Twenty Years Ago-

At the age of twenty-three, after months of living in Paris, Jessica was settling into her new home in New York City. She had just signed her first acting contract and was expecting to be working soon.

After leaving home at eighteen, Jessica traveled the world and met amazing people. For so long she had no idea where she wanted to go in life. While is laris she focused on her art studies. She took acting classes and modeled.

When it was time to move back home, she decided instead of living in Minnesota she would go to New York. Not only was it one of the biggest risks she's ever taken, but it felt right.

With only fifty dollars to her name she worked her way up in New York. She continued to model as well as work at a bar down the street from her apartment.

Within a few months time she built a name and starred in her first movie- King Kong.

It was her biggest accomplishment yet, but there was still so much more to come.

Before Jessica landed herself her own apartment, she was couch surfing and living with different people. During that time she met a man who made her fall to her knees.

He was everything she had ever wanted. Within months she was madly in love with him. He as well was an actor and very serious about his work. It was one of the main things they had in common. Coming from nothing to something was a big deal... they both had the hard working mindset.

After spending much time together, he was sent to the UK for a film. Once he was gone, Jessica lost all contact. Her love story quickly came to an end.

The life that Jessica picked came with a lot of uncertainty. She was competing against many other talented and young actors and actress just like herself. Nothing could come in her way. Not even love.

The heartbreak of him leaving became unbearable for Jessica. She kept herself busy in her work and stayed distracted when she would come home to an empty apartment.

As for family, no one in Jessica's family really approved of her decision to move away. She was always different from everyone else in her family. They all wanted to stay in Minnesota but Jessica knew Minnesota wasn't for her.

With little to no contact from home Jessica found herself in a position where all she needed was family.

A month after who she thought was the love of her life left, she found herself pregnant.

Pregnancy was the last thing that Jessica wanted. She was young, her career was just starting, and she was all alone in New York. Raising this baby was not an option for Jessica. She needed her mother to guide her into the right direction.

//-//

In eight months, Jessica had to be in Hollywood for three months working on a new movie. She needed a comeback from King Kong and this was her first chance to do so. There was no way she could rebuild her career with a child.

Jessica took the next flight out to Minnesota without notifying her family. She couldn't wait another minute to hide from everyone in New York. Nobody could no that she was pregnant, especially if she had no plan of keeping this baby for herself.

Within the blink of an eye, Jessica found herself at her parents front door. For the first time since she turned eighteen she was going to see them.

With her suitcase in one hand and the other free, she knocked on the door.

Within seconds Dorthy answers. Albert walks up behind her and they both stand there in shock.

Jessica didn't even have to say a word. Her mother just held her and cried.

"Jessie... you're home." Dorthy cries

Jessica's eyes start to flood. She looks at her parents with sad eyes. "I need your help..." she utters

Though Jessica caused her family a lot of pain when she left home, they were never going to stop loving or caring for her. She needed help and they were going to be there for her.

Jessica explained everything to them. She told them about the baby's father. How he is gone and Jessica hasn't spoken to him. He just got up and left her. She never wanted him or anyone else to know.

Jessica had to make the hard decision of what her next step would be. After lots of consideration, Jessica decided to have to baby.

For a while Jessica had to decide what would happen after she had the baby. Adoption would be the obvious choice, but Dorthy insisted on keeping the baby in the family.

Looking back now, the decision was selfish, but Jessica agreed that the baby would live with her parents and grow up in the family without ever knowing that Jessica was her mother.

Dorthy promised Jessica she would have everything taken care of. Jessica didn't want to be a mother or have kids. She believed she wasn't cut out for it. She was still a selfish twenty-three year old who had her whole life planned out. She could not give up now. After all she had been through, she wasn't ready to throw it all away.

She had so much resentment towards the baby's father as well. She was heart broken. He left a hole in her heart that could never be fixed. She knew when she saw her baby, it would be a constant reminder of him, what they had, and how he just left her without another word.

//-//

November;

Over the next seven months Jessica's family helped her get ready to bring a baby into the world. It was one of the hardest things Jessica had to do. Carrying a baby that she didn't want on top of all the pregnancy symptoms and simply just wanting to work again.

"How are you feeling?" Dorthy says coming into Jessica's old room to bring her some food.

Jessica was very depressed and never came out of her room. She hated being home and all the attention that she got. Everyone was excited for this baby expect for her.

"My back is still hurting..." she says softly

"Why don't I give you a back massage? Maybe that will help?" Dorthy says calmly

"I'm fine..." Jessica says softly

"I don't mind, honey-" .... "I just want you to be comfortable." Dorthy smiles

"Why are you doing all of this for me?" Jessica asks "I hurt you and dad so bad when I left home... why did you just let me back in?" Jessica cries

"My love for you will never end, Jessica. That is the past and this is the present. I just want you to know that I'm here for you."

Jessica was going through a hard time and Dorthy could read Jessica like a book. She was lost right now. Even Dorthy knew Jessica wasn't ready to be a mother. She could see it in her eyes. She just tried her best to support her and make her feel as comfortable as possible. The hardest part was knowing after the baby was born, Dorthy and Albert didn't know when they'd see their daughter again.

After four years without seeing Jessica and now seeing her in this position, she has changed a lot. She is no longer the happy girl that she once was. Jessica has since built walls around her. She didn't let anyone in anymore. She kept everything bottled up. Dorthy and Albert were concerned for Jessica. With their influence she kept the baby. They were worried that now everything would just be more complicated.

"I really loved him..." Jessica says referring to the baby's father

"What is his name?" Dorthy asks

Jessica didn't speak a word about the baby's father. It was too painful for her.

"It doesn't matter. He left without telling me and never reached out again. I thought I'd be with him forever."

//-//

November 16th;

Today was the day that Jessica was going to have her baby. With the least amount of interest in this pregnancy, Jessica was still scared and very emotional.

She kept asking herself if what she was doing wrong? Handing her baby off to her eldest sister and only being known as "aunt Jessica" instead of "mom" to this baby. With the least amount of people knowing, nobody had a doubt that this would turn bad in the end.

Ann planned to raise the baby as her own and legally adopt her. With the pressure to go through with the pregnancy, Jessica carried around a lot of resentment. This isn't what she wanted. She didn't want a baby being brought into this world. But it was far too late now. Jessica couldn't bare taking this opportunity away from her sister and giving the baby to someone else.

Part of Jessica was almost happy that she'd still get to see her baby grow up, but from a distance.

She knew that when it was time to film her new movie she'd be distracted and things would go back to the way they started.

It was early in the morning. Jessica and her family were at the hospital all night waiting for the baby.

Jessica was in lots of pain and discomfort. Every contraction felt worst than the last. It got harder and harder as the hours went by. Jessica's mother and sister were there for every moment and didn't leave her side.

"This hurts so bad..." Jessica whines as another contraction hits

"It will go by fast, Jessie. You're almost there." Dorthy says moving her hair out of her face

"You're doing really good." Ann says taking her hand

Through everything, Ann and Jessica had an unbreakable bond. A few years ago Ann found out that she was unable to have children. Her ex husband had left her because of this. Jessica knew that letting Ann raise the baby would be the best option. Ann would be this baby's mother.

"I want it to be over." She moans

"The doctor said a few more hours. I know you can do it. You're so strong, Jess."

Ann holds onto Jessica's hand and looks into her tear filled eyes. She could see how scared Jessica was. It was written all over her face. For nine months she had been waiting for this and it was finally here.

Three hours later;

Things moved very quickly. Jessica progressed much faster than expected. Doctors and nurses began to pile up in the room. One nurse helped Jessica get in the right position and made sure she was comfortable. The other nurses prepped everything for the baby and the doctor got ready for everything to begin.

"Okay Jessica. It looks like your baby is ready. How do you feel?" He asks

"I feel a lot of things right now." She cries

"Don't worry, the baby will be in your arms soon."

Jessica shakes her head and corrects him. "The baby is going to it's mother.... Her." She says looking at her sister

The doctor nods

"Jessica. Are you sure?"

"It's an important moment for a mother and baby. Yes." She says

That was the first time it really hit her. She really was "giving her baby away". Jessica felt so guilty for not wanting this baby. Deep down she knew it would be best.

//-//

"I just need a few more big pushes. Baby is almost here!" The doctor says

"You've got this, Jessica. Just a few more." Dorthy says holding back her one leg

"I don't think I can... it really hurts mom... please make it stop." Jessica bawls

"I know sweetie. Im so sorry. It's almost over." Dorthy whispers

"Okay, here we go. One last push!"

Within the next ten minutes the baby was finally here.

"It's a girl!" The doctor shouts

Dorthy and Ann become very emotional. The baby gets handed to Ann immediately, but Dorthy stays by Jessica's side. She noticed that Jessica's tears were falling down faster after she caught a glimpse of Ann with her baby girl.

"You did so good, Jessica..."

"It's finally over." She whispers to herself