Part 8
Three months later
"So the three of you being in a relationship is wrong?" Jack inquired.
He had been living with Dave, Aaron and Spencer for three months now along with Jenny and so far everything had thing had been great.
"Many people see it that way," Dave explained gently to Jack. "It's wrong in most people's eyes, but really there's nothing wrong with having two different lovers at the same time. Lots of young people experiment with threesomes when they are trying to find their sexual identities, but they don't stay together."
"However, there's really nothing wrong with what we are doing, not morally or ethically, not even really legally so long as we pay our taxes," Aaron added.
"But a lot of people would be against it all the same for their own reasons and a lot of times those reasons are religious," Spencer continued.
"All we're asking for is that you keep our relationship quiet, you and Jenny. There would be a lot of objection to it if people found out that the three of us were involved with each other," Dave said. "While we would handle it, let's just say that we don't need the trouble it would bring."
"What kind of trouble?" Jack asked with intelligence behind his eyes.
"Well, a lot of women who aren't married would object because they are hoping that I'll eventually marry one of them, because they would be able to afford all the finer things in life," Dave said, as neutrally as he could manage. "They would cause a great deal of trouble and try to get me to break up with both Aaron and Spencer, so that one of them could take their place and since that isn't going to happen it's just trouble we don't need."
"There would also be a lot of groups out there that would have something to say about it and there would be a lot of media attention," Spencer added.
"It would be quite a storm before it was all over and while we could handle it we'd rather not have to," Aaron said.
"I think I understand. You're asking me to keep the relationship between the three of you quiet," Jack said.
"Well, if anybody asks you about your parents you can tell them about Aaron and I since it's a matter of record that the two of us adopted you and Jenny, even if very few should have access to those records," Dave said.
"But if you mention me just call me uncle," Spencer requested. "Just think of me as a kind of silent partner if that makes it easier."
"But..." Jack began to protest, as he had begun to love all three men who treated him and Jenny just like their own children and that was with love, kindness and understanding.
"I would appreciate it if you would do this for us," Spencer said gently. "I'll still be just as much a father to you within the confines of our home and other places where we have privacy, but to the rest of the world, except those people that we've introduced you to I'm just your honorary uncle, just as JJ, Penny and Emily are your honorary aunts."
"And Derek really is your honorary uncle," Aaron added.
Jack had been afraid of Derek Morgan at first because here was a big bulky guy and some of the bullies he had known had been exactly the same, but it turned out that Derek was nothing like the others and Jack warmed up to him quickly. Jenny had been even more afraid of Derek then Jack had been, so Derek had been especially gentle with her and now she loved him and it was mutual. Derek and Jenny had begun to form a special bond and Jenny was always following him around, which Derek didn't mind.
"There's probably going to be some media attention anyway if word gets out that Dave is married to another man," Aaron said.
"We've managed to avoid that so far, because we've kept our relationship under wraps, but still, it won't be as bad if they get hold of the fact that we are in a threeway relationship," Dave explained gently to Jack.
"Why would anyone care if you are married or not?" Jack asked genuinely puzzled.
"Well, it has to do with the fact that the company I run is worth billions of dollars and to a lot of people that's very attractive and some would want to marry me just to get a nice big chunk of it," Dave said.
"The only way to do that is to marry Dave," Spencer said, not bothering to explain that some people would be willing to murder Aaron or him for that matter if his relationship with Dave was known in order to possibly marry Dave at some future date if they couldn't scare then away. There were a lot of ruthless people out there, but Jack was to young to know that, even though he had already experienced some of that harshness. "That would be a great deal of media attention and calls for Dave to divorce, the argument being that two men can't have children and surely he would want an heir, ignoring the fact that Dave's free to make his own choices."
"Ignoring the fact that I might prefer my own sex and married Aaron because I love him," Dave added. "I'd marry Spencer to in a heartbeat if it was legal."
"However, since threesomes aren't legal, we are perfectly happy with our relationship the way it is," Aaron told Jack.
"Alright, from now on I won't mention you in public unless I'm asked," Jack promised.
"That's all we ask," Dave said, "even though we realize we're asking a lot out of you is your only eight years old."
"You've done a lot for me and for Jenny, so it's the least I can do," Jack said. "You took both of us in and have treated us as your own children these last few months."
"I needed an heir," Dave explained simply. "Someday the three of us are going to want to retire and then it will be your responsibility to run the company as you believe I would want it run. We'll keep our hands in, but still, it will be your responsibility one day."
"Of course, if you don't want to run the company of eventually then Dave has other options in order to keep it going," Aaron said.
"Really, there is no point of worrying about it right now as it will be many years before any of us are ready to retire, so Jack has as much time is he needs to learn all he can and decide if he wants to take over the company," Spencer said. "He might want to choose another option, another career."
"I don't know what I want to do yet," Jack said.
"Of course, you don't, you're only eight," Dave said. "Almost no child knows what they want to do at such a young age. The three of us will support you in whatever you do decide to do, whether that's take over for the three of us once we decide to retire or something else entirely. I won't force you to take over company if you don't want to, as that would be a good way to run it into the ground. Still, it is an option and once you're ready let us know."
"Still, that's many years away as he needs to finish growing up, go to college, perhaps get married," Spencer said.
"Let's not rush it along as that's still a long time away," Aaron said. "He might turn out to be like the three of us all we know."
"Are you going to tell Jenny?" Jack asked.
"Right now, Jenny is still rather shy and skittish around us," Dave said. "That will change with time and effort, which we're willing to give. We will tell her, but not for a few months anyway she needs time to get more used to her situation."
"She's really taken to Derek though, which was something of a surprise, considering how shy she is around men in general," Spencer said smiling.
"That surprised me to, because she usually avoided most men or boys, except for me," Jack said.
"Derek just has a way with little kids," Aaron said smiling. "He has two sisters and mother in Chicago and also a female cousin. He helps out at a youth center I believe, so he's just really good with children, so he'll certainly be a good father someday."
"Still, I'm glad Jenny has taken so well to him because usually he finds such big men scary," Jack said.
"If Derek can help get her out of her shell, then I'm certainly all for it," Aaron said.
"May I be excused?" Jack asked.
"Of course," Dave told him gently. "I know what we're asking you is it going to be easy but thank you all the same."
"You're welcome," Jack said smiling as he gave Dave a hug and kiss his cheek. "I'm glad that Jenny and I ended up with you. All of you have been so kind to the two of us, put up with our nightmares and other problems."
"We are too," Spencer said smiling hugging the boy to him.
"Those nightmares and other problems you mentioned are hardly your fault," Dave told Jack firmly. "You couldn't help it that your mother got involved in drugs and Jenny can hardly help her past either. These things can be overcome, but it's going to require a lot of work on both your parts. Still, the three of us will always be proud of you and everything you manage to accomplish despite obstacles placed in your path."
Jack felt a nice warm glow at that and knew that he was indeed very lucky to have been placed with these three men no matter how unusual their relationship really was. Really, it didn't matter to him at all that these three were sleeping together, as they'd treated him and Jenny with kindness, love and caring and that was all he could expect of anyone and more than he could expect of most.
~~~Dave, Aaron and Spencer~~~
The adult watched as Jack, Henry and Michael played together while Jenny watched. It was going to take Jenny awhile to become integrated with the other boys other then Jack, considering her past this was perfectly understandable. Jenny was nearly afraid of her own shadow, but that could be corrected with a lot of encouragement.
"Come on Jenny," Jack encouraged his sister in every way.
Jenny was a very pretty little girl with blond hair like Jack's, but blue eyes instead of brown. She had a thin face, and was really small for her age.
Jenny approached where the three boys were playing as Jack slowly encouraged her to join in.
"Well, I wasn't sure Jenny in particular, was ready to be around other children, particularly boys," Spencer said, as he watched the scene. "I mean she's still scared of us, even though Jack's always there."
"It'll just take time," Aaron told Spencer who nodded.
"I know," Spencer said. "I know she'll never conquer her fears if we don't encourage her to, but still, it's only been six months since Jack and Jenny came to us."
"She's improved a lot," Dave said speaking for the first time. "I don't think it'll be much longer before she finally trust us, especially with Jack's encouragement."
"I'm actually surprised that Jack isn't more scarred from his experiences," Spencer said. "He has such a big and caring heart."
"I think his mother Haley tried her best to keep her drug addiction away from her son. I think it was only in end that she spiraled past the point that she didn't care. Jack's lucky that somebody cared enough to notice and to call the police, which is how Jack ended up in a foster home," Dave said.
All three men knew all about Jack and Jenny's history from Becky, as they had read both of the children's files.
All three men watched as Jenny tentatively joined in and was welcomed by Henry and Michael.
"See there is hope," Aaron said smiling at scene.
"I never said there wasn't hope, I just wasn't sure if Jenny at least was ready to be around other children other than Jack," Spencer said.
"If she hadn't been JJ would've come and taken her sons back home, but they are getting along, even if Jenny is still rather wary around them," Dave said.
"That will fade the more they hang out together play together," Spencer said. "Her past will be extremely difficult to overcome, as what she's been through has been her childhood up to this point that has been even worse than Jack's, but it hasn't broken her spirit, just bent it. What this tells me is she's really stronger, mentally and emotionally than she believes herself to be. I don't think she would have been willing to even trust Jack if her spirit had really been broken by what her father had done to her."
Aaron and Dave contemplated that moment and then Aaron said, "You know Spencer's right. Jenny's spirit is bent, but not broken or she wouldn't be willing to trust anyone at all and likely would take her own life at some point. We all know that happens all the time."
"Yes, always sad when it does especially if it's a child who's only six," Dave said.
"We'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen this time," Spencer said smiling. "We'll make sure that Jenny as well as Jack get plenty of love and attention, so that Jenny in particular, can get past what happened to her."
"I'm glad you convinced us to do this," Dave told Spencer kissing his cheek.
"You didn't take much convincing," Spencer smiled.
"Well, we had thought about doing it before we just never did," Aaron said.
"So all you really did was make us decide that now was the time so that as soon as Jack is grown up and takes over we can semi-retire at least," Dave said. "It's not that I wouldn't mind staying on, just as I know none of you would either, but in this age of video cameras..."
"We do understand Dave," Aaron told his longtime companion.
"Yes we do," Spencer said. "That's one of the main reasons I suggested adopting at least one child in the first place."
"We'll keep our hand in, even if Jack and those were closest to are the only ones that know that. Jack will always have us to come to for advice and he'll know how to contact us if necessary," Aaron said.
"That's for the future though, as Jack's only eight and Jenny's only six so we have a few years before we need to worry about anything, except helping them grow into the outstanding people we know they can be," Spencer said.
"You know you could've always have gone through plastic surgery and then claimed that you were the son of David Rossi," Aaron told him with a humorous twinkle in his eyes.
"That wouldn't have worked with me being immortal and you know it," Dave denied. "I would've healed too fast for the plastic surgeon to have time to do anything and that would've made whatever doctor was chosen very suspicious. Besides, I always remain eternally young and why would I want to change my handsome face, as I'm not some criminal on the lam after all."
"As amusing as your idea would be he does have a point," Spencer said with a smile. "Personally, I like his face, and it just wouldn't be the same if some plastic surgeon changed it so that he'd be unrecognizable as the Dave we all know and love. No, I think adopting Jack in Jenny was a better idea then to have Dave go through plastic surgery. Besides, how would we explain where Dave's son came from, as it would be like he came out of nowhere. That idea would've worked hundred years ago, maybe even a few decades ago, but not now, as he's too recognizable a figure and I don't see how it's possible he could've hid a son from everyone."
"I was just joking around," Arron admitted. "Dave is well aware that I love him just as he is and yes, adopting Jack and Jenny really was the best idea."
"Still, it's an intriguing idea and if I thought it would work then maybe I'd go through with it, but we all know that us immortals heal to fast. The doctor would've barely cut it in my face when it would heal up, and that would make him curious how that happened. No, as intriguing an idea as it is it just won't work. Things like plastic surgery is for mortals," Dave said.
"Neither one of us would let you do that because it was just a joke on Aaron part. Both of us love you just the way you are, even if it sometimes causes difficulties," Spencer said.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Dave said kissing Spencer's cheek causing the other man to blush.
"No thanks required," Spencer said smiling. "I've been happier these last few years then I ever have been in my life and that's certainly enough thanks for me."
Dave and Aaron said nothing to this because he knew Spencer was right, so instead they went into the kitchen to start preparing lunch as he knew the four children would soon be starving, since all of them seem to have bottomless pits for stomachs.
~~~Dave, Aaron and Spencer~~~
Epilogue
22 years later
"All you need to do is sign these papers and then the company is yours," Dave told Jack who was now 30. "You've come a long way over the last 22 years and I'm very proud of you and of Jenny. Jenny had got her degree as a crisis counselor and it was the perfect career for her considering all she had been through as a child, so now she was helping teens deal with trauma of their parents or other adults betraying them in various ways.
"You know what direction we want it to go in and we'll always be available if you need any advice," Aaron added looking proud.
"You've managed to overcome your rather rotten childhood and all of us proud of you for that," Spencer added. "You should be proud of yourself."
"You graduated college with excellent grades and now have some experience in different departments of the company," Dave said.
Jack had been working for the last eight years, in a different aspects of Dave's company to gain some experience. Dave had insisted that this was necessary to see what he was good at and he had been right again not that either Aaron or Spencer had disagreed.
"Emily and the others will be around to help you if you need them to, as they are still part of the company, they'll just be in the background instead of in the forefront, because like us they should be nearing retirement or already retired," Aaron said.
"Yes, dad, I know that," Jack said looking at Aaron then Dave and Spencer. "Henry and I can't wait to get started."
Henry and Jack had clicked immediately once they had met and been close for all of their childhoods, so it was hardly a surprise when they had married quietly about five years previously.
Jack was also now immortal as he had been changed when he'd turned thirty a couple of months ago and it would soon be Henry's turn.
Dave thought that 30 was an excellent age to be turned immortal, as you didn't look young anymore, as your face matured so that people took you more seriously.
"Soon you'll find your own people that you can trust, just like I did," Dave said.
"I know Papa," Jack said smiling.
"I'm glad you decided you wanted to do this," Spencer said smiling at the pleasant scene.
"You didn't have to," Aaron added, "but we're certainly glad that you decided that you wanted to take over for the three of us."
"I know I didn't have to," Jack said, "but papa's idea of working in different departments made me realize that I would really love to run a corporation of this size. I wouldn't want to leave it to someone who might run it into the ground as we supply millions of jobs. Besides, the three of you deserve to disappear into obscurity to be forgotten, except by your family and close friends."
"That's not the only reason we're leaving the company to you," Dave told Jack.
"I know, papa," Jack promised. "You're leaving because you still look just as young as you did, when you first started the company over 400 years ago now. Back so long ago it did not matter if you kept running the company, because there wasn't such things as video cameras or even regular cameras. I know there's been a lot of media interest, reporters asking when you're going to retire and why you never appear public in anymore. They've been asking if you're dying or if you're sick."
"I hardly ever appeared in public anyway, as I didn't see any reason to give women even more chance of ambushing me," Dave grimaced. "Oh, I know I had to sometime, but that's back when we could hide the fact that I hadn't aged, but now I should be in my 70s. I can probably still hide the fact that I have an age with a clever use of makeup, but that's just so much trouble and since you're ready to take over there's really no point."
"We will simply tell the media that you are enjoying your retirement years," Jack said grinning, "You and dad."
The media had eventually found out about Aaron and there had indeed been a great hullabaloo, when it had occurred, demands that Dave divorce him so that he could marry someone who could give him children, as well as vicious threats, but none of it had ever come to anything. This was due to Dave's security team who knew their responsibility and he hired only the best.
The fact that Jack was also already off the market, which was a matter of public record was going to severely disappoint numerous women out there who would want to marry him for his portfolio, not because they loved him. However, things were different now than they had been that when Dave and Aaron relationship had come out and there might be some media interests and women who wanted to marry the new owner of a worldwide company, but any serious threats would be dealt with swiftly by the police, as well as private security. Same-sex relationships were just much more accepted now, than they had been when the three men had first adopted Jack. That wasn't to say that there wouldn't be some severe disappointment that Jack was off the market, because humans could be greedy, which was just a basic part of human nature. Humans weren't going to change no matter how much society had advanced, but still, things were much different than they had been even 10 years ago.
Luckily, the media had never discovered the connection between Dave, Aaron and Spencer other then that Spencer worked for the company and that was a great boon, because they know that people would've been even more demanding in the media had discovered that little tidbit, there might even have been some attacks on Spencer in particular where he might've been severely injured and ended up in the hospital. Or worse. At the least there would've been threats delivered that he either break up his relationship with Dave or great harm could come to him. Spencer would've handled it and Dave or Aaron for that matter would never have accepted such a threat against one of their mates and the people making such threats would've regretted it, as they would have ended up in the river weighed down, so they wouldn't float back to the surface until they were unidentifiable. Still, that didn't mean a great deal of harm couldn't have been done before all was said and done.
All three men would always be grateful that Spencer's connection had never been discovered.
"The three of you deserve to do whatever you want as you, dad and papa have been leading this company ever since it started and while Uncle Spencer is a latecomer, he does more than you two do."
"Believe me, we know what a workaholic Spencer is," Aaron smiled kissing Spencer's cheek.
"You know why I like to keep busy," Spencer shrugged knowing he was being gently teased. He had overcome his past with a lot a help, but now he was much more confident in himself and his abilities. He knew very well he never would have overcome a lot of his childhood if not for Dave and Aaron, so he would always love them for that alone.
"Yes we do," Dave agreed smiling. "We'll keep in contact over email and phone calls and if you need any advise let us know," Dave added in an aside to Jack who nodded.
"Of course, we want to know when you adopt a child of your own to take over for you and Henry," Aaron added smiling. "Though it's possible that Michael will get married and have a child that will be capable of taking over the company
"We will," Jack promised, "but you don't have to worry about that for at least the next 10 years or so."
"About the same age I supposedly was when we adopted you, even though I only looked 30," Dave snorted in amusement.
"Or at least that's what the public record claimed," Spencer said smiling.
"All I can say is thank God for Penelope Garcia, because the public doesn't need to know my real age, as they'd never believe it for one thing," Dave said smiling.
"And for another there would be a few wackos out there that would believe it and would likely come hunting you find a figure out a way to copy it," Aaron said grimacing.
"Which is why I'm doubly glad we still have Penny on our team," Dave said smiling now.
"Yeah, I know I'm going to be depending on her a lot, me and Henry," Jack said smiling. "She is Henry's godmother after all."
"That she is," Aaron said smiling.
"Just like I am her godfather," Dave said very proud of JJ's oldest son.
Jack signed the papers and once they were he promised to have them file with his lawyer as soon as possible.
"Well, the company is yours now Jack and I know you and Henry will keep it going for a very long time," Dave said as he kissed his son on the cheek.
"Remember that millions of employees are depending on you for their paychecks," Aaron added seriously and Jack nodded solemnly.
"Don't be afraid or to proud to ask for advice if you need it," Spencer added.
"Don't worry uncle, you've taught me and Henry both better than that," Jack said solemnly.
Jack had used to call Spencer dad just as he did Aaron, but had gotten used to calling him uncle instead to maintain the illusion that he wasn't involved with both Dave and Aaron. Still, Spencer would always be just as much his father as Dave and Aaron were, as the wise man had taught him many things.
"Well then, I guess the three of us can head to the plane then," Dave said smiling. "You make sure that you and Henry keep in contact, because you know that we'd love to hear from you both just like we will go to hear from JJ or Emily or Derek and Penny."
"The others are going to stay on until you find your own staff that are loyal to you alone," Aaron added as he hugged Jack.
"I know when I'm grateful to them," Jack said. "Now, the three of you scat as the sooner you go the sooner you can start enjoying your retirement."
"He's right," Spencer smiled. "We all agreed that it was time to just disappear into obscurity and let Jack and Henry take over."
"So we shall," Dave said. "I can't wait to get you two alone where I can do anything I want in public without anybody saying anything. I can show I love you both without people commenting, even if it will be rather unusual to have two different boyfriends, ones who know about each other."
"Within reason," Aaron said and Dave grinned at him.
"Still, we understand what you mean," Spencer said. "You'll be able to relax more as nobody will know who you are. Or at least nobody will know that you are that David Rossi that runs a big company in New York, one that is worldwide and employs hundreds of thousands of people, as there are other David Rossis out there that Penny found for us, just with different middle names."
"There's only one Aaron Hotchner though," Aaron said.
"You have a very unusual last name while Rossi is almost as common, as Smith or Jones here in America," Spencer said.
"Which is why Aaron is just going to announce himself by my last name, because we might not have gotten legally married no matter what the paperwork we provided for Becky's so long ago said, but nobody outside our tight circle of friends needs to know that. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't have loved to have legally married both of you, but since I can't I'm not going to show preference for one of you over the other," Dave said.
"We knew and understood your reasons," Aaron told Dave.
"Yes, we did," Spencer agreed. "A certificate that says we're married doesn't really matter anyway not to either Aaron or I."
"It might be a rather unusual relationship, but it works and that's all that matters," Aaron added.
Dave smiled at this, but said nothing, as there was no need to, because the three of them understood each other on levels that most mortals never reached.
"I'm sure, I'll use Aunt Penny's skills at some point," Jack said into the natural silence. Jack knew all about the fact that his fathers had never really tied the knot, but had been able to produce paperwork to say they had. He knew every aspect of the company.
The three men had made sure their son was well aware of every aspect of the company and knew everybody's skills, some of those which were off the books, like Penny's hacking skills.
"I know you will," Dave said giving his son a final kiss on the forehead. "We'll see you sometime and that's a promise."
"Definitely for Christmas, possibly for Thanksgiving," Aaron said smiling.
"I'll be expecting you and so will Henry, but now go enjoy your retirement, you deserve it," Jack said smiling then watched as the best three fathers he had ever known strolled to the private elevator rolling their suitcases and soon disappeared inside.
The elevator slowly descended and soon Jack knew they would be on their way to their first destination in what was to be a worldwide tour and nobody deserved it more.
