Some days later, Addison decided to take Betsey out after work. She wanted to buy her some things before she started school in a week.

The girl hadn't shown much interest, but she had got her clothes and a hat she thought she liked, since she had glanced at it several times, thinking she wasn't looking.

"I think we should go in a stationer now. Is that okay for you?" she asked her, hoping to get a real answer that time.

"If you want." she shrugged.

Addison looked at her, thinking for a minute. "We'll be quick." she promised. "After that I'll take you to a perfect place on the seafront, okay?"

"Mm." she mumbled absently.

In the stationer Addison took some pens and papers, and a few copybooks. She looked through the schoolbags searching the nicer one. It was pink, with a gray staple on the front pocket, and the word 'Glamor' written in glitter.

"Hey Betsey, do you like this? It's nice." since she had pink pajamas and pink shoes, she guessed the girl liked the color.

"It's okay..."

"Let's buy it then." she smiled "Did you see something else?"

Betsey looked around, but didn't say anything.

"Well, we'll come back another time if you need something."

She paid, and waited for Betsey to follow her outside. "Over there." she pointed to their left. "I want to show you something."

"Where did you take it?" she asked after a few minutes, noticing a key case with a little shoe on it, that she was holding.

"From the shop."

"What? But I didn't pay for it!"

Betsey looked up, almost defiantly. "I took it."

"W-what? Betsey... did you steal it?" her voice cracked in a gasp, as fear and bewilderment took over, letting her stunned.

Betsey shrugged, and glanced at the key case.

"Yeah."

"We have to get back there. We have... come." she took her by her arm, walking fast in direction of the stationer, squeezing her bag with her free hand.

"Excuse me? We've been here earlier... The kid... she took that without telling me and so..." she tried to look strong, and secure, as the shop assistant sent her a disgusted death glare.

"I'm sorry. Please... let me pay for it. I'll pay any amount of money you want, but just accept my apology please."

"Your daughter stole the key case ma'am. I should call the police."

"NO! Please don't do this. She's only ten. I'm adopting her and please... just don't do this. I'll do anything-"

"I'll think about it." he cut her off rudely. "Give me your phone number and I'll let you know something."

"Okay." she said, not wanting to push it any further.

"Let's go home." she sighed.

When they arrived Addison sat on the couch, every strength she had was gone.

What if they took her?

Betsey didn't say anything, but Addison didn't really expect her to. She stared at her fo a while, and then went upstairs in her room.

"Are they going to take me away?" Addison didn't know how much time had passed when she heard Betsey's voice again, and saw her a few steps away.

"I don't know." she answered.

"Are you going to send me away?" the fear in her voice was audible, and Addison winced.

"No! Of course not... Betsey, come here."

She sat down next to her, but looked down.

"I won't ever – ever – send you back there, and away from me, doesn't matter what you do." she told her firmly. "Obviously I don't want you to do bad things – but if you do, we'll find a solution together."

"Oh."

Addison rubbed her temples, sighing heavily.

"I don't want them to take you. I don't know what I'd do..." her voice cracked again.

" 'm sorry." she mumbled clumsy.

"I'll call Ms. Stevens." she said grabbing the phone.

"Jennifer Stevens, hello?"

"He-hello, this is Addison Montgomery; I am adopting Betsey if you remember..."

"Of course, yes. Is everything okay?" she asked, knowing it wasn't.

"Betsey stole something from a shop today. It was a little thing, just a key case, but the guy wanted to call the police and I'm afraid... I-I didn't notice. That she took it I mean. And what if... they'll take her?"

"Addison, you need to calm down, okay? I don't think that something will happen. If the shop's owner calls the police, we'll explain the situation, and I'm sure they'll be understanding. Besides, Betsey's just a kid. And about the social workers... Addison, I knew that something like that could happen. There are kids who steal everywhere, everyday, and in the most of the cases nobody divides them from their parents. I don't think that a judge would take Betsey from you, but if you want we can discuss it tomorrow. You've been qualified as a responsible parent and I'm sure you are. For now, don't worry too much about it. Anyway, I suggest you to talk to Betsey about it, and to make her understand it's wrong. I don't know, talk to her about the consequences of her behavior, or maybe punish her if you feel it's right. Do it in a soft way, so she'll know that you do it because you love her, not because you don't. Do whatever you think is right. This is the first step on your road to be a parent. Okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, so much."

"I'll call you in a few days to know how it's going, is that fine?"

"Yes. Okay. Thank you... bye." she hung up with a big sigh of relief.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. She said that you're gonna stay here with me."

"Oh. Okay."

Addison looked at her, and took her in her arms holding her tight, happy that she wasn't tensed.

"I was so scared." she told her kissing the top of her head.

"I'm sorry."

"I know you were too. But, Betsey, why did you do it?"

"I don't know." she admitted. "I wanted to have your attention. To see if you were gonna notice. And what you would have done."

"What did you think I would have done?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. I just did it, I don't know why."

"Well, Betsey, that was a bad thing to do. I know you couldn't help it, but next time I want you to be more controlled. Okay."

She nodded. "So what?"

"So what? Don't do it anymore. Try to ask me, if you want or need something. You can tell me whatever you want, and I promise I'll listen. Don't go steal or do bad things to have my attention, just... come to me."

Betsey nodded again. "Are you mad at me?"

"A little bit. You scared me." she said honestly, then she sighed. "Come here." she hugged her again.

xxx

"Hi!"

"Hey, baby! I'm in the kitchen!" she put down the ladle and went in the living room.

Betsey had just come back from her karate lesson, and she was putting down her jacket.

When she saw Addison, she ran to her and hugged her tight.

"I love you!" she exclaimed.

x

"Can we get a dog? Please, for my birthday. It's in a month."

They were eating cookies in the porch, watching the night sky and sea.

"I know. But we're often out, and a dog is really demanding. He needs to be walked twice or three times a days, and to be bathed every week. We don't have time. But I could get you another cat instead." she told her.

"... a cat. I like cats." the girl answered, and the woman realized she had just promised her a cat.

I'm not totally sure about this chapter. I like it obviously; I mean, Betsey and Addison are SO SWEET! But I think that it's too much, make her steal. What do you think?

Oh, and no Lucas in this one. But, I adore the social worker! Maybe I'll make her become Addison's friend! xD

I decided to write another chapter, instead of the sequel, with Betsey at 16. You'll see hehehehe :D

PS_ When Addison called Ms. Stevens and said her name, I was about to write Shepherd. Poor me!