RICHIE'S SURPRISE - CHAPTER 11

Duncan and Richie set up the futon in Richie's room. Duncan came to tell Tessa. He saw AJ curled up with Tess on the couch. He smiled. He knew Tess always wanted children. He knew she would do well with a daughter. She was a wonderful mother to Richie. Duncan cleared his throat and Tess looked up. She was combing her fingers through AJ's hair. She had taken out the braid.

"Tess, the bed's ready in Richie's room." Duncan whispered.

"Duncan, can you pick her up, I'm not sure I can stand with the way she's laying on me."

Duncan nodded and same around and picker her up. AJ nuzzled into his shoulder, he grinned.

Tess smiled. " I don't suppose she has a night gown in that back pack, does she?"

"Don't know, darlin'. We didn't look."

"Well, let me get one of my tshirts for her. I'll change her into that and we can go shopping tomorrow."

Duncan raised his eyebrows. "Can't wait to dress her up, huh?" he chuckled.

"You got it buddy and I don't want to hear a word about it." Tessa huffed.

Duncan gave her a mock salute. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Duncan brought AJ into Richie's room and laid her on Richie's bed. Richie looked at his sister. She was so cute laying there fast asleep. She also looked so young. He looked at Duncan. "Dad, just leave her on the bed, I'll take the futon."

"You sure son, Tess was going to get a T shirt for her to sleep in."

"Can't you just leave her, she looks so peaceful?" asked Richie.

"You know you're mom, she's going to wake her up and make sure she brushes her teeth, goes to the bathroom and changes." said Duncan.

Richie smiled, "Yeah, I guess so."

Tessa walked in carrying a T shirt, a new tooth brush and a brush. She turned toward "her boys". "Ok boys, out! The girls need some privacy."

The boys quickly made their way out and Tessa shut the door.

Tessa rubbed AJ's back to wake her up. "Come on honey, wake up for me."

AJ finally started to stir, "Huh, what?" she asked barely awake.

"Come on baby," Tessa cooed, "You need to get up and change your clothes and brush your teeth."

AJ was still very groggy, she went through the motions automatically. Tess finally got her into Richie's bed and kissed her goodnight. "Good night mon petite."

"Thank you." said AJ.

"Thanks for what?" asked Tess.

"For being nice to me." said AJ sleepily.

"Your welcome," said Tess as she shut the door. She came out and walked into the living room. "Ok. Richie, good night." she said.

"Aw, come on mom, do I have to go to bed?" asked Richie.

"For heaven's sake Richie it's almost midnight. Please go to bed." said Tessa tiredly.

"Aw…." Richie started.

Duncan quickly intervened, "Richie, bed, now." he said pointing to Richie's room.

"Aw, Dad…."

"Richie, bed, now." Duncan repeated firmly with a warning in his voice.

Richie sighed, he knew this was a lost cause. He kissed Tess goodnight. "Night mom, night dad," he sighed.

Tess and Duncan laughed at Richie. "Why do children always fight sleep?" asked Duncan. "Did you see his eyes, he's so tired he can't keep them open."

Tess laughed, "Oh really Duncan, you didn't fight your father on going to bed when you were Richie's age?"

Duncan laughed, "Are you kidding, when father told me to go to bed, the only possible answer was 'Yes sir'."

Tess smiled, she held her hand out for Duncan. "Come luv, it's time for bed." The two made their way to their own bedroom.

Tess woke up and stretched the next morning. She was surprised. It was 8:00. That was late for her, she was usually up early, working in her studio. She looked over and saw Duncan sleeping soundly. She didn't want to wake him, the last 24 hours had been exhausting for everyone. She decided to check on the kids. She walked softly to Richie's room. He was sprawled out on the futon and AJ was sleeping soundly on the bed. She smiled as she closed the door, her babies were safe and sound. She headed toward the kitchen to make breakfast.

Soon Duncan woke to the smell of coffee and bacon. He sighed. He loved having Tessa in his life. His mind turned to the kids. He always wanted to be a father. He felt very fortunate that he had Richie. He was hoping that getting AJ wouldn't prove to be too difficult. He was suddenly sad, thinking that Tess wouldn't always get to be with him. He pushed those thoughts out of his head and headed for the shower.

Tessa smiled when she heard the shower turn on. Duncan was up. She was standing at the stove, when suddenly she felt strong muscular arms circle her waist and Duncan's wet hair fell over her shoulder as he nuzzled her neck. She turned around to kiss him, when she spotted some very blue eyes watching. "We have company," she whispered.

Duncan turned around to see a very sleepy little girl watching. "Good morning, AJ." said Duncan pleasantly.

"Morning, sir." she said quietly.

Duncan crooked his finger and motioned her to come to him. He sat down in a chair. AJ made her way to him nervously. She stood in front of him. She was shaking. Duncan was perplexed, he couldn't figure out what she was so scared of. "AJ, what's the matter?" he asked.

"Um, nothing." she said looking down.

Duncan lifter her chin with his finger. "AJ, no one is going to hurt you, ok? I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute. It's nothing bad."

AJ sighed in relief. "S..ss..ssorry…"

"It's ok honey, I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to say 'sir' all the time. We are going to try and see if social services will let us adopt you since we adopted Richie. Wouldn't you rather call us something else?" asked Duncan.

"Really, you want to adopt me?" she asked shocked.

"Yes, then you and Richie could be together." said Tess.

AJ was a bit overwhelmed.

"Richie calls us mom and dad, most of the time. Wouldn't you like to call us something besides, ma'am and sir?"

"I don't know. Like what?" she asked truly surprised.

"I don't know you could use mom, mommy, mama or something for Tess. You can call me dad, daddy, da, whatever you wish."

"Well, I don't think I could call you mommy and daddy." she said shaking her head.

Tess was surprised, "Why not?"

"Well, HE made me call him daddy. I don't even like that word anymore." AJ said vehemently.

"Oh, well how about you just call us Duncan and Tess until you figure it out?" asked Duncan warmly.

"Ok," said AJ.

"AJ?" asked Duncan.

"Sir?" asked AJ.

"Is it ok if I give you a hug?" asked Duncan.

"Sure, I guess." said AJ a little nervous.

Duncan pulled her in for a hug. He didn't move his hands, he just wrapped her in a hug. Once she realized that he wasn't going to "touch" her anywhere, she relaxed into his hug and he hugged tighter. She had read his mind, to make sure he wasn't going to touch her. Duncan let her so she would feel comfortable. But he leaned into her, "AJ, darling, please don't poke in my mind without permission, ok." AJ nodded her head. Tess came over and Duncan released her into a hug with Tess. Duncan was thinking, boy this little girl has been through a lot, I can't believe that scum bag touched her. We are going to have to be patient with her.

Tess finished hugging her and drew her back. "Ok baby, go sit down for breakfast. Then you're going to take bath and then you and I are going shopping."

"Shopping? Like at a mall?" asked AJ, her eyes were big as saucers."

"Yes, a mall." laughed Tess.

"Wow!" said AJ.

Duncan and Tess smiled over her head. Tess turned to Duncan, "I think you and Richie need to get started cleaning out the store room."

Duncan saluted, "Yes ma'am!"

Tess flicked him with a towel, "Smart aleck!" she admonished.

AJ laughed. She had never seen this much affection between adults. Maybe she was finally in a good place.

Duncan made his way to Richie's room. He opened the door. Richie was sprawled out on his stomach. Since Richie normally slept on his side or back, Duncan figured Richie's behind was sore from his spanking yesterday. He was desperately tempted to pop him on the behind, but he didn't. He leaned down and rubbed his back. "Richie, come on boyo, time to get up."

It took Duncan a few minutes, but Richie finally started to stir. Richie groaned. "Jeez Dad, what is with you? Let me sleep, please? What time is it?"

Duncan chortled. "Up me boy, it's slave labor for you and me, today."

"Awwww Dad." groaned Richie.

"Come on, we're going to clean out a storage room or two and make that into your own personal suite and give this room to AJ."

That woke Richie up. "Really, I get my own space downstairs?"

"Yep, but there will be rules, son."

Richie immediately pouted, there's always a catch, he thought. "What rules, Dad?" he sighed.

"Well, I haven't talked to Tess. But, you're number one rule is that if I catch you sneaking out or sneaking in late at night, I will bust your ass nine ways to Sunday. You got me?"

Richie gulped, "Yes Dad."

"Good come on son, come eat breakfast so we can get started."

"Dad?"

"Hmmmm?"

"What if social services doesn't let you adopt AJ?"

"I'm not really concerned, but if that happens, we'll deal with it and then you can still have space downstairs."

"Cool," said Richie.

For the rest of the day, Duncan and Richie worked on clearing a space for Richie's new room and Tessa and AJ shopped until they dropped. Everyone ended up back in the living room by 5:00. Duncan had sent Richie for a shower, while he cleaned himself up.

Richie came out cleaned and dressed in sweats and a Tshirt. He smiled to see AJ passed out on the couch. He wondered if he should leave her or move her to the bedroom. Duncan walked out dressed in the same as Richie, a Tshirt and sweats. "Dad, should I move her?" asked Richie.

"No, just leave her." said Duncan smiling.

"Where's mom?" asked Duncan.

"Don't know, kitchen?" asked Richie.

Tess chose that moment to come out of the kitchen. "I'm just throwing a quick dinner together. Something easy."

"Easy to you and easy to me, isn't the same." laughed Duncan.

"Oh you," said Tess laughing. "I just stuck a chicken in the oven and will make mac and cheese for the kids."

"You know we're going to have to ask AJ about this potential abuse by her foster father." Duncan said moving his eyes to Richie.

"Why?" Richie said, starting to anger.

"Richie, control that temper son. I need to know so I can have a strong case for adoption and to get that placement revoked." Duncan said evenly.

"Dad….." pleaded Richie, "she gets all freaky when she tries to talk about it."

"What did she tell you?" asked Duncan.

"Nothing much Dad, really. She just told me that he "touched" her. She never said more than that."

"Richie?" Duncan questioned warningly.

"Honest Dad, that's all she said. She mostly she just said what she saw in his mind." Richie said.

"What did she see?"

"I don't know. She just said she saw him doing things to her and she needed to get away. She never said what things." Richie said.

Duncan heard AJ stirring. He looked at her and to Tess. Tess shook her head. Duncan said, "Tess, we're going to have to know."

Tess sighed, "I know, but could we at least wait until after dinner? I'm afraid she'll be too upset to eat if we talk about it now."

"Agreed." said Duncan as Tess got up to put the finishing touches on dinner.

TBC: Next, AJ tells what she saw in her mind. Don't worry, it won't be too graphic.