Third and final part of Unexpected Joy. Once again, I wish I could've done more, but I had little to no ideas. Most of it is just the backstory to Fudge's mother in case you haven't read the new version of Life Could Be a Dream (like I said with Mary Wilcox in LCBAD, Fudge's mother's backstory doesn't justify her actions, but I thought it would be an interesting way to explain them) and Fudge's official adoption is finalised. Like I said, I would've done more with it, but no ideas.

Unexpected Joy (Part 3)

Another month passed. Cameron Bennett and Lucy Kramer, the social workers who had come to Radiator Springs the day after Fudge was born, had been busy digging around to locate Fudge's parents. Now, their search had finally come up with something. It was a shocking and horrible story, but it was also very interesting and very sad as well…

Fudge's biological mother was a woman named Janelle Frost and she was twenty-four years old, originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. Her own parents had died when she was five when their cruise ship sank. After that, Janelle and her brothers were placed in foster care. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well for Janelle. If she wasn't neglected, she was abused and if she wasn't abused, she hated the fact that she had to leave the kind and loving families. It was enough to make anybody bitter and hateful. She got into trouble with the law a lot. In fact, the first time she got arrested was when she was only ten years old for theft.

When she was fourteen, Janelle decided that she couldn't take anymore and ran away from her foster home. She had no job, no home and she hadn't been very good at school. The only way she knew how to make money was prostitution, so that's what she did. She even moved to Las Vegas, so she could do more of it.

The worst part was that what she did to Fudge wasn't even the first time that she'd done it! There had been five other babies since Janelle was eleven. Tragically, only one other baby besides Fudge had survived. He had been adopted years ago and was living in San Francisco.

So, there was no chance they were going to send her back to her mother.

As for her father, he was in prison. He was a former businessman named River Rose; in 1994, he was sent to prison for embezzlement. He was very much the introvert and workaholic who had had difficulty functioning in the real world at the best of times. Coming out of prison had been extremely challenging for him and so, he kept reoffending to wind up back in there. He had just been sent back for five years, so sending Fudge to live with him wasn't an option either.

They also managed to track down Fudge's twin uncles on her mother's side, but while they had interest in the fact that they had a niece, neither one of them could take Fudge. One of them was busy with his job in advertising and his three children while the other one was busy not getting over a divorce.

It was just a typical day in November (November twentieth, to be specific). The weather was beginning to get cold as winter approached. Five-month-old Fudge was at home with her big blue eyes glued to the television screen as she watched the Ferrari races with her dads. The noise didn't scare her anymore; she was just completely enthralled.

"I am so happy she loves Ferraris and racing as much as we do!" Luigi declared for the billionth time, kissing his foster daughter's tiny forehead.

He and Guido didn't think it was possible to love Fudge more than they did the day she was born, but somehow, they found themselves loving her more and more each day. She was just the perfect baby in their eyes. Both of them had always dreamed of having a child, but not even in their wildest dreams could they have ever imagined having one being as wonderful and amazing as this.

Knock, knock, knock!

Fudge seemed a little confused by the strange sound, but Luigi smiled and gave her another kiss.

"There is someone here to see us, Fudgie", he explained as if she could understand what he was saying. He picked her up. "Shall we see who it is?"

"Da", was Fudge's only response.

So, the Fiat carried the baby to the front door where they found Cameron Bennett and Lucy Kramer waiting for them.

Immediately, Luigi's heart sank. He assumed the two social workers were there because they had found Fudge's biological family and she had to go and live with them effective immediately.

He had been freaking out over these thoughts for almost a minute before he realised that he ought to say something. So, finally, he managed to utter the words, "Can I help you?"

"May we come in?" Cameron requested politely. "I believe we have some things we need to discuss."

Luigi nodded fearfully. "Yes. Yes. Come on in." He moved aside to let them in.

So, they all gathered around the kitchen table. Even Fudge sat around with them.

"Well", Cameron began, "we have put in many hours, trying to find Brittney's biological family and… Well, long story short, we don't think it would be a good idea to send her to live with them."

Both Guido and Luigi sighed with relief, but they couldn't help but wonder if it was too soon for that.

"So, what happens to Fudgie now?" Luigi wanted to know.

"Well", Cameron replied slowly, "the American Child Adoption and Foster Care Association have decided that it is time to put Brittney up for adoption."

Luigi nodded. "Okay. So…"

"So, if you are interested, we can work something out", Lucy informed them.

Both Guido and Luigi lit up. Was that a trick question? "Of course! We would love to adopt her!"

It was as simple as that.

Well, the decision was as simple as that, anyway. There was a lot of paperwork to do. That was a long and complicated process, but it was totally worth it.

Once again, Cameron smiled at them as the last signature was scribbled on the last form. "Congratulations!"

The two Italians beamed with pride as they gazed at the forms. Of course, this didn't really change anything. This was just the icing on the cake, really. It just meant that finally, finally, Brittney Angel "Fudge" Rossi-Topolino was officially all theirs. They could really call her their daughter instead of their foster daughter and give her their last names. And that was just the best thing in the world.

Honestly, Cameron and Lucy were thrilled too. After what it had done to her mother, they were glad that they'd managed to keep little Fudge out of the foster system. It was clear that she had a loving home and family in Radiator Springs.

"Oh, Fudgie!" Luigi squealed once the social workers had left after explaining it may take a couple of days to receive the official adoption certificate in the mail. He twirled his daughter around. "You are staying, you are staying!"

Five-month-old Fudge just blew a raspberry, making her official dads laugh, but it was clear that she was very happy too. Even if she did have no idea what was going on.

"(You are staying where you belong, angel!)" Guido added. "(With your family in Radiator Springs!)"

"Oh, Guido!" Luigi shouted. "Why did we never think of adopting a child sooner?" Now that he had one, he couldn't believe the idea had never occurred to him. There was never really anything to do while they waited for customers that never came and he'd always longed for a child. Adoption would have been the perfect solution.

"(Because even though we didn't know it, we were supposed to wait for Fudge)", Guido answered. "(She was meant for us.)"

Luigi didn't think it was possible to feel any happier than he did at that moment, but those words helped. "You are right!" he acknowledged. "I must scream to the world my excitement from the top of someplace very high!" He took a breath. "This is the most glorious day of my life!"

"(Well, we better share it with the rest of Fudge's family then)", Guido pointed out.

His best friend agreed, but first, he wanted the three of them to have some time alone. So, they just parked there in the living room for about an hour, doing practically nothing. Although, not one of the three could stop smiling or laughing the entire time. It was times like these where Guido and Luigi couldn't help but wonder what went on in Fudge's head. Did she understand what had just happened? Or was she just always happy? They weren't entirely sure.

Finally, when Luigi finished changing Fudge's diaper, Guido asked the Fiat if he wanted to go over to Flo's yet.

Luigi nodded enthusiastically. "Okay. I think Fudgie needs to get changed first, though."

"(I will do that)", Guido offered, taking the five-month-old. "(Come on, Fudgie!)"

Guido wanted his daughter to look very special. After all, this was a very special occasion. So, he got the cutest, most beautiful dress his daughter owned, a pale pink one, and dressed her up in that.

"Oh, you look so beautiful, Fudgie!" Luigi declared when he saw her. "Oh, I am so, so happy you are staying with us!"

"(Well, let's go and give everyone else the good news!)" Guido pointed out.

"Well, you two sure look happy", Doc observed with a smile as the two Italians and little Fudge arrived at Flo's that evening. "What did the social workers say?"

Luigi beamed. "Say hello to Fudge Rossi-Topolino, our adopted daughter!"

Everyone immediately began shrieking and crowded around baby Fudge. Her blue eyes widened in curiosity and a little fear as they all charged towards her. However, she was quick to shift to joy and laughter as she was tossed into the air gently, hugged, kissed and exclaimed over.

"Well, Fudge", Doc remarked with a laugh, "I'm afraid you're stuck with us."

Everyone laughed.

"Guess that means she's part of the family now", Ramone added.

Luigi shook his hood as he reclaimed his daughter from the overjoyed residents. "Not now", he corrected the Lowrider. "She always has been part of our family and she always will be."

"That's right, man", Fillmore confirmed. "Her so-called mom didn't abandon her. She brought her home."

"Still, she's here to stay and that deserves some celebration!" Flo shouted. "Lizzie! Put some music on!"

The black Model T did just that and immediately, Luigi began dancing with Fudge, who just laughed and smiled and gurgled with delight. She knew that she was really home.

The party lasted for an entire week. During that time, they had Thanksgiving. Before the meal started, everyone had to name one thing they were thankful for. Although, in recent years, most of them had been struggling to come up with something. Now, all of them proclaimed that they were thankful for Fudge. Well, okay, not all of them said those exact words. Some of them said things like they were thankful for a growing family or finally having a reason to smile again. But yes. More or less, everyone was thankful for Fudge.

Finally, on the Monday after Thanksgiving, seven days after Guido and Luigi had signed the paperwork, the official adoption certificate came.

"It is here!" Luigi squealed, waving an envelope excitedly. "It is here!"

"Oooh! Let's see!" everyone requested eagerly.

Clear as day, the certificate stated that Brittney Angel Rossi-Topolino was officially the daughter of Guido Rossi and Luigi Topolino. Of course, she wasn't just their child, though. Even though Guido and Luigi were the ones to provide this little girl with a home and did the most to take care of her (and it was clear that they loved her the most), they would all raise her. They would all help her with anything she needed help with. They would all hold her if she cried. They would all nurse her when she was sick. They would all discipline her when she did wrong. They would all make sure that she was safe, healthy and happy. Yes. Everyone in Radiator Springs was going to make sure that whatever path Fudge Rossi-Topolino chose to take, she would be an amazing person. After all, she already was an amazing person if she could melt the hearts of an entire town.

So, yeah... Not great, but that's all I've got. I was going to include Fudge Day celebrations, but I'll save that for another oneshot.

This is the end of Unexpected Joy, but just the beginning of Raising Fudge. I've got quite a few ideas, but let me know if you have any too.

By the way, Tales from Radiator Springs: Volume 2 premieres tomorrow, beginning with another Christmas special (my first was From Us to You). So, stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, please review! :)