I'd forgotten how amazing his arms felt when they wrapped around me. I'd forgotten how much I loved to run my hand down his scruffy beard after he'd gone a while without shaving. I'd forgotten the way his eyes could read my every feeling and mine could to the same to him.

I'd forgotten. And I don't want to forget.

Neither of us want to let the other go or break away from each other's gaze. It really, truly, honestly feels that if I separate myself from him, I'll wake up and it will all have been a dream and then I'll start crying or something and Bridget will wake up and-

But it's not a dream... He's here, he's really here! I don't know how, but I don't care, because all that matters is he's with me.

I put my hands on his cheeks and search his eyes, watching sadly as the happiness falls back and sorrow enters.

The happiest moment of my entire life has just occurred, but the shadows of grief are lingering, ready to pounce as I wonder something.

"Da-Daddy?" I stutter, still trying to catch my breath. "You d-do kn-ow that Mommy and Ellen are-are g-g-gone-?"

"Yes, sweet girl, I know," he whispers. "I had a long talk with your Aunt sweetie."

I let a sob escape my throat and he gingerly tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Don't cry, Gen, please. They're in Heaven celebrating with us, Sweetheart! Your mom, your sister, they're in Heaven smiling right along-"

"And my brother," I say with a sad smile.

Dad's eyes widen and he whips his head around to look at Aunt Cassie only to discover that she's giving Josie a questioning look.

He slowly turns his head back to me and squeezes my shoulder.

"Yeah, umm... your brother too, Baby."

He stands up and takes me with him, lifting my legs off the ground and bringing me into himself.

I sniff and turn my head around to see the Tolias, (other than Dad, Ben and... Lacy...) all lined up staring at Dad and I, and I can't help but break into a fit of laughter.

Bridget awkwardly lifts her hand up and does some sort of a wave thing...?

Megan looks at Michelle who's standing there with her jaw on the ground. She laughs and starts to slowly push it back where it should be while adding sounds effects:

"Woooooooooooooooop!"

Michelle eventually swats her hand away and then they both start laughing.

Bridget gives them a weird look.

I'm about to start the most awkward introduction of ever when Mom... Adoptive Mom... Comes up to shake Biological Dad's hand.

"Hello," she says, a tired smile etched onto her face.

"Ma'am," Dad replies. He glances around at everyone. "You all must be the family that took my little girl in all these years. I thank-"

"Oh! Sir, are you her father?" Mom asks in surprise.

"My apologies, ma'am, I didn't properly introduce myself did I? Yes, I am this sweet girl's father and it means the world that you've looked after for so long."

Mom shakes her head. "It's my deepest regret to say that we've only had her here for three months, no longer, Sir."

Dad looks at me, sadness and questions written all across his face. "Were you in foster care all that time?"

I shake my head and he raises his eyebrows. "Then-?"

"We have a lot to catch up on Daddy," I smile, feeling like I must sound like a five year old but not really caring at this point in time.

Dad frowns, then looks back at Mom, searching for words.

Mom quickly interjects. "Sir, it's amazing news that you're here. It was my understanding that-Well...."

Dad nods. "That I was gone. I know."

I bury my head in his shoulder, taking in the scent of him and trying not to cry again, thinking about the years we could've spent together that had been robbed of us.

I hear Mom's voice again. "I'm sure there's a lot you two need to talk about."

I lift my head to see Dad give a polite smile. "Yes indeed, ma'am. I'm sure you're all curious... You're welcome to listen but... I warn you it's not a pleasant story... Probably not one your little boy would want to hear," he finishes pointing at Liam.

Liam starts sucking his thumb and hides behind Megan's leg and she reaches back to ruffle his hair.

Mom shakes her head. "In time we'll learn. Just talk to your daughter. She's an amazing girl."

Dad's smile grows. "I know."

Then he starts shifting his weight from side to side, awkwardly wandering where he was supposed to take me to talk.

Signaling that I'd like to be put down, I say, "I have a place I need to show you Daddy."

He puts me down and I hold up a finger signaling for him to wait. Then I rush into Bridget's arms, so suddenly that it takes a moment for her to register what's happening so she can hug back.

"You can tell them what happened to me... What I told you," I whisper.

We separate and she nods. There's a bittersweet look in her eyes, her heart screaming silently to know what happens next.

Thing is, I don't know what comes next, but that's ok for now.

Giving her a reassuring smile, I go and hug the rest of the girls, Liam, and Mom.

Then I take Dad's hand and start leading him to my old place on Q Street.

**************

We get to the light post where I'd spent so many years... I smile a little as I gingerly run my fingers across its sleek surface. My dad is understandably confused.

I can't help but laugh out loud and he turns and gives me a funny look.

"I'm sorry," I giggle. "You just look so funny when you're confused."

His grind from ear to ear then. "You always did like my confused face," he recalls. Then his face goes solemn again and he asks, "Ummm... Where are we?"

I smile and start casually swinging around the lamppost as the clouds in the sky casually begin to soot rain upon us.

"This is where I... Well, I basically lived here from the time everything went wrong until the Tolias adopted me."

Dad's frown deepens.

"Oh sweetie..."

"It's ok, Dad," I interject. "There's something... I don't know... Beautiful about watching the world go by... And helping whoever you can who's also on the streets..."

I thought that would by the perfect way to lead into talking about Lacy but just the thought of her name brings all the memories of her cancer journey back and puts a lump in my throat.

So instead, I look at my Dad. "Daddy, why didn't you come back sooner? Why did they say you were... Dead?" I choke.

"It's a miracle I'm not sweetie..."

He sits on the sidewalk and pats his lap. "Sit down, Gen."

I stroll over and put myself back in his strong arms. He gazes off, far off, trying to find the words to tell the story.

"It went... Like this," he starts.

"My buddies and I, we all had a little trailer we stayed in...."

He swallows hard, and I'm not sure he's going to be able to get through the story. After a moment, he regains his composure and begins again.

"Ummm there's really no way to sugar coat this... One night, all the guys were sleeping and someone just... Bombed the trailer out of nowhere. That's not even supposed to happen... I...."

My heart drops to my shows and I snuggle a little closer with him.

"There was... Nothing the whole thing was reduced to ashes... But see I... I hadn't been able to sleep; I stepped out for a brief moment to use the portable toilet a little ways off.... And when k got back... They were all gone, no-nothing but dust left. I couldn't even scream before someone had a hold of me and... I became a prisoner of war. But-Everyone assumed I was in the trailer when the attack happened and I-"

That's all he can say... And I wish I wouldn't have made him tell the story. My heart shatters as I watch the man I had always seen as the strongest person on earth, crumple before my very eyes.

I knew right then, that his journey of healing wasn't over. But I thanked God that he found me and I'd be able to help him through.

Then Lacy pops in my mind again. There's something about a child fighting cancer with a smile on her face that just... Puts strength back inside you... Dad doesn't have to know that she is fading fast... Not now. He just needs someone who can lift his heart just by being herself.

And Lacy needs someone who will talk to her without breaking down...

"Dad?" I say. "There's one more adoptive sister I have... That wasn't at the house today."