Belonging - an adopted by Hamilton sequel

August 1st, 2028: Protecting

[A/N: Brage yourselves. This is a long one]

August 1st, 2028

The tea I had ordered had gotten cold by now, but I took another sip anyway, desperately hoping that it would give me some energy. In fact, I could barely fathom that I was out and having Sunday brunch with my family. Across from me sat my parents. My mom was holding my daughter, snuggling her face into hers and making fart noises, which obviously made Alba laugh the tiniest, most adorable, laugh anyone's ever heard. It made me smile from ear to ear, so big that it almost hurt. Next to me sat Dom, and he was listening to Sebastian and Francisco excitedly talking about a new game that the two of them were playing on Sebastian's phone. Dom was kindly taking an interest, and letting them show him how to play it. Frankie was mainly just sitting next to Seb, as Seb talked loudly about how the game worked. In a way, were such typical brothers.

I looked down on my plate. I had forced down half of the salad I had ordered. I took another bite, and unwillingly swallowed it. The whole situation was hard for me, being surrounded by so many people I didn't know at a café. Though, the café was a calmer one. Dom had probably done some research before picking this place. The sounds were stressful, and I kept worriedly looking at Alba, who, in retrospect, seemed to be having the time of her life, giggling in the arms of her grandparents. I yawned, and at the same time realized that my mom was speaking to me.
"Sorry, mom, you were saying?", I asked her, as I tried to sit up straight and keep myself grounded, though my thoughts were going to get a speeding ticket soon, together with my heart.
"I was just saying how much she looks like you", she said, looking at Alba. I cracked a laugh, as this was the millionth time she had said this to me.
"Well, I grew her and provided 50% of her DNA so I do hope so", I pointed out. My mom rolled her eyes.
"I'm just saying, the older she gets, the more alike you two get", she added, smiling to the side.
"I'm just glad she's got Dom's curls", I replied as I longingly gazed at Alba.
"She's got your eyes, though", my Dad commented, as he took Alba into his arms and cooed over her. He had grown out his hair in the last year, and it was just hitting his shoulders. It made him look so much like he had done the first time I saw him, that I sometimes had to remind myself that it actually was thirteen, almost fourteen, years ago now.
"You know, with the baby pictures I got from Lillian, I can actually say that she does look like me as a baby", I added. "But we all know who she actually looks like"
"Flo", Dom butted in, having twisted his way out of the game conversation after kindly having pretended to lose twice. "We were looking through old family albums the other day at my parents' place, and there was this picture of Flo that I could've sworn was Alba", he pointed out, smiling. I nodded along, because we both had just stopped at that page, and fallen silent.
"Oh, and by the way-", I said, suddenly reminded by one of the reasons we were having lunch together, and began to dig deep in my bag. I fished out an envelope, and handed it to my mom whose hands were free. "We would like to invite you to Alba Albatross's name ceremony in two weeks"
They instantly smiled.
"Oh, amazing", my mom said, as she carefully opened the envelope.
"It's going to be really small, just our families and a couple of friends", Dom explained, as he eagerly waited for my Mom to read the inside of the card. Her eyes grew big as she saw the text, and my Dad - who was reading it over her shoulder, while having Alba sat on his lap - just melted.
"Alba Florence Miranda", he said her name out loud. "I've never heard such a perfect name before"
I took Dom's hand.
"It just seemed right", I said, because it had from the start seemed like the only name for her. We'd put it down on the birth certificate, not really thinking much of it. In a way, it had been obvious that she would be named Florence, and that she would have my last name. It was a piece of both of us.
"And I think she'd be happy about it", Dom added, nodding as he smiled to the side, a little sad at the same time.
"Of course she'd be, Dom", my Mom cut him off, smiling broadly. "And we'll of course be there", she added, and suddenly Alba began to whimper, and then let out a small cry. My heart instantly began to beat faster, and my mind spiralled even further than it already had. Dom squeezed my hand under the table again.
"Oh, someone's fussy-", my Dad said, while trying to cheer her up.
"She probably just needs to get changed", Dom pointed out, and took her off of my Dad's hands. I gave Dom thankful nod. "Maybe it's also a sign that we should get out of here?", he suggested, as he walked over to the stroller to grab the diaper bag.
"Yeah. We'll pack up and pay the bill", my Mom replied, as she gave me a quick glance before nodding at Dom.
"Okay guys, we're rolling in a few minutes so if you need to go to the bathroom-", Dad said, turning his attention to my brothers who were complete sucked into the game on Sebastian's phone.
"Dad!", Seb exclaimed, rolling his eyes. Frankie repeated the same thing.
"Okay, okay, at least go wash your hands", Dad added and stood up, and they kindly but annoyingly listened and headed off to the bathroom together in a herd.