Snow Angel ~ Short JC Story

It was a cold, snowy Christmas Eve day in Bowie, Maryland.  Josh and Kelly were just waking up.  JC ran his hands over Kelly's swollen stomach.  She wasn't very big, it looked as if she had a small basketball under her navy satin nighshirt.  Kelly smiled as she watched his eyes light up when the baby kicked in defiance of being "rudely" awakened before 9 AM.  JC gave her a gentle kiss that soon progressed to deep and passionate.

"Whoa!  Easy there, Tiger!" Kelly giggled.  "We need to go to the mall and pick up your Mom's gift and then to the grocery store.  Heather wanted me to make Sugar and Spice Almonds and Pecans this year for the party."

JC frowned.  "Just one more?  Please!?"  He pouted.

"Oh, alright..." She playfully sighed.  "...one more."

"Mmm...I love you Mrs. Chasez." he said while giving her another kiss.

"I love you too, Mr. Chasez." Kelly smiled as she kissed the tip of his nose.  "Now, c'mon lets go get this stuff done and maybe if you're a good boy, you'll get an early Christmas present."

Their first stop, Free State Mall.  They needed to pick up the necklace they had custom designed for Karen.  They also picked up some Poinsettias to take to Heather's.  Kelly loved Poinsettias.  Then it was off to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients for the candy.  They had carried everything into the kitchen and Kelly started preparing it.  After she finished, she stood by the front door and gazed out upon the snowy mounds in their front yard.  She was so lost in thought she didn't hear JC come up behind her.

"What is it Baby?  Is something wrong?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Just thinking..." he nuzzled her neck, silently asking her to continue.  "I'm just homesick, I guess?  I know I don't really have anything to be homesick about, but I guess I just miss Bismarck.  *Author's Note:  Her dad left before she was born, mom passed away shortly after her 8th birthday, she was given to the state of North Dakota and bounced between foster homes until she was 18.  She met JC when she was 20, they fell in love and have been happily married for 4 years.*

"Babe, I understand.  Maybe after the baby is born we can go to North Dakota for a while?  If you want to?" JC suggested.

"No, Baby.  I don't want to...the only thing I really miss, and it sounds really silly, but I remember making snow angels with my cousin Samantha when I was little, and I--"  She was cut off by JC grabbing her hand and leading her out to the front yard. 

"C'mon!  Let's make some angels!  God, Babe...Its been so many years since I've played in the snow."  JC said.  Kelly reminded him that it was last year when he played in the snow.  He gently pushed her back onto a snow mound.  "There!  Make your angel!"  He said with playful sarcasm while pretending to be upset that she corrected him.  He then laid down beside her and they made a snow couple.  After JC helped Kelly out of the snow, he dragged his foot across the snow to spell out:  "I love my Snow Angel"  and drew an arrow to the angel Kelly had made.  She grinned and squeezed his hand.

"Sweetie, we had better go get dressed.  Heather said we were opening gifts at 4 pm."  Kelly said, leading JC into the house.

~*After the party*~

There was complete silence on the way back from the party.  JC couldn't take it anymore, he pulled the Jeep to the side of the road, and turned to look at Kelly.

"Baby, what is it?  What's wrong?  Was it Melanie?  Babe, I was just being nice, she's Heather's best friend."  JC tried.

"NICE?  You call what you did NICE!  You were practically removing her dress with your eyes!!!  And THEN she asks you to reclasp her neclace and you AGREE?  OH!  And after THAT she's all smiling and giggling and slips you her number and you put it in your pocket!?  I can't believe you Joshua Chasez!"  Kelly yelled.

"Hon, you're reading WAY too much into trivial things.  I don't even like Melanie, the only reason I put up with her is because she's Heather's friend.  You're it for me, Kelly, c'mon now really.  Do you honestly think that I would prefer [i]her[/i] over you, the love of my life and mother of my baby?" He pushed her hair away from her face--She pulled away and glared at him.

"YES!  She's thin, blonde, and gorgeous!  And I'm...I'm..." she sniffled.  "Fat, with plain brown hair, and ugly!  You don't love me anymore!"  Kelly wailed.

JC burst out laughing, before he could stop himself, Kelly opened the Jeep door and was running through the snow.  "Baby, come on...Where are you going?  You know I love you.  KELLY!  Oh my God!  Sweetie, oh my God!  Are you...Oh no!"  Kelly had slipped on the icy roadside and fell in front of the Jeep.  JC leapt out of the car to see if she was okay.  He rounded the driver's side headlight and screamed.< SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  "HELP!  SOMEONE HELP!!!  CALL 911!!!  HELP HER!!  God, PLEASE, Baby hang on!  You can't leave me!  Baby...Please...I love you!"  He cried out in the cold, wintery night air.

The ambulance sirens droned into the night as it sped away, making the silence more deafening the farther it went.  JC was pushed aside by the EMTs working hurridly to stabilize Kelly on the way to the hospital.  Later, early Christmas morning, in the hospital JC leaned against the ER Waiting room wall.

"Family of Kelly Chasez?" the doctor asked.  JC stood up and the doctor motioned for him to come with him.  JC followed the doctor into a small office.  "Mr. Chasez, I assume?"  JC nodded and quickly asked about Kelly.  "I'm Dr. Lennox.  Son, I'm sorry.  We couldn't save her...she had a cerebral hemmorage."  JC threw his head in his hands and sobbed.

"Why!?  Why her, God?!  Why NOW?!  She's my everything, my life!  She was in her prime!" he screamed.  "Young, beautiful, intelligent, well on her way to a fantastic career in producing...almost a mother...THE BABY!  How is the baby doctor!?"  JC asked softening his tone a little.

The old doctor smiled.  "Congratulations Son, you have a beautiful 5lb 9oz baby boy.  Would you like to see him?"  JC wiped his red eyes and nodded slowly.  The doctor led JC to the nursery.  "There he is Son, the tiny little tyke by the nurse's area.  Congratulations!" he said as he patted JC on the back.  "You can go in and hold him if you want?"  JC's eyes lit up as he nodded.  "Andréa, this is Mr. Cha sez...He would like to see his son."  Andréa led JC into the small nursery.

He carefully took the tiny bundle in his arms and swayed slowly.  "Your Mommy would have been so proud of you.  You're beautiful, Dakota Bradley Chasez."  He said, a tear slipped down his cheek.  He stroked Dakota's soft, dark hair, leaned down and kissed his forehead.

Andréa came up to him, "Sir, Doctor Lennox wants to keep little Dakota here for observation.  We have a room set up, if you would like to stay?"  JC looked up and smiled through his tears in agreement.  "Please follow me...We can bring him to the room for a few hours, I'll show you how to feed him."

JC fed Dakota and felt an overwhelming sense of awe and pride in knowing that the tiny miracle cuddled against his chest was a product of his and Kelly's love for one another.  He whispered, "If only she was here...God, how I wish she could see you, Little Guy.  You're so perfect, just like your Mommy."

Andréa came in to get Dakota for his bath and check up and suggested that JC get some rest.  Knowing how hard the next few days were going to be, he reluctantly curled into a fetal position on the tiny bed and fell into an troubled sleep.

~*7 years later*~

"Santa came!  Santa came!  Daddy!  Daddy!  Santa came!!!"  Dakota yelled giddily as he bounced up and down in front of the Christmas tree.

JC trotted down the stairs tying his robe cord around his waist.  "So he did, didn't he Little Guy?  And someone is a year older isn't he?"  JC smiled.  Dakota had grown up so much in the last seven years and he's so intelligent.& nbsp; JC knew he had to have some idea of what was going on.  He would have to explain it to him soon.  After they opened their presents at the house, they got dressed and were going to Nana Karen and Papa Roy's house to open gifts.  Dakota noticed the distant look in his Daddy's eyes, the same as every year.

"Daddy...What's wrong?"  He asked as he climbed into JC's lap.  JC sighed and told Dakota to grab his coat, they were going to make a stop before they went to Nana and Papa's.  JC got Dakota settled in the car and started the long drive.  "This is about Mommy isn't it?"  JC looked at his son with amazement, he was so perceptive.  "I saw you crying with Mommy's picture last night, Daddy, why do you always cry on Christmas Eve?"

"Kota Bear, you remember how I told you a few years ago that Mommy was with the Angels?  The reason I'm so sad on Christmas Eve is because thats when Mommy left with the Angels."

"Daddy, I wish I could talk to Mommy.  I miss her and I didn't even know her."  Dakota said with a whimper in his voice.

"Kota, I'm gonna take you to a very special place that you've never seen before, and in this special place you can talk to Mommy all you want.  And even though you can't see her, she'll always be with us."  JC said as he pulled into the cemetery.  He got out and led Dakota to Kelly's grave.  Dakota grasped JC's hand tightly as he read the words on the tombstone.

[center][i]"Kelly Renée Chasez

April 12, 1978 - December 24, 2004

Beloved Snow Angel[/i][/center]

"Go on, Kota..."  JC coaxed.  Dakota took a deep breath.

"Mommy, Daddy and I love you a whole bunch, and miss you too.  Daddy keeps your pictures everywhere...we really love you..." he sniffled.  "One day we'll all be together again.  I'm gonna let Daddy talk to you now...Oh!  I forgot!" He ran back to the car and got the perfect red Poinsettia.  "I love you, Mommy.  I'll talk to you later."  He kissed the stone and placed the flower on top.  He ran back to the car and jumped in.  JC stared between the tombstone and his son with awe.

"Kelly, Baby, he's so smart and kind!  He takes that after you I think."  JC smiled.  "Baby, you wouldn't believe all of the things he does that remind me of you...God, I miss you...Christmas is so lonely without you, Kota Bear makes up for a lot, but...he can't replace you.  The songs we used to sing aren't the same with out you..."  JC wiped his eyes.  "I'm a grown man and I'm crying like a child...We're going to Mom's next..."  JC turned slightly.  "I love you, my precious Snow Angel."