After his talk with Sam, Michael just wanted to get home and apologize for everything he's said.  He knew his brother was right.  Even though he hated to admit it.

"Drink your water!"

"I am!  I'm fine.. Sam, I feel bad."

"Yeah, you should."

"Mom has been through so much and.. *Sighs* I just feel terrible. I'm a terrible son."

"No you're not a terrible son.. You're just a terrible person."

"Thanks." Michael says sarcastically.

"I'm just playing. You're just a kid.. Sometimes life sucks and it fucks with your head..
You should just be thankful you have someone as wise as I am for an older brother."

Michael rolls his eyes and looks out the window.

**

By the time they got home everyone was already back from the restaurant.

"Michael!" Jessica jumped up and ran to him with tears pouring down her face.

"I'm sorry, mom.  I'm so sorry!"

"Baby, it's okay!  I just want you to stop drinking!  It's not good." She nods.

"I know.. Mom, I don't hate you."

"I know you don't.  It just hurt me so bad hearing you say it with so much anger."

"I'm so sorry."

"Stop apologizing.  Just please stop whatever your doing.  You're my son and I love you.  I want you to take care of yourself."

"I will, ma."

Michael walks over to Zachary and says, "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean the things I said."

"I know." He nods.

"I'm lucky to have you as a brother.. Coach, I'm lucky to have you as a step father.. I'm lucky to have my other brothers and my beautiful mom.. I'm lucky to have little Nova." He smiles with tears in his eyes.

"I love you too, little bug!" He chuckles as he stares at her in Danny's arms.

"Caroline, Tiff and Alyssa, I apologize for my behavior..."

"See?  That's a good boy." Jessica smiles and hugs him tight.

**

"Mom, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure baby, come in."

"Your boobs aren't flying about, are they?"

"Samuel!  No!" She laughs.

"Okay good!"

Sam walks in and sits on the foot of her bed.

"What's up?"

"I'm worried about Michael.  He's really upset over dad and I know he's always had anxiety and he's been depressed.  He's turning to alcohol and it just really worries me."

Jessica sighs and sits on the chair that was across the bed right by the baby's bassinet. 

"Oh gosh..
I knew it would affect him differently.  He was so young when your father passed.. The good thing is, is Zachary is with him and I know he'll tell me exactly what's going on. 
.. I'm gonna talk to him before he leaves."

"Don't tell him I said anything."

"I won't.  Thank you for coming to me."

"Sure."

***

The next morning before the boys left Jessica made a cake that said Happy Birthday Mike and Zach.

"Ooh cake!  Thanks mom!" Zachary hugs her and kisses her cheek.

"Yeah, thank you, ma!"

"You're welcome, boys!  I just hate that I won't see you both on your birthday's, so I'm spoiling you as much as I can.. So happy Birthday!"

"Haha, That's so sweet!"

After their cake for breakfast Jessica needed to change Nova's diaper.

"Oh your booty's smelly, baby girl!  Let's go change you.
Michael can I see you for a second?"

"Sure."

They walk into the nursery and Jessica begins changing the baby's diaper.

"Oh man, that kid is ripe!"

"Stop it!" She laughs.

"Michael, I wanted to talk to you about the dangers of drinking."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Michael listen..
Your father and I.. Danny and I.. We've raised you to be a responsible young man.  I know that it can all feel like too much sometimes, but you are strong and you can handle it.
.. Please do not turn to drinking or to drugs.  Your life is so so precious and you don't need that kind of stuff ruining it."

"Yes ma'am."

"I love you.. and I just want the best for you."

"I know.  I love you too." Michael gives her the slightest smile and gives her a long tight hug.

"Now go and study, study, study!  Make us proud, baby." Jessica rubs his back and holds back her tears.

***

Grayson's first day of school.

"Is my baby boy ready for kindergarten?!"

"Yes mommy!  I'm ready!"

"Awesome, buddy!"

"Is daddy taking me too?"

"Yes he is!  He wouldn't miss your special day!"

"Good!  And all my friends can meet my baby sister, Nova!"

"Mhm!"

"And after school I'm going to Shawn's!"

"You have a pretty fun day ahead of you, huh baby?"

"I do!" He smiles and sticks a piece of fruit in his mouth.

"Is Nova hungry too? I can share my food!" Grayson says as the baby begins to fuss

"Awe thank you baby! She's still little, so I'm gonna feed her."

"Oh right! She likes boobie milk! Haha, silly Grayson!"

"Silly Grayson!" Jessica giggles.

**

"She's eating so loud!" Grayson laughs.

"She is, isn't she?" Jessica chuckles.

"Oh no! Mommy, Sam and Tiffany's coming down! Put your boobies away!"

"Okay baby." She laughs and covers up.

Nova stops eating and cries.

"She doesn't like the dark! Sam, Tiffany! Stay there so mommy can feed Novies in the light!"

"Heh, it's okay baby. I'll just go to the other room. Go grab your backpack and wait for me in the living room."

"Okay, momma!" He smiles and hops off his chair.

**

Danny came and picked them up so they could take Grayson to school.

"Have a fun day, bud! I'll see you after your play date, okay?"

"Okay daddy! Thanks for taking me to school!" Grayson smiles sweetly.

"No problem, bud! I wouldn't have missed it" He smiles.

Grayson hugs him tight and buries his face in Danny's chest.

"Bye momma!"

"Bye baby. You have a good day!" Jessica kisses his lips.

"Wait smile!  I need another picture!  You can never have to many of this handsome face!"

"Got it!  Oh gosh, So handsome!"

"Hah!  Thanks!  Bye Nova! *Gasp* "I forgoted! Guys come see my baby sister! She came out, guys! She's not in my mommy's tummy no more!"

"She's cute, Grayson!" His little friend Madison says.

"Thanks! My mommy made her!" He looks up to Jessica and she giggles at his cuteness.

"She made a lot of babies!  Good job!  She made me too.. *Smiles* Thanks, mommy!" He gives her a thumbs up.

"Haha!  My pleasure!" Jessica says cutely.

**

After school.

"How was your day, my love?"

"Great! I sit next to my best friend and a hot girl!"

"Grayson!"

"Smokin'!" He smirks.

"My goodness, little boy! You're five years old, calm down! You need to stop hanging around Sam so much!"

Grayson laughs and asks, "Can we go to Shawn's now?"

"Yep!"

"Awesome!"

Jessica laughed at how cute he was. He was suddenly this little boy now and not a baby. He's growing so fast.

**

The boys played while their mothers talked in the living room.

"My goodness, she is such a good baby!"

"Thank you!  I know, I was definitely blessed with her!  She's good." Jessica giggles and kisses Nova's nose.

"How old is she now?"

"Eleven weeks."

"Wow!"

"Yep!  Three months old next week!  My baby girl!"

Nova smiles at her mother and Jessica's heart melts.

"Everytime I see that little smile I just melt!  No wonder I had so many!" She laughs.

"I want another one!  Shawn needs a little sibling."

"You should!  I'm so happy my boys have so many siblings."

"Yeah.."

Grayson's POV.

"Boom!  My car wrecked yours!"

"Haha! We should go to the pool! I know how to swim!"

"I don't know how to swim." Grayson nods.

"My daddy taught me!"

"Oh.. Hey! Did you know I had two daddy's?"

"You do?! But one of them looks like a mommy!"

"No that IS my mommy! Her names Jessica!"

"Ohhh!"

"Yeah! I have two daddy's. One is my real daddy named Sam and one is my new daddy named Danny.  I only know Danny.  But he's the bestest!" Grayson smiles wide.

"Where's your real daddy?"

"He's in Heaven! I go visit him sometimes and I like climbing on his sign!"

"Your daddy died?"

"Mhm." He nods his head.

"Did you ever see him before?"

"No.. He went to Heaven while I was still in my mommy's tummy.."

"Oh! Maybe he just didn't like you and he didn't want to be here with you."

"No! That's not true! My daddy loves me!"

"Then why did he leave?"

Hearing that broke Grayson's little heart. Of course he believed his friend. He's only five and will believe anything anyone says.

"My daddy does love me.." Grayson lowers his head and pouts with tears in his eyes.

"No he doesn't!" Shawn laughs.

"YES HE DOES!" Grayson shouts before running to his mother.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

"Grayson! What's wrong, baby?" Jessica panics when she sees him in tears.

Shawn said my daddy doesn't love me and that's why he died! Mommy, I don't want him to hate me!" Grayson buries his face in her neck and clings to his mother as he sobs.

"Oh baby boy! Your daddy didn't pass away because he didn't love you! He was sick, precious. Your daddy loves you with all his heart.. He always will."

Jessica tears up as she comforts her son.
Meanwhile Shawn's mother walks upstairs to get after him.

"I want my daddy, mommy! I want my daddy!"

"Honey, I know."

"I want both of them! Can my other daddy come back home to us? Please mommy! I'll be a good boy!"

"Oh Grayson! I'm so sorry, baby! It just doesn't work that way. I wish it did, but it doesn't."

"Can we go see him?"

"Of course, baby!"

**

"Jessica, I am so so sorry!"

"It's okay. He didn't mean it."

"He will be grounded for a long time!" The woman gives a stern look to her son.

"What do you say, Shawn?"

"I'm sorry, Grayson."

Grayson sniffles and turns his head to face his mother's neck.

**

Jessica text Danny that she would be a little later then she planned.  She drove over to the cemetery, got the carrier out and followed Grayson.

He knew the way and ran all the way to his father.

"Daddy!" He hugged his Sign.

"I love you.. Do you love me?"

"Of course he does, Grayson."

".. Momma, I wanna see him.  The boys talk about him.. But I don't know him."

"Honey I'm sorry.. Daddy is always with you, baby."

"Mommy I don't want to hurt my other daddy's feelings.. I just want them both here with me."

"You know what daddy told me right before he went to be with Jesus?"

"What?" He sniffles and wipes his cheeks.

"He said he would never leave us.  He's always with you Grayson.. He's with all of us."

"But he didn't know me.  He didn't know I was in your tummy."

"Well guess what?"

"What?"

"Daddy came up to me one day and he said, "Jessie!  Jessie!  I want to have another baby!  Let's do it!" and guess what!"

"What?"

"I said yes and that's when you came along.  He always wanted you, baby.  He wanted you so bad!"

"He got me.. Why did Jesus take him?"

It hurt Jessica to hear him ask these questions but she knew he would eventually be at the age where these thoughts would enter his mind.

"Honey.. I once had a dream about daddy and your little friend in Heaven-"

"My sister?"

"Your sister?" Jessica questioned because he always talks about his friend in Heaven.

"Yeah, she told me she's my little sister."

"That's so sweet." Jessica smiles softly.

"Yeah.. What were you saying, mommy?"

"Oh!  Well daddy said that once God decides that you're absolutely perfect, he calls you home.  Daddy was just perfect.. Your little sister was always perfect.  God knew it was his time.. Your daddy didn't suffer for months or years.. He went peacefully in our home with Sam, James, Michael, me.. and you by his side."

"I was there?"

"You were there, Grayson!  You were in my tummy.. You were there, baby." She smiles softly.

A smile appears on Grayson's face and he looks off into the distance.

"I was there."