Nine year old twins, Harvey Allen, who has Down Syndrome and Harper Allison Shepherd are the kids of Amelia Shepherd. Amelia was raped and impregnated by her uncle when she was fifteen. Amelia does drugs and alcohol to help forget the fact that she was raped by someone she trusted.
One day when Harper and Harvey walk home from school, their mom isn't home and their house is surrounded by social services and police officers.
"What's going on, officer?" Harper asked concerned while also staying close to her brother in case she needs to protect him.
"Where's my mommy?" Harvey asked
"Are you two Harper and Harvey Shepherd?" The officer asked
Harper and Harvey nodded with worried looks on their faces.
"When was the last time you saw your mom?" The officer asked
Harvey stared at the police officer, pursed his lips together and then looked at his sister.
Harper saw the look on brother's face and quickly replied, "This morning when we left school."
"Are you sure?" The officer asked looking skeptically at the kids
Harper nodded, "Yes I'm sure. She probably just went to the store and will be back soon."
Harvey looked down not able to handle the look the officer was giving him and his sister.
The officer bent down to Harvey's level and lifted the little boy's chin a little, "Your sister is lying, isn't she?" The officer paused waiting for an answer, "When did you last see your mother?"
Harvey sighed and nodded, "We saw her last week." Then he asked worried, "Is my mommy okay? Mommy was supposed to meet my teacher for a parent teacher meeting."
"we don't know where she is, but I need you to go with this nice lady over here." The officer said "She's a social worker. She's going to find you a safe home to stay in while we try to find your mom."
Harvey nodded even though he was scared. It was times like this he wished he had a dad.
"What if our mom comes back?" Harper asked "She always comes back, and when she does she won't know where my brother and I are. She'll be worried."
"Don't worry about your mom, kids. We'll fill her on when she returns or when we find her." The officer assured the kids
Harvey and Harper both nodded, then walked over to their social worker.
"Hi, I'm Mackenzie Matthews. I'm your social worker." Mackenzie introduced "And don't worry. I'll find you both a great foster home."
"You won't split us up, right?" Harper asked for reassurance "Because I won't leave my brother. He needs me. He can't survive without me."
"I'll do my best not to." Mackenzie replied "Its hard to place one kid sometimes, let alone two." Harper and Harvey nodded
Mackenzie showed the kids to her car, and then drove them to social services. The kids waited in Mackenzie's office while she made calls to find a foster home for both Harper and Harvey.
A couple hours later Mackenzie's boss, Tracy walked into her office.
"Miss Matthews, it's almost five." Tracy said "You need to find a home for those kids by 5:30 or you'll have to take them to a group home until you can find them a foster home."
Mackenzie nodded, "Yes ma'am."
"Miss Matthews? What's a group home?" Harvey asked
"It's a temporary placement home until a foster home can be found." Mackenzie replied to which Harvey nodded
When 5:30 hit, Mackenzie still didn't have anyone to take the Shepherd twins so she drove them to a group home.
Later that night, at the group home Harvey got really sick because of his immunodeficiency, which means that he has a compromised immune system. He needs a sterile environment to protect him from germs. Harper calls 911 since doctors were the only ones that could help her brother.
When they arrived at the hospital, the doctors were running tests on Harvey to see what cold/flu he had caught. Meanwhile Harper was in the waiting room trying to get a hold of her mom.
About an hour later Dr. Addison Montgomery walked out to the waiting room. "Your brother's going to be fine. He just has the flu." Addison told Harper. "Were you able to get a hold of your mom or dad?"
Harper shook her head, "My mom isn't answering, and I don't have a dad. He left when he found out my mom was pregnant." Then she asked, "Can I see my brother?"
"Of course." Addison replied with a nod. She had a look of sympathy on her face. She felt bad that the kids' mom wasn't answering her phone, and the kids' dad didn't even want them.
Harper walked into her brother's hospital room, "Hi bub. You gave me quite a scare."
"Sorry sissy." Harvey whimpered
Harper smiled, "It's not your fault, bub. You can't help it. You have an immunodeficiency."
Harvey nodded, "Sissy, I miss mommy."
"I know, bubba. I miss mom too." Harper replied. Then she kissed her brother on the forehead, "Rest up, bub. You need your rest to get better. I love you."
"Love you too, sissy." Harvey replied
As Harper started to walk away toward the door, Harvey said, "Sissy? I forgot Bippy at our house."
Harper nodded, "Okay we'll get it tomorrow. Can you try to sleep without it?"
Harvey nodded sadly, "I'll try."
"Good, bub. I love you." Harper replied
Harper started to walk away when Harvey asked, "Sissy? Do you ever wonder about our daddy?"
Harper nodded, "Yes all the time, bud."
"Me too, sissy. I love you." Harvey replied before closing his eyes and going to sleep
"Sleep tight, bubba." Harper whispered before walking out of her brother's hospital room.
Harper went back to the waiting room and sat down. She wasn't going to leave the hospital until her brother was better and could leave with her.
Mackenzie, Harper and Harvey's social worker walked into the waiting room.
Harper stared at Mackenzie, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to take you back to the group home." Mackenzie stated
"Well that's too bad because I won't leave my brother." Harper replied
Mackenzie sighed softly, "I don't have a choice and neither do you. You have to go back to the group home, so come on. Don't make this too hard."
"No!" Harper yelled "I won't go. You can't make me." Harper ran to her brother's room, sat on the chair beside his bed, and watched him sleep. She whispered, "Don't worry, bubby. I'm never going to leave you. I won't be like mommy."
Meanwhile in the waiting room, Charlotte walked over to Mackenzie and asked, "Who are you here to see?"
"Oh I'm just here for Harper Shepherd. Her brother, Harvey is here, but I'm here to take Harper back to her group home." Mackenzie explained
"Okay. Follow me. She's probably in her brother's room." Charlotte replied
Mackenzie followed Charlotte to Harvey's room and when they reached it, Mackenzie whispered to Harper, "Harper, I know you don't want to leave but you have to."
Harper shook her head and cried, "No, you can make me. I won't go. I won't leave my brother. I don't want him to think I abandoned him like our dad did. He left before before we were born."
Addison walked in at that moment. She was coming to check on Harvey and happened to hear Harper.
"What's wrong?" Addison asked
"Harper's refusing to leave her brother, but I have to take her back to the group home." Mackenzie replied
"Harper and Harvey are foster kids?" Addison asked shocked
Mackenzie nodded, "As of today, yes. Their mother abandoned them."
"My mom didn't abandon us." Harper said defending her mom. "She's going to come back. She always does."
Addison felt bad for Harper and Harvey. Then she said, "I'll take Harper. I'll foster her, and Harvey once he's better."
"Really?" Harper asked hopefully. If this meant she would be able stay with her brother or see him whenever she wanted, she was okay with that.
Addison nodded, "Yes sweet girl. Really."
"Okay I'll come to your house tomorrow morning at ten for a home study." Mackenzie told Addison before leaving
Harper hugged Addison, "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome. It's no problem." Addison replied as she hugged Harper back