Authors Note: Hope you guys did like the last chapter and really hope you like this one :) thank you for all your comments


Skye hops down the stairs, bag slung over the shoulder of her good arm. She stops at the bottom step and looks up – Phil is stood there talking to Sister Jane.

"Hi hunny, where's the rest of your bags?"

Skye's face now turns to one of confusion "I don't have any other bags…"

Phil gives Melinda a questioning look but she just nods so Phil looks back at Skye and offers his hand "Are you ready to go?"

She doesn't really want to take his hand, she doesn't trust him enough, so she curves her shoulders inward and walks into the kitchen. Mel follows her and watches her sort through a large cupboard full of bags and baby carriers.

"What are you looking for?" Mels voice startled her. Skye jumped back, hitting her head on the cupboard handle.

Rubbing her hand on the back of her head Skye said "I'm looking for a car seat - most people don't have one so the sisters keep spare ones…"

"Skye, like I said we want you to come and stay with us forever – we already bought you your own car seat… it's plain black but we bought different types of stickers for you to decorate it with." Melinda paused watching the girl's expression change.

"We wanted to make sure that your were comfortable and that you had something that was yours… We weren't sure what type of child we were bringing home so we have a very very wide sticker collection". She thought she actually saw a glimmer of a smile.

Skye thought maybe she could trust Melinda and Phil – then she remembered she still doesn't actually know them yet.

After their conversation Melinda and Skye headed out into the car park where Phil had started the car and was waiting outside with the passenger seat open.

From the steps Skye could see the carrier bag that was in front of the booster seat. The bag contained a large range of stickers – from Princesses to dinosaurs. Skye walked hesitantly over to the car and looked more at the sticker collection.

Phil went to help her into the car then remembered her bad reaction to him earlier and decided it was better if Melinda helped her in instead. He walked back round and sat in the drivers seat thinking to himself that this little girl, his little girl, must of gone through so much in her short life that no one should go through ever. She is now his daughter and no one can ever harm her again.

Once she was strapped in Skye started to decide which stickers to put on her new seat. After finding the ones she likes, she looks up to find Melinda's smiling face. She wants Mel to confirm that she can stick them on – she doesn't want to do something that will make them angry before she even got to their house.

As if reading her mind Mel says "Make sure to put your favourite ones on the arms so you can see them all the time – that's what Leo did anyway".

Speaking for the first time since getting in the car, Skye mumbled "Who's Leo?"

"Leo is our son. We have Leo who is 16 – he is very excited about seeing you. We also have Natasha who is 18 and Bobbi who is 21 but they are away at the moment so you wont meet them til next week at the latest"

Skye froze in her seat. 3 other children. She didn't like going to foster homes that already have kids, the other children don't like sharing their parents and that's usually why she gets sent back.

Melinda didn't realize how bad her explanation was until the small child seized up in the back. She added hastily…

"All three were foster kids until we adopted them: they are just like you"

'Maybe they wont dislike me straight away then' Skye thought. If they know how bad foster care is then maybe they'll take it easier on her. She relaxed slightly and carried on sticking.

Skye wasn't sure why she chose the star stickers – she guesses it's because stars seem so small and meaningless until you look closer and find they are beautiful and important.

Sometimes she feels like a star… Small and meaningless.

"We have a long drive ahead of us sweetie, why doesn't you take a nap?"

How does Melinda do that? Skye didn't even realize she was tired until Melinda pointed it out. She must be a great mommy to Leo, Natasha and Bobbi. Skye's never really had a mommy or a forever family.

Skye thinks should enjoy this while it lasts because soon she shall be sent back to St Agnes and the process will start again.

With these thoughts she was sent into a dreamless sleep.


When Skye woke they were driving though an area she'd never seen before. Outside her window she could see lots of big houses with big front gardens and big cars. Everything was so big which made Skye feel even smaller.

"We are almost home Skye" Melinda said after noticing that the small child was awake and was now looking out the window.

As they passed the local playground Melinda stated that maybe they could and play tomorrow. Skye just shrugged and returned to gaze at all the houses whizzing by.

The kids in the playground didn't look too big but Skye still felt a lot smaller than when she first woke up.

They were finally pulling into the driveway of what Phil and Melinda said was their home.

Their house had two floors and looked like it has a garden out back. Melinda gets out of the car and starts to unbuckle Skye from her seat. As she is doing this Skye sees a small flicker of movement from one of the downstairs windows then sees Phil go inside shutting the door behind him.


Inside Leo is now sat on the staircase after moving from the window after seeing the car pull into the drive. Leo is average height and has curly dirty blonde hair. He can't wait to meet his new sibling. He wants a little sister but doesn't mind really. He wants someone to be a role model for and someone to play with. He just wants someone to protect – Leo already feels protective of his new sibling even though he's never met them.

He sees Phil and leaps up from the steps.

"Do I have a little brother or little sister?" *Silence* "Dad?"

"You a little sister Leo and she perfect…"

"I've always wanted a little sister! I'm going to protect her and do the proper big brother stuff… why do you look sad? "

"She has been though a lot. Like. Natasha, a lot. Maybe not as much but pretty close."

Leo remembers his sister saying when she was 10 she went through a really bad time before she came to live with mom and dad and how she would never ask that on anyone. He never asked specific but she's told him enough stuff over the years to know that Skye's has basically been through hell.

"It's okay Dad, she's safe with us and we can protect her now. Together"

"Thank you Leo, that's exactly what I needed to hear. Now, her name is Skye" Leo's face lit up with a bright smile "but she seems to be uneasy with me, I don't know whether it's just older males or all males in general so just be aware if she doesn't immediately like you its not personal."

"Don't worry Dad, I remember how bad foster care was and she will learn to trust us. She will learn, over time, to trust you - like it took all of us time to trust anyone."

Phil looked down at his son – had he always been this grown up? He has the mind and personality of a fully grown adult yet he has only just turned 16. All of his kids had to grow up a lot faster than normal because it was needed for their survival. For example Leo was 8 when they adopted him but after being abandoned he already knew how to take care of himself.

Skye would be different Phil told himself. She will have a normal childhood from here on out and will be well looked after.


Melinda and Skye are now out of the car and are stood on the steps.

"Welcome home Skye"

"Why… Why me? Lots of others girls were better dressed and were more grown up than me, your children are all older and are probably less trouble than I am. You don't need me…"

How does this little girl not understand that someone might actually want her?

"Yes my children are all grown up now… Well maybe not Leo, but they are all still my babies and now I have one more baby to look after. Another baby to care for and one" Melinda takes hold of her good hand " who is 100% not too much trouble."

Skye just nodded. Melinda thinks she still doesn't believe her but wont push her. She will trust her in her own time.

Following Melinda up the porch steps Skye fumbles with her bag trying to get it to stay on her shoulder.

"Would you like me to take it?"

Skye seemed to be horrified by Melinda's question. She turned her body and screamed.

"No! It's mine, you can't have it!"

"Skye, skye, I'm sorry. I only meant would you like me to carry it for you... I wasn't going to take it away from you."

"Oh, I'm okay thank you".

Skye and Mel head into the house, once inside they are confronted by a nervous Phil and a very very excited Leo.

"Hi Skye, I'm Leo, I'm your big brother"

Skye instantly hid behind Melinda's legs and said something into her knees.

"Hello I'm Skye..."

Melinda puts her hand on the back of her head - reminding herself to ask about the bump she found. Skye comes round from behind her but still keeps her eyes on the floor. Slowly Leo walks in front of her but instead of talking down to her he crouches to be eye level with her.

"Hey, I know it's scary right now and I know you may not trust us, but we are the good guys I promise. My Mom and Dad are amazing and if you let them they want to be your mom and dad too"

Maybe he does understand what I'm going through but he's wrong - they don't want to be my mom and dad...

No one does.