Piece Of My Heart - Fifth Harmony Adoption

chapter six - LoBear

Lauren's POV

I fiddled with the bear in my hands as Ms. Lawrence helped Willa bring her things down. The girls stood behind me, occasionally making noises of excitement while I all but passed out from the emotions coursing through my body.

Before I could consider all the thoughts in my mind, the caretaker and my daughter were walking down the stairs, Willa holding the handrail with one hand and a blanket with the other. I gave her a big smile, which she happily returned before hurrying down the last steps and running into my embrace.

"Hey pretty girl," I say by her ear, leaving a kiss where I spoke before stroking her hair and pulling back to see her grey eyes.

"Hi Lolo," She replied, looking to all my friends behind me. "Hi," she whispered a little shyer to them, blushing when they cooed.

"I got you something," I tell her, bringing the bear back to her front where I held it up and wiggled it lightly to emit a giggle from her.

"Wow," she whispered in awe, reaching out to stroke the fabric. "It's so soft."

"You can take it," I inform her, prompting her to grasp it.

She smiled at me once more before taking hold of the bear's hand, pulling it into her chest to give it a hug.

"What are you going to name it?" Dinah asked, making Willa ponder over the question briefly before she responded.

"LoBear."

I give out a laugh at her words and run my fingers through her brown hair before looking to Ms. Lawrence who had tears in her eyes.

"Hey, Willa, why don't you say bye-bye to Ms. Lawrence and then we can head home," I offer her, pointing to the older woman.

Willa turned and hurried over to the caretaker, allowing herself to be wrapped in a hug before she was spoken to.

"You be good now, and try to let these girls love you. You are a very special little human, WillaBee and you deserve and endless supply of happiness."

"Thank you, Ms. Lawrence," Willa said, allowing for one more hug before coming back to me. She looked unsure for a moment before she lifted a hand up, taking mine in her own and grasping it tightly. "Home now?"

"Yes, Willa. Home," I promised, waving to Ms. Lawrence once more before moving to leave the house. Dinah gathered the small bag of Willa's clothes and placed it into the trunk of our van, allowing my little girl to watch in awe as the automatic door shut quietly.

Afterward, I walked her to the back door and helped her into the center seat where her new car seat was set up. Before I could buckle her in she began to cry.

"What's wrong, Will?" Ally asked quickly, making everyone snap their attention to the girl.

"No straps," Willa begged, pushing my hands that held the car seat straps to put around her shoulders.

"Baby, that's how we keep you safe. In the car you need a seatbelt," I explain, showing her the different belts used on all our seats.

Willa made a sound of disagreement and shook her head, trying to wiggle free from the seat itself.

Before the light crying could turn into full-blown sobs, the speakers of the car came to life with the sound of rain. I glanced to the driver's seat where Normani had plugged in my phone to the aux chord, already aware of Willa's comfort in running water.

Willa almost instantly calmed down, her chest rising and falling with past panic as she listened intently, not minding her still wet cheeks and running nose or the fact that I was putting her arms through the straps of the car seat and buckling them together with the strap between her legs. I made sure they were loose enough for her to feel less restrained, but still tight enough that she wouldn't get hurt in a car accident.