It didn't take much time to get an apartment. With the reward money, the group was able to get a small but decent place. The best part about it was that it was close to Hoagy's Alley.
Everyone in the gang except for Sunshine got jobs. Top Cat became a cab driver. Benny became a janitor at a zoo. Choo Choo got a job as a card dealer at a casino. Brain became a cashier at a grocery store. Spook worked at the pool hall, and Fancy-Fancy was an usher at a movie theater. The regular and numerous paychecks guaranteed that Sunshine would have everything she needed, and then some.
Due to the cats working different shifts, someone was always there with Sunshine to make sure she went to school and was fed and had someone to say good night to.
One Saturday, the gang had a party to celebrate Sunshine's adoption. All of the cats signed their names on the papers, making it official. Their new daughter gave them each a gift: a coffee mug with 'World's Greatest Dad' on it. On all of them but Top Cat's, the word 'Dad' was marked out and replaced by each of her nicknames for them: Daddy (Benny), Papi (Choo Choo), Pop (Spook), Papa (Fancy-Fancy), and Baba (Brain). The new fathers accepted their gifts, proudly.
Officer Dibble, who was chosen to be Sunny's godfather, came to the party, as well. She still felt wary around him but accepted his presence. He got her some blankets, a lamp, and a mirror for her bedroom.
As they all sat around the apartment, eating cake and drinking soda, Top Cat stood up and asked, "May I have your attention, please?" When it quieted down, he continued, "I'd like to propose a toast. To Sunshine, the best daughter a bunch of guys could ever have. Here's to you, kid."
Everyone raised their soda bottles and shouted, "Here, here!"
"Thank you. Thank you all so much," Sunny told them, gratefully.
Only a short time ago, Sunshine was an orphan with no home or family, someone who didn't know where her next meal would come from. Her only thought was to make money just so she could survive. Now, not only did she have a stable, safe home, she had a loving family who took good care of her. She could focus on growing up and becoming the person she wanted to be. Originally, what she thought she had needed was money.
What she actually needed was love.