A week later-

"Damn it, Evan! I told you to just stay out of it all and leave him alone! He's worthless, he is dangerous, he is dragging you into this mess and I don't need you in his mess!" Sarah yells as she paces around her kitchen.

After the wedding, Danny was constantly calling Evan.... he had a sense that Jessica moved and needed to know what was going on. He was becoming obsessive. Evan wanted to do everything in his power to help his best friend. Sarah didn't understand why he was helping Danny so much. She hated it. Mostly because Jessica was her best friend and she didn't want to risk her finding out about all of this.

"Sarah, I need to help him."

"You helped him! You got him into rehab and counseling. You are constantly out there trying to help him! He's a grown man, not a child! He can manage without you. But I can't! I need you here. I need you out of his life." Sarah shouts

"You can't ask me to do that. I'm all he has. If he takes his life, I won't be able to forgive myself because the whole time I'll know that I could have done more. Scarlett, Wyatt, and Jack wouldn't have a father." Evan says with sadness

"They won't no matter what! He doesn't care about them. He just wants Jessica."

"You know that's not true." Evan argues

"Oh it is! Does he ever ask about them?"

Evan goes quite and bows his head.

"Just let me talk to Jessica..." Evan pleas

"No! I'm not letting you! She's in a good place right now. Her and I are in a good place. I'm not going to have you fuck that up because Danny's sad." Sarah shouts

"She won't be mad at you for me helping him! She'll be mad at me!" Evan insists

"No! No! No! She'll be furious with me and you. Furious with me for letting you and not telling her! I swear to god, Evan.... if you go near her with this.... oh I swear." Sarah clenches her fists and grabs her purse.

"I'm leaving to go have lunch with Jessica. When I get back this house will be spotless since you've caused me so much grief." Sarah huffs

"I love you." He says, dropping the matter. He knew he wouldn't win and he knew nothing good would come out of him talking to Jessica.

"Ugh, I love you too." She says slamming the door behind her.

//-//

Sarah drives over to a diner to meet Jessica for lunch. It had been a while since it was just the two of them... so was excited yet flustered from her conversation with Evan. It had her on edge the whole ride over.

"You're early!" Sarah says as she sits down in the booth that Jessica was already at.

"Surprisingly, being early doesn't exist in motherhood except for today. I brought the little guy along with me." Jessica says as she picks up the blanket that covered Jack. He slept peacefully in his car seat.

"I don't mind at all. I'm just glad that you and I are together!"

"The twins are with my father, of course. He's their favorite. I think he's a good distraction for them... they never ask about Danny." Jessica says softly

"Maybe it's for the best that they don't. Have you spoken with him?" Sarah asks, as if she didn't already know the answer

Jessica shakes her head viciously "No, I cut all ties with him. But let's not talk about that!" Jessica smiles, brushing off the pain it caused her.

"The wedding, it was wonderful!" Sarah smiles

"I know! Gosh, I had so much fun! Those losers are in Aruba now." Jessica rolls her eyes and chuckles

"You and I one day. I promise!"

"I'll hold you to it. Maybe when all my kids graduate and get married." Jessica smiles

"Of course.... anyways, you and Sam getting it on at the wedding? I saw him dancing with you and playing around with the twins. I have to say, it was adorable." Sarah smiles and winks

"Not really... he's just a great guy. A really good friend. He's tried calling me, but I get the butterflies when I think of calling back!" Jessica blushes

"Call! Date! Something! I know when he left for the marines I steered you away and I feel so guilty for that after all the things Danny did. But please, think about it. You and Sam have chemistry." Sarah says

Sarah was team No Danny while Evan was team Danny. So, Sarah was doing everything in her power to distance Jessica from team Danny.

"Dating is the least of my worries. Besides, he's been calling about our possible future business. He would never date me again. Not after all the hell that happened." She sighs

"I think he might want to be more than business partners. You and Sam have always been so great together. Dating back all the way back to elementary, middle, and high school."

"We are childhood, life long, buddies. Nothing more." She says sternly

//-//

Junior Year-

It was a Friday night. The football game was just finished. The student section spread out all over town for good eats. Sarah, her boyfriend Tim, Jessica and her best friend Sam all went out to a diner not too far from the high school.

"When will y'all start dating so we can finally call this a double date?" Sarah says as her and her boyfriend share a shake

Jessica rolls her eyes and laughs awkwardly and Sam sits there waiting for a response for Jessica. Her and Sam were best friends since the day they sat next to each other in kindergarten. He was madly in love with her, but she never showed interest. She always thought of them as friends.

"Sarah..." Jessica says

"Just friends." Sam says, casually agreeing with her

When Jessica heard that it broke her heart. She was so in love with Sam... but waited years for him to make the move.

"Well, I think we're going to cut this date short. All the freshman are rolling in. You two good here without us?" Tim says standing up with Sarah

"Yeah. We're good." Sam says

"Go get em!" Tim whispers in Sam's ear as they run off

Sam turns to Jessica and sighs. "ugh. I'm getting tired of them as a couple." Sam chuckles

"Me too... Sarah can do better." Jessica says harshly

"Does it bother you when she talks about us dating?" Sam asks

Jessica shrugs her shoulders "No... you?"

"No... I feel like people are waiting."

"Waiting? For what?"

"For me to ask you out." He blurts

Jessica pauses "Do you?"

"Do I What?"

"What to ask me out?" she asks

Sam's heart starts to race. He doesn't know what to say... he goes with his gut.

"Maybe."

"Me too." She whispers

"Really?" He asks happily

"Can this be it?" She chuckles

"Yeah! Let's call this our first date." Sam smiles

"That was quick and painless." Jessica grins

"You don't know how long I've been wanting to do that... it didn't really play out how I'd imagine it, but that's fine." He chuckles

//-//

When Jessica was driving back home from lunch with Sarah she couldn't get Sam off her mind. Ever since the wedding, all she wanted to do was dance with him again and be in his arms. She hated wanting something like that so badly. Jessica needed to face that her an Sam were over. She was unfaithful and he was too... she needed to face that they went their separate ways.

But, then Jessica thought about working with Sam. All she ever wanted to do was have a business of her own. Sam was giving her the perfect opportunity to do so. Now, it was just time for Jessica to think about being ready to work again.

When she got home she decided to talk with her parents.

"Mom, dad... can I talk to you?" Jessica says walking in with the baby

"Of course! Come sit!" Dorthy says

"How's the little guy, today?" Albert asks as He opens his arms for him.

"He's very sleepy. Aren't you little guy? Poor jack is tired of being around mommy all day! He's all smiles now that he's in grandpas arms." Jessica smiles as she watches Jack light up

"He's kicking! Look at him kick!" Albert chuckles

"What a happy baby boy!" Dorthy smiles as Jessica sits down next to her

"So what's going on?" Albert asks

Jessica sighs "I think I need to get back to work."

"So soon?" Dorthy asks

Jessica nods "Well, I would be home a lot the first few months. I think I'm going to go into business with Sam. A construction and interior design business." Jessica says nervously

"I think that's great. I'd like to help you too. I have experience when it comes to building up a business. In a town like this, it may be hard." Albert says

"Jess, are you sure? I know we talked about this before.... I just don't want you getting screwed over or something happening." Dorthy says

"I am sure... I think.... I wanted to talk to you two about it first."

"It will be a lot and can be risky when you place investments and what not. But you and Sam are smart cookies." Albert smiles

"I need this for myself. A project... I've been antsy. Besides, I'm a single mom now, I need to make a living and soon find a place of my own so you two can have your space again." Jessica chuckles

"There is no rush, honey. We love having you all here and we will help you no matter what!"

"Thankfully Scarlett and Wyatt are in that day program so it will make things a bit easier when you're gone. I'll still be home with the baby. He'll be my little partner."

"I think you need this too.... I want this for you. Go for it." Albert smiles

Jessica stands up and gives her mother then her father a big hug.

"Thank you guys for being so supportive and helping me these last few months." Jessica starts to cry

"Aww, sweetie. You deserve this... you're such a wonderful girl. You're so smart and beautiful. Most of all, a wonderful mother." Dorthy says happily

"I just want to do everything in my power to give my children the best life." She says leaving a small kiss on Jack's forehead.

//-//

After lots of thinking Jessica finally decided that she wanted to make her and Sam's partnership official. She tried calling him numerous times to try to meet up with him, but he didn't answer or call back. That made Jessica a little nervous. Maybe he was mad that she wasn't answering and was giving her the silent treatment? She had no idea. So many thoughts were going through her head.

Instead of worrying about Sam, Jessica sat upstairs with her three children. Dorthy and Albert were out for the night so Jessica made the twins their dinner and relaxed for the night. When it was close to bed time Jessica put in a movie. They all cuddled together in Jessica's bed.

The room was dead silent until baby Jack sneezed. It startled Wyatt and Scarlett.

"Uh oh!" Wyatt says

"He just had a little sneeze." Jessica says picking him up to wipe his face.

"Aww, baby Jack!" Scarlett says rubbing his head

"You're such a good big sister, huh?" Jessica smiles

"Yeah! Can I hold?" She asks

Jessica smiles and puts pillows around Scarlett then slowly places baby Jack in his big sisters arms.

"That's cute! Look at you! Wyatt, get in there and cuddle." Jessica says pulling out her phone

"I love them, mama!" Wyatt says hugging his sister

"I love you! My three babies are so cute!"

"He laughin'" Scarlett says

"Jack? Do you have a case of the giggles?" Jessica smiles

"Peek boo!" Wyatt says, attempting to
Play peek-a-boo with Jack

Jack loved Scarlett and Wyatt. He was all smiles when they played with him.

Jessica felt so unbelievably lucky as she watched her children play and giggle with each other. The three of them were so happy. She was so proud of Scarlett and Wyatt and what great big siblings they were. They had been adapting so well to having Jack around and were so well behaved.

"Mommy, I'm ty-ty." Scarlett says

Jessica takes Jack from her and smiles. "I think everyone is... let's close our eyes." She says, letting the twins close their eyes.

//-//

Around nine everyone was finally asleep. This gave Jessica the opportunity to go downstairs and clean up the kitchen and living room.

Her parents were still out with friends so she was alone downstairs. After lots of cleaning Jessica decided to catch up on some tv series. As she cuddled up on the couch she was distributed by a knock on the door.

Jessica panicked at first, scared of who would be here so late.

She slowly walks up to the door and opens in slowly. Thankfully it was only Sam.

"Sam?" Jessica says

"I saw that you called a bunch of times. I tried calling back and you didn't answer. I was driving around so I thought I'd stop by and see if everything was okay." He says stepping in

Jessica closes the door behind him and chuckles. "I called a lot, didn't I?"

"I haven't had that many missed calls from you since the time someone broke in our old apartment."

"Oh! Well everything is fine here! I just wanted to get together to talk to you about something."

"What would that be?"

"Yes." She says

"Yes?" He says in confusion

"Yes..."

Sam starts to laugh. "Yes what?"

"Yes, I will be your business partner." She says with the biggest smile

Sam was taken back at first. He was shocked that Jessica actually agreed.

"Wait? Really? You'll go into business with me?"

"Yes!" She says jumping in the air

Sam was beyond excited. Without thinking he picked up Jessica and spun her around. She chuckled loudly and held onto him.

When he put her down they stared into each other's eyes.

"You said yes." He whispers

"I did." She says softly as he holds keeps his hands wrapped around her.

//-//