"What do you think San? Should we just wait and do something this weekend after Thanksgiving? I mean we have nothing prepared for an actual welcome home party." Rachel looked over at Santana who was in the process of washing Samara's hair. It was early evening after picking the girls up from the home and they had spent all day relaxing and getting the girls settled into the cabin again. As soon as they had arrived at the cabin, Santana immediately let the girls help her unpack their suit case and back pack. The women wanted the girls to see that they wouldn't be leaving any time soon. After that they had played with all of their toys, had dinner and now they were in the process of taking baths.
"I think that would work out better. Between the hearing in the morning, the studio dinner, dinner with the entire family at your dads and Bayani's...its just a lot going on this week." Santana grinned as Samara splashed around in her tub. Sierra wasn't as interested in playing around as Samara was. The tiny girl sat in her tub in front of Rachel with her little legs literally propped up on the side enjoying being bathed by her Mama.
"Lady bugs...you have no idea how crazy the holiday's are about to become." Rachel gave a half hearted sigh. She loved the holiday's but boy did her dad like to go overboard, hence the reason he had offered to host this year. He already had one of the biggest turkey's that he could find at Shuebury's and a twenty something pound ham. It really was overkill, but to be fair he was feeding ten people including himself. If Rachel and Santana didn't stop him, he would try and host Christmas too. Of course they would be taking the girls up there Christmas morning, but it wasn't fair if he hosted Christmas dinner for everyone also.
Thanksgiving was going to be crazy considering that they had made the decision to not tell anyone that they had went and picked up the girls this morning. It was going to be hard to keep it all a surprise for three days especially when Santana and Rachel just wanted to shout from the rooftops that their babies were finally home. Rachel knew she had to figure out a way to let her dad know without telling him exactly that the twins would be there as well. It wouldn't really matter in the long run anyway, Leroy was fixing plenty of food and he already bought so much stuff to keep at his cabin for when the girls came to visit. He and Bayani were taking being grandparents very seriously. It truly meant the world to Rachel, especially when thinking back to when their father daughter relationship was nonexistent.
"That's one of the best parts about the holidays. Everyone is filled with this magical spirit that just makes you want to be better and do good things. I can't wait to take you two to meet Santa Claus!" Santana erupted into giggles when Samara squealed at the mention of Santa Claus. She didn't know if the girls actually knew who he was or if Samara was just feeding off of Santana's higher pitched, excited talking. It didn't matter either way really, Santana just hoped their first Christmas pictures as Berry-Lopez's wasn't full on crying pictures.
"Oh my gosh, San. We haven't ordered Christmas outfits yet or Christmas pajamas!" Rachel was starting to freak out a little bit, these things were big deals.
"Rachel, honey. We have plenty of time, don't worry. Besides, you know the grandparents are each going to have at least an outfit and pajama set a piece. They'll be wearing Christmas pajamas long after Christmas comes and goes." Santana chuckled as she lifted a now starting to doze off Samara out of her tub.
Rachel soon followed suit with Sierra. Both women decided that once again they would sleep on the couch for the first couple of nights, just in case the girls needed them. It would take a while for everyone to get used to the twins being in the house permanently. Rachel and Santana were going to have to learn that it was fine to sleep upstairs in the loft, they would be able to hear if the girls needed them.
Easily settling back into their nightly routine, Rachel and Santana rocked the girls while reading the story Goodnight Moon. You could tell it had been a long day as both twins were asleep in record time. Santana smiled as they laid the girls down in their beds. They were finally home to stay and the hearing in the morning would make that even more permanent.
"All rise for Judge April Rhodes." The bailiff called out into the small court room. Santana and Rachel looked at each other stunned. They had no idea that Judge Rhodes would the one over the girls adoption hearing. However, in hindsight they should have known since she is a family lawyer. The woman smiled brightly as she approached her bench.
"Good morning everyone. Let's get this show on the road shall we?" Judge Rhodes laughed at her own joke before sitting down. "Now, we are here today in the interest of Sierra and Samara Cantrell, is that correct?"
"Yes, your honor." Mercedes stood from her position at the table in front of Judge Rhodes. Santana and Rachel didn't have to sit up there, thankfully they only had to sit in the first row of pews behind Mercedes.
"Great, first things first. The motion to dissolve all parental rights has been filed, correct?" Judge Rhodes wanted to make sure that there was no chance of this woman ever trying to take the twins away from Santana and Rachel.
"Yes, your honor. It was filed and signed on September twenty-seventh. Soon after, October the third, Sierra and Samara Cantrell's adoption case was officially closed as an open adoption with hopes of reconciliation removed." Mercedes rifled through her paperwork as she answer Judge Rhodes questions.
"Before we proceed, is there anything the adopting parents would like to say today?" Judge Rhodes looked to Rachel and Santana.
"We would actually. We wrote letters that we would like to read to the girls, if that's okay?" Rachel asked hesitantly.
"Of course." Judge Rhodes nodded her head.
Nervously, Rachel stepped forward while the twins remained seated with Santana. "Okay..um. Dear Sierra and Samara, when I first met you, I was so afraid to fall in love with you. We didn't know your situation at the time and I was scared that if your Mami and I fell in love with you, we would be devastated if we couldn't take you home with us. At first we wanted to be foster parents, but the heart break of having children come into our home and leave soon after was something that we knew we couldn't handle. I commend everyone who is able to do it. After many of nights spent late talking, your Mami and I decided that we would rather like to adopt and instantly we thought of you. Once I opened myself up, the connection we had was instant and I knew that one day you were going to be ours and today is that day. As your Mama, I faithfully promise to be the best person I can be for you. I promise to always be that shoulder you need to cry on, the arms that will hold you close when you need a hug, and the feet that will carry you when you feel like the world is coming down on your shoulders and you can't carry yourself. I'm honored to be one of the women to love and cherish the precious people that you will grow up to be and I look forward to all of the future endeavors we will encounter as a family. I love you more than words can say and I thank you for choosing me to be your Mama." Rachel turned and looked at Judge Rhodes who nodded her head with tears in her eyes.
"I have something I would like to read also." Santana stood and traded places with Rachel. The twins stood on the pew looking around and smiling. They were so cute dressed in their little sweater dresses and leggings that Rachel had finally gotten them into. It had been too warm for them to wear them before, but now it was the perfect weather. Santana cleared her throat before she started reading. "The first time I met you both, you were hiding under your beds at the St. Lawrence Children's Home. I laid down in the floor and just hung out with you for a while. I honestly wasn't expecting much, to you I was a stranger encroaching on your space, but eventually you came out of hiding and snuggled up to me. I was instantly taken with you. At that point in time, I wasn't sure I was ready to be a mother or ever become one. I had so many fears of not being good enough. By the time you're old enough to read this letter, I hope I have proven myself wrong. I know we're all going to make mistakes, you two especially because you haven't lived yet, but when you do, I promise to help you work through them and help you make amends. As your Mama has already said in her letter, she's writing one too while you two are asleep in your nursery, I promise to be one of the people you can turn to for whatever you need. I look forward to what the future holds for you and us as a family. I promise to love you until my last dying breath and I too thank you for choosing me to be your Mami." Santana wiped her eyes before walking back over to Rachel and kissing her quickly on the lips before kissing each girl on their forehead. Sierra screeched, causing the entire room to chuckle before wrapping her arms around her Mami's neck and giving her repeated kisses on her cheek. Mami looked like she needed kisses because she was crying and that was a big no no. Mami wasn't supposed to be crying!
"That was beautiful ladies. With that I think it's safe to say that these girls are in the best hands that they could ever possibly be in for the rest of their lives. I think we should sign the birth certificate now and the official adoption papers. Bailiff, if you would collect said items for me." Judge Rhodes motioned to the papers that Mercedes held in her out stretched hand. Mercedes and Alison had already signed their parts of the documents, now all that was left was for Rachel, Santana and Judge Rhodes to sign.
Everyone watched as Judge Rhodes flipped through the papers, signing them quickly and swiftly. Looking up momentarily, she asked for Rachel and Santana to step forward. "You two ladies need to sign on every marked x that you see, if you miss just one, this whole process could be delayed."
Rachel and Santana nodded quickly, before they began to sign. "What exactly happens after this?" Santana asked as she sat down at the table next to Mercedes and Alison.
"After you sign the papers, they will be filed with Mercedes at her office and the birth certificate will be sent off. You should receive the girls official documents within a few weeks. You will need to go file for new social security cards and contact anyone about their new last name, presumably that would be only their doctor at this time." Judge Rhodes answered. A few moments later she was handed back the papers, all signed. Rachel and Santana had checked twice each to make sure they hadn't missed any. "Ladies, I believe it is official that I can officially release Sierra and Samara Berry-Lopez into your custody. Congratulations!" Judge Rhodes banged her gavel while everyone in the court room began to clap. It was officially official. The girls were theirs to keep...forever.