It Could Be Happy

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Scarlett smiled slightly as she stepped off the plane in Portland. She walked into the main terminal and looked around. Daniel Pierce was standing there with a small smile on his face. She ran to him and fell into his arms.

"Hey Pumpkin." Daniel smiled returning the hug.

"Hi Dan."

"How you doing?"

"I'm not sure. But I'm better now that you're here."

"I missed you too Pumpkin."

"Where's Laura and Andrew?"

"Ms. Houlihan is staying with them."

"Kate's here?"

"She arrived yesterday to get the children. I told her you were coming and she decided to stay until you leave."

"I love that woman. Do the kids know I'm coming?"

"They sure do. Laura was making you cookies when I left, and Andrew said he was going to make mud pies for his mommy."

"I love those kids. Come on, I want to see them." Daniel smiled and led Scarlett to the car.

The two talked the whole way to Crabapple Cove. As soon as they pulled into the driveway Laura and Andrew came running out with Kate behind them.

"MOMMY! MOMMY!" They screamed. Scarlett smiled and opened her arms. Both kids jumped into them crying. Scarlett hugged them as tears poured out of her eyes. After about twenty minutes they finally made it into the house.

"Kate."

"Scarlett. I would hug you but I think these two missed you more." Kate said gesturing to the children who were attached to her.

"I missed mommy." Andrew said lying his head on her shoulder.

"I missed you too Andrew."

"Did you miss me too Mommy?" Laura asked staring at her mother.

"A whole lot. You're my little girl." She reassured her daughter then looked at Andrew. "And you're my baby boy."

"I love you Mommy."

"I love you too Mommy." Andrew smiled.

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Over the next two weeks, Andrew and Laura never left Scarlett's side. And she never minded. On the morning of the day that she had to leave, she woke up with Andrew sleeping peacefully on her chest and Laura cuddled into her side. She smiled and hugged the two closer to her. They would be leaving with Kate today as well. She couldn't leave them with Daniel; he had Anastasia to take care of. Just then she head the soft voice of Anastasia.

"Auntie?"

"Hi Honey. Come here." Anastasia walked over to her and climbed on the bed.

"I miss Daddy."

"I know you do. He'll be home soon."

"Good. I'm six now."

"I know. He missed your birthday."

"Uh huh."

"But he's going to bring you something."

"What?"

"A Mommy." Anastasia's face lit up, at the thought of a mother. It had been her and her father since she could remember. He'd always been there to smile.

"A Mommy?"

"That's right. Do you like the idea?"

"Uh huh."

"He loves you."

"I love him too." Scarlett smiled and took her arm off Andrew and hugged the little girl.

"He loves you very much, Anastasia Elizabeth Pierce."

"Mommy time to get up?" Laura asked drowsily.

"Yeah, we have to leave today."

"Okay." She said with a yawn.

"Mommy." Andrew whined as he slowly opened his eyes.

"Sssh Andrew. It's okay Mommy's here." Andrew smiled at the sound of her voice. "Come on lets see what Grandpa made for breakfast." The three children smiled and got out of bed. They walked downstairs into the kitchen where Kate and Daniel were.

"GRANDPA!" Anastasia said jumping into his arms.

"Hi there little lady. You ready to say goodbye?"

"Yup. I like Auntie."

"So do I. And I bet your Grandma Kate does too."

"I do." Kate smiled sitting Laura on her lap.

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After breakfast they got everything packed up. Kate wanted to take a flight in the afternoon so the kids would be sleeping. When they were ready to leave Andrew and Laura said goodbye to Daniel and Anastasia, which left Scarlett her goodbye.

"Bye Dan."

"Bye Pumpkin. Come back soon."

"I plan too."

"Good and tell my son he better not get married without me."

"I don't think he plants to. I doubt he'll get married without Anastasia there. He loves her."

"He does, doesn't he?"

"More than you know."

"Go, now, I'm going to cry."

"Bye Dan. I love you."

"I love you too Pumpkin."

"Bye." Scarlett waved as she got in the car.

"Bye," Daniel waved. "Anastasia come here." Anastasia walked over to her grandfather and waved goodbye to her family. Her father was in Korea; she never had a mother. All the little girl knew was that she was loved, and that one-day her daddy would come back to her.