For the next couple of days, Ryan and Sydney poured over the paperwork, answering questions like, 'Will you accept any child, even if they have autism dwarfism or cancer?'. Sydney had skipped class to spend time with Doug and fill out the documents. Ryan took his to work every day, and eventually, every 't' was crossed and the 'i's were dotted. After dropping Doug off at playschool, they drove in another silence to Adoption Hall, to hand in their forms, and see if they could adopt.

"Hi, Sonya, we have the forms."

"Please give them to Nancy, she will run them through the server for matches to your specific forms. Then, they will be narrowed down more, and match both forms specific answers. It should take about twenty minutes. Please wait in the foyer." The young couple did as they were told and waited. The minutes ticked by slowly and surely. "Mr. Evans, Ms. Bolton, we have results."

Sydney shot up, eyes wide as she hurried to the woman. "Yes?"

"Two children, one five, and a one-year-old. They are male and female. The boy is perfectly healthy, but the girl has a short issue. She is altitude troubled." Sonya laughed

"May we see them?"

"Nancy?" Sonya commanded. "Where are midget and five?" Sydney's mouth opened in shock at the rudeness.

"Five is in punishment, and midget is cleaning the bathroom." Ryan opened is eyes wide at the response.

"Get them." She spoke shakily and angrily. "Get my children, I want to take them home right now." Sydney demanded. Nancy and Sonya disappeared to get the toddler and infant, they emerged soon, the boy crying and the baby wet. "What are their names?"

"Five and midget. Rename them, they're not worth our time."

"Not worth your TIME?" Sydney shouted. "They're children, and they're coming with us this instant!" She turned to the boy. "What name do you want?" He removed his thumb from his mouth and spoke in a scared voice.

"Thomas. Sister Isabelle." He replaced his thumb and Sydney snatched Isabelle from Nancy. "Izzy." Thomas greeted her. "Hi Izzy." Ryan smiled and lifted the boy into the air, causing him to beam in delight.

"We are taking them." He informed Sonya and opened the door, letting Sydney out. "Want to go home?" He asked Thomas, who nodded his tearstained face.

"Home."

"Pick up Doug, Ryan." Sydney said as Nancy provided them with a car seat for Isabelle, and they loaded the Yukon. "Pick her up." She repeated as he started the car.

——

"Who you?" Doug asked Thomas curiously when they arrived at the apartment.

"Thomas. This Izzy."

"Honey, Thomas is your new brother, and Isabelle is your sister. Your not the oldest, Thomas is, sweetheart." This caused Doug to run to her bedroom in fury, screeching that she hated her mother and father. Ryan went after her and Sydney attempted to calm Thomas and Isabelle down.

"She heat me, you hate me!" Douglas screamed at her father.

"Douglas Nell Bolton-Evans! You go apologize!" Ryan matched her voice.

"No!"

"Douglas!" Ryan warned. "Don't you yell at me, I am your father, and you will listen. Your mom and I love you, and we love Thomas and Isabelle just as much. We can equally love you, Douglas!"

"No you can't. You never loved me!"

"Douglas Nell!" Sydney shouted. "Calm down, or none of us will be happy." She stormed in, lifting her onto the bed forcefully. "If I hear another word you will be not eating dinner!" The woman's face was red as she threatened her daughter. Douglas burst into fresh tears and screamed. Isabelle burst into tears and Sydney rocked the sensitive infant as Thomas, who was holding his new mother's hand walked over to Douglas and wrapped his arms around her. She looked confused for a moment and then hugged back. Sydney cooed to Isabelle, and sang songs of peace and serenity until she was quiet.

"I sorry, mommy." Douglas appeared by her side and hugged her as Sydney knelt.

"I think you owe an apology to Thomas, as well, little girl." Ryan told her, his face sad.

"I sorry Thomas. I not mad anymore." Doug told the boy with tears in his eyes.

"I know, Dougy." Thomas responded and embraced her again, Sydney smiling as Ryan put his arm around her. "Izzy sad?"

"No, Isabelle is happy." Sydney told him, watching his face of worry break into a smile. The telephone began to ring, waking Isabelle from her nap. Caller ID identified Troy as the disturbance. "Troy!" Sydney hissed as she rocked Isabelle. "You idiot!"

"What'd I do?" He asked, clueless.

"You woke up Isabelle!"

"Who is Isabelle?" Troy asked, his voice confused.

"We adopted her and her brother, Thomas. Isabelle is one, and Thomas is five. Isabelle has dwarfism and autism. They were hit at the adoption agency, we had to take them as soon as possible." Troy was informed.

"I can call back later, but…I have news."

"I'll get Ryan." The call paused as Sydney passed Ryan a phone. He entered the conversation.

"Hey Troy."

"Gabi and I have news. We are, well, pregnant!" Troy sounded excited, and Sydney exclaimed:

"Troy, that's excellent!"

"Congratulations."

"You guys, I'll call back later, you seem busy."

"Douglas, don't touch Isabelle's face!" Sydney burst out, and Troy said good-bye and hung up. "Douglas!" Sydney scolded. "Please don't touch you're sister's face!" Sydney requested, causing Doug to whimper. "I'm sorry, Doug," Sydney explained as she lifted the infant. "You're sister is a baby, and can get scared easily, and is really sensitive." Sydney told her middle child.

"Sorry, Izzy." Douglas told Isabelle, who smiled. "Look, mummy, she smiled!"

"She loves you, she has to." Sydney Smiled and hugged Thomas, giving Isabelle to Troy. She squirmed slightly, and Troy smiled at the undersized baby in his arms. "I think somebody made a stinky in their diaper." Sydney told Isabelle, and Troy helped Syd change it.

"Syd?" He asked. "Where is everyone going to sleep?"

"Let's get a realtor. We need more space, like a four bedroom two and a half bath will work, right?" Syd suggested. "Call someone, Syd. We need to move as soon as possible." That night, Doug stayed in her bed, they bought a crib for Isabelle, and Thomas got their bed. They slept on couches in the living room when Isabelle wasn't crying.

——

"I like this one, mummy!" Thomas blurted out as they entered the three-story house. "It big!"

"I like this one too," Ryan agreed, and Sydney nodded. "What do you think, Doug?"

"It pretty." She commented quietly as they entered the family room. Thomas wandered into one of the large dens and Sat on the couch.

"Mommy, I like here!" He exclaimed as Syd smiled and found him. She scooped him up and carried him to Ryan.

"How much?" She asked Gary, the realtor that was showing them around as Isabelle was passed to her.

"Two hundred fifty thousand."

"We'll take it, when can we move in?"

"As soon as possible." Gary told them as they ventured upstairs and into the bedroom that would be Isabelle and Doug's. 'How about seven days?"

"Okay." Syd agreed, thanking him and setting Doug on her bed. "Does it come furnished?"

"Well, the previous owners are giving you two beds, a dresser, a desk, all the appliances, and a computer." He answered quickly.

"Thank you, Gary." Ryan told him and led Thomas out of the house. Sydney carried Isabelle and held Doug's hand. When they arrived home they got boxes out of a closet and picked some up from a store. They wrapped up cups, loaded plates, and folded blankets as they prepared for the move. Ryan paid the former owners and the next Saturday the move began.

The hired a truck, and the larger pieces of furniture were loaded. They were able to put boxes in their van as they led the truck to the new house, and it unloaded one of many trips. They put stuff in the marked rooms, and by one o'clock they were finished moving stuff. Sydney was staying with Isabelle and Doug, helping them unpack, place stuff, and move make their bed.

"Mummy, we go back?"

"No, Doug. This is our new home, it that okay?" Douglas nodded and sat on her bed, Isabelle had learnt to stand and was using the rail of her crib for support as she observed the room.

Ryan was with Thomas in his room, they had chosen the blue bedroom for him, and had bought blue sheets and blankets for him. "Thomas, go find mom and tell her we are done." The boy ran off to his mother, and relayed the message.

"Thomas!" Doug cried out in happiness and they left to explore. Isabelle smiled at her siblings and opened her mouth, a barely audible noise escaping, Sydney didn't hear, she was opening a bag of clothes for Isabelle.

"Hey, stranger." She greeted Ryan as he ruffled Thomas's blonde hair. "How's Thomas's room?"

"Great? The girl's?"

"Not too great." Sydney gestured to the mess around her. "Can you help?"

"Sure." Ryan selected Douglas's clothes and put them in a drawer. Isabelle gurgled again and Sydney turned in amazement. The infant put her fingers in her mouth and watched her parents intently. "Wow." Ryan commented as they went back to work. "I hope she starts talking soon."

"Me too." Sydney agreed.

—That evening at supper—

"I like it here!" Thomas told the adults.

"Me too!" Douglas Nell chimed in. Isabelle just babbled her agreement quietly, inaudible. Sydney smiled at Ryan as she scooped Doug some potatos, Ryan cut Thomas's meat.

"I'm glad." Sydney replied and moved on to stir Isabelle's mash.

"Syd, I have to go to work, are you going to class?"

"No, I have responsibilities here, I'm dropping out, and that's okay, right?"

"Of course. Doug, why do you like the house?"

"I don't know, it happy, and family." Thomas nodded as Sydney brushed hair from the petite infant's face.

"That is a wonderful description, sweetie." Sydney praised and fed a spoonful to Isabelle.

"I!" The baby managed to get out, and she groped at the hand with her spoon.

"Good job, Isabelle!" Sydney coughed, Ryan smiling. "Honey, keep talking.

"I!" Sydney passed the spoon to the now speaking infant and broke into a grin. Douglas and Thomas gave each other a high-five and Ryan praised his new daughter as she shakily brought the spoon to her mouth, barely any of her mash on it. "Mm!" She cried, frustrated. Sydney took the utensil back and helped her eat until the girl refused to open her mouth. Sydney then sat down and began her dinner of roast, potatos and cooked vegetables.

"Mummy!" Doug shouted, as there was a banging on the door. Sydney stood and made her way to the door, brown hair curled and in place, she called,

"Who is it?"

"I want my daughter." The man demanded.