Chapter Text
Leigh
"Oh nooo I'm going to dieeee bleur bleugh eughhhh" I say as I lay down my favorite barbie on the floor.
"Noooo my princess" Bunny says.
Someone opens my door. Its mrs Miller.
"Leigh, your new parents are here to pick you up. Don't fuck it up this time" She says
I take my bunny and my bag and walk behind her. I can survive some time without barbie and I know I'm going to come back soon anyway.
The two men were nice and liked me, but so did the others before taking me home.
I walk to the front to see them smiling at me. I smile back.
We walk out and I see them walking towards a very big car. Dad #1 who is called Brandon takes my bag and puts it in the back of the car but lets me keep Bunny. He goes in the front of the car while dad #2 who is called Nikolai goes in the back with me. He buckles me in and I hug Bunny closer.
"Whats his name?" Nikolai asks.
"He doesn't have one, I just call him Bunny" I say, smiling at him, still very unsure of how to act. He s smiling at me. But so has everyone when they just got me. His smile seems different though... more... real
"Thats cool. Are bunnies your favorite animal?" Brandon asks me.
"They are." I say.
"Thats awesome. I love the ones that can jump high. Why are they your favorite?" Nikolai asks.
"Because they're soft" I reply.
Upon arrival
I put my bag on the floor in the room that they told me is mine. I don’t unpack.
I know I'm not staying for long anyway
Brandon
I'm getting worried that bringing her home was a bad idea. She seemed so full of life at the center so why is she different now? I can think of four people that might help me, so I pull out my phone and create a groupchat with them.
You added Creighton, Eli, Elsa and Aiden to a new groupchat
I call it as soon as I made it.
(I'm gonna make the fonts or whatever they're called different for everyone like this: Brandon, Eli, Creigthon, Aiden and Elsa)
Everyone but Creighton answers.
"I need your help"
"Hello to you too cousin dearest"
"Yeah yeah hi. Now help"
"Whats wrong?"
"We just got Leigh home and she was full of life when we met her at the center, but now she hasn't even unpacked. I'm afraid she just wants to go back"
"Oh Bran.. Maybe the center was the problem. Maybe she has been told by someone she wont be there for long. Just make sure she knows shes welcome. You don't know what shes going through but maybe just let her know that you will keep her as long as she wants to be there. Creighton didn't open up to us instantly either but look at him now"
"Yeah its a shame Creighton didn't reply to you"
"Wow how nice of you Eli"
"He's probably eating. But when you do get a hold of him you should ask him to come over. Maybe they can connect over the fact that they're both adopted and she can warm up more."
"Yeah that sounds like a good idea. Thank you Uncle"
Creighton joins the call
"You disrupted lunch."
"Sorry Creighton but I need your help. If you come over and talk to Leigh and maybe get her to warm up I will make you any food you want for dinner tomorrow."
"Deal. Now I'm going back to eating lunch. Wait actually, I'm coming over tomorrow instead. I'm too tired today"
"Alright. Thank you Creighton."
I hang up.
Leigh has been put to bed
Leigh
"They seem nicer than the others... more real.. I want to say I trust them but I'm scared, because the times I did that before they turned weird after" I tell Bunny. He listens and understands. He always does. I am going to sleep. I am going to count to seven sleeps before I say it. That would be a new record. I remember. Longest I've made it is 5.
Next morning
Brandon
"I'm just saying.. if he tries to get closer to her than we are I'm gonna take revenge for when he put me in the hospital all those years ago"
"Nikolai you are also to blame for that."
"What? How? I was the victim"
"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have done anything. And I am on your side. But he wont. I know him, okay?"
"Fineee"
"Now, I'm going to get started on his dinner that he's going to take home in a couple hours, and you will be civil when you open the door, and then you will help me with cooking."
The doorbell rings
"Go get it"
I get started on prepping some of the food that I'm going to cook later today, and then some that Annika can heat just quickly finish cooking off. At least I hope she can.
I can see Niko pointing towards her room and Creighton just goes there quietly. Then Niko comes to me and helps me to his best ability (he taste tests, but its the thought that counts)
Two hours later
Creighton walks out of the room and over to the kitchen and sticks his hands out.
"Food."
"Jeez Creighton. Are you not even gonna tell us what you two talked about?" Niko asks.
"I will. But I also want my food"
"Okay we will give it to you Creigh, but can you tell us anything?" I ask, trying to lighten the tension.
"She seems to have been with other families. We talked about me having switched families from a bad to a good. I told her you guys are the good she has switched to. Then we talked about bunnies and yeah. She has an imagintaion thats for sure. She also just seemed to really like you, but after I told you how you guys were the good family she seemed to light up. I think shes just been scared off from past families, and when introducing others to her I would recommend that you tell them about her love for bunnies and that they should come with something bunny related and have their own spin on it so she can see that they are interested in her. Also maybe get her more bunny themed things. And clothes for her bunny. She seems grateful for the things you've prepared but I think she would like that... Now give me the food"
I stand stunned for a moment. I look to Niko. He seems shocked too.
"Hey! Food!" He says. I hand it over and he leaves.
Me and Nikolai move towards her room. We knock softly and her little voice yells
"Come in!"
We walk in to her room.
"Hey Leigh. We were wondering what you wanted to eat for dinner?" I ask trying to start a conversation.
"Whatever you want. Just no tomatoes. They are yucky. Unless its pizza or ketchup."
Me and Niko laugh softly.
"Alright we'll get on that." I say
"We were also wondering if you wanted to come shopping with us tomorrow. We were thinking this room need a new wallpaper. Bunnies were in our minds but we wanted the expert to help us with that. We also wanna decorate our home so it feels more like your home too. Because you're staying with us. No way out now. We love you too much."
Her whole face lights up and she nods eagerly.
"I would like that"
Me and Niko share a happy look
"Great. We also haven't told you yet. You can refer to me as daddy and to Bran as papa from now on. Since we consider you our daughter now"
She looks to be on the verge of tears and barrels towards us in a hug.
"I will"
I start tearing up too, and looking at Niko, I can see his eyes getting glassy too.
Leigh
"I think this family might be the one Bunny! It's so cool, they wanna have me help them decorate THEIR house with bunnies. They think I'm an expert! And that guy earlier knows what I have gone through. I finally feel like I belong somewhere" I tell him before putting him on the pillow next to me. I don't count this sleep. I don't think I need to.