A/N: I hope you are going to enjoy this update, and the fact that it appeared so quickly :) I'm glad you're enjoying my story and your reviews mean a lot to me :) I had to fight with FF to bring it to you, and I hope everything will be okay with it.
The time to leave came quickly, too quickly for their liking. Saying goodbye to their friends was much more difficult than they could even imagine, and didn't happen the way they thought it would. Yes, they certainly didn't expect a goodbye party, when all three of them arrived at Bobby and Darcy's place, but when Manning let them in, they noticed all of their friends gathered in a room. Most of them they have already visited and said goodbye to a little earlier, during their trip around their houses. They only went to visit Amanda and her father before arriving there, and it seemed that their friends used this time to get to Crash's apartment before them. They noticed Lucy, chatting with Troy in sign language, while his wife, Cheryl was talking to Darcy, holding Elliot in her arms. Myerses were the only ones they didn't have a chance to see that afternoon, as they found their house empty and it seemed that they were there, helping to prepare the small party. Tara was chatting with her fiancé, while Charlie got the doubtful honour of listening to one of Myles' always knowledgeable lectures.
"Emy!" Elliot's happy squeal was heard seconds after the Hudsons stepped inside and the boy wriggled his way out of his mother's arms, making her place him on the floor.
He immediately ran to Emily and dragged her to the place in the room, where his blocks were lying. Whenever she knew that there were no children where they were going to, his mother always took toys for him to play with, and the fact that along with Emily, they could spend hours occupied with blocks, she packed them. There was a difference of three months in age between them and they got along pretty well, spending a lot of time together as Cheryl was looking after Emy when Sue was working. Sue was really grateful as Emily didn't really want to stay alone with people she didn't know very well, and it was yet another reason why Mrs. Myers suggested this arrangement. She was a writer what meant that she didn't have any regular working hours, and spending time together could only work for children's advantage. She also knew that the financial side of hiring a babysitter wouldn't be that great for Sue, and it was why she never even thought about taking a cent for it. It was enough for her that it allowed her to pay the debt she and Troy felt they had towards her, as they might have never met if it wasn't for her. It was only three months ago that it changed, when her father passed away and they went to her hometown not only to attend funeral, but to give some support to her mother, who took it very badly.
Now they came back and it was a huge surprise for them to see what they missed when they were away. They definitely didn't expect they'll learn that Jack was alive and back with his girls, but it was definitely a very positive surprise. It was absolutely obvious that the two belonged together, and she believed that the way they so easily fell into the image of a small, happy family was a good evidence of it, as well as the happy sparks in Sue's eyes, which they didn't have a chance to see in a long time and which were now back in their place. They didn't know details about the whole situation, only that Sue and Jack were going away for an unspecified period of time, and they couldn't tell them where they were going or have any contact with them. They weren't happy, just like neither one of the rest of people gathered in the room wasn't, but at least they were going to have each other there and for Cheryl it was enough to accept it.
Nobody wanted the evening to come, as it meant that what they weren't looking forward to was going to come. Sue knew she was going to cry yet again, saying goodbye to all the people she cared about so much and who were such an important part of her life. She was going to miss them terribly and was absolutely unable to stop tears from falling, when she was hugging all of them and they told her how much they hoped for them to see each other again soon. It was breaking her heart to think that she wasn't going to hear a smallest thing from any of them. She just couldn't imagine how it was going to be without them; every single one of them was special and had the traits, which were unique for them and made her love them. She wasn't the only one to cry, all the women did, and even though they were fighting it, guys were on the edge of tears, too. Everyone could swear they saw Myles wipe the drop from his cheek, and the only ones who didn't really understand it all were the kids. Sue and Jack didn't hide from Emily that they were going away, but they were pretty certain that she didn't understand the whole meaning behind it and felt like they were simply going for holidays. It was pretty obvious she didn't really understand the whole fuss around her, when everyone were saying goodbyes and crying.
"Mommy wants a hug?" she asked, when they arrived back at their apartment to spend the last night there before leaving.
Sue managed to regain her composure at least a little, but it was still obvious that she was extremely sad when she was sitting on the couch. She didn't want to go, but there was nothing she could do about it. She jumped slightly, when Emily climbed onto her lap and cuddled to her and she wrapped her arms around the girl, holding her tightly against herself. Soon she felt Jack wrap his arm around her and pull them to himself. She leaned to the side, placing her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Yes, she definitely didn't think it was going to be that hard, and in the morning, when the agents who were chosen to escort them arrived she managed to hold her tears only to the moment when she got into the car. She looked through the window, at Bobby standing outside of the building, who came to collect the keys to her place as they agreed he would on the previous evening and salty drops flowed down her cheeks again. She turned her head to him, when she felt Jack catch and squeeze her hand.
"I know, I should get a grip on myself..." she sighed, but he only repeated the gesture a little harder.
"We're going to be back before we realise." he said, even though he couldn't really know if it was true, and definitely not that it was going to turn out that he was quite wrong.
He started the engine of the car and soon they began their journey to Ohio. They didn't leave DC a long time earlier, when he noticed that Sue fell asleep and when he glanced in the rear-view mirror, he noticed that Emily was dozing off as well, watching the views outside the car. He turned on the radio, feeling strange with a complete silence in the car, careful not to make it too loud. He was driving a longer time without a break, not really needing one, and only stopped at the first petrol station when they crossed the border of Ohio. He didn't really know where he should head next, as he has never been to Sue's hometown and didn't really know where exactly it was located. Also, Emily stirred, informing him that she needed the toilet so he just stopped the car, locked it and took her into the building and when Sue woke up she found them gone.
Panic started to rise inside her, but then she noticed the door to the station open and Jack walked out, holding their sleepy daughter's hand. A small smile managed to make its way onto her face, just like it always did whenever she was looking at the two together, and Emily's ruffled hair was only adding cuteness to the sight.
"Did I sleep long?" she asked, getting out of the car as well, when her husband noticed she was awake and opened it. "Where we actually are?"
"Ohio, that's the most accurate information I can give you." he said and her eyes bulged out.
"Already? That's impossible!" but then she caught a glimpse of watch on his wrist and realised that indeed, quite a long time has passed since they left DC. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"What for? We just crossed the border, then Emily wanted a stop and I thought that I can make a break here and then wake you up. You want to drive or should I continue?"
"It would be better if I drive, you need to rest."
"You're exaggerating, I'm fine. But let it be your way, because you are the one to know where we're going now." he leaned closer and kissed her cheek.
"How it is that we're going to my parents and it seems that I am the nervous one here?" she asked walking a little around the car to stretch her legs, while Jack was trying to find sandwiches. He dug them out of the bag and gave one to Emily, sitting in the backseat of the car with her legs hanging over the side thanks to the open door.
"I met them during their visit to DC, so I know who to expect. Besides, you worry about the way your mother is going to act, and while I would like for her to see that I love you and Emily more than anything, your feelings matter more to me than hers."
"Yeah, but I don't want to quarrel with her... And I want her to see that she is wrong and I did the right thing, but I'm afraid she's too stubborn to even try..." she sighed and cuddled to him, when she felt him wrap his arms around her "Whenever I go home or my parents come with visit, I feel like I'm back in high school..."
"You simply want it all to go well and it is perfectly understandable."
About half an hour later they moved forward and it wasn't long before they left the main roads and started heading more directly towards Sue's hometown. Jack has never been to Ohio, and only knew general things about the place she was growing up in but when they reached the town, he had to admit that he immediately took a liking to it. It reminded him a lot of the place he came from. He was so lost in watching the surroundings, that he got surprised when the car suddenly stopped and Sue stated that they reached their destination. He looked ahead at a nice, well-kept family house with a beautiful garden and smiled. He had to admit that it pretty much fitted his imagination of what her family house could look like.
The door opened and they were both surprised, when instead of her parents, they noticed a man in his early forties walk out. Jack immediately guessed it had to be one of Sue's brothers. He was slightly taller than Jack, of similar built with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was grinning widely and immediately pulled his sister into a tight hug, when she got out of the car.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in San Francisco?" she asked, and the man chuckled.
"It's been ages since I've seen my little sister and my favourite niece, and I thought it might be a good opportunity to see you two." his eyes moved to Emily, eying him curiously while standing behind her mother. "My goodness, how much she grew up! I guess you don't remember me, do you?" Emily hid more behind Sue, when he crouched in front of her and all adults laughed. "I guess she needs time. And you must be the famous Jack, who my sister managed to keep secret from her brothers for such a long time and I have never had the pleasure to meet. Bill Thomas." he extended his hands towards Hudson, who shook it.
"Jack Hudson." he suspected that he might have a chance to meet Sue's brothers, but he didn't think it would happen so quickly upon arriving. Still, he was pleasantly surprised by Bill's attitude towards him, as he actually expected it to be at least a little hostile.
"Come on, let's go inside before Mom and Dad get impatient!"
Jack squeezed Sue's hand before wrapping his arm around her and the three Hudsons slowly followed the man into the house. The moment they stepped inside they noticed Sue's father standing in the anteroom, obviously waiting for them.
"Grandpa!"
Emily immediately ran to him, and the man caught her into his arms and lifted from the ground in the way which made her squeal. He sat her on his hip and reached out his other arm. Sue stepped closer to him and he hugged her tightly as well.
"Hi, Dad." she smiled, moving away and Peter's eyes landed on Jack.
Hudson felt awkward, not sure what he should say or do. He had no idea what was in the older man's mind and he felt horribly uncomfortable. He knew very well that Sue was dad's daughter and the man was very protective over her. Should he apologize for making her suffer or he knew that there was nothing Jack could do to make it all different after he went onto this assignment? He was a little taken aback by Peter taking a few steps towards him and extending his hand, pretty much the same way his son did earlier.
"It's good to see you again, Jack." he smiled, shaking Jack's hand after he took it.
Just in that moment Carla came to the anteroom from the other side, greeting her daughter and granddaughter. She glanced at Jack for a short moment, before looking away and acting like he wasn't even in the room. Sue, Emily and Bill immediately followed her and Jack sighed with relief. Judging by Sue's behaviour, he expected some kind of outburst, so he thought that no acknowledgment of his person was actually a good reaction. When he heard a chuckle, and glanced at Sue's father he got sure that he was right.
"Give her some time, she'll get over it." he stated and gestured for him to follow the rest.
Jack nodded, and felt quite relieved. Even though he tried not to show it to an overly worried Sue, he was a little afraid of meeting with her parents after all that has happened. It went way better than he thought it would.
