2010
Amy walked through the door and her arms were full of Nikoin an instant, "Momma!"
"Hey my Lion!" Amy exclaimed, picking up the two-year-old and cuddling him close.
"Hey Sexy!" Hunter said, coming into the entry a moment later.
Amy smiled at her husband. She loved when he looked so relaxed and was bummed that she was about to wreck that. "Hey baby, I need to talk to you about something."
Hunter shot his wife a weary look. "Hey Niko, go put the forks on the table buddy." Niko wiggled from his mom's arms and started to run from the room. Hunter reached out to grab his son. "When Daddy tells you to do something, you say 'Yes Sir' then you go do it."
"Ye' mir!" Niko tried excitedly, causing Amy to laugh.
"Good Man, forks on the table." Hunter praised, allowing his son to continue on.
"Ye' mir!" the two-year-old said again, running from the room.
Hunter walked up and pulled his wife into the hug. "What's up?"
"I uh...picked up a stray..." Amy said softly.
"You did what now?" Hunter asked, pulling his wife away so he could see her face.
"I brought a stray home..." Amy said again.
"A stray.... what? We can't have animals in this apartment." Hunter told her.
"I know, a stray Kid."
"Amy Grace," Hunter breathed out, "start talking."
"She's only fourteen, H and her parents have left her alone for a month." Amy rushed.
"Amy..." Hunter started.
"No H, that's insanity. I walked up to her sneaking food from the cafeteria." Amy said firmly.
"Where is she?"
"In my car waiting."
"Alright, she can stay here tonight, then we will call her parents. I'm sure they wouldn't have just left their kid alone for that long." Hunter said.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Amy said.
"Don't thank me yet. She is going home when we sort this out, and you are getting a whipping for making such a big decision on your own." Hunter told her.
"I'll take a million whippings to keep her safe." Amy said firmly. It was unbeknownst to her how prophetic that statement would be.
"Why this kid?" Hunter asked.
"I don't know." Amy said honestly. "I know when you spend some time with her, you will feel the same."
"One night, Aims." Hunter said as Niko came back into the room.
Amy leaned down, "Hey Wubs, Momma has a friend who's going to be staying with us a little bit. Can you be a good friend to her?"
"Yes 'am!" Niko said, turning to his dad to see if that was the right thing.
Hunter smiled down at his son and nodded. "Good job! One night Amy."
"I heard you." Amy said, turning to go collect the teen from the car. A moment later she reappeared with the young girl. "Hey guys, this is Emma." Amy said.
Hunter reached out and shook her hand, "Hunter." He picked up his son, who had started to go behind his leg. "This is Niko." When the little boy remained quiet, Hunter jostled him a little bit. "Say hello, Niko." Niko buried his face in his dad's neck. Hunter adjusted the little boy in his arms and whispered in his ear. "You need to look at our guest and say hello."
