Well this was an incredibly hard chapter to write. And I have no shame in admitting that I sat and cried writing this. I really hope to have done this justice.

See when you see these things in the movies, it's so easy to convey the emotion that person is feeling. But by writing it, its so so difficult cause I'm trying to paint the picture that's in my head for yous to imagine and see it how I do. So yeah, this has been so hard.

Please review and thank you once again for your continued support.

The moon shining in through the gap in the curtains just slightly lit up the small body that was writhing around in the bed as her face contorted in fear. Her t-shirt was twisted round her from all the movement. Beads of sweat rolled down the wrinkles on her forehead and onto her face. What started off as quiet moans soon turned into screams.

"MUM! NO, MUM! COME BACK!" she screamed.

In the other room Nick had just flickered open his eyes, he sat up and rubbed them, slightly confused as he was half asleep trying to make sense of what was going on. The screams got louder and at the side of him Carlas eyes shot open and she knew straight away what was going on. Bouncing out of the bed she headed straight to the room right next to theirs without a second thought.

She sat on the side of the bed and gripped the girls shoulders gently, giving her a shake as she said her name. The screams stopped as Jessicas eyes opened and she saw Carla sitting in front of her. She sat forewards and leant her head onto the woman as she sobbed quietly.

Carla: "It was just a bad dream darling" she soothed as he ran her hand up and down the 11 years olds back, feeling the wetness from her tears seep through the silk robe and onto her skin.

Nick walked into the room wrapped in his blue dressing gown and put his hand on Carlas shoulder: "I'll take over from here, you go back to bed, thank you"

Carla placed a kiss on her forehead: "Goodnight sweet girl"

Nick lay alongside his daughter and held his arm out, she shuffled along the bed and lay her head on his chest as she let out a deep sigh.

Jessica: "I dreamt she died again" she sobbed.

Nick: "Shh baby it's ok" he soothed, but his heart was weighed down with a heavy sadness because he knew that very soon he was going to be consoling her just like this but her worst fears will have came to light and it would no longer be a nightmare, but reality.

Leanne had deteriorated quickly. The cancer wasn't responding to the chemotherapy and she had to be taken into hospital whilst they tried to manage her condition. She was weak and pale. The doctors had warned them it wouldn't be long, Jessica or Simon didn't know but they could tell something wasn't right.

The next again day Nick took Jessica into the hospital as he always did, but this time Leanne asked Nick to leave her alone with Jess.

Leanne: "Come lie beside me kiddo" she whispered, her voice breaking, her whole body was so weak, and so thin.

Jess lay alongside her Mother and took her frail hand in hers.

Leanne: "Baby, I've not got long to go now, so I need you to know..."

Jess: "No Mum, please don't speak like this" her voice quivered as her emotions threatened to take over.

Leanne: "Jess please listen to me. I need you to know how much I love you..." her own voice broke as the tears started to fall. She cleared her throat and continued.

"And I know it's not going to seem like it but you'll get through it. You've got your Dad, and your brother. It'll feel hard but you can do it. You're going to have the most amazing life ahead of you, you're so smart, and so beautiful. You and Simon make me proud every single day"

She had to stop as her emotions took over, and Jess by this point was sobbing her little heart out. She rolled over so she was on her side and placed her arm over her mothers stomach holding on tightly.

Jessica: "I don't know how I'm supposed to live without you" she cried.

Leanne: "You'll do it baby, and I'm going to be right there by your side through everything. Your first date, your graduation, when you get married. I'll be right there, you might not be able to see me, but I'll be there baby, I promise you. And if ever you miss me you just speak to me, I won't be able to answer but I'll be listening"

Jessica: "I love you so so much Mum" she sobbed.

Leanne: "I love you too baby girl, more than anything else in this world"

Jessica had to leave shortly after, her mother was tired and she still had to have her moment with Simon. Jess practically had to be prised off her Mother, crying once again having to say goodbye but promising her she'd see her in the morning.

The car ride back was quiet, Nick couldn't find words to comfort her, and he didn't think there was any anyway. Arriving back into the flat Jessica walked straight passed Carla and into her room, wanting to be alone. She flung herself down on the bed and cried so much she fell asleep, her body struggling to stay awake when the girl was so emotionally drained.

She doesn't know how long she was asleep. She just remembers hearing a sequence of events after waking.

The house phone ringing waking her from her slumber.

Her father speaking, but not coherent enough for her to hear what he was saying.

The phone clicking as it was put down back on the reciever.

Carlas voice as she said "Oh god"

And then Nicks as he said "How am I meant to tell her?" as his own voice shook with emotion.

That's when she knew.

Her room door opened and the light being pressed on showed the grieving faces of both Carla and Nick.

Jess shook her head vigourously as she screamed.

They don't know how long she screamed, but eventually her screams subsided into cries. Nick and Carla lay at either side as the girl tossed and turned between the two gripping onto them as she broke down completely. She eventually fell asleep again, the pain too much for her to bear.

The couple still lay beside her, refusing to move. Refusing to allow her to wake during the night and be alone when she had so much heartache.

The days passed in a blur. Jess spent most of her time barely eating, barely speaking. The rare occasion she would come out the room would be to cuddle in next to her father for a brief bit of comfort, but she'd head back soon enough.

It was the night before the funeral and Carla and Nick were getting increasingly worried about Jessica because once again she wouldn't eat. Nick was at work, he'd had to go to the resteraunt to try and keep things afloat so Carla was left along with her.

Carla: "Jess you should really eat something" she said softly to the girl who was sat on the sofa, her eyes on the TV though she wasn't watching it.

Jessica: "I'm not hungry" she grumbled.

Carla: "I know but you need to eat"

Jessica: "And? What does it matter to you whether I eat or not!" she snapped.

Carla: "Because I care about you" she reasoned.

Jessica: "Well you have no reason to. You're not my Mum! You're just the woman my Dads seeing and that doesn't give you any right to try and tell me what to do, is that clear?!" she shouted and stormed off to her room slamming the door in the process.

Carla let out a sigh and dropped herself onto the couch, she heard something being thrown then heard muffled cries. She felt out of her depth, totally unaware of what to do. Should she go through?

She didn't have to. The bedroom door opened back up and Jess appeared in the doorframe, her face tear stained.

Jess: "I'm sorry" she whimpered.

Carla: "Come here" she said softly.

Jessica went over and curled up beside Carla on the couch, feeling her arms around her protectively as the factory boss tried to comfort the child.

Jess: "I just miss her"

Carla: "I know you do darling, it's ok" she reassured.

Jess: "It's not though, I don't know what I'd have done without you"

Carla: "Well you don't have to worry about that ok, I'm right here"

Jess: "Are you going to come tomorrow? I mean you were friends with my Mum at one point"

Carla paused then went to speak but Jess cut in.

Jess: "I need you there" she said seriously as the tears still poured from her eyes.

Carla nodded: "Then I'll be there" she said as she leant her head on top of Jess' head and pulled her arms around her slightly tighter.

That night Jess went to sleep in between Carla and Nick, unable to settle alone in her own room. She eventually nodded off with her head leaning on Nicks shoulder but with Carlas arm draped across her stomach and she held onto it tightly.

Nick looked over to Carla: "At least she's asleep"

Carla: "I didn't think she would, I don't think I will"

Nick: "Neither will I. Thank you for sitting with her today, it's been hard. We'd have been lost without you"

His own eyes filled again, he'd been keeping strong for Jess but he'd been heartbroken as well. Although him and Leanne were no longer together, they still loved each other on some level, and it hurt him too. Even when he looked at Jess, the little girl they'd brought into this world together, the little girl who looked so much like Leanne, his heart would feel a stab of sadness.

Carla noticed the sadness in his eyes and used her free hand to take his: "As I told Jess today, I'm not going anywhere ok"

The two eventually fell asleep, both knowing it was going to be a hard day for all of them.

Right a short chapter because I'm actually emotionally drained from that - I think anymore might have ruined the importance of this chapter. I really hope I've done it good enough - please leave reviews and let me know what you's think.

Thanks,

CharmedSuperGirl

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