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CHRISTINE's POV

Hearing my son's screams while trying to wiggle out of his father's arms hurt me so bad but I was quick to pull myself together. This wasn't the time for me to be weak and let my emotions rule over me. I drew a deep breath before walking towards them.

"I want to go home! Cade and the others might be waiting for me already!"

"Son—" Jace was about to say something but I interrupted him. He was sitting on a squatting position while trying to pacify JC.

"Mi amor, let me." He looked up at me and JC did the same. I smiled at him and finally stopped thrashing. His lips parted in surprise upon seeing me.

"Miss Christine?" His little eyebrows furrowed in confusion as his gaze shifted to Jace and me simultaneously.

"Yes, it's me. Can we have a talk?" I asked with a friendly voice. He went silent for a couple of seconds. Jace finally let him go and then took a step backwards from him, giving me the chance to be near JC.

"B-But I want to go home now, Miss Christine." Him calling me that hurt me inside but I had to endure. I know that he would gradually warm up to us in time. We just need to be patient.

"You're home, sweetheart."

"I'm home?" He looked around. "But this is your home." I shook my head and then sat in a squatting position to level our heights. I then held out my arms for him. I didn't want to just hold him because he might be surprised or worse, reject me.

"Come closer to me." I coaxed him gently. He looked hesitant to come near me but he did it anyway. I gingerly took his hands this time, waited for him to push me away but he didn't. I released the breath that I didn't know I was holding before looking into his eyes.

"Listen to me, sweetheart. This place is your daddy and mommy's vacation house. In short, this is your house too. Our house in New York is our home. Soon, we will go home."

"You two are my real mommy and daddy?" He asked, still confused but I could see the longing and hope in his eyes. I cupped his face and then nodded my head. For some reason, I felt emotional again.

"Yes, sweetheart. You are our son. The bad guys took you away from us when you were still a baby that's why you got separated from us. We've been waiting for your return for so long and now, you finally came back home to us." My voice cracked because I suddenly remembered all those times when we were mourning for him.

I thought, I was going crazy back then and I lost all the will to live. Thankfully, I managed to get through it even though I couldn't accept JC's death.

Everyday since that day was so difficult for me. Everything hasn't been the same since then, especially that Jace and I got separated. But now that our family was finally complete, all those tears and pain would surely be replaced by happiness.

"But papa said that I don't have a mommy and daddy anymore because they died when I was still a baby."

"Papa? Who's that? Doctor Baron?" I asked and he nodded his head. I looked at Jace's direction and I could see that pain that passed through his eyes. It must be hard for him that our own son, calls another man his man not to mention that this guy was the one who was responsible why JC got separated from us.

"Don't call that man 'papa', son, because he's a bad guy. I am your one and only father and no one else. Doctor Baron and his men were the ones who took you away from us. He was only lying to you because we're still alive." Jace responded for the first time. He looked so serious. His jaw was obviously flexing as his grey eyes were smoldering.

"Your daddy is right, sweetheart. Doctor Baron lied to you."

"But why didn't you call me your son when you first saw me with Cade?" JC asked, still unconvinced.

"Because mommy didn't know back then that you were alive. Mommy's heart recognized you but it was hard for me to just assume back then. I'm sorry if we couldn't find you earlier, sweetheart." I discreetly wiped the tears that fell from my eyes.

"You two really are my mommy and daddy?" He asked one more time and this time as if he really wanted to make sure.

"Yes, son. We are. We've been waiting for you for so long and now that you're here with us, can you give us a chance to be parents to you?" Jace questioned full of hope. JC remain quiet for a couple of seconds before he finally nodded his head.

"Really, sweetheart?" I couldn't hold back the happiness that surged within me. He slowly nodded his head. I bit my lower lip because my eyes watered again.

"Thank you, sweetheart." I was about to kiss him on the forehead when he took a step backward. Fear was evident on his face. My heart clenched but then I understood why he behaved like that.

He looked like he was on guard as if he was expecting that I would harm him.

"Don't be afraid, sweetheart. Daddy and mommy will never hurt you. We promise you that." His face finally looked that he calmed down.

"Really? You won't ever hurt me like pa—doctor Baron and his wife did?"

"They were hurting you?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes. They always hurt me everytime I make a mistake." Hearing what he's been through brought tears in my eyes. I couldn't help but to be angry at those people who took him from us and hurt him like they had any right to do so.

I couldn't explain the rage that I was feeling for those people but at the same time, I felt sad and guilty because we couldn't do anything for him during those times. We couldn't help him.

He was still so young but he's already been through a lot. My heart tightened painfully. I wanted to speak but I felt like there was a sudden lump in my throat. I drew a deep breath in order to calm myself together and then I cleared my throat before finally speaking.

"We will never hurt you because you are our son and we love you so much." I then opened my arms for him. "Can mommy get a hug?" I requested tenderly full of longing. He looked hesitant for a second, but he eventually nodded his head anyway. He let me hug him and my heart jumped for joy.

Feeling the warmth of his small body made me more emotional again. I couldn't believe that JC really was with us. I kissed his forehead.

"Welcome back to us, sweetheart. Welcome back home." I whispered and then kissed his forehead again. I suddenly felt a pair of strong arms wrap around JC and me. It was Jace.

"Mommy and daddy will make it up to you for the lost times that you weren't here with us, buddy. We will love you forever and you will never let you get hurt and be alone again because daddy will protect you. Daddy promise you that." He said and then kissed JC's forehead too.

"Mommy and daddy love you so much. Always remember that." We stayed in that position for I didn't know how long and it felt surreal. After that, we finally managed to convince him to come back inside the house with us. He still looked hesitant but I knew that we managed to reach out to his heart this time.

"Can mommy hold your hand?" I asked tenderly while we were walking towards the house. His steps came to a halt while staring at my hand.

"But I'm already a big boy. I can manage to walk by myself." He didn't say that rudely but the pain pierced my heart that I almost made my knees give out on me. He then walked past me and entered the house by himself.

I thought, everything was fine now that we finally explained to him everything but I was wrong. I could tell that deep inside of him, he was still scared and reluctant if he would believe us or not.

My vision went blurry because of the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes. I looked up in order to prevent myself from crying again. Even though I wanted to be strong, I just couldn't stop myself from being weak. I've never thought that one day, my son would reject me and act like I'm nothing but a stranger to him.

Even though he let us hug him a while ago, I knew that he was just confused and didn't know what to believe. I could see it in his eyes that he was beginning to believe us but not totally.

It hurt. It really hurt but I had to keep my cool and be patient. Of course, he wouldn't warm up to us right away and that should be expected from him already.

"Mi amor, I know that it's not easy for you especially whenever he rejects you but we need to be strong. Remember that this is only the beginning; JC sees us as a stranger right now that's why we need to be patient with him. Yes, we explained what happened in the past to him but he doesn't fully understand yet because he's still young." He then placed his arm over my shoulders, pulled me closer to his body and then kissed me on the temple, consoling me.

"But we already told him the truth that we're his real parents, right? We didn't abandon nor leave him. He got taken away from us. Why does it seem like our explanation wasn't enough for him to fully accept us as his parents?" I bit my lower lip in an attempt to control my emotions.

"JC is just a child, mi amor. Yes, he sometimes talks like a grown up but he's just four years old. Whatever those b*stards instilled into his mind while he was growing up were surely nothing but lies. You told me before that when you first met him, he was the type who doesn't trust any stranger that easily.

"I noticed that too when I first met him. He seemed to be skeptical but I knew that he's a good boy too. Maybe, this is partly my fault too that's why he's behaving like this." My forehead knitted together.

"What do you mean? How did it become your fault?"

He sighed. "JC witnessed when I punched my own father. He seemed to be so close to my father that's why when JC saw me in the act, he got mad at me. Yes, I managed to make him warm up to me for just a short period of time when we first met but everything changed because of what he witnessed.

"I could still remember how he got mad at me because of what he saw. He called me a bad guy over and over again and it broke my heart. I know that it's not easy but we should exert more effort to gain his trust again. I'm sure that in no time, everything will be alright. Let's just have faith, mi amor." Hearing his words made me feel a lot better.

Jace is right. I shouldn't've expected that JC would warm up to us right away. His behavior is normal because he doesn't know anything about what happened in the past. He's just a kid who still needs proper guidance and that guidance should come from us, not from other people.

"How did you manage to convince him to come with you even though he was that mad at you?"

"He was reluctant at first but when I mentioned that his mommy was waiting for him, he agreed to come. I was surprised because I knew that he wasn't the gullible type of a kid. I don't know if I was wrong but I saw the longing in his eyes when I mentioned to him that we've been waiting for him to come home; that he has parents and that's us." My lips parted in surprise.

"Y-You mean, he's longing for parents or a family?"

"Yes, mi amor. He's a tough kid but he also longs for a parents' love and a complete family. He's been through a lot and just thinking that he experienced such hardships and pain at an early age is already making me want to kill those b*stards over and over again." He then heaved a sigh. "What I mean is, I'm sure that he's been thinking about his parents and how to be loved by them because if he never did, he would never soften up and come with me." Suddenly, newfound hope rose within me.

"And we will give all the love that we have for him. We will take care of him and love him unconditionally. We are his parents, his family. I'm sure, he will accept that soon." Jace smiled.

"That's the spirit, mi amor. I know that everything will be alright. Let's just be positive."

"Thank you for being here to comfort me, mi amor. Without you, I wouldn't know what to do." I hugged him before we decided to go back inside the house. "Let's go inside. Our son is surely starving now." Jace chuckled.

"He surely is. Let's go?" With that, we went back inside the house, hand in hand. When we reached the living room, we found JC sitting on the couch while staring at the flat screen TV. He looked like he wanted to turn it on but h wasn't sure if he could or not.

Jace and I stared into each other before I let go of his hand to approach JC. "Do you want to watch TV, sweetheart?" His face brightened up upon hearing that.

"Really? I can?"

"Of course, you can. But I think, you should take a bath first so that we could eat breakfast. After that, you can watch TV." He nodded his head and then answered.

"Okay." Surprisingly, he agreed right away. Jace and I took him to the bathroom.

"Do you want mommy or daddy to help you bathe?" I asked but he shook his head.

"I know how to take a bath by myself." Even though, my heart clenched again, I didn't allow that to affect me that much. I knew that JC didn't mean anything bad of his answer.

"Okay, buddy. Just call us when you need something, okay?" Jace said and he nodded his head. We then went out of the bathroom.

"Our son is growing up so fast. We can't even help him bathe now." Jace voiced out while chuckling.

"You're right. The last time we saw him, he was such a cry-baby. He didn't even want to get separated from me even just for a little while. Now, he doesn't need us anymore."

He shook his head. "You're wrong, mi amor. He just acts like that because he's not comfortable with us yet. I'm sure, he'll warm up to us soon."

"I hope so." Jace was about to answer when we heard the door of the bathroom open. We then saw JC peeping on us through the door. He looked like he wanted to say something but hesitant to do so.

"Yes, sweetheart. Do you need anything?"

"Ahm. The water is cold." Jace and I smiled at each other in amusement. I was about to go but Jace stopped me.

"Let me, mi amor. I'm sure, he'll be more comfortable with me seeing him naked." I chuckled.

"But I am his mother. I'm sure, he feels the same way."

"And I am his father, mi amor. Let's not be too pushy because he might feel even more uncomfortable." I rolled my eyes.

"Fine." Jace laughed heartily before going inside. I went to the walk-in closet to get JC a change of clothes. Thankfully, there was a pair of shorts and shirt together with a pack of briefs his size. I bought that for him last week because I was too excited, knowing that he was alive.

But then, these past three years, I used to buy clothes that I found cute because I was imagining back then that he could wear it one day. I thought, that would never come but it finally came.

After a couple of minutes, I got curious why Jace hasn't come out of the bathroom yet but that question got answered when they came out together. JC already finished showering and it looked like he let his father help him bathe.

He was wearing bathrobe and he looked so cute.

I couldn't believe that this was just the first day, but we managed to take a step forward. Yes, it was hard at first but I was positive that everything will be alright sooner than expected.

I smiled inwardly. "Come here, sweetheart. Mommy will help you get dressed." I coaxed him. He looked hesitant but after a couple of seconds, obliged anyway. I helped him get dressed. I thought, he would not allow me but he remained quiet.

I was even the one who combed his hair. "Wow. My baby is so handsome. I was right when I bought these. You really look great wearing these." I complimented him with a smile.

"Of course, he's handsome, like his daddy." Jace butted in. I pouted.

"Nope. JC looks like mommy, right, sweetheart?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"My name is JC?" He asked innocently.

"Yes, sweetheart. Your name is Jacob Christiano Lenard Montejo, JC for short." He didn't react nor say anything. He just looked confused. Then, he looked around us and saw that big portrait that was hanging on the wall. It was JC and I on the portrait. I was carrying him in my arms while gazing at him lovingly. He was still a baby on that picture.

"That's me." He sounded certain. For some reason, I began to feel emotional again.

"Yes, sweetheart. That was you when you were still a baby."

"I really am your son." He muttered in awe.

"Yes, buddy. You are our son." Jace emphasized the last four words. To my surprise, he suddenly hugged me tightly.

"If you're really my parents, don't give me back to doctor Baron again. I don't want to go back to his house." Jace and I looked at each other in surprise of the sudden turn of events.

"No, sweetheart. Just like we've told you. You are our son and you belong here with us." I hugged him back. I felt like my heart was jumping for joy because he hugged me on his own.

"Your mommy is right, buddy. You are a Montejo and your home is with us." He wrapped his arms around the both of us.

"B-But what about papy?" Jace and I's body stiffened because of what he suddenly said and when I looked at Jace, his jaw was flexing, anger and resentment were evident in his eyes. 

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What do you think of this chapter?

What do you think of their moment as a family?

Will JC stay with them for good or he will eventually choose his papy?

Is this the start of their happy life as a family?

What do you think will happen next?

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