"She doesn't even live here yet and she already has so much stuff!" Rick complained as he carried yet another Amazon box into Bri's room, placing it down next to his husband who was currently working on assembling a flat-pack desk.
"Well she has nothing," Drew explained, fighting with a screw as he tried to affix it into the hole, "we have to start from scratch."
"I don't think it goes th-"
"No," Drew cut him off, pointing the Allen Key at him, "I built furniture with you once and it almost ended in divorce. Keep your opinions to yourself."
"Alright," Rick said, holding his arms up in surrender, "I'll let you continue doing it wrong." The officer wincing as he was struck with a plastic bag full of metal screws.
Bri was coming home tomorrow. After almost three months in the hospital, she would finally be here and they were woefully unprepared. Nina had been great, filing all of the paperwork for them, making sure it was filled out correctly so there wouldn't be any issues. Even though Bri would be their daughter, she wouldn't officially be theirs for another year. It was all legal jargon which was news to them, for the next 12 months there would be social worker visits checking in on them, making sure Bri's transition was going smoothly, that Rick and Drew were fit parents, that the house was a safe and loving environment. Though they weren't concerned, it was worrisome that at any moment Bri could end up back in the system.
The family's Adoption Finalization Day was scheduled for next week where they would go before a judge, have their day in court and make it completely official. He would have to put on a suit, which was the worst part of the day, oh that reminded him.
"Have you taken the suits to the dry cleaners?" Drew yelled to his husband as he continued to assemble the desk.
"What?" Rick asked, his reply sounded muffled from a few rooms away.
"Have you taken the suits to the dry cleaners!" Drew shouted rolling his eyes. He heard footsteps before he saw the other man enter the room.
"What?" Rick asked with a mouthful of his sandwich as he leant against the doorframe.
"Have. You. Taken. The. Suits. To. The. Dry cleaner?" Drew said slowly, punctuating each word.
"What for?" Rick asked curiously, taking an aggressively large bite of his food.
"Are you messing with me right now?" Drew asked agitated, "why are you eating? You need to finish the room.
"I was hungry," Rick shrugged, offering the sandwich to the other man "you want some?"
"No, I don't want any," Drew sighed, placing his tool down, "they need to be cleaned. You had one job, Rick!"
"We have another week," Rick shrugged.
"Just… do it now," Drew said, trying to remain calm.
"Whatever," Rick muttered, "I'll be back later then."
"When later?" Drew asked.
"Later," Rick said firmly turning to leave.
"Rick," Drew said tiredly, the other man stilling, turning to his husband. "there is just a lot to do before Bri gets here and I just want it perfect ok?"
"I know," Rick sighed, "I'm just tired."
"So am I but next week it'll be all over."
"I'll take the suits then I'll pick up some food unless you want to cook something for dinner?" Rick smirked, Drew just rolled his eyes and gave him a 'seriously?' look. The Officer chuckled, leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his husband's lips before leaving to run his errands. Drew loved that man but he wasn't sure if the grey hairs he found were from his job or his husband constantly stressing him out.
Today was the day. After so many months, the pain, heartache, the ups and down the trio had encountered, today was the day Bri was officially leaving the hospital and coming home with them.
The couple had been at the hospital for a little over half an hour, Bri was meant to be discharged in the morning but was released early as her last scan came back clear and normal. Rick and Drew signing Bri's discharge papers, helping her pack and say goodbye to all of the staff she had grown close to in the past few months. Drew had stopped by the hospital pharmacy, picked up all of Bri's medication she would need which they had conveniently placed in a Webster Pack for them.
The house was finally ready now, the desk was put together, maybe it wasn't the best construction but it was sturdy enough not to fall apart. The couple had stocked the house with all of Bri's favourite food, her bedroom was neatly arranged with her online purchases, looking similar to an Instagram Dream.
It felt strange to Drew, seeing the house transform in such a short time. For so many years he lived by himself in a bachelor pad, if you could even call it that. The one-bedroom apartment he had was bare and impersonal, the cheapest he could find so he could keep his belongings safe while he was overseas and when he was home, he liked to keep busy by going to the gym or working. When their schedules aligned, Drew would stay with Rick, the man feeling like home more than a building ever could.
Now, their family home, the one they had bought together before they had gotten married had previously gone through transformations. Bathroom renovations that made it easier to shower with Rick's leg, an open plan living/dining area that let more light in as Drew rarely saw natural light at work. The house once again being transformed for their daughter and it felt good.
"Alright kiddo," Rick started, picking up his duffle bag that currently contained all of Bri's belongings from the hospital. "Ready to go?"
"Yep!" Bri told excitedly, grabbing her phone and placing it in her pocket, sweeping the room one last time to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
"Ok, let's get going, I think its time for pizza," Rick announced.
"And ice cream," Drew and Bri said at the same time.
"Alright, alright," Rick laughed.
Bri walked ahead of them, out of the Paeds ward, towards the elevator on her way to Rick's truck. Rick wrapped an arm around his husband's waist, smiling brightly at the other man as they went. They had finally made it, after so many months, the grueling arduous process of adoption, the trials and tribulations that had hindered them.
They went out to local pizza place, letting Bri order whatever she wanted to celebrate the night, even ordering a 'Nutella Pizza' for dessert which Rick had to admit was pretty good. The couple noticed the blonde was starting to get tired around 9:30 so they drove home.
They were enthusiastically greeted by Major when they returned home, Bri excited to see the mutt once again. Rick and Drew gave her a quick tour of the house, showing her the basics for the night and would delve into it more in the morning.
"And this is your room," Drew announced, opening her door. Bri carefully walked through and stopped when she saw her surroundings.
"This is mine?"
"Yeah," Rick confirmed, wrapping an arm around his husband's waist. "What do you think?"
"Its… different to what I imagined," Bri said honestly, walking over to her desk, running her hands over the back of the chair. Drew shared a confused look with his husband and tried not to feel offended, he put a lot of work into the room and was disappointed with the blonde's reaction.
"Well, if you don't like it, I guess we can redecorate it," Rick said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"No!" Bri cried suddenly, turning wide eyed at the men, "no I love it! I just pictured something a lot smaller."
"Oh," the men said in unison, realization dawning on them.
"I've never had my own room. I always had to hide my things so other kids at the group home or foster homes wouldn't steal them, it's going to be weird to have my things on display."
"No one will take your things Bri," Drew assured.
"Just don't leave food around, you'll never see it again with Major around," Rick laughed.
"Noted," Bri giggled. "can I go to bed? I'm kinda tired."
"Sure sweetheart, the clothes you ordered are in the walk-in closet. If you can't find anything let us know. Well come back and tuck you in."
Later that night, Rick found Drew standing in Bri's doorway, leaning against the door jam, a tired smile on his face.
"What are you doing, creeper?" Rick asked, hugging the other man from behind, placing his chin on Drew's shoulder.
"She's home," Drew said, leaning against his husband, sighing in contentment.
"We did it," Rick agreed, placing a kiss to the juncture of Drew's throat as he watched their girl. She was sleeping peacefully, her chest rising and falling as she dreamed. "Come on."
"Just a few more minutes."
They stayed there for a little while longer, reveling in the utter joy they felt. Finally, after everything they had been through, it had all paid off and they couldn't be happier.
So its a bit sappy but sue me! They deserve nice things!
There will be an epilogue and then thats it!
Love Squiggle