Kurt and Blaine could hardly believe it. It had been nearly a year since their family of five had turned into a family of seven. Adding Lucy and Andrew to their family had been such a blessing and neither one of them could imagine their lives without their youngest children. It had been a little rough at first because both Lucy and Andrew were both grieving the loss of their biological parents, but eventually they settled into family and really became Anderson-Hummels. Penny, Caleb and Charlie had all embraced the two children with open arms and treated them like they would any of their other siblings...which was sometimes a good thing and other times not. Nevertheless, Kurt and Blaine were determined to make Andrew and Lucy's first gotcha day something to remember.
"Do you think we should have a party?" Kurt asked his husband while lying in bed.
"I mean we could." Blaine said. "I feel like this is really about us as a family though. It doesn't really need to involve anyone else. Except for your parents and my mom and Cooper of course."
"Yeah maybe you're right." Kurt sighed. "I just want to do something special for them. I'm so glad that the two of them came into our lives. I didn't know we were missing anything in our lives and now I don't know what I would do without either one of them.
"Me too." Blaine replied. "I don't think we were very good at the whole foster parent thing though…" he joked. "We took in the first kids we fostered."
"And thank god we did." Kurt replied. "We'll think of something special to do for them right?"
"Of course, my love." Blaine replied. "For now, it's way too late to be thinking of this. Something will come to us, just try and go to sleep."
"Okay," Kurt sighed as he cuddled into Blaine's side and drifted off to sleep. Over the next week, Kurt and Blaine racked their brains over what to do for Andrew and Lucy's first gotcha day but eventually they came up with a plan. They decided to have a nice dinner as a family and they had a little activity planned as well.
"Hey guys, can we all come into the living room?" Blaine called with Kurt by his side. All five kids walked into the living room and sat down. "Dinner is going to be ready soon, but Papa and I just wanted to say something before we eat."
"So, obviously we know today is a special day." Kurt began. "Andrew, Lucy, it was just a year ago today that you officially joined our family. Daddy and I just wanted to tell you how much we love you and how happy we are that you both chose us to be your family just as much we chose you."
"We know that this day is very important for the two of you, but Papa and I wanted to focus on us all as a family. The day that we adopted the two of you our family became whole." Blaine said. "So, we felt that we should have something to display that. We have this canvas." he added as he held up the large white canvas. "It says the date that you two were adopted. And it also says, 'On this day, our family grew and our hearts were complete.'"
"We want each of you to come up and put your hand in a color of paint and then press it on the canvas. Then we're going to hang it right over the mantel so we can see it every day." Kurt said and motioned to the seven plates with different colors. "Dad and I will go first." Kurt dipped his hand into the red paint and then pressed it onto the canvas. Blaine did the same but with the yellow paint and pressed his handprint right next to Kurt's. He couldn't help but think back to the gorgeous red and yellow roses that Kurt had given him many years ago when their story was just beginning.
"Penny, why don't you go next." Blaine suggested. Penny walked up and placed her hand in the purple paint.
"I just want to say something." Penny began. " Andrew, Lucy, I don't know what I would do without the two of you and I want you to know that I'll always be here for both of you. I couldn't be more proud to be your big sister." Kurt and Blaine felt themselves tear up.
"My turn!" Charlie exclaimed. She looked to Caleb who looked like he was going to protest. "I was born two minutes before you. Technically I'm older." Caleb kept his mouth shut after that. She ran up to the plates and put her hand in the orange paint and pressed it on the canvas. "Since Penny said something, I feel like saying something too. When you both first came to our home, I wasn't sure what to think. Caleb and I had been the youngest kids for a long time, but god am I glad that you guys showed up. You both allowed me to become a big sister and I love both of you. It wasn't an accident that you joined our family. I believe it was fate. You both were always meant to be a part of our family." she said. Caleb was next. He walked up put his hand in the blue paint and put it on the canvas.
"I'm not as sappy as those two." Caleb said pointing to his sisters. "I do have to say that our family wouldn't be complete without both of you. Andrew, you're the best little brother a guy could ask for and I'm glad you're here because without you I would have to deal with a lot of sisters. So, it's nice to have a brother by my side. And Luce, you're my favorite little pain in the butt. Just know that I'll always be here to protect and love you."
"Alright, Andrew, Lucy do you both want to come up." Blaine said as he willed himself not to cry. The two kids nodded. Andrew picked the green paint and Lucy picked pink and they both put their handprints on the canvas.
"I love being a part of this family." Andrew said. "Even though I miss my Mom and Dad in heaven, I know this is where they would want us to be." Kurt gave his son a hug and a kiss on the head.
"Do you want to say anything Lucy?" Blaine asked.
"I love all of you guys." Lucy replied. "And I really like this picture." she said pointing to the canvas. "I do have one question."
"What baby?" Kurt asked.
"Can we get ice cream after dinner?" she asked. "It wouldn't be a Anderson-Hummel event without ice cream." Everyone in the house laughed.
"I think that can be arranged." Blaine laughed. "First, let's eat some dinner." he said motioning to the kitchen. All seven of them filed into the kitchen and got dinner ready. It had been one hell of a year, but they were together and that was all that mattered. It was only the first of many gotcha days to come and it was a day that they would all look forward too every year.