A Perfect Storm

Chapter Six

Everyday for three weeks Jaxon continued to ask when Neal was coming back, it was getting harder to not just tell him I didn't actually know. After he stopped asking he seemed to finally be settling in but when he would wake up at night he would often refuse me and Elizabeth and resort to yelling that he wanted Neal and so all we could do on those nights was wait for him to give up and come to one or both of us, I don't think I've ever met a more stubborn child, it wasn't even until the first week of May that he actually settled in but come May 5th I found myself bringing Neal to pick him up. In a way I was relieved to get him out of my house and back home but at the same time I would miss him being around, he was certainly a special kid, I wasn't sure what it was but he seemed different than any other kid I've met that's his age.

-Neal's POV-

"I think he'll be glad, he only just got over you being gone" Peter informed me as we walked to his front door.

"It was a big change for him, Peter" I stated and he nodded as he opened the front door. As soon as I stepped in I relized it looked different, the coffee table and most of the living room floor was covered in random papers with drawings Jaxon had done scattered about. "Did you let him be in charge?" I joked.

"He wouldn't listen to anything I told him, he was more controlled by Elizabeth"

"Well I guess she's just used to taking care of him" I smiled a bit, "also with you and kids......I should have known" I smirked.

"He is pretty much a mini you"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing" he claimed.

"Uh-huh" I answered, skeptically, "where is he at?"

"I'd say probably out in the back with Elizabeth and Satchmo since they aren't here either" he went towards the back door and I followed him. We stepped out onto the porch and Elizabeth was standing at the bottom of the steps watching Jaxon run around, playing with Satch, Elizabeth looked back and smiled when we came out. "Jaxon" she called, he turned his head while running, he hadn't realized Satchmo stopped and ran into him and fell down, that didn't faze him at all, he just got back up and ran up to me, "daddy!" He yelled.

"Hey buddy" I smiled as I lifted him up.

"Can I go home now?" He asked Peter's who nodded with a laugh. "Uncle Peter told me you be back soon but it wasn't soon"

"Yeah well he didn't know exactly how long I'd be away" I informed him.

"Okay" he answered as he leaned against me and hugged me. We all went inside and Elizabeth decided she would go pack up Jaxon's things since he probably wouldn't want me to leave him behind right now.

"It was two months, Neal, to a three year old that's a lifetime" Peter told me after Elizabeth went upstairs

"I know" I answered.

"I'm almost fowr" Jaxon told Peter.

"Yeah, you are" he said even though he wouldn't be four for three months. Jaxon started squirming so I set him down and he ran off after Elizabeth. "So his middle name" Peter began.

"You saw the blanket?"

"Yeah. June told me there was a reason and so I was wondering what it is?"

"Who says I know?"

"You're the one who told her there's a reason"

I sighed, "fine, I'll tell you. So the painting I told you about, right after I met his mom. I told her how much I liked it and so his middle name is after Eugène Delacroix"