Morty was awake promptly at six, spending an hour cleaning the house once he'd finally woken up. Sam was gone, which was just fine for him. He'd already spent so much time on the rest of the process, he didn't want anything ruining today for him.
       Over the past month, Morty had kept a secret from everybody. He had wanted to surprise a few of his friends, not telling a single thing to anybody. Sam had been getting suspicious, wondering why Morty had suddenly furnished what had once been their storage room. He'd completely rearranged the house just to create a new bedroom down the hall from his own. 
        If everything went well today, he would be in a courthouse in two days, finalizing the adoption of the four year old he'd spent a month discussing with a foster home. Avery Jones Kodelman, a four year old from a foster home just two hours drive from Morty's home, had stolen the brunet's heart the instant he'd seen him. He had a head of short, curly brown hair, almost matching Morty's, with bright green eyes, matching the brunet's own. He was a beautiful baby boy, though he'd come from a horrible family. According to Ms. Kilsn, the poor kid had spent days locked in a closet when he'd throw tantrums or was too loud for his parents. He had a big fear of any form of enclosed area, though he was being introduced slowly to cars and buses, simply because that was a big mode of transportation for almost anybody. He couldn't handle loud people, and any form of punishment scared him profusely. Yelling his way had the boy crying, and he was virtually mute. He shared the same birthday with Morty, enjoyed Spongebob Squarepants, and loved bananas. He was the cutest kid Morty had ever had the chance of meeting and the brunet could only pray he would be given the green light for adoption. He simply had to pass one final home inspection, going through and hiding all of Sam's unsavory belongings away from view, though making it appear as though they weren't hidden on purpose, should they be found and the question arise. 

       Morty was just in the process of pulling an orange t-shirt on to pair with his black shorts when he hears the knocks on his door, slipping his cross around his neck and approaching the door as he combed his hair with his fingers.
       "Hello," he greeted Ms. Kilsn at the door, allowing the woman to enter his house. She gave a very warm smile as Morty shut the door behind her, "Good morning, Mr. Smith." 
        "Would you like anything before we begin?" he questioned, motioning towards the kitchen. "No, thank you. I've just come from breakfast with my son. Always an early bird, that one." She gave a polite laugh and pulled a pad and pencil from below her arm. "I'll get this started quickly. I've another appointment lined up right after this one and I prefer not to be late." Morty nodded in understanding, waiting for the woman.
       "Alright, just a few introductory questions, nothing you haven't hear before. I just need to ensure your answers are consistent. Do you mind if we sit a minute?" Morty nodded, "Of course. We can sit on the couch or at the, uh, the kitchen table."
       "Couch, please." Morty nodded, guiding the woman to the couch and allowing her to pick a side before he sat. "Alright, first question. Do you live with anybody else?"
       "Yes. I live with a man I work with. Sam Tuy." The woman nodded, writing something down in her notepad. "Is there a reason behind his absence today?"
       "I don't know the exact reason, but I'm fairly certain he's spending time with another friend of our from work." 
        "Alright. I would appreciate it if he could be present at the courthouse, should you be cleared today. Simply to run a quick check. If Avery is to be living with him as well, I'd like to be sure you are both suitable, not just one of you." 
       "Yes, ma'am," Morty shifted in his seat. "I completely understand." God, it would be near impossible to get Sam to act like a normal human being for the case if he can even be persuaded to go.
       "Are you able to take the child to and from any form of medical check-up, appointment, etc.?"
       "Always, ma'am. I work very lenient hours. Something could always be set up." Though Morty doubted his answer anymore, he was confident it was consistent. 
       "Will you be able to provide well for the child under any circumstance?" Morty almost laughed at the question. "Yes, ma'am. My friend and I both make a very generous amount. There's nothing the child wouldn't get if he needed it."
       "You seem very ready to have a child. How old did you say you were, again?" 
       "Twenty seven, though I'll be twenty eight in two weeks, on the same day Avery turns five."
       The woman seemed particularly pleased with this answer. "It's absolutely wonderful that you already know so much about the little gentleman. I can already tell you'd be a wonderful parent for such a fragile individual. I don't doubt you probably already have a mother in line for him," the woman joked, standing from the couch and scribbling something out. Morty smiled graciously and stood as well.
       "Alright, on with the home inspection. It doesn't look as though anything has changed since the last time I've been here." Ms. Kilsn remarked, walking now through the home. "You have several game systems here. I assume you and your friend both play equally?" Morty nodded, adjusting some of the wires as Ms. Kilsn went over the area. "It seems very child friendly, which is rare anymore. The carpet is very soft, too. Perfect for a little one's feet, and for catching trips and falls. The entire front portion of your home is absolutely child-friendly, which is particularly wonderful. I've not seen many homes that were this prepared for a young one such as your own." Morty smiled proudly, follow the woman to the kitchen. "I do pride myself on keeping a clean environment," he announced, watching the woman look around the kitchen.
       "Knives and scissors are secured, glass dishes are out of reach. Cupboards have natural latches, and there aren't any surfaces upon which he could easily climb. Your home is extraordinarily amazing, Mr. Smith," the woman complimented as she wrote in her notepad. 
       "I do believe you have a room set up for him already, correct?" Morty nodded, leading Ms. Kilsn down the short hall. "It's one door down from my own, just around this corner."
        "That's a very wonderful set up, Mr. Smith, though I must inform you that Avery is a bit of a needy child." Morty nodded, "I know. He tends to prefer to sleep with a protective individual. Like I said, I've looked into this. I'm putting everything I have into hoping I get the go ahead on this adoption. I used to have a child similar to Avery, but the woman I was with at the time reconnected with his biological father and they wound up moving to Michigan."
       "Ah, I see," the woman commented, stepping into the room. "So you're suffering from detachment, Mr. Smith?"
       "No, ma'am." Morty watched as she smiled warmly at the childish decorations, the Spongebob theme proudly displayed. "I've just wanted a child of my own for quite some time. I've always wanted to have a positive impact on a child I could call my own."
       Morty watched hesitantly as Ms. Kilsn nodded and wrote for a very long while in her notepad. "Well, Mr. Smith," she stated, spinning after a short while, "two days from now, Avery Jones Kodelman will become Avery Jones Smith, should you choose to change his last name. You have officially been cleared to become the adoptive father to a very special young boy, and I look forward to seeing your face upon witnessing the finalization of the signing of his papers."
       "Oh my gosh!" Morty exclaimed, his eyes nearly rolling out of his head. The woman nodded with a laugh, smiling warmly. "You are absolutely fit to be this boy's father, young man. I expect to meet your friend two days from now."
       "Thank you so much!" Morty felt as though he would actually cry, his heart swelling with joy and pride. He would have a son officially in two days, have a child to call his own, to care for and look after and provide for. He would have a child with his last name, one with a birthdate matching his.
       "Oh my gosh," he exclaimed again, looking up and finding it impossible to stop grinning. "I just-- Oh my gosh, can I hug you?" he questioned, laughing gleefully as the woman nodded. He pulled her into a very bear-ish hug, laughing joyfully as she laughed in amusement, releasing her after a second.
       "I have to head off to my next appointment, but allow me to be the first to wish you congratulations!" 
        Morty nodded, leading the woman back to the front door as his heart absolutely swelled. "Thank you so much!" he called as the woman walked back to her car. She smiled and waved back at him as the brunet shut his door, looking around and grinning as he realized he would have a very shy little boy to call his own son running around in just two days.