DNA or Nurture

The discussion

It's Monday, Addison just dropped Harper and Harvey off at school. Now she's at work and is walking into her office when she sees Amelia sitting inside.

"Amy, hi." Addison says shocked. Then she asked, "What can I help you with?"

"Yesterday at the visit before you arrived, the social worker talked to me and said that Harper and Harvey would be reunified with me in about a month or less." Amelia told Addison

Addison nodded, "I know. I'm happy for you, but you don't seem that excited." Then she asked, "What's wrong, Amy?"

Amelia took a deep breath, "Addie, I want you to adopt Harper and Harvey. I was so young when I had them and I'd like finish high school and go to college. I'd like to get a proper job. I want to be someone they can be proud of, but I need to know that you'll adopt them."

"Of course I'll adopt them, but I'll talk to them tonight and see if that's what they want. And Amy, you're their mom. They'll always be proud of you." Addison replied. Then she added, "You can see Harper and Harvey whenever you'd like. I'd never keep them from you. If fact, if you don't visit every once in a while I'll have to track you down."

Amelia smiled, "Thanks Addie. And I know you'd try to track me down. You think of me as your little sister and I think of you as my sister too, so don't worry I promise to visit."

"Also I think that your family would like to meet Harper and Harvey. Your family deserves to know about them, and Harper and Harvey deserve to know their birth family." Addison told Amelia

Amelia thought about it for a minute. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see them again. She's afraid that they'll be mad or upset with her. What if they ask about Harper and Harvey's father? Would they believe her when she says it was Uncle Christopher that raped her. After a while Amelia nodded slowly, "Alright Addie. We'll go together and take our kids to meet their birth family."

"Our kids?" Addison questioned confused

Amelia nodded with a smile, "Yeah you're their mom too. They call you mama."

"I know. My heart swells every time I hear it and I love them like they were mine. Biologically I mean." Addison explained

That night when Addison is at home with Harper and Harvey, she sits down in the living room with them to talk.

"What do you have to talk to us about, mama?" Harvey asked

Addison took a deep break, "Well your mommy she asked me to adopt both of you."

"Why, mama?" Harper asked confused "Does mommy not want us anymore? Doesn't she love us?"

"Oh sweetie, of course she loves you and your brother and she'll visit as often as she can." Addison explained. Then she asked, "You both know that your mommy was only sixteen when she gave birth to you, right?"

Harper and Harvey nodded so Addison went on to explain, "Well as a result of that, she never finished high school and she wants to now, because it's really hard to get a well-paying job without a high school diploma."

"What's a diploma?" Harvey asked

"It's what you get when you graduate 8th grade, high school, and college." Addison replied "It's basically a certificate stating that you have completed a certain level of schooling." Harvey just nodded.

"Okay back to the topic." Addison stated before asking, "Harper, Harvey, would you like to be adopted by me? It's alright if you say no, I'll understand and so will your mom."

Harper and Harvey thought about it for a minute before nodding.

"Yeah it's okay with me, mama, since we'll still see mommy." Harper said "Bubba and I love you and we don't want to lose you, but we also love mommy and don't want to lose her either."

Addison smiled and hugged both kids, "I love you too, kiddos."

"Love you more, mama." Harper and Harvey told her

"Not possible, my sweetlings. I love you most. I love you to the end of the galaxy and back." Addison replied