ONE DAD, TWO DADS, WHO'S DAD, ANDRE?

Things were going so well, it shouldn't have come as a surprise to me when the other shoe dropped, but it did.

"I don't understand how this could be happening," I mumbled, trying to quickly wipe a tear from my eye. I was so damn frustrated.

"This isn't something we could have seen coming, sweetie. If it was, I would have told you," Nina tried to comfort.

"He's not her dad!" I yelled. "He's not! Our dad is dead," I asserted.

"I know, sweetie," Nina tried again. We were sitting in my bedroom at Laura and Gregory's, Nina's hand on mine as she tried to explain to me that Brianna's adoption was being postponed. Drew and Rick were going to be able to sign my papers and adopt me tomorrow, but because some asshole decided he was going to play daddy, they couldn't adopt Brianna at the same time. CPS now had to investigate whether or not this douchebag had any rights to Brianna.

"What does it say on her birth certificate? It says Jacob Matthews, right? That's our dad," I tried to fight.

"Yours says Jacob Matthews," Nina promised. "There is another name on Brianna's," she admitted. My eyes widened.

"That's not true," I argued. "You're lying!"

"Liv, I'm not, I'm so sorry," she apologized. "Brianna's adoption will not go through until we know for sure whether or not Brianna's dad-"

"He's not her dad," I growled like I was some animal.

"Whoever he is," Nina corrected. "Until we know for sure whether or not he has parental rights to Brianna, her case cannot move forward."

"Can you please leave?" I said, trying to be polite. My manners were wearing thin, however.

"Liv," Nina sighed. "You are still going to be able to move in with Rick and Drew tomorrow, and you're going to be adopted. Nothing is going to change with that."

"Except my sister is going to end up living with some stranger!" I yelled again. "And everyone I know is a fucking liar!"

"We didn't lie, we just didn't know," Nina said calmly. She was used to explosions like this one.

"I don't want to talk to you right now," I said quietly again. "I just want to go to bed."

"It's barely 7:00, Liv," Nina sighed.

"Please just leave me alone," I requested again. Nina squeezed my hand and started to walk to the door. Before she left, I asked her one last question.

"How did Brianna take this?" Nina turned back around to me sadly.

"About the same," Nina nodded. "She feels like she's being lied to, and she's hurting. It might help you both if you're able to call her and talk to her. She is meeting Justin tonight."

"Do you think my dad knew?" I asked her. Nina sighed.

"I didn't know your dad, honey," she apologized. "But I'm sure even if he did know, he only wanted to keep this from you because he loved you."

"Whatever," I turned on my bed so I was facing the wall. I was downright pissed, and nothing was going to change that tonight.

We were supposed to be adopted tomorrow. We were supposed to go home tomorrow. We were supposed to be a family tomorrow. Fuck Justin.

"Are you all packed up?" Gregory asked me. He and Laura were driving me to the courthouse – they wanted to be there to support me, although I wasn't giving them a good reason to anymore. Nina, Drew, and Rick were meeting us there – without Brianna. I didn't answer Gregory, I just nodded.

"This is supposed to be a happy day for you, Olivia," Laura emphasized, trying to build some moral. "You're allowed to be happy."

"It doesn't seem like it," I mumbled, hauling my new suitcase down the stairs and ignoring everyone else. I just wanted to get this over with so I could see Brianna. Happy wasn't really the emotion I would tie to it all.

"I'm sure your sister would want you to enjoy today," Laura mentioned. I glared at her. She was trying too hard, as usual.

"Bye, Livvy," Jeffrey hugged me before I got in the car. "It was nice having a sister for a little while."

"I'll always be your sister, Jeffrey," I did fake a smile for him. He didn't deserve my hostility. "Just give me a call if you need me, okay?" I saw Laura and Gregory glance at each other happily.

"Bye, Liv," Nathan gave an awkward hug. "You were pretty chill, for a foster sister," he held out a fist and I bumped it. "I hope you enjoy your new home."

"Thanks, bruh," I exploded the fist. "Good luck in high school this year."

"Thanks," Nathan nodded. I sighed and got into the car. I would have time to say goodbye to Laura and Gregory later.

The ride to the courthouse was quiet, but I didn't mind it. I still couldn't get over the fact that Brianna had a different dad, and we weren't going to be adopted together. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair the universe just couldn't let us be happy.

"We're here, Liv," Laura cheered when we pulled up to the courthouse. I looked up to see Nina waiting for us outside. She saw us and smiled.

"It's almost go time, are you ready?" Nina hugged me. She was far too chipper for me.

"Olivia woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Gregory whispered to Nina, thinking I wouldn't hear. I rolled my eyes, only to be chastised by Laura.

"Don't be disrespectful," she said.

"Let's just get this over with," I groaned, and walked past all of them into the courthouse.

"Livvy!" A voice cheered and ran into me. I was shocked, as I wasn't expecting to see Brianna here.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her, pulling her into a hug. She looked tired, but healthy. Drew and Rick were walking behind her, laughing.

"I'm getting adopted with you today! They vanquished the evil Justin!" Bri cheered. I couldn't help but laugh too at this point. Her energy was contagious. "I went home with Drew and Rick last night – well, early this morning, - after everything was figured out and we got cleared."

"How did that happen?" I asked, mostly to Drew and Rick. By this time, Nina, Laura, and Gregory had come up behind us as well.

"Let's just say Justin's intentions weren't all that well intended," Rick explained. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is we're going to be a family."

"Did you know?" Bri asked me quietly. "That Justin was my dad?"

"He might be your biological father, but he isn't your dad," I corrected her. "Whatever happened, and whatever lies were told, they were so Jacob Matthews could be your dad in your eyes. He raised you and he died for you. Justin did nothing of the sort."

"So you had no idea?" Bri asked. I shook my head.

"I nearly ripped Nina's head off last night when she told me," I glanced at Nina who nodded. I felt a little bad, but I still felt my reaction was appropriate.

"Is he your biological father, too?" I shook my head.

"No way in hell," I told her. Immediately after, a man came out and announced that the judge was ready for us. Nina, Drew, Rick, Bri, myself, and the family lawyers all filed into the judge's chambers.

"This is it," I whispered, holding Bri's hand.

"This is it," she whispered back, squeezing.

"Olivia Alister-Lincoln, and Brianna Alister-Lincoln – they both have a certain ring to it, I think," Topher teased. After the hearing, I said goodbye to Laura and Gregory, we transferred my suitcase to the truck, and we headed back home. Bri was thrilled to see my room, and I was happy to see hers as well. I was right – they put just as much effort into her space as they did mine. I was grateful.

Around 3:00, friends and family started showing up. A lot of doctors and nurses from the hospital came to our "gotcha party," per Brianna's request. I was familiar with a few people from the ER, but didn't know nearly as many people as Brianna. She ran around quickly introducing me to everyone. Topher was the head of the ER, and had three young daughters himself, one who was around Brianna's age.

I looked around, trying not to get overwhelmed with the amount of people that were here, and decided instead to take a break inside. Brianna was a social person. I, on the other hand, liked my space.

"I thought I'd find you in here," a familiar voice said. I perked up immediately. "You've got a nice place here, Principessa."

"What are you doing here?" I ran and jumped into his arms. Andre was my boyfriend of two years who spent the summer in Italy with his family. I had barely been able to get in contact with him to talk for five minutes, never mind being able to fill him in on everything that happened. He knew a few of the major details – I called him right after Avery died and Brianna got diagnosed – but I wasn't sure how much he knew about all of the other drama.

"Brianna stalked me on Skype," he chuckled. "She filled me in and invited me. I flew home just for you."

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to fill you in more," I told him. "Things have been moving really fast and you know, the time difference doesn't help."

"I'm just glad you're okay," he hugged me. "Brianna told me you were being stupid for a while."

"Of course she did," I chuckled. "You know, she still has a crush on you, I think," I smiled. Andre shrugged.

"It comes with being this gorgeous," he teased. "Don't worry, I won't ditch you for your sister. She's a little young."

"She's way too young," I cautioned him.

"So, where are these new parents of yours?" He looked around. "Your dad is a doctor, right? And your other dad is…"

"He's an officer on SWAT San Antonio," I explained. Andre's eyes widened.

"They're both army too, so be on your best behavior," I warned him, chuckling. My dad was dead before Andre and I started dating, and my mom was barely in the picture at that point. The only people he really had to worry about before were Brianna and Avery, but he won them over quickly. Meeting two army officers, however, was a little more intimidating for him apparently.

"If you can win over Brianna, you can win over my dads," I smiled, purposefully using 'my dads' for the first time.

"Should be interesting," he nodded. I pulled him over to where Rick and Drew were standing. Thankfully, Bri was there with them as well, having moved on from Topher.

"Andre," Brianna squinted and glared when she saw him walk over. I gave her a look.

"Come on, farfalla, I know you missed me," he gave his signature smile, and walked over to where Brianna was sitting on the ground. "What are you playing with? Dirt?"

"It's tick tack toe, actually, you uncultured swine," she teased him. I rolled my eyes.

"Who's this?" Drew pointed at the teenage boy that was now playing tick-tack-toe in the dirt with my sister. I chuckled.

"This is Andre," I introduced as Andre actually stood up and dusted himself off. "Brianna seemed to have invited him without my knowledge," I poked at her, "and so I thought I'd introduce you since he ended his vacation early to be here today."

"Sirs," Andre said, shaking both Drew and Rick's hands. My heart was in my throat, waiting for something to go wrong. I quickly realized I wasn't ready for this. I don't think I ever even told Drew or Rick I had a boyfriend.

"So, are you a friend…?" Rick questioned, looking between me and Andre. Brianna laughed from below.

"He's her boyfriend!" She jumped up. "They've been dating for two years. Don't worry," Brianna explained, inserting herself into the conversation. "I already interrogated him and approved. You don't have to go all army badass on him. He seems to be a good one," Brianna glared at him again.

"I'm glad I have your approval, Miss Brianna," Andre bowed. Brianna bowed back. They were so weird.

"I would have given you a heads up if I knew he was going to be here," I promised my new parental units. "I didn't mean to blindside you."

"It's okay, we're glad you introduced us," Drew acknowledged. "Did you get something to eat, Andre?" He asked.

"I did, thank you," Andre answered. "I grabbed a slice of pizza when I dropped off some garlic knots at my mother's request."

"You brought your mom's garlic knots and you didn't tell me?" I shoved him. Drew and Rick chuckled. "His parents own an Italian restaurant on Evers Road. His mom is an amazing cook."

"We'll have to visit sometime," Rick smirked. "Are your parents in town?"

"Yes, they flew back with me in case Liv needed them for anything," Andre explained. I was grateful he didn't mention they had become surrogate parents to me over the past two years. They were going to be critical enough of Drew and Rick as two men raising two young women, I didn't need them to know of the added competition.

"They're super nice," Bri smiled. "They let us have free food at the restaurant."

"Bri," I shushed her. They did it as a favor. They knew we never had very much.

"Can I show Andre my new bedroom?" Bri asked, looking for my permission to steal my boyfriend. I laughed.

"Yes, of course," I smiled. Once they disappeared, I turned back to Drew and Rick, looking to them for their sign of approval.

"He seems okay," Drew shrugged. "Brianna likes him, anyways."

"Brianna likes to steal him," I corrected, laughing. "She likes to mess with him."

"We should invite his family over for dinner sometime," Rick offered. "I'd like to get to know him a little better when we aren't being bombarded by guests."

"He wants to get to know you guys, too," I emphasized. "He's a great guy, I promise."

"We believe you," Drew defended, putting his arms up. "We are just your dads now, and so we're going to take our time before we let him loose with our girl."

"Oh my God," I groaned.

"Oh yeah, we're going all the way with this one," Rick chuckled. "I might even bring out my guns."

"Please don't," I begged them.

"Don't worry," Drew said. "I'm sure meeting Brianna for the first time was way scarier than anything we will put him through," he joked, and we all laughed, knowing how true that was.