The next morning was Trisha's burial. Danny was hesitant but ended up taking Coltan. There were some family members that would be leaving town right after and they wanted to see him before leaving.

Danny stood far away from the casket and held Coltan the entire time.

"Dada, dat mommy in there?" He points.

"Yeah bud." Danny nods and lightly bounces him.

"Oh.." Coltan sucks on his fingers and hangs his head.

"What they doing?! No put mommy in da ground!" He shouts.

"Shh, let's go over here, Cole. Let's take a walk.. You wanna look at the fishes."

"Okay."

Danny took a walk over to the baby section of the cemetery. There was a small lake in the middle with a few fishes.

"Look at that one, bud! What's his name?"

"His name mommy!"

"Oh that's the mommy fish?"

"Yeah and dats da Cole Cole fish! My mama call me Cole Cole!
.. And dats da dada fishy!"

"That's pretty cool!"

"Yeah!"

"Hey, your birthday's coming up, isn't it?"

"Yeah! I gonna be this many!" Coltan holds three fingers up.

"Oh my gosh, that's so old!"

"No it not!" Coltan laughs.

"Heh!  What do you wanna do for your birthday?"

"I wanna see mommy!"

Danny's heart hurt for him.
"Are there any toys you want? I'll buy you anything you want!"

"Anything?!" Coltan's eyes widen.

"Anything!"

"WOW!"

Danny laughs.

"I like having a daddy!"

"Well good, I'm glad! I really like having you too, buddy."

"Thanks!" Coltan smiles and hugs his father.

***

The weekend came and Danny packed up to head back to New Orleans.
He planned to let Coltan visit his aunt in Texas and was in the middle of working on a schedule so that he would still be able to see his grandparents and the rest of Trisha's family.

"Alright Cole, we're home!"

"Finally!"

Danny laughs and takes him out of his car seat.

"This is my home now?"

"Yeah bud, you like it?"

"Yeah! It's SO big!"

Danny chuckles and watches the amazement in Coltan's eyes.

"We just live here me and you?"

"Well actually I need to talk to you about that.. Come here."

Danny sits him on his lap and starts, "Cole, you have brothers and sisters, do you know that?"

"I do?!" His eyes widened and he smiled so big.

"You do! You have three brothers and two sisters!"

"Woah! That's a lot of babies!"

Danny laughs.
"They're not exactly babies. Let's see, there's Sofia who just turned eleven last month. Jackson who's eight, Arabella your other sister is three and the twins are two!"

"So I big brother and little brother?"

"Yep!  Very good!"

"Woah! That's so cool!  We play and have so much fun?"

"One day." Danny smiles softly as he gently messes with his dark hair.

"Now let's get you to bed because tomorrow is your birthday and we have a super fun day planned!"

"YAY!" He screams making Danny laugh.

Once Coltan was asleep Danny called Jessica. They hadn't spoken in a few days.

"Hey.." Jessica answers.

"Hey!  How are you?"

"Okay.  How are things over there?"

"I'm back home.. Is it okay that I have him there?"

Jessica was irritated but she didn't feel like arguing right now.

"That's fine."

"Thanks.. So tomorrow's his birthday. I'm gonna have a fun day with him and we'll meet with some of his little cousins."

"Well that's nice. Poor baby. His mother passed right before his birthday."

"I know..
Jessica, I plan on going up there by the end of the week. I have no choice, I have to bring him. I want to see my kids."

"Okay but like I said you need to talk to them."

"I will. I'll try to FaceTime them tomorrow."

Jessica's POV.

After hanging up with Danny she sat on the couch with Sarah drinking a glass of wine.

"I don't know what to do.. You understand my point, right?"

"Of course I do! That child is the result of an affair!"

Jessica sighs.
"If I stay with Danny I have to tell my entire family about how he cheated on me. I wasn't raised to stay with a cheater. My mother will be so disappointed. I'll be so embarrassed."

"So you're gonna stay with Danny?"

"Sarah, I said IF."

"But you want to.  I know you do!"

Jessica turns to her and chuckles.
"I do. That damn idiot must have me under some type of spell or something."

Sarah chuckles.
"Well you guys have been together since high school. You have five children together.. You've been through a lot and have helped each other through some tough shit."

"I know.. I just-"

"Mommy!" Jessica heard Sofia shout from the top of the stairs.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"Come here, please!"

Jessica sat her glass of wine down and walked upstairs.

"What's wrong?"

Sofia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before turning around.

Jessica's eyes widened at her pajama pants.

"Oh! Oh my gosh! Okay, come here. Oh my baby girl!"Jessica hugs her.

"Hurry mom!"

"I'm sorry!"

Jessica took her to her bathroom.
"Here's a pad. Do you need help?"

"No I do not! Can you please get out?"

"Alright!"

Jessica walked over and sat on the bed.

When Sofia came out Jessica smiled and gave her a hug.

"Welcome to womanhood, honey! It sucks!"

Sofia sighs.
"I have a pool party tomorrow.."

"Oh honey, it's okay!"

"I'm not using one of those things!  I'll just die!"

"Oh don't be so dramatic!"

Sofia gives her a look.

"Oh stop it! It's a natural thing, honey. You'll be okay!"

"I think it's gross!"

"You're okay." She smiles and softly caresses her cheek.

"Now let's go tuck you in."

Jessica walked her back to her room and kissed her forehead.

"Night night, Princess."

"Goodnight."

Jessica walked downstairs and covered her face with her hands.

"What's wrong?" Sarah asks.

"My baby's not a baby anymore!"

"What do you mean?"

"Sofia got her period!"

"Oh my gosh! Little Sofia!"

"I know! Oh Sarah this is so weird! My tiny little girl! She's growing up!" Jessica pouts.

"She's always be your baby though, Jess."

"I know.. It just sucks that she has to grow up!"

***

The next day during Coltan's day of fun they still had to be a nap time.
Danny took this opportunity to call the kids.

"Hi daddy!" Arabella screams as she gets right in front of the camera.

"Hey baby! Hi you guys! I miss you!"

"What are you doing?" Jackson asks.

"I'm just hanging out.. Sof.. Jax.. I need to talk to you.."

"What did you do now?" Sofia asks.

"Nothing! I just.. I really wanna see you guys.. I miss you."

"Are you coming back?" Jackson asks with a big smile.

"I plan to! I just need to know if it's okay with you two and your mom.."

"What do you mean?" Sofia asks.

Danny takes a deep breath.
"Well I would bring Coltan with me."

"Who?" Jackson asks.

"Coltan-"

"His other son, Jackson!" Sofia tells him with an attitude.

"Sofia, calm down." Jessica tells her quietly.

Sofia rolls her eyes and looks at Danny.

"So you want our permission?"

"Actually yes! Sofia, listen to me. I am so so sorry for hurting you-"

"You hurt my mom!"

"And I'm so incredibly sorry to her as well.. But he just lost his mother and I'm all he has."

"That's a lie, he has family. Mom said he does."

"Sof." Jessica says softly.

"He has family but he's My responsibility. Besides, he's going through a hard time right now. He doesn't understand everything, and right now he only wants me. It's not his fault, Sof."

"You're right. It's yours. Bring him over here but I don't want to talk to you about this anymore. I'm tired of hearing I'm sorry, dad."

"I understand.."

"I don't really care." Jackson shrugs.

"Mom, how do you feel?" Sofia asks.

"If you two are okay with it, then he can come and visit.."

Sofia rolls her eyes.

"Stop with the eye rolling right now.
Danny, go ahead and come up here for a few days."

"Just a few?"

"Daniel, we'll talk when you get here."

After the phone call Jessica sat down with the kids.

"Are you two sure you're okay with this?"

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"I don't know.. Look, I've forgiven your father a long time ago about.. Everything that happened. This little boy is a shock but you have to think of what he's going through right now. He just lost his mother and he's only three years old. He knows your father and feels close to him, but that baby will never have a mother.. I really feel for him. I'm put in a horrible situation. Do I say yes bring this child over and have to see him everyday as a reminder of what happened? Or do I say no Danny, leave and you raise him alone? Kids, call me crazy but I love you father. Yes he's made mistakes but he is such a good man."

"I know he is, momma.. I miss him believe it or not but.. He just makes me mad sometimes!"

"Heh! I understand, sweet girl."

"I just hate that this is happening.. Why are we so messed up?"

"We're not messed up, baby.. We're.. Okay, maybe we're a little messed up."

Sofia chuckles and lays her head on Jessica's shoulder.

***

The weekend came and Danny packed everything up and flew to New York.

"You ready to meet your brother and sisters?"

"Yep! I have my toy so I show them!" He says holding up one of his new toys Danny bought him.

"Awesome bud!" Danny smiled.

Danny's stomach was doing flips. He was so nervous for what was about to happen.
He hoped it would go smooth and there would be no arguing. Especially since Coltan is so sensitive right now. He needed some happiness in his little life. If anything the three younger ones would probably keep him entertained. Jackson he wasn't sure on how he would react to Coltan, and he knew Sofia would more than likely be standoffish to the both of them.

"Dada I so tired, when we get there?"

"We're almost there, bud.  I'm so proud of you.  You're doing well for this being your first plane ride."

"Yeah, I a good boy!"

"You sure are!"

"I gon take a nap. You hold me?"

"Sure, bud."

Coltan fell asleep peacefully on Danny's chest.
Danny sat there thinking of all that could happen and wondered if they would ever get to the happiness they were once at.

**

"Hey Cole, we're here."

"We in New York?"

"Yeah."

"Woah! I in New York!" Coltan smiles big.

"Heh, Yeah!" Danny chuckles at his excitement.

Danny had a driver pick them up at the airport and take them to the apartment.

"You okay, bud?" Danny asked him.

"Yeah.. Dada, I have a dream about my mommy."

"You did? What was it about?"

"Hers was holdin' me."

"Oh that's nice, Cole."

"Hers was beautiful."

"I bet.. That's a nice dream, huh bud?"

"Yep.." Coltan looks at Danny.

He could tell Coltan was about to burst into tears.
Danny reached over and places his hand on him.

"I miss my mommy!" He cries.

"I know you do, bud.. Your momma is still with you. I know it's hard but.. you dreaming of her shows that she's still with you."

"I-Want To- H-Hold He--Her!" Coltan struggles to say as he sobs.

"I'm so sorry, Cole." Danny didn't know what to say or do to comfort him.

Coltan would have these sudden outbursts of crying for his mother and Danny felt horrible for him. At night or whenever he took a nap Danny had to be right there with him until he fell asleep. He was afraid to be alone.

Once they got to the apartment Danny sat outside with him until he calmed down.

"You ready to go in and meet everybody?"

Coltan slowly nods his head that was hanging down.

"Okay. Don't be nervous.."

"You not gonna leave me?"

"No bud."

"Okay.." Coltan took Danny's hand and the walked up to the front door.

He knocked and Jessica slowly opened the door.

"Hey.. I don't have a key so.." Danny chuckled nervously.

"Yeah, that's fine. You can come on in." Jessica moved out of the way to let them in.

Coltan looked down and hid behind Danny's leg.

Jessica felt really awkward so she started picking up random things around the house.

"These kids leave such a mess!
... They're upstairs watching a moving and.. probably being horrible for Sarah." She chuckles.

Danny smiles softly, "Can we talk first?"

"... Sure."

Danny sat Coltan on the couch and walked over to Jessica and gave her a long hug.
Being in Danny's arms was nice. She missed him more than she liked admitting.

Danny held her waist and looked into her eyes.
She stared back at him and got a nervous feeling in her stomach.
As he leaned in to kiss her, Jessica looked down.
She felt super uncomfortable with Coltan being right there with them.

Danny kissed her head and felt a light tap on the back of his leg.

"Sorry bud. What's up?"

"Who dis lady?" He tilts his head and points to Jessica.

Jessica chuckled.

"This is Jessica. She's my wife." Danny smiled.

"Oh.. you like her?"

"Very much!"

"Oh.."

"Can you say hi?"

"Hi.." Coltan looked up and shyly waved to Jessica.

"Hi." Jessica was just as shy back to him.

Danny smiled and patted his back.

"I gots bo bo's on my face and arms cause I got hitted. Me and mommy got hitted in the car."

This was the first time Coltan has mentioned the accident. Danny was surprised.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you."

"I just have bo bo's.. my mommy went to Jesus." You could tell Coltan was trying his hardest not to cry.

Danny rubbed his back as he spoke. He didn't know why he suddenly brought this up because he never has before.

"It's okay, bud. We don't have to talk about that right now."

Coltan looks at Danny with tears in his eyes. He slowly nods before Danny kisses his cheek.

"He never talks about that." He tells Jessica.

"Really?"

"Yeah.."

The room was suddenly quiet.  Jessica felt awkward so she decided to break the silence.
"Sofia got her first period."

"What?!  My little princess!  Oh Jess, my stomach hurts!  Isn't she too young?"

"She's growing up, Danny."

"That makes me so sad!  My little baby!"

"I know." Jessica says with a pout.

Suddenly they hear Arabella from the top of the stairs.

"Mama, I pee peed and Joey smells so yucky!"

Jessica chuckles and nods her head.

Arabella gasps, "It's Daddy! Daddy's home! Daddy's home!" She screams and a parade of children follow her.

"Hey guys! I missed you so much!"

"Careful on the stairs!  I'm coming, don't run!"

"We missed you too, daddy!" Arabella says totally ignoring her mother.

Arabella runs into her father's arms and hugs him tight.

"My little princess!  Hey boys!" Danny smiles as Jackson walks down the stairs helping the twins.

Jackson ran to give him a hug and the twins came along shortly after.

"Where's Sof?"

"Her upstairs!  SOFIA!" Arabella shouts.

Jessica chuckles and nods her heed.
"I'll go get her."

Danny kissed Arabella and sat her down.

"Daddy, who dat boy?" Arabella points.

"This is Coltan." Danny smiles.

"Oh.. Hi!" She smiles and waves.

Meeting so many new people at once really started to freak Coltan out a bit.

"Say hi Cole.." Danny says messing with his hair.

"Hi..."

Coltan grabs onto Danny's leg and lays his head on it.

"Dada.."

"What!" Arabella's eyes widen.

"Dis MY dada!" She says loudly.

"No, mine!"

Jackson looks at Danny and the twins looked a bit puzzled.

"Okay okay, let's all calm down.  Come on, let's sit."

Danny sighs and Arabella throws herself into his lap as she whines.

Danny rubs her back and starts to explain, "You guys, this is Coltan.."

"Hi!" Joseph smiles and waves.

"He's your brother.."

Jackson was quiet.  He was still quite confused as to how this happened and who this little boy came from.

"He not my brother!" Arabella says in her cute yet sassy little baby voice.

"What dat!" Joshua's eyes widen as he points to Coltan's toy.

Coltan looks away from him and lays on Danny's shoulder.

"Show him, Cole.  Remember how excited you were?"

Coltan looks up and Danny nods for reassurance.

"Dis my new toy.. My daddy got it for me on my birthday.. I three now."

"Woah!  Dats so old!  We only two!" Joseph says holding his fingers up.

"Wanna play?" He asks them.

"Yeah!" Joshua says in a funny voice.

The boys sit beside him and play with his new toy.  Coltan didn't stray far from Danny.  He sat right next to him and kept looking over to make sure he didn't leave.

"Daddy, why dat boy say you his daddy too?" Arabella says with a little pout.

"Bella Boo, you're so little so I don't expect you to understand-"

"NO I Big!" She shouts.

"I'm sorry, yes you are!  With an even bigger voice!" Danny smiles and taps the tip of her little nose.

Arabella giggles cutely and lifts her shoulders.

"This is your brother.. He's a surprise but... I think we'll be okay.  He's gonna stay with me now because his mommy went to be with Jesus.."

"Dats so so sad, daddy." Arabella's heart suddenly hurt for the young boy.

"I know it is.  So we just have to be nice to him, okay?"

"I go give him a kiss and make him so much better?!"

"Of course!  But me first!"

Arabella smiles and places her little hands on Danny's cheeks before giving him a kiss.

"Muah!  I love you, sweet girl."

"I love you too, daddy!"

Danny pats her bottom and she pulls away from him.

"What's yous name again?"

"Coltan.. but my mommy called me Cole Cole.."

"I call you my little Coley."

"Okay." He smiles.

Arabella giggles then gives him a hug and a kiss.

Danny smiled as Coltan hugged her back.

"Go away, Bella!" Joshua says.

"Yeah we playing!" Joseph adds.

"You two shush!" Arabella points her little finger and shouts with so much authority.

Danny chuckles then turns and sees Jackson sitting there.

"You have any questions, bud?"

Jackson nods his head, "No.. I'm just confused.  But mommy said he lost his mom.. I'm glad he's having fun.  I feel bad for him."

"Yeah.. he's going through a tough time right now.. but I think we're all going to be okay."

"Yeah." He smiles.

"Come here, big guy!" Danny holds his arms out and Jackson runs over and hugs him.

"Can you please not leave again?  It's different when you're not here." He mumbles while laying on his father.

"I'll stay, bud.." Danny pats his back and kisses the top of his head.

**

Jessica and Sofia's POV.

"Hey Sar.. could you give us a few minutes, please?"

"Sure!  Let me just go and try to get this grape juice out of Arabella's doll's dress.. If I can't get it out.. Aunt Sarah is in big trouble."

Jessica chuckles and taps her arm.

"Thanks, Sarah."

"No problem, Jess."

Sofia got up from the ground and walked over to the toy box.  Jessica watched as she started to nervously fiddle with one of the kids' bears, "I'm not going down there.  I'll see him when I'm ready."

"That's not a problem.  You go down only when you're ready."

Sofia dropped her head and paused for a few seconds.

"... What if he loves him more than he loves us?"

"Oh honey, daddy will always love all of his kids the same!  Daddy love you so so much.  You're his first baby girl!"

"I don't want to be mad at him.. I don't like being angry and upset all the time.. I'm just afraid he'll do something stupid again.  I'm afraid that this little boy is going to change us!"

"Well honey our lives will change.. but daddy and I will try super hard to make that change as easy as possible on you kids."

"What's gonna happen now?  Is he gonna live here?'

Jessica sighs, "I don't really know what's gonna happen to be honest with you.. But your father and I are going to discuss all of this craziness.  You don't have to worry about that.  You're a little girl, so don't worry about adult things, okay?  You shouldn't have these worries.. and I'm so so sorry that you do."

Sofia saw tears in her mother's eyes so she walked over and hugged her tight.

"I love you, sweet girl."

"I love you too, momma.. please don't cry.  None of this is your fault."

"Thank you, baby."

Sofia sat down on Jessica's lap.

"You can tell daddy he can come up and see me now."

"Heh!  Well okay, your majesty." Jessica laughed and kissed her cheek.

Jessica walked downstairs and patted Danny on the back.

"Your daughter would like to speak with you."

"Oh!  Okay.. Uh.. They're playing, is that-"

"It's fine, just go."

"Thanks..
Jess, I'm scared."

"Why?" Jessica laughs.

"I just am.. She scares me!"

Jessica laughs harder.

"You wanna give me a kiss to settle my nerves?"

"Nope."

"Thanks." Danny says sarcastically.

Danny walked upstairs and by now Sofia was in her room lying on her bed.

"Hey Princess."

"Hi." She smiles softly.

"Can I have a hug?"

Sofia chuckles.
"Sure."

Sofia hugs Danny and lays her head on his shoulder.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Just promise me that things will be okay.. Promise me we'll all be happy again."

"I promise, Sofia.  I want us to all be happy, and I promise you I'll do everything in my power to make sure it happens."

"If being happy means you and mommy not being together.. then that's okay.  I just don't want to cry anymore.. and I don't want her to cry anymore."

"I don't want that either.  Sof, I know what I've done is horrible.. but I'm not going to let your mother go without a fight.  I love her and I want to be with her.  I want to grow old with her and I don't want to part from her until death.  Sofia, I promise you that everything will be okay."

Sofia nods her head softly and kisses his cheek.

"I do love you, daddy."

"I love you more, Princess."

Sofia held his shoulders and looked into his eyes.
"Dad.. If you love her.. Show her."

Sofia looks down and pauses, "Someone might show her how special she is and.. you might.. you might lose her."

"I will.  Why do you say that, Sof?"

Sofia spoke in a whisper and had tears in her eyes, "... Just do it."