Well, I shall call myself suprised. A few of you guys really enjoyed this one. So, why don't we continue? More James and Jessie. You know... I didn't notice the reference to a certain monster raising series until it was mentioned to me!

Now then, let's get started!

Dawnwood

Music helped clear the mind and ease the senses. Sometimes.

"The midday sky was grey and purple. At least it wasn't blue. I want the sky to be the way I am and what I do. For I have been a lost and lonely sailor on your sea. Run aground by trusting signals, you were sending me."

Marie West was a woman to die for. Hair darker than the night sky and softer than the most expensive velvet. Eyes bluer than a crystal clear ocean. And a body men would fight over.. The figure of an hourglass. Perfect curved hips and a slim middle. Best of all? She was bright. Way too bright for some of the idiots you'd find around Glenberry. A tad gothy, yeah, but everyone went through trends as they grew up. A pale-skinned angel in a tank top far too tight.

"The streets with empty faces. Nothing here is new. It's just the same in other places I have journeyed to. I was the first across the water, last across the land. I walked out of these silver mines, with pockets full of sand."

James Winters went out of his way to win Marie's heart when they were in college. He'd pulled out all the stops. Hell, he'd treated her like a princess. Invited her out to movies. Given her tickets to see his band play. Even put her ex in his place when he started throwing his weight around one drunken night.

At times it'd been an uphill battle, but eventually James got the girl. Things went great after that. He was the envy of every red-blooded guy in the University of Glenberry, and he'd even seen off challenges from more than a few members of the football team.

"It's not my life in those old pictures, ones you threw away. I was always someone else, and always far away. I'm walkin' in the darkest places, where the mission meets. I'm waitin' for the ground to open up beneath my feet..."

Yes. Fond memories, alright.

James picked up the gold-trimmed picture frame in the living room, nudging aside the faux fur rug with his foot.

This one takes me back. A fresh-faced, cheerier version of himself huddled under the doorway of Divinity nightclub in Glenberry, sheltered from the rain. On his arm? That same gorgeous girl he'd swept off her feet in his final school year. Ghostly pale with pursed, black lips, squeezed tight in a pair of distressed pale grey jeans.

They were a pair. Inseparable. Glued together. Hopelessly in love. Smitten. Passionate.

James sighed.

"But that was then... and this is now."

Times changed. Life changed. And more than anything else, people changed too. It wasn't until a long stint after getting married that James began to see a different person in his wife. It wasn't overnight, no. It was gradual, a shift that reared its head about five years ago.

Thump. The kitchen door slammed shut. Keys clanged against dinner table. James felt his stomach drop a little. He gave the stereo remote a press to flatten his hard, melodic rock music.

"Good day, dear?"

Not a word in reply. Open came the fridge door with a squeak.

"Did you take Lillian for her vaccination?"

James peered toward the frosted glass between the lounge and the kitchen. He nodded, more reflexive than anything.

"Left Andy to watch the store and picked her up from mother's around three. Traffic was bad but we got there. Put her to bed already."

"Good, good," the fridge door thumped shut again. James' wife flopped against the counter beside the kitchen doorway with a soda.

His angel from college, the girl the guys threw punches over, had black rings under her bloodshot eyes. Her white-tipped hair was held up in a messy bun. She shot her husband an exhausted glance and yawned. "So... before I go to bed there's something I'd like to know, if you please."

Darn it Marie. Not with a tone of voice like that, you don't. I've been just as busy as you today.

James bit his tongue and held back.

"What is it, dear? No need to frown."

"Don't 'dear' me," Marie sniped; unzipped her jacket, and tossed it from the door to the living room coat rack. She loosened the collar of her nurse's uniform and worked over a few of the crinkles. "You still haven't fessed up about the car. Where was it the other night? When I got off shift it wasn't on the drive."

This one again?

"I already told you, Marie," James joined his wife in the kitchen. Sidestepping her, he leaned up against the counter closest to the sink, nudging aside the dog's water bowl. "I went out to run a couple of errands. Grabbed a bottle of wine from the corner store."

Marie plunged in her knifes, stare sharpened, "Then why did I hear from Sharice that you went out of town, down Glenberry way? Visiting an old band buddy again? Or were you spending time with Luis? You could've told me you were going out."

I should be thankful nobody else saw me. No sense mentioning Jess. That's a headache I'd much rather avoid.

"Something along those lines," answered James with a terse upward curve of the lips. Just smile... she'll drop it. "You know he opened his new bar in the mall recently, don't you? I thought I'd stop by. That mall they've got really is something."

An abrupt scoff. Marie's hands fell upon her hips. "Whatever you say. Why take the car if you were going for a drink?"

Damn. She has quite the point there.

It was hot all of the sudden. James unbuttoned his casual white shirt and fanned against his face.

The executor's eyes only tightened in their judgemental leer.

"Where were you, James? Because I heard a funny story. After Sharcie called, I pulled over and checked in with Belle too. She saw your car parked up beside the apartments near West Drive. That's quite an iffy place. In fact... it's a dump. Something you want to tell me?"

Shit. James moved for the fridge in search of more beer, but he found his path blocked. Marie held the door shut - a guardian against his liquid salvation.

"Not a drop until you quit this act of yours. You were out seeing that blonde bimbo again, weren't you?"

A second attempt at opening the fridge saw James' hand slapped away. "Weren't you, James?"

"Yes. I was..." James stifled a growl. Granted access to the fridge at long last, he cracked a can of lager. An icy mouthful cooled the prickly heat under his skin.

By the time he was ready to explain, Marie had already swooped past with a drawn-out groan, en-route for the three piece suite in the living room. He followed her and flopped down on the couch at the other side; an invisible line drawn.

Not a word more. Husband and wife became absorbed with sight of a petite, golden-haired girl on the television. Teary-eyed, fragile; adorned in the finest ruby red dress that money could buy - she gave an elegant bow on stage, a violin clutched between trembling fingers.

Spectators stood from their seats in thunderous applause. Roses showered the circular stage - spotlights pulled tight around the centre of the venue.

"Thank you, everyone. Thank you..."

Marie swept up the remote. The channel flicking began, only stopping when every single music network available on the cable package had been left behind. She settled with a documentary on medical studies. Two doctors, both of them greyed, balding men, held a monotone discussion on modern treatment for hereditary blood disorders.

Outside of the low drawl of the tube, silence.

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

And James couldn't take it anymore.

"What's your problem with Jessie?"

A press of the remote brought the 'mute' icon to the corner of the television screen. Marie folded her legs, and gave a bitter huff. Fingers dug tight against the ebony leggings of her nursing clothes, she went on the attack.

"Where do I begin? The way she dresses? The fact she's dumber than a bag of bricks? Or I don't know, maybe the fact you're spending more time with your friend's daughter than your own?! James, wake up! For Christ sakes. She's loose. Loose! And that little girl of hers is going to end up a real mess because of it."

Spoken like a true, baseless assumption without having met the woman more than once. James gulped the last of his beer and set down the can atop the stereo-system.

"You're not being fair."

"I'm not being fair? I'm not- I can put up with you pouring so much time into Mike. Lord help me... I don't like you moulding him like this... but I can put up with it. What I don't like is you spending so much time with some fake-tanned frump because she pulled the woe is me card! You can't be a walking charity!"

A walking charity? Is that what she called showing a shred of care and consideration?! Jessie had nobody. Nobody.

Nothing short of another drink would calm James' frayed nerves.

"You can be heartless, Marie Winters. Heartless."

Halfway to the kitchen, one of the couch pillows bumped James in the back. Marie gave a snide throaty laugh.

"If I'm so heartless then you can sleep down here tonight. One of us needs to be level-headed about this. And it's obviously not you."

Okay then, love. Of course... Make me out to be an asshole because I showed some human decency to a girl who needs it.

James didn't bother with just one beer when he near yanked the fridge door off its hinges. He settled for three.

"It's not excess if you need it. I might as well finish the four-pack."

There came a sharp buzzing from James' pocket. Credit where credit was due, at least he could get good reception on this new Rokia cell phone. He brought it out, set down his drinks, and checked the caller number. It's getting late to be getting in touch, don't you-

Only one person he knew had a number that ended in seven-three-one. Without so much as thinking, he put through the call.

"Hey there, baby," came a sweet, soothing purr, "catch you at a bad time?"

Probably for the best I take this one outside.

And that was what he did, too. Phone, beers and all, James took his leave for the back yard.

"What do you need, Jess?"

James had spent enough time sobering up on the couch to know how he felt after last night. He wasn't going to be dictated to. He wasn't going to be made to feel like a bad father just because he did his best for somebody less fortunate. And he sure as ever, wasn't going to be accused of 'moulding' his nephew. Especially when all he wanted to do was give the kid the gift of music. A gift his mother had sadly left behind too soon.

"Something on your mind, hon?"

"Nothing unbearable." The bright afternoon sunshine, the gentle blowing trees; and the laughs of children playing in the newly re-opened Dawnwood Park, were more than enough to make James feel alive and well. "I'll be fine. Nothing to worry about."

"Glad to hear that."

Jessie Maye flashed a teasing wink. She'd let a lot of her goods show for this outing of theirs. No two ways about it. Dinky, skin-tight denim shorts, and a strapless spaghetti top. Barely enough to stop the students about the same age as her from gawking. One guy in particular, a beefy jock sort, had his jaw dragging along the grass.

That, and James was sure he'd seen a couple of mother's cover their children's eyes at the generous helpings of bronzed flesh Jessie was showing.

Modesty is a matter of personal taste, but this is a family park, after all.

"Uncle James. Uncle James."

And speaking of family.

James met with his sister's eyes. But they were younger, brighter, and happier. So happy in fact, that he felt overwhelmed with joy. This little boy in front of him, with his ripped jeans and grubby sneakers, didn't have a care in the world. And neither did the little girl who held his hand.

"Hey there, big guy. Are you and Tiffany having fun?"

It was the young lady that sprang up first, bouncy and energetic. She squeezed Mike like a teddy with one hand, and brushed the mud from her orange sunshine dress with the other.

"We sure are! Mikey's my new best fwiend! My bestest fwiend!"

Jessie joined the fun too. Bringing out her purse, she fished around, producing a chunky Polaroid camera. With a motherly smile she looked to James. "Aren't these two precious together? Don't you think we should take a picture? Something for them to remember their first playdate?"

Not a bad idea at all. Mikey was a quiet kid in school. One of the quietest in the grade, his teacher's had told James at a recent parent teacher night. He hadn't made a single friend so far. So, to see him getting along with someone else around his age was a blessing.

"Why not? It should be a lovely memento."

"Alrighty then," Jessie got the camera ready and directed the kids into frame. "That's it. Huddle close... annnd perfect. On the count of three. Say cheese. One... two... three."

"Cheese..."

"Cheese!"

One snap of the camera... and another. Just to make sure the both of them had a picture each. Jessie waited for the shots to develop and shared them out. "Okay! Here you go. One for you Mike... and one for you Tiffany. You take care of these. Don't loose 'em."

"I won't, Miss Jessie." Mikey spoke shyly, the smaller voice of the two tykes. Tiffany put her picture away in the pocket of her dress. Quicker than a flash, she started pulling Mike away again.

"C'mon Mikey! Lets pway! I can be the pwincess... and you can be my pwince."

Tiffany's adorable suggestion had her mother smiling from ear to ear as the children ran off to the sandbox.

"It's lovely seeing them together, don't you think? They don't have anything feel sad about. No worries. No fears. It's a perfect world."

Jessie was right about that. James gave her a thoughtful nod. He blinked for a second, and Mike was already halfway across the park with Tiffany.

And Marie has the nerve to say I don't do a good enough job...

"Awww... James. What's wrong?" Jessie asked. She scooted close and rested her head against his shoulder. "Scowl like that and you face is gonna get stuck that way, baby."

Was it easier to tell the truth here, or sidestep for the sake of the young mother's feelings? James kept his mouth shut, let the seconds tick on without having to burst the joyful bubble he found himself in this afternoon.

"C'mon, sweetie. You can tell me," but Jessie kept on, "You work your frown-lines that hard when Marie's been on your case."

There you again, James gave a chuckle; shook his head, too. Marie can say what she wants, Jess. You're sharp.

"The truth is..."

Engines revved hard. Tires screeched. Shoes clacked across the park's pathways. And just like that, the bubble was burst, long before James could do it himself. In some ways, he was quietly thankful. But what in the world's with the racket?

James and Jessie both hopped up to get a closer look.

Men in sharp grey suits and tinted sunglasses were spilling across the carpark, a ways off from the long green grass of the play area. Short hair, or shaved heads entirely. Polished shoes. Steely gargoyle faces. They were stopping people, joggers, students; and parents alike.

James kept on wondering what was going on, especially as droves upon droves began funnelling toward the exits.

"Attention," came a crackle of Dawnwood's loudspeaker, beside the security station, "The Park will be closing early today due to the filming of a documentary. Thank you for visiting, and we'll see you again tomorrow."

"Closing early?" Jessie rolled her eyes at the announcement. "But this is a public park... It's open all day. Can they even do that?"

In the time that James spent trying to answer, a long, chrome-finished limo with frosted windows rolled to a stop in the parking space closest to the play area. Its doors swung open, and out came a pair of guards, these one's dressed much the same as the others, except for holsters strapped to their hips.

Guns? Limos? What are they planning to film?!

An elderly man, his head bald and his frame thin and fragile, hobbled out from the back seat of the stretch. Adorned in a flush tuxedo and with a hunched posture. One of the guards helped him as upright as he could get, handing him a wooden walking cane. Step by step, with wobbling legs, he began on his way.

From behind him, there stepped a young boy, probably no older than eight or nine, James guessed at a glance. Tall for his age, he wore a flash white shirt and trousers, eyes covered with a pair of thick, visor-like shades. He was surrounded from all four sides no sooner than he stepped a foot upon the grass. What kind of kid needed armed protection?!

"Who are these people, Jess? They look like something out of the new kung-fu movie that just hit the cinema."

"Does it matter?" Jessie went on ahead, unafraid of the sheer number of suits. "Let's get the kids and go. You can come back to my place for a while if you want."

I think I'll take you up on the offer.

James picked up the pace, especially since the tall boy flanked by armed protectors was in the direct path of Mike. To say James felt panicked was conservative. But, thankfully, his fear was ill-placed. In the end, he exhaled, somewhat relieved by the outcome.

The security kindly escorted Tiffany back to her mother. One of them even smiled. And as for their charge?

"Hello there. It's very nice to meet you. My name is Mark."

But no sooner had he spoken a word; a hand offered to Mike, was he whisked away by the elderly gentleman - who had finally caught up on his stick. "Come now, Master Kane. We have work to do."

"But Ramsworth..."

With their children safe and sound, Jessie and James left the park behind.

It was hard to concentrate on driving with so much traffic cluttering the lanes. James waited at a red light, fingers tapping against the steering wheel. Jessie smiled at him once she was done adjusting her lipstick in the passenger side mirror.

"So... are you coming over? I bet Tiffany and Mike would love to play some more."

"Yes pwease!" Tiffany clapped, wriggling excitedly in the confines of her seatbelt. "Can we? Can we Uncle James?"

Even if Mikey had returned to his usual quiet self, there was no way James could turn down such a hopeful request from little Tiffany. He looked to Angela's son from the rear-view mirror.

"Whaddya say, big fella? Are you going to turn down your lovely little princess?"

The car went quiet as Mike pondered hard. He met with every pair of eyes along the way. Tiffany, to her mother, and then back to his uncle. But it wasn't until he took the snap of he and his new friend from the pocket of his denim jacket, that he gave an agreeing nod.

"Nu-uh. I don't wanna make Tiffy sad. Let's go to Auntie Jessie's house."

"Yaaaaaay!" Tiffany cheered and swept up Mike in a cuddle. "More playtime!

With a green light and a final decision, the car took a turn in the direction of West Drive.

To be continued...

Okay! Plenty happened during that chapter. Is there anything you liked in particular? What would you like to see in future? Feel free to leave some feedback and let me know! One last thing before I go, too. Is anyone else excited about some of the new stuff announced for Huniepop 2?

As always, keep on supporting Huniepop and Huniecam Studio. I'll see you in the next part!