December 16th.

"Mama, where we going?" Grayson asks as Jessica bundles him up in his winter coat.

"We're going to get a Christmas tree!" Jessica smiles.

"Now that your brothers are back home, we're finally gonna get to decorate the house a bit more, and watch Christmas movies, and drink hot cocoa!"

"Yay!" His eyes light up and he bounces up and down.

"Yeah!  It's gonna be so much fun, isn't it, baby?!"

"It fun, Mommy!"

"Heh!  Awe my baby is talking so much now.  You're like a big boy already, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I big!"

"Yes you are!"

"Hold me, mama!" He giggles then throws himself on her and wraps his arms around her body.

"Oh!  Haha, thank you for your sweet hugs!"

**

"It cold mommy, it cold!" Grayson grabs Jessica's hand and jumps up and down.

"Oh come here, baby boy!" Jessica picks him up and holds him tight.

"Danny's putting the tree on the car, then we'll go home and mama will make you some hot cocoa!"

"Yum!"

"Yeah!"

"Mama I wet."

"You're wet?"

"Mhm." He nods.

"Well what do you want me to do about it?"

"Mommy!" He giggles and hugs her.

"I'm just playing with you!  Mommy will change your diaper in a second."

"Ew, is that what I smell?" James plays with him.

Grayson smiles and Jessica says, "Awe!  Don't be mean to the baby!"

"But I'm the baby!"

"No I da baby!" Grayson snaps, but leaves a smile on his face.

"No I am!"

"No me!" He frowns.

"Awe don't make him sad, Jamesy." Jessica says patting Grayson's back.

"Oh he's fine!  Aren't you, Gray?"

Grayson narrows his eyes at him and says, "I da baby."

"Awe my sweet boy." She giggles and kisses his cheek.

***

When they get home, Danny and Samuel bring the tree in, and Jessica makes some hot cocoa for her and the guys.

"Grayson, let's get you out of those clothes and into some warm pajamas!"

"Yeah!"

Jessica smiles and takes him upstairs.

Once they return, Jessica joins the guys in decorating the tree.

"Here Gray, can you put this ornament on the tree?"

"Yeah!" Grayson takes it from her and Jessica holds him close to the tree so he can place it.

"Good boy!" She smiles and kisses his cheek.

Jessica walked back over to the box and smiled.

"Oh it's the little Christmas tree ornament!  This was your daddy's favorite one." Jessica smiles softly.

"Dats dada's?!" Grayson looks at her with a big sweet smile.

"Mhm!  It was from our very first Christmas we were together.."

Jessica sighs looks off into the distance as she remembers the day fondly.

"I remember I was about eight weeks pregnant with the twins, and I hadn't told him yet..
I had just managed to tell my dad and I was a mess!  I was fourteen, pregnant and very emotional.. I wanted to tell him, but I just couldn't.
Sam noticed I wasn't myself, and took me on a little walk around town.  We went into one of these little shops and saw this cute little ornament.
We'll hang this on our family tree one day, Jessie.
I remember the smile on his face and the happiness in his eyes.  Without him knowing, he made me feel better.  I could see it in him that he was going to make a great father.
He bought that ornament, and the next Christmas when the twins were born, he was living with us, so him and I bought a little baby Christmas tree to go in our little room.
We hung that same ornament on that tree, and he said, I told you that we'd hang it on our family tree one day.  I promise you one day we'll hang it on a ginormous tree in our own home.
I loved that little tree.. It was our first one with our baby boys.. Our little family.  It was so perfect." Jessica says with tears in her eyes.

Samuel walks over and wraps his arm around her.
Jessica looks at him and gives him a small smile.

"Why don't you do the honors and place dad's ornament on the tree?" Sam says.

Jessica smiles and hangs it on their tree.

Danny places his hand on her back and she turns to him.

He smiles and leans in to kiss her softly.

**

All Grayson wanted was to be held, so Jessica sat down with him since he was getting too heavy for her to be carrying him for that long.

"Dad, have you bought my Christmas presents yet?" Zachary asks Danny.

"No son, I thought I'd skip it this year."

Zachary chuckles and rolls his eyes.

"Danny!" Jessica laughs.

"Mama?" Grayson stands on her lap and faces her.

"Yes baby?"

"Where my daddy at?"

"Awe Grayson.."

"He in the ground?"

"Gray!" Jessica's eyes filled with tears.
Her heart broke for him. This little boy was only two years old, he shouldn't have to ask these questions. His father should be here.

"Grayson, your daddy's in Heaven. With Jesus, remember?"

"But he come back?"

"No baby." Jessica nods.

"But Yack has a daddy." He says with sadness in his eyes.

"I know, sweetie.
You will Always have a daddy.. It's just different. But he's right here. In your heart." Jessica gently pokes her finger on his chest.

"Forever and ever." She smiles softly.

Grayson smiles and throws himself forward.

"Oh my boy!" Jessica holds him tight and closes her eyes as she exhales.

***

"Oh my gosh, this tree is gorgeous!" Jessica says once all the ornaments have been placed.

"I know!  Do the Shepard's/Huston's know how to decorate a Christmas tree, or what?!" Danny says making them laugh.

"Haha!  We're good, baby." Jessica smiles.

"Yep!  Hey, why don't we have a game night?" Danny asks.

"Xbox?" Zachary asks.

"No! A game where we can all interact with each other."

"But we always interact with each other."

"We're playing a game, Zachary!"

"Okay!" He laughs.

"Why don't we play Mario Kart?
... That is unless.. Mom's too afraid she might loose." Michael nudges Jessica.

"Daniel said a game where we are all interacting!"

"We are! I just think you're afraid to lose again."

"I am not! Come on Danny, you and I against the twins, and Zach and Mikey play the winners."

"AKA US!"

"That's right, baby!" Jessica high fives Danny.

"Oh gosh you're embarrassing." Sam looks down and nods his head.

"Stop it!" Jessica laughs.

**

"SPEED UP, DANIEL! SPEED UP!!!"

"I'm sorry, I picked the slowest dumb ass character!"

"Daniel, You just fell in a hole!!"

"Wait, I'm not the screen on the left?"

"NO!! I'M donkey kong, you idiot!"

"Shit!"

The boys crack up laughing at their parents commentary.

"Dammit! Stay on the damn road, Daniel!"

"I'm trying!
There! See? I'm doing better now that I know what character I am." He smiles.

"Whatever.
Annnnd done! First place! You're welcome honey, I just saved your ass."

"Thanks baby." Danny smiles and wraps his arms around her.

Jessica laughs and shimmies in her seat, "I've gotten better since the last time I played!"

"You're great, gorgeous!" Danny kisses her cheek.

"No kissing my mommy!" Grayson laughs and takes his bottle out of his mouth.

"Drink your baba, silly boy!" Jessica says making him laugh.

"I want Danny!" He lays there reaching for him.

"Well get over here, bud!" Danny smiles.

Grayson climbs over and sits on Danny's lap drinking his bottle.

"Are you gonna help me play?"

Grayson smiles and nods his head.

"Oh good!" Danny chuckles

Grayson eventually fell asleep on Danny, and once everyone was finished playing Jessica and Danny took him up to his room.

Grayson started to wake up when they got upstairs, so Danny rubbed his back and whispered.

"Go night night, Gray."

Grayson rubbed his hand on Danny's back as he laid his chubby cheek on his shoulder and struggled to keep his eyes open.

When they get to his room Grayson sees the big picture of Sam and Jessica.

"Dats my mommy and daddy." Grayson points.

"I know! That's a very beautiful picture, isn't it Gray?"

"Mhm." Grayson smiles and nods.

"And you know who's in there?" Danny points to Jessica's big round belly.

"A ball?"

"Not a ball, silly! A baby!"

"What?!" His eyes widen.

"Yep! You, Grayson! You were in your mommy's tummy!"

"Dat silly!"

"It is!" Danny says as he and Jessica laugh.

"Danny..
My dada's in Heaven.." Grayson says in his little baby voice as he looked down and softly touched chest.

"I know. That means you have a very very special Angel watching over you."

"Yeah." He smiles at him.

"You be my daddy too?"

At that moment Danny and Jessica's eyes both filled with tears.

Jessica covered her mouth and started to silently cry.

Danny took a deep breath and smiled.

"I'd love to, Grayson."

Grayson smiles and gives him a big hug.

"My poor baby wants a daddy.." Jessica wipes her tears.

"I promise to always always love him like my own, Jessica. I'll be the perfect father that he deserves, and I know Sam would be to him if he was here."

Jessica hugs him as tears continue to pour down her face.

"Thank you, Danny." She says in a whisper.

Grayson kisses his cheek and looks into his eyes.

"I promise you I'm gonna be a great father to you, Grayson. I love you."

"I lub you too, Daddy." He giggles then hugs him again.

Danny closed his eyes and took in this special, yet heartbreaking moment.