A/N: I'm sooo sorry this took longer than usual. This chapter just did not want to come out of my head and on to the computer screen. I have been really enjoy your reviews. It puts a big smile on my face when I open up my inbox and it says I have reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter, that took so long to get out. Remember to review. I love your comments. It makes writing this story so much sweeter.

Unwritten

Jack left early the next morning, promising to back tonight. I didn't know what to do with myself after he left. I had to fight the urge to go to the police and tell them what I knew. In the end I decided to take a shower and head over to Evie's house. Most likely they left Sofi alone.

When I arrived, Sofi was alone as I thought. She was washing the kitchen floor. The house had never looked this messy.

"Need some help?" I asked from the door. She turned to look at me and smiled.

"Yeah." she said.

I took off my coat and shoes. I made my way over to the sink to tackle the overflowing pile of dirty dishes, making sure I didn't dirty the clean spots of the floor. I mumbled 'pigs' under my breath.

"I hope Jack isn't causing too much of this..." I told Sofi as I began to scrub a pan. I turned to look at her.

A piece of black hair escaped her messy bun. She blew it out of her face. "Actually, he is helpful. He helps cook dinner and clears the plates. His mother taught him well. I wish I could I say the same for the other two." she said as she leaned on the mop, resting for a moment.

I laughed. "I didn't think he was really paying attention when Evie was telling him how to treat a woman. He was the one who started the whole conversation, by asking that ridiculous question. God, I don't even remember what it was. I just remember being really irritated at it. About half-way through the explanation he was picking at his finger nails. I guess he retained everything Evie had ever said, even if it didn't look like he was listening." I told her as I worked on the steadily decreasing dishes.

"You miss her a lot, Don't you?" She asked while wiping down the counter.

I looked over to her. "Everybody does. I'm no different." I said. There were only a few dishes to go.

"You are different, though. You spent almost every spare moment here. I used see you come here from my window down the street. You were the daughter that Evelyn never had. I just wonder why you don't call her 'Mom', like they do?" she asked. The counter was clean. Sofi made her way over to the coffee maker. "Do want some coffee?" she asked.

"Yes." I said answering her second question. I was finally rinsing the last dish. After I gently placed in the strainer, I walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. Sofi soon followed suit and brought over to steaming cups of coffee.

"Thank you." I said as I took my mug. Cream and sugar were already on the table. I grabbed the cream and poured a little into my coffee. I stirred it around. I picked up the mug and took a sip. When I put the mug down, Sofi was giving me a strange look.

"You don't put sugar in your coffee?" she asked in a shocked tone.

"No, it makes the coffee have a nasty flavor." I answered.

"Okay...Are you ever going to answer my question?" she said.

I gave her a look. I had hoped she had forgotten. "It's because...I had a mom. A really nice one. So that name is reserved for her. Evie is the special name I gave her. That's all." I said.

Her eyes softened. "I'm sorry. What happened to her?" she asked. She sipped her coffee gingerly.

"She died. She had brain cancer. After she died, my father brought us here. He has this crusade. He's trying to bring god and religion to all hoodlums and delinquents of Detroit. A noble, yet useless cause." I said bitterly.

She smiled weakly. "Do you have any idea where Jack snuck off to last night?" she said changing the subject. For which I was very grateful.

"I don't know. Maybe he went to see some girl." I said. We both stared at each other seriously. We suddenly burst out laughing. Both knowing exactly where Jack was last night.

"What did you two do last night?" she asked suggestively. Our laughter had died down.

I looked at her appalled. "We didn't do anything but sleep. Maybe a little kissing, but that's it!" I said.

She smiled. "Okay. I believe you. I just wanted to tease you. Let's go watch a chick flick." she suggested. She stood up, the chair scraping the linoleum floor.

I stood as well. "What did you have in mind?" I asked. We began to walk over to the living room.

"How about Pretty in Pink?" she suggested.

I plopped down on the couch. "Sure." I said. She popped in the video tape and plopped down on the couch next to me. We let the movie wash over us, and we succeeded in escaping reality, if only for a couple of hours.

"I still think she should of ended up with Duckie." I said when the movie was over.

Sofi burst out into a fit of giggles. "Only you would think that." she said through her giggles.

I gave her a dirty look. "Why? I'm sure lots of people think it. He's way more adorable and they are best friends. It just clicks." I explained.

She just laughed some more. "See, you just proved my point. You think Andie should have ended up with her male best friend. Hmm...Now, who does that sound like?" she asked.

"Me and Jack." I said. "But that doesn't prove anything! Duckie is much better than Blane! Did you see the scene in the record store? He has a personality. That's why I think she should have chosen him. Not because I have a soft spot for the 'Best friends turned lovers' pairing." I said.

"And I'm sure if Duckie looked like Jack, Andie would have been much more inclined to choose him. Duckie was ugly. I would have chosen Blane over him, any day." Sofi said.

"Duckie wasn't ugly! He was very cute! I think if Andie wasn't blinded by Blane's exterior, she would have seen what a great guy she had right in front of her face." I argued.

"Weirdo!" She said.

"Proud of it!" I said. We both collapsed into a fit of giggles.

"I'm glad I got to know the real you." Sofi told me once our laughter had died down.

I looked her in the eye. "Me too." I said.

I left before Jack had come home. I went home to see if my father was actually there. He wasn't. Big Surprise. I went upstairs to my room. I had a book, blanket, and comfortable spot on the window seat waiting for me. I decided to write in my journal a little bit before I dived into the world of Jane Austen. After I had written a few paragraphs, I curled up on the window seat.

It was times like this, that I wished I had a cat. It could lay in my lap, purring contentedly as I stroked it. Too bad my father was allergic to cats. I don't see why I can't have one now. He's never home anyways. I basically live in this big house all by myself. I stopped thinking and immersed myself in Pride and Prejudice.

When I finished, It was 9:30 PM. Jack wasn't there yet. Then I remembered the envelope Jack had given me last night. I reached over and grabbed it out of the drawer in my nightstand. I tore it open and unfolded the letter.

It read:

My Dear Madeleine,

If you are reading this, I have passed on. Now, I don't want you to mourn me. I want you to laugh. I want you to live. I want you to get your little nose out of a book. I know this will be hard on you, most of all. You have now lost two mothers. I'm sorry if I left you too early. There is so much I want to tell you, but I do not know if it can be held in one single letter. Maddie, I loved you like a daughter. In fact you were my daughter. Fate brought you to me, and I will be eternally grateful. I know what you must be thinking. Yes, I know you are grateful as well. I'm grateful for a different, special reason. I got a chance to help one more person. In return, that person helped me. I'm afraid Jack would have been a lot more lost if it hadn't been for you. You broke him out of his shell, when no one else could. You showed him he could trust someone. I'm glad I introduced you, so many years ago. Maddie there are a few things I would like you to do for me. I want you to follow your dreams, even if they tell you to run off and join the circus. Even if it doesn't amount to anything, at least you'll have an interesting story to tell your grandchildren. I want you to let the world in. It isn't such a scary place, once you get to know it. I don't want you close yourself up. I want you to fall in love. I want it to be passionate, reckless. I want you to abandon all thought, logic, and reason. I hope it will be with a good man. (If it's Jack, I think I deserve to say: I knew it!) I want you to have children. Even though they're a hassle, it's worth it in the long run. I want you to realize you are beautiful. Maddie, don't give me that look. You know one where your face becomes scrunched up like you smell something really bad. I know you're doing it right now, because you do it every time someone says you are beautiful. You are, Maddie. So stop ignoring it. Embrace it. Flaunt it for all I care. Just don't hide it. Be strong. Don't lose your sense of self. Lastly, I want you to care of Jack. He needs you more than anybody in this world. Never abandon him. As long as I know you're there, I can rest assured that he is safe. If you do become romantically involved, I approve. Just in case you were worried. I love you, Maddie. I only wish I could have seen you grow up, if I left too soon. Good -bye, my Daughter.

All my love,

Evie

P.S. It's okay for you to cry now. I won't be upset.

By the end of the letter, I was in tears. Correction, I was a sobbing mess. I couldn't believe she spent her time and energy, just to give me a proper good-bye. I was weeping, clutching the letter to my chest when Jack emerged out of my window. He spotted me on the bench. He rushed over to me. I tried to turn away but he grabbed a hold of me. He tilted my head, so my eyes met his.

"Maddie, What's wrong?" he asked, trying to wipe away the continuous stream of tears with the pads of his thumbs. His eyes pleaded with me. I tried to look away but he held my head. "Mouse, please...tell me what is wrong." he said. I was starting to cough because all the crying. I weakly held the letter out to him. He snatched it out of my hands and scanned it quickly, barely reading it.

After he enveloped me in his arms. "Baby, it's going to be okay. I'm here now." he whispered gently. I collapsed weakly in his arms, a torrent of tears running down my face. He rocked me slightly, rubbing my back. "Baby...shh...calm down...I'm here." he whispered comfortingly in my ear. I never felt so fragile, vulnerable, or loved in my entire life. I curled up in his lap. After I had calmed down a little bit. He picked me up and carried me over to my bed. He laid me down delicately, then he crawled in on the other side. Once he was settled, I nestled myself in his arms. I felt safe...secure...like no one in the world could touch me.

I looked up at him. "I love you." I whispered hoarsely for the first time.

Jack looked down at me. "About time you finally said it." he smiled. He leaned and captured my lips in a chaste kiss. "Maddie, I love you." he said.

I smiled contentedly. I nuzzled my face in the crook of his neck. "I love you." I murmured against his skin. His arms tightened around me.

I was finally home.