January 24th, 2005

Carlos couldn't get it out of his head. Ever since Kim mentioned adopting another child, it consumed him. He hated how he grew up. He hated how no one wanted him. He didn't want any other child to ever feel like that. Okay, so they might need a bigger house. No, they didn't need a bigger house. This place was perfect for five people. Maybe it'd be perfect for six.

"Kim, come here." Carlos called out.

"Shhhh. Sierra and Kylie are napping." Kim said. She walked into the room, "What is it?"

"I'm on this website." He said, "And-"

"Is it porn? I don't want to see porn, Carlos." Kim groaned. He chuckled softly.

"It's an adoption website. There are a few kids I want you to look at." Carlos said. Kim smiled and sat on his lap.

"An adoption website. You want to do this don't you?" She asked. Carlos nodded. "All right. Show me the kids."

"All right. This first one is Javier. He's seven." He pulled up a picture. Kim smiled softly.

"Look at those huge eyes." She said, "He's gorgeous."

"Javier is a very active boy. He enjoys writing stories and drawing pictures." Carlos read, "He is shy with strangers, but once he warms up to you, he is a doll."

"He is a doll." Kim smiled, "Who is the next one?"

"Antonio Porter." Carlos pulled up the picture. "Antonio is a very rambunctious child. He loves to go play at the park. He has trouble sleeping, but takes medication to help him."

"Eh...I don't know if I can handle handing out medication." Kim sighed, "He's gorgeous though." Carlos sighed and nodded.

"Yeah." He said, "Only one more left." Kim nodded as Carlos pulled up the next picture, "Orlando Kai Lopez. Orlando is six years old. He is a very independent child, but listens to his elders well. Orlando loves to play music and play football. He wants to become a doctor when he grows up."

"How precious." Kim smiled looking at his picture.

"He's a boy after my own heart." Carlos smiled. Kim stared at his picture.

"I want him, Carlos." Kim said. Carlos glanced at his wife.

"Really?" He asked. Kim touched the screen.

"Call them. Tell them we're interested in adopting. We need to be interviewed and evaluated first I believe. But we did adopt Kylie.....Just call them." She said. Carlos nodded.

"All right." He smiled, "I'll call them."

January 30th, 2005

Carlos was dressed in a suit. Kim was dressed in a skirt and blazer. They looked very nice. They were sitting in the waiting room waiting for their names to be called. They decided to work with Kathleen Kelley once again. She was so nice to them when they adopted Kylie.

"I'm going to throw up." Kim said.

"me too." Carlos chuckled softly. He squeezed Kim's hand. It was normal for people to be nervous. The door opened up and Kathleen stepped out.

"Mr. and Mrs. Nieto, why don't you come in?" She asked. Carlos nodded. They both wobbled into the room, "it's so nice to see you. How is Kylie doing?"

"Oh she's wonderful." Kim said sitting down to the chair Kathleen motioned at, "She has a new baby sister." Kathleen grinned.

"That is great." She said. "It's wonderful that the two of you wish to adopt again." Kathleen looked at the folder, "I see you've warmed up to Orlando."

"He sounds just great." Carlos said.

"He is." Kathleen smiled, "There's something you should know about him though." Kim's heart thumped.

"What is it?" She asked, "We want him no matter what." Kathleen smiled pleasantly.

"Well, he's part of a set. We haven't had a chance to update the site." She said, "Orlando's mother is pregnant. She's due in March and wishes the two children to stay together."

"I see...." Carlos rubbed his neck. Another child? Orlando would be an adjustment but another one, "Is there any family information?" Kathleen nodded.

"Elisabeth Lopez is their mother. She's twenty years old. She tried to give Orlando a life but she was fourteen when she had him and she's struggling." Kathleen said, "We interviewed her and she is sure adoption is the route she wants to go. Orlando and the baby don't share the same father. Orlando has a clean bill of health and his family history is clean."

"Why is she giving her children up? I understand it'll be hard, but why?" Kim asked.

"She lives in a car and she doesn't want her children to live there. She wants to give them the best life possible." Kathleen said, "Orlando is in a foster home right now."

"That is so sad." Kim sighed.

"Would the two of you be interested in adopting both children?" Kathleen asked, "I can set up an appointment with Elisabeth. She wants to approve the parents."

"That's understandable." Carlos said. He had did the same thing. He glanced at Kim who nodded. He sighed, "Could you schedule an appointment with Miss Lopez?" Kathleen grinned brightly.

"I will be happy to." She said.

February 7th, 2005

What were they thinking? Could they even afford two extra children? Kim wouldn't take no for an answer. The thought of a newborn was a little scary. Sierra was only five months old. She is around seven months old once Elisabeth gave birth. That would be A LOT of work. They were bringing the girls to their meeting with Kathleen and Elisabeth. If Elisabeth could see how they were with children, maybe it would help their case.

"The baby here yet?" Kylie asked.
"No. It's still in her belly." Kim said taking Kylie's hand.

"Erra was in your belly." Kylie said as they walked into the restaraunt. Kim chuckled softly.

"Kimberly! Carlos! We're over here." Kathleen waved them over to a table. They saw a very gorgeous young woman sitting at the table. She was heavily pregnant.

"Hello, Kathleen." Carlos smiled settling Sierra into a high chair Kathleen pulled out for them.

"I hope you found the place all right." Kathleen said.

"Yeah, It was all right." Kim said pushing Kylie into a chair, "Sit, baby girl. We'll order you some food shortly."

"Kimberly and Carlos, I would like you to meet Elisabeth." Kathleen smiled. Elisabeth shook Kim's hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She said. Her Brooklyn accent was thick. "You have some lovely children."

"Thank you." Kim smiled with pride. "Kylie is four. She's Carlos son and I adopted her. Sierra is five months old and she's ours together. I also have an eleven-year-old son, Joey."

"Wow." Elisabeth smiled softly, "Sierra is so young. You wouldn't have a problem having another small child?"

"Not at all." Carlos said. "I think it'll be pretty exciting." Kim waved the waitress over and ordered Kylie a hamburger. Neither of the adults could handle food.

"And Kathleen said you work with the FDNY." Elisabeth said. Kim nodded.

"We're both paramedics." She said, "I love it."

"I hope you don't mind me asking questions." Elisabeth said, "I just want to know you."

"That's fine." Kim smiled softly at her, "We have a few questions for you as well if that's all right."

"It certainly is." Elisabeth said.

"When are you due?" Carlos asked.

"March 20th." She said, "The pregnancy has gone very well. I've gotten prenatal care and been taking my vitamins."

"Great." Kim said, "Do you know the sex and have any names picked out?" Elisabeth shook her head.

"I don't know the sex and I've decided to let the adoptive parents pick the baby's name." She said. "That only feels right."

"I like babies." Kylie said. Elisabeth smiled.
"Do you?" She asked. Kylie nodded.

"I love them. Erra is great, but she cries a lot." She said.

"That's normal for little babies." Elisabeth chuckled.

"Still loud." Kylie shrugged. Kim smiled.

"Eat your hamburger pumpkin." She said pulling out a bottle for Sierra, "Lunch time for them."

"How many other families are you meeting with?" Carlos asked stealing one of Kylie's fries.

"Five others." Elisabeth responded. Kim's heart sank. Five other families that could take her children away. It was ridiculous. Kim never realized she could love two little kids so much that she had never even met. She couldn't let herself get set up for heartbreak though. She just couldn't.

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