Waiting

Written By: Robin

Author's Note: This is my first American Dreams fic. Please tell me what you think! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I am not in any way affliated with American Dreams. This is just for fun. I took the letter that appears in here from the offical American Dreams website. Click on JJ's Letter's for more letters.

Part 1

The last suitcase was placed on the floor of Meg's room. The rest were on the bed. Meg sat on the edge of bed, and watched her father say a few words to Beth, who was still teary-eyed, but she was smiling. Beth hugged him and then he left the room. Beth eyes met Meg's and they shared a sigh. But before either of them could speak, Helen entered the room, carrying some folded sheets, a blanket, and a pillow.

"These are practically brand new." She said to no one in particular. She then started to clear the smaller bags from the bed. "Meg can move in with Patty, or maybe Patty and Will can share a room and..." She rattled on.

"This is too much to ask..." Beth started, but was immediately cut off.

"No!" Said both Meg and Helen.

Beth dropped her head as tears began to fill her eyes once more.

Helen, stopped working with the bed, and approached Beth. She took her hands in hers, and spoke softly. "Beth, you are not imposing. You are family." She gave a soft smile and a gentle squeeze to the hand of the young woman who was carrying her grandchild.

Looking into Mrs. Pryor's eyes Beth felt a little less of a burden. She eyed Meg who was staring out the window. "Thanks, Helen." Then she added, "If I'm family and not a guest, then I can do this." She gestured to the bed and suitcases.

Helen threw her hands up and said, "Ok, then, but if you need anything please let me know." And with that she gave Beth a hug and left the room.

Meg spoke up as soon as her mother had left the room. "It's the best room. The biggest." Her voice wasn't sad, or happy per say but genuinely welcoming. "I mean of course I'll miss it a bit, but it's better for you, and eventually the baby too." She turned from the window and smiled.

Beth started adjusting the sheets and blankets that Helen had brought in, "Perhaps. But you don't have to leave so soon." She said glancing up at Meg.

Meg grabbed the other end of the sheet, and helped. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you don't have to move into Patty's room. It could be like a sleep over. That is until I get too huge or hormonal for you to want to be around me."

Meg smiled. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Of course not." Beth assured her while tucking the corner of the sheet under the mattress. "It will be fun. You can take my mind off things."

"Well, if I bother you just let me know, and I'll leave."

Beth nodded in agreement. They finished making the bed, and then proceed to turn it back down. Meg left the room, to go get ready, for bed.

Beth put on her summer nightwear, and opened the window a bit more. Then she retrieved an envelope, from one of the bags yet to be unpacked. She had recieved it earlier that day, as she was packing. It was from J.J. She sat on the bed, tracing the lines of the envelope. It was first time he had written her since Hawaii. She carefully opened the letter and unfolded the paper. It had been weeks since he had written this. It always took so long for letters to make it from overseas. She tried to stop the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes, as she began to read...

Dear Beth,

I've started writing you about ten times now and I can't figure out what to say. Everything went from so good to so...bad. And so fast. I go back in my mind to what I could have done different, but if I'd said differnt things, I would have been lying to you. And that's one thing I never want to do again is lie to you. I know you don't want to lie to me either, and that's why neither of us can hold back saying those things to each other. And that's why we're in trouble. The truth is...I don't think we belong together right now. I'm sorry.

The thought of you at home waiting for me, planning our future together...up until now, it;s kept me going out here. But if you don't understand what I'm doing here...why I need to be here...to do the things Clovis didn't get a chance to do...I don't know, Beth...I guess we just don't get each other anymore.

I feel bad you came all the way to Hawaii and it was such a mess. You looked beautiful. Anyway, I'm sorry. There's not much more I can say so I guess I'll just go ahead and send this.

Take care, Beth. I hope you find someone who makes you happy.

JJ

As she finished reading, uncontrollable sobs washed over her. She knew he had no way of knowing. He had no idea, that in Hawaii as they separated part of them was joining forever. She cried because JJ did not know he was going to be father. She cried because she felt alone even though the Pryor's were doing their best to make her feel welcome. And she cried because the one and only person who could make her happy was half a world away.