A short while later, Dakota and Jamie were in the car driving to meet Millie. They pulled up to her apartment as Millie walked out with a couple suitcases and Dulcie in her arms. A car seat, stroller, and multiple other bags were already waiting on the porch.

Dakota and Jamie got out of the car as Millie started down the sidewalk.

"Dakota, it's so good to see you again! How have you been," Amelia asked as she went to give her a hug.

"Very well, thank you," Dakota replied. "What about you and Dulcie?"

"We're fine, thanks. You guys are amazing! I don't know what I'd do without you. I was worried about leaving her for so long but I know she's in good hands with both of you," Amelia replied.

"Thank you so much for letting her stay with us, Millie," Jamie said.

"Thank you for keeping her. You know, this is one of the luckiest little girls on this earth. She is so loved. She has a dad in heaven who is guarding her, a mom who loves her more than life itself, an 'adopted dad' on earth who adores her, and a soon-to-be stepmom who already thinks of her as her own child. I can't imagine a better life for her. Thank you both for loving her so and for all that you do for her.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. She's my baby girl." Jamie replied.

"Me either. Thank you for letting her into our lives, Amelia. We couldn't be more pleased to call the two of you family."

"Take good care of my baby. I promise to stay in touch every day," Millie said with tears in her eyes as she kissed Dulcie goodbye and hugged Dakota and Jamie.

"And I promise to send you photos of her every day," Jamie replied.

"Thank you," she mouthed with a small smile as she backed away and left before she could start crying again.

Jamie picked up the car seat and began installing it into the car while Millie helped Dakota with the stroller, suitcases, and other bags and baby gear. They all exchanged hugs, kisses, and farewells one last time before Jamie and Dakota parted with Dulcie.

***

On the road again with Dulcie in tow, Dakota decided to try to get where they were headed out of Jamie one more time.

"You'll see in about ten minutes," he replied. She playfully pouted in return. "I need to make a detour really quickly first, though."

As he drove through the streets of London Dakota watched on. They pulled up in front of a Tesco.

"Stay here with Duclie. I'll be right back," he ordered her.

Dakota just nodded and turned up the music. She looked back at the happy tot in the backseat and cooed at her.

Jamie was back in a flash and they headed back out to their destination.

"Okay, would you please tell me where we're going now," Dakota asked, eager to know what he had in mind.

"Yes, we're going to take a left up here, drive for a few more blocks, and make a few more turns," Jamie replied, happy with his explanation and knowing full well that it would frustrate Dakota.

"Ugh, that's not what I meant and you know it. Dulcie probably isn't even listening..."

"Daddy, go park," Dulcie spoke up suddenly from the back, interrupting Dakota mid-sentence.

Jamie grinned as Dakota looked back amazed. "Well, someone knows what direction we're headed in," Jamie said smiling back in the review mirror of his young adopted daughter.

"Ohhh," Dakota sighed, finally realizing that is indeed where Jamie was headed. "You're taking us to the park."

"Yeah, I thought it would be nice to have some family time together before we have to go back to finish sending my stuff over and going back to the States," he answered.

"So what was the point of stopping in the store?"

He pulled up to a stoplight. "That, my love, is a surprise that you will have to wait much later for," he replied, "and Dulcie won't be able to give you a hint on that one." He winked at her before leaning over and kissing the side of her head.

The light turned green and they arrived at the park shortly after. Jamie pulled the stroller out while Dakota unbuckled Dulcie. They got her situated and started on their stroll towards the playground.

"Play, play," Duclie squealed.

Jamie, pushing the stroller, looked over at Dakota who was laughing. "Do you think we should let her play?"

"Of course!" She gave him a surprised look, "It would be mean to bring her here and not." Dakota knew Jamie was joking but still was amazed that he would even think about teasing Dulcie so.

They arrived at the playground and put Dulcie down to let her choose what she wanted to do. She ran towards the swings. "Daddy, up, up," the golden locked tot yelled.

Jamie ran to her side, lifted her up into the toddler swing, and began pushing her while Dakota sat at the picnic table and watched on.

"Kota," Dulcie yelled. "Push, Kota!"

"I'm too big to be pushed, silly girl," Dakota laughed, crossing her legs on the bench.

Jamie chuckled. "I think she means she wants you to push her," he suggested.

"Ohh," she replied hopping up and going over to Duclie's side, "In that case, absolutely!"

She took over pushing the swinging toddler while Jamie wandered over to a little garden close by. Dakota noticed him looking down for awhile and eventually picked up the young child and headed his direction.

"Hey," she interrupted his thoughts, putting one hand on his shoulder while holding Dulcie with her other, "what's wrong?" She noticed he had a solemn look on his face.

"These flowers," he said, pointing at the lilies and roses that were planted, "were my mother's favorites. I can just imagine how fond of you and Dulcie she'd be if she were still on this earth. I wish she could have met you both."

Dakota proceeded to put her arm under Jamie's and around his back while leaning her body into his to offer him comfort. "Baby, she is up there right now looking down on us and smiling. She's already met Dulcie. She held her before she was born. She knew Paddy's fate and that you would end up being her adopted father. She is with you everywhere you go. The rain falling softy on your face is her kisses, the warm sun's rays are her embrace...she's never far away, One day I hope to meet her but I'm sure she's proud of how you've turned out and I know she's always by your side."

"Thank you my love," Jamie said, taking Dakota into a stronger side embrace and kissing her. Dulcie reached her arms out to go to him and he took her. "She would be delighted that we're together. You share so many of her wonderful qualities. I just miss her so much."

"Maybe that's why we ended up here today and you noticed these flowers. Maybe that was her way of telling you that she loves you and is near," Dakota suggested.

"I believe you're right, future Mrs. Dornan," Jamie grinned.

"As I so often am," Dakota quirked.

"Point well made, my future wife," he joked, giving her a grin.

She smirked back in response. "Alright, you, not in front of Dulcie," she replied. "Do you want to go down the slide a couple times, Dulcie?"

"No, swing," she yelled happily.

Jamie put her down and let her run back towards the swings and he walked arm in arm with Dakota. "Thank you for standing by me and supporting me. You've no idea how much you mean to me," he said in a low voice.

"I think I have a inkling," she replied, pulling away and grabbing his hand. "I love you so much," she stated, watching as Dulcie changed her mind and went up the kiddie slide.

"Almost as much as I love you," he answered, and before she could argue he covered her mouth with his and kissed her deeply and passionately.

"Is this what my surprise consists of later," she asked.

"Nope, it's even better and Dulcie is included," he answered with a grin on her face.

Her smile dropped, "Well it's definitely not what I had in mind then," she laughed.

"It's food-related, if that helps to put a rest on your curiosity," he remarked.

"Oh, yummy!" With that, she took off towards Dulcie and picked her up to put her in the swing.

"Swing, Daddy," Dulcie yelled.

"Just a for a few more minutes. I want to get you guys home soon. It's getting dark and Daddy has a treat for you and Dakota," he replied.

Author's Note:

Thank you HeyJenn so much for the suggestion of adding in Jamie's mother. I wouldn't have thought of this without your input and it was a great addition to this chapter. :)

Thank you AthenaShakespeare for editing and offering you amazing touch-ups! :)  

To all of my other readers I want to thank you for reading and keeping up with this story. You all mean the world to me and I cherish every comment and vote from you. Honestly, I couldn't care less about ranking or being popular on wattpad...it just means the world to me to know that people actually enjoy reading my work. 

I want to apologize for the delay in this chapter. While I have had the ideas, I was having trouble finding time to sit and write. This last month has been absolutely crazy and, by the end of the day, all of my energy has been drained. I will try my hardest to get the next update up as soon as I can (I would like for it to be by this weekend but I've got some things coming up this week career-wise that might interfere with my extra free time...). I'm hoping to find out exactly what my schedule will be like by the middle of the week and find time in each day to work on my scribbles.

Again, I appreciate all of your support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.