Filling your Daddy's Shoes

Chapter 18: Flying High

Grayson stood outside ICE All-stars waiting to Go in. She walked inside. She started warming up her jumps,then she warmed up her tumbling. To start off she did her running roundoff backhandspring backtuck layout. After that she did her running round off back handspring back tuck, layout whip double full.

The coaches were impressed.
"What's your name?" one of them yelled

"Grayson!" All of the coaches ran towards her.

"Can you fly?." Grayson shook her head.

Michael, Ryan,Collin and walked over to Grayson.
She put her foot in and twisted up to an aribesque,then brought her foot up to a Nike,then a scorpion. Then tick tocked to her other leg. And did the same. She twisted down.

"Wow! Nice Job." Michael shaked her hand.

"Thanks. I've been a cheerleader my whole life." Grayson stood on the mat and watched as the coaches talked. One of them Brandon turned around.
"Grayson,How would you like to be on Lady Lightning and Thunder?"

"I would love to be. Can I call my parents?"

Brandon looked at the other coaches.
"Go ahead." Grayson ran to her cheer bag and grabbed her phone. She dialed her Dad's number.

"Dad? Is it okay with you and Mom that I'm on two cheer teams?" Jay looked at Erin.

"Yeah Baby girl. You can. It's fine with me. I'll see you soon."
Grayson put her phone up and ran back to the mat. She saw Morgan sitting by herself

"Hey Morgan!"

"Hey Gray,You are a really good cheerleader."

"Thanks. You are too." Grayson sat down.

"Do you like Shane? I mean I saw the way you looked at him."

"I do like him. He's nice and sweet."

"I'll give you his number but Would you wanna come over to my house?"

"Yeah. I would." After Tryouts Grayson and Morgan got into Jay's truck.

"Hey Dad,This is Morgan, she's on my cheer teams."

"Hey Morgan. You can call me Jay." Jay drove back to the house. Morgan walked into their house and sat down at the table.

"Mom,This is Morgan. She's my friend. Where's Shane?"

"He's upstairs,with Mikey and Grant." Grayson and Morgan ran into Shane's room.

"Hey Boys. Morgan and I are going to play with you three." Grayson plopped herself down on the bean bag chair. Morgan stood up but Shane gave her his.

"Thanks Shane."
"Jay,when are we going to start trying for a baby?" Erin made a sad face.

"Whenever you want baby." Jay kissed her.

Mikey sat down in the chair and grabbed the controller.
Erin walked up the stairs and went into the room.
"Dinner is ready. If you want some food." The boys bolted out the door and ran to the kitchen table.

"Mom,Can Morgan sleep over?"

"Sure. I don't see why not."

"Boys,Can you eat like boys and not pigs?" asked Jay

Grayson nearly spit out her food and started laughing.

"Sorry Uncle Jay." Mikey shoved a piece of chicken in his mouth.

"Yeah Sorry Uncle Jay." Grayson smacked Mikey across the head.

"You three are idiots." Morgan sat down and ate her chicken.

Erin walked into her bedroom and sat on the bed. Jay walked in after her.
"Er,What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I love the kids and I want one more. Maybe a girl or a boy either one. I'd love."

"Er,We can start trying. After all these kids are out of my house. And my little sister isn't here."

"So Morgan, What's your family like?"

"They are great. My Mom she works at the hospital. My Dad was in the Army until he retired and my older brother followed in his footsteps. I'm the only girl in my family."

"I am too. With these idiots. I wish there was another girl in the family but No. Uncle Justin had to have 3 boys,then Aunt Gracie had a boy then I have Shane over here."

"You have me Grayson." Morgan tapped her shoulder.

"I do. Don't I?" Grayson sat back down.

"Wanna go outside and play football?" asked Grant
All the kids look at each other and nod their heads yes.

Then they go running outside.

"Jay,I love you. A lot."

"I love you too babe. I love our crazy family." Shane stayed inside and walked to Jay's room.

"Uncle Jay,Can I come in?" Jay walked to the door and opened it.

"What's up Shane?"

"Can I start calling you Dad? I know you can never replace him but I would like to start calling you that. Just nevermind."

Jay walked over to Shane and hugged him.
"Shane,You can do whatever you want. I know you miss him and i can never replace him I don't try to replace him. I just try to be like him. Your father was an amazing man. I miss him like crazy everyday I promise but I will never replace him or try to. I love you and I would like to adopt you soon. If that's okay with you." Shane looked up at him

"You mean that?"

"I do bud. I'll always be here if you need me. I love you Shane and I think you'll be a great Halstead."
Jay hugged him tighter. Erin joined in.

Grayson ran back into the house.

"Yeah." Grayson ran into her Dad's room.

"Shane,Are you coming?" Grayson saw her family hugging so she joined the group hug.

"I'm coming."