Two years later

The rain pattered against the soggy soil. It collected in the holes, sealing it closed to the top with a murky abbess.

Hot tears felt like they burned my flesh as they mixed with the cool days rain against my cheeks. It was like a never ending flow.

The tear, thought, weren't of sadness. They were of closure. An ending to a beautiful story. My story.

I collected myself with a deep breath, letting it out in a heavy sigh.

Then, I treaded through the rows of stones.

Each one held someone's story.

How do you summarize ones entire life—their every accomplishment or everyone they've loved—in just a few words on a stone?

I looked through the rows as I found the one I was looking for.

I took a deep breath, enjoying the quietness I needed to gather my thoughts.

I crouched down beside the stone, running my wet fingers over the slippery stone, skimming the letters on it. My tears started to get quieter, like I was at peace right in this moment.

"You have always been one of the biggest influences in my life. You taught me how to live, how to be kind and love other people. You were my family when I really needed it. And I'll never be able to tell you how grateful I am for everything you've ever done for me. My life has been so much better being closer to you once again. You were by my side, holding my hand in the hospital when I was grieving. You've never judged me, instead you listened and helped me to grow. I loved you before I even understood what it meant to love,"

My sobs broke the speech, making it hard to understand what I was saying.

"I'm sorry I couldn't speak at your funeral for that long. You know, with me crying in front of everyone and all. Gosh, I wish you were here to tell me everything was going to be alright. I wish you were here to celebrate today with me. I hope you're proud," I wiped the snot and tears from my moist cheeks onto my also damp sleeves.

How was someone meant to move on from the loss of someone who had such a big impact on their life?

To go on with their everyday lives without such a key person.

It seemed impossible.

I tried to stand up, but I was shaking and crying so hard that my legs felt like jelly. I almost instantly dropped, almost knocking my head onto the gravestone.

Luckily, strong arms wrapped around my waist just in time, holding me to their chest.

"Careful there, sweetheart. You're okay," he cooed into my ear softly.

"Thank you for being my favorite uncle, my second father, when I really needed you, Mikey. I love you," I said to the sky, hoping he could hear me.

I turned around, burying my face into his strong, familiar chest.

We didn't talk, he just held me while I fell apart. Nothing new.

Two years later and Xavier's hugs still brought me home.

His warmth radiated into me, making me feel safe. Always.

"We should go home, sweetheart. Everyone is going to be there soon," Xavier suggested after I had enough time to calm down and get myself together.

"Yeah. They're kind of impatient. Wouldn't want to get on their bad side," I joked, pulling him back towards the car.

We walked together, his arm slugged over my shoulder.

"You look hot in your uniform, babe," I gave him a suggestive look. I watched his pupils dilate.

He was wearing his police uniform, having come from an overnight shift. 

After he came back from his first tour, he decided to become a cop. I supported him, seeing as he had always supported me.

And now, I engaged to a hot cop.

Yep, that's right.

We still hadn't gotten married. Everything had been too busy over the past two years. With him oversees, then in the police academy. And me trying to keep the group home open and healthy. It was all a lot.

So we decided to wait on getting married. A license didn't make us love each other any more than we did without it.

••••••

The drive was peaceful. With Xavier focused on the road and me trying to clear my thoughts so that I could enjoy today with my family.

After a long drive from the cemetery, we finally made it home. We pulled through the neighborhood, and into our familiar driveway.

"Let's go, baby," he climbed out of his side and made his way around, opening my door for me.

"What a gentleman," I giggled slightly at his serious face.

"My lady." He held out his hand for me. I placed mine in it and stepped out.

"Time for a party," I grinned up at him, truly happy, despite the sad start to my day. I had to get that over with to celebrate peacefully with my family.

He chuckled following me as I ran around the back of the house, eager to join in on decorating.

"Delaney!" Josh yelled from my backyard. He dropped the confetti he was holding and ran to me, almost knocking me over with his huge frame.

"Careful there, big boy. I'm tiny," I shoved him back slightly.

"Well i'm glad we finally agree, shortie," another voice seconded from behind me.

I turned around, instantly finding Jacob standing beside an out of breath Xavier. He grinned at me mischievously.

I shook my head at his stupid jokes, knowing I would miss him if he was gone.

"Come here, stupid. I've missed you," I pulled him into a huge hug.

Jacob re-enlisted after the first tour that he and Xavier did thought. He wasn't ready to leave, so we all supported him. He just got back recently.

"Hey, we're here!"

I broke away from the hug at the sound of multiple footsteps. The back door slid open and I was engulfed in a group hug.

"C-can't breath," I rasped out in the middle of a group of huge guys.

"Okay, let the girl breath," Scott laughed from outside of the hug.

When they let go, I smiled at them, hugging them individually. And less like strangling.

"How's being a fancy lawyer?" I asked Luke. He was dressed in a suit, as he usually was these days.

He laughed loudly, pulling me into a hug.

"I'm not even a real lawyer yet. But it's pretty boring. But nice. So, basically everything I imagined it to be," he smiled. I was happy that he enjoyed it, after all the time he spent burying himself in work during college.

I moved on to Nathan, who I had basically talked to every single day. We were very close these days, and he spent loads of time here asking me for advice about the girl he was seeing.

"Is Gabby here? I'd love to meet the girl I basically took on a date," I grinned up at him as he blushed bright red.

"She's with Ben. Oh, here they come now,"

He hushed me up about the date thing as a ecstatic Ben came barreling into my legs, followed by a gorgeous girl with bright blonde hair.

She moved closer to Nathan, who pulled her into a quick kiss.

"Hiya, Laney," Ben grinned up at me. He gripped my waist tightly.

Geez, this kid is getting to big, I thought to myself.

He was getting so old, it was scary how fast time went. It felt like just yesterday I was meeting the boys for the first time.

"Hey, Benny. You excited to see the girls?" I asked with a grin matching his own.

"Yeah!" He cheered, running off to somewhere else.

"I told Carter not to give him any sugar. Guess he didn't listen," Scott muttered as he walked up to me.

"Hi Dad," I said, pulling him into a hug, too.

We all saw each other often–well except for Carter who was away working on his art often.

But the rest of us made an effort to get together often. So, we talked constantly and kept up to date with everything going on in each other's lives.

It meant the world to me to be surrounded by my family.

"Hey, kiddo. Where are my girls?" He asked me excitedly.

I laughed, shaking my head.

"They are with Mrs. Logan and her daughters," I told him.

Everyone was here for the party–my family, Josh, Xavier's family, and the girls friends from school. Now, we were just waiting for their friends' mom to drop them off, so that they were surprised.

They had no idea anything was happening today. So, this would be a great surprise.

Just what I needed after losing Mikey last month. He died during an accident at work. He was saving a little girl.

It was hard on me, and Nathan who lost his mentor. But, everyone else was there to get us through it.

And now was the time to celebrate my family. Be grateful for everyone I had surrounding me.

Scott went to talk, but was interrupted by little voices yelling out from inside of the house.

"Mommy," one yelled.

"Mama!" The other followed as they made their way closer to the back.

I instantly got ten times more excited.

"Eek," I squealed, cringing when I realized that I sounded like a twelve year old girl at a One Direction concert.

I calmed myself down and yelled, "out back, sweet peas!"

Instantly, I heard their shrieks of joy. Peyton's was louder, but Maddy's was just as full of joy.

They both ran through the crowd of family, attacking me in a hug.

I crouched down to hug them back.

"Happy anniversary, girls. I love you both so much," I spoke gently.

A year ago today was when we finally got to adopt the girls. When Xavier got back, he fell in love with the girls almost as much as I did. And they already felt connected with me, as I spent a lot of time trying to help make them comfortable.

Bringing them into our life's in a more permanent way just felt right. So that was what we did.

They both had tears of joy looking at the party.

Xavier came over, wrapping his arms around all of us.

"I love all my girls," he spoke, kissing my head as he ruffled both of the girls' hair.

I finally had my family.

My home.