JESSIE: Dave and I got into the suite he, Jake and I were sharing and were stunned to see Jake sitting there in the dark, with about six or seven empty beer bottles in front of him. He was working quickly on the one in his hand and I immediately went to his side. "Jakey? What's wrong?" I asked softly. The TV was on, but with the volume off, and he turned his head slowly to look at me. "Oh god, Jakey.." I gasped and sat down next to him, then looked up at Dave, "Dave? Do you mind?" I asked softly. "Not at all Jess. I'll go watch the game in the bar downstairs. Call if you need me.." he said and slipped back out the door. "Jakey? What happened?" I stroked his short hair back, wishing with all of me I could take the pained look off his face and heal what had to be his broken heart. "Jacob, talk to me.." I urged, stroking is cheek. "What's there to talk about?" he choked. "She said no." A tear slipped down his cheek and my heart shattered into  million pieces for him. "Oh Jacob. I'm so sorry... " I told him and threw my arms around him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and took a deep shuddering breath, burying his face in my neck. "Jakey.." I choked out and rocked him as he began to sob silently, his tears dropping onto my neck. Tears poured down my own cheeks as I cried for my brother, who worked so hard to make sure everyone else was happy and taken care of, whose heart was torn to shreds. When his sobs quieted and he was shaking less, he pulled slightly away and wiped his face. "Jakey, WHY?" I asked confused. "Did she say why?" I knew Abbey loved my brother more than anything and I couldn't figure out why she'd turn down a marraige proposal from him. "She knows I wanted to have children, Jessie. A ton of 'em.." he began. Of course she did, we all did. He wanted to have a whole army of kids, because he felt like he'd been cheated, out of me, and any other chance he had at a REAL family, because of our mother's selfishness. I had to admit, I was terrified of becoming a mother, for all the same reasons, but I had Taylor. "Jacob, we ALL know that. So why did it matter enough for her to..?" I didn't know how to finish the question."She LOVES you.." I said, still floored. "She can't. She's physically UNABLE, Jess. She just recently found out." he said and covered his face in his hands. "Oh Jakey. I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say...I mean...there are plenty of other options.." I said lamely, not knowing how ot ease my brother's pain. "I TRIED, Jess. I tried to get her to talk more about it...I TOLD her it didn't matter if the children came from her body, or we adopted, or we decided just to NOT have any. I don't care, Jess...I've been sitting here all night going over it in my head and I DON'T CARE. I just want Abbey to marry me..." tears streamed down his cheeks and I threw my arms around him again. "I love her so much Jess.." he said into my neck. "I know Jakey. I know...it'll work out. Just give her some time, she'll miss you. She LOVES you. I know she does. It'll be alright Jake. I promise. It'll be alright.." I soothed as I rocked him, tears streaming down my own face again. I was completely floored, and unable to figure out how to handle my usually, strong, in control, unfazeable brother when he was reduced to tears and shaking. We cried together a while longer and then Jake laid his head in my lap as we watched TV in silence. I was not about to leave his side, not when he never left mine when I needed him. I watched TV and stroked his hair, until he finally fell asleep, spent from drinking and crying.

JESSIE: Dave came back in a while later, and shook his head at the scene before him. I wasn't even sure if I knew jake was only sleeping, or passed out. "Everything alright, now?" Dave asked, knowing the answer. I shook my head. "She said no." I told him quietly and he looked sad. "He'll be okay by morning, Dave." I said keeping my voice low. "He'll get up, put on his game face like he always does, and throw himself into work..." I sighed. "We're alright. Go ahead and get some sleep. I'm gonna stay here with him for a while." I said. "Okay.." he patted the top of my head. "Tay call yet?" he asked and I shook my head. "Here ya go, Jess.." he grinned and set my phone close enough that I could reach it without getting up. "Thanks. " I whispered. He gave me a wave and closed the door to his room. I sat with Jacob's head in my lap and watched TV until my eyes were hollow sockets in my head. I was starting to drift off when my cell phone startled me awake. I quickly flipped it open so it wouldn't wake Jake. "Hello?" I said softly, then sniffled. "Jessie? Baby what's wrong? Are you okay?" Taylor's concerned voice came through the phone. "Yeah..I'M okay.." I said and gently removed myself from the couch without waking my exhausted brother. "What IS it, Jess? You're crying.." Taylor asked worried. "I know, Tay. I can't help it, but it's not me, it's Jake.." I wiped my cheeks quickly and sniffled again. "Jake? Jessie what happened is he alright, he's not hurt is he?" Tay asked quickly. "Not physically, no." I said. "He asked Abbey to marry him tonight." I sniffled again. "AND? Jess...I'm going crazy, why are you crying?" he demanded gently. "She turned him down, Tay." I answered. "I had dinner with Drew and Dave and when we came back here Jake was already drunk and..." I wiped my eyes again. "I dunno what to do, Tay. I've never seen him like this." I sobbed. "He's always so.." I trailed off. "In control?" Tay asked. "Yeah.." I agreed. "She can't have kids, Tay. That's what she said...the reason she gave him.." I said softly. "Damn.." Tay exclaimed, sympathetically. "And I think he actually wanted more kids than I do.." he said. I had to smile. "Probably." I told him. "But why should that be a reason to stay apart? They love each other...Jake's a wreck.." I sniffled. "Jess. She's probably feeling just as bad. She wants kids too. Think about how she acts with Mac and Zoe. They'll get through it. They just need time." he said and I sighed. "I know. But seeing Jake like this...I dunno if I can handle it, Tay." I told him. "You can and you are." he said. "I'm pretty sure you haven't let him out of your sight since you got in, right." I could picture his smile on the other end of the line. "I guess not." I said and grinned. "It'll be okay, Jess. It will. So? How was dinner?" he asked, and I smiled. We talked a long time and he told me about what he was doing and thing that weren't important at all, just to hear the sound of our voices, until we both yawned, then chuckled at the same time. "You better go get some sleep, baby." he told me softly. "I'll try. You rest too." I said. "I'll try.." he mimicked me. "Smart ass.." I chuckled. "I miss you, Tay." I told him. "I miss you, too, baby." he sighed. "Only two more weeks Tay." I said. "Two. That's all. I can't wait to see you.." I told him. "Me either, Jess. Nights are so long.." he breathed. "I know baby. Can't wait to hold you.." I answered. "Dream about me, Jessie.." he whispered. "You know I will...dream about me." I said. "I always do." he sighed. "Goodnight baby. I love you." "I love you more than anything, Taylor Hanson. Sweet dreams." I said. "Sweet dreams Jess." I flipped my phone shut, and settled myself to sleep in the recliner, only two steps from my brother.

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