They had spent the next few days getting all the things they would need. Dave had called Aaron and asked him to come help him paint the room. And he figured introducing his daughter to one person at a time would probably be best.

They were up early that morning and ready for the day before Aaron got there at 8:30am. Dave opened the door and let him in.

"Hi Aaron. Thanks for coming." Dave said

"Of course." Aaron said. Dave led him into the kitchen where Rosie was.

Rosie looked up from the table. "Hello." She said getting up and going over to him.

"Hello Rosie." He said, "I'm Aaron." He said putting his hand out

Rosie took his hand and shook it. "Hello."

Dave got Aaron some coffee and they sat and talked for a bit before they headed up to Rosie's room. Everything that could have been moved out of the room and the large furniture had been moved to the middle of the room and covered in plastic.

They started by patching up a couple dents in the wall before adding a coat of primer. Dave and Aaron teaching Rosie how to do so. Rosie had never painted a room before.

It took them about an hour to prime the room. Once they were done with priming they took a break.

"How are you liking DC so far?" Aaron asked

"I don't know. Haven't seen much of it." Rosie said

"Oh?" He asked

"Yeah. Currently technically grounded." She said

"Ah. Because you took off to go back to California?" Aaron asked

"He told you huh?" Rosie asked

"Yes." Aaron said

"I tell Aaron most things." Dave said.

Rosie nodded. "He's your best friend. I get it." Rosie said

"More like the annoying little brother I never had." Dave said with a smirk

"Who incidentally is your boss." Rosie said with a smirk

Aaron smirked.

"Funny girl." Dave said.

The three of them chuckled and got back to painting. After a couple more coats of paint. Dave ordered pizza and got Aaron and himself a beer out of the fridge. Rosie grabbed herself a can of diet dr. pepper.

"Ah, Dr Pepper. Unfortunately, Jack got his first taste of soda, and it was that." He said

"Jack is your son right?" Rosie asked

"Yes. He's six." Aaron said

"Ah." Rosie said

"Who gave a six-year-old soda?" Dave asked

"Jessica's son." Aaron said

Dave smirked. "What are older cousins for?"

"Yeah. I was less than impressed. He was up past midnight that night." Aaron said

Rosie chuckled.

"How old were you when you had soda for the first time?" Aaron asked

"I think I was ten, but it wasn't dr. pepper It was orange soda." She said

"See that makes more sense. No caffeine in that." Aaron said

"Yeah. So, you take it easy with those too Ro." Dave said

Rosie nodded. "Yes dad." She said rolling her eyes.

The doorbell rang and Rosie went to grab the pizza since she knew her dad had already paid for it.

Aaron looked at Dave. "That's the first time she calls you dad isn't it?" He ask quietly

Dave nodded and smile on his face.

"So, I take it your ignoring the eye rolling?" Aaron asked sipping his beer.

"I'm pretending I didn't see it." Dave said shaking his head

Rosie came back in the room with the pizza, and they all sat and ate and talked.

"I hear your birthday is in a couple weeks." Aaron said

"Yes it is." Rosie said

"Planning anything?" He asked looking between the two.

"Up to her." Dave said

"I don't know." Rosie said

"Doesn't have to be anything big Ro. But you deserve to be celebrated. We can do a BBQ you can meet the rest of the family." Dave suggested

"I guess a BBQ is okay." She said looking down.

"Hey. Ro. Look at me." He said

Rosie looked up at him

"I know you grew up not celebrating. But you deserve to be celebrated." Dave reiterated

She smiled and nodded.

They finished eating and Rosie looked at her dad. "Can I go for a walk? Please."

Dave nodded. "Stay in the neighbourhood please."

She went off before he could change his mind. When she was gone.

"You get her in therapy yet?" Aaron asked

"She doesn't want to. Don't want to push it." Dave said

Aaron nodded. "Yeah. That's a good choice. How do you think she is doing?"

"She's either doing better than expected or she's good at hiding how she is really feeling." Dave said

"Dave. Are you losing your touch?" Aaron asked

"When it comes to her maybe. I just cant help seeing the little girl I lost." Dave said

"Well. She's not that little girl. Which is part of the reason I suggested family counselling." Aaron said

"Maybe you are right." Dave said

"Of course, I am. As your daughter pointed out I am your boss." Aaron said with a smirk

"Oh Aaron. Don't forget who has taught you everything you know." Dave said

Aaron nodded. "You're right. I would not be the agent I am without your training."

/\/\/\/\

Meanwhile Rosie was on her walk. She was staying in the neighbourhood. She saw some fireworks going off not far and started to walk that way. She ended up at a park not far where there was a bunch of teenagers. They were the ones setting them off.

A girl noticed. "Hi." She said. "You can watch. Come over. Don't be shy. I'm Cass." She said

Rosie went over. "I'm Rose."

"Your new around here?" Cass asked

"Yeah. Just moved to the area a couple weeks ago." Rose said.

"Nice." Cass said before she introduced her to the group.

She watched the fireworks. She was there for about 45 minutes watching fireworks and getting to know these new people.

Her phone started to ring. She looked. "Crap." She said

"Mom or dad?" Cass asked

"Dad." She said before she answered. "Sorry. I'm on my way back. I'm 10 mins away." She said before she ended the call.

"I've got to go." She told the group

Cass took her phone and put her number in it. "Text me sometime." Before she gave it back

Rosie smiled. "Will do." She said she put her phone in her pocket and booked it back home. She went inside.

Aaron was just getting ready to leave. "I will see you in a couple weeks." He told her.

"Yes. Thank you for your help with my room." She said

"Of course." Aaron said before he left.

Dave looked at his daughter. "You were gone awhile. Did you leave the neighbourhood?"

Rosie took a breathe. "No. Went to the park a couple streets down. I saw fireworks going off…" She said

"Who was setting them off?" He asked

"A group of teenagers. I made a new friend." She said with a smile

Dave let out a breathe. "I'm glad you made a new friend." He said with a smile

"Me too." Rosie said

"Good. Now I have some things I want to discuss with you. So come to my office with me." He said

Rosie nodded and the two of them went and sat down.

"I got emailed your school and medical records as I told you I would." He said

"Yes." She said "I don't think there would be any surprises." She added

"Well. There was one. But I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and say you either forgot or didn't know." He said

"What is it?" She asked

"Several of your teachers have noted that they spoke to. The people who raised you about getting you tested for ADHD." He said

Rosie looked down. "I'm sorry. I'll focus better next year…" She said

Dave let out a small sigh. "You did know about this?" He asked

"Yes. But I don't have ADHD…. I just need to focus better." She said

"Were you tested?" He asked

"No.. But they knew someone who had ADHD and said I didn't act like him around them, so it was just me not doing what I was supposed to." She said

"I'm not an expert in ADHD but I know that you cant really compare one kid to another and assume that one doesn't have it. Especially a girl vs a boy." He said

She looked up at him.

"I need to get you in to a general practitioner anyways so we will do that first. And we will get you properly tested. Okay?" He said

She nodded.

"Having ADHD does not make you less than or stupid you know that right?" He asked

She shrugged.

"Well, I am telling you it doesn't. It just means your brain works differently. There are lots of people who have ADHD. Famous people even. Who are very smart, talented, and successful in every field. Okay?" he said

She smiled abit and nodded.

He looked at the time. "Its getting late. You should probably head to bed." He told her.

She nodded. "Okay. Night." She said getting up. She went to one of the spare rooms that she was sleeping in that night while her room finished drying and the smell of the paint cleared out. They did use non-toxic paint but the small was still strong. Rosie showered and got into bed. Her mind raced for awhile before she fell asleep.