Life with a toddler was not easy. James was like a walking tornado and energizer bunny all in one. James had been with them for six weeks now. James' father had gone batshit crazy, and in a fit of rage killed James' mother and then turned the gun on himself. There were no relatives for James to permanetly live with, so he would stay with Jay and Olivia till a suitable family becomes available to adopt him.

They hired a sitter to watch James when they went to work. She watches Owen for Natalie and Will, which made Jay and Olivia feel a lot better about leaving him with a stranger. James didn't do well the first few days they left him with her. He screamed and cried for hours, but Jay and Olivia made it a point to FaceTime him throughout the day. Olivia struggled with daily life a bit more than Jay did. She found it hard trying to remember her memories, adjust to her new life, work and take care of a toddler. Dr. Charles said this was all normal, but still agreed to meet three times a week.

Jay picked Olivia up from work and they stopped to pick up pizza for dinner. Will, Natalie and Owen were coming over for dinner and to hang out for a little bit so Owen and James could play.

"Have you heard anything for DCFS?" Will asked.

"There's been a couple families that are interested, but they're not right for him." Jay said.

"Bad homes?"

"They just didn't feel right."

Olivia sat silently and looked down at her food.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Owen yelled, running into the kitchen.

"Mommy! Daddy!" James yelled, following Owen.

That was the first time he's ever done that, and they made nothing of it, chalking it up to him copying Owen. James ran to Olivia and she scooped him up.

"Hello handsome, are you having fun?"

She covered his face with kisses as he giggled and squirmed around.

"Jay help."

James held out his arms to Jay. Jay took the giggling, squirming boy from her arms and kissed her at the same time. James smiled up at the two people who protected him.

"I lobe you."

Olivia smiled.

"We love you too."

Long after dinner, and Will, Nat and Owen left, Olivia found Jay and James in James' room. Jay was rocking James in the rocking chair while reading him a story. James was cuddled into Jay's lap, head on his chest with his eyes closed and sucking on his thumb. Jay put the sleeping boy in his crib and walked into the hall, closing the bedroom door behind him.

"Hello beautiful."

"Hello handsome."

Jay wrapped his arms around her.

"You good?" She asked.

"I'm good. How was your session today?"

"It was alright. I think I'm gonna stop though."

"Why?"

"It's been almost a year. I'm never going to get that chunk of my life back."

"There's still a chance."

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James was cranky today, like cranky x 1000, and Olivia's patience was wearing thin. He cried for hours this morning the second Jay walked out the front door, she had dropped two cups of coffee at home and James had managed to kick her Starbucks out of her hands as she put him into his stroller, not to mention, they were and hour and a half late to the CPD family picnic/carnival.

To Olivia, from Jay

you guys here yet?

To Jay, from Olivia

trying to get James into the stroller.

"Enough James! If you don't stop, you're not going to see Jay."

Hailey, Kim and Antonio were the first people she saw and they smothered James with attention and affection.

"We've been instructed to take James for the day." Kim said.

"Instructed?"

"Volunteered." Hailey quickly corrected.

"I don't know guys, he's been in a mood all day."

"I've got two teenagers, this will be a breeze." Antonio said.

Hailey nudged her towards the ferris wheel, where Jay stood with his hands in his pockets, smiling at her. She kissed James on the forehead and walked over to Jay.

"I know this isn't the most ideal date, and with James, it our life has been a little chaotic and it hasn't been easy"

"Jay-"

"Let's just do us today."

"But James-"

"Will be just fine."

Olivia thought for a second.

"Okay, let's have a corny date."

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The sun began setting and there was a slight chill in the air, so Jay got the his sweatshirt that he brought for her out of the truck, saying he knew she would need it. They had spent the day playing games, eating junk food, going on rides, just having fun. Jay had finally convinced her to go on the ferris wheel. She sat as close as she possibly could to him and he kept a protective arm around her, and kissed the side of her head lovingly.

"Have we done this before?" She asked.

"We have, not as a couple though. You've been coming to these the last couple years."

"This all feels familiar."

"Familiar is good."

By the time they got home, James was sound asleep. Antonio said he was so good and had so much fun. Olivia went into his room to check on and his little head popped up in his crib.

"Mommy?"

"No baby, it's Olivia. Uncle Tony said you were sleeping."

"Daddy?"

"No, Jay's in our room."

"Me too?"

"Not tonight, you need to sleep."

James yawned and laid back down and Olivia rubbed his back until he fell back asleep. James had been calling them Mommy and Daddy a lot lately. Jay came in, stood behind her and hugged her.

"Everything okay? You've been in here for a while."

"Yeah, just thinking."

"Wanna share?"

"He's been calling us mom and dad a lot lately."

"He has." He agreed.

"I got an email for his social worker on our way home. They found a family for him."

Jay took a deep breath.

"That was always the end goal."

"Jay, we're his family."

Jay kissed her cheek.

"So then let's adopt him."