Let them bond

Knowing he had provoked Jason all through dinner the boy was a bit scared of being near Jason, so he still tried to find a way out and said "But, I am scared of big brother. He seemed pretty angry just now." "Ah no, don't be scared honey. Jason won't hurt you." Jenny said with a gentle expression before turning to face Jason "Tell him Jason." With an eerie smile Jason said "Yeah, James. Jenny's right. Seems like we got off on the wrong foot before. How about we go have a chat, man to man, hmm. That way we can get to know each other." Jenny being surprisingly gullible tonight didn't seem to be aware the tone of Jason's words and simply said "Taw, doesn't that sound nice James. Maybe you'll become friends after all." Wary of his intentions, the little boy glared at Jason, but he had no reason to refuse with Jenny looking at him. "I guess...". Jason smiles brightly to avoid Jenny's suspicion and says "Well, that settles it then. Why don't we head towards the living room James. We can chat while Jenny and my parents finish their desserts."

His unnatural smiling made the boy even more scared as he let Jason carry him out. It did not however stop him from glaring at Jason, because he didn't want to admit defeat, but his shaking body and voice betrayed his inner feelings. "W-where are you taking me? I-I am warning you, if you try to hurt me, I'll scream, and sis will get mad at you." Jason continued to creepily smile as he carried him through the living room. Seeing that they weren't stopping in the living room the boy started to panic and started kicking Jason in his side to get free, but Jason barely felt the boy's little feet hitting him and ignored his struggles. He walked him to the hall and placed the boy down on the stairs before taking a seat next to him. Feeling he had teased the boy enough Jason let up his expression. He could tell that Jenny was quite attached to this boy and this kid seemed very fond of Jenny as well, so he should try to get along with him as well as he probably will be coming around more after today. Besides, in Jason's mind someone who liked Jenny this much and was liked back, couldn't be all that bad.

"So, tell me James, what do you like about Jenny?" By now the boy had stood up on the step and had his back pressed against the wall in an attempt to maximize the distance between himself and Jason. He had been looking at Jason with a fearful expression, when this question came and took him by surprise. Seeing that the boy was still a bit untrusting towards him, Jason started telling the boy what he liked about Jenny instead. By doing that he figured that the boy would calm down and let his guard down and he was right. Slowly the boy's expression went from a fearful glare to a cheerful smile and without realizing it, the boy started to relax around Jason. He started answering his questions and even laughed at his jokes. Jenny had by now finished her dessert as well and was looking for the both of them when she saw that they weren't in the living room. Right before she was about to turn around the corner to the hallway, she heard Jason's calm voice and the boy's childish laughter from behind the half-closed door. She decided not to interrupt them when they appeared to be getting along so well and instead stood against the wall as she listened to them talk. She stood there for a good five minutes when she had overheard enough and walked away with a gentle smile to let them bond some more.

During their talk Jason realized that the boy was having a lonely childhood, much like his own, so he decided to treat him a bit kinder from now on. Both his parents worked and didn't have much time for him. Especially his father, who had recently started a company of his own. He had a hard time making friends at school, because he was a bit shy and aside from the girl Anne, he had no one. So, just like Jason, he had been drawn to the warmth and light that seemed to be coming from Jenny. Feeling her pure intentions, he felt safe around her and wanted to be close to her. James and the boy got along great and talked for over half an hour, when the doorbell rang.

Already being in the hallway, Jason walked to the door and opened it to find the boy's mother. She had come to pick him up as it was almost time for his bath and bedtime. However, the moment the boy saw his mother, he yelled out "No! I don't want to go home yet. I want to stay here. I still want to spend time with sister Jenny." The boy refused to leave and when James spotted Jenny, who had come to see what the commotion was about, he ran to her and clasped her leg. Regardless of his mother's pleading and promises of visiting another day, the boy refused to let go of Jenny's leg. Saying how he wanted to sleep next to Jenny and how he didn't want to leave yet.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what has gotten over him. He never behaves this way. He must have really enjoyed his time here today." The boy's mother said as she tried to pull the boy away from Jenny. Seeing the struggle, the boy's mother was having and seeing how she was starting to feel embarrassed, Jenny lowered herself to eye level with James making the boy look in her direction. "James, listen to me. Your mother came all the way here to pick you up and the way you are behaving right now isn't very nice. Is this the kind of boy you are?" James shook his head with his face hanging down. "It's just that today was so much fun, and I don't want it to end yet."

Jenny sighed and said, "I had fun too, but you can't put your mom on the spot like this. She wants to spend time with you too. I am sure she missed you after not being able to see you all day." "Yeah, I know. I missed her too. I just want to spend one night here. I will go back tomorrow. Can't I stay just for tonight?" James asked with pleading eyes. Jenny hesitated for a moment as she exchanged a glance with the boy's mother. "Very well, I will let you stay over tonight if your mom says it is okay..." The boy had already let go of her leg and had started cheering when she continued "...But, only for tonight and only if you promise that you will go back with your mother first thing tomorrow like a good boy, without a fuss. Deal?" James promised and excitedly ran to his mom to get her final approval. Once she confirmed that he really wouldn't be a bother, she thanked them all and wished them a good evening as she returned home without a son for the second time today.