eve 1996
Summary:
“Oh to Be In Love”
Chapter Text
It is her 18th birthday, and she’s officially emancipated from being in care. She’s no longer looked after. Although she can still claim dependence until her 21st birthday, today she is an adult.
Georgie is ready to celebrate. Her girlfriends are determined to make her the center of attention tonight and she doesn’t mind. She gives a fleeting thought to her parents. She has a few patchy memories of her mother before she died when she was three years old. But her father she never knew. What she remembers of her mother is kindness, a lovely smile. That is the kind of mother that Georgie will be. And she will always be there for her child. The only thing she knows about her mother is she was also raised in care. And she was a failed musician that died young of a heroin overdose.
When Georgie sings Karaoke she always thinks about her mother. She has a natural talent for singing that must come from her. It always attracts men’s attention. And it does tonight, an older man with charming charisma holds her gaze.
She sing’s Kate Bush’s “Oh to Be In Love” …. And he asks to buy her a drink with a smirk.
Chapter 3: Valentines Day 1997
Summary:
Tonight
Chapter Text
Ever since they meet New Year’s Eve, her new boyfriend has been spoiling her. He buys her lots of presents. And Georgie loves jewelry.
But her friend Louise tells her to not get too attached to it, keep it for a rainy day. The perfect thing to pawn or sell when bills need to be paid.
Georgie doesn’t mind that kind of thinking, it's very practical advice. One of her favorite things about her new beau is he is older. He isn't a moody clingy type like boys her age. She has a crush on James but doesn’t feel like she needs him.
She is very independent. Having no family, she’s learned to only rely on herself. What she wants from her relationship with James is a baby.
She wants her forever love. James will just have to learn she will love her baby more than him. There is no comparison. Tonight, she hopes to make her dreams come true.
Chapter 4: Spring – Summer – Fall 1997
Summary:
Competition
Chapter Text
Georgie finds out she’s pregnant and weeps happy tears. She tells James and he is surprised but soon loves to brag about it to anyone that will listen.
He brags about knocking her up. She brags about having a baby. They already have separate points of view.
But James gives her more presents. He asks her to move in with him. But she isn’t sure that is the right solution. She has friends from the care home that offer her a place.
It is the attic flat of their shared council home. Georgie sees it and knows it's perfect when she puts a bassinet in the room. James is not pleased with this situation. It makes him angry.
Georgie would love to trust him more, to rely on him. But she isn't ready. And the more he pushes, the more she bristles at his control. When he loses his job, Georgie knows she's made the right decision.
She'll let him work himself out. Give them both some space. She doesn’t have much time for James these days anyway. He can’t compete for her attention when all she can think about is the baby.
Chapter 5: October 20th, 1997
Summary:
Now and Forever
Chapter Text
Her baby boy is born, and he is perfect. A tiny pink bundle of joy in a blue blanket. Georgie has even less interest in conceding to any of James’s demands for their future together now.
It is all too controlling.
And Georgie buckles under his restraints. All she can think about is what her baby needs. She does concede to one request which is the boy be named after him.
Always one to be a little defiant though, Georgie names her son Jamie and not James. This does not appease James, but she doesn't care.
All she can think when James holds him is a yearning for her baby to be returned to her arms. Because she finally has someone in her life that she is related to.
She finally has a biological connection to another person. Georgie has her forever love. A little Jam Tartt.
Her relationship with James already tenuous at best completely dissolves before Jamie’s first birthday. She’s a little heartbroken over James’ abandonment. A part of her wished they could have been a happy family together.
Another part of her knows she has everything she needs. Georgie sells all the jewelry James gave her. She sells Avon wearing Jamie in a baby carrier when she goes house to house on the council estate.
It is a great technique for sales. Her baby is the cutest baby ever. Her goal is to never leave Jamie with anybody else until he’s older. She wants to keep her baby with her at all times. That's not too much to ask.
Georgie dances around her tiny attic space playing Madonna’s “Cherish” with her baby in her arms. And she's happy.