https://youtu.be/paCA-cyQdsk

n/a: can anyone tell I listen to the Downton Abbey soundtrack while writing these chapters?

"You're burning a hole in my skull," Erika huffed.

"What?" Aaron asked, suddenly brought out of his daze.

"You've been staring at me," she clarified. "And my hand's double the size it used to be."

Aaron looked down. He had been wrapping up her hand with some gauze so that the scrapes did not get infected and had zoned out, thinking about last night. He had managed to wrap her hand in nearly the entire roll.

"Oh, sorry, I was thinking," he said.

She did not ask about what as he began to untangle the mess of gauze. It was all going to be unusable now that he had touched it and it was no longer sterile. When he was done, it looked a bit like the boxing wraps Idina did when she worked out with the punching bag in the basement or when she used to go to classes.

"It's a bit much," Erika complained. "it's just a cut."

"That's the only way I could cover all of it," he told her. "And a bit much is better than not enough. I just want you to be safe and protected."

"Are you going to wrap me with bubble wrap next?"

"I might," he replied. "I'm getting another pack for your other hand," he told her as we went to the medicine cabinet. He also pulled out some bubble wrap.

Erika was not paying attention anymore, texting someone on her phone. While it was most likely school-related, Aaron liked to believe it was a friend. Sometimes it was, not often, but sometimes. So, he cleaned the scrape, then wrapped it, then did the bubble wrap.

"Done," he announced.

"Hey!" she exclaimed seeing it. "I need to write my test today," she huffed.

"Last one?" he asked. She nodded. "Good luck."

"If I need luck I'm not passing," she replied. "And I don't need any," she said, slightly proud of herself.

"Good for you," Aaron said with a smile.

"Can you free my hand and let me go now?" he asked.

"'Course," Aaron replied, cutting the bubble wrap up. "Come one, you can drive yourself to school. Idina will pick you up when the test is done."

"Okay," she replied as she grabbed her bag and headed towards the door.

~

All of Erika's tests were done, but she was still stressed. The first proper hearing was today and for the foreseeable future, each party would have the opportunity to argue and prove why they were the better guardian for Erika. She just wanted to scream at the judge and tell them to leave her alone. She was going to be eighteen in less than a year. Who cared?

A lot of people. Four. Five with Walker. Six with Louie. She doubted the triplets would notice. Helen got a half-point. Six and a half people/dogs. That was more than she could count on one hand. She had never needed more than a finger before if she had needed anything at all.

She knew Idina and Aaron knew it was bugging her even if she never told them. Erika never wanted them to feel bad because this was her fault for not properly warning them and now everyone would get hurt. She should have been more instant. She knew this would happen. This was not a surprise, it was a certainty, a guarantee. This had been coming from miles away, she saw it without binoculars, clear as day. Erika hated herself for letting everything get this far, but it had been so much easier than just fighting all the time. The girl was so tired, so done. She just wanted to be loved and safe, even if it was too much to ask. Nothing like that ever existed for her lot and nothing ever would.

God, she hoped Walker would not take it personally. He had less say in this than she did, and no one wanted to tell him it was a lie or a glass house.

"You're my secret favourite sister," he had whispered to her one night. "Just like I'm your secret favourite." Erika could admit she loved him. He was an innocent. There was nothing wrong with him. No matter what, they were good friends. It was uncomplicated.

They were swapping out on an inflatable mattress and the couch. Technically there was a guest bedroom, but Helen had soon moved in there and it had been Louie before that. The dog was not keen on being kicked out, but he did curl up with one of them each night and they'd know if Idina had night terrors because he'd run upstairs barking and waking the triplets, even if Aaron was on it. He did the same for Erika.

Erika actually missed the bed in the room Aaron and Walker had set up for her, but she had tried going up there and found herself being woken up every few hours by restless babies. Now that she was out of school and only had to work at the rollerblade rink a few days of the week, she could afford to do that and help. If Idina and Aaron were less stressed because of the triplets, Idina would have fewer episodes and flashbacks and twitchiness. They would also sleep better. They could prove themselves more competent.

Erika hated her birth parents. Loathed them. She hoped she never got to see them ever. She wanted them to rot and die in a hole. They had been willing too let her and Elsa starve to death when they had been one month and four years, respectively. They deserved so much worse.

Lucinda, Zephyr, and Soren were so helpless. They needed constant attention. They could barely sit up. They gurgled and cried; their mouths not ready to form word-like noises yet. They were two weeks old. Erika and been three and a half. She could not imagine she had been much less of a helpless pudding than they currently were.

Walker was still bummed no one had named Lucinda Bandit Tabitha Menzel. She got to hear all about it all the time. Elsa had once said she had wanted them to call Erika Etta because her book had a girl named Etta. Erika was very glad she was not called Etta. Lucinda would probably be glad she was not called Bandit. Walker was glad no one called him Gaylord. Bandit was cool though, not like Gaylord which was mean.

Being in the house with Helen, Walker, and the triplets and wondering what was going was terrible. She wished she knew what was going on, and what people were saying, but at the same time, she would never ask because she did not want to know if it was going bad.

~

"Idina?" Aaron whispered to her as they sat on the bench.

"Yeah?" she whispered back.

"Look, I used to say I would cut off my arms for you, and I mean it," he started, "but right now I need both of them to care for the triplets."

Idina blinked at him, confused.

"My hand, Dee, I can't feel it."

"Oh!" she exclaimed, looking down to where she was squeezing Aaron's hand. It was starting to look a bit purple. She loosened her grip and he wiggled his fingers trying to get the blood flowing again. "Sorry," she muttered, her cheeks turning red. "I'm so nervous," she admitted.

"Me too," he replied. "But we've got this. We have prepared. We have evidence. We have Erika on our side. This couldn't be more in our favour."

"Yeah but they have that stupid thing called genetics," she reminded him. "And the triplets are alone at home. What if something happens? How can we say we're good parents when we leave our two-week-old babies alone?"

"Dee, your mom's there. A sitter's going to come in a few hours to help her out. Erika and Walker are there. They know what to do. I do not want to leave them either, but we are needed here more." He kissed her temple. "It's just for a few hours, then we can spend all day with them."

"No," Idina points out. "The stuff with Walker. We're signing all the papers today."

"Oh, right, sorry. I completely forgot about that." His heart started to beat faster. "I don't mean it like that," he started even though Idina had done and said nothing. He was panicking. "Like not that I'd completely forget about Walker or anything, just we all mess up sometimes and I swear I love him too and—"

"Shhh, baby, it's alright," Idina said, placing a finger on his lips. He kissed it. "We all get those moments, okay? I am not accusing you of anything. I know you love him just as much as I do and just as much as our other four rascals." She paused. "We have five kids," she stated in shock. "I just realized that. Five kids. Wow. What happened?"

"Well missy, we fostered one girl, then we got pregnant. And your body thought it would be a good idea to drop two eggs and our son must have been disappointed I made of them a girl and split himself in two. Things happen," he explained, making Idina snort. The room was quiet and it echoed around, making a few people look at them. Aaron kissed her temple as her cheeks grew redder and redder. "You know, maybe this was my plan all along. Marry an older woman, convince her to have one kid, and hope the fact that she's old leads to more kids than just one and boom, instant family." Idina chuckled, quieter this time. "It takes less time and effort on my part," he continued.

"You evil little man," she giggled.

"Little?" Aaron asked with a raised eyebrow, nuzzling her neck. "You think I'm little? I'd like to remind you that—"

"Okay, stop it, Aaron, I get it," Idina gasped through giggles, trying to stay quiet. "We're supposed to be professional now," she said when she had stopped laughing.

He pulled her int a hug. "I love you," he mumbled into her hair. "Everything is going to work out. It's worked out so far, hasn't it?"

"Yeah," she admitted, melting into the hug. "It's worked out very well so far."

Their lawyer came back to discuss a few more things with them before the judge came and everyone would have to start giving testimony. The Riveras would testify first. Carlyle stressed that Idina and Aaron had to stay calm and remember that innocent until proven guilty also applied to any conjectures and accusations they made against them. Carlyle promised he could shut down anything during his cross-examination when it was his turn to question them if Idina and Aaron stayed calm. From their last round at court, he had a feeling they would try and trigger either of them or use the outburst against them.

"Maybe I shouldn't be here," Idina said.

"You have to be here," Carlyle told her.

"I have a brain injury and my emotions are still a bit whacky from the pregnancy. I can't safely say I'll be able to hold myself back." She looked up at her husband. "Aaron can vouch for that. I threw coffee at him once and have had countless moody days."

"You'll be fine," Aaron said. "I'm here. It'll be fine."

"You will be Mrs. Menzel," Carlyle told him. "I don't think they're going to go out of their way to make outrageous accusations. It will look bad on them. I'm just letting you know there's a possibility and what to do if it happens."

"Okay," she said, nodding timidly.

"These are going to be a tough few days," Carlyle continued. "But I believe in the case and I know you have a solid case. We just have to get through the storm. It is going to hell, I'm not sugar-coating it, but we will get through this."

Idina nodded. "Thanks," she said. They were not paying him to say nice things, just get the job done. He really did care.

Aaron hugged her again. They waited there, locked in each other's arms while Carlyle talked to Dr. Snow and some of Erika's teachers who had agreed to testify as well. This was going to work. Idina reminded herself that every second. This was going to work, and it was okay that Lucinda was all alone and not with her. Soren and Zephyr would be okay, but she was not sure bout Lucinda. She was always worried about her youngest. Her smallest. The one who had been suck in NICU and Idina had not seen her until she was thirteen hours old. Lucinda still had to be brought to the doctors every week. She was due back in three days. Idina was worried sick every time she brought Lucinda back that something would be wrong. She had thrown up a few days ago when the doctor had left the room for a few minutes without telling her anything. Then she called Aaron crying only for the doctor to come in and tell her everything was fine. And now she had to defend that she was stable, a good parent. Whether or not it was true Idina was not sure she could do it.

Eventually, the trial started, and Elvira was called to testify. Idina and Aaron were using each other as stress balls, holding on and squeezing each other's legs under the table where no one could see. Elvira had prepared a speech. Pity me, I am the mother who just wants her child back. She was taken from me and I have been trying to get her back for years and everyone has been stopping me. I have finally cleaned up my act and these holier than thou people are trying to keep her from me. Keep her from her mother. Girls need their mother. My daughter needs help and I am the one who can give it to her.

She went on and on, even cried. It was very emotional and had this been a public trial Idina knew her image would be ruined. There would not be much she could say without a court verdict that could not be skewed to make her out to be the villain Elvira was trying to paint her as. Anything she said could be used against her. If Idina argued she was getting Erika the help she needed, she is a rich bigot who does not think someone with less money than she can care for children. She makes any other argument then she is trying to stop a mother from reconnecting with her child.

It seemed to go on forever, Idina's anger simmering under the surface. She knew Aaron was feeling the same. He was so protective of his family. They both were. They die before anything bad happened to any of their five children. Elija spoke. The hours went by.

Finally, Idina was called to give her testimony. She was sworn in. Her heart was racing as she placed her hand over the Bible and swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It was so surreal, like something from the movies. It felt like something Elizabeth might do, not Idina. Yet here Idina was, doing it.

She took her place on the witness stand, across the room from her husband, staring down the Riveras and their pursed lipped lawyer whom she hated. She had papers in her hand, but she knew her statement by heart.

My husband, Aaron Lohr, always wanted a child. I was not keen on getting pregnant and we were talking about adoption. It was something we were considering when I met Erika for the first time. Truthfully, we had been looking for someone younger, and in a few years. None of that mattered the second we met. I knew she was the kid we wanted. I called Aaron that night. He could tell how invested I was, and I knew he wanted this as much as I did. So, we started our long journey. It was hard because I lived in LA and we had to work through both and California and the New York systems, but we made it work. We got our house certified and spent months taking classes and proving we had everything to care for a new addition to the family. Neither of us knew how right this decision was, but every day has been showing us that we made the right choice. I—we, we both get have had the pleasure of watching her grow and mature over these past few months and (she choked back a small sob) I cannot express how much I've come to love her. She is an amazing child, my daughter, and I want what is best for her. I understand that it may not be me and should the court rule in such a manner I will accept it, however, I do believe it is with me. The thought of being taken away is not only distressing to me but her. It is also distressing to my husband, a man who has become a father figure to my eldest daughter, and to my eldest son who has been claiming her as his older sister since day one. Erika and Walker share a sibling bond and statistics show that siblings can aid in the development of children, including but not limited to more independence, learning to compete, share, and provide for others. Self-reliance. It also teaches the complications of relationships among colleagues and peers on an equal platform instead of just being exposed to the parent/child dynamic where one has the clear upper foot. Removing Erika from our care would result in immense emotional issues for not just my husband and me, but our two eldest children and I hold strong convictions it would have a profound effect on my triplets as grow up with the shadow of an absent older sister looming over them, especially my youngest a girl. It would affect Erika the most, given her prior diagnosis.

Erika has been professionally diagnosed with attachment issues, among other diagnoses, stemming from her time in the system and being abandoned at young ages where children are normally supposed to develop trust and parental bonds. This has resulted in a fear of being abandoned and losing those whom you love. Like many children who grow up in the system, Erika had given up on anyone being capable of loving her through her issues. This resulted in many fights during our first few months many of which resorted to petty ad hominem attacks as Aaron and I stood firm in our stance. After which, we were engaged in a battle of wills to see who was the most stubborn and unwilling to budge. During that time, I got the honour of watching her grow and learn. Erika, according to her therapist, had little sense of self or desire, presumably from the years spent believe no one cared for or loved her and that she had no future. Aaron and I got the pleasure of watching her learn what her favourite books and movies were and discovering new favourites or old classics along with her. We also got to see more than just the rock-faced teen. We learnt that Erika was a kind and caring person, so caring for the fact that she often hurt herself from caring too much and we vowed to her and ourselves that we would give her a safe place to express and explore her emotions where she would never be hurt.

I will give credit where credit is due and thank the Riveras for their sudden appearance, as Erika found the thought of her birth parents, the ones who abandoned her when she was slightly older than my triplet are currently, coming back was so distressing she lost all will to fight and gave up. I do not believe that being placed with people who's mention brought such a strong adverse reaction that she cried herself to sleep and had consecutive night terrors is in the best interest of the concerned party. As shown in Dr. Snow's report, Erika also suffers from night terrors, a product of her time in the system. They stem from the violence that she was subjected to and bared witness too, along with her deeply rooted fears of being alone and abandoned. My husband works with many teens in Erika's situation and had coached me on how to deal with such events. We are both capable of helping her emotionally and physically through whatever traumas that she experiences in her sixteen years in the system and has been doing so for the past ten and a half months. There had been an improvement in the frequency and duration of such episodes, as also noted in Dr. Snow's assessment.

Aaron and I love Erika. She is our daughter, as much as Lucinda is our daughter and as much as Walker, Soren, and Zephyr are our sons. We strongly believe that Erika deserves to be with people she trusts and loves and who have the means to help her heal and move on from her past experiences. She can finally see herself with a future and is dreading it being taken away from her. (Idina chocked on a sob again, losing al composure for a split second). Please do not take my daughter away from me. I love her to the ends of the earth, and I want to give her everything that is good and just in this world and watch her blossom into an amazing adult. She is so full of potential to do amazing things. She is a talented quilter and she has a knack for teaching people how to rollerblade. I want what is best for her and I know it is with us. We all like to pretend like family is not a choice when we are younger, it makes us feel better about all the shit we must deal with daily. But as we grow older, we learn that it is a choice. Some of the best people in my life were choices. My husband, my children. My best friend and surrogate sister Kristen Bell. My sister Cara and parents, all of whom are people I have chosen to let in and to continue to be a part of my family. I can't imagine how bleak my life would have been if I was stuck with my crazy aunt whom I haven't spoken too since I was twelve and she tried to buy my sister and me off our mother. Erika has the chance now to make a choice and has been saying she wants to stay with us. If my argument, opinion, and facts mean nothing, at least listen to her. Let her choose for once in her life who she gets to care about and who she gets to put trust. Let her choose her protectors. Just let her choose.

There was more to say, more fact related, less emotional, but she had to get that out of the way. She needed to list the facts now. They would be scrutinized during the next few days, but facts were facts. She looked back down at her papers a few more times before it was over, just to make sure she was not missing anything.

Idina wiped the tears from her eyes. She stood up and was escorted back to her seat. Then Aaron took the stand. He was sworn in. He talked about Erika's progress; how proud he was of her. He said many of the same things Idina did. He talked about his fears starting out, and how in her own way Erika had reassured him that he was doing everything right and he was a better parent because of her. He talked about her night terrors, and how she started coming to him and how dangerous it could be to cut off that connection. Idina was crying all over again and trying to hide it. It was nothing like Elvira's crocodile tears, overly sniffling and dramatic. It was small beaded tears that silently leaked down her cheek every time she blinked.

When Aaron was done, the court was called to recess. Both sides would get the opportunity to recollect and prepare for tomorrow when they would be called to testify, and cross-examined. But not just them this time. Erika's teacher's, Dr. Snow, her employer. All of them would be coming forward. The Riveras presumably had people in their corner too, but Idina could not for the life of her know what they had to say. Their case was riding on the poor parents separated from their daughter by the nasty one percent (Idina wasn't even enterally sure she was in the one percent, she was defiantly up there, but not that up there, at least not after the house and the basketball court, and defiantly not by the time the triplets make it to college unless she gets something much, much bigger than Frozen in the next few years). Maybe debunking that argument would show that the Riveras were incompetent and not doing their research. But then she would have to release her financial record and that would show a plethora of hospital bills she was hoping to keep on the down-low until this was over. No one needed to know about her head trauma. Not yet. As long as she did not outright deny it, she should be okay. If it got out after the case closed, then by the time the courts made anything of it Erika would be eighteen and there would be nothing they could do about it anyways but sue for emotional trauma or whatever. And Idina would sue them right back for the emotional trauma this caused her, made worse by her brain injury. And for the trauma, they caused Aaron, Walker and Erika. She would ruin them if it came to it, and the scariest bit was that she knew she would the second they pushed too far.

Aaron's arm was tight around her waist as they exited the building. It was raining. He opened an umbrella but used it more to block the paparazzi shots than to protect them from the slight drizzle. There were no words shared between them as the got into their soccer mom van and drove back to the house. They had a few hours before the meetings for Walker. He did not have to come if he did not want to. They would have to face time with Taye so that he could confirm he was agreeing to this along with his attorney signed letter he had faxed over a few days ago.

The came through the door and Idina instantly felt better. She when upstairs and peeked into all the rooms. Erika was reading on the bed, Walker was playing on his tablet, and the triplets were asleep, and her mother had dozed off in the armchair. Idina sighed, wishing the triplets were awake and she could play with them. Maybe they would wake up before she left.

Then she noticed that Lucinda's eyes were open, and the girl was looking at her. Idina crept over and took her daughter out of the crib.

"Hey there," she cooed in a whisper. "You're supposed to be sleeping missy," she said.

Lucinda gurgled in response. Idina walked out of the room and quietly closed the door before blowing a raspberry at her daughter, who instantly lit up and started giggling. Idina smiled, tickling her belly, and walking over to Walker's room.

"Hey pumpkin," she said.

"Hey," he said, not looking up from his video game.

"Not happy to see mommy?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I'm busy," he replied.

Idina rolled her eyes and left him alone. She bounced Lucinda in her arms as she made her way over to Erika's room. The house was quiet, and she could hear Aaron rummaging around on the main floor. When she got to the door, she knocked on the doorframe.

Erika looked up. She was laying on her stomach with her legs up. "Yeah?" she asked.

Idina came in and sat down on the side of her bed. "How are you?" she asked, putting Lucinda on her knee, and bouncing, tipping her slightly from side to side. The baby giggled again, making her mother smile. She was so perfect.

"Yeah, why?" Erika asked.

Idina knew she was lying but did not say anything. "What are you reading?" she asked.

"Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo."

"I've actually heard of that!" Idina exclaimed.

"Cool," Erika said nonchalantly. She sat up and moved to be beside Idina. Lucinda reached out her hand to her older sister, clenching and unclenching her little fists.

"She wants to pull on your hair," Idina warned as the baby often yanked on her lock.

"I know," Erika said with a small chuckle. She let Lucinda clamp down on her finger. The baby gurgled in satisfaction, then looked up at her mom and gasped her mouth agape.

"I wonder what's going on inside her head sometimes," Idina said.

"Probably feeling like a god because she has noise powers that make the big things come and give her whatever she wants. She's like the queen of the world."

Idina chuckled. "Yeah, we spoil her too much," she joked. "She needs to learn to feed herself. Hear that little missy? I am off bounds, get yourself a bottle from the fridge. It's creepy," she giggled. Erika was giggling too. Idina tickled Lucinda's tummy and the baby giggled, then yawned. "Tired?" Idina asked. Lucinda yawned again, still clenched onto Erika's finger. Lucinda pulled it towards her mouth and started gumming it. "Alright, enough of that," Idina said, freeing Erika's hand and hoping she had washed it recently and that Lucinda would not get sick. The last thing she needed was a sick newborn right now. "I'll go see if she'll sleep," Idina informed her eldest.

"Okay," the girl replied.

Giving Erika a one-handed hung, Idina got up and brought Lucinda to her room. She hummed quietly as not to wake the other who was sleeping as she rocked back and forth and giving the baby a few scatter kisses. Her baby fell asleep in her arms and she was holding back tears as she planted another kiss on her daughter's forehead. Did she have to put her down? Could they just stay here forever? Lucinda was not going to stay this small forever. Before they would know it, she would be just as sassy as Walker.

The room grew warmer when Aaron entered then enveloped her in a hug, kissing her temple and resting his chin on her shoulder as he looked down at the sleeping baby. Then he kissed his wife's cheek again.

"Thanks for giving me this," he whispered in her ear, making Idina's smile grow. "Thanks for not giving up and pulling through and staying. Thanks for being the strongest most awesome woman I know. Thank you so much for staying," he whispered, his words heavy as his grip grew stronger. "I love you so much."

Lucinda grunted in her sleep. Idina's heart was not big enough for all the things she had to love right now. It would burst and leave her bleeding out with the stupidest grin on her face. Maybe she would give some of it back to the world and make it a better place for the triplets to grow up in.

Turning to face her husband, she planted a kiss on his lips. "I love you too," she replied. "And I'm here, you don't have to worry about me anymore Aaron, I promise." She looked back down at her daughter, "I have way too much to lose to do anything stupid right now."

Aaron placed his arms over hers and kissed her temple again. "Let them sleep," he whispered, "I've started lunch. We have to go in a few hours."

Idina sighed. "Right," she said, putting Lucinda into his crib. She kissed the boys too and made sure her mom was comfortable.

Aaron took her hand and lead her downstairs. It smelt good whatever Aaron had in the oven. She hugged him and held him for a while until the oven timer went off. Louie came bolting up the stairs from the basement, practically ramming into their legs.

"Want love too?" Idina chuckled, picking the hyper fur ball up.

"I think he wants some chicken," Aaron said as he took the pan out of the oven and pulled out a piece for Louie. The dog practically leapt out of Idina's arms, tail wagging, eager for a treat.

Once he got his treat, Idina let the dog down. She set the table while Aaron when upstairs to get Helen, Walker, and Erika. They had a small meal before Idina and Aaron had to leave again. The triplets did not wake up, much to Idina's disappointment.

They both got a large bear hug from Walker, who was still sad that Grandma and Grandpa Diggs were not allowed to see him right now. He had been less upset about Taye giving up his parental rights than they had been expecting. They had even been able to talk to him about changing his last name, just to Menzel and adding Diggs in as a middle name.

"Wait!" Walker called out before they left. He gave Aaron another hug. "Thanks for stepping in for dad and making mom happy," he said as he squeezed his stepfather tighter. "And keeping me safe and always being nice."

Aaron lifted him up and held him tightly. "I love you Walk," he said. "I'm going to do whatever I can to keep you safe." Then he pulled Idina into the hug. "To keep both of you safe."

"We have to go," Idina reminded them both. She kissed both her boys on the cheek. "We'll be back soon, 'kay Walk? You going to keep your sibling safe?"

"Yep!" he exclaimed, flexing a muscle.

Idina poked it. "Getting strong there, little man," she said as she ruffled his hair.

"Mom, can you go to the car, I want to tell Aaron a secret."

"Is it a good secret?" Idina quizzed.

He nodded. She turned to Aaron, who shrugged and handed her the keys.

When his mother was gone, Walker whispered to Aaron that he had been thinking about asking Aaron to adopt him but did not want to hurt his dad's feelings.

"Don't tell mom, it'll make her sad," he made Aaron promise. Aaron crossed his hear and kissed Walker's cheek.

Then they were off. It took an hour. Taye was on video call but Idina had been allowed to leave the room during that portion. They signed all the paperwork, changed Walker's name, and paid the fees for the new passports and papers that would be sent to them in the next few months. Taye sent her text saying that you and promising he would deal with any backlash. Idina drove home in a bit of a stupor and walked through the door to crying triplets and barking dog, soon forgetting all her troubles.