A/N Thanks to H6p8gv, L.T. Freak and ICPinkFuzzyBunnies for reviewing the last chapter..you don't know how much I appreciate them and thanks again to H6p8gv for all his help .....This chapter is shorter than the last and I hope the ending doesn't seemed too rushed... but I hope that you enjoy it!

4.

Lizzie

The next morning Tracy and Link made an appointment to see their pastor. Before they left the house though, Tracy called Corny about going back to work. He was excited about the idea of her coming back.

"Ready to go Trace?" Link asked as she placed the phone on the receiver.

"Yes."

Tracy stood and took her cane. Link held the door for her as she walked out of the house. He also held the car door as she slid into the passenger's seat. He then got into the driver's side and drove to their church. He then opened her door again and escorted her inside.

"Hello Link and Tracy. So glad to see the two of you," Pastor Graham said smiling.

"Hello pastor," Tracy responded.

"Thank you," Link added.

"What can I do for you?" he then asked.

"Link and I are looking to adopt and I thought maybe you could help us."

"Why me?"

"I heard you talking to another couple one day about adoption," she answered.

He smiled. "Ah yes. Though I'm not sure I approve of your eavesdropping."

"I wasn't eavesdropping. I just happened to hear part of the conversation," Tracy retorted.

Link and Pastor Graham both chuckled.

"There's a place where unwanted babies are taken, usually unwed teenage mothers who can't provide for them," Graham said.

"It's called St. Andrews and it's about ten miles outside the city," he added.

"Thank you," Link told him.

"It's a wonderful thing you're doing for a child," Pastor Graham said as he handed them the address and phone number.

Two days later Link and Tracy to St. Andrews. It looked almost like a church but with no steeple. They were met by a pleasant older woman named Nancy.

"Welcome you must be the Larkins," she said shaking their hands.

Link nodded. "Yes we are."

"So you're looking to adopt?" she inquired as she showed them into her small office. It was small with a desk and two chairs.

"We are," Tracy replied.

"Wonderful," she said motioning for them to sit before sitting in her own desk chair.

"Would you want a boy or girl?"

"It doesn't matter as long as the baby is healthy," Tracy answered.

"Though I've always wanted a little girl," Link added smiling. He twined his fingers with Tracy's.

"A little girl would be nice," Tracy agreed.

"So I see you have thought about it," Nancy teased.

They nodded as she grabbed some papers from the top drawer.

She handed them to Tracy. "Please fill these forms out and we'll get you started in the adoption process. I should tell you that we'll need to look at your home and know about your background, including how much you make and so forth. This process usually takes around six months."

Tracy and Link nodded. "We will do anything. We really want this," Link told her.

Nancy grinned. "I've been doing this for many years and I can sense that you do. I'll leave you to fill out the forms."

She got up and left closing the door. Tracy started filling out the papers.

"We are sure about this aren't we?" she asked as she paused for a moment.

"Yes doll, we want a family and this is the best course of action," he told her.

She gave him a chaste kiss before returning to the forms. After they finished they found Nancy and gave everything to her before bidding her goodbye.

A couple weeks later Penny and Tracy were sitting in the living room. Tracy wore a light blue dress while Penny wore a green dress. Both of them had let their hair flow down their back and shoulders.

"You know I think I found the perfect wedding dress," Penny mused as the radio played softly.

"Where?"

"At the bridal shop. You will go with me next Saturday and try on a few dresses yourself won't you?"

"Of course! I mean the wedding is only four months away!"

Penny smiled. "I know! Can you believe it?"

Tracy hugged her. "Of course I can. You and Seaweed are meant for each other and one day you'll have kids."

Penny frowned slightly as she got up to change the radio station. "How is the adoption coming along?"

"Good. Someone is supposed to come and look at where we live."

Penny looked up from the radio. "Are you nervous?"

Tracy shook her head. "Not really. I mean we have an extra room that we'll use for the nursery and the dogs wouldn't harm a fly." Beebe and Brian walked in and went over to her and Penny. They licked their hands before lying next to them.

"See harmless," Tracy stated.

That Saturday they did get their dresses. Penny found a gorgeous cream colored dress that had a simple lace design on its bodice. It went down to her ankles. Tracy's dress was dark blue that went down to her knees. The other bridesmaids were wearing something similar to Tracy's dress.

It had been a month since their meeting with Nancy and no one had shown up at the house to inspect it. By this time Tracy was using the cane less and less. One Monday they received a call saying that someone would be coming on that Wednesday.

When Wednesday came Tracy and Link were sitting in the living room, watching television. They immediately stood upon hearing a knock at the door. Tracy nervously took Link's hand as they walked to the door and opened it.

"Nancy!" Tracy said.

"Hi," she said. She was wearing a brown skirt and a cream colored top.

"May I come in?"

Link moved to the side and motioned for her to enter. "Of course."

"So you're going to do the home inspection?" Link asked.

She nodded. Beebe and Brian came running up to her. Brian licked her hand.

"Are they sweet," she cooed as she scratched their heads, receiving tail wags.

"Yes they are," Tracy said.

Tracy and Link showed Nancy around the house. They showed her where the nursery would be. It was the room closest to their room. They showed her the kitchen and living room and dining room. Fort-five minutes after she came she was ready to leave.

"Everything looks pretty good on your end though you should probably get started on the nursery and watch out for electrical outlets. Children and outlets don't mix very well." She laughed. "Well adults wouldn't either I suppose."

Tracy nodded. Thank you Nancy."

"It was a pleasure. I'll be back closer to the time of the actual adoption to make sure the nursery is completed and everything looks as well as it does now."

"Thank you," Link said.

Nancy nodded as they bid each other goodbye.

The next few months were spent preparing for a new baby and helping Penny and Seaweed with their wedding. Tracy and Link had been told that they would adopt a little girl a few weeks before the wedding. They were excited. Edna and Katie held a baby shower for Tracy soon after they got the news. All of the council girls had attended and given Tracy everything they thought she could need from a crib to clothes to diapers and toys.

The wedding day finally arrived. Pastor Graham officiated the service and Wilbur walked Penny down the aisle. It was a beautiful ceremony held in their church. Penny and Seaweed couldn't have looked happier. When they were pronounced husband and wife Seaweed dipped her, giving her a deep kiss. Along with their guests that included Corny, Amber and the rest of the former council members they wore huge grins on their faces. The reception was held at the hotel ballroom. There were tables positioned around the room and a small band. After eating the steak tips and mashed potato dinner Tracy stood with the microphone.

"Penny and Seaweed, you are two of my best friends. I only wish you all the best life has to offer. I love you guys!"

She hugged them and Link took the mike from her. "Penny, Seaweed, you two are truly the best friends anyone can hope for. I hope you are as happy as Tracy and I am," he winked at Tracy and she smiled. "And we would like to give you a little gift and you can't exchange this one," he added with a smile. "We reserved the honeymoon suite for you in this hotel for three nights."

"Ah guys you didn't' have to do that," Penny told them.

"We wanted to," Tracy said.

Seaweed wrapped his arm around Penny's waist. "Come on baby the suite will be nicer than what we were planning." He winked at her and she giggled. He leaned over and captured her lips.

"Thanks guys we appreciate everything that you've done," he told them once he and Penny parted.

"You're welcome, and I hope you enjoy the honeymoon suite," Tracy said.

Penny smiled. "I think we will."

Seaweeds eyes lit up as he kissed his bride again.

The rest of the reception was spent dancing and talking. When it came time to throw the bouquet of red and white roses Penny had she threw it to Tammy. IQ caught the garter.

"I guess we're next," IQ said.

"I can't wait," Tammy responded smiling.

When they arrived home that night Beebe and Brian greeted them at the door. Tracy fed them and they let them outside for a few minutes. When the dogs were back in they laid at the foot of the bed. Tracy and Link put their pajamas on and snuggled next to each other.

"Their wedding was so beautiful," Tracy said.

"It was, reminded me of our wedding."

Tracy leaned over and captured Link's lips. He grazed his tongue over her bottom lip and she happily parted her lips giving him access, thus deepening the kiss. Link moved to her chin then began attacking her neck with kisses. She giggled in response. She put her hand on his cheek and he looked up at her smiling. She leaned forward and seized his lips again.

Two months after the wedding Tracy and Link were informed that they could formerly adopt their new daughter. They had been shown pictures of her. She was six months old with brown hair and blue-green eyes. They had decided to name her Elizabeth Marie Larkin. Nancy came to the house one more time for the final inspection. She smiled at seeing the nursery.

"It's lovely," she told them.

"Thank you," Tracy replied. "We did our best."

"The house is ready but are you two?" Nancy asked.

Link looked to Tracy who nodded at him. "I think so. We have our parents and friends for support."

"Having that kind of support is always helpful," Nancy agreed.

The day had come when Tracy and Link would finally meet Elizabeth. They met Nancy at St. Andrews. They went to her office to sign some documents. A justice of the peace was there to make the adoption final. Tracy finally got to hold her.

"Hi Lizzie, I'm your mom," she cooed as she rocked her back and forth.

"And I'm your dad," Link said touching her hand.

Before they left Nancy had one more thing to say. "Watch out she knows how to crawl and good luck."

"Thanks Nancy," Link and Tracy told her in unison. Nancy smiled as they left the office.

They put her in the car seat and drove home. When they got inside and walked into the living room they found all of their family and friends there. Hanging from the ceiling was a pink banner that said "Welcome Home Elizabeth". Beebe and Brian ran up to Tracy. She was holding Lizzie. They both sniffed her and licked her face and arms making her giggle.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Lizzie," Tracy announced.

Edna and Katie came up to her first. Edna wanted to hold her first.

"Isn't she a beauty," she cooed.

"Her eyes are gorgeous," Katie said. Edna handed Lizzie to her.

Wilbur held her next. "I bet she'll have the two of you wrapped around her little finger in no time."

"Especially with Link," Eric added.

Penny saw her next. "She is adorable."

"Penny, will you be her godmother?" Tracy asked.

She hugged her. "Of course! I'd love to."

"And Seaweed, would you be her godfather?" Link asked as he held her.

"I'd be honored guys."

"Isn't she cute!" Noreen and Doreen said in tandem.

"She is." Tracy agreed.

"Her brown hair can almost match yours Tracy," Inez said.

"And her nose," Maybelle agreed.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"She does have the same hair and nose almost," Amber agreed. "Can I hold her next?"

Tracy nodded and Amber too her from Maybelle's arms.

"It felt so nice having a baby in my arms again. It's been a long time," Maybelle told her and Tracy.

The others held and commented on Lizzie. They stayed for a while before leaving in the evening. That night Link and Tracy showed their new daughter the nursery.

"This is your room," Link told her. Lizzie curiously looked around at the new surroundings.

They put her in her crib and went to bed themselves. A few hours later they heard her crying.

Link placed a chaste kiss on Tracy's lips. "I'll go."

"Alright."

Link stood up and put on his robe. He walked into the nursery and picked up Lizzie. He walked downstairs with her and heated up a bottle of formula before walking back upstairs. He sat in the rocking chair and fed her.

"They say it's a man's world well that cannot be denied," he sang quietly as he rocked her.

Tracy got up and walked to the nursery to check on Lizzie herself. She stopped in the doorway as she listened to Link singing quietly.

When the bottle was empty Link burped Lizzie.

He looked to the door. "Hey Trace," he said noticing her.

"Hey, did she like the song?" Tracy whispered.

"I think so since she's sound asleep," he answered in a lowered voice. He put Lizzie back in the crib and placing his arm around Tracy's waist escorted her back to their bedroom.

A couple days' later Tracy and Link brought Lizzie to the show.

"Hey everyone we have a special guest," Corny said at the beginning of the show.

Tracy and Link walked to the stage. She was holding Lizzie.

"Hello, Link and I wanted to come here and introduce our new daughter Elizabeth to everyone."

The council girls all crowded around them saying how precious she was.

"How can you have a daughter when you weren't pregnant?" Emily asked. At thirteen she was the youngest member of the council.

"Well Emily we adopted her," Link said.

"Oh," Emily replied.

Over the next few weeks Tracy and Link adjusted to having a new baby in the house. Lizzie like to crawl around and get into their records or books; anything that was low to the ground. Tracy was good at catching her before she damaged anything. Tracy and Link had grown to love being parents. They would do anything for Lizzie. Beebe and Brian grew to adore Lizzie. She would play fetch with them using a tennis ball. They would run for the ball and drop it right in her lap making her giggle.

One day Tracy was in the living room working on a couple of dance moves. Lizzie had turned nine months old a couple weeks prior. She was sitting in the playpen with a teddy bear. Brian walked up to her with a tennis ball wanting to play. He hand was on the soft material of the playpen as she gazed at him. He nudged her hand with his nose and she giggled.

"Brian," she said. He let out a small bark.

Tracy stopped. "Who said that?" she asked looking around the room.

"Brian," Lizzie repeated. Tracy's eyes fell on her.

"Lizzie you spoke!"

"Brian," she said again. Brian barked again.

Tracy scooped her into her arms. "I can't believe you spoke! We need to tell daddy."

"Tell daddy what?" Link asked walking in the room.

"Lizzie spoke," she told him.

"She did! What did she say?"

"Lizzie, tell daddy what you just said."

"Brian," she told him.

Link took Lizzie and swung her around. She giggled happily. "That's amazing your first word."

"Brian," she repeated.

"Soon she'll be saying mama and dada," Tracy said.

Link nodded.

TBC....