"I didn't give you the gift of life, but in my heart I know. The love I feel is deep and real, as if it had been so. For us to have each other is like a dream come true. No, I didn't give you the gift of life. Life gave me the gift of you." -Unknown

The adoption had gotten expedited because of how long Jennifer and Penelope had been in foster care. Their case worker and the whole system just wanted to get them out now that they have a loving foster father who wants to adopt them. And all other avenues had been exhausted. There truly was no other family to take Jennifer and Penelope in. The adoption ended up being a double adoption as Emily had gotten news that she would be adopted with the twins.

After the adoption proceedings, David left the courthouse with his five children who were now all legally his.

"So Papá, what are we going to do now?" Jennifer asked

"We should do something to celebrate." Derek suggested

David glanced over at Derek, "That's a wonderful idea." He looked around at all his kids, "Anyone have any ideas?"

"You know, I'm feeling kind of tired. I wouldn't mind just a relaxing day at home. Maybe we could have a family game night." Emily spoke up, "Just something normal."

"I want something special." Penelope protested, "I want a party!"

David scratched his head, "How about we have a party at home?"

"That's a good idea." Jennifer said

"I guess." Penelope caved

Upon arriving home, Penelope and Jennifer settled into the living room fighting over what gave to play while Emily headed up to her room and Spencer followed after her. Derek sat on the couch with David as they waited for the twins to pick a game.

Meanwhile in Emily's room, she was relaxing on her bed when Spencer walked into with a book in his arms. Emily had only been in alone in her room for a couple minutes.

"Emmy." Spencer called

"Leave me alone, Spence."

Spencer stepped closer, "But I just want to read to you and the babies."

"I'm not in the mood."

There was a knock on the door. Spencer turned around, while Emily looked up.

"Spence, could I talk to Emily alone for a bit?" David asked his son

"Okay Papá." Spencer replied before running, past his father and out of the room.

David walked over to Emily and sat down beside her on the bed, "What's wrong, princess?"

"I'm fine. Just tired. I'm growing two babies."

David tilted his head as he looked at Emily questioningly, "You don't seem very happy. Is it what happened at the courthouse? I know it was a shock, you getting adopted today."

Emily shook her head, "Yeah, but no that's not it." She looked down, "I saw someone I knew outside the courtroom."

"Okay. Who?"

Emily bit her lip, "I...um...I saw ex-foster mother from when I was fourteen. She was cruel to me. Well not just me, but to other five kids that were in her care. She...um...when we got in trouble she'd punish us with whatever she could get a hold of first. Once she beat me with a wooden rolling pin because she had been in the kitchen rolling out pie crusts."

"Oh Emily." David breathed out as he pulled his daughter into a hug

"Just...uh let me finish. Otherwise I may never get this out." Emily was getting choked up, "I got punished more than the others. I did my best to protect the little ones from her wrath, but once I came back from school to find her beating the youngest one with a belt. He was only two years old."

David sighed. He didn't even know what tot say.

"The other four were three, eight, ten, and eleven years old. I was the oldest. I had to protect and take care of them, because she couldn't do it. She didn't have a motherly bone in her body."

"I'm so sorry, princess." David apologized

"It's okay, Papá. It's not fault. It sucks, but life isn't fair." Emily told him. She glances up at him, "But I'm lucky now. I have you as my Papá."

David smiled and kissed the top of Emily's head, "And I'm glad I got you as my daughter."

"I love you, Papá."

"I love you too, Emily Hope Rossi."

"You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae." -Paul Walker

Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.

What would you like to see happen next?