Please bear with me. I am taking some liberties with the courtroom scene. I have very close family members that are at the last stage of adoption. I thought this would be a cute way to finish up a long process. In my story, the process from start to finish took several months. In reality, we are coming up on two years for my soon-to-be niece. Thanks for understanding. I try hard to make everything I write to be as realistic as possible. I do hours of research for my stories, but in this case, I went with my heart. Read Review.

She Ain't My Blood, But She's My Girl

Chapter 37

Today is the day the Judge signs the papers. The day that Amelia Virginia Dugray officially becomes Amelia Virginia Huntzburger. The Judge signed the 'termination of parental rights and recorded the 'intent to adopt' documents with the Clerk of Courts in March. There is a standard 31-day wait after the documents are filed with the court before the Judge can sign them officially. Due to circumstances beyond their control, it has been 45 days for the 'intent to adopt' The 'termination of parental rights has already been signed and filed with the clerk of courts.

From the day the papers were filed, Rory and Logan have been working with Mia on learning to spell Huntzburger. She was excited. She doesn't understand it all, but she knows that Logan is her daddy. The original appointment with the Judge was in his chambers, but because of the large number of people that will be in attendance, it has been moved to the family court courtroom. The only downfall of this is that reporters will have access.

Logan, Mia, and Rory were waiting in a side room. The courtroom was full. This was one of the smaller family court courtrooms. The courtroom doors were opened to the public at 8:00. Family and friends were allowed to enter the courtroom an hour before the hearing was to start. They are first on the docket. Christopher arranged for a family friend to be the Judge to oversee the Adoption. Straub Hayden was a Connecticut Judicial Branch of Supreme Court Justice. Although his passing was many years ago, Christopher and Francine have stayed in touch with a few of his friends.

Mia was nervous. She didn't understand what was going on. Logan and Rory both had talked to her, but she could tell her momma was nervous. She threw up two times this morning. Rory and Logan have kept their secret for more than 6 weeks. Rory had to make a point in staying away from her Grandma and her momma which has been hard. They are planning the adoption party.

Mia hopped off Logan's lap and went to the door. She opened it just enough that she could see into the courtroom. She watched her daddy do the same thing earlier. She saw her whole family. Logan got up to close the door. He was afraid Mia seeing everyone out there would cause her to be afraid.

"Mia, Honey," Rory said. "Come here, Who do you see out there?" Mia hopped up in Rory's lap.

"See'd Nana, Grandpop, Grammy Emily, and Granddaddy. Grandpa is sitting with Auntie Honor and Auntie Gigi. There is more, but I not remember…..I saw Grampa too."

"Ace, the courtroom is full. Everyone is here." Logan told her. "We have a great support system." Rory nodded.

About that time there was a knock on the door and Collin entered. He was smiling. "Have you seen the people in the courtroom?" he asked. Mia nodded. "Steph, Sookie, and Michel are at the banquet hall making sure everything is going smoothly," Collin told them. Shira, Emily, and Lorelai planned a reception after the proceedings. "Everyone else is here." He was smiling so big. He was happy for his friends. He was happy for Mia. "The Judge will be ready in about 5 minutes," Collin told them before having a seat.

When the five of them emerged from the side room, Logan was carrying Mia. The signs on the courthouse doors explicitly say 'No camera flash' but that didn't stop the reporters. Mia had her face buried in Logan's shoulder. They took their seat at the table in front of the courtroom.

The Bailiff entered the room and everyone stood. When the Judge came in, he motioned for everyone to have a seat. He picked up the folder and read over it. He looked out over the courtroom.

"Well, I see that we have quite the audience." He said, looking around the room. "You must be a very special little girl," he said, directing his attention to Mia. She was sitting in a chair between Logan and Rory. Mia was watching him. He stood up, leaving his perch to walk down in front of Mia. He had his folder with him. He took a chair and sat it in front of the table where the four of them were sitting.

"I see here your name is Amelia, but you like to be called Mia. Is this right?" He asked. Mia nodded her head. The Judge looked at the court reporter and nodded. He was telling her to make note of the head movements.

"My name is Judge Robert Straub Cummingham." He was smiling at Mia. "You can call me Judge Rob. How does that sound?" Mia nodded and smiled. "Your name is Amelia Virginia. Do you know who you are named after?" Mia looked at Rory. Rory nodded her head.

"My granny Trix," Mia said. You could hear the gasp and snickers in the courtroom. Judge Rob looked out over the audience. "Her...Her name is the same as my Nana and my mommy, Lorelai, but her other name is Virginia." Mia said. This time he had to lean in to be able to hear her. She was whispering.

"Do you know who I was named after?" Judge Rob asked. Mia shook her head. "I was named after your grandaddy Straub. He and my granddaddy worked together a long time ago." Mia smiled at him. She was getting comfortable with him now.

"That's a funny name, Straub." She told him. He smiled at her. "Well, so is Trix," he said. This time Mia laughed at him.

"I have some papers here that say you are five years old. Let's see how smart you are. Why are we here today?" he asked.

"Silly, you are the Judge. You work here. I am here so that you can make my name the same as my daddy. Huntzburger." She said the name slowly. Judge Rob sat up straight.

"Okay," He said. "I need you to do one more thing for me before I sign this paper that changes your name to Huntzburger," He said slowly as she did. "Write your name on this piece of paper while I talk to your mommy and daddy." Mia took the paper and pen and started writing.

"I have to ask you these questions. I am sure I know the answers but, I need them for the record. Logan, do you fully understand that when I sign this paper you will be Amelia's daddy. Not just on paper but in every sense of the word?"

Logan swallowed hard. His Adam's apple was moving. "Yes, I understand. I am Mia's daddy. I love her and will always love her." The judge nodded. There were other questions, but Rory and Logan both had read over them and signed them. He didn't want to ask if he understood that if he and Rory divorced that he still had an obligation to Mia.

He looked down at Mia, who was just finishing writing her name. "Well, I see you already know how to write your new name, so I guess the next thing is to sign this paper." The balife motioned for the official photographer to step over. "Mia, will you come stand over here with me?" Judge Rob asked. Mia moved to stand beside Judge Rob. She watched him sign the papers. They both smiled at the camera. He picked her up and stood her on the table.

"By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now introduce you to Amelia Virginia Huntzburger."

The room went wild, there was clapping and yelling and congratulations. Rory had tears rolling down her cheek. Logan was full-on sobbing.