Author's Note: Hello, Annie fandom! Wow, it feels weird to be writing those words again. Here is the first chapter of a fanfiction rewrite between me and my dear friend, Markaleen. Back in 2015, we worked on the first draft of this, a story about Annie, Molly, and Molly's adventure into adoption. It ended up being one of my personal favorites as far as fanfictions I've written go. Now, six years later, we've come back to it with quite a bit more writing under our belts and more dedication than ever to give this story the love it deserves. This chapter, and all odd-numbered chapters, will be written by Markaleen, while I work on our even-numbered chapters. Hope you enjoy!

For ten years, the sight of the Hudson Street Home for Girls produced nightmares. Growing up there, Annie dreamed of the day she would escape and never look back. It felt funny now that visits here were part of her routine. She even looked forward to them. This evening's visit was extra and under bittersweet circumstances. Parents were finally found for July. While she was happy for her friend, she was sad to see her leave.

"I wish I could have been adopted by someone in New York." July frowned, saying goodbye to Annie and Molly. "Boston seems so far away."

Annie nodded. It was. Oliver went often on business. She went along once by autocopter. Unfortunately, July's new parents didn't have access to one of those.

It was hard to believe she was seeing one the last of her orphan friends go off with her new family. She was happy, of course, but had never envisioned it would break all of them up. Oliver had arranged most of them, so at least she knew she would see them again someday, but it wasn't the same as coming over to visit whenever they wanted.

Molly was the only one now. The orphanage was under new and kinder management. This made it more bearable for her to wait it out. Molly was really the first of the girls to find potential parents – in Washington. Friends of President Roosevelt's. They were a kind couple, well off, too. Had they been in New York City, they would have been perfect.

"I can't leave!" Molly cried to Annie the night before she was supposed to move. "What will I do without you?"

"I don't want you to leave either," Annie said. "I'd never see you…"

"Why can't your daddy and Grace adopt me?"

Annie sighed. That had been the hope all along. She dropped hints any time she could. It'd worked to get Oliver and Grace together, why not to adopt Molly as well? But they never seemed to notice. Celebrations were on Annie and Annie alone. The adoption, the party, getting her prepped for school… there didn't seem to be room for another kid in their hearts. She was enough for both of them, so she never asked.

When attentions shifted, they turned to the wedding. Oliver proposed to Grace shortly after the adoption party. Within a month they were married. It was a small but elegant affair. Grace wore a simple dress, or what would be considered simple for the fiancé of a billionaire, and only close friends and whatever family was remaining. Annie was thrilled for her parents, but concern for Molly only grew.

They managed to sabotage the first adoption, though, not on purpose. Molly was so distraught she cried and screamed half the night and when the couple came to finalize the papers and bring her home. Kind as they were, they weren't prepared to take on a child who needed so much extra attention. They didn't have the time. From there, Molly and Annie realized this was a surefire way to keep her in New York.

Talk of one day being sisters grew more frequent and seemed more feasible. "Just give them time!" Annie would say, explaining once they stopped making mushy faces at each other they would realize they wanted another kid. Given this, even when couples from New York started to visit, Molly put on her act for them as well.

Now that July was leaving, a renewed sense of panic set it. After a tearful send off, Annie begged for a few more minutes with Molly, to which Oliver reluctantly agreed.

"You have school tomorrow," he said. "I told Grace we'd be home by seven."

"Just five minutes!" she called to him, already running up the stairs.

"I don't wanna be all alone here, Annie," Molly said plopping down onto her bed. "Now they'll try even harder to find me parents."

Annie had to agree. "Whenever Daddy started to say he found people for you I always told him look for the older girls first. I don't know what to do now."

"But you always know what to do! Can't you just ask them?"

"I dunno… I wanna but I also don't wanna ruin everything. What if they say no? Then it's hopeless."

"Do they not like me?" Molly questioned after several seconds passed. "Why haven't they thought of it already?"

"No, they love you!" Annie assured. Truth be told, she didn't know why the thought hadn't crossed their minds. Oliver didn't surprise her so much, but Grace? Why hadn't she seen how important it was for them to be together? She'd been her hero when it came to getting her out of the orphanage. Why couldn't she be there for Molly as well?

"I'll… I'll think of something," she resolved. "Daddy's got a factory tour soon. He'll be gone for a couple of weeks at least. No time to be looking for couples while he's away. And Mom will be too busy working to look either. I know she's started asking around as well."

Molly nodded. "Maybe when he gets home he'll realize he wants another kid?"

Putting her arm around the smaller girl, Annie said, "Golly, I hope so."