DON'T LOOK BACK:
MY SERIES FINALE
Written by Felix Vasquez Jr.
EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER…
"Ugh," JJ declared with an exhausted sigh, dropping in to bed beside Beth, "John is finally asleep."
"Thank you for putting him to bed," Beth said, "I'm still getting over my flu."
"Don't worry," JJ replied pulling the covers over him. He shut off the lamp and lay beside her turning to her with a groan. They'd finally moved in to the home they saved strenuously for. It wasn't a big house, but it was big enough for their small family, and in spite of the problems they'd experienced upon moving in, they were considerably happy. JJ was now working at NASA mostly full time with a decent wage, as Beth did at home work, and took care of their son.
They lived a bit far away from Jack and Helen, which was far enough to give them distance from them, but close enough to pay them a visit when they wanted. Often times it was just the three of them, and they didn't mind it, especially since their household was considerably dimmer since Meg left.
"Your dad called," Beth said.
"What for?" he asked.
"He kept asking when we're bringing John to see them," she explained.
"We went there last week," JJ argued.
"I know," Beth replied, "But to your mom that's a life time."
"It's too depressing over there," JJ scoffed.
"Distract yourself like your dad does," she suggested.
"He's doing that, now that Henry's name is on the store," JJ declared, "He's always getting complaints from the customers."
"Well, whatever you do, keep your mom from talking about--"
"—I know the routine," JJ replied. He sighed.
"Good night," he replied kissing her.
"Good night." She turned over on her side looking out to the window and slowly dozed off. In a dark bus terminal, a creaky old bus screeched up to the front of the doors with the engine blaring loudly as tired passengers staggered off out the doors walking along the terminal. A young girl stepped off the bus as the driver walked over to the bottom of the bus opening the hatch and began handing the passengers their bags. He grabbed a small suitcase and handed it to the girl who grabbed it reluctantly and walked in to the terminal.
A ringing emerged from the downstairs kitchen phone endlessly as Beth stumbled from the bedroom in her robe quickly slipping it on and rushed down the steps. She looked at the wall clock noticing it was 3am and groaned in disgust staggering in to the kitchen. She tore the phone from the receiver and mumbled, "Hello?" There was a long silence as her weary eyes grew large and white as pearls, her mouth wide in disbelief as she sighed in surprise, "Hold on." She looked over to the stairwell as JJ staggered down looking over to her curiously, wiping his eyes.
"Who is it?" he muttered.
"You should take this," she muttered in surprise.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"JJ," she insisted holding the phone to him. He furrowed his brow growing concerned and grabbed the phone standing against the wall, "Hello?" There was a silence as he listened for a reply,
"JJ?" a voice said meekly over the phone.
"Who is this?" he asked.
"JJ," the voice replied, with a break, "It's me...Meg." He gave a slight gasp looking over to Beth who stood looking to him anxiously with her arms crossed as he wiped his eyes clearing his throat, "Meg," JJ said in surprise.
"Yes," she replied, "I—I found your name in the phone book and--"
"—what do you want?" he asked confused.
"I, uh," she hesitated, standing in a phone booth in the terminal looking around at the scattered passengers, and crossed her arms, "I'm at a—a bus terminal."
"A bus terminal?" asked JJ, "What bus terminal?"
"I'm in Philadelphia," she confessed with a whimper. He sighed closing his eyes and looked over at Beth who shrugged curiously.
"How long have you been here?" he asked.
"I just got in an hour ago," she scoffed, "I spent twenty minutes standing in this booth wondering if I should call you."
"What do you want from me, Meg?" he blurted.
"I need help," she pleaded giving a loud whimper.
"Where's your boyfriend?" he asked.
"He's dead," she whimpered, "He was killed last month. I—I ran out of money, and I had nowhere else to go. Please, JJ…"
"--How did he die?" asked JJ.
"He was in a raid with a group he belonged to," she explained, "And he was caught, and tried to resist. The police told me that he had a lead pipe in his hand and one of the guards thought he had a gun and they shot him… I just…" She whimpered, "Please."
"Why me?" he asked. John began crying in the distance as Beth sighed rushing up the steps. He turned lowering his voice, "What do you want, money?" he asked.
"No," she replied.
"Are you doing--?"
"—Of course not," she argued, "You know me."
"Yeah, Meg…I thought I did," he replied.
"Please, JJ," she pleaded, "I don't expect you to help me. But I'm begging you, JJ. I'm lost, I have no place to go. I couldn't call mom and dad, because I know they would never help me."
"You don't know that," JJ argued.
"I can't face them," she admitted.
"What is it you want, Meg?" asked JJ growing annoyed.
"Can you come and get me?" she pleaded. He lowered the phone giving a heavy sigh and rubbed his eyes nodding. He raised the phone to his ears and sighed, "Where are you?" he asked. Beth had finished putting John back to sleep and walked in to the kitchen as JJ hung up the phone and walked past her up the steps.
"That was really Meg?" asked Beth.
"Yes," he replied.
"How did she get our number?" asked Beth.
"The book," JJ replied.
"What did she want?" Beth asked.
"She wants me to," he hesitated, "She wants--"
"You're going to get her?" Beth asked angrily.
"Yes," he admitted.
"She's in Philadelphia?" she asked.
"She just got in to town about an hour ago," replied JJ. He began putting on his shoes. "She disappears for a year and a half and now she wants you to stop what you're doing to pick her up in the middle of the night!" Beth griped.
"Can you keep it down, please?" asked JJ.
"I don't want her in my house," Beth demanded.
"I have to get her, Beth," JJ replied, "She could get hurt, or maybe worse."
"You're not bringing her here, JJ," Beth argued, "We don't need these problems, we have enough going on here--"
"--I know."
"I don't want her here," she insisted.
"Look, I don't either," JJ replied, "But damn it, Beth. She's still my sister. I have to do this."
"You don't have to do anything. She didn't care enough about either of you to pick up a phone and let you know she's okay," Beth argued, "But you're going to disrupt what you're doing and go to pick her up in the middle of the night, in god knows where? Jesus, JJ."
"She's my sister," he insisted, "I have to do this. I'm not doing this for her. I couldn't live with myself if I ignored her and she ended up dead in alley somewhere. I'm doing this for my parents, okay?" He grabbed his keys and walked off as Beth groaned angrily following him down the steps, "When will you be back?" she asked.
"I'll be a half hour at the most," he replied putting on his jacket, "And whatever you do, don't tell my parents."
"Okay," Beth replied.
"Or Patty or even Will," he continued.
"I know," she replied.
"I'll be back," he assured her reluctantly walking out the door, "Can you go back to sleep?" Beth nodded. "I'll make sure everything turns out okay. Just trust me." Beth sighed storming off as JJ walked to his car. He held the handle of the door and thought for a second and opened it driving off. He pulled up to the front of the dark terminal looking around for Meg and noticed she wasn't in the front. He walked in to the terminal looking around at the passengers and passersby and saw a curled up ball in the corner on a bench and saw Meg's hair peeking from a thick green army coat. He sighed walking over to her and stood over her. She slept along the bench, her hair stringier and darker, her face weathered, and her clothes noticeably ratty as she lay fast asleep.
He nudged her softly, afraid to wake her and called out to her, "Meg," he muttered. She gasped and looked up at him in surprise sitting up. She gave a faint smile and attempted to hug him as he pulled back patting her shoulders, "I didn't think you would really come," she declared relieved, stepping back.
"Yeah," he replied at a loss.
"You look so different," she declared, "You're bigger."
"What about you?" he asked, "What's with your clothes?"
"Oh," she said looking down at her shirt, "They're not mine. I just borrowed them from a roommate." Her smile quickly faded as she couldn't bear to make eye contact with him and sat down.
"What are you doing back in town?" he asked with a sigh.
"I was homeless," she admitted looking down, "I had no place to go, no friends to help me. I just… I know it wasn't right of me to call you out of the blue like this, and I know we have a lot to talk about--"
"—Are you hungry?" he asked putting his hands to his sides. She shrugged looking away. "Come on," JJ said holding her suitcase, "There's a café up the street, I'll buy you breakfast." She stood up walking beside him as they left the dark bus terminal behind them without a word between them. They sat in the booth of the empty café across from each other.
JJ sat sipping a cup of coffee as Meg tore through eggs and bacon, and pancakes endlessly, obviously starved as he gazed off silently. She pushed her plate aside and sighed wiping her lips as JJ took a sip from his coffee. There was a silence between them for nearly an hour as Meg looked over him reluctantly.
"Where did you live?" he asked.
"Minnesota," she replied, "In a small house."
"Where are you going now?" he asked.
"I--," she hesitated, "I don't know."
"You're asking if you can stay with me," he deduced, "Right?"
"I know you're mad at me," she admitted.
"Really?" he asked with a scoff.
"You don't know how sorry I am--"
"—Fine," JJ sighed, "It's getting late. Let's go." He stood up dropping money on the table as she turned walking up ahead of him and walked outside to his car.
"JJ, can you at least talk to me?" she asked, "Just yell at me or something."
"It's too late for that," he admitted, "Besides, what you're about to go through is punishment enough. Get in the car." He started up the motor as she sat in beside him closing the door and held her head low as they drove off.
They pulled in to the driveway of his small house painted in red, the mailbox out at the curb, as JJ saw Beth looking by the window and looked away. She closed the curtains grumbling angrily and stood in the living room as she heard JJ and Meg walk up to the side door. He walked in front looking over to Beth sadly. Beth drew a gasp at Meg's appearance as Meg walked in timidly, her eyes pulled away from her as she turned her back standing by the stairs. "Sit at the table," he told Meg, "I'll be back." He walked over to Beth pulling her to the foot of the basement steps, "Why is she here?" asked Beth.
"She's homeless," JJ argued.
"I know," Beth replied with a cold scoff, "You really think anyone expected her to make it on her own at that age?"
"Can you stop, already?" he asked.
"No," she whispered, "You brought her here knowing what she did to you and your family? You know how your parents will react if they see her?"
"I'm willing to face them," he insisted.
"I'm not putting her up," Beth argued.
"We have to," JJ insisted.
"Where is she going to stay?" asked Beth.
"The couch and we'll figure out what to do later on," replied JJ.
"Fine," Beth replied, "You do this. I'm not taking any responsibility for her."
"Okay," JJ replied. They walked to the doorway of the kitchen looking over to Meg who sat in the corner with her head held low.
"We'll put you on the couch," JJ said, "We'll set something up in the morning."
"Okay," she replied.
"The extra sheets are in the closet," Beth said to JJ. She coldly looked over to Meg, "I'm going back to bed." She walked off as JJ turned grabbing sheets from the linen closet and began preparing the couch. Meg sat on the love seat and sighed exhausted as JJ stood up dropping a pillow at the foot of the couch.
"Beautiful house," Meg said looking over at the fireplace decorated with pictures and figurines, their thick red rug on the floor.
"It's alright," JJ replied softly.
"When did you move in?" she asked.
"You'll sleep here for a couple of days and we'll set up something when I can, okay?" he asked.
"I know I don't deserve this," Meg confessed, "But—thank you for helping me."
"You can take a shower in the bathroom downstairs," he instructed ignoring her declaration, "I'll see you in the morning."
She took off her coat and staggered to the couch dropping down and sighed turning over, "Good night," she replied meekly as he walked up to his room. She turned on her side and quickly fell asleep as JJ sat at the edge of his bed taking off his shoes. Beth lay awake looking over to him and turned as he lay beside her.
"You don't owe her anything," Beth declared.
"I know," he replied.
"You couldn't have stopped her," Beth explained, "No matter what you did… she would have run away the first chance she got."
"I could have done more," JJ confessed.
"You did enough," Beth replied, "She made the decision."
"Can we just go to sleep?" JJ asked.
"Okay," she sighed draping the covers over her head. Meg woke that afternoon with a loud clatter of dishes banging in the distance, the radio blaring "Tambourine Man" at the kitchen counter. She turned tearing the sheets off her, covering her face from strong sunlight emanating through the window and slowly sat up as Beth washed the dishes looking over at John who sat in his high chair. JJ walked down the steps standing in front of the hall mirror fixing his tie. Meg sat up and looked over at him as he glanced at her with a faint smile.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Twelve," he replied, "I'm just stepping out." He walked in to the kitchen serving himself a cup of coffee. "You're not leaving me here with her," Beth whispered.
"I'll only be a couple of hours," JJ replied.
"I don't want to be here alone--"
"—Then take John shopping or something," JJ argued.
"I will," Beth replied.
"You don't have to talk to her," JJ assured her, "Just don't fight with her."
"I won't," replied Beth, "But I can't vouch for your parents."
"Don't tell them, yet," JJ replied.
"I promise," she replied, "I have errands to run anyway." He put on his coat and walked in to the living room, "Stay inside," he instructed, "No one knows you're here, and word spreads."
"Okay," she replied.
"Beth has errands to run, so you can either watch TV, or sleep," he instructed walking off. "Be nice," JJ whispered kissing her as he walked out the door.
There was a long strong silence as JJ walked in to his car and drove off down the street. Beth shut the radio off and grabbed John from his chair carrying him off, "There's a plate for you," she announced coldly, "Get to it while it's still hot."
"Thank you," she replied looking back at her.
"Just so you know where we stand," she declared, "I'm only talking to you because JJ asked me to."
"I know," Meg replied.
"I'll be in town all day running errands," she explained, "Don't steal anything." She stormed off up the steps. Meg sighed walking to the television and clicked it on and sat back down on the couch looking back silently as Beth and John rushed out the front door to the car.
"Well, it's a little extra with a remote now, but it's worth the price," Jack declared standing in front of a large brown television along the floor, "It's really worth the price, we just got one at home." Beth walked in to the store, now expanded slightly and doing good business after Meg's commercial in spite of the fact that it was now half owned by Henry who also shared the store's title with Jack. It was a very gutsy move on Jack's part, but it further solidified the friendship and partnership between Jack and Henry. That day business was slow, luckily, since Beth was paying a surprise visit, an impulse that became testy especially since she'd sworn to JJ she wouldn't tell.
Jack gave a smile pulling the customer aside as they continued looking and walked over to them, "What are you doing here?" Jack asked with a smile.
"I was just running errands," explained Beth, "And I thought John would want to see his grandpa."
"Oh," he groaned, "Grandpa. I'm still getting used to that word."
"Oh, what else will he call you?" she joked holding him up.
"Hey," he chuckled holding him up, "Is he walking yet?"
"A little," Beth shrugged, "JJ's worried, but I keep telling him children learn at their own speed."
"Alright, now," Jack said in mock orders, "You're going to learn to walk right now, understand?" He set John down on the floor and stood back as John looked over at Beth and attempted to stand up falling down on his bottom.
"See?" Beth laughed.
"Okay, okay," Jack laughed picking him up, "No rush, now." He smiled cradling him, "Why don't you take him to Helen?" he asked, "She's dying to see him."
"I was just headed over there," Beth replied, "How is she?"
"She has her good days and bad days," he explained, "But she's good today."
"Maybe I'll stop off for lunch first," she declared nervously.
"Oh, come on," Jack insisted, "Its okay. Just distract her. This guy here will do the trick just fine."
"Okay," Beth sighed, "Let's go, John."
"In the market for a new radio?" asked Jack.
"You ask me that every time I come in here," Beth smiled, "We have one at home. Thanks."
"Force of habit," Jack chuckled, "Take care."
"Will, can you please turn the television down?" Helen asked washing dishes.
"I can't hear it," Will complained.
"Sit closer to it to then," she declared. He lay on the floor in front of the television watching cartoons as Beth's car pulled up to the driveway. "Oh!" she gave a gasp hearing the car pull up. She dropped her rag on the sink and rushed outside. Patty emerged from the stairs looking to the door as Helen grabbed John kissing him.
"I didn't know Beth was coming today," she said.
"Me either," replied Will.
"It's my turn to watch, now," Patty declared.
"Not until one," Will argued, "Mom said."
"Well, the rule is changed," she declared changing the channel.
"Hey!" Will yelled shoving her.
"Stop the fighting for once," Helen announced coming in through the door, "Patty wait until your turn."
"Fine," she pouted dropping on the couch with her arms crossed.
"Hey, guys," Beth declared.
"Hi," they greeted.
"That's it?" asked Beth.
"Come say hi the proper way," Helen ordered, "Come on." They huffed stumbling over to Beth hugging her and looked over at John who was being coddled in Helen's arms.
"How's JJ?" asked Patty.
"Same old," Beth replied, "He's at work today."
"I miss him," replied Will.
"Oh, he misses you two," Beth assured him, "He was asking for you last night."
"Are you still driving that wreck?" asked Helen.
"I can't really afford a new one just yet," replied Beth, "And JJ needs the other good car for work."
"You haven't been around in two weeks," Patty complained.
"Patty!" Helen gasped.
"That's okay," Beth smirked, "I'm sorry about that, guys. I've just been really busy lately. Last night I didn't get much sleep."
"Does Jack know you're around?" asked Helen.
"I went to see him first," replied Beth.
"He must have been happy," Helen declared.
"Ecstatic," she replied.
"My turn now," Patty said changing the channel.
"Remember what I told you," Helen warned them.
"I know," Patty groaned, "Anything but Bandstand."
"Why don't you stay for dinner?" asked Helen.
"Oh, I can't," replied Beth, "I promised I'd make JJ's favorite dinner tonight, and I have some more—errands to run."
"Oh," Helen said disappointed.
"But I'll stay a good while before I have to go," she assured her. Meg sat on the couch watching television for hours, but though the television was on, she was still deep in her thoughts. She watched Bandstand with a slight tear in her eyes as she sighed finally comfortable, but appreciating the silence before everything started up again.
She drew a gasp looking in to the crowd watching Roxanne who was in the crowd watching the performer. She gave a smile of surprise and stirred as a car pulled up to the driveway. She quickly shut the television off and sat down at the couch again rumbling in fear as JJ walked in through the door. She was relieved to see him as he staggered in taking off his coat.
"Hi," she said.
"You finally took a shower," JJ observed.
"Yes," she replied.
"Beth isn't home yet?" he asked.
"No," she replied, "She went to run errands or something."
"What did you do all day?" he asked sitting across from her with an exhausted sigh. "Just watching TV," she replied, "And… thinking."
"So have I," he admitted taking off his tie.
"This is really a great house you have, I'm happy you got your wish," she explained, "I was just looking at your pictures and you've changed a lot."
"We all have," he replied.
"How's… mom and dad?" she asked.
"They're good," he replied, "Patty is starting high school next year, and Will is playing football now… or trying."
"Can we talk?" she asked.
"I can," he replied.
"About what I did that night," she explained, "I was--"
"—confused, lost, sad, angry, what?" he asked. She sighed looking away.
"It's just," she explained, "Things were so--"
"--Did you honestly think things would stay exactly the same when you left?" he asked, "Did you really think we would stop what we were doing?"
"No," she replied.
"Well, good," he replied, "Because it didn't."
"I'm trying to apologize," she argued.
"I'm not ready to hear it just yet," he replied, "Do you know I actually blamed myself? Do you know I almost completely forgot about Beth and John? All because of you? See, the truth is, Meg… I still love you, but I don't pity you. I have problems of my own. I have a mortgage, work is hard, John is two now, and Beth is busy, and now you come along and expect us to stop what we're doing to help you."
"I know that," she replied, "And I'm sorry--"
"—No--"
"—I am," she insisted.
"No, you're not," he replied, "Let me ask you something… if Chris wouldn't have died… would you have ever come back?" She looked down as there was a long silence between them, "Exactly," he replied, "So save your apologies. Life goes on, Meg. With or without you. And we did, too. It's good Chris died, because if I would have gotten to him--" He sighed storming off. Beth's car pulled up to the driveway as Meg leaned back in anticipation.
"Hello, I'm home," she announced.
"You're back late," he replied grabbing John.
"I was over by—you know," she replied, "And I stopped by for groceries. I'll start right away. This one needs a nap."
"I'll get on it," he replied walking off. Beth looked over at Meg coldly and began preparing. "You might as well help out with dinner," she announced.
"You don't mind?" she asked.
"I do," replied Beth, "But I need help here." She stood up walking to the kitchen and began grabbing plates as Beth didn't draw a word from her.
"I like your house," Meg said in an attempt to break the ice.
"It's okay," replied Beth, "It's not much, but we're grateful."
"Where did you go today?" asked Meg.
"Visited your folks," replied Beth.
"Really?" she asked surprised, "How—how are they?"
"How do you think?" asked Beth, "'But, being the type of people we are, we visit them every week. We're never too busy."
"Okay, Beth," Meg sighed, "I get it, okay? Loud and clear."
"Good," she replied.
"I deserve it," Meg admitted.
"You do," replied Beth.
"But you're not going to let me tell my story are you?" she asked.
"No way," she declared, "You have no excuse."
"I'm not looking for excuses," Meg insisted.
"Then what do you want to tell me?" she asked, "Because I've heard it all. And I won't buy anything you'll say to me. " She looked over by the stairwell and grabbed Meg by the arm, "Let's talk." She pulled her leading her out the door in to the garage.
"Sit," Beth ordered.
"Why are we in here?" asked Meg sitting down.
"JJ is putting John to sleep," she replied, "I'll be honest with you, Meg. I don't want you here."
"I know," she replied.
"A year and a half you were gone, and we've had to do a lot of healing," she explained, "And eventually, we moved on and decided you weren't coming back, and now after we went on with our lives you come back in."
"I'm not trying to cause any problems," Meg assured her.
"Well, that's too late, now," Beth replied, "It's too late for sorry's."
"I'm trying here," she insisted, "I know I deserve what you give me, but I'm trying to make up for what I did."
"You can't make up for what you did in only a couple of days, Meg," Beth insisted, "God, who told you it takes a simple "I'm sorry", and just like that," she snapped her finger, "It's all better? That's not how life works. I had to sit up nights with JJ because he blamed himself for you leaving, I had to watch your mother cry and sink in to sadness, while your father acts like nothing happened, I had to tell your brother that his sister only went away for a little while."
"I know I caused a lot of heart ache," she replied.
"You did," replied Beth, "Truth is, you're selfish, self-centered and your family didn't deserve what you did to them. JJ may forgive you, and maybe your parents, but as far as I'm concerned, you're no friend of mine."
"Just because I made a mistake doesn't mean I should be treated like an animal," Meg argued.
"An animal sleeps outside," Beth replied, "Be glad I'm even letting you in to my house. If it were up to me, I'd turn you over to your parents, but I have a crazy idea that I love JJ, and I'm willing to tolerate you for a while if it will make him happy."
"Do you want me to leave?" she asked, "Is that it?"
"Yes," replied Beth, "But JJ wants you here, so I won't throw you out."
"Then I'll stay out of your way," Meg assured her, "You don't have to worry."
"Good," she replied, "But sooner or later you're going to have to confront your parents. This is a small town, and people talk." She walked off back to the kitchen as JJ sat at the table. The Pryor's gathered around dinner that evening; Patty and Thrill were arguing as they set the plates on the table. Helen and Jack talked among each other as the television blared in the living room.
"Patty put some vegetables on your plate," Helen ordered.
"Will sit down and eat," Jack ordered.
"The television is still on," Helen reminded.
"I know, I'm looking for the weather on the news," Jack replied.
"Jack, we're just sitting down to dinner," Helen pleaded.
"Alright, I'll shut it off," Jack replied walking in to the living room. He leaned down to shut it off but stopped suddenly standing up as a mid-news report about an investigation to a lab continued. He sat down watching, "And the investigation has continued for a month and a half about the raid which led to the shooting deaths of five of the protestors including Chris Pierce, an activist with a spotty criminal record for vandalism and arson. The remaining suspects have all been questioned and retained as well as their family." He gave a sigh looking by the screen with a small sigh of shock and stood up turning off the television.
He was speechless looking down at the blank screen and turned to see Helen who was standing behind him looking down with a whimper.
"Helen…!" he said with a whisper.
"Chris is dead?" she asked with a quiver in her voice.
"Yeah," he replied.
"What about… what about Meg?" she asked with a slight whimper.
"I don't know," replied Jack.
"Please, Jack," she whimpered, "Please don't tell me she was with them."
"I'm not sure," Jack replied.
"Oh my god," she whimpered, "Meg is dead."
"We don't know that Helen," Jack assured her.
"I have to—I have to go lie down," she replied rushing off. Patty and Will sat at the table wide-eyed and confused. "What's wrong?" asked Patty.
"Just, uh," Jack said struggling to speak, "Just eat. I'll be back." JJ sat on his chair watching television in the den, as Meg lay in the living room fast asleep. That night, they'd sat to dinner with the most uneasy hour they've ever experienced. Meg sat to dinner with them and barely a word was spoken. JJ knew about Beth's confronting Meg, and didn't say a word to her that night.
The next morning, they were still unaware of the news that Jack and Helen had received over the television. Helen had cried herself to sleep that night as Patty and Will saw themselves off to bed. JJ awoke that morning to silence as Meg slept and saw Beth in the kitchen finishing breakfast, "How are things between you two?" asked JJ.
"The same," she replied.
"I heard you two arguing last night," he confessed.
"I'm sorry," she replied, "I just couldn't hold it in anymore."
"It's okay," he replied, "Thanks for not yelling at her."
"I didn't yell at her because John was asleep," she replied with a half smirk.
"Well, either way, thanks for this favor," he replied kissing her hand.
"Yeah, well, I love you and all that," she joked.
"Where's John?" he asked with a smile.
"In his pen by Meg," she replied, "He'll be fine."
"I have to go to dad's store today to pick up another television," he explained.
"Do we really need another television?" she asked.
"I've had that one since we moved in, it's broken," he replied. He sighed and stood up, "I'm not hungry," he declared, "I'm going to get dressed."
"Okay," she replied walking to the sink.
John sat in his pen crawling back and forth and shook his rattle watching Beth walk to their room as she and JJ talked in the distance. He pulled himself up looking over by Meg and shook his rattle again falling back on to his bottom crying out with a squeal. Meg stirred in her sheets and looked over at him as he cried and sat up looking for Beth, "Beth?" she asked sitting up. She stood up and walked over to the pen as John cried. "What's the matter?" she whispered, "You're lonely?" She grabbed him slowly from the pen as he cried and slowly stopped looking up at her curiously. "How old are you?" she asked holding him in front of her.
"Was he crying?" asked Beth walking down the stairs.
"Yes, I saw him in the pen," Meg replied surprised holding him, "I think he was lonely. Sorry, I didn't--"
"—It's okay, I know," replied Beth, "He doesn't like to be without company. John, meet Meg."
"I think he needs changing," Meg replied cringing.
"Okay," she replied, "I have time before I--"
"—Can I do it?" she asked cradling him, "Please?" Beth thought for a second with a grimace and nodded, "Okay," she replied, "His room is right by ours."
"Okay," she replied with a half smile, "Thank you."
"You know how to change him?" she asked.
"I did it for Thrill a couple of times," Meg replied. She walked off talking to John holding him in her arms. JJ walked by her in the stairs in slight surprise and looked over by Beth who watched with her grimace. "Wow," JJ exclaimed, "You actually let her hold him."
"He wanted to be with her," Beth replied, "Just because I don't like her, doesn't mean he can't. Besides, they need to get to know each other."
"You're great," he said kissing her.
"I still don't like her, but," she patted her sides, "But baby steps."