**Josie''s POV **


    "This is breaking my heart. There are more kids here just like Be. We have to help them. They need families now, today. They''ve already been through enough in their short lives without being left in a military base infirmary," I say into the mind link to my bonds.


    "I''ll check where we are on the list of people willing to take a child in," Deacon says.


    "If the list is exhausted, then maybe we could ask if some would be willing to take more than one. We could also ask families with children of simr ages to take a child in, I suggest.


    "Starting with us? We are bringing this girl home, right?" Axel asks.


    I look at Axe, my big hulk of a guy down on his knees, letting Be climb up on his shoulders with Mason''s help. He''s right, if we are going to ask other families to take on the responsibility of a child, then we should lead by example, even though we have more kids than any other bond group.


    "We could temporarily have Sammy and the twins share a bedroom. The room is big enough and the boys would love it. I hate to say it, but in just over a year, Harper will join the academy and her room will be empty," Deacon


    says.


    "Be belongs with us. I don''t know why I feel that way, but I do," Mason nods.


    "I feel it too," Axe agrees.


    "I do feel a connection to her, but we should discuss it with Luke, Theo and the kids first," I say.


    "Then let''s take her to meet them. If a family has been found for her before we make a decision, then so be it, but I think everyone will ept her," Deacon suggests.


    Deacon leaves to check on the progress of finding homes for the kids and to let the staff know we will be taking Be home for now. Axel and Mason take Be to find some lunch and I spend an hour talking with Robert.


    This is the first real chat I have had with him without us having a specific topic to discuss. I thought talking to Robert might be awkward, and I wouldn''t know what to say to him, but I find the conversation easy. He and I are more alike than I expected with simr interests and opinions. The more I talk with him, the more I can see what drew my mum to him. I can''t change what happened in the past, but I can choose to have him in my future, and I want that. We still have a way to go and much to discuss, but I do want him in my and my children''s lives.


    Before we leave to go and introduce Be to the rest of my family, a guardes and unchains Robert, which makes me feel better about leaving him here. I have no doubt he is going to be up and helping keep the kids entertained with his stories if the nurses allow it.


    Back at home, Luke and Theo take to Be just as we had and when we bring the kids home, Sammy, Elijah and -Jensen wee her like they''ve known her their whole life.


    I sit on the patio outside the back of our house with my bonds as we watch Be and the boys y. It''s so nice to see her like this. I bet she didn''t have much chance to just be a child and y without fear whilst she was with the rogues.


    "I read her file," Deacon says into the mind link.


    "What did it say?" Theo asks.


    "Her mother was located at one of the sites. She revealed that Be was hers when she was questioned via


    I think says a lot about their rtionship, or theirck of one," Deacon exins.


    "So her mum will be spending the rest of her life in prison. Does she have a dad?" Luke asks.


    "Her father was human, the mother didn''t bother to get a name," Deacons says. "Then I vote she stays with us," Theo nods.


    "I agree, she fits right in with the boys, they already love her," Luke says.


    "So we all want her to stay, then I guess it''s time to ask the kids their opinion, and then ask her if she wants to stay," I smile.


    I never expected to bring another child into our home. We already have a busy house, but the guys are right, it feels right to have her here. She fits.


    "I''ll go and talk to Harper," Mason offers, before standing to leave.


    "We are doing somebat training with As and Joel before dinner, we can talk to them about it then," Axel


    says.


    By the time dinner is ready, we have had a chance to discuss Be with all the kids, and all of them agree that they are happy for her to stay. When we ask Be if she wants to stay, she is so happy that she bursts into tears of joy. Sammy is the first to embrace her before the twins join the group hug, and just like that, our family grows by an extra little person.


    The next day, we get news that my dad has been pardoned, and we can bring him home. So to wee him and his side of the family, as well as Be, we decided to throw a huge party with everyone we love.


    Just like I had at Harper''s gender reveal, I head upstairs to look out the window at everyone here. It''s good to take a step back to truly see and appreciate what''s in front of me


    There are so many people I now consider my family that it brings a tear to my eye. When I first arrived here in this realm, I had no one. I waspletely alone with no parents to rely on, and now I have all these people who love me as much as I love them.


    I rey the first words each of my bonds had spoken to me directly when we met.


    Deacon: "Are you trying to challenge me, Miss Banks?"


    Theo: "Well hello there new girl."


    Mason: "Do I scare you?"


    Luke: "Is this a bad time?"


    Axel: "Hi."


    None of them had been the perfect introductions to the men I would eventually give my heart to, but they are still precious moments that I will treasure forever.


    The journey to this point hasn''t been easy, but it''s been a hell of a ride. We tore through every wall put in our way, bled through every wound, and walked through a hell that should have destroyed us, to get here, and I know without a doubt that we would all do it again if we had to.


    Every scar, every moment of fear and despair was worth it.


    After everything, love is all that remains.