May We Be One

"Well, good morning. I am so glad we could all talk this morning." The tall slender woman addressed three wide-eyed children seated at the small table in the Coulson's family room. Her strange accent fascinated Jemma.

"Are you from Australia?" The little girl inquired.

"That I am," the woman smiled as she opened her briefcase and tapped a few papers on the table before sitting down. "How observant of you, I've lived here for about ten years but I guess my accent still gives me away."

Fitz scowled at his sister's 'sucking up' to this strange woman. He didn't like strangers and he didn't like answering questions, but he really didn't like the fact that this lady was scaring Skye. He bumped his chair closer to his baby sister and placed his arm around her shoulders. Skye took it as an invite and quickly scooted from her chair to sharing with her brother. She wriggled her little form next to his and laid her head against his shoulder.

The woman could not help the smile it caused. "Well I know all of your names so I guess you should know mine. I'm Agnes Ryan and I'm just here to talk to you a little bit before you go to court with your new mom and dad."

"We aren't supposed to speak with strangers." Fitz sneered at the woman.

"Fitz," Jemma scolded.

Agnes held up a hand and smiled again. "You must be Leopold." She nodded toward the little boy.

Fitz crossed his arms over his chest, bumping Skye aside for the moment. "Seein' I'm the only lad here, that would be a fine assumption, but I'm called Fitz." The boy scowled.

"Duly noted," Agnes smiled again.

"He's not usually so cross," Jemma made excuses for her brother. "He's just a bit apprehensive about this interview."

"I am not the least bit anxious, uneasy, worried, nervous or otherwise fearful about this interrogation." Fitz jumped to his feet defending himself.

"I want mama," Skye sniffled as her lip quivered and a tear ran over her cheek.

"Oh, now look what you've done," Jemma warned as she rose and moved to comfort Skye.

"It's okay, little one, you'll see Melinda in a few minutes." Agnes tried to comfort the little girl as well.

Fitz dropped back into his chair next to Skye and pulled her close wrapping both arms around her. "She's our mama, not Melinda." He corrected, narrowing his eyes at Agnes. Jemma moved to the chair Skye had vacated and took her little sister's hand in her own.

Agnes stared at the united front she faced and smiled at the camaraderie the children had formed. She made a quick note. "Your mama is right outside. We're…"

"Just ask the bloody questions why doncha, then." Fitz barked.

"Fitz!" Jemma warned again earning a harsh glare from her brother. "Mama is going to be very cross with you."

"And what happens when your mama becomes cross with any of you?" Agnes used the girl's comment to segue into her first question.

"She gets angry when she's cross." Fitz rolled his eyes. "What do you think she does?"

"Well, I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" Agnes encouraged.

Jemma looked at her brother and shook her head. "Mama shouts, well she does shout very quietly and that's much worse that loud shouting," the little girl explained, "but mostly she talks to us and explains why we should make better choices."

Agnes nodded at Jemma then turned to Fitz. "Is that what she does, Fitz?"

Fitz looked over his brow at the woman. "Are ya callin' my sister a liar, then?"

"No," the woman remained calm, "just wondering if she does the same with you.

"Yeah, she talks to me, shouts a bit sometimes and explains why I should be punished if I've done wrong." He watched as Agnes jotted notes in her book.

"I see," Agnes pursed her lips and looked directly at Fitz. "And how does she punish you? Does she hurt you?"

Fitz stood, rolled his eyes, expelled a frustrated breath and threw his hands in the air. "Dè a 'cheist fuilteach gòrach! Tha seo a 'ghalla sùghadh gaoithe!"

"Fitz!" Jemma stomped her foot in her anger with her brother. She really did not understand the Gaelic Scot her little brother sometimes rambled but she knew it had to be something very naughty. Skye's whimper turned into a sob. Jemma immediately comforted her.

Agnes grinned at the little boy. "Neo-glè ghrinn, duine òg. Chan Mama bheil thu a 'cleachdadh seòrsa de chànan?" Fitz's jaw dropped as his cheeks reddened. "My gran was a Scot, Fitz. She didn't speak a word of English." She eyed the little boy with an unspoken reprimand.

He looked down at his feet and spoke softly. "She'd be quite angry." He looked up quickly. "You'll not be tellin' her then, will ya?"

Agnes shook her head. "How about we start over? I'm not here to cause a problem Fitz, just to finish some paperwork. Okay?"

The little boy shrugged his shoulders, dropped back into the chair already occupied by both of his sisters and slumped down in defeat. Skye wriggled out of Jemma's embrace, turned and wrapped her arms around Fitz. He sat up straight and pulled her into a hug of his own. "She thinks you mean to take her away." He informed the woman who watched the children comfort each other.

"Skye doesn't trust strangers. She hasn't had many positive experiences with them, I'm afraid." Jemma tilted her head and used her most pathetic face to plead her case. "She really needs Mama. She's positively not going to cooperate with you."

Agnes watched as Fitz whispered into his baby sister's ear and rocked her just a little bit. She smiled at the scene. These children truly cared for each other. She jotted another note.

Jemma took a deep breath. "I know what you really want to know is if our parents are abusive or if we are afraid of them. I can honestly tell you for all of us that they in fact are not. They are very patient and understanding with us, but not overly permissive. We have rules and consequences for breaking them. Those consequences are dependent upon the rule that has been broken and just how severly we've done the breaking. Of course they also take into consideration which of us has done this, as consequences for Skye would certainly not be the same as those for Trip."

"We have plenty to eat as well," Fitz added. "We don't get a lot of junk food but sometimes we have ice cream for dessert or a special treat. Da really likes ice cream." Jemma nodded in agreement. "Mom and Da are great cooks and they take turns making supper, but da makes the best breakfast."

"Our clothes are clean and fit properly," Jemma informed the now speechless woman who just listened as the two older children continued their litany. "We are always on time for school and our homework is always done."

"We have to bathe every night," Fitz scowled, "even when we aren't dirty and mom always reads us a story and kisses us good night. We sleep in our own beds..." he looked down at Skye and frowned. It was no time to withhold any truths. "Sometimes we have dreadfully bad dreams," he hugged his little sister tightly. She had yet to lift her head or to look at Agnes. "Mom attends to us very quickly, but sometimes...sometimes we climb into bed with her and da, because the dreams are overly stimulating and quite real."

Jemma gave her brother a sympathetic nod and continued. "We see the doctor and the dentist regularly. We have plenty of toys and games," she spread her arms out to show the items in the room. "But sometimes mom and da tell us we don't need so much. We have friends and in August we are going to meet our grandparents. Trip's grandmother just moved into the apartment over the garage. She tells us to call her grams as well. We have so many wonderful people who care very much for us." Jemma was beginning to ramble.

Fitz stared at the carpet for a moment then drew a deep breath. "In answer to your former inquiry, yes mom did spank me...just once," he felt the fire in his cheeks and found it difficult to look at Agnes. "I did something very stupid and put myself in grave danger. I scared my parents badly and I shall not ever do it again. My mom loves me emensely." Now he looked up. "She would never harm me." The boy smiled a sly smirk, "and if you had done what I did your maw would have done the same."

Jemma hesitated for a moment, impressed with her brother's admission. She felt the same blush on her face. "I received the same punishment for the same incident, but yes our mama loves us dearly and we love her." Fitz's eyes went wide. He did not know Jemma had been punished that day in the same manner he had been.

"And yes we do go to church, but not always the same." Jemma continued, covering every aspect she could think of to complete this dreadful interview. "Sometimes we go to Temple with Da and sometimes to St. Luke's and sometimes St. Bartholomew's, the former is Episcopalian like Fitz and I, and the later Roman Catholic for Skye."

Fitz piped up, adding more to the information. "Trip goes to First Baptist with his gram, now that she's feeling well but in the past he went to Shilo Baptist at the hospital when he visited her. Mama doesn't have a church, but we made a visit to a Buddhist Temple in the city a few times. Da says we can choose when we're older, for now we get a bit of all religions."

Agnes nodded at the plethora of information these two children provided as both children fell quiet, shushing their little sister who continued to whimper. She stared at them for a moment but made no more notes. It wasn't necessary. These were happy, healthy, well adjusted children. That was what mattered most.

"Well, I guess you've given me all the information I need and I believe Skye agrees with you." Jemma and Fitz nodded for their little sister who hid her face in Fitz's T-shirt. Agnes closed her notebook and folded her hands on the table. "How about we collect your mama and you can show me your bedrooms? Then we can all talk together. Would that be better?"

Fitz actually smiled.

Two hours later Jemma and Fitz stood on the stoop of their front lawn waving to Agnes as she pulled away from the curb. Skye kept her head buried in Melinda's neck as she clung tightly to her mother, still refusing to have anything to do with the woman who asked too many questions.

"Mama," the little girl whispered close to Melinda's ear. "I get Zalty now?"

Melinda furrowed her brow and made an failed attempt to have Skye pick up her head. Fitz stepped next to them as Jemma moved to open the front door. "She insisted we hide that bloomin' rabbit when she knew this woman was to be here this morning. We had to move the scruffy thing four times." He shook his head as he looked up at his mother, squinting in the early afternoon sun. From Skye's perch she could peek down at her brother, he grinned at her and reached out a hand. "Come on then, she's gone." Skye smiled down at Fitz and squirmed out of her mother's embrace. She slid to the ground and took her brother's hand. Melinda watched as they followed Jemma into the house.

"Fitz, please stand still," Melinda repeated for the countless time as she attempted to straighten his tie and brush his still damp hair.

The boy continued to squirm, dodging the brush as he grimaced at his mother. "It'll just look the same when it dries," he protested.

Melinda raised one eyebrow and used her most firm voice with the restless little boy, "Rúguǒ nǐ bù tíngzhǐ, wǒ huì yòng zhège shuāzi zài nǐ de dǐbù, ér bùshì nǐ de tóu." She shook the brush in front of him to demonstrate.

Fitz froze, quickly placed both hands over his bottom and smiled at her threat. "Yes, ma'am."

She glared at him for a moment before matching his smile then bent down and quickly kissed his forehead. Instead of pulling back and scrubbing off the spot she kissed, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

Melinda hugged him back before landing a playful swat on his backside. "Okay, you're done, get out of here and stay away from that cake. It is for later."

Fitz wasn't ready to let go. He nodded into her stomach and squeezed tighter. "I love you, mama." He whispered softly as she wrapped her arms around him.

This little guy rarely, if ever, used those words at least not without provocation so Melinda considered it a gift. She hugged his head and smiled. "Wǒ ài nǐ, wǒ měilì de nánhái."

Fitz leaned back and looked up at his mother. "I'm not beautiful, mom, girls are beautiful." He laughed.

Melinda bent down until their foreheads touched. "You are beautiful inside and out, and you always will be my sweet little boy."

Fitz smiled again and took a deep breath. "Maybe…but I won't always be little."

Melinda stood back, eyes wide with shock. She placed her hands on Fitz's shoulders and held him at arm's length. "Leopold James Fitz, don't you dare grow up!"

The little boy giggled, "I can't help it. It happens when I sleep."

Melinda tapped his chin once and smiled broadly, spun him around and pointed him toward the bathroom door. "Get going, Phil Jr." She sent him out the door with a gentle swat.

Phil bent out the way as Fitz ran past and moved into the bathroom as Melinda picked up a few towels. She watched as her husband wrestled with his tie then moved to him and finished tying it for him. "Nervous?" She asked as she pushed it up and straightened his collar.

"You?" He asked back, reached up to loosen the tie a bit and center the knot.

"Lil' bit," she answered with a smile. It was their token answer. "Where's Skye?" Melinda suddenly realized their youngest was no longer at her father's side.

Phil looked down, around then moved to the doorway, and glanced down the hall. "She was right…"

"Oh, Phil, you know she's like a master spy. You can't let her out of your sight for a second."

"I swear, Mel, she was right behind me." He defended himself.

Melinda let out a frustrated breath and pushed past him, heading for their little one's bedroom with Phil following.

Skye was not in her room, not in the playroom, the powder room or the kitchen. Jemma had no idea where her little sister had gone and Fitz hadn't seen her since she escaped from the bathtub and streaked down the hall with mama in hot pursuit.

"Dear god, how can she disappear so fast and right in front of all of us?" Melinda asked, not expecting an answer.

The back door opened admitting Trip who also wore a suit and tie. He was shaking his head and trying very hard not to laugh. "I think you better come see this. There just aren't enough words to describe it." He held the door for his family to follow him onto the patio.

"SKYE!" Melinda could not help shrieking at the sight of her baby seated in the largest mud puddle she had ever seen wrestling with what looked like…no it couldn't be…a small pig.

"Look, mama!" The little stood with the small animal wriggling in her arms. "I founded him. Ainee cute, mama!"

"Skye," Melinda sighed, putting a hand to her head.

Fitz was practically rolling on the patio in laughter. Trip was spluttering in an attempt to his in. Jemma held a hand to her mouth, but could not contain the giggles that escaped. Melinda spun on her husband and raised one finger to point at him.

"Don't you dare laugh," she growled through her teeth.

The family entered Family Court in Washington, DC more than an hour late nodding to their friends who had been seated, ready and waiting for them to arrive. Phil carried Skye whose hair was still damp after her second bath of the day. Jemma held tightly to his hand.

"I apologize to the court, your honor and thank you for waiting for us. We had a…well…we…had a little wardrobe problem." Phil explained as he helped Jemma into a large wooden chair and seated Skye next to her.

Melinda followed, pointing Fitz to a second chair while Trip and his grandmother took the two seats next to Mack and Yoyo behind the wooden railing.

The judge smiled at the family. "I understand, Mr. Coulson. The clerk informed me of your situation. I know how important this day is to you and your children." He gave Skye a stern look. She immediately hid behind her sister.

Phil followed the judge's glance and grinned at Skye's reaction. Turning back he continued to explain, "Skye's…well, she's very curious and a neighbor had this little dog that looked just like a pig and…" he stopped realizing they'd held up the court long enough. "Well, it's a long story."

The judge nodded again and laughed. "No need to explain, Mr. Coulson. I have children and grandchildren of my own. I know things don't always work out the way you hope they would. Why don't we get started?" Phil looked at Melinda and nodded. "Alright then, I'll need all of you to come stand in front of me."

After a bit of chair shuffling and coaxing a still wary Skye out of her seat, Melinda, Phil and their three children stood before the judge.

"Do you children know the difference between the truth and a lie?" He asked, eying Jemma and Fitz.

The pair looked at each other and then back at the judge. Jemma spoke first, answering as if she had been asked by a teacher. "Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth may also often be used in modern contexts to refer to an idea of "truth to self," or authenticity. The original meaning and essence of "Truth" in Ancient Greece was unconcealment, or the revealing or bringing of what was previously hidden into the open. Various theories…" The little girl stopped abruptly when Phil rested her hands on her shoulders. She leaned her head back to look at him, then looked back and smiled at the judge.

Fitz immediately continued as Jemma fell silent. "A lie is a statement used intentionally for the purpose of deception. The practice of communicating lies is called lying, and a person who communicates a lie may be termed a liar. Lies may be employed to serve a variety of instrumental, interpersonal, or psychological functions for the individuals who use them. Generally, the term "lie" carries a negative connotation, and depending on the context a person who communicates a lie may be subject to social, legal, religious, or criminal sanctions. In certain situations, however, lying is permitted, expected, or even encouraged. Believing and acting on false information can have serious consequences. Therefore, scientists and others have attempted to develop reliable methods for distinguishing lies from true statements."

Melinda squeezed his shoulder once. He quickly looked up at her then back at Jemma and smiled.

For a moment, the judge was speechless. "I…well…I…" he shuffled a few papers around his desk and moved his gavel from one side to the other. "I guess that answers that question, but in the future it won't be necessary to be so…so…"

"Thorough?"

"Explicit?"

Jemma and Fitz asked at the same time.

"Yes," the judge nodded. "Both."

"Sorry," Phil apologized again. "They're a little nervous."

The judge smiled. "And how about you, sweet heart?" He addressed Skye hoping she would not regale him with more details. The little girl's lip trembled for a second before she sobbed deeply and reached for Melinda who gathered her into her arms and shushed her quietly. Phil gave an apologetic smile.

"Okay, then how about you all sweat to tell the truth and we can continue." Everyone nodded then verbally answered the man. "Philip Coulson and Melinda May Coulson please state your reason for being here today. What is your intention toward these children?"

Jemma and Fitz turned to look at their parents. "Our intent is to provide these children with a safe, happy and healthy home, to care for them, to raise them, to support them, provide for them and love them." Phil stated as if he had practiced for hours.

"And Mrs. Coulson, is this also your intent?" The judge turned to Melinda.

"It is, your honor. I love these children with all my heart." She replied, rocking her baby back and forth.

Skye picked up her head for the first time. She laid her hand on Melinda's chest and looked at the judge. "We growed heeor, acuz mama loved us afore she knowed are faces." She patted her mother's chest and laid her head back down on Melinda's shoulder still looking at the judge. Melinda kissed her head and smiled at the judge who looked extremely confused.

"Jemma Ann Simmons," he called to the girl. She took a small step forward. "These records show that you are the permanent ward of Mr. and Mrs. Coulson. I see here you are nine years old." He looked to the girl for verification.

"Yes, sir, I will turn ten in September." Jemma answered.

"You're a bit young, but it seems you are quite intelligent, young lady." He nodded toward Fitz. "It seems you are both well beyond your years, so I'd like to know if you would like to proceed with this adoption."

"You're asking us?" Fitz's eyes widened as he stepped next to Jemma. She turned toward him and matched his expression. They smiled at each other and turned back to the judge, answering in unison.

"Yes sir, we do."

"Skye does too, even though she's just a baby, she really wants to be adopted too." Fitz quickly added.

The judge smiled and nodded toward Phil and Melinda. He took several forms from the file on his desk and scribbled his signature on each then stopped and studied the last form he held. The man looked up at the family and then at the people in the gallery. "I know this is a little unusual but I think in this case it is perfectly suitable."

Phil's eyebrows knit together as he tilted his head toward his wife. She raised an eyebrow and gave a subtle shake of her head.

"Would Antoine Raymond Triplett step forward please?" The judge called.

Trip looked at his grandmother, who sat next to him then to Phil and Melinda. He rose slowly as his grandmother smiled at him and patted his hand. She nodded toward the judge. Trip walked through the gate to stand in front of the judge.

"Mr. Triplett, your grandmother has asked this court to name the Coulson's as your legal guardians in the event she cannot provide care for you. Do you understand what that means? Trip was speechless for a moment then swallowed and nodded his head. The judge smiled. "I need to hear your answer, young man."

"Yes sir, it means if anything happens to my gram that I will be taken care of by my mom and da." He used the titles without reserve.

The judge smiled again. "And you agree to this?"

Trip smiled broadly. "Yes, sir, absolutely."

"I understand you've been living with the Coulsons for sometime now." The judge stated.

Trip started to nod then stopped himself. "Yes, sir, a little more than a year. My gram…grandmother was in the hospital but she's home now. She's got a great little apartment over the garage." He turned back and smiled at his grandmother who smiled back.

"Very well, I think we're just about done here. He scribbled a signature on the last form and handed the pile to the clerk. As of today the young people gathered here shall be now and forever legally, financially, emotionally and physically the children of Phillip and Melinda May Coulson and shall from this day forward be known as Jemma Ann Coulson-Simmons…"

Jemma smiled, took a deep breath and reached for Phil's hand. He squeezed it softly and grinned back at her.

The judge continued, "Leopold James Coulson-Fitz…"

"But I'll still just be called Fitz?" Fitz asked as his brow raised high.

The judge nodded. "I'll make a special note of it." He looked at the last form in his hand and then to Skye who now stood on a chair next to her siblings in order to see the judge and for him to see her. "You little lady are the tiniest one of this group and for some reason have the biggest name." He laughed a short laugh as the little girl wriggled enough to have her mother place both hands on her waist to keep her from falling onto the judge's desk.

"I no wanna be Maywee Soup no mower, kay Miser Jud?" Skye tilted her head and put out that little hand, bouncing in up and down in front of her.

"I understand little lady," he smiled. "From this day forward you shall be known legally as Skye Mary Claire Mieying Coulson."

Skye spun on the chair so quickly Melinda almost lost her grip. The little girl pointed to her chest, poking it repeatedly. "I Skye now, mama. Misser Jud sayed I Skye. We tell Sisser Dannel, mama. Her no call me Maywee Soup no mower." She finished with a scowl and a shake of the same little finger.

The judge looked to Trip. "Son, your grandmother will still have a say in your upbringing and will still be part of your life. The Coulsons will become responsible for you in every way they have been for the past year. I ask at this time if you would like to add the family name to your own. It is your choice and can be done at any time in the future should you wish."

Trip shuffled his feet for a moment, looking down to avoid letting anyone see the tear that escaped from his eye. He looked to his gram who gave a quick nod, then spoke with confidence to the judge. "Your honor," he began then turned to face Phil. "I would be honored to have this man's name. This is if he'd be okay with me having it." Phil smiled and put out a hand to the boy. When Trip took it to shake, Phil pulled him into a bear hug.

"I'd be just as proud to have you as my son," he whispered to the boy.

"What would you like to be called young man?" The judge inquired, ready to write down the name.

"Antoine Raymond Coulson-Triplett," Trip replied with pride.

The judge wrote the information and handed the last of the forms to the clerk, then faced the gallery. "Ladies and gentleman, I am guessing you are all in some way related to this adoption and so let me be the first to introduce to you The Coulson Family." With that announcement, he dropped his gavel making the adoptions final.

The gallery erupted in applause. Fitz jumped in the air to 'high-five' Trip then spun Jemma in a tight hug. He really didn't care who saw him. Skye reached for Phil who took her and covered her with kisses before settling her on his hip and pulling Melinda in for a kiss as well. Trip wrapped Jemma in a hug then felt himself smothered in Melinda's, with both Jemma and Fitz sandwiched in between. The judge broke up the hug-fest in order to have family photo taken in front of the Great Seal of The District of Columbia.

The celebration at the Coulson house lasted well into the night. Hunter and Bobbi surprised everyone with sweatshirts emblazoned with COULSON on the front and a large numeral on the back. Phil's sported the numeral one, Melinda two and so on down to Skye whose shirt was almost taken up entirely by the large numeral six.

Sister Mary Claire dried the tears from her eyes as she thanked Melinda for giving her little doll baby her name. She was truly touched to have this little imp share her name. Phil and Melinda surprised her a second time that day telling her that they had already arranged to have Father Joe baptize their baby with her new name. They asked the little nun to stand as Godmother for Skye, while Mack would have the honor of being Godfather.

It was well after eleven before Mel got Skye calm enough even to consider bedtime. She pulled the covers up to the little girl's chin and kissed both of her eyes.

"I no tired, mama." Skye yawned as she reached for Salty.

Melinda sat on the bed and brushed the little girl's hair from her eyes. "I think you've had a very big day and it's way past time for my baby to go to sleep."

Skye turned on her side and tucked both hands under her cheek. "Wǒ ài nǐ māmā." Her words barely audible as she was asleep before Melinda stood and kissed her again.

"Yǒngyuǎn, bǎobèi, forever and ever." She sighed as she turned out the light.

Fitz leaned against the wall in the hallway. Melinda shook her head noticing him. "What are you doing out of bed?"

He shrugged, "I'm not tired either."

"Mmm, hmm," she nodded and reached out a hand that he took. "I think you're just about as tired as your sister."

"Jemma's not tired either." He nodded toward the little girl standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

Melanda rolled her eyes and let out a fluttery breath. "Tired or not, you are both going to bed."

"But, we're not babies like Skye and Trip is still downstairs and everyone is still celebrating. Why must we go to bed?" Jemma almost whined.

Taking a deep breath and counting to ten in English and then in Mandarin, Melinda frowned at both of her children. "Because it is almost midnight" she answered Jemma's question then looked to Fitz who was about to protest. "And because I said so and I am the mother." She squeezed his hand and shook it a little as she pulled him and pushed Jemma into her room. Moving to the bed, she picked up the blanket and pointed to the mattress. "In," she ordered.

The 'twins' looked at each other with open smiley mouths then ran and clambered into the bed. Melinda pulled the covers over both of them. Right now it was just easier to put the two of them together. They could sort it out later or just let them sleep in the same bed. She leaned over Jemma and kissed Fitz three times before he escaped her affections and slid under the blanket. Jemma giggled at his antics. Melinda moved to her daughter, kissing her on both cheeks and then the tip of the nose. She sat on the edge of the bed and sighed at the wide away pair that stared back.

"Okay, eyes closed," she waited a moment then repeated the order with a bit more authority. Both children complied. She began singing a song her father had sung to her so many times and yet for years she hadn't thought of it. Jemma snuggled into her pillow and Fitz took a deep breath before turning on his side and pulling his legs almost to his chest.

"Wǒ yǒngyuǎn ài nǐ, mama, forever and ever." He whispered before giving in to sleep.

Melinda rose, kissed both children again and turned out the light. She was surprised to see Phil standing in the doorway.

"Wondered what was taking so long," he quipped as she stood in front of him. He bent forward and softly kissed her forehead.

"Over excited, I guess…but everyone's out now." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Want me to put him in his own bed?" he nodded toward Fitz.

Melinda patted her hand against his chest. "No, just leave them, they'll be fine." Phil nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they moved into the hallway and headed for the stairs.

Two hours later a curly haired little boy and a very serious little girl held a dark haired almond-eyed toddler into their parent's bedroom. No one screamed and no nightmare chased anyone from their bed. One by one the children climbed on to the king sized bed and found a spot to snuggle into between their mom and dad. Melinda smiled in half sleep as Skye pulled herself onto her mother's chest. The little girl rested her head again Melinda's heart. Fitz curled up next to her while Jemma snuggled into Phil's embrace. Trip stood in the doorway, rubbing one eye and smiling at the sight.

"Ummon Frip, you a Coesun too," Skye mumbled sleepily.

Phil lifted the blanket, confirming the invitation.

Trip climbed up from the bottom of the bed and snuggled in between Fitz and Jemma.

Phil and Melinda opened their hearts to four youngsters who fit into the empty space left there by fate.

They opened their home to orphans and children with troubles and problems and heartache and tragedy.

They opened their arms and embraced all of them.

They opened their sleeping space even when the nightmares were chased away for good

Their lives would never be the same.

Sister Mary Claire had given them a blessing before she left.

Children are a gift from the Lord, a reward from him.

They are like arrows in the hands of a warrior.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full.