Jordan- 7
It was the time of year once again, Christmas time. White fluffy cold snow covered the streets and sidewalks of Chicago. Malls were packed with shoppers and so much more.
One afternoon in the Voight household Christmas music was playing in the living room just as the small family was decorating the house, Hank had just finished putting up the lights, Justin and Jordan were putting up the tinsel. Once the house was finished it was time for the tree.
"It's time for the tree". Hank tells him children.
"The tree's my favorite part". Jordan says excitedly.
Every year Hank and Justin always let Jordan put the star on top. Hank went to the hall closet to get the tree while Justin playfully chased his sister around. A moment later the older father returned with the tree and set it up. Once it was in the right position the small family began decorating it. Hank put the lights on first then Justin and Jordan put on the tinsel, he then pulled a box of ornaments out and gave them to his little girl.
"Be careful with them sweetheart". Hank says to her.
"I will daddy". Jordan assured her father.
Before going to the kitchen he looked to his son. "Watch her with them".
"You got it Pop".
He headed to the kitchen and started to make hot chocolate, he glanced into the living room to see his princess putting the ornaments on the tree. To see her happy and hearing her laughter always made him happy, his children's happiness meant the world to him as long as they were happy, healthy, and safe that's the only thing that mattered to him.
A moment later there was a knock on the door so Justin went to open it while Jordan continued with the ornaments. When he opened the door he saw it was his surrogate sister Erin holding bags.
"Hey Merry Christmas". Justin says, hugging her.
"Merry Christmas". Erin replies.
She then entered the house and peeked around the corner, the seven year old seen the woman and put the box down and ran to her.
"Merry Christmas Jordy". Erin greets her sister.
"Merry Christmas Erin". Jordan replied back happily.
"Whatcha doin?"
"Putting the ornaments on, wanna help?"
"I'd love to".
The two girl then began to finish up with the ornaments, Hank then came from the kitchen with a tray of hot chocolate. He put it down on the table then Jordan ran to him and he swept her up smiling as he brushed some hair behind her ear.
"Do you like the tree daddy?" Her voice was full of excitement.
"It's beautiful baby". Hank replied.
"It's missing something Jo Jo". Justin informs his sister.
"The star!"
Justin then got the star from the box and gave it to his sister, Hank then lifted her up a bit to put the star on and then the tree was complete.
"Now it's perfect". Jordan commented.
The small family stood around the tree admiring it.
Soon enough it was Christmas Eve night, the family was gathered in the living room watching all sorts of Christmas movies. Hank was sitting on the couch with his little girl curled into his side Justin was next to his sister and Erin was in the chair. It was now 9:30 and Jordan was slowly falling asleep the older father looked down to see his little girl struggling to stay awake.
"Time for bed sweetheart". Hank tells her.
"Can you tell me a story?" Jordan asked sleepily.
Hank smiled he had the perfect story to tell her. "Of course sweetheart, go get ready for bed and I'll be up in a minute".
The seven year old went upstairs just as Hank remained on the couch with a huge smile on his face as he remembered something.
*Flashback*
Anna was 3 and a half almost four months pregnant with hers and Hank's first child, she hadn't told him she wanted to surprise him and Justin but didn't know how. Christmas was approaching when suddenly she got an idea she had saved the positive pregnancy test and wrapped that up and hid it somewhere. She then got an with another idea so she hit the local Walmart and hit the baby aisle she was looking through all the baby onesies trying to find the perfect one to give to Hank and Justin.
She found a onesie that was blue and it read, My daddy loves me. It was perfect for Hank. Now she had to find one for Justin, after what seemed like hours searching through all sorts of onesies she found one. It was a soft gray color and it read, I Love My Big Brother. She then picked out a couple of t shirts that they would also love. After getting what else she needs she headed to check out and paid her her items, smiling the expecting mother glanced down at her baby bump.
Arriving home quickly she headed to hers and Hanks room and began wrapping the presents then hid them till Christmas. She was lucky that for almost 4 months she managed to hide this, she'd always wanted to have a child of her own and Hank did want another child and this was gonna be the best surprise ever.
By the time Christmas came Anna was so excited she could barely contain it, but also being pregnant she was also very emotional but hid it very well. After everyone opened their gifts Anna excused herself for a minute to retrieve her special gifts she returned with 5 wrapped gifts, 3 she gave to Hank and the other two she gave to Justin.
"Sweetheart you didn't have to get me anything". Hank says with a smile.
"Open it". Anna replied encouraging him.
Laughing Hank opened one of them and it was of the onesie he got confused then smiled, he opened the other gift and it was a shirt that read, I Can't Keep Calm I'm Going To Be A Daddy. A bigger smile grew on the older man's face she then handed him the last one and when he opened it he seen the positive pregnancy test and looked to his girlfriend.
"Are you really?" Hank asked, his voice full of excitement.
"Yup, I'm pregnant". Anna confirmed it.
Hank hugged her tightly then kissed her, Justin then hugged her next. He then opened the two gifts he had in front of him. The first was the baby onesie and the next was a t shirt that read, My Big Brother Is Cooler Than Yours. He then hugged her again.
"I can't believe I'm gonna be an older brother". Justin said excitedly.
"I can't believe I'm gonna be a father again". Hank spoke.
"Merry Christmas to you both". Anna tells the two men.
Later that night Anna laid next to Hank, the smile never left his face he moved his hand to the baby bump he then leaned down and kissed her head.
"Thank you". Hank said.
"For what?" Anna asked.
"Making me the happiest man alive. I never thought I'd be able to find someone else or have another child".
"I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you, I just wanted to surprise you and I figured what better way to surprise you than with a Christmas gift".
"It's the best one I ever got".
Anna put her hand on the bump and felt something which made her smile. "The baby she kicked"
"She? How do you know it's a girl?"
"A feeling. Come on feel".
Hank put his hand on the baby bump and felt the familiar kick, the smile on his face grew bigger.
"She's gonna be just like her daddy".
"If it's a girl she ain't dating till she's thirty, hell she may not even date".
"Remind me to hide the guns from you".
"If our baby girl looks like you, Justin and I will make sure all the boys stay away".
Anna chuckled as the two fell asleep for the night and the whole time Hank kept a protective hand on the baby bump.
*Back to reality*
Hank still had the smile planted on his face getting his son and surrogate daughter curious.
"Whatcha thinkin about?" Erin asked, breaking him from his thoughts.
"The first Christmas that Anna and I spent together she told me she was pregnant with Jo". Hank answered happily.
"I remember that, till this day I still have that onesie and shirt". Justin chimes in.
Hank looks to his son a bit surprised. "You still kept those?"
"Of course, I'd never wanna forget the day I was gonna be an older brother".
"I just never thought I'd be able to find someone else after Camille passed away, I never thought I'd have another child. A little girl at that".
Erin and Justin felt sadness and pain go through their bodies, after all the pain that Hank went through the only times he was truly happy was when he had his whole family together. When Camille died he was barely holding it together but it held it together for his son and Erin. He then met Anna and he finally found his second chance at finding love then she was pregnant with Jordan and Hank was beyond happy, he deserved to be happy. Now the only thing that makes him happy are his children.
Hank then went up to check on his little girl, Jordan was in her pajamas she was still struggling to stay awake because she still wanted her father to tell her a story. A minute later the older father entered the room and went over to his baby girl, he tucked the blanket around her and put her stuffed rabbit next to her.
"Can you tell me a story daddy?" Jordan asked sleepily.
Wanna hear a special story?" Hank asked.
"Yeah".
"The first Christmas you're mommy and I spent she told me that she was having you. She didn't know how to tell me and she wanted to surprise me so she waited till Christmas to tell me, it was the one of most wonderful gift I ever got".
"What were your other favorite gifts?"
"Justin, Erin, and you. You three are my most wonderful gifts I ever got, nothing can ever replace you three".
Jordan then leaped up and hugged her father. "I love you daddy".
"I love you too baby".
He then kissed her head and she laid back down, her eyes were growing heavier and heavier till she was out.
By the next morning the small family was opening all their gifts, Hank sat there and watched a smile on his face. No amount of gifts, items, any of it could ever compare to the three best gifts he ever had in his life.