"I do not see why he needs to go with you guys." There was an edge to Chase's voice as he gestured his head at John.

"Because the therapist thinks it's a good idea to have the whole family." Eve reasoned. "I invited you along too remember? But you said you didn't want to go." Chase frowned. He really did not like the idea of his girlfriend being alone with her ex-husband in any shape or form.

"We gotta go." John said looking at his watch.

"He's right. I'll see you later." She kissed Chase's lips softly. It was John's turn now to frown.

--

"Chase seems nice." John remarked rather sarcastically as he drove.

"Yea … I bet the child you cheated on me with was nice too." She knew it was a low blow but his comment about Chase had annoyed her. So much so that she couldn't even comprehend why it had annoyed her in the first place.

"That was low." Was all John would say.

"Why do you guys always have to fight?" Jayson asked from the backseat. "Why can't we just be a family for a little while?" It was a simple request. Both adults were so wrapped up in how the other had hurt them they couldn't really see how it had effected their children.

"You are right Buddy I'm sorry." John apologized.

"Me too Sweetie." Eve said equally as ashamed as John was.

"Why do we have to go to this stupid thing?" Jayson asked. "I said I was sorry and that I will never do it again."

"This session is about all of us Jayson." Eve explained. "I know things have been very confusing for all of us and maybe if we get our feelings all out in the open then things can slowly become more manageable."

"But it will never go back to the way it was?" Jayson inquired.

"I don't think so Honey." Eve admitted sadly. "But that doesn't mean that we don't love you or that even we don't love each other. It just means that maybe your dad and I just aren't right for each other."

"Ok mom." Jayson felt defeated. He just wanted his mom and dad to be together again. He wanted to be a family again. He was still too young to be able to understand that even though his parents were not together that they were still a family.

--

"I'd like to talk to Jayson and Zoey first before I talk to the whole family." Their therapist requested. John and Eve reluctantly agreed. They left the room.

"Jayson how are you feeling right now?"

"Mad." The young boy replied.

"Why do you feel that way?"

"Things are so screwed up. We were all so happy once but now we live in a different house and we hardly get to see our dad. He has a new baby that he has to love more than he loves us cause she gets to see him all the time and we don't. I just want things to be like they were when we were a family." Jayson vented.

"Your mother told me about you getting drunk recently. Would you like to talk about that?"

"I dunno why I did it. I just wanted to prove that I wasn't a baby and then when I got home I got mad. I dunno why I got mad but I did. I get mad all the time now."

The therapist took notes as Jayson spoke. "Do you ever get mad at your siblings?"

"No, not really they are younger and I understand that they don't know as many things as I do. It's only my parents I get mad at."

"So you love your siblings?"

"Of course I do." He gave the therapist a perplexed look. It seemed obvious that he would love his brothers and sisters.

"How about you Zoey? What would you like?"

"I want Mommy and Daddy and Jayson and me and Braylen and Jonathan and Skylar all to live in the same house." She spoke her mind.

"How does it make you feel that your Daddy doesn't live with you anymore?"

"Sad."

"I bet it does Sweetie." She patted the top of Zoey's head. Jayson found that to be very patronizing.

"Jayson do you ever feel really sad with no reason behind it. Like it is a great day but you are just really sad?"

"Maybe … I'm not sure." Jayson was confused by her question.

"I am going to bring your parents back in now." She announced. "Stay right here."

"John … Eve." Both parents looked up as their names were called.

"I talked with Jayson and adding that to what you have already told me about him and his recent behavior. About his talking back and not sleeping. I believe that your son might be suffering from Bipolar disorder."

"Isn't he a little young for that?" John asked.

"It used to be thought of that way but now studies are finding more and more children are having the disorder."

"So what do we do?" Eve asked.

"I believe that medicine and weekly therapy sessions should help over time."

"Could this have anything to do with how his biological father treated him when he was younger?" John asked.

"No, this is a biological condition. Although the abuse might have triggered an episode there is no way this had anything to do with how his biological father treated him."

"How do we tell him?" Eve had tears in her eyes. John placed a comforting arm around her.

"This isn't a death sentence or anything. This is just something Jayson is going to have to deal with for the rest of his life."

"I'll take some time off and I'll be a house near here to help you out with this. Jayson is going to need both of us to get through this."

"You don't have to do this." Eve said.

"I know I do not have to but I love Jayson and want nothing more than to see him get better." John kissed her forehead. "We will get through this as a family." He promised her.