Chapter 9

The holidays were over and work was never ending. The holidays always seemed to bring out the worst in people. They had cases left and right. They even had to cancel Olivia's birthday weekend getaway in February. They heard from Kim a lot. They texted all of the time, even though Amanda was worried about her getting caught.

Every month after, brought on something major. In March, Amanda and Olivia found a sex trafficking ring with children. They even found a newborn with three young girls. Luckily the grandmother was found for the newborn. Sheila Porter picked him up, explaining her daughter was strung out on drugs and sold him.

In April, the commander in Atlanta called and said Reynolds and Patton were both dead. "Jail is never a good place for cops. They ran together and died together. They put people away for things, they did. It all caught up with them." Olivia sat in Cragen's office and said what they all were thinking, "Good!"

May was nothing but a flood of college rapes. They always had trouble with college kids from spring break into summer. It was like they were wild, looking to act up before going home for the summer. The good thing was coming home to their babies, "Mama!" Noah and Jesse ran to them both, Noah pushed Jesse down. Jesse cried "Owww! Hug mama!" Olivia went to Jesse, "Let me see sweet girl." Noah hugged Amanda's leg, "Noah, no pushing we all get hugs." Noah went to Jesse and kissed her knee, "I sawy." They were getting so big and talking up a storm.

They were having dinner and Amanda heard her phone, "Please call me. 911." Amanda showed Olivia her phone. It was Kim and she actually hadn't heard from her in two months. Amanda even stopped texting because she thought someone found out. "Lucy, finish feeding them please." Amanda called, "Kim, what's wrong?" Kim was crying and they were pretty sure they heard Kolton crying in the background, "Amanda, they're dead." Amanda stopped, "Who?" Kim answered in a smaller voice, "Mom and dad."

Amanda spoke to the lawyer and he explained they went on a trip and were killed in a car accident with their best friends. Amanda had it on speaker so they went to their bedroom to talk. Olivia spoke, since Amanda was stunned, "What do you need from us? We can come down." The lawyer thought it would be great. He also explained Kyle had them down as guardians. Olivia looked at Amanda and nodded, "We're on the next flight out."

Olivia looked at flights and Amanda explained the situation to Cragen, "Take all the time you need. Keep me posted." Amanda called Fin and Melinda next, they were torn about taking the kids. Melinda told them "Absolutely not! We have them right Lucy." Lucy agreed.

The next morning they were out early and on the flight. "Liv, I don't know what to say." Olivia held her hand, "They lost their parents baby, it's not much you can say, but you can be their sister, their family they have left. They aren't stains." Amanda had no feelings about losing the mother she didn't know, but the kids would be very different.

After landing the lawyer met them and took them straight to the house. Amanda looked at the place. She had money because of Kyle, but she didn't live like this. "Liv, they won't understand our small apartment." The lawyer heard them, "The kids are very down to earth. This doesn't mean much to them. Now their iPads are a different story." The lawyer explained they went to public schools and were pretty normal."

They came to a stop, "Who's been with them?" The lawyer climbed out with them, "Their nanny, we didn't feel it was necessary to move them into foster care, since you were coming." He used the key, "Kim! Kolton!" He smiled hearing their feet, "It was a shock, but they've been doing ok." Kim saw them first, "Olivia! Amanda!" The lawyer laughed, "You're a surprise, they didn't know."

Kim and Kolton hugged them both for a long time. They didn't let go until the kids did. Kim smiled, "You came." Amanda brushed her blonde hair back, "Of course." They went into the family room and were held and rubbed and loved. Kolton sat up, "You're our sister?" Amanda nodded, "I am." Kolton was so curious, "Why didn't mommy tell us?" Amanda didn't know the answer. Olivia tried to help, "I think your mommy had a hard time, because she had Amanda young. It's a little different than her having you. She was older, more mature and had some experience."

Kim was smart and knew the truth, "That's no excuse, she did the wrong thing." Kim hugged Amanda and held on tight. Kolton frowned, "Are you and Olivia going to take care of us." Amanda nodded, "That's what your dad wanted." Kolton looked around, "But we can't live here right?" Olivia rubbed his back, "No buddy, we live in New York." Kolton shrugged, "Can we visit here sometimes." Amanda smiled, "We can."

They talked to the nanny and the lawyer. "So the funeral is Thursday and it's a huge deal because he's a superstar?" Olivia gave her opinion, "I don't want photos of the kids at all." The lawyer smiled, "Kyle liked you both. After he met you, he changed his will. You two get them and everything else. Kim seemed anxious to go and never look back. Kolton was torn and cried several times when packing. "Buddy, it's ok. Bring what you want that fits in this suitcase. This one's for clothes and it's June, so anything would work." They did what they could until Thursday. They had a flight out for Saturday morning.

After FaceTime with Lucy, Noah, and Jesse, Kolton had more questions. "So they will be our brother and sister?" Kim rolled her eyes, "No dummy, we're their aunt and uncle." Kolton frowned, "I don't want to be an uncle. I want to be a big brother, you get to be a big sister. You be the aunt!" Amanda grabbed him and held him, "Ok, how about you can be the brother."

Wednesday night they tucked in Kolton, "I don't want to see them in the casket tomorrow." Olivia rubbed his blonde hair, "You don't have to, if you don't want to." Olivia patted his leg, "Get some rest ok." He grabbed her hand, "Please don't touch me there." Olivia looked at Amanda, because that was an odd statement. Olivia assured him and rubbed his head, "Is that better?" Kolton smiled brightly, "Yeah, just not my legs ok?"

Amanda left and Olivia saw tears, "Liv, I swear whoever touched him." Olivia put her forehead against hers, "We don't know anything, calm down." They went to check on Kim, "Hey, are you ready for bed?" Kim looked up, "Can I sleep with y'all." Olivia winked, "Come on." She climbed in between them in the guest bed. Amanda had to ask to see the reaction, "Kim, why doesn't Kolton like anyone to touch his leg." Kim's eyes went in every direction, that was the wrong reaction, "I don't know. What did he say?" Olivia was interested, "He just asked not to touch him there." Kim held Amanda, "He's a weirdo." They let it go and didn't say anything else, because tomorrow would be hard enough.

Thursday morning was full of sadness, tears, and not eating. The nanny grabbed snacks in case they changed their mind. "I'm going to miss them a lot. Amanda smiled, "You could come to New York." She laughed, "Oh no! The big city is not for me. I have a friend who works as a nanny, let me know if you want her number. She's even met the kids before." Olivia tapped Amanda before getting into the limo, "Amanda, what was that?" Amanda shrugged, "I was just being polite. I knew she wouldn't say yes, but Liv, Lucy can't do this and school. We will need to find someone."

As expected the funeral was slammed with photographers and the news stations. Kolton hugged Olivia tight and Kim held Amanda's hand. The limo was pulled into a garage so no one could see them. They walked into the building."You may view the bodies now." Kolton shook his head and waited outside. Olivia, Amanda, and Kim walked in and saw two caskets and too many flowers to count. Amanda stopped at Kyle's first. He looked the same, so young.

Kim looked at him, "Amanda?" Amanda leaned down, "Yeah baby?" Kim held Olivia's hand, "They said he had a cut on his head." Amanda sighed, "You can't see it, because when people are hurt and go to heaven, they don't hurt anymore." Kim smiled. They both walked to look at their mother. Amanda thought she looked different. Kim cried a little.

They went to be with Kolton, "Was it scary?" They shook their heads and Kim helped him understand, "No, they are in heaven watching us. It's just their bodies, Kolton. They aren't in pain." Kolton changed his mind before they finally closed both caskets. "They look asleep." He pulled out a baseball and put it next to Kyle's hand and a toy car for Beth's casket. "Bye mommy, bye daddy."

The ceremony was long, probably too long for the kids. They did have a few snacks. Players and coaches stopped by and talked to them, gave them gifts. They even both got their dad's jersey signed by everyone. The cemetery was the last stop, but this was private. It was just Olivia, Amanda, the kids, their nanny, and his lawyer.

Olivia and Amanda learned he lost his parents early in his life, which is what made him help Amanda. Until Beth came he had no one, only his best friend Hunter Mazelon and his girlfriend that died with him in the crash. The lawyer never liked them. They grew up in the same group home. Hunter was always in trouble and Kyle was always looking for better.

After that they went back home. The kids were finally eating. Amanda had a great idea, "Guys, how about we pack a few pictures for your bedrooms." The lawyer smiled, "That's when he hit a grand slam." Kim looked at the picture and pushed it away. "Not that one!" Everyone looked, but didn't say anything.

Olivia waited until they were on the couch asleep, "Who are these people?" The lawyer pointed, "That's Hunter Mazelon and his longtime girlfriend Courtney Lane. They all grew up together." Amanda dug deeper, "Kim didn't like them?" He sighed, "None of us did really. Even Kyle had his doubts at the end. They were the guardians prior to you two. Kyle really had no one, but when he met you two he did make the change. Even Beth signed off."

Amanda was stunned. Olivia rubbed her back. "Oh so much has gone on. I have several things for you to sign and take." The lawyer had several documents. "So these papers allow you to file for adoption. This is for the account. You fill this part out and everything goes to you." Olivia looked, "What about the house, the nanny? We don't want to sell it, the kids want to visit and may want it later as adults."

He noted it, "Ok we will leave this in your name until Kim turns 18, since she's the oldest." They signed paper after paper. "Last, letters. Kyle wrote one to you two, Beth wrote one to you Amanda, and they both wrote a letter to Kim and Kolton." Amanda sat there holding the letter in shock. Olivia shook his hand, "You have been of great help. Can we contact you?" He smiled, "You can anytime. I enjoyed serving Kyle, but I have a friend who is a lawyer in New York, Trevor Langan. He's fresh out of law school, but he's good. I can call him and transfer everything to him. We can work together."

Olivia checked on the kids and covered them with a blanket and then sat next to Amanda. "I'm here, you know. You haven't had time to grieve for you." Amanda shrugged, "Liv, she wasn't my mom for a long time." She looked at the letter, "I don't know if I want to read it. Why would she agree to me taking them?" Olivia looked at Hunter and Courtney, "Maybe because she knew they were bad people." Olivia opened Kyle's letter, "Let's read this one first." Amanda nodded.

Dear Amanda and Olivia,

If you're reading this it means Beth and myself are no longer alive. I'm sad for my babies and I will miss them, but I'm happy they get to know you two. They are good kids and I know they are in good hands. Kolton will be sad, but ok. Kim is my pistol regardless, so she will be your handful. I changed my will after we met. Hunter and Courtney have been in my life forever, but they can't raise them and I really don't trust them. Please hold their letter until they are older. Thank you for taking my babies.

Kyle

Olivia looked at Amanda, "Do you want to read the one from your mom?" Amanda nodded, "Can you read it to me?" Olivia kissed her, "Of course."

Dear Amanda,

I'm so sorry I left you. You were my first baby. I hated your dad so much for all the hurt and pain, that I didn't realize that I caused you the same thing. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to take you. I turned my back on you and I don't deserve your forgiveness. I told Kyle I was afraid to ask. This letter is from the coward in me, because it means I'm gone and I never had to face you. I'm sorry I took your childhood and your sister and brother. I'm so glad you made it and became someone better than me. I do love you Amanda. Your sister found this picture and thought it was her. She's so much like you. She's smart, independent, and strong. Take care of them both.

Beth

Olivia handed Amanda the picture, "Oh my gosh. You were so cute!" Amanda saw the picture and laughed, "Hey! I'm still cute." Olivia kissed her, "I totally agree." Amanda kissed her back and stopped, "Why did you stop?" Amanda pointed, "They are waking up and I haven't had sex in a long time."

On Saturday they all took a flight to New York. The kids handled it very well. They were excited to meet everyone that they heard about and start their new life.