Lorelai woke up early on the day of her adoption. Long before her alarm was set to go off. She sat up and flipped on her table lamp and looked around her room. She had finally finished unpacking her room the day before. All she needed now was a few pieces of décor to finish making her room the way she liked it. Her dad told her she could do whatever she wanted to the room. She got up grabbing her sketchbook and her charcoal pencils and put the finishing touches on the picture she had drawn of her dad and little brother. She was going to give it to her dad today after the adoption was finalized. If it was finalized. She still couldn't get her head to believe it was going to work out.
There was a small knock on her door. "Yes." She said softly and her little brother came in. He had come to stay with them for a few days so he could be at the adoption. Lorelai closed the sketch book and smiled at him. "Why are you up so early?" She asked him
"I'm excited. You're going to be my real big sister." He said as he climbed onto her bed
Lorelai smiled. "That is what's planned for the day. But you're my little brother either way." She told him
Jack nodded. "Is Rachel going to be adopted too?"
"Not today. Maybe in the future. You'll have to ask dad that. I don't get to decided that." She told him. "Why don't we try and get more sleep." She said turning off the light. She had a feeling that if he stayed awake, he would be grumpy later and that wouldn't turn out well for anyone. They both feel back asleep until her alarm when off waking them both up.
Jack got up quickly and ran out of the room to go find daddy.
Lorelai chuckled and stretched. The kid woke up like nothing. She was not that lucky. She needed a chance to wake up. She needed coffee to fully wake up. She had decided she wouldn't look at her emails this morning. This was her day. She didn't need the distractions. She got up and went and got some coffee that her dad had already made. She filled her cup and went and sat in her favorite chair sipping it as everyone else came into the kitchen. She saw Aaron starting to make breakfast for everyone before they all sat at the table and ate breakfast together. It wasn't something that happened often with her and Aaron often leaving very early and Jack only being there sometimes it wasn't often that got to all sit and eat breakfast very often.
When they were done Rachel got up and went to her room coming back with a wrapped gift and handed it to her.
She looked at her "What's this?" She asked.
"Your adoption gift. Its from all of us." Rachel told her
Lorelai smiled and opened it. It was the drawing she had made when she was younger. Framed.
"You drew it. Its you're dream." Rachel told her. "You should keep it."
Lorelai smiled. "It looks really good framed."
"It will fit perfect in the décor for your room." Aaron told her
"Thank you. All three of you." She said. "I love it." She gave all three of them a hug
"We should all get ready." Aaron told them.
They all got up and went to get ready
Lorelai had gotten a new navy dress for the occasion. She paired it with pale yellow ballet flats. She did her hair and a bit of make up before heading out to the living room.
Jack came out a few minutes later in a pair of nice slacks and a nice button up shirt with tie. She smiled. "You look very handsome" she told him.
Jack smiled. "I look like daddy!" he said excitedly
Lorelai nodded. "Yes. He wears a shirt and tie often."
Before long Aaron and Rachel came out as well both also looking very nice in their chosen outfits.
Aaron looked at his watch. "We should get going. We want to be early." He said. They all got out the door and into the car and headed to the courthouse.
Lorelai smiled when she saw everyone else was there too. She thought they wouldn't be able to come. Having the whole team away from the office not on a case, during the week, didn't happen often. They all smiled at Lorelai.
Before long the court hearing was called to order. The judge said some things. The lawyer said some things. Than the judge looked at Aaron and asked him a few questions before he turned to Lorelai. "Is this what you want?" He asked
"Yes, sir it is." She said
The judge nodded. "You're sure?"
"Yes. I am. I'm sure you have seen my file. Know everything that there is to know. I have spent more of my life being afraid of abuse. I was given up when I was two by drug or alcohol addicted parents who didn't care enough about me to take me away from the town where they knew I would be abused. I was lied to about my age and aged out once. A year later I found out I wasn't nineteen but sixteen. I was furious, talking emancipated. This man took me in without a second thought. In the few months I have been living with him he had done more for me than any other parent ever has. For the first time in my life. I feel safe. I have a family." She said
The judge nodded. "I cant argue with that. I -have seen your file. The atrocities that you have had to deal with. I am very sorry that you have been failed so many time by people who should have protected you. I am also impressed that in spite of all that you have some how have excelled at everything you do. I am happy to see that you have finally found a safe place with your forever family. And I see no reason why you should not be able to call this man your dad. Forever." He said banging is gavel. Lorelai was stunned. It actually happened. She was adopted. She couldn't hold back she started to sob. She almost fell over from the relief. She was free. Aaron grabbed her to keep her from falling over. He pulled her into a hug and held her as she sobbed. "Its official. No one can ever take you from me." He said to her. Lorelai calmed down after a few minutes and the judge smiled he had come down from his seat and he and Aaron signed the papers that needed to be signed. The judge looked at her. "Did you want to change any part of your name?" Lorelai nodded. "I want to change my last name. I want to hyphenate it with Hotchner as the last part." She said.
The judge nodded and did the paperwork for that as well and it was signed by the Judge and Lorelai.
The judge shook all their hands. JJ held up a camera. "Come on family photo time." She said. Aaron, Lorelai, Rachel, and Jack stood in front of the judge's bench and got a family photo. They also got a picture with the judge. Once the photo session was finished the whole family/team went out for a family dinner at a restaurant that Morgan had arranged for the group.
As the were leaving the courthouse Spencer whispered in her ear. "Told you so." With a small smile. Lorelai shook her head and went with her family to the restaurant where there was a small party to celebrate her and her adoption.
After their little celebration they all went their separate ways and went home. Lorelai changed and took out the picture she had drawn and went out to her dad. "I took a picture that first weekend we were at the park with Jack. I uh. Have been drawing it since than." She said handing him the picture.
Aaron smiled and looked at it. "Its very well done. Thank You. You do have a lot of talent. Have you concerned doing something with this talent?" He asked
Lorelai nodded "I have thought about it. But if it became a job or something I don't know if I would love it the same."
Aaron nodded. "Understood. But this is very nice. I have the perfect spot for it." He smiled
Lorelai smiled.
"How are you feeling after today?" He asked her
"I'm shocked but happy." She told him
"Glad your happy. And that I could give you what you deserve." He told her
Lorelai nodded. "I will never be able to thank you enough." She said
Aaron shook his head. "You don't have to do anything to thank me. You have helped me in your own way too. Just keep being the kind person I know you are." He said
Lorelai nodded and smiled. "I'll try."
They had a movie night and had popcorn for dinner since they were all still full, from the party before they all headed to bed.
