Family Ties

Disclaimer: Do not know them or own them. Jessica and Kendal belong to me. Do not steal my story. Want to be a part of it e-mail me at bumperboat2000@yahoo.com Times, dates, etc. or not all correct. This is fiction.

Special thanks to Natasha and Nikki for all the great help and advice.

Chapter One
Christmas


Jessica Timberlake sat down on the couch staring at the christmas tree when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"You ready to go?"
She smiled at her boyfriend as she looked at him over her shoulder. "Hi Chris. Justin is upstairs. You'll have to yell and let him know that you are here. I'm not going home."
Chris noticed Kendal stretched out on the couch asleep as he sat down next to Jessica. "What do you mean you're not going home?"
Jessica sighed. "I had to take Kendal to the emergency room last night. She has a high fever and bronchitis and a sinus infection. I'm not going to put her on a plane as sick as she is. I called mom this morning and she understands."
Chris wrapped his arms around Jessi. "Then i'll call momma and tell her I can't come home."
"No Chris. You go home and spend Christmas with your mom and sisters. Justin is going home and Kendal and I will be just fine. She'll probably sleep until this fever breaks and the doctor said that could be a couple of days. By then everyone will be heading back here."
Chris shook his head. "No. I will not leave you and Kendal home alon Chr Christmas."
Jessi whined."Chris please. You are going to go. I don't want your mom mad at me because you wouldn't come home for christmas."
Chris lightly laughed. "Mom will be ok. She'll understand. Kendal is sick......"
Jessica held up her hand. "Chris stop. You are going to go home and spend time with your family. Kendal is not your responsibility. When she gets to feeling better we will have christmas."
Chris grabbed Jessica's hands and held them in his lap. "I'm going to say this to you one time and one time only. I love you very much and I love Kendal no matter whos daughter she is. To me she is my responsibility and don't you forget that."
Jessica smiled and leaned her forehead against his. "I love you. And I know Kendal means alot to you, but you are not staying here. End of story. "
She stood up pulling him up by his hands. "You can call me and I will keep you informed on how she is doing ok."
Justin stepped around the corner setting his bags in the floor. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay here?"
Jessica shook her head sighing. "No Justin. I talked to momma this morning and she is expecting you. You just give everybody my love and when Kendal is better we will go to Memphis."
Justin nodded and hugged Jessica. "Ok sis. But if you need anything just call me."
He walked over to the couch kissing Kendal on the forehead. "God sis she really has some fever."
Jessi shook her head. "She'll be ok. Now both of you get out of here before you miss your planes."
Chris wrapped his arms around Jessica. "Are you sure you won't let me stay?"
"No, you can't stay. Now go. I'll see you when you get back."
Chris brushed his lips against hers mumbling something about being stubborn before he passionately kissed her. He pulled away and walked over to the couch kissing Kendal on the cheek. He ran his hand across her hair and whispered "Bye baby."
He kissed Jessica one last time and they left.


Jessica turned off the computer and looked at her watch. Chris had called waking her up that morning. It had been late when his plane landed so he waited till the next morning to call. She had showered and sat down at the computer to get some work done while Kendal was sleeping. Her fever was begining to lower a little but she stil had one. Jessi sighed getting up to get Kendal's medicine when the door bell rang. She opened the door stumbling backwards as Lance shoved his way in.
Anger evident in his voice. "Where is she? And why did you not tell me?"
Jessi shook her head and closed the door as Lance stormed his way into the den.
She folded her arms across her chest and followed him. "Lance, what are you doing here?"
Lance spun looking at her. "I called your mom last night to see if it was ok if I brought mom, dad, Stacy, and Ford over christmas day instead of you and Kendal having to come to Mississippi and she tells me that Kendal is so sick you two couldn't make it home. Why didn't you tell me my own daughter was sick?"
Jessi sighed sitting down on the couch. "Lance I was going to call you today. Youe ale already in Mississippi when I had to take her to the emergency room. She's gonna be ok. They gave her some shots and medicine. You should have stayed in Mississippi."
Lance sat down next to her and ran his hands thru his hair.
"Jess, I know i'm not the best father in the world, but I do like to know what is going on and when she's sick."
Jessi took a deep breath. "Look. I really don't want to argue right now. Kendal is upstairs and if you want to go get her for me I need to give her some medicine. I'm sure she'd be glad to see you."
Lance nodded and headed upstairs as Jessi went to the kitchen.
Lance sat down on the side of the toddler bed and gently shook Kendal. She cried in her sleep and stirred around. Lance shook her again whispering her name. She opened her eyes and stared at Lance.
"Daddy?"
Lance smiled and nodded. "Yeah baby. It's daddy. Come on, let's go get you something to make you feel better."
She sat up climbing into Lance's lap and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Don't feewl good daddy."
Lance nodded "I know baby."
He carried her down stairs to the kitchen where Jessi was waiting. Kendal buried her face in Lance's neck when she saw the syringe with the medicine.
Lance laughed. "Come on Kendal. Take your medicine for daddy. Santa clause will be coming pretty soon and you want to feel better so you can play with your new toys don't you?"
"No daddy, yucky."
Jessi ran her hand thru Kendal's long blond curls. "You don't want to go back and get more shots do you?"
Kendal shook her head no.
"Then you have to take this." Jessi said. Her voice stern but soothing.
Kendal slowly turned her head on Lance's shoulder looking at Jessi. Her green eyes watery. She opened her mouth letting Jessi give her the medicine.

Lance sat down on the couch next to Jessi and sighed.
"Well she's alseep again. She still feels hot tho."
Jessi leaned her head back on the couch sliding down to get comfortable. "The doctor said it could take as long as three days for the fever to break. The medicine seems to be working tho."
Lance nodded. I've got to call mamma. I promised her when I got here I would let her know what was goin on."
Jessi turned her head looking at Lance. "Why don't you go back to Mississippi and spend christmas with your family. I know your girlfriend will be quite upset." She stressed. " Kendal will be just fine and ......"
Lance gently squeezed her shoulder. "Jess, please quit. I thought we weren't goin arg argue. I really want to be here."
Jess sat straight up. "Look, you and I have known each other for a long time now. Believe it or not you mean a lot to me. Kendal was the product of a one night stand and I don't regret her or that night for one
minute. You made it clear when I told you I was pregnant that you were not ready to be a father yet and I never asked nor demanded anything from you. Your a good father when you want to be and that's only when it's convenient for. Y. You can't do that to her Lance. Kendal is almost three and she's begining to ask where daddy is a lot now. She wants to see you more and I now your little girlfriend of the week does not approve."
Lance raised his eyebrow at Jessi as she raised her hands in defense.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. You're 22 years old and your famous. I know you want to party and have a good time . Being a father doesn't mean that you have to give up your life. Every little girl needs a daddy. Right now you can't be that full time daddy. You have too much going on. As bad as it would hurt her I am asking you until you are ready to take responsibility I want you to step away. Don't let her get used to you or attached to you and you not have the time for her when she really needs you. You know as well as I do she doesn't fit into your lifestyle."
Lance sat quietly staring at his hands.



"Jessi I don't want you to think I regret anything that happened between the two of us, because I don't. I love Kendal very much. No I was not ready to be a father, but I won't step out of her life......"
Jessi sighed. "Lance i'm not going to keep her away from you. That is not what I am saying."
Lance shook his head. "No. Listen. I am her father and i'm gonna be there for her. I'm ready for that now. I want you and Kendal in my life. She is my daughter. Like it or not we're family."
Lance placed his arm across the back of the couch behind her and leaned closer to her.
"I am here to stay. I will be here for Kendal and I will be here for you whenever ya'll need me. Now, I hope you don't think i'm leaving because I am going nowhere. You are stuck with me until after christmas. I am going to call momma and then I say we get some dinner. I'm hungry."
Lance smiled and stood up to use the phone. Jessi took a deep breath. "Lance."
He turned around to look at her.
"Yeah?"
She hesitated before speaking. "Are you sure you're ready for this now?"
Lance folded his arms across his chest. "Over the past two years i've watched as one of my best friends raised my own daughter because I chose to be too stubourn. I don't want that. I want to be the one to raise my daughter. Not Chris."
Lance quickly turned and went to use the phone. Jessi fell sideways onto the couch throwing her hands over her face and groaning.


Jessi grumbled and picked up the ringing phone next to her bed.
"Merry Christmas eve." Came a loud cheerful voice.
Jessi laughed. "Hi honey. How is your christmas?"
"Ahh. It's good. But I miss you."
Jessi smiled snuggling back under the covers. "I miss you too. How is your mom?"
"She's good. Sends her love and and says hello. She wants to know how Kendal is doing AND also said she would've understood if I had stayed behind with you and the baby."
Jessi snickered. "Well Kendal is doing better. Her fever is begining to break a little. Hopefully by tomorrow it will be all gone. And as much as I miss you I would've felt bad if you'd stayed here."
Chris sighed. "Taylor says hello. She's dying to see you."
"Maybe she can come this summer when Jonathan and Stephen come to stay. I can take them to Disneyworld."
"Yeah, we'll plan that. So what are you and Kendal going to do today?"
Jessi sat up stretching. "Luckily I kept some of her presents here. So I guess we'll open some presents and I get to set up santa tonight. Other than that we're just going to stay in and rest."
Jessi heard comotion in the background as Chris yelled.
"We'll Kate is hitting me in the head. She wants me to help her with something so I guess I better go. I'll call you in the morning."
"Ok. Tell every one merry christmas for me. I love you."
Chris smiled. "I love you too. And give my baby a kiss for me."
Jessi smiled at his words. "I will do."
She hung up the phone and checked on Kendal then showered. Once she was ready she woke Kendal and they went downstairs for breakfast.

Jessi finished cleaning up breakfast and sat down on the couch next to Kenal to watch cartoons. Lance stumbled thru the front door with an arm full of bags. Jessi looked over her shoulder into the foyer and laughed.
"What are you doing?"
He closed the front door smiling at her. "I got up early and went to do some shopping before everyone closed."
Jessi stood going to help him.
"Shopping? For what?"
Lance looked at her and laughed. "For christmas dummy. Since we're here we needed some presents."
Jessi quickly shook her head. "But Lance you shouldn't......."
He held his hand up "Stop! We are having christmas. Right Kendal?"
Kendal stood in the doorway smiling as she watched Lance. She threw her arms in the air.
"Yea, daddy."
Lance laughed at her. "Yea Kendal."
He picked up the bags he had dropped. "Help me get these upstairs, no peeking, so I can get them wrapped."
Jessi grabbed the remaining bags and followed him upstairs.

After dinner Jessi called Memphis to talk to everyone then phoned Lance's parents to let them talk to Kendal.
Kendal sat in Lance's lap playing with his braclet while he talked to his parents. He hung up the phone and squeezed his arms around her.
"Well ladies, how would you like to open some presents?"
Kendal squeeled and jumped from Lance's lap.
"Mone daddy."
Jessi laughed. "Guess that means yes."
The three of them crawled down in the floor and passed out presents.


Jessi finished setting up the presents from santa and sat under the tree watching the lights. She glanced down at the diamond bracelet that Lance had given her and ran her fingers lightly across it. She glanced over at the phone reaching for it to call Chris when she heard someone behind her. She let her fingers slide across the phone as she sighed.
"So how come you didn't come tell me you were coming down to do this? I've been up waiting."
Jessi took a deep breath. "I stopped by your door, but you were on the phone. I didn't want to interupt." She continued staring at the tree.
Lance moved around sitting down next to her. She took a deep breath and looked over at him.
"You didn't have to get all of these presents. But thank you."
She slightly raised her arm. "And the bracelet is beautiful. You really shouldn't have."
Lance shrugged. "You deserve that and more. After all you gave birth to our beautiful baby girl and you're raising her. I couldn't ever begin to thank you for that."
She blushed and quickly looked away. Lance scooted back until he was leaning back against the recliner. He stared at his hands as he played with the hem of his shirt.
"So you and Chris still doing pretty good?"

Jessi quickly looked back over her shoulder at him."
"Yeah, we're fine."
Lance nodded. "Good. You seem pretty happy, at least thats what Justin said." He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "So are you?"
Jessi took a deep breath and scooted back next to him.
"Chris and I are doing just fine Lance. What is it that you really want to say?"
Lance looked at her and shook his head. "Nothing. I just want to make sure you are happy."
They both sat quietly watching the lights.
Lance turned sideways looking at Jessi. "Jess, why was there never an us? Why didn't we work?"
Jessi sat looking at Lance stuned. "Lance we never had anything to make it work. We had a one night stand. You went on about your buisness and I found out I was pregnant. And after that ......"
Lance looked down and nodded. "I know. I wasn't exactly over joyed or showed support."
"Lance neither was I at first. But I was 17 and you were 19. We were just too young. But we've grown up alot."
"I waited too late to be ready for this. Good ole level headed Lance. The one everyone expects to do the right thing didn't and now it's too late."
Jessi turned toward Lance. "It's never too late."
He looked back up at her. "But you've got Chris now." he said quietly.
Jessi's eyes widened with surprise. "Oh." Her words were barely audible.
Lance reached up playing with the sleeve of her t-shirt. "As long as you're sure you're happy...."
Jessi quickly moved away. "DON"T. ok. I am happy and I love Chris and I love everything he has done for me and Kendal. Don't screw that up for me."
Lance shook his head. "I wouldn't Jess, I swear. I just wondered if i'd ever have that chance again."
Jessi stood up. "I need to go to bed. Kendal will be up early i'm sure."
Lance stood up placing his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Jess."
She sighed rubbing her forehead. "It's ok. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight."
Lance pulled her to him hugging her. dnigdnight."
She quickly pulled away and disappeared upstairs.

Jessi stiffened as she felt the bed shift under someone's weight. She held her breath as she felt soft kisses being placed on her neck. She slowly opened her eyes and exhaled when she saw Chris smiling down at her.
"Merry Christmas."
She threw her arms around his neck pulling him and and kissing him passionately. He pulled away taking a deep breath.
"WOW. If that's how I get welcomed home i'll gladly leave and come back again."
She laughed. "What are you doing here?"
Chris laid down next to her propping himself up on his elbow. "Mom threw me out of the house. She said I was driving her crazy and I needed to get back here where I belong."
Jessi smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. "I am so glad you are here."
Chris wiggled his eyebrows. "And." He leaned over placing soft kisses up her arm between each word. "I. Checked. On. Kendal. Door's locked. Baby monitor on. We're alone."
She laughed as he brushed his lips against hers. "Well Merry Christmas to me."
He laughed reaching down and pulling up her t-shirt. He slid it over her head and moved down her pulling down her pajama bottoms. She breathed heavily and pushed her head back into the pillow. He placed a hand on each knee slowly pushing her legs apart. He stood on his knees between her legs and and pulled his sweater over his head. He leaned forward placing a hand on each side of her and leaning down. He slid his tongue across her lips before slipping it into her mouth sliding it along hers. She lightly ran her nails down his chest to the button on his jeans. She unbuttoned and unzipped them and began pushing them and his boxerbriefs down. Once undressed she reached down and began to gently stroke him. She turned her head to the side allowing him acsess to her neck. He ran his toung along her shoulder reaching down he moved her hand and slowly slid into her. She gasped and arched her back meeting each thrust he gave. He buried his face in her neck as he began to move faster. She dug her nails into his shoulder biting her lip to remain quiet. He ran his hand up her leg to her hip squeezing hard as her muscles tightened around him. Her body quivered as he thrust one final time moanioudloudly as he released inside her. They both laid panting as they tried to catch their breath. Chris pushed himself up smiling down at her.
"I love you."
She reached up wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I love you."
He tenderly kissed her and rolled over next to her. She rolled over kissing his chin. "I'm gonna shower and cook some breakfast before Kendal wakes."
Chris nodded and Jessi got up to shower. Once dressed she grabbed the baby monitor from the nightstand and pulled the covers up over a sleeping Chris and headed downstairs.

Jessi smiled as she walked into the kitchen. Lance was sitting at the table drinking coffee.
"Goodmorning."
"Goodmorning. I'm gonna cook some breakfast. Anything special?"
Lance shook his head no. Jessi reached under the counter and grabbed the frying pan. She sat the monitor down on the counter as she reached into the fridge for the bacon.
Lance stood up stretching. "Anything I can help you with?"
"No I was just going to get this done before......"
Kendal's voice suddenly came across the monitor calling 'mommy'.
Jessi lookedLancLance and laughed. "I was just going to say I was going to get this done before she woke up."
"Let me go get her so you can finish up."
Jessi nodded and Lance whisled as he ran up the stairs.

Chris sat down on the side of Kendal's bed. She jumped up and threw her arms around his neck.
"Cwis, your back."
He laughed. "Yeah doodlebug. You wanna go down and see what santa left?"
She jumped up and down on the bed. "Yeah."
Chris stood up and she jumped into his arms. She looked over his shoulder and squeeled.
"Daddy, santa come."
Chris quickly turned around seeing Lance behind him. "Hey man. When did you get here? Thought you were in Mississippi?"
"I got here a couple of days ago when I found out Kendal was sick. When did you get here?"
"Early this morning."
Chris smiled and walked past Lance with Kendal.
Jessi was standing in the den with the video camera when the three came down. Chris glared at her as he carried Kendal to the tree putting her down.
"Wow. Looky there Kendal. Santa left alot of stuff."
Her green eyes grew big as she scaned all the toys. Jessi finished recording and went back to the kitchen to finish cooking. Lance sat in the floor with Kendal and Chris walked into the kitchen wraping his arms around Jessi's waist. He leaned down whispering in her ear.
"Why didn't you tell me he was here?"
"You didn't exactly give me a chance this morning."
"How come you didn't say anything when I called?"
She turned in his arms facing him. "I didn't want to talk about Lance when you called and I didn't think it mattered. He showed up here the other day. He had called mom and she told him about Kendal so he suddenly decided to be a daddy."
Chris raised his eyebrow. "He's up to something."
Jessi hit his arm "No he's not Chris. I believe he is really trying now. Besides I thought he was your best friend."
Chris shrugged. "He is. It's just different when it comes to you and Kendal."
She kissed him. "Go play nicely. I'm gonna cook. We'll discuss this later."
He nodded and headed back to the den.