(A/N): Hey guys! I'm so sorry for not updating recently. I've had so much homework this week and things are a little hectic as I'm going through the process of trying to find a high school. It's going to be a little tough to post during the week, but I'll try my hardest. But most likely, most of my chapters will be posted on the weekend. Anyways, here's the next chapter to our little story. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 7
"OH MY GOSH DARNIT, PETER, YOU ALMOST SPILLED COFFEE ON ALL THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS!"
Beatrice shot up in bed at the sound of Mike's urgent cry downstairs.
"WELL KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN! YOU'RE GONNA WAKE UP BEATRICE!"
Well it was too late for that. Rolling over to face the clock on the bedside table, Bea noticed that it was six in the morning. What were the guys doing up so early on a Sunday? Then, glancing around the bedroom, she noticed that the guys' beds were all perfectly made, untouched. They were obviously up all night, doing something. But what? Beatrice swung her feet over the side and walked out into the hallway. She groggily rubbed her eyes as she made her way down the spiral staircase and into the living room, where the four Monkees lay sprawled around, papers scattered everywhere, and about a billion mugs of coffee placed randomly around as well. Beatrice stepped off the staircase and curiously walked over to them. Davy was fast asleep on the couch, his mouth hanging open, Mike and Peter stood arguing with one another in the corner, and Micky sat against the wall, his hand clutching his hair as he scribbled something down on a pad of paper furiously. The little girl stood over the British lad who was snoring slightly and placed a quick kiss on his nose, which immediately sent him springing up.
"I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I FELL ASLEEP!" He cried, jumping to his feet, nearly sending the gallons of coffee behind him flying in his haste. Beatrice stared at the men's behavior in shock as she walked over to Mike and tapped him on the back. He spun around, his eyes bulging, until he realized who it was.
"Oh, hi there Bea. Sorry for uh, all the mayhem around here. Things have been a little hectic." He admitted, placing a hand on the back of his neck. She shot him a confused look.
"What are you guys dong up so early? It's Sunday." Micky bit the top of his pen as he glanced up from what he was working on and glanced at the other three nervously. They were all thinking the same thing: how are we going to tell her? Davy rubbed his eyes and was the first to walk over to her.
"Well Beatrice, we've been up all night doing lots of paperwork. Important paperwork." He added as he returned to his seat on the couch and patted his knee, signaling for the girl to have a seat on his lap. She obeyed.
"What kind of important paperwork?" She asked innocently, as the rest of the Monkees walked over and took a seat on the couch as well. They all remained silent for a few moments, trying to think of the right words to say. I mean, what would you do? You go out on a walk and find a mysterious little girl. You bond with her over the next 24 hours, and two days after your encounter, you're adopting her? It was a tough call. But Mike decided that it would be best to get straight to the point and be 100% honest.
"Well, um, they're adoption papers." He muttered softly. Bea's eyes bulged. What did he just say?
"Adoption papers?" All four guys nodded.
"Bea, the police called last night after you went to bed, and well, they're sending your mom back to the rehab center for a long time. They don't think that she's a safe person for you to be around. You need somebody who will always be there for you and will always be ready to help you and give you lots of love. Your mother just wasn't that kind of person." Micky explained as he saw the shocked look on her face. Beatrice nodded her head understandingly. Her mommy really was never coming back. She had wished for this day for so long, it all seemed like a dream now that it was actually happening.
"They needed somebody, or somebodies, to take care of you. To love you and to protect you and to make sure that you're the happiest little girl in the world. And we all agreed to do just that," Peter said as he took one of her small hands in his. "Beatrice, we haven't known each other for too terribly long, but words can't describe how much you mean to us. You're special in every way and you've brought so much joy and laughter and fun into this house that we just couldn't stand to see you go anywhere else than right here. We need you just as badly as you need us."
"Everything is all settled. We were up all night signing all of the legal documents and papers to make it official. Officer Terrance from the station came over earlier this morning and brought over your birth certificate and all of your health forms and emergency information. We paid for insurance so if you fall and break a bone, we're covered. Terrance even said that they're going to bring over all of your belongings so you can have all of your clothes and toys to make you feel more at home. There's a spare room upstairs right across the hall from ours that we're going to paint pink or green or whatever color you want, because believe it or not, my small bed just isn't big enough for the two of us." Mike chuckled. Beatrice just sat in silence, trying to take all of this in. Her face had paled and her hair fell limply over her clenched up shoulders.
"We know it's sudden, but we just love you so much and couldn't stand to see you go. We're going to have a great time together. We're going to spoil you rotten with whatever your little heart desires. Because you're ours now. Is that okay?" Davy asked. Bea just sat clutching Peter's hand so hard, the tips of her knuckled turned white. Is it okay? IS IT OKAY? The four strangers who had recused her and accepted her and cared about her and loved her were asking if it was okay to adopt her. The small girl didn't know what to say. It had been a long battle. A long battle of hiding from the woman who had birthed her every time she came home wasted. It had been a long battle of covering up her bumps and bruises with concealer from her teacher at school every day. It had been a long battle of trying to stay strong for herself, in hope that one day, she'd be able to escape from everything. Escape from the grief of losing her father, escape from the abuse, escape from living in fear. But it was all over now. A battle that had lasted seven years was all over now. And she had won. She had won, and she had gotten the best prize of all: She had gotten a home and a family where she knew she was safe and would never have to live behind bars again. To the guys' surprise, she burst into tears. The four Monkees sat in shock. Beatrice buried her small face in her hands as her shoulders heaved up and down, cries escaping her mouth. Oh no. Was it all too soon? Did she not want to stay with them? Did they do something wrong?
"Beatrice!" Mike exclaimed, reaching for her carefully. Fear was vivid in his eyes.
She hates us, he thought to himself. She hates that we took her from her mom. She wants to go home.
But the girl jumped off of Davy's lap and ran into the tall Texan's arms. She sobbed into his shoulder as the other guys rushed over worriedly. Mike grasped her back tightly as he rubbed soothing circles into her back. It was the same thing he had done two nights ago out on the streets. But they were in a much different position now. When she raised her head, Mike saw that she was smiling. Wait, what? Smiling?
"I-I-I don't know what to say," Bea started. "All my life, I just wanted somebody to truly care for me. And now I've got it. You guys have made me feel so incredibly special and loved. That was on thing that I never got at home before. But it's different here. I can't thank you four enough." Bea clutched him harder as Mike kissed the top of her head. His eyes started to water. No. She didn't hate them. She couldn't do that. She loved them. She loved the four of them more than anything in the world. And now, she was theirs. She was their little girl. Micky, Davy, and Peter soon joined in on the hug. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. The Monkees stood in the middle of their pad, all hugging the small girl cradled in Mike's arms, as tears of joy and relief ran down their faces simultaneously. Never in a million years would they have expected to be in this spot. But here they were.
They were a family now.
One big, crazy, musical happy family.
(A/N): Well, I hope you guys liked it. Once again, I'm sorry for the wait. I'll most likely start writing through the week and post on the weekends, as the school year is dragging on and I'm getting a lot more projects to do and a lot more tests to study for. But this story is still going to be updated as much as possible! Please review! :)
