I Miss You

The restaurant where Otohime worked wasn't just for dining; it had the added bonus of lodging. Above the lively dining space, a series of rooms doubled as an inn. With the unfamiliarity of the place and Jack's seemingly vast family in tow, Otohime led them to one such room.

The door opened to reveal a modest space with a lone double bed. Given the sheer number of people with Jack, Otohime's eyebrows raised in surprise. "I assumed you might need more space," she commented, confusion evident in her voice.

Jack only offered her a calm smile. "This will do just fine."

Behind him, young Aria clenched the hem of her dress, her small frame overshadowed by the adults around her. She looked to her father, her big eyes silently asking a thousand questions.

After they'd settled the bill, Otohime gave them a slight bow, her instincts tingling with confusion. "If you need anything, let me know," she said, her voice filled with kindness and a hint of concern. She then stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.

The silence in the room was palpable. The family looked from one person to another, waiting for Jack's next move. He didn't need many words; his calm blue eyes spoke volumes.

Sophie, breaking the silence, asked, "So, how's this going to work, Jack?"

Jack's eyes met hers, "The Bead," was his simple response.

Aria, always attuned to her father's ways, knew instantly. "We're going to the island, Daddy?" Her voice was soft, not needing reassurance, but seeking understanding.

Jack bent down to her level, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, Princess. You all will go. I'll stay here. Get some rest."

Amelia watched as one by one, the members of Jack's extended family slipped into the mysterious space within the Bead. The youngest ones, Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold, were hesitant, looking up at Jack with big eyes. Sandersonia copied the words of those around her, murmuring, "Go... island?" Marigold, not yet proficient in speech, merely whimpered, reaching out for Jack.

Jack, ever calm, gently nudged them forward, assuring them without words. Ponis, who was now burning with adventurous spirit after months of traveling with them, needed little convincing. Titi, Shakky, and the others also understood the necessity of the move.

Robin, the three-year-old, tried to form a sentence, "We... go, Daddy?" Jack smiled gently at the Little One, nodding. "Yes, Little One. Go with the others. Be safe."

Sophie tried to cajole the youngest ones, "Come on, kids. It's just for a while. We'll be back with Jack soon." Her gaze lingered on Jack for a moment longer than necessary, as if she wanted to say more.

As the last of them prepared to step into the Bead's realm, Aria held onto Jack's leg, her eyes silently challenging his decision. "Daddy, why?"

Jack knelt, cupping her face. "Princess, it's safer in the island. I'll be right here when you return." Aria, brave beyond her years, nodded, giving him a quick hug before joining the others.

Now, the room was nearly empty, save for Amelia who stood at the back, her face a mix of emotions. Jack noticed, his usually calm blue eyes studying her. "Amelia," he started, his voice cool but not unkind.

The sunlight that filtered through the room, courtesy of the magnificent Sunlight Tree Eve, cast a warm orange glow over everything. With his family safe within the Bead, Jack stood alone in the room, the weight of his many responsibilities pressing down on him. His usually unyielding face remained expressionless, but his blue eyes, which always bore his emotions, betrayed a flicker of sadness.

Amelia, the room's only other occupant, stood at a distance. The air around them thickened with unresolved tension. After Aria's birth, the chasm between them had grown, despite Jack's clear affection for their daughter.

Finally, breaking the heavy silence, Amelia whispered, her voice quivering, "I miss you, Jack."

He turned to face her, his calm blue eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, neither spoke, the years of unsaid words and feelings stretching out between them.

She took a shaky breath and continued, "I know we're together, every day, always within reach of each other. But it feels like there's a world between us."

Jack said nothing but continued to study her, his gaze unyielding yet not unkind.

"Do you remember how it used to be? Just the two of us?" Amelia's voice was soft, barely audible. She took a step towards him, her hands reaching out, then hesitating, falling back to her side. "I miss... us. The closeness, the laughter, the moments when our world was just the two of us."

Amelia hesitated, the unresolved tension between them seeming like a tangible wall. "Do you even remember how it was, Jack?" Her voice trembled. "When it was just you and me against the world? No complications, no secrets… just us."

Sunlight filtered into the room, courtesy of the Sunlight Tree Eve, lending a soft illumination to the room. It spotlighted the distance between them - not just in space but in the years of misunderstanding and buried emotions.

Jack's stoic demeanor remained unbroken, but Amelia could see a hint of something deeper in his calm blue eyes. The same eyes that once looked at her with such passion and tenderness. "I haven't forgotten, Amelia," he replied, his voice low.

She swallowed, memories of their past flooding her. "I see you every day, Jack, yet it feels like you're miles away." Her hands shook as she clasped them together. "It's not the family, not the children. It's the walls you've built. And I understand why… after what I did. But I did it out of love, out of fear."

He took a step toward her, the gap between them diminishing. "Love and fear can make us do things we might regret. I won't deny the hurt, Amelia, but I also won't deny the love we had… have."

The room was thick with tension. "I miss the laughter, the love, the moments where it was just us. Every time you come home, I hope that maybe today will be the day you look at me like you used to. Not as Aria's mother, but as Amelia... your Amelia."

His jaw tensed, but he said nothing. She continued, "You've brought so many into our lives, and I accept them all, but when will it be our time again? I don't need grand gestures, Jack. I need you."

In response, Jack closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her waist. He wasn't one for words, but he let his actions do the talking. Pulling her close, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his breath warm against her skin. "Amelia," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, "I care about you."

Amelia's heart raced as his embrace brought a rush of emotions. She craved this closeness, but his words, though tender, weren't quite what she hoped for. She bit back a disappointed sigh, reminding herself of the weight of their past actions.

Feeling the subtle change in her demeanor, Jack pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. The stormy depths of his usually calm blue gaze met hers, a rare vulnerability evident. "I love you, Amelia," he confessed, his voice barely more than a breath.

The weight of those words, ones she'd been aching to hear, was almost overwhelming. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Do you really mean that, Jack?"

The silence hung heavily between Jack and Amelia, the weight of their past evident in their proximity. The Sunlight Tree Eve's soft light bathed the room in a warm, orange hue. Shadows played across the walls, dancing to the rhythm of their labored breathing.

Jack didn't say anything for a long moment, letting the atmosphere settle, digesting the raw emotions spilled by Amelia. Slowly, he reached out, tilting Amelia's face up, making her meet his gaze. His usually stoic expression was replaced by a tenderness she hadn't seen in years. He leaned in, kissing her tear-streaked eyes gently, wiping away the pain and sadness. Moving to her cheeks, he left soft pecks, each carrying a silent promise of understanding, before finding her lips.

Their lips met hesitantly at first, a gentle exploration of each other, an acknowledgment of all that was said and unsaid. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a reconciliation of their shared past and a tentative bridge to a possible future. Amelia wrapped her arms around Jack's neck instinctively, holding onto him, fearing that if she let go, he'd fade away.

Jack deepened the kiss, pulling Amelia closer, letting her feel his emotions through the fervor of his actions. It was his way of communicating; not with flowery words, but raw, unbridled feelings. The room was thick with memories, passion, and a yearning for what was lost but could be regained.

They broke apart, breathless. Amelia's eyes searched Jack's, looking for assurance, for some sign that this was real and not just another fleeting moment. "Jack," she whispered, her voice heavy with hope and vulnerability, "Does this mean—?"

He interrupted her, his fingers tracing her jawline gently. "Amelia, what happened... what you did, I won't lie and say it didn't change things. It did. But that doesn't mean I forgot what we had... what we can still have."

She took a shaky breath, her voice trembling, "But Jack, every time I see you with Aria, I'm reminded of how I wronged you. I love her, our daughter, but the guilt—"

He silenced her with a soft kiss. "She's our daughter, Amelia. Despite the circumstances of her birth, she is the best part of both of us. You don't need to live in the shadow of guilt. We both made mistakes."

She stared deep into his calm blue eyes, the seas of emotion swirling within them reflecting his genuine feelings. "It's not just about Aria," she confessed, her voice cracking. "I miss us, Jack. The way we were."

He pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her in a protective embrace. "I do too," he murmured into her hair.

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