A/N: Enjoy! Christmas chapter coming up! :)

Chapter 25

Jessica stood at the bedroom door, watching her daughter sleep in Mary's arms. She looked peaceful. Mary looked over at her and made to move.

"No, don't," Jessica whispered, "She looks comfortable."

Mary nodded and leant back, "She does, doesn't she?" she smiled.

"She adores you, Mary," Jessica said, "You know that, don't you?"

"I'm so blessed," Mary replied, "She's very special."

Charlotte began to stir, mumbling, "Are you two talking about me?"

Jessica chuckled, "We might be."

Charlotte grumbled a little.

"Only because you're our favourite person to talk about," Mary said fondly.

"That's nice," Charlotte murmured sleepily.

Jessica bit her lip, placing a hand in her hair daughters hair and kissing the side of her head, "Go back to sleep if you like, honey."

Charlotte sat up a little, "It's okay," she wiped the sleep from her eyes, "I'm awake now. You woke me up talking about me."

Jessica laughed, poking Charlotte's side playfully. Charlotte giggled and fought her away.

"Well, I'm going to make us some dinner. You'll stay, Mary?"

Mary looked surprised but nodded, "Sure, I'll stay."

Jessica smiled and left the room.

"Thanks for letting me sleep," Charlotte said quietly.

Mary smiled, "Any time," she said.

"I love you, mom," Charlotte whispered.

"I love you too, Charlie," Mary whispered, "Thank you for letting me be your mom."

"You like having them both here, huh?" Alison asked.

Charlotte beamed, "Yes! They're so nice to each other now, don't you think?"

"Thanks to you," Alison smiled.

Charlotte shrugged, "I guess so."

Alison rolled her eyes, "You know it's all for you, Charlie. They dote on you."

Charlotte grinned, "A bit."

Alison laughed, "You're loving it."

Charlotte blushed.

"Hey," Alison softened her voice, "You deserve it."

"What does she deserve?" Jessica asked, carrying some dishes into the kitchen.

"Nothing," Charlotte said quickly, taking the dishes from her mom.

Jessica took over at the sink, "Thank you, honey but you go out and keep Mary company. I'll do these," she smiled.

Charlotte nodded, "Thanks, mom," she kissed her mom's cheek and bounced out of the kitchen.

"So, everything okay?" Jessica asked her youngest daughter.

Alison nodded, "Yeah, great. I was just telling Charlie how spoilt she is."

Jessica chuckled, "Oh. I guess I do spoil her a bit…"

"A bit," Alison teased, "So does Aunt Mary. It's nice though. She's always happiest when you guys are around."

Jessica smiled, "Hey, you know I love you just as much, don't you?"

Alison smiled, "Yeah, I know mom."

"Well, maybe you and I can get lunch on the weekend. Just us," Jessica said.

"That would be nice," Alison agreed.

Jessica dried her hands on the tea-towel and took Alison's hands in her own, "You know I – "

"Mom," Alison sighed, "I know."

"It's just there's been so much going on with Charlie and I never want to exclude you," Jessica explained.

Alison waved a hand, "Mom, really it's fine. I've been busy too. Speaking of… is it okay if I sleep at Emily's tonight?"

"On a school night?" Jessica answered sceptically.

"Yeah, we have this test Friday and we want to study," Alison said innocently.

Jessica sighed, "You really get more study done with Emily?"

Alison nodded quickly, "Way more. She's got this great study technique where whenever I get a question right, she takes off a piece of – "

"Okay," Jessica put a hand up, "I get it. Just make sure you get some study done before you… play your little game."

Alison grinned, "Awesome! Thanks mom!"

"So, you two seem…well," Mary was saying in the dining room with her daughter.

Charlotte frowned, "Oh, me and mom?"

Mary nodded, "Yes. You seem very… happy with her."

Charlotte bit her lip, nodding nervously, "We are."

"I'm glad," Mary smiled.

Charlotte blinked, "You are?"

Mary touched her daughters' hand, "I want you to be happy, honey. Yes, it's taken me a while to get used to but I see how you are together, how you look at one another. I can see that she really loves you."

Charlotte smiled, "I really love her too."

"I know you do," Mary smiled.

"She's not the only one who makes me happy," Charlotte said quietly, "I really like having you here. I was nervous… but it's been great getting to know you and have you become, you know, family."

Mary raised a hand to her daughters cheek, "You make me very happy and very proud, sweetheart. I don't have anyone in my life, as you know, except for you. I'm very grateful you have let me in, all of you have. Even Jessica."

Charlotte beamed, "You guys seem to be getting along well now."

"We are," Mary agreed, "It's nice having her back in my life. And it's all thanks to you."

"That was a nice day," Charlotte said, lying on the bed.

Jessica smiled at her, "It was, wasn't it?"

"I really like having her around," Charlotte said.

"I know you do," Jessica said as she removed her blouse and picked up her pyjama shirt.

Charlotte was off the bed and to her mom in an instant, "Not as much as I like having you around," she murmured, taking Jessica's slim waist from behind.

Jessica rolled her eyes, "Oh yes you do," she chuckled, "It's just different."

"Definitely different," Charlotte whispered, "I don't think you should put that on," she pulled her mom's pyjama shirt from her hands.

Jessica laughed and turned around to face her daughter, "Is that right?"

"Yeah, silly pyjama's," Charlotte pouted, "You dress like such a…"

Jessica quirked an eyebrow, "Such a what?"

"Like a sophisticated, rich lady," Charlotte bit her lip, "I mean, it's hot. Your sexy blouses, the whole high waisted trousers that shape your legs just so. When you unbutton your shirts when it's just you and me… Because I'm the only one that gets to see you like that."

"Of course you are," Jessica bit back a smile, "It's just it gets cold at nights sometimes – "

"But that's what I'm for," Charlotte pouted again, "I can cuddle you and make you warm."

Jessica giggled, "That's very true."

"Body heat – it's the best way to warm up. Better than clothes!" Charlotte grinned.

"Promise me you'll snuggle into me?"

"That's a given!" Charlotte said enthusiastically, "You're so…" her eyes flicked down Jessica's body.

Jessica pushed at Charlotte's chest gently, "And so are you but I'm also very tired."

Charlotte nodded, "Okay," she bit her lip, "I'm sorry I made you worry by being sad, mommy."

"Oh, honey. You don't need to apologise," Jessica placed a hand on her daughters cheek, "I'm just glad you're feeling better. Don't ever feel like you can't talk to me, okay?"

"Okay," Charlotte agreed, "You can put your pyjamas on if you want, if you're more comfortable."

Jessica chuckled and kissed her cheek, "I know. I think I'm just fine like this as long as I've got my little cuddler to keep me warm."

Charlotte grinned, "Always!"

Jessica smiled and climbed into bed and under the covers. Charlotte joined her and moved closer to her, wrapping her arms around her mom's waist and snuggling her head into her chest. Jessica kissed the top of her daughters head and held her close.

"You're a very good snuggler," Jessica murmured, closing her eyes.

"I had a good teacher," Charlotte giggled.

"If you have trouble sleeping, please wake me up, okay?" Jessica ran a hand through blonde hair, "Promise me?"

Charlotte pulled her head from Jessica's chest and kissed her lips, "Promise, mom. Promise if you really do get too cold, you'll put your shirt on?"

"I think that's the first time you've ever asked me to put on clothing," Jessica teased.

Charlotte giggled, "Only if you get cold!"