Sean and I had been dating for 2 ½ months when I when I went into labor with my baby. I gave birth to a happy, healthy, beautiful, bouncing baby girl ten days after my twenty-third birthday. I decided to name her Hannah Isabella Benoit.

I decided to give her my last name. I was adamant about that. I was not going to let her carry her absentee father's last name by any means.

I found myself saddened more than I thought I would've been at such a joyous time in my adult life. When I was filling out Hannah's birth certificate, they asked about her father's name. I wished more than ever that I could put Sean's name in the space allotted, but I knew legally that I couldn't.

A week after I gave birth to Hannah, I was discharged from the hospital and brought her home.

We were sitting on the couch in the house we now share together, watching a movie as Hannah slept. I remember thinking how perfect the moment was. I found myself thinking I couldn't have happier even if I tried.

That's when Sean blew my mind again.

"I want to adopt Hannah." he said to me.

I couldn't believe it. His unexpected, out-of-the-blue comment broke the silence between us. It almost didn't seem real. Too good to be true. "You're serious?" I replied, maneuvering myself to lock eyes with him.

"Yeah, I am." His eyes held mine. "Matter of fact…" He paused for a moment as his eyebrows pulled together in thought. "I don't think I've ever been more serious in my life."

"I don't know what to say." I replied hoarsely.

"Say you'll let me adopt her."

I took a deep breath to compose myself. "Of course, I will, Sean. I just…" I let my voice trail off, unable to finish my sentence. I turned away from him. I didn't want him to see the tears welling up in my eyes.

He gently cupped my chin in the palm of his hand and lifted it back up toward him. "You just what, Jolie?" he asked with concern.

"I just don't know if her father will allow that."

His eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. I could tell he didn't understand my response. "But I thought you said he told you he wanted nothing to do with her." he replied.

"He did." I choked back the lump that rose in my throat. "I'm just worried something is gonna go wrong."

"Go wrong?"

I sighed. I realized then that I had yet to do actually deal with the pain Hannah's father had inflicted upon me. I had yet to get the closure I needed. "It seems like when things start going good in my life, it ends up getting ruined." I tried to mask the hurt in my voice, but I knew he would see through it. "I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed."

"I'm not going anywhere, Jolie." His voice was stern, but gentle. "I want to be the one Hannah calls daddy. I want to give the two of you my last name. To provide for the two of you."

Everything in his voice and eyes told me he was serious. I smiled at him. "I want that too." I meant those words with every fiber of my being.

"Then marry me and let me adopt Hannah."

"You're either crazy or very brave." I teased him.

That conversation started us down the path of getting plans set in motion for us to get married and for Sean to adopt Hannah.