The Institute ~Completed~

Chapter Thirty-Four: Him

Joshua walks up to Cotton's house. He hasn't seen her in an entire year. He rings the doorbell but there wasn't any answer. He finds the spare key and unlocks the door. He walks in to see a perfect house but no one inside it. So he starts snooping around and then he gets a call. "Hello?" He says into the phone. "Hey Josh, it's Ace." Says Ace. "Where's Cotton?" Josh asks. "She's safe." Ace answers. "Where?" Josh presses. "Meet Me at my cabin." Ace says and hangs up the phone. Josh rolls his eyes and walks out of the house. He gets in his car and drives to the cabin.

"You're finally here." Ace greets him. Which was unnormal because he was a mad man. Josh had no idea why Ace said to meet him here. All he wanted to do was find Cotton. "Yea I am. Why am I here?" Josh asks and leans against the blue Corbet. "Cotton's in the camp not far from here." Ace says. "Is she still with the couple?" Josh asks while swinging his keys around his index finger. "Yes why?" Asks Ace. "I hate the guy. He's abusive or at least that's what I think." Josh says. "As are most men that are young." Ace agrees. Josh nods. "Yea well I am gonna find Cotton. I'll see you later." Josh says and opens his car door. "Be careful with her." Ace says as he walks away. Josh just nods and drives away.

A few minutes later, he parks his car outside the camp. Alot of people he used to know were in this camp. Cotton was in it. He'd do anything to find her. Just one last time. He slips into the camp unnoticed until a girl ran into him. "Oops!! Sorry!!" She giggles. "It's okay." He says as he helps her up. "I am Aliessya." She introduces herself. ''Josh." He smiles at her. "I haven't seen you around before you must be new?" Aliessya says. "Oh I am just looking for an old friend." Josh says with a shake of his head. "Oh maybe I can help. What's your friends name?" Aliessya asks. ''Cotton Reynolds." Josh replies. "Oh John's granddaughter, she's in the hospital with her brother." Aliessya points at the hospital. ''What room?" Asks Josh. "22, good luck! I'll see you around." Aliessya walks off. He watches her for a split second but shakes his thoughts away and walks to the hospital. "Hey um where's room 22?" Josh asks Lou. "It's down there." Lou points at the farthest room on the floor. "Thank you." Josh says and walks to the room. He knocks on the door. He didn't just want to barge in and be like what's up! But he's got more dignity than that. Suddenly, The door flew open and a pregnant Jessica stood in front of him. Whoa, a hell of alot has happened since the last time I seen Cotton and her family. He thought. "Is Cotton here?" Josh asks Jessica. "Yeah she is but now is not a good time." Jessica says. "I need to see her." Josh says. ''Mum it's okay." Cotton calls out to her. "Let the boy in." Jessica rolls her eyes and steps aside so Josh could enter the room. Cotton had her head on Axel's belly. He seemed to be really jacked up. She looks more than tired so did Jessica from Josh's observations.

"It's been a long time since we've seen each other." Josh says to Cotton. "I thought you forgot about me." Cotton says sadly. "Why would I forget about you?" Josh asks. "Most people do." Cotton says and looks at her brother. "What happened to Axel?" Josh asks. "He was in motorcycle accident. He ran into the warehouse. Messed up his lungs and neck. Lou says it's a guessing game on whether he's gonna make it or not." Cotton explains. "I am sorry." Josh takes Cotton's hand in his. "It's okay." Cotton says. Her voice was quiet she was getting tired. "Cotton it's time to go home, you're getting sleepy." Jessica says. "Mkay." Cotton says amd tries to get up. But she quickly fell back down. "Maybe I should carry you home." Josh offers. "That's a good idea since I can't carry her." Jessica smiles. She may not have been fond of Josh but she needed the help. "I know and I don't want her falling either." Josh picks up Cotton and waits for Jessica to leave the room before he followed her. "So how have you been?" Josh asks Jessica. "I've been okay, I can't wait til I give birth because I'll be back to normal weight and I can carry my princess once again." Jessica answers. "She sure gets alot of loving don't she?" Josh asks. "She does but it's a good thing after all she's never felt it." Jessica says and stops. "That's good.'' Josh says. "What about the baby? You're not gonna leave Cotton are you?" Josh adds. "Of course not. This baby isn't gonna change anything between me and Cotton. Cotton's my everything, the baby will most likely be Jake's everything." Jessica says. Josh knew why. He didn't like the way Jake treated Cotton anyway. "Well at least you both will have a favorite." Josh mumbles. "Well it's better than nothing." Jessica says and opens the door to the house. "Do you want me to wake her or just take her up myself?" Josh asks. "Don't wake her. She doesn't like that." Jessica says.

"Okay." Josh replies and takes her upstairs. Jessica sat on the bed. "You can just put her here." Jessica says and patted the spot Cotton usually sleeps in. Josh lays Cotton on the bed. "Thank you." Jessica smiles at him. "You're welcome." Josh says. "I should get going. Hopefully I can see her tomorrow yeah?"

Jessica nods. "Yea just not to early. She and I both dread that." Josh laughs. "She never did."

"Bye!" She calls out after him.

"Bye Jes." He says.

As soon as he walked out, he ran straight into Jake. ''Oh it's you." Josh mumbles. "What's wrong with me?" Jake crosses his arms. Alot's wrong with you! Josh thought. ''Nothing." Josh replies. ''Anyway bye." He adds and tries to walk away but Jake wasn't done talking. "Josh what were you doing here?" Josh turns around. "I wanted to see Cotton."

"Oh." Jake says. "Why?"

Josh rolls his eyes. "Because I miss her and I wanted to see if she's okay."

"That's very kind of you." Jake smiles.

"Thanks. Well I best be going. Bye." Josh smiles and walks away.

Jake turns around and walks into Jessica's bedroom. "Hey babe." He smiles. "Hi! Are you gonna sleep with me and Cotton tonight?" Jessica asks excitedly. "Yes!!!" Jake hops in the bed. ''Ooh careful." Jessica says as he shook the bed. "I am just having fun." Jake says and starts kissing her neck. She moans instantly. "Jake we can't!" Jessica tries to say. "Sure we can. We can kiss can't we?" Jake asks. "Well yea but nothing more." Jessica giggles. "God I can't wait! We'll use protection next time, I think two is enough for us. Cotton's a handful already can imagine how Lilyonna is gonna be?" Jake asks. "True but right now we just need to focus on the one we have now." Jessica says and then kisses him. He kisses back and rubs her belly. She baby kicked. "She's a kicker ain't she?" Jake laughs. "An ass kicker." Jessica smiles.

"Listen, Jake when Lilyonna comes, I don't want Cotton to feel left out. I wanna make sure she gets as much attention as Lilyonna does. I don't want us to favor Lilyonna because she's our blood." Jessica says. She was honestly voicing her opinion on the situation. Jake didn't want Cotton to feel that way either. "That'll never happen. Cotton is a great child and Lilyonna will be just as great. Doesn't matter if they're not blood or if they are. They'll be equally loved." Jake smiles and touches Cotton's face. It was cold but warm at the same time. ''That makes me feel better." Jessica says and touches his hand on Cotton's face. "I just want her to be safe. I don't want anyone to hurt her. I am surprised you let Josh help you with her." Jake says and moves Cotton to on his chest. "I needed the help and he's not a bad man." Jessica smiles at him. "Yeah but do you trust him with her?" Jake asks. "Not as far as I can't throw him. The thing I am afraid of most is him trying to get her in bed." Jessica says. Jake looks at Cotton. "I am surprised he hasn't. She's been alone with him for three years." Jessica shakes her head. "Jake that'd be rape."

Jake pulls Cotton and Jessica closer.

"Well I know one thing, he'll never get her as long as I live." Jake kisses Jessica's cheek. "Kaleb, he seems like a better boy for her anyway." Jessica giggles. "I like him. He's very sweet and gentle. I could see her marrying him." Jake smiles. "Me too." Jessica says and lays her head on Jake's chest, right next to Cotton's. "Goodnight baby. I love you." Jake says to her. "Night baby. I love you too."

Cotton shifts and touches Jessica's belly. She kisses it. "Goodnight little one." Jessica and Jake went in awe mode. "Oh don't be so surprised!" Cotton crosses her arms at them. "We're not. We just think it's cute." Jake says. "Oh well in that case." Cotton kisses both of their cheeks. "Goodnight Princess." They said at the same time.

"Goodnight." Cotton whispers.