Zachary went to his room and Jessica went back to the living room where Danny was.

Danny turned around and saw Jessica in tears.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"Zach gave me my Christmas present."

"Was it that bad?"

Jessica turns the pillow towards him and Danny pauses.

"Oh... Ohana..
Nobody gets left behind... Or forgotten." He whispers that last part.

"Daniel, I don't know how I've gotten so lucky..
I never thought in my life that I would fall in love with any other man besides Sam, and I never imagined loving another child like my own.  Zachary reminds me so much of my boys.  They all have a heart of gold.
The card he gave me.. The words he spoke.." Jessica choked up a bit.

"He's amazing, Daniel."

Danny smiles softly and wraps his arms around her.

"He loves you so much.
You know, Grayson wanted a dad so bad.. And Zachary... The poor kid has always wanted a mom.. I remember how hard it was when ever kids would talk about their moms, or ask why he didn't have one.. I would have to explain that he has a mom.. It's just different.
Mother's Day in school was always the hardest... Kids would be making cards for their moms, or grandmothers.. My son had neither."

***

2007.
A few days before Mother's Day.

After Danny got out of school for the day, he picked Zachary up from aftercare.

"Hey bud! How was school?" Danny picks him up and kisses his cheek.

Zach looked down and didn't answer.

"Hey what's wrong? Is everything okay?"

He nods his head and Danny says, "How about I take you to McDonald's and we talk about it?"

"Okay.."

Danny sits Zachary's happy meal down in front of him, but he didn't even acknowledge that it was there.

Zach looked down and fiddled with his thumbs.

"Zach. Can you tell me what's bothering you, please?"

Zachary looks at Danny with red watery eyes.

"Today in school we had to make cards.."

"Cards? Well that's not so... Oh." Danny sighs and pauses for a moment.

"Come here, bud."

Zachary hips out of his chair and runs over to Danny.

He puts him on his lap and Zachary lays on his father's chest.

"Zach.. I know this is hard.. I don't even know what to tell you.. I'm so sorry."

"I told my teacher that I don't have a mommy, so she said to write one for my grandma.. But we don't see her anymore." He bursts into tears.

Danny tries his best to hold it together for his son.

"Listen bud.. I should have said something.. I just... I wasn't thinking. But Zach.. You'll always have a mom.. It's just different now. Remember Ohana?"

Zachary nods and says, "Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. That's what mommy said."

"That's right, Zach!
... Did you end up writing your card?"

Zachary nods his head and sniffles.

"It's in my backpack."

"Can I see it?"

Zachary hops off of Danny unzips his bag.

He hands him the card and Danny smiles softly.

"I love my mommy in Heaven and I miss her this much!" Was written next to a drawing of a scribble scrabbled stick figure with long arms.

"Best Mommy ever!!!" and hearts were also written on the card.

"This is so good!"

"Do you think mommy would like it?"

"I know she loves it."

"Hey.. Why don't we take this to mommy? We can buy some flowers and bring her your special card." He smiles.

"Okay!"

"Now eat your chicken nuggets before I steal them!" Danny tries joking with him.

"No!" Zachary giggles.

**

Danny took him to Camille's grave and Zachary placed the card neatly in the colorful flowers.

He sat down on his knees and folded his hands together as he hung his head forward and spoke to his mom.

"I really miss you, mommy.. I wish you didn't leave me and daddy.. If you were still here, we would be happy.... and Grandma and grandpa wouldn't be mad at us.."

Hearing that broke Danny's heart.

"Zach, your grandparents aren't mad.. It's just.. It's just difficult."

Zachary looks at his father, then down at his mom and starts crying.

"I want my mommy! *Sobs* Daddy, get her back! Please get her back!!"

"Zachary, I can't do that.." Danny starts crying.

"But why?! I want a mommy like everyone else! Why did she leave, daddy? Why did she leave us?!"

Danny didn't know what to say to him. He felt so lost and confused.
He just held him in his arms and they both cried and cried until Zachary wore himself out and fell asleep on Danny.

He looked down and felt his son's peaceful steady breathing, then looked at his wife's grave and said, "How could you do this? I loved you.. Zachary loved you. How could break us apart like this? I was here for you, I could have helped you! You should still be here! Our son is five years old.. The memories he has of you will fade.. You're his mother, why aren't you here?!" Danny sobs and holds his son in his arms.

***

"That was probably the worst..
The first Mother's Day without her, he didn't understand. He cried for her and missed her, but it was nothing like this.
When the subject of moms come up, he gets really quiet.."

"That's so sad. I can't believe your parents. They've never called?"

"Not once."

"Wow.."

*Sighs* "Now that we're here.. Now that we're all together, Zachary has been so happy. I've never seen him like this. This is what he's always wanted.. What we've both wanted for many years... A family.
I'm so happy that he has you. You may not be his mom, and you might not have been in his life for a long time, but.. Jessica Lange.. You've changed that boy."

***
How are you all liking this? I wanted a couple chapters about Zachary since he's not usually a huge part of the story. I've really liked writing with him these past couple chapters, and I hope you enjoyed reading it!

I was wondering if you guys think Jessica and Danny should have a big or small wedding? Please let me know!