Chapter 15

Charlotte zipped up her bag and looked at her mom sitting on the bed. She looked sad, Charlotte noted and put her bag on the floor before sitting next to her mom.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Jessica seemed to be pulled out of a daze, she smiled, "I'm fine, sweetheart."

"You seem sad, mom," Charlotte took Jessica's hand and entwined their fingers, "Is it because we're going home?"

Jessica nodded, "I suppose it is," she said quietly, "It's just been so nice being free a while…"

"Yeah," Charlotte agreed, "It really has… but our lives are in Rosewood, mom."

"I know," Jessica sighed, "I'm just going to miss it."

Charlotte bit her lip, "I'm not going anywhere, mommy," she whispered, "And I'll come away with you as often as you like," she kissed Jessica's cheek.

Jessica smiled, "You're sweet," she traced her fingers over Charlotte's cheek, "We should definitely make this a regular thing."

Charlotte grinned, "Definitely. This can be like… our home away from home," she looked around the hotel room, "I like it here."

"So do I," Jessica agreed, "But really, I like anywhere with you," she kissed Charlotte's lips gently.

Charlotte beamed, "You too, mom. Please, don't be sad. We can love each other wherever we are. Like you said, we don't need anyone else to validate it for us."

Jessica nodded, "You're right. Or, well I suppose I'm right," she chuckled as Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Now, we should really get going."

"You've sure changed your tune," Emily noted.

Alison shrugged, "Yeah, I mean… seeing them together more and more, they actually work," she frowned, "I guess if we'd all grown up together, it would have been harder to accept…I never thought I'd be cool with it but they really seem good for each other."

"If you say so," Emily nodded.

"You still think it's weird, don't you?" Alison smiled.

Emily shrugged, "I don't know. I mean, well yeah it sure sounds weird but like you said, it's the more you see them together and I never have so I guess I can't really judge."

"Thanks, Em," Alison said gratefully, "For keeping it a secret and not being all judgey."

"That's what friends are for."

"So, how was your trip?" Alison asked, leaning against the doorframe as Charlotte unpacked.

Charlotte smiled, "It was great. How was your sleepover at Em's?"

Alison nodded, "It was good. We had to study a lot with exams coming up so you know, as fun as that can be," she shrugged, "Did you guys do much?"

"Well, not really," Charlotte supposed, "It was just really nice to be able to walk down the street as a couple and have dinner and stuff, you know?"

"Yeah, it must be tough…" Alison sympathised, "But you know, I'm okay with you guys now, right? So you don't have to hide in mom's room all the time."

Charlotte bit her lip before smiling happily, "Thanks, Ali. You're the best."

"I know," Alison grinned.

Charlotte chuckled, before turning back to her bag and frowning. She began rifling through her things and then mom's bags becoming increasingly more frantic.

"You lose something?" Alison asked, watching her sister concernedly.

Charlotte went back to her own bag turning it upside down before throwing it onto the bed.

"Charlotte, what is it?" Alison asked again, louder this time.

"Mom," Charlotte called before turning to Alison, "It's my bear. He's not here."

Alison frowned, "Your teddy?"

Charlotte nodded.

"Did you definitely take him – "

"Of course I did," Charlotte growled, "I don't go anywhere without him."

"What's going on?" Jessica entered the room.

"I can't find Ted," Charlotte said sadly.

Jessica approached her, touching her arm gently, "Okay. We'll call the hotel."

"But mom what if someone took him or – "

Jessica put a hand on each of Charlotte's arms, looking her in the eye, "Charlie. It's okay. Just let me call them before you start to panic."

Charlotte nodded and her mom picked up the phone, leaving the room.

"Mom gave you that teddy, didn't she?" Alison asked, trying to understand Charlotte's reaction.

Charlotte nodded, "When I was little," she said quietly, "And I first went away… he was all I had left of my family… until mom would visit again," she nibbled on her lip, "I've slept with him every night since mom first gave him to me," she mumbled.

Alison took her hand and squeezed it, "Sorry. I didn't know how much he meant to you…"

Charlotte shrugged, "It's okay," she was pacing the room.

"They've got him," Jessica re-entered the room.

Charlotte stopped pacing, "They do? Are you sure?"

Jessica nodded and placed a hand on her daughters' cheek, "Yes. But you know we won't make it back there tonight."

Charlotte turned away, a slight whine coming out of her throat.

"I got them to ship it express, it will get here by tomorrow," Jessica said.

"Mhm," Charlotte crossed her arms.

Jessica gestured to Ali to leave them alone. Then she approached her daughter.

"Honey, it's just one night – "

"You don't get it, mom," Charlotte said sadly, "I haven't spent a night without Ted in… nearly twenty years. He was all I had in Radley… in Philly. The only constant in my life other than you. The only thing that ever made me feel safe except you."

Jessica reached for Charlotte's cheek again, "I know, honey. But I'm going to be right here. The whole night. And then tomorrow, you'll have him back."

"You think I'm stupid," Charlotte said quietly, "For loving a teddy bear so much."

Jessica smiled, "No, Charlie," she ran her fingers behind Charlotte's ear, "I think you feel things deeply and you get very attached to the things that make you feel safe because you didn't always feel that way… and I'm sorry – "

"It's not your fault, mom," Charlotte shook her head.

Jessica pulled her daughter in her arms, "You will be okay," she whispered firmly, "I promise you that."

Charlotte tossed and turned until she couldn't lay there anymore. She got up and walked out to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water and pacing as she drank it.

Jessica woke up, feeling the space next to her empty. She sighed, rubbing her eyes and climbing out of bed.

"Honey," Jessica said tiredly as she entered the kitchen, "Come back to bed."

Charlotte yawned, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up, mom."

Jessica moved closer and took her daughters hand, "It's okay, Charlie," she squeezed her hand, "Please come back to bed with me."

Charlotte nibbled her lip and nodded, "Alright, mommy," she snuggled into Jessica's chest, hugging her tightly, "But you have to hold me really tightly."

Jessica smiled and wrapped her hands around Charlotte, "I will, I promise baby," she led her daughter back to the bedroom and into the bed.

She pulled the blankets tightly around them both before drawing Charlotte close against her.

"Remember when you were little and you'd have a nightmare?" she murmured.

Charlotte nodded, "I remember."

"I'd let you climb in with me and you'd hold onto me so tightly," Jessica remembered, "You were so cute."

Charlotte pouted, "Were? Aren't I cute anymore?"

Jessica laughed, "It was different then," she pointed out.

"Dad didn't like it, remember? He said I should be braver…"

"You were only little," Jessica whispered.

Charlotte nodded, "Then you used to come back to my bed and hug me until I fell asleep. Then one day, when I woke up you weren't there but Ted was sitting next to me," she said quietly, "He was so soft and cute. You said he would protect me from the nightmares when you weren't there…"

"And now I'll protect you from the nightmares while he's not here," Jessica whispered, "If you'll let me."

Charlotte snuggled into her mom's chest, "Okay, mommy."

Jessica smiled and ran her fingers through Charlotte's hair lovingly, waiting for her daughter to fall asleep. Just like when she was little, Charlotte soon fell asleep in the safety of her mom's embrace.