"Do you remember making this?" Jack holds up a folded piece of purple construction paper coated in an outrageous amount of glue, uncooked pasta, and glitter. He's got Cassie for an overnight stay while she interviews for an internship, and he's decided to make the most of it.
"Yeah," Cassie says, a tiny smile tugging up against the thin line of her lips. "Mom complained for weeks about the glitter in the rug."
"I think there's still glitter in the jacket I was wearing when you gave it to me."
She laughs, then stills. "I miss her, Uncle jack."
His eyelids feel heavy suddenly as he nods. "Me too, sweetheart. Me too." He wraps his arms around her and tugs her close, not leaving room for college kid bravado or military stoicism. Just two people who love each other and need a hug.
Cassie melts into his embrace for the first time since she was about 13 and he remembers that last time when she was so, so little. "I love you, sweetie," he whispers, kissing the top of her head.
"I love you too, Uncle Jack," she whispers, tugging on his flannel shirt and, he is certain, wiping her snot into it. "When will Sam be here?"
Jack sighs and pats Cassie's back gently. "Uh, later, I think. Pretty sure she had some plans or something."
"Ugh, with that tool she's dating?"
"I wouldn't know, Kiddo."
"Why the fuck not, Uncle Jack?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your playing dumb thing has never worked with me, so don't try it about this," Cassie says. "We both know that guy is a creepy lump of nothingburger, so why haven't you done anything about it?"
Jack sighs and lets his head rest against the back of his couch as he reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. This is the last thing he needs right now. Like it isn't already hard enough to deal with Carter and That Guy, now he's getting yelled at about it by a grumpy undergrad surrogate daughter he shares with… Carter. Fuck, this is awkward and annoying.
"Cassie, there's nothing I can do."
"Don't give me that bullshit," Cassie spits out. "Come on. You think Mom never told me about you guys?"
Of course she did. "I'm not sure what your mother told you, but-"
"She told me you've been in love with each other for almost as long as she knew you," she whispers. "Which, for the record, is pretty obvious to everyone. Even little girls from other planets, Uncle Jack."
He tries not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. The whole situation would be pretty funny if it wasn't so hurtful. "You knew right away, huh?"
"Right away, Uncle Jack," she says, kissing him on the side of his head and patting his chest as he hugs her.
Kids are too fucking smart now, Jack thinks.
"Have you told her?"
"She knows," he whispers.
"Have you told her?" Cassie asks again. "I mean, have you, since this bullshit creep guy rolled in, actually said to her the feelings that you have? And don't give me any shit about regs. We both know there are ways to deal with that. Even mom knew."
"No, I haven't," he says, honestly. It's the first time he's openly admitted that it's only inside his head where he has these feelings. Inside his heart. He hasn't told her anything with words since that day they'd been forced to admit their feelings. Everything since has been wordless or forced by memory alteration. "Do you think it would matter, Cass?"
"I know it would. You've never trusted her enough, Uncle Jack."
Oh. "What do you mean?"
"You know she's the smartest person on the planet and you're so in love with her it's almost gross and painful to watch, but you've never trusted her with your actual feelings. With information. That shit is her bread and butter! Maybe try it?"
Hmm. Jack tugs Cassie closer and kisses her head again. He looks down at the macaroni Valentine, now almost 10 years old, and tugs her closer. He remembers the day she gave it to him, big eyes full of sparkles and love and her little ginger head bouncing as he read the stupid poem inside.
"Your mom would have kicked my ass just like this."
"Yeah," Cassie laughs into his chest. "She would have."
