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

Twenty Three.

Arriving in New York with a new set of motivation, Joe makes his way to their home and walks inside to find an already distraught Willa, making his brows furrow. Sitting in Jessica's lap on the couch, cheeks stained with tears while Jessica talks softly with her as Delphine sits nearby on the couch, watching Sesame Street.

"What is going on here?" he asks, concerned but playful.

"Dad-dy!" Delphine says giggling.

"Hi, my littlest princess," he tells her, making a face before looking back at his eldest, concern replacing the silly demeanor.

"Daddy!" Willa exclaims, starting to cry again and getting off Jessica's lap, raising her arms to him.

"What's the matter?" he asks, confused as he lifts her, giving her a hug.

"Y-y-y-you were g-gone!" she sobs, stuttering on her words as she looks up at him.

His face falls in realization. He had just spent so much time with the girls and the day Jessica came back he ran off to find their mom. Though, they didn't know that. To them, he just wasn't there.

"Baby girl," he starts, sighing. "I'm sorry I wasn't here. I had to go do some stuff. I wasn't gone for too long though, was I?"

"I-I woke up," she hiccups. "And y-y-you were g-g-gone."

He furrows his brows, looking over at Jess.

"She woke up at 3am looking for you, wanting to get in your bed and you weren't home."

He sighs, nodding as he now fully understands. "Ahh, okay. So you woke up in the middle of the night and daddy wasn't here."

She nods. "Yeah, you were g-g-one."

He nods. "Yeah, I wasn't here last night while you were sleeping, I had to go take a really quick trip to Texas."

"Texas?" she asks.

He nods. "Yeah, daddy had to go really quick but now I'm back and I'm not leaving anymore. Okay?"

"Mama in Texas?" she asks.

Damn she has a good memory.

He gulps, nodding. "Yes, princess, mama's in Texas."

"You see mama?" she asks.

He licks his lips before nodding. "I did, yeah."

Her eyes light up. "Mama home?"

He frowns, shaking his head. "No, but mama wanted me to tell you something."

"She did?" she asks gently.

He nods, sitting on the floor with her, setting her in his lap. "She did. Do you want to know what mama said?"

She nods. "Yes, please."

"Mama wanted me to tell you that she has been hearing everything that you've been telling her."

"She has?!" she asks, excitedly.

Joe nods. "Yeah. She wants you to know that she is so, so proud of you for teaching your sister and being so brave while she's gone. She also wanted me to tell you that your hugs are the best part of her day, and she loves you very very very much and can't wait to come home and squeeze you so tight."

She smiles. "Mama said that?"

He nods. "Yes, mama said that."

She grins, giggling while looking at Jess before looking back at Joe. "I love mama."