Feels Like A Change Is Gonna Come
Epilogue
One year later
"Alright, Henry, are you ready to open your presents?"
JJ didn't have to ask. Henry was already sitting in front of the Christmas tree, barely able to keep his hands off of all the beautifully wrapped gifts, waiting impatiently for everyone to gather around the tree.
Dave had taken his seat in his favorite recliner and JJ sat down on her husbands laps, snuggling into his embrace, while Dave's parents were sitting on the couch, his mother holding four-month-old Samuel Rossi, who had been the biggest joy for all of them ever since he had joined the small family back in August.
"Can I help Sammy open his presents?" Henry asked.
Ever since he had learned that he would be a big brother, he'd been hovering over his mother, incredibly excited about having a little sibling. There were moments that he'd exhibited worse protective streaks than Dave, and that was saying something. From the moment the baby's first kicks could be felt in JJ's belly, he was practically hanging on her legs all day long, talking to his brother in JJ's rounded belly. Getting him into daycare each morning was a constant fight, and he refused to go to bed before he didn't say goodnight to the baby. When he'd joined forces with Dave, worrying about her work hours and whatnot, JJ had been on the verge of going crazy.
Thank God for Dave's mother! Sofia had been her refuge whenever her two men were becoming too much for her.
"Of course, buddy," Dave said.
Watching his boy tearing the paper from every box Joe handed him, Dave couldn't believe how lucky he was. He had finally gotten what he had wished for the most – a family of his own, with the woman he loved more than anything in the world.
He had proposed to JJ while she was in labor with Sammy, just moments before she'd been ready to push, and he was damn lucky it didn't get him killed. By JJ, whose stare alone had been almost lethal, and who for that had gripped his hand extra hard while giving birth to her second son, and by his mother, who couldn't believe how incredibly unromantic a moment her son had chosen for the all-important question. Had it been for her, Dave would have proposed months before.
In the end, JJ had accepted under tears as she held her newborn baby in her arms, wondering if things could get any more perfect.
They were married on Thanksgiving, by JJ's request, in honor of her mother, whom she still missed dearly, no matter how much of a second mother Sofia had become for her over the past year.
"Look, Mommy! Sammy's gotten a new picture book! I can tell him stories with that!" Henry squealed excitedly, and moments later his mouth formed a big 'o' when he opened a wicker basket his grandfather had handed him that had only a red ribbon wrapped around the handle.
"A puppy!" He whispered in disbelief. "Santa brought me a puppy!"
Dave and JJ exchanged questioning looks and turned to Sofia and Joe.
"Ma, Pop, didn't we talk about this?" Dave started to scold them.
"Oh, shush, son!" Sofia dismissed his concerns. "You know it was the biggest wish he had this year."
"Fine, but I swear to God, if the dog only so much as thinks about chewing on my shoes or peeing into our bed, he will be staying with you and Pop," Dave gave in, while JJ chuckled to herself.
The puppy that had so far been sleeping in the basket, peeked out now and immediately licked over Henry's hand, making the boy giggle.
"I'm gonna name you Nick!" Henry announced then.
"Why Nick?" JJ wanted to know.
"Grandpa told me that it's another name of Santa Claus, and I want to name him after Santa, because he 'filled all of my biggest wishes I ever had," Henry explained seriously.
The adults smiled at each other. Sometimes it was really amazing how much Henry was wise beyond his years.
"Speaking of biggest wishes," Dave threw in, clearing his throat. "There's something else for you, Henry." He handed him a white envelope and Henry looked at it, not sure what to do with it. Dave's parents seemed just as confused as their grandson, only JJ smiled knowingly.
"Go ahead, open."
Henry carefully pulled the envelope open and retrieved a sheet of paper.
"What's this?" He asked curiously. There were a lot of things written on it, but he couldn't read yet. "Read it to me?"
"Of course, come here, buddy."
JJ got up from Dave's lap and sat down next to her parents-in-law. Dave scooped Henry up to take his mother's place.
"Alright. Remember when Mommy and I asked you if you are okay with me being your daddy?"
Henry nodded eagerly and Dave's heart swelled with love for the boy.
Unofficially, he had been Henry's daddy for quite some time now, ever since Henry had unconsciously called him "Daddy" one day in spring, when Dave had taken him and JJ to Disneyworld in Florida for a short vacation. Dave had almost been too shocked for words as the tears formed in his eyes, and JJ, just as happy, had quickly taken out her camera and captured the moment for all time, as Dave had picked Henry up and held him close for what seemed to be an eternity.
They had both agreed before to give Henry as much time as he needed with getting used to Dave, and Dave had never asked him to call him "Daddy", instead leaving it up to Henry to call him anything he wanted.
After Samuel was born, JJ had never once hesitated to write down Dave's name on the birth certificate – nor had Dave – and had expressed her thoughts about Dave officially adopting Henry, too.
"I know for you I've been your daddy all along, but this paper here has made it official, for the whole world to see. You're officially a Rossi now."
Henry's eyes began to shine.
"Really?"
"Really." Dave shifted him on his lap so that he could lean back against his chest as his arms went around the boy, taking the paper into his hands. He pointed out everything he read to Henry.
"This is your new birth certificate. Everybody has one, and it's the most important paper in the world, because it tells everyone who you are and who your parents are, and nobody can argue with that. See here."
Henry's eyes followed Dave's finger.
"That's your name. Henry Alexander Rossi, born November 12, 2007. Then here it says 'mother: Jennifer Anne Rossi, née Jareau. That's your mom. And right next to your mom's name, right here, where it says 'father', there's my name, David Joseph Rossi. That means that from now on nobody will ever be able to change that I'm your daddy."
"So when people want to know my name, I can say it's Henry Rossi from now on?" Henry turned his head and looked up into Dave's face.
"Yep," Dave confirmed.
The boy nodded and fell silent for a moment, absorbing everything he had just heard.
JJ, Sofia, and Joe had tears in their eyes from watching the exchange.
"When did you get the papers?" Joe asked JJ softly, not wanting to interrupt the father-son moment.
"They arrived two days ago, just in time for Christmas," JJ replied. "Dave and I couldn't be happier."
"You're not the only ones, this is so wonderful for all of us," Sofia said. "Look."
Their eyes fell back to Henry and Dave. Henry turned around in Dave's lap and wrapped his arms around his father's neck. Dave responded by holding his small body tightly against himself.
"Love you, Daddy," Henry whispered, burying his face in Dave's neck.
"I love you, too, son," Dave answered hoarsely, his voice thick with emotion as his own tears of joy were streaming freely down his cheeks.
It was a long moment until Henry finally let go of Dave again, his father even more reluctant to let him out of his arms and back to his new puppy that was excitedly running around between their legs.
All four adults agreed that there had never been a more wonderful Christmas in their lives, and if you asked each of them if they believed in Santa Claus, their answer would be a convinced yes. For he had changed their life and made it better than they'd ever imagined possible.
"You know what I want from Santa next year?" Henry solemnly declared some time during Christmas Day.
"A little sister."
~Fin~
A/N: Once again, thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments, they're very much appreciated! Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas! Happy New Year!
