Friday morning came very early for Oliver when a little red head climbed up onto his bed, leaned over his face, and very loudly whispered, "Daddy Warbucks! You're adopting me today!"
"Annie, do you have any idea what time it is?"
"No, but you're adopting me today!!"
"I know sweetie and I'm just as excited as you are, but it's still very early."
"I know but..."
"I'm adopting you today. Yes, yes. I think we should sleep a little more so we're well rested for the big day."
"Daddy?"
"What sweetie?"
"Maybe we should go sleep some more in mommy's room." She smiled at him.
As comfortable as Oliver was, curling up with Grace and Annie sounded so much better.
"Alright, lets go."
"Yay!"
The quietly walked into Grace's room and found her in the middle of her bed.
"One in each side?" Oliver asked Annie. She nodded happily and climbed up onto the bed while Oliver made his way to the other side. Grace woke as Annie situated herself.
"Hi mommy," she whispered.
"Good morning Annie," she whispered back as she felt a large hand slide over her stomach and pull her body flush to another. She turned her head to look over her shoulder and smiled, "mmm, Oliver."
"Hi baby."
"What are you doing?"
"We missed you."
Annie snuggled deeper into Grace and looked up at her to nod her head in agreement. A large yawn escaped Annie and she said, "I'm getting adopted today! But daddy said we needed to sleep more to get ready for the big day and we wanted to come in here." There was another yawn.
"I'm glad you did. I missed you too." Annie smiled again before pressing her face into Grace and falling asleep against her mom. Grace pressed a kiss to the top of Annie's head before turning slightly to look at Oliver. She moved her feet to rub against his and felt his had rubbing up and down her thigh. Oliver kissed her before nuzzling his face into her shoulder, "I love you," he whispered against her.
"I love you too."
Later that day, Oliver greeted Justice Brandeis, "thank you so much for coming!"
"Happy to be here, Oliver." They shook hands as Grace and Annie made their way down the stairs. Helen and Laura were there as well a quite a few of the staff members.
"Brandeis, this is my fiancé Grace, and this is Annie."
"It's a pleasure to meet both of you. Shall we get started?" All three of them nodded.
"Now Oliver I believe you mentioned that you and Grace would both be adopting Annie. Is that correct?"
"Yes," he replied and smiled at Grace.
Brandeis turned to Grace, "will you be changing your name?"
"I'm sorry?" She responded, slight confused by the question.
"Your name. When you and Oliver marry, will you be changing your name?"
"Oh. Yes sir."
"Alright," turning back to Oliver, "I would suggest just you adopting Annie then." Annie watched all three adults carefully.
"What? Why?" Oliver asked.
"In the event of a name change, the entire process and paperwork will need to be redone."
There was silence for a brief moment before Oliver turned to Grace and said, "I can't do this without you." Annie's face fell.
"Oliver..."
"Let's get married first." Panic filled Annie's eyes and she thought about going on longer without parents.
Grace noticed this immediately and steps closer to Oliver before saying quietly, "Oliver you can't do that to Annie."
"Grace we need to do this together. I don't want to do this without you."
"Oliver..." Annie could feel tears forming in her eyes.
Oliver looked into Grace's eyes, "Marry me today."
"What!?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"We have a judge right here! Marry me now and we can have a big wedding later if you want to but, then we can adopt Annie together like it should be."
Suddenly realizing that maybe he wasn't kidding, Grace said, "you're serious."
"Marry me."
"Yes."
"Yes?" She nodded and Oliver stepped to her and placed his hands on both sides of her face.
Grace smiled up at him, bit her bottom lip, and laughed lightly before whispering, "let's get married."
Annie smiled before running to them and throwing her arms around them. Oliver looked to the judge and said, "Brandeis, can you do a wedding before the adoption?"
"I'd be delighted to."
Annie moved to stand with Helen and Grace and Oliver made their way to Justice Brandeis as he said, "Let's begin. Join hands please." Oliver held Grace's hands tightly.
"We are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Oliver and Grace in matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all men. Do you, Oliver, take Grace Elizabeth Farrell to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part."
"I do."
"Do you, Grace, take Oliver Stanley Warbucks to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part."
"I do."
"By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Oliver, you may now kiss your bride."
With that, Oliver pulled Grace to him before dropping her hands, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. The room filled with applause from the happy staff and Annie once again flung herself to her parents. "Leapin lizards! You got married!" She shouted.
Oliver picked Annie up and said, "alright little lady, are you ready to be adopted?"
"Oh boy am I!"
Brandeis went through and explained everything to Grace and Oliver, who still held Annie tightly in his arms. They both nodded in understanding as he went along. "Alright, all that's left to do is sign some paperwork," he said as he laid it out in front of them point to each spot to sign. Grace signed first, Oliver's heart beating faster as the words Grace Warbucks appeared on paper in front of him. When she was done, Oliver set Annie down to sign. She wrapped her arms around Grace's waist and held onto her.
"And now we fill out the certificate. This will take the place of Annie's birth certificate in any event that she would need to produce that."
Grace and Oliver nodded again.
Brandeis spoke and be filled it out, "I, Justice Walter Brandeis of New York, herby certify that on the 10th day of July 1933, Oliver Stanley Warbucks and Grace Elizabeth Warbucks have legally adopted Anne Marie Warbucks, born on the 18th day of October 1922." He signed the line designated for the judge and passed the pen to Grace and Oliver to sign.
"Congratulations to the Warbucks family," he then said with a smile.
"Leapin lizards!" Annie yelled again before hugging her parents once more before running to celebrate with the staff.
Oliver walked to Grace, slid both hands along her cheeks before burying them in her hair and kissing her deeply. Tears filled Grace's eyes and she held onto him tightly. When they parted, he used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her face and whispered, "I love you Mrs. Warbucks."
"Oh Oliver, I love you too." They reluctantly pulled away from one another and went to accept congratulations from everyone. Grace walked over to her mom.
"Well," Helen said, "did you give at least some thought to what we talked about?"
"Yes. Oliver and I talked about it as well."
"And?"
"I am not only very happily in lust, but I am also madly in love with my husband. He makes to happy, makes me feel safe and protected, and I need him."
"Then congratulations on your wedding and on the adoption. You have a beautiful and very special family, and I am so proud of you."
"Thanks mom." And with that, they hugged.
"Congratulations Grace."
"Thank you Laura."
The day seemed to go on and on. The excitement of the day finally caught up with Annie and she fell asleep much later than she usually did. Oliver carried her to her room and he and Grace tucked her into bed. They left the room quietly and Grace took Oliver by the hand and led him down the hallway.
"Where are we going?" Oliver questioned. Grace said nothing until they were outside his bedroom door. She turned to face him, leaning against the door and said, "I need my husband to make love to me."
"You're wish is my command Mrs. Warbucks," he replied as he turned the knob and led her inside.