Elizabeth sat on the floor, the fear that had been in her eyes nearly gone now. It had been about eight months, and she had blossomed. They had also found out that she would be celebrating her 16th birthday in two weeks. And, to top it off, Jude and Phoenix loved her. Those three could spend hours playing together, building block towers, or hide-and-seek. Luke came in the room, and she looked up. 

      "How'd it go?" He smiled, sitting on the couch behind her.
      "It was successful. So you and the boys will be staying with Joel and Moriah for a week, and Courtney and I will be in South Carolina." She smiled.
      "Hope you enjoy. How many years have you been married?" He chuckled as she scooted up on the sofa.
      "Eight years. And those eight years have been the best years of my life." Just then Courtney came in, a laundry basket on her hip.
      "What about eight years?" She asked, setting the basket down and sitting on the arm of the couch. He gave her a quick kiss, and she smiled slightly.

       "That's how long we've been married. Elizabeth asked, and I was telling her how long we've been married, and how they've been the best eight years of my life." She smiled, looking down and blushing. Then, Jude and Phoenix came in the room, carrying blocks with them.

      "Libby come play blocks!" Elizabeth laughed, getting up.
      "Are we going to build a house again?" Jude shook his head.
      "Nope! We gonna make a fort! And we gonna have a pillow fight!" They went to Jude's room, and he kept denying that the pillows would knock it down. Courtney laughed, sitting beside Luke.

      "We have to see about adopting her. And why we're you asking Joel if the three of them could stay with him and Moriah for a week?" He chuckled slightly, kissing her cheek.
       "That was supposed to be a surprise, but oh well. I made arrangements for you and me to go to South Carolina for our anniversary." She smiled, snuggling up beside him.
        "That's a very nice surprise. Are you sure they can handle it for a week? I don't want to-" He cut her off, putting a finger on her lips.
       "Courtney, it'll be fine. Moriah will keep Joel from doing anything too crazy." She smiled slightly, looking up at the picture on the mantel from their wedding.
      "How was that eight years ago? It only feels like maybe two." He smiled, kissing the top of her head.
      "Eight of the most wonderful years of my life, and eight years with the most beautiful woman in the world." She smiled, looking down and blushing bright red.
       "Luke....." He smiled, kissing her again, and she leaned against him.
      "You know it's true." Then, they heard Jude's voice.
      "Ewww!! Libby!! Mama and Dada kissing!!" They laughed, and Luke stood up.
      "Oh, so should I kiss you?" He asked, chasing the little boy around as he squealed, laughing and trying to get away from his dad.

      "No!! No kisses!!" Then, Luke grabbed him, swinging him over his shoulder.
      "Oh, but you're stuck. So.....I can do this." He quickly swung himself around, and kissed him on the cheek. Jude squealed, trying to get away. Elizabeth came in, laughing quietly. She sat down beside Courtney, snuggling close and letting Courtney hug her.

       "What? Are you upset about your dad giving you a kiss?" Jude nodded, finally getting away. Luke came back over to the couch, sitting beside Elizabeth. He smiled at Courtney, and quickly pecked Elizabeth's cheek. She looked up, startled, and blushed slightly. She looked back down, playing with her necklace. Jude smiled at her, jumping as Phoenix came in.

      "Now Dada give you a kiss!" She smiled slightly, and stood, going to her room. She closed the door quietly, sitting on her bed. She looked down again, staring at her silver ring. Then, Luke followed, gently knocking and coming in. He sat beside her quietly, and some smiled weakly.

       "Hey. I'm sorry if I upset you." She looked up.
      "It's okay. I just.......it seemed.....it almost felt right. Like....like when my biological dad did it so long ago." He smiled sadly.
       "Come here, baby." He pulled her close, and she cried. Tears just poured down her cheeks, and he let her cry.
       "You're safe now. You have a home, and a family." He whispered. She dozed off in his arms, feeling safe for the first time in awhile. When she woke up, she turned the radio on, and Through Your Eyes by Britt Nicole was playing.

    Get it together, that's what I say to me
    I put on the pressure, you could do better
   Be who you're supposed to be
   But that's when you came in
   Right when I needed you
   All of the things that I was believing
   Not one of them were true.

    You lifted my head up
    I was keeping my head down
   I didn't know love
   But I do now.
  
   Cause you stood right there
   And then you broke apart the lies
   You told me I had something beautiful inside
   You brought to life the part of me I though had died
   Cause you stood right there until I saw me
   I saw me through your eyes
  I saw me through your eyes.

  So this is living
  This is free
  Not keeping score
  Not anymore
  Not since you rescued me

   You lifted my head up
  I was keeping my head down
  I didn't know love
  But I do now.
 
  Cause you stood right there
  And then you broke apart the lies
  You told me I had something beautiful inside
  You brought to life the part of me I though had died
  Cause you stood right there until I saw me
  I saw me through your eyes
  I saw me through your eyes

  You love me even when I fall apart
  I can't explain it, that's just who you are
  Don't want perfection, you just want my heart

  Cause you stood right there
  And then you broke apart the lies
  You told me I had something beautiful inside
  You brought to life the part of me I thought had died
  Cause you stood right there until I saw me
  I saw me through your eyes
  I saw me through your eyes

  I saw me through your eyes.

      Elizabeth smiled, thinking about her foster parents. She opened the door after writing down the name of the song, and looked at a picture of the five of them.

     "Mom and dad.....I saw me through your eyes."
 
   Finally updated!! Haha!! Well, for us Americans, it's Thanksgiving break! And that means....probably more updating!! Sorry about the slowness....School is kicking my rear. Love y'all!!- Becki Lynne