Yes, we did originally plan to adopt another child that was around Dillon's age but after meeting Marina we changed our minds.

Flashback

"Okay, so I understand that you two were looking to adopt a child who is around two?" the social worker said.

"Thats right." Koichi said.

"That is good. Before we start there is one girl who I want to talk to you about." she said as we were walking along the halls of the orphanage.

"Okay."

"That girl right there is Marina. She is fourteen. She just lost her parents within this last year and now it is just her and her baby brother."

"Mrs. Korin." I started to say.

"I understand that she is not the right age that you two are looking for. Her brother however is almost one. Normally I would not introduce the siblings unless they were closer together. However, she has been the one basically raising her brother on her own. She has refused to let anyone else help."

We looked into the room and she was rocking him in a chair singing to him.

"How long have they been in the system?" I asked.

"Almost eight months."

"No one has wanted to adopt them?" Koichi said.

"Just her brother...not many people adopting are looking for kids her age and after everything she went through with her previous foster family she has been very...closed off."

"She have a difficult time with her foster family?"

"Yes. They did not treat her like a family member, more like….Cinderella I would say. They wouldnt let her eat unless she finished all the chores around the house and made her...well it was just hard on her and she was happy to leave. However, since then it has been difficult finding a family for both of them."

"So they would have to be separated then if that happened."

"Yes."

"Can we walk to her?" I asked.

"Sure, Marina...this is Mr and Mrs Natsukawa, they would like to talk with you if that is okay."

End flashback

That was almost a year ago.

"Okay Marina, welcome home." I said as she carried Haruki in.

"Wow, this is an amazing house." she said looking around.

"Let me show you to your room." Koichi said carrying her bags in.

He led her down the hall and into her room.

"Where is Haruki sleeping?" She asked when she saw there was no crib in her room.

"Now, we know you are used to sharing a room with him. So what we did is switched rooms with you so you could have the room across from him." Koichi said opening the door across the hallway.

"But..." she said looking down at him.

"If it would make you feel better we can move his crib into your room, but only for the first few weeks you are here." I said.

"I dont want to cause any trouble, but it would make me feel more...i would feel better being able to see him at night."

"That is no trouble, but like she said it would only be fore a few weeks."

"Okay." she said walking into her room and looking around.

"Do you want to see Haruki's room?"

"Sure."

She walked across the hall and saw his crib and Dillons bed.

"He would be sharing a room with Dillon so he won't feel lonely."

"Good."

"I am going to start preparing dinner. Would you like to help."

She looked at me with a worried look.

"No, I did not mean like that. I mean like I make it and if you want to you can help. If you dont want to then that is fine."

"Oh."

"Marina...you are here now and we will not make you do any chores that a normal girl you age doesnt do."

"Really?"

"Yes. You will have chores like any normal 14 year old." Koichi said.

"If its alright, I would like to unpack?"

"Of course. Why dont I take Haruki with me and you can unpack." He said.

"No, he can stay." Marina said.

"Its fine, he will be in the living room with Dillon playing. Go ahead and unpack and when you are done come into the other room and eat, okay?"

"Okay." she said and we left her room and went down the hall.

We put Haruki down in the living room with Dillon and put the gate up.

"That foster family really did a number on her. I do not think I could handle what she went through and still raise Haruki."

"She is a strong girl." Koichi said as he started helping with dinner.

After about an hour or so Marina was still in her room.

"I'll go and check on her." I said as I left the table.

I walked down the hall toward her room and saw her light still on.

"Marina?" I said knocking and opening her door.

She was on her bed asleep. Everything was still packed.

"She okay?" Koichi asked when I returned.

"She fell asleep after we left her room. She is asleep on her bed and everything is still packed."

"She must be exhausted after having to go through all of that." he said as we ate.

We had given the boys a bath and they were asleep in their room.

I was in the kitchen doing dishes when Marina came out of her room.

"Hey, did you have a good rest?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Are you hungry?"

"If it's not too late to eat."

"Of course, I will heat you up a plate." I said opening the fridge and doing so.

After she ate she brought her plate to the sink.

"I can wash it." she said.

"Not tonight, it is your first night here. I want you to get relaxed here. I will do it." I said smiling at her and washing her plate.

"Where is Haruki?"

"He is in his room asleep."

"But I thought..."

"We were going to but we did not want to wake you up. So first thing tomorrow we will move his crib in there."

"Oh...okay."

It has been a few months since they lived with us and we were almost final with the adoption process.

"Marina, are you almost ready?" I asked as I made her lunch.

"Yes, I am almost ready. Is it alright if I go to Lynn's house afterschool?"

She had made a few friends in the short time she has been here. I have been amazed at how well she is adjusting. After a few nights we moved Haruki's crib back into Dillon's room and now she was sleeping better at night without nightmare's and waking up panicking looking for him.

"What are you two going to be doing?" Koichi asked.

"We have a test in Biology on Friday and we were going to study."

"Okay, but be back by dinner." I said.

"Thanks, bye!" she said as she rushed out the door.

I turned around and Koichi was giving me a look.

"What?"

"You can not just let her do whatever she wants."

"Koichi…"

"No, you have let her do everything she wants to do because you feel sorry for what she has gone through."

"And you don't?"

"Of course I do! But that doesn't mean I am going to be a pushover." He said grabbing his briefcase and leaving.

A pushover?!

The last thing I am is a pushover…right?

The boys were in bed and we had just finished dishes when Marina finally came home.

"I will let you handle this." Koichi said as she heard the front door close.

Pushover, I will prove him wrong.

"Mariana, where have you been?" I asked walking out of the kitchen.

"I was over at Lynn remember." She said handing her coat up.

"Yes, but I also remember telling you to be home by dinner."

"So I lost track of time, big deal."

"It is a big deal Marian. I trusted you to be home on time and you broke my trust and our rules."

"Ok, it wont happen again. I'm sorry." She said walking to her room.

"You are right it wont," I said fallowing her. "You are grounded for two weeks."

"What?!" she said turning around facing me. "But I was going to go to the movies with Lynn and some friends on Saturday."

"Not anymore you are not."

"But you told me I could."

"That was before you broke my trust. So you can tell Lynn you are sorry. Maybe next time you will listen." I said walking out of her room. Back into the kitchen.

"Wow…im surprised." Koichi said as I walked in.

"I proved you wrong didn't I." I said walking through the kitchen and to our bedroom.

The next morning Mariana was not talking.

"Mariana, you have to talk to me at some point." I said.

"…."

"Fine, but if you need anything you will have to, like maybe for me to sign this." I said holding up a slip for her to go on a hike with the rest of her class.

"Look," I said gesturing her to sit. "I know you are pissed I get it. I was the same growing up. But you need to understand. We set rules to make sure you are safe and nothing happens to you. I do not like the thought of you walking home that late at night."

"I didn't walk," she finally said, "Lynn's mom gave me a ride."

"Okay, then you could have called us and let us know."

"You are right I should have. I am sorry that I acted out."

"At least you know you did wrong."

"So…can I go this weekend?"

"No, you are still grounded."

"Fine." She said getting up and slamming the door as she left.

"What was that about?" Koichi asked as he walked out of the bedroom grabbing coffee.

"We had a good talk and she thought it meant she was no longer grounded…she got mad when she realized she was wrong." I said picking up the plates and washing them.

"Oh…" he said grabbing his briefcase. "I am going to be late tonight, we have a huge project we are working on. I will not be home until almost 10." He said giving me a kiss.

"Okay, have a good day." I said as he left.

"Mama, Me hungry." Haruki said as I picked him up.

"You are? But you just ate." I said smiling at him.

After we all ate lunch I got a call.

"Hello?"

"Mom, its Mariana."

"Is everything okay?"

"I know I am grounded and I am not going anywhere, but I was wondering if Lynn could come over and study. We have the big test tomorrow."

"Mariana…"

"Please, I really need her help. She is the smartest one in the class."

"Fine, but make sure her mother says it is okay."

"We will." She said hanging up.

After school Mariana and Lynn went back to her room and studied while I started on dinner.

I was waiting for the oven to warm up and went to see if Lynn was going to be staying for dinner.

"Marianna, Lynn.." I said as I knocked opening the door. "What is going on here?" I asked, shocked at what I saw.