Welcome to the Family Chelsea, Kelsey)

[tommy]

Tommy had been through a lot in recent weeks, that was a given, and today was really no exception. However, unlike other days, this day had been long AND good. After months of legal battles, fights, and endless red tape, he had finally made it official.....the sisters Chelsea and Kelsey were now legally his responsibility. He had thought initially that their mother or another relative would put up more of a fight, but after Mr. Connors had been sent to prison, most of the fight had gone out of that family and Tommy got the impression that Mrs. Connors just wanted to be left alone and was happy to be rid of the responsibility of children. That though pissed him off a bit, but it was moot now, they were now his daughters and he would love them when their biological parents would not.

Normally, Kim would have been with him, but the news had come all of a sudden, and he had rushed out of a class and headed right to his lawyer's office, only having time to give Kim a quick call to let her know what was going on. Kim was too tied up to join him, but wished her husband luck, and promised not to tell the girls before he got home.

Now, he was walking into his home, smiling and excited to share the good news. The smell that greeted him told him that Kim was cooking his favorite meal....crispy coated boneless chicken breast, real mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and homemade bread. It was fattening as hell, and he did not eat it often, but this was a special occasion, so what the hell. He silently thanked Kim for preparing the meal, knowing that it would be a time to celebrate.

He quietly made his way into the combined kitchen and dining room and smiled at what he saw. While they did have a larger dining room, they almost always took their meals when it was just the four of them...five if Eliza was sober enough, in the kitchen, it was more intimate that way, and Kim liked the thought of old fashioned family meals where everyone talked about their day as they ate, and so did Tommy for that matter. The site that greeted him was the one of his family preparing for dinner. Kelsey was setting the table while Chelsea was tossing a salad while talking to Kim who was putting the other food in serving bowls. Both of the teens had red eyes, which meant that they had been crying lately, and he hoped they were not the bad kind of tears, and if they were, he hoped that the news that he had to share would help.

Taking a few more seconds to soak in the scene, he finally stepped into the room and announced his presence. "Good evening ladies, I trust all is well". He gave Kim a peck on the cheek, "Smells wonderful Beautiful. Thank you for cooking" Turning to face the teens, he gave them a huge smile. "So, let's eat! I have some good news for you all, and I can't wait to tell you! Plus, that food is going to go cold if I don't eat!" It was a bad joke, and he knew it, but he was just trying to break whatever tension may be in the room, he had a feeling things would be better for his new family. and soon.

[kim]

Things had calmed down when it came to it for the four of them. She had not changed much besides some aggression at times that would show up but in the end the of the day she had done well with the changes and it showed now she mostly went between pink and black atm she had a black shirt and a pink hart in the middle. As they finished up she heard Tommy pull up and smiled at the thought. He had called earlier with news that had both excited and made her hart jump and pound as hard as it may have in a while.

She had been itching to tell the sisters knowing the last few weeks had been hard on them and yet she had promised Tommy that she wouldn’t right now she was truly her old self singing as the time passed and she spoke to her new daughters. She had wanted children for a long time but something or someone had gotten in the way but now these two were theirs…they were as good if not better than any blood children she could have asked for she smiled at Chelsea and said something as Tommy walked in and came to her.

Stepping into his arms she wrapped her own around him and held him close her head resting on his shoulder as she took a deep breath and sighed happily it will be ready in a moment why don’t you sit down she gave him a knowing smile and kissed his lips softly holding her own against his as she hugged him tightly before she let go and then finished setting everything up with Chelsea and soon they had sat down around the table.

This sight was one that she would never get to old to see when she saw them she smiled and brushed her hair from her eyes and looked at the two and paused we have some really good news for all of us…you know the two of you have been amazing to have around…we both have grown to love you as are own and I couldn’t have asked for two girls who… she couldn’t talk anymore as she looked at them tears were running down her face we love you both so much she managed to get out as she decided to let Tommy tell them.

[mavican]

Eliza got the phone call with the big news. She didnt behave well lately and even now she didnt expect any phone call from family. Feeling like she was abandoned by them all she confused looked at Tommy's number and picked up.


Their safe, is what she heard, like she shouls jump a hole in the clouds. her eyes were tired and then it arrived, the invite for the dinner. With a sigh she finally agreed to it and ran off to get showered and dressed properly, she quit the lowsy job, drugs and drinking, but the signs didnt fade just yet.

Eliza walked over to the car and drove off to the huge mansion. Her dislike for Kim should end soon as well, they could work something out, just not sure how yet. As she arrived at the oliver mansion a huge brick got stuck in her stomach, the feeling she always got when she got here ever since her sister passed away.

She could never get over it, and it might take ages before she does, but right now she had to act well and proper. Grabbing her key she opened the door hearing tommy and kim speak. Closing the door behind her she looked at the four fo them, andsoon felt like athird wheel on the wagon.

Eliza smiled half and grabbeda bottle of child champagne. oh come on, you cant say this isnt worth a bottle of strawberry flavoured child champagne. I could get the realthing but it makes me tired so badly. she said with a shrug and placed it on the table along with four small presents for each.

Eliza knew gifts didnt make her behavior better but at least it would enlighten the pain. She lookedat all of them, and honestly tried to forget why she abandoned herselffrom them all,but looking at the table, with only four plates, she wasnt invited at all. Or kim just didnt know it yet, or she misunderstood the call.

Looking at all of thems he just shook her head and grabbed her coat. i should get going i guess.. There is a bag in the hall with a new mirror.. Since my fist broke the old one. Have a great evening. she said with a soft gentle smile and walked back into the hallfeeling stupid.

[amy]

Kelsey had been about to sit down when Eliza came in and paused as she watched her and paused and then went after her we were just about to sit down she gave her a kind smile as she grabbed her hand and paused as she looked up at Eliza her own eyes soft. They had even had set her a place at the table as she paused your part of this family I’m not going to let you walk out either she assured her the smile that came to her lips was gentle and kind.

The two had rarely spoken since she had moved in as she paused she looked at her and bowed her head I haven’t…had much of a chance to speak with you and that’s my fault but I would like to…can you please come join us? she asked her hand still holding Eliza’s arm. She had a natural kindness to her that shined in her eyes as she looked at Eliza the fact was that she did want her there and so would the others. At least she had not sat down yet and as she looked at her aunt she paused and looked at her soon to be aunt’s eyes.

Tilting her head to the side she bit her lip she would kill them if they decided to start eating while Eliza was like this. She didn’t pause though as she hugged her tightly and sighed now don’t let me drag you back in… she kept her eyes on her. She was tempted to use her power but in the end decided against it instead wanting to fix this the right way and hopefully bring the family together…Kim had not been the only one who had felt a bond as she squeezed Eliza’s arm gently please? she asked her voice barely above a whisper.

[chels]

Chelsea's head was spinning, but for once, she had the feeling that the spinning was a good thing. Just a hour or so before, she and her sister had had a very good heart to heart kind of conversation and that had gone a long way to not only clearing the air between the two, but also making them closer than ever. They had done their fair share of crying yes, but after that came the laughing and she could honestly say that she had not laughed that hard or that long in a very long time. They had spent hours just catching up on each other's lives. What each had been doing in class and out of it. They had both agreed that their lives were definitely better here at Tommy and Kim's home, and both had hoped that their current temporary living situation would become permanent in the near future, but they were not getting their hopes up.

Then, Kim had called up asking for help preparing dinner, which, she told the girls, was Tommy's favorite meal, which told Chelsea that something was going on that Kim was not telling her. They were preparing Tommy's favorite meal and added to that was the fact that Kim seemed happier than normal. In fact, she was fairly dancing around the kitchen as she moved pots and pans around. She had no ideas that such happiness could even exist, but was happy to be a part of it.

Dinner was almost ready when Tommy came in, and Chelsea could instantly see that he exuded the same kind of happiness that his wife did. Something was definitely up. She had a feeling she knew what it was, but years of being disappointed had put her on guard, and she did not dare to hope lest she be let down again.

They were just about to sit down to dinner where Tommy was about to spill his guts finally, when something...or someone unexpected arrived. Chelsea had not seen Eliza since she had arrived unexpected on her doorstep the week before. True, she looked a lot better, and more...cleaned up than she had during that encounter, so maybe, just maybe she was back for good, but again, she did allow herself to get her hopes up.

Eliza apparently did not feel comfortable, or welcome since she quickly made her way out of the room, and in some way, Chelsea could not blame her. She could almost relate to the older girl. She was about to go after her to attempt to bring her back when her sister beat her to it. After the two had left, an uncomfortable silence hung over the table as the three remaining occupants waited for the other two to return. Since Tommy obviously wanted to wait until everyone was present to give his news, he sat silently at the head of the table.

Seeking to break the silence, Chelsea finally spoke up. "Kim, would you pass me the bread please?"

[mavican]

Eliza had nothing to do with the choices of tommy and Kim these days and so she didn’t bother trying to be there to hear about them. She arrived at a wrong moment, and even then no one would believe she was clean and trying to live a normal life again. Jinzon held her to this world and it wasn’t easy to admit that, but not even Tommy could stop her.

Eliza grabbed her coat from the floor and noticed Kelsey following her. Eliza turned to face the young girl and looked right into a pair of begging eyes and her arm was taken by her as well. Eliza sucked with kids, more because she was turning twenty this winter and no one even cared , so she tried to silence off.

Kelsey its fine, I’m not invited. We can chat some other day. Eliza said trying to talk herself out of this all and failing massively she let herself being hugged by the young girl and dragged herself into the room again. fine kiddo, just don’t look at me like that, you almost looked like a beaten up puppy.

Eliza hugely failed at being resistant to child begging. Looking at the face of her older brother, sister in law, and Chelsea, Eliza sat down between Tommy and Kelsey and looked at her hands trying not to catch too much attention. She hoped they would like her gifts, they were necklaces with each their own first name’s letter.

She didn’t know how she could make it up to them at all, but it was worth trying now. After all she wouldn’t become the bad example anymore, and she hoped it wouldn’t be a too big issue right now that she even came here.

[tommy]

He could never get things done simply. He had come home with some of the best news in a long time, and even that could not go off without a hitch. Tommy had been all ready to tell Chelsea and Kelsey that they were now legally Olivers. News that he was sure was going to go a long way to healing them after the hell that they had come from. He was almost literally bursting at the seems to tell them. He could tell that they knew something was up, he just hoped that his goofy grin did not give it away.

Just as they sat down and he was about to give the news, Eliza had walked in. Now it wasn't as though she was not welcome in his home, she was and always would be, it was just that she had not been around much lately, and from what he could see at her place of business, she was not exactly in the best condition to be a role model to his new daughters. He had held out hope that she would eventually come to her senses again, to see that she was indeed loved and welcome. He had already lost one sister, he did not want to lose another. He welcomed any and all chances to make things right between them, even if he did not know for sure what exactly went wrong. No, he corrected himself, he knew exactly what went wrong.....Kelly.

Putting that aside, he watched as Eliza excused herself, not feeling as though she was wanted. It was not true of course, and he was about to get up to tell her so, but Kelsey beat him to it, and the two left the room, leaving the rest of the occupants in an uncomfortable silence. He was bursting to tell the news, but he really did not want to until both of the sisters were in the room, so he passed the time contemplating the chicken.

Soon enough though, Eliza and Kelsey returned, with the latter having a slight smirk on her face. If Tommy had to guess, he would say that Kelsey used her "childlike charm" to get her aunt to return. Fair enough, whatever worked. Sensing that the moment had finally come, he took Kim's hand in his and looked right at his two new daughters.

"Girls, it is pretty obvious that I have some great news to share, and it concerns you...and I hope that it makes you happy. Kim and I love you very much, you know that, and we are going to do our best to make sure that you are loved and safe from now on. To that end, we have filed the paperwork to legally adopt you, and I am happy to say that that paperwork became final today. From this point on, you are Olivers. You can still call us Tommy and Kim if you want, but if you want to use mom and dad, that would be fine too, but it is up to you. So, what do you think?" Tommy waited anxiously as he awaited their reaction. This had to be a lot to take at once and he hoped that they reacted well.