A/N: Please don't hate me. It was really wrong of me to leave you guys hanging for nearly three months. Circumstances beyond my control.

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Sunday:

Jessie is driving down the freeway towards school. She sighs and turns on the radio, hoping to divert her attention away from the thoughts floating in her head.

Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick and think of you/ Caught up in circles, confusion is nothing new/ Flashback warm night, almost left behind/ Suitcase of memories…

Jessie's breath hitches as she looks at the radio.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Earlier That Morning~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jessie looks down at Katie sleeping and smiles sadly as she glances at the clock then at her bag by the door.

Katie stirs in the bed and opens her eyes. She gains focus and smiles groggily at her. "Morning," she says with her voice thick with sleep.

"Morning," Jessie replies, trying to make it sound like she hadn't been crying.

Katie notices them anyways, then sees that Jessie is already dressed. "You're getting ready to leave now?" She asks, though it sounds more like a statement.

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Jessie closes her eyes to get her breathing to return to normal.

Time after sometime you pictured me/ I'm walking to far ahead/ You're calling out to me/ I can't hear what you've said/ You said: "Go slow, I fall behind"/ The second hand unwinds…

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"It's a long drive. I still haven't said goodbye to everyone yet, still asleep I guess," Jessie chokes out, her eyes reddening.

"Jessie, do you have to leave?" Katie asks desperately as she sits up. She runs her hand through her hair. "I mean, we just…God, you know it's been five years," she says.

"I know, but I have school and you have work," she sighs. "I'll be back…I have a reason to come back now," Jessie smiles. She looks at the clock again.

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Jessie looks ahead and sees a sign: Now Leaving Illinois. She keeps driving, her knuckles turning white from her tight grip.

If you're lost you can look and you will find me/ Time after time/ If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting/ Time after time/ If you're lost you can look and you will find me/ Time after time/ If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting/ Time after time…

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Katie back and reaches for her hand. "And I'll be here, waiting," she says. "I'll always be here for you…not like I have somewhere else to be," she smirks.

Jessie shoves her. "That's funny, who said I was talking about you in the first place?" She grins.

"Ouch," Katie says, holding her hand to her chest in mock hurt.

There is a knock at the door. "Come in," they says in unison and Karen comes in.

She smiles at the. "Good morning," Karen says warmly. "Breakfast is ready," she informs them before going back downstairs.

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I turn, my picture fades/ And darkness has turned to gray/ Watching through windows/ You're wondering if I'm okay/ Secrets stolen from deep inside/ The drum beats out of time…

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"Hey Jess, are you alright?" Katie asks her.

Jessie turns her attention away from the window and smiles. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replies.

Katie quirks an eyebrow. "Jess," she begins slowly, "it has been my experience that when someone claims to be fine, they really aren't."

"This week has just gone too fast, you know what I mean?" Jessie asks curiously.

"Absolutely," Katie agrees. "Like you said though, we'll still see each other," she says comfortingly.

"Yeah, but not soon enough," Jessie sighs. She looks at Katie and sees a familiar expression and she narrows her eyes. "What are you up to?" She asks suspiciously.

"Nothing," Katie manages to say while maintaining a straight face.

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If you're lost you can look and you will find me/ Time after time/ If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting/ Time after time/ You said: "Go slow, I fall behind"/ The second hand unwinds/ If you're lost you can look and you will find me/ Time after time/ If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting/ Time after time/ If you're lost you can look and you will find me/ Time after time/ If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting/ Time after time/ Time after time…till fade

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"Bye Jess," Katie whispers into Jessie's ear when they hug goodbye.

"Bye Katie," she whispers back before pulling away. "Bye everyone," she says to the whole of the Manning- Sammler clan.

This is followed by a chorus of "Bye Jessie" and "Come back soon". Jessie smiles and gets into the car.

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Jessie shuts off the radio and continues driving while wiping the tears away. She shakes her head in order to try and clear her mind.

Meanwhile:

"Guys, come on. I'm going to miss my flight," Katie gripes as everyone tries to get in their last minutes goodbyes and best wishes.

"I still can't believe that you're doing this Singer," Grace smirks before hugging her.

Katie laughs and says, "Neither can I." She gabs her stuff. "Bye everyone."

Later That Night:

Jessie sighs with relief as she walks in the door. She drops her stuff by the door and makes her way to her room, taking off her traveling clothes as she moves to her room.

"It's about time. I've been waiting forever," a familiar voice calls from the living room.

Jessie stops in her tracks and turns around, pulling her shirt back on in the process. "Katie?" She says with curious and hopeful enthusiasm.

"Yeah," Katie says with a smile on her face as she hugs Jessie.

"Oh my god," she mumbles ass she leans in and kisses her. She slowly pulls away. "Wait, how did you get in here?" She asks suspiciously.

"Key over your door Jess?" She clicks her tongue. "Anyone could've gotten in," she smirks.

Jessie lightly punches her in the arm, but then goes serious again. "Why did you come out here?" She asks hesitantly.

Katie raises an eyebrow. "You walked back into my life and I'll be damned if I let you do it again."

Jessie smiles. "So how long are you here for?" She asks.

With an exaggerated sigh, Katie says, "Well, that's up to you," she says. She goes serious again. "I didn't tell you, but yesterday I got a call from the New York Times and they accepted my application."

Jessie wraps her arms around Katie's waist with a mischievous smile. "So, when are you moving in?" She asks a grinning Katie as she pulls her towards the couch.

The End- Finally