Rifiuto: Non Miriena

She took a deep breath, it was now or never. Zane held onto her hand, and she pulled away; she didn't want to let go either, but she was desperate to meet her family. A family she didn't even know she had. Slowly, she took a step towards them, telling herself that everything would be okay. That they'd remember her, even if she didn't fully remember them. Straightening her spine, she held her head high and made her way towards the car. She quickly cut across the street, waving hello to the neighborhood kids.

"Hi, Ms. Lupo!" She turned, stopping in the middle of the street. On instinct, she caught the baseball one of the kids had accidentally thrown her way, and tossed it back, laughing. "Sorry, Ms. Lupo!"

"That's okay, Nick!" The boys watched in amazement as she threw it back; they ducked as it flew past them. Jo had always loved sports; she'd spent her childhood chasing after her brothers, playing t-ball and soccer, to the point that she got pretty good at pitching. "Sorry boys!"

"Would you play ball with us at some point, Ms. Lupo? We could use another batter." One of them asked, rushing up to her. She chuckled.

"I would be honored to play with you sometime. It's... been a long time since I've played ball with anyone." Once the boys were gone- promising to let her know when their next game would be- she turned back, to find them watching her.

"Jo?" He stepped towards her, but the girl hung back. A moment passed, as Jo drank in the sight of the man she'd seen in the video. Something inside her screamed at the top of its lungs that this was her husband, the man she'd married, the man she'd loved, no matter the timeline. He looked older, with messy black hair and the brightest blue eyes she'd ever seen. Come to think of it, he looked a lot like Zane. So much like him, that he could have been his older brother...

"Evan?"

Gently, he reached down, guiding the baby until her head began to slowly appear between her mother's thighs. This was by far the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen- his child, coming into the world, making her entrance, with only her parents there to welcome her, as it should be.

"I need another push, Jojo! Come on, sweetheart, you're doing good!" She let out a very primal scream as she bore down, grabbing onto the blankets beneath her as she pushed. "Her head's out... She has your gorgeous dark curls, love." Evan's voice filled with awe. "You're doing a beautiful job."

She gave him a soft smile, and returned to pushing, pulling her knees to her chest as she bore down harder. A gasp escaped her lips, and she gasped for air, fingers curling tightly around the sheets. "God... shes' coming! Evan!"

"I know love."

"Get her out!" A scream broke the night as she gave another strong push.

"She's coming, Jojo. I just need one more. Okay, love? One more."

Minutes passed, minutes of intense, searing pain, as her body finally gave up the tiny human being that had been residing in her for the last nine months, expelling it into the world. She crashed back against the pillows as her husband gnetly lifted something out from between her legs. The sound of her baby's shrill wailing drowned out everything but the moment before her, as she looked up to see Evan cradling their newborn daughter. The baby's tiny legs and arms kicked as she cried in her father's arms, and he smiled dwon at the tiny miracle they had created, tears in his eyes. Jo watched as her husband gently rocked back and forth, calming the newborn. "Hi. Hi there. Hi. Welcome to the world, baby girl. We've been waiting a long time to meet you. Yes we have." She relaxed against the pillows, listening to her husband's soft vioce. "I'm your daddy, and this... this is your mommy." He whispered, laying the baby gently in Jo's arms.

"Oh Evan... she's beautiful." The baby squirmed and looked up at her mother with wide, blue eyes.

"You did a wonderful job, Jojo." He whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. "An absolutely amazing job. I've never... witnessed smething so... marvelous and beautiful." She thought a moment.

"What do we name her?" He licked his lips.

"Vanessa."

"It's perfect, Evan." She turned her gaze back to six pound, three ounce baby cradled in her arms. "Vanessa. Vanessa Margaret Cross." She looked back up at her husband. "Thank you, for giving her to me. Thank you for making me a mother." He whispered the sentiment back to her, sealing it with a soft kiss.

"Daddy? Daddy, who's she?" The child tugged on his sleeve, but he ignored her. "Daddy?" A moment passed, before she hurried towards him, stopping inches from him. "Daddy, who is she?"

"She's your mother, Nessa." He choked out. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hands to keep from crying, before throwing her arms around his neck. She burst into tears, burying her face in his neck; he wrapped his arms tight around her small body, breathing in her scent. When he finally set her down, she took her face in his hands. "Jo... you're okay. Oh thank God, you're okay! When Director Fargo called and said you'd been in an accident-" He sniffled, reaching down and wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her to him.

"Shh... it's okay, Ev. I'm okay." She whispered, cradling his face in her hands. He nodded, nudging his nose against hers. After a moment, captured her lips in his, drinking her in. She jumped; a spark ignited, coursing through her entire body, igniting every cell within her blood. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck, and after several minutes, pulled away. "I really missed you."

"Daddy?" The pair turned to the girl, who stood watching them, confused. "Who is she?" Jo nuzzled into her husband's chest, tucking her head beneath his chin, arms going around his waist.

"This... is your mother." The girl looked up at her, confused, and after a moment, Jo pulled away, going to the girl. She knelt down to Vanessa's level, staring into the girl's eyes.

"Vanessa." The girls stared at her, searching her face. A moment passed, before she reached up, brushing her small fingers over Jo's cheeks. Jo pressed a soft kiss to the fingers, holding them against her lips.

"Mommy?" And without another word, the girl threw her arms around Jo's neck, burying her face in her mother's chest. Jo held her child close, pressing her lips against her daughter's head.

"I've missed you so much, Vanessa, so, so much, and thought about you every day."

Across the street, Zane watched the happy reunion, his heart breaking. He didn't take his eyes away when Fargo, Grace and Henry joined him, nor when Carter and Allison stopped by on their run. "You did a wonderful thing, Fargo, calling Evan." Grace said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"But... how does Vanessa know that our Jo's her-"

"A wise child knows her mother, Carter." Allison replied. "No matter how many years have passed, nor how many timelines have been jumped. A wise child will always recognize her mother."