Waking up has never been my favorite thing ever. A lot of people can agree with me when I say such a 'bold' statement like that. But, when you wake up the way I did, you forget very quickly how much you hate waking up.

When I woke up the next morning, I could easily tell that I wasn't alone. At first, I thought it was Annabelle, but then I realized it wasn't. It couldn't be. The person next to me was not small. And did not smell like baby. Male. . . Not small. . .

It took all that I had not to cry out as I got to my senses. Ron and I had slept next to each other on the couch. Not only that, but he had his arms around me. The last thing I remembered of the night before was freaking out over the movie, being terrified. Maybe he had been trying to comfort me?

Even so, that is no reason for him to be holding me like this. He's, what, in his mid-twenties? I'm a teenager. That wouldn't work in any way, or be legal. At least, that's what I think is in the law.

Ron groaned softly in his sleep. The sound made me internally chuckle. He really wasn't so bad. Just the fact that we were so different would make anything difficult.

Thinking deeper, I realized how quickly my thoughts had changed. A total one-eighty in views. First I thought it was completely revolting, but in reality, it's not. He has a fairly good personality. Looks, for him, are very attractive. If he actually liked me, there'd be no problem. There is no reason I shouldn't like him. Age shouldn't matter.

Oh. Except Uncle Will. What would he think? Probably send me away to some weird place, or kick Ron out. Uncle may not like it, to be honest.

Another soft sound tore me from my thoughts once more, but this time it wasn't from Ron. Annabelle must have been banging on her crib, and Angelo began squawking right back in response. Squawks, at least the ones coming from Angelo, weren't all horrid-sounding. It may sound pleasant, in the right tone and octave and key. Maybe if I could record it sometime, I could use it for my newest original. The words aren't finished yet, but it's coming together. Working on that song isn't my top priority.

Focus, Jess, focus.

As slowly and as carefully as I could, I untangled myself from Ron's embrace and padded upstairs. It wasn't too surprising that Ron didn't wake up from all of Angelo's noise. Must be a heavy sleeper, though since he's a soldier, I would think he would have been the opposite.

When I walked into Annabelle's room, she looked over at me with a sleepy grin, then realized that I wasn't her mommy. "Jessie, where Mommy?"

Looks like I was right. "Mommy is out of the house right now, baby girl." I slid my hands under her arms and lifted her out of the crib, gently setting her down on the ground. "Mommy and Daddy will be back later."

"Where they go?"

How do you explain this to a toddler? "They went to go see a movie, then. . . Cuddling." Because cuddling probably ended up happening at some point when they were gone. After other certain stuff happened.

Breakfast was simple enough. I made pancakes for all three of us, fed Angelo while I waited for them to get golden, and had to prevent Anna from jumping up onto Ron. It only worked in preventing her from one attempt. The second one she made was a major success.

"Oof!" Ron hissed under his breath as he felt the chubby toddler jump right onto his midsection. His eyes flickered in annoyance, then softened when he realized who it was. He kissed her hair like how Sarah often did. "Hey there, Anna."

"Hai, Ron!" she giggled and waved, almost hitting him in the face. "Jessie's making breakfast!"

"Is that so?" he laughed softly, a deep sound- okay, Jess, too much focus. "What is she making?"

"She's making pancakes, if you care so much," I grinned, leaning against the door that connected the kitchen and the living room. "But it doesn't have maple syrup. It's a special type that my mom used to make."

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows. "What is it made out of, then?"

"Magic. You'll just have to wait and see."

The pancakes were actually simple, but I made them so that I knew for sure Anna would eat them. I took a few fresh strawberries and cut them in half, then placed them in the middle of the pancakes like noses. Next I got some chocolate chips out and made the eyes and mouth. Last, I sprinkled a little powdered sugar around the edge of the pancakes. And voila.

It didn't take too long for Annabelle to eventually eat half of her pancake, take off all the chocolate and eat it, then inhaled the strawberry. Not literally inhaling, she just ate it so fast, she might as well have inhaled it.

"Anna, calm down, it isn't a race," I chided as I watched her eat all the 'good' stuff. That included licking her finger, running it over the powdered sugar, and sucking the white powder off her finger. And repeat.

Ron laughed. He had gotten his share ate by time time I had gotten halfway done with my pancake. The thought had been nice, to make such pancakes, but it seems like a waste now. Anna only ate the sugar.

Anna grinned at me, her lips covered with powdered sugar. "Thank yooouuu, Jessie!" she giggled. A small bit of white 'smoke' came out of her mouth. The powdered sugar. Great.

By noon, Anna's sugar high had come and gone. She was in a long nap, and I set on the 'baby monitor', the speaker in my pocket. If she woke up, I'd know. I set out to get to the barn, feed the animals and stuff. Will had taught me. Then, off to studying.

Ron accompanied me to the barn. "What are you doing?" he asked curiously.

"Feeding the horse," I answered curtly, though it was only a tease. He should have known that. "A scoop of grain, half of oats, and a handful of hay at noon, then turn-out at three."

Like before, his eyebrows raised. "That sounds specific. Did Will tell you that?"

"It's what he does, so since he's not here and won't be back until five, I have to do it."

"Okay then."

It felt sort of nice. He helped me feed all the animals, the chickens and the goat, then he left with the truck to do some sort of errand while I went in my room to get to work on my original.

My inspiration was what happened to my parents. I don't know what happened, but I now know that I am stronger because of it. And I will forever be stronger.

"Every tear that had to fall from my eyes... Every day I wondered how I'd get through the night.. From everything life has thrown me.. I'm grateful for every break in my heart-"

"We're home!"

And there goes that track.