A/N: Yippie, I finally managed to write this chapter! I have a (not so) small writer's block next to the small amount of time, so it's why it took me so long to write this chapter. I'll try to do better now, we'll see how it turns out.
Mjentrn - No, I'm not abandoning a story. Sometimes it takes me some time, but I will eventually update, even if it takes me months (hopefully it's not going to be the case with this one).
And now I leave you to the chapter! :) Hope you'll enjoy.
Jack sighed with relief, when he heard the sounds of the last goodbyes, and realised that the Thomas family gathering was coming to an end. During the whole stay amongst Sue family, he felt horribly uncomfortable. They were talking about things, which he had no idea about as he didn't really know his wife's relatives other than her parents, and now also her brothers and their families. They were also watching him very carefully, trying to form a judgement and he could only wish for it all to end quickly, because he wasn't sure how long he was going to be able to suffer this staring. Luckily for him, they didn't get the chance to flood him in questions as he had Emily on his lap the whole time, his whole attention focused on the girl.
Even though she has met all those people before, she didn't remember most of them and she simply clung to her father. He didn't really pay attention to what was going on around him and he had no idea, that it actually worked to his advantage. Everyone could see the caring, attentive, loving father he was, and any doubts if he cared about his wife and daughters were disappearing. Questions took their place, and everyone, who didn't know their story, wondered why he was away from them for such a long time, because definitely not because lack of feelings towards them as they thought before. Soon, Emily was starting to doze off against him, the lack of nap during the whole day becoming visible and he got the chance to excuse himself to go upstairs, to bathe her and put her to sleep.
"Do you want a story?" he asked after he covered her with a duvet, and just like he expected, she nodded her head.
If there was one thing that was certain, it was that she was always going to say that she did want him to read her a story, even if she was to fall asleep right at the beginning. And it was the same way now, he noticed she was asleep before the Cinderella went to the ball, but he didn't stop until he reached the end of the story. He was in no hurry to return downstairs, so he just kept reading even though the only one listening to him was Levi, curled next to him on the ground at the side of the bed. Now, the tale was finished and everyone were leaving and he felt relieved; not that he didn't want to get to know Sue's family, but the situation was horribly uncomfortable for him. He could only hope that his folks aren't going to make Sue feel this way, although he was afraid that it might be even worse.
When he was leaving Wisconsin, his mother repeated several times that she absolutely couldn't wait to meet her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, and he knew that even though he was way calmer about this, his father shared her feelings. For four years they were unaware of the change in his relationship with Sue and for the last three also of Emily's existence, and they felt very bad about it. Timothy and Caroline were much calmer, although very curious too, and the initial excitement of his nephews upon hearing that they will have a cousin to play with the next time he comes with visit faded a little, when they heard that it was a girl, but he didn't have doubts they would like her anyway. But, the most impatient was his grandfather and even when he was still in the hospital, not feeling very well at all, he swore that he will go to DC to meet Sue and Emily, even if he would have to go there on foot, if Jack doesn't bring them to Wisconsin within half a year. Hudson also knew, that his parents were already planning a trip to DC and only changed their mind after they heard, that there was no sense in it since their son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter were coming to them.
He slowly stood up from the carpet and sat at the edge of Emily's bed, tucking her in and leaned down to place a kiss on her head. Instead of leaving, he simply sat there, watching her like he did every now and then. There were moments when he thought that it was all just a dream, because it was simply too good to be true, and sooner or later he will wake up and realise, that he has never come home. Even though it took some time, he had Sue back and Emily recognised him as her father completely, and he couldn't even remember the last time she called him Jack, only daddy, and he had absolutely no idea that it was going to bring so much happiness to him.
He startled slightly, when he heard the door squeak a little upon opening wider and turned around to see his wife's figure in the doorway. Sue came closer and leaned down to kiss Emy goodnight as well, before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to himself, making her sit on his knees.
"I love you." he whispered and signed, making the smile present on her face widen. She brushed her lips against his forehead, placing a loving kiss there.
"I love you, too, Jack."
They sat there for a moment longer, but then it was time for them to retire for an evening. Ride to Wisconsin was awaiting for them on the next day, and they both knew that they needed to be rest, because it was going to be a very long day. They left right after breakfast, saying goodbyes to Carla, Peter and Bill, promising to visit again as soon as it was going to be possible and rode off. Jack could see tears in Sue's eyes, as they were moving away from the house and took her hand in his, squeezing it.
"It's going to be okay." he reassured her yet again, when he was sure she was looking at him and she only sighed and nodded her head.
The ride was long and tiring. They both felt happiness at the sight of the sign "Welcome to Wisconsin", what meant that they at least reached the State. It was a late evening, Emily was finally asleep, this time staying up most of the time and making the travelling more difficult, but it wasn't nothing they didn't expect. Sue was practically dozing off, too, in the passenger seat and they all only wished to finally reach Jack's hometown and then his parents' house.
It was where they were going to spend this first night and only in the morning he was going to take them to the house they will live in. He knew that his parents wouldn't have anything against it, but he didn't really want to live with them and was pretty sure that Sue felt the same way. Especially, that his grandfather's house was standing empty and the man always hoped Jack would live there, so he was also going to make him happy as well as give them some privacy. Yet, the last thing they had in mind was making a stop at Jack's parents house to take keys, and then drive to the neighbouring town. They only wanted to finally get out of the car, take quick showers and go to sleep, to take real rest not the uncomfortable nap in the car seat.
Jack had to fight really hard not to exclaim happily, when he parked the car in front of his parents house and both him and Sue readily jumped out of it. She let Levi get out as well and took the bag with clothes they prepared in order not to drag all the luggage inside, while Jack took their sleeping daughter and both went inside. Elisabeth was waiting impatiently for their arrival, fighting with the tiredness and immediately ran to open the door when she heard the car and saw it was her son. When she closed them behind all of them, she stood as if mesmerised, looking at the child in the man's arms and the woman next to him. Suddenly, she felt something furry against her leg and gasped, looking down to see the Golden Retriever sniffing her carefully while at the same time wagging his tail.
"Take her to Tim's room Jack, I made the bed ready for her there." she told him, coming back to reality and when he nodded his head and headed upstairs, she approached Sue. "You don't know how happy I am to finally meet you, Sue." said Elisabeth and hugged the younger woman, surprising her a little. "But there will be morning for talking, you must be exhausted!"
She led her upstairs and down the corridor to Jack's room. Sue smiled seeing that it still had the look of a teenage boy's bedroom and decided that the shower would have to wait until morning, only changed in the pyjamas and slipped under the duvet. Jack's bed was a slightly bigger than normal single bed and she was pretty sure it was going to be a little small for both of them, but when some time later he joined her and she snuggled to his side, it was comfortable. They didn't even know when they fell asleep and both woke up in the morning only because of Emily's desperate cry for them.
They both jumped out of it, hearing her call out for them alternately, and both hurried to the opposite room. She was sitting on the bed, hugging her teddy bear tightly to herself, her eyes scared and face wet from tears. Levi was right next to her, nudging her with his nose, licking her arms and face in what seemed like attempts to comfort her. They exchanged glances, both understanding that she had to obviously get scared by waking up in the unfamiliar surroundings with neither of them in sight, and both approached the bed quickly. She immediately cuddled to Sue, who held her tightly and rocked them a little to calm her down, while Jack caressed her hair and back, whispering soothing words to her.
Elisabeth jumped out of the bed just like Jack and Sue, and rushed to the girl as well, terrified that something might be happening to her. She sighed with relief, when she noticed the scene in front of her and nodded her head; yes, they should have known it was going to be this way when this little one wakes up. Relieved, she left them alone and headed downstairs, to the kitchen, knowing that there was no way she was going to be back to sleep. Her husband was already gone, probably sitting at the Courtney's shop and chatting with the owner, who was his friend since the primary school. Charles was always waking up early and always went to the shop to buy freshly baked rolls for breakfast, spending there much more time than what it took to do the shopping. Even though they saw each other practically every day, the men always seemed to have an endless amount of topics to talk about.
"Is she better now?" she asked, when Jack entered the room and handed him a mug of coffee she just made.
"Yes, she is. She was simply scared." he said, sitting behind the table and rubbing his eyes. Even though he slept like a log for the whole night, he still felt a little tired, the sudden waking up not helping at all.
"That's not that surprising. Most of the children would be the same way, Jack. You did that more than once, even when you were older than her. Ah, hello little one." she grinned widely, when she noticed Sue come as well, carrying Emily and approached the two. "Grandma's so happy to meet you!" she chuckled, when she noticed the girl snuggle more to her mother, while watching her with huge eyes. "Someone's shy I see…"
"Yes, she is but by the end of the day she should be fine." smiled Sue, and only now she noticed how similar she was to Jack, or actually, how much of his looks he had after her. His features were definitely more masculine, but other than that they were very similar. "Say hello to grandma, Sweetie."
Elisabeth grinned even wider, if it was actually possible, upon hearing a very quiet "Hello." from the girl.
"I see they have finally arrived!" said the older man, who drove into the kitchen in the wheelchair and Sue had no doubts it had to be Jack's grandfather.
Her husband immediately stood up and hugged the man, and something was telling her that if she saw the picture of him when he was Jack's age, there wouldn't be that much difference.
"As beautiful as our Jackie described!" he said, when his eyes fell on Sue and she immediately blushed. "Very special too, if he lost his head so easily! And of course, the little princess must be Emily! Will you come to grandpa?" he extended his hands, and chuckled when the girl reacted the same way she did, when she was addressed by Elisabeth, by clinging more to Sue. "Of course, Jackie's daughter inside out."
They were greeted by Charles in a similar way and Sue was happy to see, that they were all very warm and friendly towards them. As they were sitting behind the table and eating breakfast together, chatting happily, she couldn't help but felt regret that she really didn't have the chance to meet them earlier. She also thought how much her daughter would lose, if Jack wouldn't return and they would never meet his family and she was happy it all happened the way it did.
"Here are the keys to the house." said Charles, handing Jack a set of keys "I'm sure you'd like to take your girls there, probably unpack a little."
"Yes, that's right." smiled the younger man "We'll see you at the dinner."
The drive to the neighbouring town wasn't long, and they soon arrived at their destination. The house was very similar to the rest of those in its neighbourhood, not too big but not small either, but they definitely didn't expect to see what they found inside.