Forever and Always

~5~

"I don't know guys...I don't think it's a good idea" Jessie sighed as she stares across the counter at the two older players. "Jess, think about it. You have to go. It's a big event and it's important to the kids involved. We need to show our support" Christen explains. Jessie frowned, "Well I'm struggling with my own kids at the moment. I don't know how I'll be able to console them when I barely get through to Dylan nowadays".

Jessie pinches the bridge of her nose, "Which is understandable seeing as what happened with Lee". Jessie pauses at the name. She hadn't said it in so long that it almost felt weird to say. It was like there was a lump in her throat that refused to go away. The two veterans see how Jessie pauses and gives her a minute to recollect herself but not without Christen putting her hand on hers.

Jessie sends her a grateful smile before continuing, "I just don't want to go if I keep being asked all night where she is only for me to be asking the same question". Jessie let's out a small sniff looking down at her coffee cup, "I just can't do it".

Tobin taps her fingers against the countertop, "We know it's hard Jessie. But you need to go. This is Ellie's Legacy. This is what she dreamed about. Helping people. This was so important to her and we can't let that die. And we can't let those kids down".

Jessie slightly fed up narrowed her eyes at the midfielder, ". Exactly! It's everything she created. She put everything into that project. How do you expect me to go and see everything she built when she's not even going to be there?"

Jessie sighed, "The only reason I would go is if Lee would be there. Which I highly doubt". She lets out a bitter chuckle, "And even if she does I highly doubt she'll want to talk to me. Not after what happened". Christen frowned at the Canadian, "That wasn't your fault Jessie".

Obviously that wasn't the thing to say

"Of course it was my fault!" Jessie shouted temporarily forgetting about the two child somewhere in the apartment. "It was because of me that she left! Because of me she's been missing for nearly a year now! My stupid decision caused a rift in the team. Mal and Rose still haven't looked at me the same since".

"Jessie you can't put that on yourself" Tobin spoke softly. "Please just don't" Jessie whimpered. Christen felt her heart ache at the sight of the girl. The burden of this had been weighting on the girl for way too long. "Jessie...it wasn't just you. The whole team was split over what to do. It was on all of us".

"And with Mal and Rose...they were just upset. Ellie was their best friend. Practically their sister. They just lashed out after Ellie left" Tobin assured.

Jessie tried to blink away tears building up in her eyes, "If I could go back and change everything...I would".

Christen seeing how Jessie was only seconds away from breaking down scooped her into her arms as she let the younger girl sob into her shoulder. Little did the two Americans knows how much this kept the Canadian up at night. Hours where she would lay awake in her bed regretting that one single stupid decision.

How long she wished she could go back and do it all over again. How she wished she could have done it all differently. Thinking that maybe, just maybe if she had done things differently, Elliot may not have left. Maybe she would still be with them here.

The two Americans look at each other understanding that nothing they could say would change the Canadian's mind. It was futile at this point to ask her to go. "It's okay. If you don't want to go...then you don't have to". Christen says softly as she holds Jessie who lets out a small sniff with a grateful nod.

"But you have to go!"

The three footballers snapped their heads towards the door where Willow stood frantic with her hands clapped over her mouth. Seemingly she had been standing there listening the entire time. "Wills..." Tobin says as she shook her head wordlessly telling her to back off the subject. But Willow ignored her warning as she looked to Jessie with pleading eyes, "You have to go to the Gala!"

Jessie smiled softly at the girl, "I'm sorry Wills but I think I'm going to give it a pass". But it seemed that only frustrated the girl more as tears started to prick at her eyes, "Please Jessie. Please. You have to come".

Christen picking up on the girl's urgency raised an eyebrow at her adoptive daughter, "Willow...why is it so important that Jessie goes to the Gala? What are you hiding?" Willow bites her lip and looks away.

"Willow? What is it?" Tobin asks now. The two parents having spent long enough with her to tell that she was hiding something. Willow shakes her head slowly, "I...I can't tell you". Christen moves to stand with her, "What is it Willow? Why can't you tell us?" Tobin snorts, "Will if it's just Kelley and the others planning a prank they won't kill you if you tell us". "No. It's not-It's not that. I just...I can't tell you. She made me promise that I wouldn't tell you".

"Willow who are you talking about?" Christen asked starting to get worried for her child. But Willow's eyes don't meet either of her parents. Instead her eyes flickered to Jessie before they drop to the floor. Jessie furrows her eyebrows as she looks at the child wondering why her presence at the gala was so crucial. But then she thinks back to what she said.

"She made me promise that I wouldn't tell you"

Jessie's breath hitches before she kneels down in front of the teenager and takes her by the shoulders, "Willow...when you said she made you promise...were you talking about Elliot?"

At the first sight of Willow biting down on her bottom lip, her parents knew that Jessie had hit the nail on the head. "Willow?" Tobin inquires looking slightly upset that her daughter had kept this from them.

"I'm sorry" Willow whispers dropping her head all but confirming their suspicions. But Jessie wasn't focused on that at the moment as she gripped her shoulders tightly. "Willow this is serious" the Canadian says sternly, "how long have you been talking to Elliot?"

Willow looks anxiously towards her parents before looking back at Jessie, "Only once. I went to leave another voicemail and just rant. But she picked up. She actually picked up". Willow had a small smile on her face, "It-it was amazing. Just to talk to her for a bit".

Jessie had never felt more envious of a teenager before. Not like this.

"Is she okay? Did she say she remembered anything?" Christen shoots out unable to hold back anymore.

Willow's smile falters as she shakes her head, "She still doesn't remember anything".

Jessie's shoulder's sag but she shakes it off, "Why is it so important that I go to the Gala...". Her eyes widen, "Unless....unless she's going to be there?"

Willow bites her lip so hard that she was in danger of breaking skin. "Willow tell me. Is she going to be there?" Jessie reaffirms. Willow gulps before nodding slowly, "I begged her to come. I told her we all missed her. That I missed her and I really needed to see her. She said she would come to the Gala but she made me promise not to tell you. Especially you Jessie".

A sharp shot of pain runs through Jessie at this. Feeling undeniable hurt at the fact that Elliot didn't want to see her. "But I had to make sure you went. I was hoping that if you went maybe you would bump into her and you could finally talk to her. I tried to get her to talk to you honestly I did" Willow explained before her shoulders sagged. "But she wouldn't take and said she had to go".

Jessie just nodded slowly trying to absorb the information she's after being thrown at. "That's...It's okay Willow. Thanks for trying". With a small smile to the teenager, she took one last deep breath before standing and heading for the door.

"Hey! Jess where are you going?" Tobin asks as Jessie opens the door barely pausing to answer before leaving.

"I have to go find a dress for the Gala"