Hello :P It is the first day of 2020 and a Wednesday and I am back to upload this chapter! I wrote this around November I think and as soon as I finished it, I knew that I wanted this one to be the first in the New Year. Though it's set at a little sad time - James' Nanny Josie's funeral - it's an cosy kind of tale and focuses on a good few relationships. It's heartfelt but uplifting I think so I hope you all enjoy :3
Disclaimer: I own the story and the OCs mentioned!
The evening and the day's events were coming to an end but activities couldn't have been further from coming to a cease. It had been an interesting day. Josie Morgan's funeral day had been an interesting one. It was always a typical affair that funerals were sombre and various shades of black could be seen and long coats were worn. That type of thing still went on, granted, but it was truly a celebration of the life of the person who so many people deemed a mother figure. Colour still made its way into the bleak loss of a wonderful person.
Among the shades of black suits, dresses and shoes were colourful ties and beaming make up. Among the organ sounds and the sound of slow footsteps on wooden church floors were upbeat sounds from times long ago. Among the people – or rather person – missing, was a gathering of so many kind-hearted and positives faces ready to bask in the joy of a life that had been well lived.
I sat with James as he kept to himself in the corner of the intimate venue that was hosting the reception following the funeral. He pushed his lavender locks from his eyes and undid his tie a little further, his other hand occupied with holding his glass that contained grape juice. I looked at him. He sighed and he didn't say anything. But I didn't notice that he didn't look too sad. The loss on his face was clear. But most of his expression was taken up with reacting to everything that he was noticing.
There were indeed so many bright colours among the straight black suits and classy black dresses. There were the noises of drinks chinking together and merry tales of his Nanny Josie being shared. There were people everywhere. Josie had meant a lot to a lot of people and that couldn't have been clearer.
I finally decided to lean across and just simply rest my cheek against his arm at the same time that James finally took a sip from his wine glass and that we were joined by somebody else as well. Misty had been one of those people engaged in sharing fond and well-loved stories of Josie and she had been nattering away with the combination of her father and Jayde as well.
But needless to say when she saw her best friend sitting in the corner – even if he was not alone – she knew that she had to check on him. Her own drink in her hand, the orange haired woman didn't hesitate to make her way to the older male. She invited herself straight onto the seat next to him and sat up close to him. She pushed her hair from her eyes, giving him a gentle smile. Her spare hand wandered to the lavender haired male's other shoulder and she squeezed it.
"How are you doing, Jimmy?" she asked her best friend of many years and even though he smiled at her wordlessly from behind his glass and she made sure she let him swallow before she expected an answer, she soon realised that that was a completely tricky question. She became more aware of that from the way that James still didn't say anything and just continued bravely smiling even after the glass was removed from his lips. Misty understood perfectly well and decided to change her words there and then. She gestured with her head towards the sounds that were fluttering above everybody's head before commenting. "It's funny. I always associated this kind of music with you. Sometimes I forget that it comes from your grandparents. And most probably your Nanny as well."
As I moved to subtly sit on the lap of Misty instead to give the lavender haired male space, I still observed that his expression didn't change much at all. And he didn't reply for a good few moments. He took his time, taking another sip of grape juice from his wine glass before merely just nodding his head and gathering his thoughts.
He let a lot of time pass. Misty still understood. Misty remained patient. She casually tilted her head to rest her cheek on her best friend's shoulder and it was then that he finally answered, switching the perfectly formed glass between both hands. James' expression changed quite a bit then. He scrunched his nose up.
"My Pops, actually. But it was the kind of thing that they listened together in their youth. So it was a no brainer that it was going to get played today." He told the younger female and after she just nodded her head in response, James moved his own head closer to hers and pressed a simple kiss to her forehead. That was his way of thanking her for checking up on him and going about it in a subtle way. And he thanked me for the lingering company by handing me his glass with the last few inches of juice in. It wasn't orange but I wasn't complaining!
I lapped that up contentedly and resumed looking at the sights all around the room at the same time that James and Misty did too. When the orange haired female let out a few giggles to herself, abandoning her glass on the coffee table to cover her mouth with her hand, I knew she was going to comment on some of the things that she was seeing.
"Your Uncle Rupert and Jayden seem to be enjoying the tunes as well." She couldn't help but utter with light-heartedness despite the moments of heaviness during that particular today and then when she glanced over at her best friend and saw his eyes wandering, trying to find where she was spotting that scene, she lightly held his jaw in one hand and directed him. Misty gestured her head to make sure they were on the same page. "Their curls will be springing into the ceiling at this rate!"
The actual sight of Rupert and Jayden trying to jive together in celebration of Josie in a very old-fashioned sort of way paired with Misty's accurate description of them put laughter even into the heart of James. He couldn't help but chuckle. Despite the fact that his eyes didn't quite light up as they would have done before, his own amusement definitely was genuine. And it was proved to both my best friend's wife and I by him adding his own words, holding onto Misty's wrist while her hand lightly lingered on his chin still.
"You should have seen what it was like moments before. Old Charlie and Jayden doing some kind of indescribable dance to a song from the next era." James paused for effect after describing his usually stiff-collared moustache adorned father being quite jolly with his magenta and lavender haired son. Misty's touch finally dropped from her best friend's face. "I think it's me who is turning over in my grave seeing that sort of thing, let alone my Nanny."
The lavender haired male's voice didn't change or pause for effect that time after delivering those words and even though they were done with a brave level of amusement, both Misty and I shared a look and we wondered if it would have been appropriate to laugh. Jolly antics were unfolding everywhere. But we didn't know if it was a bit too early to indulge in witty humour surrounding Josie's absence.
However, like it often went down in moments such as those, someone else burst into laughter. And it wasn't because they heard James' words, oh no! It was just incredibly well timed.
Both the lavender haired male and the orange haired woman's head's turned when Jordan's loud and infectious laughter filled the room, him in the middle of a discussion with James' magenta haired wife. It was there and then that we found the ability to laugh.
Misty and I smiled fondly in the direction of Jordan and Jessie at the same time that James did and the lavender haired male pushed his hair from his eyes. He looked back over at his best friend and it was his turn to comment. He couldn't help but say so with a bit of a shake of the head. His shoulders slumped, but it was more so reflection than it was emptiness.
"Your dad has sure been one to watch these past couple of months as well. He's been astonishing. He's been so solid. He's taken all of this in his stride." James spoke to Misty and I looked over at him, tilting my head while he paused yet again. He really wanted to gather his thoughts and say the right thing. His hand absentmindedly moved to poke the younger female's cheek as he spoke words of her father. His eyes started to gain a bit of glossiness to them. "He's done incredibly well, has Jordan. I'm very proud of him."
My head turned towards Misty that time as she took a moment to inhale, her head lifting up from James' shoulder. In that split second, I wondered what the reason for that prior action would have been. It suddenly crossed my mind that perhaps it was a sudden wave of her own pain at being at a funeral with her deceased father present. But I should have known not to jump to conclusions. My inward musings were answered when the orange haired woman gently pointed out next, her own hand reaching out to poke James' cheek that time.
"It's your grandmother, James…" Misty told the former Team Rocket member in a quiet and knowing voice and I hoped that she wouldn't have thought that she stepped out of line by the way that his head snapped towards her. But it wasn't in a violent or annoyed way – far from it. What he said next greatly explained the reason for his actions. His brow furrowed but his eyes moved with knowingness.
"I know that, Munchkin, I know." He began and from the way that I saw Misty softly nod her head and look back to where Jordan was still with Jessie, the both of them making their hands dance together in time to the music that was playing for the entire room to hear, I knew that she then understood his reasons before he had a chance to say them. He still elaborated them anyway of course. He pushed his hair from his eyes. "But they've always had a special bond. I don't know. Part of me has always worried how he would take it when she was no longer around. In fact, I thought about it more from his point of view rather than my own which is rather nuts."
"But he's doing brilliantly." The orange haired woman started out by saying in a proud and sincere voice but towards the end, she noticed how the yellow haired male that was her father had noticed her and James together and he started purposely wiggling his muscular shoulders in his white crisp shirt, trying to amuse them both. Misty smirked but she knew she had more words to say. She squeezed James' shoulder before becoming too engulfed in her father's playfulness. "And you are as well. Your Nanny would be very proud of you for many things, I hope you know that. But she would be especially proud to hear the selflessness of what you just said."
When I saw the lavender haired male's pupils dilate in a way that was full of subtle yet earnest shock, I knew that it was the right thing to look over at him and smile at him in that moment too, affirming the orange haired female's words to him.
James mumbled words along the lines of "I don't know about that" and ducked his head gracefully and got distracted by his yellow haired male's best friend's antics before he had a chance to respond properly. Both the lavender haired male and Misty saw Jordan starting to rotate his shoulders rather than wriggle them and when his hands were no longer occupied with twirling with Jessie's he used them to usher us all over.
It was then that the ex-male Team Rocket member chuckled out loud, another dash of light returning to his meadow green orbs. He took the time to press another kiss to Misty's head as a wordless thank you to her pride filled words and he returned them as well without having to say anything. And then he gestured to her with his own hands, tilting his head as well.
"I think someone wants you to go over there and boogie the night on down with him. Go on, it's the least you could do for him after he has been such a good and brave boy." James commented with not a hint of patronisation about his best friend to his other best friend and though Misty smoothed down her black dress and got up straight away, she then turned around and held both of her hands out to her best friend while he remained tilted. She grinned at him, slanting her neck.
"You know that it's you that he wants to dance with!" she began and James couldn't help but smirk though he said nothing, his hand absentmindedly reaching out to pat the top of my head. I was still polishing off his grape juice! Misty glanced behind her at where her father was waiting for them and then she looked back at her best friend, her grin fading to a persuasive, soft smile. She looked right at him. "Join us, Jimmy."
James inhaled ever so quietly. For a moment it looked as though he was going to comply and leave me sitting then on the coffee table with him and Misty's drinks glasses and lose himself in the antics along with his good friends. But proving that he still had an eye for the things that went unnoticed even in times of hardship, he saw something – or someone – who needed someone to sit next to him like he had felt before.
The lavender haired male showed off an equally sincere and soft smile but he finally shook his head. Even so, he reached his hands out and took Misty's squeezing them gratefully. He gestured with a tiny nudge of his head. His eyes spoke far more than his lips.
"I think I should go check on my Pop's now. Try and get old Charlie to join you. Then it really will be a day worth remembering." He told her and at last, the lavender haired male stood up, his hands still linked to his best friend's. He pressed a kiss to them both when they finally pulled away from each other.
Misty smiled in a way that wished that he was joining them but then her eyes glinted as she realised what he said. She couldn't help wonder if she could pull it off! So for that reason, James laughed quietly to himself once more. And then he headed to join his grey haired grandfather on the day of his wife's funeral. I chose to follow him though I kept my eye on Misty and Jordan and Jessie too as they did indeed start to boogie the night away to a tune that was very much James' grandparent approved.
I thought to myself as I wandered across the room with James, following him to where Noah too sat alone even though he had had a lot of company up until that moment. It felt a tragedy that the person who was the very reason for the event we were partaking in couldn't be around to see how composed and respectful yet jolly and merry everyone was being. It certainly led to a lot of unusual pairings. But there were the typical ones as well. I sat down on Noah's coffee table then and there and prepared to witness one of those. Yet I knew that it was still sure to be heartfelt and put a lot of thoughts into my mind. All the more of them.
The lavender haired male approached his moustache adorned grandfather in a similar way that Misty approached him though he didn't have a glass in his hand at that moment in time. James used his inwardly uncertain fingers to push his hair from his eyes. Noah looked up as soon as he heard footsteps. And the moment that he saw his grandson – out of habit and out of the rawness of it all – his charming dark green orbs misted with tears. Needless to say, James caught on and he was quick to pull himself together.
"Hey Pops." He greeted and he elongated the first part of his words despite the fact that he said what he wanted to say very quietly and just for them to hear. James' hand reached out to squeeze his grandfather's shoulder in a supportive way. Noah wasn't ashamed by his emotions in the slightest and let them go on display, his eyes misting up all the more as his hand reached to squeeze the younger male's wrist as his fingers gripped at his shoulder. The lavender haired male proceeded. "Are you okay?"
I found it curious that James asked his grandfather the same question that my best friend's wife had asked him despite knowing that that was a complicated yet simple one all in one. However, that notion just had to be asked in moments such as those. And the lighter green orbed male was never going to let it slide and male the elderly man feel like his pain was far less significant than his own. In fact some would argue that it was significantly greater.
Noah sighed, his eyes somehow clearing during that moment in time. His moustache quivered as he let out that loud breath and then it quirked up as he tried to smirk courageously. Because James' hand remained on his shoulder, the older male's hand stayed gripping at his wrist for comfort. And it was then following this that the grey haired man finally replied. His tone was the same as his grandson's just with an added southern accent.
"There are really not a lot of words I can conjure up during this day and even less answers to everybody's questions." Noah replied and James nodded understandingly. He felt his hand pulling away from his grandfather when the older male slowly stood up. Then he caught sight of the twinkle in his eye and knew what was next before anything was explained with words. "So what do you say we just have a hug?"
The older moustache adorned male then teared up before even his grandson fell into his arms and I welled up when they finally embraced. James mumbled something which I assumed to be "Sure, Pops" and then he wrapped his arms tightly around the older male, burying his head into his neck.
In return, Noah's hand tangled right in the back of his grandson's hair as he pulled him closer, almost wishing as if they could merge together and experience the pain and the loss of Josie as one to dilute it down for them both.
Needless to say, the hug lasted some minutes. They didn't sway. They didn't move. In fact, they didn't even seem to breathe. Grandfather and grandson just remained embracing and hugging onto one and other and no doubt the only person that fluttered through their minds was Josie.
I felt bad for looking in such a raw moment of privacy yet in the same shaky breath; I would have felt bad for missing it. After all, Noah's dearly beloved wife had to miss out on that sort of thing since her passing. So I almost felt as though I had to watch it for her. A lot of people in the room seemed to feel that way and I could hear everyone in the room go a bit quieter and I knew that they were whispering words to turn people's attention to what was happening.
No doubt did everybody find it sweet but the longer that it went on, some people stopped fully jiving along to music and got a little bit concerned. But finally, James and Noah's bodies started to move and they pulled away from one and other.
It was the lavender haired male to unhook himself first and when he stopped being so close to the man who was like a father to him, there were little pools of droplets left on the lapels of his grandfather's black suit. They were little bits of liquid that he did not need anymore. But no doubt were they caused by memories that they would both hold onto dearly for the rest of their lives.
Both James and Noah Morgan shakily sat down in the seats together and they found their hands reaching for each other just a few seconds after they had separated from each other, their palms pressing together. In addition to this, both of them pushed their locks from their eyes.
It was astonishing how similar they looked. It always crossed my mind how alike James looked with all three of his son's and because of their youthfulness; I sometimes forgot to look further than the lavender haired male. But the truth was that Noah had an impeccable likeness to the rest of them as well. And the pain beneath the depths of James and Noah's skin as well as their eyes made them all the closer to seeming like the same person. They were unified in their loss. But they still couldn't help but utter resiliently. It still surprised me that it was the grey haired male to speak as I tactfully moved across and took a seat on his lap.
"She… She would have loved this, you know, James…" Noah uttered and I tried not to let it show on my face that I was surprised by him calling his grandson by his name rather than an endearing nickname. But then again, it showed the tenderness of the moment. James seemed unaffected. He just appeared ready to listen. The elderly man gestured with his hand, clarifying and his eyes twinkling a little bit as well as his moustache managing to quirk up. "I mean, not the not being around part. But you know… The music. The people. The laughter. It's what she would have wanted."
"It's what she deserves." The lavender haired male responded rather matter of factly as he remained holding onto his grandfather's hand but his soft eyes and slow nod of the head contrasted his fast words. He let out a sigh, sinking further into his chair yet also appearing rather on edge – like he was unsure how real he was going to get with his grandfather. "It… It sucks that she's not here. All the people talking and stuff… I feel like she's going to burst through the door at any moment with a big smile on her face and want people to tell all those stories to her face. And compliment her all the same!"
James' voice intrigued me by the way that it rose with amusement as he made his point and then it caused a lump to fill my throat from Noah's lap when it went silent not long after that. The grey haired male watched as well as his grandson winced with a sudden oncoming wave of pain and he had to clench his jaw to compose himself. Noah just tightened his hold on his hand and reached out to stroke his contorted face, his eyes pooling with tears for him. James whispered.
"I just hate that she's not going to be there for them… And I hate that they're going to go through this unimaginable pain… And you are as well." The lavender haired male concluded with a little bit of a home truth and I took a step back from Noah's lap to get a view. I had an image in my head before anything happened and I imagined him contorting and whispering in the same way as the younger male. But this didn't happen.
Granted, the moustached male's eyes filled all the more with emotion and tears and his heart thudded sadly with the loss that was a great loss for all. But he felt in his heart that although James had greeted him by asking him how he was, it was obvious that he had to ease some of the confusion for the younger male.
Noah found himself patting him on the top of the hand and then the side of his face. James managed to pull himself together long enough to hesitantly open his eyes all over again and sadly exhale out his nose. It was when his gaze met his grandfather's that he saw the older male withhold a sigh himself and gesture wordlessly with his head. Noah then explained when James didn't follow. Noah explained as he gestured to the hub-bub around the room.
"To tell you the truth, Pickle, I think you're the one who feels the most devastated during this moment in time so you're going to have to focus on you for a bit." The grey haired male began and once again, the lavender haired male's green orbs filled with confusion. He sniffed any oncoming tears back and glanced around. Noah explained further, patting his hand yet again and directing to all the people who had gone back to jiving, singing and chatting along to and with the music. "Do they look that sad to you…? That's the comforting thing, boy… There will be moments when it's all on top of you and they'll be lifting you. And there will be moments where you feel oddly hunky dory and they will need a helping hand. It's just how it is… We'll get by and we'll get by together."
I didn't know about James there and then but I definitely let out an admiring exhalation of breath and I sat further on Noah's lap too. I was most definitely comforted. And inspired as well. You absolutely got the know the strength and genuineness of people in times of suffering and from the way that Noah had faith and wisdom and stability only proved to me all the more that although Josie had been a parental figure to all – he could be as well.
And even when his heart was breaking, he could piece together other people's broken bits as well. Everybody should want to be more like Noah. And James definitely did.
The lavender haired male didn't refrain from lifting his shoulders when he understood his Pops' and he nodded his head, full of understanding. And when he looked out onto the faces of the people that he treasured the most, he knew that not only was his grandfather correct but he had faith in the situation as well. And in addition to this, when he saw all of their antics, he found a lightness coming back to his heart. Some of them certainly reminded him of Josie!
The three of us watched people like Jaxon chaotically chasing Jayden after the latter had finally broken away from grooving with various family members. As well as this we observed just over one month old Johnny being bounced and smothered with love by Jazmyn. And we watched Jayme and Jayde twirl around with each other hand in hand, too.
We kept all of this up for a good few moments and then not only was it James' turn to speak out of manner but he knew that he had things he wanted to say as well. He finally squeezed his grandfather's hair in return and looked at him, his whole body turning so he knew that he was listening. Needless to say, Noah was, in between giving me strokes under the chin.
"You know, Pop… I know that you want to stay in the house of you and Nanny and I deeply respect that…" the lavender haired male started and the former lavender haired male looked over at his grandson. He looked over at him in a way that knew what was coming. And I already got the impression that he was ready to stay put. James probably felt this as well but he continued anyway. "But it wouldn't be proper if I didn't remind you one last time… You are welcome to come and be with me and my crazy lot. Any time. Any time at all. I understand your feelings and I'm not trying to change them. You just need to hear them once more. Because I couldn't not offer to have you after you've been my father to me."
No doubt had Noah heard words to that effect from his grandson many times before but in that moment and there and then and on the day of his beloved Josie's funeral, they hit him harder than ever. He didn't tear up and he didn't swallow but I could sense it from his being. He was touched. Noah just reached out to cup both of his hands around James' face that moment. He took another moment to look back out at all of their family members, slowly nodding his head. He murmured.
"Your lot are a crazy lot…" Noah started and the lavender haired male just merely nodded his head along. He didn't take offence like he would if either of his real parent's had said those words. The grey haired male's moustache twitched up with amusement and then he continued, looking at James' face. "They're your family. They need to be with you and you need to be with them. And I need to be with mine… Even if she's not at home anymore…"
"But you're my family as well…" James reminded his grandfather and he started to have a bit of a frown as he corrected his own words and added the word "ours". But in contrast to this, Noah had a smile for his grandson and it was like his own eyes were coming a bit back to life. As the lavender haired male leaned forward in his chair as he tried to be sincere with the older male, Noah squeezed both of his cheeks. He told him.
"I know I am. I know I am, Pickle. But I'm happy where I am. Hell, I'm happy sitting here right here and right now. So do me a favour and go and be with your family." He told him and while James found himself exhaling out his nostrils lightly, suddenly being informed that his Nanny wasn't his only grandparent with a stubborn streak, Noah's twinkle in his eyes only grew. He leaned back in his chair and he let go of his grandson symbolically. And then he added. "Seeing y'all makes me happy… I can imagine my Josie there with you all… And I can start to see bits of her in all of you."
And with that, even though Noah shut his eyes despite intending to watch the rest of the Morgan's celebrating the life of their loved ones, James knew that he had to grant his wish. And it wasn't hard for him. It wasn't hard for him at all! I hopped onto the lavender haired male's shoulder gracefully as he stood up. James planted a kiss to his grandfather's forehead as he seated himself in the chair and then he headed off.
I knew and Noah knew too when he opened one eye that it was a tie between who he was going to join. There was Jessie in one corner that had joined Jazmyn with Johnny and there was Lynne in the other with Justin with Jorgie a couple of feet away from her. It was anyone's guess who he was going to join first. But it was made clear when it was Lynne who spotted him first and made eye contact with her own beloved. Her eyes widened with love and it became obvious that that was where James' heart lied for the time being.
He went to join the orange haired woman from above and she didn't hesitate to pull him down next to her, planting kisses to his cheeks and his nose and his forehead to make him feel as loved as ever. She even reached out to tickle my cheek and I felt pretty loved and included too.
The lavender haired male still had half of a heart that he left with his grandfather but he found himself chuckling quietly at the affection and then he leaned closer to his girlfriend, pressing his cheek against hers when she pulled him even closer. He could tell that her eyes were occupied with something when they glistened and danced and he wanted to know what it was.
"What are we looking at, angel…?" he mumbled and straight away, Lynne's nose crinkled at the sides and her hand lifted to gesture but James stopped her, entwining his digits with hers and being a little bit playful. He wanted to continue granting Noah's wish by being attentive to his whole family. He added playfully, his cheek still against hers. "Has Jordan joined forces with old Charlie and invented a new dance…? Has Johnny spat up on his pocket handkerchief…? Has Jaxon stolen Katie from under the eyes of Jayden…?"
Lynne just rolled her eyes fondly and openly giggled, pulling James tighter to her and her finger delicately brushing his ear in the process. I hopped onto her lap at the same time that she finally explained; her other hand gesturing to where Justin and Jorgie were still sitting a couple of metres in front of them both.
"No." she responded with a smirk, referring to all of James' light-hearted guesses. The lavender haired male ducked his head in amusement but then he too was curious, wondering what sort of antics one of his eldest children was going to get up to with one of his youngest. Lynne's next words only piqued his interest all the more. "Watch. I think you'll have to be a firm daddy soon and get ready to split them up."
Putting aside her last words for a couple of moments, we did exactly what she prompted – we watched. The three of us watched as a couple of metres in front of us sat Justin on a stool and with his guitar on his lap. Because he had been providing entertainment and live music throughout the slot following dinner, he still had a lot of musical equipment around him and a microphone on a stand was right next to him.
The orange haired toddler that was Jorgie was finding all of the equipment very amusing and since it was actually Justin's boyfriend Sammy who had dashed off to create another kind of havoc with Katie and wasn't around to tame the child, she was planning on irking her big brother many more times.
When the deep purple haired male caught her tugging on the microphone stand, Justin warned her once more, letting out a sigh but not doing much at all as he still plucked on the strings of his guitar and played along to the music floating around the room.
"Will you stop that? Our Nan may have been a mischievous red head in her time but there's absolutely no need for you to continue that legacy." The guitar yielding male told his two year old sister as if she completely understood his words and he was utterly oblivious to the gazes from both his step mother and his father. And me as well.
Needless to say, Jorgie simply just mischievously grinned at his words and although she did move away from the microphone stand, she then decided to toddle over to the amp that was next to her big brother. That took a lot of her fancy. In fact, the big button on it took her fancy the most! Thankfully, Justin decided to jump in before she cranked it up and he accidentally thrashed on his guitar and made a horrific noise in the middle of the reception.
"That is not a toy, Jorgie. This day is not about you and you're going to have to get over yourself." The deep purple haired male told the much younger female rather curtly and it caused mixed reactions between James and Lynne. The orange haired woman amusedly giggled while James found his lips puckering with hurt for his little cherub. Then it was as though Justin sensed the reactions and the gazes even though he didn't look up once. When he seated himself back from restraining Jorgie and his amp was at a much more suitable level, he paused before adding more – and a tad kinder – words. "You were actually quite a good little girl sitting on my lap during the service. Why can't you be like that now?"
I glanced over at the same time that James and Lynne shared a look upon hearing this. Though their reactions had been mixed before, they were definitely on the same page then. Both of them couldn't stop their eyes twinkling with the memory of how the deep purple haired male had voluntarily accepted the role of keeping his only little sister occupied while his father did speeches during the service.
It was a sweet moment to be sure. And evidently, it was one that stuck in Jorgie's mind also. The orange haired toddler let out a gasp as if he perfectly knew what he was saying and after adjusting her white little bow in her hair, she took marching sort of steps towards her big brother. Justin caught on straight away and it was then that he caught sight of his step mother and his father watching too. But instead of focusing on that, he was too busy widening his eyes at the half angel child. He shook his head. He wished he could recoil in his seat.
"No, Jorgie. No." he uttered in response to Jorgie striding towards him in a headstrong fashion after it was evident that she wanted to sit with him all over again like she had done in the church. Justin already had his guitar on his lap. Justin looked over at James and he looked over at Lynne too. Taking me off guard, they didn't too openly react. They merely glanced at each other. And perhaps it was this that caused the equally stubborn Morgan child to relent. "Fine! Up you climb. You might as well make the most of all this because it is never happening again."
And from the way that of course Justin left his guitar hanging from the strap around his neck and he reached down to pick the toddler up under the armpits before situating her on his lap and with the guitar over them both – it became a little bit obvious that because he had contradicting those innocent words then he definitely could go against the latter as well. But that would be all in due course!
For the time being, Jorgie's face lit up and she kicked her legs gleefully as she sat on her brother's lap and he started to play guitar over her, one of his arms even hugging her a little bit. I looked over at the lavender haired male and sat that light bouncing off his eyes and the softness of his smile. I knew that he was returning to us all following the loss of his grandmother. Of course a part of his heart would always be missing from that moment but it was beating stronger than ever with the bonds that all of his family members had – and that all started with Josie.
James didn't say anything and James didn't need to say anything at all. Not at first, at least. The orange haired woman from above did all of that. She didn't hesitate to openly gasp with love and after holding a hand to her heart; she jumped up and got her phone out to take a photo. She beamed almost as much as he daughter as she swung her legs upon Justin's lap.
"Oh this is simply adorable! You don't mind me taking a photo, do you?" she asked the deep purple haired male for permission and even though he didn't respond for me to see, Lynne obviously knew that it was a yes and she squatted down in front of the scene to squat it. Jorgie babbled merrily. Justin looked over at his shoulder for Sammy or Katie or anyone to rescue him but the photo was too busy being taken! Then Lynne looked over her shoulder back towards James after a few had been snapped. She smiled all the more. "Josie has made this happen, I know it."
James tilted his head. I thought he was going to miss a beat. Justin's own head turned back. He sensed an oncoming bit of emotion. Jorgie must have as well. She quietened down. The deep purple haired male even pulled her closer to him. And then the moment was up. The lavender haired male nodded – he agreed with Lynne's words – and he added his own.
"Yes. Yes, my love, you're probably right. And she's made me realise things too." The ex Team Rocket member begin and there and then, everyone who was gathering was all ears. The deep purple haired male tilted his own head, for once oblivious to Jorgie plucking on the strings of the guitar that their father had lent to him. James continued with a bit of an uncertain grin but it was full of knowing nevertheless. "I feel in my heart that I should be here for our two and the other six as well – just like my Nanny was for me. Pop Pop told me that watching them makes him see bits of her in him and I agree with him. So what do you say? You helped my Jessie at work a bit before Johnny so maybe you could do that more when the time is right. And I be at home instead. I do what my Nanny did for me. Provide real belonging. Because I don't want to miss a moment of this. And do you blame me?"
And after James gestured to the scene in front of him and the other scenes that were happening also, Lynne only had to think about it for just a moment. It would have been natural for her to go over to James and plant a kiss on his forehead and she could certainly go on to do that! But for the time being, she decided to go over to the child that they shared and the young adult that they didn't share but still felt as though they did.
Lynne stood next to Justin's side and with one hand she cupped his cheek and with the other she touched the top of Jorgie's head. While the deep purple haired male just simply smiled and showed off his dimples and Jorgie did the exact same thing but with a toothy grin, the orange haired woman from above had words. She had words and a smile and she nodded her head. James smiled back before she even came out with them.
"I think… I think your Nanny would love that. And I love it as well. She wouldn't want to miss these moments either. And even though she doesn't, I believe, I know that she wouldn't want you to either. So I think it would be wonderful." James' angel told him and it was then that she finally broke away from their children and planted that kiss on his forehead. And although Justin didn't quite do the same for Jorgie, he playfully draped the tie that he was wearing on her head instead. And that was enough.
I was certain that there were a lot of people watching there and then but I knew that Noah was absolutely one of them. And as I craned my head to look at him, I knew that he was reminded of another lesson that Josie had taught him.
There were great moments of softness and gentleness and joy in times of hardness and complications and loss. You just had to know where to look. But thankfully in my group and my family and in the people that I knew – you didn't have to look hard at all.
Josie would have been proud of the group that we were and the one that we were going to become. I know that I was as well and I still am. It takes strength to laugh in the face of loss and take all of the goodness and the memories and the treasured times with you. And I knew all of the members of our family did that during one moment or another.
And I knew that it was that sort of thing that made us exactly what we were. A family. A family with people joining and exiting every day. But I knew that Josie would join us again. Someday. And those treasured times would continue. And remain everlasting too.
The End.
There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 When I wrote this it was one of those moments where an idea randomly comes to me in the early hours of the morning and I just had to write it! I'm glad I did. The relationship of James and Noah is something I really wanted to convey and it's something I intend to write loads more about in the upcoming year. As well as Noah with other people. Of course, there was a little Justin and Jorgie moment at the end! A nod to some people who became extremely prominent in these stories in 2019 :3 Thank you to everyone who read/favourited/reviewed this story and my others all last year. It was a really exciting one for me creatively. I delved into and developed lots of characters - some that had always existed and some that were newer. I ticked off a lot of boxes for what I wanted to do. I am incredibly pleased about that. And feel really grateful that people take the time to check out what I'm posting. Thanks again. Best wishes for 2020 and I'll see you again next Wednesday with another chapter!
AmyBieberKetchum signing out :P