Lu went into the kitchen to make some dinner. Marc went into his room to finish up his homework. Michaela was lying on her bed face down crying and not really knowing what she could do to make things up to Lu. She knew that she messed up and that it would probably take Lu a long time before she could trust her again. Why had she gone to the mall alone she knew if she was caught she would get into trouble? Of course she didn't think she would get caught that's why she did it. Some how some way she would make it up to Lu.

"Marc dinner"

"Coming Mom"

"Marc before you sit down go in and take this plate into Michaela's room, I may be mad but I'm not going to let her go hungry. Tell her I'll be in after to get her plate and talk"

"Ok Mom"

"Michaela, Marc knocked on the door before going in. It's me Marc I have your dinner for you"

Marc walked in and saw Michaela on the bed. He could tell that she had been crying by the look in her face. Her face was all red and there was tear stains down her checks.

"Here Michaela, mom said to bring this into you, and she said that after she is done with dinner and cleaning up she will be in to take your plate and to talk."

Michael got up and took the plate from Marc's hand. She turned around and set it on her desk.

"Mike don't worry when mom gets angry it usually doesn't last to long. You don't have to worry"

"I'm not worried about that, what if she sends me back; I don't want to go back Marc."

"I don't think you have to worry about that, I think that is one other thing mom wants to talk to you about. Well I gotta get back my dinner is getting cold."

Marc walked out of the room and into the kitchen.

"Mom"?

"Yeah Marc"

"I think Mike is really sorry for what she has done, she looked really sad when I went in there and you know what she said to me. She said that she hopes that you don't send her back to her aunt's house, she thinks that just because she messed up you'll send her back."

"Well I'm not, I just today got all the information on adopting and I set up an appointment with a lawyer that handles those types of things. I was going to tell her over dinner tonight but maybe when I go in later after I speak to her I'll tell her what I have planned so she knows not to worry"

"I think that is a good idea mom"

Lu and Marc finished up dinner, Marc cleared the table and Lu washed and dried the dishes. She was calmer now and she felt that she could finally talk to Michaela without sounding to harsh. She knew if she had gone in earlier things could have been a whole lot worse then what was. She walked over to Michaela's door and knocked on it before letting herself in.

"Michaela, it's me Lu can I come in?"?

"Yes, come in"

Lu saw that Mike hadn't even touched her dinner. She went over to where Mike was sitting on the bed and sat next to her. Before Lu could say anything Michaela started to cry and say that she was sorry.

"Lu, I'm so sorry, I knew what I was doing was wrong. I just thought, you're always late home from work and I wanted to get you and Marc a gift to show how much I like being here. I didn't think you would worry so much."

"Michaela" Lu took her close into her arms. "I'm glad you're sorry for what you have done. I thought so many things when you were out there. Do you know what could have happened to you? That's all I thought about what if something has happened, I don't know where you are so I wouldn't be able to help you. I was more worried and disappointed then mad.

"I know, I don't think I really thought the whole thing through. I promise this will never happen again, just don't send me back to my aunt's house. I don't think I would be able to survive if you sent me back."

"Ok, well first off I've told you are not going back to your aunt's house. Even if she comes in here with the whole army, even if you are so bad and won't listen I still won't send you away. Now I've got some good news and some bad news for you."

"Ok, give me the bad news first"

"Well it's not really news; it's more of a consequence for what you have done. I want you to know that what you did should never happen again. So in addition to what you do around the house for chores I am adding a couple more on. You will not receive allowance for two week, and you are grounded from going anywhere without me or Marc. That means no friends house no going down the stairs to visit that dog you like so much. Do I make myself clear on these things"?

"Yes perfectly clear, now how about the good news"

" Well there was a reason I left work early today, I wanted to talk to you and ask you and hopefully you'll agree, I have all the paper work, I want to know if you want me to adopt you. That way your aunt can never come and get you. What do you say?

Michaela sat there for a second she jumped up from the bed and put her arms around Lu.

"YES, YES, YES, YES, do you really mean it? I'll be yours forever and nobody can ever take me away."

"Yep that's what it means. Your mine and I'm yours and Marc too. We'll all be a family legal and all how does that sound."

"I THINK THAT IS GREAT!!! I love you so much Lu thank you, thank you. And I promise you won't have to worry about me doing anything like I did going off without you and not letting you know. I can't believe that this is for real."

"Ok, ok, now settle down, we still need to go to the lawyers and make it all legal it may take awhile but not to long. Now I want you to go to bed now we have a busy day tomorrow.

"Night Lu, I'm sorry I made you worry so much today"

"Night Michaela, I'm glad you're sorry, now let's forget it and get a good night sleep"