Cradle Will
Rock
Authors Note: This is my first and only challenge fic; a response to Marie’s challenge, posted back in August. It’s really not my style to do the challenges. I find them sort of restricting to my creativity…but I was bored, and I noticed that this particular challenge didn’t have any fictions …So, indulge yourself in yet ANOTHER of my silly stories…even if it isn’t up-to-standard. Oh...and hope you like the very creative and weird way I spelled the Sammler baby’s name.
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"Oh , C'mon, Lily, It's Friday night..." Jessie whined, adamantly refusing to give up the beginning of her weekend just to stay home with the baby, yet AGAIN. Don't get her wrong, she loved her baby brother with all her heart, she was just tired of being the one who got coned into staying home with him while everyone ELSE was out enjoying their life."I know it's Friday night, and I'm sorry to ask you to give it up, again," Lily retorted, carrying a heavy brown-paper shopping bag in one arm, and her 2 month old son in the other. "But Grace and Zoë are out with Jake, Eli is no where to be found, and as much as I don't want to go, your father and I have a dinner meeting with one of his potential clients. So, could you please just watch Jeison (pronounced "Jason") for a while?" Lily paused long enough to hear Jessie's reaction, a simple sigh of disbelief. She and Lily had been getting along rather well lately, for a Cinderella-meets-evil-step-mother sort of relationship... Perhaps that's because Jessie had been so wrapped up in her relationship with Katie over the past 9 months, that she hardly noticed anyone or anything else.
"Okay, fine, whatever." Jessie huffed, knowing she'd have to cancel the plans she'd made with Katie on Monday night; nothing too intricate, just some pineapple pizza, and a movie. The usual thing. Simple, and on the down-low. With all the commotion that had gone on through-out Lily's pregnancy, Jessie hadn't yet gotten the chance to clue the whole, collective mess of a family in on her potentially devastating revelation. Somehow, she was just unable to find the right time to get the entire Sammler/Manning clan in one room, and keep the roaring emotion down to a minimum for a long enough time period to tell them that she and Katie were…well...yeah. If she hadn't feared both her father and Lily's collapse due to shock, she would have done it that day at Jake's wedding, but that plan got screwed up. The time was coming, though, she could feel it. Something was brewing inside her, like a simmering volcano. Only time would tell when and where it would explode.
"Thank you. I'm sure we won't be out for long. We're leaving at 8. I'll try to get your father home by 11."
"Fine." Jessie said, then moved to help Lily with the bags. She started unpacking, and presumed that was the end of the conversation. "I'm gonna call Katie. I've gotta tell her I can't go out tonight." Jessie spat fire in her step-mother's direction.
"Why don't you tell her to come over, instead? I'll give you some money to order a pizza and you can just...you know.... do whatever it is you girls do." Lily said in an odd tone of voice that she tried to mask, but failed miserably. Jessie noticed this, and furrowed her brow, questioningly. Now, we all know that Lily isn't the BRIGHTEST crayon in the box. In fact, at times she could be rather Naive, but she'd been picking up a certain vibe between Jessie and Katie that was strangely indescribable. She knew they were extremely close, and that their relationship seemed inadequately delineated by the word "friends"... It's safe to say she'd come to suspect that there was more going on between the girls than they let on, which in all honesty was fine with her. It was just up to Jessie to decided if and when she affirmed all suspicions.
"You know, I really like Katie," Lily said, subconsciously trying to get some sort of a confession from Jessie. "She's done wonders for you, Jess. I'm really glad you found someone you feel comfortable with. She really is a great girl."
Jessie smiled, as she always did at the mere mention of Katie's name..."Yeah, She's amazing." ...and with that, she knew she could no longer hide her feelings. So came the lava. "Lily..." Jessie's voice took a serious turn as she called to her step-mother, cutting through deafeningly discomfited silence.
"Yes?" Lily turned to face Jessie.
"I..." She stopped and thought for a moment in order to find the words. 'This shouldn't be a challenge, Jessie. Just say it.' she thought. "Katie is...She's more than a friend. I mean, she and I are...I guess..I...umm..." Jessie stuttered awkwardly, as a pseudo-bewildered Lily seemingly scrutinized her every move. "Katie and I are together.
"I...I understand." Lily responded, slightly more shocked than she thought she would be. It was different to hear it from Jessie's mouth, than to think it in her own mind. "So, does this mean that you're..." She shook her head and laughed lightly, telling herself that she was about to ask an incredibly stupid question. "So, what does this mean, Jessie? Are you gay?"
The mention of the word took Jessie by surprise. She hadn't really thought about it all too much. It felt natural that she should feel so strongly about Katie...but was she really gay, or...was it just that she fell so deeply in love with Katie?
"I..." Jessie stopped, AGAIN...her entire life flashed before her eyes. She thought back to 6th grade, when all the girls were crushing on Cody, the cute boy in class, but she just...wasn't. In actuality, thinking about it now...she had more of a crush on Sandra, Cody's "girlfriend". And it hit her for the first time...she always knew. "Yes, Lily. I'm gay." Jessie held her breath after she completed her sentence. 'That wasn't so bad'
Lily just nodded "Well, alright then. As long as you're happy, that's really all that matters, isn't it?" She smiled, then proceeded to make her way out of the kitchen to put Jeison down for his nap. "I'm very proud of you, Jessie." she turned a final time.
"Thank you." Jessie smiled to herself, while mentally patting herself on the back. "oh, and Lily...don't tell my Dad, okay? I want to talk to him myself."
"Of course."
**********
"Oh my god! I can't believe it. I told her..." Jessie squealed into the phone.
"Ouch…whoa... what? Told who, what, Billie?"
"Lily...about us.." Jessie whispered.
"What?" Katie was now the one who was squealing. She jumped out of her seat so quickly, she nearly lost her balance.
"Never mind...I'll tell you when you get over here. But are you sure you don't mind hanging out, or rather "In" tonight?"
"...Pizza, Dvd's, Jessie, and a new born? What's there to mind?" Katie replied sarcastically. "Seriously, I kind of wanted to go out, but I'll take whatever I can get. Time with you is time well spent, Jessie... You know it doesn’t matter what we're doing....or not doing, as the case may be."
"Thanks, sweetie. Jeison's probably going to be asleep most of the time, anyway. I swear, I've never seen a baby that sleeps as much as he does."
"Maybe he's making up for the rest of the house...none of you people sleep, like, ever."
"That's true."
"I know...I've spent many a nights there helping you and Grace study for various tests in god-knows-how-many subjects... But, you're deflecting... what happened? You said what to who about us?"
"Oh god. I told you...Just come over, and we'll talk more about it, okay?"
"Okay...I'm leaving now. See you soon."
"Bye."
"WAIT!" Katie yelled into the receiver, scaring the hell out of Jessie.
"What? What the hell happened?" Jessie questioned.
"I love you." Katie surprised her… "Just thought you should know."
Jessie smiled. "I love you, too...even though you're so weird. I’ll see you soon."
"Yep, bye for real this time."
**********
"Hello Mr. Sammler." Katie flashed her charming smile when Rick opened the door. He looked her over, not at all surprised to see she was dressed to impress, as usual. He’d become accustomed to Katie’s unique style…especially her extremely loud tights.
"Katie, I think we’re just going to make you a copy of the keys… You’re here so often, we might as well." He joked, and gestured for her to come in. "I trust you’ll keep an eye on Jessie and Jeison tonight…"
"Oh, of course."
Just then, Lily walked into the room. She faltered in step when she saw Katie standing in the hall.
"Hi, Mrs. Sammler. You look great, tonight." Katie was always such a flatterer.
"Well, thank you, Katie." Lily was taken back by Katie’s remark, she could see what Jessie saw in her. She was most definitely a true blue, sweetheart. Rick called up the stairs to tell Jessie that her "friend’ was here. About 3 seconds later, Jessie came flying down the steps. Lily watched as the look on Jessie’s face changed. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Katie. Jessie was the type of girl who wore her heart on her sleeve. It was so obvious that she was in love… and now that she knew it for sure, she couldn’t understand how anyone could ever overlook an emotion like that.
"Jessie, Jeison is sleeping right now, but if he wakes up and he‘s hungry, his bottle is in fridge. Just keep an eyes on him. You know how quiet he is…I doubt you’ll have any trouble with him."
"No trouble." Jessie repeated. Of course not, how could there be trouble when Katie was around? Or…well… Okay, so, there was the possibility for LOTS of trouble… but…you know.
"Okay, so. I love you." Rick kissed his daughter’s forehead. "We’ll be back soon."
"Kay, bye Daddy."
She hugged him…and then Lily…and then they were gone.
"Right…so…" Katie rolled her eyes.
"Yeah…so…" Jessie cleared her throat… "What do you wanna do?" Jessie asked, seductively…yet, adorably.
"Guess." Katie reached out for Jessie’s hand, which the younger girl gladly grabbed…and pulled Jessie closer to her.
They began to kiss slowly. Both girls were so timid at first, as was often the case… but that nervousness had fallen away over time. There was no fumbling, now. No anxiety. Every limb found it’s place… Katie’s hand gently cupped Jessie’s cheek. Jessie moved her hand beneath Katie’s long hair. Her palm found the back of Katie’s neck, and caressed the soft skin it found there. This drove Katie wild. She allowed herself to moan into her girlfriend’s lips as they kissed. Both of them slowly gave into one another. They moved over to the couch, never once breaking apart...until Katie stumbled.
"Whoa.." She caught the arm of the couch before she fell. Jessie couldn’t help but laugh.
"It isn’t nice to laugh at your girlfriend like that…" Katie said, sitting down, and trying her hardest to play off her embarrassment. "Come ‘ere." She grabbed a laughing Jessie’s arm, and pulled her on to the couch.
They would have picked up where they left off before Katie tripped, but Jessie jumped up, surprised after feeling a sharp pain in the back of her thin thigh.
"Jesus Christ! What the hell…" She looked to see if she was sitting on something. And low and behold, she found a little, plastic, annoying, noise-making, headache-inducing, leg-hurting rattle.
"Damn it…" She looked at the toy, dumbfounded. Now it was Katie’s turn to laugh. "I thought it wasn’t NICE to laugh at your girlfriend." Jessie smirked, and softly through the rattle at Katie.
"Easy there, that was like a wind-up softball pitch."
"Oh you’re such a baby…" Jessie laughed, and moved closer to Katie. She then started tickling and mocking her by mimicking a crying child.
"Hey…wait…shh…" Katie said, sedating her girlfriend with an uncharacteristically serious tone. "Is that your brother crying?"
Jessie tilted her head…then looked at Katie and nodded. Both girls jumped off the couch, and bolted up the stairs to see what was the matter.
"Jeison, sweetie, what’s the matter…?" Jessie asked from the doorway in her soothing baby-talk voice. She turned on the light, as Katie moved closer to the crib.
"Should I pick him up?" Katie asked, clueless. She’d never really held a baby before…and she wasn’t sure if she should start now.
"Yeah, just be careful. You know …"
Katie stopped her from finishing that sentence "Of course I know how too hold a baby… that’s the first thing they teach you in Junior Health Class. God only know why, though…I thought the whole idea was to DISCOURAGE us from having babies."
Jessie joined Katie by the baby’s bedside after she picked him up. She couldn’t help but admire how gentle her girlfriend was with him… "You’re going to make an amazing mother, some day." Jessie couldn’t help herself, she had to say it. Watching Katie hold Jeison induced a warm, tingly feeling all over her body.
"So are you, Jess." She said as she nuzzled the baby. "oh, but we have a little problem right now…"
Jessie looked at her, confused…"Is he okay?"
"Need to change his diaper… He’s a bit damp."
"Oh…uh…yeah…okay." Jessie scrambled to get a fresh diaper ready. "You can do the honors."
"Oh fabulous, thanks Jess." Katie whined…but got the job done fairly quickly. "He’s such a good baby. He looks so happy." Katie held him a bit longer after she was through with the diaper crisis.
"All babies are happy…and then they get older, and by the time the get to high school, everything’s gotten weird…and every once-happy child has an ulcer from all the crap they have to deal with everyday."
"Well, he’s fine, for now, okay? Let’s put him down." Katie
"Not gonna happen, Kay… Now that he’s awake, he’s not going to go back to sleep." Jessie replied, sadly, knowing that it would take hours for her brother to pass out, again. By that time, she knew her parents would be home…and that would mean the end of the make-out sessions for that night.
"I bet if we sang him a Lullaby he’d go back to sleep…Steve said it always worked for me when I was a baby."
"We could try it…what should we sing?"
"God Bless the Child…" Katie responded, quickly
"Is that all you ever want to hear?" Jessie asked, desiring a change in the music.
"Yes."
"Fine, but you have to sing it…" Ha Ha.. She thought
"No…no way. I can’t sing." Katie argued.
"Fine, then I guess there wont be anymore making out tonight…We’re gonna have to sit here with him until he goes to sleep."
"Them that's got shall get ,Them that's not shall lose, So the Bible said and it still is news, Mama may have, Papa may have, But God bless the child that's got his own, That's got his own." And so, she sang..
"Thought you said you couldn’t sing…" Jessie smiled, once Katie stopped singing..
"Compared to you, I can’t…"
"Oh shut up…"
"Shh…He’s sleeping…"
**********
"That was almost too easy," Jessie commented about her brother falling asleep so quickly as she watched the credits of "Minority Report" roll across the screen. The time was 15 past 11. "There’s no way that’s all…There’s gotta be a catch of some sort." Jessie felt odd, as though something bad was about to happen.
"Hunny, calm down…He’s been out for hours. Listen, you can hear him breathing over the monitor. Everything’s fine."
Jessie pressed the stop button on the DVD player remote, and sighed. "I guess you’re right."
"Well, I KNOW I’m right. So just relax and kiss me." Katie grinned devilishly. She was coy enough to get Jessie to comply. The shy young blonde moved into Katie’s arms….and once again, the girl’s lips met. The two got so lost in themselves, that they didn’t hear the door open.
"What the hell is going on here?" Karen’s face dropped at the sight of her daughter and Katie kissing .
"What are you doing here, Mom?" Jessie questioned. She was scared, and anxious, and excited, and a million other emotions at the same time.
"Your father called me. He told me he was going to be late, so I decided to check on you…" Karen replied, without much feeling at all. "Now…What the hell is going on?" She asked a second time, confused, and more than slightly shocked.
"Uh…Mom. I think we need to talk…" Are the words that left Jessie’s mouth. And indeed, they did need to talk.
…But that’s an entirely different story.