*Disclaimer* I do not own Twilight, or the characters associated with it.
The next morning, when I woke up, Jess was already up and staring out the window. I walked over to her, and gave her a hug. She hugged me back, but didn't look away from the view. We stood in silence for a while until there was a knock on the door. Jess and I turned, and said in sync, "come in." Jake and Seth walked in, each holding a flower. Jake had a lily and Seth a rose. Wow. I felt Jess's breath catch next to me, and I felt tears gather in my own eyes. We walked over to our boyfriends and gave them hugs. As I snuggled into Jake, I heard distinct footsteps outside the door. Jake tried to let go of me, but I refused, Just as Jess wouldn't allow Seth to extricate himself from her grip on him. I think she must have figured that Daddy was coming, even though she couldn't hear him.
"Good morning girls." Daddy walked into the room, stepping on Jake's foot so he would release me, he gave me a hug. Seth removed himself from Jess so as to avoid the same treatment. Daddy glared, having been cheated out of an opportunity to hurt him, and gave Jess a hug as well. "Why don't we leave you two to get dressed. One of you can use the shower in our room if you want." Daddy offered. Daddy forcefully pushed Seth and Jake out of the room, Jess and I giggling.
"I'll take a shower in their room." I offered, and Jess agreed. I grabbed clothes, went two doors down, and took my shower and dressed. By the time I got back Jess was done too, and I made my way over to her, where she was again standing at the window. She looked up as I sidled up next to her, but didn't say anything at first. Finally, right before I felt I would go mad, she spoke.
"It's weird, isn't it?" I looked at her, confused, and she explained. "My being here. It should be weird. I shouldn't just be accepted, I should have to earn your guy's love and acceptance." She frowned and looked at me. "Why?" I knew what she was asking.
"It's not weird because this is where you belong. It's not weird because everyone in our family was brought together by a tragedy, or some drama. You went through more than anyone should have to, and now you are with people who love you. We accept you and understand you because we've been there." I take Jess's hand. "You are part of our family, but more importantly," I see tears in her eyes, and feel tears in my own, "We are part of your family." Jess throws her arms around me, and I hug her back. Eventually we make our way downstairs for breakfast. As we sit at the table, full of our family we talk about the future. Esme and Carlise inform Jess that they have started the legal adoption of her. She looks a bit confused, but grateful. Momma takes her hand and speaks.
"Legally, Edward and I can't adopt you. As far as most of the human populace is concerned, we are the same age as you. But in our heart, you'll be sister we couldn't give Nessie." Jess looks so surprised by this. I am sure that they had told her this over the last few days, but right now, it seemed to really sink in. I glanced at Esme and saw the sadness on her face. I walked over and hugged her. She and Rose both longed for the one thing they could never actually have. This must be extra hard for them, since Daddy and Momma already had me.
"Darling," Esme said so that Jess couldn't hear, and everyone else pretended not to listen, looking at me, knowing my thoughts, "It is hard, but Jess will be like our daughter as well. She just... fits, with the little family that you guys have going on inside our bigger family." She smiled at me. The rest of the day went without any drama. Jess and I bummed around with our boyfriends. I was glad that Jess was settling in to her new life with us. Emmett and Daddy left for a few hours, and when they came back, they were hauling box after box up the stairs. I was curious, but just too lazy to ask. Just after 3 in the afternoon, Emmett called us upstairs, and I saw that the door to our room was open, as well as the room across the hall. We went into the other one first, and saw a new bed, dresser, desk, cd player, and more, plus all of Jess's stuff.
"This is your room." Esme gestured around to the space that she had definitely set up. Jess smiled, and thanked everyone in the room. Daddy's face remained clear without effort, which meant that he wasn't hearing anything in Jess's thought to make him upset. By that night, when we were getting ready for bed, and saying good night, I knew that the rest of Jess's life with us would be good. I fell asleep with a great smile on my face.
Okay, so I know that this is a lame ending, but I wanted to finish it. I know I'll write another one about this, probably for after they graduate and all that, but for right now, it's the end. Thanks to all of you who stuck through and read it! I'm really grateful!
Remember, stay safe!
love,
thlove