CHAPTER THREE

The next day was a complete blur for Jessica Cody. She had so much stuff to do that day that it seemed like the day just decided to pass without warning.

First she had to go back to her rehab to check back in and get the rest of her belongings. Second she had a lot to still move and fussed with a moving truck. Besides her bike, Jessica owned a dark blue jeep but it wasn't a big enough car to move boxes in. It was a pain carrying everything and Craig was supposed to stop by to help by he never showed.

She then had to keep her eye on the clock in order to go back to Smurf's to see Lena. She would have rather waited to see her on the weekend when she had more time but Pope would never let her get away with it. He was always judging everyone and she already had enough on her shoulders as it was.

Checking her phone every so often, Jessica caught a few text messages but ignored them on the way to Smurf's. Preparing herself to walk into the lion's den once more, she stepped out of the jeep and closed the doors slowly. Seeing a truck, she knew Pope was already there with Lena.

Removing her sunglasses, Jessica moved inside and glanced around the place not hearing anything. She didn't know why Lena wasn't at her house but more than likely because Smurf wanted to keep her around so often.

Seeing Lena trying to swim in the pool, she didn't realize that she could actually go inside. She wondered where Catherine was because she would never let any of them get her in the pool. Jessica had tried to help teach her how to swim but Cath didn't want her to.

"Hey, look who grew up to be a beautiful big girl" Jessica said glancing at her then closing the door to the back behind her.

Lena had been hanging on the edge of the pool and smiled when she saw her. Pope helped her out of it as she ran over. "Aunt Jessica!" Running quickly, Jessica bent down and grabbed her into a hug. She didn't care if she got wet because she had to change anyway for Deran's opening night.

Jessica and Lena weren't super close but she was her niece, she did everything she wanted for her. Besides babysitting J, sometimes when Cath wasn't in one of her mood swings she would let her babysit her. She would often take her to the beach, Jessica's favorite hangout. If she wasn't at home or at Smurf's, they usually found her somewhere by the water.

"Let me look at you…You look like the perfect mix of your parents" She pulled back to look her over again. A year definitely changes but seeing a child get bigger is completely different. She waved faintly at Pope.

"What is that?" Lena asked her pointing to the bag on Jessica's back.

"You caught me…These are a few things I got for you. A few dolls and books and stuff. Here, there they're all yours" Slipping it off of her back, she handed it to Lena who eagerly began looking through it.

"I thought you said you didn't have any money?" Pope asked getting up from his chair and walking over to them.

Placing her hand on her hip, she placed the glasses on her head then looked at him. "I said I needed money, not that I was completely broke. I'm supposed to spoil her, I'm the aunt" She said smiling at him but he still faced her without an expression. Dropping the smile, she looked down at Lena. "Anyway, why are you watching her?"

He didn't want to say anything in front of Lena because he had forgotten that no one told her about Cath. Pope still had the secret buried deep down inside that he was the guilty one and no one was on his trail yet. Grabbing her by the upper arm, he drug her away from their niece and off to a spot far enough away that she wouldn't hear but close enough that they could still see her.

"Cath is missing…" Pope said in his usual tone which made Jessica furrow her eyebrows in confusion. "She's been missing for a few weeks and Baz hardly makes time for her so someone had to stand up to the plate"

"What do you mean she's missing? Did something happen to her?" Learning about Julia's death was one thing but the fact that now Cath was gone was something really troubling.

"Baz can't find her anywhere. He's done everything he can to find her at the same time neglecting his daughter so you tell me about it"

Jessica didn't understand why Pope was having such an attitude about Baz not taking care of Lena. Of course she didn't agree with the fact that he was abandoning her, it was the fact that Pope had a weird tone in his voice. Sure he loved Lena and was protective of her but she couldn't figure out why he stepped up to the plate considering Smurf would have done it.

"Okay then…Well is there anything you want or need me to do?" She asked looking back over at Lena.

"Why would you want to do anything?" He asked her back.

"Have you been listening to me this entire time?" Jessica now turned back to Pope with the roll of her eyes. "I don't know why you have to be so damn difficult to work with. Lena needs some girl time rather than hang out around all of you and our Mother. If you ever need anything I'm just a phone call or a text away, okay?"

Stepping away, she looked down at herself noticing that her shirt was already drying. It was a hot day out which reminded her of Deran's big break. She had no idea what to wear but that wasn't her focus at the moment.

"Thank you for the toys. They will go perfect in my doll house" Lena said once Jessica popped right over.

"Anything for you" Jessica bent down again and glanced at Pope before speaking. "How about in a couple of days you and I have a little girl's day? We can go get our nails done and head out to the beach like old times that you more than likely don't remember"

Lena's face had lit up a little as she set the doll down and looked at the blonde in front of her. "Can we get ice cream? Can you teach me how to surf?"

Deran and Jessica were probably the best surfers out of the whole family. She had spent a lot of time as a kid at the ocean so she developed a love for it. It was something that she wanted Lena to love and understand because nothing was better than the water and sand covering her feet.

"I don't know about the surfing Lena…" Pope chimed in looking at the two girls.

Jessica had nodded at his words. "Your uncle is right; we've got to get you swimming before we try any surfing. You're stuck with me for at least an hour before I have to leave and get ready for your Uncle Deran's big night tonight. Come on; let's get you back in the pool to swim"

After taking a shower and digging through at least eight different boxes, Jessica was finally ready for the night. She had to prepare herself physically and mentally because in all honesty it was going to be a hard night for her. Wearing another pair of jean shorts, she paired it this time with a loose white tank top and a black bikini top.

It was going to be the first night that she would be around all her brothers because she knew Craig, Baz and Pope would be there. Last night was close but in the presence of Smurf it would always be different because half of the time everyone was cautious on what they would say. It would be a reunion to celebrate something new and hopefully a new start to everything as well.

Secondly it was going to be challenging consider she had just gotten out of rehab. It wasn't like there was going to be drugs sitting right in front of her but it was the alcohol that was a problem. Jessica was fearful that it was going to be something new for her to latch onto since she wasn't using anymore. She was a casual drinker as much as everyone else but she wanted to break away from it for a while.

After finding a place to park, she made her way through everyone that was going to the new opening. She didn't think it was going to be that packed but the night was full of surprises. Once she got inside, she scanned the room to find her brothers but it was piled with so many people that she couldn't find them.

Walking through the crowd, Jessica ducked and moved as quickly as she could before she could decide if she wanted to drown within the sea of people. Seeing a familiar male with a button up short sleeve shirt, she knew it was Pope and made her way in that direction.

"Hey!" Jessica said loudly for him to hear her over the music and people. Throwing out her right hand to make a wave, he either didn't see her or was just ignoring that she was there. "Pope!" She said a bit louder until he looked around and saw her.

"God, this place is insane…Are you the only one here?" She asked once they were standing a little ways off from the crowd.

"Deran is pouring drinks, Craig and Baz are sitting at the bar over there" Pope turned around to find them again and pointed to where they all were talking away.

Jessica nodded and smiled. "Why aren't you over there with them?"

"I'm leaving, I've been here long enough" She had checked her phone thinking that she left too late or something. The place had only opened an hour ago but she guessed Pope had enough of the crowd.

"I thought we'd all get to be together tonight, like old times that we could just hang out and stuff"

Pope shrugged his shoulders lightly before moving away. "Lena has school in the morning"

Before Jessica could answer him, he walked away from her and out through the front door. Shaking her head for whatever reason, she made her way once more through the crowd and over to the boys. Tapping Craig on his shoulder, he turned around wondering who it was.

"You actually came even though you are an hour late" He told her.

"Why are you so surprised I keep showing up places? You act like I've been dead for the last ten years and I just crawled out of the grave"

She pushed past him to lean forward on the bar to give Deran a hug. "This place is amazing, you don't know how proud I am for you…Just don't ever ask me to bartend because I'm not doing it"

Deran had laughed at her comment then turned to get shot glasses. Jessica saw Baz sitting down on the opposite side of Craig so she offered a faint smile and waved to him.

"Okay, seriously you have to do a shot with us because it has been too long and you need a drink" Craig said watching Deran.

The youngest brother had handed out the shots but Jessica hesitated grabbing it. "I have to get back home on my bike and I don't think a shot is going to be the best thing" It was a lousy excuse but she didn't really want to say no.

Craig gave her a skeptical look. "Oh come on it isn't going to kill you. It's one shot, do you know how much I drink and drive home?"

"Don't do that to her…" Baz decided to lean forward and bring himself into the conversation. "She just got out of rehab and you want to pour a drink down her throat. Think about it"

"At least someone here understands the situation" She spoke before taking another glance at the shot. Sliding the drink towards Craig, she knew that he would have no problem taking it.

Jessica asked Deran if she could have anything but alcohol while Craig watched completely bored. He was always the one down for a good time and party but this was just really ruining his vibe. Standing there for a couple more minutes, he bailed on them because he kept saying how much of a buzzkill she was being. That now left her and Baz stuck together while Deran was serving drinks.

"Is there a reason you are avoiding me?" Baz asked her leaning a little on the bar to look at her.

They hadn't said anything for a while so it was only a matter of time before they talked. "I'm not avoiding you Baz…" She said taking a drink of her water. She had been standing in front of him.

He didn't believe her because he watched her leave yesterday. There were many details to their story from start to finish. "Then why did you bail yesterday once I showed up?"

"I said I had a lot of unpacking to do which I still have so I wanted to get a head start. It's not like I have anyone helping me either" She paused and looked at the people to the left and right of them at the bar. Baz raised his eyebrows and nodded knowing that it wasn't the truth but he wasn't going to keep pressing on it. "I'm sorry about losing Cath wherever she may be. I talked to Lena and I want to take her to the beach in a couple of days if that's okay with you"

"Oh I'm sure you are and yeah, I think that will be good for her. Get her out and not around Pope" He said as a general statement and nothing more.

Placing the water on the bar, she placed her hands on her hips defensively. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"You two hated each other; I don't believe for a second that you care she is missing" Glaring at him, Jessica had stared at him. It was the truth that the two of them didn't get along but for the sake of the family she did feel bad for both Baz and Lena.

"Well maybe you should starting watching her instead of letting Pope do your job, there's a thought" After she said it, she didn't mean it in such a harsh way. She knew that with Cath missing it would hurt him as well. Seeing his face change, he had taken a drink of his own. "Look, I didn't mean it like it. It's good he's helping out I guess. I don't know the whole story so I can't give my opinion.

Grabbing her gem necklace she was wearing, she realized things had possibly taken a turn for the worse. It was only her second time out and about around her family and looks were going downhill. Pope clearly had an issue for a reason she knew, Craig wanted her to go back to her old self and now she said the wrong thing to Baz.

"There's nowhere to sit up here so I'll just go find someplace else" Reaching for her water, he lightly pushed her hand away from it.

"You can sit here, it's not a big deal Jess" Baz told her but she looked for another open seat.

"I'm not going to take your spot just because I can't sit next to you. No really it's fine"

Jessica turned to look at him. He smirked at her and shook his head. "I didn't mean you could have my seat" Trailing her eyes down from him and to his lap, she realized exactly what he meant now.

"Oh that will look real great. Me sitting on my brothers' lap in front of all these people. You're a charmer Baz, a real charmer"

"Who cares? Since when do you care what people think about you?" He asked her looking at her back. Jessica was always a carefree spirit and didn't care if people knew who she was or what her last name was. Maybe Craig was right, she did change a little too much.

A smile had slowly crept on her face and she shook her head, her wavy light blonde hair falling off of her shoulders. It didn't look like there was any other place to from what she could see so she decided why not.

Moving over a little bit closer to him, Baz sat a little straighter in the bar chair for her. Jessica had turned around and fixed herself that she was sitting on his lap. Deran had been walking back over to them stopped before shifting his eyes around the room for Craig. He thought he wasn't seeing things right at first because that was a sight he wasn't expecting to see.

Craig was probably in the bathroom doing coke for the third time as Deran already went off on him twice for it. The way the two were, smiling and laughing was putting pieces together for him that he didn't know. Was Jessica dating Baz or something more?

Walking over to them, he interrupted their conversation. "So uh…You sure you don't want a shot or anything"

Once she looked over, Jessica cleared her throat and sat a little straighter so they didn't look cozy; at least that's how Deran saw it. "No I'm good, where is Adrian at?"

Now he was the one to be caught off guard. Craig was still the only one who knew he was gay and he didn't even want to tell his own sister about it. He was about to answer but Baz interrupted him.

"You've got to be kidding…Did you know she was coming?"

The two blonde siblings looked at him before looking over towards the front door. There stood Smurf, her purse around her shoulder and fishing through the crowd.

~~Thank you for the review, keep them coming! I'm trying to figure out how to right all of this out and for everyone's history it will be revealed at some point…Though you may be getting the hint already~~