Disclaimer: Own none of these characters with the exception of Joan and Adam's daughter
She smiled as she watched the video for the billionth time, listening as each word was spoken by the sweet and innocent little girl on screen.
"What's your name baby?" came her voice off screen, laughing as her daughter made her infamous face.
"Mommy you know my name! My name is Judith silly!" exclaimed the little girl, laughing and giggling as her father came into the view, grasping her from behind and spinning her like an airplane. It was her favorite game.
"Adam, I'm trying to film her. You're interrupting the process," came her voice again, a laughing tone to it and she couldn't help the tears that formed.
"Oh yeah, asking our 5-year-old what her name is. Real thought provoking questions Jane," said Adam, putting the girl down and heading towards the camera, the scene going blurry for a moment and the sound of laughter in the background.
"Mommy, you got to finish the interview!" came a demanding 5-year-old and though you couldn't see it, Joan nodded, regaining fixture of the camera on her daughter.
"Do you know who you were named after honey?" asked Joan and Judith nodded eagerly, liking that she knew the answer to this one.
"Uh-huh! I was named after a friend of yours and daddy's from when you were younger but she is up in heaven now with God. You told me that mommy!" said Judith and now the tears strolled freely down her face as she continued watching the video. That's right baby. That's right. She whispered now, even though the interview was long over.
It had been so many years since Joan's teenage years, and yet it always seemed so close by. Judith was growing up so fast and she was more and more like her namesake every day. She was wild and crazy, always full of optimism and energy. She was just like Judith had always been before.
She still saw Judith from time to time, in her dreams. She still felt the connection between her and God, even though it had been years since she'd "spoken" to him. She took her daughter to church regularly though and Judith was currently enrolled in Sunday School for children her age. It wasn't how Joan or even Adam was brought up, but she felt it important for her daughter to feel some sort of connection to God, even if she, unlike Joan when she was younger, couldn't really see him.
"Jane?"
The voice startled her and she turned around quickly, sighing in relief when she saw it was just Adam. He came over towards the couch and sat down, pulling her close to him and brushing back her hair.
"You watching this again?" he asked softly and she nodded slowly, allowing Adam to support her, falling against him, suddenly feeling exhaustion. It was, after all, three in the morning.
"I know you miss her Jane. I know how close you guys were and how tough it is this time of year for you. Just stay strong," he whispered and she nodded, her body beginning to shake with sobs. Just stay strong. It was the one thing Judith had always told her in her dreams.
"Mommy? Daddy?"
Both parents turned towards the stairway at the sound of their daughter's voice, Joan rubbing quickly at her eyes and going over towards Judith, Adam following closely behind.
"Judith, what are you doing awake honey?" asked Joan, quickly picking Judith up. wondering if she had just heard Joan and Adam talking. It wasn't like Judith to wake up in the middle of the night.
"I couldn't sleep. I think I had a bad dream," she said, putting her arms out towards Adam to take her. Joan handed her over, quickly pressing a kiss to her daughter's head and heading back upstairs.
"Come on buddy, let's get you back in bed," said Adam, following Joan upstairs. Something was different with Joan lately. He only wished she would let him help her for a change instead of holding the emotions to herself.