Adopted

Ten

Axl

I sighed as I woke up to the familiar warmth of Natalia in the bed next to me.

She was terrified of sleeping alone and, no matter how hard a tried, wouldn't sleep in her own bed.

She would either crawl into the bed of Logan or Valery or, if she nightmares, would come into the bed with me.

She's been having a lot of nightmares about her father lately. I'll have ask Logan if she's ever had them before.

Well, now that I think of it. I've had quite a bit of dreams about Joseph as it beard the date of his death. It would be four years since he had died and I almost couldn't believe it.

Logan was beginning to look a lot like Joseph.

His black hair had been cut short. Just a bit below his shoulders and his sapphire eyes brightened by the day.

He was growing taller and found a love for his dad's hand me downs, the same hand me downs he used to despise because they showed his mother's like of love.

But now they don't mean that anymore. Instead they show the old Joseph Ashphalt that the children and I loved.

Joseph was funny and passionate. He was caring and loving.

He never forgot birthdays or special events.

And he loved everyone.

I looked over to my side and saw Natalia was starting to wake.

"Natie," I said sitting up. "Did you have a bad dream again?"

"I had a dream of the crash," Natalia said with a pout.

I hugged her.

"In sorry that your having all these dreams, Natie, but your getting to be a big girl. You're turning eight in just a few short months," I said.

"I know, I'm just scared of sleeping alone," Natalia said.

"What if I give you a new stuffed animal to sleep with?" I asked.

Natalia shook her head.

"I want the stuffed doggie that daddy gave me. But it's still at moms house," Natalia said.

I'd go above and beyond for these children.

So I did the logical thing to do.

Walk my ass over to Stacey's house to retrieve that stuffed puppy.

I knocked on the door and Stacey answered.

"Oh hey," Stacey said.

"I came here to retrieve Natalia's stuffed dog, Logan's military jacket, and Valery's necklace," I said.

"Oh, they requested all of the stuff their dad had gifted them. Well, I will get that. Do you wanna come in have some tea?" Stacey asked.

She didn't act like she did the first time I saw her. So I agreed to some tea.

I sat at the table and Stacey came downstairs with a box of the kids belongings before fixing some tea on the stove.

"So, how are the kids?" She asked.

"They're doing good," I said.

"That's nice, has Natalia been having those night terrors?" Stacey asked.

"She's had them before?"

"Yes, every year since Joseph died she had them. Poor soul."

I nodded in agreement.

"I've missed them dearly. I have gotten better I'm not a slut anymore and I don't drink. Oh, those were just my ways of coping with the loss of my husband. I'm willing to move on a find someone who will care for me in my worst like Joseph did. But I don't suppose anyone would want to with my body count," Stacey said.

"I don't know, you're a pretty lady. I'm sure someone out there will understand what you have gone through and know it wasn't necessarily your fault. Grief works in mysterious ways," I said.

"Suppose your right," Stacey said.

"And, Logan's birthday is coming up. Would you like to visit the kids then?" I asked.

"I would visit them. But I don't plan on taking them back. When they left I lost them. You took care of them and helped them through pain. I'm sure they've grown quite attached. Knowing Logan he probably won't wanna let go to someone who had did that to him," Stacey said.

"You're welcome to visit them anytime. It may release some of the stress their having too close to the day of Joseph's death," I said.

Stacey nodded.

"Well, I should go. It's nice to know you're doing better, Stacey. And..." I trailed off as I wrote my number on a peice of paper.

"If you ever need to talk, theres my number," I said.

I walked into the house and set the box down onto he coffee table.

"Kids! I got your stuff back! Come get what's yours," I said.

They all flew down the stairs and raced to the box.

I sat on the box and watched as they were all in tears over getting he stuff their father had gifted them back.

"Hey, listen," I said.

They all looked at me.

"I talked to your mom and she's gotten better these last six months. She isn't asking for you back but she wishes to visit y'all," I said.

Logan grabbed this stuff and ran to his room.

"I would love to see mom again," Valery said.

"Yeah! Me too!" Said Natalia.

I smiled at them.

"Are you going to be moms knew husband?" Natalia said.

Valery and I laughed at Natalia's comment

"No, I'm not," I said.

Although it would be nice to be with someone like Stacey who is so lost and in need of the love of her children and a man who could care for her.

But I don't know how Logan will react.

I know the girls wouldn't mind but Logan might.

So I decided I wouldn't fall for Stacey and I couldn't fall for any other girl while I had the children either.

If they weren't comfortable with me having a girlfriend. I won't have one.

The happiness of the kids are what I live for.

And I must protect them.