Hope you all enjoy! Update to other stories should come soon.
He's coming down the stairs of his father in law's house, having just put the twins down for their naps. He was planning on spending some time with Chris now that he had the chance to and he goes looking for him.
He hasn't spent as much time as he would have liked with him. Once he went back to work the time spent with his children was limited to the morning with the twins and the short time between Chris's return from school and his time of departure to the theater.
It wasn't enough.
Which is why, after giving his thanks to the producers of the show for giving him the opportunity to come back after his long absence, he quit the show just as summer was beginning for his son.
"Come on sweetie we can go over to my house and watch some football with Burt," he hears Carole Hudson-Hummel's voice coming from the basement.
"No thank you Grandma Carole. I really don't want to watch football right now," his son responds.
"Why not? You used to really like watching with me," Carole reminds the boy.
"I just don't, I'd rather go upstairs and play on the piano for a bit," Chris answers, honestly.
"Are you serious? Chris you're not sounding like you."
"What?" he hears the sudden tension in his son's voice.
"Yeah. You're not sounding like you used to. You used to want to watch football and be like your daddy. You're sounding more like…" Carole doesn't finish but her meaning is clear.
More like him.
He feels himself clenching his fist. Carole had been one of the few people who were not happy with Rachel and him getting together and had vocally opposed it. He remembers clearly how badly she reacted when she found out Chris called him "daddy" and how she had taken away their opportunity to let Chris know about his parentage. He had forgiven her for that and had continued to agree to have her in Chris's life, even when he was aware of how many times she undermined him.
But for some reason, maybe due to everything that had happened recently and his plans to adopt him, this was too far. He could tell his son was upset and he was not going to allow that.
But just as he was about intervene he hears Chris speak up.
"Like what? Like my Daddy?" anger tinging his voice.
"Chris he's not…" Carole starts
"Yes he is! Since I was little you've been telling me he's not but he is!" Chris yells back, "I don't get why you don't like him! He takes care of me, plays with me, and makes me feel better whenever I feel bad."
"Chris you don't understand, Finn and Jesse didn't like each other they…" Carole starts.
"I don't care!" his son seems to explode, knocking over a chair in the process and he decides to step in.
"Chris," he calls out and an immediate calm seems to overcome the boy. "Why don't you go upstairs to your room and wait for me," he suggests.
"But Daddy," Chris tries to argue.
"Go," he adds and the boy gives in. He makes his way towards him.
"Daddy…"
"We'll talk in a little bit okay," Jesse assures him. He makes sure he's actually gone before turning to face Carole.
"I know you don't like me, that you never have and that every opportunity you've had you've reminded him that I'm not his biological father but this stops now. I know it's hard for you and I know he's the last family you have and the last connection you have to your son but he's not him."
"Hey what's going on? I ran into Chris and he was really upset," Rachel says as she comes down the stairs.
"I'm about to go talk with him. But I think you and Carole need to talk because this has been going on for way too long and its starting to effect him," Jesse explains, heading upstairs.
"Carole what is he talking about?" he can hear Rachel asking.
Instead of listening he makes his way upstairs to Chris's room and finds him running his hands nervously through his hair, a habit he no doubt picked up from him.
"Chris," Jesse makes sure to gently call out to not startle the boy. Nevertheless the boy does jump at his voice and immediately turns to look at him.
"Daddy! I didn't mean to…" Chris starts rambling just like his mother does whenever she tries to justify something she did.
"Shh. Come on, I want you to come with me," Jesse tells him and Chris looks at him doubtfully. So Jesse walks over to him picks him up and places him on his back, carrying him down.
They both try to ignore the questioning looks that the Berry men, Burt Hummel, and Anderson-Hummel men give them as they make their way towards the door and yelling that is coming from downstairs.
"Kurt can you watch the twins for me? I need to take Chris out for a bit," Jesse asks.
"Sure but what is…?" Kurt begins to ask.
"Later," Jesse quickly cuts him off before walking out.
He takes Chris and puts him in the car before driving off. Soon they find themselves at a familiar park with a set of familiar swings.
"It's a bit farther of a walk than I really wanted to make so instead of carrying you here like last time I decided to drive," Jesse explains to his son with a smile.
Chris immediately gets out the car and runs happily to the swing set. Jesse follows at a slower rate but takes in how happy Chris is simply being at a park. But after a while they both seem to come to an understanding that they need to talk.
"So here we are again," Chris points out from his swing as Jesse sits in the one next to him.
"Indeed we are and for the same reason too," Jesse agrees.
"Yeah, grandma Carole telling me your not my Daddy," he grumbles.
"Chris, I know she upset you but you shouldn't of snapped that way."
"But I'm tired of her telling me that, of kids at school telling me that I'm not really a St. James," he groans. He looks over towards Jesse and sees him appearing to staring out, mind far away. "I'm sorry. For everything Daddy. For yelling at grandma, for yelling at you… I was just confused."
"When I first brought you here I told you something," he starts before kneeling in front of Chris. "Do you remember what it was?"
"That you were going to be my Daddy. The best daddy you could be even if my actual daddy was gone."
"Have I done that?" he asks, a bit of doubt showing in both his voice and features.
"Yes. You… you've been the best daddy. All my friends say so too."
"Then I want to ask you something. I wanted to ask you this with your mom but I think I should ask you in the place where you first remember me making you the promise to be the best daddy I could for you," he pauses.
"What is it?" eagerness tinging his voice.
"Would it be okay if I adopt you? Officially be your daddy and make you a St. James?"
He doesn't really get an answer. Instead he's tackled by his son in a big bear hug. He can't help but laugh as Chris buries his face in his neck and squeezes.
"So I'll take this as a yes?" he chuckles. Chris just nods.
He just kisses his head and murmurs into his ear.
"I love you buddy."
"I love you too, Daddy."