{ edited }

After a few long days of running around the house and cleaning up, making sure everything was perfect, the social worker arrived. She knocks on the door and Ponyboy walks over quickly and opens it for her.

"Hello, sir," the social worker says. "My name is Cassie. May I come in?"

"Of course, ma'am."

Ponyboy moves aside and lets her in, closing the door behind her. He nervously walks over to his husband and their hopefully soon to be son.

She kneels down next to Zachory and smiles gently. He looks back at her with a little bit of a nervous glint in his eyes.

"Hey, little guy," Cassie says. "I just have a few questions for you before I look around. Are you willing to answer them?"

"Yes ma'am," Zach murmurs nervously.

"All right. So, do these two treat you all right?"

"Yeah," Zach cheers. "They feed me and we build forts all the time! We play and watch tv!"

Cassie laughs gently and nods her head. Zach grins widely and hugs Johnny's leg, nuzzling it.

"Do they ever hurt you in any way? Yell at you? Hit you?"

Zachory quickly shakes his head, his eyes going wide. The two adults taking care of him have never ever hit him or yelled at him.

"No!"

"They've never hit you?"

"No! No!"

Cassie stands up again and holds her clipboard, smiling at the young boy. She believed him.

"I'm going to look around the house," Cassie says. "I'll be finished in a little bit."

Ponyboy and Johnny nod, looking down at Zach. Johnny lifts up the small boy and holds him close, rubbing his back gently.

"Why don't we go watch some tv while she looks around," Johnny suggests gently to Zachory. "How does that sound?"

"Yeah," Zachory cheers. "Tv, please!"

Ponyboy laughs gently and walks over to the couch, sitting down and turning the tv on. The older male of the two walks over and continues to hold Zachory, sitting next to him.

"What do you wanna watch, little guy?"

"Toons!"

Ponyboy smiles and turns the tv to some cartoon channel, putting the remote back onto the coffee table. He leans on Johnny and hums, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Zachory moves to lay across both of their laps, humming and watching the tv. Ponyboy rubs his back while Johnny plays with the boy's hair.

After a few minutes, Cassie comes back into the living room and looks at the couple and the small boy. She couldn't help but smile a little at them.

She clears her throat and the couple looks at her. Zachory keeps his eyes on the tv, watching it happily.

"Yes, ma'am," Ponyboy asks. "Did you find something?"

"I didn't find anything," Cassie says. "Your house is actually perfectly suitable for a child, for him. If you want, I have the adoption papers in my bag. I wasn't sure if you guys wanted to sign them right away or not. Would you and your spouse like to sign them?"

Johnny's eyes light up and he nods his head quickly. Ponyboy nods as well and Cassie walks over, kneeling by the coffee table and pulls out the papers.

"Just sign where it asks for a signature," Cassie says. "And because of Zach's case, the parents will be paying you child support each month. You'll get a check in the mail at the beginning of each month and all that money goes to Zachory's clothing and education and everything he needs. Okay?"

"Yes," Johnny replies, handing a pen to Ponyboy after signing where it said to. "We understand fully. Thank you so very much."

"You're welcome. Enjoy your new son."

-  -  -  -  -

How was this?

Next chapter will be the last so know what you're expecting :)