AN: A review asked me what does ICN stands for Intensive Care Nursery. It is a place for premature babies.


The end of June

Tommy wakes up about 2 in the morning. He hasn't slept through the night since Kimberly has been in the hospital with Crys. He walked through the quiet house, everyone else is still asleep. As he headed towards the kitchen, he saw a light on in Kira's room. He gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." She called.

Tommy opened the door slowly. Kira was sitting in a rocking chair with Toni. Kira had a blanket over most of her body, under the blanket was Toni.

"How is she doing?" Tommy asked his daughter.

"She is alright and hungry. I'm glad she is home, I just wish Mom and Crys was home as well." Kira said.

Tommy sat down on Kira's bed.

"Me too, but they should be home soon. Kim is getting stronger and so is Crys. At least she is out of ICN." Tommy said.

"How is Summer School going?" Kira asked.

"Well you know school is school, and just like the kids I can't wait for it to be over." Tommy said.

"Why don't you go back to sleep, you have to work tomorrow." Kira said as she finished feeding Toni.

Tommy gave Kira a kiss on her forehead and left. He went to check on the rest of the kids, they were all asleep. Tommy opened the door to Conner's room, he was also asleep. I wish you would talk to me. Tommy went back to his bed.

"Goodnight again Beautiful!" Tommy said to the picture of Kimberly sitting on the night stand staring at him.


After school

Conner left the classroom and headed home. He hates being in school in the summer, when the others don't have to go. He is doing his best to make sure he passes science this time. He can't stand the idea of being grounded for his entire senior year. Tommy sat at his desk doing 

paperwork. He was going to go by and see Kimberly at the hospital later. There was a knock at the door, it was his parents.

"Hi, what are you doing here?" Tommy asked.

"We stopped by the hospital; Kimberly says she gets to come home tomorrow." Thomas said.

"Crystal gets to come home too. She is so tiny and beautiful." Krystal smiled.

"I can't wait to have them home too. Have you seen Toni yet?" Tommy asked.

"Yeah, she was at the Cyberspace with Kira. Kira told us about Conner. How are you doing?" Thomas asked.

"I just don't what to do; he won't even talk to me." Tommy said.

"Actually, he does remind me of someone." Krystal commented.

Tommy wondered what is his mother is talking about.

"Who?" He asked.

"You! When you were 10, you acted just like him. Lying, cheating, fighting, ditching. If it hadn't been for your karate, I don't know what your father and I would have done." Krystal told him.

Tommy was shocked; he didn't remember any of that. He tried to rack his brain and remember, but he swears that she is making it up.

"Mom, I never." Tommy said.

"You were pushing your luck. You had always seemed to accept that you were adopted, until some bully had you believing that we would turn our back on you, because you weren't really ours. So, actually believing that; you started to get into trouble, to see if we would really kick you out." Thomas explained.

Tommy started to remember the bully. He was 3 years older than Tommy and a real bully.

"We didn't know how to handle it. We were afraid on what we were supposed to do. It was like you kept waiting for us to kick you out, or turn you over to Social Services. You then were suspended for a fight. First thing you did when we got home was pack your bag, expecting that to be the straw that broke the camel's back. We grounded you because we had to." Krystal told him

"But first we had a long talk and we explained to you that nothing and I mean nothing you did was going to make us give you back. You started going to karate more, stopped all that destructive behavior. We knew that we were going to be okay as a family." Thomas finished.

Tommy sat there and listened to everything they said. He began to remember it. He figured he blocked it out. Tommy thanked his parents for reminding him of it and then went home to talk to Conner.


Tommy arrived at the house and went to Conner's room and knocked on the door.

"Conner, can I come in?" Tommy asked.

"It is your house."

Tommy walked in the room and saw Conner working on his science.

"We need to talk." Tommy said.

"Talk." Conner replied not even looking up.

"You are here to stay. No matter what you do, you are a part of this family for good. Your recent behavior isn't going to change anything." Tommy said standing behind him.

Conner starred at the book, but tears had started to form in his eyes. Conner turned to face his adoptive father.

"My parents reminded me that I acted the same way. A bully had told me that eventually my parents would send me away because I was adopted. So I thought that I could make it happen sooner rather than later by getting into trouble. If I could make it happen, then I wouldn't have to sit back and wait for it to happen. We talked, really talked. I went to karate more and stopped acting out." Tommy told him.

"Did the talk really help?" Conner asked in tears.

"Yes, they made me see that what I was afraid of; wasn't going to happen. I'm telling you that you can continue to act out, but even with what has been going on. Kimberly and I still signed the adoption papers for you, Ethan and Trent. We love you and that won't change." Tommy told him and then left to let Conner think about what he had said.