AN: Ok, so once again. I planned on doing snippets. You get a full blown chapter. This story was always a rich minefield of emotion. Hope you enjoy it!

Zoey Ruzek

Adam was sitting in the cue to pick up Zoey, Miranda, and Bella from school and the line was moving at a snail's pace. He didn't exactly mind since he was entertaining himself with watching his son sleep. Aaron was six months old now and he was growing like a weed. Adam watched as Aaron's little arms seemed to be reaching for something in his dream and then he settled back down. The smile on his face felt like it was a permanent fixture now. Almost nothing could take it away. Adam inched the truck forward and was glad to see that he was almost to the 'approved' pick up point. He wished Aunt Jenny had warned them about how long this line was after school. He wouldn't complain though. Was a hell of a lot quicker than the commute from Zoey's previous school. He saw the girls begin to make their way towards the truck and he could see that they were having quite the animated conversation. Teenage girls. All the doors on the truck opened and the girls climbed in. Zoey in the front and Bella and Miranda on either side of the still sleeping Aaron. His son could sleep through a tornado.

"I'm telling you, Zoey. Gavin really thinks you are cute."

Miranda's words nearly made Adam's blood run cold.

"Whatever, M. I don't see it. Anyway. Could you believe the homework Mrs. Morgan gave us?"

Oh, Adam was so not letting that go.

"Whose Gavin?"

Adam could see Miranda smiling in the back and Bella just smirking. Zoey on the other hand just rolled her eyes as she responded.

"No one. Just a guy in our history class."

Miranda started laughing.

"Just a guy that stares at Zoey through the whole class. He's in love with her."

Zoey shakes her head in disagreement.

"No, he isn't. I'm just the new girl. I'm a novelty."

"Does this Gavin have a last name?"

Zoey started to give Adam the evil eye, but he could have cared less. If some little punk had his eyes on Zoey, he damn well was going to know the kid's full name.

"Adam, its nothing."

Adam dropped the conversation, because as he looked in the rearview mirror Bella was mouthing the word 'Miller' to him. Oh, he loved that cousin. Such a good girl. Adam continued to drive as his wheels began to turn.

Kim was rocking Aaron as she began to carry him towards his crib. It had been a long day. She was back at work and she was still getting her endurance back. She had just gotten Aaron settled when she turned to find Adam standing in the doorway. He looked like he had something on his mind. Kim checked that the monitor was on and then followed Adam as they headed down to the living room. They sat down on the couch and Kim waited for him to open his mouth.

"So, apparently, some boy named Gavin Miller is making googly eyes at our girl at school."

Kim tried to keep her amusement in check. She tried. But the smile could not be kept from her face.

"You find this amusing?"

"No, but your reaction to it is. You look like you are ready to start an investigation into this kid. How did you find this out?"

"The girls were talking about it when they got in the truck this afternoon."

Kim nodded then placed a hand on Adam's arm to try and calm him down.

"I'm sure it is nothing to get overly worried about. This is normal. It's probably just a crush. Did Zoey seem interested?"

Adam just shrugged.

"Not really. She just kept deflecting."

Oh, really. Kim wasn't going to let on, but she had a sneaking suspicion that this little crush might go both ways. Interesting.

"Well, unless the kid decides to ask Zoey out on a date which would obviously be chaperoned… I think we can let this go."

She saw the side eye that Adam was giving her.

"Besides, Adam. It's Friday. The baby is asleep and Zoey is at a friend's. Is this really how you want to spend our evening?"

Oh, that changed his look. Kim started to laugh as Adam nearly tackled her back onto the couch. He was so easily distracted.

A lazy Sunday morning. Well, OK as lazy a Sunday morning can be with a six month old and an almost thirteen year old. Zoey's birthday was in two weeks and Kim had already had the day planned. Including the ballet tickets purchased for Zoey and Adam to see this year's production of Sleeping Beauty. Kim was sipping her coffee as Zoey was playing with Aaron on the floor.

"I can't believe he is sitting up already. How is he doing that already?"

Kim just laughed.

"He is actually right on schedule according to the pediatrician."

Zoey was shaking her head.

"I don't know. Seems fast to me."

Kim watched as she could see Zoey contemplating something.

"Aunt Kim?"

"Yes."

"Um… Would it be okay if I go to a movie next Friday with a group?"

Kim could feel her eyebrow raise. Oh no.

"Whose driving all of you?"

"Aunt Jenny."

"Who all is in this group?"

Zoey began to rattle off a list that included Bella and Miranda and several other kids that Kim recognized.

"Gavin, and Spencer and …"

"Gavin, huh?"

Zoey rolled her eyes as she dropped Aaron's hand who had been reaching for his cousin the whole time they had been playing with his toys.

"Adam told you?"

"Of course, he told me."

"It's no big deal. This is not a date or a crush or whatever he said."

Kim bit her lip to try and not smile before she responded.

"Zoey, honey. Who exactly are you trying to convince of that?"

Kim watched as Zoey's face fell some.

"Is it that obvious?"

Kim chuckled.

"Only to your Aunt who is well aware of how her sister acted with her first crush."

Zoey placed her face in her hands and Kim could see her face turning red regardless.

"Honey, it is completely normal. Yes, you can go as long as Aunt Jenny is seeing the movie with you. Which I guarantee you, she is. Even if she doesn't sit with you, so keep that in mind."

Zoey dropped her hands from her face and she smiled slightly.

"Thanks, Aunt Kim."

"You're welcome, but you have to tell Adam."

The smile was gone.

"Nooooo. He's going to freak out."

"That's an understatement. How badly do you want to go?"

"Oh God. This is going to suck."

Adam was sitting in the passenger seat of the unmarked car trying to calm his overactive brain. Zoey had just told him that she was going on this group date on Friday before he left for work. Not great timing for him, but he would wager that she did it on purpose so she wouldn't have to deal with the fallout. Smart girl. Adam knew he was tapping his hand against his leg, but he couldn't stop it.

"What's wrong, Kid?"

Olinsky was sitting behind the wheel just as calm as he could be as they were keeping an eye on the stash house up the street. Adam took a breath and decided he had better talk about it.

"Tell me. Is it too young to have Mouse run a background check on a kid that is thirteen?"

Adam could see Olinsky begin to grin. The man actually took that toothpick out of his mouth to allow himself to grin fully. Then he was laughing. Great. He was overreacting.

"Well, it kind of depends. Where is the kid from? If you suspect him of running with a gang, well then yes I would. I doubt that is the case though. Has young Zoey found herself a crush?"

Adam knew he was glaring. Everyone else seemed to find this funny. It was far from amusing for Adam. He knew what Junior High Schools were like now a days. Intelligence was giving them quite the education lately. They needed to have another conversation with Zoey.

"They are going on a group date on Friday."

"I'm assuming they have a chaperone."

"My Aunt Jenny."

"Then I would say that the background check can wait. Rough, isn't it?"

Adam scrubbed his face hard.

"I'm going to lose all my hair."

Olinsky was laughing again.

Kim was sitting next to Adam waiting for Zoey to look them in the eye. The second that they had started to talk about the fact that they needed to have a discussion, Zoey had dropped her head down on the kitchen table and had not lifted it, yet. Aaron was sitting in his high chair banging his hands on the plastic tray like he had his own personal drum set. Zoey finally raised her head and glared.

"You so do not need to do this. I am not getting into any situation where that could happen."

Kim and Adam both looked over to Aaron which is exactly who Zoey was pointing to.

"I love my cousin, but hell no. I haven't even been kissed yet."

"Do you want that?"

Zoey's eyes grew two sizes at Kim's question.

"I am not talking about this in front of him."

Zoey was now pointing at Adam and he had the audacity to get up from the table and leave the room. Well, she guessed that she was on her own. Except for Aaron. He wasn't going to be much help. Kim could see that Zoey was watching to make sure that Adam had truly left the area and the sound of a door closing was all the confirmation that she needed.

"Maybe. Not sure. I don't know Gavin that well, yet. So, no time soon."

"Ok. Well, a kiss here or there is fine. Just hold off on any of the other stuff for a long time."

"I know."

"Ok. I am pretty sure you could have said that in front of Adam and he would have been fine."

"That's not why I wanted him to go."

"Oh?"

Kim watched as Zoey looked over to Aaron and then back to her.

"I've been thinking about something. A lot. I was wondering if you think Adam would want to adopt me?"

Kim felt like her heart wanted to burst. Oh,wow.

"Um… Zoey. Do you understand what all that entails? You'd be giving up your last name. You'd take Adam's last name. Are you sure about this? You haven't been feeling like we have been distracted since Aaron was born or that we have been ignoring you, do you?"

Zoey took a deep breath and clasped her hands in her lap.

"I know I would be taking his last name. No, you guys have not been ignoring me and I don't feel like I am not loved anymore. If anything, I think you guys have been too worried about that. I want Adam's name. I know I am a part of the family and I know the name doesn't change that, but… He's like my father now. I know that Dad would want me to have that again. Dad will always be my father. But, Adam is, too. I wanted to surprise him for my birthday."

Kim wiped the tears that were falling down her cheeks and she tried to compose herself.

"We would both love to adopt you. I guess I can call Derek and see if he can help us out."

"Thanks, Aunt Kim… Do I need to call you something else now?"

"No. Aunt Kim is fine. Get to work on your homework. I've got to get Aaron started on his bath."

Zoey came around the table and gave her a hug before she left the room. Kim took a deep breath. She had no idea how she was going to keep this from Adam.

Kim was sitting on the couch trying to read her book as Adam was pacing along the floor. It was Friday night and the movie let out about thirty minutes ago. Aunt Jenny was going to drop all the kids off, so Kim wasn't expecting Zoey for probably another twenty to thirty minutes, but Adam was not that reasonable.

"You're going to create a rut in the carpet if you keep doing that."

Kim looked up as Adam finally stopped and turned towards her.

"How are you this calm?"

Kim closed her book and placed it on the coffee table.

"Well, you seem to be worried enough for the both of us. Doesn't help for me to get all worked up. If something was wrong, Aunt Jenny would have called. Come on, Adam. She didn't even want us to be making out at Thanksgiving and we are adults."

"You have a point."

"Yes, I do. Now come sit down and try to relax. Maybe if you are calm she will actually want to tell us about it."

Adam finally sat down next to her and then pulled her into his arms. She allowed him to hold her as they waited. When the door finally did open, Kim was quite impressed that Adam didn't try to jump up. Zoey made her way into the living room and she stopped to cross her arms as she stared at them.

"Aren't you going to ask?"

Kim smiled as she replied.

"How was it?"

Zoey shrugged.

"Like any other movie I have ever been to. We all got snacks and enjoyed the movie. No big deal."

"Didn't get to know Gavin any more?"

Zoey shook her head.

"Not really. It's rude to talk during a movie."

Kim just raised an eyebrow and then looked to Adam. He just shrugged and squeezed her to let her know that he was okay.

"Alright then. Glad you had a good time."

Zoey turned and headed to the stairs. Kim saw her phone light up on the coffee table. She picked it up and saw the text from Aunt Jenny.

All good. Gavin is apparently a bit skittish now. Found out that you and Adam are cops. Apparently, Bella informed him of this and how he better be good. I wonder who put her up to that.

Kim set her phone back down and then glared at Adam.

"What?"

"Did you pay off Bella to tell that poor boy that we were cops?"

Adam's mouth dropped open in feigned shock.

"You really think I would do such a thing?"

Kim just nodded in the affirmative.

"I would never pay a cousin to do that."

"What did you promise her then?"

That's when Adam's eyes shifted away.

"I may have promised her some concert tickets for the girls if she made good on passing some information along. They would have gotten them anyway, but she doesn't know that."

"You are horrible."

"I'm just delaying things. If he really likes her, our occupation should not matter."

"True that, but you still probably scared the poor kid."

"I did nothing. Bella did that."

Kim just shook her head. Between Adam and Zoey, she prayed that Aaron had a quick mind. He was going to need it in this family.

Kim shut the door behind Derek and looked down at the envelope that was in her hand. Derek had been an absolute angel to get this all done so quickly. It had required a lot of favor calling, but he had got it done. He even drove over to the house to drop them off so that they would be here when Zoey and Adam got back from the ballet. Kim walked back to the living room and placed the envelope down on the coffee table. Derek had already walked her through where they would need to sign. She had done her signature. It just needed Adam's. She needed a drink. She was so excited, she couldn't stand it.

She was sipping on her glass of wine when she heard the back door open. She waited as she heard an excited Zoey commenting on her favorite parts of the ballet. The two of them made their way into the living room and then stopped. Zoey looked to Kim with anticipation and Kim just looked towards the coffee table to let her niece know that it had all worked out. When her eyes came back up, Adam was eying her glass.

"I figured I would have a glass to help me relax waiting for you two. I think Zoey has something for you."

Adam's face was a study in confusion. Zoey walked forward to pick up the envelope from the coffee table. She looked up to Kim and Kim knew that she was getting courage from her Aunt to do this. Zoey turned back around and walked up to Adam. She handed the envelope over to Adam as she was speaking.

"This is really the only thing that I wanted for my birthday this year. I've loved everything today, but this is what I really want."

Adam still looked like he was completely without a clue and Kim could feel her tears already coming down her cheeks. Adam opened the envelope and then pulled out the pages. She could see him reading through the legal language and she could tell the exact moment that he understood what they were. His hand went up to his mouth and the tears just fell. He reached for Zoey with the hand that held the paperwork and she went to him quickly. He wrapped her up and choked out the words.

"Of course, Z. I would be honored."

Kim couldn't stand it any longer. She walked up to them and wrapped them both up. They all held onto each other till Adam's head finally came up.

"Where's the pen?"

Kim laughed and headed back to the coffee table. She grabbed the pen and took it back to him. He put the pages up against the wall and quickly signed his name where the flags were marked. They were a family. No paper was every going to change that, but it was nice to have it all be official. Kim hugged Zoey as her niece cried happy tears.

"Your homeroom is going to change. Gavin is going to be crushed."

Zoey groaned at Kim's remark.

"I so don't care."

Adam was just grinning from ear to ear. Kim was sure that this was just the icing on the cake to him.