1 year later

"Daddy! Daddy! You wanted to drive me to soccer practice." Ethan whined, hopping to the bed of his father.

"Uh, not today. I just want to sleep in once," Jay mumbled and turned to a new position.

Disappointed, Ethan stomped into his room. Erin was just walking with the baby in the park. Why do they have only eyes for her? Always the baby was much more important, interesting and even cuter, although it looks totally shriveled. Ethan just did not understand it.

The next morning there was only cereal for breakfast. For something else Jay and Erin had no desire.

"Good morning young lady. How are you today?" Jay asked his newborn. She sat in the baby seat and did almost nothing. "Morning Ethan. What are you doing today?" He now turned his attention to his son.

"Not much," Ethan answered. He found it unfair that the baby got more attention, though it does not do anything except sleep and eat.

"Alright. Come on, we'll be late." Jay said, giving Erin and Amy a farewell kiss before driving to school with his son.

"What's wrong with you?" Jay asked.

"You said that everything will be much better when she is born. Only I think everything is very stupid. You have no time!" Ethan complained.

"I understand. Uh. It's not easy with a baby in the house. But in time it gets better. Amy will someday sleep through the nights and soon be in a playable age." Jay explained.

"And when is sometime?" Ethan asked annoyed.

"Urgh. Soon."

"I think we should do something with Ethan. I think he's not happy," Jay said. He had called Erin.

"I could pick him up later from school and go to the park," Erin mused.

"Thanks. That's probably exactly what he needs." Jay said over the phone.

"Erin!" Ethan rejoiced and ran to her.

"Hey, how was your day?" She asked pushing the stroller as they strolled through the park.

"Great. We had science today."

"That's great," she rejoiced, "Do you want to push the stroller?"

"Oh yes!" Ethan said, "She is already asleep again. I want to finally play with her."

"It takes a while. Shall we get some ice cream and visit Daddy on the way back?" Erin asked and Ethan nodded happily.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Jay asked. He kissed his wife in greeting, ruffled Ethan's hair, and leaned over the stroller to lift the baby.

"We wanted to visit you," Ethan said.

"Yeah? Did you kiddos probably longing for your Daddy, huh?" Jay grinned. Later, he handed Kim the baby. After all, she is the godmother.

"Ui. There's my grandchild. She's grown bigger and bigger," Hank said.

"Aw. She is so cute." Adam stated.

"You really have to say, you both did it perfectly," beamed Atwater

"This is my necklace, little lady." Kim said. She had the baby in her arms and Amy happily play around with her necklace. They were all so busy with the baby that none of them noticed how Ethan went away.

"What's going on, huh? Did you get in trouble?" Trudy asked when she saw Ethan in front of her desk.

"No. Just leave me alone," he answered a little sadly.

"What a shame. Then there is no surprise for you." Trudy said.

"Surprise? What a surprise?" Immediately Ethan's eyes were very large. He loved surprises.

"Something very nice. You only get it when you smile."

"But you never smile," Ethan stated, and Trudy looked at him in shock. From the mouth of a child, it sounded like she was the devil.

"And I never cry," Platt said, and Ethan smirked slightly. Trudy led him down a hallway and handed him an ice cream.

"I don't want a stupid ice cream!" Ethan yelled and ran away. Trudy groaned in annoyance before stomping up the stairs.

"I don't want to interrupt your awesome oh-how-cute-this-baby-is-party, but Ethan ran away. And no, I didn't try to stop him. I'm not paid for that," Trudy said in her normal monotone tone.

Horrified, Jay looked at Trudy. The fear of losing Ethan for a second time, he can no longer bear. The other Intelligence members looked at her in alarm. No one would have expected Ethan to leave. Because he has everything he wanted, right?

"He was happy, why should he ran away?" Adam asked confused.

"Maybe because he's just playing his happiness?" Antonio answered.

"Why should he be unhappy?" Kevin asked.

"Because of the baby." Erin stated worriedly. It was probably a mistake to spend the day with both children and visit Jay. She should have known in advance that everyone would admire the baby.

"I know where he is." Jay mumbled, grabbing his car keys and walked away.

As he had guessed, Ethan was in the cemetery. The boy sat in the grass in front of his mother's grave stone and said nothing.

Jay took a deep breath and moved slowly to his son.

"Can I sit down?" Jay asked and Ethan shrugged his shoulders helplessly as he pulled the grass out.

"We haven't been here for a long time," Jay stated. The last time Ethan was 5 years old and accordingly was also the 5th anniversary of Anna why Jay took his son with him. There was not a day on the gravestone, only the year of birth and death.

"I'm sorry, Ethan," Jay said softly, placing his hand on the child's narrow shoulder, "I've forgotten how exhausting a baby can be, but that did not give us much reason to neglect you." He waited a moment for an answer, but Ethan continued his silence.

"Are you still talking to me?" Jay asked, slightly offended.

Ethan shrugged, "Why didn't you ever test if I'm really your son?"

"Because I don't need a test to know," Jay replied.

"Didn't you ever play with the idea? Didn't you ever want to know whose son I am?" Ethan asked.

"I already know it. You're my son. I was there for you from the start," Jay swallowed hard, "Why is it so important for you to know?"

"Well, you have a baby now, which is definitely your baby." Ethan said.

"That doesn't change my love for you. You're definitely a Halstead" Jay took a deep breath. He did not know that this thought was still a burden on the boy.

"Are you sure?" Ethan asked disappointed.

"Yeah," Jay swallowed, "If you really want to know, then we'll have to do a DNA test."

Ethan nodded. It was a mystery to Jay why Ethan absolutely needed to know. Was not it enough for the boy that he was there for him all these years?

"Don't look so sad. Ethan is your boy, no matter what the test says," Erin said and went to bed with her husband.

"The question is more if he sees it that way." Jay mumbled, "Did I ever tell you how grateful I was that you stopped me seeing the result."

"Jay. Don't go crazy." Erin gently stroked his chest, "Maybe it was all too much for him. He clung to us after the kidnapping and now we don't have much time for him because of Amy."

"Maybe."

Ethan took several deep breaths. His hands holding the envelope with the results. He looked at his dad confused. Jay nodded encouragingly, though he does not need to know the result. Ethan hesitated a long time. Did he really want to know? Slowly he opened the envelope and took out the letter. He tried to read the lines, which were written in a formal scientific language.

A tear dripped on the sheet of paper. Curious, Jay looked at his son. Even though he did not need a test at the time, he wanted to know what Ethan knew.

"Ethan, is everything alright?" Jay asked. The sight of tears gave him the faintest suspicion that Dulaney was right. Anna had an affair. Ethan was not his son.

Slightly, Ethan nodded his head, "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Ethan, buddy. It's okay. It's not your fault. I'm here for you, even if I'm not your biological father." Jay swallowed hard.

"No, that's not what I mean. I'm sorry I thought you weren't my dad," he explained, holding out the letter, "You're my daddy. Anna didn't cheat on you."

Jay felt the heavy load fall from his heart. It was the best news in a long time. His baby boy was actually his son.

"Come here." Jay said. He took his little boy in a bear hug, kissing his forehead, "I promise you that I have more time for you."

The End.