Chapter 44 – Jesse Flynn
Ever since Nevaeh had started the Secret Santa thing, Jesse had tried to find something to give to the name he had picked. But what do you give a woman who has practically everything? Because Morrigan Antoinette Ventura had everything: fame, talent, money, and the favor of a prince. Well, Jesse was not entirely sure how far that favor went and for how long that would last since out of the five remaining girls on his list – whom Nathan refused to call his Elite, by the way – she was the only one he had not taken to his bed. Her, and Pallas, but Pallas had had her eyes on Henri de Montignac ever since Halloween.
So, for almost two weeks, Jesse tried to find something for Morrigan, and he had finally asked Nevaeh for her help. At first, she didn't really want to help him because she said everyone had the same 'problem', but she relented and they put their heads together to find something for her. Nevaeh did know the girls better than everyone, spending every single day with them.
But now, here he was with a nicely wrapped present for the actress. And his birthday was coming up as well. He wondered if Nevaeh would do something for his birthday as she had for all the others who had had their birthday during the Selection.
The day before the Report, on December 18th, Jesse woke up with a sudden feeling of having aged a whole of ten years instead of only one. He snorted, still lying in his bed, and rubbed his face with both hands.
"I guess that's what happens when thirty is just around the corner," he mumbled to himself, yawning. But thirty was still two years away since he was 'only' turning twenty-eight. He checked the time on his phone: 6:57. Of course. Half an hour before his alarm-clock, but he did have several messages waiting for his attention, one of which was from his mother. Huh. Long time no see, he thought bitterly.
Mom: Happy Birthday Jesper! When are you coming back home? Are you coming for Christmas? Love, Mom. [6:38]
Jesse frowned. Since when did his mother call him back home? This was something new. He typed a response.
Jesse: Thanks for the birthday wishes! I don't know yet if I'll be able to come home, there is still lots to do here. [6:59]
He answered a few others before kicking his covers away and going to the shower. Ever since his reconciliation with Nevaeh, he slept better and felt a tiny bit better. He wasn't completely at his peak yet, and still far from it, but he was getting there: slowly but surely.
When Jesse came out of the shower to get dressed, there was a bouquet of white roses waiting for him on his desk. He smiled, despite himself, and went to have a closer look. He smiled even brighter when he saw the note, written in that beautiful handwriting he had grown to love so much.
Dear Jesse,
I wish you a very happy birthday, and I hope this year brings you joy. I'm glad we mended our friendship because now I have someone to annoy again. I'm just kidding. Thank you for being you, even if you always wear shiny suits. That's what makes you you, and I like it. Have a great day.
With love, Nevaeh.
PS: You'll need to come to see me for your actual gift. This was just a little teaser… 2 pm in the winter garden?
Hell, yes, he'd be at 2 p.m. in the Winter Garden. Would that become their place? As the Lake was for Silas and Ximena? He quickly got dressed to go down for breakfast, his bowtie as flashy as his birthday mood: a glittery gold bow, very party-worthy.
"Happy Birthday!" the girls said in unison as Jesse stepped into the dining room. Jesse grinned and his heart warmed so much. No, don't cry, he told himself as he was led to the head of the table. Where a plate should have been, there was only a pile of small packages, all wrapped in bright and festive colors.
"Uhh…" Jesse said, at lost for any other words. "What is this?"
"Your birthday gifts, duh," Pallas said, pushing him playfully in the arm. She was standing next to him, and all the nice other girls plus the princes, Henri, Sydney, Otis, and of course, Nevaeh, were all gathered around him.
"Come on, open them," Sydney said. "We're hungry, and we're kinda waiting on you."
Jesse just felt an overwhelming feeling of love and friendship and started crying. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying not to sob in front of everyone. It took him a few seconds to get a hold of his emotions – and for the first time in a couple of months, they were 110% genuine, he was not faking them for the cameras. He took a huge breath and let it out. It was a little shaky, but he smiled nonetheless.
"Which one should I start with?" he asked. He couldn't remember a time when he had so many gifts for his birthday alone, since they were always combined with his Christmas presents.
"Anyone!" Ashia said.
"Just start with this one," Jenissa suggested, handing him the one at the top of the pile wrapped in blue paper and a yellow ribbon. Everyone around the room chuckled. By then, the Queen, the Prince Consort, and the Queen-mother had also gathered around the birthday boy to see what this was all about.
"Okay," Jesse said. He turned the package around and found a name on it: By Emelda. He delicately opened the package and found a small black box. Upon opening it, he was surprised to see a very unusual wooden bowtie. "This is amazing!" he said, taking it out and inspecting it closer. "I love it!" He grinned at Emelda who was standing beside Nathan, on his left.
"I'm glad you like it!" she said.
Jesse continued to open the small packages, all containing a different bowtie: shaped like a butterfly, made of paper, shaped like a yellow bow-pasta, made of glow-in-the-dark material, leather, burlap, zippers, Marvel or Star Wars themed, metallic, lego, music or texts printed on the fabric, and so on. In the end, he had 17 news crazy bowties. Jesse just laughed and cried and the same time.
"This is the best birthday I've ever had!" he said, bursting into tears. He hid his face in his hands and cried. All the pent-up emotions from the previous weeks and months coming up now. Of all times.
"Aw, man, don't cry!" Valerian said, wrapping Jesse in his arms. "This is supposed to be a happy day! Not a sad one!"
"I am happy!" Jesse said between sobs, and everyone laughed. He didn't sound very convincing, but it was true. The Selection had been a job for him – his dream job – but they had all welcomed him in the group, even if he was annoying: third-wheeling and fishing for the tea sometimes did that… "Guys, thank you so much," he managed to say, calming down a little. "I will wear them all proudly, I promise. Here," he said. "Which one do I wear today?" he asked, taking off the golden glitter one he was already wearing.
"This one!" Val said, handing him the Pasta one.
Jesse and the others laughed and he attached it around his neck.
-o-0-o-
The morning passed without Jesse going into another emotional train wreck, and he worked with Sydney and Otis on finishing the next day's recap video. It would be the last Report with the Selected before they went home for Christmas, so he wanted to make it memorable. Sydney had already been preparing the stage decorations for days.
But for some reason, Jesse couldn't quite erase the smile on his face. The pile of bowties he had received had made him feel all kinds of feelings, but they were good feelings. And 2 p.m. was also coming faster and faster and Jesse was getting nervous: what else could Nevaeh give him? Because clearly, the bowties had been her idea. He wasn't complaining! He was just wondering…
Lunch went by so slowly, and Jesse counted the seconds and the minutes until the time Nevaeh had given him. Five minutes before 2 p.m., he made his way to the Winter Garden, making memories of their dinner there together surface back, and he wanted to cry again.
"No, don't cry, you idiot," he scolded himself under his breath. Jesse sat on a low wall near the white roses and waited. He didn't have to wait for long because heels clicked on the floor before he could see her. He watched her coming over, dressed in the same dress as before, but only now was he really taking it in: a long sleeve black and white striped dress, with horizontal stripes on the top, cinched at the waist, and vertical stripes on the skirt. That, paired with black stilettoes and she was perfect. As always.
He stood and took her hand in his, kissing her knuckles. "My Lady," he said with a mischievous lopsided grin.
"Stop that, Jesse," she said, giving him his hand back. "But I'm glad you came." She took a deep breath and sat down on the low wall, inviting him to do the same. "Jesse, there's something I need to tell you, and I thought that since it was your birthday, I might tell you now."
Jesse frowned, not understanding. "Uh… okay?"
Nevaeh gave him a small white box wrapped in a golden ribbon. He untied it gently, nervous. Everything about Nevaeh made him nervous at the moment, but he wasn't quite sure why… He took off the top of the box and in it were two tiny socks, one pink and one blue. He frowned and held his breath.
"I don't understand," he said.
"Pick your team," Nevaeh said softly.
"…what?" he said, looking from her face to her midsection, and back at her face again. "You're–" he cleared his voice, trying not to make it crack. A wave of emotions rushed through him yet again, and he wanted to scream, dance, cry, laugh, and run all at the same time. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "Are you serious?"
Nevaeh nodded. "Don't be sorry. You're going to be a dad, Jesse."
Jesse took a shaky breath and stared at the woman in front of him. She was glowing, that was true. How had he not seen it? She was more beautiful than ever before. And she was going to be the mother of his–
"How far along are you?" he asked, though he could have counted himself. Their one night– their only drunken night together had been after the Halloween party.
"Seven weeks," she said. "But please let's just keep that to ourselves, okay? I don't want anyone freaking out about this."
Jesse let out a chuckle. "Can I freak out about this?"
Nevaeh laughed softly and took his hand in hers. "You may. But only in private." She motioned to the box. "So, what team do you pick?" she asked. "Boy or girl?"
The new-dad-to-be grinned. "I pick girl." He took the pink sock and rubbed it with his thumb before stuffing it in his pocket. "How long are you going to hide it?" he asked, his hand hovering above her belly. She took his hand and placed it on her.
"As long as I can," she said. "We're lucky it's winter and I can wear layers."
Jesse just smiled and scooted closer to her. Could he kiss her? Were they a couple now? Were they dating? Them being parents together meant… something… right? But Nevaeh beat him to it and leaned in, placing her lips on his.
Was Jesse dead? Was he in heaven right now? Or was he dreaming?
He pinched the skin on his hand and the sting told him he was well alive, kissing the woman he loved, and having a baby on the way. How better could it become?
Jesse and Nevaeh broke off the kiss at the same time and rested their foreheads against each other, grinning. "Did you know that at seven weeks old, a baby is as big as a blueberry?" she whispered.
-o-0-o-
"Goodeveningladiesandgentlemengirlsandboys!" Jesse said, jumping from behind a red curtain on the side of the stage. "My name is Jesse Flynn and it's almost Christmas! I can't believe it! It's already Christmas, and we've had one proposal and one 'official' Elite," he air-quoted. Because yes, there were only 5 girls remaining on Nathan's list but the prince had never called them his Elite.
"Look at all this decoration!" he continued, showing the stage around him. "Isn't it beautiful?" He grinned.
On the side of the stage, there was a perfectly cone-shaped Christmas tree heavy with white, red, and gold glass bulbs, tinsel, and string-lights. Underneath were loads and loads of fake presents – empty boxes wrapped in festive paper and shiny ribbons – and next to all that, the usual couch and armchairs, with candles everywhere, giving off a very warm and cozy atmosphere.
"You've seen the decoration change over the weeks and months, and I wanted to thank a very special person." He paused and looked for Sydney standing in the shadows on the side of the audience, leaning against the wall. "Sydney Harlow! Please join me on the stage!"
Sydney shook her head and refused to come, but when the Selected started chanting her name, the audience followed them, urging her to step on the stage. She relented and walked up the stairs under a thunder of cheer and applause. Jesse hugged her.
"Sydney, I really want to thank you for everything you've done during the Selection and–"
"Are you firing me?" she asked, teasing him.
"No! Never! At least not until the end of the Selection," he teased back. "You're way too precious for this work. You've always got my back when I couldn't be in two places at once, and there is no match for your creativity and aesthetic sense." He went to the pile of 'fake' presents under the tree and took a small gift that was laying on a huge one. "Yep, I added to your decoration," he said handing it to her.
"Oh, Jesse," Sydney said. She was at loss for words, being used to work in the shadows and never really show her face on the Report and the magazines. She took off the ribbon and opened the lid of the box; then she laughed. "You didn't."
"Of course!" Jesse said. "You deserve a month-long vacay in the Caribbean after all this!" he said.
"Thanks." Sydney hugged Jesse. "What is going on with you?" she whispered while hugging him. "You're overly excited today."
"I'm just happy!" he said, releasing her. It was true. Ever since his little talk with Nevaeh the previous day and his amazing birthday surprises – plural – his moods had skyrocketed.
Sydney went back towards the audience with her gift in hand and Jesse continued his report. "There is another special person I'd like to thank," he said. "He always works behind the scenes – or more accurately behind the camera and screens – and his talent at editing videos and making magic happen on your screens is unprecedented. So, without any further ado, please welcome Otis Channing to the stage!"
It took some coaxing and cheering to get him on the stage too, but he came. Jesse also gave him a gift from under the Christmas tree, only this time it was a year-long subscription to his favorite restaurant in LA.
Otis grinned. "Oh wow, thanks!" He and Jesse shared a bear hug before Otis walked away.
"And now, let's get to the Selection!" Jesse said. "Today is the last Report of the Year! Christmas is just around the corner, in a few days, and the girls will all be going home for the Holidays, only to come back for the traditional New Year's Eve Ball!" He turned towards the girls who were all dressed in white with red and gold accessories. "Damn, I'm gonna miss you all during these next few days. It's going to be so silent around here!"
Giggles came from the group of girls. Jesse wondered how all of this would end up. both lists of remaining girls were great group friends, but only one of each would win. IF the princes decided to choose one. And that was a big IF. Jesse was losing hope. And there were no eliminations that day, either. How long would they drag out the Selection? Though Valerian was somewhat close to the end… right?
He exchanged some questions with them all, teasing and being teased, and also with the two princes sitting among them, each with their girls around them. It was quite the sight, to be honest.
He concluded the Report with his usual finishing line, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a happy New Year.
And as decided beforehand, they filmed the Queen's Christmas address when everyone was gone, so that the royal family wouldn't have to come back for it and the Report team would have enough time to edit it and make a nice video about it.
-o-0-o-
When Jesse stepped into the Palace after the Report, he went directly to the dining room for lunch. The whole Place was shining with Christmas decorations and it made him nostalgic. Happy, but nostalgic. He stopped in front of the five-meters-high Christmas tree and just stared at it. It was so shiny.
A touch like a butterfly's wing made him look to his left: it was Nevaeh who had slipped her hand in his, a small smile on her lips.
"You did great on the Report, this morning," she said. "Publicly thanking Sydney and Otis was a nice gesture."
Jesse grinned. "Yeah, I wanted to do something special." He wrapped his arm around her waist and placed a kiss on her temple. "How are you?" he asked. "I didn't even think to ask you if you were sick or not, in the mornings…"
Nevaeh shook her head. "Surprisingly no, I don't have morning sickness," she said. "So for now I'm good."
Jesse smiled. He honestly couldn't have been happier than in that precise moment.
"HA! I knew it!" someone said behind them. But Nevaeh and Jesse didn't jump apart, feeling guilty, they just turned around. "Jesse! She's my cousin!" Nathan said.
"So?" Nevaeh retorted. "That makes Jesse family."
Nathan's face went blank for a second. "Wait. Did you guys elope or something?"
Nevaeh and Jesse exchanged a glance, but they burst out laughing. "Of course, not."
"Then Jesse will only be family the day you two get married," Nathan declared. "Until then," he continued, "don't you dare hurt her, you understand?" Nathan pointed an index finger in Jesse's face, threatening.
"Yes, sir," Jesse mock-saluted. "I'm not planning on hurting the lady, trust me."
"Good." Nathan then wedged himself between the two and dragged them to the dining room. "Look who I found kissing under the Christmas tree!" he called out upon entering the dining room where everyone was already seated and waiting. "Jen, you owe me thirty bucks."
"Nate!" Nevaeh said. "Did you just–"
"Yep! You don't know every single thing that happens under this roof. You two are going to make people earn some good money now." He laughed and let go of their arms.
Jesse couldn't believe people had been betting on him, just under his nose. How had he not seen it? And was he so easy to read? Granted, he had not been at his best, in the previous weeks, but still. How had he not seen it before? He looked at Nevaeh who was heading to the royal table, her cheeks a bit pinker than normal, but in doubt, he put that on the pregnancy.
He took a deep breath and headed to the table with the Selected and the two princes still in the game.
"When have you two started dating?" Gail asked once the first dish had come in.
"Uh–"
"I'm pretty sure it started the moment they met, two and half years ago," Valerian piped in with a sly grin. "Though it's been a love-hate relationship ever since that episode, you two have always butted heads together. Right?"
Jesse tried to loosen his bowtie. Was it just him or was it really warm in there? "I think it's safe to say that it took Nevaeh longer to like me back," he said.
"Clearly," Jenissa said, sipping on her red wine. "You two didn't exchange a single word since the Halloween party." She paused. "What changed?"
A baby? Jesse thought to himself. But he would never betray their secret. Sure, the baby was his, but it wasn't his to tell. "I think we were both tired and exhausted of ignoring each other," he replied smoothly. "You have no idea the energy one has to put out to ignore someone living under the same roof as you."
Nathan laughed. "I can imagine that." He paused, forking some food into his mouth. "So, you two are a thing now?" he asked, motioning that them with his fork. "Like, for real? Wedding and all?"
Jesse looked at Nevaeh who was in deep conversation with her aunt. "I don't know," he finally said. "I don't want to ruin my chances by replying positively to your question too quickly."
"Coward," Nathan mumbled under his breath.
"Rude," Val said. "You're the one who's having a Selection with only five remaining girls, and you're the one who doesn't want to call them your Elite. You're the Coward," he added, only half-teasing.
Nathan finished his wine. "What does it change?" he asked to no one in particular. "If you want me to call them my Elite, then so be it. But it won't change anything." He shrugged.
"Who made the first step in your reconciliation?" Emelda asked Jesse, trying to change the subject back to him because Nathan had made everyone uncomfortable with his little outburst.
"Actually, it was Nevaeh," Jesse said.
"HA!" Jenissa said, elbowing Nathan. "You owe me thirty bucks."
"So, we're even," he said. "Too bad. I was really looking forward to winning 60 bucks."
Jenissa snorted. "What would you have bought with 60 dollars, anyway? Don't you already have everything you can possibly need or want?"
"I'm always in need of new rubbers," he said. "I seem to be using them quite a lot these days." He looked at his girls with a mischievous grin as they all chuckled somewhat nervously.
"Awkward…" Val said under his breath.
Jesse agreed with Valerian. How awkward was it to say in front of your five girlfriends that you did the frick-frack with almost all of them, in front of everyone else, and while eating? Jesse shook his head and continued eating in silence, leaving them to chat about whatever they were going to chat about.
Jesse tuned them out and thought of Nevaeh and the tiny life that was growing inside of her. He had taken the pink sock, thinking that she was carrying a girl. He smiled, running his finger on the side of the wine glass. A little girl. Imagine that. Him, a dad! He must have done something right, right? Otherwise, the universe wouldn't grand him a child. Right?
Dessert came and Jesse ate it without really thinking, his mind wandering far… very far away. Well, not that far if one considered the distance between his table and Nevaeh's, but still. The gap between their tables seemed like the Grand Canyon, with no way of getting to the other side.
Nevaeh's three sharp claps brought Jesse back to reality.
"All right, everyone, let's go to the women's room for our Secret Santa gift exchange," she said. "After which, you will all start packing your bags if you haven't already because you are all leaving first thing after breakfast tomorrow morning. This is the last day you're here before you come back for the traditional New Year's Eve Ball." She paused. "If you wish to come back, that is," she said. "Because neither Nathan nor Valerian will force you to come back. This Selection has already been dragging on for quite some time, so if you have other better things to do, you are welcome to them."
"Do we have to tell you before we leave if we're coming back?" Pallas asked.
"No, you can tell us whenever you wish," she replied.
"Do we have to leave?" Morrigan said softly.
"We'll discuss this matter later. For now, let's get to our gift exchange." She offered them all a smile and Jesse's stomach did a little summersault at the sight of it. If there was one thing he absolutely adored about his new girlfriend – because that's what she was, okay? –it was her genuine smile. Not the fake, practiced one, but the real one. She shooed everyone out of the dining room and brought up the rear with Jesse.
The boys all stood on the threshold of the women's rooms, waiting for an official invitation inside, as per the tradition. Nevaeh invited them in, and everyone found a seat somewhere: a couch, a chair, a lap, a cushion on the floor, or an armrest somewhere. The fire was roaring the fireplace, crackling pleasantly and sending tiny orange and yellow sparks in the air. Next to the fireplace was a beautiful Christmas tree, dressed in the same colors as the rest of the Palace: red, gold, and white. Under it, 16 nicely wrapped gifts of various shapes and sizes.
"How do we proceed?" Odessa asked. "Maybe some don't want to reveal themselves?" she looked around the room.
"Who doesn't want to reveal themselves?" Nevaeh asked, but no one wanted to keep their 'secrecy' a secret.
"Very well," she said. "Then I suggest the youngest among us will go pick a present – not theirs – and give it to the person. Then that person will go get a present and so on." She looked over the people gathered around the room and since no one said anything against that idea, Nevaeh designated the youngest: Evangeline.
So, Eve went to the pile of gifts and picked one randomly. "Nathan." She handed him the gift and he read who the giver was.
"It's from Ashia," he said. He opened the gift and in it was a small BB8 plushie that went 'Beep Boop'when you pressed on its belly. "This is so CUTE!" he cried out, pressing on the belly again and again. He went to hug Ashia who didn't really know where to hide. "Thank you so much!"
Then it was Nathan's turn to go get a present under the tree, and on and on it went. At some point, Nevaeh got a sexy lingerie ensemble from Pallas – which made her blush to no end but Jesse thought it was adorable – and Silas got silly socks with hearts on them and cufflinks from Ximena to wear at their wedding; Jesse gave a picture frame to Morrigan with a collage of pictures of her and Nathan throughout the Selection; Eve gave Odessa a map of the sky on the day she was born.
Jesse lost track of what everyone was getting and from who it was, but he just smiled. This whole family he had found was the best thing that could have happened to him and it had been given to him when he had least expected it.
"And there's only one left," Henri said, going to the tree after getting his present from Gail. "It's for Jesse," he said, reading the tag. "And by the shape and the weight, it's probably a bottle of wine or something."
"Spoiler!" Valerian said and everyone laughed.
Jesse took the bottle of rosé from the long and thin paper bag as well as the note that was attached to it. He didn't read it out loud of course.
Dear Jesse, I hope we'll be able to drink this bottle together once we have our tiny little baby boy or girl. Joyeux Noël. With love, Nevaeh.
Jesse quickly put the note and the bottle back in the paper bag and announced it was from Nevaeh, making everyone whoop and cheer. She came to sit next to him on the large settee, snuggling against him as everyone talked and chatted. Wrapping papers were littered around the room, maids were passing around cups of hot chocolate, and no one seemed in a hurry to go pack their things or go back home just yet.
What an uwu chapter...! I was re-reading and editing it yesterday and it made me go uwu the whole time... Anyway, yeah, some of you guessed Nevaeh's condition! what did you think of it and of Jesse's reaction? And Jesse's birthday gifts? and the secret Santas? :eyes:
anyhow, here's the official Secret Santa list with all the gifts and those that weren't mentioned in the chapter (the givers and receivers have been picked randomly by the computer^^):
Silas - Jen: a fancy bottle of wine
Jen - Ashia: a signed CD of her playing the piano and the violin
Ashia - Nathan: BB8 plushie
Nathan - Valerian: a new set of highlighters and some string lights (because Yuna is not here to give him that...)
Valerian - Emelda: a basket for relaxation with a candle, fluffy sock, a face mask, and fancy chocolates
Emelda - Abigail: a new lipstick from a fancy brand with a matching nail polish
Abigail - Henri: champagne with something for a sexy night (with a certain lady...)
Henri - Evangeline: bath bombs, bath salts, and anything fancy for a good long relaxing bath
Evangeline - Odessa: a map of the sky the day she was born.
Odessa - Ximena: a DIY set of lip balms made with flowers and a succulent
Ximena - Silas: silly socks with hearts and rose cufflinks for their wedding
Nevaeh - Jesse: a bottle of rosé for when she can drink alcohol again
Jesse - Morrigan: a picture frame with a collage of pictures of her and Nathan during the Selection.
Morrigan - Dyani: three new notebooks with gel pens
Dyani - Pallas: several aromatherapy candles
Pallas - Nevaeh: a sexy lingerie ensemble with tiny flowers on it, along with a box of chocolates.
Anyway! I hope you enjoyed this chapter (as well as yesterday's Sisters second prologue ;) ). I'll see you Wednesday for a next chapter! byeeee
