Oh Oh I Like This

Oh… oh I like this…

Ok so I dont write fanfic but I came up with a really good idea and would love someone to write it. So basically the reader is 9 months pregnant with JJ’s baby. When the pogues go on the plane to save big John the reader has to stay in obx bc of the pregnancy. While they’re gone she goes into labour and the only person she can call is her former best friend Rafe Cameron. Rafe drops what he’s doing in a heart beat to go help her. Time skip where reader finds out that JJ cheated with Kiara and in the end she ends up dating Rafe. Ik that was a lot but this would be such a good read. If anyone would write this lmk!!

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 38

"I can't believe we're actually doing this." Jessie seethed as she walked through Tanneyhill with Rafe in tow to pack up their belongings.

"I know, Jess, but... this matters to them, so it needs to matter to us." Rafe explained with pleading eyes as he followed Jessie around aimlessly, now going into the immaculate dining room. It was still clad with the fine china, Jessie wondered if that long dark table was ever not set for a dinner party of 12.

"Since when do you care about the pogues, huh? What happened to the Rafe the pogues talked about? The Rafe that was only out for himself? The Rafe with a back bone, huh?"Jessie spat as she turned to look at Rafe.

Rafe's facial expressions shifted from one of desperation to one that was unreadable. Jessie knew that expression well. After all, she knew how to get under his skin better than anybody else.

It was clear Rafe was trying to collect himself, and he was grateful Charley and the pogues were not in the room with them, although he still had every reason to try and keep his cool. Rafe clinched his firsts, broadened his chest as he took a deep breath, and pursed his lips.

"You don't mean that." Rafe simply stated with sharp eyes. The accusation hurt of course, but Rafe was more pissed off than anything in that moment.

"No, I think I do. Because although in high school you turned into a rude, condescending, strung out coke addict who hated everyone and everything, at least you had a spine! You're seriously just going to follow the pogues around like a lost puppy? You have a business, an empire, a family and you're just gonna-" Jessie couldn't continue her rant for the impending fist she watched hurl into the wall. The memory of that fateful night played in her head, and although this time Rafe didn't punch the wall inches beside Jessie's head, the feeling was the exact same: fear and disbelief.

Rafe took his hand out of the wall, watching the drywall fall the ground and the dust fly up in the air as he took a breath. He looked back over at Jessie, who had taken a step or two back from Rafe through now labored breaths. Rafe could see the fear on her face, the same look he tried so hard to erase from his memory years ago. He wanted to apologize immediately, to beg on his knees for Jessie to forget what he just did out of anger. Instead, he continued to try and prove a point. He was done being insulted, even if it was coming from Jessie. His dad never raised him to be spineless, and that's not what this situation was, and Rafe was going to prove that.

Rafe walked over to Jessie, still trying to catch his breath. Jessie's steps backwards from him only pushed her up against the wall, Rafe happily pinning her in between himself and the sage green wallpaper. Rafe grabbed Jessie's jaw with his hands and squeezed ever so slightly to get her attention. He was waging a war in his mind, half of him absolutely gutted that he was making her so scared, yet half of him feeling like this was necessary to get the point across. The room went quiet except for their labored breaths, then finally Rafe spoke through a whisper.

"What I am doing is not weakness. What I am doing is tactical, for you, and for Charley. We have strength in numbers, and strength in allies, and without the pogues we have none of that. Yes, I have a business and we have money but all that means nothing if Rose finds me." Rafe seethed, a stray tear rolling down his cheek. "You haven't seen the Rafe I was after you left. And you better thank God you won't. This isn't the Rafe you think you want to see. I'm trying to protect us, Jessie." Rafe choked out, still balancing the perfect act of terror and trembling.

Rafe knew there was a risk in reacting the way that he did, he knew Jessie scared easily, and she could just as easily pack up her things and leave all over again, but he also trusted that she would believe him, at least he hoped so anyways. Rafe finally let go of Jessie's face and backed away from her. Jessie was still frozen in fear on the wall, however, her fear suddenly turned into a much more serious face, one of anger.

Unfortunately, Jessie understood damn well what Rafe was talking about, she just needed to hear him say it. But did he have to get so physical? Jessie was positive he didn't. She felt her fight or flight mode activate the second Rafe took his hand off of her, and she felt the all too familiar feeling of wanting to flea from the trouble, just like she had done with her dad, and just like she had done with Rafe four years ago. But Jessie thought maybe she shouldn't have laid into him like she did. That was the thing about Rafe and Jessie, they were so similar that they knew exactly how to push each other's buttons, to a point of lethal toxicity to one another if left unchecked like in a moment just like this. Their whole relationship was always a dance of both of them holding the match that could set the two of them ablaze with either love or hate. They'd be lying if they didn't say they each had abused that power a time or two in the past, and this moment was certainly no exception.

"You know what's worse than the regret of leaving?" Jessie whispered with a cold sadness behind her eyes.

Rafe just looked at Jessie with an inquisitive look, imploring her to go on. Jessie being so unpredictable in situations like these always had Rafe hanging on her every word.

"The regret of staying." Jessie answered her own question, this time with a harshness to her voice.

Rafe's face fell, as he knew exactly what she meant. Jessie took the opportunity to do what she does best and capitalize on the fact that Rafe was maimed by his emotions. Jessie slowly walked closer to Rafe, her face eventually only mere inches from his as she looked into his eyes with a fierceness he hadn't seen since she first walked into that house in the Bahamas. Much like their first reunion, Jessie was on a mission to send a message.

"Don't make me regret staying." Jessie growled. Rafe swallowed the lump in his throat and managed to nod his head showing he agreed. Words were clearly too hard for him in the moment.

Jessie was still a Maybank through and through, and she'd be damned if she let any man scare her into or out of anything. Despite Rafe's explosion, Jessie still made sure she was in control, she had to, she had a daughter wrapped up in this. But who was she kidding, she was hopelessly devoted to Rafe no matter how much he did to her, and the same could be said of Rafe. They were loyal to each other to a fault, and although they might not have been together physically for the past four years, they were still always one in their hearts. 

With nothing else needing to be said, Jessie darted her eyes towards the door and escorted herself out of the room with a noticeable strut, leaving Rafe to collect his thoughts.

Rafe wanted to make things right, his first instinct was to follow Jessie and profusely apologize, but he knew she wasn't ready for that. Jessie had a stellar fight and flight response and he knew that she was acting rather flighty right now, so he better not push it.

Jessie made her way up the stairs, taking a glance at John B, JJ, and Pope all entertaining Charley on the front lawn, at least that's what Charley thought it was. Really, the boys were clearly out there to keep watch, but somebody had to watch Charley right? They had all played around with the idea of someone staying behind at the Chat with the toddler for safety, but they all knew that would probably keep them even more compromised if they didn't stay together, so, to everyone's behest, Charley was brought back to Tanneyhill with them only for a moment long enough to grab the necessities.

As Jessie walked down the upstairs hallway towards Rafe's room, she caught Sarah in her old room out of the corner of her eye. Jessie noticed she was packing a few things of her own, what looked to be like clothes and such, but she noticed she had moved onto her small cork board over her desk, the board held many different pictures that she was taking down.

Jessie slowly tiptoed into the room, careful not to intrude or startle the blonde as she knocked on the door. Sarah's head swung around and she looked sad.

"Come in." She simply said. Jessie managed a sympathetic look.

"Whatcha lookin at?" Jessie asked, amazingly being able to hide the fact that she was still on edge from the enormous fight she just had with Sarah's brother right under her feet.

"Just some pictures..." Sarah trailed off as she handed one of the pictures over to Jessie. Jessie held in her hands a photo of Rafe and Sarah when they were 16 and 14, Rafe's arms wrapped around Sarah as she was smiling.

"How times have changed right?" Sarah chuckled.

"You have no idea." Jessie said sarcastically with a slight laugh.

A hush came between them as neither one of them could think what to say next. Finally Sarah thought of something.

"You're the only one that can fix him, Jess."

That statement made Jessie's mind race with emotions and words that she couldn't say.

"Actually, Sarah, I think I'm the one that broke him." Jessie admitted as she looked at Sarah with tears in her eyes. Sarah had never seen Jessie so vulnerable, it was a little weird to her but she played it off.

"Jessie... he was broken long before you ever came into the picture." Sarah replied barely above a whisper. The idea that Jessie carried that weight on her shoulders broke Sarah's heart, and although she knew what Jessie meant, she still didn't believe it to be totally true. "Dad put way too much pressure on him from a very early age, he was always striving and never received love because dad never thought he was good enough. I know he's told you this. You're the one that set him free from that."

"And he just exchanged one vice for another. Instead of fighting for Wards love he ended up fighting for mine, and now look where we are." Jessie said, irritated with herself as she numbly looked at the cork board in front of her.

"Jessie, nobody's blaming you for doing what you did, not even Rafe. He just needs someone to stick around... for once."

Jessie couldn't respond to that, she didn't know how. Sarah just didn't even know the half of it, and that's what Jessie had to keep repeating over and over in her head. Sarah could see she had struck a nerve and she looked down at the pictures.

"I can't imagine what you and Rafe have gone through, and the decisions you've had to make, but you know Rafe better than anyone else, and I think you're the only one that can truly tell if he's genuinely trying, you're the only one that can see he's just a work in progress."

Maybe I'm tired of projects Jessie couldn't help but think to herself. Instead, she opted to give Sarah a slight smile of understanding and nod her head. She was trying to take Sarah's words into consideration, but she couldn't help but feel responsible for Rafe's behavior in more ways than one. It was one thing to be volatile while strung out, drunk, and high... but Rafe was stone cold sober downstairs.

"I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes, just gotta grab our stuff from Rafe's room."

Jessie made her way down the hall and to the familiar gray and navy blue room, the bed still unmade from where Charley slept the night before. The glass of water still by their bed for when the toddler got thirsty. The diamond ring still on the dresser from where Jessie had taken it off before making snacks for everyone that evening.

Jessie walked over to the bed and began to grab the stuffed animals from the middle of it. As she grabbed the covers to pull them to their rightful place she saw her husband appear in the doorway with his head hung low and a face that showed he was trying to gauge what to say or if to say anything at all. Jessie gave him a glance but quickly went back to making the bed. Rafe met her on the opposite side and began to help her fold the duvet over, eventually grabbing the king size pillows and fluffing them and laying them on the bed just how Jessie liked. Jessie didn't argue, she just let him help, and Rafe was grateful for that.

"I'm sorry." Rafe choked out, his voice already shattered from the weight of the tension in the room. Jessie took a deep breath and looked at Rafe, genuinely at a loss for words, whether that was from anger, sadness, confusion, or all of the above, neither of them knew. Jessie exhaled and walked over to the opposite side of the bed where Rafe was. Jessie stopped in front of Rafe and looked behind him, Rafe wasn't quite sure why but gave her an inquisitive look.

"I need in the closet." Jessie said shortly and with a tinge of annoyance in her voice. Rafe just quickly moved to the side, not wanting to take up anymore space and annoy Jessie. His wife made her way into the walk in closet, finding the suitcases still opened and rummaged through. She began to straighten them up as she heard Rafe speak up again behind her.

"Jessie..." Rafe sighed. "I know... what I did back there was wrong... and I..." Rafe couldn't hardly get the words out without crying. Jessie didn't dare look at him, she couldn't, she knew she would break, and now was not the time. "I- I'm trying... to get better. And with last night with my dad, and this morning you just not trusting me it was all a perfect storm... and I'm-" Rafe paused to swallow the lump in his throat to get through his next sentence without bursting into sobs. "I know it's not an excuse but I need you to understand where my head is at and I'm just.... I'm sorry. Please don't leave me again."

Again. The word stung way more than Jessie anticipated. It made Jessie wonder if he reacted this way the first time she left. Rafe didn't have to wonder, he couldn't forget what happened to him after she left if he tried.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 25

Jessie got off the plane, somehow hoping to see Rafe there. She knew it would be impossible. He didn't even know where she lived. She quickly put the thought out of her head.

Jessie hailed a cab and actually felt a new excitement as she thought about seeing her daughter again. It had barely been a week and yet it felt like a lifetime. The texts and calls and pictures from Mama and Tom were great, but nothing compared to being with Charlotte face to face. Jessie couldn't wait to see her.

What felt like hours later and Jessie was finally back at her apartment complex. She figured she better stop at her apartment first and put away her luggage before she grabbed Charlotte. As excited as she was to see her, she knew it'd be easier.

As Jessie turned the key to the ugly wooden door, she couldn't help but wish once again that Rafe would somehow come running down that hall yelling her name. She was beginning to annoy herself with those thoughts, would she ever just let it go? She wasn't so sure this time.

Jessie sighed and shook her head, trying to forget. She turned the key and walked through her door and immediately put her luggage by the door, feeling mentally and physically exhausted. She was about to take the first step to her bedroom upstairs when the sight before her stunned her.

"Rafe?" Jessie whispered with wide eyes and deep confusion. There stood Rafe, clad in a black polo shirt and jeans sitting at her small wooden dining room table playing with the ring she remembered so well. He looked up at her with a calm in his eyes she hadn't seen in years. He looked laser focused, and not out of chaos. He seemed very sober minded. Rafe looked at Jessie dead on with remorse evident in his face. He got up from the table and slowly walked to Jessie, trying to keep himself together. Jessie was doing the same.

"I heard your conversation with JJ the other night. I was going to come talk to you but just ended up listening through the door. It wasn't easy but I found you... it helped that I could legally prove that I was your husband." Rafe chuckled. Jessie couldn't help but return the joke with a slight laugh despite her confusion.

"I already lost you once because I couldn't get my shit together." Rafe hummed as he took Jessie's hands in his and held them gently. "And I swore to myself that if I ever got another chance to be with you... if I ever even saw you again that I would get clean." Rafe sniffled as his lips quivered. Jessie could tell this was hard for Rafe, as his eyes were clearly searching for reassurance. Jessie wiped his tears to show him she was there and she was listening intently... and she believed him.

Rafe looked down to collect his thoughts. "The moment you walked into that house in the Bahamas I didn't touch anymore coke. And even after you left I couldn't bring myself to break that promise. I'll be damned if I let you get away again, Jess." Rafe reiterated through tears.

"I can't lose you again. I love you too much." Rafe finally choked out through sobs. Jessie had tears rolling down her face at this point as well. All she could do was take Rafe's face in her hands with as much tender love and care as she could convey.

"I love you too, Rafe. I never stopped." Jessie replied.

"One of my biggest regrets is that I never got to tell you this before you left but... Jessie, I'm sorry." Rafe said as he played with the skin of his lips. Jessie couldn't control her cries as she brought his face closer to hers.

"I'm sorry too, Rafe."

Rafe and Jessie both stood in each others embrace, sobbing into the other knowing that everything was going to be okay. Rafe finally grabbed Jessie's face and pulled her in for a kiss they had both been longing for, their lips moving in perfect sync. Jessie could feel that this time was different. She couldn't deny her need for Rafe any more. If the last twenty four hours of clear misery wasn't enough, this sure was to convince her she could no longer do this life without Rafe.

Rafe and Jessie stood in a comfortable silence for a few minutes to pull themselves together, whispering sweet nothings to each other and holding each other as if they were afraid the other would disappear.

Jessie finally spoke up. "I need to go get Charley." Jessie whispered, never breaking eye contact with Rafe. "I'll get her myself and bring her to you so I have time to explain some things."

Rafe just smiled. "Charley? I've never heard you call her that."

"Yeah, well, that's what she goes by unless she's in trouble." Jessie joked. Rafe loved the sound of his daughter's name, he couldn't have picked a better one if he tried. She was already so precious to him.

"So who was she staying with this whole time?" Rafe asked, inquisitive about who was worthy enough to take care of his daughter. He secretly hoped they were good people that had kept her safe and sound, but he didn't doubt Jessie's ability to find the best sitter possible.

"Some friends of mine, really they're like family. Their names are Maci and Tom but Charley calls them Mimi and PopPop." Jessie said with a smile as she walked towards the door. "I met them through the Manhattan Mayhem. They're kind of like the cofounders of it."

Rafe just looked puzzled. What was a Manhattan Mayhem? It sounded scary.

Jessie sighed and looked down. "I guess you didn't hear that part of the conversation the other night with JJ?"

Rafe just nodded his head no.

"No, as soon as I heard where you lived I just went back to my room to try and figure out how I was going to beat you back to wherever you were staying. Manhattan isn't exactly Kildare." Rafe chuckled with a half smile trying to lighten the mood.

"Right, well, uh, the Manhattan Mayhem is kind of a... biker group that I'm apart of." Jessie said sheepishly, trying to gauge Rafe's reaction. Rafe just stood there with the wheels turning in his head.

"What like a gang?" Rafe asked seriously.

"Yeah... pretty much." Jessie admitted as she lightly threw her hands up in the air with a guilty smile that Rafe couldn't help but love. Jessie began to walk forward towards Rafe.

"They were really the only people that took me in when I got here. They treated me like family from the moment they met me. They gave me a job, babysitting whenever I needed..." Jessie answered with a much more serious tone in her voice. Rafe met Jessie in the middle of the room and grabbed her shoulder assuredly.

"I'm sure they're great. You're a great judge of character." Rafe assured. He really did believe Jessie's words. He knew she wouldn't leave their child with just anyone. And besides, Jessie was right, she had to find family and friends somehow when she moved, and if that was the group she found then so be it. Rafe was happy Jessie got plugged in to a group so supportive.

As Jessie made her way downstairs her smile only grew bigger. She couldn't believe she was about to have a shot at the family she always dreamed of, it almost brought her to tears.

Jessie knocked on the door she remembered so well, only to be met by Mama and Tom opening up the door.

"Well hey, doll!" Mama exclaimed as she pulled Jessie in for a hug with a beaming smile on her face. "We are so glad to see your pretty face!"

"Mommy!" Jessie heard the familiar voice scream as she looked past Mama to see Charley running up with Tom following close behind her. Jessie immediately bent down to graciously accept the bear hug she so desperately needed.

"Hi baby!" Jessie said as her eyes brimmed with tears of joy. That hug was long awaited and not long enough for Jessie. She couldn't wait to snuggle with Charley and hear all about her stay with Mama and Tom. She knew Charley always had the best time and they always spoiled her rotten.

"What is all over that face?!" Jessie joked as she pointed at the chocolate mustache Charley was dawning.

"You know PopPop can never say no to come ice cream." Mama answered with a laugh. Jessie couldn't have cared less. The smile on Charley's face was all the confirmation she needed that she was safe and sound, and that's all that mattered to Jessie.

"Thank you so much for keeping her. I know she had a blast." Jessie replied as she stood up with Charley on her hip.

"It's no problem honey, anytime." Mama smiled as she looked up at Tom, who had made his way behind her. Jessie could tell they both wanted to ask questions.

"So..." Tom started, giving Jessie a knowing look as if he was about to open up a can of worms. "Did you get... everything straightened out?" Tom asked. His face was curious, but Jessie knew they only asked questions because they cared about her. She didn't mind at all.

Jessie just giggled. "Yep, I had to go help my little brother get out of trouble. You know how it goes."

Mama and Tom both nodded their heads and laughed. "Oh yes, baby. Duty calls!" Mama responded with a smile.

With luggage packed and hugs exchanged, Jessie and Charley walked out of the door and back to their apartment upstairs.

"Baby, I need to talk to you about something." Jessie stopped in their hallway and stepped down to look at sweet Charlotte in her eyes. Jessie knew Charlotte wouldn't be able to completely understand, which in a way made this easier in the long run. Jessie appreciated the fact that she wouldn't necessarily have to reteach Charley anything, only helping her learn a new dynamic.

"There's a nice man back at our house, his name is... daddy." Jessie paused as she said that sentence, and then it hit her. He wasn't Rafe to Charlotte, he was her father. Charlotte had no clue what a father even was. But then again, Jessie figured that maybe that was a good thing that she had such limited understanding of such a complex concept. After all, it's not like she would've remembered her father even if he was there from the beginning. "He wants to be your friend just like PopPop. He'll play your favorite games, he'll make your favorite food, and he loves mommy very much, and mommy loves him very much."

Charley just nodded with an unknowing smile on her face. Thats all Jessie could ask for, that Charley understand the basics. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but the three of them would adjust. Ah, the three of them... just the thought of that made Jessie giddy. She had dreamed of the three of them for what felt like forever.

Jessie finally stood back up, put Charlotte on her hip and walked down the hall.

The truth is, as nervous as Jessie was for Charley to meet Rafe, it simply failed in comparison to how nervous Rafe was to meet his daughter. He sat on the couch with his head resting on his fists, leg shaking and an intense look of serious thought all over his face. Rafe swore he could physically feel his heart skipping a beat. What if Charley didn't like him? What if he wasn't a good father? What if Jessie didn't like the way he parented? He felt he had so much to prove and so little time to prepare for it. He was finally pulled out of his thoughts when he heard the doorknob turn. Here we go. Rafe took a deep breath and stood up, immediately clearing his throat and fixing his shirt as if he was meeting his prom date for the first time.

Rafe saw the most beautiful little girl come through that door, with eyes like diamonds and beautiful brown hair. Rafe admired how Charley managed to have a perfect mix of both him and Jessie in her... she truly was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, aside from Jessie of course.

As Jessie began to walk towards Rafe with Charley in tow she realized Rafe was welling up with tears. Rafe was biting his lip, clearly trying not to sob uncontrollably. Rafe really didn't expect this heavy of emotion to overcome him, but the second he found out about his daughter he longed to be with her, and felt like a part of him was missing. He finally found that missing piece. More than that, seeing his beautiful Jessie holding their daughter made him realize his whole world was right in that living room. No more drugs, no more treasure hunting, no more running.

Rafe in his nerves wasn't quite sure what was acceptable. Did he hold his hands out to invite Charlotte in? Did he say something to her? To Jessie? Luckily, Jessie knew just what to do. She set Charley down on the ground and Rafe took the queue. He followed by kneeling down to the same level and looking at Charley with a smile.

Jessie wasn't sure if she should intervene either, but she sure did melt when she saw Rafe's reaction. He was smitten already. Like any three year old, Charley hid behind her mom because of the strange man in their apartment. She wasn't scared, just unsure.

Jessie and Rafe both laughed as they watched Charley cling to her mother's leg and eye Rafe up and down. She was curious, and that was a good thing. 

"Charley, this is the nice man I just told you about... this is daddy." Jessie explained in a soft tone as she walked closer to Rafe. Jessie once again crouched down with Rafe so Charley would feel more comfortable with the both of them. Rafe waved sheepishly with a smile on his face.

"Hi Charley!" Rafe said simply with an innocent little wave.

Charley looked at the both of them sitting there with smiles on their faces. She looked at her mom, then at her dad, then back at her mom as if she was looking for reassurance. Jessie found it kinda funny, as she could see the wheels turning in her head the same way that Rafe's does.

"She's curious like her mother." Rafe joked with a sniffle.

"But cautious like her father." Jessie joked back.

The banter back and forth was enough to convince Charley at least for a moment that Rafe was safe. Charley took a few steps over to Rafe before giving him a gentle hug and laying her head on his chest.

Rafe melted into that hug, as if he had been waiting his whole life to feel that amount of pure love and innocence. This was his daughter, the daughter whom he wanted to protect and love forever. Rafe hugged Charley back with just as much enthusiasm. His arms were so long they could've wrapped around Charley twice, she already loved getting lost in his arms. Rafe wouldn't dare break away, letting Charley stay there as long as she wanted.

Rafe extended an arm to pull Jessie in as well, savoring the moment he had to hold his girls.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 39

*** Rafe drove away from JJ's house in a panic once he realized that Jessie really was gone and JJ really didn't know where she was.

Rafe couldn't contain his emotions, leaving him no choice but to pull over. Rafe stared out into the space of the dark road in front of him, only lit by the night sky. All the realization hit him at once as his lips quivered and he narrowed his eyes, trying not to let the tears spill out.

He almost hit Jessie. Over a simple conversation that she was totally justified in having. She wanted him off the coke. But she started it right? Rafe thought that argument was childish. He felt nothing but childish after the temper tantrum he threw at both Jessie and JJ. Rafe wondered what was wrong with him, he had been angry before, but he felt a new sense of helplessness... like he was spinning out of control and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Rafe finally let it all out. The sobs were ugly and reckless as he lost control of his breathing. Rafe had nobody there to calm him down, only the voices in his head.

Be a man. Men don't cry. Rafe heard his father's voice. The same words he heard when he was ten years old, and from that point forward. The words be a man plagued him everyday of his life. Those words were enough to make him dry his eyes, wipe his face, and somehow go completely numb inside. Ward always had that affect on Rafe.

Deciding not to let Jessie have any more of this night, Rafe called the only person he knew could fix this, but fix was a strong word, it was more like putting a bandaid over a bullet hole. Rafe didn't care.

"Man, what do you want? It's too late for this sh-"

"I'm coming over." Rafe interrupted Barry, who sounded less than thrilled.

"Man you were just here?!" Barry replied annoyance and disbelief. "Are you already out?!"

"Not yet, but I will be." Rafe responded with numbness that chilled even Barry through the phone. Rafe simply hung up and Barry knew it couldn't be good.

Barry did the only thing he could think to do: call Jessie. Him and Jessie had a very odd relationship, one that was constantly moving and changing, one minute she would be a smoke buddy, the next minute a buyer, and the next a bitch. It all depended on each other's mood, but in a weird way, Barry always felt bad for Jessie. After all, Jessie only started buying for her father, eventually letting it trickle into her life as well, and now Barry had a front row seat at watching the drug trap another man that Jessie cared about.

Barry called Jessie over and over again, to no avail. The fact that she didn't answer really concerned him, his mind began to wonder to the worst possible scenario, especially with Rafe being so... unpredictable at the moment.

Barry blew up Jessie's phone, every passing ring only adding to his worry, until he saw Rafe pull up. At this point Barry was just plain mad, knowing that Rafe must've had something to do with Jessie not answering her phone.

Barry was anxious to meet Rafe right in the middle of the yard, not letting Rafe come to him like he usually does.

"What the hell, country club? Why your girl ain't answering her phone?"

"Shit, I don't know man. Just leave me alone." Rafe mumbled as he put his hand in Barry's face and walked right past him towards the front door of the trailer. Barry couldn't believe the balls Rafe had on him at the moment, clearly not caring about anyone or anything. It was only a preview of the facade he would adopt for the next four years.

"You don't know? Bullshit you don't know Rafe! You know damn well where Jessie is! You better not have sent her into hiding until the bruises heal-"

"I didn't touch her, okay?!" Rafe screamed, not being able to take the mental gymnastics any longer. "And I'm not bullshitting you... I don't know where she is man!" Rafe explained still heated. He finally looked down at the ground then back up at Barry with more sadness behind his faded eyes. "She left."

"What the hell does that mean, she left?" Barry asked, trying to adopt the same demeanor of not caring, even though he clearly did, at least in a "she's my best customer" kinda way.

"She left. Are you slow or something?" Rafe laughed maniacally as he furrowed his brows and walked closer to Barry. Rafe had no regard for his life any more, and at this point he was looking for a fight— another defense mechanism he would become very familiar with over the course of the next few years.

"No I'm not slow you piece of shit!" Barry mouthed back as he shoved Rafe back. "You're just being vague as hell and it doesn't sound very convincing."

"Well I'm not worried about convincing you." Rafe whispered with a twisted smile. He began to look off into the dark distance. "I'm not worried about convincing anyone." He explained with a dark glint in his eye that Barry hadn't seen before. "So you got more coke or not?" He asked, this time a little more in touch with reality.

"Yeah..." Barry trailed off as he was trying to read whatever Rafe was fantasizing about behind those eyes, he was unsuccessful. Barry just walked inside, looking over his shoulder, feeling like Rafe could easily kill him quickly and quietly with the way he was acting.

"Take your shit and leave." Barry snapped as he took the money from Rafe.

"It was good to see ya." Rafe said as he turned and walked away with a smile Barry couldn't see.

Rafe climbed back into his truck and sped off, pulling out his phone to call the only other person on this island he could count on. 

"What the hell, man? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Topper's voice sounded through the other line. 

"Yeah, yeah, man, whatever. Hey, party at my house tomorrow night. My parents will be out of town. Invite anyone. Party of the century man." The line went dead for a couple seconds. 

"Anyone?" 

"Anyone." 

- - - 

Music was blaring. Bodies were taking up almost the entire first floor of the house. If there was one thing about Topper, he knew how to throw a rager. Kooks, tourons, even pogues were at the Cameron's that fateful night. But Rafe said anyone, right? At that point Rafe didn't really care, the more people the better. Every person was just one more distraction for Rafe Cameron to forget about the one person he wanted to see there. To say it didn't work was a lie, it did work, and that's what threw Rafe into four years of sex, money, and drugs. The parties, the drugs, the fights, seemed to be the closest thing to numbing the pain. 

Rafe made his way around to everyone at the party, slapping his friends on the back and saying hi to everyone he could. The smile on his face was bold, but not the same one he used to beam when he had his Jessie around. 

"Dude, you were right. This is the party of the century! I'm pretty sure some girl is topless in the pool right now." Topper laughed as he met Rafe in the kitchen to pour himself another drink.

"I knew it would be, thanks to you." Rafe replied as he squeezed Topper's shoulders. "But hey, the real party's upstairs." Rafe trailed off with a smirk and a raise of his eyebrows. Topper searched Rafe's bloodshot and watery eyes for a semblance of what that meant, and he thought he had a pretty good idea. Up until tonight Rafe was decent at hiding his coke addiction from his friends and family, Jessie really was the only one who ever saw it, and for good reason. 

"Dude... what do you mean?" Topper asked with a hint of worry to his face. He figured Rafe's newly disheveled and reckless state had to be tied to whatever he was referring to upstairs.  

Rafe didn't reply with words, only a swift nod of the head as if to say come with me.

The sound of the party faded into the distance as Topper followed Rafe up the winding wooden staircase, to be met with a new smell, one that replaced the smell of sweaty bodies and alcohol and was replaced with a smell of skunk and other substances. Topper had a feeling he knew where this was going. 

Rafe opened the door to a spare bedroom, smart enough not to let anyone use his room for such activities. After all, his room was a mess anyways, he hadn't cared to clean it ever since Jessie left. He had let himself go in just about every way possible, and his room was no exception. 

Topper was met with a sight to behold, plenty of people doing lines right off the glass table and  enough weed to go around for the rest of the night. 

"Dude," Topper harshly whispered as he pulled Rafe's shoulder so he would face him. Topper looked less than impressed, and Rafe didn't look too fond of the judgement Topper was so clearly giving him either. "Are you insane? W-What you're into hard drugs now? Is that why Jessie left?" Topper snapped with furrowed brows. He had never seen Rafe so wild and careless, the kook king was typically anything but those two things. 

"Don't" Rafe snapped back with a little too much force, he stopped himself from laying a hand on Topper as he withdrew his fist and let his hand hang loosely beside him. "... talk about Jessie, okay? She's gone. And this night isn't about her." Rafe mumbled with a sly smile, trying to play it off like he didn't almost just pummel his best friend over speaking the name of the love of his life. He had successfully managed to dodge those questions and those feelings tonight, and Topper clearly just ruined that streak, making Rafe feel like he definitely needed a line now. 

Considering the newfound mix of emotions Rafe was feeling, he did just that. He went over to the glass table, not bothering to pay anyone considering it was his coke and lined up the white powder just right before taking a quick drag and sniffling soon afterwards. Topper still couldn't believe his eyes, he genuinely thought he was dreaming. 

"Okay, seriously," Topper began as he rubbed his head, "did someone slip something in my drink or did you just do coke right in front of me?" Topper asked. Rafe just stood up from the couch and laughed. 

"Dude, you're not hallucinating. And you need to chill, it's just something to take the edge off." Rafe replied as he patted Topper's shoulders. 

"Why're you doing this Rafe? Why're you throwing your life away? You know that's where this leads, right? You're starting to act like a po-"

"Shut up, man!" Rafe corrected Topper as he gave him a swift and forceful shove. Rafe gritted his teeth as the words left his mouth, clearly fed up with the accusations. 

Rafe already felt his life had been thrown away, and that was long before Jessie ever entered the picture. Rafe got dangerously close to Topper, this time looking him dead in the eyes with his chest moving rapidly and his blown pupils looking strait at Topper's normal ones. 

"The rest of my life is going to be filled with kook dinner parties, kook business deals, and all other kook shit. For just one night, I wanna have a little fun." Rafe said through anger, doing a great job at disguising the hopelessness he had been feeling since Jessie left, the same hopelessness he had when he met her that night at the Island Club, the same hopelessness that Jessie so effortlessly relinquished him from. 

Whether it was through fear or pity, Topper received the message loud and clear, only nodding his head, not daring to peel his eyes away from Rafe for one second for fear of what he could do to him. Rafe noticed one thing in particular about the past 24 hours. Barry and Topper seemed to look at him differently, with a newfound fear-no, respect- for Rafe Cameron. Rafe thought maybe this is what his father was meaning all those years, maybe this level of reverence was what Ward was trying to instill in him, and he just never found it until tonight. Rafe started to relish the way everyone looked at him, like he held all the power in the room, like he was unstoppable, unapproachable, and untouchable. He loved it. 

What started as a night meant to mask the heartache turned into a lifestyle of commanding the room. 

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 23

Jessie didn't get much sleep last night, but she knew she would have to get up to make her flight, so she did just that. As she got ready and packed up her stuff she wondered what Rafe was thinking. Would he even say goodbye? Jessie knew better than to get her hopes up on that one. She would just be setting herself up for disappointment.

Jessie texted everyone to let them know that she would be flying home that day. After everyone was updated, she finally made her way out of her room. Although, the fear of impending doom almost kept her from leaving. She felt that Rafe was so mad that night that if she stuck her head out of her door she would see flaming arrows shooting down the hall. Despite the fear, she managed to make her way through the hall and down the long flight of stairs. The stairs felt like it took hours for her to reach the bottom, mainly due to her racing thoughts as she didn't see Rafe waiting for her. She didn't really expect him to be there, and yet it hurt her still.

Jessie stood awkwardly in the entry way, waiting for her cab to arrive. She looked around the beautiful house one last time, wondering if she was making the right decision. Maybe she should stay? After all, she didn't technically have the money yet. When would she be getting that? Is the deal off now that Rafe is pissed? Jessie felt she left too many questions unanswered, but she was suddenly pulled out of her train wreck of thoughts when she heard footsteps.

Rafe stomped in the entry way, two duffel bags in hand and not a trace of a smile or even a glance in his wife's direction. He plopped the heavy bags onto the large entry way table rather carelessly. He clearly seemed annoyed and a little angry. He wiped his nose and cleared his throat as he put his hands on his hips and looked anywhere except for Jessie's eyes.

"200 mil. Cash. Just like you wanted. I've called TSA. They won't have any questions for you when you run those through at the airport." Rafe plainly said. Jessie could tell he wanted to leave the room right after he said that, yet his body didn't seem to move. Rafe felt as if his body was planted right where he stood. Why couldn't he just let go already?

Jessie stood there with shame as she clutched onto her luggage even tighter. She dipped her head down looking at her dirty white converse and then back up at Rafe with guilty eyes.

"Thank you." Was all she could muster. "I-I have something to give you too."

Rafe was confused, what could Jessie possibly have to give him? He watched as Jessie reached in her shorts pocket. She pulled out a beautiful silver ring with a thin band of square diamonds and one large four prong princess cut on the top. Rafe recognized it immediately. It was the ring he gave Jessie a couple weeks after they had gotten married. Where Rafe got it from, Jessie never knew. However, Rafe couldn't forget.

***

"Yeah, come in here I've got something very special." Rafe persuaded a young lady with long blonde hair to come downstairs at a party at Toppers house. Jessie wasn't there of course, she hated kook parties. Rafe took this opportunity to push more product to get more money for himself and Jessie. At least that's what he told himself.

Rafe sat down on the basement couch as he displayed what he had to the potential buyer. The girl seemed oddly flirty with Rafe but he was clearly not interested, despite all the drugs and alcohol in his system, he was very aware that she wasn't his Jessie. He remained professional.

"I don't have any money." The young lady said as she leaned a little closer to Rafe and started rubbing his back. "Think you could spare me? Just this once?" She flirted. Rafe sat there motionless, all of a sudden he noticed the blazing silver rock on her finger.

"That ring looks pretty nice." Rafe smirked. "That should cover it."

The girl scoffed. "As if." She said as she clung to her ring clearly with disgust on her face.

"This is business, sweetheart. Either you want it or you don't." Rafe simply stated with a half smile. He was making too much money off of everyone tonight to care.

After a moment of pause the girl finally made up her mind, slipping the ring off her finger and handing it to Rafe.

"Have as much as you want all night." Rafe replied as he walked off.

"She overpaid." Rafe laughed with Barry as he exited up the stairs.

Rafe was leaving the party as he took the ring out of his pocket, admiring its beauty. As he sat up against his bike he couldn't help but think that Jessie deserved a ring like this. Ah, Jessie! Perfect! Rafe considered trading the ring in to see how much money he would get out of it, but why do that when he could just give it to her tonight? He knew she would love it, as long as she didn't know where he got it from.

With Rafe being so excited to finally put a real ring on Jessie's finger, he drove right over to her house, hoping she would be as excited as he was.

He knocked on Jessie's window like he always did. He really had hopes on spending the night at her house anyways. Jessie appeared shortly after with a smile on her face to let Rafe in.

"Hey!" Rafe said as he planted a kiss on Jessie's lips.

"Hey babe, what's got you so happy?" She asked apprehensively. Rafe just held Jessie in his arms as he looked at her and exhaled.

"I have something for you... it's a present." Rafe said with a childlike innocence.

"Oh yeah?" Jessie played along.

"Yeah... close your eyes." Rafe whispered. Jessie giggled a little, finding it funny and cute that Rafe made a little game out of whatever this was. She fully expected her favorite candy or something, but then she felt Rafe take her left hand and she felt a ring slide on her finger. She knew immediately and instinctively opened her eyes. Jessie looked down and gasped.

"Oh my gosh, Rafe! I-It's beautiful!" Jessie beamed. "H-How did you? Wha-? Did you kill someone for this or?"

Rafe just laughed and held Jessie closer. "Of course not, babe. I promise." Rafe answered as he put his hand over his heart.

"How did you get this?" Jessie couldn't let that question go unanswered. "I mean it's... it's huge!"

"Don't worry about it." Was all Rafe said with a smirk on his face. Jessie's face contorted to a sincere look of concern.

"You really didn't kill someone for this did you?" Jessie asked with a serious tone in her voice.

"No I didn't! I promise baby!" Rafe replied through laughter. Jessie believed him. For the first time in weeks it seemed like Rafe was actually clear headed, not mumbling and not strung out on coke. It felt nice, and Jessie didn't want to ask too many questions. She'd rather just enjoy the moment.

After Jessie stopped gawking at the rock on her left hand, she took Rafe's face in her hands and kissed him gently and yet with so much passion. She pulled away and connected her forehead to his.

"Thank you." Jessie whispered sincerely.

Rafe could tell she was truly grateful, and Jessie could tell that Rafe felt fulfilled by doing this for her.

***

Rafe took the ring from Jessie's hand and just admired it.

"Y-you kept it? After all these years... you kept it?" Rafe asked with his eyes brimming with tears.

Jessie just shrugged. "I'm your wife." She said plainly as if it was obvious. That's not the reason Jessie kept the ring, and she knew that. Deep down, she kept the ring because she felt it was her only connection to Rafe all these years.

Rafe wanted to say so much more, starting with the fact that Jessie needed to stop looking at him like that. He couldn't be upset when she looked like she wanted to cry and fall into his arms. It took everything in him to simply nod and walk out of the room, the ring getting lost in his fist.

And with that, Jessie realized that it really was the end. Rafe really wasn't going to fight for Jessie anymore, and she really wasn't going to fight for him. But the mission was complete right? Jessie thought she should be happy considering that's exactly what she came here for. She swore she wouldn't get involved past that... but here she was.

Jessie sighed and walked out of the house, having the concierge help her with her two new bags. She was then whisked away to the airport.

Rafe watched secretly from a kitchen window as the car drove away, a single tear rolling down his numbed face. He couldn't believe it. After years of dreaming of having Jessie back in his grasp, he blew it. No- she blew it. This was her fault. Rafe wondered if she meant what she said about the money. Was she really not taking any of it? Did she really mean it when she said that it turned into something more?

Rafe still wanted to ask many more questions about his daughter. When's her birthday? What did she look like? Does she know anything about her father? Rafe couldn't handle all the unanswered questions in his head. He shook his head as his lips quivered. He then put his hands on his head and began to hit himself repeatedly out of frustration. He couldn't believe he just let her go like that... and his daughter. That idea was still hard for him to wrap his head around, and yet despite the fact that he'd never even met Charlotte— didn't even know what she looked like— he couldn't help but feel like he was abandoning her by letting her mother slip away.

Rafe couldn't handle his own brain, he knew what he would've done in this situation before Jessie entered back into the picture... but Jessie wasn't here anymore.

Rafe rushed straight to his room and to his bedside table for that coveted bag of white powder. He stared at it for a moment, with tear soaked eyes, contemplating if he really wanted to do this or not. Of course he did. He may have promised himself years ago to quit if he ever had a shot at Jessie again, but that ship has sailed, and Jessie was the captain once again.

Rafe began to form a little white line that he was so familiar with. He did this through sobs as he just stared at the cocaine in front of him. He sat there for what felt like hours, playing with his fingers and letting the tears flow. His hands began to shake as he couldn't handle the urge anymore. Just as he was about to give in, he noticed the ring sitting on his desk. It was still in perfect condition, not a scratch, not even a speck of dust or cloudiness on the ring. Jessie must have put it away somewhere safe where nobody could find it... where she wouldn't remember it. Yet she still managed to know exactly where it was and take it to the Bahamas with her. Rafe wondered why? In his heart, he knew why. Jessie said earlier that it was because she was his wife, but that wouldn't have mattered to Jessie if she didn't still love him. God, she still loved him. He knew it too.

Through tears he hit the desk and stood up and cleared it off with one quick angry sweep. His lamp, his book, his coke, the ring, it all went flying as he cried uncontrollably. He couldn't do this. He couldn't go back to the life he once had. He had done life without Jessie before, and he wouldn't able to survive if he tried to do it again. Rafe knew what he had to do.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 30

That night is exactly why this hurt JJ so much. With Jessie still standing between the two men who meant the most to her, JJ finally breathed out and looked at Jessie with tears in his eyes.

"I knew..." JJ sniffled. "I knew... I shouldn't have called you. I remember that night you left like it was yesterday, and I knew what he did to you, and I knew you got away from him because if you ever saw him again you would take him back. I knew I shouldn't have called you, Jess, I knew it!" JJ said now through sobs as he slowly backed away and put his hands in his hair, tugging slightly at the golden locks.

Jessie just looked down at the ground. Deep down she knew it too. She knew the second she made the decision to see Rafe again, all bets would be off. She would always come running back to him. For one simple reason: true love. No matter what Rafe had done to her or anyone else in the past, she saw more potential in him than anyone could ever imagine. She was the only one who understood, and not even she could get JJ to grasp that. Some would call their love toxic, they would call it unconditional.

"Jayj-"

"No, just don't! Okay?! I did this! Now just leave me alone!" JJ cried as he stormed back into the Chateau. Jessie tried following after him but was met by a warm hand to her chest, John B.

"You know he needs time to cool down, Jess." John B simply stated through truly sympathetic eyes. "He'll come around, he just has to see you prove it." John B said looking over at Rafe, who was still standing there feeling even worse by the minute. Rafe finally spoke up.

"I expected it... I deserved it." Rafe exclaimed knowingly. He put Charley down to explore the grass. Everyone stood in silence for what seemed like days, but was really just seconds.

"You've changed." Sarah finally spoke up, coming up from behind the pogues with eyes on Rafe. Rafe just looked at Sarah and nodded through tears. Rafe wanted to say so much more, but he couldn't get the words out. Instead, Sarah and Rafe embraced in a long awaited hug, both of them crying.

"I see it, Rafe. I believe you." Sarah said through sobs as her hands wrapped around her brothers neck. Sarah and Rafe were on their own separate journey to healing. Rafe had to forgive and forget that Sarah was always thought of before him, and Sarah had to forgive the way Rafe treated her because of it.

"Thank you, thank you, Sarah." Rafe simply pleaded through small sobs as well. Sarah and Rafe finally broke away and Sarah turned back to look at Jessie.

"I want to meet my niece." She said through a soft smile. Jessie laughed a little as she took a hold of Charley's hand and brought her over to Sarah, the pogues circling in on the action as well as they looked at the little girl lovingly. The truth is, the pogues all still had their reservations, but they knew they couldn't stop Jessie or Rafe from being with each other. They never have, and they never will.

The pogues all exchanged hellos and loving glances and hugs with Charley one by one. The only one clearly missing was JJ, and his absence was felt, still, everyone pushed on. Everyone eventually moved to the fire pit as the sun set, each with their preferred beverage in hand as they played with Charley, who was loving the attention. Rafe was sitting in a patio chair around the fire, and Jessie was sitting in his lap. Rafe could tell Jessie's mind was elsewhere.

"Go talk to him. Just you and him." Rafe whispered in Jessie's ear as he rubbed her back. Jessie turned to look at Rafe.

"I don't know if he's ready yet."

"He may not be, but at least he'll know that you've tried." Rafe replied as he kissed Jessie's cheek for reassurance and gave her a love tap.

Jessie got up to make her way inside, the crowd went quiet as they realized what she was doing.

"Mama..." Charley began to whine with her arms stretched out. Charley was loving all the new people, but she still wasn't totally comfortable. Jessie looked back and found Charley clinging to her leg and whimpering.

"Stay with daddy, baby, okay? Daddy will take care of you." Jessie reassured her daughter as she patted her back.

"Come here, Charley. Come sit with daddy and we'll make some s'mores." Rafe said with enthusiasm. Jessie could tell the pogues still weren't used to this idea of seeing Rafe in this new light. They didn't think it was bad at all, just very odd. Charley was still hesitant but she obliged, running back to her father. Rafe stood up to meet her half way, picked her up and began to throw her in the air to distract her from her mother going inside. As the fits of giggles began to fade into the distance, Jessie opened the door. She was met with that all too familiar stench: weed. And boy, that was fresh too. Sure enough, she found JJ sitting in the living room. Jessie figured he must've been watching from a distance all night.

"One of cousin Ricky's specials, huh? I know it when I smell it." Jessie joked as she sat on the coffee table in front of the couch JJ was plopped on. JJ just blew a cloud of smoke, only giving Jessie a half glance before looking back at the scene outside, undoubtedly watching Rafe expertly make his daughter a s'more.

"Jayj... I really don't know what to say to make this better." Jessie sighed as she rubbed her hands together.

"There's nothing you can say. I knew this was going to happen." JJ replied, not taking his eyes away from the window.

"Than why'd you call me?" Jessie asked with caution.

"The same reason you said yes."

Jessie just looked down at the floor. They both knew why they did it.

"I missed you." They both said in unison. That was enough for both of them to start tearing up.

"I don't even give a shit about the gold anymore, Jess. It wasn't worth it if it meant you got back together with Rafe, especially not after bringing a child into this world."

"His child, JJ. Rafe deserves-"

"Rafe doesn't deserve shit, Jessie!" JJ interrupted as he finally kicked his feet of the couch to be face to face with his sister. "He needs to earn whatever it is that he wants."

"And he is. You really think I'm stupid enough to give into him all at one time? It's like you forgot who I was, JJ. I left because I knew Rafe couldn't handle it. I didn't even tell Rafe about Charley until I thought he could handle it. And as terrible as it is to say, I had no plans of telling Rafe about Charley when I went to the Bahamas... but he proved me wrong. And I'm hoping he'll prove you wrong too."

JJ just laughed as he looked away and took another drag. "You really think he's changed? You don't know the Rafe that we've known the past four years, Jessie."

"And you don't know the Rafe that I've always known. The Rafe that I know even now is still there." Jessie pleaded.

"You know where we come from, Jess. We don't get happy endings. You need to put the true love bullshit to rest and do what's best for your daughter." JJ spit.

"I don't need a reality check, JJ. I've been living reality for a lot longer than you realize, having to do things the hard way in order to put my daughter first, okay? So you're going to forgive me for wanting to do something for myself for a change." Jessie spit right back, growing annoyed but still trying to see JJ's point of view.

"You're immune to him, Jessie. You don't even realize it." JJ simply stated.

"If I was immune to him would I have left all those years ago?" Jessie asked.

JJ just smirked as he puffed out another cloud of smoke. "You left physically because you knew you could never leave mentally." That was it, Jessie had had it.

"So what if I can never leave him mentally?! He's the love of my life, my husband, the father to my child, and he clearly is trying to be better for us! Gosh, can't you see that?! No, no, you can't see that because you refuse to. Well, you know what? That's fine, because like I've done so many times before, I will take my family and we will go somewhere else and we won't care about who doesn't support us." Jessie wanted to leave right then and there, but she didn't... she couldn't. She secretly begged that JJ would come around in that moment. JJ paused, looking up at Jessie with angry eyes.

"You know who I haven't heard from yet? Rafe. I really would be inclined to know what he has to say to me about this. He needs to prove it to me, not you." JJ demanded with fierce eyes.

"Jessie, go back outside." Rafe butted in with angry eyes and a clinched jaw. He had his hands in a his pockets, a sure sign he was holding back his rage. There's no telling how long Rafe had been there listening but Jessie couldn't afford to care in that moment. She looked back at JJ, silently begging him to hear Rafe out, and with that she made her way to the doorway her husband was standing in. As she stopped at the doorway she gave Rafe a reassuring look, knowing how hard and frustrating this conversation was about to be, but she knew it needed to happen.

Rafe collected his thoughts in the time it took him to walk over to JJ and sit on the coffee table in front of him.

"Want some?" JJ asked seriously as he held the joint out in front of Rafe. He knew exactly what he was doing, and Rafe didn't fall for it.

"Very funny." Rafe simply replied with an annoyed look on his face.

"Hey man, trust me, this isn't funny at all. You really expect me to belive that all of a sudden you're not a lying, stealing, psycho, murdering ass cheat?" JJ questioned with his eyes narrowed. The blunt started looking better and better to Rafe, but he wasn't going back on his promise. Rafe just sighed and looked at the ground as he rubbed his hands together trying to formulate the correct response.

"Look man, I'm not proud of the punches that I've thrown. But all that was someone I no longer know. That was someone who had lost his everything. That was someone who didn't know he had a daughter in this world. Trust me, things have changed now."

Oddly enough, JJ did see something different in Rafe today. He was definitely still calloused and guarded, but he seemed... genuine in his apology.

"Like I said you don't have to forgive me today, tomorrow, or even ever. But it's no secret that I never stopped loving your sister even after she left."

"Oh yeah that's why you threw yourself at more girls, more parties, and more coke right? That's why you slowly slipped into a psychotic rage, forcing you to believe that you had to kill, Peterkin, right?" JJ so painfully reminded Rafe.

"JJ..." Rafe sighed hopelessly as he looked JJ in the eyes. "Don't act like you didn't have your vices to help you cope with Jessie being gone. You and I both had our own ways of numbing the pain, and frankly, they weren't too far off from each other. We both have more in common than you think. We'd both die for her." Rafe explained. JJ never had thought of it that way. Jessie left a gaping hole in both of their hearts in two totally different ways, yet they both felt the weight equally, driving them to places they never thought they'd find themselves. Rafe turned to more drugs, more girls, and trying to satisfy his father, JJ just turned inward to himself, becoming a shell of a person that made it clear to everyone he would never be hurt like that again. After the long pause to think, JJ finally nodded. Rafe didn't know if it was in agreement or not.

"I still don't understand why you've done some of the things that you did... but, I'll respect Jessie enough to not get in the way. But I want to make it very clear I don't trust you yet, but I'll try." JJ whispered with a raspiness indicating he was holding back emotion.

"Thanks, man." Rafe answered genuinely as he patted JJ on the shoulder and stood up.

"This is not for you. This is for Jessie... and Charley." JJ said coldly . Rafe simply nodded and pursed his lips, knowing his statement was totally fair. JJ followed after Rafe as they were about to exit the house.

"Oh and hey, I'm still serious about the gold... you can have the rest of it. I really don't want it anymore." Rafe exclaimed as he turned to look at JJ. JJ just smiled and nodded, that was the first genuine smile Rafe had seen from JJ... probably ever.

JJ was still very unsure about everything, but he decided to put on a brave face so he could finally do what he's been dreaming of.

"Where's my niece?!" JJ screamed as he walked through the yard towards the fire pit with Rafe.

All the pogues whooped and hollered as they saw JJ come towards them with a smile on his face. Rafe knew it was fake, that was between him and JJ though.

Jessie walked toward the two men with a grin as wide as the east is from the west, assuming they had come to some sort of a truce... or at least a stalemate. She had Charley holding onto her hand as she walked over and bent down in front of JJ. JJ followed suit to be eye level with Charley. Rafe was standing over and watching with a smile, definitely feeling like he shouldn't intrude.

"Charley, this is Uncle JJ. He's my brother." Jessie said in a slow tone that her daughter could comprehend. Charley really didn't know the concept of brother, sister, aunt, uncle, etc, but she would learn through exchanges just like this.

"Hi, Charley!" JJ said with excitement as he softly waved at his niece. His heart was already filled with so much love and tenderness, he wanted to pick her up and spin her around and squeeze her right then and there, but he knew that wouldn't be getting things started on the right foot.

"Hi!" Charley stated back with curiosity in her big diamond eyes. Charley wasn't afraid, and Rafe loved that about her, but that also terrified him. He knew she would be a trailblazer one day.

"You wanna give Uncle JJ a hug? He would love that!" Jessie gave Charley the option, but made it very clear it wasn't required. Jessie knew Charley wouldn't be opposed though. As expected, Charley waddled over to JJ and flung herself onto his chest with her short arms wrapping around as much of his shoulders as she could. JJ melted, immediately clinging his arms around her and resting his head against hers, which was now in the crook of his neck. JJ started to tear up, and so did Jessie, as they stood there looking at each other, brother and sister, both thinking the same thing.

They made it.