Rifiuto: Non Miriena

"Come on out, Jo! It can't be that bad!"

"Jo! I want to see your dress!"

She took a deep breath, refusing to look in the mirror of the dressing room. After a moment of checking that everything was secure, the associate opened the door and let Jo head out first. Head held high, she started towards the pedestal, only to duck her head and curl inward as she got closer to Zoe and Jenna.

"Don't do that, Jo! Look up. You don't look like a bride when you're slouching." Zoe admonished gently.

"I don't feel like a bride. I feel like a little girl trying to play dress up." Jo replied softly. Jenna's eyes widened, but she kept quiet.

"Hold on, let me add the veil, and then you can turn around." Zoe and Jenna watched as the woman took a veil from a nearby display and added it. "How are you going to do your hair?"

"Um... p.. probably just... pulled back like it is."

"In a ponytail?" Zoe cried. "No! You have to have your hair in curls or a nice messy bun... it's your wedding day, Jo!"

"But I don't do... this!" Jo cried, gesturing to what she was wearing. "I'm not... girly... I'm... I'm a tomboy..."

"Even tomboys need to be the princesses on their wedding days." The associate said gently, reaching up to wipe the tears off her cheeks. The woman gave her a grateful smile. "Okay, turn around and take a look." Taking a deep breath, she did as told, facing the three floor length mirrors.

The dress was strapless, with a sweetheart bodice cut and a corset back. The gown hugged her body until it got to her hips, and suddenly flared down dramatically to the floor. Lace overlay covered the dress, and ribbon lined the sweetheart top and waist, each ribbon gathering to meet at the middle with the diamond accents- on the bodice top, between her breasts and right in the middle below her breasts. The ribbons then went down and branched out, diamond accents sat in the middle of each ribbon near her knee before the ribbon continued on to the end of the lace overlay. The veil she wore came just to her elbows, and was made of some sort of soft material; that was all she knew for sure.

Jenna let out a happy squeal. "That's your dress, Jo! I told you!" After a moment, Jo raised her head. Her eyes widened and she took a deep breath. Jenna was right.

"You look gorgeous." Zoe said.

Jack looked up when Jo dropped a notebook on the table. "What's up?" He asked, setting the cup he'd been drinking down.

"She was right."

"Who... was... right?" He asked slowly, furrowing his brow.

"Jea." Jo said quickly, leaning close.

"Jo-"

"Just, hear me out, Jack." She said, sitting down across from him. He sighed, giving her the floor. "Everything Jea's said, it's come true."

"Now, hold on a minute-"

"Allison, wanting to take you away from me. Wanting to destroy our family. And... today, when we went dress shopping, the first dress I tried on, was the one she said I'd wear. The first one!"

"What are you saying, Jo? That-"

"And the flowers I'll be carrying in my bouquet? Red lilies and-"

"Pansies?" He asked.

"No. That's about the only thing she got wrong. I'm going to be carrying red lilies and birds of paradise." Jo replied, pushing the notebook over to him. Written inside it, was a list of things for the wedding, from the flowers to the food to be served at the reception.

"So, you're saying that our Jea is what? Psychic?" Jo nodded. "Jo, that's nuts!" He said, standing.

"Nuts? Jack, this is Eureka, for crying out loud! Think about it!" She said slowly. "How else would Jea know all these small details, like the.. food for the reception and the detail on my dress..."

"You're falling victim to a child who's being thrown into chaos because her mother returned after four years!" He snapped. Instantly, Jo's eyes filled with tears and she crumpled into her chair. At first, Jack didn't buy it, until she buried her face on the table and sobbed. "Jo... Jojo, I... I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd get so upset... I..."

She shook her head, pulling away as he sat next to her and reached out to take her hand.

"Jojo, please, talk to me."

Moments passed. Nothing but the sound of her sobs filled the room. Eventually, she looked up and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She looked at Jack and took a shaky breath.

"It's not you, Jack." She told him, reaching out to run her fingers over his cheek.

"Then what is it? Is it Allison? Or Zane? What did they do now? Because if I have to, I'll file a restraining order against both of them-"

"It's not them. They didn't do anything to me." She replied, regaining her composure, once again the strong woman he loved so much.

"Then... what is it?" He asked softly. She cleared her throat, turning fully to face him now. Looking down into her hands, she twisted her finger again, getting lost in thought. "Jojo? Tell me, please."

She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.

"I... I... Jack, I..."

"You what?" He prompted gently.

"I'm pregnant."

"Whoa." The couple looked up to see Zoe and Jenna at the freezer, two bowls halfway filled with ice cream. Zoe held the ice cream scoop and her mouth hung open in shock. "You were right, Jea."

All Jenna did was smile and pick up her bowl and spoon, taking a bite of the dessert.