=Normal POV=
[Sunday, 6/23/2019; 10:45 am]
[Berk; Haddock/Forger Home]

Today marked two years since tragic deaths of Spencer and Valarie Haddock, Hayden's parents, who were killed in their own home on June 23rd, 2017, in the early hours of the morning. Today also signified the start of Hayden being placed into foster care and dealing with multiple homes that were abusive towards him. Twice in foster care, Hayden tried to kill himself. Once by overdosing, and the second, by hanging himself. Hayden got admitted each time for his suicide attempts to the psychiatric hospital in Archian City. Hayden dealt with abuse getting fed little or nothing at all. Hayden had also been molested and raped while in the system. All of this was between June 2017 and October 2017 before Hayden was sent to live with his aunt, uncle, and two cousins on his father's side of the family.

And even though he was fed, clothed, given a warm bed, and safe environment; Hayden suffered from Clinical Depression and was on anti-depressants as he tried daily to cope with everything, including nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks. Everyone in the room right now knew of these things, and they knew about what happened to Hayden after he'd been placed with his aunt and uncle. They knew what happened after Hayden turned 18 and went to live with his Godfather. Both good and bad happened after Hayden left the foster care system. There was even another suicide attempt last year on June 24th, 2018 because Hayden couldn't deal with everything. That attempt, on top of what today is, made all of them concerned, so they banned together to show up at Gabriel and Hayden's house to make sure he was alright.

However, none of them were prepared for what happened when they arrived. According to Gabriel, before Hayden scared the daylights out of him; Hayden seemed…Okay. He was quiet, yes, but not freaking out in fits of sadness and anger, or trying to hurt himself. Hayden himself admitted that he was upset, but he didn't feel like breaking down. That while today hurt him; he was coping. Hayden said it didn't make sense to him, so Rachel Raseri, his psychiatrist, asked if they could sit down and talk about things. Hayden took the reigns and explained why today was different from last year, and his response as to why had all of them currently sitting in silence and surprise.

The biggest thing was Hayden saying that when he faced Dimitri Bludvist last week; he faced his fear, which was things happening outside of his control, and being helpless to stop it because he felt he couldn't. Hayden stated that facing Dimitri gave him a choice; be scared and do nothing, or fight and stop the past from repeating itself by taking control. And that's exactly what he did by fighting back, though, it nearly cost him his own life. Hayden fought twelve people by himself; he made Dimitri think he wasn't scared to die, and that he wanted to kill himself, and used Dimitri's hate of something being too easy to get his only weapon away and then turn the entire situation around so that Hayden would be in total control of things.

And Hayden just told them that he took back his life and was in control. Today still hurt him, and there would probably be other hard days to get through, but he wasn't giving up. Hayden outright said that this was his life, and he wanted to live it because he chose to. And that this is just how it's going to be because he's said so. It was the one sentence that brought the room to silence, and they all still were quiet, not sure how to reply to what Hayden said.

Everyone watched as Hayden leaned in and hugged Trayden tightly. Trayden was the first one to snap out of his shock and feel the embrace. "And it's all thanks to you that I feel this way, babe. Again…That isn't to say that the rest of you haven't helped me; your friendship, love, and support has done wonders. But it's Tray's words that stuck out about facing fears and taking back what is mine…So when faced against Dimitri, that's what I did. And with him locked up, and all of you safe…I don't know; I guess that's what's getting me through the tougher times right now…No offense…" Hayden informed.

"None taken," Gabriel remarked. Trayden hugged Hayden back tightly, but not too much so that he wouldn't hurt his boyfriend. Trayden pulled back, cupping Hayden's cheeks and kissing him deeply. Hayden returned the action, and it lasted a few moments before they broke apart.

"You have no idea how insanely proud of you I am right now, Hayden," Trayden smiled softly.

"I'll second that," Gabriel interjected.

"We all will," Syrus stated as the others nodded in agreement.

"It doesn't matter what is getting you through today, baby. The fact is that you are," Trayden told Hayden lightly.

"Today isn't over yet, and my moods are still all over the place…" Hayden muttered.

"But you already said that were willing to admit yourself to the psychiatric hospital if you felt like you were losing control again, to prevent any slip-ups from happening. You are willing to get and take help this time. That's a big thing, Hayden. Of course…I think that now we know that; we're just gonna hang here and keep you distracted, so that doesn't happen if you'd like us to?" Alyssa said.

"That…Actually sounds kind'a nice right now," Hayden nodded.

"Good, because we all knew today was coming and cleared our schedules for it in case you needed us," Trayden chuckled. Gabriel kissed the top of Hayden's head and hugged him.

"Proud of you, kiddo. Your parents would be too," Gabriel winked.

"They fought to bring me into this world. Seems only fitting that I fight to stay well into old age," Hayden shrugged. "Oh! Since you're all here…Do you wanna hear my new song? It's the one I wouldn't show you before back at the end of May and had that breakdown without my pills," he asked.

"Dude, you know you don't have to ask," Evan stated.

"Is this the one you got the sudden inspiration for and started right away on?" Mindy inquired.

"Yep," Hayden nodded with a slight smile. "Based on something Tray said to me that night. Meet me in the basement," Hayden got up and vanished from sight. The others shrugged and got up as well, heading for the basement. Once down there, Hayden was already in place to sing. The TV was on, showing a sleeping Spencer in his crib. "I have two songs. I finished one this morning around 8 am," he informed.

"Go for it," Trayden invited.

"I'll show you the one from this morning first," Hayden mentioned as he docked his phone and located the song, tapping it. "It was inspired after the thing with Dimitri; I started working on it in the hospital,"

"And you finished it already?" Rachel blinked.

"Mmhm," Hayden replied. "Centered right around taking back my life and knowing I had to be stronger than my fear to survive. It's called Fight Song," he added as the music started, lightly with what sounded like a few simple notes on the piano. (Song is Fight Song by Rachel Platten.) At the end, the music softened to just a piano again. "No, I've still got a lot of fight left in me," he finished.

"That was awesome!" Tyler cheered as the rest started nodding and clapping.

"Thanks," Hayden bowed his head a bit.

"So what's the one Tray inspired?" Dustin asked.

"Here For A Reason. That's what you told me, babe. You are here for a reason. Turned it into a song," Hayden mentioned. "Wanna hear it?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Trayden chuckled. Hayden went over and found the next one, clicking it. The music began with just what sounded like a guitar; then background singing. (Song is Here For A Reason by Ashes Remain.) After some more background singing, likely by Hayden himself and meshed together to complete the song, it finished.

Trayden got up and hugged Hayden. "I want copies of both!"

Hayden laughed a little, panting. He went grabbed his phone, tapped a few things as everyone got an alert for a new email. "Figured you all would, so there you go,"

"Thanks, Hayden!" the friends said together, opening the message and downloading the songs.

"Telling you; go public with this stuff, man. You'd be a hit," Devon said.

"It's just a hobby for me; I don't want a career out of it. Life on a tour or road would be stressful, and I'd be gone for long periods. I don't think I'd want to be away from Spencer, Gabriel, and all of you," Hayden shrugged.

"Understandable," Gabriel nodded his head. "So…Have ya given any thought to what you'll do with your future?..."

"Little bit, but I think I figured it out. I wanna cook, and be a chef," Hayden smiled.

"Your father always said you had the skills to be a great one ever since you started cooking at 11 years old," Gabriel chuckled. "Well, you started at like six…But cooked your first meal by yourself at 11," he added. "You gonna open your own place?"

"I don't know yet. I think I'll start small, maybe work my way up to being an executive or head chef. I'm only 19, Gabriel…Not ready to sell the rest of my life to running a business so young," Hayden informed.

"Seems well thought out," Rachel said. "And your food is amazing, Hayden,"

"Thanks. Come on…Let's go back upstairs. Spencer will be up soon for lunch," Hayden mentioned. Everyone headed upstairs afterward; relaxing in the living room and talking. Around 11:15 am, Dustin got a phone call, and stepped out to take it. Returning ten minutes later, he sat down. "Who was that, dear?" Rachel inquired.

"Oh…Just an update on something I was inquiring about," Dustin said calmly, but he was smiling. "One of my officers will be dropping by with something for me. Just so you know, Gabriel,"

"No problem," Gabriel nodded. Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Gabriel went to answer it and saw the officer. "Dustin!" Gabriel called. Dustin rose and went to the door as Gabriel returned to the living room. After a few moments, the door closed and Dustin returned.

"Hayden…There's someone here I think you'd like to see again," Dustin moved aside revealing a young teenager with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Savannah!?" Hayden stood quickly, ignoring all the pain he felt in doing so.

"Hayden!" the teenager rushed forward to hug him tightly. The two quickly embraced. The girl, Savannah, was sobbing hard and Hayden had years in his eyes but was trying not to let them fall. "Thank the Gods you're alright…I-I've been so worried!" she cried. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry for all my parents put you through!"

"Stop…Stop…It's okay," Hayden tried to comfort Savannah. They pulled from the hug as Savannah tried to dry her eyes. "Everything is okay now…We're both out of there…" he said. Savannah nodded, sniffling some. "H-How did you find her?"

"Hayden, lad…I'm the director of law enforcement. I have the power on this island equivalent to a mob boss. I know a lot, and how to fine people. That and Trayden told me you'd been wondering if she was alright, so I put in a few requests to check in and arrange a meeting for you two," Dustin stated softly.

"Thank you…Thank you so much, Dustin…" Hayden quickly wiped his eyes as Dustin nodded to him.

"She's here until 6 pm. After that, she has to return to her foster family," Dustin informed. Hayden nodded as he looked at the others.

"Everyone…This is Savannah Jansen; she was my foster sister; the one who tried to help me when I stayed with her parents," Hayden introduced.

"We've heard a lot about you, sweetheart. You tried to help Hayden when your parents were cruel to him…" Rachel said gently.

"I couldn't do nothing. Hayden is a nice guy, he helped me my school work a lot and always tried to smile around me. He didn't deserve what my parents did…" Savannah said quietly.

"But you got hurt helping me," Hayden sighed.

"They were hurting me before you came, Hayden…When you arrived; they forgot about me, you were the one they decided to be mean to," Savannah informed. "Plus, you saved me. When your caseworker came to check on you, you told them I wasn't safe either…"

"Guess we had to help each other," Hayden said. "How have you been?"

"Better…" Savannah said sadly. "Been bouncing around to different homes…I never stay in one place longer than two or three weeks,"

"Why is that?" Hayden inquired.

"No one wants me. My parents lost all rights to me, and I don't have family left. I'm up for adoption right now," Savannah looked down. "But I'm…Glad everything worked out for you," she smiled brightly.

"I'm happy to see you. Have the homes you've been in had nice people?" Hayden wondered.

"They…Aren't abusive, at least physically. But they treat me different than their real kids, and because I'm so quiet; they lie to the caseworker and say I'm acting out to get me removed…" Savannah explained.

"That's awful, and you don't do anything wrong," Hailey frowned. Savannah nodded to her. Gabriel could see the discontent in his Godson's eyes. Something was on Hayden's mind, and Gabriel had a feeling he knew what it was.

"Oh, laddie…I think my computer has a…A viral thingy. It's acting all weird. Think you can take a look at it for me?" Gabriel asked quickly.

"Sure, and do you mean virus?" Hayden said.

"That's the one!" Gabriel smiled.

"Be right back," Hayden got up and followed his Godfather into Gabriel's bedroom where the desktop computer was. Gabriel shut the door after they entered.

"Out with it," Gabriel demanded.

"What…Are you talking about? Out with what?" Hayden questioned.

"I saw the look on your face when Savannah mentioned being up for adoption," Gabriel remarked as Hayden tensed a bit. "Uh huh…I was right. So come on, out with it. I didn't bring ya in here to fix my computer; I just didn't want to draw attention out there to this subject,"

"I know what it feels like, Uncle Gabe," Hayden sighed as he closed his eyes. "I know the feeling of bouncing between homes, no one wanting me there, and being mean to me. You saw how fucked up I got in just a few months after I went into the system, and it still affects me to this day, and will for the rest of my life…" he leaned against the bookshelf. "I don't want to see her get all messed up like I am, or was…Or…Semi-still am…" he admitted.

"Are you telling me you want to adopt her? Hayden…She's…What? 13 years old…You want to be 19 and father to someone who is only six years younger than you?" Gabriel asked.

"Uncle Gabe; she saved my life in that house. Her…Sneaking me food, medicine…I know it was only four days that I was there…But she was 11 years old, and put herself at risk to help me. Savannah got hurt for helping me, and now I learn she'd been getting hurt before me? And she's the one who said something to the caseworker about her parents abusing me. Had it not been for that…The guy would never have known I was being abused, molested, and locked in a basement…She got me out of that house, and I did the same for her…Now she's moving around, up for adoption because no one wants her…" Hayden said quickly, obviously very worked up and determined.

"Alright, easy, lad…Don't get yourself all panicked and frantic," Gabriel put his hands up. "Listen…I know you mean well, son…But you got a lot going on as it is. You're still recovering from everything yourself; you just graduated, you're a father…You were talking about becoming a chef before. Is this something you want to do?"

"I don't…Want to become her dad, Gabriel…But…I don't know, maybe a legal guardian or something…Anything, so that she could stay here…?" Hayden stated with a sigh. "I-I feel like I have to do something. Y-You know it's what mom and dad would do if they were here and learning about something like this…"

Gabriel sighed, closing his eyes. "Yes…Yes, I do know it's what they would do. There is absolutely no denying you are the son of Spencer and Valarie Haddock," he mentioned; then looked at Hayden again. "I…Don't think the courts will award adoption to a 19-year-old, Hayden. Especially because you're a single father, no job, and sadly, you do have some mental health problems that would cause worry. As an example…If you ever snapped and tried to hurt yourself again…It would put Spencer and Savannah into the system,"

"Spencer would go to you; I've already made sure of that. And if…Anything happens to you, Odin forbids it, of course; he would go to the Jorgensons…I've ensured those changes. But…All that aside; I guess you're right. I wouldn't want Savannah to feel like things are okay, and then it goes south. I can't predict the future…And I don't know how my mental state is gonna be sometimes until it happens," Hayden looked down. "I just…I guess I wanted help someone not end up like me,"

"Is this something you want, Hayden?" Gabriel asked. Hayden nodded to him. "Well, we do have the extra bedroom…I suppose I can petition to adopt her," Hayden's eyes widened. "Shouldn't be too hard as I have a full military background check on file with the island. We've got the room and finances to take care of her. She'd become my daughter, but you two would be more adoptive siblings, and I guess she'd become an aunt to Spencer?" Gabriel shrugged.

Hayden hugged him instantly. "Thank you! Thank you, thank you!" Hayden said.

"Easy, lad…It's still a process. I might take a bit; I don't know how long," Gabriel reminded.

"Th-That's fine! C-Can I tell her? Please, oh please?" Hayden inquired.

"Yes, you can," Gabriel nodded. Hayden hugged him again before leaving the room and returning to the living room. Gabriel only chuckled, shaking his head and exiting the room as well.

"Odin above, where's the fire?" Trayden laughed a bit at how fast Hayden rushed in.

"Oh, shush you…Savannah?" Hayden said as the teenager looked at him with a smile. "What would you say to living here?" he asked.

Savannah's eyes widened some. "L-Live here, with you?" Hayden nodded. The others were confused as Gabriel was leaning on the wall now, arms over his chest, but smiling. "I-It would be amazing. But…You're…Not a foster parent…Are you?" Savannah inquired.

"I got something better than foster family…How about adoptive?" Hayden smiled. Savannah's mouth dropped open.

"Y-You're gonna-?" Savannah started.

Hayden shook his head. "I can't, because of some stuff that wouldn't get approved. But…My Godfather can," he motioned to Gabriel. "He can adopt you; he said he would, and then you could live here with him, me, and my son? Which…I promise to tell you about after, but…What do you think? You wanna come to live here with us as part of the family?" he asked.

The room was quiet, waiting to see what would happen. This was shocking, Hayden making such an offer to Savannah after hearing what she'd been through. Yet, they understood. Hayden went through multiple homes where the people were mean, and he wasn't wanted there. And Savannah changed homes a lot more in the last two years; nobody wanted her. Hayden wanted her to feel loved and accepted…Wanted.

"I-I don't know what to say…Re-Really? Y-You want me to join your family? Y-You don't mind?" Savannah inquires, becoming worked up.

"We don't mind at all, lassie," Gabriel mentioned with a smile. "Wanna be a Haddock/Forger? Or just Haddock, that's Hayden's last name. Mine is Forger…You can choose. Or keep the one you have. Up to you," he mentioned.

Savannah looked at Hayden now. "If…He adopts me, is he my…father?"

"I guess he'd be considered that. And I can be your brother. My…Son could be your nephew…All adopted, but you know…I've learned over the last two years that family doesn't always have to be blood. It's the people in your life who want to be there, who love and support you no matter what," Hayden said. Savannah cried a bit as she threw herself at Hayden full force, knocking him down. "I'll take that as a yes?" Hayden asked, wincing. Savannah nodded.

"I'll start things tomorrow," Gabriel informed.

"Oh…Gods, so much pain…" Hayden panted, cringing.

"Are you okay, babe?" Trayden asked quickly, completely forgetting about Hayden's injuries.

"Yeah…Fine. Ow, fuck…" Hayden panted.

"Oh, my Gods; I'm so sorry, Hayden! I-I didn't know you were hurt," Savannah whimpered, feeling terrible.

Hayden waved it off. "It's cool. I'll be fine…" Hayden said as Savannah got off; Trayden and Devon helped Hayden up. After he checked himself for bleeding, and making sure he was okay; he smiled. "I'm good," he nodded.

"Thank you for this…Letting me into your family," Savannah said, wiping her eyes.

"It's our family soon. Once everything is finalized, you'll be home for good," Hayden said as Savannah hugged him again, gently this time. This was good; he was glad he thought of this. As sad as today was, Hayden was finding a reason to smile, and he sincerely hoped that with Dimitri out of his life for good…Things would finally start to be okay, and he could heal entirely without worry or fear.