Thank you so much for review! Please let me know what you think! Enjoy this chapter!

Jesse stood motionless. He hesitantly nodded and sat in his chair.

"Have you never celebrated your birthday?" Jay asked nervously. He did not understand the attitude of the child. Maybe Jesse hated his birthday and the party was a stupid idea. But maybe his birthday was never really celebrated and this gesture is weird to him.

"Yes, but never in the forest."

At midnight, Jay rose from his seat and gesticulated to his son to get up. Hesitantly, Jesse accepted his request.

Jay felt the uncertainty of his son. Shy, Jesse played around with his hands and avoided eye contact with his father.

This uncertainty of his now 14-year-old boy also unsettled Jay. He stretched out his hand to the teenager. Timidly Jesse reached for the larger hand.

Jay opened his mouth and was about to congratulate him when Jesse hugged him. The birthday boy wrapped his arms around the detective. He gently stroked his boy's back while Jesse rested his head against his chest.

"Happy Birthday Jess." Jay said gently, "You're an amazing boy. I'm really proud of what you are." He hesitated a bit. To reveal feelings was not always his strength, "I love you."

"Thank you." Jesse whispered.

Slowly Jesse left their embrace. Of course, Jay did not come unprepared. He pulled out of the provisions backpack a blueberry muffin, which Erin baked the day before. Of course, Jay positioned a single candle on the muffin and lit it.

"Don't look like you've never seen a birthday muffin before," Jay grinned, holding it out to the teen, "Make a wish."

Jesse grinned widely and followed his father's request. He blew out the single candle.

The next day, they packed their things and hiked back to the parking lot. The black GMC was still standing alone on the huge open area. They stowed their stuff and Jesse wanted in the passenger seat as Jay called him to the driver's side.

"Can you drive?" Jay asked, pointing to the empty driver's seat. Jesse just shook his head. Jay nodded and explained everything to him. He then sat in the passenger seat himself. With a short nod, he told his son that he should leave. Jesse turned the key over and started the ignition.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" Jay grinned. Jesse looked at his father in disbelief. The man did not really demand that he drives a car without a driver's license. On the other hand, the detective was sitting next to him. "Let's drive." Jay demanded. Jesse nodded and drove across the parking lot. It was fun. Beaming, he glanced briefly at his father, who nodded satisfied.

"That's our secret," Jay said after making a driver change and now he was behind the wheel. Erin would probably rip him off if she knew he let a 14 year old behind the wheel. After all, he had to fight for years to finally be allowed to drive - and he was an adult.

"Wow. Our first secret." Jesse grinned. On the return journey, Jesse did not hesitate long and made a connection to the GMC. This time they heard a playlist of Green Day.

"Jay?" Jesse asked after a while, "You haven't planned a surprise party, have you?"

"No, uh, no." Jay answered, but Jesse looked at him sternly.

"You're a bad liar. Hard to believe that Mom fell for your lies," Jesse stated. Jay sighed briefly.

Somehow he really could not lie well. However, they have not planned a big party. They wanted to celebrate in the closest family circle. Only Hank and Will with family came over. With a heavy heart they do without the Intelligence members. They wanted to keep the celebration small because it was his first birthday without his mom.

Jay parked in the garage and unloaded the backpacks.

"Do you think I'll be a criminal later?" Jesse asked, silently watching the car. The door was repaired.

"How do you feel about becoming a criminal? Because of the car door?" Jay asked in surprise.

"No, generally. You read my file, didn't you?" Jesse asked.

"Do you mean the school brawl or the fact that you were forced to deal drugs?" Jay looked worriedly at his son. He realized that the boy wanted an answer to his question.

"Would you do these offenses again?" Jay asked.

"I don't think so," mumbled Jesse.

"You think? I can tell you it's up to you how you shape the future." Jay breathed out, "Either you're going to jail for drug dealing or you're just a good kid and who knows, maybe you'll be a cop one day."

"You really think I can do it?"

"What?" Jay asked.

"Well, build a drug ring. It's sounds difficult."

"You're kidding me now?" Jay asked horrified.

"No, really," said Jesse, explaining, "You have to hiring people to advertise inconspicuously in order to attract customers so that sales increase and at the same time you can't get caught. That sounds like business." Jesse grinned, "You really have to see your expression."

"Happy Birthday, Jess!" Emma squealed and fell around his neck.

Amazed, Jesse looked around the dining room. The table was nicely decorated and a chocolate cake with 14 candles stood on it.

"Come here." Erin said, hugging the teenager, "Happy Birthday, Jesse! Stay happy, healthy and blessed on your special day... and every day of the year."

There was an hour left before the guests arrived. Erin had deliberately planned it so the two men had plenty of time to shower and put on clean clothes. After all, the camping trip had actually been a spontaneous idea, so that father and son finally get to know each other better. Apparently they were successful, because Jesse was really happy.

Hank was the first guest. He congratulated his almost-grandson and even gave the boy a present, though Jesse did not expect it.

Erin wondered at the shy kind of the 14-year-old.

Jay and Erin were pretty sure that Jesse's claim they had always celebrated was wrong. The next guests were Will and Natalie with their children Owen and Liz. Owen was only a few years older than Jesse and the two boys got along very well.

"I hope you like it." Erin said and handed Jesse a relatively large package. Curious, he tore open the wrapping paper and marveled at his new laptop.

"A teenager needs his own laptop," Erin explained. Usually they do not like big or rather expensive gifts, but Jay insisted. Jesse's old laptop had an spider app. The display was broken.

"Thank you!" Jesse said happily. Emma gave him new Vans sneakers. From Hank he got an envelope with money. Will and Natalie gave the teenager a Playstation game.

In the evening, Jesse retired to his room. He was sitting on his bed with his new Macbook in his lap when Jay came to his room.

"I hope you enjoyed the weekend," Jay said.

"It was my best birthday." Jesse smiled and saw his father's questioning look, "On my 11th birthday mom was totally high and yet she bought me a cake, but there were only 9 candles on it. She didn't remember how old I got and from then on, there was no celebration."

"I'm sorry, Jess," Jay said, unsure what to say. He was leaving Jesse's room when the teenager called for him, "Jay, wait!" Jay turned around while Jesse said, "Is your offer still valid? I would like to learn to swim."

"Yeah," Jay smiled, "Why did you change your mind?"

"Emma, uh, she wants to go to the indoor water park." Jesse explained.

"Emma, huh?" Jay winked, "I teach you how to swim."