The social services woman walks in the room, with a toddler in one arm and a little boy holding her other hand. When he sees Sam and Artie, both sitting on the other side of the room, he breaks away from her and runs across to dive into Sam's lap. They laugh, and when the social worker reaches them, she hands the toddler to Artie.
Artie handles her gently. She squirms around on his lap and tries to steal his glasses. He gently holds her hands away from his face.
"Do we get to go home with you today?" the little boy, Jason, says eagerly.
Sam and Artie look at the social services lady expectantly. She nods.
"Yes. You and your sister are coming home with us today," Artie says.
Jason pets his sister on the head and talks to her excitedly.
"You hear that, Leah, we're going to be in a family now!"
The social worker smiles as she hands Artie the paperwork. He signs and initials, and hands the papers over to Sam, who signs as quickly as he can with a squirming nine-year-old on his lap.
"And that's it, then. We'll check up on you a few times, but I don't foresee any problems. You seem like you'll be excellent parents," the social worker says.
"That's it guys. We're a family now," Sam says.
The children cheer. Artie looks over Sam, smiling, but with panic in his eyes. Sam smiles back and intertwines their fingers.
"You're going to be a great father, Artie," Sam says.
Artie smiles at him and their children.
"You too."