Family Ties

Thanks: Natasha and Nikki

Disclaimer: The same.

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@2003lancesharmony

Chapter Eight: Back In Florida

Jessi and Lance had spent the whole week in Mississippi. After a few days of testing Jim was sent home from the hospital under strict orders. The guys had called everyday checking on Lance and his dad. Chris had called Jessi once demanding to know when she was coming home.


Jessi sat watching Kendal sleep occasionally glancing out the plane window. Lance reached over grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
"Not much longer and we'll be home."
Jessi turned looking at him and smiled.
"I hope so. I don't care if I ever fly again."
Lance laughed leaning over to kiss her cheek.
"You say that now, but before you know it you'll be on a plane again going somewhere."
Jessi shook her head leaning it back on the seat.
"I'm staying home for awhile. I'm not going anywhere."
Lance looked down at their hands intertwined together.
"Jess, what happens when we get back to Florida?"
Jessi's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Lance hesitated a moment before sighing.
"Me, you, Chris?"
He looked down gently rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.
"This week was great, but I feel like this is it. When we get home you're going back to him aren't you?"
Jessi raised her head staring into his eyes.
"No. I'm not going back to Chris. We need to have a serious talk and get everything out. But i'm not going back to him."
Lance smiled leaning his lips down to hers. She quickly turned her head away looking at him from the corner of her eye.
"But i'm also not rushing into a relationship with you. I want to go slow and see what happens. I'm not going to get Kendal's hopes up that mommy and daddy are together and it not work out."
Lance frowned turning her face toward his.
"You want to go slow, we'll go slow. But at least give me a chance this time Jess."
She nodded leaning forward to Kiss him.

Jessi sighed a sigh of relief as she walked off the plane seeing Lonnie. He laughed as he walked toward them.
"Jess you look a little green. Still scared of flying?"
Kendal giggled holding Jessi's hand tightly.
"I not scared. I more bravo than mommy."
Lance laughed picking Kendal up.
"That's more brave, not bravo."
Kendal shrugged wrapping her arms around Lance's neck.
"Whatever."
Lonnie quickly stepped in front of Lance.
"You've got some fans coming up behind you. They've been watching you since you got off the plane."
Lance glanced at Kendal then back to Lonnie.
"How many?"
Lonnie looked over Lance's shoulder. "Five, but it looks like only two are coming over."
Jessi stepped closer reaching for Kendal.
"Let me have her. They're going to ask questions."
Lance tightened his arms around Kendal.
"Then let them ask. She's my daughter. and i'm not going to hide it."
He quickly looked up at Lonnie. "Just stay very close."
Lonnie nodded as Jessi shot Lance a warning look.
"You can't Lance. Johnny and PR will have a fit. Just let me have Kendal and you can do this some other time."
Lance shook his head. "No Jessi. I'm not waiting any longer."
Lonnie nodded toward Lance and he slowly turned around. Two girls stood behind him smiling nervously. One of them stepped forward handing Lance paper and a pen.
"Could we please get your autograph and a picture? We're huge fans."
Lance smiled taking the paper from her. "Sure. Where are you ladies from?"
Kendal watched Lance as he tried to hold onto her and sign the paper.
"We're from Chicago. We are here on a school field trip. We're cheerleaders."
Lance smiled handing the paper to her and turning to the second girl. She handed him a notebook and he tried to sign it as Kendal began slipping. Jessi stepped back behind Lonnie carefully watching theee gee girls in the distance. Kendal wrapped her arms around Lance's neck laughing.
"Daddy, you gonna dwop me."
Both girls looked at each other then back to Lance. Lance handed the girl her notebook and shifted Kendal in his arms getting a better hold of her.
The first girl smiled waving to Kendal. "She's very cute. I didn't know you had a little girl."
Lance turned handing Kendal to Lonnie.
"Thank you. Yes, she is my daughter. Still want to take that picture?"
Both girls nodded and Lance looked back at Jessi. "Come take this picture, please honey."
Jessi stepped around Lonnie eyeing lance as she took the camera. The girls stood on each side of Lance and Jessi snapped a few photos. She smiled handing the camera back to the girls. The first girl looked at Jessi squinting her eyes.
"Hey aren't you Justin's sister?"
Jessi nodded. "Yes. Justin is my twin brother."
The girl held out her paper smiling. "Can I get your autograph?"
Jessi laughed taking the paper from her. "Yeah sure."
Jessi signed the paper handing it back to the girls. They mumbled a thank you as they ran off giggling. Lance smiled as he took Kendal back from Lonnie. Lonnie laughed shaking his head.
"Boy you are gonna be in so much trouble."
Lance shrugged puling on Jessi's arm. "I don't care anymore. Everybody knows about Briahna. I have a right to have Kendal."
He looked over at Jessi and sighed. "Don't look so worried. Everything will be fine. Jessi sighed quickly making her way thru the airport.
"Yeah right. And by tomorrow our faces will be plastered on every magazine and Johnny will be pissed."
Lonnie laughed following them out of the airport.

Lance helped Jessi carry her and Kendal's bags into the house. He sat them down inside the foyer. Kendal pulled off her jacket throwing it to the floor and running thru the house. lance turned to Jessi pulling her to him.
"I'm gonna go home and drop my things off. I'll be back later."
She whispered "Ok" glancing downt to his lips as he moved closer to her pressing his mouth to hers. She ran her hands up his back pulling him closer to her as he slowly pulled from the kiss.
"See you later."
She nodded closing the door behind him.
Kendal ran out the back door and toward the basketball court. Justin grabbed the ball tucking it under his arm as Kendal ran to him. He picked her up with one arm wrapping her little arms around his neck hugging him.
"I missed you uncle Jushtin."
He smothered her face with kisses as she laughed. "I missed you too. Where's mommy."
Kendal pointed to the back door. "She with daddy."
Chris groaned moving closer to Justin. Kendal reached for Chris and he took her from Justin kissing her cheek.
"Did you have a good time?"
She nodded, her green eyes sparkling.
"I sure did. Daddy and Poppy took me on a horse and it snowed."
Chris gasped pretending to be excited. "It did? WOW. How cool."
She laughed continuing to ramble. "And we built a snowman and grandma and nana took me shopping."
She frowned looking up at Chris.
"But poppy got sick. His heart hurt."
Chris gently rubbed her back listening.
"But poppy is ok now isn't he?"
She shrugged. "Yeah. Guess so. He went with me and daddy to ride horses. But he just watched."
Chris took a deep breath. "Wow. You had a really busy week."
She nodded struggling to get out of his arms. "Can I ride my jeep?"
Justin bounced the ball nodding. "Just stay away from the court. Ok?"
She yelled ok as she ran to the garage getting her Barbie Jeep. Jessi walked outside, her hands on her hips.
"Did Kendal come out here?"
Justin pointed to the garage. "She's getting her jeep."
She smiled folding her arms across her chest. "So what's been going on?"
Justin cut his eyes to Chris and back to Jessi.
"Not much. Jim ok?"
Jessi nodded. "Yeah. He's better. He's gonna have to take it easy from now on."
Justin sat the ball on the ground and clapped his hands together.
"Well I think I need something to drink. Anybody else?"
Chris shook his head looking down at the ground as Jessi watched Justin walk into the ho Je Jessi bit her lip watching Chris. He looked up smiling at her.
"So. Can we talk?"
Jessi slowly nodded walking over to the patio sitting down. Chris followed her pulling his chair closer to hers before sitting. Jessi took a nervous breath and leaned back in her seat.
"Chris listen to me. When we were in Hawaii everything felt so different. I only wanted some time away and you jumped to conclusions. We've......"
Chris leaned forward cutting her off. "I blew up and i'm sorry. You left with him Jess, why?"
She shook her head standing from her chair. "Damn Chris. Jim had a heart attach. I didn't want Lance to have to face that alone."
Chris looked up at her his voice cold. "He has a sister, he wasn't alone. I felt bad for him too Jess."
Jessi narrowed her eyes watching him.
"And you have four sisters, but if it had been you I still would've gone."
Chris stood up moving closer to her. "You're my girlfriend. I would've wanted you to be there if it had been me."
Jessi looked down taking a step back. "Not anymore Chris. You made that decision. Not me."
Chris ran his hands thru his hair as he began to pace.
"I didn't break up with you Jessi. I told you I was angry, and i'm sorry."
He stopped in front of her taking her hands in his.
"I love you. Don't do this to us."
Jessi took a deep breath sliding her hands from his.
"I didn't Chris. You did. You told me I could have all the room to breath that I wanted and accused me of wanting Lance."
Chris smacked his lips together perching them.
"I see. Well, if that's what you really want, then fine."
He picked his sunglasses up from the table and turned to look at her.
"Goodbye Jess."
She looked down szingzing the bridge of her nose as Chris disappeared into the house. Justin turned from the window and leaned against the counter waiting on Chris. Chris stopped looking up at him.
"It's over. Thought i'd let you know."
Justin put the top back on his water sitting it down.
"I'm sorry man."
Chris shrugged turning his back to Justin. "I'll see you later."
Justin sighed as he watched him leave.