Ch.1

Bobby-19

Jerry-17

Angel-15

Jack-9

"Bobby! Jerry! Angel! Jack! She's here!"

Evelyn Mercer turned from the stairs when she heard the thunder of footsteps scrambling around. She walked to the door, standing at the ready.

The children she brought into her home always surprised her in one way or another. These four sure had.

She didn't know what to expect of this little girl. All she knew was what was in her file. A thick, beat up manila folder telling a grim story of another child who had slipped through the cracks. This poor child was too young to know such horrors. She had to see for herself what this little girl was all about.

She turned as she she heard her boys run down the stairs like a herd of elephants, smiling as she saw them stumble into view.

"Stop Bobby!"

"Ahh come on fairy! It didn't hurt that bad!"

"Angel!"

"What?! It wasn't me man!

"Sure."

"Boys!"

They all stopped their horseing around when they heard there mother's amused voice.

"Ma, I'm so excited to get a little sister!,"Jack said running to his mother's side.

They had finally cracked Jack's nervous and hard outer shell and opened up the vibrant, happy little boy. You could still see the whisper of sadness in his eyes, but that was no surprise to any of them considering what he's been through.

"I know Jackie, so am I," she said gently patting down the boy's unrully hair.

"Ma?", Jerry asked quietly. The quiet one. Calm. A happy addition to the family and much needed in the band of boys. He kept them in check. Or tried to anyway.

"Yes Jerry?" she smiled at his serious face, but knew by the twinkle in his eye that he was just as excited as herself and Jack.

"How old did you say she was?", his serious mask cracking and giving way to a giant smile.

"3 years old. Her name is Clementine Rose. But, she goes by Rose or Rosie."

"Clementine? What the hell kinda name is that?," Bobby snickered. The tough one. Always trying to mask how he really felt with a snide remark or a curse word or two. But Evelyn had known Bobby too long and could see right through his facade.

"Oh Bobby Mercer! Hush!", she tried hard to suppress her smile but couldn't help the amused smile from spreading across her face.

"I like it!" Angel said defiantly, already protecting his baby sister, "it's got class!"

And finally, Angel. The Casanova of the bunch. A different girl for everyday and that was just the way he liked it. But he was a sweet boy with a tender soul.

Their laughter was cut off by a quiet, yet firm, knock on the door.

Evelyn took a deep breath and felt the flutter in her stomach as she reached for the door-knob. She was nervous, but she was ready. Oh boy was she ready.

She opened the door with an excited smile on her face.

"Hello Evelyn. It's great to see you again. This is Clementine Rose. Rosie, meet your new family."