{Normal POV}
(Thursday, November 23, 2023-4:30 pm)
[Troy & Hayden's Home]
The two lovers had the best time with the kids at Archia Park. Everyone molded together pretty well. Troy and Hayden got to learn a lot about the children that they would hopefully get to adopt at the end of all this. The funniest part was that nobody knew that Troy and Hayden bought a house, or that they were in the process of adopting not one or two, but five kids. Sure, they knew it could cause some trouble, but Troy and Hayden didn't care. This is what they wanted, and in fairness; they didn't say anything in case it fell through. So far, things were looking perfect. The children were fantastic, each in their own way. Kristen had autumn colored hair with green eyes and born July 8, 2018. The twins had dark brown hair with hazel eyes, born December 17, 2019, and Dylan was born first, two minutes and thirty-seven seconds before Zackary. Ashley had medium brown hair with brown eyes, small hints of green and she was born January 11, 2021. Finally, there was little Nicholas, the six-month-old child born April 5, 2023.
Ashley was a very active two-year-old, certainly not shy or nervous. Zack and Dylan were a little hesitant, but Gerald explained that their father abused them a lot. Kristen was a calm, gentle individual, but she was sarcastic too. Hayden and Troy both got a chance to hold Nicholas, and Hayden enjoyed getting to feed the baby as Troy took the changing. It was a beautiful day overall, and Gerald informed that it was looking like it would be a perfect match. It's been a month since then. Once or twice a week, Hayden and Troy got to meet with them and hang out. Gerald brought them to Berk twice, and the kids got to see the new hour which Hayden and Troy were finally moved into. Of course, no one in their family knew, but they would soon as Troy and Hayden were hosting Thanksgiving this year and mentioned there would be a couple of surprises. Thus far, no one had been allowed at the apartment because it would ruin the shock that Troy and Hayden moved to inner Berk, which was about twelve minutes from where everyone else was. This year would be unique because Gerald said things were going so well that they Troy and Hayden could take the kids, all five of them through Thanksgiving.
Troy and Hayden would be receiving the kids at 5 pm when Gerald dropped them off since Troy and Hayden had no way to take them all that day, but they were going to be investing in a van or SUV as they would soon be a family of seven. Troy and Hayden had no doubts about this; everyone seemed to like the arrangement, and the kids didn't have a problem with them. Right now, everyone was beginning to arrive at the house, pulling in the driveway or along the grass and wondering if they had the right place. The house was a two-level with a small front yard and two car garage. One of which was being used for Troy's truck at the moment. The inside held four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, basement, and fully fenced in backyard.
"Uh, we have the right place?" Shane wondered.
"1 Drakonian Street. Yeah, this is it," Mindy informed her boyfriend.
"Why are we here, though, and not at the apartment?" Cole questioned. Hayden and Troy stood on the front porch.
"Hey, glad you guys found the new place okay. Come on in!" Troy called.
Everyone blinked. "New place?" Deciding to question later, the group moved towards the house and entered one by one. Hayden closed the door and stood beside his husband as everyone was looking around.
"Alright, so we know that you all are very confused about this," Hayden got their attention.
"To make it easy; Hayden and I bought a house," Troy chuckled. Everyone eyes widened. "Left is the kitchen and dining room, garage entrance, which also leads into the backyard. Right leads to the living room, and sliding glass doors. Also, that takes you onto the back porch. Stairs take you upstairs to the four bedrooms and office space. Between the living room and kitchen is a hallway leading to the mudroom, washer, dryer, and half bathroom," he explained.
"All electric, pool, and Jacuzzi in back. Not bad for $1275 a month," Hayden smiled as Troy gave him a hug.
"Well, we figured you two would get a house eventually. When did you do all this?" Dustin blinked.
"Uh…End of July-ish?" Troy shrugged. "Closed everything at the end of October," he added.
"Why all the bedrooms? It's just you two?" Vivian inquired. Troy and Hayden laughed a little.
"You didn't think that you weren't getting grandchildren, did you?" Hayden said.
"Oh, so it was for preparation when you two start a family. How nice," Rachel beamed. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Who else did you invite? Inferno?" Ethan asked.
"Nope, that would be the kids," Troy informed after looking out the window.
"KIDS!?" everyone yelled as Troy opened the door.
"Hi, Gerald," Troy greeted.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Troy, and you too Hayden," Gerald said.
"Same to you," Hayden replied. "You kids ready to spend the night?" he greeted the four older kids as Troy took the infant carrier from Gerald.
"Actually, surprise change…There was an emergency with the foster family they were staying with, and since things are going so well in this arrangement; I've decided that I'm closing this adoption, and they will remain here. It will take some time to finalize things, but I think the seven of you fit together well and I see no reason to keep doing visits. So, right now you're their guardians/foster parents until I finish everything up, then they'll legally be yours," Gerald informed as Troy and Hayden's eyes widened.
"Really? We can keep them?" Hayden asked. Gerald nodded.
"They each have a suitcase of things in my van," Gerald smiled broadly.
"I'll give you a hand with those," Troy told Gerald. "Babe, why don't you get them settled inside?"
"Will do," Hayden led the kids in. Kristen was holding Ashley's hand, the twins were behind them, and Hayden took the car seat. Troy came in with Gerald five minutes later, carrying the suitcases upstairs to the rooms they belonged in. Gerald had Troy and Hayden sign a couple things, then he left.
"One of you two start explaining," Spencer stated.
"Well, on mine and Troy's five-year anniversary…I asked him if we could start a family, and well, here we are a couple months later," Hayden informed while unclipping Nicholas's seat straps, then picking him up.
"Initially, we were just going to adopt one child. However, we got a call in October from that man who was just here saying a baby was available, but was hoping to keep the family together and asked if we wouldn't mind taking all five children. Hayden and I were already looking for a house anyway, and we negotiated the final price for this place the same day. Everything just kind of fell into place," Troy explained gently.
"Tonight was just supposed to be a sleepover, but it looks like we're temporarily the foster parents until Gerald closes the adoption and makes it official," Hayden added in.
"Yeah, it was a whole process this past month. Weekly visits to see them, make sure it would be a good match. We skipped over having them by ourselves for the day and went right to sleepovers. We were supposed to have a couple of those, but I guess things changed and now we're keeping them," Troy continued.
"So, these will be your children?" Rosanna questioned.
"Yep," Hayden smiled while adjusting Nicholas in his arm.
"They are adorable!" Hailey, Rylee, Willow, Mindy, Avery, and Maya squealed.
"Well, you two don't waste any time, do ya?" Gabriel chuckled.
Troy and Hayden shook their heads. "It's not our style," they said together, then laughed a little.
"Well, if they are going to be family; I think we should get to know them," Rachel giggled. Ashley let go of Kristen's hand, then she lifted her arms to Troy as he bent down and picked her up. Kristen and the twins stood in front of Hayden and Troy.
"Was hoping you'd say that," Troy enlightened.
"This is Kristen, she just turned six in July. The twins are Zackary and Dylan, both four until December when they turn five. Troy is holding Ashley, she's becoming three in January, and finally, I have Nicholas; he is seven months as of the fifth of this month. Nicholas was born in April," Hayden introduced.
"Who are they, Hayden?" Dylan asked, looking up at Hayden.
"Friends and family, son," Troy replied. "These are my parents, Dustin and Rachel, then my little brother, Cole with his fiancee, Rosanna, and their daughter, Evelina," he pointed.
"And my parents are over here, Spencer and Vivian. And that's my Uncle Gabriel. My cousin Shane is by the window and his parents, who are my aunt and uncle. Their names are Simon and Felicia," Hayden motioned to each person.
"And everyone else is a friend. There's Rylee and Ethan. Mindy, who is Shane's girlfriend. Avery, Theodore, Tyler, Willow, Drew, Hailey, Fisher, and Myra," Troy finished.
"What do we call them?" Kristen questioned.
"You're part of the family, so what would you like to call them that's easier for you?" Troy smiled.
"Um…" Zack, Dylan, and Kristen began to think hard.
"Are your parents our…Grandparents?" Zackary inquired.
"That's right. Spencer and Vivian are your grandparents on Hayden's side. Dustin and Rachel are yours from me. Cole would be your uncle, and very soon, Rosanna will be your aunt," Troy explained.
"Nani. Papi." Ashely said, pointing to Spencer and Vivian.
"Grammy and Grampy," Dylan and Zackary said together, referring to Dustin and Rachel.
"I don't mind if they call me Auntie or Aunt Rose if it's more comfortable until their older," Rosanna beamed.
"I can be Uncle Gobber, just like I was for you, lad," Gabriel snickered a little.
"Oh, come on. I haven't called you that since I was like, eight," Hayden muttered.
"Bur you still called be that because you couldn't get Gabriel right," the man teased. Hayden rolled his eyes.
"It a lot of people," Kristen paled.
"And there is no rush. It's new for all of us," Vivian assured gently.
"What can we call you and Hayden?" Zackary asked.
"You're adopting us, right?" Kristen questioned.
"Of course," Troy replied.
"We'll be your parents, so you can call us whatever is easiest for you," Hayden offered.
"Can we call you Daddy and Troy Papa?" Dylan wondered.
"Whatever you like. I can be Dad, and Troy can be Papa. Or you can use Daddy Hayden and Daddy Troy depending on who you want?" Hayden suggested.
"We'll figure it out," Kristan giggled.
"Can we see our rooms?!" Zackary and Dylan asked.
"Sure. Hayden and I finished putting them together a few days ago from your last visit when you picked the ones you wanted to use," Troy invited. Kristen, Dylan, and Zackary rushed away to get up the stairs. Ashley stayed put in Troy's arms, her head on his shoulder. Nicholas was asleep in Hayden's arms. Dinner would be ready soon, but everyone was still sitting in shock about the information after Hayden and Troy followed after their kids to assist in getting them settled. Hayden and Troy not only got a house, but adopted five kids in a matter of a few months; it was shocking, but cool too. Hayden and Troy were moving into the future as homeowners and parents, so good for them. It was a lovely Thanksgiving surprise.