Unconditional Love (Second story in the 'Unconditional' series)

Rockabye

Jason's POV

I sat in the church crying alone. The girls went with Spencer to my house. As I sat with my head hanging I heard the click of heels walk from the front door of the church over to me.
"Jason, the longer you stay here doesn't help anything" Alison sat next to me.
"I know, but what am I going to do?!" I cried to her. She put her arms around me and comforted me.
"Jason, I'm here to help you, I can move in and help you if you want?" She offered and I hugged her again.
"Thank you Alison" I cried.
"Lets go home" she helped me up and we walked to her car. We drove home and I looked out the window until we approached the house. She dropped me off then she went home to start packing her bags.
     I stared at my house for a few minutes.
Flashback
"Ok this is the last box" Kota picked up the box and I rushed over and took it from her.
"Jason I can carry a box" she laughed and her smile spread across her face.
"I know, but I don't want you to" I smiled at her. I dropped the box in the house.
"Now we officially live together" I put my arms around her.
"This is our home" Kota kissed me.
End of flashback

I took a deep breath and walked into the house. I walked through the door and grace ran over to me and hugged me.
"Hey kid" I kissed her head. I pulled away from her.
"Where's your sister?" I asked and looked behind her.
"In the other room" she pointed
"Lucy, come in here" I called for her. She ran in.
"So girls because of everything that has happened, your Aunt Alison is coming to live here for a while" I told them I saw a smile come over my daughter's faces.
"How long is she staying?!" Lucy asked with excitement
"As long as we need her" I answered.
"Where's your other aunt?" I asked. Then Spencer came into the room.
"Hey" she greeted me and gave me a hug for the 6th time today. Yes I'm counting her hugs.
"Hey, you can leave, I'm going to be ok" I assured her and she gave me one last hug. The 7th hug. Then she left. The girls were on the couch. Grace looked really sad. I went and sat next to her.
"Daddy when is mommy coming home" Lucy asked me. I but the inside of my lip. She doesn't fully understands what am I going to do. I pulled her close to Gracie and I.
               "Luc, Mommy isn't coming home" I told her delicately
               "Did she run away?" She asked me. Grace laughed a little.
                "She would never run from us" Gracie smiled at Lucy and I.
                  "We're going to be fine, just fine" I smiled at them both and kissed the top of their heads.

One week later

  Alison is moving in here today. The girls are really excited. Alison is having her house rented out right now. We heard the door open and Lucy ran to the door to greet Ali.
      "Aunt Ali!" Lucy called and leaped into Alison's arms. Alison had a wide smile on her face as Lucy hugged her. Gracie has been really clingy to me lately, so she walked up to Alison with me. Ali gave me a loving sisterly hug and Gracie gave her a hug.
         "I'll bring your stuff to your room" I said and Alison and I went to her room. I dropped her bags down and she sat on the bed.
          "How are you doing?" She asked me
          "It's really tough, but I'm managing" I replied.  
           "When are you going back to work?" She asked
           "Monday" I answered. She stood up and walked to me
            "Jason, I'm here for you guys, I'm going to stay home with the Lucy and bring Gracie to school and help around the house" she put her hand on my arm.
              "Years ago I wanted nothing to do with you, I thought I had the worst sister ever, but right now you are the best sister ever and I want you here" I told her and she gave me a smile. She gave me a huge hug.
"I'm going to go down stairs" she walked out of the room and went down to the girls.
               "Ladies, who wants to bake cookie!" Alison offers with a warm smile. The girls hop up and run with Alison to the kitchen. I finally got to sit down and relax.

2 months later

    I got through the door to the house after work. Gracie was doing home work and Alison was chasing Lucy around the house. I saw Gracie roll her eyes. She's been off lately she has been acting out and not like herself.
       "Gracie-" I raise my voice
        "Don't call me Gracie, Jason!" She yelled at me. Alison and Lucy stopped running and looked at Gracie and I. I was stunned. She is 6 years old and just told me off.
          "Are serious right now, get your ass up stairs now!" I yelled at her. She slammed her pencil down and rolled her eyes and walked off. I grabbed her arm. She turned and gave me a rude look
            "Stop rolling your eyes at me and your family NOW!" I let go of her arm and she went up the stairs. I rubbed the back of my neck and Alison started to walk towards the stairs but I stopped her.
               "Ali don't please, I'll take care of her" I told her. I took off my jacket and went upstairs and changed my outfit. Through the wall I heard Gracie crying. I stood still for a minute. I put on my shirt and walk to her room. I walk in and stand in front of her. Her head was hanging and her eyes were on a photo of Kota and her from last Christmas.
           "Gracie-" she cut me off
           "I said to not call me that" she sniffled.
           "Hey stop with the attitude now!" I demanded
           "Ok" she whispered
           "What's going in with you, you have been rolling your eyes telling people off, calling me by my first name, and I know that you don't always do your homework" I said.
              "I'm sorry, but it's hard, I miss mommy" she cried. I sat next to her on her bed
              "I know it's hard, but you can't act out like this, your mom used to brag about how good you were and how we lucked out with getting you" I told her and I put my arm around her.
                "I know, but I didn't get enough time with her, and neither did Lucy' she paused " I would have less pain if I was never born" the words from her mouth hit me hard. I can't believe my little 6 year old daughter just said that.
               "Grace, don't ever say that again ok? I love you, your aunt loves you, Lucy loves you and your mom loves you so much" I assured her
               "None of us are really ready to talk about your mom, I mean I can't even look at her photo, it's ok to have this feeling but, you can't act bad anymore ok?" I saw her eyes match mine
                "Ok" she answered
                "Oh and Why don't you want me to call you Gracie?" I asked her
                 "Mommy called me that and hearing it made me sad but, I have changed my mind, I like it" she smiled at me. I went and kissed her head and left her room.