A/N: Sorry about the length of time between chapters. It may be a week or so before another update because I have finals this week.
The next two days flew by for Mandy. She spent most of them at the hospital with Rachel and her new little brother. Mandy spent Tuesday and Wednesday night at the hospital with Rachel so that she wouldn't have to stay alone. These nights were filled with little sleep because Caleb had to be fed every few hours. Mandy and Rachel ended up spending almost all of both nights awake and learning more and more about each other. Mandy told her mom stories from her childhood, while Rachel told Mandy stories about the crazy lives of her and her friends. Mandy and Rachel already had a time set for Mandy to come back and visit this summer. Ross would be out of school and Rachel would still be on maternity leave, so Rachel and Mandy could spend the entire time together. As the days wore on, Mandy began to dread having to face her parents when she got home on Thursday night. She knew they were none to happy with her. Mandy just hoped they would let her come visit again this summer.
On Wednesday morning Mandy met her grandmother. Mrs. Green was almost exactly as Mandy had pictured her, a very pretty, well-dressed woman in her sixties. Sandra was shocked to see Mandy, but she was also excited to meet her granddaughter. Sandra apologized for what had happened and told Mandy that if she ever needed her for anything just to give her a call. Mandy wasn't really sure how she felt about her grandmother. She was still angry with her, but didn't let Sandra know this to her face. Mandy just gave her a hug and a smile. The attention was then immediately turned to the newest little Geller.
Mandy had never been so scared in her life as she was the moment her grandfather walked into the room on Wednesday afternoon. Even though Mandy was extremely angry at him, she still wanted to be accepted. She was worried he would try to throw her back out of her mother's life. She knew her fears were probably irrational, but would have been very surprised to find out that her mother was having the exact same irrational fears at that moment. Leonard Green proved his daughter and granddaughter very wrong. When Rachel introduced him to Mandy, he started to cry. With tears in his eyes, he sincerely apologized to both Rachel and Mandy. He told Mandy that even though he knew she probably hated him, he would really love to be her poppy. He then pulled out the gifts he brought for the new baby and Emma, so she wouldn't feel left out. Leonard then did something very surprising, he pulled a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet and handed it to Mandy. He told her it was for her birthday that he missed a couple of weeks ago. Mandy gave him a hug as tears rolled down her face. She knew she should probably hate this man, but after meeting him and seeing the fierce love he had for Rachel and his grandchildren, she couldn't. Mandy could tell the Leonard Green she met today was not the same Leonard Green that had turned her mother out years ago: this was a new and improved Leonard Green.
On Thursday afternoon Ross drove Mandy to the airport, but not before a long, tearful goodbye with her mother. Mandy was still so worried that she would never see her mother again. It was almost as if Rachel could read her mind when she told Mandy, "Don't worry about anything. I'm sure your parents will let you come visit, and if they won't I'll come see you. You call me day or night, whenever you want or need anything. I'll be there, no matter what. I love you Mandy, and I am so happy you are back in my life."
All Mandy could do was give her mom one last hug and tell her that she loved her too. Mandy was still crying as she climbed into the car with Ross. Ross wasn't really sure what to say in a situation like this, so he just reassured her that everything would be fine and she was welcome in their home anytime. Ross walked her into the airport and helped her check her luggage and everything. He gave her one last hug at the security checkpoint, made her promise to call when she landed in Miami, and turned and walked away.
Mandy was nervous her entire flight home. She was so afraid of what her parents would say and/or do to her. As she thought about what she had done, she came to the realization that maybe she had not handled things in the best way. She had just been so afraid of her parents not wanting her to meet Rachel that she had been terrified to ask first. Mandy also really hoped that when she got home her parents would be open to answering more of her questions, like why they had never told her she was adopted!
When she walked out of the terminal Anita and Robert Jones, her mom and dad, were standing there waiting for her with open arms. Mandy ran and gave them both a hug. She had to admit that she had missed them some. She had never been gone from home for that long before. Mandy didn't speak until they were in the car on their way home. "I know you are so mad at me," began Mandy, "but I really hope you understand why I did what I did. It's not because I don't love you."
"We know that," Anita answered. "Your father and I have been doing a lot of talking while you were gone this week. At first I was so furious at you for running off that I swore you would never leave the house again, but after your father and I talked it over, a lot, we both started to understand why you ran off. We realize that we should have told you that you were adopted, but we were afraid you would love us less. You really were our little miracle, though. I had just miscarried for the fifth time a month before we got the call from the adoption agency. Your father and I had not had the heart to tell anyone that I had miscarried, so everyone we knew still thought I was pregnant. You were due at almost the exact same time our baby was supposed to be due, so I pretended to be on bed rest until you were born and we brought you home from the hospital. We just let everyone assume you were our child."
"Wow," said Mandy. "I had no idea you guys had been through that much, but I don't love you any less because I'm adopted. I just understand things so much more. I know now where I get my love for fashion and my ditzyness."
"So you had a good time?" asked Anita.
"Yes," answered Mandy. "She is really a wonderful person. Rachel was just really young when she had me, but she's married now and had her second child while I was there! I have a babybrother and a younger sister. They are both so adorable. She also works at Louis Vuitton, and I got to see the design room! It was so great getting to meet her. I have never in my life met anyone who is so like me!" Mandy watched her mom's face start to fall, so she continued, "But, I still love you and dad. You guys are my parents. I don't want to live anywhere else but her with you. I just want permission to go visit Rachel sometimes when I'm out of school. I just want to stay in contact with her."
"Well," began Anita," your father and I have something that may help you stay in touch with Rachel." Anita then handed her daughter a cell phone.
"A cell phone, oh my gosh! I thought I was going to be grounded for life, but I got a phone!" exclaimed Mandy.
"We decided that maybe we had been a little strict on you, but you are never allowed to go on any trips withoutour permission again!" said Anita.
"Okay mom! I will never go anywhere without asking you first," replied Mandy.
"One more thing," said Anita, "how would you like to go get that learner's permit tomorrow?"
"Absolutely!" Mandy happily exclaimed.
