Ally's POV
The airport bustled around us, but our little group formed a quiet bubble near the security checkpoint.
Delphine clung to Joe's leg while Willa tried to maintain her brave face, though her lower lip trembled slightly.
"It's only for five days," Joe reminded them, kneeling down to their level.
His guitar case leaned against the nearby column, plastered with the girls' decorative stickers from previous tours.
I watched them, my heart tight in my chest. Joe in his worn leather jacket, a daughter under each arm, looking like he might change his mind about the whole thing right there.
His brothers waited patiently nearby, pretending not to notice the emotional goodbye.
"Come here, troublemakers," Joe pulled both girls into a tight hug.
"Be good for Ally, ok? But not too good.. can't let her think this job is easy and get any ideas," winked Joe with a smirk.
"Promise you'll call every night?" Willa asked against his shoulder.
"Every single night," Joe assured them.
Finally, he stood, the girls stepping back to hold my hands.
His eyes suddenly locked with mine, and for a moment, the bustling airport seemed to fade away.
"I love you," he said softly.
"I love you too," I whispered, "We'll be fine. Though I can't promise the house will survive our dance parties."
Joe laughed, the sound a bit rougher than usual.
"I don't want to interrupt, but we have to get going, Joe," said Greg.
Joe sighed, as he knelt for one more quick hug from the girls, then straightened up.
In one swift movement, he wrapped me in a quick hug, careful not to squish the girls between us.
"See you soon," he murmured near my ear before pulling away.
"Go be a rock star," I managed to say, fighting the sudden thickness in my throat.
We watched him walk through security, the girls waving every time he looked back.
Just before he disappeared around the corner, he gave them one last wave and his signature goofy grin.
"Ice cream?" I suggested to the girls, my voice only slightly unsteady.
"Can we get the big sundaes?" Willa asked hopefully.
"Sprinkles?" Delphine added.
I smiled, squeezing their hands as they turned toward the airport exit.
--
The next day
I stood at the kitchen counter, trying not to laugh as flour dusted every available surface.
Willa had insisted that we needed "extra snow" for the cookies, while Delphine solemnly nodded in agreement from her perch on a stepping stool.
"Daddy always lets us make the kitchen messy," Willa declared, her dark curls spotted white with flour.
I raised an eyebrow, reaching over to brush some flour from their nose.
"And does Daddy also clean up all this snow afterward?"
Willa giggled, rolling out cookie dough with determined concentration.
"Sometimes. And sometimes he just calls aunt Dani for help."
"Of course he does," I muttered.
Only a day into watching the girls while Joe and his brothers were in Canada, and I was already wrapped around their little fingers.
"Daddy come home?" Delphine muttered, not for the first time that day.
"Four more sleeps," I reminded her, helping steady the girl's hand as she pressed a star-shaped cookie cutter into the dough.
"Remember what we marked on the calendar this morning?"
"I miss him," Willa said quietly, her usual confidence wavering.
My heart squeezed. I gathered both girls into a flour-covered hug.
"I know, sweetie. But guess what? We get to FaceTime him later."
Their eyes lit up immediately. "Really?" they chorused.
"Really. But first..." I gestured at the mess surrounding them, "Let's get these cookies in the oven and clean up a bit. Then we can prepare for bed and FaceTime daddy, ok?"
The girls attacked their cleanup duties with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Soon, the kitchen was relatively flour-free, and the warm smell of vanilla cookies filled the air.
--
"Daddy!" Delphine and Willa squealed in unison as Joe's face appeared on the iPad screen.
"There are my girls!" Joe beamed, "All ready for bed?"
"Look at our cookies!"
Willa thrust a star-shaped cookie toward the screen while Delphine bounced on her bed in her favorite unicorn pajamas.
"Snow," Delphine squealed.
They chatted about their day – the cookies and their artwork.
Joe listened intently to every story, asking questions and laughing at all the right moments.
"Time for sleep, princesses," I said gently noticing Delphine trying to hide a yawn.
"One more story, daddy? Please?" Willa pleaded.
Joe glanced at me, whilst I nodded with a soft smile.
"One quick one," he agreed.
The girls snuggled into their beds as Joe launched into a silly tale about a dragon who couldn't breathe fire but could bake amazing cookies instead.
By the time he finished, both girls were fighting to keep their eyes open.
"Goodnight, my loves," Joe said softly, "Sweet dreams."
"Night, daddy," they mumbled in sleepy unison, "Love you."
"Love you too."
I tucked them in, kissed their foreheads, and quietly carried the iPad to the living room.
I settled on the couch, switching to my phone for the continued call.
"They're amazing, Joe," I said quietly, "Exhausting, but amazing."
"Thanks for doing this," he replied, his voice warm, "I know it might be a lot."
"Please, they're the highlight of my week."
"I should let you get some rest," I said eventually, noticing the tired lines around his eyes, "Big show tomorrow, huh?"
"Yeah," Joe hesitated, "Same time tomorrow night?"
"We'll be here. The girls want to show you their new dance routine."
"I love you," His smile was soft. "Goodnight, beautiful."
"Goodnight, babe. Love you."
After ending the call, I sat in the quiet house, smiling at the girl's artwork decorating the walls.
Four more days until Joe came home.
Until then, I had cookies to discover in odd places, dances to learn, and bedtime stories to tell.
Somehow, this beautiful chaos had become my favorite place to be.
YOU ARE READING
Comeback (Sequel to 'Before the Storm')
FanfictionA sequel to 'Before the Storm: A Joe Jonas Fan Fic' Ally and Joe have been apart for three weeks; he was touring and she was doing modelling campaigns. They finally reunite during a surprise visit to one of his concerts, but Ally sees Joe kissing h...
