Gabriella sat down on the bed and looked around at the Disney-themed room as her sister cuddled up beside her, the junior wrapped an arm around her and held her close. "Are you ok Sweet Girl?"
"Troy doesn't seem very nice."
"What do you mean? Troy's been really nice to you so far."
The girl nodded. "Yeah but he's been mean to you."
"He's just shocked, that's all Baby, as long as he's being nice to you, that's all that matters."
After a few seconds silent, the girl spoke again. "Bria, why have you stopped calling me Livie?"
"Because your real names Lilliana remember."
She scrunched her nose. "It feels weird everyone calling me that, I forget that they're talking to me."
"I can imagine but I'm sure you'll get used to it soon and you won't even be able to imagine having to think about it."
"Can you still call me Livie even if my name's not Olivia."
The junior sighed. "I don't want to confuse you or make it any harder for you to adjust." She considered it for a moment before giving her final answer. "If you still want me to, I'll call you Livie but only when it's just us because I don't want to disrespect your mom and dad or the name that they gave you, so around them, I'll probably just call you my little nicknames like my sweet girl but when it's just us, I'll call you Livie, deal?"
"Deal." The little girl kissed her sister's cheek. "Thank you Bria."
"You're very welcome Baby, you know I love you so much?"
She grinned. "Uh huh everyday to the end of the universe."
The junior smiled and started tickling her. "That's right Livie."
She laughed as she continued, watching her little sister giggle as she thrashed back and forth. She stopped after a few more seconds to let the little girl breathe and was somewhat surprised when she hugged her tightly. The junior returned the hug and heard her sister whisper. "I love you everyday to the end of the universe too."
When they went down for dinner, the two boys were on one side and the two girls were on the other while the parents sat at the heads of the table. Lucille spoke up, directing her attention to Gabriella and Lilliana. "So girls, I called my boss earlier so I have tomorrow off to get you two organised for school. Lilly, you'll be going to East primary with Jakie and Gabriella, you'll go to East High with Troy. Isn't that exciting Lilly?" The little girl nodded so Lucille pushed a bit further. "What subjects do you like?"
"English, music and art."
"That sounds like lots of fun. Jakie, do you like those subjects?"
The boy responded. "They're alright, I like PE better."
"Just like your dad and brother aren't you Kiddo?" She laughed slightly as he nodded resolutely before she turned her attention to Gabriella. "And we'll have both your school tours tomorrow and Gabriella, we'll sign you up for classes, what do you currently take?"
"I take mostly AP subjects so English Literature, Calculus BC, Biology, Chemistry, US History and then social studies."
Troy rolled his eyes, whispering under his breath. "A nerd and a try hard."
"I'm only trying to get the best GPA I can, that was just to give me the most options for when I was back home."
Seeing that it was a difficult subject, Lucille stepped in. "Troy, that's enough and don't act like you don't take english lit, calculus and chemistry." She directed her speech to Gabriella. "I'm sure we could talk to Principal Matsui tomorrow about openings in those classes, they are great subjects you've chosen. Do you have an extra-curricular activities that you want to sign up for?" The teen shook her head. "Alright, do you know what you'd like to do after you graduate?"
"Umm I haven't completely decided but either medicine, law or psychology."
Troy scoffed and Jack pulled him up. "Troy Alexander, another noise from you and I will bench you from practice tomorrow in front of your teammates, understood?" The teen nodded. "Good now apologise to Gabriella."
"Sorry." He noticed the glare from his father and rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry Gabriella."
"It's fine Troy, don't worry about it." She laughed slightly "You're not the first and certainly won't be the last."
Lucille looked at the time. "Alright everyone, it's 8:30. Troy, Gabriella, I don't mind what you two do because you're older but Jakie and Lilly, it's bedtime now so go brush your teeth and hop into bed. Jacob went off as his mother said but Lilliana stayed downstairs with Gabriella, making Troy roll his eyes.
"Lil, you don't need to wait for her, go up and brush your teeth like mommy said."
"No it's scary."
Gabriella spoke to the parents. "She always gets a little anxious in new places, after 2 or 3 days, she'll be fine."
Troy interjected his opinion. "How about you let Lilliana tell us that instead of speaking for her."
Lilliana spoke up before Gabriella could, glaring at her older brother. "Stop being mean to Bria."
"I'm sorry Lil, I didn't mean to upset you." The boy was taken back by the outburst, his little sister had been so quiet the whole time he'd seen her. "Can I have a hug before you go to bed?"
The little girl reluctantly hugged her brother before standing back beside her sister who held her hand. "I'm going to get her settled now but thank you again for having me, I really appreciate it."
Jack dismissed it. "Gabriella, it's honestly fine, no need to thank us."
"Ok well good night." She leant down to her sister. "Can you go give your mom and dad a hug?"
The girl nodded and hugged both her parents. "Good night."
"Good night Lilly, we love you." Lilliana looked down, not knowing how to respond which they picked up on. "It's alright Angel, we understand if you're not ready to say it yet. Sweet dreams."
As they walked up the stairs, they ran into Jacob who hugged them both. "Good night Lilly, good night Gabriella."
The 16-year-old smiled, responding for both of them. "Good night Jakie, we'll see you in the morning."
The girls brushed their teeth and got into their bed before the little girl spoke up. "Bria?" The teen hummed her response. "Do I have to call them mom and dad?"
"Oh Livie, I really don't think that's my decision to make." She pulled her onto her lap. "I think that's something you need to talk to them about but I know that that idea scares you." Lilliana nodded. "Well it's not my place to say what you're allowed to call them but I think you should try to call them mom and dad because I think it would make them very happy. But above that, they want you to feel comfortable so whatever you feel comfortable calling them."
"But I don't want to call them mom and dad if you're not."
"They're not my parents Baby, I have no right to call them mom and dad but I know that they'd really love to hear it from you. You don't have to do it straight away, only when you're ready. How about we talk to your mom tomorrow?" She nodded. "Alright, well your mom and dad want you to be in bed now and I know that neither of us got much sleep last night, so let's head to sleep now ok?" Gabriella did their special goodnight ending with "Tomorrow's another day Sweet Girl and I love you everyday to the end of the universe. Sweet dreams Livie."
"Sweet dreams Bria, I love you too."
