1993

Hiram Berry handed the fare plus a generous tip to the smiling taxi driver. He opened the door and stepped out on to the dusty road. Even at this early hour the sun was beating down, today was going to be a hot one. He glanced over to LeRoy who was smiling warmly. "I can't believe we're finally here" he whispered as the two walked closely together, shoulders jostling, to the doorway of the large grey building that bore the sign 'Orfanotrofio di Sorrento'.

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Pam Anderson crossed her legs in nervous apprehension. The ceiling fan in the otherwise featureless room was circulating cool air; however it was not doing anything to stop the sweat dripping down her forehead. She found the hand of her husband Michael and gave it a firm squeeze. "Voglio solo vedere la sua faccia" She muttered.

Michael smiled and put his arm around his wife "I know dear, don't worry, in a matter of minutes our new baby boy will be in your arms. I can't wait to get him home. Cooper is going to be so happy, finally the little brother he has always wanted!"

He gave his wife another quick squeeze and released her just as two well dressed men entered through the doorway. The tailored suits looked hot and uncomfortable for the weather outside. But maybe they were here for the same reason as them. Maybe today was a day to always remember, and to take photographs that would be displayed with pride. The taller man with glasses caught his eye and gave a small nod and smile before taking a seat with his partner in the seats opposite. The man sitting next to him was looking around expectantly. "I don't think she is here yet LeRoy" The man in glasses chuckled, nudging shoulders with the man next to him.

Michael looked up again and smiled to the men across the room. " Is that an American accent I detect!?"

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Hiram made eye contact with the smiling man across from him. "It is indeed. We are over here from Ohio. From your accent I would guess you are also from our fine land".

The man chuckled "You would be correct, fellow American. I actually spent my teenage years at boarding school in Ohio. Westerville to be exact!"

Hiram raised his eyebrows "What a small world! Westerville you say, that must be Dalton Academy? I've heard good things about the school."

The man smiled warmly "Ah Dalton. Good memories indeed. My name is Michael by the way, Michael Anderson. This is my wife Pam and we are about to become parents for the second time!"

Hiram smiled, noticing the familiar tones of excitement in Michael's voice. "Hiram. And this is my partner LeRoy. We are about to become first time parents to the most beautiful baby girl in the world."

The conversation was interrupted by a lady in an official, nurse type uniform who entered the room with a clipboard. She addressed the room which now consisted of Hiram, LeRoy, Michael, Pam and another two couples and told them to follow her through to meet their new children.

The small party made their way through to a back corridor, here the walls were less plain. Coloured pictures, some neat, some scribbles adorned the walls. Above them on the next floor the noise of little feet running around could be heard. The nurse led them left in to a room with sunny coloured walls and large windows overlooking an olive grove. Along one wall was a line of cribs. "Okay everybody. I will speak in English as you are all booked in as English speakers. Am i correct?" The group nodded excitedly in response to the question.

The nurse continued "We have already received final paperwork and signatures from you all so you are now all legally the parents of the children you are about to be presented with." The group gave another murmur, half excitement, half relief that this moment was finally here. It had been a long road of many months, even years for the couples to reach the end of their adoption journey."

The nurse looked down at the paperwork one more time "Mr and Mrs Smith, your baby boy is in the green crib, you will notice a tag with your adoption number on your baby's arm. Mr and Mrs Bernham, your baby girl is in the red crib, again note the adoption number on the child's arm."

The nurse waited until the two couples had rushed over to their respective cribs before looking back to her paperwork. "Okay, Mr and Mr Berry, your baby girl is in the large blue crib along with Mr and Mrs Anderson's baby boy. Please again note the adoption numbers on the children's arms."

With that the nurse retreated to a chair in the corner. The group of four wandered over to the crib. Two small babies with tufts of dark hair and large brown eyes looked up at them. Pam and LeRoy immediately picked up their respective babies, already overwhelmed with parental love for their children. After 10 minutes the two families, lost in their own little worlds of new joy, once again resumed conversation.

Pam glanced over to Hiram and Leroy with a smile"she is indeed the most beautiful baby girl in the world."

Hiram smiled "Thank you. We decided to call her Rachel, Rachel Barbra Berry. She will not want for anything. Your boy is certainly going to break some hearts with those eyes!"

Pam laughed, "If he is anything like his father he will! His name is Blaine, Blaine Devon Anderson".

Leroy cocked his head to the side "Funny, they both have such lovely brown eyes, and quite similar faces"

Michael frowned "I was thinking that, but they are both what? 3 months old? All babies kind of look the same at that age, must be their Italian heritage."

At that point the nurse wandered over, checking that the bonding process was going accordingly and presenting each couple with their adoption papers and certificates.

Michael took the paperwork with a smile as the nurse bent down to smile at baby Blaine, encased in Pam's arms. "26th May, good day for a birthday my boy!"

Hiram looked up sharply, "26th May? That's Rachel's birthday as well!"

The two men stared at each other for a long moment. "you don't think..."

"I'm sure they don't do that sort of thing nowadays..."

"Nurse!" they said in unison.

The nurse looked up at the two men, a slightly surprised look on her face at the sudden call out.

Hiram took the lead "Nurse, is there any chance that these two babies could be related? Twins even? I mean, they have the same birthday, and they do look similar."

The nurse smiled warmly. "Mr Berry, do not fret. I can assure you that the babies are not related, we have a policy of not separating siblings unless in the most extreme cases. This is a very busy orphanage, all of the children in this room have birthdays in the second half of May. It is merely coincidence. They are sharing a crib for company, they tended to fret when left alone for long periods, which is bound to happen occasionally in such a busy orphanage."

Her answer appeased the two couples, who went on to spend the next 30 minutes chatting as they dressed their children for their respective journey homes. Rachel to Ohio and Blaine to Milan. The two couples swapped contact details and agreed to keep in touch. Even if their children were not siblings, it might be nice for them to have a connection through each other to the place of their birth.

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15 years later...

Blaine sighed as he flopped unceremoniously on to his bed. Or what would be his bed for only one more night, in his home for one more night. Yet two more things to grieve for. That's what happens when your parents die. Everything changes. Orphaned again for the second time in his life. Blaine pushed his face deep into his cool pillow, trying to hold back the tears that would inevitably escape. The day had been a long one, saying goodbye to his two champions, his protectors, his friends. There had been black cars, followed by coffins, followed by speeches, followed by sympathy.

Tomorrow would bring yet more change. New bed, new house, new country. Hiram had told him to get some rest if he could. Rachel had nodded, tears of her own always close to the surface these days. Cooper was already asleep, he had the luxury of alcohol to aid him. Blaine let out a long low wail of despair, tears finally escaping as he fitfully fell into a half conscious dream world of family holidays, barbeques, home cooked dinners, smiles, hugs, home. That would be no more.