Family Ties

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Thank yous: Thankyou soooo much Nikki and Tasha. Ya'll are great.


Chapter Nine: 21

Jessi stood on the steps up the old mansion looking up taking in the scenery.
"God Josh, this place is beautiful. How did you find this?"
JC smiled stepping up next to her wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"A friend of mine told me about it. I new all Justin cared about for his 21st birthday was partying and getting drunk. You on the other hand I knew would want something a little more interesting. And since you seem to have this odd fascination with horror, which I will never understand, I thought this would be perfect when I found out about it. You really like it?"
Jessi turned her head looking at JC.
"Are you kidding. I love this. When is everyone supposed to be here?"
JC shrugged walking to the door and pushing it open.
"Invitations said 8:00. That's when your party guest will arrive. As far as family goes they should all be pulling up shortly. I wanted to have a big dinner with just the guys and your family before the shindig. At l thi this way you'll get to spend a little bit of your birthday with Kendal. "
Jessi grabbed JC throwing her arms around his neck.
"You are the best friend in the whole world. Did I ever tell you that?"
JC laughed hugging her back. "Well, sometimes you do. But usually it's followed by this whiney voice and Josh I need a favor."
JC laughed ducking away from Jessi as the swung to hit him. She shook her head laughing as he ran into the house yelling for her to hurry.

Trace stepped into the house shaking his head.
"Man this is nice. We'll party big time up in here."
Lynn stepped thru the door way holding Kendal in her arms and popped Trace in the back of the head.
"Go help Paul with the cakes."
Trace rubbed the back of his head frowning as he ducked back outside to help Paul.
JC walked to the foyer greeting Lynn and taking Kendal from her. Kendal's eyes grew wide as she looked around from where JC stood.
"Ooooh this is scawy."
Jessi laughed patting Kendal on the back.
"It's not too scary. It's just an old house. Your godfather here did a good job of picking places."
Lynn nodded stepping out of Paul and Trace's way.
"JC this is wonderful. Anything you need me to do?"
JC motioned her into hou house leading her to the family room.
"Nope. The food is being catered for dinner, which they are setting up now. And everything else for the big party has been brought in and set up through out the house already. The servers and bartenders will be here at 7:30."
Lynn nodded patting JC on the back. "Well you've done a wonderful job preparing all of this. I wish you would have let us do something besides the cake."
JC laughed shaking his head.
"No way. I wanted to do this for Jess and Justin. This is their big night. I'm just glad you guys could make it back for the party."
Trace stepped into the family room frowning.
"So who are we waiting on and when do we eat? I am starving."
Jessi shook her head sighing.
"Couldn't you have stayed in Tennessee? Who invited you anyway?"
Trace put his hands on his hips looking at Jessi.
"JC invited me. And Justin is my best friend. I wouldn't miss this for the world."
Jessi sat down on the couch sighing. "Then sit down and shut up."
Justin ran into the family room sliding across the floor waving his arms in the air.
"Let the party get started. JT IS IN THE HOUSE!"


Jessi stood in the doorway kissing Kendal good bye and giving Paul the instructions to give to the baby sitter.
"..Oh, make sure you give her the emergency numbers and she's got everyone's cell number, and......"
Paul shook his head sighing.
"Jessica, Kendal will be fine. Now I am taking her on so I can get back."
Jessi kissed Kendal one last time before watching Paul put her in the car and drive away.
She stepped into the house closing the door behind her and slowly walked thru the house looking for Lance. The dinner setting had managed to get confusing and her and Lance had been placed at opposite ends of the table. She tried to catch up with him after dinner, but the guest had began to arrive wishing her and Justin a happy birthday and pulling her in every direction.
JC reached out grabbing her arm as she walked past him looking over him. She glanced at him and continued looking around.
"Hey. You having a good time?"
Jessi nodded as she continued scanning the room.
"Yeah. Great. Good time. Seen Lance?"
JC smiled pulling her to him. "Last I saw Lance he was heading down that hallway. And tomorrow you and I have a talk. I want to know what is going on with the two of you."
Jessi looked at JC and smiled. "Ok. I promise, we'll talk. But for now I want to find Lance."
JC quickly hugged her letting her go.
"Look that way." He said pointing down the hall. "He's probably looking for you."
Jessi yelled 'thank you' over her shoulder as she quickly walked down the hall. She stepped off into what looked like a ball room searching for Lance. Chris held his arm out catching her around the waist and spinning her around before she could walk past him. He pulled her close to him and smiled.
"Happy birthday."
Jessi looked up at him and smiled.
"Thank you. Look i'm looking for someone right now ok."
Chris shook his head taking her by the hand and pulling her to the corner.
"This house is cool. JC surprised me. He did and awesome job."
Jessi nodded. "I love this place. Reminds me of Rose Red. I haven't gotten the chance to tour it yet. I'm gonna check out upstairs later."
Chris smiled leaning down closer to her. "I don't do scary, but if you're looking for someone to tour with just give me a yell. I don't think you need to be walking around in this house alone anyway."
Jessi laugheakinaking her head. "You watch too many movies."
Chris nodded taking a deep breath and reaching over pulling a bag off the table next to him.
"This is your birthday present."
Jessi sighed looking down at the small bag.
"You didn't have to do that Chris."
He shrugged handing her the bag.
"I bought it awhile back actually. Open it."
Jessi reached into the back pulling out a long thin velvet box. She looked up at Chris slowly opening it. She gasped seeing the white gold chain with a diamond heart charm. He finger slowly traced the heart as she looked up at him.
"Thank you Chris. It's beautiful. You really shouldn't have."
Chris stared into her eyes his voice dropping. "It was actually your anniversary present."
He looked down at the necklace and slowly looked back to her. "Something dumb about giving you my heart." He nodded looking down as he continued to ramble. "Yeah. By the way happy anniversary too"
Jessi sighed closing the box. "Chris........"
He took the box from her hands shaking his head. "Aren't you even going to put it on? I know it's not like that anymore. I'm ok with that. Really."
Jessi stared at him for a moment before taking the box from his hands. She removed the necklace and held the box out for him to hold. He took the necklace from her hands.
"Turn around."
She turned her back to him rasing her hair as he leaned against her hooking the necklace around her neck. He leaned against her looking over her shoulder at the nace.ace.
"It looks really good on you."
Jessi let go of her hair letting it cascade down her back as she turned facing him.
"Thank you again. I love it."
Chris nodded leaning down and gently brushing his lips against her.
"Happy birthday."
She smiled, her lips tight, as she nervously looked around the room.
"Um...I've got someone to find. I'll see you later."
Chris nodded and sighed as he watched her walk out of the room.

Lance turned his head shaking it as he watched Jessi and Chris in the corner. He grabbed a drink from the tray as the waiter walked past him and turned it up quickly drinking it. He sat the cup down on the table and walked away.

Jessi folded her arms across her chest rubbing the chill from her arms as she walked up the stairs. She reached the top of the stairs slowly looking around the second floor before continuing up the the third floor. She reached the top looking around finally deciding which way o. o. She turned the corner heading down a hallway when someone reached out grabbing her. She screamed flinging her arms trying to get away. Justin hit Trace in the back of the head laughing.
"Man she knows how to fight you better let her go."
Jessi spun around realizing who it was and began pounding her fist on his chest and arms. He quickly let her go holding his arms in front of him to block her as Justin grabbed her.
"Sis calm down. He was only playing."
She swung her leg out trying to kick Trace as Justin picked her up spinning her around.
"Hey. I said stop it and calm down."
Jessi stood still panting then raised her arms shrugging out of Justin's grip.
"That shit is not funny Trace. You're lucky Justin was here."
Jessi watched as Trace's jaw clenched.
"Yeah, and so are you."
Jessi took a step toward him and Justin quickly stepped between them holding up his hands.
"I said stop it. Now the party is down stairs. We shouldn't be up here anyway. Let's go."
Justin gave Trace a shove toward the stairs. He took a few steps and turned back around. Justin pointed toward the stairs shoving him again.
"Just go Trace."
Trace started down the stairs and Justin turned looking at Jessi.
"Come on sis. There is no one up here. You don't need to be up here alone. The music is too loud and no one would hear you if something happened."
Jessi rolled her eyes sighing. "I'm coming Justin, i'm coming. Just go on."
Justin bounced down the stairs and Jessi turned back heading down the hallway looking into each room. She slowly made her way around the third floor stopping to gaze at a painting on the wall when someone grabbed her from behind. She spun out of their arms turning to see Trace behind her. He laughed as he smirked looking down at her.
"What? You thought I was gone. I'm tired of your games little Timberlake. You my dear are not the little princess you want everyone to believe."
Jessi's eyes narrowed as she stared at him.
"You've got two seconds to get away from me or you are going to wish like hell that you did."
Trace moved to take a step closer to her when he was suddenly grabbed, arms locked behind his back and his face shoved into the wall.
"She told you to get away from her. Now I suggest you do as she ask if you wish to continue to walk. Do you understand."
Trace rolled his eyes and was suddenly shoved harder into the wall.
"I said do you understand?"
He sighed nodding his head. "Yes. I understand. Damn."
Trace shook his arms rubbing them as he was released. And turned looking toward Jessi.
"Learn to take a damn joke kid."
Jessi clenched her jaw as she watched him walk down the stairs. She turned looking at Joey and smiled.
"Thank you very much."
Joey shook his head and smiled. "I have been looking all over for you. You need to get downstairs now."
Jessi's brow furrowed "Why. What happened?"
Joey sighed pulling on her arm. "Walk with me." He pulled her to the stairs and led her down. "Look I know about you and Lance. He told me about it when you guys got back from Mississippi. He saw you with Chris tonight and he's pissed. He's ready to kill Chris.
Jessi shook her head taking a deep breath.
"Damn it. Chris was only giving me my birthday present. I have been looking for Lance since dinner was over. Where the hell has he been?"
Joey laughed. "He's been looking for you. I think you better get to him before he gets to Chris. He's pretty upset. He's also had a couple of drinks."
They reached the bottom of the stairs and Jessi spotted Lance in the room in front of them. She thanked Joey and made her way into the room stopping in front of Lance. He was leaned back against a table with his arms folded across his chest. Jessi smiled cautiously and stepped between his legs resting her hands on his thighs.
"I have been looking for you all night. Where have you been?"
Lance clenched his teeth eyeing the necklace around her neck. He reached out picking up the heart and looking into her eyes.
"What is this Jess?"
She looked down at the charm and sighed.
"It's a birthday present Lance. Nothing more. Everybody gave me something."
Lance nodded letting it fall back to her chest.
"I saw him kiss you. I don't want to lose you. I know that's what he wants."
Jessi shook her head.
"First of all I'm not a game for the two of you to play. Second of all Chris doesn't know about me and you yet. Chris is not what Jessi wants. Nobody has ever stopped to ask that question. It's always about what's best for Jessi, but never what Jessi wants."
Lance unfolded his arms and wrapped them around her waist.
"Well what does Jessi want?"
Jessi leaned forward brushing her lips to his. "Jessi wants Lance."
Lance smiled against her mouth and ran his tongue along her lips.
"Then Jessi can have what Jessi wants."
She smiled opening her mouth letting his tongue slide in. He tightened his arms around her pulling her closer. She tilted her head kissing him long and slow.
Chris looked up across the room spotting Jessi and Lance. His smile faded and JC turned to see what he was looking at. He turned his head back toward Chris and sighed. Chris clicked his tongue and laughed.
"Oh well. He wasted no time at all." He cut his eyes to JC "Why didn't you tell me."
JC shook his head taking a sip of his drink.
"I didn't know man. Honest. We haven't really spent any time together since she came back from Mississippi."
Chris nodded. "Well. I guess you know why now."
He grabbed another beer from the cooler and walked away.

Lance pulled away from Jessi and sighed.
"I'm sorry. It just made me mad when I saw that. Why haven't you told him about us?"
Jessi laughed. "I haven't talked to him and the only people who know about us is Joey and Justin."
Lance nodded looking down. "Then I think we need to tell them. Especially if you'll accept this."
He pulled a ring box from his pocket and held it out to her.
"Happy birthday."
Jessi's breath caught in her throat as she looked down at the box.
"Lance?" smi smiled nodding toward the box. "Just open it."
She stood staring at the box stunned. Lance sighed and slowly opened it revealing an eternity ring.
She looked up at him with watery eyes.
He spoke as he pulled the ring from the box slipping it onto her finger.
"This is to promise you that I have and always will love you forever and that someday I want to marry you."
Jessi looked up at him still unable to speak as tears rolled down her cheek. He leaned his forehead against hers and laughed.
"Jess? Baby you've got to breath."
She released the breath she was holding and threw her arms around his neck.
"It's beautiful and I love you."
Lance smiled kissing her.
"I know we said we'd take this slow. And I promised I would, but I want you to know I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our daughter."
She laughed wiping away her tears and laying her hand on her chest as her breath hitched.
"Oh my God. I love you so much."
He pulled her to him hugging her tightly.
Lynn walked up sitting down on the table next to Lance.
"I have been looking for the birthday girl all night wh......."
She stopped noticing Jessi crying. Her brow furrowed as she looked back and forth between Jessi and Lance.
"What's wrong?"
Jessi held her hand out for her mother to see. Lynn grabbed her hand looking at the ring and throwing her hand over her mouth as her jaw dropped.
"Oh my God. What does this mean."
Lance kissed Jessi's forehead and looked into her eyes.
"That I hope someday soon she'll marry me."
Lynn yelled throwing her arms around Lance and Jessi and hugging them.
"Oh I am soooo happy." si lsi laughed pushing her mother away.
"Now h old on before you go calling the family. This is not an engagement ring. It's simply a promise ring. Lance and I just got together. No one even knows. I want to take this slow momma. Not rush into this."
Lynn nodded. "I understand, but at least let your mother be happy. Don't shoot down my moment."
Lance laughed shaking his head.
"Yeah Jess. Don't be a party pooper." He draped his arm across Lynn's shoulders and smiled. "Besides it was your mother who told me long ago not to give up. And I never did."
Jessi's eyes narrowed as she looked at the two of them.
"What are you talking about."
Lynn hummed as she smiled looking away from Jessi. Lance squeezed his arm around Lynn and sighed.
"Back after Kendal was born and everyone thought I was such an ass and you and Chris started going out it was your mother who kept me sane. She told me she knew we had something special and to never lose hope. And thanks to her I never did."
Jessi looked at her mother stunned. "How come you never told me this, or even at least told me how Lance felt?"
Lynn shrugged. "It wasn't my place. I knew it was going to have to be the two of you to discover that for it to truly be real, not for someone else to make it happen. You two have a child together and that's the strongest bond two people can have with one another, even if they don't get along, they're still pulled together and tied. Both of you were just fighting that pull. I knew in time you'd both see how much you cared about each other."
Jessi wiped a tear from her eye hugging her mother.
"Thank you."
Lynn laughed hugging her. "For what?"
"For being my mother."
Lynn smiled kissing her on the cheek. She hopped down from the table and sighed.
"Ok. Well you two have fun and congratulations. I'm very happy for both of you."
Jessi turned to Lance gazing into his eyes. "Why didn't eve ever really tell me how you felt?"
Lance laid his hand on her neck gently rubbing circles with his thumb.
"I was scared when you told me you were pregnant. I freaked out, didn't know what I was going to tell mom and dad. Before I could let it sink in and really react everyone pegged me as an uncaring bastard. So that's what I became. I wanted to hate you and I couldn't. I just loved you more and it hurt."
Jessi leaned forward pressing her lips to his. When she pulled away she took him by the hands pulling him forward.
"Let's go home and get our daughter. Would you spend the night please."
Lance smiled nodding his head.
"I would like that very much."
He quickly kissed her draping his arm around her shoulder and walking her to the door.