Disclaimer: I do not own Mutant X, Tribune Entertainment, Marvel Comics,
and Fireworks.
Mutant X
"The Struggle"
Chapter 3 - New Beginnings.
7:00 pm Sanctuary
"Shalimar, what were you thinking?" Adam asked.
"I was thinking.that little girl deserves better than those parents!" Shalimar told him. "What else could I do? Her mother even slapped her in front of me because she forgot to pick her up from school, now just imagine their reaction if the glasses had been broken."
"Shalimar, you need to take her to the police tomorrow and see if you can have social services help Analyn."
"She doesn't deserve to have to go into a foster home, Adam. Can't she stay here?"
"Shalimar, if social services lets you keep her then they're going to want to see your home and inspect it and inspect you and your family and they're going to want to check up on you."
"So, we can use an apartment or a house or something can't we? Come on, Adam you have to have some kind of connection like that."
"Are you really sure you want to do this? Shalimar, have you even talked to Brennan about this?"
"No. Not yet."
"Have you thought how hard it might be to raise a New Mutant and a non-New Mutant child? I mean you and Brennan are suppose to be both their parents if you do this and you're both New Mutants."
"So? Just because we're New Mutants doesn't mean that we can't care about Analyn because she's not a New Mutant."
"I'm just saying there's a lot to be done. You first need to all four talk about it, get somewhere to be your show home, and you need to pass social services' tests."
"I know. I understand all of that."
"Then go talk it over with your husband.remember Shalimar you're not so alone anymore. You have a husband and a daughter."
"I know.I guess I'm just not totally used to it.and plus I always talk to you about stuff."
"Yes, well go talk to Brennan, then Sierra and Analyn."
"Okay, thanks Adam."
"I'm always here for you Shalimar."
7:30 pm Sanctuary
Shalimar found Brennan playing with the girls in the garden area. When she entered they all stopped for a second. "Shal' what's going on?" Brennan asked.
"I need to talk to you," Shalimar told him.
"Oookay, so why don't you two go find Emma, Jesse, or Adam and play with them for a while?" Brennan suggested.
"Why don't we go look through the books I brought with me from London?" Sierra suggested instead.
"Really?" Analyn asked.
"Most are in French, they're all quite lovely books," Sierra said leading Analyn to her room.
"Are we sure she's ours?" Brennan asked.
"Yes.and she's nothing like us," Shalimar sighed.
"She looks like us."
"But that's about it."
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Brennan asked wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Analyn."
"What about her?"
"I want us to keep her."
"Shal', what about her parents?"
"They're incompetent! They shouldn't even have a child.I mean if you saw how they treated her then you'd feel the same way. Please?"
"What are we going to do?"
"Adam has to get us a house or apartment or something.he's going to do that tomorrow. I'll take Analyn down to the police station and explain what happened to social services and then ask that we get custody of her. They'll have to check us both out and where we live."
"And since we live here, we have to pretend to live somewhere else."
"Exactly."
"Shal', what about us? I mean our pasts. We don't really have jobs."
"Adam's taking care of it."
"Okay."
"So, is it okay?"
"If you want to do this then it's okay with me."
"Thanks Brennan!" Shalimar said happily and kissed him. "Let's go talk to the girls!" Shalimar and Brennan went off to find Sierra and Analyn. Minutes later they entered Sierra's room where they were both reading.
Sierra looked up, "Mum, Dad, what's going on?"
"We all need to talk about something," Shalimar said.
"If it's about how we're different, I won't tell! I promise!" Analyn told them.
"No, it's not about that, but thank you," Brennan told her.
"It's about you Analyn. We want you to stay with us," Shalimar announced.
"Really?" Sierra asked.
"Yes."
"But my mother and father would never let." Analyn said.
"But they don't treat you like they should.I even saw your mother hit you," Shalimar explained. "All you have to do is tell the lady down at the police station who's in charge of keeping kids safe about what's going on. How your mother slapped you, the fighting, the yelling, how they forget you at school, and about your glasses."
"Really? That's it?" Analyn asked.
"Yep, and if you want you can come stay with us."
"Here?"
"Well, we'll have to stay in an actual house or apartment for a while until social services okays us. Maybe we can even adopt you. How would you like that?" Shalimar asked.
"I would like it very much," Analyn told her smiling.
"I would love to have a big sister even if she's only a few months older than me," Sierra said hugging Analyn.
"So, tomorrow we'll go shopping and make sure that you have enough uniforms for school," Shalimar said.
"Thank you so much!" Analyn said hugging Shalimar and then Brennan.
"Well let's find a way to get."
"Watch out," came the voice of Jesse. "Bed coming through." Jesse was carrying in a bed for Analyn. He set it down next to the bed stand. "Emma's bringing the sheets and stuff."
"Thanks Jesse."
8:00 am Police Station
The lady that handled social services was very friendly and seemed to respond well to Analyn. She even let Sierra sit with them while they talked to make Analyn more comfortable. "Now Analyn, if we act and it is how you say it is then we'll have to place you in a home."
"Can I make a request?" Analyn asked.
"You can and I'll try to make your request work, but I can't promise anything."
"I was wondering if I can stay with Sierra and her parents? It would be a very good place for me.cause Sierra knows French too and we both like to read and we're both.well outcasts at school. Please?"
"Mrs. Mulwray?" the social service lady asked.
"We'd be happy to have Analyn. I even talk to my husband last night and we're interested in adopting Analyn and wanted to know if that could possibly be done?" Shalimar asked very calmly.
"If her parents are deem unfit as parents and you and your husband check out then yes that could be a definite possibility. The fact that Analyn and Sierra have much in common and that you took her in will also weigh in your favor."
"Okay."
"Well I'm giving you temporary custody of Analyn. Please fill out these forms. I'll give you a call as soon as I know something. Thank you."
"No thank you," Shalimar said taking the papers.
"Oh and Mrs. Mulwray, when my team goes to her house we'll pack up her things if they are deemed unfit."
"Do you have a time you'll know that?"
"Tomorrow afternoon probably. Oh and I'll contact FDR Academy and let them know that you and your husband are to have custody of Analyn."
"Can you just ask them to release her to the same people as on Sierra's card? I have three friends that are like my family that sometimes drop off and pick up."
"I see. Will you make sure Analyn is familiar with them?"
"Of course, she's already met them."
"Adam, even fixed my glasses for me," Analyn told her.
"How very nice of him."
"Okay Mrs. Mulwray."
"Thank you. Just so you know, if you try to call between three and five thirty we'll probably be doing a little school shopping. That and it's starting to get cold."
"Can we get a few books, too?" Sierra asked hopefully.
"Yes, but I don't know if the bookstore in the mall has books in French. You can always have us order some online," Shalimar suggested.
"Okay, but can we get two books today?"
"Yes, you can each pick out two."
"Really?" Analyn asked surprised.
"Yes, so let's get you to school," Shalimar said as they left and headed for FDR Academy.
9:30 am
FDR Academy
Shalimar walked the girls to the office and made sure that they had gotten the call from the social service worker and then made sure that a note was sent to their teacher letting her know. Sierra and Analyn then walked to class and then when they were locked securely inside of the school she got into her car and headed back to Sanctuary.
10:00 am Sanctuary
Adam had found the Mulwray family a house. Adam had arranged it so that it looked like it was given to them by their families as a gift. Adam and Emma helped Shalimar pack up all of their stuff and move into the house. While Brennan and Jesse went out to get extra beds and furniture that wasn't being used from the safe houses.
2:00 pm Mulwray Residence
The house was beautiful; it was a two-story house with a big backyard with a pool, a flowery front yard, and a white picket fence. It only took them a few hours to out everything together. They were done just in time to pick the girls up from school. Adam, Jesse, and Emma were left at the house to do last minute things while Brennan and Shalimar went to pick up Sierra and Analyn from school.
2:30 pm FDR Academy
Shalimar and Brennan were right on time when they pulled up. All of the kids marched out in their strait lines and filed off to their parents. Shalimar and Brennan got out of the car and went looking for Analyn and Sierra. That day their class just happened to be the last one out. The girls quickly ran to them and then went to the car. Brennan was driving and Shalimar was in the passenger sit, she turned so that she could talk to the girls. "I know I said that I would take you shopping right after school, but we need to stop somewhere first."
"Where?" Sierra asked curiously.
"Home," Brennan said as they pulled up to their new house. "And here we are."
"This is where we're going to live?" Sierra exclaimed happily.
"Really? This is so cool!" Analyn joined in with Sierra.
"Can we go in?"
"Only to drop your stuff off and change," Shalimar told them. "I promised Adam that we'd stay out of the way. So, we'll show you your rooms and a quick tour of the house and then we're going shopping, okay?"
"We get our own rooms?" Sierra asked.
"Yes, but they have a door in between so you two can visit whenever you want."
"Ohh! That's neat!" Analyn told Sierra.
"So, let's go. I put a set of clothes upstairs for each of you," Shalimar said as they got out of the car. She and Brennan followed the girls in as they ran up to the front door.
"Hey!" Jesse said opening the door for the girls.
"Hi Uncle Jesse!" Sierra said quickly before she and Analyn made it past him and ran up the carpeted staircase. "Are these our rooms?" Sierra asked her parents pointing down the hall to the last two doors.
"Yes, now remember what I told you," Shalimar told them.
"We know!" Analyn and Sierra said in unison before shutting the doors.
Minutes later, the two girls came running down the stairs in white tennis shoes, blue jean capris, a white shirt, and with a long sleeve button up shirt which was not buttoned up at all. Analyn's long sleeve shirt was light blue; her hair was still in two French braids. While Sierra had on a rose colored long sleeved shirt on and her hair was in its ringlets as always. "Aww look at our two cute little girls!" Brennan said.
"Yes, they look very good together," came the voice of the social worker. "And I just got word that you were right Mrs. Mulwray. Analyn is still under your temporary custody," she said. "Are you Mr. Mulwray?" she asked turning to Brennan.
"Yes, I'm Brennan Mulwray," Brennan said shaking her hand.
"Angela Baker," she told him.
"Nice to meet you."
"Yes, well Analyn's items will be arriving in about an hour," Angela told them as she turned to leave.
"Wait," Shalimar said.
"Yes, Mrs. Mulwray?"
"What about adoption? Oh! And I have those papers filled out," she said picking them off of the table and handing them to Ms. Baker.
"Well, this will get it going."
"Thank you," Brennan told her before she left.
"Okay, so come on," Shalimar said as she saw Sierra sit down on the stairs. "Sierra?"
"I don't want them to take Analyn!" Sierra told her parents.
"Sierra, we're going to try to adopt Analyn, you two will be sisters."
"But it's not for sure."
"No, but we are trying."
"We all are," Adam interrupted. "Analyn, I have an idea on how to keep your glasses from getting broken."
"Really?" Analyn asked suddenly perked up.
"Contact lenses," Adam said holding up a small plastic container that had two separate compartments. "I have them now if you'd like to try."
Analyn looked down at Sierra, "go on." Sierra encouraged.
"What do I have to do?" Analyn asked.
"You have to just take out the lenses one at a time. Put one on your finger and then put it on your eye," Adam explained.
"Sounds too easy," Analyn said.
"It always does, so what do you say?" Adam asked holding out the container.
"Can I do it upstairs in my room?"
"Yeah. I'll wait down here."
"Okay.come on Sierra!" Analyn said pulling Sierra with her.
Fifteen minutes went by, and Brennan, Shalimar, and Adam were starting to get nervous. "What's taking so long?" Shalimar asked impatiently, but Adam and Brennan only shrugged. "Sierra! Analyn! We need to go soon!" Shalimar shouted up towards their rooms.
"Coming Mum!" Sierra yelled as she and Analyn came running down the stairs.
"I did it!" Analyn exclaimed handing Adam her glasses.
"I'm very proud of you," he told her taking the glasses.
"What do you think?" Analyn asked turning to Brennan and Shalimar.
"I think you have beautiful brown eyes." Shalimar said holding the sides of Analyn's face before hugging her. "Wait a second," Shalimar told Analyn pulling out the two bands that were holding the ends of her braids together. Shalimar undid both braids and then combed her fingers through Analyn's red hair. "Much better."
"I'm not sure if Uncle Jesse and Aunt Emma will recognize you," Sierra told Analyn.
"What? Did I hear our names?" Emma asked as she and Jesse entered the room.
"I was talking about you," Sierra said.
"Good things I hope," Jesse said.
"Of course, I was just saying that you wouldn't be able to."
"Where's Analyn?" Emma asked Adam.
"She's here," he told her.
"Where's she hiding?" Jesse asked.
"I'm right here!" Analyn told them.
"No, you can't be Analyn.Analyn has glasses and she wears her hair in two braids."
"Yeah, you can't be Analyn," Emma agreed.
"I am!"
"Then we're are your glasses?"
"Adam gave me contact lenses," Analyn explained. "And Mrs. Mulwray took out my braids."
"I like it," Emma said.
"Me too," Jesse said. "So when are you guys leaving? The mall's going to be closed before you leave."
"We're leaving.we can do a tour of the house later," Shalimar said exiting with the girls.
"Wait!" Emma said. "I'm coming too!"
"What is this girls night out or something?" Brennan asked.
"Now it is!"
TBC.
Mutant X
"The Struggle"
Chapter 3 - New Beginnings.
7:00 pm Sanctuary
"Shalimar, what were you thinking?" Adam asked.
"I was thinking.that little girl deserves better than those parents!" Shalimar told him. "What else could I do? Her mother even slapped her in front of me because she forgot to pick her up from school, now just imagine their reaction if the glasses had been broken."
"Shalimar, you need to take her to the police tomorrow and see if you can have social services help Analyn."
"She doesn't deserve to have to go into a foster home, Adam. Can't she stay here?"
"Shalimar, if social services lets you keep her then they're going to want to see your home and inspect it and inspect you and your family and they're going to want to check up on you."
"So, we can use an apartment or a house or something can't we? Come on, Adam you have to have some kind of connection like that."
"Are you really sure you want to do this? Shalimar, have you even talked to Brennan about this?"
"No. Not yet."
"Have you thought how hard it might be to raise a New Mutant and a non-New Mutant child? I mean you and Brennan are suppose to be both their parents if you do this and you're both New Mutants."
"So? Just because we're New Mutants doesn't mean that we can't care about Analyn because she's not a New Mutant."
"I'm just saying there's a lot to be done. You first need to all four talk about it, get somewhere to be your show home, and you need to pass social services' tests."
"I know. I understand all of that."
"Then go talk it over with your husband.remember Shalimar you're not so alone anymore. You have a husband and a daughter."
"I know.I guess I'm just not totally used to it.and plus I always talk to you about stuff."
"Yes, well go talk to Brennan, then Sierra and Analyn."
"Okay, thanks Adam."
"I'm always here for you Shalimar."
7:30 pm Sanctuary
Shalimar found Brennan playing with the girls in the garden area. When she entered they all stopped for a second. "Shal' what's going on?" Brennan asked.
"I need to talk to you," Shalimar told him.
"Oookay, so why don't you two go find Emma, Jesse, or Adam and play with them for a while?" Brennan suggested.
"Why don't we go look through the books I brought with me from London?" Sierra suggested instead.
"Really?" Analyn asked.
"Most are in French, they're all quite lovely books," Sierra said leading Analyn to her room.
"Are we sure she's ours?" Brennan asked.
"Yes.and she's nothing like us," Shalimar sighed.
"She looks like us."
"But that's about it."
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Brennan asked wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Analyn."
"What about her?"
"I want us to keep her."
"Shal', what about her parents?"
"They're incompetent! They shouldn't even have a child.I mean if you saw how they treated her then you'd feel the same way. Please?"
"What are we going to do?"
"Adam has to get us a house or apartment or something.he's going to do that tomorrow. I'll take Analyn down to the police station and explain what happened to social services and then ask that we get custody of her. They'll have to check us both out and where we live."
"And since we live here, we have to pretend to live somewhere else."
"Exactly."
"Shal', what about us? I mean our pasts. We don't really have jobs."
"Adam's taking care of it."
"Okay."
"So, is it okay?"
"If you want to do this then it's okay with me."
"Thanks Brennan!" Shalimar said happily and kissed him. "Let's go talk to the girls!" Shalimar and Brennan went off to find Sierra and Analyn. Minutes later they entered Sierra's room where they were both reading.
Sierra looked up, "Mum, Dad, what's going on?"
"We all need to talk about something," Shalimar said.
"If it's about how we're different, I won't tell! I promise!" Analyn told them.
"No, it's not about that, but thank you," Brennan told her.
"It's about you Analyn. We want you to stay with us," Shalimar announced.
"Really?" Sierra asked.
"Yes."
"But my mother and father would never let." Analyn said.
"But they don't treat you like they should.I even saw your mother hit you," Shalimar explained. "All you have to do is tell the lady down at the police station who's in charge of keeping kids safe about what's going on. How your mother slapped you, the fighting, the yelling, how they forget you at school, and about your glasses."
"Really? That's it?" Analyn asked.
"Yep, and if you want you can come stay with us."
"Here?"
"Well, we'll have to stay in an actual house or apartment for a while until social services okays us. Maybe we can even adopt you. How would you like that?" Shalimar asked.
"I would like it very much," Analyn told her smiling.
"I would love to have a big sister even if she's only a few months older than me," Sierra said hugging Analyn.
"So, tomorrow we'll go shopping and make sure that you have enough uniforms for school," Shalimar said.
"Thank you so much!" Analyn said hugging Shalimar and then Brennan.
"Well let's find a way to get."
"Watch out," came the voice of Jesse. "Bed coming through." Jesse was carrying in a bed for Analyn. He set it down next to the bed stand. "Emma's bringing the sheets and stuff."
"Thanks Jesse."
8:00 am Police Station
The lady that handled social services was very friendly and seemed to respond well to Analyn. She even let Sierra sit with them while they talked to make Analyn more comfortable. "Now Analyn, if we act and it is how you say it is then we'll have to place you in a home."
"Can I make a request?" Analyn asked.
"You can and I'll try to make your request work, but I can't promise anything."
"I was wondering if I can stay with Sierra and her parents? It would be a very good place for me.cause Sierra knows French too and we both like to read and we're both.well outcasts at school. Please?"
"Mrs. Mulwray?" the social service lady asked.
"We'd be happy to have Analyn. I even talk to my husband last night and we're interested in adopting Analyn and wanted to know if that could possibly be done?" Shalimar asked very calmly.
"If her parents are deem unfit as parents and you and your husband check out then yes that could be a definite possibility. The fact that Analyn and Sierra have much in common and that you took her in will also weigh in your favor."
"Okay."
"Well I'm giving you temporary custody of Analyn. Please fill out these forms. I'll give you a call as soon as I know something. Thank you."
"No thank you," Shalimar said taking the papers.
"Oh and Mrs. Mulwray, when my team goes to her house we'll pack up her things if they are deemed unfit."
"Do you have a time you'll know that?"
"Tomorrow afternoon probably. Oh and I'll contact FDR Academy and let them know that you and your husband are to have custody of Analyn."
"Can you just ask them to release her to the same people as on Sierra's card? I have three friends that are like my family that sometimes drop off and pick up."
"I see. Will you make sure Analyn is familiar with them?"
"Of course, she's already met them."
"Adam, even fixed my glasses for me," Analyn told her.
"How very nice of him."
"Okay Mrs. Mulwray."
"Thank you. Just so you know, if you try to call between three and five thirty we'll probably be doing a little school shopping. That and it's starting to get cold."
"Can we get a few books, too?" Sierra asked hopefully.
"Yes, but I don't know if the bookstore in the mall has books in French. You can always have us order some online," Shalimar suggested.
"Okay, but can we get two books today?"
"Yes, you can each pick out two."
"Really?" Analyn asked surprised.
"Yes, so let's get you to school," Shalimar said as they left and headed for FDR Academy.
9:30 am
FDR Academy
Shalimar walked the girls to the office and made sure that they had gotten the call from the social service worker and then made sure that a note was sent to their teacher letting her know. Sierra and Analyn then walked to class and then when they were locked securely inside of the school she got into her car and headed back to Sanctuary.
10:00 am Sanctuary
Adam had found the Mulwray family a house. Adam had arranged it so that it looked like it was given to them by their families as a gift. Adam and Emma helped Shalimar pack up all of their stuff and move into the house. While Brennan and Jesse went out to get extra beds and furniture that wasn't being used from the safe houses.
2:00 pm Mulwray Residence
The house was beautiful; it was a two-story house with a big backyard with a pool, a flowery front yard, and a white picket fence. It only took them a few hours to out everything together. They were done just in time to pick the girls up from school. Adam, Jesse, and Emma were left at the house to do last minute things while Brennan and Shalimar went to pick up Sierra and Analyn from school.
2:30 pm FDR Academy
Shalimar and Brennan were right on time when they pulled up. All of the kids marched out in their strait lines and filed off to their parents. Shalimar and Brennan got out of the car and went looking for Analyn and Sierra. That day their class just happened to be the last one out. The girls quickly ran to them and then went to the car. Brennan was driving and Shalimar was in the passenger sit, she turned so that she could talk to the girls. "I know I said that I would take you shopping right after school, but we need to stop somewhere first."
"Where?" Sierra asked curiously.
"Home," Brennan said as they pulled up to their new house. "And here we are."
"This is where we're going to live?" Sierra exclaimed happily.
"Really? This is so cool!" Analyn joined in with Sierra.
"Can we go in?"
"Only to drop your stuff off and change," Shalimar told them. "I promised Adam that we'd stay out of the way. So, we'll show you your rooms and a quick tour of the house and then we're going shopping, okay?"
"We get our own rooms?" Sierra asked.
"Yes, but they have a door in between so you two can visit whenever you want."
"Ohh! That's neat!" Analyn told Sierra.
"So, let's go. I put a set of clothes upstairs for each of you," Shalimar said as they got out of the car. She and Brennan followed the girls in as they ran up to the front door.
"Hey!" Jesse said opening the door for the girls.
"Hi Uncle Jesse!" Sierra said quickly before she and Analyn made it past him and ran up the carpeted staircase. "Are these our rooms?" Sierra asked her parents pointing down the hall to the last two doors.
"Yes, now remember what I told you," Shalimar told them.
"We know!" Analyn and Sierra said in unison before shutting the doors.
Minutes later, the two girls came running down the stairs in white tennis shoes, blue jean capris, a white shirt, and with a long sleeve button up shirt which was not buttoned up at all. Analyn's long sleeve shirt was light blue; her hair was still in two French braids. While Sierra had on a rose colored long sleeved shirt on and her hair was in its ringlets as always. "Aww look at our two cute little girls!" Brennan said.
"Yes, they look very good together," came the voice of the social worker. "And I just got word that you were right Mrs. Mulwray. Analyn is still under your temporary custody," she said. "Are you Mr. Mulwray?" she asked turning to Brennan.
"Yes, I'm Brennan Mulwray," Brennan said shaking her hand.
"Angela Baker," she told him.
"Nice to meet you."
"Yes, well Analyn's items will be arriving in about an hour," Angela told them as she turned to leave.
"Wait," Shalimar said.
"Yes, Mrs. Mulwray?"
"What about adoption? Oh! And I have those papers filled out," she said picking them off of the table and handing them to Ms. Baker.
"Well, this will get it going."
"Thank you," Brennan told her before she left.
"Okay, so come on," Shalimar said as she saw Sierra sit down on the stairs. "Sierra?"
"I don't want them to take Analyn!" Sierra told her parents.
"Sierra, we're going to try to adopt Analyn, you two will be sisters."
"But it's not for sure."
"No, but we are trying."
"We all are," Adam interrupted. "Analyn, I have an idea on how to keep your glasses from getting broken."
"Really?" Analyn asked suddenly perked up.
"Contact lenses," Adam said holding up a small plastic container that had two separate compartments. "I have them now if you'd like to try."
Analyn looked down at Sierra, "go on." Sierra encouraged.
"What do I have to do?" Analyn asked.
"You have to just take out the lenses one at a time. Put one on your finger and then put it on your eye," Adam explained.
"Sounds too easy," Analyn said.
"It always does, so what do you say?" Adam asked holding out the container.
"Can I do it upstairs in my room?"
"Yeah. I'll wait down here."
"Okay.come on Sierra!" Analyn said pulling Sierra with her.
Fifteen minutes went by, and Brennan, Shalimar, and Adam were starting to get nervous. "What's taking so long?" Shalimar asked impatiently, but Adam and Brennan only shrugged. "Sierra! Analyn! We need to go soon!" Shalimar shouted up towards their rooms.
"Coming Mum!" Sierra yelled as she and Analyn came running down the stairs.
"I did it!" Analyn exclaimed handing Adam her glasses.
"I'm very proud of you," he told her taking the glasses.
"What do you think?" Analyn asked turning to Brennan and Shalimar.
"I think you have beautiful brown eyes." Shalimar said holding the sides of Analyn's face before hugging her. "Wait a second," Shalimar told Analyn pulling out the two bands that were holding the ends of her braids together. Shalimar undid both braids and then combed her fingers through Analyn's red hair. "Much better."
"I'm not sure if Uncle Jesse and Aunt Emma will recognize you," Sierra told Analyn.
"What? Did I hear our names?" Emma asked as she and Jesse entered the room.
"I was talking about you," Sierra said.
"Good things I hope," Jesse said.
"Of course, I was just saying that you wouldn't be able to."
"Where's Analyn?" Emma asked Adam.
"She's here," he told her.
"Where's she hiding?" Jesse asked.
"I'm right here!" Analyn told them.
"No, you can't be Analyn.Analyn has glasses and she wears her hair in two braids."
"Yeah, you can't be Analyn," Emma agreed.
"I am!"
"Then we're are your glasses?"
"Adam gave me contact lenses," Analyn explained. "And Mrs. Mulwray took out my braids."
"I like it," Emma said.
"Me too," Jesse said. "So when are you guys leaving? The mall's going to be closed before you leave."
"We're leaving.we can do a tour of the house later," Shalimar said exiting with the girls.
"Wait!" Emma said. "I'm coming too!"
"What is this girls night out or something?" Brennan asked.
"Now it is!"
TBC.