It's been a while. Sorry. It's easy to lose track with multiple stories. I originally intended for this to be solely a happy chapter, but the muse couldn't go without a little drama, lol. No Angela or Eric in this chapter, but they will return in chapter 18.

Thank you so much for the reviews and feedback to the previous chapter, especially considering it can be a sensitive issue. I'm getting caught up on reviews and pms so hopefully I can respond to you all soon. Thanks again. :-)

"Mommy? Mommy?"

"Hmm?"

"Mommy, you awake?"

"What are you-" Rachel opened her eyes and immediately regretted it. "Nina, get the flashlight out of my face."

"Sorry."

She blinked rapidly, trying to get her eyes to adjust. Jack was still snoring away on the other side of the bed. At least she thinks he was still asleep. Her husband could do a pretty convincing fake snore when he wanted to. Normally Nina went to him in the middle of the night. "What's wrong? Why aren't you sleeping? It's…what time is it?"

"The clock says one, two, three, and seven."

"Okay, why are you awake at twelve thirty-seven in the morning?"

"How many more sleeps until you and daddy adoption us?"

For the past week Nina's asked that every night before she went to bed and when she woke up first thing in the morning. "What day is it?"

"The real day or the day it was when I went to bed? Because in school Miss Pilar told us that when the clock says one and two when it's dark out that a new day starts."

"The real day."

"Thursday."

"If the adoption is Friday, what does that mean?"

She jumped up and down. "One more sleep."

"Right, but first you have to finish this sleep."

"So it's really two sleeps?"

"More like one and a half."

"That still feels like too many to wait."

"I know, but it will go faster when you're sleeping."

"Really?"

"I promise.

"Okay. I just wanted to know. Good night, mommy. Good night part two."

Rachel smiled and leaned over for a hug. "Good night part two." She kissed the top of Nina's head. "I will see you at breakfast. I love you."

"Love you, too, mommy."

"Do you need me to walk you back to bed?"

She shook her head and proudly held up her flashlight. "No, thank you. I have my bright light so I can be brave." She accidentally hit the on switch and sent the light right into Rachel's face. "Oops."

She covered her eyes. "Good night, Nina."

/

/

"Why do we have to fly with Jack's family?"

"Because his stepdad got some sort of deal on tickets and offered. I certainly wasn't going to turn down first class. You don't have to be tall to appreciate the extra leg room." Naomi did one last check before zipping her overnight bag. While Shawn was staying through the weekend, she was only able to stay until Friday night because of work. All of her time off was going towards the wedding and honeymoon. And with the wedding just over two weeks away there were no days to spare. "It was a nice gesture. I don't understand what your problem is with him. Greg's a really nice guy."

"He rubs me the wrong way, always has."

"He just wants to help. You're Jack's brother. He thinks of you as family. Didn't you tell me once he paid for the private investigator to try and find your biological mother? Would someone who didn't care about you do that?"

"He just loves having a poor charity case to help. I'm sure it looks good at the rich guy meetings. He always throws his money around, flaunting his wealth for everyone to see. Even his last name is snobby. Seriously, what kind of a last name is Mercier?"

"I think it's French."

"Whatever."

She shook her head. Shawn seemed to be a petulant teenager when it came to Jack's stepdad, as if he thought liking the man even a little was a betrayal to Chet. His attitude towards Greg seemed worse lately and she didn't know why. "Just promise me you'll be nice. We're going to be sitting with them on the plane."

"I'll be nice. I've got nothing against Monica. She's pretty cool."

"And Shelly?"

Jack's mother, Shelly, was the reason they didn't see each other for so many years. She hid the letters he sent. She was the reason Shawn spent most of his childhood and teen years thinking his big brother didn't give a damn. Yes, she was trying to protect Jack and herself from Chet, and he understood that, but he still resented her. "I'm not going to ruin things for Jack, Rachel, and the kids, okay? I can be civil."

"I suppose that's about all I can hope for right now. Did you call for a cab?"

He nodded. "It'll be here in a few minutes."

/

"Xander, come on, come back and sit with mommy. It's time to give Shawn a break."

"It's okay, Monica, really." The two year old sought him out almost immediately when they met up at the airport. He didn't know why, but the kid seemed to like him.

"Are you sure? I don't want him to bother you."

"He's not. And at least this way we're both distracted." Shawn turned the page in the board book. "What's in here, buddy, huh?" He pretended to be startled when Xander lifted the little flap and revealed a lion hiding. "Whoa, that's a big lion." He laughed when the boy giggled at his reaction. "Did you know he was hiding in there?"

Naomi loved watching her fiancé with kids. Over time his awkwardness morphed into a more natural talking to and interacting with them. He used to be so robotic, but Evan, Nina, Milo, Calum, and even Georgia have helped with his aversion to little kids. She couldn't wait until they had their own. At the moment the plan was to wait a couple of years and enjoy married life, but the closer the wedding got the more she wanted to move up the baby timeline. If only Shawn didn't look like he was going to pass out whenever she broached the topic. "Uh-oh, is Milo going to have competition for Uncle Shawn's attention?"

"Nomi, please, we all know Nina is the ring leader of this circus." The adults all laughed. "Besides, Xander and Milo are about the same age. They should get along, right?" He was confused when they laughed again. "No?"

"Have you ever been around two two year olds at once, dear," Shelly asked.

"No."

"Don't get me wrong, it's not all fighting, but it can be a love/hate relationship to the extreme. Toddlers are emotional creatures who can't properly express themselves. It's a recipe for chaos. But luckily the drama is usually over as soon as it starts." She paused to sip her drink. "I remember when Johnny was around two and a half and you were about one, Virna and I would meet up so you two could play and spend time together."

This was news to him. "What?"

"During one visit you were both so obsessed with the same truck and no attempts to get you to share worked." She chuckled at the memory. "Do you still have a scar on your head, just under the hairline?"

His hand drifted to the left side of his head and he ran a finger over the old scar. Its origins had always been a mystery to him. "Yeah."

"You got that when Johnny threw the truck at your face. Oh, my god, there was so much blood." Shelly shook her head. "I will never forget the panic I felt. That you only needed three stitches was a miracle."

Shawn wasn't quite sure how to process this. The woman who would later hide his letters to Jack used to get together with Virna so the brothers could play? It didn't make sense. Why did they do it? How long? When did they stop? Did Chet know? Instead of verbalizing his questions he got up and, after depositing Xander back in Monica's lap, headed for the back of the plane.

"Are you okay," Naomi called out.

"Yeah…we're landing soon. I want to hit the bathrooms before the fasten seatbelt light comes back on."

/

/

"Dad, we have to be at court at ten."

"Evan, I know. Don't worry, we have plenty of time."

"Everyone else has to be at court by then, too. You called them all, right?"

Jack and Rachel woke up around six and found Evan already sitting at the kitchen table. He was dressed, had his teeth brushed, face and hands washed, hair combed, and was ready to go. He didn't want any breakfast: not cereal, pancakes, or eggs. They even offered cookies just to get food into him. No luck. "Yes, everyone has been called or sent a text and is on the way."

"What if we're late and they cancel the adoption?"

"That's not going to happen."

"You swear?"

"Yes, I swear. The judge wants to make us a family, too."

"Really?"

Jack patted his shoulder. "I mean it, buddy. Don't worry. It's all taken care of. Now if you'd like to help me get us there faster-"

"What?"

"Help me find Milo's shoes."

/

"Nina, if you want your hair to be pretty you have to stay still."

"But I love my dress, mommy." She spun around the room. "It's so twirly! And I love the sparkly belt."

Rachel smiled in spite of her aggravation. They weren't going to buy Nina a new dress for adoption day. She had plenty of dresses and was going to wear her flower girl dress in a couple weeks. But then they were at a thrift store shopping buying cheap play clothes for the summer. Nina spotted the lacy pink dress with the glittery silver belt and begged to have it for the special day. Rachel didn't have the heart to turn her down, especially for the price. "I know. It's very pretty."

"I like your dress, too, mommy…even if it's not twirly and sparkly."

"Thank you." She adjusted the bobby pins that held the faux pearl and floral wreath in place. "Okay, there you go. What do you think?" She opened her closet door so Nina could take in the whole look in the full length mirror. "Did I do good?"

Nina lifted the ends of her dress and swayed back and forth. "You did the best. I look so pretty."

She chuckled under her breath. The girl definitely didn't lack self-confidence. "You look beautiful."

"When will my hair change?"

"What do you mean?"

"When the judge says that you are my mommy for real is my hair going to be red like yours'? Because Emmy has black hair like her mommy so I get red hair like you, right?"

She frowned, not understanding how she came to this conclusion. "No, Nina, your hair will stay brown after the adoption."

"But Emmy and her mommy match," she exclaimed, referring to her best friend. "They both have black hair. We should match, too."

"It's okay. We don't need to have matching hair for me to be your mommy for real."

"We don't?"

"I don't have the same color hair as grammy, do I?"

"Grammy's hair is silver. But all old people have silver hair."

She snorted. If there was one thing not to say to Rachel's mother, it was to call her old. "Before her hair was silver it was blonde."

"Is that yellow?"

"Yes. So you see we don't need to have the same color hair to be real family. All we need to do is love each other and I think we do a good job at that, right?" Nina nodded. "That's what is important."

"Okay."

"Rach," Jack called out from another part of the house. "We need to get going. Court is supposed to start in an hour. I can't find Milo's new shoes. Where did you put them?"

"Dining room table!"

"They're not here."

"I'll be right out. Rachel held out her hands to Nina. "Nina Victoria Hunter, are you ready to go to court?"

She smiled at the mention of her soon-to-be name. "Ready, mommy!"

/

"We've been here forever." Evan wandered around the waiting area. "They said ten and it's already ten-thirty."

"Our family isn't the only adoption they're doing today," Rachel explained. "There were a few cases ahead of us."

"But I've been waiting longer than anyone."

"I know it feels that way, but we just have to wait a little more."

Shawn stood up. "I need to stretch my legs. Evan, you want to take a walk?" His nephew needed a distraction. If the poor kid stayed here any longer he was going to explode.

"But what if we miss-"

"We won't go far. Besides, I'm sure if they come out to say it's your turn someone will text me."

"Right," Jack answered. "Take a walk with Shawn."

"Okay. If you're sure."

Nina jumped up. "I wanna go, too."

"No, Nina, stay here."

"But-"

"I need a new picture for my desk at work," Greg said. "Come color me a new one." He held out the paper and crayons Rachel brought along. "Can you draw another picture of a horse? Everyone at work really loved the last one you made me."

"That wasn't a horse, Opa. It was a My Little Pony."

Greg almost laughed at her borderline condescending tone. "I'm so sorry. Can you draw me another My Little Pony?"

"Which one?"

"Princess Sparkle. I think she's my favorite."

"Her name is Princess Twilight Sparkle." She went over to her grandfather. "I will write her name on it so you don't forget again."

"That sounds like a good idea."

/

"You want something from the vending machine," Shawn asked Evan, gesturing to the machines at the far end of the corridor. "Chips, cookies, candy?"

"We didn't eat lunch yet."

"That's okay. I won't tell."

"Can I have a Rice Krispies Treat," he said after studying his options.

"That sounds pretty good. I think I'll have one, too."

"Can I put the money in?"

He smiled. It seemed like such a little kid thing to ask and Evan didn't often act like a typical kid. "Sure." He handed over a dollar bill and assorted change. A minute later they were sitting down with their snacks. "Are you nervous?"

"I don't know. Maybe a little. I don't like waiting."

"Yeah, waiting sucks."

"I don't know what it's like in a court room. Have you ever been in a courtroom?"

"Once."

"What did you do?"

"It wasn't me. It was Cory." It cracked Shawn up that no matter what stunts and pranks he pulled as a kid the only time he actually saw the inside of a courtroom was because of something Cory did. If that wasn't irony he didn't know what was. "He just got his driver's license so we decided, along with Topanga, to drive to New Jersey to see an R-rated movie."

"What's that?"

Oops. "Um…a movie for grownups. We were too young then and you're much too young now. Anyway, he was driving down a dark road in a little town when a cop pulled him over for speeding. He brought us to the police station and we had to see a judge."

"Was the judge mean?"

"No, he made things with balloons."

"That's weird."

"Yeah, but he let us go because we were kids."

"Was your dad mad?"

Shawn wracked his brain and tried to recall Chet's reaction, but to no avail. Whatever it was, he knows he wasn't mad. If anything, he probably said something about it being Hunter tradition to stand before a judge. "No, but my dad wasn't really a normal dad."

"You said he left a lot, right?"

He nodded. "He left all the time."

"Did you ever want to get adopted by a normal mom and dad?"

"Sometimes. Cory's parents offered to adopt me. So did Mr. Turner."

"Who's he?"

"My old teacher, I lived with him for a while in high school. You'll meet him at my wedding. He'll be standing up there with us."

"Why didn't Mr. Turner or Cory's mom and dad adopt you?"

Shawn didn't answer right away. Instead he occupied himself by reading the ingredients list on his snack. How could he explain such a complicated situation to a little kid? But then he remembered that Evan's whole life had been one complicated situation after another. Hell, he's seen things and took on responsibilities Shawn couldn't imagine doing now, let alone as a kid. He was lucky he managed to mostly take care of himself. Evan had younger siblings to worry about. "I guess I wasn't ready to give up on being a Hunter."

"Now I'm going to be a Hunter, too, like you."

He smiled at the hint of pride in Evan's voice. Before he could respond his phone vibrated in his pocket. "How about we go make that official," he said as he read the text. "That was your dad. You guys are up next."

/

"…and as someone who has watched every step of the way for the past year and a half since the children were placed with Jack and Rachel I can say without a shadow of a doubt that their lives have improved tremendously. They are now happy, thriving children and in my opinion it is in the best interest of the court to approve the adoption."

The judge nodded to the social worker. "Thank you, Ms. Whitley. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, once this is official it is forever. These will be your children just as much as if they were born to you. You understand that, correct?"

"Yes, your honor," they answered in unison.

"And you're prepared to make a lifetime commitment to the children?"

"Yes."

"You can support them financially?"

"Yes."

"And you are making these choices while being of sound body and mind?"

"Well I don't know about sound mind," Jack joked quietly.

Rachel pinched his arm. "Jack!"

The judge laughed. "That's all right. It is usually fathers who try to break the tension with a joke. And the sound mind one usually gets them."

"Darn and I was going for originality points," Jack quipped.

"At this time I typically like to talk to the kids, assuming they can speak. Seth, Nina, is it okay if I ask you both a question?"

"My name is Evan."

"Excuse me?"

"Seth's name will be changed today in addition to the adoption," Rachel explained. "He's been going by Evan for months."

He scanned the paperwork. "Ah, yes, my apologies young man. It has been a very busy morning. Evan, Nina, is it okay for me to ask you a question?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why do you want Jack and Rachel to adopt you and become your parents?"

"Because they are mommy and daddy and I love them and they love me," Nina exclaimed.

He smiled. "Those are very good reasons, Nina."

"I know," she said, making everyone laugh.

"Evan, how about you? Why do you want Jack and Rachel to be your parents?"

"I don't have to worry anymore."

"What do you mean? What did you worry about before?"

"Before we went to live with mom and dad I always had to worry. I had to make Nina food and make Milo his bottles and change his diapers. And I had to worry if my old mom would drink or take drugs. Sometimes they made her sleepy and other times they made her angry. But mom and dad always take care of me, Nina, Milo, and Calum. I don't have to worry about anything now."

"Evan always made good peanut butter on a spoon for dinner," Nina said to the judge. "He would give me the biggest spoon."

"He sounds like a very good big brother." He looked over the papers once more. "Based upon the reports and the recommendations of those here today and the testimony of our social workers the court finds that granting the petition is in the best interest of the children. John and Rachel Hunter have shown their ability to support and maintain the physical and mental well-beings of these children and are suitable to be their parents. The court will therefore enter the order of adoption and therein after John and Rachel are the parents of," he paused to read off their new names, "Evan Maguire Hunter, Nina Victoria Hunter, Milo Bartholomew Hunter, and Calum Wesley Hunter."

/

A while later, after pictures with the judge and a restaurant for lunch, the group was back at Jack and Rachel's home for cake. It had been an enjoyable, emotional day- even Shawn would admit a few tears sprang to his eyes when the judge declared them family. Now he was trying to track down Nomi, he wanted to know when she wanted to head to the airport. He found her in a quiet corner of the living room, holding Calum. "Hey."

She smiled up at him. "Hi."

"Looks like you got the magic touch, huh?"

"That or he was so exhausted he would've fallen asleep if the mailman held him."

"Don't joke. I've met their mailman. He's got a calming presence." Calum shifted in her arms she began to rock back and forth and rubbed slow circles on his back. He settled within seconds. "Of course he has nothing on you, baby whisperer."

"Ha-ha."

For a moment Shawn could almost envision her holding their child and rocking him to sleep. The rare times he let himself think like that it was always a boy. He didn't know why, but that was the picture in his head. Nomi would be a good mother and he'd have to be blind to miss the tell-tale signs of baby fever. Still, what innocent baby deserved to have him as a father? He shook his head and took a few steps back.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just going to get some air. Find me when you need to head to the airport."

Shawn desperately searched for some privacy, but unfortunately every room seemed to be occupied. Maybe he'd have better luck on the back porch. He was in the mudroom and about to go outside when he realized Jack was out there talking to his stepdad.

/

"How does it feel now that it's official?"

"Almost the same as before," Jack admitted with a laugh. "It's nice knowing that it's for keeps and no one can take them from us, but I thought I'd feel different. I thought I'd feel like a dad, have some sort of lightning bolt moment. But then when the judge said it was official I-"

"You realized you've been a dad from the moment they came to live with you?"

"Yeah." He rested his head against the back of the swing. "I've been dad since the night we met them. It didn't matter that we weren't supposed to get attached. It was impossible not to. Those were…are…those are my kids." He cleared his throat and brushed his hand across his face. "Didn't think I'd get all emotional though."

Greg put his hand on his stepson's shoulder. "It's okay. A little emotion comes with the territory."

"I guess you felt this way when Monica was born, huh?"

"Not quite." He sat back and watched the dogs playing in the yard. "I'd been seeing your mother for about a year and met you about six months into the relationship. One morning she called when I was on my way to an important meeting. She was frantic. She was alone at the hospital with you. You spiked a really high fever and had a seizure."

Jack had never heard this story before. He didn't remember ever having a seizure. "What did you do?"

"I forgot all about my meeting and rushed to the hospital. Cost the company about two million dollars," he admitted with a wince.

"Wow."

"I got there and the doctors said you had some sort of infection. When they finally let me in to see you, you smiled and called me dad. And for the next few days I was at the hospital, either rocking you and telling you stories or sleeping in a plastic chair next to your bed. You didn't want your mom. You wanted me. That's when it hit me- I did feel like your dad, blood or no blood."

"Did you ever think about adopting me," he asked, his voice hushed. It's something Jack's wondered over the years, but never had the courage to ask.

"I tried after the wedding, but Chet refused to give up his parental rights."

"You didn't fight him on it?"

"I didn't want to put you through a custody trial. And your mother was afraid if we pushed that Chet would want to see you again. She didn't want him to try to reinsert himself into your lives."

"I wish he would've let you adopt me."

"Me, too, but it was just a piece of paper. We were already a family in every other way that mattered."

"Still…" Jack shook his head. "Thanks for being my dad."

For a split second Greg saw the four year old boy he met so many years ago; a Garfield doll tucked under one arm and a Transformer toy in the other. "Thank you for making me a dad."

"So on the day your kids are happy to become Hunters you're admitting you didn't want to be one?"

His head snapped up and he saw Shawn standing in front of him. "What are you talking about, man? I never said-"

"I heard you! You wish Chet would've given you up and let him," he paused and pointed at Greg, "adopt you."

"Dad, could you give us a minute," Jack asked.

Greg nodded before he stood. "Sure."

He didn't speak again until they were alone. "What the hell was that?"

"If you're ashamed of being Chet's son that must mean you're ashamed to be my brother, too."

"That's such a load of crap. I'm not ashamed to be your brother. I'm proud to be your brother."

"And dad?"

"I have no good memories of him. I wish I did, but I don't. I don't have many memories at all. The only thing I can remember is how one day when I was little he came to visit. He showed up drunk and yelled at my mom. Then he grabbed her arm so hard he left bruises. That's it! That's all I have before I moved to Philadelphia." He stood up and looked Shawn in the eye. "I didn't move to Philadelphia to get to know him. It was you."

"Maybe we would've know each other if your mother never hid the letters I sent."

There was a part of Jack that would forever be mad at his mom for that. As much as she thought she was protecting him, she robbed him of something as well. "Maybe, but those were her decisions, not mine. And as soon as I was old enough to find you I did. I wanted to know my brother.

"When Chet died, was I sad, yes, but not because I lost the father I knew and loved. I didn't lose my dad. I mourned the relationship we were never going to have. He's a lost opportunity…wasted potential. I'm sorry for all the crap you went through, but I'm not going to apologize for loving the man who raised me. You may not like him, but he's been my dad since I was four."

Shawn shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned back against the railing. "He wasn't always bad."

"I never said he was."

"He could be a really fun person to be around, at least until he wasn't. Chet had that all or nothing personality." He exhaled. "I used to resent you, you know?"

Jack chuckled. "I remember."

"I was jealous. It wasn't because of the money…or not just the money. You had stability. You never had to hope the bills were paid so the electric company wouldn't shut off the lights. You didn't dread every knock at the door, praying it wasn't someone coming to collect on a debt. You never came home from school only to find there was no home there anymore because Virna had enough of him." He let out a bitter laugh. "Why shouldn't you hate him? Sometimes I do."

"I don't."

"Yeah, right."

"If nothing else, Chet did do one thing. He forced us to live together." He leaned against the house, directly across from Shawn. "Because of him we went from two guys who happened to share some DNA to brothers. How could I hate the guy that did that?" The back door opened and he expected to see his dad, but instead it was Evan. "What's up, pal?"

"Mom told me to find you because we're going to have cake now."

"We'll be there in a minute."

"Okay."

"Are you all right," he asked, once Evan was gone.

"I guess. I'm sorry I snapped. The last thing I wanted was to ruin today for you."

"You didn't. I'm glad you came to celebrate. It meant a lot to the kids…me, too." Shawn nodded. "Now come on, let's get some cake."