A/N: If you're still reading, thank you! :) I appreciate it. I hope you enjoy this chapter =]

Chapter 8

Charlotte opened the front door quietly and used her phone light to sneak through the dark into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. She sighed and lay back on her bed. She'd barely closed her eyes when she heard the door open. She groaned internally and opened her eyes.

"Mom…"

"I just needed to make sure you're okay," Jessica whispered, "It's late and it's so cold out…" she placed a hand on her daughters face.

Charlotte shrugged, "I'm fine," she muttered.

"You're freezing, honey," Jessica stroked her thumb under Charlotte's eye.

Charlotte moved away, "I'm fine," she repeated.

Jessica sighed, "Okay," she nodded, "You don't want to talk. I understand. Please, just have a hot shower, okay? I don't want you to get sick."

Charlotte nodded, "I will, mom."

Jessica went to leave before turning back, "Charlie, whenever you want to talk, whatever time of the day or night, I'll be right here."

Charlotte shrugged, nodding unenthusiastically.

Jessica sat at the dining table, absently flicking through the newspaper as she drank her morning coffee. She looked up when her daughter walked into the room.

"Morning," Alison said, before busying herself in the kitchen and returning with her breakfast, "You get much sleep?"

Jessica looked surprised, "No… not much," she shrugged, "How about you?"

"A bit," Alison replied, "You know, she just needs time, mom."

Jessica frowned, "Aren't you mad at me?"

Alison shrugged, "I don't know. I'm frustrated, I guess. But I appreciate that you're trying to get everything out in the open… but I guess you're just going to have deal with…the consequences of all that," she paused, "But with Charlotte, she loves you. An incredible amount. She just needs time to process, mom."

"I really hope you're right," Jessica smiled sadly.

"Is that really everything, mom?" Alison asked, "Because if it's not… and something else comes out later… it might not be so easy."

Jessica nodded, "I understand that. And that is everything… big. I mean, there are always going to be little things about people we don't know. It's not possible to know everything. But, I promise I've told you both everything that I can think of," she continued, "I want you to know, though, you can ask me anything. About your father, about… about anything and I will be open with you, I promise."

Alison watched her mom closely before nodding, "I believe you, mom," she said quietly.

"Thank you," Jessica took her daughters hand and squeezed, "I love you."

"I love you too."

Charlotte stay in her room for as long as she could, curled up underneath the covers. She couldn't deny the fact that the blankets warmth was no substitute for her mom's warm embrace. Sluggishly, as she'd barely had any sleep, she clambered out of bed and out of her room.

She stood with her head leaning against her mom's bedroom door for a few moments. She was nibbling on her lip, still contemplating whether she knock or not.

"You're not…looking for me, are you?"

Charlotte looked up to see her mom smiling nervously at her. Doing that head tilt thing that seemed to be a family trait. Charlotte bit her lip and nodded.

Jessica smiled and moved closer, "Are you… okay?" she asked tentatively.

Charlotte shrugged, "I just need my mom," she whispered, pulling Jessica closer.

Jessica wrapped her arms around Charlotte and held her close, "Always," she whispered.

"Sorry I got mad," Charlotte sniffed.

Jessica shook her head, "No, honey. You have nothing at all to apologise for. You're right, I should have told you much sooner."

Charlotte nodded, "You should have… but I know you and everything you do is because you think you're protecting me. So… even though I don't agree that it was the best way to protect me, I know you thought you were doing the right thing," she sighed, "So I can't be mad at you for that. Plus, I don't like being mad at you, mom. It hurts too much."

Jessica traced her fingers over Charlotte's cheek, "I don't like it either… but I'm very lucky you're so understanding."

"How about one thing though?"

"Mm, what's that?" Jessica asked.

"Next time you do something to protect me… can you please tell me? Then we can make the decision together on the best thing to do. I mean, that's what people in real grown up relationships do, right?" Charlotte bit her lip.

Jessica nodded, "Okay," she whispered, "That sounds good. Does this mean we're still…"

Charlotte smiled and kissed her lips, "You know you're irresistible."

Jessica chuckled, "No, I know I'm the luckiest woman alive."

Charlotte took a deep breath, "But mom… I think I might want to meet her. My bio-mom. What's her name?"

"Mary," Jessica breathed, "Please… think about this and everything it might bring up," she sighed, ,"But I will support you, sweetheart, whatever decision you make."

Charlotte bit her lip and nodded, "Trust me, I thought about it all night, mom."

"Okay," Jessica nodded.

"Mom, does she know anything about me?" Charlotte asked nervously, "Like did she ever ask about me or write…or I don't know… does she know her little boy grew into a woman?"

Jessica took her daughters' hands in her own, "She used to ask about you every time I saw you… but we fell out of touch a long time ago. You were barely five when I stopped visiting her, so no she doesn't know anything."

Charlotte nodded, "Okay," she hesitated, "Do you think she ever loved me?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, honey," Jessica ran a hand through her daughters hair, "I'm sure she did. She's just very…unwell."

"So… how hard is it to get into see her? Because I was thinking soon…"

Jessica nodded, "I'll get in touch with the institution. Get the wheels moving. It shouldn't take too long. It's up, a little out of Philly. I can drive you."

Charlotte smiled, "Thanks, mom," she hesitated, "You know, it won't change our relationship, right? I really am glad you took me in. You'll always be my mom."

Jessica let out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding, "I'm glad to hear that," she confessed.

Charlotte wrapped her arms around Jessica, "Always."