A/N: Chapter two is up. You guys or gals are awesome. I honestly did not expect any reviews for my first chapter. Thank you! I was motivated to write the second chapter up. The next chapter would not be out in a while as I am going to be going for a family vacation for about 1 week +.

Special thanks to emeralgreenlove, uniquemusician, mrssamwinchester93, Flubber But Buddies FOREVA and Akaynin for the reviews.

Not Since You

Chapter 2: Jet lagged.

Jack walked out of the dojo and straight to the parking lots. This could not be happening. From a distance away he could hear Eddie calling out for him but he continued to walk towards his car, still shocked from today's surprise. He had decided to see Rudy today and met the other guys (Eddie, Jerry, and Milton) on the way to see Rudy. All of them had been catching up, it was a month since he saw any of them and just as he was about to leave to pick Stella up, when someone entered the dojo. And not just any someone, but Kimberly Crawford.

Who did she think she was? To just come waltzing in after disappearing for five year, without any clue to where she was going. She didn't even tried to get in touch with any of them. She just left, no notice, no goodbyes. And the way the rest just welcomed her in open arms. It was...

Jack turned around quickly and startled Eddie who was just feet away.

"You didn't know she was coming, did you?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

"No I had no clue," Eddie said without missing a beat.

Jack knew he was lashing out at Eddie and that was unfair. He dropped his shoulders and said, "Sorry."

Eddie merely nodded and Jack took that Eddie had already forgiven him. There was an uncomfortable silence between them before Eddie spoke up.

"Are you alright Jack?" Eddie asked cautiously.

Was he alright? No, he was not.

"Yeah, look I have to pick Stella up. I'll see you around," Jack said before going into his car.

He tried to get rid of thoughts about the blonde haired girl but Kim kept cropping up to his mind. She looked different and yet as amazing as ever. Her hair was now shoulder length and she had grown out of the bangs she had when she was sixteen. Her eyes were the same browns as ever. The ones that haunted him over the past five years. The last time he had seen her was in his senior class of mathematics.

What happened? Why now? Why did she comeback, only now? Why did she leave in the first place? His mind was consumed with thoughts as he looked at the dashboard clock before groaning. Great, he was going to be a little late. Stella was going to kill him. He drove faster on to the airport.

"You are late, you doofus," Stella said as Jack walked out of his car and towards him. Jack hugged her. Stella had been always been Jack favorite sister. Sure they had their moments of pure sibling rivalry but Stella who was two years younger than Jack had been one of the people in his life that he could talk about anything to.

"How are you baby sis?" Jack asked as he pulled out and looked at Stella.

"Good, the usual," Stella shrugged before asking, "How's everyone?"

The events of this afternoon played in his head.

"The usual," Jack responded monotonously as both of them got in the car.

"Anything interesting happen while I was away?" Stella asked.

"Not much," Jack hesitated before saying, "Kim came back today."

"Kim?" Stella asked shocked.

Stella had been close to Kim in away. Kim had been like the older sister Stella never had. He knew that she knew that Jack had not seen or heard from Kim for a long while. Jack was well aware of his sister's concerned gaze. But honestly, he did not want to talk about it.

"So how's Paul?" Jack asked. It was an obvious attempt to change the subject. Both of them knew it was deliberate but Stella gave in.

...

"I have to go and get back to my apartment," Jerry said after their two hour long coffee. They had spent the entire time catching up and rattling on about unimportant things. Jerry had let Kim know about what some of their other friends in high school were doing. Grace was in UCLA finishing up her last semester while Juliet was still at Harvard, practicing to be a doctor.

And in return Kim had told Jerry about the college she went to, the various jobs she had gotten and her aunt Charlotte. Jerry could see some holes in her story, Kim would never touch any topic to deep and Jerry was smart enough not to insist about talking about something to Kim.

Jerry had also told Kim about what had happened in the past five years; Milton's research job at an elite company, Eddie's start to becoming a producer and even what had been going on with Rudy. The only subject they didn't talk about intentionally and was definitely the elephant in the room was a certain boy. They did touch on it though for only a few seconds where Kim just asked how Jack was and Jerry said he was alright. After that they changed the subject.

"Yeah, I should probably get back as well," Kim said as she looked at her watch.

"Where are you staying?" Jerry asked conversationally as they walked out of the shop.

"With my mom. There's so much to catch up on, so much we both missed," Kim replied.

The spring air around them cooled a little, after the rather sunny afternoon. Jerry turned to Kim.

"There is a party tomorrow at the Anderson residence for Stella, 6pm," Jerry stated.

He saw Kim's face and her voice sounded weary, "Are you sure that I should come. I mean he..."

Kim trailed off. Jack was not his biggest fan now. She saw the way he looked at her. There was a little anger in there and she honestly could not blame him. She would probably be angry too, if her best friend disappeared and came back only years later.

"He misses you," Jerry cut her off, "I know that it might not look like it but he does. I'll pick you up tomorrow and you can meet Candice."

Jerry saw Kim hesitate before nodding. She had a slight grimace in her face but otherwise was smiling. Jerry pulled her into a hug.

"This time if you ever leave, say goodbye," Jerry whispered.

"Okay," she replied softly.

...

"You did what?" Jack practically yelled at the person in front of him. He was at the kitchen, in his childhood house just after he picked Stella up. Jerry was standing in his kitchen about to take a seat at one of the chairs beside the kitchen counter.

"You heard what I said the first time," Jerry said before saying, "Hey Stella. How's the flight ?"

"I'm a little jet lagged but otherwise good. How's Candice?" Stella asked as she pulled out some soda cans from the fridge.

"Great," Jerry said much to Jack's irritation.

Jack turned Jerry so that they were facing face to face.

"Why did you invite her?" Jack practically demanded.

Jerry moved back a little before saying, "First, personal space man..."

Jack growled in irritation.

"Secondly, I invited her because she is my friend, and deep down inside your abnormally stubborn head, she is also still yours," Jerry said as he finished.

"I don't want her around," Jack said.

Jerry was he could see Stella roll her eyes as she passed him a drink can. Jack was almost whining like a five year old.

"Jack, she's coming," Jerry said in a way that left no arguments.

"Why is she even in town anyway?" Jack asked.

Jerry took a sip of his drink before replying, "She said she came back to make things right."

"What does that even mean?"

"Dude, you walked out of that dojo today. You knew very well that Stella could have taken a cab" Jerry turned to Stella "No offense" Stella just shrugged. "You could have stayed and let her explain but you didn't. I know you're mad but you will need to talk to her sooner or later... and I honestly don't want to see you try and avoid her when I know you miss her like crazy. So please, and I say this in the nicest way possible; behave tomorrow," Jerry said.

Jack looked indignant but under the looks he was receiving from his sister and Jerry he reluctantly agreed.

...

Kim walked into her childhood house. Her suitcases were all in the bedroom but her other stuff that were in boxes were still waiting to be unpacked. The house did not look at all different and her mom seemed to still keep things in the house just as they were back when Kim was in high school. That made Kim feel more comfortable and ease into the feeling that she was back where she needs to be.

"Mom, I'm back," Kim called out.

Her mom came out of the kitchen.

"How did it go?' was the first thing her mother asked.

Kim had after all told her mother about her plans for today. Kim shrugged and said, "As expected, I guess."

"Well, it's the first step," her mother said.

Kim had missed her mom a lot and although she had exchanged e-mails and calls and every once in a while her mom came to visit, it was not the same. She had missed her mom's comforting embrace and simple smiles.

"I missed you, you know," Kim said and was swiftly pulled into a hug

"I missed you too and I'm so glad you're back," Her mom said.

"I didn't want you to miss out too much," Kim smiled.

"And it seems as if I have missed out a lot," her mom said as her mother shook her head, "Come on, I made pasta."

Kim entered the kitchen, "Where's Austin?"

"Asleep," her mom said.

Kim nodded. The kitchen was quiet as her mom began to serve the pasta.

"Jerry invited me to the Anderson house for Stella's welcome home party," Kim said.

"And?"

"I said I'll go," Kim said.

Her mother turned around, "Are you going to tell him tomorrow?"

"No, but I will explain everything else," Kim said.

"That's not a lot you know," her mom said

"I know."

To clarify any doubts: Kim's mom knows what she was doing in the last five years and also knew that Kim was coming back. Candice is Jerry's girlfriend. Jack may seem really whatever but that would be how the story plays out, he is just a little mad that Kim never said goodbye. The story takes place in spring and Stella plays kind of an important role in the story.

So what do you think of the chapter?