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epilouge

* a year later*

"happy birthday to youuuuuuuu!" every one sings.

dan smiles, his ears red from being the center of attention to long. "wow, thanks everyone for coming out, this means so much-"

"hurry up i'm hungry!" colton complains rubbing his stomach.

mrs. simmons hits him in the back of the head and everyone laughs.

dan laughs to and blows out the candles. phil kisses his forehead and hands him the knife. "may you please do the honors?"

"yes i may." dan presses the knife into the soft chocolate cake and cuts the biggest piece and sets it on his plate. colton was right behind him jumping on the balls of his feet waiting to grab the knife.

phil looks at him in disbelief. "are you sure you're going to eat all of that?"

dan mirrors his look. "i'm surprised you still doubt me mr. lester!"

phil picks up his right hand. "watch it. that'll be your name soon enough."

dan's hand immediately starts playing with the small jewel on his finger, blushing. "shut up."

the front door closes and opens to alex and his mother coming in with big grins on their faces. "sorry we're late!" alex held a thin, square gift under her arm.

"you just missed the awkwardness of me having to enjoy 10 seconds of people singing to me."

his mother comes and kisses his cheek. "we had to grab your birthday gift."

"no one said we had to bring gifts!" colton says his mouth full of cake.

everyone rolls their eyes and dan smiles. "it's last minute that means it has to be as good as any gift i'm getting today."

"as any gift your getting today?" phil whispers in his ear.

dan swats his cheek turning pink.

"it will be trust me." alex hands him the package a giant grin on her face.

dan carefully tears the wrapping and everyone crowds around to watch. when he tore that off all he got was a vanilla folder. he gives alex a doubtful look. "what is this?"

"just open it!" alex smiles, grabbing colton's hand.

he pulls up the prongs and opens the flap. and before he can pull the paper all the way out he gasps and tears fill his eyes.

"a-alex..oh my god."

"so!?" she half shouts excitedly, "will you? yes or no?"

dan grab phil's hand tight as he looks at her. "yes! are you kidding of course i'll adopt you!"

the room erupts in claps. alex smiles brightly. "it took a lot of work. i had to track down my other adoptive dad to have him give consent for you to adopt me. he was surprisingly very cool about it."

dan was trying so hard not to sob.

"this is..this is the best gift ever alex thank you so much."

she runs over and hugs him. "you're welcome...dad"

y'all i- 😭😭😭😭