"Chelsea's turn!" Benny cries cheerfully the next night while tugging on Fraser's arm to pull him towards the couch. Cass laughs.
"Are we going age wise or chronologically? Because I was here first," Cass says before turning to Chelsea. "Sorry Chels, but it's true."
"I guess that means it's up to Dad," Chelsea says as Benny succeeds in pushing Fraser onto the couch. Fraser laughs and settles himself directly in the middle of the couch and Benny plants himself directly in Fraser's lap again.
"Excuse you Benny, but you're taking more than your fair share of Dad," Cass says as she tickles Benny. Fraser laughs again and scoops Benny off his knee to sitting plastered against his right thigh with one arm.
"Your Dad would say that's 'Not buddies Benny'," Fraser chastises teasingly while Cass curls up under his left arm and Chelsea and Lizzie both return to their positions from last night with a chin on each of Fraser's knees. Dief plants himself between the two girls on the floor and Ray waits a few moments before he surreptitiously snaps a quick photo of his family.
"I'm starting to feel a little left out over here," Ray says before he overdramatically stretches out across the second couch. "Oh, I take it all back."
"Next time you tell the story Dad and we'll cuddle you," Chels says with a grin and Lizzie nods.
"Excuse you it's story time," Benny says before turning his face toward Fraser.
"Well I believe Benny's request was the story of how we became a family, so chronologically would be most wise," Fraser says and Cass grins.
"That means it's my turn."
XXXX
2001
Cass tried calling her Dad's satellite phone number again and bit her lip harshly when the line went dead before it could really ring properly. She took a deep breath and went to her room to start throwing stuff in her backpack; important things like clothes, hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste, but also some unimportant things like her old teddy bear, her favourite two books and the picture of her Mom, Dad and her when she was just a baby.
Once Cass was done, she walked back over to the phone and dialed the number for the RCMP detachment and mentally rehearsed what she was going to say.
"Hello this is Constable Benton Fraser how may I help you?"
"Hi. This is Cassandra Jaeb and I need to file a missing person's report," Cass said softly and tried to pretend that she wasn't about to cry.
"Miss Jaeb may I ask where you are?" Constable Fraser asked. She sniffled slightly.
"I'm at home, and my Dad hasn't come home." She sniffled harder again and clenched the phone before telling Constable Fraser her address.
"I'll be right there. Don't leave the residence." Cass hung up the phone and set her bag by the door and sat on the couch, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them tightly. She sat that way until Constable Fraser arrived and knocked politely on the door.
"Hello Miss Jaeb," he said as she opened the door all the way and he stepped in.
"Hello Constable Fraser."
"Miss Jaeb when did your father leave?" He asked as he pulled a notebook out of his front pocket.
"Ten days ago," Cass said, and Constable Fraser's eyebrow went up.
"I beg your pardon?"
"He went on a hunting trip and he was supposed to be back two days ago. But I knew I had to wait because in the books you can't file a missing person's report for two days," Cass said.
"Which books?" He asked and Cass pointed at the stack of mystery books that she'd borrowed from the library. "I see. May I borrow your phone?"
"Of course, Constable." She showed him where the phone was, and he thanked her before picking up the receiver and dialing. She stepped away to give him privacy and then started to sniffle harder as soon as her back was turned.
"Oh Cassandra," Constable Fraser said softly as his hand came to rest on her shoulder. She jumped slightly and turned to face him. He was kneeling slightly so that they were on equal height with a great deal of softness in his eyes and Cass scrubbed at her cheeks to try and make the tears go away. "It's alright. I won't tell anyone you cried."
"I prefer Cass," she whispered before she threw her arms around his neck and started to cry. He simply wrapped his arms around her and made a few soothing noises. He revealed a handkerchief out of his pocket once she had run out of tears and didn't say a word about her tears even when there was another knock at the door.
"Constable Fraser do I even want to know?" A woman said as soon as Cass opened the door since it was her house and all.
"Well Miss Blackdie would you have preferred I wait until tomorrow?" Constable Fraser asked with a gentle hand on Cass' shoulder.
"No, I suppose not." The woman turned to Cass and smiled at her as she held out her hand. "I'm Taylor Blackdie and I'm a social worker. Do you know what that is?"
"You're here to place me with a foster family while the RCMP investigate my Dad's disappearance," Cass said.
"Quite right. Do you have any family near here?" Taylor asked and Cass shook her head.
"It's just me and Dad. Constable Fraser could I stay with you?" Cass asked as she looked up at him.
"I'm sure that Ray and the kids wouldn't mind," Constable Fraser said and they both turned to look at Taylor at the same time. She looked between them suspiciously.
"Did you two plan this?" Taylor asked and Constable Fraser laughed.
"No, but you must admit that this is a convenient solution," he said. Taylor agreed and let Cass get in the truck with Constable Fraser so that he could drive her to the house.
"Fraser what the hell?" Ray asked as soon as the Constable opened the door to his house and had ushered Cass in.
"Cass' father has gone missing and she's opted to stay with us for a while until we find him," Constable Fraser explained, and Ray squatted down and held his hand out to her which she shook carefully.
"Nice to meet you Cass. I'm Ray. Want some hot chocolate?" Ray asked and Cass nodded. "Frase you wanna move Lizzie into Benny's bed?"
"Yes of course," Constable Fraser took off his coat and moved towards one of the doors off the hallway in the back. Ray winked at Cass from the kitchen.
"Now I can sneak in marshmallows without having to get a lecture about nutritional value," Ray said as he poured hot water into a cup and swirled a spoon around before dropping a small handful of mini marshmallows on top. Cass grinned as she took the cup.
"I won't tell," Cass promised, and Ray winked at her again.
"You're going to fit in just fine here."
XXXX
2001
"You know Fraser I really wasn't expecting you to bring home another kid," Ray said conversationally as they washed up the cups from the hot chocolate.
"It's only temporary until we find her father," Fraser said, and Ray sent him a sideways look as he shifted to lean his hip against the counter by the sink.
"What are the odds of actually finding him?" Ray asked softly and Fraser sighed while reaching up and rubbing his eyebrow. Ray reached over and squeezed Fraser's shoulder gently in support.
"I'd like them to be a lot higher than they are. For Cass's sake."
"Me too Frase." They both fell quiet for several moments before Fraser spoke again.
"We should consider expanding the cabin again," he said slowly and a grin split Ray's face because he knew a win when he heard one.
"I got an idea about a loft," Ray said. "I'll get the kids to help since they're the ones who are gonna benefit."
XXXX
2001
"Sorry to interrupt, but something has come up and I need you to pull Cass out of school and meet me at my office." Ray usually appreciates how Taylor Blackdie doesn't beat around the bush, but in this case all it succeeded in doing was making him nervous.
"What's wrong?" Ray asked even as he stood up from his desk and leaned out his office towards his boss. He waved at him and then gestured to the phone and mouthed 'Kids. Emergency gotta go'. His boss flashed him a thumbs up and waved him towards the door.
"It's a bit complicated to explain over the phone," Taylor said stiffly.
"Right yeah be there soon.
"Something's happened. I'm sorry that's all I can say over the phone."
"Can I get Fraser?" Ray blurted out, because this sounded serious and Cass would probably need both of them. More to the point Ray wanted Fraser there because he
"He's on the way to my office as we speak." So, he did as requested, picking Cass up from the school, who appeared in the passenger seat with a worried look on her face.
"Is it Dad?" She asked softly and Ray winced at his lack of tact before he shook his head.
"Dad's fine. He's meeting us at Taylor's office. Honestly, kiddo I'm not sure what's going on," Ray said, and Cass relaxed marginally. Ray continued to jitter with nerves and Cass's shoulders were creeping closer towards her ears with every block. Fraser was waiting outside, fidgeting with his hat and Ray's nerves shot even higher.
"Dad!" Cass cried as she flew out of the car to crash into Fraser almost the instant Ray put it in park. "Dad said you were fine, but I wanted to make sure."
"I'm fine Cass. We should-" Fraser paused and swallowed before gesturing to the door. "We should go in."
"Fraser what is happening?" Ray hissed in his ear because he couldn't remember the last time that Fraser had looked so tense. Fraser opened his mouth to answer before he jerked to a halt so that he didn't slam into Cass who had stopped dead inside Taylor's office.
"This is Gregory Jaeb. Cass' uncle," Taylor said, and Cass looked between the man in question, Taylor and Fraser with wide eyes.
"I have an uncle?" Cass asked slowly and Gregory nodded.
"Yes, I'm afraid that I haven't spoken to your father since long before you were born. As a matter of fact, I didn't know you existed until I was contacted by the RCMP," Greg said, and Cass's eyes slid to Fraser.
"We put your father's DNA on file in an attempt to try and find him. Your uncle matched for a familial match." Ray frowned hard and Fraser must have noticed because he rushed to continue. "No criminal history involved."
"But that's not the best news Cassie!" Greg Jaeb said delightedly and held his arms out to her. Cass backed further into Fraser and Ray's legs. "You're going to come live with me in Regina!"
Shocked silence permeated the room from Fraser, Ray and Cass. The two adults looked at Taylor who nodded with a pinched look on her face, and the silence continued until it started to stretch to the point of awkwardness until Cass broke the growing tension by bursting into tears.
"I don't want to go with him! I want to stay with Benny and Lizzie and Chelsea and my other Dads!" Cass sobbed as she spun and wrapped her arms tightly around Fraser's waist.
"There's also the complication that we're going to fight for her to stay," Ray said fiercely, because he still had his cop instincts and something about this didn't feel right, and Greg blinked at him.
"Why would you do that?" he asked, and Ray punched him solidly in the jaw, knocking him to the floor.
"Because we love her!" Ray hissed as he shook his fist out.
"I see," Greg said from the floor and Taylor had the good sense to gesture at Fraser.
"Perhaps this meeting was premature. Mr. Jaeb and I will discuss and then I will be in touch with you."
"I agree," Fraser said and then scooped Cass up in on of his arms and used his free hand to drag Ray outside.
"Shit," Ray said as soon as they hit the cool outside air and he shook Fraser's hand off him while leaning against the building. "I shouldn't have punched him."
"Indeed not," Fraser said as he shifted Cass gently in his arms, who was still crying into his shoulder. He had never been more hesitant to set one of his children down, felt like he needed to soak in as much of her presence as possible. "That being said I stand behind your sentiment."
"Dad?" Cass asked and they both looked at her.
"Yeah kiddo?" Ray asked as he stepped closer to her and rubbed her back.
"I thought punching people was bad."
"It is kiddo. I was just very angry, and I don't always think the way I'm supposed to when I'm angry."
"Like a Momma Bear protecting her cubs," Cass said with a giggle which made her tears slow considerably.
"Precisely like that," Fraser agreed with a smile to Ray who snorted.
"I can think of worse things I've been called."
Taylor Blackdie phoned the very next morning to inform them that Greg Jaeb had done a bit of thinking and had signed away his parental rights. Fraser and Ray filed for official adoption an hour later.
XXXX
2003
"Cass! I'm so glad you stayed!" Benny cries and throws himself over Fraser's lap to hug Cass tightly. She hugs him back.
"Yeah me too most times," she says with a wink towards Ray who laughs.
"Bedtime. Go!" Ray says and the three younger kids march off without a word. Ray gets up from his chair and kneels in front of Cass. "You good kiddo?"
"What would you have done if I'd wanted to go?" She asks and Ray and Fraser share a pained glance before swallowing.
"We would have let you go," Fraser says, and Ray nods.
"Would have killed us, but we would have done it." Cass ducks her head down and Ray reaches up to move the blonde hair that's fallen in front of her face.
"And you really would have fought for me?"
"Don't ever doubt it," Fraser says.
"Would have done it then, would still do it now," Ray says. Cass smiles before leaning more into Fraser.
"Dad?" Fraser hums, because he just instinctually knows which Dad she means. "Is fifteen too old to get tucked in?"
"No, my dear girl. It is not." Fraser stands off the couch and swings her up in his arms and moves towards the loft with Ray following close behind. Ray pulls the blankets back on her bed and lets Fraser lower her down gently before pulling the blankets up to her chin.
"I was going to walk Dad, don't want you to throw your back out," Cass whispers teasingly.
"Getting carried is part of the standard bed tuck procedure," Fraser says with as much seriousness as he can muster. Ray rolls his eyes fondly.
"Remind me to tell you about a different 'standard procedure' he once pulled," Ray says before pressing a kiss to Cass's temple. "Good night, kiddo. Sleep tight and we love you."
"Love you my dear girl," Fraser says with a kiss of his own. Cass snuggles into the bed a little more.
"Love you too Dads." She looks up at them before patting the bed next to her and somehow the three of them manage to squish together on her bed