Their new family
After a few tears, a lot of reassuring and some paperwork, the deed was officially done and their family had grown with two more members. Despite the adoption taking place today was something unexpected for all of them, Jenny and Jason's two aloof angels didn't seemed to be surprised by the two extra passengers in the car nor by the news of them being permanent 'guests' in their home. Amira just saw it as a live-in playmate and as gaining another person to spoil her, so she accepted the news quite easily and gleefully. Charlie handled the news even easier. When they asked him about it before they left the home, he said since the most important people in his life were happy with the change, so was he. "The house is big enough to house two more people and having an older brother in addition to having a little sister, or now two little sisters I guess, is probably a good thing. At the very least it is something new and therefore an opportunity at our lives becoming even better and more interesting. If not, the house is also big enough for them to not be a bother to me. So, I am fine with it."
After everything had been made official, the brother and sister quickly packed their bags and joined their new family outside of the building when the time had arrived for Jenny and Jason to head back home. When the four of them arrived back at Westwood mansion with Daniel and Lidia, Stephen and Susan were quite surprised with the sudden addition to their number of grandchildren. Though they had heard Jenny and Jason mention they wanted to adopt a child in the future, they didn't think that future would mean today. Nonetheless, they welcomed both children as if they were their own and before long they had managed to persuade them to call them grandpa and grandma. Something which caused great amusement to Jenny who watched them awkwardly use such unfamiliar words on their first day in their new home.
After some introductions and looking around, Jenny took Daniel upstairs to his room as she could tell that he was a bit overwhelmed by all that was going on. While Lidia was outside playing with Amira, Jenny showed him their rooms. "Jason and I sleep in the room upstairs. This is Charlie's room, right next to it is Amira's room. Across the hall from Amira's room is Lidia's room and here..." she said as she stood in front of the door across from Charlie's room, "...is your room. This was a sudden decision so the rooms aren't fully ready yet but once you two are settled in, we can change it to whatever you like."
Once they were inside the room and Daniel took a seat on the bed as he looked around the room, where he would be sleeping starting today, Jenny told him, "Don't feel pressured in calling them grandpa and grandma, nor us mom and dad. Just do what makes you feel comfortable. They were just caught off guard as well and they were simply doing their best to make you guys feel at home. We all know that it is a lot to take in and a lot changed for you guys today. So, just take your time in letting it all sink in and for adjusting to this new life. If there is anything you want to know or don't understand, we are just one call or flight of stairs away. So, don't hesitate to come to us. Of course if you simply want to talk to someone, we are there for you too.
Daniel smiled a bit, having been seen through so easily and said, "Yeah. I know they mean well. It is just a lot. I haven't really grasped the situation fully yet. I will need some time to accept all of this. So, please don't feel offended or take it to heart if I don't go calling you guys mom and dad or grandpa and grandma just yet or ever. It's not because I don't want to or have anything against you guys. Contrary, I am very grateful but... " He let out a soft sigh before he continued, "But, unlike Lidia I have a lot of memories of the people I used to call mom and dad. So, it is a little harder on me to start using those titles on someone else. If you get what I mean." He said as he looked up at Jenny a bit anxiously as if trying to figure out what she was thinking. After not succeeding in his attempt, he just continued what he wanted to say.
"Sure, they weren't the best people but I could tell that they did their best. They just had children before they were ready to have them. That is why there is such a big age gap between my sister and I. They waited to have another child until they were ready to take that step out of their own volition instead of an accident they couldn't undo like it was the case with me." He followed that sentence with a very sad and lonely laugh, which caused Jenny, who had been standing by the door opening, to come over to the bed and take a seat next to him. She put her arm around the young man and pulled his head down until it was on her shoulder.
"Don't ever say that about yourself. Your parents might not have been ready for your arrival but I am certain that they didn't consider you an accident or certainly not an unwanted one. If they did, then they were wrong. You are a great child and I am sure you will achieve great things. For that sole reason you yourself cannot be considered a 'mistake'. Just someone who came a little early. But that, doesn't have to be a bad thing. If anything, it gave them more time to spend with you before they lost their lives way too early. Plus, it gave Lidia a big brother to depend on after such a big thing happened. Someone to protect her. So, at least for those two reasons it was a great thing that you came as early in their lives as you did."