A/N: So holy shit right? I updated about three weeks ago, and since then, shit has gone balls to the wall crazy town. Coronavirus is sweeping the globe, countries are closed, my trip to America has been postponed 12 months (I was supposed to fly out in 4 days, let's not talk about that) and I have been stood down from my job as a… travel agent. Big yikes. But I needed the break, so I'm enjoying my time at home, indulging in video games, and hopefully I'll get a decent chunk of writing done if I'm in the right headspace!

Hope you guys enjoy this little chapter, and I'll be back with more!

"I got you a chicken avocado sandwich, I hope that's alright," Sandy said as she sat back down at the table with the tray of food. Now that December had reached them, they had decided to spend the day tackling some of the remaining Christmas shopping. As they were booked to fly down and spend Christmas in Florida with Jason and Katie, Sandy was quite keen to have it out of the way.

"That sounds amazing, I'm so hungry," JJ groaned, making her mom laugh. Sandy picked up the sandwich from the tray, handing it to her daughter with a bottle of water, before settling in her chair with her own lunch. They began to eat in a comfortable silence, the hustle and bustle of the mall carrying on around them.

After a few minutes, Sandy looked up at JJ. "So… how's everything going with you and Will?"

"It's good," JJ said softly, setting the other half of her sandwich down in front of her. "Actually, it's better than I ever imagined it could be"

"You didn't think it would be any good?" Sandy chuckled.

"No… no, I mean that I thought it would be awkward, going from friends to couple… but it's been really good"

"The best relationships do start as friendships," Sandy said with a knowing smile.

"Except… and I knew this about him before we started dating, it just annoys me more now… he does not shut up when we're watching a movie"

Sandy laughed.

"Ugh, it is SO irritating, he'll be asking me questions about stuff that happened literally TWO minutes before, like if he would just be quiet and watch it, he wouldn't have to ask questions"

"He sounds like your father"

"I mean, I love him, but seriously"

Sandy stopped short, looking pointedly at her daughter. JJ stared back at her in blank confusion for a few moments. Then the words she had just said finally dawned on her, and her eyes widened.

"Oh my god, I…"

"Do you love him?" Sandy asked softly. She stayed calm and quiet, as it was now becoming evident to her just how big a moment this was for JJ.

"I…," JJ started unsurely, trailing off as she stared down at the table. She seemed to mull it over for a minute or so, wondering whether or not she was ready to take this step, before looking back up at her mom, a shy smile slowly spreading across her face.

"I do… I love him," she said quietly, one of her hands clenching against her chest as she smiled at her mom.

Sandy felt a warmth spreading through her as she set down her cutlery and held JJ's gaze. It made her so happy to see her shy and somewhat sheltered teenager finally experiencing love in its sweetest and purest form. Even though JJ was always a happy girl, Sandy felt as though she had never seen her quite this happy.

"You know you don't have to say it to him right away if you don't want to," she reminded her gently. JJ nodded, still smiling. Positively beaming, Sandy reached across the table and took JJ's hands.

"I'm so happy you're happy my girl. So happy"

"What was the worst part of the tour? I mean, you've talked a lot about the best bits, but the worst?" Will asked conversationally a few hours later as JJ flopped down beside him on the couch. She swung her legs over his lap, getting comfortable as he brought his hands to her leg and gently massaged it.

"Well, I mean me opening my fat mouth and putting my foot in it with Jordyn is definitely a front runner," JJ giggled.

"Oh yeah," Will laughed.

"But then there was also this running gag, and I know it was supposed to be funny but it was just annoying, all the guys kept popping our bra straps and it was like, really? Grown men? Kinda creepy but the other girls thought it was funny"

"What if you just didn't wear a bra? That would stop them. Not like you really need one anyway," Will replied absently.

JJ felt as though she'd been punched in the stomach. She didn't want to cry, but as she looked up at Will, her eyes were already filling with tears.

"Jayje… I- I didn't mean it like that," Will said hastily, his face seeming to pale before her. JJ shook her head, pulling herself off the couch and turning to leave the room. She hugged herself tightly, covering her chest as she hurried out of the room.

"Damnit," Will hissed as he leapt up off the couch. "Opened my stupid mouth"

He heard the bathroom door open ahead of him, but it slammed in his face right before he got to it. Crumpling against it, he knocked with a sense of urgency.

"JJ… I wasn't being mean… please open the door, please"

"Why would you say something like that?" JJ said tearfully from the other side.

"Because I'm an idiot, JJ… I wasn't trying to hurt you… I didn't think"

"Just leave me alone"

"JJ," Will sighed, dropping back against the door and sinking to the floor. "I'm sorry… please don't cry, it breaks my heart when you cry"

"Maybe you should keep your nasty thoughts to yourself then," JJ sobbed from the other side.

Will ran a hand through his hair, not knowing what to say. He really hadn't meant it in a nasty way. The words had slipped out before he could truly gratify their meaning. But he had forgotten how sensitive JJ was about the differences in her body compared to most eighteen year old girls. If only she knew how much he didn't care. That he loved her no matter what her body looked like-

He looked up suddenly, his heart hammering in his chest as he looked towards the door. He'd felt it for years… but now, as imperfect as it was, felt like the right time to tell her. He wanted her to love herself as much as he did.

"JJ?"

"What?" she snapped back through tears.

He took a deep breath, his heart seeming to climb into his throat as he stared back into the living room from his position against the door. "I love you"

The words were quiet, but he knew JJ had heard them when she stopped crying.

A terrifying silence fell between them, during which Will felt an overwhelming urge to run. But moments later, the door slowly clicked open, and Will scrambled to his feet to find a teary eyed JJ looking back at him.

"You do?" she asked in a small voice.

"Yeah," he breathed. "And you don't have to say it back if you don't want to, I just… I need you to know that I didn't say what I said to be mean… I just didn't think… but I do, JJ, I love you. You're an amazing person, inside and out… and I love you for everything that makes you who you are"

Silence fell between them as JJ reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Will watched her, his heart thumping away in his chest as he waited for her to say something… anything.

She looked up at him, her eyes still red and watery against her pale skin.

"I… I love you too," she said, so softly that Will almost didn't hear her. His face lit up, one of his hands reaching out to take hers. She let him take it, allowing him to pull her just a little closer.

"I'm really sorry, JJ… I didn't mean to upset you. I honestly didn't think," he said gently, bringing his other hand up to cup her cheek. "I know you can feel really self conscious at times, and I didn't mean to feed into that"

JJ nodded, dropping her gaze down again as she swallowed hard to fight back the last of the tears.

"But hey," Will continued, his voice soft as he gently tipped her chin up so she was looking at him. "I don't want you feeling self conscious with me. Because I think you're beautiful… and even though my stupid mouth might have you thinking otherwise, I'm not judging you. I would never"

JJ cracked a small smile, making Will's body flood with relief. Without any words, she leaned forward, resting her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze.

"I love you," she said again, as if testing the words out once more. Will smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"I love you too, Jayje. I promise"