Chapter 25

It was raining.

Actually it was more like it was pouring, but to Amelia it made no difference. She had gotten used to the unforgiving cold that seeped to her bones or to the furious gales that lashed against her small, malnourished body, penetrating her ragged clothes and making her shiver. Her once bright red coat had adopted a russet hue, her boots were worn out and filled with holes, and her once fluffy and soft sweater was nothing but a dirty piece of cloth that was somewhat useful to keep the cold at bay.

She couldn't remember exactly when she'd left her old house, but it felt like an eternity had gone past since then. She had ran out of money, was starving and had nowhere to go... she didn't even remember the way back to her old house! No one had come looking for her, either, so she'd had to manage on her own...

She'd aimlessly wandered around the city for days - months, maybe? - cold, alone and only thinking of the parents she'd left behind. She didn't know how to call them or how to contact them in any way, and she felt like she was running out of options.

The thought of her family brought tears to her eyes as she pushed her little bag behind her. She was exhausted and felt dirty, but for now she could only care about finding refuge from the ferocious storm. As she rose her head, Amelia spotted a very familiar sight a few meters ahead...

It was her old house! Oh my God! It was her old house!

Feeling her heart bursting with joy, she ran towards it, already craving to be in her Mommy's arms before asking her Daddy to read her a story and tuck her in...

"Mommy! Daddy!" the girl screamed pounding on the door. "It's me! I'm home... I'm home..."

But no one answered...

She tried ringing the bell over and over again, but to no avail. Dread started to wrap itself around her heart like a vine. Why weren't they answering?! The lights were on, and she could hear their voices coming from inside.

She edged round the house until she reached the window that gave to the living room and peered inside...

And there they were... her parents, comfortably snuggled in front of the TV with the twins safely hidden in their arms. Her Mommy had a content smile on her face as she stroked her sister's cheek, and her Daddy was playing with her brother...

There was no sight of any of the many pictures depicting her that had once decorated the walls. Gone were her pictures from the wall of memories, and they had been replaced with pictures of her parents and the twins.

"Aren't they beautiful?" her Mommy asked, looking down at the twins.

"Gorgeous! And so well behaved!" her Daddy replied.

Amelia tapped the window glass, desperate to get their attention, but not managing it. Couldn't they hear her?

"Mommy! Daddy! Please..." Amelia cried, banging on the window.

Why weren't they answering?! Why weren't there any pictures of her on the wall?!

"I don't know how we managed without them," Niles remarked, lifting her little brother up and beaming at him proudly. "Our two perfect, good little children."

Two children? They didn't have two children, they had three! She knew she'd been gone a long time, but didn't they remember her?!

They can't have done...they had done what she'd been afraid of all along; they'd gone on without her and forgotten her.

She had to make them remember! She slammed her little fist against the window, screaming, begging, pleading...

"Mommy!" she sobbed, feeling a pain in her chest that could only be heartbreak as her mother lifted up her little sister and kissed her like she was the only daughter she had. That she would ever have. "Daddy! Please, I'm sorry!"

But they heard nothing, and Amelia was growing weak by this stage, her fist seeming to hit the glass slower and less forcefully each time. Like something was holding her back.

She tried shrieking again, her voice growing hoarse with the effort, "Mommy! Daddy! Please don't leave me!"

"Mia."

She didn't know where the voice was coming from – it didn't even matter. She was alone; her Mommy and Daddy had the twins and they'd forgotten her. She was starving and cold and had no home...

She had to make them see – she was still there!

She tried screaming through her tears, and struggling to make the force trying to hold her still go away. It was keeping her from banging on the window, trying to shush her from crying out for her parents...

"Mia, it's okay, sweetheart!"

But she kept fighting, her desperation only growing as she observed her parents getting to their feet and heading to the staircase, ready to go upstairs and sleep peacefully.

"No… please! Please come back..."

And as she was about to hit the glass one last time, she felt a pair of strong arms wrapping themselves around her...

"Mia, wake up!"

...and the world suddenly went black.

Amelia opened her eyes to find herself in a familiar, warm environment. Was she... was she in her parent's bedroom? It had to be their room! The same cream-coloured walls, the same furniture... Had they let her in? Her slow waking mind gradually began to register the soothing presence by her side as she took in a deep breath and allowed her heartbeat to start going back to normal.

"It's okay, sweetie, it's okay," an soothing voice – her Daddy's voice! – crooned as he held her close. "It was just a bad dream... that's all."

A... bad dream?

As the last remnants of her dream faded away and reality washed over her, Amelia became more aware of her surroundings. She wasn't wet, or cold, or starving or dirty – actually, she was dressed in her nicest pyjamas and was in a cosy, comfortable bed. The only nuisance, however, was how feverish she felt.

But that didn't matter right then... right then the only thing that mattered was taking deep breaths and letting her Daddy hold her close.

"It's okay, Mia, I am here," he said softly, and Amelia began to cry in earnest, clinging to him for dear life.

Niles had been awoken by her screaming, and he'd gotten into action almost immediately. She'd been thrashing around in the covers, begging not to be left alone and crying helplessly in her sleep.

She must have been dreaming about what had happened. But he wasn't going to make her talk about it when she clearly wasn't up for it. All she needed right then was his arms around her, holding her tight, and the knowledge that he wasn't going anywhere.

And her cries were fierce, and terrible. The nightmare must have been bad, whatever it was.

She was crying too hard to register C.C. jolting upright by her side – the commotion had awakened her too.

"Oh, sweetie!" she cried, holding her daughter with her husband. "It's all okay! You're here, with us! You're at home, you're safe..."

Niles couldn't help but think about how much C.C. sounded like she was trying to reassure herself, as well as Amelia. He knew his wife felt it was her fault, just like he felt it was his, but the horrors they'd imagined in their heads when they'd found her room empty weren't true.

They were never coming true. Amelia was there, with them, and they needed to talk everything over so that they could move on from this.

"Sh, Mia, everything is alright," Niles cooed, stroking her hair. "We are all here – even your little Bananas!"

At the mention of its name, Amelia instinctively groped for the stuffed animal and brought him close to her. The soft flannel provided some sense of peace which, eventually, combined with the feeling of her parents' arms around her, Amelia began to calm down. She nestled in her father's embrace, whimpering still. Clearly, crying out her fears and not being alone was doing wonders for her.

Her parents suspected her horrendous nightmare was a direct result of her fever – and, speaking of which, Niles noticed the girl was running a fever again! Her head was awfully warm, which explained the nightmare, in a certain sense.

He'd have to get a cloth for her head. They couldn't just let it continue without doing anything about it.

"You're feeling awfully warm, sweetheart," he murmured, rubbing his little girl's back. "I'm going to get a wet cloth for your head. Cuddle with Mommy and Bananas, and I'll be right back."

He helped her turn around, and get her arms around C.C.'s neck, seeing that they were both settled and comfortable, with Bananas in Amelia's lap, before getting up to go to the bathroom.

He wasn't gone long. He brought a cool, damp cloth back very soon, not wanting to leave Amelia even if she was with C.C...

The crying really had been terrible, and it made being away from her hurt him, badly. He'd never heard anyone cry for their parents in such a distraught manner; like she was being taken away from them, or they from her.

It was almost like her fears could get her, even when they couldn't protect her. No amount of reassurance could take away the fear from a nightmare that had already happened. But they could try their hardest to make sure that she didn't have any more.

She was nestled against her mother when he returned, and he retook his seat, starting to dab at her forehead with the cloth.

Together, they manoeuvred her little body so it would rest comfortably against the pillows, and while C.C. tucked her up, Niles began dabbing at Amelia's forehead. Bananas snuggled against her side, in the space between her upper side and her arm.

She still had some tears running down her cheeks, and C.C. did her best to brush them away. She was truly worried about what had happened inside this terrible nightmare – clearly, from what both she and Niles had been able to hear, it had to do with them, and consequently, with her escape.

She was deeply affected by it, and so were them. They needed to reassure her – to make her feel everything was going to be just fine. To make her understand just how much they loved her.

Granted, this nightmare was probably a result of her feverish state, but it still reflected her deepest and darkest fears.

"I'll get you another Advil, sweetie," Niles said, handing C.C. the cold cloth so she could continue dabbing at her forehead. "Do you need anything else?"

Amelia nodded weakly, groaning as C.C. pressed the cold cloth against her heated forehead.

"I'm hungry..." Amelia mumbled, instinctively edging closer to her mother. She was still upset about what had happened in her dream, but her unwell state was overwhelming. Having her parents with her was a relief, but the anguish and the fear were still squeezing her heart.

Niles nodded, "Alright, then. I'll bring you something to eat as well. I won't be long."

He couldn't help but take it as a clear good sign, the fact that Amelia wanted to eat. She'd barely touched anything since they'd found her, and she'd need the energy that something good and nutritious could provide.

So instead of going to the bathroom cabinet straight away, he took a detour downstairs to the kitchen, thinking about what he could make his little girl to show her that everything was going to be alright, and that would help her to get better.

He began to put together a tray, and on it he placed a selection of items - a small bowl of grapes, some sandwiches cut into triangles, carrot sticks, a yogurt and spoon, and a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows.

The last item didn't really fit with the rest, but Amelia deserved to know that she was appreciated. And anything on the tray that she didn't eat, Niles was sure he and C.C. could help her finish.

After placing the final finishing touch of a glass of water on the tray, he carried it carefully upstairs, stopping quickly in the bathroom to fetch the Advil from the cabinet behind the mirror. Once he was back inside the room, he placed the tray in front of his daughter.

"Alright, sweetie," Niles said, carefully setting the glass of water in Amelia's hands. "Time to take your medicine."

The girl nodded and opened her mouth, letting her father put the small pill in it before gulping it down. She handed him back the glass, which was promptly laid on the bedside table, and snuggled in bed as she scanned the tray before her. She chose to grab a few grapes and slowly munched on them, her parents sitting by her side and stroking her hair.

"Sweetheart?" C.C. eventually said. "Would you like to talk about that bad dream you had?"

Amelia seemed to carefully ponder over her mother's suggestion, and she eventually nodded. She knew it would be better to let them know – her Mommy and Daddy were there to help, and it had just been a bad dream, after all.

"Okay, Mommy," Amelia said. "But could you hug me while I talk?"

Niles and C.C. exchanged a quick, worried look and both of them nodded.

"Of course, sweetheart!" Niles said, moving closer to his child and wrapping an arm around Amelia's shoulders. "We are here for you."

C.C. imitated her husband and snuggled against her child, using one of her hands to stroke Amelia's cheek. "We promise."

Amelia swallowed her grapes heavily, choosing to finish them before she began just in case she decided that telling them made her not want the food anymore.

She took in a breath, and began.

"I...I dreamed that no one came to get me when I ran away," she started, feeling the tears starting up again already. "I was gone for a long time. I was hungry, and cold, and lost. My clothes were all full of holes, and I needed a bath and wanted to sleep..."

It was hurting her parents already to have to listen to her talk like this, but she had to let it out. They had to let her continue.

Niles secured his arm around her even more than he already had, "Go on, sweetheart..."

Amelia gulped, and nodded, taking in a shaky breath before continuing.

"But...but then I saw here again. I'd...I'd come back, and I went to the door to be let in, but no one came...! And then I looked in the window, and I saw you...saw you with the twins, and there were no pictures of me on the wall, and you were playing with the twins and talking about how much you loved your two good children. You'd forgotten me, and I banged on the window to be let in, but you didn't hear me, and then you went upstairs and left me behind...!"

By this stage in her story, Amelia was back to sobbing again.

She simply couldn't stop... the anguish and the pain and the fear that she'd experienced in her dream were coming back to her, and it made her feel like she was being repeatedly punched. If she closed her eyes, she could still see the image of her parents playing with her siblings, and her standing in the rain, banging on the window and not being heard...

It had been a terrible dream, and although she knew that it wasn't real, she couldn't help the anguish. The mere idea of her parents forgetting her, even if it had been a dream, was enough to reduce her to a crying mess.

"And I... I kept banging on the window as you left... and then... and then I woke up..." Amelia sobbed, holding onto Niles. She needed to have him close... to have her father with her.

She had gone through an ordeal the previous afternoon, and it seemed that she couldn't even have some peace in her dreams – the only place where she was supposed to be safe from her fears viciously assaulting her with no mercy or forgiveness.

"I... I was so afraid..." Amelia continued. "And I felt so cold and so alone... I just... I'm sorry..." she blurted out – she hadn't said sorry for running away, and for some reason she felt compelled to do so right then.

"Oh, sweetheart, you don't have to be sorry!" Niles cried, resting his cheek on the top of his daughter's head. "It's all alright...! What matters most is that you're safe! The dream wasn't real, you're here with us, and we promise that isn't going to change."

Amelia sniffed, "You really mean it?"

"Of course we do, sweetie," C.C. was nearly in tears herself. "You're our little girl, we love you! We'd never forget about you!"

"You wouldn't?" Amelia's voice sounded smaller than ever.

That pained them even more – the idea that their own daughter needed reassurance to believe that they loved her enough to not forget about her. They adored her more than anything, and the idea of her not believing them was almost too much.

"Of course not!" Niles wanted the power to reach inside her and remove all the fears straight from the source. The horrible, hideous source that had made her feel unwanted, unloved, a source of disappointment to be forgotten about. "If anything had happened to you, we'd never have forgiven ourselves! We wouldn't have taken away your pictures and forgotten about you! Not a day would have gone by when we didn't think of you, looked for you, cried for you...! We'd never have been happy again!"

And it was true. If they hadn't found their daughter, the world would have been absolutely meaningless – it would have adopted a greyish hue; it would have been dark and empty, because their baby girl wouldn't have been there with them.

She was their life, and there wasn't a chance in hell that they'd ever forget about her. Yes, they were enlarging the family, but Amelia would always be their precious little girl – the little being to whom they owed more than words could express.

They were a family, and families stayed together.

"We swear, Mia, that would have never happened!" C.C. insisted, leaning down to plant a kiss on Amelia's (still warm) forehead. "You have nothing to fear, sweetheart – it was only a bad dream, okay?"

Amelia's cries worsened. The feeling of being reassured by her parents was almost like having a splinter taken out of her skin. Almost as if her pain had been buried deep within her for so long and was only now being removed. The process was painful, but it was necessary.

She knew this was where she belonged. That her parents would always be there for her...

They'd only had a couple of rough months, that's all.

"I... I love you, Mommy," Amelia choked out before looking up at her father. "And I love you, Daddy..."

"And we love you, Mia," Niles also pressed a kiss to her forehead. "More than words can say. So there is no need to be afraid, no matter what anyone says, or what horrible fears and nightmares are telling you, alright?"

Amelia nodded, understanding. Her Mommy and Daddy really wouldn't abandon her. They promised. And they loved her just as much as they loved the twins...

Sophia had been wrong. Her nightmares had been wrong, too.

They were going to be okay.

"Okay, Daddy," she said, sniffing. "I'll be okay now. And...and I'll say sorry to Sophia when I go to school."

"You don't have to worry about that just for now; you'll be off school so you can rest for a while," Niles' words were reassuring. "What you need to do is make sure you get better. Then we'll see about talking to Sophia."

He lifted the mug of – luckily still warm – hot chocolate, and gave it to her.

"Here, drink up," he said. "A little something sweet for the sweetest little girl."

Amelia took the drink, and took a gulp of it. Warm hot chocolate, with as many marshmallows as her Daddy could fit in the cup. It actually made her feel a little more hungry, and she put the mug down to try one of the sandwiches.

Her parents watched her eat, feeling more relieved now that she was starting to relax. C.C. then plumped the pillows up behind Amelia some more as she had her fill of the food that Niles had prepared.

And eat her fill, she did. The bowl of grapes was empty, two of the sandwiches were gone, and so were half the carrot sticks by the time she decided she'd had enough, and had leaned herself back against the pillows again.

The fever was starting to break, it seemed. But it would be nice to keep her off school for another couple of days after that.

They'd probably say it was just in case, but really they knew that they could all do with some family time.

Family time that they intended to start right then and there.

So, placing the tray to one side and helping his wife to lie down, Niles brought his own legs fully up onto the bed and they cuddled up with their daughter, falling asleep not long after that. They were all exhausted, emotionally speaking, and a good, dreamless sleep was exactly what at least one of them needed.

Niles was the first of the family to stir the next morning. It wasn't really surprising, considering the fact that his usual day required being up almost at the crack of dawn in order to complete his usual routine, and also because of the shrilling sound of the bell echoing through the mansion. Who on Earth had come to visit this early?

He'd planned to stay home with his wife and daughter, both of whom were still sound asleep, but it seemed that someone else´s plans also included spending some time with them!

But speaking of C.C. and Amelia, Nile chose to take a moment as his waking mind fully came to him to admire the view. His wife, glowing with health and round with twins. His daughter, comfortably sprawled over his chest and with her old toy monkey tucked under her arm. His family. There was no finer sight in the entire world, as far as he was concerned.

And it hurt him beyond words to think that there had almost been a tiny gap where his Amelia lay. Everything he'd said before to her was true – he knew for a fact he would never be happy again if she hadn't come back to them.

They'd have searched for her every day, even if it took them the rest of their lives.

Wrapping one arm around Amelia's small frame, he managed to sit upright, cradling her against his chest as he went to prevent her from being launched onto the bed. He had to lay her down again, though, next to her mother, who was still asleep. Throwing on his dressing gown and shoving his feet in his slippers, he made his way out onto the landing, and then downstairs to the door.

And he was immediately (and entirely) woken by the sight of Stewart and B.B. stood on the other side of the door. B.B. appeared to be trying to push her way in, but her ex-husband was trying his hardest to hold her back.

"Where is she? Where is Amelia?!" the woman sounded distraught, and suddenly Niles understood the frantic, desperate ringing of the doorbell.

"She's asleep, upstairs," Niles stepped aside to allow C.C.'s parents to come inside. "And so is C.C.."

This was said in order to give her an incentive to be quiet, and when she began to head for the stairs, Stewart held her back again.

"Perhaps we should at least wait until C.C. is awake, B.B.," he suggested. "We know she's up there and that she's fine; we don't have to rush."

B.B. hesitated, as though unsure of herself. It was like she wanted to refuse to listen to Stewart and go up anyway, but some part of her was thinking that he might have a point. After all, Niles had seemed surprised to see them – C.C. must have forgotten to tell him that they were on their way, so all of this must have seemed like a rather large intrusion...

Perhaps if they stayed downstairs for a few more moments, just to clear things up. Yes, that would be for the best.

"Perhaps you're right, Stewart. After all, it is only..." B.B. checked her watch. "Seven forty-five..."

She turned to Niles.

"Did C.C. forget to tell you we were coming?"

Niles could only shrug in return, "I suppose she must have. Yesterday was, after all, somewhat stressful..."

Both older Babcocks exchanged a look and nodded. Things like that were bound to be less important, after what had happened. They'd be interested to get the full story, too. But that would probably require both parents awake and present.

"Niles...was that the door?" called a sleepy voice from upstairs, and soon C.C. appeared in the doorway of their bedroom, still in her pyjamas. She smiled when she saw her parents. "Oh. Hello, Mother; hi, Daddy..."

Stewart waved back at her, "Hey, Kitten. Did we wake you? Coming later would probably have been better, huh?"

"It's completely fine!" C.C. waved a dismissive hand at them. She'd supposedly they'd come early considering what had happened, and it wasn't like they had intruded in the middle of the night! "You can come up if you want, Amelia is awake, too."

C.C. looked over her shoulder and glanced at her girl. Amelia was still a bit feverish, but she wasn't as hot as she was the night before.

"She is?" Niles asked, bringing C.C.'s attention back to him. "Then I'll prepare you both some breakfast," the butler said and turned for the kitchen, ready to start their breakfast in the blink of an eye. But just before he left, he seemed to have a second thought.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked B.B. and Stewart.

"Coffee will do," B.B. said, turning for the staircase. "Black and with no sugar!"

"Just like your soul," Stewart muttered, earning himself a glare from the older socialite.

Niles and C.C. had to bite back a laugh.

"And what about you, Daddy?" C.C. asked, eyeing the rather large light-pink box that Stewart was holding. It seemed the man had bought something for Amelia. "Can Niles get you anything?"

"Not at all, thank you," he said gently as he began climbing the stairs. He had the most curious of smiles on his face – a grin worthy of the Cheshire cat, she reckoned – clearly quite pleased with the gift he'd chosen.

C.C. refrained from asking what was in the box; her father loved surprises.

"Okay, then," C.C. replied, amused. "Do you really need to go up now, or-"

Stewart paused, his smile growing on his face. He then turned, and walked back down, seeming to check on the box and its contents as he went. There were a number of holes in the box, and he looked like he was peering into one...

"Actually..." he began thoughtfully.

Then his head snapped up and he looked at them.

"Let's wait until Niles brings the breakfast," the older man seated himself carefully, so as not to shake the box. "He's probably going to want to see this as well, and it's best that he puts the tray down beforehand!"

Well, that just made whatever her father had in mind all the more intriguing and mysterious.

So, they took their seats and waited. Niles' cooking seemed to take forever, but eventually there was a tray ready for them to take upstairs so that the couple could eat breakfast with their daughter. And their daughter could then open her surprise, which had been making a lot of odd noises, especially when Niles had been preparing the food...

On the stairs, Niles carried the tray, B.B. assisted C.C., and Stewart carried the box. If either parent had looked back properly, they would have sworn that the box shook when it went up. But they couldn't say for sure, because they were more occupied with other matters.

Amelia was awake when they went in, but only just, and she was snuggled up underneath the covers, resting against the pillows that C.C. had piled up behind her before coming downstairs. She turned towards the door when she heard footsteps coming near. A beaming (if tired) smile made its way across the girl's face, and she slowly sat up to greet her visitors.

"Grandpa! Grandmamma!" the girl exclaimed, her voice thick with sleep and slightly hoarse due to her cold.

"Hi, darling!" B.B. said, perching on the side of the bed and stroking Amelia's hair. "How are you feeling today?"

Amelia grimaced. She felt… sickly... and her whole body ached. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a cold, but she certainly didn't recall that they could be this unpleasant!

"I am okay... just a little bit tired," Amelia leaned back against the pillows, letting her father place the tray on her lap.

"Thank you, Daddy," Amelia said, giving Niles a kiss on the cheek.

Niles smiled down at her, "It was my pleasure."

Amelia returned his smile, but her attention was suddenly caught by the mysterious – and shaking? – box her grandfather had placed on the bed.

"What is that, grandpa?" Amelia asked, peering over the rim of her cup with interest.

"Why don't you find out yourself?" Stewart retorted. "We are all curious to see!"

And it was true... Niles, C.C. and B.B. simply couldn't guess what was in the box, and it was killing them!

"Alright!" the girl giggled, laying her mug back on the tray before using one hand to take off the lid.

Niles had to take the tray out of the way immediately, because a tiny, fawn ball of fur launched itself at Amelia, yapping and licking.

"A puppy!" the little girl cried, giggling as the tiny nose and tongue poked and lapped at her face.

Indeed it was – a tiny pug, with a little squished face and a curly tail.

Amelia stroked and rubbed its back, and the little puppy revelled in the attention, as the adults around the room looked at Stewart. Niles and C.C. were more than a little incredulous.

"A puppy, Daddy?" C.C. asked.

Stewart grinned, looking back and forth between them and where Amelia was continuing to fawn over the dog.

"Yeah!" he exclaimed. "I thought it would be nice if Amelia got to experience looking after something by herself. And when I saw this little guy, I knew he was perfect! Whaddya think? A little ball of fur that'll love her no matter what..."

Love her no matter what...

C.C. and Niles looked at each other, and then down towards where the puppy had curled itself up on Amelia's lap. The girl stared down at it adoringly, scratching its ear. They did want so much to prove that she was loved, and appreciated...maybe it wasn't such a bad idea, letting her keep the dog. Taking something away that she clearly adored would crush her, and probably make her question if they loved her or not again.

And that was the last thing they wanted.

"Well…" C.C. cocked her head slightly to one side and gave the dog a look. He really was adorable, and if it made Mia happy… "I think we should ask Mia! After all, it is her dog, isn't it?"

Mia´s little face brightened. "Really?! Can I keep him?"

Niles and C.C. exchanged an amused – if slightly resigned – look and nodded.

"Yes you can, Little One," said Niles, perching on the side of the bed and rubbing the little dog's head. "But only if you promise to be responsible for him."

"Exactly," Stewart piped up, resting one hand on each side of his hips. "This puppy is both a gift and a responsibility, Mia. You have to take care of him, like your Mommy and Daddy take care of you."

"Alright!" Mia said, but Stewart was not finished.

"And, perhaps, now you'll understand just how afraid and sad they were when you ran away…"

There was a reproachful edge to his voice, and the way he was looking at her hinted just what he thought about his granddaughter's escape. He wasn't going to snap at the girl or give her an earful, but he did want her to, at least, begin to comprehend just how desperate and worried her actions had made her parent. He wanted her to understand that, despite the twins, nothing was going to change, especially not the love that they all had for her.

Amelia couldn't help but cast her eyes downwards, shame hanging heavy over her and making itself known on her delicate features. Her hazel locks fell over her face like a curtain, and her bright blue eyes were stuck to her duvet-covered lap.

"Would you stop loving your puppy if I got you another one?" Stewart asked, coming closer to the girl.

"… No…" Mia muttered.

"Then, if you wouldn't stop loving your puppy – which, I must add, is adopted – do you think any of us would love you any less because of the twins?"

A heavy silence followed Stewart's words; part of C.C. longed to reach out for her daughter and comfort her – she was young after all, and her escape (although wrong) had been the result of months of tension and hidden fears – but she knew it wouldn't do her any good, so she stayed back and allowed her father to get his point across. Granted, usually the arrival of a new sibling (or two, in this case) didn't entail so many problems, but Amelia´s fears and the dread of being forgotten were not only a result of the twins' arrival on its own but also of having been adopted by her father after having been fatherless for years; the child was still absolutely terrified of going back to not having a daddy, especially when part of her had also feared that, this time, her mother wouldn't be there for her, either.

"…No…" Mia eventually choked out – it was evident that she was crying.

"Then," Stewart said, softening his tone and gently coming to wrap his arms around his grandchild. "You have nothing to fear, sweetheart! Your Mommy and Daddy love you very much and so do we! And we are sure your brother and sister will love you as well; you just need to trust us on this."

The older man tipped Mia´s face to him and gave her a gentle smile. "Do you trust us, Sparky?"

The girl nodded again, and she burrowed in her grandfather's embrace. "I do…"

"Wonderful!" Stewart said, reaching out for the puppy and bringing it to Amelia. The little animal began to lick her tears, and this caused the girl to giggle.

It was nice to hear her laugh.

"He is funny," the girl said in between chuckles.

"Yes, and he also needs a name," Niles added, trying to distend the slightly tense atmosphere. "How should we call him?"

"Maybe Buddy?"

Nearly everybody pulled a face at C.C.'s rather lame suggestion.

"No! That name is so… mainstream," B.B. said, wrinkling her nose. "We should name her-"

"Him," Stewart corrected her.

"Him, her whatever… it's the same," B.B. said, waving a dismissive hand. "… we should name him after a Greek god!"

Amelia looked between her grandmother and the puppy. The latter looked more like a potato with legs than like a mighty and powerful Greek god!

"What about Winston?" Niles suddenly piped up. There was something about the pup's roguish, little face that reminded him of the fiery Prime Minister.

But of course that Amelia didn't really know who he was – the name however, had a nice ring to it!

"I like it," said Amelia, and all the adult just knew the matter was settled.

"Winston it is, then," Stewart laughed and ruffled the little girl's hair, making her laugh again. "Well, now that he has a name we can officially say: welcome to the family, Winston!"

Something about her grandfather's words caught Amelia's attention. Indeed, now that the dog had a name he was part of the family! But what about the twins? Did they have a name? They'd need one, obviously, especially seeing as they already were part of their family.

"And what about my brother and sister?" she questioned. "Do they have names too?"

Her query took Niles and C.C. by surprise. Considering what had been going on with Mia recently, they hadn't really taken their time to choose their children's names – they had a few ideas, not to get them wrong, but nothing was set in stone yet. Why did she want to know?

"They don't have names yet, sweetie," C.C. said. "We still have to choose them."

"Can I help?"

Niles and C.C.'s eyes widened. She wanted to help?

"I mean… I thought about all of what you guys said and I wanna welcome them to the family. Maybe if we choose a name together I can do that!"

And it was almost as though someone had just hit them square in the chest – but it wasn't a painful blow, it was a good blow. An overwhelmingly happy surprise! Almost as if the relief and happiness caused by Amelia explicitly saying she wanted to accept her siblings was a sort of blessed surprise.

To be fair, it kind of was.

She wanted to try to accept the twins! She was really trying! And that brought no small amount of relief to them.

"That might be an idea," Niles said, taking out a small notepad from his night table alongside with a pen. "We are all here, so why not name the twins together!"

C.C. smiled – that truly sounded like a plan.

And as she observed the excitement in her daughter's face – a joy and an excitement that she hadn't seen in far too long – she began to feel that, finally, every little thing was going right on track once again.