Chapter Text
Jonah Simms couldn’t be happier.
A year ago, he was heartbroken, lost, and facing unemployment as well as an overwhelming existential dread and lack of stability in his life.
Now, he’s married to the love of his life, living with his two incredible step-children, one of whom is heading off to college in the fall, and in the midst of running for office in the city he’s grown to call home. Things couldn’t be going better for him.
Still, it’s hard to look on the bright side when you’re running on three hours of sleep and a few triple-espressos after spending the entire day campaigning.
He can barely make it from the car to the front door, and it takes everything in him just to kick off his shoes and coat, but the sound of laughter from the kitchen perks him up just enough to trudge down the hallway and greet his family.
Amy beams at him when he walks in, setting her glass of red wine down to pour one for him.
“Hey, babe, how was your day?”
He kisses her and accepts the glass of wine, taking a sip before he responds, “exhausting. But much better now.” She smiles, and he pecks her lips one more time before sitting down.
Emma is colouring with Parker at the table, and she rolls her eyes at her mom and stepdad’s cheesiness, though it really isn’t too out of the ordinary at this point. It’s been a few months, but they’re still firmly in the honeymoon phase, and Jonah isn’t sure it’ll ever fade. His awe of her certainly hasn’t, and it’s been seven years now.
“Did you guys have a good day with your dad?” Jonah asks, ruffling Parker’s messy brown hair.
“Yeah, we saw a movie,” Emma answers. “Hey, Parker, why don’t you go get your surprise?”
Parker stares blankly at his sister for a moment, before Amy chimes in: “In your backpack, honey.”
The four year-old shoots up and runs into the living room to grab his bag, which is almost as big as he is and extremely adorable. Carefully - or as careful as a four year-old boy can be - Parker pulls a yellow piece of construction paper out of his bag and hands it to Jonah.
“Happy Fatha’s Day,” Parker says proudly. “I made it at pwee-school.” (He still can’t fully pronounce his Rs, and it’s so hilarious and adorable they almost don’t want to correct it.)
There’s a picture drawn of two stick figures, clearly meant to be Jonah and Parker, at a swing set. Inscribed on the bottom, the teacher seems to have written “me and my Dad at the swings near our house” for him, and Parker signed his name in the corner in blue crayon. Since he was a baby, basically, Jonah’s taken Parker to the park around the corner from their place to play, and it’s become a tradition of theirs.
He doesn’t know if it’s the exhaustion or the abundant joy he’s feeling right now, but he can feel his eyes watering as he stares at the card. He looks up at Amy, who rests a hand on his shoulder.
“The teacher said he made one for Adam and insisted on making one for you too,” she elaborates, smiling softly.
“I love it buddy, thank you,” Jonah says, pulling Parker in for a tight hug. When he finally lets go, Parker politely asks to go watch TV, and he of course obliges.
“I’ve gotta run, I’m tutoring tonight,” Emma says, stopping to give Jonah a quick hug before she goes upstairs. “Happy Father’s Day, Jonah. Thanks for everything.”
She’s gone before he can reply, but he’s left awestruck once again by these amazing kids he’s gotten the privilege of knowing. He knows he didn’t play much of a role in raising Emma into the amazing young woman she is today, but he was there for her first period, her first time getting high, and her first breakup. He helped her learn to drive and he helped her write her college essays. He knows all of that counts for something.
“You raised two pretty great kids, Amy Sosa,” Jonah says, wiping at his tear-filled eyes and squeezing her hand where it rests on his shoulder.
“You know, I had some help,” Amy replies, gently massaging his shoulders the way she knows he loves after a long day of work. “And I’m not talking about Adam.”
Jonah blushes, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her into his lap so he can kiss her properly.
“Thank you,” he murmurs against her lips. “For giving me the family I always wanted.”
She smiles into the kiss, running her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. When she pulls away, she has a look on her face that he recognizes - deep, contemplative, lost in thought.
“So…how do you feel about having another one?”
Jonah can feel his heart skip a beat, his eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Really?”
They had talked about having children of their own before, mostly in passing, but he hadn’t been totally sure if she was serious about having more kids and he never wanted to pressure her. He was so content with the little family they had here, but the idea of having one of his own made him more emotional than he could’ve ever imagined.
“Really,” Amy smiles.
“Absolutely, Ames! One-hundred percent, as soon as possible.”
He can’t resist kissing her again, and he deepens the kiss as much as he can with Parker in the next room, only pulling away reluctantly when he can feel himself getting turned on.
“Well,” Amy smirks, obviously noticing how excited he is (in every sense) and leaning in so their foreheads are touching and she can whisper, “why don’t we get that one to bed so we can start working on the next one?”
Jonah’s eyes widen with anticipation and he nods eagerly, leaning in for another kiss but stopping himself halfway.
“Wait, don’t you have to go off the pill for a few weeks or something? I’m pretty sure I read an article that said to wait at least one full cycle for the best results.”
“Yeah, but there’s no harm in practicing.”
“Practicing…having sex?”
Amy pulls away and straightens her posture, reaching over to grab her glass of wine. “I mean, if you’re not interested…”
Jonah stands abruptly, nearly spilling the wine as he places Amy gently on her feet and strides into the living room.
“Parker, time for bed!”
He can hear Amy laughing in the next room as he lifts his son to carry him upstairs, and he can’t help but feel like he’s the luckiest dad in the world.