Crap, Betsy thought as she slammed the door of her blue car and started the engine. She was late, and although there was a reason – well, to her it was a reason at least – she knew her parents weren't going to be happy about it. It was her brother's first birthday, after all. Henry turned one today and she couldn't even get home in time. She groaned and silently cursed the car in front of her. It was late, it was Sunday, there was traffic. Everybody was coming home after a weekend away and the streets were busy, chaotic. She glanced at the back seat, where Henry's new toy was wrapped in a shiny dark blue wrapping paper and a huge red bow. She smiled, imagining his cute little face lit up when he saw it. He would love it, of that she was sure. It was the best she could think about for him, and yes, maybe he would make Addison and Kevin go crazy with the fire truck siren, but he would love it.

She turned the radio on, Rolling In The Deep by Adele jangling inside and outside of the car when she opened the window. She threw a brief look at her right, at the envelope on the passenger seat, before concentrating again on driving. She tapped on the wheel with her fingers, as a peaceful feeling rose in her heart and soul. She had a present for her parents too, and for the first time in her life she felt like she wasn't going to disappoint everyone around her, not even the people she cared about. Not this time.

x

Addison looked at the clock again, then she rested her eyes on Kevin. He was entertaining Henry showing him the presents everyone from the practice had sent him. The baby was giggling loudly and repeating 'dada' in his happy voice as he tried to grab Kevin's hand with his littler one.

"Honey, Betsy hasn't arrived yet. I told her to be here by four thirty, and it's been more than one hour. Henry's going to be hungry and sleepy soon, and I really wanted today to be special."

Hearing a note of disappointment in his wife's voice, Kevin tickled his son one last time and he stood up, walked by towards Addison and wrapped her in his tight hug. "Don't worry babe." he whispered. "It is special. See? Henry's having the best day of his life. We're here playing with him and singing his favorite songs, he's surrounded by dozens of new toys and wrapping paper – which he loves by the way – and there's your amazing apple pie on the table. It's all perfect, Adds. Betsy will be here soon. And I hope with all my heart that her excuse for being late won't be 'I was having sex'" he completed with a grimace, and Addison entwined her arms around his neck tighter as she kissed his nose.

"She won't tell us that, not if she doesn't want to start an argument. I'm not accepting that excuse today."

"And any other day?" Kevin stared at his redheaded wife in shock, and Addison rolled her eyes with a smile.

"She's past seventeen, Kev. We have less than a year until she's a major and starts doing what she wants when she wants – again."

"I really wish we'd found her sooner... I'd have more time to prepare myself. I just – I love her too much."

For an instant, an hint of regret was seen in Addison's gray-greenish eyes. "Me too. But it had to go this way, and these last few years have been some of the happiest of my life." she said.

"I'm home!" they turned in direction of the front door when they heard Betsy's loud and excited arrival. "Hi Baby-Boo!" she exclaimed, and they watched as she put aside Henry's enormous present and lifted him up. "I missed you today Little Man." she kept placing small kisses on his jaw and cheeks as Henry giggled and pulled her hair.

Addison and Kevin smiled at the scene, that never failed to warm their hearts.

"I'll go take the cake and the camera!" Addison announced walking towards the kitchen.

Kevin sat on the couch and motioned to Betsy to join him with Henry.

"There's a reason I was late." she started. "And it wasn't Cameron." she added with a smirk when she saw Kevin's face. It wasn't the plain truth, though. She'd stayed with Cameron until almost five; losing track of time with him was so easy. It had taken her half an hour to pick up Henry's toy and drive in the traffic to her house, but she had a better excuse than her boyfriend. "Let's just wait for Addison to come back."

The woman entered the living room with a big apple pie and one light blue candlelight, and she placed it on the coffee table in front of Betsy and Kevin.

"Okay, let's take a picture first." she positioned the camera and hit the self-timer button, before hurrying to seat with her family. She took Henry's little hand in his, and placed a kiss on Betsy's cheek right as the photo was taken.

Kevin clapped is hands for Henry, and the boy giggled.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." Betsy started, and everyone joined her. "Happy birthday little Henry, happy birthday to you!"

The all laughed at Henry's lost look when Kevin blew the candle, and they happily took some other photos.

"I want to give him my birthday present now!"

"It's huge, what is it?"

"You'll see." she knelt down with Henry on the floor, helping him to unwrap the gift. "What is it, Baby-Boo? It's a present, yeah, a present for your very first birthday! Look..."

Addison sat at Henry's other side, staring at them with satisfaction. When the boy finally managed to pull out his new toy, she watched his brown eyes lit up, as his sister had predicted earlier.

"Look Henry, it's a truck! It also has a siren... God, it's bigger than you." Betsy laughed as she showed her brother the fire truck, and Addison locked eyes with Kevin over their heads. Kevin was right, it was being the perfect day.

The redhead stood up again to cut the cake in slices and bring in her and Kevin's gift, a collection of Toy Story stuffed characters.

"Here." she handed Betsy her slice of cake, than she did the same with Kevin before taking a smaller piece to feed her son.

"So, Bets, what where you saying about the reason you were late?"

Betsy looked at Kevin, then at Addison, and cleaned her mouth with a napkin before smiling brightly. "I have news. Good news. And they're big, really big. You'll like them."

"Betsy." Addison remarked, causing her to laugh softly.

"Cameron and I applied to college a while ago. I didn't tell you because I was sure they wouldn't accept me, and I wanted to surprise you anyway. Today we got the answer." she smiled again, and forced herself to look up to meet their excited eyes.

"And...?"

"And, they accepted me. Well, us. We applied to the same college and, oh God, it all seems like a dream, I've never wanted to go to college but now... I am so happy."

Addison leaned in over Henry and hugged her as tight as could, unable to stop some proud tears to fall.

"And where, where are you going?" Kevin stammered a little as he realized he couldn't keep his eyes off of his amazing daughter.

"UCLA."

And she wasn't only making her adoptive parents proud of who she was becoming, she was also accomplishing the last dream her dad had.