A/N: In this chapter, Jess's parents have come over to meet Evy. Evy has a bad dream and overhears Jess and her mom talking about her.
Evy climbed out of bed carefully, walking towards the front of the house, shaking. She grabbed Beanie and clutched him to her. She'd been woken up by a nightmare, and couldn't get back to sleep. Just before getting to the front room, however, Evy realized that there was someone else there. Earlier that night, Jess' parents had come for a visit, and to meet Evy for the first time. They had left before Evy went to bed, but apparently Jess' mother had come back.
"Look, Jessica, Evelyn is a sweet little girl. I just don't think you're ready for the responsibility of taking care of her yet."
Evy felt her heart sink. She'd been happy when she got back to Stanford to find that Jess was living with them now, but it had never occurred to Evy that her presence in Jess' life might be a burden. She was used to Sam taking care of her, but Jess didn't have to. Evy had believed the meeting with Jess' parents went well, but was it possible they'd just been trying to be polite?
"Mom, stop." Jess said. "Other than Sam, that little girl has no one. I'm not going to leave her."
"Jess, I'm not suggesting that." Mrs. Moore replied. "I'm just saying, maybe move out back on your own until you and Sam are a little older. You're nineteen and twenty. You're both way too young to be taking care of a ten-year-old."
Evy leaned against the wall, afraid to come out.
"Mom, I'm not leaving." Jess said. "Other than Sam, that little girl has no one. Her father was leaving her alone for days at a time when she was eight. I'm going to show her that she can trust me if it's the last thing I do."
Evy smiled, and decided it was the best time to interrupt. "Jess?"
Jess, startled, looked towards the hallway. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, walking towards Evy.
"Where's Sammy?" Evy asked.
"He had to go to the student center." Jess explained. "The alarm system went off. Are you alright?"
"I had a bad dream." Evy said.
"Oh, sweetie." Jess said. "You want to stay in here?"
Evy nodded and walked with Jess over to the bed. Jess sat so that she was leaning against the wall, and Evy laid down so that her head was in Jess' lap. Jess gently stroked her hair and sang to her, and soon Evy was back in a deep sleep. Mrs. Moore watched the entire process. Her entire life, Jess had been rather finicky in deciding what she wanted. But watching her now, with Evy, Mrs. Moore realized that, even if it happened a little too quickly for her taste, Jess had found her family. When Evy was in a deep enough sleep, Jess gently laid her down and walked with her mother out onto the porch.
"I'm sorry, Jessica."
"For what, mom?" Jess asked, surprised.
"For doubting you. Evelyn belongs with you and Sam."
Before Jess could respond, Sam came walking back up the front steps. "Hey, you." He said, kissing Jess on the cheek.
"Hi." Jess replied. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, false alarm." Sam said as he yawned. "Everything okay here?"
"Mostly. Baby girl's sleeping on our bed right now." Jess said.
"She okay?" Sam asked, concerned.
"Yeah. She just had a bad dream." Jess said. "She's sleeping like a baby now."
"Alright. I'm gonna check on her and take a shower." Sam said. He turned to Mrs. Moore. "Good ngiht, Mrs. Moore. It was good to see you."
"Good to see you too, Sam. Good night."
Sam left Jess and her mom to talk. He walked slowly towards the bed, leaning over to check on Evy. She was indeed sleeping like Jess said. Sam watched her sleep for a moment before kissing her forehead.
"Goodnight, Cricket." Sam whispered. "Sammy loves you."
