"Hi Sarah, I'm Baylee. If you've been watching over us, you should know that your parents adopted me and brought me into their family. First off, let me just say that you have some pretty amazing parents. They have been great supporters and have been their for me. Sadly enough, I haven't shown them the same sincerity," Baylee said as she kneeled down, and tears started to form around her eyes.
"I haven't been the greatest daughter for them. I was so tired of everyone comparing me to you, that I got into a group with some bad people. I was trying to fit in with one of the worst crowds of school. I guess I was just trying to prove that I wasn't like you. I was trying to prove that I was my own person. And I hurt my family, well your family, in the process."
"I don't deserve them in the least. You, from the looks of it, were a much better kid for them to have. I'm nothing but trouble. I started doing drugs and drinking. I never saw myself in that situation, ever. But I realize now that I didn't do it to fit in. I did it so they would pay attention to me," Baylee said before she broke down.
"No one has ever cared about me as much as Adam and Lena have. And all I've been is a fuck up. I ditched them on Christmas to do drugs and drink. You know what happened? I got raped instead. I went to a party full of people who are older than me and are a lot more hardcore. I screwed up, bad. I'm sorry I put your parents through this. And I'm sorry you have to watch me drag them down. You, Adam, Lena, Adalyn, Kennedy, and Aiden all deserve to be a family again. You deserve to be down here on this Earth with them. I'm sorry you can't be. But I promise I will do my best to fill your shoes the right way. I'm going to get better. I'm going to get on the right path. I'm going to make them proud to have me as a daughter," Baylee said as her sobs lightened.
Adam rubbed Baylee's back and leaned down to her. "I think she will appreciate it, Baylee; as will Lena and myself. We just want you to be okay again," Adam said before he stood up and pulled Baylee into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Adam. I promise I will be a better daughter," Baylee said as she pulled away and said goodbye to Sarah. She walked back to the car with Adam and climbed in. She fiddled with her fingers in her lap before she finally worked up the courage to ask Adam a question that she had been dying to ask since she left the party.
"Can i be home schooled?"
Adam looked over at his daughter and shed a small smile. "I think we can make that work. It would be better for you than going back to school and facing everyone. Your mom and I will certainly get that set up for you," He said before he kissed her forehead and sped home.
***
Lena woke up to the sound of her screaming baby boy's voice flowing through the monitor. She rolled over and saw an empty space next to her. Adam must've gone to work to get away from all this stress with Baylee.
She got up and picked her little prince up from his crib. "Shhh, it's okay baby. Mommy's here," She cooed as she rocked him back and forth in her arms. Baylee had been enough stress, but add two five year olds and a baby to the mix. The four did not mix well together.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Kennedy and Adalyn screamed as they ran into her bedroom.
"Shhh. Yes girls?" Lena asked as she tried to calm Aiden down while paying attention to her twin daughters.
"Daddy and Baylee are home!" The girls screamed before they ran back out of the room and Lena heard their little feet pounding down the stairs.
Lena raised an eyebrow and laid, a now calm, Aiden back into his crib. She walked downstairs and saw the sight of Baylee hugging the twins and kissing their heads.
"I'm sorry for never spending time with you guys. But now is a new start. I'm going to be the best big sister you guys could ever ask for," Lena heard Baylee say to the girls before she spun around and caught her eye.
"L-lena, I'm sorry for my behavior. I promise that I will become a better daughter. One that you can love and be proud to call your own. The first step is me getting home schooled. I can help around the house more, as well as getting my school work done. I want nothing more than to become a real part of this family. And I'm willing to put forth the effort if you are too," Baylee said.
Lena stared forward at the young girl and deciphered every word she said. It sounded like she genuinely cared about this family and becoming an important part of it. She looked up at Adam and he gave her his award-winning smile. She knew he had already agreed.
"Of course. I am willing to give this another try. I think we can truly become a family. We just all have to work at it, and I think all of us are more than willing to," Lena said before she pulled her daughter into a warm hug.
"I love you, mom," Baylee said.
"I love you too, sweetheart," Lena said as a tear fell down her cheek. She finally had her daughter back, and she couldn't be happier.
"Baylee! Baylee!" Adalyn shouted as she tugged on her sister's hand.
"Yes Addie? What is it?" She asked before her little sister dragged her to the family room where the Christmas tree was still standing tall.
"You never got to open your presents!" Adalyn exclaimed as she sat down and started pushing all Baylee's gifts towards her.
"Wow, you guys all got me gifts? Thank you so much," Baylee said before she started unwrapping them. "A new iPhone 5S in gold! Thank you so much!" Baylee shouted as she hugged Lena and Adam.
"You're very welcome. Now open your gifts from your sisters an Aiden," Adam said as he pulled his wife onto his lap and smiled at his teenage daughter.
Baylee unwrapped a set of Paris jewelry, a new pair of shiny, white UGG boots, and a studded iPhone case. "Aw! Thank you guys so much!" Baylee said as she hugged the girls.
"You have made this the most special Christmas ever. I will never forget it."
***
A/N
Hello there!
Sorry for taking a while to update. The last three months have been packed with homework and my school's production of West Side Story!
Anyway, I'd love to hear your feedback on this chapter!
How did you feel about Baylee coming back to reality and realizing where she belonged all along?
Hope to update soon. Vote & Comment! Thanks!
