dream1990 requested this one. Here you go, Amigo! Enjoy! :)

Vampirina belongs to Disney. I only own Emily.

Family Love Isn't Skin Deep

Chapter 1: Discussion

Oxana Hauntley was watering her snapping monster pods in her garden as she was deep in thought, thinking about a commercial she had seen on the television about adopting children who needed a home. Vampirina had seen it too and felt bad about many children not having a home like she did and looked at her parents, asking if they would think about adopting a human into the family. The little one admitted that she really wanted to have a younger sibling to play with. She loved playing with her friends, but if they had a human living with them, it would be a learning experience for them and it would be a good deed as well.

While Vee was in school that day, her mother gave it some more thought and soon went inside, finding Chef Remy Bones making some pork chops according to a new recipe he had found online and Boris, who had just finished reading the newspaper, came in to see his wife looking deep in thought. "Oxana, is everything alright?" He asked, placing a hand on hers.

She looked up. "Oh, I'm alright, darling. I was just thinking," she admitted. "Vampirina really would like a sibling."

"Ah, you've been thinking about that too?" He asked. "I've been thinking about it as well, but…do you think the humans would allow it?"

"That's one thing I'm concerned about," Oxana admitted. "Would they think us unfit parents?"

"Why, that's absurd!" Chef Remy exclaimed with a scoff. "Anyone who dares say you two are not good parents will get it from me!"

The two vampires smiled at their residential chef's loyalty. "Thank you, Chef Remy," Boris said gratefully. "But not all humans, especially human adults, would think that way."

"But I would like to at least try, for Vee's sake," said Oxana. "And…it would be nice to have another child. We do have the room by Vee's bedroom available."

"True," said her husband. "And there is an orphanage near Vee's school. I saw it the other day when we were walking her to school."

"Oh, good," she said. "Perhaps we can go visit tomorrow after we take Vampirina to school."

"What would we be looking for in the child we would like to adopt?" Boris asked.

"Someone young, a little younger than our Vee," Oxana replied. "We'd have to see how the children would react to us."

"You two are very likeable," Chef Remy said confidently. "Why, even Poppy and Bridget take to you two."

"That is true, but they've been around us more than a new child we're considering to bring into the family," Boris said.

Chef Remy made a dismissive motion with his hand. "Just do what you always do to present yourself to humans and I have no doubt they'll grant you your request to adopt a little one," he said.

The next day, after they dropped Vampirina off at school, Oxana and Boris went to the orphanage and met the director, whom they were surprised to see was actually a lady who had stayed at their Scare B&B once and had left an outstanding review on the web. "Welcome," she said warmly to them. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, my wife and I have been considering adopting," said Boris. "We were wondering if you could tell us a bit more about the children under your care."

"Well, we currently have ten children under our care right now, although a couple of them are getting adopted very soon, as soon as the adoption papers are ready," the lady said. "But there are the others. Would you like to go meet them?"

Agreeing to that, the couple followed her into a classroom where all ten children were working on some art projects. They paused to admire some of the drawings the children had done and the children seemed happy to have the two adults visit. Boris then spotted a little girl sitting by herself and gently touched his wife's shoulder. "Look," he said, pointing out the little girl.

"Who is that little one?" Oxana asked the lady director.

"That one is Emily," the lady answered. "She's four years old. Poor dear lost her family in a horrible house fire that she witnessed."

Boris looked shocked. "She witnessed the fire?" He asked.

The lady director nodded sadly. "Yes, and since then, she hasn't spoken. It's been about a year since then and when some court-appointed therapists tried to get her to talk about it, she just retreated further into herself."

"Oh, the poor child," Oxana said, her heart going out to the little girl.

The lady director looked around and then lowered her voice. "I shouldn't really say this, but Emily's birth family didn't really care about her, at least from what the police found out," she said. "And…she was adopted by another family nine months ago, but after two weeks, they brought her back here."

"Why?" Boris asked.

"They were fed up that she wouldn't speak," was the answer. "I haven't pushed the issue and even appealed the court to not appoint any therapists for Emily as she wasn't willing to talk to anyone. After another therapist confirmed that right now forcing her to talk to someone was doing more harm than good, they agreed, but have asked that when she does start talking that she does see another therapist."

"Why would they be so keen on her seeing a therapist?" Oxana asked.

"To encourage her to talk about what she had witnessed in hopes of preventing nightmares," the lady director said.

Oxana and Boris looked at each other. "She does need a good home," Boris said.

"I think she'd be the perfect sibling for our daughter," Oxana said in agreement.

The lady director was hesitant. "Forgive me for being hesitant…I just wish to be certain that this is in Emily's best interest, especially where the last family brought her back here," she said.

"We understand," Boris said. "Rest assured, when we adopt Emily, it will be permanent."

Oxana then had an idea. "What if my husband and I came here to visit Emily for the next few days?" She said. "It would help her get to know us and then we could see if she'd like to come home with us."

The director lit up. "That's a wonderful idea," she said with a smile.

The Hauntleys kept their word and visited the orphanage for the next few days, spending some time with Emily. At first, the little girl was unsure, but slowly seemed to be accepting the fact that they were coming to spend time with her. The lady director noticed the small change but took it as a good sign. Emily hadn't interacted with the other adults, but she seemed to really like Oxana and Boris.

It was on the Friday of that week when Emily was sitting by the window and seemed to light up when she saw Oxana and Boris walk by with Vampirina to drop her off at school before they came to the orphanage. She greeted them both with a hug and they returned the hugs. "Hello, sweetie," said Oxana, picking her up.

Emily instantly hugged her back, a smile on her face. "She's been very happy that you both come to spend time with her," said the director. "I can see if you adopt her, she'll have two wonderful parents."

"Thank you," said Boris. "My wife and I have discussed it and we would love to have Emily join our family."

"Very well," said the lady director. "I'll see about getting the adoption papers ready."

Surprisingly, the adoption papers were ready that very day and Oxana and Boris signed them. "Well," Oxana said to Emily. "Why don't we grab your things and get you settled into your new home? Vampirina will be so excited to have a little sister."

Emily seemed to perk up at the thought of having a big sister and Boris got the documents all together, thanking the lady director, who thanked them and smiled happily as Emily grabbed her things, showing a lot more spirit than she had lately.

Perhaps this would be the right move for Emily after all.

So, Oxana and Boris have officially adopted Emily, but how will Emily adjust to her new family and living in a haunted house? Stay tuned to find out. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418