TAYLOR: "Tay..I'm sorry.." she whispered, burying her face in my chest. "I shouldn't do this now, it's hard enough without me acting like a big baby." She tried to pull out of my arms, but I held her there. "It's alright Jess. Baby, it's okay..." I chuckled softly and stroked her hair, then kissed the top of her head. "What?" she wiped her eys and looke up at me. "I'd rather KNOW that you miss me, Jess. That you want to be with me. It kills me to leave you here..I love you so much. I WANT to take you with me. I WANT to be there when you need me. And after what I saw last night, I don't want you in this house alone at night. Jess, how am I gonna sleep on that cramped bus, with Ike snoring and Zac smashing his big melon on the wall all night? I'd rather be here, in our bed, with you..." I told her. "You..." I pressed my lips to her cheek and she held to me tightly. "I really don't like the idea of you being here alone at night Jess, it's okay on short trips, but..." "Oh, I forgot." she said, wiped her eyes and ran her hand through her hair. "Actually, Wattley offered to stay here while you guys are gone, if it's alright with you. She wants me to train her for the Galaxy and she said even if she didn't take the TV offer she still wanted to find a bigger place AND buy her own furniture. Do you mind? It would save on the amount of people Dave has to supervise too.." she said quickly. "Why should I mind? You won't be here alone and if she needs a place..." I said and shrugged my shoulders, inwardly glad that she HAD offered. "I hope she and Zac get it worked out.." she sighed. "They will Jess. Come here." I said and pulled her over to the long, cushioned lounge chair Jess had put out her so she could sit in the sun. I sat down and leaned back, then spread my legs so she could sit between them. She nestled herself against my chest as I wrapped my arms around her, and let her head rest against my shoulder. I lifted my legs up, so they rested alongside hers. She sighed contentedly and I felt her relax against my body. "I love you baby. Everything will be alright.." I kissed her the top of her head. "I love you Tay. As long as I have you, everything is already alright." she answered. We watched the stars travel across the sky for a long time in a contented silence.

TAYLOR: I could hear Jess' slow, even breathing that told me she had drifted off. I held her a few minutes longer and then decided to take her up to bed. I carefully untangled myself from her and slid the door open, then scooped her up and carried her inside. Her arms hung limp around my neck and her head lolled to the side, finally resting on my shoulder. I left the slider open, so I wouldn't wake her, and carried her up the stairs. I pulled the covers back as I set her gently down, then covered her, smiling as she snuggled down on her side and curled her fists into the covers, pulling them close to her face, like a little girl. I still wasn't sleepy so I went downstairs and shut the slider, locking it. I sat down at my piano, lifted the key cover and started to play. I played the same tune I had earlier, trying to make it work with what was in my head, hoping that we'd have more to work on while we were traveling. And it was screaming to get out, from my head to my fingers. Then suddenly I was yanked back to reality and the screaming I heard was that of my wife. I slammed the piano shut and ran up the stairs as fast as I could. When I got to the open doorway, she was sitting up in bed, but I could tell that she was not awake. She was crouched against the headboard, like she was trying to shrink into a corner, her hands over her ears. "STOOOOOOP!!! NOOOOO!!!! STOOOOP!!" she screamed, the sound of her childlike voice ripping my heart from my chest. She ducked her head down and screamed again. "STOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!" I ran to her side and tried to pull her into my arms, but she slid further back and made herself smaller. "Jessie...it's me...it's Tay..please.." I pleaded with her to wake up, wanting desperately to make the memories that had been stirred up by the sight of her father, the only one she had ever known at least, disappear again. She ducked her head down and screamed again, "NOOOOO!! NOOOO!!! STOOOP!!!" "JESSIE!!" I yelled and made her look at me. "LOOK AT ME!! WAKE UP BABY..please...IT'S ME.." I shook her hard once and then realized I shouldn't have when she took a swing at me. I ducked just in time and caught her arm. I spun her away from me and then put my arms around her, pinning her arms to her side as she continued to fight. Damn she was strong! I struggled to get up on the bed behind her, but when I did I rocked her slowly and murmured to her trying to comfort and wake her at the same time. "Jess..Jess..it's alright baby, it's alright...I'm here...no one's gonna hurt you..I promise..it's okay..." Her breathing finally slowed and she turned in my arms. "It's alright Jess.." I said softly. She looked into my eyes and, thank goodness, she knew who I was. Her eyes filled and her lips trembled as she continued to search my face. "It's alright baby.." I murmured, stroking her head, still rocking. "Tay..." she sobbed and buried her face in my neck, so I continued to rock her. I felt my shirt getting wet as heartbreaking sobs wracked her body, "Its okay baby...I'm here...nobody will hurt you.."  I whispered. "Tay...I'm sorry..." she choked. "I'm sorry.." "Jess why?" I asked angrily. "You didn't do anything wrong." "I almost hit you...I know I did. I'd never..." she sobbed again. "Shh shh..I know..I know..it's okay." I rocked her some more. "That was my fault, baby. I tried to shake you awake. I should know better. It's alright." "Tay.." she clung to me and raised her head to kiss my cheek. "I love you..." "I love you Jess..it's okay..you're alright now." I told her. relieved that she was back in reality and not that nightmare childhood. If this was what happened after one meeting I'd make sure she never laid eyes on him again.

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