The Greens of Jericho

I know it's a little late but I couldn't resist a Valentine's story.    I hope you  like it!!


DISCLAIMER: I do not own the television show Jericho or any part of it. The characters are not mine in any way. I am just borrowing them for a bit. I am not affiliated with CBS, the television show Jericho or the writers of Jericho.

The song at the end is by Perfect Stranger.   I did not write it.   I did not play the music for it.  I am not in any way affiliated with the band.   I just really really like the song and thought it fit the story well.

                                       
**********

Valentine's Day morning was beautiful.    Jake and Heather woke up with a beam of sunlight hitting them in the face.    The reflection of the sun off the snow made the room dazzlingly bright.    
 
Jake rolled onto his back and pulled the cord on the blinds.   He got up and put a couple more logs on the fire and then got back in bed.   It looked like he was going to doze back off.   Heather looked over at him, "He looks like a little boy when he is sleeping,"  Heather thought.    She reached over and stroked his stubbly cheek.   He smiled a soft, happy smile.
 
"Mornin'," he murmured.
 
Heather snuggled up to Jake and laid her head on his chest.   She could hear the slow, steady beat of his heart.   Jake put his arm around her and hugged her to him.   He started running his fingers thru her hair.
 
"You sound tired," Heather said, smiling.
 
Jake laughed quietly, "Well, I usually get more than 20 minutes sleep a night."   He kissed her on the top of her head.   "And you thought I would be disappointed?   You're about as perfect as it is possible to be."
 
Heather sighed a happy sound, "I like starting off the day in your arms.   It's a good feeling," she said seeming to melt into his side.
 
"Good, I plan on having you in my arms every morning for the next 70 or so years," Jake said, hugging her tightly.     He felt Heather smile against his chest.
 
Jake put his arm across his eyes to block the light and yawned again, "I'm ready for a nap.   I think I'll sleep the rest of the day."
 
Heather raised up and pulled the sheet around her.  Jake moved his arm enough to open one eye.
 
"What?", he said.
 
"How are we going to tell your parents and Jacob?"
 
Jake sat up in bed and propped himself against the headboard, "Heather, we're grown ups.   We don't have to explain anything to my parents.   Jacob knows.    He doesn't understand the why but he knows what was happening.    There is nothing to explain to anyone," he smiled at Heather, trying to break the tension, "The only question I have is am I going to get my t-shirt back?"
 
Heather looked down at the long sleeved white t-shirt she was wearing and laughed, "There is absolutely no chance of that," she said, pulling it tightly around her.
 
Jake laughed, "Oh, I'll get it back."
 
Heather pushed the blankets back and got up.    The t-shirt fell to the middle of her thighs.    She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and put her robe on.    She picked up the old-fashioned wind up alarm clock that had somehow gotten buried under Jake's towel from the night before.
 
"Oh no, Jake, it's 11 o'clock.    What are your parents going to think?," Heather said looked worried.
 
Jake stood up and stretched.    He walked up behind Heather, put his arms around her and kissed her cheek, "Don't worry about it.   It's OK.   I promise."    He looked down at his bare chest and then around the room.   "What am I supposed to put on?
 
Heather looked around and picked up a jacket from the chair beside the bed.   She smiled and handed it to Jake "Here ya go."
 
Jake looked down at the soft pink hoodie Heather had handed him.  "Ya know, pink just washes me out.   Maybe you have something in melon?   It brings out the flecks of green in my eyes", he said laughing.   He threw the jacket back into the chair and hugged her tightly from behind.   "Ummm.... you make me feel good."    
 
He took Heather by the hand and led her towards the door.  
 
He opened the door and stopped so suddenly that Heather ran into him.   Gail was sitting on the stairs right outside the door.
 
"Well, hello, my sleeping beauties," Gail said with an edge to her voice, "is there something you want to tell me?"
 
Jake looked at his mother, "Um...no I don't think so.   I think you might have it all figured out."   Heather blushed a deep red.
 
"Well, I didn't," Gail said, "until your 8 year old son informed everyone this morning."
 
"He did what?", Jake asked, "Who exactly is "everyone"?"
 
"Well, lets see, who was here this morning.   Me, Johnston, April and Eric.     Johnston asked him to go upstairs and get you and he informed us you weren't upstairs.   You were doing that "thing" in Heather's room.   You need to explain a few things to him and to me.    How exactly is it that an eight year knows about that anyway?"
 
"And where would Jacob be now?", Jake asked, walking over and grabbing his zip up jacket from the hook by the door.   "That "thing".   I can honestly say I haven't ever head it called that.   Mom, good Lord, there isn't a child his age that hasn't caught their parents at the most inconvenient time.   And no...he didn't catch us last night before you ask.    Jacob also had friends with older brothers who weren't the most discreet people in the world and then there is always cable television.   The world hasn't been innocent in a long time."
 
"Jacob is outside with your father.   You need to talk to your son.   He is embarrassed."
 
"Why do you think he is embarrassed?"
 
"Well, it was pretty obvious Jake.    When he said "the thing", I looked at him and said "the thing".  It hadn't hit me yet what he was talking about.   He looked at me and turned bright red.   He said, "Yes, the "thing".  Please don't make me explain it.   It's really disgusting.   Why would anyone want to do that?"   I think that's embarrassed, Jake.   He looked mortified."
 
"How do you explain sex to an eight year old?", Jake thought.   "I think we just leave it alone.    I'll answer questions if he asks them."    Jake said as he grabbed his jacket, slipped on his shoes and went outside.
 
Heather turned redder.   Gail looked at her and patted the step beside her, "Sit down, Heather.    Are you sure you know what you're doing?   Getting involved with Jake could be a roller coaster ride.   I love my son and I don't want to talk bad about him but there are lots of things you probably don't know.   Are you sure you are ready it?   How do you feel about Jacob?   It's a package deal."
 
"Mrs. Green, I have never been more sure.   I love your son.   I don't care about his past.   It is totally unimportant to me.   I want to get to know Jacob better.   I want to be his friend and more if he will let me," Heather said, looking Gail in the eye.
 
Gail smiled at her and hugged her, "In that case, welcome to the family.   One thing, please don't call me Mrs. Green.   That was my mother-in-law (making a face as she said it).   My name is Gail or Mom.   Which ever you feel comfortable with.    The same goes for Johnston.   Call him Johnston or Dad.    We're glad you joined us."
 
                                       
**********
 

Johnston, Jake, Eric and Jacob came in stomping snow off their feet.      Heather noticed that the side of Eric and Jake's heads was plastered in snow.
 
"What happened to you?" Heather and Gail asked at almost the same time.
 
"I don't think I've ever told you about Jake's throwing arm have I?", Jake asked, brushing snow out of his hair,  "He has almost perfect aim.    It seems as if he and Dad spent the morning making a snow fort with lots of ammunition.   I tried to warn Eric before he walked up the driveway but he wouldn't listen to me."
 
Gail got up laughing, "I'm going to finish lunch while you guys get dried off.    I went digging in the pantry and found a few things I had forgotten about so we have a treat for lunch."
 
"Let me get dressed and I'll help you," Heather said.
 
Jake looked at Jacob and motioned towards the stairs, "Come with me.   We need to have a talk."
 
                                       
**********  
 

Jake closed the bedroom door and motioned Jacob to sit on the bed.
 
"Ok, I understand there was a discussion at the breakfast table this morning.    Gran thinks we need to have a talk about it.     Do you have any questions about sex, Jacob?"
 
Jacob's eyes got big and he turned bright red and vigorously shook his head, "I don't want to talk about it, Dad."
 
"You don't have to but if you ever do......"
 
                                       
**********
 

After Jacob left the bedroom, Jake got dressed and started digging in the closet.   He pulled out 2 wrapped boxes.   He had done some work for Mr. Clark, the owner of the toy store,  so  he could get two Star Wars Lego models.   Jacob had been wanting the Imperial Cruiser and X-Wing Fighter before the bombs.    Jake was happy he had been able to get them for him.     He pulled out his travel bag.   This bag had gone all over the world with him.    He dug around in it and finally found what he was looking for.    He had had to go to Saudi for 2 weeks during the summer and while he was there he had gone shopping for prizes for Jacob, Mikey and Joe Jr.    He had been walking thru a market and for some reason he had bought a delicate gold necklace with a blush pink diamond heart pendant on it.    He didn't know what had possessed him to buy it and he had kept it tucked in his bag for months.    He thought it would be perfect for Heather.   He would give it to her this evening.  The last thing he pulled out was a silver double picture frame he had bought on that same trip.   He pulled his laptop case out of the closet and got out his picture album.   He chose a baby picture of Jacob and a picture made this past summer of him and Jacob on the beach together and put them in the frames.   He thought his mother would like that.      
 
He stepped out in the hallway and yelled down the stairs, "Hey, Jake, come here a minute."
 
Jacob came bounding up the stairs.
 
"Do you know what today is?", Jake asked.
 
"No.  What?"
 
"It's Valentine's Day", Jake said smiling.   He handed Jacob the box with the picture frame in it.  "Give this to your Gran and tell her "Happy Valentine's Day".   It will make her very happy."
 
Jacob smiled and ran down the stairs yelling, "Hey, Gran, where are you."   Jake followed him downstairs carrying the gifts that Jacob had completely missed.
 
Jacob was standing in front of Johnston and Gail in the living room with the box hidden behind his back.   He pulled the box out and handed it to Gail.  "Happy Valentine's Day!"
 
Tears came to Gail's eyes, "What's this?"
 
"It's your present.   Open it, open it," Jacob said excitedly.
 
Gail slowly opened the box and tears started flowing down her cheeks, "Thank you, Sweetheart," she said hugging her grandson, "I love it."
 
Jake walked into the living room and looked at Jacob, "Ok, that's not the only present.    Close your eyes.   I don't have any candy but Happy Valentine's Day, Bud."
 
Jacob opened his eyes and grinned from ear to ear.    Jake was holding 2 wrapped packages.    Jake had counted on his mom to still have her stash of wrapping paper and gift bags and she did.     Jacob immediately ripped into them.      
 
"Wow, Dad, thanks!" Jacob said, giving his father a rare hug.   He took the boxes over to his spot in front of the fireplace and started examining the contents.
 
He caught Heather's gaze and he smiled at her.    
 
Jake walked over to Eric and quietly asked, "Is Mary having her usual Valentine's party?"
 
"Yeah, she has been saving her generator rations for a week.   I think it'll be a good time tonight."
 
"We'll be there," Jake said, looking over at Heather and smiling.
 
                                       
**********
 

After lunch Heather and Jake volunteered to clean up the kitchen.    Johnston and Gail went upstairs to take a nap.    Jacob was upstairs in his bedroom starting on one of his models.
 
"So," Jake said, drying a dish,"what did my mother say after I went outside this morning?"
 
"Not much," Heather said, handing Jake another dish, "she welcomed me to the family and told me to call her either Gail or Mom.   She said I am supposed to do the same with your dad"
 
Jake could sense a small bit of nervous tension in Heather.   He smiled and looked over at her, "Well, if it were me, I wouldn't call him Gail or Mom.    Try Johnston or Dad.   He'll probably go more for that."
 
Heather looked over at him and saw the joking smile on his face and relaxed and smiled back.
 
"I was wondering if you wanted to go over to Bailey's with me tonight?", Jake asked nervously, "Eric says Mary is planning her usual Valentine's blowout.   There will probably be a lot of people there.   If you don't want to its OK, we can hang out here but I thought it might be fun."
 
Heather smiled shyly at Jake, "I would love to.   Do you think your parents will babysit?"
 
"I'm pretty sure they will," Jake said.
 
                                       
**********
 

Jake and Heather walked into Bailey's holding hands.      Stanley and Mimi were over in the large corner booth.  Stanley stood up and motioned them over.    Emily had watched Jake and Heather come in.   She saw them holding hands.   The taste of sour jealousy quickly flooded her mouth.     By all rights it should be her holding Jake's hand and sitting beside him and laughing and touching him on the arm and leg.     She could take many things but seeing Jake looking so happy and content with another woman wasn't one of them....even if it was Heather.   Maybe it was worse because it was Heather.    Emily gulped her drink and motioned for another.    It had been a mistake for her and Roger to come here tonight.    
 
                                       
**********
 

The atmosphere up in the corner booth was friendly and happy.
 
"Come on, Stanley, dance with me," Mimi said, trying to convince him to dance.
 
"I don't dance when I am still this sober and the music is that fast.   Wait til a slow one," Stanley said laughing.
 
"You are such a nudge," Mimi said.
 
"Mimi, when your feet are as big as Stanley's it is dangerous to do anything but sway," Jake said, laughing and ducking as Stanley threw a piece of popcorn at him.
 
Jake, Heather and Mimi had danced to several songs while Stanley watched.    Finally, after about an hour someone played "My Heart Will Go On".      Stanley held his hand out to Mimi and they went to the dance floor.
 
Heather looked over at Jake, "I am going to go to the restroom.   I'll be back in a minute."
 
She got up and slowly made her way to the back of the bar.   Jake felt this would the perfect time to give Heather her Valentine's gift.   When he thought no one was looking to slowly walked towards the bathroom.     He knew that Heather was the only one in there.   He has been watching the door.    He jimmied the lock on the door and let himself in.
 
(Emily watched the whole thing from her perch at the bar.   Her eyes were starting to burn green with jealousy.   It wasn't fair.   They hadn't heard the end of this.)
 
"It's occupied," Heather called from the stall, thinking she hadn't locked the door.
 
"Yeah, I know," Jake said.
 
"Jake, is that you?"
 
"It's me."
 
Heather came out of the stall.   "Is everything alright?"
 
"Everything is perfect as far as I can tell," Jake said, "there is just one thing.   You haven't gotten your Valentine's gift yet."
 
Heather looked doubtfully around the small dark bathroom, "In the bathroom, Jake?"
 
Jake laughed out loud and smiled his patented Jake Green smirk, "Your mind is in the gutter little girl.  That's not what I meant.   It does have potential though", he said walking over to the sink counter and pretending to test the strength of it.   He turned around, smiled at her and pulled her over to him.   He kissed her on the forehead.   "Turn around and close your eyes," he said.
 
Heather turned around and closed her eyes, wondering what was going on.   Jake put the necklace on her and kissed her neck.  "Ok, open your eyes."
 
"Oh, Jake," Heather looked down at the necklace and tears came to her eyes,  "It's beautiful."
 
"Happy Valentines Day, Heather," he said turning her around.
 
He took her in his arms and gave her a soft,slow kiss.   Her hands went to his neck and into his hair as she leaned into him and returned his kiss.   Jake's hands slowly moved down to the small of her back.   He pulled her closer and his hands slowly moved down to cup her butt.     She started giggling.    
 
Jake pulled away and smiled in confusion.
 
She pulled his face down to hers and hugged him and pulled away with her hands over her face and laughed again.
 
"What's so funny," Jake said, confused.
 
"I'm sorry.   It's not funny.   It's just that....I mean it's us, it's me and it's you.   It's us.   We've crossed a line.   It's a thing now."
 
Jake leaned in and kissed her again.   "Yeah, it's a thing.   It's a big thing."
 
They left the bathroom.    The song that was playing was perfect for slow dancing.    Jake pulled Heather to the dance floor and took her in his arms.   They barely moved to the music, their mouths didn't say a word, but their eyes were locked and they were speaking volumes.
 
     Tonight we crossed the borderline into a world thats new
     And we dont know what we might find waiting for me and you
     Your wanting me to lead the way as you hold on to my hand
     Well this is all so new to me but Ill do the best I can

     Im glad its you thats here with me in this strange new place
     And you feel the same way too I see it all in your face
     Its hard for us to catch our breath as wonder fills our eyes
     The longer that were here the more this feels like paradise
                                                      -----Perfect Stranger

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Thanks for reading my stories. I love to know if you like my story so feedback is very much appreciated and welcome! Thanks again for reading!!

SherryG