Hi Readers: Hope you guys are liking the story today. But first, I want to say that you guys might have seen a new story I tried (again). And I know that I should stop doing this to you guys, but I decided against writing it as I wasn't getting it and just got lost. So, I am just going to concentrate on this one. Now, let's get back to the Halsteads this evening for my final chapter.

Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty
Hank, I Need You to Listen

Sitting at the counter as her father made them some pancakes, Alex took a breath as she drank her coffee this morning while getting ready to speak to her father. "So, you going to apologize?" Looking up at Alex as he made some breakfast, Hank took a breath. "Of course, I am Alex. I mean it too." Alex just looked at her father as he said that. "Hank, we both know that this is starting to get ridiculous. And what Jay said is right, you're the twins' only grandparent left. And I can't have you making my life hell when it comes to all your antics." Hank sighed and agreed with Alex. "I know, and I really hate that." Hank then looked at his daughter. "Can I ask how you're doing after you gave birth? Jay said that you've been…" Alex just looked at her dad as he said that. "DID JAY REALLY TALK ABOUT OUR SEX LIFE?" Hearing that from upstairs, Jay yelled down. "SORRY BABY!" Alex agreed with Jay as he said that. "Massage!" Jay agreed with Alex as she said that. "Deal." Hank looked at his daughter as she said that. "Seriously, that easy?" Alex just snickered.

"Hank, shut your mouth before you ask anything you don't want to know." Hank was a bit confused when he heard Alex say that, before realizing that she was referring to something sexual. "OH." Alex agreed with her father as he said that, as that was exactly what she was talking about. She was talking about what she was wearing for her husband, even though she told him to just wear his sweats today. "But seriously Hank. I don't care if Jay already spoke to you about this…I am going to talk to you about it too, because I really need to get it in your head. Now listen, we need to talk…and we need to get this over with okay?" Hank agreed. "Yeah, I guess we do need to talk." Alex agreed with Hank. "Hank, let me just start by saying this. This is the last time we talk about this, okay?" Hank was a bit confused as he heard Alex say that. "And what would that be?" Alex sighed as she looked at her father. "Where me and Jay live." Hank sighed as he heard Alex say that. "Let me guess, I'm really starting to frustrate you; don't you?" Alex sighed and agreed.

"Hank, listen. And when I say listen, I really mean listen." Voight agreed with his daughter as she asked him to listen. "Can I still cook?" Alex agreed with Hank as he asked her whether he can still cook, as he most definitely can. "Just don't talk right now and let me just say what I need to say." Hank agreed with Alex as she said that, ready to do just that for his daughter. After all, she seems stressed.

Taking a breath as she got ready to speak to Hank this morning, Alex proceeded to take a sip of her coffee this morning; after which, she looked at her dad. "Hank, I need to talk to you about Jay's PTSD." Hank just looked at Alex as she said that. "Yeah, Jay mentioned it." Alex agreed with Hank as he said that. "Well, I'm going to tell you my side of the story, okay? And for what it's worth, I did hear everything that Jay said. Some of those things, I didn't know entirely; but I know them now, and that's a lot to handle." Hank just agreed with his daughter as she said that, clearly able to see that this is a lot to handle. "I can see that being the case." Alex agreed with her dad as he said that, before taking a breath and taking another sip of her coffee. "And Hank, I also know that Jay must've mentioned that I might have PTSD too." Hank agreed with Alex, before taking a breath. "I am so sorry that's the case Alex." Alex nodded. "You should be, it's your fault that we find ourselves in this mess." Hank took a breath and agreed with his daughter.

After all, there's nothing that he can say to deny that it was the truth. He even know that was the reason why she went into premature labor, and that was something that he still regrets; especially after hearing Jay say that he could've killed Alex, and his grandchildren. "Hank, when Jay says that you could've killed me and the kids; he's not kidding. Hank, they had to restart my heart while I was in the delivery room." Hank agreed with Alex as she said that. "And Hank, we both know that I can trace that back from you. Hank, you sent me into premature labor; and I could've died without meeting my children, the children that I carried in me. The children whom I gave birth to. And that's still something that I struggle with, the fear of having never met my handsome son Michael, and my beautiful daughter Olivia. And Hank, you already stole enough from them. They didn't get to do skin-to-skin with me for months." Hank took a breath as he heard Alex say that, well aware that was the case. "And I hate that. Hank, you took the bonding time away from me."

Hank took a breath, before nodding. "Now, I didn't know much of what happened at the hospital; and that all came later, because of what Jay told me. And Hank, I need to tell you that he's still dealing with it. That's why he's so tense around you, because he's still struggling with it. He's holding back, and he's trying to hide some things from me to this day." Hank got worried when Alex said that. "Are you going to talk to him about that?" Alex sighed. "No, because I can see that he's already dealing with a lot. Hank, you should've seen him last night. When Jay says that he has PTSD, he really means it. And not just from war, but from the day we had the kids. Hank, I want you to turn to look at me for a second and just think about that…" Stopping what he was doing, Hank thought about what Alex just said; especially when she repeated it. "Hank, he has PTSD surround the events on the day that we welcome our children into the world." And her saying that again, that truly did break the grandfather's heart. I mean, that's really hard to hear.

Hank's POV:
When I heard Alex tell me that Jay has PTSD about the day that she gave birth to the twins, I couldn't help but feel my heart break for Jay. What have I done? This is horrible, and I am definitely not proud of what I have done. But still, I decided that I had to keep listening to Alex. "Hank, do you really think I want to hear that? As his wife? Heck, I barely remember the day since I was unconscious…which is something else is your fault." I took a breath and just agreed with Alex as she said that, as that most certainly was the case as well. "But for my husband to not remember that day, it's horrible? And Hank, you also need to think…his PTSD isn't just surrounding that day. It's also about what happened in the aftermath of that day. Hank, I know that Justin was in the NICU." I took a breath when I heard Alex say that, well aware that was the case. "Yeah, he was." Alex agreed with me. "Hank, our children; both of our children, were in the NICU for almost three months. You think that really helped Jay? Having to see his daughter in a machine?"

I just took a breath when I heard Alex tell me that, because that really was heartbreaking. "Hank, we have no newborn pictures of Michael and Olivia; we couldn't get them, because they were in the NICU. We didn't get a chance to do everything that a new parent got to do with their baby, because we had to worry each and every day whether our children would survive." Alex took a breath. "And Hank, I haven't told Jay this yet; but I saw how hard it was on Jay, because it was really hard on him. Heck, you think it was hard on me? It was harder on Jay." I was a bit confused as I heard Alex say that. "How?" Alex sighed. "Dad, he had to see me in pain each and every day while I was there, and he had to see his kids. I just had to see the kids in pain, he had to watch me suffer too. And then, he had to deal with PTSD. Heck, there were some stretches where he only got an hour or two of sleep here or there. He could never get a good night sleep, because he was too scared. It was either PTSD, or he was checking on me or the kids. And I mean constantly."

I took a breath as I heard Alex say that, truly just now starting to realize how bad things have been. "And Jay, the PTSD hasn't stopped. And it's just getting worse Hank, especially as we come up to Christmas. Hank, I'm blessed to have you here for Christmas. Jay, he has nobody. He has no parents for our kids to meet, and that's hard on him. Do you really think that you intruding on us is something he likes to see? Hank, I'm trying to help my husband; but you're making things really hard for me, because you're making me have to spend time with you instead of with my husband and kids in bed. So, listen. I know what Jay said. And I know he said that you can stay here. But the truth is, I think it'd be best if you got a hotel room and not stay the night. Hank, you're hovering and you're not letting us have our space; the space we need, because I am still not completely back to where we were…because you didn't protect me when I needed to be protected. Remember, from the law? Now, you want to just pretend that everything's okay? Well, it isn't Hank!"

Alex's POV:
Taking a breath after getting that off my chest, I couldn't help but feel a bit relieved that I got it off my chest; as I feel like it's been on there for too long, and it's just been on me for a while. But now, it's off my chest and I feel like I can breathe some more. "Hank, when I say that you need to respect our boundaries, I truly mean it. Hank, that's our bedroom. Think about it. Let's say that was you and Camile in bed together, would you really have liked your father-in-law walking in on the two of you?" Turning his head when I brought up Camile, Hank shook his head. "Sorry I brought her up." Hank shook his head. "No, it's okay Alex. I mean it. I think that's a good way to get the message across." I agreed with Hank. "Hank, that's our private space. It's a space that me and Jay can be together, and it's a place where we can just be husband and wife; we can take it easy, and I can concentrate on the man I love. And you said that you could watch the kids in the morning, so we thought that we could have husband-wife time." Hank agreed with me, smiling.

"Oh, I love watching the babies in the morning." I agreed with Hank as he said that, well aware that was the case. "And I know you do Hank. But you can only do that for us, if you're here. And I can tell you this, Jay is really getting to the end of his leach when it comes to you. And Hank, he's my husband…and I am warning you right now." Hank agreed with me. "Hank, you don't have me on your side anymore. I did that in Chicago, and it almost ruined me and Jay. I made vows to Jay, I'm Jay's wife. And I'm going to be on his side." Hank started to get worried. "So, if you do this again; then I am going to be on his side if he asks you to leave, and you aren't going to have me on your side to advocate for you. Rather, I will personally pack up your clothes. Because the last thing I want for my husband, is to have a miserable first Christmas as a father. If that means that I don't get to have you here at Christmas, then I don't care. Plus, it wouldn't be my fault; it'd be your fault, because you'd have screwed up." Hank agreed with me as I told him that, before nodding.

He then made his way over to me so that he could hug me, but I wasn't ready yet. "Hold on, I'm not done yet. So go back over there." Hank agreed with me as I said that, before going back to making the pancakes; meanwhile, I took a breath as I need to talk to him about one more thing. And that would be the fact that my life is here, with my husband and children; and I really didn't appreciate it when he said that I should come home, not when he did what he did. "Okay, so what I am going to say is a decision me and Jay already made together; and it's not going to change." Hank agreed with me when I said that. "Hank, Chicago is out of the question now; okay? Hawaii is our home now, and that's not going to change; because it can't change." Hank just looked at me when I said that. "Wow, uhm…" I agreed with my dad. "Hank, I don't expect you to understand. But it's Jay's PTSD, it's so much better here." Hank smiled.

"Is that why you bought a place here?" I agreed with Hank. "It's on the ocean…we can hear the ocean in bed. And that's what Jay needs. He needs to be able to hear the ocean at times, and he needs to be here Hank. I think it's just gotten to be too much for him. He got so overwhelmed in Chicago. Between work, our relationship, you, and his PTSD; it was just too much for him to deal with." Hank took a breath as I said that. "How bad did it get?" I sighed. "Jay's having 50-60% less PTSD here in Hawaii, than he did in Chicago." Hank looked at me wide-eyed as I said that, shocked at the percentages. "Sorry, but did you say 50-60% less PTSD?" I agreed with Hank as he asked me whether it was really that much less PTSD. "Yeah, I did say 50-60% less PTSD. And Hank, I just can't explain it. There's something about Hawaii that's made such a huge change on him, and I don't want to leave. So, Hank, you need to stop asking us to leave. Because the answer will always be no, especially…." Hank just understood. "Hey, no need to explain now."

I agreed with Hank as he said that. "Hank, that's why Hawaii is home for us. Plus, I haven't really been able to call Chicago home for a while. With all that happened with the FBI and stuff, how I had to leave…thanks for protecting me by the way." Hank gulped as he heard me say that. "Yeah…" I agreed with him. "Some father you are." Hank agreed. "But back to what I was saying…Chicago isn't home anymore Hank. So, when you say that you want us to come home; we can't come home, because we are home. Sure, we weren't born here; but for all intensive purposes, this is home. This is the place we need to be, and this is where Jay needs to be." I then took a breath. "Hank, my job is to help him in his journey with PTSD; and me making him move back to Chicago is doing the complete opposite of helping him, plus his brother is here now. So, we can't leave; not when our entire life is here. Now, if you want to move; then you aren't going to be able to live here…because we are not doing this again. You are not staying here anymore."

Hank smiled as he heard Alex say that. "I promise, I am going to be good for the rest of my stay." Alex shook her head. "Hank, you aren't getting it. You're booking a hotel room today, and you're going to stay there. Jay is so stressed around you, and I don't want that for him on his first Christmas as a dad. So, I'm going to ask you to please leave today to go to a hotel. Looking at me as I said that, Hank agreed with me as he could clearly see that I was being very seriously when I said that. "Okay." I agreed with my dad when he said that, glad that was the case. "Listen, how about you finish breakfast? Then, I can bring it to me and Jay's bedroom. You can pack up while we have breakfast, and then you can leave. I know it's harsh but…" Walking over to his daughter again, Hank proceeded to hug Alex. "Hey, I understand. I overstepped, and I promise that I'll leave today. I think I saw one down the street." Alex agreed. "You're still staying to the New Year. I want my Anniversary alone with my husband." Hank agreed with Alex as he said that. "I promise Alex."

Alex agreed with her dad as he said that, glad that he understood where she was coming from today ahead of her going to have breakfast with Jay and the kids in bed, which is where she's going to tell Jay that her dad is moving out; something that Jay will probably enjoy, the moment he hears that news.