I saw my mother for the last time today, I cried and Dalton kept asking me why. Of course my father was trying to be strong but knew when he asked me to speak on her behalf, that he was gonna loose it. I did as was asked and spoke in front of the large group of family members and close friends. I knew the way people stared that they were shocked I came back. I finished my speech and we buried her, after we had a little ceremony at my aunt's house. Dalton fell asleep over there. The sun was setting as we buried my mom so it must be really late now.

I loaded Dalton up and my father and I got into his car. "Dad, once Jack knows nothing is gonna stop me from coming to see you. I miss you and I'm not letting what happened to mom happen to you, you will get to see your grand child, I promise." He looked at me and smiled. "I know baby, you're a good mom." I smiled and took my dad's hand since he was offering. "Thanks, you're a good dad." He smiled and we continued to the house. I pulled Dalton out of his seat and walked into the house.

I woke Dalton up enough for him to put on some Pajamas. I laid him down on the bed covering him with blankets. I walked over to my bag and pulled out some clothes to change into, we're still not totally used to the time zone change and well I feel like I'm up 24hrs. I changed pulling on a tank top and some jeans. I slipped on my shoes and socks. Grabbing my phone and wallet, I made sure all our stuff was packed and ready. I laid out an outfit for Dalton and left the room.

I walked into my dad. "I'm gonna go do what needs to be done, I'll talk to you later dad. I love you." I said pulling him into a hug. "I love you too baby. Be careful and make sure you call me." "I will." I pulled away and took his keys off the key rack. I got into the car. I took deep breaths during the short ride to my old home. I pulled into the drive way. All the lights in the house off, I cut the engine and got out of the car.

I walked to the door and pulled out my old key. Part of me wishes that he changed the locks but knowing Jack he wouldn't. I unlocked the door and stepped into the house. I kicked off my shoes and flipped on a couple lights, I stared all around the house. It felt like the day I left, nothing had changed really. I walked up the steps and went to my old room. I opened the door and stepped in. Absolutely nothing had changed, not one thing since I left.

I closed my eyes hoping that when I opened them that these last three years were just a dream and that I would wake up, not that it was a nightmare or anything but I wish that when I opened my eyes everything I had once called normal would be back to just that... normal. I opened my eye but nope. I closed the door and made the short distance the Jack's bed room. I reached for the door handle, drawing in a breath at the same time. Preparing myself for the worst I twisted the door knob opening the door.

The lights were off but I could see a figure laying in the bed. I walked over and could see the tip of Jack's hair threw the covers. I hadn't seen anything other than that and I was already tearing up. I pulled back the covers and crawled in behind him, snuggling up to his back. I wrapped my arms around his waist. I stirred a little. "Who is this?" He asked sounding tired. "I-I missed you so bad." I said and hugged him tighter. Jack whipped around and sat us both up.

"Paige?! Where did you go? I looked for you everywhere? I missed you too." He said in one breath. I looked at him through my tears and, looked at him. He looked skinny, but still the Jack I knew. "I'm so sorry Jack. I'm so sorry I left." "Then why did you?" He asked making me look at him. "Cause I thought I had to but I came back." "Thank god, too. I missed you so much." He had a smile on his face, the kind that I loved. The one I haven't seen in a very long time, occasionally Dalton would give that same smile but as soon as I realized it, it was gone.

"Jack, you're all skin and bones, what happened?" "Nothing." He said pulling at the end of his sleeves. "And since when do you were a shirt to sleep in, especially long sleeves?" I asked. "I don't know." He looked away from me. "Hey don't look away, are you ok?" I asked pulling his face to look at me. "You sound like a mom right now." I bit my lip and moved some hair from his face. "I am a mom Jack, It's my job to care about the one's I love..." Jack's eyes were wide. "You're a mom?" He asked not believing me. "A mommy, but yes..."

"I'm an Uncle? Do I get to meet... them?" He asked. "Yeah, if you want. It's a boy but I really need you to listen. I don't know what he should call you-" "Uncle Jack, right?" "Well." I ran my hand through my hair and looked at my hands. "Jack, it's more complicated than that..." I looked at his still beautiful eyes, and the scruff that covered his cheeks. His hair was laid flat, from sleeping. "I mean you're not his uncle..." I was hoping that Jack would catch on.

"Why not? Is it because I don't know him?" "No Jack, I left how long ago?" I was starting the get a little frustrated. "A little over three years ago." "Ok, and he is now three. When did you leave before I left?" He started to look like he was finally putting the pieces together. "Oh my god!" Jack looked freaked out. I took my hands placing them on his shoulders. "Jack calm down-" "Calm down?! I got you pregnant, I'm so stupid! I'm so sorry Paige, I ruined your life-" "No! No you didn't... I couldn't imagine life with out him. He's the second greatest accident of my life..." He looked into my eyes.

"What's the first?" "Well, there once was a little girl who moved here in the second grade. The kids at her school didn't like her cause she was different. And that first day one mean boy tripped her, she fell to the ground and while everyone laughed a sweet little boy bent down and helped her up, he offered to let her sit with them, they became best friends." I finished my story and Jack looked at me smiling. "I would save you any day." He said.

"An you have, plenty of times. I'm sorry I left." I had tears in my eyes. "I never took off my bracelets, I was too afraid that I would start again." He took my wrists in his hands. "You didn't right?" "No. But I thought about it a lot but I'm not caring for just me anymore. I'm so sorry I lfet Jack." I was crying, tears streaming down my face. "Hey, don't cry." He said wiping a tear away. "I thought I was protecting you, Alex said you almost died. I never knew I meant that much to you." "You're my best friend... you're everything to me." He said. I lunged at him and pulled him into a hug.

"Jack, do you wanna meet him...you don't have too. He's asked about you-" "Yes. I want to." I pulled out my phone and sent the go text to Alex.

To Alex:
Alright, bring him over he should be ready to get up anyways, clothes on the bed. Thanks, remember the bags.

To me:
Ok, I can do that. Welcome.

I turned back to Jack. "He'll be here in a few." Jack stood up and pulled on some jeans and a new shirt. He came back over and sat on the edge of hi bed. He ran a hand threw his hair and looked worried. "Paige, what if he doesn't like me?" He asked almost on the verge of tears. "He will I promise, he loves you." He looked at me. "How do you know?" "I talked about you before, he knows who you are." I scooted closer to him and held his hand. "He doesn't have to call you dad... he can call you Jack or Uncle Jack if you want."

"Ok, I think I want him to call me Jack." I squeezed his hand a little. "Ok, that's fine." He looked like he was about to say something when the door bell rang. I walked out of Jack's room and went down stairs. I opened the door and Dalton jumped into my arms from Alex's. "I'm gonna wait in the car alright? Take your time." "thank you." Alex nodded and I closed the door. Jack came around the corner.

He looked at Dalton and Dalton looked at him. "Hi." Dalton said waving. Jack let out a little laugh to cover the tears he had. "Hi." He said back. I shifted Dalton to my other hip. "This is mommy's friend-" "No, this is your dad... you can call me daddy or whatever you want..." I looked at Jack shocked by what he said. Dalton looked at me. "Really?" I nodded. "Yeah, that's your daddy." He wiggled out of my arms and walked over to Jack.

Jack got down on his knees. "Do you play music with Uncle Alex?" Dalton asked. "Yeah, I do." Dalton's face lit up and he looked at me. "Does he play the slidie part?" He asked. "Yeah he does..." Dalton jumped a little and wrapped his arms around Jack's neck. "I found you!" He yelled. Jack looked a little taken off guard and wrapped his arms around him. "Hey baby, tell daddy your name, full name." "My name is Jack Dalton Barakat, and I'm three. I was born February 18th." He said pulling away from Jack.

Jack looked at me. "You gave him my name?" Jack asked. He had tears in his eyes and I always did. "Yeah, I mean you are the father-" "No I mean, Jack. You gave him my name." "Yeah, I did. Dalton, tell daddy a little about yourself." "I like music, I like to run around the house pretending to be super heroes, or jumping on the couch playing the guitar being a rock star. My favorite band is Blink-184, and I wanna play the guitar when I grow up...just like you." Jack stared at Dalton. He pulled him into a hug and kissed his forehead.

"You're beautiful, perfect." Jack said and Dalton wiggled out of his grasp. "I'm thirsty." "I think there's some water bottles in the fridge baby." Dalton ran around the corner. "He looks just like you." "That's funny, I think of you when I look at him. He has you nose and he's sweet just like you." "He's been trying to find the man who does the slidie part, I used to hum your part of Love like war when he was fussy or kicking me, he would stop. He's tall, just like you and has you beautiful eyes, he calls Blink Blink-184 but it's close enough. He wants to be a rock star..."

I said listing off little things. Jack was sitting on the floor with his back leaned against the wall, with his knees up. His mouth was covered and he looked like he was crying. "I'm sorry, I made you feel like you had to do this by yourself. It wasn't fair." I leaned down in front of him. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you could do this." Dalton came back over and yawned. "Come here, trouble maker." He walked into my open arms.

"It's late Jack, I'm gonna get out of here." "Ok, that's fine. I'll see you, bye Jay." Jack said. Dalton left my arms and went into Jack's giving him a hug. He came back to me and I gave Jack a hug. "My dad's gonna get the car sometime tomorrow." "Ok, that's fine." Jack said opening his door. I grabbed my shoes and left his house. I walked out to Alex's car. I buckled Dalton in. "That went better than I thought..." Alex said. I slid in and waved bye to Jack. "I didn't tell him." "Why?" "Cause... He doesn't like me and I'm going home with Dalton." I looked at Alex. He sighed.

"Whatever you think Paige. Whatever you think." I laid my head back against the seat and we drove in silence to the air port with our bags. A long flight a head of us and lots of work for me to catch up on.

Notes

Comment please... it's short a little i know but hopefully you enjoyed it and by the way I made it a little anti climactic like that for a reason... just wait and see...!!! LOVES:P

Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=104664799