The Washingtons were a loving couple. They were high school sweethearts, together since sophomore year. They were the definition of domestic bliss. Martha cooked and cleaned, content with her life. George would go to work and be a politician. The only honest politician.

He'd come home tired and frustrated and Martha would bake cookies and let him rant about his day. She'd nod and lean on his shoulder.

They had two canines, one named General, that would sit in a little white fluff ball on Martha's skirt. The other was Waffle, a proud ex-police dog that was a well trained and kind unless threatened. The pups were both rescues.

The Washingtons were good people.

Did they make their fair share of mistakes? Of course. Did they argue? Not often, but yes. In the end, they loved each other dearly.

One night the two sat on the couch and spoke for hours. They wanted a family. They were going to try for children.

They tried. They got the test. Negative. They tried. They got the test. Negative. Rinse, wash and repeat. They were close to calling the doctor now.

Then,

POSITIVE!

They were so ecstatic.

They went to the doctor, smiles still plastered on their faces.

They saw the professional's face and the room dulled. The doctor said: Martha and George could not have children. It was completely unsafe for her to carry a baby. If she did, she or the baby or both would die. What had they done to deserve this? Martha took another test. Negative.

It took awhile for everything to be okay again. It took a year before they thought of adoption as an option. They decided to start with foreign exchange. George, being close friends with Samuel Seabury, who aged out of foster care, did not want to adopt just babies and toddlers.

He and Martha both agreed on this and when he told the missionary, he was beyond happy. Sam and his husband had already adopted a little girl and had their hands full. They were going to wait until she was older to adopt more children, but goodness, he was happy to help them in any way he could!

The first boy that walked into the estate was tall, thin and French. He was outgoing and smart... But they always got the sense he never wanted to go back to France. He was always seemingly hiding something. That's Lafayette, though. Maybe, they'll never know...

The second boy was always paranoid and writing. He was short and all skin and bones. Always ate like someone was going to steal his food from him. They lived off coffee and books for the most part. That is Alexander, obviously.

the last, but certainly not the least is the one Alexander always talked about. He went to Alexander and Lafayette's school before he went to live with the Washingtons. He spends his time sketching, barely talking. He has a bad habit of running away and stealing alcohol. He's got quite a few bad habits... John is his name.

They all have their tragic stories. Just be careful, they may be safe now... But the effects linger and secrets aren't easily kept.