~Eleven'sPirouette~ and counting stars

[twofrogsinacoat]

Sarah barely heard JJ say he was leaving as she allowed herself to hold and be held by her mother. She still cried into her quietly. "I haven't seen you in so long."

Cecilie heard a knock at the door and sighed. "Probably another telemarketer," she mumbled in French as she stood and walked over. She opened the door, but froze in shock when she saw JJ standing there in the doorway. She was so surprised, in fact, that she dropped the book she'd been holding. "O-Oh my- JJ- you-" Without another word, she grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug. She started to cry as she held him and stroked his hair. "My baby."

[bibliophile;]

Kris sobbed into her daughters shoulder. "I know. It feels like it's been decades."

JJ hugged her back, his own eyes watering. "Oui," he murmured. "I'm home," he continued in French.

[twofrogsinacoat]

"Longer," Sarah whimpered. "So much longer than that."

Cecilie started to sob as she held her son. "My baby," she repeated over and over, just hugging him tightly. She loved him and she'd missed him so much, and now he was back.

[bibliophile;]

Kris just held her, crying. After a moment dhe pulled away and looked at Luke.

In Kris's place, Jamie stepped up and embraced his sister.

JJ eventually let himself cry into her shoulder. He had put up a wall when it came to his family in order to not think about missing them or how much it hurt to be away. It crumbled the very second he felt his mother's arms.

[twofrogsinacoat]

Luke was still unconscious, having had his stomach pumped. He was alive, but was connected to multiple machines. There were tubes in his nose that helped him breathe.

Sarah hugged Jamie tightly. "I missed you," she whispered. "And you're taller than I remember."

Cecilie just held him tightly and cried. She'd missed him more than she could ever express in words. JJ was her first child, her first baby; he'd left them for two years, and now he was finally back in her arms. "It's okay," she whispered to him as he began to cry as well. She rubbed his back gently, even as she was crying herself.

[bibliophile;]

Kris walked over and carefully kissed his forehead. "You better make it," she whispered. "Sarah's back." She knew he couldn't hear her but she pretended he could. She needed the false sense of security.

Jamie nodded. "Your hair's different."

JJ cried into her. "I'm sorry. W-we were s-supposed to go to d-dinner," he managed.

[twofrogsinacoat]

Luke's fingers twitched slightly when Kris kissed his forehead, but nothing else moved.

Sarah nodded. "So's yours." She managed a half-hearted smile through the tears.

When he mentioned the birthday dinner than never happened, Cecilie nearly broke down. Yet she managed to maintain her composure, just for him. "Shh, no, baby, it's okay. It's okay," she whispered, stroking his hair with one hand and hugging him tightly with the other.

[bibliophile;]

Kris took his hand while her other hand rubved his forehead.

Jamie kissed her head and hugged her again.

JJ stayed close to her. "Where're the girls?"

[twofrogsinacoat]

Luke's fingers twitched again.

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut. "You're even taller than me now," she murmured as her tears began to slow. She sighed. "I really missed you, J. I'm sorry I left."

"Probably still sleeping," Cecilie said, her voice slightly hoarse. "Come in, I'll make you some hot chocolate and you can tell me everything, okay?" She kissed his forehead softly like she'd used to.

[bibliophile;]

Kris stayed by his side as she watched her children.

Jamie nodded. "I missed you too. I could't sleep fir weeks you know."

JJ nodded and walked in. "Dad's at work?"