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eight

Eight

"How does it feel to be a dad?" Ashton asked his best friend as they ate lunch the next day.

Luke chuckled, "Only the background checks were cleared, I haven't submitted the paperwork yet," Luke explained. "I'll be working on it tonight, Sierra already has a head start,"

"Does Kemper know?" Ashton asked, but Luke shook his head.

"I don't want to get her hopes up. She knows we're looking to adopt her, but not how far in the process we are," Luke told him. Ashton nodded and looked up to see Michael and Calum coming over with their lunches.

"Hey pops," Calum patted Luke's back, making him roll his eyes but his friends laugh.

"I set up her dentist appointment," Michael said as he sat down next to Luke. "Noon tomorrow, during your lunch time," Luke thanked him and took a bite of his sandwich.

"I told her I'd bring her back a cupcake," Luke chuckled, "actually she begged me to bring her back one because you happened to mention them," Luke glanced across at Calum.

"Look I have the easy part," Calum shrugged, "You two are the doctors, Ashton is the therapist, and I'm the funny guy who comes by and entertains her," Calum explained.

"That's pretty accurate," Ashton agreed.

"Soon you'll be her doctor though," Luke said and Calum nodded.

"A fun one," he added.

"Until you give her shots, then she'll hate you," Michael smirked, "every kid does,"

"Don't remind me," Calum muttered, knowing every kid who got a shot hates him and is vocal about that.

The four finished their lunches and Luke and Ashton went back to Kemper's room, Luke carrying a chocolate cupcake, and saw Kemper sitting in her room watching Beauty and the Beast.

"Hey baby," Luke smiled as he came in. Kemper looked over and smiled when she saw them, but her smile widened as she saw the cupcake.

"You got one," Kemper smiled and Luke pulled out the tray.
"Of course I did," Luke chuckled as sat the cupcake down.

"Look, the nurse said I don't need an IV," Kemper pointed over at the empty bag.

"That's awesome," Ashton smiled. Kemper nodded and unwrapped her cupcake to eat.

"You're going to have a dentist appointment with Kaykay and Crystal tomorrow," Luke told her as she took a bite of the cupcake, not paying attention which made the two laugh. Luke went through her chart as Ashton sat next to her, watching Beauty and the Beast with Kemper while she ate the cupcake. After checking the chart, Luke looked at Kemper who had chocolate all over her face, which made him laugh.

"Kemper, you're supposed to eat the cupcake," Luke told her.

"I know," Kemper replied, then took another bite. Eventually she was done and Luke wiped off her face with a wet paper towel.

"You have a dentist appointment tomorrow with Kaykay and Crystal," Luke repeated and Kemper nodded.

"When can I leave?"

"What do you mean?" Ashton asked.

"Leave the hospital," Kemper clarified, "I don't like being here all day,"

"You should be good to go soon," Luke reassured her, not having a clear day.

"But when can I go home with you and Sierra?" Kemper asked another question.

"We're hoping soon," Luke sent her a small smile.

"But I want to go now," Kemper's eyes filled with tears.

"Are you tired, princess?" Ashton stroked her hair and Kemper nodded. "How about we let Luke check on other patients and I'll stay with you until you fall asleep?" Ashton suggested, which Kemper agreed to. Luke left the room after giving Kemper a kiss on top of her head, but he felt horrible. He had no definite answers for her, and Kemper was tired of just waiting around and not knowing anything.

Luke knew he would be up all night to finish all of the paperwork, and that didn't bother him at all. If it meant getting Kemper out of the hospital and to an actual home, he would do anything to make that happen. She's already been through so much, and the more they delayed this process the more trust she would lose in them.