He knew she was just a little girl and he was eager to help, but he also didn't want to smother or baby her too much. It took a moment or two, but he got the zipper lined up again and go her coat zipped. "There we go. All fixed. We can get you a new one if it keeps doing that," he assured her. After all, he was a Granger and money wasn't an issue.

The relief on her face when he didn't get angry but simply fixed the issue was almost heartbreaking. Even after several months of close fostering, Bea was still scared she was going to do something wrong and be sent away. She managed a smile for Jon. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied, moving to his feet. "All set?" he asked her again before turning to see if where the dogs had gone. "Cosmo!" he called. "Time to go, boy!"

The collie barked his agreement, bowling Kaylee's dog over in his eagerness to get back to Jon. Bea giggled, tucking her backpack onto her shoulders and sliding her hand into Jon's. "Thank you for having me, Kaylee," she offered shyly.

Kaylee grinned back at her. "It's always a pleasure, Bea," she promised. "I'll see you on Saturday at STARS."

"And I'll see you both tomorrow," Jon promised his cousin, kissing her on the cheek and giving Clare a "Quack" before wrangling the dog and taking Bea's hand to lead the way from the house and back home. He let Cosmo off the leash, letting the dog run off some energy, but he was in no hurry himself. "Are you enjoying your lessons" Kaylee seems to think you're doing very well."

"I do like them," Bea agreed with a firm nod, looking up at him as they walked. "Kaylee says I can learn better songs that grownups sing in musicals and not just movies."

"You can learn any song you like," Jon confirmed. "They don't just have to be from musicals and movies either. There are all different kinds of songs and all different kinds of music," he told her, unsure if she knew this already. For a ten-year-old, she seemed a little sheltered to him.

"I don't really know lots of songs," she admitted reluctantly. "Only movies and musicals, and not all of them. I want to know all the songs ever!" This goal was certainly ambitious, but unlikely to ever come to fruition.

Jon chuckled. "There are almost as many songs as there are stars in the sky," he told her. "It's impossible to know them all." Or nearly impossible, anyway. "Maybe you should pick a few favorites and start with those," he suggested.

"What's your favorite song, Mr. Jon?" Bea asked thoughtfully. Despite several months with them, they hadn't quite broken her of that habit, but perhaps she would find something else to call him when he and Vicki showed her the paperwork that had arrived that morning.

"My favorite song?" Jon echoed, not having expected such a question from her. He furrowed his brows in contemplation, unsure how to answer. "I'm not sure really. Do you mean songs from musicals or just songs in general?" he asked.

"Any song," she clarified, swinging his hand back and forth as they walked through the snow toward the big house. "I bet you know lots of songs. Mr. Humphrey knows lots of songs, too, and Mrs. Vicki."

Jon smiled at the way she was swinging his hand back and forth, looking almost amused at something she'd said. There was something he knew that she didn't, but he'd promised not to spoil the surprise. "I do know lots of songs, but I don't sing very well," he admitted with a light shrug. There was a reason he'd never auditioned for the Theater Company, and that was it. Or so he believed.

"But you must have a song that's your favorite," Bea insisted. "Like Emily's favorite is that one from Frozen, that's why I learned it, and Ben says he likes the crab song from Little Mermaid, so I'm going to learn that one, too."

Jon chuckled. "He does like that one," he confirmed. In fact, Ben liked it so much, he had a tendency to sing it over and over again. "I have a lot of favorites, but it's hard to pick just one," he said, frowning thoughtfully again. Should he tell her what song always made him think of Vicki" Or the lullaby he used to sing to Emily"

"It doesn't have to be just one, but I can only learn one at a time," Bea pointed out. "Kaylee said it's a good idea. She said I should build my reparry twurr."

Jon smiled. "Rep-er-toire," he corrected, repeating the word slowly, one syllable at a time. "Can I think about it a while and let you know in the morning?" he asked, unsure which song to choose and needing a little time to consider it.

"Rep-er-toire," she repeated, concentrating fiercely on the word to memorize it. "Course you can, Mr. Jon," she added, and abruptly burst into giggles as Cosmo pushed between them, managing to insert his cold, wet nose between the palms of their joined hands.

Jon laughed at Cosmo's antics. "He must be feeling left out," he told her. "Why don't you give me your bag, so you can play with him?" he suggested, letting go of her hand and reaching for her backpack.

She didn't need to be told twice, struggling out of her bag and taking off running with the excitable collie. It turned out that Cosmo had just wanted to draw attention to the fact that Maddie and Chris were out and about with Dani, who had one twin on her back, and one in her arms.

Jon strolled toward them, in no apparent hurry, an easy-going smile on his face. He was happy with the way Bea was settling in and glad their other children seemed so genuinely fond of her.

"Hi, Dani!" he greeted the twins' nanny as he approached. "Easy, Cosmo!" he called to the dog. "Sorry, he's just really excitable."

"Oh, we're old pals by now," Dani assured Jon, unable to shake hands without dropping one or both of the twins. "We're just going on our afternoon walk before Emily and Ben get back for dinner."

Bea beamed quietly - she liked that one hour in the afternoon when she could have one or both of her foster parents to herself.

"Sounds good. Bea and I are going back to the house," he said, glancing at Bea uncertainly a moment. "Unless you'd rather tag along with Dani," he told her. Though they weren't really paying Dani to keep an eye on Bea, he didn't want the little girl to think she had to come along with him, if she'd rather spend time with Dani and the twins.

"What's it like in Ing-gland?" the little girl asked, pausing to take off her wet boots before she tracked snow across the foyer. Cosmo was already disappearing into the study to curl up with Humphrey for the afternoon.

"It's not much different than Rhy'Din really, except it's an island, and ..." Jon trailed off as he realized England was really nothing like Rhy'Din. "Actually, it's not like Rhy'Din at all. Nothing is like Rhy'Din. England is ....It's hard to describe. It's very green," he admitted that much at least. He stepped out of his boots and left them near the door before setting her bag aside and helping her out of her coat.

With her feet wriggling in her socks, Bea let Jon help her remove her coat, smiling up at him. "Mrs. Vicki said she had a special tree when she was little that was hers and she loved it."

"How much did she tell you about her childhood?" he asked curiously, as he turned to hang her coat on a hook. He had been there for some of Vicki's childhood and remembered that tree, but wasn't sure what else Vicki had told her.

"Not loads," Bea admitted, scratching her head through her hair. "Emily was complaining about her not having any brothers or sisters, and she was telling us about making up her own stories and games and playing on her own when she was little."

Jon frowned, always saddened to know Vicki had grown up alone without a mother or any siblings, but that was part of the reason why they were both so determined to raise a big family. "She has lots of family now," he pointed out. And a couple of close friends who were almost like sisters.

Bea nodded, waiting patiently to be given permission to go upstairs and find Vicki. "You have a very big family, Mr. Jon," she agreed.

He wasn't psychic, but it wasn't hard to tell what she wanted to do. "Why don't you go find Vicki while I get the cocoa and cookies?" He'd have to make sure whether Humphrey wanted some, too.

"Okay!" Bea took off running, feet slithering on the polished floor before she found purchase on the carpeted stairs and scampered upward toward the large suite that was home for Jon and his part of the family. They spent most of their evening downstairs with Humphrey, but daytime was for home.

Jon went in search of Humphrey, not only to check on the Old Man, but to ask if he wanted a cup of hot cocoa, too. Sometimes, when the older kids weren't keeping him busy, Jon would join Humphrey for a game of chess or a cup of tea, but most of the time, they waited until evening to gather in the dining room. Today, Jon found Humphrey napping in his recliner, a fire going in the hearth, and Cosmo curled up at his feet. Jon paused a moment to settle an afghan over his lap before tiptoeing back out and up the stairs to the suite he shared with Vicki and their children.

With Emily and Ben at disparate play dates, and the twins out with Dani, the suite was quiet but warm, soft voices drawing Jon to the kitchen, where Bea was standing on a footstool and stirring cups of cocoa under Vicki's supervision.

"M- Mrs. Vicki was all ready for us!" she declared cheerfully.

"You really don't have to call her that, you know, Bea," Jon said, as he joined them in the kitchen. He tossed Vicki a wink, thinking this was the perfect time for them to share the good news with the little girl.

Vicki grinned over at Jon, slipping the letter and certificate from behind the bread bin. "But there's nothing else I can call you, Mr. Jon," Bea pointed out. "You're not my uncle or anything like that, or my ....you know."

Vicki touched her back gently. "Actually, Bea ....he is."

"The adoption certificate came today," Jon told her, not wanting to tease her or keep her wondering any longer than they had to. "You're a Granger now, Bea, and we're your parents," he told her, smiling and almost holding his breath until he saw her reaction.

There was a clatter as Beatrix dropped the spoon. She turned around on her stool, her eyes wide and hopeful and fearful as she glanced back and forth between them. Vicki smiled gently, coming closer to show the little girl the certificate.

"See?" she said quietly. "This is your home, Bea. You're our little girl now."

There was a long pause as Bea struggled to make sense of this, to understand that she never had to leave, that they were never going to change their minds about having her in their home. Then she squeaked and jumped off the stool, throwing herself at Jon in floods of happy tears.

Jon was right there to take her into his arms and hug her close, tears brimming in his eyes, too. "It's true, sweetheart. You're our daughter now. It's official. This is your home, and no one can ever take you away from us," he echoed a little of what Vicki had already said, knowing it might take a little while for it all to sink in.

Bea sniffled, holding on tight, one hand releasing Jon to curl back and grip one of Vicki's braids as the redhead moved in to sandwich her between them. Vicki kissed her hair, resting her chin on Bea's head as she smiled at Jon. "No more worries," she murmured, to both of them. "We're family now, properly. No one can change that."

"We love you, Bea. We all love you. Maddy and Ben and the twins, too," he told her, his voice quiet and soothing as he rubbed her back, one arm going around Vicki so that the three of them were hugging each other. "You never have to be alone again. Ever." He chuckled a little. "Except when you want to be, because it can get a little crazy around here."

That succeeded in getting a somewhat damp giggle from the little girl wedged between them. Crazy was an understatement when the little ones got going. "Can ....can I call you Mommy and Daddy now?"

Jon smiled, catching Vicki's gaze momentarily. "If you want to, yes. We're your parents now. You don't have to call us Mr. Jon or Mrs. Vicki anymore. And you can call Humphrey Grandpa," he told her, knowing it might take a little getting used to.

Bea's smile was like the sun coming up, though it was swiftly hidden as she burrowed back into the hug, still keeping that firm grip on Vicki's braid. For her part, Vicki chuckled quietly, letting herself remain captive.

"I think we should celebrate tonight, what about you?"

Jon knew she wasn't asking him, but he answered anyway. "I think that's a great idea! What would you like to do to celebrate, Bea" ....Besides having cocoa and cookies," he added with a grin. He hadn't forgotten about that in all the excitement. A promise was a promise, after all.

Bea giggled again, finally beginning to loosen her grip on her parents. They might be in for a few nightmares over the coming weeks, as she came to terms with the fact that she wasn't going anywhere, but for now, she was as delighted as any child deserved to be. "Can we have cake after dinner?"

"Cake?" Jon echoed, turning to Vicki with a questioning expression on his face. "I don't know. Can we?" he asked, unsure what the cook had planned for dinner that evening. He could have suggested they go out for dinner, but with four kids under the age of five, as well as an octogenarian in the house, it was easier to stay home.

"Oh, I think we can manage that," Vicki assured them both, catching Jon's eye and flicking her gaze toward the bread bin, where a cake sat in its packaging already. A quick word with the cook would mean that dessert was cake and ice cream tonight.

Jon caught his wife's silent message with the hint of a smile on his face. "Cake is it then. But for now, how about some hot cocoa and cookies?" he asked, giving Bea's once cold hand a gentle squeeze.

"Oh!" Wriggling out from between them, Bea hurried over to the counter, where she had been stirring the cocoa in mugs for the three of them. She pouted. "It's going cold."

Vicki chuckled. "Thank goodness we have a microwave, then."

"Why don't you take the tray of cookies over to the table and Vi-Mummy and I will get the cocoa," Jon suggested. Mummy' Mum" Was Bea too old to be calling her that' He wasn't too sure.

"Okay. Dad." This was said with possibly the biggest grin they had ever seen from her, and Bea all but skipped over to collect the cookies onto the plate.

Vicki chuckled softly, opening up the microwave to warm through the mugs again.

Jon couldn't help but grin. He'd always wanted a big family. He'd once teased Vicki that they'd have half a dozen before they were through, and they were only one child away from reaching that number.

"I have always liked the sound of that," he said, a little proudly. His own father wasn't much of one, but he had proved that he was nothing like the man.

"It suits you," Vicki told him affectionately, leaning into his back as she watched Bea carefully carrying the plate over to the table. "She seems very happy with the news."

"She does, doesn't she?" Jon replied, unable to stop smiling. "What about you? Are you happy?" he asked quietly. After all, he'd been the one who'd wanted a big family. Then again, if things hadn't worked out with Bea during their time fostering, she would have said so by now.

"I had to corner him in his trailer to get him to go on a date with me," Vicki informed Bea even as she was squished into Jon, chuckling fondly.

Bea stared at them, fascinated. "What's a date?"

"You were stalking me," Jon teased his wife in return. Though it had really been him who had stalked her throughout her life, albeit not intentionally. He wasn't going to mention that though, as it was confusing even to him. "A date is, uh ..." He furrowed his brows thoughtfully. "A date is something you don't have to worry about for a few years yet," he told her, teasing.

Vicki rolled her eyes at her husband. "A date is an arranged outing with someone you want to get to know better," she explained to Bea. "And if you truly like each other, you'll go on lots of dates together."

Bea frowned thoughtfully. "Is it a growed up thing?"

"That depends on what you consider grown up," Jon replied. He wasn't sure how good he was at answering her questions, but he was willing to try. "You know Fliss and Lucas" They started dating a few years ago and now they're engaged."

"Do you have to marry everyone you go dating with?" Bea asked, apparently engrossed with this privileged information about how adults became mummies and daddies.

"No, it's a way to get to know someone and see if you like them and want to get to know them better," Jon explained. "Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't." It had certainly not worked out plenty of times for him, though he didn't remember many of them.

"And you don't have to date at all if you don't want to," Vicki added with a smile. "It's something everyone decides for themselves, and it can be something that they change their minds about a lot over the years."

"Don't worry. You don't have to worry about that for a few years yet," Jon reassured their new daughter with a smile and a pat on the hand. If he had anything to say about it, his daughters wouldn't date until they were 30.

Bea smiled happily for a moment. Then she bit her lip, looking a little furtive. "Um ....can I invite Maisie to come and play?" she asked tentatively.

They knew the name, of course - her best friend from the orphanage, whom Bea had told them all about, though they hadn't yet met the girl.

"Of course, you can," Jon was quick to reply, turning a slightly guilty look at Vicki, knowing how fond Bea was of Maisie and the fact that they hadn't adopted the both of them. "Maisie is welcome here anytime."

Bea beamed once again. "Only Daisy said she wants to meet Maisie, and Maisie said in her letter that she wants to meet Daisy, and I want them to meet each other because I love them the same!"

"Oh, Gods," Jon murmured, with a chuckle and a roll of his eyes. "Maisie and Daisy' That's not confusing!" he said sarcastically. "I'm sure Daisy's parents wouldn't mind her meeting Maisie." Maisie, Daisy ....It was making him dizzy!

"Nonsense, I'm sure Elle would be delighted to meet Maisie as well," Vicki declared, feeling a faint flicker of something that might almost have been conspiracy sparking in her soul. If Maisie was even half as sweet as Bea, Elle and Dom were going to end up following in their footsteps, she was certain.

Jon didn't say a word, but he was practically echoing Vicki's thoughts, feeling a little guilty that they'd been responsible for separating the pair. "When do you want her to come over?" he asked, taking another sip of his cocoa.

"Can ....can she come to play on Saturday?" Bea asked hopefully. "I want to show off my sisters and my brothers and the snow and everything." There was so much pride and pleasure in the way she stated "sisters and brothers", it was heartwarming to see.

"Yes, but ..." Jon glanced furtively at Vicki again, wondering if she was thinking what he was thinking. He didn't want Maisie to end up being jealous of Bea, or worse, sad that she'd never have a happy home of her own. "Why don't you let us talk to Daisy's parents before you invite her, okay?"

Bea nodded easily. "Yes, because I want them to meet each other and they both have to be free to do that," she agreed.

Vicki smiled, already planning a phone call to Elle.

"Let's plan on Saturday, but not until we talk to Daisy's parents and make sure it's okay, and if that day isn't okay, then we'll plan it for another day. How's that sound?" he asked, as he handed her a cookie from the plate.

"Okay, Daddy." The little girl grinned happily, taking a big bite from the cookie she had been given.

Vicki glanced over at Jon, her own smile bright. In a little while, Dani would return with the twins; Emily and Ben would be home; and the evening would move downstairs to be spent with Humphrey and share their news then. But this was nice, just the three of them, for now.

Bea had spent enough time with them by now to know mostly what to expect during a typical day at the manor. There weren't any real surprises - good or bad - but they were able to offer her the kind of love, support and stability that a ten-year-old needed. "So, you're enjoying your lessons with Kaylee?" he asked, mostly so that Bea could tell Vicki about her day.

Bea nodded enthusiastically, her shyness in talking about this seemingly evaporated in the face of the adoption news. "She says I have perfect pitch," she shared with them. "And she wants me to do a solo, but I don't want to."

Vicki tilted her head curiously. "Why not, sweetheart?"

Bea shrugged. "People will look at me."

"What about a duet?" Jon suggested. That would get her used to singing in front of people, but not all the pressure or attention would be on just her. "Maybe a duet with Daisy ....Or maybe we could arrange for Maisie to join STARS."