AN: I'm posting two chapters at once, to make up for this one being quite short. To warn all readers, there's gonna be some drama now, but keep in mind: What Emily said in the 'No Words Were Needed' chapter was not true: the fat lady has not sang yet, and she will not have sang until I say this story is complete.

Penny and Nana watched from the door as the van drove off, taking the other children to the children's hospital.

"I really hope they'll be happy there," Penny stated, hugging Mr. Twiggers closer to her.

"I'm sure they will be," Nana nodded, ushering Penny back inside. "Now, how about going upstairs and getting dressed?" she suggested, noticing the little girl was still in her pajamas. "You'll want to be ready when Emily and the others come back."

Penny obediently went upstairs, coming back down five minutes later. As soon as she reached the bottom step, she heard voices in the next room. Nana was there, talking to a tall, stern-looking woman Penny recognized at Ms. Perkins, the woman in charge of adoption at The Center. A middle-aged man who looked as if he was of Hispanic descent was standing nearby.

"Mrs. Chang, I am simply following regulations," Ms. Perkins was saying. "I'm sure you understand. If you make this harder then it has to be…"

"What's going on?" Penny spoke up, announcing her presence.

"Ah, so here's the one," Ms. Perkins glanced down at the freckled-face child, motioning to the Hispanic man. "Penny, this is Colmillo."

Emily paused in the street, turning her face up to the bright mid-morning sun, her eyes closed in contentment and a broad smile on her face.

"You're all probably sick of hearing this by now," Emily grinned, turning to face her friends. "But I really can't thank you enough. I'd have never managed to get through without your help."

"What are friends for?"

The Bohemians continued to walk down the street in their return to The Center, chatting away about the ice cream treat Emily had promised them all.

"I'm getting strawberry!" Mimi announced.

"Yeah, cookies and cream would really taste good to me," Emily agreed. "I might have to take double insulin shots later, but it's worth it."

As they approached The Center, however, a rusty looking car pulled away from the curb and drove past them. Through the back window, they could all see Penny inside the car.

"Emily! Emily, help!"

"PENNY!"

Emily broke out into a run after the car, but it quickly sped up, leaving her standing in the street, staring after the disappearing car with a mixture of shock and pain. A second later, she tore up the steps to The Center. The others all hurried in after her, making it inside in time to see her in the mist of a screaming fight with Ms. Perkins.

"WHY? Why'd you do that, you stupid woman!"

"Miss Goodhall," Ms. Perkins scolded sternly. "My job is to place children in suitable, stable environments. Colmillo had filled out all the paperwork. His record precedes him, and he had exceptional good words from his references."

"No! I got a job, don't you get it? I told you guys time and time again that I could take care of her! What do I gotta do to convince you people?"

"The deadline has passed for you, Miss Goodhall," Ms. Perkins had taken up a tone of finality. "Perhaps it's best you start thinking about what's best for that girl."

"I'm what's best for her."

"This matter is closed, Miss Goodhall. Good day to you."

"Good? LITTLE LATE FOR THAT!" Emily shouted as Ms. Perkins walked out.

"Emily, I'm sorry," Nana began. "I tried to stop her. I stalled them as long as I could."

"You should have fought harder," Emily replied in a dangerous whisper. "You should have… egged his windshield, popped his tires, anything."

"Please, there's nothing I could have done," Nana insisted. "Obstruction of legality, Emily. She was threatening us with obstruction of legality. What did you want me to do? Get out into the middle of the street and block the car with my body?"

"I WOULD HAVE!"

Emily stormed over to the stairs, but sank to the ground before she reached them. After a moment's hesitation, Mark walked over and placed a hand on Emily's shoulder. The defeated photographer slapped it away, at first, but when Mark tried again, she let out a quiet sob, and reached back to place her hand on his, in a gesture of gratitude for his consolation attempt.