Karen's House-Monday, December 23:

Karen makes her way down the stairs and sees Jessie sitting in the kitchen. "Hey honey," she says, shocked to see her awake already. Jessie looks up and gives her a soft smile. "What are you doing up so early?" She asks, noting that it's only five in the morning.

"Can't sleep," Jessie answers simply, nursing her cup of coffee. She looks up and sees the worried look on Karen's face. "What?" She asks, setting her cup down to look her mother in the eye.

"Nothing. It's just that," Karen sighs and Jessie gives her an impatient expression. "Are you happy?" Karen asks, cutting straight to the chase.

Jessie is inwardly floored, but she hides the fact well. "Why wouldn't I be?" She asks, completely avoiding the question at hand.

"That's not an answer," Karen says sternly as she sits down across from her daughter. "Now, are you going to tell me what's wrong or do I have to beat it out of you?" Karen asks, a smile playing at her lips.

"Mom, don't even go there," Jessie says, still pensive. "You know I could kick your ass," she replies, still not looking up, without even the slightest hint of humor added.

"Jessie!" Karen says, taken back by her daughter's choice of words. She immediately turns her focus back to her daughter, who didn't even flinch at her mother's raised voice. "Jess," she says slowly, hoping to draw the information out of her.

"Mom, it's nothing. I'm fine. I'm better than fine. I feel like I'm on top of the goddamn world," Jessie replies in the same somber, detached tone.

Karen looks in Jessie's melancholy eyes and lets out a soft sigh. She reaches over and rubs her daughter's arm gently. "Oh, Jess. What happened to you?" She asks quietly, squeezing Jessie's arm tenderly.

To her surprise, Jessie jumps up, sending her chair sliding across the floor. She takes her cup and sets it in the sink. "I need to go for a walk," she says as she heads for the door. Karen sits there, completely stumped.

Manning Manor-Later This Morning:

"I can't believe Jessie's coming," Zoe says, giddy with excitement. "We haven't seen her in forever," she continues.

"I can't wait to see her," Rick agrees, reaching for the bacon. "When is she coming?" He asks, turning to Grace.

"I'm not sure. She said that she'd be here for the party tomorrow," she replies with a shrug. "I can't wait until tomorrow," she grins.

"Why?" Eli asks with a yawn as he walks out of the garage. "Why can't you wait until tomorrow? It's only Christmas Eve," he states, stretching.

"For your information, Jessie is coming home for Rick's Christmas party," Zoe says with a smirk. "That's why we can't wait," she sticks her tongue out at him.

"Cool. We haven't seen her in a long time," he says, reaching for the bacon. Everyone just rolls their eyes at how slow he is.

"How is she anyway?" Zoe asks Grace. Grace just turns her head to look a t he sister. "What? You're the only one she's talked to in the last six years," she says.

"I don't know how she's doing. It's not like she's been open about anything she's feeling. I can't tell if, when she says she's fine, she's telling the truth," Grace responds.

"Is she still going out with that guy, Todd?" Rick asks. "Is he coming? I want to meet him. Jessie never let us meet her other boyfriends," he gripes.

"Yeah, I know," Eli chimes in. "Like Eric, Mike or Brent. What's up with that?" He asks, sitting down with a frustrated grunt.

Grace rolls her eyes. More like Erika, Michelle and Brenda. "She broke up with Todd a couple of days ago," she replies. They all let out a collective grunt of disappointment.

Karen sighs as she looks at the clock. It's almost noon and Jessie still isn't back. She closes her eyes and starts to worry about her daughter once more. Six years ago, we agreed to have a closer relationship. Now Jessie won't even talk to me. She blinks back tears and looks at the door, hoping that Jessie will walk through it as a smiling eleven year old again. But, she realizes that things weren't simple for her daughter, even then. Karen sighs again and lets tears slide down her face freely.

Park-This Afternoon:

Jessie is sitting on a park bench, leaning over with her head in her hands, just thinking. I shouldn't have come. I should have stayed in New York...where it's safe. Maybe I should go back before the party tomorrow.

Her cell phone goes off, wrenching Jessie from her thoughts. "Hello?" She asks with confusion.

"Hey," the other person says. "Where are you?" They ask.

"Like I'd tell you, Grace," Jessie says, exasperated. "Why are you calling my cell? How did you get my number?" She asks, getting angry.

Grace just laughs. "Were you high when you recorded your message for your answering machine?" Jessie just grunts, not knowing what Grace is talking about. "You must've been," she says seriously. "You put your cell number on it. I called to see if you were still coming and I got the machine."

"Oh," Jessie says. Note to self: change message...and cell number.

"So, are you still coming or do I need to drive myself up to New York to drag your ass back to Chicago?" She asks seriously.

"I'm debating on it," Jessie grumbles. "Look Grace, I don't know if I want to see everyone again. I mean, I haven't seen them in four years," she sighs.

"Listen to me. We miss you and everyone is really looking forward to seeing you again. You really have no choice," Grace says indignantly.

Jessie cringes remembering saying something along the lines not having a choice to Katie. "You always have a choice," she says softly as she hangs up and turns the phone off. "Damn it!" Jessie yells in frustration. Damn her! She regains her composure, stands up and starts walking back to her house.

"What's wrong Grace?" Lily asks, sitting next to her brooding daughter. Grace turns to look at her mother. "What's bothering you sweetie?"

"Jessie," she grumbles. Lily gives her an encouraging smile. "She's having second thoughts about coming home now," she complains.

"Oh," Lily says a little disappointed. "Did she say why?" She asks curiously.

"Because she isn't sure if she wants to see everyone again," she scoffs. "I can't believe her. I threatened to drive up there and drag her back and nothing! She didn't even flinch," she gripes.

"Did you tell her about Katie?" Lily asks carefully. "I mean, that could help give her incentive," she offers.

"Yeah, incentive to stay put," Grace retorts. "I wish she would talk rather than ignoring us. All I know is that she's been feeling pretty crappy for the last six years," she concludes.

"You picked up on that too, huh?" Zoe quips as she walks into the living room and sits down between them. "Did she change her mind or something? What did you do?" She stares accusingly at Grace.

"I didn't do anything. She's the one that's being an ass. Jessie isn't so sure she's coming," Grace gripes, folding her arms indignantly across her chest.

"Grace," Lily draws out as she casts a disapproving eye at her oldest daughter.

"She probably doesn't want to listen to you bitch and moan," Zoe retorts. She gets up and stalks off.

"Do you think Zoe's right?" Grace asks, looking up at Lily.

"Oh! Look at the time! I have to...um...I have a...thing to do," Lily evades as she gets up and practically runs into another room.

"That was not right Mom!" Grace shouts as she gets up to follow her.

Jessie tentatively opens the front door and steps in. "Hey," Karen says softly from the living room. Jessie stops and carefully walks in. "I'm really-"

"It's okay Mom," Jessie cuts her mother off. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. I've just had a really long week. I shouldn't have taken it out on you," she apologizes as she sits down.

"I heard," Karen replies and Jessie's head pops up in confusion. "Grace told me about you and Todd breaking up," she says gently.

"Yeah," Jessie replies with an unsure smile. "That's it," she mumbles, looking at her hands.

"And you also had your birthday too," Karen adds with a smile and Jessie nods sullenly. "Aren't you excited? 21 years old," Karen smiles brightly, hoping to elicit the same reaction from her daughter, but to no avail.

"It's not that big a deal," Jessie shrugs. "The only difference is that now I can drink legally," she mutters.

"That better have been an attempt at humor," Karen says sternly.

Jessie rolls her eyes. "Of course it was," she lies. "You don't have to take everything I say so literally," she complains.

"I just worry about you Jess. You know that. I don't want you doing something that-"

"I'll regret," Jessie finishes, mocking her mother. "You don't think I know that by now? You've only been drilling it into me since birth. I'm an adult now. I would think that, by now, I would have some say into how I run my life," she gripes.

"You're still my daughter. I will always have a say in how you run your life, even when you're fifty," Karen says lightly.

"That would make you almost eighty," Jessie replies, a smile tugging at her lips. She ventures a glance at her mother, who is scowling at her.

The scowl drops and Karen sighs. "I'm not trying to run your life Jess. I never said that I was. I would at least like to be part of it. You could at least tell me how you are, what's going on. The last few years we've really grown apart and I feel like I don't know you anymore," she confesses.

"I really haven't changed," Jessie says nonchalantly. "I'm just taller now than I was four years ago," she says with a smile.

"You've changed more than that," Karen challenges. "You're dating a lot more," she points out. She ponders this a moment, then her eyes suddenly grow wide and her mouth gapes open. "Jessie, are you-"

"Mom!" Jessie yells out, mortified. "That's none of your business!" She yelps, sinking back in her seat.

"Yes it is," Karen replies. She concludes that Jessie is, in fact, having sex, but she realizes that she can't stop her when her daughter is four states away. She sighs. "At least be careful."

"Damn! Does that mean no more late night orgies at the frat house?" Jessie asks, feigning disappointment. Karen shoots her a glare. "I can't believe that you don't trust me," she grumbles in response to the glare.

"I trust you. It's the guys that I don't trust," Karen says, rubbing Jessie's arm with her hand. Jessie smirks at this comment. "What happened between you and Todd? Is that why you're not feeling all sunshine and roses?" Karen asks.

Jessie looks up. "Nothing happened between us per se. It just wasn't meant to be I guess," she explains. That wasn't the whole story with her and Trisha, it was nowhere near it, but that's as far as she's going with it.

"I guess it was fairly hard on you, huh?" Karen asks, rubbing Jessie's arm.

"It didn't exactly make my month, but I'm not completely heartbroken over it," she says, feeling the tears welling up.

"At least you don't seem to be dwelling on it," Karen says, leaning over to hug her daughter. Jessie flinches back and stands up, to Karen's dismay. "What is it?" She asks.

"Nothing, I just have to take a shower. I'm all sweaty. I don't want to get you all gross and sticky," Jessie says as she runs upstairs, wiping at her eyes. Karen, meanwhile, is bewildered.

Manning Manor-This Evening:

Everyone is flaked out in the living room, watching a movie. They are all so deeply engrossed in it and, when it's over, they all groan, not wanting to get up.

"I hate those cheesy Family Channel original movies. They are all cheap knock-offs of movies that are actually good," Grace nags.

"Oh please," Zoe counters. "I heard you over there sobbing like a ten year old girl who saw her cat get run over by a lawn mower," she says, rolling her eyes à la Grace Manning.

"Thanks for this visual. I appreciate catching you in a rare display of tact," Grace throws back sarcastically.

"Girls! Both of you stop it!" Rick commands. They all sit there in silence a moment. "Grace, when is Jessie going to be here?" He asks.

"I'm not sure that she's even coming home," she admits. Rick and Eli's eyes grow wide. "I talked to her earlier and she said that she's having second thoughts," Grace explains.

"So? Is she coming or isn't she?" Eli coaxes. Grace drops her eyes. "Call her back," he orders.

"I can't. She's not picking up at her apartment and she turned her cell phone off," Grace replies, sinking further in her seat.

"Honey, I think that you should tell Karen that Jessie may not come," Lily says, breaking some of the tension.

"Yeah. I'll do that right now," she says, getting up.

"Unbelievable," Eli pouts, folding his arms across his chest.

Jessie is bounding down the steps just after having stepped out of the shower. She peeks into the living room from the foot of the stairs, but doesn't see Karen.

"I'm in here sweetie," Karen calls, having noticed that she was looking for her. Jessie smiles as she plops down in a seat in front of her mother in the kitchen. "Good shower?" Karen asks with a smile of her own.

"Yeah, I guess," she replies. Jessie looks down at her hands, adopting a thoughtful expression.

"Jessie, are you sure everything is-" Karen begins, getting cut off by the phone ringing. She grumbles as she gets up to answer it. Jessie breathes a sigh of relief. "Hello," Karen answers. "Oh, hi Grace. What is it?" Karen asks.

On the other side, Grace is gripping the phone tightly. "It's just that, there's something I need to tell you. It involves Jessie," she says.

"Oh?" Karen asks, suddenly growing very anxious, looking over who shoulder at Jessie, who has a curious expression on her face. "What is it?"

"Well, I called her on her cell phone earlier today and she said that she was having second thoughts on coming home this year," Grace squeaks out.

"Jessie's having second thoughts on coming home?" Karen asks out loud. Jessie's head pops up as she glares at the phone. Karen looks over at Jessie's pleading expression. "Could you hold on one second Grace?" She asks before she puts her hand over the phone. "Care to explain?" She asks her daughter.

Jessie sighs. "I told her that I wasn't sure if I wanted to see them all," she confesses. "Can you just not tell her that I'm here?" She begs.

Karen nods reluctantly. "No Grace. It's okay...I'm not upset...No, I'm a little disappointed," she says pointedly at Jessie. "I'll still see you tomorrow...Yeah. I hope Jessie's there too," she says, smiling at Jessie. "Bye Grace," she says before hanging up.

"So, uh, how's Grace?" Jessie asks, laughing nervously and trying to change the subject.

Karen, however, has different plans for the course of their conversation. "We are going to talk about this now, whether you like it or not," she says sternly. Jessie braces herself as she sinks down in her seat.