Emma tensed again, and Fido raised her head with her ears sticking up in alarm. That’s confirmation she wants to remain in town for 2 and a half months at least. “What about your veterinary nursing course?” Emma thanked her quick wit, and she ignored Fido’s stare. She ran a hand back through her short red hair anxiously. “You can’t have that much time off without deferring your course. You can’t even stick around for a month without risking that.”

“Then it’s a good job I’ve decided I like human people more than animals then, huh?” Jessie sat up and swung her legs around to jump to her feet. 

“…what?”

“I have the same nursing degree as you do. I’ve decided not to re-specialise after all. I volunteered under a vet for a couple of weeks and hated it.” Jessie shrugged and went to the bedroom to retrieve the champagne from her suitcase under her bed. Emma followed her and stood over her as Jessie lowered to her knees to fish around for her bubbly. 

“Wait, so, you’re not going to be a veterinary nurse anymore?”

“Nope.”

“Why am I just hearing about this now?” Emma barked, and Fido came to her side. Your eyes are glowing. Shit. Emma cleared her throat and calmed herself in time for Jessie to jump up with a bottle of champaign in each hand. 

“Because I thought it was something I should tell you in person.” Jessie smiled and offered a bottle to Emma. “After all? You and I had plans to work and live in a big city together, and now you’re settling down in Glen Valley. I mean, I get it.” Jessie was quick to add and her smile seemed genuinely happy. “The apprenticeship your Ma and her beau got for you was a great opportunity. You even managed to beat the crazy out of Caleb enough so you didn’t knock his block off, and you’re going to marry him. That’s fantastic, Em.” 

“But?” Because there had to be a but. Emma could sense it behind Jessie’s smile. She accepted the bottle her friend offered her, and waited for the other shoe to drop. 

“But?” Jessie held the bottle she still held to her left hip and gesticulated with her right hand. “Your plans have changed, and so have mine, but that doesn’t mean they have to change that much. You’re basically madam mayor in this town. Your career has taken off. Your in love. It’s wonderful. “But surely there is still room in your life for your bestie? Because, well?” A rare vulnerability appeared in Jessie’s eyes, and she held Emma’s hand. The Luna couldn’t remember the last time she saw her friend looking so serious, and tender at the same time. “You know you’re my chosen family, right?”

Literally. 

Jessie’s parents were career people, and never around during her childhood. Even the nanny wasn’t interested in more than turning up, doing her job, and going home. Jessie’s existence had been a lonely one, before she met a blunt, sharp tongued redhead at middle school. They clicked right away, and Jessie spent as much time as possible at the Carter household. When she graduated high school, Delila and Connor Garland were in board meetings. Joanna Carter was there, with Beth, and they held a congratulations banner at the back of the assembly with both Emma and Jessie’s name on. Emma was prickly and slow to trust, but Jessie was the one person she would follow, well, anywhere. No one else could persuade Emma to put her books down and have her nails done, or go swimming, or play board games. No one else could make Emma feel like she could rock ‘the red dress’ and put on heels to go clubbing. 

Just like no one else made Jessie feel like she could stand up to her posh and absent parents and say if she wanted to be a nurse, she’d be a nurse, so fuck their trust fund. She would choose happiness over money, and work right beside Emma doing student jobs to pay her way. “No matter what kind of nurse I became, I was always going to live a life with you in it, Em. So?” Her curly hair bounced as she tipped her head to one side. “I won’t crowd you, but I don’t see a reason why I can’t be your bestie here as easily as I could in a big city. Don’t worry, I’m not going to move into your place and be a third wheel. I’ll have my own place and everything.” Emma laughed and more tears fell. She so badly wanted this. Yet at the same time, she knew exactly what the price to pay would be, to have Jessie as part of her life again. “Surely we can still do spa days, bottomless brunches and shake our booties here? Because news flash Em-train?” She tried to lighten the mood and smooth over the way she opened her heart so deeply to her friend. 

“B-but-”

“We’re social animals, we human-being-people.” Jessie cut her off and wiped away her own tears. “You’re a rockstar at work, and I’m happy you have allowed Caleb past your fortress of solitude and into the trust palace-” She knows you so well. She always has. “-but I still have permanent residence there, right? As your partner in crime and chief advisor to all things fun.” More tears fell, and they were both sobbing. “So stop trying to just solider on. I’ll make sure you don’t burn yourself out. Okay?” Jessie cleared her throat and blinked through her tears. “So I guess I wanted to come and see you in person to say the plan may have changed, but the destination has changed to Glen Valley.”

“Jessie you can’t just pick up and move to-”

“I can, I have, and I’m not asking.” She gave her one last hug, and Emma knew there would be no stopping her. She’s…staying. She’s staying for me. “Surely this town could use another nurse, right?” The other shoe dropped and winded Emma. “I’ll see if the local doctor’s could use a nurse, or a nearby town, and for now, I’ll make this apartment more my vibe.” Jessie looked around the apartment and expertly popped the cork of her champaign bottle away from her. “No dollies or figurines, but some colour wouldn’t go amiss. We can have a girl’s night tonight, and then tomorrow I’ll go shopping for some essentials. And swing by the doctor’s surgery to make enquiries. I’d say let’s sync our calendars again so we can coordinate around your clinic hours, and mine once I get a job.” Jessie turned with a dramatic spin and sipped her champaign directly from the bottle. “But Glen Valley’s cell signal is shit, and I can’t see a router or any wifi in here.”

“No…no you’ll need a satellite phone.” Emma swallowed thickly and wiped a tear from under her eye. A fruitless task, as the tears just kept flowing. It hit Emma hard just how much she’s missed Jessie.

The blonde took one look at her best friend, her shoulders bouncing, and sobbing as her walls came crumbling down. Jessie ran at her. She absently put her bottle down on the floor and threw her arms around Emma. “I-I’m sorry. I’ve missed you so much. So many times I-I wanted to call you to come out here…” But I couldn’t. With how crazy things have been here, from learning about werewolves, to becoming one, and then finding out I have witchy blood and hunters attacking, I-I’ve barely had time to have more than a phone call here and there with Jessie. Most of the time I just lied to her. I hated lying to her. 

“You fucking idiot.” Jessie’s hug was fierce. “I offered to come out here, and you told me you were fine. You have no idea how much I’ve worried about you. How much I’ve missed you too. I’ve been so lonely without you.” Emma cried, hugging the shorter woman tightly, but she looked over her shoulder at Fido. You know what this means. What we need to do. I don’t want to-yes you do. You’ve already thought about it. You want it. I can’t make that choice for her. You haven’t. She has made that choice for the both of you. And for one? Fido crept up behind Jessie and pressed her nose to the back of one of Emma’s hands. I approve. I like this one. She’ll be a fiercely loyal pack-mate. Perhaps a new Second? She is far too impulsive and scatter brained to be my Second. Vanessa’s job is safe. 

Outside the door, Jake leaned against the wall and cupped his hand to his mouth. He arrived shortly after they entered the apartment, and therefore, heard most of that exchange. He was also crying, and smiling against his palm. Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll help convince Emma to make you pack, and then I’ll sire you. You can be my new puppy, and I’ll teach you how grow into your pelt. You will have those spa days and bottomless brunches with your pack sister. I’m pretty sure I can get you a job at my practice too. It will be perfect. Jake used a hanky to dab his face and turned to reach for the door. I’ll mentor you at work, get to know you, and then, when the time comes, I’ll sire you. He knocked on the door and waited to be invited inside.