Jack stood up in front of the podium and Valerie tried to stop herself from crying so she wouldn't drown him out but it was hard. Evelyn Mercer was a god damn saint, everyone knew that. Valerie didn't need to whip out her compact mirror to know there was a stream of black mascara running down her face.

Jack paused and looked out at the crowd before saying his speech. "I never bothered looking for my real parents," he said and Valerie teared up again. "because Evelyn was enough."

Jack was hysterical by the end of his speech. Jeremiah had to go remove him from the podium at the end of the ceremony. Jack looked so desperate up there, Valerie didn't know if she could ever get that image out of her head.

She squeezed Jack's shoulder tightly when he took his place standing next to her again. He held her hand there and squeezed it back.

"You ready to go to Jeremiah's?" He nodded. "I'm gonna drop you off. Can't stay, I gotta go to work."

"Can you stay? Stef can't come, he and the boys are going back on the road tonight and I don't wanna go in there with a bunch of people that are just gonna tell me 'sorry for your loss'. I don't wanna hear that bullshit. I won't be able to handle it by myself."

She looked at him sadly. Losing Evelyn was bad enough and now he had to deal with the boys going back on the tour without him. Austin had covered his lead singing position.

"You got your brothers."

"Yeah. One outta three. I haven't seen the other two in who knows how fucking long." He said, shaking his head. He pulled out a smoke. Usually Valerie would nag and tell him not to smoke in front of her but she didn't have the heart.

"I'll go to work and a little bit in I'll fake some nasty cramps or something okay? Then I'll come."

Jack cracked a smile that resembled more of a grimace. "No point in going to Jerry's. Meet me at my mom's, alright?"

She tried to smile back. "Alright."

The diner was slow. They had overestimated the amount of people they needed working. When her boss started asking people if they wanted to go home, Valerie was the first to offer.

There was only one car in the driveway when Valerie got to Evelyn's. A car Valerie hadn't seen in years.

She knocked. She wouldn't have if it had just been Jack but seeing that vehicle in the driveway made her feel like she had to.

Bobby Mercer opened the door. A face she hadn't seen since a couple months before her high school graduation.

"Bobby, good to see you. Terrible circumstances. Your mom was a great woman."

"Yeah, she was," Bobby gave her a once over. "Leggy, brunette, bedroom eyes. Valerie Beaumont. Stef, I could see knocking on this door but what're you doing here?"

Jack poked out from behind Bobby. "Stop hitting on her Bobby and let her in."

Bobby shoved his brother. "I ain't hittin' on nobody. She's way too young for me."

"Don't tell me you're here to see Jacky?" Bobby looked impressed. "He your G.B.F, you here to swap clothes and do each other's hair?"

"No, Bobby, I'm here for you," she crooned, peeking through her lashes. "Heard you were back in town and thought maybe I'd stand a chance now I'm over eighteen. It really hurts me, Bobby, that you still think I'm a baby."

"Get your ass in here, kid. Before I change my mind."

She stepped in and Bobby shut the door. "Can't believe little Jacky finally tapped that. He always said he would but I thought that was just an alibi to cover up the fairy he really was." Bobby gave Jack a pat on the back. "Maybe you aren't such a fairy. But I'll never know for sure until you take that damn tongue ring out."

Valerie glanced at Jack with a questionable expression but Jack wouldn't meet her eye.

"You're an idiot. We're going upstairs."

"Have fun." Bobby goddamn winked at her.

Jack sat on his bed and picked up his guitar. Valerie took a place on the floor. She had never actually been in Jack's old room before. It was exactly what she expected it to look like: full of band posters, records everywhere, and a complete mess. It was a replica of the one he had at their apartment.

"So, you used to have a thing for me, Jacky?" Valerie said teasingly. "I hear you wanted to tap this, is that right?"

"Bobby needs to learn to shut his mouth."

She raised a brow. "Ah, so it's true."

She had never seen Jack Mercer look awkward before.

"Fuck," he said, running his hands through his hair. "I mean, yeah. I thought you were hot. I never tried anything because once I mentioned how leggy you were to Stef and he beat the shit outta me."

"That's too bad, I thought you were a hottie in high school, too," she looked him in the eyes. "It's terrible how you really let yourself go."

He scoffed, scrunching up his face. "If anything, I'm better."

"Cocky," Valerie said. "But I don't know... you used to be all James Dean but now you're all Sid Vicious and that's just a bit too much for me."

"Yeah, I know I'm too much for you," Jack said chuckling. "Because apparently you're into guys who are nothing like you and are obnoxiously boring and clean-cut."

"Ouch." Valerie laughed, a little taken aback. "Sounds like you've had that pent up for awhile."

Jack shrugged. "I'm a passionate guy. When I see something I don't like I gotta call it out."

Bobby burst into the room before either of them could say anything else. She wanted to tell Jack that maybe that wasn't her type - since Cole and her weren't together anymore. Bobby didn't give her the chance.

"Jacky, you know you gotta leave this door open," Bobby said in a womanly voice, imitating Evelyn. "Valerie is a very nice girl but rules are rules. I do not want any babies being made."

Jack chucked a pillow at Bobby and Valerie chuckled at the scene unfolding around her. Bobby caught the pillow and shook his head, apparently still in character.

"I do not appreciate that, Jacky. I demand respect."

"Get the fuck outta here, Bobby." Said Jack but there was a smile on his face.

"Alright, alright," Bobby held his hands up in defense. "I know when I'm not wanted. I'll let you two get back to your little girls night - I just wanted to let you know the game was on."

That's how Valerie ended up shoved between the two Mercer's on Evelyn's living room couch, watching the Red Wings play the Bruins.

Watching hockey with them was not just watching hockey. Every time something happened - like the Red Wings scored - there was chaos. Jack broke a lamp when he jumped to to holler at his team scoring a goal. Bobby almost knocked her out.

She didn't care. She was glad they had something to take Evelyn off their minds even just for a little while.

After the game, that even went into overtime, Valerie got up to get ready to leave. Bobby was already yawning and making his way upstairs.

Jack looked up at her. "Where you going?"

Valerie furrowed her brows. "Home? Where else?"

"Oh," he said, looking suddenly down once again. "I just thought you were gonna stay."

"I didn't bring anything," Valerie replied, surprised he would even want her to stay the night. She didn't know they were that close. She felt they were but Valerie thought Jack might have felt different. "I'll come back in the morning maybe?"

"Yeah drop over in the morning. Bring stuff this time." He smiled at her.

She smiled back. "Alright, I will. Goodnight, Jack."