Closed Two Becomes Three

[Zeke Carnahan]

This was just the beginning. Zeke and Dominic had been talking about this forever now, and now- it was happening. They were adopting a girl, Ramona. She was... rough around the edges, but he was certain that she was just a scared kid with defenses up and he wanted her to have a place where she could be safe and taken care of. And besides, if he could deal with the egos on the quidditch team back at school, he could absolutely handle a surly girl. Zeke's ego wasn't fragile, and Dom was amazing with kids. Especially after Zeke's upbringing, they'd always known that they'd want to adopt a good amount of kids. It's what had driven them to buy the bigger cottage home near Obsidian, where Dom was working.

Zeke worked at home as a Wellness Consultant, helping people to improve themselves and their lives. Which gave him plenty of time to get the house clean and Ramona's new bedroom set up. He'd given her a corner room, and after a few enchantments to prevent her from making a break for it (like letting her open windows without letting her out of any of them) and some fairy lights he'd added that morning, he was sure they were ready. He'd made a good brunch- even if he was half sure he and Dom would be eating alone, he'd still set a place for her and made enough for her to eat as much as she wanted.

He was just waiting now, leaning against the back of the couch and just watching for Dom to get back with their new daughter. He scratched at Sunny's ears, the golden retriever sitting and leaning against Zeke's legs and watching the door with him. Zeke smiled. Even Sunny knew something was up.

 

[Dominic Torres]

Dominic was nervous. He had been doing his best to hide it and he was pretty sure he had been doing a good job. Of course he was no stranger to kids, he worked with them all day. Even though he taught the older kids at the daycare he still had to intervene with younger kids meltdowns all the time. But this was bigger than that. They were actually taking in a child with every intention to raise and love her like their own. He had been warned about her...issues but both Zeke and him agreed it was a challenge they were willing to face. Together.

Every child deserved a calm and loving home and he knew they could provide that. Besides they had enough practice with Santiago over the years he was somewhat confident in their abilities. Victor had only been twenty when his nephew had been born so that was another point in Dominic's favor. When he told his family about the plans to adopt he practically had to beg his mother not to fly out immediately to help out. It wasn't like she was the first grandchild. Over the years almost all of his brothers had started to have kids. If anything as the baby of the family he was late to the party.

The trip from the group home to pick up Ramona had been short but Dominic was already worried he was doing something wrong. She was silent the entire way no matter how hard he tried to connect with her. He tried to remind himself that this would take time. Somehow now that he was deal with his own child all his education was eager to leave him. As they approached the front gate he held out his hand for her to take. "Are you ready?" he asked softly.

 

[Ramona Crane]

Sometimes Ramona was able to convince herself that the past two years of her life weren't real at all, and that she was actually just dreaming. It was a bad dream but at least there was something better waiting for her when she woke up. But then something would happen that would remind her that this was in fact her life and it was in fact just as awful as it appeared. Before her mom died things hadn't been perfect but they had each other and it was enough to make her world feel full and warm. Now things just felt empty and cold and she was determined to make sure everyone knew it. Ramona had lost count the amount of times the adults in her life had told her to fix her attitude or no one would want to have her around. Which was fine by her, she didn't want anyone around either.

So it had come as a great shock when two men came to see her. Ramona had done her best to get them to leave and forget she ever existed but they kept coming back. When she was asked if she wanted to live with them permanently, she wanted to say no but she also knew there probably wasn't anyone else who would want her around. Her mom was dead and there was no one else who would come for her. Besides they seemed like a better option than the orphanage for the rest of her life.

Ramona blinked up at Dominic when he asked if she was ready. She had been stuck, transfixed looking at the storybook looking cottage in front of them. What a stupid question. One she didn't dignify with a response. How could anyone be ready for this? The house hardly seemed real and suddenly her hands felt dirty in comparison. Without a word she continued forward, not waiting for Dominic, and marched into the house.