Flashback:

"You want to watch Sesame Street?" Jon asked J.J.

J.J. looked up at his father with his cute little blue eyes. He was grinning from ear to ear with his two front teeth showing. Drool was coming out of his mouth as well.

"I take that as a yes then."

Jon turned the television to Sesame Street and relaxed alongside J.J.

"Dada!" J.J. said.

"I know! Big Bird is really big isn't he? And yellow...with those big eyes...he looks high."

"Dada!" J.J. repeated.

"Okay, okay. I'll be quiet."

The Cookie Monster appeared on the screen. He was J.J.'s favorite. J.J. smiled, laughed, and clapped his hands in excitment.

"You like a monster who eats cookies all day and spazzes out when they're all gone," Jon said.

J.J. looked back at his father and stared at him.

"I'm just saying," Jon said.

J.J. simply grinned and continued clapping his hands together.

Jon could do nothing but smile himself. Him and Adriana brought this beautiful boy into the world. It seems like just yesterday Jon and Adriana were dreaming of raising a family together.

J.J. soon began to fuss.

"Uh oh. I almost forgot to feed you. If your mother or grandmother was here they'd kill me," Jon said.

He picked J.J. and went to make him a bottle. Once Jon got the bottle warm enough, he fed it to J.J. who was satisfied to finally have his bottle. His tiny hands were holding up it up as he sucked the milk down.

"That's my boy," Jon said.

Jon then burped the baby after he finished his bottle. This time Jon didn't forget to put a towel over his shoulder like last time.

Jon took J.J. to his nursery and laid him down in his crib.

Watching his son sleep peacefully, Jon began to wonder if he would ever continue to be a good father. He started talking out loud to J.J. Even though the baby was asleep, Jon talked to him as if he were wide awake paying attention. Jon felt he needed to say what was on his heart. And he did.

"You know, when your mother first told me she was pregnant with you...I honestly didn't know what to do. I mean, she told me she had a bun in the oven. And I went to check the oven to see if she was really baking a bun because I was hungry. I had had a long day at work and I was starving. But when she told me she was pregnant with you...that was one of the best days of my life. Me and your mother always dreamt of marrying each other and having kids. I told her my first child was going to be named after me. I mean, if you came out a boy that is. But you were confirmed to be a boy. I remember going with your mother to find out if you were going to be a boy or a girl. Simply looking at that screen thingy in the room and seeing you in your mom's stomach was the best thing sight ever. Even after we left the doctors, I couldn't stop looking at the photograph they took of you in your mother's womb. That sonograph photo...thing. Sometimes I would stay up late at night and look at the photo. I looked at it a lot because I couldn't get over the fact that I had helped create a beautiful human being like you. When you were born, that day would forever be etched in my memory. I was so happy that I was finally able to take you home. I did try to sneak you out of the hospital a few times but I got caught each time. There was nothing that could separate me from you. The first night you were home, I didn't sleep. I was waiting to hear you cry out in the middle of the night. For some reason, I enjoyed hearing you cry. For some parents, it gets tiring. But for me? Not at all. I was way to excited being a father to even think that. Your cries were like music to my ears. Many nights I would simply watch you sleep in your crib. When you woke up in the middle of the night wanting to be fed, I was more than ready to feed you. I was crazy about you when you first came into the world. And nothing has changed. You know, my so called father wished I was dead. He told my mother, your grandma, who I do miss dearly, that she should've killed me off. I never did anything to him obviously. He just hated my guts. I was "in his way" so to speak. But I vowed to never be like him. I am going to treat you better than he treated me. It doesn't matter how mad I get, I will never hurt you. Yes, if you do step out of line I will not hesitate to spank that butt of yours. But I'm sure you'll be a good kid. You and your next brother or sister. Me and Mommy want to have more kids. You'll never be alone. We will be a big happy family. Please, forgive me if I do anything. Just remember I will always be here for you through thick and thin. I'll always protect you. Daddy won't let anything happen to you. I promise. I love you, J.J."

Present:

Jon was talking to Adriana about his time in the Army. It was hard to remember all of the painful memories of watching his comrades die in front of his eyes. The two of them were so deep in the conversation that they didn't see that J.J. had woken up and found them in the living room.

"That was the...hey J.J.," Jon said.

J.J. simply waved hi to his father.

"I'm hungry," J.J. said.

"I'll take you to get something to eat," Jon said.

"I want Mommy to take me," J.J. said.

"J.J., I said I'll take you. Go put on your shoes," Jon said.

J.J. obeyed his father and went to put on his shoes.

"Did you talk to him?" Jon asked Adriana.

"No. I'm going to let you do that," Adriana responded.

"Good. 'Cause I know you want to whoop his ass," Jon said, getting up.

"You damn right. But I'll let you handle this," Adriana said.

J.J. came back in the room. He was reluctant to go anywhere with his father but just kept his mouth shut and didn't say anything.

"Ready?" Jon said.

J.J. simply nodded his head and walked to the front door.

"Pray for me," Jon told Adriana.

"Will do," she said.

J.J. opened the door and stepped out with Jon following him.

J.J. went to the car and waited for Jon to unlock it. Once Jon unlocked the car, J.J. jumped into the car. Jon got into the car and started up the engine. He waited until J.J. put his seatbelt on before he pulled out of the driveway.

"Okay, so where would you like to go?" Jon asked.

"I dunno."

"Oh come on. You have to be hungry for something. It doesn't matter if it's junk. It'll be between us. Our little secret."

"Dairy Queen."

"I remember I took you to Dairy Queen for the first time when you were a baby."

"You did?"

"Yes. You tried ice cream for the first time. Your mother thought you would get brain freeze but you didn't. You did spazz out a little though. And then your mom was close to wanting to beat me up in the restaurant."

"I would like some ice cream now."

Jon looked smiled.

"Alright then. Ice cream it is."

J.J. had got two big scoops of ice cream. One scoop of strawberry and one scoop of chocolate. Jon found it ironic how he was at yet another ice cream place today.

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for what I said to you. I don't hate you. It's just...well..."

"You don't have to explain anything. I understand that you were angry."

"But I hurt your feelings, Daddy. I feel bad. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. But just remember that we all say things sometimes we don't mean. I was upset over everything that happened but I still shouldn't have lashed out at you, your sister, and your mother. Just remember that I love you."

"I know you do. And I love you too. You want some ice cream?"

"Nah. You enjoy it. It's yours."

J.J. scooped up some ice cream on his spoon and handed it to Jon.

"Eat up, Daddy."

Jon couldn't help but take the spoon.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Mmmm. Tasty."

"You can have some more if you like."

"Thank you but this is your ice cream."

"Okay then. You sure?"

"I'm positive."

"Okay. Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"What happened to your dad? Um, grandpa? You told me he had left. Where did he go?"

Nothing could've prepared Jon for this.

Jon wasn't sure how he was going to answer this. The truth? A lie mixed in with the truth?

'No. I have to tell him,' Jon thought to himself.

"He had...done something bad to Mommy. I had to...deal with him," Jon said.

"What did you do to him?" J.J. asked.

"I hurt him bad," Jon said.

"Okay. Did you shoot him?" J.J. asked.

"No. Stabbed him."

"So he's dead?"

"Yes."

"He was being mean. He shouldn't have been mean."

Jon smiled slightly.

"Yeah. He was pretty mean to me when I was a kid."

"Why?"

"He thought I was in the way. He told my mom that she should've killed me before I was born. But she didn't."

"I'm glad she didn't too. You're the best daddy in the entire world!"

"Thank you. I still felt bad for what I did. I vowed never to become like my father. Ever."

"You're not like him."

"I sure was acting like him when I lashed out at everyone."

"You were just angry. That's all. I get angry too. Everyone gets angry."

"I know. You're smart little man," Jon said.

He reached over and ruffled J.J.'s hair.

"Daddy!" J.J. said, smiling. He stood up in his chair and ruffled his father's hair. "There!"

"You know what? Let's order some fries. I'm starving!" Jon said.

"I get the first twenty fries!" J.J. said.

"Well, how did it go?" Adriana asked Jon.

Jon slid into bed and looked at Adriana.

"Everything's good. Very good," he said.

"That's great to hear. Now, are you ready for tomorrow?"

"I guess."

"You guess?"

"Yes."

"If you're not ready, then we won't go."

"I told you I'm ready."

"You sure?"

"I guess..."

"Damn it, Jonathan!"

"What!?"

"I want a yes or a no!"

Jon smacked his lips then turned his back to Adriana.

"Don't you turn your back towards me!" she said.

"I just did."

"Jonathan, I swear if you-"

Jon turned back around and grabbed Adriana.

"I will go," he said.

He kissed her on her nose.

"And I am ready for tomorrow."

"Why didn't you say that the first time?"

"I like seeing your reaction to things."

"Fucker."

"You want me to fuck you again? Okay."

"Jonathan! It's late and we have to be there early in the morning!"

"Alright."

"Goodnight."

"Night."

Adriana layed back on her side of the bed. Jon stuck his hand over the covers and started rubbing Adriana's butt.

"Jonathan..."

"Hmm?"

"Make it quick."

"Woohoo!"