The car ride was quiet, though it wasn't tense. It felt sort of freeing actually. Then, my eyes travelled downward and rested in my lap. The little girl had entered my mind. If my feet weren't busy with the pedals they would've been rubbing together. "Alder.... I know you probably don't want to hear this right now.... but.... the other day I was at the orphanage.... and I saw this little girl...."

"...can I see her?" Was the weak reply. I gazed at him in surprise. I smiled a bit. His tears had dried but he looked scared. I knew why he looked like that. His father had put him in the hospital so much he'd grown an almost distaste for the hospital, even though he knew they only wanted to help him.

"Sure..." I replied softly. "After the hospital...?" Alder almost smiled.

"Okay..." The rest of the trip was quiet again, not that I minded. I soon parked in the hospital's parking lot. I got out of car and helped Alder out of the car. He stood using one arm to hold the other as I locked the car. Alder followed me up the stairs. We walked into the front lobby. Alder went to one of the chairs and I went to the reception.

"Good morning, sir," said the man behind the counter.

"Morning," I said. "My husband fell out of a tree in our backyard and we think he's broken his arm. Can we get a check up on that and if he has get a cast for him?" The man gazed at me, basically emotionless.

"Okay. Wait for the call," he said and I walked off. I joined Alder on the chair next to him.

"How are you?" I asked him. Alder's gaze was dull. He looked at me. He groaned.

"It hurts..." he mumbled. I gazed at him. Almost immediately my left ankle felt weak for a couple of seconds, almost as if I was empathizing with him. The reason hit me.

"I know.... I've broken an ankle before." My gaze travelled over to my left foot. My ankle was fine now but back then it was extremely sore. I even passed out. I had one of those boots on for a few weeks. I'd forgotten exactly what had caused the injury but I knew it wasn't falling out a tree. Maybe falling? Over what I wouldn't have known that could cause an ankle break. Alder didn't answer, probably due to the pain.

"Alder Sense," the man called and Alder sat up in shock. He gazed at me. I planted a kiss on his lips, to try to calm him. He smiled softly before following the man deeper into the hospital.

"Sully." I opened my eyes. I must've dozed off. Alder was gazing at me, smiling softly. No longer afraid of me and probably drugged with painkillers. His right arm was in a sling. I stood up.

"Ready to go?" I asked. Alder nodded, still smiling. I started toward the door and Alder followed me.

I pulled up into the orphanage's parking lot. There wasn't a lot of cars in said parking lot, probably just the staff's. Alder got out and looked at me smirking. I merely nodded at the silent question, answering it. I led him into the building.

I heard a little excited gasp.

"It's da man!" The little girl said, running toward me. I kneeled and caught her in a welcome hug. 'Emma' was grinning in familiarity. Her blue-green gaze seemed excited to see me again. I chuckled.

"Hello again," I said, and the girl smiled.

"Play hop-scotch with me!" She invited. Laughing, I obliged, letting the three year old lead me over to the squares. I gazed at her.

"Who's going first?" I asked her. The girl grinned at me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the reception lady walk over to Alder and start talking to him.

"I will!" 'Emma' replied. I went to find the thing they used for the hop-scotch. I eventually  found a pillow-like object. I was surprised a girl so young knew what hop-scotch was. I wondered if she could even jump. I threw the object. The girl started after it, returning to me once she finished. "Your turn!" I stood up and walked to the start. It seemed forever ago I'd played a game like this. I threw the object for myself, not sure if the girl could throw.

"Okay! Here I go!" It felt slightly childish jumping on the squares but what was wrong with acting like a child every once in a while? I reached the object and picked it up. "Got it!" While my back was bent, 'Emma' tried to get on my back. "You want a piggyback now? Okay!" I picked her up and started walking around with her.

"Zoom! Zoom!" 'Emma' said waving her little arms in the air. I didn't notice Alder staring at us softly. The receptionist got his attention back and then they started discussing something and then the receptionist walked into the back. 'Emma''s piggyback ride ended and now we were doing pat-a-cake. This only made me want to adopt this kid more. She seemed so happy doing these things with me. Alder walked over and looked at the girl. She stopped briefly. "Hello," she said.

"Hi," he murmured. He was smiling. The receptionist came up to us.

"Emmalyn," She said. "Time to pack your things." Emmalyn blinked at the name, so did I. Alder gazed at me. The girl followed the lady into the back.

"Emmalyn?" I asked him. Alder's gaze softened. He was smiling.

"Emmalyn Marie Sense," he announced. "Our daughter." I blinked as tears of joy tried to come through. "I knew as soon as we got here she was the one you mentioned." I gazed at him. "I knew that I wanted her as well. So, while you were playing with her, I filled out the paper work." The tears of joy started falling and I hugged him.

"O-our daughter..."