Them. | The Final Installment of the Him Series | Joe Jonas Fanfiction

Two.

Another day, another article, another bubble of anger rising in Joe's chest. It's none of their business what's going on in his marriage. Not to mention to speculate based on Addison simply not being photographed or seen in public with him is ridiculous in itself. He knows they're simply doing their job, but it's also simply none of their business or their concern.

Jessica had received a letter as well, to Joe's surprise. However, she had apparently kept her letter to Jessica simple and to the point; taking care of the girls while she was away. Jessica had assumed Addie went to get help for her mental health. It was an assumption Joe understood, considering her behavior for the months leading up to her leaving. With Jessica believing the assumption she had put together in her head, and knowing nothing about Addison's past, Joe had decided it was better to allow her to believe it. The harder part was his family also believing it as well. It had come up naturally in conversation after Addison left. They were talking to Jessica, and she had mentioned it. Joe didn't have the heart or the mental capacity to pull anyone aside and correct it privately. Though now that a month has passed, he finds it a bigger burden to carry, being the only one knowing the truth.

He was angry... at first. He had locked himself away for majority of the day he received the letter. Why hadn't she told him? He asked the question regardless of the answer being right in front of him, written on paper. He knew she was right. He knew she had a point with her reasoning. It didn't take away the hurt though... not even regarding not knowing but now knowing the burden she had been carrying since Delphine's birth. He can't help but beat himself up for not noticing there was something more going on. She was his wife, she was struggling, and he blamed it on a simple case of postpartum depression. He knows her better than that. He should've known.

"Daddy!"

"Hi princess," he forces a smile, grabbing Willa and picking her up, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Mama home, yet?" she asks.

He shakes his head. "No, princess, mama's not home yet," he answers, giving her a weak smile.

"Soon?" she asks hopefully.

"Hopefully, princess. You miss mama?"

"Yeah, miss mama."

"Me too," he tells her, giving her another kiss. "Where's sissy?"

"Uhm wif Jess."

"Playing?" he asks.

"Yeah!" she answers, giggling. "Daddy, pancakes?"

"You want pancakes?" he chuckles, getting out of bed and carrying her out to the hotel living room.

"Dada," Delphine says, pointing and grinning.

"Dada's up!" Jessica smiles, clapping gently a few times.

"Willa wants pancakes, you want food too?" Joe asks, giving her a small smile.

She nods. "Sure, thanks."

He nods, ordering from room service before sitting on the floor with the girls.

"I'm gonna go shower if you're good?" Jess mentions, starting to get up.

"Yeah, Jess, I'm good. Go for it," he grins in response, making her leave to her small room and bathroom.

Joe watches the girls, finding himself in a daze as he does so, taking only a moment before grabbing his phone, tapping Stella's name for what seems like the millionth time. 

Ring. Ring. Your call has been forwarded to a voice messaging system.

He sighs, tapping on Hope's next.