Be careful what you wish for. Those were the words that were going through Katie's mind the past few days. She had always wished that her dad was in the picture and that she had a family just like her aunt did. Well now it looked like she was getting her wish. Her dad had been texting and e-mailing her, wanting to be in her life again. She had been debating on what to do and who to tell if anyone. She knew her aunt would forbid it but she needed to do what she thought was right for herself.

"Katie? Earth to Katie?" Elizabeth called to her niece across the table, noticing she was staring into space.

Katie snapped out of her daze and shook her head, "Sorry, I'm just not with it today."

"I see that. Everything ok?" Elizabeth asked, noticing she had been like this for the past few days.

"I'm fine Aunt Bess."

"Are you sure? Is it Blake? Work? Something else? I'm always here if…" Elizabeth asked before getting cut off.

"No, none of that. I said I'm fine." Katie snapped, continuing to pick at her dinner.

Elizabeth looked at Henry and shrugged going back to her own food. Stevie had also picked up on Katie's odd mood and was hoping she could figure out what was wrong with her later but for now she was just happy that the attention wasn't on her.

After dinner was finished, Katie stood at the sink with her aunt, helping with the dishes. "Sorry for snapping on you earlier. I think work just has me beat." Katie lied, smiling a little at her aunt.

Elizabeth nodded and smiled back, "Well you know that offer to come work at the state department is still on the table."

"I think Blake would freak out if I ever got a job at the state department. Too much conflict would be going on in his cute little head." She teased, drying the last dish.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes when she called Blake cute, "I still think it's so weird that you two are together. I've seen your type and he is definitely not it but if you're happy then I'm happy." She said as she kissed Katie's head.

"At least I didn't eat him alive like you thought I would."

Elizabeth laughed and nodded, "Why don't you head to bed and try to get some sleep."

"That sounds like a great idea. Night Aunt Bess." She said as she kissed her aunt on the cheek.

Katie made her way up the stairs, grateful that her aunt did not push her anymore. The work excuse seemed to be enough to keep her aunt from asking questions…for now. She made her way to the bedroom and saw Stevie sitting up in her bed, "What are you doing?" She asked, flopping down on her own bed.

"Oh just wondering when you're going to move out so I can have this whole room to myself again." Stevie teased, moving over to Katie's bed.

"Please, you're going to miss me when I'm gone. All of the heat from your parents will be on you again."

"You're right… I enjoyed the spies questioning you for once at dinner. Usually it's me being interrogated." Stevie said, sitting across from Katie. "So do you want to tell me what is really going on and not the lie you just told my mom?"

Katie sighed and looked at her, "Fine, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."

"Deal." Stevie smirked, knowing that they always had each other's back.

"My dad has been contacting me about being in my life…I haven't decided if I'm going to let him. Your mom would forbid me from seeing him if she knew so I don't plan on telling her."

Stevie stared at her cousin for a moment, "Are you kidding me? This is the guy who abandoned you and your mom and was abusive towards her. You seriously want to meet this guy?"

Katie shrugged and laid back on her pillows, "I don't know, maybe he changed and maybe he didn't…I feel that I should still give him a shot. If he's a total douchebag then everyone can tell me they were right about him."

Stevie knew from stories that this guy was bad news and that she should probably tell her mom. She highly doubted that he changed and was afraid that he was going to hurt Katie. "You need to think hard about this. You haven't seen this guy since you were a baby and now all of a sudden he wants to see you again? It doesn't seem right."

"I hear you Stevie but I just need to meet him. I know I've met him before but I was little and don't remember much…" She sat back up and smirked at her cousin, "I was thinking that maybe you could come with me, just to make sure nothing goes wrong?"

Stevie sighed and shook her head, "Do you remember the last time I lied for you? I'm not doing it again."

"Fine. I'll go by myself then."

Stevie groaned and glared at Katie, "I'll go but if anything bad happens I'm telling my parents."

"We'll be fine. I promise." Katie reassured, hugging her cousin before hopping off of the bed "I'm heading over Blake's for a bit. I'll give you more details later."

Stevie nodded and watched as her cousin left, she was having déjà vu all over again.

"Something is bothering you." Blake mumbled.

Katie sighed and threw her head back, sitting up "I am on top of you, half naked, and you thought this was a great time to talk?" She asked, leaning down to kiss his neck softly again.

"I just think that if something is wrong then we should talk before we go any farther. Something hasn't seemed right since you got here." He said, looking at her.

Katie groaned and rolled off him, laying on her back, "Fine. What do you want to talk about Blake?" She asked annoyed, looking up at the ceiling.

He rolled over on his side and looked at her, wrapping his arm around her stomach "Did you tell your aunt about your dad?"

Katie rolled her eyes and looked at him, "No and I decided I'm not going to. She's not going to understand and she's going to forbid me from seeing him. I'm better off keeping it to myself."

Blake moved over so his head was on her pillow, touching his nose against hers "I think that you need to give your aunt a little more credit. Sure, she's usually irrational at first but eventually she calms down after she starts listening. I think that if you explained yourself and why you want to see your dad she would understand. She may insist on going with you but that's another story…" He smiled and kept his eyes on hers, "Just relax and take your time with this decision. I will be on your side no matter what you choose kid."

Katie nodded and smiled back at him, "I'm not sure why you love me." She teased and rolled on top of him so she was straddling his waist, "You're too good for me…though calling me kid isn't exactly what I consider a cute nickname."

He shrugged and smiled at her, running his hands over her back "Well I guess that gives you incentive to never break up with me since I'm so perfect."

Katie laughed and shook her head, her long blonde hair framing her face "Don't flatter yourself too much." She said as she moved her lips to his, kissing him softly "Now where was I?"

Elizabeth walked down the stairs and smiled at her oldest daughter who was eating a bowl of ice cream, "Hey baby, do you know where Katie is?" She asked, kissing her head gently. "I thought she was going to bed earlier."

Stevie nodded and hopped up on the island, looking at her mom "She's at Blake's…as usual."

Elizabeth laughed and started scooping out some ice cream for herself, "Is someone jealous?" She teased and hopped up to sit next to her.

"No."

"It's ok. I know you guys were hanging out all of the time before she started dating him and now since Harrison is out of the picture…" Elizabeth rambled before being cut-off.

"Really mom?"

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth smirked and went back to her ice cream, "By the way do you know what was up with her at dinner? She seemed distracted and I don't but her I'm just tired excuse."

Stevie looked at her mom wide eyed for a second before going back to her ice cream, "No idea." She said, trying not to make eye contact.

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and placed her bowl down, "Need I remind you that I can read all of my children like a book, especially you."

Stevie looked up at her mom and swallowed hard, not knowing what she should do.

Katie smiled at the detail as she walked passed them and into the house. She closed the door quietly, not wanting to wake anyone. She went over to the closet and placed her jacket in gently, making her way to the stairs.

"Do you usually come in this late when you're at Blake's?"

Katie gasped slightly and placed her hand on her chest, walking into the kitchen "Aunt Bess? You scared me! What are you doing up so late?" She asked, wondering why her aunt was sitting in the kitchen at 1:30 in the morning.

"I was having some trouble sleeping because I was worried about you. Stevie told me why you have been out of it lately and I was afraid you went to meet your father alone." Elizabeth told her, moving closer to her niece.

Katie rolled her eyes and started moving back towards the stairs, "I'm going to bed."

Elizabeth grabbed her arm gently and shook her head, "Not so fast….did you really think I wouldn't find out about this? I knew you were lying and I knew Stevie was lying when she tried to cover for you."

Katie sighed and laughed a little, "You know, Blake convinced me to talk to you about this and I was going to when you got home from work tomorrow. I can tell by your tone and your body language that he was wrong. You're not going to listen. You're just going to berate me and forbid me from seeing him. So I'll just save you the lecture…." She said, pulling her arm back.

"Excuse me? Remember that you are still living under my roof and you will speak to me with respect." Elizabeth raised her voice at her niece, forgetting that everyone was sleeping in the house. "Your father was an addict and abused your mother. He didn't want to be in your life and was the reason I stopped speaking to her. Of course I am going to forbid you from seeing him."

Katie threw her hands up in the air and shook her head, "And that's it? I get no say?"

"You need to understand –" Elizabeth started before getting cut off again.

"You don't understand! No one in this family does. I love you and Uncle Henry like my mom and my dad but you're not my parents. I never knew what it was like to have a father and now everyone is trying to deny me that." Katie said through tears.

"Honey, we're not –"

"I know that there is a chance that he hasn't changed and is contacting me because he needs something. I'm not stupid! But why can't you even consider that there is a chance he has changed?" She asked, growing more upset by the second.

"Because I saw what he did to your mother!" Elizabeth cried, losing her cool. "And I'm not going to let him do it to you. I know you miss your mom and I do too but letting your dad back into your life isn't a way to replace her."

Katie laughed bitterly and wiped under her eyes, "Like I said, you don't understand."

"What is going on down here?" Henry whispered as he walked down the stairs, "Everyone is sleeping."

He stopped when he noticed both women crying in the kitchen, walking closer to them. "Are you guys ok?" He asked, wanting to comfort both of them but not knowing what was going on.

Katie looked at her aunt sadly before walking past Henry, "I'm sorry…we're done." She said softly as she walked up the stairs, quickly getting into her bed. She was thankful that Stevie hadn't woken up.

Henry walked over to Elizabeth and wrapped his arms around her, running his hand over her back gently "What was that about?"

Elizabeth sniffled and nuzzled her face against his chest, "She wants to meet her dad."

Henry sighed softly and pulled back, kissing her head gently "Why don't you sleep on it and then you two can talk about it tomorrow night."

Elizabeth nodded and wiped under her eyes quickly, making her way upstairs. She wanted Katie to know she understood why she wanted to see her dad but she also needed to explain to her why she thought it was a bad idea.

The next day, Elizabeth walked into the house after a slow day at work and went over to where Henry was sitting, kissing his cheek "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" She teased, smiling as he kissed her lips gently.

"Busy day at work?" He asked, bringing her down onto his lap.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and shook her head, "The opposite actually…I would have never thought I would complain about a slow day at work but I was so bored." She said, running his hand over the back of his head. "Is Katie home?" She asked, not forgetting that they were supposed to talk today.

He took his glasses off and tossed them on the desk, shaking his head "No but she's on her way home according to Stevie. Why don't you take her out to dinner and I'll take care of the kids here." He suggested, wanting them to figure out their problems.

"That's a good idea." She said, pecking his lips a few more times gently. She moved from his lap and went to greet Stevie, Jason, and Ali who were all in the living room before making her way up to their room to get changed.

Katie sighed as she pulled up to the house and looked down at her phone, smiling at the text she received from Blake…

Just relax. – B

She hadn't answered any messages from her aunt during the day but noticed that there was another one from her aunt, sent a few minutes ago…

We're going out to dinner tonight, just us. We need to talk.

Katie shut her eyes and grabbed her bag, making her way up to the front door. They both had a day to hash out their thoughts and feelings so hopefully today would be better than last night.

"Hey guys!" Katie called as she walked through the door, smiling at her cousins and uncle as she walked by them.

She stopped at the kitchen when she saw her aunt, biting her lip gently "You want to go out to eat?" She asked, placing her bag down on the kitchen table.

Elizabeth nodded and turned around, "Yeah, I think it would be best for us to get out of the house and talk." She said with a wink, she could tell that Katie was nervous.

Katie nodded and relaxed a little when she noticed her aunt's demeanor, she didn't look as upset as last night "Ok. Well I'm ready to go when you are."

Elizabeth smiled and grabbed her pocket book, "Let's go." She said, leading Katie to the back door.

Katie looked around at the dimly lit BBQ joint and laughed a little as she looked at the menu, "I didn't know the Secretary of State ate at places like this."

"I hate stuffy restaurants, you should know that. I'll take a greasy burger over a salad or expensive steak any day. Plus, Russell Jackson said that there is never any press here." Elizabeth smirked, glancing at the menu.

When the waitress came they both ordered a cheeseburger and fries, "I haven't had a burger in forever." Katie said, taking a sip of her water.

"I can tell. It looks like we don't feed you." Elizabeth teased, laughing a little.

Katie rolled her eyes and swallowed thickly before looking back at her aunt, "I'm sorry Aunt Bess. I shouldn't have acted crazy last night. I've just been so thrown off ever since he contacted me." She confessed, hoping her aunt wasn't too mad at her.

Elizabeth nodded and reached for her niece's hand, squeezing it gently "I think anyone in your situation would be thrown off. I'm just scared that you're going to meet him and he's going to disappoint you…or even worse do something to hurt you. He wasn't a good guy when he was with your mom and I have my suspicions about if he really changed." She sighed and kept her eyes on her niece's tearful one's, "I hope you know that Uncle Henry and I think of you as our own daughter and we love you just as much as the other kids."

Katie nodded and sniffled softly, squeezing her aunt's hand back "I know you guys do and I appreciate it so much but all my life it felt like something was missing. Uncle Henry has always been a great father figure to me but…I don't know how to describe the feeling."

Elizabeth nodded and sighed softly, "It's something I'm not going to be able to understand but if you want to talk I'm here…but I can't give you my blessing to see him. I know you're 25 and able to make your own decisions but I just think it's a bad idea."

Katie nodded and let go of her aunt's hand as their food came, picking at her fries. "I think you're right. He never wanted to be in my life before so why does he want to be after 25 years?"

"And it's his loss. He's never going to know about the amazing human being you've become. If you think you need some type of closure e-mail him back and make it clear that you do not want any more contact with him." Elizabeth said slightly relieved. She felt bad for her niece but also thought she was making the right decision for herself.

Katie started eating her burger and let her thoughts wander. All she wanted was to be part of a family and she was, but she still felt like part of her didn't belong with them. Her eyes widened and she placed her food down, "I have an idea!" She said, looking at her aunt wide eyed.

Elizabeth walked into the house with Katie, her arm wrapped around her. They had come up with somewhat of a plan to help Katie fill the need in her heart to have a complete family.

They found Henry sitting in the living room and Elizabeth smiled at him, "Where are the kids?" She asked, sitting in the chair across from him.

"Stevie is talking to some guy from school in her room, Ali is doing homework, and Jason is at his friend's house." He said, eyeing them "Have a good talk?"

They looked at each other and then back at Henry, "Actually Katie has something to ask you." She said, nudging her niece in the side.

"So If this seems weird you can totally say no because it might seem a bit crazy." Katie said, clearing her throat nervously. "I want you and Aunt Bess to adopt me. I know it might sound odd because I'm an adult but it can still happen…I think of you as a father and Aunt Bess as a mother so I thought we could officially make me part of the family. In no way am I replacing my mother because she will always be my mom but I think that this is something she would want."

Henry smiled at her and nodded, "Of course I will adopt you. I would be honored."

"Really?" Katie asked, jumping up to hug him tightly. "Thank you!" She said, keeping her arms around him.

Elizabeth smiled at the scene in front of her and tried to blink back the tears that were forming, "I love you." She mouthed once she made eye contact with him.

A/N: So I started writing this chapter a while ago and it came out way different then I had planned. I hope you enjoyed it! I still have one more chapter left for this story then I'll probably start something else. As always review so I know you enjoy reading my stories! Thanks, you guys are the best

P.S. Who else is still reeling from the mid-season finale? How can I wait a whole month for a new episode?