Kendall had always dreamed of having a family. She never dreamed of starting one.

"So?" Cammy asked her once they finished up their visit at the museum. The little girl had popped the question to her mentor, leaving Kendall unable to find a way to turn her down, despite desperately needing to. "What do you say? Will you adopt me?"

"There's some new toys in the gift shop," Kendall pointed down the way. Cammy shook her head.

"You haven't answered my question," she said. "No one else is going to do it. Besides, I like you, you like me..."

"Yeah, that's true," Kendall nodded. Cammy took her hands and looked to her hopefully.

"We can have so much fun together. You can pick me up from school, take me here. I'll do my homework in the cafe, and then I can help you out with the museum stuff."

Adoption wasn't in the plan. Maybe for Cammy; Kendall hoped the little girl would find a family. She still had many potential years ahead of her, and she was a good kid. Any parent would be lucky to take her in. Kendall wouldn't be that parent. She couldn't. She didn't have the room, the time, the stability, or even the safety. She didn't know the first thing about raising kids and she didn't have time to learn. Between her job at the museum and her Ranger duties, sometimes she barely had time to feed herself.

Not to mention, it wasn't smart bringing a kid into the Ranger world. The aliens she and the Rangers faced almost daily would show no mercy for a child. Kendall couldn't put Cammy in a position where she would be in danger.

"What do you say, Kendall? Will you do it?" Cammy took off her bag, reached in and took out a piece of paper. "This is my social worker's number. You can talk to her. Tell her you want to adopt me."

Kendall shook her head, lowered herself so she could look Cammy in the eyes, then sighed sadly, "I can't adopt you."

"It'll take a while," Cammy said. "I know it will. There are papers and visits and stuff like that. But you can!"

"I... I won't adopt you, Cammy," those were the hardest words Kendall had ever muttered.

"You... won't?"

"I won't," Kendall stated again. "My life is way too busy; I don't have time for a kid."

"But I'll be good," Cammy said and reached into her bag again. She pulled out her homework, "Look, I'm a good student. I get As and I listen in class. The teacher likes me. I won't be trouble. And I do all my chores at home and I only have to be told once!"

"You're a good kid, Cammy, I know that..."

"I eat all my vegetables. I actually like them! More broccoli, less ice-cream. That's what I always say!"

"No you don't, but you are a good eater."

"And... and I'm not scared of the dark. I don't need a night light, just a teddy. I don't wet the bed as much anymore. I can take showers by myself..."

"You are a big girl," Kendall nodded her head. "And you're a good kid. I like you, Cammy, I really do. This has nothing to do with you. I just... I can't adopt you right now."

"You can, you just won't!" Cammy shouted and stomped her foot. Kendall saw the little girl was drawing attention and walked her over to a more private corner of the museum.

"Cammy, there's a lot of responsibility that comes with taking in a kid. Even the good ones."

"And I'm not worth it?" Cammy asked. "Is that it? That's why my father never stayed. That's why mommy drank."

"Cammy..."

"That's why no one wants me. I'm not good enough!"

"No, Cam..."

"I'm never getting adopted! I'll never have a family and it's all your fault! I hate you!" Cammy shouted and shoved Kendall before taking off. Kendall saw her bump into Chase before she reached the door and trusted she would be in safe hands until her foster parents came to pick her up.

Kendall slammed the door and fell into her bed, burying her face in her pillow as she muffled her cries. On the other side of her door, her foster parents knocked, eager to comfort her.

"Kendall, please can we just talk about this?"

"Go away!"

"It's not that we don't want you..."

"It's just that you can't be bothered! That I'm not good enough!"

"Kendall, that's not it at all. Just, open the door."

"We love you, Kendall. You're a part of this family, you always will be. We don't need a piece of paper to..."

"You were given the choice and you said no!" Kendall shouted through the door. "You don't want to adopt me! You don't care!"

"Kendall, there are a bunch of reasons why we can't. None of them have anything to do you with you. Please, open up the door. Let us..."

"I hate you!"

"Kendall?" she looked up, seeing Koda had made his way over. She wiped her eyes, though she knew he had already seen the tears. He offered his hand. Kendall took it and let him help her up. "Cammy hurt you?"

"Koda..."

"Not break skull," Koda held his hands up. "Never hurt child. But can talk with Koda."

"I... I don't think you're the person I need to talk to right now," Kendall shook her head. She reached into her pocket and put the keys to the museum in Koda's hand. "Lock up tonight, alright. And I won't be home for dinner."

"Where Kendall going?"

"Home," Kendall muttered and rushed out of the museum as quickly as she could. She made her way into her car then opened the glove box, revealing an opened envelope. The letter inside had been read and tossed a long time ago, but something back then had compelled Kendall to keep the envelope. She was glad she had. It would be her way home.