Sorry for the long delay but lack of inspiration is immensely annoying. Anyhow here is chapter 11. Thanks to suburbs for being a wonderful beta. Apologize for the slight OOC'ness.

Disclaimer - I dont CR or Barebody Essentials which is an actual and awesome salon where I live.

Playlist - La Valse de Amelie - Instrumental.

Hearing a crash, Tess woke up with a start and Jason tumbled onto the floor, getting tangled up in the sheets in the process. Both of them looked at each other slightly disoriented but nonetheless awake.

"Did you hear that?" Tess asked in a hushed voice. Jason nodded and slowly got up and hopped around untangling himself. He then went to the door and poked his head outside. Tess also got up and gingerly tiptoed behind him. Jason picked up a tall nightshade and slowly made his way out with the nightshade raised in his hands. Tess followed behind feeling her heart beat slightly faster. Was there a burglar in the house?

Jason went downstairs and looked around the house. There was light shining in the kitchen so he slowly made his way towards it, Tess right behind him. He stopped before entering the kitchen and looked at Tess. Tess nodded at him. She already had 911 typed out on the on the phone and only had to hit dial. Taking a deep breath, Jason jumped into the kitchen expecting to find a masked person pilfering the silver but instead he found Wilson and TJ engaged in a staring contest, broken crockery lying between them. The battle yell died in his throat at the sight.

Tess had followed quickly behind Jason, phone pressed to her ear when she stopped short at the sight before her. She sighed and rubbed her forehead wearily. This had been the umpteenth staring contest she and Jason had witnessed in the past three days. Since TJ had flown all the way from the Bahamas to spend time with her, Tess couldn't bring herself to send her mother away, even if she reallywanted to. So TJ had ended up staying, while Tess prayed desperately that this powder-keg of a situation wouldn't explode on her.

She looked at Jason who was standing there bemused and annoyed and most of all bleary eyed.

"Guys," she said breaking the silence of the room.

"Tess, I didn't know you were awake. Wouldn't it better if you went to sleep?" TJ said looking at Tess all concerned.

"Yeah honey, you shouldn't be staying up so late," Wilson said mirroring TJ's concern.

Tess took a deep breath asking the powers that be to calm her before she unleashed her sleep deprived and pregnancy enhanced temper on them.

" See, I was sleeping, except I heard a crash and panicked thinking it was a burglar and came running down with Jason only to find you two in the kitchen having a staring contest. If anyone's making me stay up, it would be both of you all." Tess snapped taking slow measured breaths to quell the anger that came from being rudely awakened. Jason set down the nightshade and came close to her and slipped an arm around her waist. She slipped an arm around him to and rubbed slow soothing circles on his back while he did the same for her.

"Please, no more night time rendezvous in the kitchen or anywhere else. Otherwise I'll swear I'll be locking you in your rooms." Jason said his tone even more on edge than Tess's. He was really beginning to worry about the impact of their constant arguing on Tess. He was also under intense pressure as the band was trying to finish their new album, and he and Shane were still not getting along. His patience was wearing thin.

Wilson and TJ apologized contritely and headed out of the kitchen but not before giving each other a few last minute glares. Tess shook her head in exasperation and turned off the lights before making her way up the stairs with Jason. She would clear the mess up in the morning.

As soon as she reached the bedroom, she locked the door behind her. If burglars wanted to break in they damn well could. Because she wasn't going to allow anyone to disturb Jason's beauty sleep. As the days passed he was getting more and more stressed and she felt annoyed with her parents for behaving like little kids. Jason was already in bed when she climbed in next to him and snuggled, hoping that the rest of the night would pass in relative silence.

-

Tess was working on some lyrics in the music room when she heard voices escalated from tense whispers into full-out shouting. She put down her pen, slammed her book shut, picked up her phone and wallet, and strode out of the room to once again play the role of unwilling mediator.

She came to the living room and found her parents staring at each other, red in the face. And at that very moment every little thought she had been bottling up came spewing out.

"That's it. I can't take anymore of this nonsense. I mean for god sakes, you guys are grown up but your acting like little kids. And unpleasant little kids at that. I am tired of mediating and tired of waking up toinsults and shouting. I'm leaving the house and when I come back there better be silence or god help me I will chop someone's head off, parent or no parent." Tess all but yelled before striding out of the house.

In her wake she left two contrite and ashamed parents.

-

Tess made it out of the house and realized she didn't know where to go. She needed someone to vent too. She briefly thought of going to Caitlyn's house but decided against it. She knew Caitlyn would welcome her even though they weren't very close, but Tess felt like she would be imposing. Jason had been her first real friend and she found it really hard to develop that sort of camaraderie with anyone else. She knew she could always vent to Jason but at this time she knew Jason was just as stressed as she was; she didn't feel like bothering him anymore than necessary. Besides he had been putting up with her recent crankiness with admirable patience, which was a big thing because Tess could be very cranky.

She stood on the sidewalk for a few moments before deciding that maybe a pedicure or a manicure would make her feel better. She hailed a cab and gave the cabbie directions to the Barebody Essentials Salon, her favorite place for unwinding.

She reached the salon quickly and walked in. one of the perks of being a long standing customer was that she didn't even need to make an appointment beforehand. She only had to do that before going to any awards show or red-carpet appearance. Otherwise she could just waltz in there any time she wanted and be immediately attended to.

She walked in to find Sherry a forty year old woman at the desk. Sherry smiled at her and asked someone else to cover the reception area for her.

"So what will it be today Tess?" Sherry asked as she tied on an apron emblazoned with the salon's logo over it.

"Just a mani, pedi," Tess said sinking into one of their delightfully comfortable chairs. Walking was a pain when you were suffering from constant heartburn and nothing could really ease it except eating tons of antacids, and she hated the taste.

She slipped off her flats and placed her feet into the bowl of warm water placed before her. She sighed at the feeling of comfort that enveloped her. Maybe she needed to have done this sooner.

Sherry's fingers worked out the knots in her feet and Tess blissfully sank deeper into the chair. All the while Sherry kept up a gentle stream of chatter that eased Tess into a calm state of mind. She no longer felt angry at her parents. She was only annoyed that they were choosing this particular time to bring up long suppressed, unhealed wounds.

She knew her mother had never forgiven her father for leaving and that her Dad had been unable to come to terms with the woman TJ had chosen to become. But eventually they would have to deal with everything. After all, the past was the past and there was no point in dredging up old painful memories. Maybe she could talk to both of them and try to be a proper mediator. Make them see that things had changed and that most importantly she had grown up and so had they.

She smiled for the first time that day. Soon enough Sherry was done with Tess's feet and while she did Tess's hands, Tess was the one who was chattering, more like her usual self.

When Sherry was done, Tess looked at her hands and legs with a beaming smile. Coming here was a good decision. She thanked Sherry, tipped her generously, paid the bill and made her way out of the salon.

She hailed a cab and soon enough was on her way back home. She checked her phone and found a message from Jason which only indicated a sad smiley face. Her heart swelled a little thinking of him and decided that today Jason could hog the TV and pick the ice-cream flavor which she knew would be mint-chocolate chip. She didn't like it that much but if it made Jason cheer up, then she would like it.

She sent him an encouraging smiley face and a 'love you'. She then made a phone call that would ensure that a huge tub of ice-cream and a few other groceries would be delivered to the house. She leaned back into the seat and watched the scenery, smiling occasionally as she passed children playing on the sidewalk.

She reached home and paid the cabbie and was walking up the driveway when she saw Jason sitting dejectedly outside the house. She quickened her pace and walked up to him.

"What's troubling you?" she asked as sat down next to him with a slight wince. The heartburn was acting up again.

"No offense Tess, but your parents make me want to shut them up in a room and ask them to get it on already," Jason said glumly as he stared at the profusely flowering shrubberies to the side of him.

"Jason," Tess said smacking him upside on the head.

"Ow. But you know it's true." Jason said mournfully as Tess nodded reluctantly.

"I figured something out that should stop all the drama," she said putting up her hand before Jason could speak, "but it doesn't involve asking them to get it on in a locked room." She said dryly and Jason's face fell. She was pretty sure Jason had picked up that Caitlyn because knew that Jason wouldn't have said that if he weren't so annoyed. And she besides she did agree with him, even though her plans for helping them patch things up didn't revolve around much sex as Jason's did.

"Come on in sunshine, there's a tub of mint-chocolate chip ice-cream with your name on it. And also you get full control of the TV tonight even though a wonderful episode of Chuck is on," Tess said with a smile on her face as she stood up and pulled up Jason along with her.

"Aw, Tess you really are wonderful," Jason said as he planted a kiss on her face. Tess simply smiled and wound her arm around his waist as they walked in. Sometimes all the shit that life put her through didn't seem worth it, but then that sweet, gentle smile on Jason's face made everything worth it. She was so thankful for Jason. He and the baby were the best things that had ever happened to her. And she wanted it to stay that way.


Sort of fillery but I needed it to set up the next chapter. Anyhow please do review with your thoughts, it's always nice to know what can be improved or toned down. :)