Takes place a few months after part 4

Sasha and Connie took one last look at the spare bedroom.

"Connie do you think she will like it?", Sasha asked chewing on her finger nail. "What if she doesn't like purple? Or thinks stuffed animals are lame?"

Connie wrapped his arms around his wife. "Sasha sweet heart relax, I think this is perfect for an 12 year old girl". Connie was calm on the outside but on the inside he was incredibly nervous.

He was a bit surprised when Sasha brought up becoming foster parents. He wasn't sure if he was cut out for it. He didn't have any doubt about Sasha though, she had an adopted sister that she saw as her own flesh and blood.

He was also nervous after hearing some of the hard stories from Ymir about what some of these kids have been through, he was scared he was going to say the wrong thing. The only experience Connie had with preteen girls was growing up with his younger sister Sunny.

After months of background checks and training, the Springers were anxiously awaiting their first foster kid. Connie had be hesitant at first but it was his sister in law who helped give him the confidence to take one this journey with Sasha.

About 2 days ago they got a phone call that they were getting their first kid, a 12 year old girl named Olivia, who had been removed from her abusive household.

Originally they had wanted to foster younger children, but Ymir had really stressed how foster parents were needed for older kids.

In the span of those 2 days Connie and Sasha were like tornadoes going through Target and Big Lots, buying a purple comforter, a purple fuzzy throw rug, a purple lamp shade, Sasha really liked purple, toiletries, basic clothes, and snacks, lots of snacks.

Now they both stood in the room, and waited.

"Do you think we should have gotten some posters or something?, Sasha asked, looking at the bare walls.

"Of what? we don't know what she likes, we can take her out shopping once she gets settled in, both our parents sent us gift cards to Amazon and Old Navy"

"We got almond milk for her right? She's lactose intolerant, we gotta make sure she doesn't eat any dairy, and we got her therapy appointment lined up, and...."

Connie cut her off, spinning her around and kissing her.

"Everything is going to be fine, I'm nervous too, this is a huge thing for us, but we have plenty of people supporting us, remember those commercials the one about cutting out tags"

Sasha laughed a bit, "yeah reminds me of my dad a bit"

Connie pulled her close, "remember we don't have to be the perfect parents".

Sasha took a deep breath, inhaling a scent of Connie's body wash, it calmed her a bit, "well at least we don't have to worry about school right now, we can use the summer break to bond with Olivia".

They stood there in silence for a few moments until the door bell and their dog barking broke the stillness in the air.

"Well here goes nothing", Connie said. They both head downstairs to answer the door, to start their new adventure together.

******4 weeks later******

Connie heard a burst of laughter from the kitchen, along with a loud thud.

Saving his work about the NHL post season, he closed his laptop to see if the kitchen was still intact.

He couldn't help but smile at the scene he came upon.

Sasha and Olivia stood at the kitchen island, doubled over laughing.

"Sasha I can't believe you managed to hit the ceiling fan..."

Connie looked and saw the fan still intact, and then saw disfigured mound of pizza dough on the floor, Daisy sniffing at it and about to take a bite be for Sasha picked it up.

Olivia still laughing looked up at Connie, "Sasha tried to toss the pizza dough like they do in the movies and hit the ceiling fan, it was so funny".

It was Thursday night, and which was Sasha/Olivia cooking night where they try to make something they haven't made before. Tonight was pizza . It turns out Olivia loved food as much as Sasha did. They loved being in the kitchen together. Olivia also loved sports, and was a big fan of baseball, they had gone to a few of the local teams games together.

"Well what do we do about dinner now?" Connie asked with a chuckle. "Any more pizza dough left?"

Sasha held up the mass, now with a few visible dog hairs on it. "That was all we had."

Connie sighed, pulling out his phone. "Ok what do we want on our pizza?"

"Anchovies!!!!" Sasha and Olivia said in unison. Sasha was surprised how much she and Olivia had in common.

Connie made a face of disgust, for as long as he had known Sasha he still never understood the appeal of fish on pizza. "Fine we will get 2 pizzas, one with anchovies, onions, and green peppers, don't expect any kisses tonight Sasha, and one pepperoni and sausage."

Sasha cleared her throat, "Connie what about a veggie"

Connie playfully rolled his eyes, "Fine pepperoni, Sausage, and spinach".

Olivia pipped in, "and I can make a salad for us!" Olivia really liked feeling she was chipping in.

Sasha clapped her hands together, "perfect now all we need to do is pick out movie for the night".

******epilogue******

Later that night, after a night of pizza, and Spider-Man into the Spiderverse, Connie and Sasha laid in bed together, and Olivia was fast asleep under her purple comforter, with Daisy at her feet.

Things definitely weren't always perfect with Olivia, they had their ups and downs with her, and always learned something new about being parents everyday.

Sasha rolled over to face Connie, who was reading a book about Michigan football.

"You know, a baby may not be in our future, but Connie, I think we have found our calling", Sasha said with a warm smile.

Connie closed his book, pulling Sasha close to him so that her head rested on his chest. He kissed the top of her head

"Yeah I think we have, and I'm so glad to be on this journey with you."

-End