Alluring - JJ Maybank Fanfic

The Cross: Island Room

Three Weeks Later

"She needs professional help, this isn't normal." Pope tells the group from the living room, I strain my ears to listen while I lay in my bed, "She's been in bed for weeks, she barely does anything. My mom said she freaked out yesterday while she was here helping with Emmy's bath time, she kept thinking someone was here." 

"She takes care of Emmy, Pope, she's tired." JJ defends me, "Emmy is awake every two or three hours still, it's exhausting."

"I know, JJ, but she hasn't left her room other than to go to the bathroom. You really think that's healthy for her?" Pope argues, "You have to bring her meals and make her eat. You and my mom have to shower her, do her hair, and whatever else y'all do for her."

"She's fine. I have it handled, Pope. Willow is fine."

"We're worried, JJ." Kie chimes in, "We want to figure out a way to help her, or get someone here that knows more about mental health issues. I think this has to do with the voices in her head, every time I've gone in the room to help with Emmy, she's looking around like someone is about to attack her."

"She doesn't need that," He slightly raises his voice, though he doesn't sound mad, he sounds defeated, "she's just... it was a lot on her, okay? I mean she was basically being raped when she went into labor, that's a lot to process, then she dies a couple times. But she's handling it.. I'm handling it."

"She's still having nightmares," John B speaks up, "I can hear her crying from my room at night, JJ, she cries more than your newborn daughter does so I know she's not handling it. She's struggling, and we need to be there for her, we need to do something for her."

I cuddle Emmy closer to me while I lay on my side, watching her sweet face, running my fingers over her wispy hair while she chews on her little fist, "Mama loves you Emmy Jade." I pause to kiss her head, "Everyone thinks Mama is crazy." I chuckle, "I'm just tired, very very tired. And Mama doesn't know how to be okay."

"I'm here for you." JJs voice startles me, I roll over at the same time he sits on the edge of the bed, "We don't think you're crazy, baby, we're just worried."

I rest my hand in his lap, "I know."

"What can I do to help you?" He caresses my face, his concerned eyes locked on mine, "How do I help you?"

"Make me get out of bed."

"Make you?" He asks, confusion on his face.

"Yes, make me get up and do normal things, because I can't do it on my own." I sigh, "I don't know why I can't, I don't understand why I feel so down, but laying here isn't helping."

"Alright, hold on," He leans over me to scoop Emmy in his arms and takes her out of the room, a few seconds go by before he casually walks back in and scoops me up next, "you are going to join us on the porch today, baby, and eat some french toast that Kie made earlier."

"Am I?" I kiss his neck, "I thought I smelled something tasty earlier."

JJ drops down onto the porch couch with me on his lap, "John B, go get her a plate of food, she's hungry."

"I never said I was hungry--"

"I didn't ask," He cuts me off, "you told me to make you do normal things. Eating is a normal thing."

"Eating is good," Pope smiles at me, "Its good to see you out of your room, Willow."

"Well I heard you saying I need professional help, I'd prefer to stay out of the mental health wing in the hospital, so here I am." I glance over at Kie while she feeds Emmy a bottle of breastmilk I pumped for her, she flashes me a smile when she notices me watching them.