Beautiful Little Jay-Bird

Chapter 7- A Year Later...

Jeff's P.O.V.

"Daddy... Daddy... Can you please wake up?" asked a small voice. I pulled my sleep mask off of my eyes. Though I was able to sleep without it, it helped a lot. "Well, what day is it today?" I said with a small smile on my face. "Daddy... You do this every year. I know you know it's my birthday, and that you're playing dumb." she snapped, crossing her arms. I sighed, standing up. "Happy birthday, sweetie." I kissed her forehead. "Thanks, Daddy."

I took her hand and led her to the kitchen, where a cake was waiting for her. Being a good cook, I made the cake myself. She watched me and even helped frost it. I lifted it onto the counter, where she ran her finger through the side and licked the frosting. "Hey, that's for later... I used to do that when I was a kid too." I admitted. She looked at me, to the cake, then ran her finger through it and licked it again. "Alright, alright, enough." I said with a chuckle. I picked up the cake and moved it away. "You do get your special breakfast, though." A smile grew on her face. I nodded and started making waffles. She ran to the fridge and grabbed a tub of ice cream.

When I was finished making four waffles, I grabbed two plates and put two waffles on each. Jaycee grabbed a spoon and pulled a chair to the counter, patiently waiting for me to take the ice cream tub. I took the spoon from her and smiled as I made ice cream sandwiches out of waffles. We then sat on the couch and turned on Gravity Falls. This was how she wanted to spend her birthday, so I told her that we could.

Justin walked in and smiled. "Hey, little girl. You're another year older... I'm still bigger than you, smarter than you, and better than you." I stood up and put my face a few inches away from him. "Say. That. Again. I dare you." I growled. He backed away. "S-s-sorry Jaycee! It was a joke!" I nodded. "It better have been a joke." I sat next to her again. Jaycee was hiding her face in my arm. She wasn't very good at talking to people who weren't me. "Why is she so shy like that?" Justin asked, poking her in the arm. "She just kinda is..."  Jack and his wife woke up, walking into the living room. "I see Justin is up." Jack said, smiling. His wife stood by him. She was pretty independent, for a blind woman. "How is my little Justy this morning?" she asked. Justy was Justin's nickname. "Good, Ma."

Jack knelt by Jaycee. "So, how's the birthday girl over here?" She hid behind me a little more. "She's good. We just had ice cream-waffle sandwhiches." He nodded. "Happy third birthday, Jaycee." She stared at him silently. "She sure is a quiet little girl." he sighed. I nodded, stroking her hair. "She's my little girl." We sat and watched a little more television. "Can we go out now?" she asked me. "... No, sweetie." She'd only been outside once, when I was escaping from our fire-ridden house. It was dangerous enough in the world above. Now, we have other creepypastas who would be delighted to devour or brutally murder a little girl. I could never forgive myself if she'd hurt herself out there. "Aww... Please?" she asked. I shook my head.

"This is so stupid... I'm older now. I can handle it. Plus, you'll be with me." she begged. "No!" I screamed. I saw her lower lip begin to quiver and tears spill from her eyes. "... Jay... I didn't mean to-" She ran off. When I yelled at her (Which was pretty rare), she took weeks to even speak to me again. I stood up and walked into the room she shared with Justin. They slept on a bunk bed, her getting the upper bunk. I peeked in. "... Jaycee... I'm sorry I yelled." I put my hand on her shoulder and she swatted it away. "You screamed at me on my birthday... My stupid birthday!" she was crying, but at least she was talking to me. "I... I don't want to lose you like I lost your mom..." I whispered. "And I wish you'd realize I'm not weak!" she snapped. "... You're only three... You're a baby." She looked up. "I wish that you'd take me seriously." I picked her up and held her in my arms. "I know... I take you seriously... I just wamt you safe. You're the only person I really care about." I put her down. 

I walked out of the room and sat on the couch. "Iris... Dammit, I need your help... You'd be great with this... I suck ass." My face was burried in my hands. I began to remember some of my favorite memories with Iris. It brought a smile to my face, but I shook my head. Those times were gone, past. I shouldn't dwell on them, anymore... But a part of me just didn't want to let them go.