The dinner was ordered, Makayla had already bathed and dressed in pj's and ready for movie night..

It had been a long exhausting day and while it had been fun one they were all ready to relax and just enjoy each other's company.

Work had been full on for a good six weeks, they had finally closed the toughest case they had worked on in a long time.

Makayla had struggled during that time, she was lucky if she got to see at least one of them for more that an hour or so at a time.

It had led to tears and sleepless nights.

They promised her as soon as the case was wrapped up they would have a family day where she would get to make all the decisions.

A yes day, if you will.

They knew they'd have to set a few rules and came up with just two, albeit two very important rules.

No pets

They had to stay within a thee hour drive of Chicago.

Their day started before sunrise for a trip to the zoo, which Makayla decided they would be there for when it opened, she also planned out what exhibits they would see first and what ones they could skip.

The reptile house was a hard pass for her, she didn't want to see snakes or any other creepy creatures.

After the zoo they'd hit up the aquarium, Makayla was currently obsessed with penguins and she spent much of their visit watching them, she also managed to walk out of the gift shop with a couple of stuffed penguins, a cute shirt adorned with penguins, a penguin necklace, a pair of penguin earrings for her and Kim, so they could match and a penguin coffee mug for Adam so he didn't feel left out.

They then moved on to the park for a picnic lunch, they then headed for Navy Pier.

Makayla then wanted to have their dinner door dashed to their house because it was super cool and Kim always said no to door dash because it was silly to pay extra for food to be delivered when they were quite capable of picking up their own food.

Kim couldn't help but think that Adam had put Mack up to that one, as he was always advocating for door dash.

All that was left was to wait for their dinner before settling in for a movie, Mack was currently watching the door dash driver's progress on Adam's iPad.

Adam was laying on the couch when Kim returned from her shower, she too was dressed in her pajamas and was very obviously exhausted.

"Today was a day." She sighed as she motioned for Adam to move his legs so she could sit down on the couch with him, "We must have walked miles today, everything hurts."

"Definitely." Adam handed her a throw pillow, she placed it behind her head as she laid down and dropped her legs in Adam's lap, "it was worth it though. Mack had a blast. She was all smiles and giggles today."

"She deserved today. We all did." Truth be told they needed it as much as Mack did. They needed some normalcy, they needed to make some happy memories as a family.

"We needed it. My wallet? Not so much." Adam laughed, "I loved seeing her face light up, she is a great kid, Kim. You're an amazing mom to her. She adores you." He loved watching as Makayla dragged Kim from one spot to the next, rattling off facts about penguins as she did so. "she's a smart kid too, she really loves animals doesn't she?"

Kim nodded, her head in agreement "She is crazy about animals.I appreciate you saying I'm an an amazing mom, it's sweet of you to say that but I think you're being generous." Kim blushed a bit, she felt a bit uncomfortable when people praised her as a mother, she was only two years into being Makayla's mother and felt that her biological mother had laid the foundation of who Makayla was.

"I"m not being generous, it's the truth." Adam replied.

"Mommy!" Makayla called from the front of the house, "our driver is approaching!" She was so excited for the delivery.

Adam jumped up from the couch, "I'm starved."

They devoured the pizza, Mack and Kim cuddled up on the couch as Adam sat in the recliner Disney plus pulled up on the television as Makayla searched for a movie.

She suddenly looked at Kim, almost as if she needed a little push to make a decision on the movie, "Now? Can I do it now?"

Kim smiled, "Absolutely."

Makayla got up and ran off to her bedroom, "What am I missing?" Adam asked Kim, "What does she want to do?"

"You'll see." Kim was excited for what was about to happen. It was long overdue and it just made sense that it happened on yes day. Though she had a hunch that it didn't require a yes day.

Makayla returned from her room, her notebook in her hand.

She cleared her throat and looked a bit nervous but she started to read, her voice was soft but clear.

"A daddy is someone who loves you, someone who helps you with homework. A daddy is funny, he makes funny faces to make you laugh. A daddy will say he broke mommy's favorite vase even when he didn't and you did" Makayla looked at Kim a bit sheepishly, she had accidentally broken Kim's favorite vase shortly after they moved in with Adam. "Sorry, mommy." She said before returning to her notebook, "A daddy is a very special person who doesn't always look like you or is the one who helped to make you. I never had a daddy before but I think you are my daddy. You do all the things a daddy does and I love you so much, so will you be my daddy?"

Adam was an absolute mess, he was openly crying and did the only thing he could do, he pulled the little girl into his arms. He was a puddle of emotion as he spun his little girl around in his arms.

Kim watched with tears in her eyes.

After a few minutes Adam put her down and crouched down in front of her, "Oh princess, you have no idea how happy you've made me. I will absolutely be your daddy, I love you beyond words, my girl. You've been my little girl in my heart since the day Kim brought you home." He had a hold of her face and wiped away her tears before kissing her cheek and hugged her again.

Kim joined their hug, "I think it's time we make it official, I've already started the process of having the papers drawn up." When Makayla had asked her about Adam's role in her life when they moved in with him she started looking into it. As time went on and the bond between Adam and Makayla grew stronger she knew it was the next logical step.

It didn't require a 'yes day', Kim knew she didn't even have to ask Adam, he already saw Makayla as his daughter, but it was important to Kim that it was official both for Adam and Makayla.

They finally settled in for a movie, not that Adam was watching it he couldn't take his eyes off his little girl, hearing her call him 'daddy' was unlike anything he had ever felt before and she had called him some variation of 'daddy' at least a dozen times in the span of an hour or so.

As the credits rolled on their movie Mack out cold on the couch, Kim whispered to Adam, "Can you put her in her bed?"

"Yeah." Adam replied he carefully lifted her from the couch and brought her to her bedroom and laid her down.

"G'night daddy." Mack mumbled still half asleep, "I love you"

"I love you too princess, go back to sleep. It's been a busy day." Adam didn't think he'd ever tire of hearing her call him 'daddy'.

It was Kim's turn to be nervous, she was growing anxious as she waited for Adam to return from putting Mack to bed, it seemed to take forever.

"Wow.." Adam finally returned, "I just had to watch her sleep for a bit, this is unreal. I can't tell you how happy I am. This has been the best day." He grabbed a beer from the fridge, he'd been dead tired just a few hours ago but now he felt as if he was walking on air, "you've no idea how happy I am." He was rambling a bit but he didn't care.

Kim just smiled at him, "I think I have an idea. It's an amazing feeling isn't it? When she first called me mom it was bittersweet, we had just found her. It was a lot of emotions but it was still a beautiful moment."

"What do I need to do to make it official? Do I just sign something? Do we need to go to court? How soon can we make it happen? I can't believe this is actually happening. It's wild. I've wanted this for so long Kim. I promise I won't let you down, I'm in this for the long haul. I hope you know that. This is my family. You and Mack. This is where I belong. Where I want to be. I know you're not ready for us to be together, I don't know if you will ever be and…"

"Adam.." Kim tried to speak but Adam kept going.

"As much as I want that, I know that it may not be in the cards and that's okay. I will always be here for you and Mack. This family is it for me, you're all I need. I want you to know that."

"Are you done?"

Adam chuckled a bit, "Sorry, I'm all over the place. I'm just so happy."

"I know you are." Kim smiled, "I am too. You have proven yourself time and time again, and I didn't always see it. I didn't want to see it because I didn't want to need you, to depend on you because I was afraid. I was afraid that if I let you in that I would lose you and that terrified me." She could see that he wanted to speak so she grabbed his hand, "Please let me finish. I have always felt loved by you but at the beginning I didn't trust my heart in your hands. I was afraid you'd eventually leave that I wasn't what or who you wanted. I did the only thing I could think of, I walked away. By ending things with you, you couldn't hurt me by leaving."

"Kim…" Adam sighed, "That's water under the bridge. We both made mistakes. We're different now. I'm different."

"You are different." Kim agreed, "I'm different too, I think we've both grown. Grown up. Growing up gives you clarity, being a parent gives your clarity. Nearly dying gives you clarity. It's made things very clear. I know what I want."

Adam felt his heart begin to race, "what are you trying to say?"

Kim grabbed hold of his face, "I know today was Makayla's yes day but I'm hoping she isn't he only one who gets to hear a yes, Adam Ruzek I love you. I'm so in love with you, you're an amazing man and wonderful father to our daughter. I love how you love her, you'd do anything for her. You continue to show up for me no matter how many times I've pushed you away. I adore you, you're my person. My other half. I don't want to just sleep with you every few months, I want to do it on the regular. I want to do it for the rest of my life. I don't need the flowers and the dress and the bad banquet hall, I need you. That's it. Will you marry me?"

"Yes." Adam squeaked out before kissing her.

The last year and a half had been a whirlwind, Makayla had been overjoyed to learn her parents would be married, their wedding was just two weeks after her yes day she and loved every minute of the small wedding and the massive reception that followed. Her adoption was finalized just a month later, and it too was followed up with a massive party.

The Ruzek family loved a good party.

That excitement didn't come close to the level of excitement she felt when she learned she was going to be a big sister.

Liam Michael was born on a frigid November morning, he tipped the scales at nearly nine pounds and had a head full of soft silky brown hair and big brown eyes just like his mother's.

He was perfect in every way.

He was the missing piece to their family and brought immense joy to their lives.

Makayla was best big sister and the bond she and Liam shared was beautiful.

They had to fight tooth and nail to get here, they faced obstacle after obstacle and some days they felt like throwing in the towel but they kept fighting.

It had been worth it.

They had done it.

They had created the perfect family.

This came together while I was trying to write something completely different from this, I hope it's not awful or too sweet. I know it's short on dialogue but I'm in such a rut that I'm kind of happy I managed to finish something.

I hope you like it!