Hello! So next chapter, again another shorter one.

I want to thank everyone again for their reviews and also apologise for the fact that yes I did do Leannes death a lot sooner than you's had probably expected. I found it too hard dragging it out, and these things can happen very quickly.

I wanted it not to centre so much around Jess/Nick/Carla so have added some scenes with other characters too.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the next one.

Her blonde hair blew over face and she tucked it back behind her ear, clearing her view and once again she was looking down at the coffin in the dirt. Her heart was breaking into a million pieces but she couldn't cry anymore. Everyone had slowly left one by one but she stayed, her Dad and Carla waiting in the car for her.

She felt fingers intertwine with hers and she turned to see her brother. He gripped her hand tightly as he ran a thumb over it. Despite being a month apart in age, he looked older, probably cause he was taller. His head of curly hair didn't help, decievingly making him look taller than he was.

Simon: "We should go Jess" he spoke softly as he looked back to the plot.

Jessica: "I don't want to leave her" he voice quivered.

Simon: "That's not her, that's just her body. She's moved on to a better place"

Jessica: "You think?" she asked turning to look at him seriously.

Simon sighed and pulled her into a hug: "I know it"

He eventually managed to convince her to come back and they travelled back in the back of Nicks car, still gripping onto each others hands. As they pulled onto Coronation Street they saw people going into the bistro.

Nick: "Do you want to go home? You don't have to go to the wake if you don't feel up to it, everyone would understand" he said gently.

Jessica shook her head: "No I want to go, I want to see my Gran"

Stella had arrived back that morning, her flight had gotten her in early doors. Eva had already been back a couple of weeks and Gloria was stuck where she was because of severe weather storms. Jessica hadn't had a chance to see Stella yet apart from a glimpse of each other at the funeral.

Simon went back to Kens, where he was now living, just wanting to be alone. Carla, Nick and Jessica entered the bistro, Carla with an arm around the girl. As soon as she saw Stella she was quick to move forward into her Grans tight embrace. The older blonde wrapped her arms around her granddaughter tightly and she felt the young girl start to sob again.

Stella: "It's ok baby" she soothed.

Jessica pulled her head away to look up at her, wiping away her tears: "I didn't think it was possible to cry anymore than I already had"

Stella: "I thought the exact same but the tears still keep coming"

Jessica: "How long are you staying for?" she asked.

Stella: "3 weeks, but I can stay as long as you need me to"

Jessica leaned back in again: "I've missed you"

Stella: "I've missed you too, more than you can imagine"

She sat with stella for a long while, being aware of all the people around her. She could feel them watching her with looks of pity.

Stella: "Kiddo, I'm going to head back cause I have jet lag, you be ok?"

Jessica gave a small smile and nodded: "Yeah, get yourself back. I'll see you soon"

When Stella left the young girl sat in the booth, pulling her knees up to her stomach and wrapping her arms tightly around herself.

"How is my favourite niece doing?" the voice asked as he sat next to her putting an arm around her shoulder.

Jessica couldn't help chuckle: "You do know you have more than one niece, Uncle David?"

David: "I know, just don't tell Bethany" he winked.

Jessica had always had a close relationship with David and she was the only one in the family who had always been able to see passed any of his flaws. She was close with all her family on her fathers side in fact, she used to spend a lot of weekends staying with her Grandma Gail and Uncle David, even when Kylie then Max came along she still used to but after they had Lily and her Aunt Sarah and cousin Bethany returned it was difficult because there wasn't enough room. She never used to be away from the Platts household even when she couldn't stay over.

David: "We've not see you in a while, the kids miss you, and so does Kylie. She wanted to be here today for you, but she needed to stay with the kids"

Jessica: "It's ok, I understand. I've just not been much company lately"

David: "Well listen, our door is always open for you ok? No matter what"

Jessica: "Thanks Uncle David, is Grandma here?" she asked looking around.

David: "She went straight home after the funeral, she had a bad headache. Your Aunt Sarah is kicking about somewhere though...oh speak of the devil" he said as he noted his sister walking towards them.

Sarah: "Shift it" she said to him and tilted her head in the direction he was to move.

David: "How charming" he said raising his eyebrows as he moved to the opposite side of the booth and allowed Sarah to move in next to Jessica. She wrapped her arms around the girl running her hands over the girls long blonde hair. She took her face in her hands and held it slightly back to look at her, rubbing her thumb over her nieces cheek.

Sarah: "How you coping kiddo?" she asked looking at the girl seriously trying to judge her facial expression.

Jessica shrugged: "I'm ok I guess. I'm trying not to think about it too much, I'm so tired" she answered.

Sarah studied the girls face closer and noted the dark circles forming below her nieces eyes due to broken sleep. Her eyes were also puffy and red from crying so much, made more prominent because of her pale complexion.

Sarah nodded: "You can tell you're knackered. Why don't you go find your Dad and head home eh, get an early night"

Jessica: "That doesn't sound like a bad plan, I think I'll do that"

The all shuffled out of the booth and Sarah hugged her, followed by David.

David: "If you're up to it tomorrow why don't you come round for your tea eh, it's pizza night" he grinned, knowing how much she used to love pizza night.

Jessica: "I'll see how I feel and let you's know, I'll see you's later" she smiled politely knowing she probably wouldn't go. She found her father and Carla sat in a quiet booth alone, they were sat in conversation but both looked up when Jess approached them.

Jessica: "Can we go home now please?" she said, looking between the two.

Nick: "Of course we can, come on"

They headed back to the flat and Jess went straight to her room, changing into pajamas and getting into bed despite the fact it had only just turned 3pm. She fell into a deep slumber, her dreams taking her away from the nightmare that was her reality. She was woken up by Nick who was sat on the side of her bed rubbing his hand over her arm gently.

Jessica: "Mmmmm?" she mumbled as she looked bleary eyed up at him.

Jessica: "What time is it?" she asked as she looked over to the window trying to judge if it was still daylight or not, but one of them had been in her room and pulled the curtains across.

Nick: "Just after 6pm, you better get up or you won't sleep tonight. Besides you'll need to have some dinner"

Jessica nodded: "I am actually quite hungry, what we having?"

Nick: "I'm ordering in, what do you fancy?"

Jessica: "McDonalds?" she asked hopefully, knowing you couldn't order that in.

Carla: "I'll go and pick it up if that's what you want" she said from the doorway.

The two thanked her and gave their orders as she headed off. Jessica still wanted to sit in her own company so sat herself up in bed and put on the television, watching iCarly repeats. She ate dinner in bed and slowly felt her mood deteriorate so turned the TV off. She lay back in the bed and turned over onto her side, the glint from the glittery silver frame caught her eye and she stretched her arm over picking up the picture. It was from when she was about 3 years old, Nick was holding her and Leanne was cuddled into the two, a perfect little family. She felt her eyes fill with tears and the pain she felt in her heart felt like it was physically breaking. She lay sobbing before getting up and going through to the living room. There Carla lay with her feet up across the couch with a glass of wine in her hand and some reality tv show on. The sound of the girls bedroom door opening caught her attention and she turned to look at her.

Jessica: "Where's my Dad?" she asked looking around her.

Carla: "He had to go to the bistro, we thought you were asleep. You should be asleep its passed 10 o'clock" she said with eyebrows raised but her voice was soft.

Jessica nodded to show she understood but her eyes filled with tears. Carlas expression softened and she put the glass down and opened up her arms.

Carla: "Hey darling come here"

Jessica moved over and lay alongside the woman allowing her to coorie her in and she sobbed and sobbed until she couldn't cry anymore. They both lay silent on the sofa, Jess eventually moved her face to side slightly so her cheek was resting on Carlas chest, the woman resting her chin upon the girls head. They sat watching the programme, neither really taking it in. Jess felt comforted as she lay there, but her heart still ached wishing it was her mother who had her arms wrapped around her.

It was just after midnight when Nick arrived home from the Bistro. Locking the door behind him he turned to face a dark room, only slightly lit by the glare from the television. He pressed on the main light switch and the room illuminated, and he was able to see his daughter lying asleep next to the woman he loved, who was also asleep but her arms were still wrapped around the girl protectively.

He managed to wake Carla up after gently nudging her a few times.

Carla: "Hey, we must have nodded off"

Nick chuckled: "You to have a habit of that, go on to bed, I'll take her through"

He lifted the sleeping girl and her arms instinctively went around his neck though she was still fast asleep. He lay her onto the bed and pulled the duvet up to her chin, tucking her in. He placed a kiss on her forehead and turned to leave the room. As flicked the lightswitch off and grabbed the handle to shut the door, he heard a small voice come from the bed.

Jessica: "I love you Dad" she mumbled sleepily with her eyes still closed.

Nick: "I love you too baby girl, sleep tight"

There you's are! Please read and review. Anything at all you's would like to read? Any ideas? Let me know and if I can incorporate it into the fic then I'll try my hardest to do so.

Thanks again for your continued support,

CharmedSuperGirl

x