Chapter 9

"Don't worry Sydney," Abe Mazur, Rose's father, says from the other end of the phone. "I have all the paperwork here in front of me. I will make sure there are no mistakes and then take it to the court house in the morning. You enjoy your time at the baby shower. Everything is under control here."

"Thank you, thank you Mr. Mazur. You don't know how much this means to us," I gushed into the phone.

"Sydney, we're practically family, please call me Abe and it is no trouble. The law is my calling," he chuckles.

"Thank you anyway," I smile into the phone. "I better go now. Your daughter is giving me the death stare."

"Alright then Sydney," he chuckled. "I will let you know what happens Monday afternoon."

We said our goodbyes then I hung up the phone. Rose just shook her head and led me out to the backyard. "I'm just making sure everything is going okay with Selena's adoption."

"Sydney, my father is the best lawyer in Pennsylvania, you got nothing to worry about," Rose said as she dragged out the last part of her sentence. "Just enjoy being in the spotlight."

"I'm trying to," I shrugged. "Jill went a little overboard with this."

"We'll princess here," she says as she rubbed my belly, "deserves the best since she is the first child of the family."

"She's the first born of the family but Selena is the first child to join the family," I said firmly.

"I'm sorry Sydney. It's going to take time to wrap my mind about this while adoption thing. Don't get me wrong I love that girl but-"

"But what Rose?" I asked sternly.

"It's nothing bad Sydney, I swear. I would give my life for that girl it's just my mind is all about the baby."

"That's not a good reason to keep Selena in the dark," I murmured, trying to keep the conversation between us. "She's my daughter Rose and I love her just as much as I love this little one," I say as I rub my belly.

"I know," she sighs. "Excuse my behavior."

"It's fine just try and make an effort with Selena," I huff as I waddle away and towards the food table.

"I sense someone is upset," a voice whispers in my ear.

"I'm fine," I grumble. "Just hungry."

"Sweetie, calm down. Rose is just-"

"Annoying," I huff as I turn to look Adrian in the eye. "She had the audacity to say that Selena isn't a part of this family."

"Did she actually say those words?" Adrian asks concerned.

"Not directly no," I mumbled.

"Sydney, look over there," Adrian said as he pointed towards a table. "What do you see?"

"Selena and the others," I grumble.

"Exactly," Adrian smiled. "Does it look like she's not a part of this family?" I shook my head as I walked into his arms. "That's because everyone loves her. Hell Belikov told me that he would help murder the first boy that breaks her heart. They love her."

"But Rose-"

"Was being Rose," Adrian smirked. "It may have sounded that she doesn't care about Selena but she does. Why else would she make her dad help us with the adoption? She just forgets to think before she says anything."

"He's right you know," I hear Rose say from behind us. "I need to learn how to choose my words wisely." I leaned away from Adrian to look at Rose. "Sydney, you know I would never do anything to hurt you or your family. I love Selena and I would never exclude her from the family."

"Come here you whore," I smiled at her as I pulled her in for a hug.

"Who are you calling whore?" she laughs as she hugs me tight. "I love you though."

"I love you too," I smiled at her.

"See? One big, dysfunctional family," Adrian chuckles. "How about we open some presents?"

"Good idea," I smiled at him as I called Selena over.


"Thanks Abe," I sigh as I hang up the phone. "Oh my."

"Something wrong?" I hear Adrian ask.

I look up from the, now turned off, phone and sigh again. "That was Abe," I say. Adrian nodded to let me know to go on. "He had some news."

"About the adoption?" he asks as he sits down in front of me on the bed. "What did he say?"

I took in a calming breath the exhaled loudly. "Where's Selena?" I ask trying to stall as much time as I could.

"In her room studying," Adrian answered. "Sydney, what did Abe say?"

Ignoring him, I got off the bed and waddled as fast as my pregnant legs would let me, with Adrian right behind me, and walked into Selena's room. "Mom?" she asks confused. "I thought you were taking a nap."

"Munchkin here decided that it would be a great time to get in some gymnastics," I chuckled as I rubbed my belly and got a tiny kick in return. "Selena, there's something that I need to tell you," Adrian cleaned his throat, "And your father," I said with an eye roll.

"Is something wrong?" she asks concerned.

"No, sweetie there's nothing wrong. I got a call from Abe, the lawyer that's helping us," she nodded indicating that she understood, "Well he had some news about what happened back at court last month."

"I thought he was supposed to call before that?" Adrian asks confused. I had at down on Selena's bed, since my back was starting to hurt and Adrian sat down behind me to join in the conversation.

"He called and said that there was a trail that was more important than some adoption papers. Don't worry I chewed him out about that back then," I said before Adrian said anything. "The trail ended the other day so he pushed the papers before anything else came up."

"And," Adrian started.

I got quiet and averted my gaze. "Mom?" Selena asks. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine sweetie," I smiled at her. "This is just really hard to say."

"Oh," she sighs and her face turns from one of elation to one of depression.

"Sweetie, what did Abe say?" Adrian asks the same question he asked earlier.

I inhaled as much as my pregnant body would allow then exhaled and smiled, "Selena is now officially, by the state of Pennsylvania and California, Selena Ivashkov."

"Mom," she squealed as she hugged me. "Don't scare me like that."

"Thanks for the heart attack there, love," Adrian breathes. "I thought we were going to have to fight again."

"Abe did all the fighting, yelling, and screaming for us all. He's going to mail me Selena's new birth certificate."

"Come here you," Adrian grabs me from behind. "You are a sneaky, sneaky girl."

"I just wanted to surprise you both," I smiled as I brought my lips to his.

"Umm mom, dad? This is my room you know," Selena chuckles awkwardly. "Can't you wait to do that in your room?"

"Oh hush," I smile at her. "I also wanted to ask you guys about the name. This little one is due any day now."

"Not too soon. I still need to put up the bassinet in our room and the dresser in the nursery," Adrian says nervously.

"Don't worry, we're still right on schedule but she is kicking up a storm that I think she'll be here any day now. That's why we need a name," I say as I look at them both.

"Well I liked Isabella and Adelyn," Selena shrugs.

"I like Adriana," Adrian smiles.

"I like Adelyn too," I smiled at Selena. "Now we just need a middle name."

"What about Marie?" Adrian asks.

"Marie?" I mused. "I like it. Ooh," I winced in pain.

"Are you okay?" the pair asks as both their arms hovered over me.

"Adelyn here went from gymnast to soccer player," I winced as another pain hit me. "Ouch!"

"Maybe we should go to the doctor," Selena says as she stands up.

"I'm fine, sweetie. I just need to rest," I reassured her.

"Are you sure?" she asks worried.

"Maybe she's right love," Adrian says concerned. "Just to make sure everything is fine."

"You both need to calm down. I'm fine," I smiled. "Now you little girl need to finish up and get ready for bed."

"Yes mom," she smiled then grabbed her text book and continued to study.

"And you need to help back into bed," I instruct Adrian.

"Yes ma'am," he smiled.

Before I knew it, I was being swept off my feet then being carried away. Giggling the whole way, I managed to say good night to Selena and yelling at Adrian to put me down. He finally set me down when he walked into our bedroom and placed me on the bed. "Now no more getting up tonight, understood?" he says sternly.

"Yes sir," I giggled. "God, she really is kicking up a storm in there."

He smiled then walked towards the bed. He climbed up on the bed and rested his mouth on my stomach. "Adelyn," he cooed. "Please let mommy sleep. She really needs it before you come along." I giggled the entire time as Adrian continued to talk to our baby. He voice was so soothing that soon I was deep in sleep. The pain far from my mind but was still there.


A/N: Alright here you go everyone. What do you think will happen next? I hope you enjoyed :)