The rumours that the writers are planning on putting Jubal and Rina together beginning in the season finale is killing my writing muse a little, but I'm hoping to get one more chapter done for this story. I'll hopefully have it posted over next few days and then will see what happens after that.
Thank you to all who have been reading so far, I really appreciate it.
Erin had told Jubal that she actually wanted pizza as she hadn't been able to find any good pizza close to her campus and had really missed that. He had ordered for all three of them before sitting down on the couch with Erin letting her pick something for them to watch, even though he knew that Erin wasn't really watching it. She took a deep breath as she looked at Jubal.
"I've really let Mags down this time, you think she is disappointed in me?" She asked nervously as she played with the sleeves of her jumper again, a sign that she was emotional.
Jubal knew that something was on Erin's mind and he was glad that she was willing to talk to him about it. He turned to face her a little while talking to her. "You know about a month after your sister and I started dating I was struggling with things at work and not seeing the kids, Mags drove me to an AA meeting and waited for me outside. I will always be in AA and your sister knows that and still loves me. So trust me Erin you could not disappoint her or change how much she loves you, you are family. Mags is hurting for you because she knows how hard you worked on getting clean and how hard you have been working on this fresh start."
Erin was surprised with how honest Jubal was with her about his own struggles but it did make her feel better and it made her really believe his words that she hadn't disappointed Maggie. "You know that nothing could make my sister love you any less? I mean my whole family can see how much she loves you Jubal. I just really don't want to let her down, Mags has been there for me more than she should have had to. You know she sat me down to tell me about moving to New York to work for the FBI to make sure that I was going to be okay with the change. She called home so much when she moved here."
Jubal smiled honestly hearing Erin say about how much Mags loved him "I never for a second doubt how much Mags loves me, I just can't at times believe that she has chosen to be with me. But you haven't let her down Erin I can promise you that, this won't change how Mags or your family look at you or how much they love you. You know that doesn't surprise me about her sitting you down and checking in so much, when Maggie Bell loves you and really cares about you you know about it." He chuckled softly "But you are accepting our help, that's a huge step and Mags is proud of you for taking the help."
"Well you should see how she looks at you through our eyes cause we have never seen her so happy or in love." Erin shook her head smiling but it was the truth, she let out a laugh when she heard about Jubal saying that you knew when Maggie cared about you "That is so true, but I couldn't ask for anyone better in my corner than Mags. And now you, thank you again Jubal for reaching out to your friend and getting me somewhere that was close to you and Mags, you have no idea how much that means to me."
"Our addictions are different but I've been there Erin, I've been the one needing help and I had slips, I didn't get it on my first try and I know how much I needed and wanted my sister as close to me as possible. This is something that you will always battle, it's always going to be a part of you but it doesn't have to define you. But you do have to slowly learn to lean on the people that love you and care about you no matter what. It took me a long time to realise that and I still need reminded of it from time to time and your sister is always right there to remind me. You know that me and Mags are here to help you in any way that we can and I'm sorry if you felt like you couldn't come to me when Maggie was away with work."
Erin shook her head instantly hearing Jubal "It wasn't that I didn't feel like I couldn't come to you Jubal, I mean who would understand what I was going through better than you. But you had enough to deal with, you were dealing with Mags being God knows where doing God knows what. Mel told me about seeing Mags face and that it wasn't her only injury. I felt like I would have just been adding to your stress even more, I got inside my own head and I thought that I could handle it on my own. I wanted to show that I could handle being in a big city and at University, I thought asking for help would make my family think that I wasn't capable of doing this."
"Your sister likes to just make sure that I'm not in danger of taking a heart attack anytime soon." He shook his head chuckling "but you know that no matter what Mags and I have going on with our lives that we will still always be there for you. You are family Erin and that is who you have to lean on the most especially in times like this. Being honest with them is terrifying trust me I know that, but it is one of the things that will help you stay clean. When I was struggling a few months ago Mags never pushed me to talk, I talked to her when I was ready and after a meeting I was reminded that I have to be honest with those closet to me in order to stay sober. I hid and lied in the past and that always led to me slipping."
"I know that you two would do anything for me, I just got so lost in my head that I felt like I had no-one that I could reach out to which I know is not the truth. I know that you and Mags are the only reason that my parents aren't on their way to New York right now." Erin was quiet for a minute biting her lip before looking at Jubal again "What am I going to do about Uni, I don't want to get kicked off my course?".
"Mags and I will go and talk to the University explain what is going on, you know that the university has services that can help you to cope with everything? And it's all confidential, you can even attend meetings on campus. With your permission they will be able to consult with whoever you work with at rehab and they will be able to continue your support when you return to Uni. I will speak to my friend Dr. Stevenson about watching over that to make sure that you are getting the best help and support there is."
"Jubal, I can't ask you to do that, you have already done so much by coming with Maggie to get me and getting me a place in the rehab. This is not what you signed up for when you started dating my sister." She smiled a little but the tears were evident in her eyes, she knew that Jubal was looking out for her and protecting her just like a big brother would because of how much he loved her older sister. Erin was realising listening to Jubal just how lucky she was to have him and Maggie looking out for her.
"You aren't asking Erin, I'm offering, like I said you are family and we take care of family. And if Dr. Stevenson can help me sort my life out then trust me he can help you." Jubal chuckled softly "But only if you are okay with it all? I can let him and Mags talk alone or I can ask him to stay out of it, it's completely up to you Erin, I don't want to overstep or make you feel pressured in any way."
Without warning Erin moved forward and hugged Jubal tight, so tight that it reminded him of one of Mags hugs when she was really struggling, Erin pulled back and wiped the few tears from her cheek with her hoodie sleeve. "I'm more than okay with it Jubal, you aren't overstepping or pressuring me. I just don't think that I will ever be able to thank you for this."
"You getting help and putting in the work to stay clean and have the life that you deserve is all the thanks that I need Erin. That's the most important thing here." Jubal smiled honestly looking at Erin.
Maggie had come back down the stairs in Jubal's hoodie and her sweat pants, she had made her way towards the living room when she heard Jubal and Erin talking. She hadn't planned on standing there but she couldn't believe how honest Erin was being with Jubal and she knew that this was exactly what Erin needed right now. It made Maggie realise just how much Erin clearly trusted Jubal and she didn't think he was even aware of that right now. Listening to the way that Jubal was with Erin, offering to help with Uni and getting Dr Tom Stevenson to help out had tears rolling down Maggie's cheek. She had never had someone love her so much that they were willing to help out her family like this, being reminded once again of how truly lucky she was to have Jubal Valentine in her life.
Maggie wiped away the tears and took a deep breath before making her way into the living room and she ran her hand along Jubal's shoulders as she walked around the couch sitting down beside him "So what did you two decide on for dinner? I didn't hear any arguing so I'm taking that to mean that dinner was ordered." She teased them playfully trying to hide the emotion in her voice.
Jubal wrapped his arm around Maggie when she sat down beside him kissing her head as she leaned against his side. He poked her side gently when he heard her about him and Erin not arguing "We agreed on pizza but we only ordered two, we thought you said you weren't hungry before you went upstairs." He smirked teasing Maggie playfully.
Maggie turned her head looking at Jubal "We both know that I would just eat your's babe so you would be the one going hungry." She smirked teasing him playfully.
"Hmm okay that's true." Jubal leaned down stealing a quick kiss before leaning back against the couch and looked at Erin "You see what I have to put up with? Your sister steals my food and my coffee, she's lucky that I love her so much."
Erin was sitting back in the couch watching them she couldn't help it, yes Jubal and Maggie had always been affectionate with each other when she hung out with them, but it seemed different now. She realised that they both really wanted and needed to be as close to each other as possible, she was wondering if Maggie being away for five weeks was the reason for that happening. She shook her head laughing when she heard Jubal.
"Well I am way too hungry to be sharing my pizza even with my sister. You guys mind if I go freshen up and change before dinner arrives?."
Maggie smiled looking at her sister "Of course not Erin, you know to make yourself at home when you are here. The guest room has been freshly made up so it's all ready for you."
Erin smiled thanking them once again as she grabbed her bag and went to the guest bedroom to grab some clothes to go to the bathroom and freshen up and change. When Erin left the living room Jubal wrapped both his arms around Maggie pulling her even closer to him "So how long were you standing in the hallway?." When Maggie turned her head and raised an eyebrow at him he reached out caressing her cheek gently "I know when you have been crying baby and I could hear the emotion in your voice."
This man really did know her better than anyone even her own family, she snuggled further into Jubal's embrace but kept her eyes on him "Long enough to know that I am the luckiest person alive to have you in my life and that you have absolutely no idea how much I really do love you Jubal Valentine and how much Erin trusts you. That's the most I've ever heard her talk about her struggles. Thank you." Maggie gently put her fingers against Jubal's lips to stop him from talking "Erin isn't the only one who feels like she will never be able to thank you enough, you are giving my little sister another chance at the life she wants. What I heard between you and Erin is one of the many reasons that you are the greatest, most amazing, sweetest and most loving man that I have ever met."
Jubal couldn't help the tears that appeared in his eyes as he listened to Maggie talk, he wasn't sure he would ever get used to her talking to him or about him this way. Maggie was right, yes he knew she loved him he never doubted that for even a second, but in his head she could do so much better than him which at times stopped him from seeing just how much she was in love with him. He lifted one of his hands to her cheek gently letting his thumb caress the skin just under her eye as she smiled softly at her.
"Mags, baby I didn't even have to think twice about helping Erin, she's your little sister so that makes her family to me. I think Erin was caught a little off guard with how honest I was about my own struggles which got her talking a little more. But I do hope you both know that I will do anything for you and any of your family that needs it. Like I told Erin neither of you have to thank me, I'm actually glad that this is something that I can help with. You may not know it but you help me with my sobriety every single day baby, when I really struggled you were so patient and gentle with me. That is something that I won't ever forget and I know that with you I can be completely honest about any struggles I am having and you won't judge or just turn it in to a fight."
Maggie leaned in to Jubal's touch as she listened to him speaking, she ran her hand along his arm slowly "You can always be yourself with me babe because I love you for you and I love all of you, that won't ever change Jubal. And why on earth would I turn you leaning on me into a fight? I want you to be able to come to me and lean on me for anything, we are in this together, the good and the bad and whatever our families decide to throw our way too." She chuckled softly as she closed the distance between them kissing him with so much love.
There was a knock on the door but it didn't break the kiss as they heard Erin walking towards the door "Oh pizza is here, and if you two plan on staying like that I guess it means more pizza for me." Erin joked playfully smiling when she heard Maggie and Jubal chuckle as she opened the door taking the pizzas thanking the delivery guy and giving him the tip that Jubal had left on the table close to the door.