Katherine Elizabeth Sully yawns and stretches as the morning sun shines brightly through her bedroom window signaling to her that it's time to wake up.
It doesn't matter though, because her mother will still come to her room to wake her. Her mother has been doing that for as long as Katie can remember. When she was a baby, she stayed in her parents room until she was two in a cradle that her father made her before she was born. When she finally got her own room and bed to sleep in, her mother began to come in and check on her constantly to make sure she was okay.
Now that Katie is 12, her mother still comes in her room and wakes her every morning like clockwork. Katie loves it that her mother cares so much but sometimes it can get a little annoying. Katie doesn't dare tell her mother that because that would hurt her feelings and that's the last thing she wants to do.
Sure enough there's a knock on the door.

(knock, knock)
"Katie, it's time to get up! Half the morning is gone already!" Michaela tells her daughter as she opens the door and enters Katie's room.
"I know Mama. I'm awake." Katie tells her mother as she sits up and rubs her eyes. Katie stifles a huge yawn while Michaela goes and gets the brush off Katie's dresser.
Michaela goes over to Katie's bed, hairbrush in hand and begins brushing her daughter's long brown hair.
Who would have known that Katie, a towheaded toddler would grow up with brown hair?
Just like her mother. When Michaela was small, her hair was blond and as she grew it got darker. Katie is definitely her mother's daughter.
Katie is proud that she looks like her mother. Her mother is a beautiful, strong, successful doctor and human being and that is what Katie hopes to be someday.
Michaela continues to brush Katie's hair as she tells Katie of the good news .
"Guess what, Katie?" Michaela asks her daughter with a huge grin on her face.
"What, Mama? Katie asks curious.
"Colleen, Andrew, and Brian are all coming to town."
Katie gets a huge smile on her face as she turns around to face her mother.
"They are?! Did they say why?"
Katie turns back around as Michaela continues brushing her hair.
"Colleen is due to have her baby in a few weeks and she wants me to deliver the baby. I delivered Isabella a few years ago when she and Andrew were still living here and Colleen doesn't want any other doctor but me to deliver her baby."
"I think that is a good thing, Mama. I am so happy. Did Brian say why he was coming?"
"He said he had a surprise for your father and I as well as hearing the news of Andrew and Colleen's visit."
"I wonder what it could be?"
"I don't have any idea, but I can't wait to find out. After all these years, I am going to have all my children together again."
Katie smiles, happy to see her mother so happy. Even though Katie is Michaela's only biological child, she raised Matthew, Colleen and Brian. Matthew was 16, Colleen was 13 and Brian was 8 when she took them all in after their real mother died suddenly. It was the best thing she ever could have done. Katie loves having them as her family even if they are much older than her. They have always accepted Katie from the time she was born. Her parents tried for a long time to have a baby and when they found out they were going to have one, it was such good news. Katie was their miracle. Michaela has told Katie on numerous occasions how happy she was the moment she held her in her arms after she was born. Something happened to her that she couldn't explain when she looked down at that tiny face. Katie has never forgotten that.
She has had a happy life growing up as well as being introduced to so much. She knows more than most girls her age just because her mother is a doctor and was raised in a proper home. Michaela wanted her daughter to have everything but also learn to grow up to be a strong, independent, person with a big heart.
Michaela breaks Katie from her thoughts.
"Katie?"
"Yes?"
"Are you ready to have some breakfast with me?"
"Yes, but where is Papa? Isn't he going to join us?"
"I'm afraid your father won't be back until this afternoon, sweetheart."
"Why? Where did he go?"
"He had to go take care of some business. He wouldn't tell me what or where."
"Oh, well I better get dressed. I will meet you downstairs Mama."
"Alright, I will see you downstairs in a little bit."
Michaela gives her daughter a kiss on the cheek and then walks to the door and closes it behind her.

Katie puts on one of her prettiest dresses and pulls her hair up on the sides with a barrette that her father gave her for her birthday. After a quick glance in the full length mirror, she heads downstairs to join her mother for breakfast.
Once downstairs she greets her mother who is standing at the stove putting the finishing touches on breakfast.
"That smells good, Mama."
Michaela turns towards the sound of her daughter's voice and begins to say something but is stopped midsentence.
"Thank you, I hop-Katie Sully!"
"What is it, Mama?"
"You look so pretty. I just can't believe it."
Katie's surprised look is replaced with a huge smile.
"Thank you. I wanted to look pretty for Papa when he got here."
"Your father is going to love the way you look when he walks through that door. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming. You are the light of my life Katherine Elizabeth. I love you so much and am so lucky to have had you."
"I feel the same way. I'm glad you are my mama and that Papa is my papa. I couldn't have asked for better parents."
"Oh, sweetheart." Michaela says as she begins to cry as she walks over to her daughter with her arms outstretched and wraps Katie in a fierce hug. Katie hugs her back with the same fierceness.
Sully, who is just getting home, sees this display and can't help but smile.
He doesn't dare interrupt them. He is definitely home and that's where the love and heart is. Always.