Ryan had been in rehab for just about a couple of weeks now, he was determined to get better and on a straight narrow path for his daughter. For Sophia. He was doing outpatient treatment, he would be in rehab and then during the day come out and try to see Sophia as much and as often as he can.
Mainly his goals were trying to find the best home for them as possible and finding a job. He knew he couldn't get a house or an apartment without money, money he didn't have. Which meant he had to find a job but he knew that could be difficult with his drug use.
Before they knew it the temperatures had started to drop dramatically very close to single digits. Soon it was snowing in the Windy city. Christmas had been fast approaching and he had no idea what to get his daughter.
One afternoon Ryan signed out of rehab to meet up with Adam and Sophia at the mall, Sophia had just about begged to get her picture taken with Santa and Adam couldn't help but caved. She wanted to invite her father along, the seven-year-old wanted to give the relationship with her father a real chance.
Ryan showed up at the mall and looked around for them till he had found them. Just seeing his daughter had always put a smile on his face. He tried not to be so nervous with Adam, he didn't wanna do anything to screw up and Adam took his privileges of seeing his daughter away.
"Daddy!" Sophia ran to her father.
Ryan couldn't help but smile hearing that, it had actually made his day a lot better. He bent down and hugged her. "There's my Sophia bear"
"I missed you"
"I missed you too shorty"
Adam chuckled and smiled as he walked over to see them, he was actually glad that his niece's father hadn't been a total dead beat and wanted to stick around for her sake. His heart ached in pain as he tried to hide it. It would be their first Christmas without Emma, they wanted to try and make this a good Christmas for the youngest Ruzek.
"Hey Ryan" Adam says.
Looking up, Ryan's eyes locked with Adam. He felt some nervousness inside of him. "Adam hey"
"Relax man, it's all good. I was about to take Soph to get her pictures taken then to get some lunch. Wanna join?"
"Sure, I'd love to"
Sophia just about pulled her father and uncle to the center of the mall where they had set up the Santa pictures at. The little seven-year-old was bouncing on her toes watching and waiting the whole time. Ryan smiles as he patted her head gently. All the while Adam could tell something was bugging him.
"You alright?" Adam asked him softly.
"Yes. No. I don't know" Ryan answered.
"What's going on?"
"It's almost Christmas and I have no idea what to get Soph. I don't have any money to get her anything nice or special. It feels like I'm already failing"
"You're not failing, you're still working to get back on your feet. How about this after we leave here, I'll drop Soph off with my dad and I can take you to find her something"
"You..you'd really do that?"
"Of course, we're family. Whatever you need help with. I got you"
"Thanks a lot man, I really mean it"
"As long as we both keep our word and we work, talk and discuss everything out. It should be smooth sailing"
"I give you my word. No secrets, no hiding anything"
"That's all I ask. How's your program coming?"
"Pretty good, the detox wasn't as bad as I thought but so far it's good. My next step is finding a job so that way I can get a place for me and Soph"
"Any leads on that?"
"Not really. It's hard with my drug and criminal history. I've actually been thinking about going back to school to study something that could build into a career"
"That's a great start. Anything in mind yet?"
"Not really. I don't think I can do construction again, it pays good don't get me work. I just don't wanna get hurt again"
"I can talk to Hank or Trudy, find something at the district for you to do"
"Thank… Thank you"
"You really care about Sophia and you're thinking a lot about putting your life back together. It's the least I could do to help you out. Besides that's what family does, we help each other out"
Ryan just about choked on a sob when Adam said that. Family. Adam was his family. Sophia was his family. His family was gone. His parents died when he was a teenager. His brother was a soulless cold heart bastard. He was alone until he met Emma and she changed him for the better. She made him want to be a better man and he owed it to her to do just that not just for himself but their daughter.
"All I want is to do right by Emma. She was the one to help me change my whole life around, taught and showed me there can be good in the world. She and Soph were the best things in my life"
"That was Emma, she saw the good in just about everyone"
Before Ryan could speak Sophia's excited voice broke them from their conversation. "We're next"
The two men chuckled and nodded. Adam looked down at her smiling, god how much she looked like Emma. Her long brownish blonde hair was pulled back into a French braid. Erin, Kim and Trudy had been giving Adam lessons on doing hair.
She wore an all red dress, white tights and black dress shoes. She was beautiful, she looked just like Emma when she was her age. When Adam saw her tears sprung to his eyes, at times he saw his sister in his niece.
"Go on darling we're right here. We can see you" Adam told her.
Sophia ran to the Santa that was in the large chair and smiled telling him what she had wanted for Christmas, the photographer snapped the pictures. Once they had been printed Adam paid for the pictures and they went to the food court to find a place for lunch.
The seven-year-old was swinging her father's hand the whole time while walking between him and her uncle. Ryan couldn't help but smile. Everything seemed to be right in the world but it was missing one thing. Emma.
Ryan had cleared his throat. "So Soph, did you tell Santa what you wanted for Christmas?"
"Yup but it's a secret"
"Oh yeah?"
She nodded. "If I say it won't come true"
"I gotcha kiddo. So what sounds good for lunch?"
"Pizza"
"Pizza it is"
Adam went to order it, while he was over there he had made a couple of quick calls. One to his father and the other to Hank. He really wanted this to be a good Christmas not only for his niece but for Ryan. He was definitely trying hard. And he deserved something for his hard work. Something big and special.
Ryan and his daughter we're at the table talking, he smiled just seeing her. She was just about the only thing he did right in his life besides Emma.
"You look so much like your mom" Ryan told her softly.
"Really?" Sophia replied.
He nodded. "You're like a mini version of her"
"I really miss her. Especially now. Christmas was her favorite holiday"
"I remember, when you were a baby she'd decorate the house up every year. She'd make cookies, gingerbread houses. Sometimes I told her she went just a tad overboard"
"Do you think" She stopped herself.
"What is it sweetheart?"
"I was gonna ask if maybe you'd wanna spend Christmas with me, Uncle Adam and Grandpa Bob"
Ryan had felt his heart growing every minute when he was with his daughter, hearing that made his heart wanna burst in his chest.
"I would love to but I think we should ask them first to make sure it's ok"
"Make sure what's ok?" Adam asked, rejoining them, setting the large steaming pizza down on the table.
"Um Soph asked if I could spend Christmas with you guys" Ryan's voice held some nervousness. "I just wouldn't wanna intrude"
"No intrusion, you can join us if you want"
"Thank you Adam, it means a lot"
"Don't mention it"
Soon after they had eaten they went to take Sophia to Adam's father. Ryan had thought of something. He had the perfect gift for Sophia, he remembered it was something Emma had wanted to give their daughter when she had gotten older. He had it put away.
Adam saw the look on his face and was curious. "Something on your mind?"
"I have the perfect gift for Sophia. I have to go through my stuff but I think I have it"
"I'm sure whatever it is, she'll love it"
Ryan had that same feeling, he remembered exactly what it was. Emma had gotten her daughter a gold locket and inside was a picture of Ryan and Emma when they were a bit younger and very much in love. On the front was engraved with, We'll be with you forever. With love from mommy and daddy. It would be the perfect gift for his daughter.
Before they knew it was Christmas Eve, Ryan's rehab had let him out for a couple of days. He showed up at Adam's with the few gifts he could get, Sophia just about bounced to open the door.
"Daddy's here!" The excited little girl spoke. "Merry Christmas"
"Merry Christmas to you too munchkin" Ryan says with a bright smile.
Sophia had pulled her father inside the large apartment, food, cookies were just about everywhere. Ryan was stunned seeing it all. Adam looked to see him as he pulled out a batch of gingerbread cookies.
"Hey, good timing. Soph and I were about to build gingerbread houses" Adam said.
"Everything looks great," Ryan commented.
"Thanks. I'm keeping the spirit alive for Emma"
"If it's alright, I found the one gift for Sophia. Is it alright if she opens it?"
"Yeah. No problem"
Sitting down in the chair he pulled out the small bag and the youngest Ruzek had gone over to him. He pulled her close, handing the bag to her.
"This is a gift, your mom and I wanted to give you when you got older. But I think you'd like it now"
Sophia pulled out the wooden box, Ryan had carved the box. Carving wood had been one of his many hidden talents. She opened the box and gasped seeing the locket, carefully he pulled it out and opened the locket to show her the picture.
"This was a picture your mom and I took back years ago, in fact this picture was taken the day she found out we were having you"
"Really?"
He nodded. "Yup. In fact she had gotten the news she was having you on Christmas Eve. That's when we had this picture taken. Finding out we were having a baby was the best Christmas gift we could have ever gotten"
"I really miss her" Sophia's voice trembled a bit.
"I miss her too but she'll always be with us. She's watching over us every day and as long as you have your locket whenever you wanna see her all you gotta do is open it and she's right there"
Ryan had helped her put the locket on, after locking it into place he gently moved her hair so it wouldn't get stuck and Sophia adjusted it so it hung perfectly around her neck.
"And it's perfect"
"Merry Christmas daddy" She had thrown her arms around him.
He had wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly and protectively. "Merry Christmas munchkin"
That night the three had made gingerbread houses, ate, and watched Christmas movies. Soon it was getting late and Sophia had gone to get ready for bed. Adam made up the pull-out couch for Ryan.
Sophia came out dressed in her light blue pajamas and looked at her father and uncle. "Can we read a bedtime story?"
"Absolutely. I got the perfect one" Adam answered.
He went to the book shelf and grabbed The Night Before Christmas. It was his sister's favorite book as kids and he still kept a copy after all these years so he could continue the tradition with his young niece.
They had gone to tuck the young girl in for the night, Ryan had tucked the blanket securely around her then sat her bear next to her as Adam opened the book and started reading.
By the end of the book Sophia was fast asleep, the two men quietly left the room without disturbing her. They had gone to bed for the night. The small apartment was quiet the whole night, Ryan laid awake the entire time just thinking about how grateful he was to have this second chance at a life and at being a father.
Adam could have easily kept him out of Sophia's life but instead let him get a second chance. He wasn't going to blow it or waste it. He was determined to make good on it this time. He was going to do it for Emma, his daughter, but most importantly he was going to do it for himself.
Soon the next morning it was Christmas, white cold fluffy snow was falling from the sky. Sophia was bouncing with excitement as she went bouncing to wake her father and uncle.
"It's Christmas! Merry Christmas!"
The two men woke up and couldn't help but chuckle. Adam sent a quick text to the others to meet somewhere he sent the address. He had something incredibly special planned for Ryan.
"Alright guys, we gotta get dressed and get going. Hank is hosting this year and he said it's going to be special" Adam told them.
Sophia ran to get dressed, Ryan was incredibly nervous. He would not only be with Adam, Sophia and Bob but he would be with all of intelligence. He didn't know why but he still felt nervous around them.
"It's gonna be fine" Adam told him, breaking him from his thoughts.
"I hope so" Was all Ryan could make out.
Adam let Ryan borrow an outfit for the day, Sophia came out wearing a green dress and white dress shoes. Once they had everything they needed they had headed out. Adam was driving; he was about to make Ryan's Christmas unforgettable.
The drive from Adam's place to the house wasn't very long, they arrived about 15 minutes later. Ryan felt nervousness bubble inside his stomach as they got out and went in. As soon as they went inside Ryan froze in his place, there was a huge banner that read.
'Welcome Home'
"Wha…What?" Ryan stuttered.
"Merry Christmas," Adam said.
"I…I don't understand"
"This is my gift to you. A home for you and Sophia. I figured this could be one less thing to have off your plate. Everything is just about set up for you guys"
Tears sprung to his eyes. "Thank…Thank you"
"I did have a lot of help from my team, we take care of our own"
"I promise to treat all of it well and with respect" The tears from his eyes began falling.
Sophia went to her father's side and hugged him. "Now I can tell you what I wanted from Santa"
Ryan had sniffed and wiped his eyes. "What'd you ask Santa for?"
"For you to be with us for Christmas and to stay forever"
Not being able to help it he burst into tears and picked up his daughter, hugging her close. This had been without a doubt the second best Christmas he'd ever celebrated. And he'd be forever grateful for Adam and all of intelligence. They were Sophia's family and now his family. He would never be alone again.